I've Got the Blues- More Antique Quilt Inspiration

I really enjoy recreating quilts from my collection and giving the old quilts new life. Here's my mini arrows with the antique inspiration quilt from the Starley Quilt Collection.

The reproduction is only 16" x 16". It was made as a donation for the Quilt Alliance fundraiser challenge. And I liked it so much that after donating it, I bought it back from the eBay auction. I do a trunk show lecture on "Rising to the Challenge" (Challenge Quilts) but I don't make a lot of quilts so rarely really let any go.

And look at that little center arrow. It is only 1 inch finished :)

And this is the antique inspiration:

Amazing Star Quilt from New England Quilt Museum

I had such a wonderful time on my second visit to the New England Quilt Museum last fall. If you are ever near the Boston area, do yourself a favor and visit! You won't regret it.

They had a special display and bed turning for the American Quilt Study Group tour and we got to see some beauties. I've blogged about several (put New England in the search box to see more).
Here is one of the delights. Scroll down for the quilt's exhibit card and info. Click on pictures to enlarge and enjoy!

Antique Basket Quilt - Revisited and Revamped

Generally, I look to my antique quilt collection for inspiration when making a new quilt. And while I often make close reproductions with repro fabrics, I also enjoy using bright and bold fabrics to give new life to old patterns.

This is a whimsical black, white, and hot pink quilt I made that was based on a single border element in an antique Princess Feather quilt in the Starley Quilt Collection. It is hand applique and hand quilted (in pink thread, to boot!)

And here is the antique inspiration

And the full Princess Feather Antique Quilt.

Antique Crazy Quilt Cheater Print

Yesterday I shared a Tumbling Block Star quilt that featured a crazy quilt cheater print fabric. Here's more from that great fabric. --the butterfly below is fussy cut from the stimulated/preprinted crazy quilt fabric.

Here's the cheater fabric -- see the butterfly! Don't forget to click on pictures to enlarge and see details.

And the bird and here he is on the hexagon quilt

And a close-up of him along with a blue cheater print below him.

And that blue polka dot and the paisley below it are both fussy cut from the crazy quilt print.

Antique Tumbling Block Stars Quilt

Starley Quilt Collection. I have a special fondness for tumbling block stars and this antique top is another special example of the pattern. Note the careful color placement.

Don't forget to click on pictures to see details like the bird print below (under pink diamond, far right). It is from the crazy quilt cheater print I've written about in the past.

There is more of that same crazy quilt print below - middle of the picture next to Indigo Blue diamond - piece with simulated or faux crazy quilt embroidery stitches. Enjoy

Beautiful antique fabrics - eye candy

I love early fabrics!! Especially those from the 1830s and 1840s. Here are a couple of fab ones for you to enjoy. Click on photo to see detail.

Antique Crazy Quilt - Cotton Crazy Quilt

Generally, when you hear the phrase "crazy quilt" you think of high style fancy silk and satin and velvet quilts with intricate embroidery and over the top details but not all crazy quilts are fancy or made from silks.

This is a simpler version but still a "crazy quilt" and made out of cotton. Starley Quilt Collection. Late 1800s. Individual pieces are foundation pieced onto fabric squares.

1876 Centennial Cheater Print Quilt

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.