AHHHHHHHHHH....memories! And what a journey it has been! I remember all the things mentioned here. Each time I thought I had another one...someone came up with it. I'm more "hippy" than hippie...LOL! Scarlett, I know the feeling! Those hipster jeans just don't fit right anymore! One thing I did learn to do back in the 60's and didn't see mentioned here were "Christmas Spiders". From the small glass Christmas balls and pipe cleaners, with sequin eyes. They looked like this...of course you've got to remember this one has been around for a good number of years now! LOL..ugly thing, isn't it? With new products and vintage jewerly, they now look more like this example. I made dozens of these every year..and sell most of them these days. We still use the Christmas ornaments like this. I'll never forget the year we decided to make this the family Christmas project! Neither will our 2 daughters! We all had such sore fingers. But, they treasure these ornaments now, and like myself use them every year. Let's not forget Santa and Mrs. Claus made from dish detergent bottles. With the dime store (then Ben Franklin) faces and hands, etc. They are still part of my Santa collection but I don't seem to have a picture of them anywhere in my on line albums. I still make a few of the old things...most often with a bit of a modern twist...using some of the easier to use products. The pasta angel is a good example of evolving pasta art. I do have problems finding the metal thumb tacks used for the candle in these. Someone mentioned the crochet covered clothes hangers. I'm just old fashioned I guess...I still do them. Along with little sachet bags to go with them. I love collecting the old crochet patterns and making stuff from them. These are the vintage pattern projects that I have recently finished. The shaded pansy thread colors are almost impossible to find these days. You can see some of my spiders in this basket...they are not Christmas Spiders. I call them my illusive, almost extinct pansy spiders! I wanted some really pretty silk pansy to put in this basket and couldn't find any...so I used the next best thing. LOL I think I should stop now! I don't think the "old" crafts will be completely lost...they will just evolve. Be Safe, Rach Here is a link that might be useful:

Oh, wow, Kate - I don't blame you for getting emotional about it! Are you on the Home Quilting System Yahoo group? There was a discussion recently about restoring old quilts. One of the members had done it and shared her process. They just shut the group down the other day and reopened it, so I don't know how many (if any) of the old posts may still be there. Here's a link to the International Quilt Study Center's resources page. I don't know if they have any info that can help, but maybe it's a start. Donna Here is a link that might be useful: Int'l Quilt Study Center

If these were mine, I would simply cherish them. If you don't know how to repair them, leave them alone or find a professional. If it only needs some stitching here and there to secure patches, you can use some hidden applique stitches to secure them, but otherwise, I would not use new fabrics to replace anything. If there are serious rips, however, perhaps an "honest patch" would prevent further damage. They have been loved and used, but gladly, not to cover an antique car or on a dog bed (nothing against dogs, but ...). You might also want to document them for future generations. Invest in acid free storage boxes, document and label them, and store them properly, not in an attic, basement, or forgotten in a closet as so many are. I have only one quilt that my grandma made. That's a story for another day. I will have to post a photo and tell about it one day soon. BlueBars

I'm such a packrat,I don't throw anything away,so I must have the pattern somewhere,but I made those bears over 20 years ago,they still have little newspaper pirate hats(I took it off for the photo)I got the pattern out of a magazine,I do remember that. The quilt was a worn utility quilt made from feed sacks,quilted in a Baptist fan from the strings saved from the feedsacks. The cushions were made from a commercially made/sold quilt,like you see at Dollar General or Freds,and I bought it for a dollar,it was covered in ball point ink when I got it,cheap hairspray took the ink out.I sprayed it with Scotch Guard to kinda keep it clean. I got another store bought quilt in maroon and hunter,to make cushions for winter for Christmas,only paid 50 cents for it. I'll look for the bear pattern,but I may never find it! lol