Monday, September 19, 2016

Basket Study Quilt - Ethel's Treasure Baskets





Ta-da!  I can finally share my basket study quilt.   I participated in the AQSG (American Quilt Study Group) Study Quilt project this year.  The theme was Basket Quilts, and fifty quilters each chose an antique quilt (from a museum, or collection, or wherever) to study and reproduce/represent as a small wall hanging.   The quilts were displayed at the annual seminar in Tempe this past weekend.  I am new to AQSG and have never been to a seminar, but next year it is local!

Anyway, for the study, I went straight for the collections at the NEQM (New England Quilt Museum) and chose to study this 19th century scrappy "Baskets and 1000's of Triangle" (maker unknown).  I just loved the scrappiness of it! Pink and brown overall but not matchy matchy - plenty of interest.




I sat with the quilt for a long time, taking notes and photos.



This one roque blue block intrigued me and I knew right away I would use one of David's old shirts to represent the blue:



The only clue to provenance was this label:



Somehow or another, this quilt must have been treasured by Ethel.  So I called my study quilt "Ethel's Treasure Baskets."

I gathered fabric and searched high and low for a good sashing fabric to represent (if not replicate) the original.  Finally had to call good enough good enough, just dig in and start.  I drafted a pattern, and decided to applique the bases, to retain the soft angle of the original.







I'm sure there are better ways to piece it but this worked for me:





Trying this and that...






We were each required to write a short essay to accompany our study quilt.  That in and of itself was a fun challenge.  All fifty will be published in a book and what a thrill that will be!   To my surprise, "Ethel's Treasure Baskets" was among the twenty five quilts chosen to go "on tour" - so I won't see it back home for a long while!  I really feel honored.





Next year's "Seminar" is in New Hampshire.  If you are local and have an interest in quilt history, consider joining AQSG and let me know if you do!


xo
Cynthia



22 comments:

  1. You realized an incredible work! Your quilt is awesome...congratulations ! It's well deserved !

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh Cynthia, it is truly sensational! You really captured the original. I am not surprised that they picked yours as one of the 25, but I am so thankful that they did. I will watch the AQSG website to see if they come close to Maine in the coming year. Can't wait to see it in person. I'll order my book as soon as it comes out! Woohoo!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Wendy! That is high praise coming from such an expert quilter!

      Delete
  3. Beautiful! I'm looking forward to the book; basket quilts are among my very favorites.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wonderful post - loved reading about your quilt and the process. It's a beautiful reproduction! I'm assuming you hand pieced? Good idea to applique the base.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Machine pieced, except for handles and basket bases! Hand quilted.

      Delete
  5. Congratulations! Will the book be widely available? Please keep me posted . . .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I believe it will be widely available like the ones before it. Every other year, the AQSG sponsors a quilt study.

      Delete
  6. I love the way you used all those triangles, the fabrics you selected, and the way you put it all together. You have more than met the challenge ... and have had fun in the process.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congratulations! Such a beautiful reproduction and your fabric choices are right on. Love the sashing, too!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Cynthia, I saw your quilt in Tempe, and it was a beauty. I love the variety of fabrics, and now I've enjoyed reading about your choices and journey. Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Congratulations on Ethel's Baskets. Your interpretation is fantastic. You found some great fabrics to use and the sashing was perfect. What a wonderful honor to have your quilt included in the tour.

    ReplyDelete
  10. So beautiful...You are motivating me...juices are flowing...but I just walk around in a daze and napping...instead of sewing...I so love reproduction work.

    ReplyDelete
  11. lol -my computer was on my daughters profile - it was me.

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a wonderful quilt and such an intersting project! Pls let us know if/ when the book is available.
    How I would love to work on a project this, if only my skills were worthy. You should be very proud! Well done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Liz, I am not an expert quilter. I believe any quilter can do a meaningful quilt study! Check out the AQSG - lots of great opportunity for learning there!

      Delete
  13. You noticed the blue background and I noticed the unusual name. You did not indicated the age of this quilt??? Any idea??? I looked up E Flierl on Spokeo and there are only three in their records. One is 95 in FL with two relatives listed. Wouldn't it be fun to see if they know your Ethel??

    Like others I am very interested in the book to come.... any idea when this might happen???

    Thanks for the jumpy clap share!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. These are interesting questions Susie Q! I wrote about my search for Ethel in the essay that will be published in the book. Dating of the quilt is around 1850... but exact year not known, and maker unknown. Interesting about Spokeo - I hadn't heard of that!

      Delete
  14. The AQSG Basket Quilt exhibit will be at New England Quilt Museum during the summer, 2017. Cynthia, your quilt will probably be displayed next to its inspiration quilt!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This will be a thrill! Thanks Laura for giving me access at NEQM to study this beautiful old quilt!

      Delete

Thank you for visiting! I love reading your comments. As time allows I email replies, if your email is included in your user profile.