Saturday at the Quilt Museum - Sunflower Quilts

How about Sunflower Quilts this week?  There surely are some beautiful pieces out there.

I spent some time on The Quilt Index website and perused their 1800's offerings.  There are many, so I picked the ones that struck me in some way as unique or beautiful.

So, here we go!

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Sunflower
Susannah Yerkes Bliss
New York
1860
84" x 96"

This first one was made by Susannah Yerkes Bliss in about 1860.  I wish I could get up closer and see the fabrics in more detail.  The description says it's done in white, brown and red with some yellow in the zig zag borders.

It resides in the permanent collection at the DAR Museum.
You can see more about it at The Quilt Index.

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Sunflower with Eagle

Nancy Viola Ganong

1870-1880

72" x 98.5"

This beauty in indigo and white is spectacular.  The appliqued eagles and motifs are beautifully done and the piecing is superb.  Look at all those tiny points!  The quilting pattern is beautifully complimentary to the blocks.  

It resides in the New England Quilt Museum permanent collection.

You can see more about it at The Quilt Index.

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Sunflower / Compass / Sunburst

Unknown Artist

Ohio

1850's

80.5" x 93.5"

This is for all the red-lovers out there.  The spectacular stuffed work makes this one shine.  The quilting pattern echos the blocks in a magnificent way.  I am continually impressed by the beautiful piecing.

You can see more about it at The Quilt Index.

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Single Sunflower

Unknown Artist

1865

88" x 100"

This is done in maroon fabric.  It has much the same look as the previous one, but it does not contain stuffed work.

You can see more about it at The Quilt Index.

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Scrap Sunflower

Mary Esther Smith

Norwalk, Connecticut

1800-1849

81.25" x 90.5"

I chose this one to share because of the profusion of fabrics used and the interesting alternate blocks using large print fabric.  Here is a detail photo.

Note the use of ombre fabric.  Isn't it cool?  In this block, it really makes me think of a real sunflower.

You can see more about it at The Quilt Index.

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Scrap Sunflower

Gertrude A. Tipple

1850-1875

75" x 94"

Isn't this a fun one?  I really like the border treatment, both in pattern and the scallops.  And the blocks are happy, using many colors.  The two detail shots below show some of the fun fabrics used.

You can see more about it at The Quilt Index

Thanks for taking this tour of Sunflower Quilts with us!

Happy Quilting!!

PLEASE NOTE:

- I am not a quilt historian.  I simply enjoy finding interesting quilts and sharing them with you!

- The quilt images on this post were sourced from The Quilt Index unless otherwise noted, and are linked to their origin whenever possible.

Saturday at the Quilt Museum!

Ocean Waves

You know that feeling when you see a quilt, and somehow it speaks to you?  And pretty soon, you just know you have to make it?

That's how it was for me with this green Ocean Waves quilt that I saw at The Quilt Index. It even ended up on our website header!

Here is the EQ7 version I created based on the original.  It has a divided center block, with one row of triangles around it.  A sea of green......

Original Quilt Information:

• 76.5" x 78"
• It was hand pieced and hand quilted by a Scott family member in New Jersey.
• It is dated 1850.
• You can see the original at the Quilt Index here.

And this is another one that speaks to me.  I recreated it in EQ7, as well.  I love the rich colors and the play of lights and darks that almost seem to reflect the nature of sparkling water.  You'll notice that the blocks are made differently from those in the green one above.  The quilter used a solid center, surrounded by two rows of triangles.  Isn't color amazing?

Original Quilt Information:

• 71" x 79"
• Hand-pieced and hand-quilted by an unknown quilter.
• It was made in c1870.
• It resides in the New England Quilt Museum's permanent collection.
• You can see the original at the Quilt Index here.

If you're interested in looking at more Ocean Waves quilts from the 1850-1875 period, you can follow this link to take walk into the past and rejoice in the diversity and creativity of our quilting fore-mothers!

Thanks for joining me on our jaunt to the Quilt Museum!

Happy Quilting!

PLEASE NOTE: I am not a quilt historian.  I simply enjoy finding interesting quilts and sharing them with you!