Bedspread.

[hosman321]

Well, I went into my antique room today because I was feeling so down. Lots of stress this week. Was gonna cozy up on the antique sofa, cover up with my precious coverlet and read antique books under candle light. Well, it is full of holes. BIG holes. I just sat there and cried. As if today couldn't get any worse. It must have been a mouse, although I have never seen a mouse or mouse poo anywhere in this house. I guess this is the first sign that summer is here and so is rodent season. Money and American history flying right out of the window. It was folded so neatly on the antique sofa, I didn't even notice it. I'm crushed and I don't think it can ever be repaired.

[waywardangler]

Very sad, hosman. Mice are destructive little rodents. I had one chew through wood on the back of my garage cabinet on the wall and build its nest on the top shelf. Another nest in my wood scrap box and more mice coming in through the hole they chewed in the garage door bottom weatherseal. I got them all and haven't had one in the garage for a year. I still have traps out for the little monsters.

[hosman321]

I suspect they just got in within the past week or two because this is the first sign I have seen. And there wasn't any poo on the blankie, like they just took chunks of wool for a nest somewhere and went and hid. I have checked under the sinks and in the closets and can't find anything else that has been torn up. I guess I get to go buy a ton of traps and put them everywhere. I still can't believe it man. I don't even want to go look at it again or I'll scream. I showed that thing off to everyone. How can I ever display it or show it off now?

[talesofthesevenseas]

Oh poor sweetie!! I wish you were closer I would give you a big hug right now!

I detest rats/mice (non-pet ones) and living in a redwood forest we have all kinds of transient critters that come and go under the house. Once some rats chewed all the way up through the floorboards and into a closet! They can be determined lil' buggers and up here they are big, about the size of small guinea pigs. *shudder*. Fortunately this summer we have a family of cats that has moved in.

Don't blame yourself Hosman, these kinds of things happen and I'm a firm believer that antiques should be out where they can be loved, gently used and appreciated, not locked away in where they never see the light of day. It's a tragic loss and I totally feel your pain sweetie. My suggestion would be to do what our ancestors did when the exact same thing would happen to them. Re-purpose it into something wonderful- maybe a pillow or a smaller lap blanket?

[hosman321]

Thank you tales. I keep blaming myself, I feel like I am supposed to protect these items and this is just heartbreaking. I will find a safe place for it and store it until I have money for a conservator. Maybe they can fix it. It's nice to have people here who understand how much it meant to me. Nobody else seems to get why I am even upset. :/

[mariok54]

So sorry Hosman ... but I'm with you on your last comment. Secure it, then go back to it when the initial shock has worn off, and maybe, just maybe, it won't seem quite so bad. If it can be repaired, then that is also what your ancestors would have attempted. New repairs always devalue antiques in many ways, but the older the repair, the more acceptable it becomes. In 100 years some expert on the AR will say ... 'Yes, it has been repaired, but sympathetically way back in the 20th -21st c but it's still a beautiful example of ....' 

[hosman321]

I agree mario.
It will never be "all original" again but maybe I can make it presentable again and it can be around for another century or two. I always expected one of the animals in this zoo would be the first to damage one of my antiques. Turns out that it was a pesky little rodent instead. 

[hosman321]

The good news is that the market for these old coverlets has come down a significant amount since I bought mine. If all goes well in court tomorrow (to see if husband gets his job back) then he said he'll buy me another one. Ebay has several right now and I have added them to my watch list to see what they go for so I can have an idea. Some really beautiful ones from the 1830's. I'll let ya'll know how it goes.

[mariok54]

That is good news, but that old one might still have  a lot of good years left.
I hadn't realised your husband was having problems with his work .. so hope all goes well there!!

[talesofthesevenseas]

What a sweetie your hubby is! Best of luck on that. As far as the damaged quilt goes, would you like me to put you in touch with a friend of mine who is a textiles conservator at the DAR Museum in Washington DC? She could probably offer some suggestions for how to best stabilize the damage.

[KC]

Believe it or not...it could have been a moth that did this!  IF there are not signs of droppings....I am betting that is the case.  We used to own a cabin at Green Valley Lake, CA (by Big Bear & Lake Arrowhead) and this happened to a few items just like what happened to you.  We first suspected mice and then found out it was hatching moths that come out every few years (not every year) and are only out at night! 

If it is these moths you need to fumigate the room or they will spread over the years.  They live in rafters, etc.

[Oceans64]

KC - That was my thought too.  I don't think mice are capable of spending anytime w/o leaving their poopy evidence.  We've had a cool wet spring and now summer so I'll bet they will be out in droves this year...

[hosman321]

I don't think moths did it, they are big holes and I last looked at it about 2-3 weeks ago. Plus, all the stuffing fell out when I picked it up, don't moths eat the wool? Maybe there was poo and I didn't see it. Either way, I still haven't gone back in that room. Maybe I should though.

[Oceans64]

You could always sprinkle flour on the floor with a tasty treat in the center.  If you have footprints by morning...well, you have your answer 

[hosman321]

Oh, and thank tou tales, that would be great!