All of my art pieces are given a name. The names are then recorded on a label and hand-stitched to the back of the item. It’s not unusual for me to make multiple labels at the same time because I often stockpile my art quilts until I have several ready to be bound and labeled.
Historically I never have troubles matching the labels with the appropriate art piece. Once the label is created I pin it to the art piece so that it will be handy when it’s time to add it to the back.
Recently I was reviewing the cataloged photos of my finished quilts. As I examined the label on one of them I had to stop myself to take a second look. The label stitched to the backing didn’t have the proper name. I then went looking for the quilt that should have received that label. Sigh! I had totally messed up. I was so disappointed. I had never mislabeled a quilt before. Take a look!
What really gets me is that I blogged about both of these quilts, edited and imported their photos and yet I still didn’t catch it. The icing on the cake is that you didn’t either. 🙂 Oops! Obviously I wasn’t thinking when I added the labels. If I had been, they never would have been mixed up.
Now I have to decide what I will do about it. As you can tell from the photos the labels are securely fastened. The extra steps I took to anchor them to the backing has complicated the process of removal. There is extra space on each of the labels that could be used to write the correct names. Being a neat-freak that idea doesn’t sit too well. Neither does the amount of work it would take to remove and replace the labels.
Here’s where you come in. I would like to hear what you would do.
- Would you leave them as is?
- Would you cross out the incorrect name and write the appropriate one above?
- Would you completely remove the label and create a new one?
Share your thoughts in a comment. I look forward to reading your responses.
Thank You for stopping by!

I would leave the labels as they are for future art historians to wonder about. A good project is adobe project. That being said, I admit to removing a label from a quilt lately with considerable effort.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I’m still pondering what I will do. Interesting that you have experienced a similar situation. Were you happy that you made the change? 😊
I am entirely neutral about changing that label, which is why I wouldn’t do it again. I keep working on just letting some things go, but it can be hard to know which ones.
It truly is!
I’d leave them as they are. There’s a reason for everything, and what a great story it makes. Names don’t have to describe something. It’s just a moniker. 🙂
😊
I like the idea of leaving the labels in place and renaming the quilts – why can’t Window Box be Teacups Instead? Leave them guessing 200 years from now when a historical society comes upon your quilts and tries to figure out what the name means 🙂
Very good questions Tierney! 🙂
I concur with those others who say make another label, fill it with as much or as little extra details as you feel appropriate and affix it with gusto! It is funny and probably will make those two quilts more memorable as time goes by!
🙂
Laura, I think you are right. If I leave them both on they should add a chuckle to the reader’s tummy. 😂
A little frustrating but no big deal, right? (My friend Lisa, who is enduring treatment for Stage 4 colon cancer, told me something many years ago. “No one died and no one went to jail…” I try to learn her way of acceptance.) I would probably create a new label and stitch it over the old one using basic hand-stitching. Or if you want to memorialize the mistake, stitch it on next to the old one. No need to take the old one off.
Exactly! No biggie. Non life-threatening. Not life-changing. I think your option sounds great! Thank you for sharing your insight. We all need to be reminded to put things in perspective. Sometimes it takes getting hit over the head before we “get it” 🙂 I appreciate your comment and participation! 🙂
I would cry, stomp my feet, then make a new label. I like the idea of keeping the old one and adding an Oopsie note on a new label.
LOL! Thanks for being so honest. I think the oopsie note is a great idea.Thank you for adding your thoughts to the mix. 🙂
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Hi Cindy,
Well, shame on us! How could we miss editing your photos?!! Hmm, since I don’t label my quilts (I know!) I would probably leave it and giggle when I looked at the label. You don’t strike me as finding that all that funny . . . so just bite the bullet and fix it. You know it’ll bug you! I do like the other suggestion of the new label telling the story! How about if you add an additional label and leave the wrong one on too? That way you don’t have to go through the removal process. This is a funny pickle you’ve gotten yourself into. ~smile~ Roseanne
Roseanne, I can totally see you giggling, shrugging your shoulders and walking away. I think that is an awesome trait. I take full responsibility for the mixup, my readers are not to blame. Thank you for reading my story and making a suggestion. Perhaps I will share an update in the future sharing my decision??? Have a great day! :
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I think I would add another label that tells the label story and the name
Grandma that is a great idea! I just may do that. 😊
I made a lengthy story label for a friend on a quilt she repaired. It told the history of the quilt
Grandma, I’ve read many stories of how we should document the history of our quilts, sometimes through a detailed label. I bet the recipient of the quilt appreciated knowing the quilt’s origin. Thank You for reading my story and being inspired to add a comment. 🙂 >