Saturday, January 2

Quilts that kept us warm!!!

Oh, what a cold night it is here in Minnesota!! Right now it is -12 degrees outside and that is cold!We were silly enough to run some errands this evening and it was so cold out that almost no one was in the stores!! I've never been to JoAnn Fabrics when it was so quiet.....just the two sales associates, me and one other customer! Ah, but I was on a mission because all sewing notions were 50% off and I needed some needles and a couple other items so it warmed my heart to get those good deals. :-)
Makes me wonder though........just how did the pioneers who settled in Minnesota (and other snowy and cold states here in the U.S.) ever survive? I think of stories from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie books and I don't think I would like getting up with frost on the windows and perhaps on my nose, too! I guess it took lots of quilts to keep folks warm at night in their farms and cabins. Maybe some like these that are on display at the Sibley County Historical Society this Sunday, January 3rd.......................

I thought this block was really unique and I loved the cheeriness of the gingham that alternated with each block. The block maker certainly used her creative spirit here as the blocks are sometimes "organized" and sometimes quite "scrappy".

Actually this one is just a quilt top so maybe it was used as a "spread" for the bed as my mother-in-law did with some quilt tops that she made and gave to me.
This one below is a thick and comfy star quilt and would have kept one quite warm and cozy........
I loved this Lone Star quilt. The color combination of the red and the burgundy and the white is just beautiful............
And I thought it was so unique to add the star blocks in each corner and then smaller ones within the points.
I would like to make one that looks like this but I am not sure I could master all those diamond shapes and then have the star lay flat like it should. It's a "maybe someday" project. :-)
The pretty little birdie quilt in the photo above made me think of Nancy Page quilt designs. I did some searching but couldn't find just exactly this design so perhaps it's maker drew her own sketch for her quilt. It is one of 100 quilts made by Mabel Krueger who made 100 quilts during her 90 years of living!
My personal favorite in this grouping above is that "square-in-a-square" quilt. It's done in such soft colors and while I'm not sure I could make that Lone Star quilt, I know I could do this one. :-)
You can see on this wool quilt that time has taken it's toll and the black wool is wearing thin. Interestingly, the wooly strip triangles have withstood time very well. This was a heavy quilt and would definitely keep your nose warm if you brought it up over your head and snuggled down under it!

This is the last quilt I'll share although there are more quilts on display at the museum. It's another cheery quilt done in red and white. Again, this one would be fun to make but too, too many triangles for me. ;-)
The house that is home (museum) to the Sibley County Historical Society is large and beautiful (and if you go this*post you can see the house and other places here in Henderson, MN). The rooms are filled with lovely things for you to see so if you live nearby, it's really worth the trip. And since most of you that read my blog don't live nearby........I hope you have enjoyed the visit!!!
Have a lovely Sunday!
Sandi

19 comments:

I Purr-Furr to Craft said...

-12, very very cold! Love the quilts, inspirational every one of them My fave is the birds.

Vivian said...

Thanks for sharing the wonderful quilts. My favorite is the first one, the scrappy, unquilted one. I just saw a quilt in a magazine with a very similar pattern. Now, if I could only remember where.
Can't think -- my brain must be frozen -- this frigid weather in IA and MN is ridiculous. But we're brave, hardy folk -- cold, but hardy.

Ida13 said...

My favs are the red-and-white with its triangles and the lone star quilt.
Thanks.

Blogless me said...

That Lone Star is awe-inspiring, though if you look closely, by no means perfect. I think that also gives it its charm...

Crispy said...

If I was a pioneer, I think I would have kept going to California after that first winter LOL. The quilts are lovely, thank you for sharing them Sandi.

Crispy

Pat said...

I agree with Crispy...I'd have kept going and looking for a warmer place!!! LOL The quilts you showed are all wonderful...thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

I thought it was cold here but not compared to your -12. :)
I enjoyed all the quilt photos.

Unknown said...

See we should never complain about the weather, someone always has it worse, grin.
Western NC hardly every gets snow, we got a foot of it a little over a week ago. Most of the time in the winter I go around with just a long sleeve shirt and a sweater (and slacks of course, grin), but we are in a cold like no other has ever come here, right now we are about 18 degrees, but with the wind chill about -2, brrrr.

The snow in your header is lovely, but you can keep it there, grin, I have had enough to last the rest of my life. BarbM

Barb said...

Thanks, I truly enjoyed your post with the pictures of the quilts....

Jocelyn said...

What beautiful quilts! Thanks so much for sharing them.

Owl Lady said...

The quilts are awesome. Mabel could probably piece and quilt in her sleep. Did she have a lot of children to keep warm?
I would never have made it as a pioneer, even in California. As a child I lived on a farm in central Missouri with wood heat, no insulation, no plumbing, no indoor water supply. I have seen frost on the windows. My mother would pile quilts and blankets on my bed and tuck me in so tight that I could hardly turn over.
I now have no interest in camping unless there is an RV with its own bathroom, heat, and air conditioning. To me that is roughing it enough.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Thanks Sandi! I am going to come to Henderson to see this lovely display next summer!

Nanette Merrill said...

What a great group of vintage quilts. I do love them. I love how sometimes they would be scrappy and then sometimes planned all in the same quilt!

Micki said...

I love the quilts and esp. the appliqued quilt. It is freezing here too in Ireland...the worst winter I have seen here.
Keep warm!
Micki

Unknown said...

Thanks for your kind comments on my blog, Sandi. It's always a pleasure to encounter someone who reads what I write and shares their perspective with me. I really appreciate that.

Great photos of the quilts, as well as all of the other stuff you've got posted. Plus the music selection is very, very nice.

I'm sure I'll be back, if for no other reason than to see what's going on in your part of the world. :)

Jantine said...

The Netherlands are not near by so thank you very much for sharing with us!

Nihal said...

..made 100 quilts during her 90 years of living!?
Ohh my, a very good example of hard working and being patient. You Sandi? How many quilts you made till today?

Karen said...

Love the red & white antique quilts!

Christine said...

And I thought I was cold here in PA! Thank you for sharing the quilts. I love the last pic of the red and white quilt. :) Christine

"Peace can be found in the piecing of a quilt."
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