Antique Quilt Make-Over: Choices, Choices and More choices

I think this is my favorite arrangement  and then my 2nd choice

I think I like having a 3 and a 4 stemmed flower on each horizontal row (see above) rather than 3 next to 3 like these two examples

And just for giggles, down and up       OR  up and down
(Don't think I can handle either of these arrangements.)

And now to decide about inner sashing or whether to put a floral applique in the center???  And what about inner border?  outer border?  Do I want to do a red, green and cheddar zigzag triangle border, like on this antique applique quilt?  I would do it in a larger scale  but the nice thing about this zigzag is it is all triangles and could be paper pieced.

Or do I want to make a big zigzag like this one, found on an amazing Bethlehem Star with Lilies from PA -- again see the Pennsylvania color scheme that keeps inspiring me.  Problem with this one, is I'll have to figure out how to piece it and I don't know if I can paperpiece it?

 Or maybe I will just do a big flying geese border?  Any suggestions???

Antique Quilt Makeover PA Style Part 4

Block 4 is done !!!!

Now to figure out how to put the four blocks together, sashing, additional applique in center,
border(s)????  Just when it seemed like I was making progress?

The inspiration for the 4th block came from the border of a wonderful cockscomb and currant quilt (an antique quilt) from circa 1850.

I decided to eliminate the center so that the block would better match with the other 4 stemmed block.  I also deleted the basket handles for the same reason.

And drumroll................................ here are all 4 blocks together (in one possible combo).

Antique Quilt Makeover PA Style Part 3

Woo hoo.  Block 3 of my challenge quilt is done!  Only one more to go.  I think these flowers look very happy and almost like they are waving hello.  This block was adapted from a little basket that is part of my circa 1845 antique crib quilt from Virginia.  Here is the original block with a bird being shot by cupid's arrow (very appropriate for Valentine's Day):

And here is my prior reproduction of the full block:

Scroll down or click  to see block 1 and block 2.
Here are all 3 together:

  And some more Pennsylvania quilt inspiration, a circa 1880 rolling stone signature quilt from Berks/Lehigh Co. PA:

Antique Makeover PA Style, Part 2

Block 2 of my current challenge quilt (reproducing several antique quilts).  See prior post for the 1st block, challenge fabrics and inspirations. http://starleyquilts.blogspot.com/2012/01/antique-makeover-revisited-pa-style.html

This block is an adaptation of 2 different basket blocks.  My main inspiration was a circa 1860, 9 block whig rose, rose of sharon or democrat rose quilt with a great floral basket border part of my antique quilt collection.

I wasn't super fond of the center flower so I substituted the center of an elaborate  4 block Pot of Flowers quilt, circa 1875, also part of my collection.

Here's a close-up from the Whig Rose, Rose of Sharon, enjoy!  Check out the amazing intense quilting.  Triple line, triple rod quilting, very close.

antique makeover revisited PA style

Here is the first needle turn applique block in my latest challenge quilt.  I'm making a four block quilt with 4 different floral basket/vase blocks.  The designs are adaptions from 4 antique quilts in my collection.
This block is the 2nd time I have borrowed the basket border design from my antique princess feather quilt.  See my prior post for my first quilt using this basket design.

 
Here are the 6 challenge fabrics plus my 2 optional fabrics.  I picked the double pink and the yellow/ gold (close to a cheddar).  



 
I think I've been influenced by 19th century Pennsylvania German quilts.  I'd venture to say, I was a bit directed by the quilt that I've been  studying recently.  It is a dated 1842, signature presentation quilt from Easton, PA.

While most 19th c. applique quilts had white or off-white backgrounds, PA German quilts often had colored grounds in yellow/cheddar or blue or pink.  PA pieced quilts also seem to have a freer use of pink as a neutral ground.  Here's a Rocky Road from Lancaster Co., PA.

Hope you enjoyed seeing what I'm working on now and my antique influences.

1870 Princes Feather Makeover

I adapted the tulip basket border from an antique 1870's red and green princess feather applique quilt, kept the four block design but gave it a color makeover and scaled it down from full size to small wall quilt. I think the woman who made it would be glad her design still works but would be a bit surprised with the black, white and hot pink color scheme.  Made for a Time Challenge- I focused on giving the original a "makeover" by using an updated, modern color scheme.

Hand appliqued and hand quilted.

