Whenever I'm back in my hometown of South Boston, Virginia, I try to stop by Toots Creek Antiques Mall. It's located "down by the tracks in Halifax," and I almost always bring something really neat home with me.
My visit this past fall was no exception. I spotted a vintage yellow quilt scrap that I envisioned could be made into a table runner...maybe for my sister for Christmas.
Here's a picture of it...so let me explain what I had to do:
When I bought the scrap, the yellow border you see detached on the right was actually part of the left border, and there was no border on the right at all.
The original owner had cut the quilt into sections to sell--and had cut over into the flower design. You can see part of the blue point surrounding the flower is incomplete.
When my friend Dorothy visited me back in December, she suggested cutting off part of the left border and sewing it to the right side to make the piece look balanced--even though the seam allowance would eliminate even more of the flower design.
A visit to my local quilt shop--Patchwork Plus--yielded the same suggestion as the best solution. The owner helped match a Kona light blue fabric for the binding and placed an order for it.
The Kona bolt didn't arrive until December 21--and my sister had already arrived at my house for her Christmas visit! How would I ever go pick up the fabric and get it finished without her knowing about it on the busy weekend before Christmas!?
Well, somehow it all worked. I normally sew on a table set up in our living room. In this case that was impossible, so Tom set up the table and my machine in our crowded bedroom. I closed the door and got started--hoping my sister wouldn't hear the whirring of the machine. I was hand-sewing on the border on Christmas Eve!
I decided to go with a yellow theme this year just for my sister--she likes yellow things as evidenced by the Yellow Board on her Pinterest site--I LOVE everything on this link!
I wrapped the table runner in yellow paper (we finally found some at Staples Office Supplies) and placed it in another gift I'd found for her on our anniversary trip to Pennsylvania back in August--an antique metal yellow egg basket:
When we placed the gift(s) in front of her, she couldn't believe this basket was all hers! It was so much fun watching her open everything yellow!
Other gifts in the basket included an antique yellow sugar and creamer similar to the ones she pinned here (along with two yellow bowls), antique yellow salt and pepper shakers, yellow notepad, yellow (lemon) kitchen hand soap from Bath & Body Works, and an antique yellow dipper/ladle.
Here's the table runner below all completed. You can tell the design is a bit off on the left side...but that's what makes it vintage and whimsical!
Here's the label I attached. Hannah smudged it for me to make it look vintage:
And here's an upclose look at the flower design:
I know it's better to give than to receive (and, yes, it was so much fun giving!)...but now I wish this table runner lived at my house! And I'm trying not to even think about that antique egg basket! I've fallen in love with the uniqueness of them both!
~Deb
Lovely, just lovely!!! I would have loved to have been your sis on Christmas!!! I do not blame you at all...I would have probably kept it!!!
And what pretty work on the quilt pansy applique and cross stitch...did you see the rest of the quilt? I always think it is such a shame when someone cuts it up to sell...I always want the whole quilt for myself!!!
Posted by: Kathryn Duke | Monday, January 07, 2013 at 08:31 AM
Very pretty on everything!
Glad that you were able to get the runner finished in time for Christmas.
Posted by: Tammy C | Monday, January 07, 2013 at 10:44 AM
Deb! That was so fun to read! Neat that the quilt shop had the same thought I did. :) It came out beautiful! The yellow theme was so fun and I'm so sure Bet enjoyed it all.
Posted by: Dorothy | Monday, January 07, 2013 at 11:08 AM
Great job, Deb! I can fully understand why you wish that the runner had a place in you home. I love it, and I'm sure your sister does too.
The yellow egg basket is a treasure too. I have one on my front porch and each spring and summer it is filled with a pot of red flowers.
Great gifts!
Posted by: Jean | Monday, January 07, 2013 at 12:53 PM
Lovely, work, Deb. You are so creative. I'm sure your sister loved all her yellow gifts.
Posted by: Becka | Monday, January 07, 2013 at 01:33 PM
I LOVE this Deb!!! Seriously, I really do love this.... the whole creative idea of a 'yellow' theme for your sister capping off with a beautiful new/old table runner!!! ....and using her Pinterest board for her gift ideas.... I'd never thought of that. Your sister will treasure her 'yellow' gifts. (Loved the 'yellow' highlights in your post too!) You are so creative.
Posted by: Lisa Spivey | Monday, January 07, 2013 at 02:30 PM
It's lovely. Great work bringing it back to life. I've never heard of cutting a quilt into strips to sell. Seems a strange thing to do
Posted by: Nic | Monday, January 07, 2013 at 03:09 PM
I know Bet was wild about her gift, Deb. Congratulations! I teared up when I read about it. Wish I could have seen her face! :)
Posted by: Aunt Rhonda | Monday, January 07, 2013 at 03:52 PM
Oh how lovely! I am glad you were able to finish it on time. You are so talented, what a blessing!
Posted by: Sharon Baksa | Monday, January 07, 2013 at 07:30 PM
Deb! You are such a..a...well, there are so many words of blessing, that I just can't write them all! What a great idea and how sweet of you to do this for Betty! I am sure she thanks the Lord for such a great sister as you! I know I would! I thank the Lord for you, and I'm not your sister...only in the Lord!
Posted by: Carolyn Shortt | Tuesday, January 08, 2013 at 01:21 PM
Such a sweet and thoughtful gift! From a very sweet and thoughtful sister! xo
Posted by: Kathie | Tuesday, January 08, 2013 at 04:12 PM
I LOVED my yellow gift!! I was really shocked--you all should have seen the picture taken when I realized this special gift was all mine! And I did actually cry when I saw the table runner! So, so special! Thanks, Deb. I would say you could borrow it sometime, but I think I'll just keep it here and use it as a bribe to get you to visit. :-)
Posted by: Bet | Tuesday, January 08, 2013 at 05:03 PM
You did a wonderful job restoring that into a table runner! I can tell from reading your sisters post above that she loved and will treasure it.
Posted by: Diane | Tuesday, January 08, 2013 at 05:53 PM
Deb, you are absolutely amazing! I am so inspired by you and your entire family. I have added Toot's Creek to my list of places to go. You will have to tell me all of the interesting places to go see when we plan our trip to South Boston. I'm going to go to Betty's Pinterest page right now!
Blessings,
Bobbi
Posted by: Bobbi H. | Tuesday, January 08, 2013 at 07:45 PM
Haha! I can see why you're wishing you had the egg basket and runner. They are both truly great! Deb, I can see the resemblance with your sister. What a lovely looking woman. :-)
Posted by: Stephanie in MI | Tuesday, January 08, 2013 at 10:42 PM
WOW, I love it! What a thoughtful sweet gift package you made up for Bet, and the runner is to die for!
Now I'm thinking one day I need to travel up your way and take a trip to Toot's Creek Antique Mall with you:)
Posted by: Laura | Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 03:29 PM
Deb- you really are amazing-- the table runner is beautiful- what a wonderful cherished gift! Your sister looks just like you!
Love
Vicki
Posted by: Vicki | Friday, January 11, 2013 at 12:09 PM