I spent a good couple of hours this morning repairing my lovely old patchwork quilt, so much so my fingers are sore from the unaccustomed hand sewing of teeny tiny stitches. Alan had been using it on top of his bed for a long time and as he sleeps with all the animals there were many pulls, holes and much wear and tear.
I was quite dismayed when it came out of the washing machine, although it smelled so much fresher, seeing all the damage was to be honest quite heart-breaking. But I do have to put it into perspective I bought it with money from Alan's Mum ... I can't remember to be honest whether it was anniversary money or birthday money ... but it was bought from a little antique shop in Wheatley after I had just finished a craft fair at the Merry Bells village hall, I think it was around the Summer of 2010. It was a recently made quilt but made from vintage fabrics, so it's pretty precious to me and full of memories.
Our animals have always been allowed on it so I'm not blaming Alan, I'm more mad with myself for forgetting how old and fragile it is now. Now it's repaired I am going to let Alan have the tougher modern patchwork quilt and I will probably save this for use in my new place ... where animals will not be allowed on top of it ... she says ... I remember saying that once before 😄
The eagle eyed among you might have noticed that I have changed my profile photo, it might show up on the 'Followers' section of your blogs and in other various places, so I just thought I would say it's still me. It's gone from me with a cabbage to this one, just temporarily I think. I doubt I'll be growing cabbages again ... they take up far too much room when you grow them as well as I seem to, so I thought a few books and a Peace Lily would make for a good temporary photo.
Exciting news over at the new place ... the handyman has started ripping up the concrete jungle that is currently the 'back garden' and I have finalised my choices for my new kitchen. So has Alan, and as this is the first time we have both chosen a kitchen just for ourselves it's amazing how completely different our design ideas were. I couldn't live in a house with his and vice a versa.
The one thing we do have in common is that we have both fallen in love with SMEG fridge freezers. Me with the one pictured in a lovely cream colour and Alan with the larger fridge-on-top, freezer below version in a startling, but glorious shade of orange. SO a question for any of you out there who have a SMEG or have had one in the past ... Are they worth the cost and are you, or were you happy with your choice?
Sue xx
I love the shape of your SMEG (I don't think we have that brand here). It reminds me of the shape of the refrigerator that my parents bought after they married. It lasted until I was grown up and in the army!
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely retro style isn't it.
DeleteHi Sue, my fella has had his red Smeg for 15 years so worth it.
ReplyDeleteMarlene xx
That's brilliant and good to know, thank you for that Marlene.
DeleteI can't comment on a SMEG fridge, but my brother and SiL have a Gorenje, retro fridge freezer in a similar style to the SMEG, but cheaper! They love it.
ReplyDeleteI have spotted a few similar and cheaper versions and might go for one, but I have always lusted after a SMEG ... if I find they are worth that initial splurge.
DeleteDon’t they use those on GBBO?
ReplyDeleteI think they use the cheaper replicas, they definintely to not have the name on the front as SMEGs always do.
DeleteI haven't had one Sue, but my neighbour just picked one up on Facebook marketplace for an absolute steal. She's totally in love with it's bright pink hue.
ReplyDeleteI have been keeping my eyes open, but I am swaying towards a new one mostly for the guarantee period.
DeleteMy DIL's parents had one in duck egg blue, however something broke on it after only 3 years and they were quoted a lot of money for it to be repaired, so they didn't bother and chose another retro looking, much cheaper make. The Smeg did look nice though!
ReplyDeleteI think if I do get one I would take out a five year warranty just to be on the safe side.
DeleteI'd love one of these and would opt for cream too x
ReplyDeleteIt's just such a classic colour isn't it, I do love the orange ones but with my kitchen units being in a glorious shade of retro green I the combination when put together looked a little toy-boxy.
DeleteHow exciting to hear that you both have your kitchens planned now! I can't wait to see them when done. The quilt is beautiful, I remember seeing it before. The color combination on it is lovely.
ReplyDeleteIt was nice to sit down with the kitchen planner/designer and choose all the elements of each kitchen. The quilt has been pictured quite a bit over the years on my various blogs hasn't it, I think I have more than had my money's worth out of it :-)
DeleteThat's a beautiful quilt. I'm glad you managed to rescue it before it got beyond repair.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have a fridge freezer like that. Treat yourself :)
It's been repaired quite a few times over the years, but this one was a much more time consuming one, soooo many little rips and tears, and a couple of the patches were ripped in half.
DeleteI love Smeg refrigerators. I'm planning on getting one as my next fridge. Here in the US, only some stores carry them but I did locate a dealer not too far away. I will go with cream too. I'd love some crazy color like turquoise but I know in the long run the simpler color will be better. I agree about the warranty, I would go with the 5 year too.
ReplyDeleteCream is just a classy colour that will go with anything isn't it, yep I think the five year warranty will be a very good idea.
