I am always impressed by the creativeness of master quilters. This sophisticated, yet Folky ...what I call a holiday quilt..has incorporated known techniques with original designs.

All work on this quilt has been executed by hand. Applique work goes beyond with each flower and leaf finished with an elaborate variation of a buttonhole stitch. All flowers and vines in the border are outline quilted. The vine border is outline and echo quilted, each flower and leaf are also outlined and echo quilted. There are beautiful vines quilted both horizontally and vertically with the balance of the quilt crosshatch quilted in a 3/4" grid. All quilting stitches are small and perfectly executed.

The wreaths on this quilt were appliqued onto 13" X 13" pieced together and joined with an 8" border. The quilting designs overlap the squares. The flowers, which look more like hearts, are approximately 2" in width. Leaves are approximately 2-1/2" X 2". All of the above are quilted win three rows of straight line quilting. The separately hand applied binding measures 1/4". A backing of fine linen is indicative of the era.

There are three fabrics on the front..Turkey Red, overdyed green and white. Yes, this unusual quilt has been lovingly used yet still in fabulous condition.

Now organically hand washed and ready to be sent with free shipping for your approval.

This beautiful quilt is not only an original adaptation of a Love Apple and Prince's Feather, but was executed in a manner which I've never seen.... combining two partial patterns.

The quilt top was designed and appliqued on four separate blocks each measuring 29" X 32". Until now the only appliqued quilt similar to this would have applique on a whole cloth backing. In this case the wonderful quilt design overlaps all the seams. One would never notice this unless looking as closely as I have.

This quilt is appliqued, reverse appliqued, and beautifully quilted. The applique work is absolutely perfect, and the quilting is wonderful, with small even stitches. The appliqued pieces, after being beautifully appliqued, are outline quilted. The main body of the quilt around the center square has 4 corners of beautifully quilted medallions. These are joined with a meandering feather quilting, an image that replicates the feathers. The borders have feather images quilted between each feather, from the outside of the feathers around the entire quilt, is a diagonal straight line apx 1" apart. The balance of the quilt between the very creative designs is cross hatch quilted in 1" grids.

The specific measurements are :Flowers ..1' stems, Apples 4" diameter, leaves 5-1/2" in length, feathers 18" in length, 1/4" seperately applied binding,

I am also going to call this an optical illusion quilt because my eye switches between the Love Apple design and the Feathers. What an interesting design! Center medallion designs date back as early as the late 18th century in England. If one looks closely, you will see a center medallion 40" in diameter, with the four corners quilted in medallions and joined with meandering feather designs.

This quilt can be appreciated on many levels. Not only would this be a gorgeous quilt for your bed, but the unusual shade of green makes it a perfect fit with today's decor.

How wonderful to find an original design in what appears to be a Christmas quilt. This very talented woman not only was a creative designer, but an over the top quilter.

The appliqued and pieced blocks measure 14" X 15", vertical sashing between blocks measures 5-1/2", horizontal sashing measures 7". The triple border is 7" in with and is comprised with an inner row of Flying Geese measuring 1-7/8", the middle white section is 3-1/2" and the outer Flying Geese row is 1-3/4". There is a separately applied 1/4" corded binding.

The quilting is totally over the top. We have diagonal quilting 3/8" apart on the appliqued blocks, The vertical and horizontal sashings have triple line quilting 1/8" apart that is so dense the quilt becomes stippled in those areas. The same quilting design, in diagonal rows is executed on the border. All over the top quilting!

The five fabrics used here are white, overdyed Green, faded very early Turkey Red Calico, and a compatible overdyed green. The backing is a white linen.

This amazing quilt is now organically hand washed and ready to be sent, with free shipping, for your approval.

So much of our country is focused on politics. However, this is not new to our country. In the 1840's women did not have the right to vote. We literally took this matter into our own hands by creating what is called the Whig Rose pattern. This creation was our way of stating our preference for the Whig Party. Even though this party was short lived many women showed their solidarity by creating this pattern. The quilt we have here is exceptional on many levels. All work was of course executed by hand and is truly exceptional.

