Betsey Telford-Goodwin's Rocky Mountain Quilts 130 York Street York, Maine 03909 207-363-6800

The American folk art style is present in textiles as well as in home furnishings. Antique folk art quilts are wonderfully graphic, naïve pieces of totally original textile art. Sometimes these antique quilts were created by adapting a known pattern in order to free it from its more rigid structure. Appliqued or pieced folk art quilts have unusual configurations of piecing and/or unusual choices of colors and fabrics. A folk art quilt might be embellished with embroidered drawings or paintings, depicting the life of the quilter, such as children?s handprints, houses, farms, or local plants and animals. An antique folk art quilt was usually made from cotton or wool, but very rarely a silk folk art piece will emerge. In these rare cases, a woman might have worked for an affluent family and been given silk scraps for her own use.

True folk art quilts were made to be used, not displayed. Fortunately, many have survived because they were washed infrequently or not at all, and especially not washed in a machine. We are indeed fortunate that the washing machine was not commercially available until the 1950?s, or many of our treasured antique quilts would have been ruined by pragmatic women just trying to do their housework!

Click on the pictures below to see more views of my Antique Folk Art Quilts. Shading is due to lighting, not representative of the quilt. Call for availability.

Folk Art Rose Wreath Quilt
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CONHO24 Folk Art Rose Wreath Quilt
c.1880
81 x 83 inches
Pennsylvania
$1,600

In the earlier part of the 19th century a swag border emulated the drapes in one's home. This quilt shows us a Folk Art rendering of a very sophisticated piece. Khaki and red are a wonderful combination. This palate on this quilt is actually by accident as the Khaki was a tobacco dyed green that oxidized as soon as the fabric was placed in water!

The 9 block formation was also an earlier quilt format. Each block measures 22" square, the border measures 8", which includes a 1/2" separately applied binding. We have two quilt techniques used here. We have piecing and applique. This is a dynamically graphic quilt one treasures for the design and colors......not for its average quilting. We have here outline quilting and crosshatch quilting. Each separate piece is outline quilted.

This graphically wonderful folk art quilt is now hand washed organically and ready to be sent, with free shipping, for your approval.



Q9262 Woolen Diamond In A Square with Folk Art Applique
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Q9262 Woolen Diamond In A Square with Folk Art Applique
c.1895
62 x 72 inches
Western Masschusetts
$3,600

Everyone has favorites..This is one of mine! The quilt design is a Diamond in a Square, created from lush woolen homespun as well as purchased woolen fabrics. Some of these fabrics are from the 1860's era. All fabrics colors are rich in tone. Sending this quilt to an entire higher level is the center medallion miniature appliques.

The backing is a gray cotton flannel. The binding is a fine gray wool. Each square measures 7-1/2" with the diamonds having sides that measure 5". We have early vegetable dyed black woolens as well as home dyed dark Khaki color woolens. The diamonds are an array of warm tone colors. Centers of each block have perfectly hand appliqued six leaf flowers with red centers. The flowers are around 2-1/8" in diameter with the red center being 3/8". The binding only measures 1/4" and is separately applied and hand stitched closed. Cross hatch quilting in a 2-1/2" grid ,executed in black thread, covers the entire quilt.

The quilt appears not to have been used and is now waiting for its new owner. A perfect size for a wonderful piece of quilted wall art. Please ask to see this quilt in your home. Our shipping is free of charge in the continental US. Out of this country there will be an extra fee.





BTG84 African American Folk Art Hooked Rug
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BTG84 African American Folk Art Hooked Rug
c.1920
23 x 38 inches
New England
$3,800

I believe this original design, mostly rayon, hooked rug is African American and created to remember the massacres of the "Red Summer" race riots of 1919. During that summer there were nunerous race riots that began with the Chicage riot caused by an African American boy swimming at a "white only" beach. During that summer there were hundreds of African Americans killed, in various riots, resulting in the name "Red Summer". The bullseye center symbolizes this slaughtering of human life.

Constructed on burlap using rayons, knits and a very few cotton fabrics, to create a graphic and poignantly graphic rare piece of art.

This one of a kind folk art rug has been hanging in my home for many, many years. I have decided it is time to let someone else treasure this art piece in their home.

Please email or call to see this rug, on approval, with free shipping, in the privacy of your home.



CONJM27 Original Folk Art Quilt
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CONJM27 Original Folk Art Quilt
Pre 1860
71 x 71 inches
Virginia
$3,200

I am so excited when finding a quilt design that I have never seen before..Well, here is a wonderful early folksy southern quilt. The fabrics contradict themselves...we have very expensive wool challies combined with home dyed homespun fabrics. A puzzle...Was this quilt made by a servant of a wealthy family using their fabrics along with the fabrics of the designer?... or a less affluent family that was able to procure remnants of exquisite fabrics?... Or still the possibility of an afluent woman who thought outside the box of convention and may have put away this quilt because it was so far "out of what was the expected" for a lady of position.

How has this Virginia quilt survived all these years including through the 1860's turmoil of our country?

The blocks now measure 11" square ...When originally created and before quilting, the blocks would have been slightly larger. The joining sashing is 2" wide, the strips outlining the squares on point measure 7/8" in width and the squares on point are 3". A wide 1" applied binding frames the quilt. The linen backing fabric is a home dyed oak color. Diagonal quilting covers the entire quilt.

