WWYD with G'moms old quilts?

[ThreeofUs]

I just found my grandmother's old quilts. Really old. Fading gently into dust old, in a cedar chest I haven't opened for at least a decade and forgot was in the attic.

These are from Appalachia, but I don't know how old they are. My g'mom died at 85, nearly 30 years ago. I know these were stored for over 40 years by my mother, before g'mom's death, so in fact they may have been my great-grandmother's quilts.

Where do I even start to see what I should do with these? WWYD?

[ellies mom]

I would talk to the ladies at your local quilting guild. They would probably have some good advice about your options.

[BabbyO]

I would talk to the ladies at your local quilting guild. They would probably have some good advice about your options.

Or check out your local historical society. They may have some ideas...or recommendations of references you can go to.

[SkyrMommy]

I second starting with your local quilt guild. But also my mom (founded our guild years ago) uses a quilt appraiser, Kathryn Greenwold who has worked though American Quilt Society. She's in Albany, NY. Kathryn might be someone to start with as well to point you in a direction of someone in your area.

http://www.kathryngreenwold.com/

[larig]

you've gotten good suggestions already, but I'll throw this out there too. It's a link to the international quilt study center & museum--care guide.
http://www.quiltstudy.org/about_us/q...wers/care.html

[plusbellelavie]

You have gotten great recommendations but just wanted to share my own experience.

My parents took one of my great-grandmother's old silk quilt and had it framed in a sealed box frame and it has hung somewhere in our house ever since I was a kid. It is gorgeous "art"!

ETA The quilt is folded decoratively into a 2.5 ft by 2.5ft shadow box according to my mother....

[ThreeofUs]

you've gotten good suggestions already, but I'll throw this out there too. It's a link to the international quilt study center & museum--care guide.
http://www.quiltstudy.org/about_us/questions_answers/care.html

Corrected the link.

[Fairy]

I have no advice about what to do specifically about the quilts, but these resources sound fantastic. I'm chirping up to say that something that old with that much history that you've discovered is worth trying to preserve in whatever way possible. Yes, I'm the known packrat, but these sound like something that contribute to the definition of your family culture. Try your best to preserve what you can!

[ThreeofUs]

I have no advice about what to do specifically about the quilts, but these resources sound fantastic. I'm chirping up to say that something that old with that much history that you've discovered is worth trying to preserve in whatever way possible. Yes, I'm the known packrat, but these sound like something that contribute to the definition of your family culture. Try your best to preserve what you can!

I'd like them to be heirloom pieces, to pass down. I've been doing a little research (and called a friend who knows a friend ... you get the idea) and I think they are quite old. But I am also not going to be able to spend a mint restoring or preserving these, you know? So maybe there might be a donation of one for help preserving the others. We'll see.

[DrSally]

Great ideas from PP's--I have none to add, other than to say, "What a cool find!"