Made for a low bed as we can tell by the 9-1/2" border. The meandering rose buds and leaves are meticulously appliqued to the point that most of the stitches are invisible. The main body of the quilt has 16 perfectly appliqued, onto 12" squares, Rose Wreaths on point. The leaves are straight line quilted, emulating the vanes on the leaves. Every other piece is outline quilted with tiny perfectly executed stitches. Every other block, on point, is white. The 1/4" separately applied binding is also corded as is the inside edge of the border. The quilting pattern is something to behold. The border is crosshatch quilted in a 3/4" diagonal grid. Most of the body of the quilt is quilted within 1/2" of each row. There are vines joined with hearts. Was this a wedding gift for a politically minded couple?

I cannot say enough about the amazing ability of the quilt's creator. This is a quilt that any museum or individual would treasure. Coming straight from the family with provenance and now ready for a new home.

I am happy to send, with free shipping, for your approval.

This simple yet sophisticated stunning quilt has been hand pieced and hand quilted. There are 4” borders on three sides, a Yankee tradition - why put on a forth side if that was to be the top of the bed? The border was applied by machine. The entire quilt has been quilted on the diagonal and double line quilted, which is indicative of 1840’s style. However, I feel this quilt was finished in the 1860’s due to the fact that the 4” border was applied by machine.

The woman who created this used a style that she learned at an earlier age. This has an 1/8” turned over edge creating the binding, seen only on the back, which is closed with minuscule stitches. The greens, which appear now as slightly different shades, where probably all one shade when this was made. All green is over dyed, which means putting yellow over blue or blue over yellow. The top of a queen size bed is 60". This would cover a queen bed, or be a wonderful throw at the end of the bed. The quilting stitches are very small and even. This quilt has been beautifully made and appears to be in unused condition.

Not only a perfect Christmas quilt, this Touching Stars with tulip and leaves border is graphically wonderful, perfectly executed with quilting, on a scale of one to ten being a fifteen!

Constructed in the 1840s we see one technique that is definitely indicative of that era: triple line quilting. Tripple line quilting is three rows of quilting that are very close together, with 1" spacing to the next three lines of quilting. The quilting stitches are some of the tiniest that I have ever seen.

Each white on point joining block is embellished with an exquisitely quilted wreath, filled in and outlined with triple line quilting. Even the small connecting blocks on point have a wonderfully quilted medallion with the centers and corners triple line quilted. Triple line quilting has been executed through all of the stars. The four outside corners are quilted in the same pattern as the inside white squares on point. The border is exquisitily quilted with half wreath medallions perfectly executed in every open space around the stars. There are dozens of diamonds with approximately 2-1/2" sides. The 6" border with appliqued tulips and leaves has triple line diagonal quilting spaced approximately 1" apart. The quilt is finished with a 1/4" hand applied separate binding.

We have overdyed green, a rare Turkey Red calico with faux quilting lines and pale yellow dots. The outside border was appliqued using a Turkey Red calico with miniatute pale yellow three leaf clovers. The pale yellow on each fabric is basicly the same shade.

All piecing and applique work is perfectly executed by hand.

This exquisite quilt would be an amazing piece of art to enjoy in your home. Now organically hand washed and ready to be sent free of charge for your at home approval.

This wonderful dated 1846 North Carolina Lily Appliqued Quilt is signed and dated by the maker, Melinda Gurney. There are no signs of its being more than slightly used. Is it possible that this quilt was created to be used as a Sunday best quilt? Or was it made to commemorate a very special occasion?

We know that this quilt was created by a very affluent family, as this Turkey red calico was some of the most expensive fabric to be purchased. The green fabric in this quilt was created using a method called over-dying. Yellow dye was placed over blue dye to create green. The North Carolina Lily blocks are 14 inches square, the sashing between the blocks measures 4-1/2 inches and all the blocks are on point. The border is appliquéd with swags and tassels reminiscent of a formal room setting.

