Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Sunbonnet Sues

This past Sunday afternoon, Grace and I stopped at an estate sale. I have always loved Sunbonnet Sues so when I saw this pair of embroidered linens I picked them up right away. I'm not sure if they are meant to be draped over the arms or back of a chair or if they are unfinished, meant to be turned into mini pillows. Any ideas??



Here is a close-up of the pink embroidered flowers.



If you peek under her bonnet you will see a sweet face and even little eyelashes.



I thought I would introduce you to the rest of my Sues...

Some of you may have already seen my vintage Sunbonnet "Days of the Week" towels. Sue is busy ironing.



Sunbonnet Sue going to church...



This is a Sunbonnet Sue and Suspender Sam baby quilt that I made when I was expecting Grace. We didn't know if she would be a boy or a girl so I tried to make it gender neutral but it ended up more for a girl. Good thing that's what she was! :0)



This is the first Sue quilt that I bought. We were visiting Phillip's aunt in Tennesee and she took me to an antique store. I told the lady at the store that I wanted a Sunbonnet Sue quilt and I had $40.00. This is what she found for me!



I found this "bonnet" quilt a couple of years ago when I went home to Ontario, Canada to visit my family. It was in a little antique shop near the town I grew up in. It is very soft and perfect for snuggling under.



The backing is made from old sugar sacks.



The last quilt I want to show you is a Sunbonnet Sue and Suspender Sam quilt. I was told it was found in the bottom of a trunk, inside an old barn.



I keep my quilts under the coffee table in the livingroom. Anyone is welcome to use them if they are cold.

Thank you for looking at all of my special Sunbonnet Sues!

31 comments:

Susie said...

Kelli,
These are such treasures! How nice that you keep your beautiful quilts out where you can see and enjoy them all the time!
:)

Carole Burant said...

Oh Kelli all your Sunbonnet Sue quilts are just gorgeous! I also love the fact that you actually use them...so many people put things like that away, never to be seen! Hugs xox

Morgan said...

I'll be over tomorrow to use one;)

Christine said...

They are so lovely. They give such a vintage touch to any home. Blessings!

Paula said...

My grandmother has a Sunbonnet Sue quilt on her guest bed. Great-Grandmother started the quilt and Grandmother finished it. The little ladies make the bedroom very inviting. Thanks for sharing your collection.

dot said...

Kelli, you have such treasures! I just came from Floras and she had some Sunbonnet Sue Towels on display.

Anonymous said...

Those are so pretty! And I say you should turn your new finds into cute little pillows! They would be lovely that way! Thanks for sharing Sunbonnet Sue with us...she is a looker! :) Have a great day!

Lisa said...

LOVE Sunbonnet Sue! Those quilts are awesome! My favorite is the one backed with sugar sacks. Your new find would make great mini pillows. Thank you for sharing! :o)

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful collection. So, you are a quilter? So am I, or at leats, I used to be.....

Anonymous said...

How cute!

Charree said...

I really like your new finds. The detail on them is wonderful.

Lena said...

You have a lovely collection Kelli. I have such a weakness for such things. I think quilts and old linens are at the top of my list of favorite things.
I don't know what the embroidered Sunbonnet Sues would have been used for, but your idea is a good guess. I've always wanted to try that technique of coloring the design before embroidering it. Did you know you actually use crayons to it? I guess you cover it and iron it afterwards. The heat from the iron sets the colors.
Thanks for sharing these. I've really enjoyed seeing them.

Julieann said...

Kelli--everything was beautiful:)

About those linens, how big are they? I would be tempted to frame them and hang them on the wall. I never knew they were called "SunBonnet Sue" I have a little bonnet girl that a great, great Grandmother had made--it was given to me by my Grandmother--I will take a picture of it, and post it on my blog to show you---I keep it in my drawer--but I think I just may frame it:)

Julieann:)

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for sharing these lovely Sues and Sams! You have a lovely collection.

Marci said...

Kelli, they are wonderful. What a fun thing to collect. I will think of you whenever I see a Sunbonnet Sue now. =)

Sharon said...

Love all your quilts and your family will always no how to stay warm at your house. You do beautiful work and also like your new treasures.

Anonymous said...

You have the neatest collections, Kelli! These remind me so much of times at my grandmother's growing up. I would love to find a small Sunbonnet Sue quilt for my daughter's room.

Karen said...

Hi Kelli,
Thank you so much for visiting me!
I love these embroidery towels. I just bought some patterns to try last month. Now if I could just get busy ;}.
Nice to meet you, I hope you'll stop in again soon!

Reviekat said...

(Okay, third times a charm - that's how many times I've tried to leave a comment! LOL.)

I love seeing your Sunbonnet Sue collection. What a really lovely collection you have. My favorite is the Days of the Week towels. :)

Amanda said...

Are SBSes done with applique or paper piecing? Either way, I think it would be neat to learn!

Randi said...

I love your Sue collection! I made my daughter a Sue quilt when she was born and i would love to try another one sometime.

Janice said...

Such a sweet sweet collection! Each is a little different and unique!

Rebecca said...

Wow! You weren't kidding! What a lucky gal to have so many wonderful quilts! Do you have any other quilts? (Besides the one that you got at the garage sale-I saw that one under a sidebar category...)

My favorite of THESE quilts is the lady sunbonnet sues-with the coral and green stripes. But I have to say my favorite of ALL your sunbonnet sues is your most recent purchase. Those squares are just so dainty and elegant. I just LOVE them!!!

Naturegirl said...

TOO CUTE every single one of them! Such treasure for your girls to have one day!I am so pleased that YoU entered my
~*valentine give-a-way*~hugs

Melissa said...

Wow. Love the touch of the lady's face and eyelashes underneath the bonnet! I've never seen that before. I love it!

Anonymous said...

I once bought a framed 7"x9" needlework piece at a garage sale in cottage country Ontario and took it as gift for the people whose cottage we were going to. I now know, from your blog, that the lady depicted is known as 'Sunbonnet Sue'. The picture still hangs in their cottage in Haliburton. I will have to tell them about Sunbonnet Sue. So glad I read your blog. Love the quilts. Thanks for sharing.

theups said...

Oh Kelli! I just LOVE Sunbonnet Sue!!! I have a quilt that my grandma made me when I was little that is Sunbonnet Sue. I use it ALL the time!! I even slept under it last night because it's SOOO cold here right now!! Thank you so very much for sharing these lovely pictures! I had no idea that Sunbonnet Sue could be found in places other than quilts! I'll have to keep my eyes open!!

His,
Mrs U

Susan P. said...

Whenever I see Sunbonnet Sue I am immediately reminded of my beloved great grammy. She had many of them laying atop of her comfy feather beds:) Sigh! Thanks for the memory and for sharing your treasured collection, Kelli.

Kelli said...

Amanda, Sunbonnet Sues are appliqued. It is easy and fun!
Rebecca, the same lady who made the quilt I got at the yardsale, also made a small yellow and white baby quilt. I also have a quilt my Great Grandmother made for my sister.

Thank you for all the sweet comments! I'm so glad to hear from other Sunbonnet Sue fans! :0)

Kelli

Tammy said...

Oooh, I love all your Sunbonnt Sues! =)

Molly Mandeville Fryer said...

Kelli--I found your blog through a search. I was looking for SBS's from other countries. Your quilts are fantastic and I am linking to your blog from mine as I am in the process of doing a weekly post about Sunbonnet Sue. My mother loved her and made and collected all items SBS. You should come over and visit. Thanks
www.sewhappy10000@yahoo.com