Today instead of pulling something from the quilt top cupboard, I’m going to show you what I found at a couple of garage sales I went to on Saturday.
One of the sales was at the home of an elderly couple. I always like to look at the linens and this sale had quite a few. I saw embroidered dresser scarves and pillow cases, along with many crocheted doilies. Then I saw a very soiled piece of fabrac that was neatly folded.
I opened the fabric out and my heart nearly skipped a beat when I saw this beautiful appliqued block. The stitches were tiny and tight, and I thought the design was beautiful. I could picture a quilt made from these blocks. With the gentle curve of the stems of berries a quilt made from blocks like this would look like they were dancing across the quilt…square dancing style? I really like it!
I didn’t see a price on the block though. I asked how much they were asking and the lady came over to look at the block. She said..”oh I didn’t mean to put that out for the sale…it’s so old and dirty! I found it when I was going through things.
If you want it..you can have it.”
Then she called her husband over and said “look honey. I think this is a quilt block your Mom made years ago?” He came over and we chatted a bit.
He said his Mother’s name was Cora Jordon and was born in the 1880′s. She had two sisters, Nora and Dora. He thought it was funny that they all had names that rhymed.
I don’t know much about geneology, but it might be fun to try to look the family tree up sometime?
The block is hard to date. The green looks like it might be an over dyed blue? Years ago indigo prints were dyed with chrome yellow to create the green color. There are a couple of blue streaks in the green here and there, which is common with over dyed fabrics. The style dates to a time that’s earlier than Cora’s birth. Maybe it was made by her Mother or made from fabrics that had been handed down? The block is 17.5″ square.
I also picked up a book that looked like a fun read to go along with the anniversary of the start of the Civil War and the blocks that Barbara Brackman is posting each week. It’s based on the diary postings of a young woman who lived at the time.
I got an envelope of Confederate money too. Not real money, but replica’s that are made to look and feel old, by the Smithsonian museum. Fun to look at.
After the South ceded from the North the Confederate government began to issue money from the first capital in Montgomery in 1861. Later, individual Southern states, banks, municipalities, and associations all printed their own money.
The first Confederate money demonstrated engraving and printing of the highest quality, and many of the notes were beautifully designed. Many issues contained portraits of Southern heroes, while others were of mythological deities, such as Ceres, goddess of agriculture. Other drawings showed business activities, including picking cotton and steamboating.
By the end of 1864 nearly 2 billion dollars worth of currency had been printed.
The need for speed and the shortage of proper paper stock eventually resulted in lowered quality of the currency. To reduce costs, most of the issues were not printed on the reverse side. The South’s impending defeat along with excessive printing of the currency resulted in its rapid depreciation.
UPDATE: Ady sent me a note that this block looks like a Coxcomb and Currents pattern she has. I looked at the book I have here about that pattern, but it’s different. A search online found a pattern very similar to this one that dates to the 1850′s…so now we have a name. Thanks for telling me Ady!
Tags: antique applique block, Civil War diary, Confederate money, Coxcomb and Currents, Currents and Coxcomb, Quilt top cupboard, vintage fabrics
Can you even imagine not wanting such a great block?! I’m happy they didn’t just pitch it. What a shame that her work held so little value.
The shape of the leaf is great, and the three-fingered bud, too. Glad that you were in the right place at the right time!
Wow! History is amazing! I am just thankful that you have so much to share! Love this block.
what a treasure! I can just see a whole quilt made in that pattern, And I know your applique talents would be up to the challenge!!
Your are so fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time to save that piece of history.
keep up the hunting!
Tim
WOW! Love everything about your post today. Funny about the names, my husband was Donnie, he had a brother johnny, a sister connie, another brother Lonnie…….
WHAT A FIND!! I love that block. If only it could talk and tell us about who and when it was made. It is well designed – the shapes are marvelous. I like the flower petals in the center.
My daughter loves those Dear America books. She reads stacks of them and Dear Canada ones too.
What a terrific find. How delightful that it fell into your hands where it will be properly cherished. I love imagining the maker of old linens and am always touched think that someone’s work is being valued after being neglected for so long. Thanks for sharing.
Oh Ann, what a find. Be still my heart!!! Thanks so much for sharing. I sure appreciate you and that quilt top cupboard!
What a wonderful find – good to know it found a good home where it is appreciated.
My, what a lovely block. And by the way that book is one of my favorites
Megan
oh my gosh what an amazing find, this is the block I would love to make a whole quilt for our bed for Christmas!
I have been watching ebay to find one!
always love your stories and what comes out of your cabinet
thanks for sharing
Kathie
ps meant to say love that money too!
glad the block found a good home I know you will treasure it too
Kathie
What a lovely block…..that old dirty thing! LOL
Little does she know about us crazy quilters with a passion for old quilts or pieces!!
I’m so glad you were able to rescue this block….I’m sure they would have pitched it the minute they discovered it out among their ‘good’ stuff! So sad to think blocks like these are out there somewhere, but are not appreciated! Sad sad sad!
Thanks for the history lesson…..I love to look at old money…..I love to see the old 5′s and 10′s come around…..they are so beautiful in comparison to the new stuff!
How wonderful that you rescured this wonderful block. It really would make an amazing quilt. I love that they gave you some history behind it too :0)
Crispy
Great post, Ann! Looking at the close-up of this beautiful quilt block, you can just see the care and love that must have gone into making it. Loved the story, you certainly came across some wonderful finds! Would be interesting to see if you could find more on Cora Jordan.
What interesting stories! Thank you. Beautiful quilt block. I’ll bet it will clean up just fine.
Ann, what a great find. I love that the quilter alternated the green and red berries. I was watching a new cable reality show about 2 guys buying abandoned storage units. They were so thrilled about a motorcycle engine they found in one, but it was wrapped in a quilt! I kept telling the TV, “Look at the Quilt”! They never even looked at it, glad you were able to rescue this block and share it with us.
Wow I never find those kinds of things! It is gorgeous, what do you think you will do with it? I love that you have some info on it. This is what scares me….my UFO’s will be in a garage sale!
The orphan has a name, Grat detective work! Somehow I like it even better now that it has an identiy.
The block is gorgeous, Ann. The colors are so bright and the stitching is fabulous. Do you think you could make a quilt with this pattern? I love it so much, but I’m afraid I would get bored making the same block — although at over 17″, you wouldn’t have to make too many.
Thanks for sharing it with us — your posts about these old quilt tops/blocks are always so interesting and informative.
Hi pal
I’m sooo behind on my blogs, and trying to catch up.
this is a wonderful block, love the berries!!
The money is fun to look at isn’t it. it looks like little works of engraved art. I have that set somewhere, lol.
I’m off today to your state! I’ll be in Oxford at Miami of Ohio –
Yea buckeye state!
What a great block. I think there is a whole quilt of that design in Ricky Clark’s Quilted Gardens. Do you have that book? If not I’ll check my copy.
I would save definitely before Cora and the other ora’s — probably circa 1860. Especially with the bit of blue in the green. Come see my 1850 red and green applique — it is pure quilted JOY.
Ann, I have been thinking of you this week-end. Have been rummaging around in my “stuff” trying to find 146 churn dash 4 inch blocks…..have been looking for 2 weeks and getting very nervous….they are for an exchange. Have found many different works in progress. None of them as interesting as what you pull from your cupboard. Well I FOUND the blocks this morning and can now enjoy all my “other finds”.
Perhaps you are at the beach? Texas
Hi Ann, are you vacationing? I’m hoping so and trust that you are good!