The binding measures 1/4 inch, the sashing is double line quilted, indicative of the 1840’s style. All pieces are outline quilted. This quilt will perfectly fit a queen size bed with either a regular or new very thick mattress or a king size bed with the swags going over the sides. It is completely hand pieced, hand appliquéd and hand quilted. Professionally hand washed by Betsey. Please call for more information.

This sophisticated and exquisite stuffed Whig Rose Variation was executed in a manner indicative of the 1840's, the nine block formation. As the style's name suggests, there are nine approximately 31" X 31" blocks that are identical. A red, teal, and white quilt with yellow accents is a difficult color combination to find. Taking this quilt artistically to a higher level is the stuffed work. Each applique is stuffed so that the design becomes three dimensional. We have applique, reverse applique, stuffed work, and an exquisitely designed motif.

I believe this quilt was a gift to someone whose name is now lost in time. I have surmised this because of the numerous signatures on the quilt. Some signatures can be easily read, others are almost obliterated. In the 1840's when someone moved, there was a distinct possibility that they would never again see their family or friends. This is hard for us to imagine now! During this time period there was a great migration from New England and the mid Atlantic states to the mid-west and beyond to the Pacific coast. People were looking for more freedom and an abundance of land.

This quilt has been lovingly used yet only shows slight wear on the binding and some faded signatures from washing. The large size indicates that this quilt would have been made for an early high bed. Now this quilt will easily fit today's queen size bed, with a 17" overhang on each side, or a king sized bed with a 7" overhang.

The entire quilt is outline quilted and cross hatched in a 1" grid. The outstanding parts of this quilt are the applique, stuffed work and color combination. The fabrics and techniques seen on this quilt are reminiscent of work seen on Baltimore album quilts, and chances are was executed by a member of a wealthy family.

Organically hand washed by us and ready to be sent, with free shipping for your in-home approval.

Beautifully constructed and unused...I am the first person to wash this 160 year old quilt! Created from Madder red and an overdyed green calico fabric along with white, this quilt is a stunning addition to your bedroom or as a piece of art for your wall. The limited but unusual colors add to the treasure. The fact that these must have been purchased fabrics tells us that the family was on comfortable means. Was this unused quilt a present and therefore too special to use? Here we are over a century later now given the ability to enjoy this graphically wonderful quilt.
The squares making up the "chain" have 1-1/2" sides..with the squares measuring 7-1/2"... each individual little square is outline quilted inside and the outer row on the outside. The white joining areas are quilted with a floral motif. The binding is 1/4" turned from the back to front and then hand stitched down.
In perfect unused condition, organically washed, now ready to be sent at no charge for your in home approval.

This is an original adaptation of a very sophisticated pattern which was created by an expert sewer as well as being an expert quilter. In 34 years I have never seen a pattern created in a manner such as this.

Created from turkey red, white and tobacco dyed green cotton and linen fabrics. Hawaiian quilts are known for their echo quilting. While this is certainly not a Hawaiian quilt, it is echo quilted and stippled throughout the entire piece. This original pattern was created in 20" X 21" blocks, which were appliqued and reverse appliqued with the roses using an amazing pleated, ruffled design. This pattern was outline quilted and from there we go to actual echo quilting. Each joining block has been echo quilted in a 5" square on the diagonal. The balance of each block has echo quilting following the entire design.

The top and bottom borders measure 5-1/2" and the side borders measure 7-1/2" in width. All four borders are appliqued with a meandering vine and buds folk art pattern. Once again, we see that the pattern is completely outline quilted with the balance of the sashing being echo quilted. The result is an entire quilt covered with echo quilting approx 1/4" apart, creating a stippled effect. There is an 1/8" applied binding using the tobacco dyed green fabric.

