Vintage Charm-Bloggers Quilt Festival

Sunbonnet Sue...this is an all time favorite pattern.  I  have to admit, I did not personally piece/applique/or embroider stitch this quilt.  Nope, my part was more of a rescue of a vintage top that no one ever finished.  These poor old tops just need me, so I adopt them {by means of some green paper electronically on e-bay, usually}.  But, I am a good mama, I take care of any boo boos {repair rips holes tares}, I feed them stiches with my long arm machine, and then I give them lots of hugs and love.

I wanted to get this photographed in natural light, and the ground was all wet, so hence, the feet sticking out from my unhappy assistants.  I believe this was probably pieced as a top for a bed because of the direction of each block, especially the top row center two block that would be directed toward your face if you were lying down, I love how each corner and side is turned.

I fell in love with this one especially because of the pink sashing, I love pink and yellow are two of my favorite colors.  Yes, sometimes there are little stains, but I accept them with their little flaws, as I am not quite perfect either.

I used a basic off-white colored thread to blend in and not take away from the piecing, and found a sunbonnet sue pantograph quilting design to repeat the appliqued block design.

The attention to detail is evident in the hat stitchery, each hat has a slightly different stitched design and I love the accent black thread color.  I treasure the time that someone put into piecing, applique and stitching these.  I don't know where I'd find it.

I used a lovely fabric from Philip Jacobs that I seemed to fit perfectly, very vintage feel I thought and I love the print and colors.  {In ase any of you are wondering, no I didn't get the binding on, I just ran out of time, but that's for the next generation to do, right}

A little history on the Sunbonnet Sue.   In 1900, American Bertha Corbett Melcher published a book called The Sunbonnet babies.  her illustrations were used to decorate household items, such as china, and became the basis for what is commonly known as Sunbonnet Sue.  Sunbonnet Sue, her brother Overall Sam, and many relatives, including the Colonial lady, were most frequently used in the first part of the twentieth century.  They experienced a revival in the 1970s and 1980's when quilters used both traditional patterns and fabrics as well as moderrn fabrics with new variations on the pattern, sometimes placing Sue in politcal  and social settings, such as running for political office and mountain climbing.  Sunbonnet Sue Quilts are great examples of folk-style applique.
Thank you to Amy for again hosting this wonderful on-line quilt festival, I hope you enjoyed your visit and will continue to visit the pariticipants.  http://amyscreativeside.com/