Hattem Hexagon

I finished another quilt from the book, Promenade in a Dutch Garden by Petra Prins and An Moonen.

The original quilt is dated c. 1840 and is still in the family.
The family is from the village of Hattem.  The quilt has passed through the female lines of the family. Sadly the original makers name is unknown.

The reproduction in the book used a neutral beige hexagon for the setting of the florets. I opted for the light blue setting hexagons to look more like the original.

The book has many photos of the original and reproduction.

For the border, I finally cut into some of my favorite fabrics, "Lately Arrived" a Barbara Brackman line by Moda.

I enjoyed digging in my fabric stash for the floret prints. I didn't try to match the exact prints in the
original.
The use of stripes in the original was very effective.  I used several stripes.
The book authors called the quilt Circle of Witches - I don't know why. Perhaps because the selective cut prints are so bewitching?
Hexagons can be addictive?  What do you think?
UPDATED: The name circle of witches (heksenkring) is also the name of a circle of mushrooms found in the forest, maybe that is where the name comes from.  Kleine Vingers

I did make some personal modifications.
The side edges I used half florets.
Unlike the original I finished the top and bottom edges with full florets.

I hand pieced the hexagon panel to the border.

I used 1/2" hexagon papers.
There are 839 hexagons in my quilt - including the partials.







The florets are sometimes selectively cut.
Others I made more scrappy. The setting blue is consistent throughout.

This was such a nice filler project - portable for travel and fun.

I have more hexagon projects in the works.
How about you?

It is hand quilted with a sewn edge finish.  I have a c.1830 hexagon quilt in my collection finished with this technique.  That makes this quilt another one  I have done 100% by hand.

I was very pleased to find this cotton that has the look of a hand loomed cotton/linen.

I'm adding a label and a sleeve this morning and it will be ready to travel!

Happy Stitching,
Dawn


See more of my Dutch Reproduction Quilts HERE.
Private Message me for available trunk shows, lectures and workshops.
Etsy Shop is HERE.

Dressing a Canopy Doll Bed

Shona is dressing this wonderful doll bed.

I thought you would enjoy seeing the details,

and she agreed to share!

The canopy is in process, we can see that later.

The medallion center was cut from yardage and appliquéd onto the light fabric.

The center medallion finished at 6" square.

Isn't the hand quilting beautiful?

The medallion was cut from an Anna Griffin Jolie print.

The pillow case is hand embroidered with her monogram.

The stitching was done free hand - not using waste canvas.

Wonderful attention to detail.

Under the quilt are beautiful lace trimmed sheets.

The original ticking mattress was freshened and refilled.

The quilt is beautiful even off the bed.

Shona lightly pencils her hand quilting lines before stitching.

Note the lower corners are designed to accommodate a four poster bed.

The reproduction fabric squares were cut 2", finishing at 1.5"

They alternate light and dark.

Here you can see the quilt fit around the bed posts.

Thank you for sharing Shona!

Happy Stitching,

Dawn

Rose of Sharon SVBAQ Link Up Month 20

This is my Rose of Sharon block for the Shenandoah Valley Botanical Album Quilt Along.

I loved using the time plaid for the leaves.
The stem was an older reproduction from the Smithsonian.

It has been such a fun project, it does not feel like month 20!

I am anxious to get it quilted.
I have an idea where I want to hang it - maybe by winter?
OK, maybe next winter.

I sometimes have the urge to straighten out the little details in these blocks.

But I love the quirkiness of the subtle differences between the flowers.

The bit of red and the small bits of yellow, as in nature, make this a beautiful block.

You can see more beautiful photos on the blog and Facebook Page.
HERE and HERE.
Happy Stitching,
Dawn

Days For Girls

Saturday I had an opportunity to sew for Days For Girls (HERE).

It was a wonderful opportunity to step out of my box and do some machine work on brought fabrics.

Not only was I able to help in their efforts, I sewed fabrics I rarely use!  Flannels and batiks, also pretty pinks and rich purple prints.

I also sewed with polyester thread - which I had to dig deep for in some of the vintage sewing baskets I had. I was able to use up three spools of thread - that's a lot of seams.

We sat at tables with other stitchers so we had a nice time visiting throughout the day while we sewed.

Everything was all setup when we arrived and each work station was outfitted with tools and supplies.

This particular group meets three times a year.  The final kits from their work are delivered to Haiti. You can read more about their goals in the link above.

My friend donated a sewing machine for the solar powered sewing center they are finishing in Haiti. There, local women will sew these kits and sell various components for distribution by hospitals, educators and other non profits doing work in the area.  The high quality fabrics are hard to source on the island so I donated fabric along with my check and time sewing.

