My stepson was getting married in just a few days and I had quilted nothing for the newlyweds. That’s not surprising, given that my schedule is booked months out and I haven’t been able to piece anything for myself in nearly 3 years; but, still! It bothered me.  I took a quilt off my frame on the Tuesday evening before the wedding and had been thinking perhaps I’d quilt up something I had in my extremely large stash of vintage linens. I had even purchased one thinking this may make a good gift for them.  But, it just didn’t “feel” right. Know what I mean?

So, after going through my stash, I got out the stack of old hankies that had been handed down from my husband’s mother and grandmother.  And that is where I found this old Valentine hankie that had been given to my stepson’s great-grandmother Voltenburg.  Aha! This is IT!  I layered it on white satin (a nod to the bride’s dress) and turned it on point to give me some room to quilt feathered hearts in the corners. I decided on wedding bells for the center.  I layered the tops on two layers of batting to give it extra poof and a faux trapunto look.

After getting it bound, I decided the inner bells weren’t visible enough, so I added a bit of a color tint to them using both ProFab paints and Tsukineko inks.  Just enough to make them stand out a bit more.

I didn’t want a label attached to this as I wasn’t sure how the newlyweds would display it (if at all), and it could be reversible if I didn’t add a label. I decided to make a card to go along with it which would tell the details (maker, date, etc.).  I drew from my inner Hallmark creator and came up with the card below. I wanted to convey the idea that this was given in love many years ago in a different generation and was cherished enough to be kept and handed down and in turn was another gift of love in a new generation. I must say I loved the entire thing, but I love the message of love being eternal even more.