New Blog

I'm blogging solo at https://fromthebuttonbox.blogspot.com.  Stop by and say 'Hi'.

What's Next?

The Double Irish Chain is complete.  I might add borders if    it becomes a back.  This is a partial shot of the top.  The top is square - 13 blocks.                   




















          

So, what's next?  I pulled two projects from hibernation to marry as front/back.  The Old Maid's Ramble has a lot of dark blue fabrics which are hard to discern in the photo.  The blocks finish at 17", so I only need 25.  This will be the front.  The shirting top is an antique quilt Bonnie Hunter posted on her blog years ago; she graciously gave me permission to recreate the quilt.  I'm targeting early September to get these to the quilter.                        

 Look at the great BD present from hubby!  The shop owner took buying trips to PA - I'm guessing that's where the doll bed originated.

 

Four Patch Roulette

The quilt bug found me in April.  Unfortunately, I only had scrap strips at hand.  I decided to make four patch blocks and worry about design when I was reunited with my stash.  The project became a Double Irish Chain.  I threw 340 four patch blocks in a large bag and left selection to chance (for the most part :).  The blocks went together quickly - each block constructed from four 'four patch' blocks, five constant patches and four selected patches.  The top is over halfway constructed!

Hope Your Christmas Was Merry and Bright!

Darwin D. Bearley Antique Ohio Amish Quilts

Antique Ohio Amish Quilts from the Darwin D. Bearley Collection is the new exhibit at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles.  There's a beautiful book from 2006 which I've had for a couple years that documents the collection.  I was so fortunate to see this amazing exhibit presenting 'Quilts as Art'!

Ocean Waves, cotton, 35" x 41"
c. 1890 - 1900, Holmes County

Broken Star, cotton, 79" x 79", c. 1925-30, Holmes County, made by Mother of Mrs. Henry Raber

 

Courthouse Steps, wool, 76" x 81", c. 1880 - 90, Holmes County
Log Cabin, Straight Furrow, wool, 67" x 82", 1914, Holmes County, made by Mariann Yoder
Log Cabin, Light & Dark Variation, wool, 66" x 82", c. 1880-90, Holmes County
Nine Patch Variation "Winter Quilt", heavy wool, 67" x 88", initialed R.T. 1884, Knox County

Sampler, cotton, 64" x 87", c. 1890-1900, Holmes County
Diagonal 16-Patch, cotton, 76" x 77", c. 1880-90, Mt. Hope, Holmes County
Zig Zag Nine Patch Variation, cotton, 79" x 81", c. 1890-1930, Geauga County

Chinese Coins, cotton, 79" x 90", c. 1930-40, Plain City, OH
Tumbling Blocks, wool, 70" x 87", c. 1900-1910, Holmes County, made by Anna K. Yoder

 Twinkle Stars, cotton, 72" x 89", dated 1895, made by Dena Miller, Holmes County

Bear Paw, wool, 77" x 92", c. 1900-1915, Holmes County

Amelia Heiskell Lauck

Amelia Heiskell Lauck (1760 - 1842) lived in Winchester, VA where she and her husband, Peter, ran the Red Lion Inn and raised their family (eleven children of which six survived to adulthood).  Amelia was an accomplished quiltmaker with possible assistance from household slaves.  At least four of her quilts have survived (three of which are inscribed as gifts to her children), two in the Colonial Williamsburg collection and two owned by the DAR (one of the DAR quilts could have been made by Amelia's daughter-in-law).  All four quilts are currently on display - two in the Williamsburg's exhibit 'A Rich and Varied Culture, The Textiles of the Early South' and two in the DAR exhibit, 'Eye on Elegance'.  The quilts from this post are from the Williamsburg exhibit where photos were allowed.
 

 
This quilt was a wedding gift to Amelia's son Morgan and his bride married on May 26, 1824. The quilt's outer border was removed and incorporated into at least one pillow cover which survives with the quilt.

 

 

Sunday Shopping

Yesterday was the last Sunday antique market at the local fairgrounds for 2014.  My first purchase of the morning brought sunshine to my day.  This late 19th century top has a couple double-pink fabric tears, but its been reproduced and repair shouldn't be a problem.  I think this top was meant to find me.  The dealer had the top for only one day - fate!

 

I found this beautiful pitcher.  I love serving iced-tea out of old pitchers

because the tea highlights the glass detail.  Be sure to let the brewed tea come to room temperature before pouring into the pitcher - learned the hard way on that one.   
These old linens will look great in the summer kitchen.  The top one is a towel and the bottom one looks like a table runner ($2 each and in perfect condition).
 

 I found a mulberry transferware plate to add to my collection. Fall is the perfect season to display mulberry dishes.

I also found a glass frog for flower arranging for $.50 and old perforated quilting stencils for $1.  A crisp autumn morning for a treasure hunt!  And the BEARS WON!!!