Pennsylvania Patchwork Pillowcases and Other Small Treasures

Hardcover - Full Color

I have not been sewing, I've been reading.
When a new book arrives - I have to read it - I could not put this one down!

Pennsylvania Patchwork Pillowcases and Other Small Treasures focuses on a rare subset in quilt heritage - patchwork pillowcases by German immigrants in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

The book includes 300+ color photos, including high resolution detail photos of rare pieced and applique pillowcases from museums and private collections.

Ann has lived in the Philadelphia area for 25 years and has an incredible personal collection of Pennsylvania antiques.
In addition to her book, Ann is available for lectures HERE.
Her event in Southern California quickly sold out!

Inset photo take from inside page

I love to see applique grapes in antique quilts.

This is an example of just one closeup in the book.  (However, it is my bad photo of the page)
You can see the detail of every hand stitch.
Almost as good as seeing the pillowcases in person - reading the antique personal notes,
studying the glorious fabrics and examining construction techniques.
The last chapter in the book - Small Treasures - could be a spin off for another book!
I love small textile items.

A pair from my collection

I pulled out a pair of pieced pillowcases from my collection.

Not as old or intricate as those in the book, but still fun.  Kind of quirky and fun!

I have been making pillowcases from leftover fabric for each of my quilts, but nothing as wonderful as shown in the book.

Pennsylvania Pillowcases has inspired me to up my game - make more detailed and historically accurate sets.


You can order a copy of the book from Ann  HERE.
She has an option for you to have your copy autographed!






I have done an applique doll bed pillowcase in traditional Pennsylvania prints.

It is applique with a reproduction chintz print on the back.

Do you have any pieced pillowcases or have you made them?
We would love to hear about them.

Have a great week!

Dawn

 

Time Flies

14,264 Elevation - Arapahoe National Forest

Time flies when you are having fun!

We have had a wonderful summer filled with company - and adventure.

There was fabric study, quilts, great food, road trips and a little mountain riding...not all with the same groups.

This is the Mount Evans summit 2014 picture.
I am sorry to say I don't bike, I drive the support car and take pictures.  This year we hosted 5 riders - the most enthusiastic being our son.  Rumor has it 2015 is already being planned.

We did see more wild life this year.  The mountain goats, big horn sheep and marmots were out.  The sheep and goats can make the roads even more dangerous.

Velma was a little shy with all the extra attention

Now that company is gone we are changing gears.  I plan to get back to more stitching and more regular blog posts.  I have some new projects to show you.
I missed posting the winner of the drawing for the Denver Art Museum book, "First Glance - Second Look" exhibit companion guide.  So sorry!

Congratulations Janet from Mrs. Sew N Sew - please contact me with your address.

Have a great week!
Dawn

Matilda's Son Daniel Block Set 8

The eighth block set is posted HERE.
Actually, it is always posted before the first of the month - I know so many of you like that!
This months set includes four more blocks:  Potted Flowers, Turkey Track Variation, Branching Bouquet, Hearts & Buds

I bet you can find the four blocks in this grouping.  This photo has the first eight months of blocks laid out randomly.  They will not be set in the quilt this way.

Daniel Durbin Boyce was the son of Noah and Matilda.  I have two different resources that put Daniel's birth within a five year span.  One has him born in 1837, the other 1832.  Hand written census records could easily mistake a 7 and a 2.  Daniel seems have the most information written about him.  (Daniel's middle name is French in origin - and you may recall Noah and Matilda named a daughter Paris)
One record has him listed as the fifth of eight children.  I found information on 13 of Matilda's children, four who died as infants.    I will write more on the other children in another post.
Another discrepancy is when the family migrated from Kentucky to Illinois.  One record I have shows 1835, the other 1838.  It could be Noah came first with an older son, Thomas and the family, including Daniel came later.

Danial D. Boyce Married Sarah Catherine Maddox, May 20, 1857 in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Lafayette County, Missouri.  They had two children:  Ida and Elizabeth.  Elizabeth passed away in 1862 or 1863 - depending on which record is correct.  Daniel married Nancy Josephine Baldwin.

Daniel D. Boyce is listed as a Lieutenant, Third Provisional Regiment in the Civil War (Union) in the Missouri Home Guard.  I was able to find records of his service in the Missouri State official records through at least 1864.  Did his first wife, Sarah Catherine die when he was away at war?  
More on Noah, Matilda, Daniel and the rest of the family in another post.

Velma loves red and green

In the meantime - here's Valma - with her very favorite red and green balls trying to distract me for some play time.

It is not too late to join in making your own Noah and Matilda quilt.  Click HERE to start or continue!

Have a great week - I hope it includes some stitching time!

Dawn

Hoop Sewing Bags Or Stitching Bags

Last year I made a hoop style sewing bag for a the AQSG Auction.  I wrote about it HERE.

I was very happy it sold at the auction with several bids!
I got several requests for a pattern, and now have it ready.
You can read more and order the digital pattern HERE.

It is a great way to use up some fabrics from your stash.
Two of my antique hoop bags are made with silk fabrics.

You can customize them by adding accessories like pockets, needle holders, handle variations and lid embellishment.  If you have spare macrame or embroidery hoops you are well on your way!

Besides a sewing project they can be used for lingerie bags, embroidery projects and jewelry storage.

Here is a trio we made in pattern testing.

These are a little smaller than the auction bag pictured above.  The pattern includes calculations for using your own hoop size.

These three close with a snap.  I plan to add a button on at least one.  Something large and a bit showy!

You can also see I like a scrappy look so I put the testing kits together with multiple fabrics.

This is one of my antique/vintage bags.

It is made of all one fabric, including the base and lining.

Very delicate rose print fabric.

I've even seen lids with quilt blocks and applique on them.

This is the interior lid of one in the trio - fun to customize!

It holds a few sewing supplies - but could easily be made to hold jewelry pieces or knitting accessories.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you are having a great July.  Ours has been filled with fabulous visits with family and friends.
Happy Stitching,
Dawn

New Finish and more Grapes

Half Inch Hexagon Charm Quilt

A detail photo of my newest finish!

Hexagon Charm Quilt
1/2" Hexagons
Hand Pieced
Hand Quilted

392 Different Individual Reproduction Fabrics
22" x 28" Finished Size

Truly finished, including hanging sleeve and tag!

I enjoyed making it so much I have a second one well underway.

Charm Quilt 22" x 28

Completed Quilt

22" x 28" w Binding

Striped binding and backing.

The light rounds are also by color.
For example, all of the shirtings next to the black round are black on cream prints.

The outer corner hexagons are deep navy.  They look like purple in my photo.

I outline quilted the upper and lower edges of each hexagon.  I quilted straight lines in the pink border.
The wider final border has a tulip motif in the corner and petals running up the sides.

Because I never get enough of applique grapes - I found another variation to share.  This is a picture from an online auction.
The grapes are one piece of fabric.  Is it a clever repair?  Is the dot print covering worn purple?  Did the original maker place batting circles under the fabric in "grape cluster" position, then quilt around the "grapes"?

Regardless, very clever, and gives the look of seperate circles appliqued close together in a grape cluster.

This is the block in the quilt.  It is actually a side setting triangle.


First glance and it is a cluster of grapes.  A closer look reveals the single piece of fabric.

Have a great week!  I plan to stitch a lot of grapes this week.  How about you?