Day 14 (45) Wonky Birds

I dare you not to smile while looking at this funky and fabulous and very wonky antique eagle (or dove) wreath quilt.

Here is the full quilt in all its wonderful wonkiness. And to make things even more fun, there is a twin to my quilt in the International Quilt Study Center Museum in Nebraska.

I love to share my antique quilts and reproductions through quilt trunkshows/lectures/bed-turnings and classes.  I also have quilts available for exhibits. And in addition to my reproduction quilts, I also teach other quilt classes.

Day 13 (44) More Word Play

I love making word play quilts and here is a very happy one: "It's All About the Dots". Original design. Created for the 2013 Quilt Alliance (formerly The Alliance for American Quilts) 20th Anniversary Challenge/ Contest. And of course, I again took that challenge literally.

It's All About the Dots
20" x 20"
Sandra Starley, 2013

Two inch (teeny) blocks. Love using polka dots and other fun novelty prints, like hearts and text fabrics. And sewing rickrack in the seam between the quilt body and border gave the piece an extra whimsical touch.

Day 12 (43) Diamond Cheater Prints

Next to novelty fabrics, I really like cheater prints or "pre printed patchwork" or simulated or faux patchwork or fabrics that are printed to look like piecing.
Since at least the early 1800s, quilters have been using these prints (especially as backings) to give the appearance of piecing without all that pesky sewing.

The star with flowers on the right is printed not pieced. 1880s.

Another cheater star - part of a patchwork pillowcase from Pennsylvania. 1880.

And another diamond or tumbling block star, also faux patchwork. It is the backing of a hickory reel quilt. 1830s

Day 11 (42) Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood cheater print sighting on my 1890 quilt top along with lots of other wonderful prints.

And there is a bit more of the LRRH cheater in the lower left (above the blue polka dot).

And here are a lot of Little Red in my 1890 wholecloth quilt of the cheater print.

Day 10 (41) All Aboard

Redwork embroidery often has charming motifs and this is one of my favorites: a baby in a bathtub with the words "All Aboard".

And here are some "Brownie" figures from artist Palmer Cox. Quilt is from 1920s.

More Brownies ...

And another redwork summer spread in the Starley collection with a lace edging.

Day 9 (40) earlier work

My 2 favorite techniques for a modern challenge are wonky log cabins and word play.

Hello Dolly - wonky logs with Russian nesting doll centers. Made for a Trading Bags challenge.

Eat Your Veggies - made for a local Trading Bags challenge. I'm on the left and the quilt recipient Monica is on the right.

What's Black and White and Red Allover- made for the national Proverbial Riddle challenge.

Day 8 (39) postcards

Day 7 (38) Flower Power

Day 6 (37) Antique quilt fun

I'm having a great time at Quilt St. George sharing my antique quilts. Come on down

Day 5 ish (36) quilting sisters

Hoffman challenge quilt from 2008 ish. The challenge fabric was the giant cherry fabric and it was a challenge. Click on photo to enlarge and see all the fun details.

Quilting Sisters

The quilt shows my sister (blonde) and me quilting. Sew glad we got together at Christmas!

Day 4 (and 35) 1890 Novelty Top

Wonderful top with tons of interesting novelty prints. From New York State, 1890

See the couple at the bottom of the segment above - here they are in the original fabric on a quilt in the Spencer Museum in Kansas as seen of Barbara Brackman's blog.

day 3ish (34) Whig's Defeat

Whig's Defeat - New York Beauty variation.
Love the cheddar

Day 2 (33) Thousand Pyramids Quilt

Still going ... Oh no, I found another bird... detail from a Thousand Pyramids quilt with wonderful novelty prints. Starley Collection.

The full quilt

Love this novelty print of people mailing letters

More great prints

Another day 1 (day 32) Birds

It looks like I'm still blogging daily ...
After stars (see yesterday's post) my next favorite motif is BIRDS. Many of the quilts I have made feature birds. Here are a few:

Day 31 All about the STARS

In honor of the old and new years, sharing my favorite pattern category STARS (such a shock that someone named STARley would love stars)

And yes, I can do a full trunk show or 1/2 day or all day quilt study just on stars.

Enjoy!

Day 30 Antique Eagles

Loooove this antique 4 block eagle quilt from Pennsylvania from about 1865. Part of the Starley antique quilt collection. Headliner of the Birds and Blooms trunk show and available as a 1/2 day quilt study class. The quilt is also available as an applique class that is part applique and part antique trunk show!

And this early eagle medallion is an historical treasure too.

And this funky eagle wreath always makes me smile.