Warning, you may need to make a cup of tea before sitting down.
I could go on indefinitely with posts titled USA continued,
but I think we might all get sick of that 
So I will make this the final post about the USA trip even though I’m sure I’ll still post the odd photo of USA quilts, people and places over the months to come.
I saw so much to inspire me that you can imagine I have quilts dancing around in my head and I have this morning started on Something New, which I will want to show you a little of before long.
As promised this post will be about the time in Washington D.C.
Don't let the summer blouse fool you, it was brisk on that bus brrrrr
Irene and I actually stayed at a Holiday Inn hotel in Alexandria, VA
(just across the river and more to our budget than being in DC itself)
It was suggested by Fiona of Country Threads ,thank you Fiona it was perfect for us. We were riding that subway like locals over the four days.
The main purpose for being in D.C. was of course to visit the National Museum of American History.
I have been in fairly regular contact with Associate Curator Doris Bowman since embarking on my Maltaville Album Quilt and was keen to see the original quilt if possible.
To say the half day at the Smithsonian was “brilliant” is an understatement. I was bowled over by Doris Bowman’s generosity in allowing me to view, touch ~ gently, and photograph the original quilt as well as allowing me time to just look and learn.
"How have they finished that edge?"
Now I know, after the red piping there is a 1 1/8″ finished folded binding ~ left unfilled.
The quilt itself threw up some surprises and answered some of my questions, but with those answers comes more questions.
Detail of centre block
Cleverly using the wrong side of the green fabric to create subtle shading, I have done that myself in the past but it was a nice surprise to see it here. There is a lot more embroidery than I had realised though ~ not my strong point!
Harriet Able's block
I didn’t do my stems or leaves like that, but I like the way it looks. I think I will be a convert to Harriet’s method.
On Earth In Heaven block by Delia Burr
Mrs William Thompson Maltaville block
As I say, embroidery is not my strong point which is why my bird block is still waiting for that embroidered detail.
I showed Doris my version of the Maltaville, which looks so stark and *white* next to the original which is so warm and mellowed with age.
I posted a photo of me grinning like a cheshire cat here on the Maltaville Blog.
I was also able to view some other quilts which are of interest to me, it should come as no surprise which four quilts topped that list,
The Rising Sun Quilt, The Little Sister’s Quilt, Benoni Pearce’s Groom’s Quilt and the Copp Family Quilt.
It was such a privilege to view these quilts, even tucked away in their drawers.
Benoni Pearce's Groom's Quilt 1850, detail
Betsy Totten's Rising Sun Quilt, detail
Little Sister's quilt, detail
It’s not known whether Susan Holbert (born 1834) made this quilt herself or if her older sister Emily Holbert made it for Susan.
But Emily Holbert did make this quilt in 1847, Emily died in 1858.
Emily Holbert quilt 1847, detail
Copp Quilt early 19th century, detail
I saw even more quilts than these and will share them with you over time. I am very, very thankful to Doris Bowman for being so generous with her time and knowledge.
While in D.C. we also visited the DAR museum.
Hexagon quilt, Vermont Room DAR Museum.
Penn family 1850s Baltimore Album Quilt (left) and Mary Mannakee Quilt (right)
We visited the DAR twice, the first day we didn’t get there til 3pm as we had taken a drive out to visit Stella Rubin Antiques , more about that another day! So another visit was needed to really study the quilts on show at the DAR.
You may like to put the kettle on again as there are just a few more things I want to share.
I don’t want to sign off from the US trip without mentioning the day Irene and I spent with friends Marsha, On the Go Quilting and Stella ~ no blog, yet
Back row: Irene and Moi. Front row: Stella and Marsha.
We had a great day together at the New England Quilt Museum and the Lowell Textile Museum. We even squeezed in a trip to Candlelite Quilts to do some more shopping. Marsha, we made a dash to the USPS on the Friday for our final mailing home, we had three mailings home in all for a grand total of five boxes!! Marsha has blogged about our fabulous day together here and here
And Stella, I will be in touch real soon about ‘you know what’.
I’ll finish with a few odds and ends
Dress 1845-1848 American History Textile Museum, Lowell, MA
Mill building, Springfield, Vermont
I wish the above photo had sound.
Rockport, MA
I know I will have to do another USA cont. blog post because I haven’t shared anything from the Winterthur Museum yet.
But that will have to be another day, next time I want to show you a little of a new project.
And the latest Quiltmania magazine is out, with the final instalment of my Mid 19th Century Star quilt along with the photo shoot Quiltmania did here last year. Very Exciting. I will try to be back in a day or two.
til soon
Margaret
