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!

Antique Valentine Hearts (Signature Quilt, Crib Quilt)

Here is a special Valentine's Day preview of my new quilt- with 2 very valentiney blocks. Don't you love the hand throwing the arrow at the heart? There are several blocks with hearts and other wonderful little drawings. It is a dated 1850 Quaker friendship album quilt from Chester County Pennsylvania. From the Worrall, Hoopes, Davis, Windle, Umstead, Hicklen, families.

 
Here is a full look at the Umsted block to further whet your appetite.

And here is another valentine to my readers: the 4th block in my reproduction of the 1845 crib quilt along with the original antique block. I'm reproducing it for the Alliance for American Quilts 2011 Challenge. Scroll down to my previous entries to see the other 3 blocks and the original blocks and also the full quilt.  Now onto  the hand quilting.

Antique Crib Quilt - Ring Around the Roses

Here is the 3rd block in my reproduction quilt for the Alliance for American Quilts challenge.  This little wreath was quite annoying (one of those blocks that has you looking longingly at the fusible or the shredder).  Very fussy applique, the old fashioned way.  I've already posted the original block, so you'll need to scroll down or click here to see it.
Several people have asked about the light blocks that are hard to see, they are done in a faded tiny yellow print.  Here is the first block of the quilt, enjoy.

Antique Crib Quilt - A Little Birdie

Here is the second block in my reproduction quilt for the Alliance for American Quilts 2011 challenge. Don't you just love how the bird is about to get shot by the giant cupid's arrow?  Very quirky.  And the formal floral urn squished in the corner- what was she thinking?  Don't forget to click on the photos to enlarge and see detail ... especially the fabric with birds on it that I used for the bird applique. 
 Please see the previous 2 posts to see my first block and the full picture of the original c. 1845 crib quilt from Virginia.  The original blocks are about 9" and the repros are bit under 7".  The little fussy needleturn applique is tricky but also kind of fun.  Here is the original block, it is very fragile, not sure why it is so much weaker than the other blocks. 

It has been interesting to reproduce the blocks in a similar but fresher look.  I had fun picking out and fussy cutting the bird fabric.  I generally try to do as exact as possible repros and would have used solid 'stained' muslin, etc.  Not sure which look I like better.  What do y'all think?  Thanks for visiting.

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.

Patriotic Quilt pattern #2 Donkey named Giddap

Just a few days after posting my Ararat elephant (previous post) from the Kansas City Star, I found a very affordable donkey quilt on eBay.  So in the interest of equal time for both parties and also because of several requests to see the donkey pattern, I am posting Giddap the Donkey, Brackman #226.77 which was first published in 1931.  I opened the box up and was very surprised to find, not only it is my first donkey quilt . . . but it is my first double knit polyester quilt - yikes.  Scary to think it will probably outlast the rest of my collection.  The white background is cotton and I didn't notice or think to ask about the rest of the quilt.  Based on the fabrics, I'll say it is circa 1970's. In doing some more research I found that the Star reprinted this pattern in 1977 which helps confirm the dating (probably more patriotic overflow from the bicentennial). I think I need to stick with my beloved 1800's cottons but it is a good reminder to ask lots of questions before purchasing.   The blocks are large 23" x 26".

Hope you enjoy (I think that pink donkey is smirking at me).  This is not a very common pattern but they are out there, if you keep looking.  I found another one on eBay last week, a 1950's gingham 4 block that was also very affordable and a lot less goofy (or creepy) looking and made of natural fibers but I already had one so I let it go (well I captured a bit of it).  Guess I should have waited a bit longer for this one or one from a dealer.

  Speaking of which, they are also a few available from antique quilt dealers  including my friend Cindy Rennels  who has a delightful 4 block pink example for sale on her site.

