Antique 1845 crib quilt- updated

 Reproduction block 2011  7"square



 I am working on my quilt for the Alliance for American Quilts 2011 Challenge and I'm reproducing 4 blocks from a c. 1845 crib quilt shown.  The little flower baskets are ONLY 1.5 inches which is pretty fussy for needle-turn applique but I got it done.  1 down and only 3 more to go.
 I hope this will be a subliminal advertising for the contest voting, hint, hint.
I wrote about the antique quilt in my last post (click on link) or scroll down to read more about it or click on the blog title (top of page) to see it and more posts.  Here is the original block, sort of a before and after/make-over and another block to whet your appetite.



original block from 1845 crib quilt 9" square



Circle wreath, note the tiny cross stitch initials

Antique Crib Quilt -- Hearts and Flowers

Flower basket CE Huff?



c. 1845 Virginia Crib Quilt 37" x 49"

This is an utterly charming album crib quilt from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, purchased from a VA auction.  It has 12 blocks (9" blocks), each featuring a different design including hearts, wreaths, potted flowers, tulips, a bird on branch, and cut-out chintz flowers, eight blocks with stitched name or initials in the teeniest cross stitch.
Provenance: Descended in the Smith family of Waynesboro, Augusta Co., VA.

I'm thinking of reproducing it in a smaller scale and trying to decide on close fabrics or crazy wild?

I haven't seen any other album quilts with so many heart motifs.  I find the block with the bird in the tree getting shot with an arrow a bit strange yet kind of cute.  And who can resist a bit of chintz, broderie perse applique:

Please comment if you want to see more photos.