The Pokeberry Quilt

The Pokeberry Quilt

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Harriet Power's Pictorial Quilt

 
I'm putting the finishing stiches to the binding on Baskets, Berries and Leaves, so I thought I would pick up the stitching on Harriet Power's Pictorial quilt.  I last worked on it in 2014 and it has been a goal of mine to reproduce such a remarkable quilt from 1898.  This image of the entire quilt is courtesy of The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

 
I'm using A Pattern Book from the Boston Museum.

 
The design is primitive and the applique is crude in some parts, but reflects Harriet's story of biblical incidents with local folktales.  I have Mary Lyon's book, Stitching Stars which traces the life of Harriet Powers, a African American slave, folk artist and quilt maker from Georgia.  Her book details a wonderful history of Harriet, her life and her only other story quilt, The Bible quilt.

 
A close-up of the third block that I'm working on.

 
The first two blocks that I finished back in 2014.  I'm trying to reproduce the quilt in the same color and manner that it was originally stitched.

22 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh! I can't imagine trying to reproduce this quilt (I wouldn't know where to even begin!) but I know it's going to turn out beautifully! Your first two blocks are amazing!!!

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  2. Lovely. Cant wait to see the progress

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  3. Lovely. Cant wait to see the progress

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  4. Another treasure Nancy! It's fantastic. Now I want to read about Harriet!

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  5. That is coming along nicely and nice that you are working on it again. I will be making one too, on my to do list.

    Debbie

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    1. Thanks, I look forward to sharing my progress on this historical quilt.

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  6. That is such sn amazing quilt, so glad you pulled it out again!
    Annie

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    1. Annie, you are a no reply... thanks so much for your comment, looking forwarding to sharing more of the blocks soon.

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  7. So amazing. You are such an inspiration. Thank you so much for sharing with us in your blog

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    1. Cathy, you are a no reply... thanks so much, really appreciate your comment.

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  8. That quilt is so beautiful!

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  9. I admire your journey with this quilt. There is something very special about quilts with a story ... and to know that story makes it an inspiration. I will have to look up that book next time I visit my daughter in Boston.

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    1. Julie, your comment did not come through to my email so... I agree about how story quilts are so special, documenting history, especially that of slave quilting in 1886 on a Georgia plantation.

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  10. Always loved this quilt! have all the books, but have never started. I look forward to following your progress.

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  11. I would love to reproduce a quilt as you are doing. Her story continues through you. We have such a connection with our quilts and I feel makers who have gone before us likely had that same connection. They reflect our feelings...lows and highs. I wish we knew the stories behind all those old quilts. I can hardly wait to see your progress. 🙂

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    1. Paula, you are a no reply so... I find myself drawn more and more to antique story quilts like those of Harriet and a need to reproduce their history.

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  12. Very nice nancy!!

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  13. A lovely and very special project. Looking forward to seeing your progress.

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  14. I love the look of your quilts Nancy. I am a quilter and unfortunately have bought into the belief that quilters should strive for perfection in their quilts, but I love the look of spontaneity in your quilts. They seem to speak louder to me than the "perfectly" pieced ones. Thanks to you, I just might give one of these quilts a try!! Thanks for sharing your work with us. I also love your animal pics. You really do live in a beautiful part of our country.

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  15. This quilt is amazing. There's so much detail to it and, from what I can tell, many small pieces. It will be wonderful!
    --Nancy. (ndmessier @ aol.com, joyforgrace.blogspot.com)

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  16. I’d love to purchase a reproduction of this quilt for display in my home. I already inherited a replica of the Bible quilt and this would compliment it well.

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