moonlightantique@aol.com
See www.moonlightantiquestore.net
for more
Treasures
American Quilts
The following quilts have been selected to inform the viewer. They have already
been
sold. We find and sell antique and vintage quilts daily in our store and
on ebay.
Please refer to "greensatin" on ebay for our latest finds.
Sponsored by Moonlight Antiques
Located in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas
211 East Grand Avenue - Hot Springs
Hours 10 am to 6 pm Tuesday - Saturday
Phone: 501.622.6760
History and Care 
  
 
Turkey Tracks Dresden
Plate Iris Applique
Green Valley Strip Keyhole
 
  
Dbl. Wedding Ring
Floral Pieced Grandmother's
Flower Garden
Radiant
Star
Pinwheel
    
Poinsettia Applique
Five Star
Diamond Checkerboard
Hawaiian Quilt
Schoolhouse Quilt
   
Pink Bowtie
Princess Feather
Compass
Bird of
Paradise Patchwork
    
Crazy Squares
Hatchet
Improved 9 Patch
Amish Style Clam Shell
   
Wool Buggy Quilt
Pink & WhiteSawtooth Edge
Navy Sawtooth Edge
Yellow Roses Applique
    
Series of Fans Applique
Dogwood Red Lattice
Airplane Quilt Snail Trail
    
Serpentine
Dragon
Sampler
Jacob's Ladder
Splendid
Red Beauty
Magnificent Embroidered Quilt with Sawtooth Edges
Gorgeous Appliqued Blue and White Quilt
My First Quilt 
The first quilt treasure I remember having was an
antique "Log Cabin" quilt
given to me by my mother-in-law.
She gave each
of her sons an antique quilt. Ours was very old and was full
of lots
of dark colors. She pointed to one of the dark stripes during her
presentation and said, "This is very
old, it is handwoven fabric." I
was very impressed. She gave us other quilts as the years went by
that were new
that she purchased. We used them until they were frayed and the batting started
coming out. We loved using them. But I still have the antique Log Cabin Quilt
she gave us and it is
kept very safe. Now we go to antique auctions and look
for homemade quilts.
Grandmother's Flower Garden
History of Quilts
If a woman made a quilt over one hundred years ago she had no idea the impact
she was having.
All she wanted was to keep her family warm and enjoy being with
friends on a nice afternoon. The
legacy they have given by making beautiful quilts
is a real testament to their talent and cleverness.
A quilt is made in three
different layers. The top is the pattern, the middle is the batting, and the
bottom
is usually a simple cloth lining. Most pioneer women had a rag bag that contained
bits of
fabric saved from old aprons, shirts and dresses. In the early American
homes, quilts were made
just for beds. Pioneer homes had no bedrooms to speak of,
and the bed was often just a stack of
quilts on the floor in front of the fire. If
the family did own a bed, it was kept in a place of
importance in the warmest room of the
house, which was usually the kitchen or great room.
Making warm quilts was a real
necessity well into the 19th century in frontier areas.
Quilts with pastel colors indicate that they are
probably made after 1930, when pastel dyes
and fabrics became popular.
Bridal Quilts
One way a young lady would announce her engagement was by taking her finest
finished quilt top
to a quilting bee. Everyone would work on finishing the
"bride's quilt". It was usually all-white patchwork or appliqu'e.
Imported Quilts
During the early ninties I started seeing imported quilts at large discount stores.
They were
reasonably priced (very cheap), and I bought a few to use on a daily
basis. I had so little money
invested in them I could use them without worrying
about them. The problem with some of the
imported quilts is that sometimes the
quilting pattern is very sparce and the quilting stitches are
very large and far
apart. They are loaded onto the ebay auction site by the scores and they are
not as
unique as American made quilts. When you find an American handmade quilt the
stitches
usually follow the pattern of the quilt or are really carefully stitched in a
traditional quilted pattern.
There are many talented quilt artists in American homes
who are busy making quilts. Their
quilts are one-of-a-kind color schemes and have
been designed with much care. In the quilting
books there are endless varieties in
patterns because they are one-of-a-kind and the quilter
often designs her own pieces along
the way. The smaller the pieces the higher the value. In
addition, Appliqued
quilts always seem to be more desireable. They are endless in variety.
Attics and Quilts 
The cool dim environment of the attic or loft
seems made for quilts. They fare best away from
direct sunlight and traffic
areas. These spaces, however, may not be ideal during the summer
months unless they
are climate-controlled. A stable environment with low humidity (50 percent)
and a
temperature of 60 to 70 degrees F is best.
Upstairs bedrooms in old houses have been newly designed from attic spaces. The
slanted walls
and dormer windows make a great place for exhibiting quilts.
Attics and lofts are spacious, usually, and can accommodate pastimes that require large
equipment
such as quilting frames or looms for weaving. These remote areas have been
known to promote concentration and inspire creativity.
It is a nostalgic link with the past.
Decorating with Quilt Scraps
Decorating with quilt pieces has always been an easy way to brighten any
home. Pillows,
wallhangings, and tiny, textured accessories can be made from old
quilts and linens.
Using the best parts of quilts that have been damaged
is a wonderful way to keep and use these
treasured pieces. You can fashion
tablecloths, dresser scarves, curtains, and bench covers.
A creative eye could use
them for purses, stuffed animals and placemats. Do not be afraid to cut
up a quilt
that cannot be used as it is. Quilts that are less than first class can also be used
freely
where finer cloths might not survive the use. Flea markets and yard sales are
great treasure
hunting places for less-than-perfect old quilts or quilt blocks.
Sometimes you can even find
partially completed quilts in sacks and boxes. Small
quilts can be completed with partially
finished squares. These small quilts can be
made into crib quilts or small throws for sofas and chairs.
Small
wallhangings are a great use for these partially completed quilts and recut old
quilts.
Make a tea cozy. For the holidays Christmas Stockings can
be made from old quilt scraps,
especially the red and green ones. Any color is
useable. Make stuffed ornaments in the
shape of angels, stars and diamonds.
Use pretty ribbon to hang them. I use them for doilies
under a lamp or candle.
They add that warm and cozy decorative look to any room of the home.
 
