Antique Quilt Makeover- PA Inspiration

I'm busy quilting on my latest quilt reproduction/rescue/makeover, etc. for a national challenge. I was  heavily influenced by the PA German aesthetic and inspired by about half dozen antique quilts in my collection. Above is the completed top (40" x 40").  You can read about all the antique inspirations, block by block on my other blog, http://www.starleyquilts.blogspot.com - see the January and February listings.

Here are the block inspirations:

And here are some of the PA color inspirations

and this gem

Again, see 2012 entries on http://starleyquilts.blogspot.com/  to learn about the above inspirational antique quilts.

1880 Hexagon Medallion with Novelty Prints; Antique Quilt

I'm revisiting the quilt featured in the Cupids in quilts valentine's day post.    Here is the center with a great bird from a cheater cloth/printed patchwork crazy quilt fabric (the fabric was used many times in the quilt).  And if you look closely you'll find a centennial 1876 flag print (don't forget to click on photos to enlarge them).

Here is the full quilt, love the graphic nature of hexagon medallions with careful color placement and this is a real triumph of both art and workmanship.  Circa 1880 in the charm style although with repeats (mostly fussy cut from different parts of novelty/cheater cloth fabrics).  It has lots of wonderful unusual novelty prints and I'll share a few in this posting.   You can scroll down to the prior post or click on the link above to see the cupid fabrics.

Probably the most important fabric in the quilt is this dated centennial print from 1876 with 1776- 1876, the  Liberty bell and the names of the original colonies.

Next we find this charming couple and another bird and on the middle of the bottom row another printed patchwork print (see how it looks like a piece of sewn patchwork).  The 1880's were the heyday for such fabrics.

Next we find another person in a lovely striped outfit and a simulated needlepoint flower and look closely, that  flower is from a printed patchwork imitation crazy quilt fabric.

Cupids in Antique Quilts

In honor of St. Valentine's Day, I went on a search for cupids and hearts/arrows in my antique quilt collection.  Here is the best cupid fabric ever ... The Cupid-Seller or Love Merchant, a toile de Jouy, from Jouy France, Oberkampf fabric company, from 1817.  Look at the amazing detail.

And here are a couple of cupids from a circa 1880 hexagon medallion quilt (also has centennial fabrics).

And a bird (love bird?) getting shot with cupid's arrow, from my 1845 Virginia crib quilt

And finally from my dated 1850 Chester Co. PA, Quaker quilt, here is a heart being shot by cupid's arrow

Happy Valentine's Day

PA Tumbling Block Stars

Center of my antique tumbling block star quilt c. 1890 from the Kreider family of Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania.  It is unusual not only for its maker's careful color placement to make stars and cubes and match opposing  star points but most importantly for its center star of solid fabrics.  It is part of a small group of less than a dozen tumbling block star quilts found in Lancaster Co. each with a distinctive center block (and only the center block) composed of solid fabric as shown above.  This interesting niche group of tumbling block star quilts was discovered by my friend Greta Van Den Berg and luckily I was with her when she made the discovery.  I've since acquired two of my own both found by Donna Vitale of GBbest.

Here is another star showing the careful matching of opposing star points - indigo print to indigo print, madder paisley to madder paisley.  Also note the floral quilting in the diamonds.

And here is one of the delightful novelty prints:  a circus dog jumping through a hoop.

Click on this picture to enlarge or increase your font size to really see the wonderful novelty prints in this block. On the left is a butterfly print and on the right there is a delightful horse and rider (and a few with unknown motifs).  Also see the 2 different but very closely matched green prints.

And finally, here is a photo of my 1st tumbling block star, more photos of it to come

Whig Rose with Birds and Fish

No, your eyes are not deceiving you, that is cheddar orange fishing bird catching a fish on my antique quilt!

The blocks are a pretty standard Whig Rose or Rose of Sharon but that border is not standard by a long shot.  You can see another Whig Rose quilt in my banner pic and type in rose in the blog search block to see more of the banner quilt and another in my collection. 
This would have originally been a red and green quilt but the red was fugitive; see the rose center, buds and flowers and the 'ghost birds' in the middle of the border.  Almost makes one want to find some turkey red (TR) and start appliqueing.  Too bad the original maker didn't use a real reliable TR--maybe she got some fake TR, an unreliable synthetic dye or dyed it at home.

But the funky appliques more than make up for the faded reds.  Here again, fish, bird and don't forget the cheddar rooster!  Hand appliqued and machine quilted.  Circa 1870.  Large, 74 X 104 inches.

HELP NEEDED! The seller saw a picture of this border on another antique quilt in some antique quilt book but can't remember which one.   I will give a reproduction fabric charm pack to the 1st person who finds another bird/fish antique quilt border.  Start hunting.

Cheddar Cotton Crazy - Great Novelty Prints

Detail of circa 1890 cotton crazy quilt top.  This block  and the whole quilt is chockful of great novelty and conversation prints.  Love the appliqued cat who hasn't lost her mitten. Also the novelty running horse and of course, the printed patchwork aka cheater cloth (a pretty famous print).
Note:  the printed patchwork star/hexagon was produced by Cocheco in about 1882.
  P.s. don't forget the wavy green 'eccentric' print in the bottom right corner.