A true fresh, out of a private collection, artistic masterpiece which will enhance the beauty and originality of your home.



conclk2 Folk Art Crib Quilt with Embroidered Swan
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CONCLK2 Original Folk Art Embroidered Table Embellishment
c.1890
28 x 38 inches
Found in Maine
$2,900

In complete original condition, this creatively embroidered table embellishment is comprised of 24 7” blocks with wool embroidered motifs on black wool. We have a swan, which to me represents a relationship lasting a lifetime, flowers and leaves representing spring, summer and happiness. There’s a bird with “AM” embroidered on its wing. Created in the 1890s, it appears that the maker was incredibly creative and probably came from a less affluent family. The backing of each block is a much earlier homewoven fabric. There are sleeves or what are called pockets sewn on the back making it ready for hanging. Equally beautiful would be as a center focal point of your dining room table...Ready to be sent for your viewing and approval.



UF100 Odd Fellows Overshot Summer/Winter Carpet
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UF100 Odd Fellows Overshot Summer/Winter Carpet
c.1890
62 x 66 inches
Found in Pennsylvania
$2,200

Created on a 35" loom; finely woven with thick black and red woolen threads. Odd Fellows symbols are the format for the design of this creation. I enjoyed using "Google" to read about the deeper meanings of the many Odd Fellows symbols. An over simplified version of these symbols is the importance in life of love, industriousness, truth, and acceptance of one another.

This c.1890 amazingly graphic piece of art was actually carpet for the floor of a 19th century home or possibly the actual Odd Fellows Lodge. Strips of 35" wide carpet were sewn together to create the needed room size. This carpet, a perfect piece of art for your wall, is not quite two full widths: one full and one apx. 3/4 width, hand sewn together. Please look at the closeup sections by clicking the above photo. Where have you ever seen 19th century art in red and black...a sought after and hard to find color combination.

Betsey has organically washed this carpet so it is clean for your perfect wall space. We can also apply "sleeves" so the "carpet" is ready to easily hang. Please call for more details.



Q9013 Amish Concentric Squares Folk Art Quilt, Log Cabin Variation
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Q9013 Amish Concentric Squares Folk Art Quilt, Log Cabin Variation
c.1865
48 x 74 inches
Big Valley, Pennsylvania
$2,700

A quilt very possibly created during the Civil War era.
This is a very rare and unusual Amish piece that is comprised of early wools and wool challis fabrics, some of which appear to be home woven. The backing fabric of this quilt is a grayish tweedy flannel, an early flannel. The squares created here, using a variation of the Log Cabin pattern, measure 11-1/2 inches. Each log measures approximately 1 inch in width. Yes, this a Log Cabin but an oxymoron because it's so very folksy and it's such an early Amish piece.
This quilt is not only a rare piece but would create an artistically amazing wall hanging. There's a lot of other information that I'd like to share. Please call or email.



F607
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F607 Woolen Folk Art Four Patch Fragment
c.1895
21 x 29 inches
Found in Pennsylvania
$325

This funky little fragment is comprised of various wool fabrics, both in texture and design. Pieced by hand and tied with colorful yarns, this little fragment has a very folk art feel. The four patch blocks are joined with a 2-1/4” brown wool challis fabric sashing. Each block measures apx 7” square. The backing is a c.1890 stripe in muted black, lavender and yellow. The binding used here came off the original quilt. This quilt art fragment, for your wall. is ready to be sent on approval.





CONHO4 Tumbling Blocks Quilt
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CONHO4 Tumbling Blocks Quilt"
c.1880
76 x 82 inches
Tennessee or North Carolina
$2,200

Orange is a color that is hard to find as a major part of an antique quilt. This stunning optical illusion quilt is comprised of a rarely seen color combination...orange,red and taupe. There are actually two shades of red...a Turkey red is used in the bricks and a red red is used for the border. The color combination is wonderful. The blocks seem to stand upon one another. The simplicity of the colors, due to the fact that they are all solids and not calicoes, lets this graphic piece of art easily complement other designs that are in your home.
This quilt is all hand pieced and hand quilted. Each diamond has straight line quilting in the longest direction of the diamond. This quilting design adds to the optical illusion effect by accenting the direction of each diamond. The innermost border, in Taupe, has a unique wave design, while the outermost red border is quilted with an arc design. The binding is a dark Taupe woven tape. The backing is a wholecloth in red. This fabric was obviously purchased for this quilt and points to the fact that the family was of comfortable means.
An amazingly graphic quilt which appears to be unused...now organically washed by Betsey and ready to be sent for your in home viewing and approval.



CON PD6 African American Cobweb/Pinwheel Adaptation
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CON PD6 Abstract Cobweb/Pinwheel
c.1950
75 x 75
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
$2,700

A totally unique quilt, the creator of this piece took conventional patterns and turned them into a piece of abstract art with incredible movement. The logs have been pieced into abstract pinwheels from a cotton conversation print featuring hats and umbrellas on a black background. Bright pops of yellow, pink, blue, and a multicolored stripe have been placed in the arrangement to give the overall feeling of a cobweb pattern. Various bright feedsack prints have been pieced together to form the backing, and finished with a 1 ¼ inch separately applied yellow calico feedsack binding. In used but excellent condition, and tied with black cording. Subtle and sophisticated, with a visual jazz impact! Professionally hand washed by Betsey and ready to send to you on approval.

Rocky Mountain Quilts Shop Hours

Shop Open Year Round
Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 10-4
Other times: Call for Appointment or take a chance and call from the driveway 207-363-6800.

Payment Methods:

Rocky Mountain Quilts gladly accepts cash, checks, Visa, Master Card and American Express. Bank wire transfers are an easy method of payment for both domestic and international sales. If you are traveling, we will be happy to ship your purchases via FedEx at your convenience.

Contact Us

Telephone - for orders or questions -
1-207-363-6800
Email - betsey@rmquilts.com
Shipping FedEx address -
130 York Street
York, Maine 03909

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