Care of Quilts
Keep them out of direct sunlight or the colors will fade and fibers will weaken.
Even spotlights
can damage quilts. Low voltage, incandescent lighting is kindest to
fabrics. Keep quilts away from
damp areas. Keep them away from heat as
well. (See previous section called "Attics and Quilts"
for best humidity
and temperature.) Some authorities suggest we keep them put away in a
cabinet if
they are antiques. Then it is suggested they be opened up every now and then and
refolded in a different configuration. It is recommended that you handle the antique
quilts
with cotton gloves since hands will exude oil.
The books I have read suggest that you always put your quilt in the hands of professional
quilt
cleaners. However, I have also been told not to do this unless the cleaners
guarantee replacement.
I have cleaned mine by soaking them in an oxygen based
soaking solution in my washing machine.
I leave them in for quite a while. But
I never use the agitator. I spin the water out and refill
to rinse. Then
I use the spin cycle only and dry them with a low temperature in my dryer.
However, if you do this the colors may bleed and the quilt will shrink. Any time you
use this
method it will wear the quilt and cause it to deteriorate sooner. The
stitches will break somewhat.
I like clean quilts and am willing to take the
risk.
Quilts Under Glass
The jury is still out on whether or not to use a quilt as tablecloths. Some agree
that valuable
quilts should never be used, especially if there is a risk of spills from
food. One solution is to place
a quilt under glass, protecting it from spills, dirt,
and stains. However, experts counter that glass
masks its textured feel and
three-dimensional aspects, which is one of the best qualities that
make quilts so
attractive, and that glass cannot protect it from odors. However, no quilt should
stay under glass for an extended period of time, as this will hasten the fabric breakdown.
I use
quilts on my tables that are already damaged a little and ones that are light
enough to wash.
If you go to a discount store or fabric store and look, you can
usually find the rolls of clear
plastic available. It is usually with the
vinyl table fabric and is wide. The clear plastic cut the
right size and put over
your special quilts will protect them from spills, if you don't mind the
plastic.
That is a personal decision.
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Moonlight
Antiques
Mail to: P. O. Box 6405, Hot Springs, Arkansas 71902
If you can access PayPal on the Internet, I can accept credit card charges.
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