Here's the full top.  You can see all the different blocks and large variety of piecing and appliques.  Quite a charming conglomeration.  Do an eye spy of all the motifs:  hearts, more mittens, boot, mirror, cross and more.

And here is one of the most known and sought after cheater or novelty fabrics:  the Mikado (Gilbert and Sullivan opera) this version done in a crazy quilt print.  A wonderful parrot? type bird and an indigo blue leaves w/shadows print.   

More terrific fabrics:  jockey cap/horse shoe conversation print; blue and black floral print from Hamilton Print Works printed 1881 (Lowell, Mass.) along with a moire or wood look print in pink; a border print; an ombre pink polka dot and a blue crinkle type print.  The Hamilton print is also found in red, tan and green.

Here's an old fashioned button shoe applique, a horseshoe novelty and a great sampling of 1890 pinks.  And below is another interesting block- reminds me of a kite or a pinwheel. Enjoy.

Stars - Bloggers Quilt Fest

Here is one of my favorite quilts, a Bethlehem Star, circa 1850 from Pennsylvania.  One can't help but smile when looking at this quilt!  Part of my antique quilt trunk show, Quilt Masterpieces.

From the eBay listing: "An amazing rising sun quilt with satellite stars and deep blue print background. I love the way this quilt was designed with the blue background. The center star floats against a blue background sky."

Wouldn't you just love to meet the person who made this quilt, one brave quiltmaker as this pattern is not for the faint of heart.  Here's a detail:

And another, love that yummy turkey red print and the saturated blue :

Note:  the quilt top is from around 1850 BUT it was finished much more recently probably in the 1940's or 50's.  That is when it acquired that wild yellow backing.
Click below to see my other entry in the BQF, a miniature antique reproduction quilt
http://starleyquilts.blogspot.com/
And to see other entries in the Bloggers Quilt Festival and/or to enter your own quilt

Antique Crib Quilt and Alliance for American Quilts Contest

circa 1845 antique crib quilt, block detail

Hope you'll indulge me in sharing my circa 1845 Shenandoah Valley of Virginia antique crib quilt and my reproduction again, I have number of new followers since springtime and I think they'll enjoy seeing it and...... I also want to let people know there are a few days left in the Alliances Viewers Choice contest (voting closes 9 p.m. eastern time on Monday Oct. 24th.  Below is my miniature reproduction, Virginia is for Lovers, size 16 x 16.  It is hand appliqued (the little baskets are only 1.5" tall) and hand quilted.  Quilt number 117 in the contest.  Go to http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e3samo2ogn3k75iz/a01ztgu2x75ev/questions ** If that link does not work or shows survey already taken, then go to
http://www.allianceforamericanquilts.org/, click on link "View, vote, bid! Viewer's Choice Voting" and on next page click on "View, Vote, Bid" to get to the survey.  Again it is number 117.  This contest is separate from the springtime voting (I am thrilled to say that I won 3rd prize in that voting).  Thank you for the support.

Virginia is for Lovers, reproduction quilt, 2011, 16" x 16"



Antique quilt and reproduction

To learn more about both quilts, put crib quilt or Virginia in the search box.

circa 1845, antique crib quilt

Centennial 1876 -- 1000 Pyramids Quilt

Circa 1880 “1000 Pyramids” quilt. 74 x 85”. Hand quilted. Lots of interesting novelty or conversation prints.

Love, love, this novelty of a girl posting her letter and the mailman picking it up. One of the all time most charming novelties. And there is a sweet shamrock and a red berry? ditsy.  Remember:  click on the pictures to enlarge.

 Of special note is the centennial print with interlocking dates of 1776 and 1876 and CENTENNIAL; printed for the 1876 celebration.  Even with the tear and mend, it made this quilt a winner.

And of course, there is a horse, so often found in quilts of the era with novelty prints, also 2 different stars, a horseshoes.  And lovely little branches with heart shaped leaves are too sweet.  As I mentioned in my last post, plaids both printed and woven are oft found in early quilts. 

And here's another piece with a great bird, horseshoes again, stars, little trees?, asterisks *, etc. 



 Here is more of the quilt (about a quarter), enjoy. Don't the random cheddar orange pieces make the quilt sparkle.  Not a charm quilt but there are a lot of different fabrics.

Not very wordy this time but please let me know if you have any questions or want to see more photos and I'll will help you out.

Antique 1880 Hexagon Mosaic Medallion

Hexagon Mosaic Medallion
circa 1880, Ohio, 86 x 70"

 This graphic antique quilt gives the impression of being sewn in wedge segments but is done in staggered straight rows.  Each row is cut from one fabric but a few fabrics are used in two rows.  2" Hexagons.  Purchased from Cindy Rennels.  A great mix of madder reds and browns alternating with black and white shirtings; small scale prints, clearly a well planned quilt.

Detail of center -- don't forget to click on it to see the fabrics up close.  The floral in rows 3 and 5 is especially charming.

Again, you'll want to click on pic to zoom in and see the upper row shirting, it is a delightful cherry heart design.  It is interesting to note how many elegant 19th century quilts have one or a few stripes or plaids, like the blue and cream stripe on the last row and the printed plaid below.  They add interest and are a great element to add to make reproductions look more authentic.

This detail shot shows the interesting quilting- straight line grid through the blocks rather than the traditional outline.  If I ever make a hex quilt, I will use this method -- much less work than stitching around each individual hex.