Reproduction Quilts

OMG Ombre and some new patterns

February 25, 2015 by Margaret

I’ve been enjoying working with some Ombre fabrics which have been in my stash for a wee while,

and I confess I’m still adding new ones to my shelves.

Ombre fabric, also known as a Rainbow or Fondu print, was very fashionable with quiltmakers during the 1830-1850 period. The fabrics created shading and interest to applique quilts (think epergne vases in Baltimore Album quilts)

On my shelves these two ombres started inching their way forward ’til they fell off, giggling and holding hands and I noticed them again.

Classic (not to mention gorgeous) Ombres.

And of course then I got enthused.

Wild Goose Chase, working title OMG Ombre

So I have a few more blocks to make…I will be alternating the Wild Goose Chase blocks with another pieced block. Yay, a chance to use more ombres and I’m happy to have some more machine piecing to do after months of hand stitching.

The hand stitching I’m doing is piecing my 1800s Sunburst blocks.

1800s Sunburst blocks.

I am just loving the fabrics in this quilt, again I’m pulling out oldies but goodies along with newies.

Marcus Bros. Aged Muslin and (in no particular order) a bounty of 1800s fashionable fabrics.

And ombres feature here too. This pic is just from the last time it was up on the design wall and I coudn’t resist sewing four together so I could see how the applique would work as a secondary pattern.

Two recent-ish quilt finishes are

Margot

Margot, after my Mother-in-law Margot DeCamp and Margo Krager ~ whose fabrics I adore and use A LOT :-)

and Rising Sun Medallion

Rising Sun Medallion

I’ve also finally updated my Pattern page with some new additions, I’m very excited to have some more patterns for sale.

A cup of tea and some more sewing beckons,

happy stitching

til soon

Margaret

5 Comments

Filed Under: 1800s Reproduction Fabrics, 1800s Sunburst, Design, Margo Krager fabrics, OMG Ombre, Quilt Patterns, Reproduction Quilts

No way, it can’t possibly be…can it?

February 3, 2015 by Margaret

Well the computer can’t lie, and I am hanging my head in embarrassment here.

I haven’t blogged for long time.

I have been hanging out on Facebook a little bit and lately on Instagram too but it’s not quite the same is it.

https://www.facebook.com/quiltstation

http://instagram.com/margaretmew/

Shall I just get back on the horse and hope you’ll let me pick up where I left off?

Keep Calm and Carry On.

Thank you…Ahem…shuffle of feet…I’m blogging, and it feels good.

Last time you saw my Pomegranate quilt, I was bundling up a few blocks to sew on a trip to NZ.

May 2014 Travel Prep

Look at it now!

Pomegranate quilt.

I am really pleased with the way this quilt has turned out…quite bright (clear) for me; usually I’m muddy-er and scrappy-er.

And sticking to three fabrics and a background?

LOL I couldn’t, there are a few subtle additions in the borders.

A Hepburn Springs local

I headed off to the wonderful Hepburn Springs (Daylesford, Vic.) last September with some of my LQG;

its always a special weekend with these ladies many of whom I’ve sewn with for nigh on 20 years.

Taking a morning stroll for coffee offers some lovely sights and the chance to meet a local.

Then back to the house for stitching.

I had plenty with me to choose from because I’ve started a several new quilts over the last months.

(And pulled a few UFO’s out of storage with renewed vigour)

1800s Sunburst Quilt.

I cut out a few of these hand-pieced Sunburst blocks in readiness for retreat. I then cut some more and have since sewn all of those.

And since then have cut the rest of the blocks needed for the quilt and spend most evenings hand stitching these.

Lots of my favourite 1800s repro fabrics happening here. Blues Browns and Pinks.

Last count I have half the blocks sewn, but it doesn’t pay to count too often

Also during January, aka ‘My Month of Selfish Sewing’, I have started and finished a machine pieced quilt top named Lexington Road.

Lexington Road

It’s only draped over the quilting machine, I wonder if anyone will notice if ‘MMoSS’ extends for a few more days…I’d love to get it quilted!

