Antique Quilt Exhibits

The Rotary Club Antique Quilt exhibit was the highlight of my Paducah visit.  'Eagles, Stars & Bars', curated by Pat and Arlan Christ, was a wonderful selection of patriotic quilts spanning 120 years (c1830 thru c1950).  I've seen the Ocean Wave quilt, c1876, quilt in print, but what a thrill to stand in front of it.  The quilt is from Berks County, PA (dimensions 83 x 92).


















The seaweed background fabric in the Bethlehem Star quilt, c1840, was striking.  This quilt was collected in PA and has a front-to-back rolled binding on a double pink background (wouldn't you love to see the back!) - measures 100 x 104.

The Star Quilt, c1870 originated in PA.  It's hand pieced with a plain backing and back-to-front rolled binding (88 x 89).

Broken Star, c 1930, was collected in OH.  It is machined pieced with a plain backing (78 x 78).

Yesterday was Mother's Day for me.  I visited the Elizabeth Richardson Quilt Gallery (see sidebar 'Items of Interst in the Midwest') in Bowling Green, KY and then shopped at Whittles 'brick and mortar'!  I expected the quilts to be mid 20th century with a few 19th century examples.  The exhibit so exceeded my expectations!  If you're close by, be sure to stop.  No photos allowed, but check out the pics of the opening - http://www.flickr.com/photos/13303252@N06/6939451543/in/set-72157629112832264/.

Antique Mall

Lots going on around my house lately, but a couple of weeks ago I did manage a little antiqueing.  These were the only two quilts at the mall, but I thought they were photo worthy!  I apologize for the brief post - sometimes life gets in the way, doesn't it?

Quilt Show and Labels

The weekend that Jan attended the 'String-A-Long' guild show in Indiana, I attended the Venice guild show, Quilting By the Gulf XIV', in Florida.  I loved the mouse pincushion taking in the show from the vantage point of this antique block. 

This liberated log cabin was one of my favorites from the exhibited quilts.  I took a picture of the detail placard (male quilt designer), but can't read the information to give credit.  Funny coincidence that Jan and I should highlight a similar show quilt - guess we're rubbing off on each other (which is a good thing!). 







I was lucky to time my show visit with the bed turning event.  The opportunity for good quilt shots wasn't optimal, but I wanted to share my favorite.

Taryn from Repro Quilt Lover recently asked about quilt labels.  Happens that I was making a label for this quilt which will be exhibited at the AQS Paducah show this week (WOO HOO!).  If you're visiting the show and there's a 'white-glove' lady in attendance, ask to see the back - it's a strippy with alternating solid/lg hst blocks.

This is how I make a label.  My free-hand attempts have been disappointing, so I've partnered with computer software:

     - Type the line info into Word as you want it to appear on the label

     - Highlight the text, select 'center' formatting and play with font and sizing until it meets your needs

     - Save

     - Iron a 8 1/2 x 11 piece of label fabric to the waxed side of freezer paper

     - Mark a 'x' on regular printer paper and print a sample to determine how to feed the label paper

     - My printer takes the freezer paper without a problem

     - If you have a problem, I've used xerox services at Staples successfully

     - Trace over text with permanent pen (Pigma) - keep this in mind when picking the font

     - Cut label to correct measurements.  The excess fabric goes into my scraps

     - You can wash the label to make sure the text is the desired intensity before adding to quilt

String Along Quilt Show

To begin, it has been so long since I've posted. We got a new computer, and it took a few days to move everything over from the old one. Then, I had to (with help) figure out the new photo editing. Having said that, here are some antique quilts from the recent show.

This is a liberated wool, new quilt. Isn't it wonderful?

Feedsack strips make for a quaint medallion quilt.

What a dynamic string quilt!

This is really a log cabin, but it is a charmer, I think.

What's the Point...

of this post?  I'm late in chatting with you, but I'm in Atlanta where the pollen count is over 9,000 - yikes!  So, I'm kinda draggy.  Not much machine piecing going on lately, but I have been stitching on this 36" square applique piece for the back of a special quilt (started almost two years ago, but whose counting).  Each stem needs a pair of buds and leaves -but I'm getting close.  The plan is to add 5 rows of 1 3/4" squares and then an outside border.



 

Look at the surprise out my hotel window here in the heart of
Atlanta - concrete overpass on I75.  The design has great potential.  I think I might need to work this into a scrappy doll quilt - much better use of the design than a skateboard surface.

I've saved the best for last - this yummy indigo string star from the antique mall in Shipshe!  What a beauty.  It's scrunched up hanging on the wall as you enter.  Wish I could have seen this piece layed flat. 

Shipshe Pics

An indigo quilt; unusual pattern.

This concentric honeycomb was quite inexpensive, but one fabric didn't hold up, so an entire round would need replacing. Great colors, though.

Indigo...sigh.

This tumbling blocks could be a beauty. The light machine quilting just detracts from the wonderful fabrics. Hopefully, someone will remove it and finish it - but not me, I have enough projects!

I've been working on a project that was started long ago from exchange hsts, and 4 patchs. I will share this when it gets further along. I've been sewing "parts" to make more blocks. Then, I can just work with the parts, and the blocks will sew up rather quickly.

Lincoln Logs

The first day of our January quilt retreat I made blocks from a bowtie block exchange that have been waiting for some attention.  By day two I was ready for something different.  I brought along Patchwork: Iowa Quilts and Quilters by Jacqueline Andre Schmeal for the nightstand.  I decided to replicate a log cabin doll quilt from the book which was quilted in Baptist fans.

I posted about log cabin blocks on my very first blog post.  I've been saving 1 1/4" scrap strips for a long time.  I don't think I've sewn a log cabin block since that post in 2009.  While sewing 36 blocks in one sitting, I found that it's much easier to keep the blocks square if I start with 1 3/8" strips.  I rough cut the strip length and square up after each log.  The extra strip width leaves a little margin for error.  Probably not news to anybody that makes these blocks, but thought it'd pass it along.

The original doll quilt was 48 blocks, but I thought I'd have a better chance of completing 36.  I ended the day two rounds short.  Finally, two weeks later I found some sewing time to finish up.  These little guys are 4 1/2", so the quilt will measure 27" square.

The layout from the original doll quilt 

A little re-arranging, but close to the original

Lots of options - I need a design wall.

Happy President's Day to you, Mr. Lincoln!