Sunday Pics!

What do you think? Dressed up for Easter, maybe??  Whatever the case, I'd say they're a good-natured couple having fun together!

That's some pretty amazing crazy patch work!

A Blessed Easter to You!

Sunday Pics!

Oh, I love this photo.  What a sweet looking mom teaching a darling daughter to sew.  I can't even describe how that makes me feel.

The machine is a Davis vertical feed from c. 1880.  The photo is from the book Quilts in Everyday Life, 1855-1955: a 100-Year Photographic History by Janet E. Finley, and I found it on Pinterest.

At our recent quilt show, we had a wonderful display of antique sewing machines, compliments of the Doyle family.  I had my treadle there as well, and my four-year-old granddaughter got to sew with me for a little bit.  She made a 4-patch block, not unlike what they are doing in the photo above.  Treasured moments.

A Blessed Sunday to You!

Saturday at the Quilt Museum - Unusual Album Quilts, Part 2

We are ontinuing with our look at unusual album quilts this week!

Album Quilt

Sarah Jane Parks Melson

Accomack Co, Virginia

1870

Isn't it wonderful?  I love the intensity of the colors and the "full feeling" of the blocks.  Last week we saw a quilt with what appeared to be a block out of place, and here I'm seeing the same thing.  Why a fifth oak leaf instead of continuing the pattern of the "acorn" blocks?  In any case, it's magnificent!

Apparently the quilt appears in the book, "Quilts of Virginia, 1607-1899." 

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Album Quilt

Katherine Cox Williams

Ohio

1873

Here is another pictorial album quilt.  I find them fascinating.  This one has the occurrence of a horse 5 times!  The border is a classic "tassel" scallop.  I've not been able to find any further provenance on the quilt other than what was attached to the photo on Pinterest.

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Album Quilt

1853

I can't find any information about this one, either.  In my mind, the thing that makes it unique is the castle structure in the middle.  There are also words embroidered in each corner, saying Peace; Unity; And; Love.  There is also the word "Folly" toward the top right of the quilt.  Very interesting.  I wish I knew more about it.

It appeared on an estate sale website:

https://www.estatesales.net/FL/Maitland/32751/617937

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Botanical Album Quilt

Cinthia Arsworth

1840-1845

Philadephia Museum of Art

Isn't this stunning?  Such detail and the feel is so consistent with the photos the blocks are meant to imitate.  The maker employed appliqué, broderie perse and embroidery to accomplish the piece.

From the curators' comments: "This quilt is a variation of the traditional Baltimore album quilt in which blocks were appliquéd to suggest pages from one of the pictorial, remembrance, or autograph albums that were popular in mid-nineteenth century America."

For a real treat, follow this link for more information and pictures:

http://www.philamuseum.org/collections/permanent/47684.html?mulR=8575%7C4482

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Album Quilt

1853-1856

This one is much more along the lines of the traditional Baltimore Album quilt, but there is just something so sweet and open about it.  I love the white space around the blocks that give the eye a chance to see each block and appreciate its beauty.  The scallop border is perfect for the finish.

It resides in the IQSC Museum as part of the James collection and you can see more about it here.

Thanks for joining us on our two week look

at unusual album quilts!

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 Pinterest, unless otherwise noted, and are linked to their origin whenever possible.

Sunday Pics!

At our recent Quilt Show, we had a display and information station about Potholder Quilts.  The lady in this photo is working on a Log Cabin potholder square.

They are made by making the square and then sandwiching it with backing, quilting it and binding it.  The squares were then made into a quilt top, and when put together, the quilt was finished.

There is a lot of fascinating information out there about this type of quilt. A book by Pam Weeks, called "Civil War Quilts,"  is a good resource.

One of the most fascinating things I learned about them is that they were made during the Civil War by Sanitary Commissions and lady's groups and then sent to the soldiers.

If you're interested, you can see lots of Potholder Quilts on these Pinterest Boards:

https://www.pinterest.com/pamweeksquilts/potholder-quilts/

https://www.pinterest.com/babsohare/potholder-quilts/

A Blessed Sunday to You!

Saturday at the Quilt Museum - Unusual Album Quilts, Part 1

The first quilt in this series caught my eye, and I'm off again on Album Quilts!  The ones I'm finding this time around are very different from others I've seen.

Reconciliation Album Quilt

Lucinda Ward Honstain

Brooklyn, New York

1867
85" x 97"

The detail on this one is amazing.  Each block is so unique and I'm sure there is a story behind each one.  I wish I knew them!  Apparently it resides in the IQSC Museum in Lincoln.

You can see more here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/06/arts/design/homefront-and-battlefield-looks-at-civil-war-quilts.html

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Constitution Quilt

1880

This is another amazing and unusual album quilt.  I can find no provenance on it at all.  It appears that "Old Ironsides" is the center medallion and the block detail is stunning.  Wish I could see this one in person, too.  If anyone knows anything more about it, I would love to hear.

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Album Quilt
Made for Reverend Fred Winans
Rockland County, New York
1860

This one really caught my eye because of the wonderful variety of color used.  The border is unique.  I don't think I've seen one like this before.

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Centennial Album Quilt
Burdick Childs Family
North Adams, Massachusetts
1876

I can find no provenance on this one, either, other than what is above.  It just astounds me what incredible depictions are in this quilt.  I wish I knew where it is!