And January sewing included getting all these cute little applique blocks together, and continuing with the quilt I’m calling Miss Hitchens’ Whimsy.

Lots of half circles, Miss Hitchens’ Whimsy.

I’m teaching it at The Applique Guild’s Applique Academy later this year.

see The Applique Guild of Australia‘s website for more details.

There’s been some other ‘finishes’ since we last spoke, but perhaps I’ll leave those til next time

as the neck is a tad sore from tapping at the computer, but it feels really nice to connect with you all again.

Thank you for taking an interest in what I get up to, I do enjoy sharing it.

til next

Margaret

21 Comments

Filed Under: 1800s Reproduction Fabrics, 1800s Sunburst, Applique, Design, Machine Quilting, Musings, Pomegranate Quilt, Reproduction Quilts

June Orr 1849

July 21, 2014 by Margaret

I was really surprised to realise when writing the last blog post that I hadn’t written at all about the June Orr quilt which was hanging over the top of the ladder in this pic from last time

My ladder of Antique Quilts

So as promised, though not as timely as promised,

( I have been back nearly two months…eeek where did that go?)

here are some pics and the ‘short’ story of the June Orr 1849 quilt.

Aren’t we just eternally grateful to our quilting sisters of yesteryear who had the presence of mind to sign and date their quilts!

Initials and date, thank you June.

When I purchased the quilt back in 2012 from Cindy Rennels Quilts at the Paducah KY. quilt show it came with some provenance which tells us J.O. is June Orr. She lived in Cannonsburg County, Pennsylvania which is just south- west of Pittsburg.

L-R. Cindy Rennels, Me, Gerald Roy (Pilrim & Roy) Sherry Cook.

The above pic is taken the day I decided June’s quilt was coming home with me, my dear friend Sherry really helped me make up my mind (yes I needed a second opinion…can you imagine it! But as you’ll know if you’ve been to the major quilt shows in the U.S.A. the amount of antique quilts on offer is mindboggling)

Gerald Roy dropping in to the booth at the same time, and saying “great buy…I had my eye on that, well done” just capped off a great day. Cindy and Ronnie Rennels are the most gorgeous people and I enjoy seeing them when I’m at a show.

June Orr used a classic combination of Red and Green for her nine block applique quilt.

The green fabric has stood up well over the 160 odd years since she made her quilt but the red has not fared as well.

This block is pretty good

This one not so well

The red fabric has lost its print which has ‘dropped out’ causing the small holes, in places almost the entire piece has disintergrated. But it doesn’t detract at all I feel. It is only on a few of the blocks and it is typical of the effect of the dying processes used at the time.

I have drafted the block and started to make up my own version, I confess this is a slow process as so many other qults tempt…but slow and steady wins the race.

June Orr 1849 repro,

I have made more than one block I hasten to add LOL, and I have cut out most of the pieces.. Can I be so bold as to declare a ‘finishing frenzy’ or would I just end up eating my words?

With the imminent finish of the Pomegranate quilt (all blocks appliqued and just have to do the border) I actually feel excited about getting a UFO out of the cupboard, this could be the one but yes there are plenty of others to choose from.

thanks for dropping by and happy stitching,

til soon

Margaret

3 Comments

Filed Under: 1800s Reproduction Fabrics, Antique Quilts, Applique, Reproduction Quilts, Smithsonian Fabrics, Travel

Autumn Sewing

May 11, 2014 by Margaret

Beautiful autumn foliage.

Autumn is nearly over… it is my most favourite time of year. Central Victoria is just gorgeous during autumn and this morning when DH and I drove in to Castlemaine to grab a few supplies I enjoyed seeing the poplar trees in a blaze of yellow. The photo above was taken here at Quilt Station this morning, it’s one of the fruit trees we grow along the platform.

I’m heading over to New Zealand in just under two weeks time for a two week stay so when I get back it will be ‘officially’ Winter.

I’ve been ticking things off the ‘to do’ list and most aren’t even blog worthy, certainly not photo worthy.

eg. Making bags for the quilts I’ll be entering in the Victorian Quilters Showcase next month.