Vote heads or tails vintage block

Tails
Heads

This is reminder to my US readers to get out and vote today. Many of you quilt historians will recognize this block, even in two parts as 'Ararat'- Brackman #226.76. Published in the Kansas City Star, June 6, 1931. There was a companion/opposition block Giddap (donkey) that was published in July of 1931. These are the go to pieced blocks for republican and democrat as far as I know. Haven't seen any others-have you.

I don't want to appear partisan but I only have Ararat.

Two scans of vintage pillowcased quilt block in my collection.  Block is 14.5" high x 19" wide.  I haven't looked at the actual patterns but it seems like the elephant block is significantly smaller than the donkey. 

Antique Quilt - schoolhouse Bloggers Fest - Fall 2010

Antique House (schoolhouse) Quilt

c. 1890 72" x 72"

Thanks again to Amy for hosting another quilters blog fest where we feature our favorite quilts.
This is a current favorite- a school house block quilt. I like the funky piecing (the maker had some interesting sewing techniques) but was very careful to choose small scale fabrics which don't overwhelm the blocks as they are midsized about 9 inches. The 3rd picture shows the one schoolhouse (1st block, top row) that was done in a reverse color scheme-just too fun. Enjoy.
Don't forget to visit my other blog to see my miniature pink and black puzzle quilt

http://starleyquilts.blogspot.com/2010/10/bloggers-quilt-fest-fall-2010.html

Cat and Horses on Quilts --Oh My!

Cotton crazy quilt top-detail of block circa 1890

Novelty print -cats and thread

Novelty print- horse & rider (polo pony?)

I'm very fond of novelty or conversation print fabrics. And thought I[d start sharing some of my favorites -both from my quilts and other sources. The cotton crazy quilt has lots of notable fabrics and funky folk appliques and the block above includes a cat along with a horse novelty fabric which worked well with the other 2 blocks I found in my photo collection.

The cats and candles and thread are too cute although they do seem like a fire waiting to happen. These were a set of blocks that got away- I was outbid. The cats and horse blocks were sold on eBay by JK Gardner. Both are also circa 1890. I'd love to see novelty prints in other collections, so please post and share.

Antique Quilt -- Quilted Joy Rose of Sharon Bird Garden

circa 1850 Rose of Sharon 86" x 86"

Wow--this has to be what JOY looks like when it is quilted. I thought my earlier whig rose or rose of sharon quilt was busy with no negative space but this quilter really upped the ante. Can you tell I love this quilt? I didn't want to post it because I won't want to add anything else that will bump this down...so you will probably see it again. Another treasure from Mark French of Ohio.

The border is over the top with all the different flowers -irises, tulips, etc. I really like how the 3 stemmed flower groups have been stitched to make them into a basket. And the two different birds are delightful and the red birds seem to be enjoying the blue berries. They do look delicious. There are a lot of embroidered details (stitching on appliques, etc.)--so much to take in. Enjoy-I sure am.

If you have seen a similar quilt, please let me know as I haven't found anything close and neither has the dealer.

August 6th Antique Quilt Trunkshow Springville

c. 1860 basket quilt with bird appliques, probably New York state

(This beautiful basket quilt with birds, hearts and fruit or flower appliques found its way to me via Julie Silber of The Quilt Complex.) This is a Civil War era quilt.

Looking for an antique quilt fix--please come see me at the Springville Utah Art Museum Quilt Show trunkshow afternoon on August 6th, 2010 at 12:30 p.m. I will be sharing a dozen antique quilts from 1800-1900 and their stories. Learn a bit of quilt history while looking at some beautiful quilt stars (these are the original 100+ year old quilts not reproductions).

After the trunkshow you can enjoy the great new quilts on display at the museum through September 1st which by the way, includes 2 small quilts made by me and one by my sister Donna. If you can't make it to the show, read further on to see some of the antique quilts and visit my art quilt blog to see our Springville quilts (crazy quilt, folk art applique and peacock incognito). Feel free to contact me for a trunk show or quilt appraisal.