There were people serving as well as straight stitching.

The entire work room (church hall) was an array of beautiful color.

Each station was a different step in creating the final bag of supplies.

Non sewers helped cut and assemble.
The drawstring bags get the logo label of Days For Girls - helping girls stay in school and helping Haiti Work!

Have a great week,
Dawn
Links:
Helping Haiti Work (HERE)
Days For Girls (HERE)

Come On Over To My House - Part One

Antique Doll Quilt On New Hanger - Metal and Wood

Welcome!
I thought I would give you a little tour today.
We have been in the new house for four months and I am finally feeling - do I dare say it - settled?

Anyway, WELCOME!

I am frequently asked what I do with all of my quilts. The quilts I make I give away, use in my home and have a few stored for rotation.  In a future post I will share my storage.

This lighted sconce is between two doors in a hallway.

The little quilt easily clips off so I can rotate other little quilts.

Not archival, but I can clip acid free tissue under the clothes pins as needed.

Really cute at night with the light on and the soft glow on the

antique fabrics.

This is my Hexy Stars Quilt in the family room.

You can read more about it HERE.

I made a similar quilt for my son, HERE.

Another space I can rotate quilts.

This is one of many little vignettes in my studio area.

The green shelf is made of vintage wooden sewing spools.

This kitten on the post card is sewing little dresses.

The block and white photo is a couple with a bible and quilt block.

The doll dress is all hand sewn 19th century cotton - lots of detail!

The little dresser drawers have bits of fabrics and sewing treasures.

This is part of the back mud room.

The colorful quilt is opposite a bench and shoe cubbies.

A few times a year, this is another area I will rotate the quilt.

This quilt was used at an AQSG event. 

I smile when I think of friends who worked on that project -

quilts are wonderful memory keepers.

This is a c.1920s printed scarf I currently have in the powder room.

It was printed as a way to raise money as Colonial Williamsburg was 

being restored.  It is in an original frame - the framer left their information on the back.

I was able to research their business.

Another clue is the date of the Colonial Williamsburg mark on the back.

I can also see the fine selvage edge under the brown backing paper.

It was not framed for conservation and I have debated re-framing it.

It is hard, if not impossible to find fabrics today printed

with this amount of detail.

This design is currently being reprinted in sold and is pretty,

however, IMHO not near the quality.

Now, Let's head upstairs...

This has been in all of our homes

since, 1996. 

It is a reproduction - again, very fine cotton.

Reproductions today aren't as fine (IMHO)

In the niche on the left I have one of our tape looms.

On the right, a quilt that just about takes the entire wall.

I love the burst of color!

The neutral wall color is great for any quilt I want to hang.

On another hall wall I have a star quilt.

It doesn't hang as perfectly as we expect today's quilts.

For those of you who visited our Colorado home - this one hung in

the family room on the two story fireplace wall.

Much easier to rotate here!

Nice risk of life or limb on the ladder.

At the end of the hall is a band sampler and antique candle stand.

On top of the candle stand is an antique sewing box.

This is one of the guest rooms.

LOOK - This wall needs a quilt hung up!

Plenty to select from in that stack!

The rocker is an oak glider that was in the nursery

when our children were babies.

This is a guest room.

The hand tied canopy was a purchase decades ago.

We have always loved antiques.

The four poster is a reproduction queen size - very comfy.

I'm entertaining the idea of a suite of bed curtains for this bed.

What do you think?

Another wall of the guest room.

You can see the edge of the en suite. Each guest room

has facilities with a pocket door! Great for company.

The cupboard has a few treasures in it.

Another corner of the guest room.

The sleigh bed is doll size and has a matching wardrobe.

I made this set of bedding about six years ago.

The appliqué pattern is from Electric Quilt.

It was inspired from a Crib Quilts Book.

This is another wall in a guest room.

The quilt on the wall I made almost 15 years ago!

It is a Judy Rothermel pattern HERE.

I used, and still use the ARDCO templates HERE.

I have several sets and have never been disappointed.

Another stair landing in the house.

Velma wants you to notice the bright sunny window.

Perfect for cat day dreaming.

No textiles here, but a few of my vintage and antique

sewing machines.

This is another bedroom.

The medallion quilt was a free to use pattern from a line

of fabric the Virginia Quilt Museum did years ago.

You can read more about it HERE.

I hand quilted mine.

I think it looks nice with the Pottery Barn Bedding.

In some light the wall color looks gray, other times blue.

I hope you enjoyed seeing part of how I live with textiles.

How are you living with yours?

Happy Stitching,

Dawn

Please Visit our Easy Shop HERE.