Sewing bindings, hanging sleeves and labels.

Re-doing the piping and binding on the Maltaville Quilt (never was happy with it…that’s what happens when I rush)

I’ve also made a start on pattern writing for my two newest quilts, ok at a pinch this could be photo worthy

Newest pattern 'Margot'

It’s for this quilt which you’ve seen in progress…this is a bad photo, I haven’t had a chance to hang it up and do it properly for the cover yet.

Margot ~ named after two very special Margo(t)s.

I ummed and ahhed over the name for this quilt, I came up with many names and then discarded them. But then Margot popped in to my head. The fabric in the border is by Margo Krager… I could wax lyrical about her fabrics but I will just say “I adore them”. And Margot (with a t) is my Mother-in-law’s name. It just seemed right to go with the name but MK drew the short straw with the spelling and Margot the MiL won.

Speaking of Margo Krager though, oh my look at what I have found on recent on-line and in-store shopping…

Margo Krager Dargates ...plus others.

I was thrilled to find The Wild Rose Quilt Shop which still stocks repro fabrics from long ago, many thanks to Dorothy for telling me about them as I found all of the above except the pink ombre which I found locally.

Margo’s Dargate Indigoes, plus that pink which is a Dargate Divinity c 1830, will give me something to play with in this longterm project.

Scherenschnitte blocks using Margo Krager's Dargate Indigos patt #20266 for Windham.

A girl needs plenty of fabric to keep her options open LOL but seriously I think that Pink Ombre is going to get me moving on this quilt as I had been a little ‘stuck’ with it. I’m assuming the pink is a very early design of Margo’s as it’s not by Windham but by Clothworks. The shop I bought it from does stock ‘older’ fabrics. I should write to Margo and ask her.

But I do need to keep chipping away at this before getting engrossed in the above.

Pomegranate quilt

However, I have already got a little sidetracked and am doing the Benjamin Biggs quilt which is generously being offered by Gay Bomers and Brenda Papadakis through Just Takes 2

I had a false start as I thought I would make it in ALL Smithsonian fabric, just an assortment of all colours really.

Here’s my first block

Then I changed my mind, and decided to stick with the more traditional (and original colours) of Red and Green. I am adding a hint of Cheddar in the corners and elsewhere if the block agrees LOL.

Of course I am behind already but here’s blocks one through three, I also changed the Apple Pie Ridge block (the Scherenschnitte one) to a different version.

Benjamin Biggs Blocks one, two and three.

I’ve also prepped block five to take to NZ with me, I used Freezer Paper underneath as I can sew on the plane that way…no scissors necessary.

Benjamin Biggs block five.

I would normally do this type of Scherenscnitte or paper cut block using the back basting method, I hope the feel of the freezeer paper underneath won’t be a nuisance this time.

Block number four is printed off but that’s all, let’s not get in to that

Well it’s nearly dark outside and I’ll venture back to the house, so glad I made a big pot of chicken and veggie soup for lunch as that will do for dinner too. I have sewing to do while watching telly tonight, ‘that dishy Martin Shaw’ as he’s known in our house is on in Inspector George Gently.

happy stitching

til soon

Margaret

4 Comments

Filed Under: 1800s Reproduction Fabrics, Applique, Benjamin Biggs Quilt, Design, Margo Krager fabrics, Reproduction Quilts

Step One…make a mess. Step Two…make it bigger!

April 2, 2014 by Margaret

“I’ll just reorganise my stash a little better“

I don’t even know what prompted the thought that popped in to my head, other than I had about an hour or so to spare while waiting for DH ~ we were heading off for a couple of days R & R. Also I had just bought a new light-box and didn’t have anywhere to put it so maybe these two events merged into the need to make better use of space, I dunno.

Anyway within a very short time this was what I was looking at.

The table was covered in fabric, and tubs!! Why did I get tubs out when I hadn't finished the shelves?

And the floor!! It looks like I've been burgled.