This 4 blocks prince's or princess feather quilt when made was a very Christmas'y red and green and would have been a stunning quilt.  But as you can see it is the victim of the unstable or 'fugitive' green synthetic dyes of the 1870's to early 1900's.  The 'turkey red' was a very stable dye and is as bright as when the quilt was made. 

Viewers Choice Winner- Bloggers Quilt Fest

With the exciting news yesterday that my miniature reproduction quilt "Virginia is For Lovers" won the  Web Viewers Choice in the Alliance for American Quilts, Alliances contest, I knew I had to share it on Amy's Bloggers Quilt Fest. It also won 3rd prize in the membership contest this spring.

And it is probably my favorite quilt ever!  Despite all the teeeny hand applique (little baskets that are only 1.5 inches) and lots and lots of hand quilting, it was wonderful to honor the earlier quilters who made the original crib quilt for a very loved child.

Virginia is for Lovers, 2011
16" x 16"

And here is the antique inspiration quilt, made in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in 1845.  Yes, this quilt actually survived the Civil War and is more than 160 years old.

Antique quilt
Circa 1845 crib quilt from Virginia

And here's the link to see my antique quilt entry for the show:
http://utahquiltappraiser.blogspot.com/

Thanks again, Amy for hosting this virtual quilt show.  I love seeing what makes other quilters hearts SING!!!!!  Click on the logo to see the show.

Antique reproduction and Alliance for American Quilts Contest

Virginia is for Lovers, miniature reproduction 2011, 16 x 16

Thought I'd share my all time favorite quilt one more time and let people know that there is still time to vote for it in the Alliance for American Quilts:  AlliancesViewers Choice contest (voting closes 9 p.m. eastern time on Monday Oct. 24th). It is hand appliqued (the 4 little baskets are only 1.5" tall) and hand quilted and I poured my heart and soul into this quilt. Quilt number 117 in the contest. Go to http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e3samo2ogn3k75iz/a01ztgu2x75ev/questions  **If that link does not work or shows survey already taken then please go to
http://www.allianceforamericanquilts.org/, click on link "View, vote, bid! Viewer's Choice Voting" and on next page click on "View, Vote, Bid" to get to the survey. Again it is number 117. This contest is separate from the springtime voting (I am thrilled to say that I won 3rd prize in that voting). Thank you for the support.

It was a delight to recreate four of the blocks from the original quilt, which survived the Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. 

Antique, circa 1845 crib quilt from Virginia

1830's Eagle



"Birds of a Feather Fly Together"
24" x 24"  2011

This is my first commissioned piece.  It was made for Susan's Wildemuth's Eagle Quilts by the Decades project.  I am very honored to be part of this project.  Sue commissioned a varied group of quilters including a number of quilt historians and appraisers to choose a decade between 1700 and 2010 and then create a quilt that featured an eagle and read as being from that era.  I choose the 1830's -one of my favorite quilt eras and I was inspired by my antique c. 1830 flying geese w/bird pheasant toile (seen below with my reproduction).  Btw, the bird toile print in the original was printed between 1775-85 and is from an English company, Talwin and Foster and is documented in Montgomery's Printed Textiles.

Old and New

I didn't try to exactly follow the antique quilt as I wanted to use a bit of my reproduction print collection, but I think I captured the 'feel' of the original.  I especially enjoyed following her lead of combining birds themes: flying geese pattern and eagle fabric.  Hence the title, "Birds of a Feather Fly Together".  I also liked how she joined the geese in pairs so I used that idea too.

I think she had a great sense of humor and enjoyed word play, as seen in this shot of the mallard drake and hen set between the flying geese, okay wait for it .....    duck-duck-goose!
  
And finally here is a close up of my hand quilting on the eagle print (machine on the geese).

Little Birdies

2011 Riley Blake detail, click on pics to see more details

This little birdie is part of my entry for the 2011 Riley Blake Challenge, he flew in from an 1850 Rose of Sharon Quilt.  I fussy cut the bird from a large scale floral fabric (he is one fabric including the perfect eye and beak, I did add a wing piece) .  Don't you love when things work out!  I used vintage teeny rick rack for his legs and couched thread for berry stems.  And here is the original little fellow:



 



Here is the full 2011 Riley Blake Challenge quilt made for the Home Machine Quilting Show. It is a "modern" fabric version of the reproduction I made for the Alliance for American Quilt Challenge (below) plus the little bird. We had to use selected fabrics from the fun and funky Isabella fabric line from Riley Blake. It is hand appliqued and 'minimally' machine quilted (required) -- not my forte. So my next project is to hand quilt the heck out of it like I did on the Alliance entry.



