Collecting Tiny (Doll) Quilts

Hello! It's the beginning of a beautiful weekend here. I'm just back from my beach walk.

"Don' wanna!"

A few weeks ago I mentioned, apropos of what I forget, that I once had a nice collection of antique doll quilts which I had sold at a time when money was tight and space was short. Rummaging around for Pink Lemonade to show on Lori's FB page I did find a few cute little survivors. They are survivors in every sense of the word...not sold, still cherished, tattered though they may be.
This is a fave, with its pretty indigo blues. 13.5" x 13.5"; late 19th century. Pattern is a nine patch with an unusual red accented sashing.

Rebound and patched.

Too loved and worn to try to sell to the critical shoppers on eBay, it has remained with my other small quilts for years.

I especially treasure it for the fine quilting which is a miniature Hearts pattern, This little quilt was made and given with love.

This little quilt is a more recent eBay purchase.

Obviously the seller had no qualms about selling what is barely a mouse chewed rag. Of course I had to rescue it.

It was quite soiled. The purple print looked brown when it arrived.
It too is a Nine Patch.19th century. No batting, fine but plain quilting And the best binding I've ever seen on a doll quilt, measuring a scant 1/8", perfectly sewed. 9" x 15"

It needs restoration. I have these fabrics out but I know I have a better purple somewhere. So it is waiting.

The back is a very faded but wonderful Lancaster blue miniature: tiny sprigs on a fine shirting style stripe.

Either of these two little quilts would be fun to copy and reproduce as faithfully as possible.

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Then I unfolded this cutie. Barbara Brackman has posted recently on this pattern, asking/ investigating if this pattern was used as a con or hoax, to pretend to be unusual folk art in origin.

As I recall this type of quilt was sold in museum stores years ago, no fraud intended. [you can read Brackman's blog for her scholarly opinion.] You can see it is poorly made with no effort to do fine work. Yet the front is well done and the images are so charming.

I've had it at least 15 years. I think it's adorable, but I was asked not to display it in my home because it may be offensive. I sold all my black cloth folk dolls at the same time for a similar reason, and surely I do not want to own or show a racist image or send a wrong message to my children.

So I have kept it and loved it quietly. Is that the right thing to do? I never know, except for what is in my heart and mind. [approx 15" square; c. 1980s]

This quilt, also a modern repro, was bought from the same dealer at about the same time. Of course I bought it , it's HEARTS and a great Hearts block design. I knew it was a repro and paid only a few dollars for it. I often use it around Valentine's Day. [approx 24" x 30", c. 1980s?]

I love it despite its fakeness.
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On a beach note---here is the latest of Pokeberry. Please excuse my Mo spotted rug!

The pokes are so fun to sew. Upcoming blocks will be harder, as the pokes' stems and berries cross over multiple background pieces and have to be partially sewed then finished later.

I'm not thrilled with this ''distressed'' black flannel. It marks badly at the pressed seams.

And as I sat there on the sand, sewing the berries, I was thinking that in a hundred years someone will see these pokes and think that they are GRAPES! I'll have to make an explanatory label. Pokeberry weed is so much more unique than mundane grapes. Maybe this?

And last...these are the little green baseball squash. Just so's you know, they were AWFUL. Nasty. The casserole was a flop. Too darn bad.

Have a fun weekend? What're your plans?

And what about the little black dolly quilt? Is it politically incorrect, even offensive? And if so what should I do with it?

love

lizzy

gone to the beach.....

"I'm just gonna sit here, like a sack of cement, mom.
Or you can carry me home.
But I'm not walking."