Red And White Part 3

This is probably the last post for this quilt.
At first I thought she was pointing, but with a closer look, I think the artist intended the dog to sit or be at attention.  My dog would be jumping....


Love the detail of her clothing, the little french knots around the collar.  Very tiny stitches in the embroidery and the hand quilting.  Sighhhhh

The red thread is a little faded, but still in good shape.  I always wonder how the quilt made it to a sale.  No one wanted it?  Couldn't agree?

In this photo you can see the binding is worn, but I don't plan to do any restoration on it.  I won't use the quilt, just rotate it through to display now and again.

I love how the chair back is right along the edge of the quilt, it emphasizes the straight ladder back chair.  The little girl has no smile - an embroidery result or planned?  I had hoped the book would have writing - a clue maybe, but no.  We can only imagine the story....

Next week I have pulled out a more scrappy old quilt....
Until then - ENJOY!

Red And White Part 2

I use a biscuit jar to store some of my little red pin cushions.  Many still have the old pins and needles from other sewers - some from long ago, others more recent.  Love the pearly headed pins...I'll have to get out my German pin boxes for a future post.  They used to be easy to find at sales but now I think more people are interested in them.  My grandmother would have shook her head to think anyone would care to have an old used pin cushion, let alone see it as a decorative object.

Morning Glories and the moon - suppose they imply moon flowers?  I looked through the books:  "Red & White" American Redwork Quilts and Patterns by Deborah Harding, its a two book set,  (ISBN 0-8478-2244-3) and found nothing similar.  There is another moon block in the quilt with owls.

At some angles I think the triple line quilting might detract from the hand embroidery, but it does carry the eye to the feathered circles.  I have yet to hand quilt a feathered circle but it is on the short list.  So beautiful.  One of the favorite things I love about this quilt.  I'm usually challenged when I decide how to quilt a finished top and I'm not sure what I would have done around the embroidery.

The little shoe pin cushion is leather, with little seed beads around the border.  The heel of the 'shoe' is made of wood and has a #8 carved in the bottom.  The leather sole has little tacks attaching it to the body.  Very detailed construction.  I was using it, but decided to stop as the fabric cover was starting to show a little wear.

The stiletto isn't old, but I like the turned handle. I keep it in a 'sewing block' next to my chair, but have to admit I rarely reach for it - but it looks nice...too bad so many tools are plastic now.


The small scissor has great sharp little tips.  I used to do a fair amount of hardanger and cut work and the sharp tips are a must have.

The background red fabric is a newer release from Judie Rothermel

I'm trying decide what quilt to explore next, any requests?

Thank you for stopping by - visit again soon!

My Red & White Quilt

Just returned from a long weekend in New York City and had a wonderful time.  We went to The American Folk Art Museum presentation:  Infinite Variety Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts.  It was spectacular.  Thank you Joanna Rose & Family.

I met up a few friends and in conversations with my husband we discovered I didn't know how many quilts I have, nor did I have them documented.  Somewhere in the course of the weekend I decided to document my collection, and share it with you!

What better quilt to begin with - my red work quilt.  This quilt was purchased recently in Whittier CA, at an antique mall.  It has exquisite hand quilting.  I will share additional photos later this month.

I also collect antique needlework tools, school girl samplers and scissors.  I will work them into the post every chance I get.  In this photo I've included one of my child's sewing machines.  The Coats & Clarks thread holder has crochet thread.  I also have a fun stash of vintage laces and crochet hooks.  

We also went to the Masterworks From The American Folk Art Museum and the Super Stars Exhibits.  Very inspiring.   I am working on a reproduction of the Bird of Paradise/Civil War Bride Quilt so it was interesting to see it in person.