Amish Quilt Dreams

This post is about one of my day dreams.

I am always reconstructing and redecorating my house in my mind.  There are times when you could come across me standing perfectly still and doing absolutely nothing in the middle of a room or in the yard.  At least, it would look like I am doing nothing, when in fact, my mind is in overdrive... moving walls, installing additions, selecting finishes and colors, and furnishings.  You should really see my house inside my head; it would blow you away!!!  It would be the cover story for This Old House magazine.

One of my daydreams is the ability to deck out each and every bed in the house with an authentic Amish quilt.  These beauties cost around $1,000 each, with the more experienced quilters products going much higher.  For instance, the design of the image at the top of the page is a traditional stitch pattern that has been done by many Amish women.  However, the cost varies depending on the stitch count.  A stitch count of 6-7 per inch would cost less than a 9-10 per inch quality. 

I love the idea of hand built traditional quilts in this mechanized world!  I think they are worth every cent they cost... I just can't afford them.  Is it crazy of me to want one of these hand built bed spreads when I know the same pattern could be programed into a machine and sold for a mere fraction of the cost?

It is for this same reason that I love my old house... 84 years of solid, OLD construction.  I just can't value new construction the same.  Not when I see so many unforgettable, cheaply constructed houses. Did you know that my house was a kit house?!  The original owner ordered the plans AND all parts from either the Sears or  the Montgomery Ward catalog!  Every single piece was shipped out to him in a rail container, then he built the house by hand.  Every scrap of lumber and brick were placed by the owner himself!  I seriously doubt the houses of today will stand the test of time like this old house.  None of them will have the unique history.  At least, not the tract houses that are such a prevalent blight in the suburban sprawl surrounding the old communities.

So, for now, the Amish quilt dream is only that... a dream.  Perhaps someday I'll be able to splurge and finally get one.  I'll have to put it on my bucket list!