2011 Alliance for American Quilts CHallenge Entry- 3rd prize winner



 

 

 

Wow, what a huge difference the fabric choices make! And here is the original 1845 antique crib quilt which started the whole journey.





Bloggers Quilt Fest -- Cheddar Stars over Moab

Cheddar Stars Over Moab, 2010
20" x 24"

This antique reproduction is one of my all time favorite quilts, I love the little 3 inch stars and the wonderful texture of the quilting.  I hand quilted the heck out of it!  Click on the photo to see a close up of the quilting.  Cheddar refers to the strong orange fabric which looks like cheddar cheese.
It was made for the 2010 American Quilt Study Group (AQSG) antique quilt study of 19th century star quilts.  The original antique quilt had to be star quilt made between 1800 and 1899. One of 10 quilts patterned and highlighted in the new Kansas City Star Book which shows the 39 antique quilts and their reproductions that were part of the quilt study.
If you click on the above link, you'll see my sister Donna's pink and cheddar star, which is also one of the patterns, quite an honor -- only 10 were patterned and 2 were ours.  Needless to say this is our favorite quilting book ever!!!!

New Stars Book available NOW

 Here's the 1890 antique quilt from my collection which was my inspiration- and my matching process.  See I'm working hard to find the perfect reproduction fabrics to exactly reproduce the original.  And if you need another cheddar fix, click here to see my first reproduction of my antique cheddar star but done in modern fabrics for the 2010 Riley Blake challenge.  I posted it for last year's spring Bloggers Quilt Fest and it includes a full shot of the antique quilt. 


Antique 1890 Cheddar Star with reproduction blocks and fabrics

 Click here to see my 2nd Bloggers Festival entry, my antique 1850 Rose of Sharon Applique - Quilted Joy quilt.
  Now back to visiting all the other wonderful quilts in Amy's Bloggers Quilt Festival (click on words not button).  Thanks AMY!

Award winner - Alliance for American Quilts contest

My 4 block applique antique reproduction quilt, Virginia is for Lovers, is the 3rd prize winner in the Alliances Quilt Contest with the Alliance for American Quilts. What an incredible honor as there were more than a 100 quilts in the contest. Thank you to everyone who voted for my quilt. Click here to see all the award winning quilts.


What did I win, you ask? A gift basket including items from The Quilt Show.com, Quilters Club of America, Fons & Porter, Dharma Trading Company, Darlene Zimmerman, Riversilks, and C&T Publishing. I'll post a pic when the basket arrives.
And if you aren't tried of voting, the Alliance is now holding a viewer's choice voting. You can vote as a web viewer or in conjunction with a live exhibit like last week's show in Paducah.  My friend Bonnie from Georgia posted great pics of my quilt and the 4 award winners hanging together in Paducah.  Thank you.

Quilt 117 is my entry. Click here for the link to vote. Or go directly to the ballot
Votes will be tallied and a Viewer's Choice award will be given for each exhibition venue and one additional award will be determined by web viewers.
The voting will close on Monday, October 24 at 9 pm Eastern.

Thanks again for the votes and all the support and especially the wonderful comments. And if you haven't seen the full quilt or the story of its making, scroll down to prior posts about it or click on Alliance in the label list below.  And see my antique quilt blog for even more about this quilt.

I'm in the Final Four - Alliance for American Quilts Contest

  I'm positively over the moon excited to announce that my quilt "Virginia is for Lovers" has made it to the final four in the Alliance contest.  Thank you to everyone who voted for it in the first round, there were over a 100 quilts and I cannot believe my quilt is one of the last quilts standing.  It will either win grand prize or 1st, 2nd or 3rd -- Wooo HOO.
  So please vote for my quilt in the final round.  Ballots went out to Alliance members Friday a.m. and voting closes Monday night.  (Alliance membership is required for voting). The winners will be announced Wednesday.  So stay tuned.
  It would be a huge honor to win the contest and the grand prize of a Handi Quilter quilting machine would be absolutely amazing.
  Thanks again.