C'mon . . . you know you do it too!

Do what, you ask?

You buy yourself a little treat at Christmas.

(Or maybe Hanukah too).

C'mon, you know you do!

Is it a reward for keeping calm during the hustle bustle of the season?

Or maybe while shopping for others you came upon something you

just couldn't resist. 

For me, I tend to find things while I'm escaping the holiday "crazy".

I don't like the commercial side of holidays, so I tend to peruse antiques sites
for relaxation. (Yes, I know it's dangerous, but I do try to restrain myself.)

My "treat" is usually a textile of some sort.

Being a stitcher by trade, I feel a kinship with early textiles and their makers.

So, without babbling on further, I'm sharing with you my recent "treat".

Oh my! ~  This coverlet!  ~ The birds "got me" and would not let go.

There are so many design elements in this coverlet that it was no doubt

woven by a master of creativity and engineering!

It's not always easy to date an early coverlet, but by my limited knowledge,

 I'll say 1830 -1850.

(If anyone has a better guess, I'd love to know!)

Birds faced this way and that, amongst differing trees and plants, each element 

part of the one next to it as well.

And . .  Oh my stars, look at those stars! 

8 points, 16 points ~ perfect folk motifs each one.

Stars upon stars,

amongst the leaves.

The reverse is simply beautiful as well and the dark birds remind me a bit of crows.

The coverlet is "signed" tho in cross stitch after the fact, by Jonathan W. Davis.

While many professional weavers were men, it's also very possible that this is the owner's name.

(We may never know - but I may do a little more research!)

Front - leaf/flower,

tiny hatches and grid pattern.

Reverse - leaf/flower,

making a bold statement.

And finally roses surrounded by gentle leaves.

I would love to say that this coverlet has been preserved in perfect condition but alas it

has quite a few issues.  I've re-stiched the center seam, but there are some large holes to contend with.

Some edges are frayed, lots of wear and fringe in parts is missing or beaten up.

(The above also sounds like my body as it gets older, and I'm not ready to retire it either!)

So, to preserve this work of art for another generation I'll work on patching in a "make-do" way,

using antique woolens, linens and what have you's as they would have done long ago.

May the new year bring you health, happiness and a few "treats" !

Lori Ann