Old Quilt Top, Funny Stuff

This is a  new "old" quilt top I just purchased from Ann Hermes, set 3 blocks by 7 blocks. The fabrics are estimated to be from the late 1800's.  Each block was hand-stitched, but the blocks were sewn together by machine.  The quilter, either the block maker or the one who sewed it together, apparently did not know the definition of "square" (as in, each side should be equal). Pretty wonky.

Here's a close-up of some of the fabrics used.

This is what gave me a giggle. I thought this grey fabric was all one piece, but look again. Someone sewed nine pieces together to get this piece. Isn't this a riot? You're telling me that the stitcher ran out of colorful fabric scraps and said, "oh well, I'll just stitch these greys back together". I think I would have been tempted to cut up a shirt just to get some contrast!

And Mr. Grosbeak has been visiting regularly since last week. Isn't he a cutie?

Yellow and Gray baby quilt top done

Rosie gives a final CAT scan before I sewed the blocks together.

Finished top with some sunshine effects. It's always a challenge to get group blocks to fit together nicely. I gave myself some wiggle room by cutting the squares and strips for everyone, and making the strips slightly wider than needed so the blocks could be trimmed to the same size.

Here's the back (with more sunshine effects).

And in keeping with the yellow theme, here are my lovely Trout lilies. These are freebies that showed up in my yard one year, (they love the cedar chips) and they keep coming back every spring. They are only around for a couple of weeks, then they go underground until next year. I just love 'em.