Hello all, Mary Ellen here.

I’m starting to think about what quilts I’ll be giving away at Christmas time. I have 2 nieces who are always appreciative of a quilt so I need to pick out one for each girl.  My larger dilemma than which quilt to give, is how to wrap and present it? I have done the matching pillowcase thing already a couple of times, done the boring big box thing, done the rolled up and tied with a wide ribbon thing, done the tote bag with quilt in it thing–I’m looking for something new to try.  Any ideas out there?

The larger sized quilts that I have been perusing for the dilemma above are all stored flat on the bed in the spare bedroom. That pile is getting quite deep. Even though I give many of my quilts away, it seems that my own personal stash is growing. In order to prevent the pile of quilts on that bed from getting so deep that anyone sleeping in that bed would be flattened, I have taken to a few other storage schemes. The well loved scrappy quilts that are used on the couch to protect it from the dog are rolled up and arranged (only somewhat artfully) on top of a computer armoire in the family room. That makes for easy access when it’s time to change out the couch cover for laundering. Many of the smaller wall type quilts are rolled, tied with raffia, and placed in copper boiling tubs under some occasional tables throughout the downstairs. I have to admit none of my storage methods is archivally safe. I don’t worry about acid or resin from the wood surfaces, nor any other contamination from the copper. In our family we have never thought of our quilts as heirlooms for generations down the line. We use and enjoy them. Still I would like to come up with some more storage/display ideas for my growing collection.

How about you? Where do you keep all of your quilts? How do you “box” them up for gift giving? Come on–share some ideas with the rest of us!