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Monday, August 02, 2010

More Cheddar.....


This time in STARS!!

This is the one that really had my jaw dropping when I opened the box. You guys KNOW me..you know how I bleed cheddar and red! And I love small small small....and LOOK AT THIS!?

This is "NOT" a quilt I would ever make myself. I love the scale, but to do the whole thing in 3 fabrics? All those white open spaces for heavy hand quilting? I just can NOT make myself stay focused with my ADD to do it. I might dream it..I might want to, but I KNOW ME. (Knowing myself is half the battle!)

And as much as I was blown away by the stars (Just over 2 3/4" each)I was doubly blown away by the quilting. Or make that QUADRUPLY!? The alternate blocks are filled with quadruple rows of wavy lines followed by a negative unquilted space, and then the 4 wavy lines repeated again to fill the area. Just check this out!!

These stitches are smaller than the previous applique peony quilt I showed the other day. There are no answers for why....we don't even know if they were quilted by the same person. But this one could have been made earlier when the quilter had younger (and better!) finger control. The batting is thinner, which also allows for smaller stitches.



Can you see the cross-hatching in the small blocks between the stars?



I also love how this quilt was OBVIOUSLY not squared up before adding the binding...by all counts, this border was probably rippling with the wind before it was quilted, so is this a story of "It will quilt out??!" Look at those diagonal lines behind the border feather and how they alternate direction...AWESOME!



This pic is a close up of the quadruple parallel lines of the quilting behind the border feather. Look at those stitches!!



More close up of the border quilting. Be sure to click all these pics to make them BIGGER. Really, seeing it up close just gives me the tingles! (I'm sure my DH wishes I said the same thing about him..hehehe!)


The stars are also quilted with triple lines of quilting. Remember the scale...these stars are just over 2 3/4"..less than 3"....how many triple lines would you do in a 3" space? There are 15 lines of quilting in each 2 3/4" star.



I wanted to get a pic with the ruler to help show you the scale. Does this prove it to you?



How about if I plunk a 10 cent euro piece down...maybe THAT will give you a good idea :cD



Am I the only one who's mouth waters at quilting texture like this? I took this pic out on my back deck in natural light to see if I could get the quilting to pop....and pop it did! I really am in awe. I wish I knew the maker. As hard as I try, I can NOT get small stitches like this. I am a tall/big woman. My hands are NOT dainty, the distance between my knuckles and how my fingers bend pretty much dictates that I will not have the same small stitches as some small boned woman even though we use the same rocking stitch. This is beyond my ability, but oh how I love it!



And THIS my friends, is what inspired my pondering over the past week. This is why I feel compelled to leave a part of myself, my OWN SIGNATURE, directly on the quilt. See this signature? The family name is Adams. I believe it says A.S. Adams, February 18th, 1862

Dear Miss Adams,

I just wish I could let you know how much I love and appreciate being the care taker of your quilts. Seeing as the gentleman down your family tree "Couldn't Care Less" (Being of the male gender and all!) I think he did a real fine job of passing them on to someone who will cherish them the rest of her life. Thank You!


32 comments:

Marty Mason said...

This quilt is absolutely breath-taking. I feel your joy!

Linda Lee said...

Just think of the stories these quilts could tell about people, times, and life.

Marj said...

Thank you for sharing your quilt. The quilting on it is something to strive to achieve. As I have not yet learned to hand quilt yet, I am inspired by this quilt. I also am in love with the simplicity of the design and colors.

Potpourri said...

The whole quilt and the workmanship gives me goosebumps. I am in awe. The previous owner could have not found a better custodian of these quilts anywhere.
If only they could speak their story.

Diane said...

completely amazed that it is in such good condition. drool worthy no matter what your quilting preferences.

hapsew said...

What a beautiful quilt! I can see why you are so taken with it. It is wonderful!

YankeeQuilter said...

What great quilting...so glad it found a good home!

Marsha B said...

This quilt coming to you kinda makes you believe there is a force out there making sure the quilt ended up with someone who would really appreciate it. Enjoy it!

Karen said...