Now I know I’m impulsive, 50+ years on this earth have taught me that much about myself but…Really! I needed someone to shout STOP/WAIT/PLAN. Those are skills I need to work on.

And that’s the mess that was there when DH and I left and when we came back.

I decided to change the fabrics into groupings of how I would USE them and that they ought to be more in styles & eras rather than colours (although in my shelves there are still some piles of colours, that’s just the way some are selected)

Here’s the work in progress, across the top row are categories Turkey Reds, Overdyed Greens, Indigoes, Cheddars, Prussian Blues and Madders ~ I guess Double or Cinnamon Pinks could also go in here but I don’t have enough to pinks to warrant a separate pile, nor space. For me it’s easy to find any pink in the pink pile.

I make no apologies for the labels, I just love labelling things LOL

The second row gets more interesting. Florals late 18th to mid 19th c made sense to me, so in here I have florals of all scales but they must be of that era. I have another pile of florals that have a picotage ground as it helped to keep the piles more manageable. Ombres, Serpentine, Vermiculate & Eccentrics, Fine Stripes and Ribbon Prints make up this row.

I also had eight tubs which took all those bits of fabric which are too small to go on the shelves and they were in colours, so when I was looking for a piece of red I would up-end the tub and rummage through the pieces from iddy biddy bits to fat 1/16 size just to make a berry.

Eureka! A berry tub, add leaves and make it for all those bits that are too small to do anything else with…or would just make great berries

Berries and Leaves fabrics.. all colours cos berries don't have to be red and leaves don't have to be green.

I did the same for other fabric pieces and thought about how I would use it rather than its colour.

I freed up some space for quilt projects which had been creeping across the floor.

I re-rolled as many tubes of fabric on to half bolts as I could, the tubes did look great leaning against the wall but I found that they were a pain to cut and put back…for me if it’s not easy to put away, it probably doesn’t get put away. Embarrassment much.

Jo Morton for Andover # 4902 isn't it gorgeous

And now the whole room is all tidy and organised and it feels great.

I finished another quilt top, gotta love that.

No title... yet.

A design idea that came...and went.

As an aside…Lisa you may remember that fabric in the centre…you sent that to me a while back So this quilt reminds me of our friendship x

Ready for the quilting.

And in one last bit of news… it’s been a little bit ssshhh until now… but I can finally show you what I, Irene Blanck and Jennifer Murray have been working on for many months.

Amelie, the Victorian Quilters Inc. 2014 raffle Quilt.

It was a great honour to be asked to design and make a quilt for our State Quilting Guild and we are just so pleased with the result…we hope it sells lots of tickets. Apart from the four seams to join the blocks, and adding the border the entire top is by hand! Lots of applique and English Paper Piecing…techniques the three of us love.

Oh what the heck.. a couple more close ups!!You’re doing well to still be reading, what’s another minute

Amelie close-up, very pleased with the quilting.

Sorry it’s such a long blog post, I just had so much I wanted to tell you.

happy stitching

until next

Margaret

3 Comments

Filed Under: 1800s Reproduction Fabrics, Amelie, Applique, Design, Musings, Reproduction Quilts

Oh dear, people are starting to mention it.

March 4, 2014 by Margaret

It’s true… I mean I knew I hadn’t blogged for *Ages* but consoled myself with the thought that no one had said anything, so all is OK…no one thinks I’m a lazy bones.

But now you’re starting to notice.

And I’m very pleased cos it’s so easy to get out of the blogging habit and I needed a ‘shove’.

I have to confess I’ve hardly read a blog since I left for Houston last year, and y’all know I haven’t written on mine either.

Lo siento mucho.

(Sorry Texas just makes me think in Spanish)

I’ve missed it, and even though I’ve been catching up with many of you on Facebook I had busied myself with other stuff and let blogging slip down the list.

No more Miss Busy

However, I think I won’t do a long *catch up* post as it would probably bore you all to tears. Suffice to say I left for Houston, returned from Houston and had *The*Most*Fabulous*Time* in between. I even took some extra time and enjoyed a relaxing few days in the Pacific Northwest with dear friends as well, seeing a beautiful part of the USA I’d not seen before. Old friends, new friends, fun and adventures galore. Muchas gracias to all of you whom I spent time with.

