Ok...so I do buy a few 20th century quilts...could you pass this one by? DD likes it, so someday soon it will be hers. Those of you who sew know how much time this hand piecing and hand quilting would have taken the maker (artist). Maybe it's the dreary cool rain we're having here - this quilt lights up a room! Checkout the beach ball and umbrella print. Maybe I'll tell DD she can have it when she counts the petals and makes an inventory of the fabrics used...there are repeats. The prints include stripes, checks, large florals, tight florals, solids including navy, geometrics etc. all on the white ground. The reds really pop in this photo. What a variety of print and color! The edge follows the 'melon' of the piece - or at least it did at one time.... The corners are rounded It is hand quilted around each petal or melon shape. The batting is very thin in places, a little bunchy in others. Pretty good condition. More on the blocks at the bottom of the post....let's look at some colorful sewing accessories first... This is a colorful variegated bunch. The little purple pineapple crochet sachet or pin cushion is about 2" - I've seen several sizes and styles of these, they are so sweet I'd like them all... Thimble Pattern - click here I have several of these little sewing kits - I'll do a post with all of them later. DH and I had a discussion on whether this one should have a thimble in it....What do you think? I have some with advertising, some with a decorative tassel, more enamel, wooden...all in some shape or form intended for mending. See the red petal from the quilt front in the background? The little crochet thimble holder is multi functional! Who'd of thunk? The previous owner added a little gold frog pin that is not only decorative (VBG) on the little floral hat, but it closes a small compartment where the needle holder can slide in and out - check out the 'circle' and hand sewn buttonhole edge! The thimble portion is stuffed and the thimble sits on top (see the group photo). The tiny pink crochet flowers on the brim are 1/4". This colorful beauty is hinged. The thimble is stored inside the hat. The inside felt is hinged with the hat layers for pins and needles. Why not use red every chance you can?? While I'm at it how about another child's sewing machine? This is a Singer Touch & Sew, maybe about 1970's? I had one like this at age 8 ish, so when I saw this one I had to bring it home - what fun!! Never made a quilt at that point of my life but do recall many doll 'fashions'. Maybe it's where the seeds were planted for my love of travel. Look at the lid - Camp Shawnee or Paris - I'm a Paris girl! There is no camping in this girl... I think I had a large clear plastic 'sewing box' for my pins, fabric scraps (I mean fashion fabrics...) and Dual Duty Poly Threads! Here's the beauty, that made a little girl feel like she could set the fashion world (fashion doll world?) on its ear...but I don't remember any contest. Maybe mine was an older model. 1976 was the USA bicentennial and I was not sewing at that time. For those of you who want to see more of the quilt fabrics: Click here for the hand piecing pattern. Click here for a modern option. Thanks for stopping by today. What was your first sewing machine? Have a happy and colorful week!