Back in Minnesota…. an 1800+ mile road trip home from Arizona…. and if you are thinking that along the way perhaps there was a need to stop and s t r e t c h very near an antique store or two, you would be right!
I bought several items from The Brass Armadillo near Des Moines, IA, which I’ll share in the coming posts.
Bowtie 1 - c. 1950
This bowtie uses a wide variety of cotton fabrics from 1950’s and 60’s. The block measures just 5”. It is nicely pieced and appears not to have been used much if at all. It has been washed giving it that nice pucker of a real quilt. It is hand quilted, has cotton batt and measures a generous 82” x 93”. It was such a bargain I couldn’t pass it up. I have heard the term ‘bottom feeder’ in regards to quilt collecting and I think that describes me. I DO so love a good quilt for an even better price! I had to include several close-ups so you could see the fabrics better.
Bowtie 2 - c. 1900
As long as we’re talkin’ ties I realized I had two more in my collection. You are not seeing double. This one is c. 1900. Unlike the previous example, It is very worn –maybe that’s what gives it such charm. I used it on a table display last year at a quilt show where I was appraising and it got as much attention as the many wonderful new quilts! It is hand quilted in a simple but effective overall diagonal grid. Now that I compare it with the one I just bought I’m amazed. The setting is exactly the same…. The block size varies by only ¼”, each has a 3.5” white border and white binding. The blocks are set side by side and oriented in the same direction! They were made about 50 years apart! You may think there are not that many ways to set this block but my third example will prove you wrong.
I purchased this top at an AQSG seminar. I do like tops. As far as I’m concerned they can stay that way- which is good because most of mine do. I have toyed with the idea of taking this one apart and changing the setting but now that I look at it again I like the unique ‘strippy’ format. The close-up views show the many indigo and shirting fabrics the maker chose. It would be nice to quilt this one, wouldn’t it?
Come back soon to see a few more treasures from the trip home! 
Jean, Love seeing your quilts - and glad you are blogging.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dawn. I am having so much fun doing this. I have a growing list of topics - the good thing is it makes me think about what I have and try to be creative about organizing and sharing it. Eventually I'll be adding some things to justify the etcetera part of the name!
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