ANTIQUE QUILT # 7

 I need better photos of this old top I bought a few years ago:

Album Sampler, Berks Co, PA

I believe I bought it from Cindy Rennels, antique dealer extraordinaire, in 2019. It was after I designed and made this quilt: Charming Sampler:

It was several months after this class quilt was done that I noticed the similarity it has to the Album Sampler from Berks Co, PA. Not the same at all, but similar. Just goes to prove there is nothing new under the sun. 

Now, whenever I teach Charming Sampler, I bring this top to show about half way through the day-long class. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Antique Quilts #3

 Currently working like crazy to get ready for my big De-Stash Sale Thursday-Saturday January 13-15, 2022. Local friends, I really  mean it when I say "Don't Miss This".  These sales only come along every few years and they are really great, if I do say so myself.

Here is one of my favorite antique tops. I plan to reproduce this one day. I bought it from Cindy Diller Rennels at AQS Paduach, 2014, to celebrate my retirement from H&R Block after 35 years. Little did I know, there would be much more to celebrate in my quilt life a little later that year.,

Little Churn Dash blocks at first glance, but NO. They are Old Italian Blocks set on-point:

A tattered Chrome Yellow border: 

A piece of 1876 Centennial fabric--a real treasure to find here:

Back to prepping for the sale. If you are within driving distance, I hope you will come by.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Nothing New Under the Sun

I enjoy making quilts inspired by antique quilts or tops--an homage to the unknown maker of many years ago.

That is not what happened here. 

Six months ago I made this small quilt for an upcoming special class. I dreamed it up, using some of my favorite blocks:

The strippy style is an old layout, occasionally used today but often with the rows running horizontally instead of vertically.

Mine is 34" square and I used charm packs as a fabric starting point.The blocks are small.

Two months ago I saw this top for sale by Cindy Rennels, my friendly "antique quilts" pusher/dealer, who seems to know what I like:

It struck me as very similar to mine, though the blocks are much larger--this quilt is 63" x 94". It doesn't have any flying geese, but it does have X blocks, also called Old Italian Block, and nine patches.

The old top has lots of "issues"--it's wobbly, not the same size from edge to edge in any direction. It will never be finished unless I took it all apart and I am not doing that. The fabrics are thin, a few are crunchy, it just needs to be cared for in its' old age. It does make an interesting fabric study piece. Some of the darks are old purples--so I love that. The old pink is really thin but it sure adds needed light to the center.

Since the price wasn't too high and it looks so much like my ORIGINAL designed quilt, I just had to buy it. The note Cindy included with the quilt said it came from Berks County, PA--my home state--another "it was meant to be" moment for this quilt.

Often, people think they own the design of old quilts they have acquired--that always strikes me as odd. The original maker was the designer, we just get to care for and love old quilts in our collection. If they inspire us or others, so much the better.

Perhaps it will inspire you to make a simple quilt, maybe from "orphan" blocks. Simple can be lovely.

Check out Cindy's Antique Quilts--maybe you'll find something you just have to have too. Follow Cindy on Instagram where she often puts up new items for sale--@cindysantiqequilts.

Let's quilt.

Barbara