Saturday, May 19, 2018

Vintage Flower Garden Quilt

While clearing out the house QS and I rediscovered family quilts. Several of them were made by us - including the quilt that makes the background of my banner and one QS made from Hawaiian fabric she purchased on the Big Island. How timely considering Kilauea is currently erupting.

There was also this Flower Garden quilt,

Flower Garden quilt by Sirena Jenny Salyers, 1935

a classic Depression era scrap quilt made by a master quilter

Detail of Flower Garden quilt
by Sirena Jenny Salyers, 1935

One of the unusual aspects of this quilt is the path of tiny connecting diamonds and triangles in very pale blue. Were they always this light or has the color faded over time?

A pale blue diamond path surrounds
each flower in the Flower Garden quilt.

What a lovely, though time-consuming, addition to this masterpiece.

Best of all, our great grandaunt signed and dated the quilt!

Flower Garden quilt signed and
dated by Sirena Salyers, 1935

This one must have been at our Grandmother's house. I'd never seen in growing up. Most of our other family quilts were used to death over the years. What a better fate than rotting forgotten in a box. So this one will continue to be enjoyed, encouraging future generations to appreciate and love quilts.

Enjoy the day, Ann

16 comments:

Dots said...

How special to have your Great-Grandmother's quilt! 83 years ago she made it, and signed it in tiny little stitches. I think the signature makes that quilt even more special. I would have loved to have had a quilt from any relative of mine from the past. You are so blessed!

Anonymous said...

What a lovely sentimental quilt. The up-close photos detail the many fabrics hand-stitched together. And, the dated signature is a treasure, making the quilt even more special. Your post is a great reminder for us to pull quilts that are tucked away on a shelf - shake them out and display them.

Robin said...

Lovely grandmother's flower garden quilt. I'm so glad it's in a family that appreciates treasures like this and the people who made them.

Janie said...

That is a beauty. The fabrics and hand stitching are amazing.
Good to hear from you, hope all is going well.

Pamela said...

What a treasure! The signature is so special.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

What a wonderful quilt to find! Very special!

Quiltdivajulie said...

Love that quilts in your family were used to death -- but that signature .... huge happy sigh.

Ann said...

It's especially nice because the fabrics are still whole. I know if we maintained it to museum standards they would last longer but I'm so grateful we use our quilts. Kids don't learn to love things they can't touch. Wasn't it wonderful Sirena signed her quilt?

Ann said...

Her sewing is masterful; all the points match perfectly. I'm surprised the fabrics haven't shredded yet and hope there are still many more years of enjoyment in this quilt.
Yes, I agree that quilts should be used or displayed.

Ann said...

Thanks, Pamela. I'm glad Sirena signed her work.

Ann said...

Thanks, Linda. Finding this quilt was a joyful moment. Mother recently set it on her sofa.

Ann said...

My thoughts exactly, Julie. Thanks.

Ann said...

I think when you let your kids use/play with quilts, they learn to appreciate them. Certainly that was my mother's philosophy. While she didn't quilt, three of us did. And we all love them.

Ann said...

Thanks, Janie. She was a talented quilter. Things are moving along.

Kaja said...

Couldn't agree more:touch is so, so important. This is a treasure, but it was made to be loved and used - I bet your great grand-aunt would be happy to think her work is still appreciated.

Mystic Quilter said...

Beautiful quilt and well used, as a quilt should be. Her stitched signature on the back of the quilt puts my hand written labels to shame, I think I will try this on my next finish.