2022 Island Batik Brand Ambassador - Unboxing Video

 I'm sew excited to announce that I've been chosen as a 2022 Brand Ambassador for Island Batik Fabrics!

 The house block is a sneak peek at my 1st project - another antique repro quilt based on a quilt in the Starley Collection.

I've received 2 boxes brimming full of wonderful batik fabrics and much more!! Some of the other treasures included 4 queen-sized batts from Hobbs Batting and thread from Aurifil Thread. 

Here's my official unboxing video showcasing the beautiful fabrics I'll be using to create projects for the first half of 2022.

A big thank you to Island Batik and the other program sponsors. Thanks.

Day 26 - A Magical Month of Antique Quilts - Super Christmasy Quilt

 This is one of my most Christmasy quilts!  Staghorn applique pattern, antique quilt, circa 1860. Starley Quilt Collection. Of course, red and green proclaim the holidays, and the holly berry style wreathy appliques do too. Click on the picture to enlarge and see the details - such as all the embroidery that makes this quilt delightful.

Here's the full antique quilt. It is always interesting to see how the earlier quilters arranged their applique designs. This unknown maker aligned the 4 ferns to face to the center, focal point applique.  

I also like to see how makers figured out their borders and got their designs around the corners. This quilter made each border separately, starting in from the border width and continuing to the corner, repeating 3 more times. A great method that avoids having to make the borders meet in the corners. Note - if the border designs are not continuous, you don't have to worry about them matching :) 

A bit of the folky border. Actually, the whole quilt is a bit folky and I really like that. Folky and informal is more fun than precise and formal design.

Day 3 - Month of Antique Quilts - Starley Quilt Collection

 Thanks for stopping by for another installment of this month's blogathon of antique quilts from the Starley Quilt Collection. 

Lovely this Wild Goose Chase in an awesome red zigzag setting! Such a bold choice. And a tricky one as there a lot of partial seams to create that zigzag.

This quilt top is from Michigan and is likely a time-span quilt - blocks made by one quilter and joined/ sashed by a second quilter. It wasn't finished which is a good thing for me as I like to share it in trunk shows and tops are much easier to schlep around than quilts.

31 Days of Antique Quilts - December Quilt Blogathon - Day 1

For the SEVENTH YEAR in a row Cheryl Sleboda of Muppin.com is leading her December 31 Day Blogger Challenge and for the SEVENTH YEAR, I am joining in. I'll need to post twice today to catch up. I hope you'll consider joining in too (click blue to learn more). It is a great way to get back in the blogging groove, if you've lost your mojo. Or just a good way to keep going and get motivation and new viewers. Hope you'll check back in to see all the treasures I'll be sharing.

To start off the antique quilt show, here's one of my red and green treasures: an antique circa 1850s peony quilt with hand piecing and hand applique and beautiful hand quilting. Part of the Starley Quilt Collection. Enjoy! 

Ps. I love sharing these treasures in person and virtually and would be happy to join your guild live or via Zoom for a trunk show and/or class. I teach quilting classes too.

Antique Quilts Celebration - A Month of Antique Red and Green Quilts

 Red and Green or Pink and Green Antique Quilt - Part of the Starley Quilt Collection.

The pattern is Cherry Tree. Don't you just love all those dots (circles)?

Such an interesting arrangement and combination of elements with the formal set of the applique blocks and the rather freeform look of the border. From a distance, the border flowers and leafs look like they have been scattered but they are all anchored by a delicate yellow vine. Click on the photo above to see the details.

Antique Quilts - Day 21 of a Month of Antique Quilts - Red and Green Quilts

 Okay, this is more Pink and Green :) But close enough, I'd say. The pattern is an Uneven Nine Patch, also known as Puss in the Corner. Starley Quilt Collection.

Check out the fabulous zigzag pink and green border!

Click on the photos to enlarge and see the great fabrics and the diagonal triple rodded hand quilting (3 lines of quilting, space, three lines, space, repeat).

Antique Quilts - Day 20 -A Month of Celebrating Antique Quilts Red and Green Reel

 A very Merry Christmas Quilt! This is the poster child for exquisite Red and Green quilts. The Reel or Hickory Reel quilt is so elegant and cheerful and clearly done by someone with a designer's eye. Note how the blocks set on point create a wonderful secondary 4-leaf pattern and give the quilt so much movement. Circa 1850 and likely from Maryland. Starley Antique Quilt Collection. Part of Quilted Joy class and trunk show - now available as a virtual class.

And then the masterfully executed swag and tassel border is the crowning touch. Just look at how she beautifully rounded each of the 4 corners! She definitely liked hand piecing and applique but I don't think she was a big fan of quilting or maybe she ran out of time before the quilt was due. Click on the photo below to see the unique quilting motifs - a pair of scissors above the green swag and a pair of spoons below it. Not a lot of quilting but who doesn't love quilted scissors and spoons! 

Antique Quilts - Day 18 of Antique Quilt Show - Red and Green Antique Quilts

 Antique quilts - a month-long festival of antique quilts! Bethlehem Star or Mathematical Star. Starley Antique Quilt Collection. Love all the interesting applique accents! Likely made in the Eastern Seaboard area - perhaps Maryland. Circa 1840s.

Click on the photos to enlarge and see these amazing fabrics - circa 1840s!

More delicious greens and Turkey reds!