Several years ago I designed this really easy star pattern that creates an alternate Shoofly block when you set it with sashing. I was creating designs to use in class with new quilters. Not my most creative work, but still, it gives a great effect in its simplicity. I came up with the name "Stars and Garters". That was an expression my grandmother used: "Oh my stars and garters"! Having heard that expression all my life I naturally assumed that everyone knew it. Boy was I wrong!
Yesterday (amid strong winds and rain as a weakened hurricane swept through) there was an open house at our LQS, What's Your Stitch N Stuff. Sue G., who works at the shop, made up this pattern in the Coverlet fabric, by Windham. It turned out great! They made it up into kits and held up the quilt to show it to everyone. One of the gals asked about the garters. I explained that it was just a fun name that came from the expression my grandmother used, "Oh my stars and garters". Everyone in the shop was mystified. No one had ever heard that expression.
So here I named a quilt pattern after an expression I thought everyone would recognize and get a kick out of, and NO ONE ever heard the expression before!
Have you ever heard that expression before?
Oh my stars and garters!
Please let me know.
22 comments:
Marcie, you are safe. I have heard the expression before. Never much thought about the garters part of it. I know what a garter is but why it is part of the expression is beyond me.
Never have heard of that expression before but the quilt is lovely.
Absolutely! I've heard it all my life and I googled it and here is probably where it came from:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/55/messages/588.html
Pretty quilt and love your designs!
Nope, this California gal has never heard it. Hope she will post a pic on the site!
No, here in Michigan. I asked my DH and he hadn't heard of it either. The quilt is a nice pattern, though.
*s*
I have I have no idea what its supposed to mean but I have heard it.
Hi Marcie, I haven't heard that expression for a long time. The quilt is lovely and the name is still interesting even if the meaning is a bit mystifying.
Nope - never heard that one before.
Hubby's aunt likes to say, "Good night nurse!" We have no idea what it means but the Princess thinks it's the funniest thing every *S*
Add me in with the gang who say they hadn't heard that one before. What a fun, yet simple quilt design!
My grandmother used to say it a lot, and she did wear garters! Love the pattern - very striking. blessings, marlene
I've heard it before, but Hubby hasn't.
Nope, I've never heard the saying before....but I LOVE the quilt!!! Cute, cute, cute!
Never heard that before, but my husband has. I have heard, "Oh my stars!" I LOVE the quilt.
Karen (Short Story Long)
The quilt is great! I have heard that expression before, but not for a long, long time. My grandmother had lots of expressions, terms and declarations that I delight in remembering and am always surprised to learn that others have never heard before!
Nope not me...never hear that expression before, Oh my stars is what I've heard. Lovely simple quilt and great name.
Not me either... sorry Marcie!
HI Marcie, I too have heard the stars and garters expression before, can't remember where, but somewhere in my past. I love the expression...you know what "they" say about what's old is new...does that go for sayings too. Maybe we should revive the expression...what do you think?
Karen aka Grammy Mac
My grandmother, born 1900, used to say, "Bless my stars and garters!"
She was born and raised in southern Canada around Hamilton, and lived in Jackson, MI for 50 years.
I may just have to do a sample block in her honor!
(PS., Your father hasn't blogged in forever, tell him we miss him!)
Hmmm, this pattern would look yummy in Amish colors. See that, now you've got me thinking again . . . very dangerous indeed.
Of course I've heard that expression. See the younger generation don't know what garters are.
Better than some of the expressions they use these days.
Love the simplicity of this quilt.
I've never heard the saying but I LOVE the block combination.
My mother had lots of expressions, but I don't remember that being one of them. Someone said it however, because it's an expression I've known for years and years. Maybe my grandma or an aunt.
Makes me think of the first crossword puzzle I put together for my class of new trainees when I started teaching new employee training at the credit union. It was a puzzle to help them learn our various loan products. Boy was I embarassed when they couldn't figure out what I meant on about 30% of the clues. Such as "the back forty" for a bare land loan. Bet you could have figured out that one!
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