One of the last quilt pictures you saw here was this one.

Pieced Compass Quilt

Well I’m happy to report that I took it away with me and got some travel sewing done. And over the Christmas break I finished the piecing and the quilting. The binding just needs to be stitched down and it’s finished, yippee.

This shows it in progress, two more borders were added. Where's a completed photo when I want one?

You know this entire quilt was made from fabric in my stash, how good is that. I have some real favourites in there and I especially liked using this fabulous fabric which I bought a year or two ago.

American Independence 100th Anniversary C.1876 by Sara Morgan for Blue Hill fabrics

A little bit of the Sarah Johnson Collection from the 1990s made its way further in the quilt too.

Sarah Johnson Fabric, Shelburne museum

I still have a little left for something special.

I’ve also started on a Pomegranate applique quilt. I’m very happy with the clarity of the fabrics together, they all seem to give off a lot of brightness…comparitively speaking for this ‘dull’ repro chick

Many of the blocks already prepped. This has been my evening sewing for most of February

The pomegranate itself is done differently to the one shown above. Oh My…did I make it difficult for myself. And why?

I have no idea but am glad the penny dropped. Here’s a few discards.

Squishy, bad and generally gone off Pomegranates.

Fresh Pomegranates will be a breeze.

Fresh Pomegranates

Well my dear quilting friends, it’s dinner time here… and Home beckons.

It’s been so hot and dry here and yet I know for many of you in the Northern hemisphere it’s been cold, miserable and sometimes dangerous. We’ve just entered Autumn and you’ve just entered Spring…let’s hope it’s better for all of us.

hugs

til soon

Margaret

2 Comments

Filed Under: Applique, Design, Musings, Reproduction Quilts

I’m Houston bound tomorrow

October 21, 2013 by Margaret

I’m feeling a little bit exhausted after a busy few weeks getting ready for this trip,

My Roses are just starting to bloom and look lovely after a light Spring shower.

I just wanted to enjoy them, if only for a moment.

Today I finalised the last bit of hand sewing I’ll take with me,

image of Medallion style quilt in progress

A new medallion quilt I'm working on, the 8 pointed stars will keep me out of mischief

You may recgnise some early repro’s in the pic….RJR’s Sarah Johnson Collection as well as their Smithsonian Collection, all working well with new-ish ranges from Paula Barnes and Mary Koval.

I know there’ll be time for sewing…Blogging I’m not so sure as I won’t have my laptop. I do plan to use FaceBook while I’m away so I hope to see you on there.

til soon

Margaret

5 Comments

Filed Under: 1800s Reproduction Fabrics, Musings, Reproduction Quilts, Smithsonian Fabrics

Once you cut you’re commited.

June 8, 2013 by Margaret

It’s a long weekend here in Australia, Queen’s Birthday weekend. Aaah the perks of still being a Colony
My home country of New Zealand celebrated last weekend, Queen’s birthday is celebrated the first Monday of June there.

What does that have to do with commiting to cut?

I don’t think either country is seeking to cut ties with Great Britain anytime real soon, so nothing really!

It’s just that it’s our first long weekend of winter, so I hibernate… and in the best British tradition, I potter.

The fire is roaring & maybe I’ll bake a cake this afternoon.

A suitably British looking fire place, not mine alas.

And then make something hearty for dinner.

But most importantly, I’m making time for sewing more of this.

And I’m ‘commiting to cut’.

I have sewn the last flower down during the week (I know pretty poor effort for a whole week LOL) and now want to

concentrate on the basket.

It’s a big shape and I always intended to break it up a bit with some reverse applique to reveal more of the blue.

I had only a very loose idea in my head, perhaps a trio of shapes, curving-ish.

I traced the basket again on to paper and using the paper cut method, folded and… cut.

good old Scherenschnitte, in its simplest form

Open it out and Voila!