DeleteWell done on the repair. I can see why youvecfallen in love with Smeg. My nephew has one but he's only had it 2 years. Exciting news regarding your new home.
ReplyDeleteThanks, they are just a very nice eye-pleasing design aren't they and I thought as the fridge freezer will be such a major part of the small kitchen it really did have to look good.
DeleteYou could hang the quilt up on a wall, maybe? Ahhhh, a Smeg, secretly dreaming of one, as well!
ReplyDeleteA good idea with some quilts, but this one is very washed out and the colours just don't sing anymore, I think if anything having it on the wall would make it look older and tattier. So I think it will be used on the bed until it is totally unsalvageable. A Smeg has been a long term dream for me, I think there will be a lot of ooh-ing and aah-ing over it once I have it in place.
DeleteI have had my new fridge(not Smeg) for 3 years, I would never go back to freezer on top....the fridge part is more workable and the freezer is drawers not shelves, so much better storage capacity and accessibility.
ReplyDeleteI've had it both ways and yes usually the fridge on top is best, but after using the tiny fridge freezer I have had in the flat for the last six months just having a full sized fridge, even if I have to bend down a bit will be a true luxury. I don't need such a big freezer anymore so this particular design should work fine for me.
DeletePut a light cover over the quilt in case the dogs get up on it...much easier on the quilt!
ReplyDeleteHaha ... that really made me laugh sorry ... the quilt is in place to protect the bedding from the dogs, I could go on and on and on putting protective layers in place. I do like to see the quilt and will enjoy it until it is unrepairable. At the moment though I have put it back onto my bed upside down, that will protect the patterned side until I move.
DeleteWhat a beautiful quilt - I dearly love that sort of thing.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm so looking forward to following the new kitchen story.
xx
I love old and used things, the fabrics must all have a tale to tell. I don't think there will be much of a story sorry, here's the kitchen, here's where it used to be and here's the new one ... but I'll do that just, so that I have a photographic record of before, during and after ... I'm a blogger through and through :-)
DeleteSue, I've just checked on the New Zealand Consumer organisation site, and they did a test which included Smeg fridge-freezer and they gave it a very, very poor rating. You might have access to the UK Consumer reports, and see what they say. Over here, Consumer recommends you not take an extra guarantee, as the "fair wear and tear" test should cover you under the Consumer Guarantees Act. If you can't access anything, and you'd like me to, I could do a cut and paste for you and send it to you.
ReplyDeleteGood idea!!
DeleteI checked out our Which!! review site which sounds similar and found out that the Smeg that I have chosen has a pretty middle of the road set of reviews. Adding that to the personal reviews I'm getting is still just about swinging me in it's favour but thanks to my readers I now have a few other names of similar style fridge/freezers to look at before I make my final choice.
I think we have different guarantee rules here in the UK to New Zealand, so a five year guarantee for parts, labour and replacement is a must for an expensive item.
That quilt is gorgeous. I'm just as bad as Alan, I let the cats sleep on everything. i can't say no then kick myself when it gets ripped or ingrained with cat hair.
ReplyDeleteI fell for the cream Smeg fridge freezer when I was looking for a fridge when we bought Stonecroft in 2015 (white appliances are ugly!) but could only afford a replica - a cream retro model by Baumatic - it packed up two years ago and we replaced it with a black retro Bush one. x
I always state categorically that there will be no animals on beds and sofas when I first get them ... the animals don't listen and I'm a softy so the rules only ever last a few hours!!
DeleteLove the quilt - I have to buy a new fridge freezer when I move (eventually!) but will get mid price as they all seem to last years now anyway whatever make and I never have extended warranty as the only time we did on something (many years ago) - the insurers wriggled out of it anyway
ReplyDeleteYes, I've rarely had any problems with fridges or washing machines in the past ... but those could be famous last words!!
DeleteThe one time I did take out an extended warranty was the last time I had a whole kitchen installed and the integrated washing machine broke out of the housing, damaging itself and the kitchen in the process, the insurers paid up straight away, so I was quite impressed.
I've never had a large fridge/freezer but always remember how my Mum used to 'clip' a half folded bed sheet in the top of the door of her's to act as an extra pair of hands. The brand Smeg has been devalued for me by watching every episode of Red Dwarf - several times!
ReplyDeleteMy brother used to LOVE Red Dwarf, I'm guessing one of the characters is called Smeg!!
DeleteRegret not a character more a swear word.
DeleteHello
ReplyDeleteThis patchwork blanket is very beautiful. Antique quilts or hand-sewn quilts are better to be washed by hand, as it does not put too much strain on them.
Doris aus Germany
I know and if it was valuable I probably would, but I'm not precious about these things and it's a quilt in daily use and washing by hand would mean a very wet quilt every month ... and I have nowhere to dry it. It has survived over 10 years of machine washing up to now so it will continue until it falls apart.
Delete