Update: my friend Bev posted an unsolicited but much appreciated glowing review of my trunk show on her blog, click here to read and see a few pictures. Thanks Bev.

Pink Antique Goose in Pond

This is one of my cheeriest quilts, you can definitely see it was made in the transitional period between the dark Victorian quilts and the bright 1930's quilt. It is a circa 1910 Goose in Pond quilt and from Ohio. It is a fairly uncommon pattern to find and I was quite pleased to find it.

Here is a four block section, note again the blues and burgundy of the first quarter. Also the simple functional baptist fan quilting, another dating clue as this wasn't the time of elaborate quilting.

Here is one of the two blocks that have sawtooth 'coping strips' to make them fit into the top. Blocks like this always interest me, wonder what happened . . . was it a group quilt and some people didn't read the instructions, did the maker decide to recycle blocks that weren't quite the right size or did she really have technical difficulties???? In spite of, or maybe because I'm such a diehard on my own quilts, I love these 'maverik' or what was she thinking quilts (thanks Julie Silber for one of my fav. quilting phrases).

It may be the person was a new quilter as this quilt has another unusual aspect: 3 different binding techniques were used - self binding (back brought to front), applied binding, and a knife edge. Again, don't know if it was a group quilt or a practice/learning quilt.

Bloggers Quilt Festival

I'm happy to have another opportunity to participate in the Bloggers Quilt Festival. Here's another favorite from my antique quilt collection. If you were lucky enough to attend the Home Machine Quilting Show 2 weeks ago, you may have seen this quilt hanging in my quilt appraisal booth. I also had a special antique exhibit which included the hexagon quilt pictured in my last post and which caught Amy's eye .

This c. 1885 blazing star is a good example of the colors, fabrics and styles of quilts of the 1880's and 90's. It has 2 red novelty prints with horseshoes (equestrian designs were very popular) and the typical reds and blues and light shirtings. The small star corner posts elevate the quilt and the double pink sashing is the crowning touch for this quilt star. Please click on the photos to see more detail of the fabrics. And please let me know if you have any questions about antique quilts.

Stop by my second blog as I am showing another c. 1890 star quilt for the festival-a cheddar orange variable star and its newly made reproduction.

Appraisals at Home Machine Quilting Show

Hexagon Madder Medallion Quilt c. 1875
I will be doing appraisals on May 6, 7 and 8, 2010 at the Home Machine Quilting Show (HMQS) in Salt Lake City, Utah. I am certified by American Quilters Society (AQS) to appraise all types of quilts-antique, vintage and newly made and traditional and art quilts. I will be in booth #514 so please stop by. I will be doing a demo lecture Thursday at 1:30 p.m. on Challenge Quilts-how to find and enter national challenges. On Saturday at 2:30 my lecture is on Learning from the Past-integrating insights from antique quilts into new. And on Friday, I will be presenting an hour long trunkshow 'Textile Time Travel' 150 years of antique quilts with approx. 30 quilts. I will also have a special exhibit with 9 antique quilts from 1830-1900.

Rocky Road to Kansas via Lancaster PA

Another great late 1800's Pennsylvania quilt. There really must be something in the water as those PA quilters and their unique and funky color sense continue to amaze me. I don't think anyone else does pink in a such an assertive way with no fear. Okay, yes that is a lot of generalizing but after a few years of studying, it is easy to pick the PA quilts out of the line up.

This Rocky Road to Kansas has a lot of movement due to the use of the double pink Greek key print ground that reads as a stripe. That fabric choice would probably have pushed the quilt over the top had the maker not been so careful in piecing the 'stars'. They are arranged in a very controlled manner/order: red/blue in centers, then chrome yellow, then the same fabrics used in the facing points. The centers are double blue/Lancaster blue and turkey red with chrome yellow details. There are a number of mourning prints and the back is a great neon stripe. Hand pieced, hand quilted. To see a very different example of a Rocky Road to Kansas, from another time and place (1930's Utah), click here .