Reverse Applique

The shadow behind flowers is from the untrimmed red showing through

I ran across this little crib quilt yesterday at the RMQM - Sandra Dallas Library.

There it was, in all its glory - hanging above the copy machine.

It is tagged c. 1830
    Maker Unknown
    Irish Chain Crib Quilt
    36" Square

Besides the small scale (3/4" squares) 3" border
The ENTIRE border is reverse applique.

This is the corner detail.
The center red circle is 1/16th of an inch.

Spectacular needlework!

Three fabrics in the quilt, still in good condition.

Hope to see this one again - soon.

Pavilion 4 Quilt 1166 

I recall some other spectacular quilts that made use of extensive reverse applique.

This one is from the Infinite Variety exhibit in NYC.

It is reverse applique, embroidery finished with exceptional hand quilting.

Here are some detail pictures of the hand work.

Embroidered stems, reverse applique berries, leaves and stems.

Along the right edge of the picture you can see some of the embroidery.

This is a close up of the 1/4" - 1/2' berries - every one of them reverse appliqued.











The other quilt that is primarily reverse applique is in the Shelburne Quilt Collection.  I think it is pictured in the book, Art of the Needle: 100 Masterpiece Quilts from the Shelburne Museum,  
Another book:  Enduring Grace - Quilts from the Shelburne Museum Collection
It is a medallion vessel with flowers - but my books are still in storage - one of you will tell me and I'll update this!

Are you doing any reverse applique?
I have a but in some of my floral applique - but nothing as extensive as these examples.

Have a great weekend!

Catherine's Garden Progress

One of the 36+ flowers on the quilt

Reproducing my Catherine's Garden quilt was a joy.

When I wasn't stitching I was reseraching the information that came with the quilt.

The detail is wonderful, and it was all the more fun stitching it with friends.

We compared colors and fabric choices.

My friend chose the Amy Butler Banana fabric for her background - just like Catherine did.
Isn't it wonderful?

Mine version is the cream ground.

The quilted example pictured is the original 1855 quilt.  Ours are still tops.

We had great days comparing our tops to the original.

There are reproduction fabrics from Pat L. Nickols, Nancy Kirk, and some newer reproduction fabrics from Moda's Friendship line.

We got the wonderful Amy Butler 'Banana' background fabric from Fat Quarters Quilt Shop in Vista Ca.

We are constantly amazed by the original makers imaginative garden.  There are more than 36 unique flowers, and numerous leaves.

As I put the finishing touches on my top - I am thinking ahead to the backing.  The original is backed in solid cream, I just might so the same, but I love surprise backings.  I'll be posting my finished top any day now.  Wish me luck ;-)

Have a great weekend!

The Stash Hit The Road

Check out the box labels

Got Fabric?
Yes...and it's moving.  Except for the sub-stash, it's with me.


We have fabric, fabrick and...more fabric in boxes.  The packers didn't quite 'get it' but they were good sports.


The house is sold, the movers packed and loaded the household and it's gone to storage for now.


We did have a few things to move other than fabric.
Kitchen items, furniture....but that's not as fun as fabric.

Roxy peeking from her backseat travel 'nest'

Precious things were loaded into the cars.

This included the furry types - our little old Roxy, 13 years and hanging in with us.  She's always loved a good road trip.

Many quilts and needlework tools came in the car with us.

DH has a stash of wine and port that also came along for the ride.

Utah 

The drive was beautiful.

Blue skies, winding roads and majestic mountains.

At the end of the day a rainbow reminding us of the good times in our future.  We will miss our good friends in California and look forward to making new friends in Colorado.  I'm sure we will have company!

Our new home will mean a new sewing room setup with more space.  For now I have several projects with me so I'll be busy until we get into the new house.

Stay tuned....

Have a great week - travel safe if you're on the road!

Carolyn Miller Collection Part 3

Still more pictures...Collection of Carolyn Miller

On Exhibit at The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum through July 28.

"Dazzling Domestics:  Late 19th Century Pennsylvania Quilts from the Collection of Carolyn Miller"

What do you see in the border?
Scissors, crossed spoons?

Framed Medallion 86" x 95"  c.1870 Millerville -  Lancaster County, PA
"The pieced center medallion is surrounded by a saw tooth border and concentric frames of various patches.
The border fabric is turned to the back for binding.
Backing is gray/brown with pink ovals.  The name Amanda S. Dietrich is stamped on three light patches."  

Folded Indigo Star

Pieced Sampler 83" x 83"  c. 1870
"The center has a man's shoe, a woman's shoe, a cross and a heart.
Could this be a wedding quilt?
The backing is a tan printed lace on two opposing sides.
The binding is back to front on three sides.  The top is knife edge."

Zig zag and a large hand quilted border

Hearts on red - how perfect!

Thanks for looking at Carolyn's collection in the last three posts.  I didn't give a 'spoiler alert" because who can ever see an antique quilt to often or too close?  Besides, I didn't show everything in the exhibit.  When it travels your way you'll get to explore the surprise backings, maybe discover a little chintz and how about the various binding techniques...

Have a great weekend!

Carolyn Miller Collection Part 2

And the beauty continues....

Still the Collection of Carolyn Miller.

Photos taken with permission at The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum.

Where I could, I've included details from the labels at the exhibit.

Close up of block in the botanical sampler

Crossed Tulips 91" x 91" c. 1870
"The quilt has flying geese sashing.  The backing is pieced bars design with
 blue border fabric alternating with
a black, white and pink print.
The border fabric is turned to the back for binding .
Quilting lines, marked in pencil still remain."

Feathered Star

Feathered Star detail

Note the urns in the corners
Outer border motifs along binding edge

Double Nine Patch (Postage Stamp size) Mennonite
80" x 80"  c.1880
"Two alternating blocks.  One has the small nine-patches in the X position
the other has them in the O spaces.
Brown print backing was turned to the front for binding"

Nine Patch close up

Princess Feather Circle  78" x 78"  c. 1860
Lebanon County PA
"The maker must have made one princess feather and declared "No More!"
There is an oval stamp on the tan border that is printed on the back of the fabric.
It can be read with a mirror "Bleached and finished for Hill Manfg Co Lewiston ME" 

There's more...but I'll save those for another post.

Link to Part One

Link to NW PA Quilt Study Group HERE

Link to Mount Joy Quilt Study Group HERE

Link to Info on Carolyn's Texas visit HERE and HERE

Have a great weekend!