Twelve Quilts of Christmas 2015 – #10

Tree of Life, made by Mary Jane Jackson Mason, Cedar Creek, Texas, l880. From Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin, Texas Sesquicentennial Quilt Association, Texas Quilt Search. Published in The Quilt Index.

Tree of Life, made by Mary Jane Jackson Mason, Cedar Creek, Texas, l880. From Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin, Texas Sesquicentennial Quilt Association, Texas Quilt Search. Published in The Quilt Index.

 

 From the curatorial notes: “Quilt reflects superb needlework. Florals are appliqued with a perfectly even small buttonhole stitch. This “Tree of Life” design may be an original one. It mixes cherries, a pear, perhaps, or grapes, and contains both leaves and a root ball. Fine embroidery connects the fruit, leaves, and tree root ball to the tree trunk. Karey Bresenhan speculates that the quiltmaker may have had Czech roots, which are common in parts of Texas.”

 

This quilt has a striking colour combination and is a lovely variation on the red and green quilts of the period. The brown in this quilt was originally brown and not a fugitive green faded to brown.  What a unique, bold example of American folk art.  Bravo for originality!

 

COMMENTS

  1. barb says...

    weeeee – i love this one. Some patterned it in a small booklet, but I never saw the original – yay!!

    • mekinch says...

      I know Barb, this one is great! I love the layer detail on the pears too. So much to love about this one.

  2. Regan says...

    So much red and cheddar….fantastic! Original design is so interesting….I’ve never seen a root ball in applique! Fun!

    • mekinch says...

      That root ball really does anchor the design … it does the same thing as a vase. I agree, I like her thought on that.

  3. Rosalyn Harwood says...

    I am into my blue, indigo period so my favorite colors are the blue..yeah. So glad you are better..yahoo to you for all the hard work you went through to get to recovery..I am new to quilting and of course would so love to win this fabric..keep on doing your great work!

    • mekinch says...

      Rosalyn, thank you so much for your words of encouragement. And welcome to quilting. It is a wonderful pastime! Thanks for stopping by.

  4. Debra Thompson says...

    Hello Mary
    Love the colors in your Springtime Collection. My favorite color is orange.
    Deb

    • mekinch says...

      Thank you so much Debra. The cheddar is delicious isn’t it!

  5. Debra Thompson says...

    Hello Mary
    Love your Springtime Collection. My favorite color is orange.
    Deb

    • mekinch says...

      Hi Deb. So glad the orange cheddar is speaking to you. Thanks for stopping by.

  6. Joy Gunter says...

    I love the entire line. Since my favorite color is yellow, my favorite has to be the Cheddars!

    • mekinch says...

      Thank you Joy. Yellow is such an under-represented colour! I am sure the cheddar is thrilled to stand in for it. Thanks for stopping by.

  7. Liz Dyer says...

    I love all the orange fabrics, they remind me of orange sherbert. All of the fabrics are pretty.

    • mekinch says...

      Thank you Liz. And what a great description! So glad you stopped by.

  8. Rosemary Gregoire says...

    I like the red.

    • mekinch says...

      Thanks Rosemary for stopping by!

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