We had more participants at this meeting than at any other. We were a group of 19, with many coming that hadn't met with us before. The museum personnel were very glad to have us, and gave us a spacious meeting room with a huge table in the center. The curator took our orders for lunch to the local Heavenly Ham. At noon on the button the food arrived -- an important detail when dealing with quilters. 

We spent the morning in the gallery, oohing and aahing over the quilts. They are arranged on sliding panels, which nest 6 or 7 quilts, one behind the other. It was so much fun for Nancy Kerns and me to watch the expressions on everyone's faces as we pushed back a panel to reveal yet another gorgeous early quilt. We ate lunch back in our meeting room, and then we went through 5 quilts that the curator took out of storage for us to unfold and look at. The economy block (circa 1850) (click on the thumbnail above) quilt is one that we will be reproducing for the museum to use as a fundraiser. The blocks are only 4" square and are easily paper pieced. 

The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 1:00 until 5:00 PM. I suggest that it should now be a must-do stop for all antique quilt aficionados passing through New Jersey. It is accessible from everywhere! The basic driving directions from everywhere to Burlington are at the following URL. http://08016.com/driving.html All the directions take you to High Street, and you will pass the museum historic buildings on your right -- (451 High Street) -- town houses with a tall picket fence between them. Go past the houses to the light at Broad Street, and make a right. Then make your first right onto Lawrence. The parking lot will be on your right. It is not marked, but it is the only parking lot on the street. There is a cemetery across the street, and one just beyond the entrance. 

If anyone would like to get a group together again, I would be glad to make the arrangements for you. 

Judy in Ringoes, NJ 

judygrow@patmedia.net

Below is a commentary by Cinda Cawley.  Click on the thumbnails to see the quilts up close.

Luckily for me Judy Grow has persevered in inviting me to attend a meeting of her study group. On Tuesday Nancy Hahn and I joined them at the Burlington Co. (NJ) Historical Society. The Society has a fabulous quilt collection of which some of the gems are on display in the gallery. There must be about 15 quilts mounted on sliding panels which can be closely examined. It seems the quilts have been "up" for more than 10 years. Of course, we all know that this is NOT a good thing, but I'm really glad this was not brought to the attention of the Society until I got to see them. 

The only published image I can refer you to is on p. 72 of New Jersey Quilts by the Heritage Quilt Project of NJ. That quilt is the twin of one in Burlington. The enormous Lone Star is constructed of the tiniest imaginable diamond pieces (3/4" on a side, maybe). Someone with more patience than I have counted 27 rows in each blade of the large star. The overall impression of the quilt is red and green, but it actually contains a huge variety of fabrics. We found a peculiar green which would have been right at home in the 1950s particularly fascinating. (I often think that the more I learn the less I'm sure of and that all generalizations are false, including this one.) 

Whole cloth First Quarter 19th Century

Two sided Silk Quaker Quilt

The other side of the two sided Quaker Quilt

Silk log cabin with a velvet plaid border and pompom tacking

There are two chintz applique albums from the early 1840s and an incredible red and green album from the same period with thin red strips appliqued over the seams of the diagonally set blocks. A second Lone Star is done in very subtle colors (some fading, but I think it was intended to be blended) with the blades extending through the borders to the edge of the quilt with sunbursts of diamonds between the blades. There is a log cabin remarkable only because it is set as a strippy. None of us had ever seen that before! Other wonderful pieced quilts were a Chimney Sweep with signatures (early 1840s) and Economy blocks (1830-40s) which achieves a very sophisticated look by arrangement of color. 

The curator brought out some treats from storage. The first box we opened said, "Nice fabric, but ordinary." It contained an early 19th century wholecloth chintz with fanciful flowers, birds and butterflies in buff, beige and pink. It was signed in tiny cross stitch MSP. There was an amazing silk quilt constructed of concentric squares with gold centers and sashing trimmed with silk pompoms. The border was a glorious blue velvet plaid! 

