Red and White Quilt Festival

Applique Peony or Lily Quilt, 96 x 100" Circa 1850

Due to the major Red and White Quilt exhibit: Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts that is about to open in New York City sponsored by the American Folk Art Museum, there is a heightened interest in all things Red and White. "The largest exhibition of quilts ever to be held in New York City, the installation will include 650 American red and white quilts from the private collection of Joanna S. Rose."  What an amazing collection, unrivaled in focused breadth, I daresay.

Volume, volume, volume and yet incredible unique quilts.

Taryn has organized an online exhibit and the 1st photo shows my contribution.  A graphic red & green peony quilt that is hand pieced, hand appliqued, and hand quilted, with early fabrics dating from 1830-1850.   This quilt is from the pre- civil war era.

 

The quilting is wonderful, with quilting around the piecework and in elaborate straight line, feathered, maple leaf, and sunflower designs in the background.   And it almost goes without saying the turkey reds are absolutely amazing.  I'm only showing the ones with blue right now but there are several with yellow motifs.

Don't forget to stop by Taryn's blog and see all the quilts (mainly antiques or inspired by antiques) on the online exhibit.



1845 Crib Quilt Finished- Alliance for American Quilts

Virginia is For Lovers  2011 
16 x 16"

   I am very pleased to share the 3rd quilt I have made for the Alliance for American Quilts Challenge Contest.  It is a reproduction of a very romantic antique crib quilt circa 1845 from Virginia with lots of hearts and cupid's arrows -hence the title "Virginia is for Lovers".  Don't forget to look at my prior posts to see lots of photos of the quilt's progress.  You can click on 2011 on the blog archive to see/read all about it.  It was quite hard to part with it on Monday and I think my Mom even thought about hiding it so she could keep it.

  

   In April, Alliance members will vote to determine contest winners - so join now to vote for my quilt (subtle hint).  And  on April 27-30 the 2011 contest quilts will debut at the American Quilter's Society's 27th annual show in Paducah, Kentucky. So please stop by and see my quilt if you are lucky enough to be in KY.

Here is the my new quilt on the section of antique original that I reproduced:

Old and New (click on photo to enlarge)

   But seriously, I hope all of you already know about and have joined the Alliance.  It is such a great organization "whose mission is to document, preserve, and share our American quilt heritage by collecting the rich stories that historic and contemporary quilts, and their makers, tell about our nation's diverse peoples and their communities."  What an inspiring mission and it is such a great resource.

Here is a before and after photo to remind us all that quilting really does 'make the quilt'!   Enjoy!