Thursday, September 22, 2011


I found this gorgeous old quilt in the bottom of a box of dog blankets at a local oppy. In my experience it's always worth a quick rummage through the dog blanket box as you never know what treasures you'll find inside...I have found quite a few lovely old woollen blankets tossed by oppy workers in "the dog box" most of them in pretty good nick. Some of them, very nearly perfect.

The colours and wild retro pattern on this one caught my eye immediately. It was filthy and had the word D-O-G emblazoned across it in permanent marker, despite this I picked it up (tentatively...by the corners, trying my hardest not to inhale) threw it in the boot of the car and brought it home.

A good soak and hand wash, a dab of Metho (to remove the permanent marker), lots of fresh air, and apart from a little tear, it was almost as good as new.
I asked my partner-in-crime at the op-shop where I volunteer (a marvelous make do and mender) if she could mend it for me, and she has, most beautifully. Look...

a little hat patch and almost invisible in the flesh.

And now, dog blanket?

No way!



28 comments:

  1. That pattern is pretty cool. We have a couple of blankets that were in the dog box at oppies and we use them for us! A great find lucky the metho worked.

    E :)

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  2. Fantastic - very unusual pattern and colours.
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  3. Oo love the colours!

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  4. My goodness, that's quite spectacular!

    I'm glad you rescued it. Some lucky dog!

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  5. You're so brave - the dog box at my local makes me itch just thinking about it! It has an awesome pattern though, and I'm a sucker for orange. Good save! x

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  6. Good on you for saving it, came up really well!

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  7. Thats a beaut Kylie! I also scavenge the dog box since I once found a really old feather quilt with a pink paisly pattern-immaculate once dried cleaned in there which is now clauds fave x

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  8. pretty! I likey - I do need to get some beautiful quilts - or make some!

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  9. Oh I like that!!! I find retro prints a touch hit and miss but that one is definitely a score!! I can't believe it was in the dog blanket box!! Nicely saved, Kylie :-)

    Jem xXx

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  10. Thank goodness you rescued, and breathed new life into this beauty.
    My 2 year old sleeps with a quilt I rescued from a pile destined for the dogs home!
    Excellent repair job, there's years of use left in this.

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  11. It's beautiful. But, I just could not use an old dog blanket.

    Hubby used to have a dog he loved to bits and he unearthed his old towel and asked me to wash it and put it into the linen cupboard.

    It's a lovely thick, luxurious towel -top quality - but even though I have washed it and rewashed it and washed it again and hung it out in the sunshine, I cannot bring myself to use it. Nothing wrong with it - doesn't pong, looks good etc but my mind rebels.

    I know, I am ridiculous. But I simply cannot and absolutely, definitely ignore the doggie box in the charity shops. They are so manky.

    You are brave. And clever, as you have a superb quilt there. :)

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  12. Well rescued, Kylie. Thanks for the tip about searching in the dog box. Wish we had such a thing in our local chaz shops.

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  13. Great find, i too have checked out and bought some great bedspreads from the dog blanket box, there is one rather snobby charity shop here that has the poshest dog blankets ever ;o) Scarlett x

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  14. Wow - you were really rewarded for all your hard work Kylie. It looks brilliant - the colours are as bright as new!

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  15. OH MY DOG!!! That is a gorgeous quilt!! =D
    *Pssshh sometimes my dog sleeps in bed with me so I would have no issues with buying a blanket from the dogs!*
    Most dogs are cleaner than alot of people I have seen. Some people I would have for sure never bought a quilt from. LOL

    I love your purchase & am totally envious over it. The colors and pattern are amazing!

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  16. Great pattern! I'd love more time to stop and rummage properly when I shop but my boys are nightmare in shops so it's usually a quick dash then out!

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  17. Nice rescue and nice quilt!

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  18. Oh wow! That's so cool! Love the pattern! Reminds me of different types of skin cells haha! Oh and I agree with you completely - its always worth a rummage!

    Just to let you know my giveaway is up and running:
    Win the Vintage Dress of Your Choice! (open to everyone)
    http://papermoonsandmacarons.blogspot.com/2011/09/giveaway-in-springtime.html

    x Aliya

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  19. Great find! I love it when I find something great hidden in the wrong place, it really gives you that treasure hunter feel! Like the time I found this fab cookbook tucked under a large atlas, I almost fainted as I gasped for air...

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  20. I couldn't get past the fact that you know op shops that have dog blanket baskets! I've got to get myself West one day for a serious bout of rummaging. Great find.

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  21. Wow she did a great job repairing that blanket i have to say its gorgeous loving the designs and colour. Enjoy it, dee xx

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  22. What a great rescue! This really is fabulous.

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  23. Beautiful quilt Kylie, I'm constantly amazed at the way op shops classify things...down here they are pricing things way up...Great for charity but hard on the wallet xx Ava

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  24. very aboriginal i find this as well!
    what a labour of love you gave it!
    well done, kylie!!
    n♥

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