Antique Novelty Conversation Prints: Dogs, Horses, Circus Dogs, oh my

I just adore novelty prints or conversation prints - so named because they sparked conversations. Their heyday was the 1880s and into the 1890s and zillions of yards were printed.

Here are a few from one of my tumbling block stars quilts from Lancaster County Pennsylvania, 1880s.

 Dogs were extremely popular motifs.

 And horses, horseshoes, jockey caps, etc. anything equestrian was super popular!
 

And lots of tiny, intricate prints like this circus dog performing tricks!

And I just found a great article on the collection of the Design Center at Philadephia University. Happy reading.

Chintz Glorious Chintz

Come to Kansas for the Chintz!! Birds and Blooms and sew much more ! June 7-9, 2018, Kansas City Kansas. You can't have an early fabric event without wonderful chintz and pillar prints. Here's a peek at some from the Starley Collection that will be flying to Kansas this summer.

Antique Cotton Crazy Quilt - Wonderful Novelty Prints and Appliques

Time to kick up your heels ? Shoes and horseshoes. Such a fun combination of piecing and applique and novelty/conversation prints on this cotton crazy quilt from about 1885. New York State. Starley Quilt Collection.

Equestrian prints were especially popular - note the horse shoes above and below!

Another fun applique Miss Kitty and her lost mitten. And there's another horse print. Also a great hexagon star cheater print (faux patchwork).

Civil War Signature Quilt New York Antique Quilt

Yummy blue leaf print from my antique Civil War 1860s signature quilt top from New York State.

Hannah Sherwood's block "Love God with All Your Heart"  There are several blocks with Bible quotes

More of the wonderful fabrics.

Sign of the Times -Antique Signature Quilts coming to Kansas- Rolling Stones Quilts

I have collected a number of antique quilts from Southeastern Pennyslvania and particularly signature quilts. A several of those are Quaker (shared the other day) and others are Pennsylvania German and are often Rolling Stones. Here are two of my favorites. Come see them in the cloth in Kansas City June 7-9

Unusual Rolling Stone quilt - set with alternating star blocks. And detail below

Dated 1852 Rolling Stone made for Miss Sarah A Xander of Weisenberg Township in Lehigh Co. PA. She was 14 at the time.

The full Xander quilt

April Showers Bring Antique Flowers - Antique Quilts

Some antique flowers to brighten your day. From my c. 1850 Virginia Crib Quilt, a true Civil War survivor from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Enjoy. 

ps Part of my Birds and Blooms lecture- come see it in Kansas City, KS June 7-9, 2018. See profile and email for more information or visit the MOKA quilt study group page on Facebook.

Signature Quilts and Chintz - Kansas, June 2018

Here's just a hint of the treasures I'll be bringing to MOKA Quilt Study Group, June7-9, 2018 in Overland Park, Kansas. Plus I'll be joined by 3 other wonderful presenters!! Must see Mid-west event of the year

Bird and Blooms Early Chintz, Come to Kansas

Can't wait to share my Birds and Blooms and early Chintz quilts at the MOKA Quilt Study Group, June 7-9, 2018 in Kansas City, Kansas. Here's a teaser. Let me know if you have any questions. You need to sign up by early May.

1850 Embroidered Quilt - New England Quilt Museum

Love learning (and keeping my quilt appraisal skills sharp) by studying antique quilts as well as vintage and new work. So my trip to the American Quilt Study Group and the New England Quilt Museum were very enjoyable continuing education. So glad to see the "Gilding the Lily" exhibit.

Summer spread from 1850 Vermont. Scroll down to see informational placard and more of the quilt. Don't forget to click on photos to enlarge and see details or read info. card.

Quilt show in Kansas!! Antique Signature Quilts and More

Please mark your calendars now to join me in Kansas City, Kansas JUNE 7-9. 2018 for the MOKA Quilt Study Group (MOKA means Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Arkansas) but everyone is welcome to sign up and attend. Here's just one of the signature quilts with amazing stories that I'll be sharing and you won't believe how beautiful it looks after its makeover ....

Dated 1848 Signature quilt from Barnegat, New Jersey. It was later finished with heavy wool batting, backed with plain feedsacks and tied closely with ties in the 1940s era.

 I rescued it from the hideous ties and heavy batting. It is now a beautiful top with fabrics that look like they were just printed.

Unusual Odd Fellows Symbol Quilt Antique Quilt

A very unusual album quilt in my collection -part of my Antique Quilt Masterpieces show.
Circa 1850 most likely from Maryland. Center is this intricate block with the fraternal organization: Internal Order of Odd Fellows symbols.

The full quilt - laurel leaf blocks are often seen in Baltimore Albums and the intricate double flap border is also a sign of Maryland origin. If you've seen some

1830s Nine Patch Early Fabrics Antique Quilt

More from my favorite early Nine patch - Starley Quilt Collection

Turkey Reds and Double Blues Antique Signature Quilt

As a quilt appraiser and quilt historian, I especially love antique signature quilts because they are so often dated and so are super helpful in learning to date by fabrics. This one isn't dated but I did find the location, Bucks Co. Pennsylvania, from the names. Fabrics are from late 1840s. Enjoy

Legal Triangles - Curated Quilts Mini Challenge

I had fun playing with color and shapes and quilting in making a miniature courthouse steps quilts for the Curated Quilts Mini Quilt Challenge: Triangles. As a quilty attorney, I'm fond of the logcabin variation called Courthouse Steps and liked how it created hourglass triangles with careful color placement. I made 4 wonky freeform blocks and just had fun. The straight line machine quilting also helps create triangles.

Tweet Tweet -Antique Honeybee Quilt with Birds

I'm a total birdbrain when it comes to collecting and making quilts. This is a unique quilt featuring the iconic honeybee block but highlighted with lots of fab applique birds. Part of my Bird and Blooms trunk show from the Starley quilt collection.

The honeybee block alternates with the birds block

Wonderful hand quilting on this beauty. don't forget to click on the photo to enlarge and see details