Grandma's old drapes

The other day I came across a book on Watercolor Quilts by Dina Pappas.   It's a method I've never tried, and it was a real bargain at the second-hand store, so I snapped it up.

Over the weekend I had a chance to read it and came up with an idea to try. 

Deep in the recesses of the basement cedar closet there is a box labled:  Grandma's old livingroom drapes - probably 1950's or earlier.  Why I have been hanging on to them I'll never know.  Sentimental value perhaps?  At one time I thought I'd make something from them - tote bags maybe.  My mother had cut into one panel to make a cushion cover many years ago.

The print is quite large, and it has potential for the projects in Dina's book.  The small white square is a paper template 2 inches square - so you can see the scale of the pattern.

The method is to cut large scale fabric into 2 inch squares, then sort those squares by how the fabric pattern falls.  Some will be full of flowers, others will be empty background.  Then there are those with half and half, either vertical or diagonal. 

The blocks are sorted, then put together like a puzzle to get the effect of a heart or wreath of flowers.  I'm going to give it a try.

Do you think these are the drapes in the background of this photo of my parent's wedding day in 1952?  the peach has faded to pink, and the white background has turned grey.  But I see those palm fronds...  If they're not the same drapes, then Grandma replaced the ones in the photo with a very similar pattern.

I hope this works.  I'll be thrilled to use the drapes up this way, and have an heirloom quilt or two as a result.  My dear Hubby will just be thrilled to have the box of drapes gone!