See more pictures here:
http://casitawendy.blogspot.com/search/label/things%20i%20like?updated-max=2010-03-14T06:00:00-07:00&max-results=20

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Album Quilt
Elizabeth A. Hart & C.A. Covirt
1880-1890
University of Wisconsin - Madison

I tried to find this on the University of Wisconsin - Madison website, but I think it was pinned on Pinterest too long ago to reconnect with the original post.

I just love this one.  But I am curious why the makers didn't use the red wreaths in all four corners instead of having one in another location.  Maybe a "humility" block?  Seems unlikely in a quilt like this, though!  So much intricate work.  And the colors are so vibrant.

Next week we'll continue our tour of these beauties!

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 Pinterest, unless otherwise noted, and are linked to their origin whenever possible.

Introducing our new product line - Simpliqué!

We are really excited to introduce our new product line!

If you would love to appliqué, but struggle with needle-turning,

these products are for you!

Simpliqué (sounds like appliqué) was born out of my own desire to be able to do beautiful appliqué work simply and with no needle-turning.

Whenever confronted with a project that required the skill, I would just go to pieces.  Many of my friends love to do it and have commented on how relaxing it is for them.  Somehow that just never happened for me!

Some of those same friends showed me how they used plastic Mylar discs to create beautiful fabric circles for appliqué.  Then another friend - who  is also "needle-turn challenged" - decided to try to make leaves in the same manner.  It worked!  The Simpliqué idea was born!

This piece is done with Simpliqué leaves!

We currently have 6 Simpliqué leaf sets with more shapes to come.

• Simpliqué shapes are made of heat-resistant Mylar.

• They are easily traced around for marking and cutting fabric pieces.

• With the use of simple basting stitches, fabric can be cinched around the shapes.

• When Best Press or spray starch is used, the fabric holds its shape beautifully for simple appliqué with no needle-turning.

• Each set has 4 of each leaf size for streamlining at your pressing station.

Quick Visual Tutorial

For more detailed information, please watch our video tutorial!

Simpliqué Paisley Leaf Tutorial

The product line is on our website and can be purchased there!

Happy Stitching!

Sunday Pics!

Isn't this a great photo??  I love the setting, the gathering of women, their wonderful 1910-ish clothing, and the ingenuity of their quilt frame!  The caption below accompanied the photo on Pinterest.

"Quilting Bee, circa 1910s The quilting frame was made of four pieces of wood clamped together with four iron clamps to form a square. Two of the iron clamps can be seen in this photo. The frame was held about 2-1/2 feet above the ground with four chairs. Two or three of the chairs can be seen in this photo. Four or more ladies could sit around the frame and work on the quilt at the same time."

A Blessed Sunday to You!

Some of my quilts from our quilt show....

Our quilt show last weekend was wonderful.  So many beautiful quilts, most of them hand-quilted.  If you'd like to take a look at what was there, you can check out our In-Stitches Blog.

So, instead of old quilts, I'm going to share some of my own that were in our show. I've designed most of them. My daughter and I joke that we've never completely made a quilt from a real pattern. We just can't do it somehow!

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LeMoyne Star Pinwheel
Debbie MacInnis
Chehalis, Washington
2015
56" x 56"

This first one is called LeMoyne Star Pinwheel and the inspiration came from an 1830 quilt. It's 56" square and I used the Mill Book Series Circa 1852 fabric line from Moda.

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Friendship Civil War Sampler

Debbie MacInnis

Chehalis, Washington

2015

This one is a friendship Civil War Sampler. My good friend Annie and I each made one, both of us making 2 each of half the blocks, and then we swapped. It is based on Barbara Brackman's Civil War Sampler project on her blog a few years back. We've had a great time! If you'd like to see the story of the quilts, you can read about it on our Civil War Quilting Sisters blog.

http://civilwarquiltingsisters.blogspot.com/

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Miniature Civil War Sampler
Debbie MacInnis
Chehalis, Washington
2015
23" x 29"

This may look a little familiar to some of you.  After making the quilt for my daughter-in-law -- which became our 2015 Block of the Week project -- I really wanted to do some "little" work. So I made a mini replica of the original quilt using 3" blocks and identical fabrics. I gave it to my granddaughter for Christmas. Her first words were, "Mom, it's just like yours!" Made my day. The size on this is 23" x 29"

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Little Blue Baskets
Debbie MacInnis
Chehalis, Washington
2015
30" x 30"

This is another "little" that I designed, "Little Blue Baskets." Its inspiration came from a pink and green basket quilt from 1858. It measures about 30" square.

I now wish I had made it bigger, because I love it!

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Colorado Log Cabin
Debbie MacInnis
Chehalis, Washington
2015
72" x 96"

This is my largest hand-quilted effort to date. I made it for my son in response to his asking me if I'd make him a quilt. Of course, I said "Yes!" Especially because I was secretly plotting to make him one, anyway!

I first saw the pattern in a quilt book in 1998 or so. It's called "Colorado Log Cabin." I loved it and really wanted to make one --and it never left my "someday list."

It's pretty big. It measures about 72" x 96". I lived under it for months as I was quilting it!

Thanks for joining us today!

Happy Quilting!!