Quilt Dreams

September 15, 2024

Join in the fun on National Jelly Roll Quilt Along Day

Saturday, September 21 10 AM – 3PM 329 Cannon Street Chestertown, MD 21620

Bring your machine, supplies and lunch. We will have fun turning our Jelly Rolls into quilt tops. The Studio has room for eight Quilters. This is a free event but you must message or email first to register.

dreamcastlequiltstudio@gmail.com

Quilt Dreams

August 27,2024

Join me for National Sew a Jelly Roll Day. I am changing the time from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This is a free event. I have room for up to 8 Quilters, but you must contact me in advance to save your space. Bring a lunch, I will provide drinks and chocolate. Dream Castle Quilt Studio 329 Cannon Street Chestertown MD 21620 Dreamcastlequiltstudio@gmail.com

National Sew a Jelly Roll Day

QUILT DREAMS

August 14, 2024

We were on vacation and at the beach  most of July, so it’s been some time since I have Posted.

We are in Chestertown this week. The studio will be open from 12-4 today, (Wednesday) through Saturday.
The Kamala banner is up on my design wall, as my “coming soon” item. I need to quilt it!
But first, my Mariners Compass Medallion Quilt is on the long arm.
If you stop by you might see me working on it .

Finished compass star in first border corner…just three more to make!

Quilt Dreams

June 19, 2024

The Studio will be open this weekend.

Thursday – Saturday

June 20-22 from 1-4 PM

329 Cannon Street Chestertown MD

Come watch me work on a Red, White and Blue Quilt on the Long Arm. I’m using rulers to make the design in the block and also to make cables in the sashing.

And I have two more vintage Quilt Tops from around 1900. Made from old shirtings. These are available for sale as is….and eventually I’ll probably finish them into quilts on the Long Arm.

Quilt Dreams

June 3, 2024

Following up on my education in Antique and Vintage quilts I have been following Auctions, watching what sells and for what price.

What a great way to see a variety of old quilts, every sort of pattern, every shape and size, and every condition, from beautifully made to total disasters.

This week I went with a friend to a local auction. Wow! So much to see there. A top hat, lots of trains, old Japanese dolls, china, jewelry, paintings, Dietz lanterns, and many tables and shelves full of  paraphernalia.

I was first attracted to a broken star quilt from the 1930s in great condition.(P.S. it sold for just $66.00.)

My friend was interested in furniture. So we looked. And on the way out we weaved through all the larger lots.

I was attracted to one, it had two granny square Afghans, a crocheted baby quilt, a small hand quilted baby quilt…and then I saw these…

Wind Blown Pattern

This quilt was from a Marie Webster pattern published in 1922. Made some time in the 1920-1930s. It’s in great condition, just one small group of holes on one leaf.

This quilt top…Wheel of Fortune Blocks

This block was first published by the Ladies Art Company in the 1890s. Hand quilted with turkey reds and probably hand dyed greens.

Churn Dash Quilt top

Made with turkey reds and chrome yellows, from probably around the latpe 1800s or early 1900s. Excellent condition.

Red and green quilt top

I have not yet located a name for this pattern. The fabrics are turkey red with a hand dyed “fugitive green”. Also, late 1800s.

Very unusual Trip Around the World pattern

This piece was quilted as a summer top…no batting. On the back I found some feed sacks, two from Patapsco Mills in Baltimore, and one from Brandywine Mills in Wilmington DE

This quilt was probably made around 1880.

The fabrics are double pink and mourning cloth purple. The purple dyed fabric is fading to brown in some places.

This quilt has some damage, a tear that took off part of the last border for about 10 inches in one corner.

But this is my favorite quilt of them all.

I grew up in Wilmington, DE.

For my first 6 years I lived in my Grandmother’s house, just a few blocks from the Brandywine Mills, and what is now Brandywine Park.

My other Grandmother also lived in Wilmington, just a few blocks in the other direction. She was a seamstress and I’d like to think that she could have made this quilt!

So…what do you think I got all of these for?   The opening bid was      $10.00…I was bid up, but got the whole group, for just $20.00.

I’m hooked!  What a great find!  I’m hoping to visit the auction in two weeks…wonder what new treasures I’ll discover hidden on the shelves.

Betty Tucker Dietz

Happy Quilting!

May 4, 2024

Quilt Dreams

May the 4th be with you! What a wonderful way to look at life, with your head held high, your hands on your hips, your elbows out, and a determined look on your face as you confront all that life throws your way.

The Fearless Girl

Fearless, just like the bronze sculpture “The Fearless Girl” by Kristen Vishal that stands outside the New York Stock Exchange.

I’m feeling Fearless this month. A week ago, at this year’s AQS show in Paducah, I took a three day class on Quilt Appraisals. Going into the class I was sure that I had a lot more to learn, but after three days of examining and documenting a large variety of quilts, I feel ready.

Quilt appraisers are tasked with documenting quilts, old and new, and after taking the time needed to do some careful research of the current market, determine a value for those quilts for insurance, sale, or donation purposes.

So call today, make an appointment, first for a consult $20.00 and if needed an appraisal $50.00. I will examine and document your quilt.

I look forward to seeing all the quilts hiding in your closets and hearing their stories. And I’m sure to be inspired looking at any new quilts. And helping you to get a fair value for insuring or selling your quilt.

My books for research

I also got some quilting finished this week. Here are photos of me working on a quilt for hospice.

I used one of Amanda Murphy’s rulers to make “Lady Fingers Quilting” in the border…the blocks are filled with my “Dancing Squares” quilting.