Bonnie, this is an amazing quilt! How lucky you are (as if you don't know that)! Glad you have the name of the quilter....I'm betting that her first name is Amanda...just a gut feeling.

Hugs, Karen

SubeeSews said...

Your are the perfect custodian of these treasures.
I cannot imagine such beautiful hand stitching. This lets us know that the more heavy the quilting the longer a quilt will last.
YES!YES!YES! sign your quilts!
XOXOXO Subee

Salem Stitcher said...

I've GOT to see this one in person. I love, love, love it!!

When's lunch? Or coffee? Or the next sew day?

(I'm about to faint. Can you tell?)

Pat said...

When you stop to think that this was also done in an era when lighting was not nearly as good as it is today (what, no Ott lights?), and without painter's tape or all of our cool tools for making diappearing marks, this is even more amazing.

I wouldn't want to try all that open space either, but I'm really lovin' that red, white and cheddar combo. Wonder how you could make it work without having the colors be too screaming.

Mary-Kay said...

Wow! That's some treasure you have there. How lucky for you that the gentleman couldn't care less. I hope our descendants don't feel the same way about our work. I think my boys appreciate the quilts I make. They were even aghast when I told them the story of Daphne's "Sample" quilts at customs.

Sharon said...

OMG, I had to wipe the drool off my keyboard before I could comment. This is an amazing piece of work. Just think of the living conditions the quilter would have had in this time period, WOW!

Denise said...

What a treasure! I might consider signing directly on my quilts, I have been making a label with my machine and stitching it on, but what a personal touch to sign it!

Alice said...

That's really beautiful. Thanks for sharing all those pictures. I can't imagine doing a whole quilt like that - but a doll quilt yes:)

Kim said...

WAIT!
did he give you these quilts?

Amazing workmanship.......maybe you can leave them to a museum in PA when you are done loving them.

Happy Sewing

Jane Monk said...

Absolutely lovely Bonnie ... both of these quilts are. I had a brief episode of envy when I saw them - lol! Really nice that you are now able to cherish them. Jane x

Lori said...

wow! You are right, that one is a real stunner! The quilting is AMAZING! And I just love the tiny stars. Having the signature on the quilt is really precious too. I'm so glad both quilts are residing with you.

Linda C said...

Sometimes l buy an antique quilt because l fall in love with the quilting. This quilt has both. Visual appeal and divine quilting. l am pleased it will spend many years being loved by you.

Leslie said...

I had goosebumps through the whole post. The quilt is breathtaking, the quilting amazing and you have a signature! Then, when you told us the name, my goosebumps got goosebumps... My maiden name is Adams. Do you know where the quilt was made? I know there are zillions of Adams' but it would be too cool if I could find your A.S. Adams.

Anonymous said...

Dear Bonnie

You would have to be the luckiest person in the quilting world, living in Australia the chance of even finding a quilt like this are very very remote.
Wow enjoy.....

Christine

SubeeSews said...

Maybe sign the back and then cover that with a label......

Beth said...

WOW. OMG. What else can I say??Fantastic quilt. Enjoy.

Connie said...

Wow, that is absolutely amazing! Imagine how much time the maker spent on that masterpiece....

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

wow. WOW. WOW! What else is there to say....wow.

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh my! This is a me quilt! Oh that quilting is to die for!

woolywoman said...

You are a good guardian of these beauties! I can only imagine how much more beautiful they are in person!

I always sign the quilts I keep, or give to people I know, but I never sig the ones I give away ( to charities). I wonder why? Does anyone else do this?

Little Penpen said...

Beautiful... I can see why you love it!! I love to see others who share a passion with the same things I do!

Rose Marie said...

Can you possibly show the quilt that is hanging on the foot of your bed? I've been wanting to make one of those and the one you have is gorgeous!

The star quilt ..... wow .... what a beauty you have!

Tonya Ricucci said...

beautiful beautiful quilt - it's found a great home.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing this quilt - it is so beautiful and the stitching is really beautiful. I'm sure you will cherish it and keep it safe. Diana dinel12@yahoo.com

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