Carolyn Miller Collection Part 1

I had the good fortune to see
"Dazzling Domestics: Late 19th Century Pennsylvania Quilts from the Collection of Carolyn Miller" at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum.   (Golden Colorado)
I was sorry I missed her gallery talk but hope to meet her one day.  The collection is stunning.

So...few words in this post - lots of pictures.

The quilts are all in spectacular condition.

76 x 85 c.1850
"The birds on branches have embroidered eyes.  The top of the quilt, probably where the pillows would cover it, was intentionally left plain.  A variety of leaf designs were quilted in plain spaces (alternate blocks).  Small white binding was applied."

Amazing variety of quilts

Stars sashed in Lancaster blue, green setting, red corner squares



Many, many more quilts - - but how about some detail...

How about some quilting by a zig-zag border?

Love a knife edge

This red... I'd take a bolt!

The Exhibit runs through July 28th, if you are in the area it is worth a stop.  

The exhibit includes "Darling Dollies"

More pictures later  - - gotta run.   Not much stitching going on this week.

Enjoy!!

Little Stars With Friends

Trio of little stars

This is a special trio.

I've shared my little stars with you.
Let me introduce the original - and a friend's version.

The original vintage quilt is six blocks sashed.
1890-1920's prints.  Machine quilted, mourning print on the back, knife edge.

These are 3" blocks - hand pieced.
We hand quilted ours, and used alternate blocks instead of sashing.

Vintage fabrics - hand pieced and quilted

My friend used some of her vintage fabric stash for her little star quilt - including the back.  Look how soft the blues are.  Some red sparkles...just beautiful.

I love it - tried to keep it on the counter, but she remembered to take it home...smart girl.

She did share her vintage fabrics with me for a future project.  Great fun!




If you made one, what would your fabric choices be?
Have a great weekend!

Calico Paradise

Every quilt has a story and this quilt first appeared to me four years ago.  Little did I know it would end up on my kitchen counter in 2012?


In 2008 I saw this quilt in APQ, in the back where they feature a special quilt with a teaser paragraph.  It is a stunning quilt and I was hoping to learn more about it.  I ripped the page out... Time passed...and I went on to other projects.

In 2010 we moved to a new house (so a new sewing space) and this is one of the clippings I pulled out and put up for inspiration.

Pulling for my project

In 2011 I attended the AQSG seminar in Cherry Hill and sat mesmerized at Show 'N Tell Night as amazing quilts paraded across the stage.

Guess what?  It was there!
At this time I still had not met Ann, and hadn't connected her to Notes From The Quilt Lab Blog.
Through the course of the week I was able to meet Ann, see more pieces from her fabulous collection and 'talk quilts'.

Solids and prints - some fussy cutting

In 2012 Ann gave a presentation at Temecula Quilt Company in Southern California.  I offered to chauffer her and brought some of my pieces for her to see on the ride.

My theory is Catherine's Garden and Calico Paradise have much in common...the center focus, four corner features, botanical emphasis... more on this in a future post.

Rich Color

The quilt is now fully patterned and available in our Etsy shop.

Finished size is about 80 x 90 (depending on how you decide to do the final border).

Fabrics were narrow in 1860 - the maker probable split two lengths in half.  Today we might prefer to split 42/44 into fourths.  Fun for us to decide.

Backing is a purple stripe - love that with the rich madders on the front.

It's faded now - but you can see hints of it's former vibrancy.










Have a great week - I hope you are steeped in collaboration - I will be!

Two Quilts in One with Great Color

Large floral prints surround the center yellow and blue 

This quilt is a fun example of color and prints.

I've enjoyed looking at the wild mix of prints.

Hand Quilted - nice cable in the blue outer border.

Binding:  Front folded to the back and machine stitched down with rather long stitches in white thread.

Back

The back is as good as the front.

What a great job lining up the framed bar backing.

When you enlarge the picture you can see the quilting lines.

Center Prints

Here are some detail shots of the fabrics.

Center fabrics are prints - no solids in the center or the quilt.

Great textured blacks....nice contrast by the lights/blues.

Quilting lines on the black fabric.

Pieced Stripe
The pink reads peach in this photo - but that's my bad photography not doing it justice.










Seems like I've been 'on the go' for weeks - because I have!  Its all been FUN.  I have so many more vintage sewing tools to share - but it will be a bit before I get back to those - thanks for waiting ;-)
Hope you are having fun too.
Do you love the use of color and prints in this quilt??

Little Stars Sharing With Friends

Nine Inch Square - Three Inch Blocks

Three inch blocks - need I say more?

Yes!

Thank you K for making blocks along with me, so/sew much fun.  Love the old fabric for the backing.

Thank you L for digging into your stash and generously sharing.

Thank you P - Love the brown and madder reproduction prints.

Three Inch Star

I have a vintage doll quilt with 3" blocks - set with sashing I thought about reproducing...

But I own the quilt so it was the jumping off point.  I changed up the fabric era and the setting.

It is hand sewn and hand quilted.

If you want the 3" star pattern I have a quick draft I am happy to share!


Have a fabulous weekend!