$264,000 Quilt

Bet that got your attention, huh? The Reconciliation Quilt sold for $264,000 at Sotheby's auction in 1991! Amazing. This 1867 beauty was made by Lucinda Ward Honstain of Brooklyn following the Civil War. It is truly art. An article telling about it is in the new Fons & Porter Love of Quilting mag which arrived in my mailbox today. I am so enamored by works like this quilt and can only aspire to someday do something similar. In fact, this has been a wish for quite awhile, apparently. After reading about this masterpiece, I was reminded of patterns I had purchased years ago from the Sunflower Pattern Co-operative for the War & Pieces Civil War Reproduction Sampler quilt.

This quilt just blew me away when I first saw it made up at a quilt show. I looked high and low for the pattern (you know how obsessive I can be about finding quilt patterns!!!). Finally I did find out the designers--Barbara Brackman and Karla Menaugh. I was able to contact Karla and she so very kindly sold me the pattern (actually patterns) directly. It had been a block of the month, apparently, in 1999 and I acquired it a few years later. Yep, it's been sitting in my sewing room a lo-o-ong time. Something jogs my memory from time to time about this beauty and I go check to make sure it is safe and sound!!

Here are a few of my favorite blocks.  (All photos can be clicked to enlarge.)

Not much sewing took place this weekend. I've been on a reading jag and when that happens, all else reverts to the back burner. I love Fannie Flagg's books. They are just what you need when life gets too serious. She has such a breezy hilarious style that they always put me in a good mood. Can't Wait To Get To Heaven was a quick read and very uplifting. Now I am devouring The Help by Kathyrn Stockett. It's set in the 60s in Mississippi and has really grabbed my attention. Need to git-er-done so I can get back to sewing.