Saturday, March 6, 2021

Pieces and Patches in Green

 

Welcome to Treadlestitches, and welcome to green month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!

I'm a quilt collector as well as a quilt maker, so I thought I'd share one of my favorite antique green quilts for March.

Today we might call this a granny square block.  In the mid to late 19th century, when this top was pieced, the maker might have named it Album or Chimney Sweep.

It's sort of unusual for all the blocks in an Album quilt to have the same main color.  (Note to self:  It might be fun to try that!)  The maker apparently ran out of the original green, and used a different print in the four corner blocks.  The greens are very similar, but the main one has yellow dots and the other has a white shape outlined in black.  I didn't notice the difference until I got up close.

The outside corners have this shape appliqued to them.  All the work in the quilt is by hand, including the borders.  That doesn't mean the quilter didn't have a sewing machine, just that she didn't use one for this quilt.  My own great grandmother made all her quilts completely by hand up through the 1960s.

Several of the blocks have this kind of damage:  a discoloration in the prints.  It could have been caused by some kind of mild bleaching agent.  When I bought this top at a flea market, the seller thought mouse urine might have been the cause (yuck!), although there are no holes from chewing.  The quilt had been washed before I bought it, so no smell of course.

My antique quilts and tops are stored all over the house.  I'm going to start bringing them out more so I can enjoy them.

Nothing is finished this week, but I did make a start on some scrappy green blocks.

This cheeky monkey print kept showing up in everything.

This one is even waving!

But here's the real story of this week.  Baby Buddy had his first birthday!

He loved the cake, of course.  Vanilla for him (less messy) ...

and chocolate for Little Buddy, who got to lick the icing off the beater.

Little Buddy did his best to interest his baby brother in his presents...

But Baby Buddy loved the tissue paper best!  (I may have felt like that about fabric.  How about you?)

The snow is still here, but it's retreating.  We can see more grass every day.  Spring is coming, however slowly.  There are lots of good reasons to be hopeful.

Stay safe, and have a happy hopeful week!

Cheers for reading,

Sylvia@Treadlestitches

Linking up with these marvelous ladies:

Cynthia at Oh Scrap 

 





 

 






19 comments:

  1. So interesting to see and learn about your antique quilt, Sylvia! That monkey in your blocks is adorable - you have the best novelty fabric. Happy Birthday to your Baby Buddy! Of course that tissue paper is the most fun - it makes noise!

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    1. Thanks, Diann! The paper kind of floats, too! Who needs toys when you've got tissue paper and bags and boxes?

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  2. Great novelty fabric! The antique quilt is beautiful. It’s unfortunate that part of it is damaged. The up side is it is still in great shape. What a cute birthday boy. I remember my grands playing with the bows and wrapping paper — ignoring the gifts.

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    1. Thanks, Bonnie! I love old quilts, and the ones with a problem are very affordable, so that's mostly what I collect. Kids can have some really creative fun with wrapping paper, etc. They get around to the toys eventually.

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  3. Happy birthday, Baby Buddy!! LOVE that tissue paper photo best of all. Have fun growing the number of GREEN blocks on your design wall this month, Sylvia!

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  4. The snow is melting. You had company and your projects is looking great.

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    1. Thanks, Maggie! We are counting our blessings and looking forward to warm sunny days.

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  5. Thanks so much for sharing your lovely antique quilt! And Happy Birthday to baby.

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    1. Thanks, Jenny! I think he had a good birthday. He definitely had lots of cake!

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  6. I do feel that way about fabric - fun blocks

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  7. Thank you for sharing the antique quilts. Your blocks are bright and cheerful but the grandbabies take the cake :-) Such cuteness!!!

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  8. Lovely array of green on your wall! My daughters always played with the boxes things came in. LOL Such cute buddies!

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  9. Love your green scrappy blocks. They are all so fresh and new looking. Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!

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  10. Beautiful antique quilt. Lovely green RSC blocks. Last but not least ... Happy Birthday, Baby Buddy!!!!

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  11. Lovely antique quilt. I am glad you are bringing them out and enjoying them!! and your new green blocks look like fun!

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  12. What a wonderful antique quilt. I always enjoy studying older quilts and I try to imagine what the maker was like. Sweet RSC blocks too. You are making a lot of progress. Your grandbabies are as precious as can be. Have a lovely week.

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  13. I note that the antique quilt has the corners cut off the points, so why do we worry about it so much?

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Thanks for reading! Post a comment--I want to know what you think!