Tobacco dyed green is a very fugitive color and is easily changed from washings and direct sunlight. I can see this quilt hung as a true masterpiece in a special place on your wall. Only direct sunlight will damage this quilt. This quilt will be fine in a bright room where you can see and marvel at the exquisite quilting. ...just not direct sunlight....You will see shading in the tobacco dyed green and there are still a few faint areas of foxing.

A rarety is the fact that this quilt is signed and dated .....J.M. Murphy ..Jan. 8th,1858. The exact date leads me to believe that it was made to commemorate a wedding date.

This masterpiece quilt is now organically washed and ready to be hung or used on a bed in your home.

Ready to be sent to you for your in home approval........

This spectacular Quilt appears never to have been used. When one finds hearts quilted in to design one feels (according to lore) that this was a wedding present. Too nostalgically valuable, this gift was packed away and passed from generation to generation, still never used. Now this quilt is ready for a new home. We are conjecturing that the family was of Irish descent as there are four leaf clovers that were created from hearts.

Constructed from 14" blocks, on point, that are both pieced and appliqued by hand. This is totally understandable as this quilt was made before the sewing machine was in use. In perfect unused condition, this textile was constructed from a Turkey Red Calico and a white diminutive vine and leaf print on a teal background. Turkey Red fabrics were the choice of affluent woman of the era.

The diamonds in the floral design have 2" sides, while the edges of the leaves measure 4-1/4" and 3". The stem is appliqued by hand and measures 1/4" in width. The fabulous Chevron border is constructed from diamonds, also with 2" sides. The border measures 3" and contains a 1/8" separately applied binding. There are only three fabrics used for the top...The turkey Red Calico, The teal design and white. There are a myriad of quilting designs: hearts, four leaf clovers, flowers on stems, oak leaves, buds and vines. All quilt pieces are outline quilted.

One would have a choice of having a piece of art for a bed or a piece of art for one's wall.

I am happy to send this quilt, with free shipping, for your approval.

This wonderful dated 1846 North Carolina Lily Appliqued Quilt is signed and dated by the maker, Melinda Gurney.
There are no signs of its being more than slightly used. Is it possible that this quilt was created to be used as a Sunday best quilt? Or was it made to commemorate a very special occasion?

We know that this quilt was created by a very affluent family, as this Turkey red calico was some of the most expensive fabric to be purchased. The green fabric in this quilt was created using a method called over-dying. Yellow dye was placed over blue dye to create green. The North Carolina Lily blocks are 14 inches square, the sashing between the blocks measures 4-1/2 inches and all the blocks are on point. The border is appliquéd with swags and tassels reminiscent of a formal room setting.

The binding measures 1/4 inch, the sashing is double line quilted, indicative of the 1840’s style. All pieces are outline quilted. This quilt will perfectly fit a queen size bed with either a regular or new very thick mattress or a king size bed with the swags going over the sides. It is completely hand pieced, hand appliquéd and hand quilted. Professionally hand washed by Betsey. Please call for more information.

This wonderful red, green and white basinette quilt is comprised of two early madder dyed calicoes (c.1860), an over dyed green calico and white. Hand pieced and beautifully hand quilted with feather wreath medallions in the joining blocks, feather vines in the 3-1/2" white border and adjacent white triangles, and straight line quilting in the 4 patch blocks. The date of 1891 is embroidered in two places. The four-patch blocks on this piece measure 5-1/4” each, and the blocks are set on point.

An exquisite red, white and green quilt made extra special by its diminutive size, it would be perfect as a wall hanging year round or a decorative element for the winter holidays. In excellent condition and professionally hand washed by Betsey this little quilt can be sent to you on approval for viewing in your home.

