Thursday, November 24, 2016

Antique Quilts & A Turkey


Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is more than a feast for the belly. I have another one here for the eyes! This is one of my earliest posts, but I was reminded of it when I searched for a turkey post to link up with Val's Archives this week. I am thankful for so much in my life, but health, people and quilts top the list. Allow me to share a few special family quilts and their stories with you to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving to each one of you, 
and remember on this day of thanks...

Above all, be kind.


All the quilts shown here belong to my husband's family. They were on loan awaiting a cloudy day to photograph. It gave me time to get to know them, and fall in love with this one most of all. I love every inch of this quilt! It has a lurid history that we are too proper to get in to here, but let it suffice to say, I think it's to die for. It's the ultimate Eye Candy. There's no firm date, but the family history puts it around the 1930's, and it appears to be made without a batting layer.







Dresden Plate with scalloped edges






This is a half of a quilt. The story goes like this. My mother-in-law asked her then mother-in-law if she had any blankets for junior sized beds. The older mother-in-law then took shears and cut an embroidered quilt down the middle! 

GASP! 
It was well used then.







This quilt is paper thin from use, but still beautiful.





Grandad slept on this side, and his whiskers wore out the edges.


I thought this was an appropriate day for a photobomb. (Since my kids had to explain the word to me, I'll tell you. It's just a lot of pictures!) And to credit the maker, all the quilts, with the exception of the first, were made by one talented woman, my husband's grandmother, Mrs. Jane Stocker. She is gone many years, but we remember her in her quilts.

Yesterday I sewed before breakfast, and then we made time to play hooky at the Tuscarawas County Fair in Dover, Ohio. This guy was out walking around while his person cleaned his cage. Don't you love the red and blue tones?



We went early and ate at the Grange, and were home by noon with a dozen pork burgers. The 4H judging was in full swing with all it's glory. Lop-eared bunnies and behemoth steers were passively waiting their turn. The fair is very small, so it doesn't take long to cover, but we took our time in the quilt area. There should always time to look at quilts. I couldn't get any great pictures in the building, so I thought I would snap you some pictures of several family quilts I have on loan at home. 

Outside lighting might have been better, but I didn't think even hanging some of these quilts would be a good idea. A few are very old, very thin, and as you can tell, very loved. Many are worn on the top left side where Grandad's whiskers rubbed them thin. Some are patched now, but we still treasure them. I do hope you enjoy this.

And now, Doxie girls, let's go finish the 3rd Shooting Star block.



17 comments:

Stitchin At Home said...

Happy Thanksgiving Julie!

Rebecca Grace said...

Wow -- what treasures your family has! I especially love that first quilt. All that curved piecing and scrappy applique, grounded by the solid bubblegum pink and white fabrics! Just gorgeous! Happy thanksgiving, and thanks for sharing these, Julie!

JoanG said...

This is a treasure trove of loveliness. That first quilt is a stunner! I'd run away with it immediately. Hope you and your family have a happy thanksgiving.

piecefulwendy said...

Thanks for sharing the quilts; they are lovely. I have to admit I'm a little curious about the history of the first one though. :-) What a treasure trove of quilts you have! Happy Thanksgiving! Wendy at piecefulthoughts@gmail.com

Run 'n Stitch said...

Your quilts are truly treasures! Look at all of those tiny, tiny stitches. Happy Thanksgiving!

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

Beautiful quilts. Now I'm dying to know about the history of the first quilt. You can't tease us with a story and not share. LOL

Glenda said...

I can see why you feel in love with that quilt I have never seen one like it, I love circles and all 1930 quilts so this really appeals to me. What lovely bright colours they are still what a GEM of a quilt, was sorry you did not share the history of it with us LOL Id love to know the story LOL Thanks a miiloin for sharing these lovely old quilts what a treasure trove you have there. Cheers Glenda Australia.

Linda Swanekamp said...

Thank you for sharing. There is no quilting history in my family or love of quilts. Just me. I hope to start a new family appreciation!

KaHolly said...

What a delightful post! I certainly enjoyed seeing all of these beautiful quilts! I especially liked the reference to Granddad's Whiskers.

Pam said...

What a treat! What beautiful quilts! They have been very well cared for. I liked them all.

Norma Schlager said...

What a wonderful collection! There certainly is something to be said for those beautiful vintage quilts. Thank you for sharing them.

Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting said...

Wow! So much fun to see all these beautiful antique quilts!!! I had to LOL with the "junior sized quilt"! That first quilt is especially a stunner! Too bad you can't share the story. ;-)

Chantal said...

Eye candy for sure. Such treasures your in-laws have. Glorious! Fabulous! I just had so much fun looking at all of them. I think I will go for another pass before leaving, lol. Just for fun. Thanks for sharing these. ;^)

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Oh my - those are Ah! Mazing!! The first one - I lOVE - so totally unique!!!

Kate said...

Beautiful, beautiful family quilts. That first one is stunning! Love the bright colors in it.

Annie said...

Oh, my! You are so lucky to have those wonderful family quilts! Treasures all!

Glenda said...

Hi JUlie had to come in for another look at these lovely 1930's quilts, Ive been in love with them form when I first started making patchwork pieced blocks, just love the soft colours and tiny tiny prints they did. I have some blocks waiting to be made in to quilts that are made from Flour bags and it is interesting to see how they used these for clothes nickers and curtains in the 1930's. Thank you soooo much for sharing them with us all. Glenda