The Brandywine is a wonderful space. I always spend a lot of time in the glass walled lobbies overlooking the river. The 25 quilts are beautifully displayed in a single large gallery along with tops, blocks and sewing tools. It's a symphony of red and green. 

There is something unexpected about almost everyone of the quilts. One of my favorites was a Prince's Feather variation in oxblood and green on a yellow background so lemon-like it made your lips pucker. The quilting on this is phenomenal. A couple of super appliqué samplers demanded lots of close inspection. One has a center medallion look because of the way the blocks are arranged with giant blue tulips and fabulous chrysanthemums (I make no claim to botanical accuracy); the other has some unique designs: a dog and cat inside an upside-down laurel wreath, angels with butterfly wings hovering over a bible and what appears to be a body bag inscribed "mother" in embroidery. 

There is a small color catalogue for $6.95. It has a checklist of the exhibit and photographs of 8 or 10 quilts. The quilts we saw informally were exciting and confirmed Judy's taste for the unusual: 9 pots giant tulips with a scalloped border; a Sampler with Whig Rose, Feathered Star, Prince's Feather, Coxcomb, Compass, blocks Judy calls "Penny Tree," crossed branches hung with large circles and a border where fire hydrant shapes alternate with flower pots. 

A rather formal quilt composed of three branched Tulip blocks has arrow shapes in the border; Roses and Pomegranates have appliqué borders (each different) on three sides. An Album quilt made in Delaware in 1876 has many original patterns and a border formed from elements of the blocks. Variations of 4 different blocks were used to create a 20 block quilt (checkerboards, hearts). 

There was an Apple Tree quilt, machine appliquéd and fan quilting. I loved a Whig Rose variation baby quilt on an orange background. Whit Rose must be Judy's favorite pattern. We saw lots of them. My favorite had a red and black print, a typical turkey red and double pink Rose on a polka dot background. A more conventional Whig Rose has a border with a white swag on red. A 20th century WR had a zany, angular vine border and a mid-19th century baby WR was oxblood, orange and dark green on a busy background (guaranteed to keep baby alert).

 Another baby WR is on double blue with a sawtooth border. An 1849 Quaker papercut album has many of the same names as a similar quilt in the exhibit which has a lovely blue print setting fabric and a knitted lace border. The most unusual quilt (c. 1830 from Montoursville in central PA) has three branches running the length of the quilt with all sorts of fanciful leaves and flowers in a multitude of fabrics (at least 100) with birds, dogs, fish, eagles, doves scattered across the surface and a dogtooth border. 

Similar in design but with a completely different look is a quilt from Rochester, NY with flowers and birds in red, green, yellow and blue solids. Two unrelated quilts looked like Easter lilies: one in typical mid-19th century colors the other much more dramatic and a blue and white print background.. 

There was a really beautiful Pointesettia quilt with a rose and swag border, c. 1850 (I can imagine a young man just back from the Mexican War describing this flower to his mother who turned it into a quilt). A super Pot of Flowers quilt has every possible space between the blocks crammed with large and small flowers. 

A delicate Rose (8" block) motif quilt has a flowering vine border on three sides and the inscription "Dianetia A. Myers 1852" appliquéd across the top. A crib quilt with Pots of Flowers with stiff branches Judy calls "Exercising Flowers." A Harrison Rose quilt she calls "Dancing Leaves for its border of graceful pink and green leaves.

 I haven't told you everything. there were more quilts and lots of tops and the piece de resistance from Stroudsburg, PA a mid-20th century four block Eagle with cigar (red, green and orange, of course) buttonhole stitched, marked for quilting which Judy bought including the backing for $5.00. 

What a way to end a perfect day which even included time for a Wyeth fix in the museum's permanent collection and shopping in their fabulous gift shop. 

Cinda on the Eastern Shore