This Philodendron plant quilt pattern was indeed very difficult to execute. All of the leaf pieces were executed using the reverse applique technique. This quilt was created around the time Americans discovered Hawaii along with all of their wonderfully creative art work. This quilt fragment is reminiscent of the Hawaiian quilts, but is definitely from Pennsylvania.
This was part of a larger quilt and is now a graphically wonderful piece of art. The skill level seen here is some of the best in the world of quilting tops. Reverse applique is a painstaking task which is beautiful when done correctly.
When originally made, all the leaves were the same shade of green. The over dyed green fabric has washed down to a yellowish green...while the beige leaves were tobacco dyed, the color of which dissipates when washed. Ironically, the beige we are left with is one of the much loved of today's colors.
We have bound the fragment with a 1/4" same date fabric matching the background of the quilt.
The size of this fragment is perfect for a wall hanging, in either direction... or as a rare and unusual centerpiece for any of your tables.
Organically hand washed by Betsey and ready to be sent for your at home approval.

The center of this wonderful early quilt was badly torn beyond restoring...so we salvaged parts... Here we have part of the border...we moved one short end of the over dyed green to make a complete border.. Then we bound the fragment with 1/4" of the same date fabric....
Now you have an unusual Tulip applique quilt in perfect dimensions for over your couch, bed or any piece of furniture...Pieced and appliqued from Turkey Red and overdyed green, then hand quilted in a diagonal cross grid pattern.
Beautiful and happy :-)...
Organically hand washed by Betsey and ready to be sent for your approval.

We have here a very sophisticated rendition of the steeple chase pattern. The calico fabrics used to create this piece were very expensive at that time, and are an indication that this quilt top was pieced by a woman of affluence. This quilt top is comprised of two amazing early fabrics, a madder dyed and a very unusual over-dyed green fabric. Hand pieced and appliqued, it is in beautiful condition, ready to quilt.

My first reaction when looking at this quilt is happiness..this quilt just made me smile. Whoever the woman was who appliqued this must have been an exuberant and ever-smiling person.

The combinatuion of red, white and green was a prevalent theme from around c.1830 to c.1865. Thirty blocks that measure 9-1/2" square are joined together with 4-1/2" sashing. The designer's placement of the applique rose and bud blocks was very much on purpose. These blocks are wonderfully appliqued and reverse appliqued using turkey red, chrome orange and over-dyed green fabrics.

When studying quilts, I feel one needs to be a bit of a sleuth. I believe the original c.1855 top measured about 70". Then the quilter came along, maybe 30 years later, adding a 5" border all around, of the exact color white cotton as the original part. The whites are exact in color but of of a different thread count. The backing is the same fabric as the borders. That was where the sleuthing came in!

All of the flowers, buds, vines, and leaves are outlined quilted, exactly as it would have been done in the 1850s. Studying this quilt I realized that the border and the sashings were quilted in a different manner than would have been normally indicative of that era. That discovery led me to study the fabrics which led me to believe the blocks were made in the 1850s and the border and backing were added at the end of the 19th century, finishing the quilt.....c,1895.

I would love to see this quilt hung as art on a wall, however it would also be fabulous on a bed.

Now organically washed and ready to be sent for your approval.

Irish Chain with Chintz Border. Signed "Melina Gurneys" and dated 1840. The double line quilting is indicative of this era. Chain squares are 2". White areas are quilted within a 1/8" to 1/4" apart. Parts look stippled...Design looks like a pinwheel shaped vine...Exquisite quilting.

Festoon your home this holiday season with the perfect antique hand appliqued quilt for art on your wall, bed or decorating in general. In gorgeous solid Turkey red and overdyed green you just can’t get any more festive. 16 hand appliqued lilies dance among flower buds on a pristine white ground. Solid Turkey red jabots and bows circle the white border measuring 12 3/4 inches on the side borders and 10 inches top and bottom (quilt shown horizontally in photo). Finely done hand quilting consists of outline on each appliqué, 6, 7 and 8 petaled floral motifs in differing sizes and leaf filled trailing vines in the white background. The quilt has a white backing and is finished with a ¼ inch hand applied white binding.

This piece is extremely ordered and well planned but gives the impression of free spirited gaity, emphasized by the “scattering” of appliqued buds and the various sizes of the hand quilted multi-petaled flowers and free flowing leafy vines.

This lovely quilt would be the focal point of your holiday decorating or any time of year. Professionally hand washed by Betsey.