The idea for Baskets and Borders came by chance. My sister and I went to an antique shop in Pennsylvania to see a special doll quilt display, but it had ended the day before! However, there was an unexpected treasure half hidden in a basket. It was an early 19th century crib quilt with a center motif surrounded by borders on top of borders. They were pieced in early chintzes, probably scraps from bed and window hangings, cerulean blues, Turkey reds, brown, white. Quilters of the early 1800s loved borders--the more, the better!

Inspiration for my miniature quilts often comes unexpectedly and wherever old quilts are found. In Baskets and Borders I used the antique crib quilt as a starting point and pieced the same border patterns, which seem to give depth and pull the viewer into the picture. The parade of colorful borders marching around a field of cheerful Turkey red baskets brightens a day in any century!

The frame is hand painted to simulate burl graining.