Antique Ocean Waves Quilt Top

Wonderful pattern - Ocean Waves.  Late 1800s. Starley Quilt Collection

Quilters have always been inspired by nature and of course, those on the coasts are especially inspired by the ocean.

Enjoy

Early Quaker Star Quilt

An almost wordless Wednesday, try not to drool over these beautiful early fabrics (1830s) in this lovely quilt from the Starley Collection.

The full quilt

Antique Caesars Crown with fabulous Sashing

Love this antique Caesars Crown (even though it is not a signature C. Crown)! It has lots of cheery pink and a fabulous intricate sashing that packs quite a punch! Part of the Starley Quilt Collection.

Doesn't that sashing make a fab secondary design!

And it has such an amazing variety of fabrics. Lots of yellows and loads of Prussian Blues.

Antique New Jersey Signature Quilt

Thought I'd share some more of this New Jersey signature quilt made for Elizabeth Hoppough in about 1850.

Look at the tiny scale and detail of that green print - yes, print! Click on the photo to enlarge. And the pink print is precious too.

Here's Elizabeth block:
from Hunterdon County, New Jersey.  Main surname is Hoppough and was likely made for Elizabeth Hoppough whose name and birth date of 1835 are listed in a center block and her parents are also on the quilts as well as their next door neighbor Elizabeth Neighbor (no, I can't make this stuff up).

And you've got to love those hearts and there is another delicate green print. Click to see detail

Antique Signature Quilt - Antique Irish Chain Quilt

Such amazing inkings/inked drawings in my antique Irish Chain quilt. It was a big hit in my Sign of the Times lecture at MOKA.

This block features a lectern with the Bible and below it, the Lord's Prayer is written out!

Love these flowers!

And of course, you have to love the 4 heart blocks that are along the border!!

1843 Quaker Star Quilt - Antique Quilt Lessons

Love how the quilt maker used all her fabulous fabrics and didn't get freaked out about running out! And those 2 sashing fabrics aren't even close to being the same.

Lesson: it is only fabric, they'll make more so have FUN!!

Lesson: a thing of beauty is a joy forever

Lesson: make your mark!

Lesson: go big or go home (This is the fantabulous backing fabric - glazed chintz)

Note: this quilt and many others are part of my Sign of the Times, antique signature quilt lecture/trunk show that I just presented at MOKA Quilt Study Group to RAVE reviews. Contact me to schedule it for your group.  *visit their facebook group to read the reviews.

Red and Green Antique Quilts - Midcentury circa 1850 Treasures

I do adore midcentury quilts, that is 19th century, 1800s rather than 1950s :)
I may need to add a new lecture, trunk show of just red and green beauty. Of course, lots of beauties from my Birds and Blooms trunk show would have to join in! 

What do you think??

Detail of Whig Rose from Ohio with an awesome border! Circa 1850

Detail of Oak Leaf applique, c. 1860

The two of them visiting at an appraisal display.

Here's one of the Birds and Blooms that would have to join in.
Detail, Rose of Sharon, Ohio, circa 1850

And here's one of the stars of the Sign of the Times, Signature Quilts show that would have to come along too.

On the Fly or the Wing, Antique Bird Quilts at MOKA

Had a wonderful time last week flying with my feathered friends to Kansas for the Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas Quilt Study Group, aka MOKA.

Here are some of the quilts that joined me for my Birds and Blooms Trunk Show.  And the reviews are in - it was a great success. Thank you to everyone who organized the event, especially Martha Spark and to everyone who attended.

Antique Tumbling Block Star Quilts

I have a fascination with this group of tumbling block stars quilts with a single solid fabric star block in the center of the quilt... put tumbling block in my search box  (top left corner) and see lots more of my collection. All are from 1880s/90s and Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania

Flower Pot Cheater Print Wholecloth quilt

Revisiting this wonderful chintz cheater fabric (preprinted patchwork) featuring a rose flower pot and separate roses surrounded by simulated (printed not pieced) 9 patches.

Several books list it as dating from 1850s to 1870s but I've seen it in a dated 1843 signature quilt from Pennsylvania/New Jersey so it actually from late 1830s to early 1840s.

The alternating faux 9 patch blocks have fabulous fabrics that seem so modern. I especially like the jungle inspired pattern that look like giraffe

And here is the lovely backing - buff and blue stripe

Chintz, Glorious Chintz

Wow, MOKA was a wonderful, colorful, educational experience. So many great people and so many amazing quilts and lots of glorious chintz fabrics. Here's a taste

MOKA Quilt Study Group - Birds and Blooms

I had a delightful time presenting at the MOKA Quilt Study Group! What an amazing event from the wonderful presentations to the museum tour. And the show and share took 2 evenings and probably could have filled several more.

Start of my Birds and Blooms power point & trunk show with Quilted Joy, Rose of Sharon

I hope that you will all join the national American Quilt Study Group and then also search out your area/regional Quilt Study Group like MOKA. If there isn't one in your area, I hope you'll be inspired to create your own.

Another action shot -Whig Rose Crib Quilt

My Four Block Eagle from Pennsylvania

MOKA Birds & Blooms

I had a great time sharing my antique Birds & Blooms trunk show @MOKA quilt study group meeting in Kansas . What a great group of people & an amazing early quilt event. Visit their Facebook group page to see lots of photos.

MOKA quilt study

Having a great time presenting, sharing antique signature quilts, at the MOKA quilt study group in Overland Park Kansas.

MOKA quilt study group

At MOKA - sharing antique quilts - 1st event and then show & share- fab