Portrait of a Lady.

I came across this portrait while browsing the Internet and couldn't resist showing it.  The dates chime with the Sundial Coverlet so MCB, the maker whose initials are on the coverlet, could have looked very like this lady. 

While I am working on my quilt I am constantly looking for late 18th century links as I find it helps to keep me motivated and it's amazing what turns up!

The portrait is of Deborah Richmond and it is in the Abbey Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum in Williamsburg.  I was surprised to see it  described as a portrait of a young lady - it certainly isn't very flattering!  Do you think she would have done patchwork? 

If you would like to read more about her,  here is the link

Filling the Basket

There are to be baskets on the four corners of the quilt and I have based the design on one seen on a similar quilt to the Sundial, dated 1799.

I  photocopied the fabric I intend using and auditioned the cut out paper pieces on the square of background ticking -

The handle won't be white - this was just the ordinary paper template!

Sorry this picture  is a bit out of focus, I took it hurriedly this morning,  it is just to give an idea where the baskets are to be placed.

 
You will notice that I have at last sewn all the squares together - no more Block Butler!  I I did it by hand as many of the pieces needed a bit of easing in.  I couldn't do this on the sewing machine as I am not a good enough machinist, so I think it will all hand sewn - apart maybe from the very outer borders - but a long way to go yet!