Mariners Compass using many turkey reds

Last quarter 19th century with wool back

Jemima Newells' quilt dated 1883

Hannah Hayes' quilt dated 1847-1848

We saw a double- sided silk quilt: strippy with half-square triangles on one side and 9-patches on the other which appeared to be made of Quaker dress fabrics: gray stripe, beige and brown stripe, dull greens, brown, blue-gray. "Of the best sort, but plain." My favorite was a collection of turkey red Mariner's Compass blocks dated 1844-47 which were assembled into a top in 1907. The centers of the blocks are reverse applique and each contained a signature and/or inscription. The blocks are set 5 x 6 and each seems to be a different turkey red print. You could do a whole reproduction line just from this quilt top. There are some fascinating inscriptions, some of them reverse appliqued into the 1907 muslin borders and sashing. The woman who put the top together must have found pieces intended for the centers of blocks as well as blocks in the attic. It makes a great puzzle with enough names and places to make a solution possible. 

The detectives among us (G) made copies of all pertinent info for future research. Judy said she was going to ask Kris to put pictures on the QHL site. I do "word pictures" only. Burlington, NJ is just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. For anybody traveling on route 95 or the New Jersey Tpk. it would be an easy detour. Hours at the Historical Soc. are Tues.-Sat., 1p.m. to 5 p.m. Phone (609) 386-4773. Go before they realize that they need to give these treasures a rest. Cinda on the Eastern Shore

Quilt from the Burtis Family

1886 crazy quilt

Last quarter 19th century glazed cottons

Economy Patch Quilt made with  a 4" square block.

Judy Grow has kindly provided directions for those who would like to replicate the Economy Patch quilt above.  Click here for more.  

If genius fire thee, reader, stay 
If nature touched thee, drop a tear 
If neither moved thee, turn away 
For Lizzie's body slumbers here. 
1840

inscriptions from a different signature quilt. (not pictured)

Think not that absence can impair
the tender ties of friendship rend,
Nor bid the feelings all depart
In the fond bosom of a friend.

Robert Chance, Philadelphia 1844

A woman's love is like a rock
that every tempest braves
it stands secure amidst the shock
of ? ----wildest violent waves

This work perhaps my friends may have
When I am in my silent grave
And which when e'er they chance to see
May kid remembrance picture me
While on the glowing canvass stands
The labor of my youthful hands
(Found in the Historical Needlework of Pennsylvania, 
by Margaret B.Schiffer

Accept a wreath of unfading flowers
Thornlefs as those that grew
When the world was young in Eden's bower,
Or man transgrefsion knew
May Time in his ceaselefs onward flight
Strew such over thine earthly way
And thy path like that of the Just grow bright,
Until lost in the perfect day.
Mary Hallman or Hullman? 1847

When flowers together cluster, they combine
To spread a pleasant fragrance all around ~
So Christians, when in fellowship they join,
In Peace, and Love, and Usefulnefs abound.
Mary Weatherly
Philadelphia, Sept 2 1847

Sweet Rose, in air whose odors wave,
And color charms the eye;
Thy root is ever in it's grave
And thou, alas! must die.

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD
and he shall sustain thee."

From Judy's blue and pink "Blindman's Fancy" quilt........

And what is friendship but a ?
a charm ( chorus?) that lulls to sleep
a shade that follows wealth or fame
and leaves the wretch to weep?
Henrietta Vetharke 1843

Tired Nature's sweet restorer, balmy Sleep!
Soothe the Care-worn & comfort all who weep.
Mary Mettler 1843

When on this (Spread) (read)
My name you see,
Oh then dear friends
You'l think of me. ____
Elizabeth Curtise 1843

The Oak resists Time,
Even so doest our Friendship.
Sarah I. Jans 1843

Get widsom: and with all thy getting
Get understanding
Moincer(?) J. Vethorke 1843

May I still enjoy this feeling.
In all need to Jesus go.
Sarah A. Wyckoff 1843

Remember thy Creator God
for Him thy hours employ.
Make him Thy fear, Thy Love, Thy hope,
Thy confidence, Thy joy.
Mary Ann Manly 1843

God forbid that I should glory
Save in the cross of Christ.
Ellen Launy 1843

When bosom thoughts delight to rove
When fancy wanders free
To those you like, to those you love,
Others, Remember me.
William B. and E. Guild 1844 Newark