Yeah, that's okay

Try it on for size.

I think that could work.

I fancy that I work quite impulsively, all this has taken about five minutes, but then something happens and I start to vacillate.

I’m pretty sure it’s a Libra thing.

I have to fiddle about and start changing things.

Maybe it could use some circles? There are lots of circles in the block.

Oh no, go back!

It suddenly looks like a face, or a ghost.

Maybe it always looked like a ghost.

What is it people say?

Quit while you’re ahead.

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

Learn to leave well enough alone.

Well I haven’t cut yet, but I have drawn it on so I feel commited.

That pencil mark's not going to come off easily so I'm ready to cut.

I’m just finishing my coffee and then I’m cutting, starting with just the centre shape. Just in case I want to ‘tweak’ a little.

Enjoy your weekend, whether it be long or short, hot or cold.

til soon

Margaret

12 Comments

Filed Under: 1800s Reproduction Fabrics, Applique, Design, Quilt Patterns, Reproduction Quilts

Lights, Camera … Action!

June 1, 2013 by Margaret

Thursday and Friday were clutter filled and busy days at my place…

Why?

I turned the living room in to a Photographic Studio!

I had finally found time to set aside a day (but then needed two) to photograph quilts and get pattern covers designed for a ‘stack’ of quilts.

A stack of quilts to do, some Antique, some new.

I had planned to do this way back in February or even March! Outside… on a fine and wind free and DH not busy & can assist me kind of day.

Well it just didn’t happen LOL, then I figured surely I can do this inside.

DH isn’t having any non busy days but my friend Catie was here and wanting something to do.

The fun began with the moving of furniture, setting up the quilt frame and dusting off the tripod.

Then bringing in extra lights and doing test shots to test the light- shadowing vs glare and which camera gave the best result.

Phew.

Rollo was exhausted watching all that.

"are you nearly finished? I can't sleep, it's too bright"

Eventually we were on a roll and had a good system in place. Catie photographed and uploaded to the pattern cover template

while I gave her the info to enter… Quilt name, description and size.

Catie is quicker with her own computer and language.

I should mention here that Catie is visiting from France and English is not her first language and French is not mine. But we are both improving at a remarkable rate

But I now speak (and even think) English in an odd slow and deliberate way, with a French accent. I’m sure it won’t last. But even DH is doing it!

The antique quilts needed a bit of tweaking of course, you can do wonders with a bit of string and double sided sticky tape.

donner un 'tweak'

I shooed Maisie off this quilt so I could finish the binding and add it to the Quilt Stack.

Antique Sail Boats, a new Crib Quilt

There is still a little bit to do but the hard part is done and the living room was back to normal for Friday evening.

Merci Catie...still smiling after two days.

I haven’t had much evening sewing time the last few days but hope to get this new block finished during the week so I can decide what to add to it next, it will probably turn in to a medallion quilt.

Have a great weekend, it’s cold and wet here but I’m enjoying the time at home.

Happy stitching

til soon
Margaret

Autumn ~ gardening and sewing.

May 4, 2013 by Margaret

A rose from my garden, for you

I’m feeling a little neglectful, disappearing since February… eeek

It wasn’t intentional, and I wish I could say I’ve been here, there and everywhere.

But in fact I’ve mostly been right here at home, just doing stuff.

Which has been very nice.

All of a sudden, it’s Autumn and I love it, this is my favourite season.

Late afternoon and long shadows.

As you can see I have a few roses hanging in there,

this is typical of Central Victoria where the roses will get a second bloom after summer.

But the trees are giving it away

there won't be a second bloom of apricots.

In the Northern Hemisphere, Spring Market is nigh in Portland, Oregon.

I would love to have been there but alas, not this year.

However I have just sent a quilt over for Marianne Elizabeth‘s booth there.

I’ve been busy designing and making the quilt using her newest fabric range

Tatiana by RJR fabrics.

Stars and Stripes.

I moved the sewing machine in to the house when the fabric arrived, parked it up on the end of the dining table so I could sew late in to the evenings.