Are You Crazy ? - A New Design Source

 

Are You Crazy ? - Design Source Found for Donkey Rider

While searching for the design source for several of the smaller motifs - I began to search ads as the most likely source, due to the size of the embroidery on the original piece, just around 2-inches or so.  In doing so, a lot of 'rider' images were found.  There were humans riding pigs, grasshoppers, mice, horses - but no donkey's at first).  With my time schedule in place, a decision was made to use the sword carrying mouse rider from 1884 on my piece - since there was already a donkey image, why have two. 

 

With the mouse underway, I finally found the Donkey and Rider design source - a mechanical toy made by Crandall's in the 1879-1880 time frame.  The mouse is staying, but wanted to share all 'the riders' found in my search.  

 



Are You Crazy? Design Sources

Here are the designs found so far for the splasher.  In most cases I used an actual source for my piece, however in some instances I had already embroidered the motif prior to finding a source, so used the antique splasher as the source.

To see what I have been doing, check out http://kwiltkeyes.blogspot.com/2018/11/are-you-crazy-dont-splash.html

I have completed about 8 more since that image was posted, and I am now in the home stretch with only 8-9 left to go.  There are around 50 different motifs on the original piece.

1885-1886 Out-line Embroidery Splasher: Are You Crazy?

1885-86 Crazy Redwork Splasher:  Are You Crazy?

This crazy out-line embroidery splasher was made in 1885-6, by two stitchers, AEM and AET (1886).  It was purchased from an estate sale in Virginia, possibly from the Alexandria area.

Below are the sources of the motifs that I have been able to identify that were used in this piece.

 
Are You Crazy?  Don’t Splash

The central motif “Are You Crazy?” is found in The Delineator magazine, Volume 24, No. 3 (1884, September) on page 218.  It is a series of three outline designs for decorating a Fancy Work Apron.  [A]

 
Date And Makers
The cross stitch initials A.E.M. look as though they could have been fashioned using the Alphabets for Marking found in Peterson’s Magazine, Volume 70, No. 2, August 1876, page 145. [B]

Kate Greenaway Girl and Little Dog
There were several sources during that time period where these motifs could be found:  Jenny June’s 1884 Manual of Fancy Work; Godey’s Ladies Book, Volume 108, January 1884, page 28. [C]

Peterson's magazine. v.71-72 1877
In the July 1877, No. 1 issue both Butterfly Side-A and Side-B are found on page 22.  The August 1877 No. 2 issue had both the Figure in Applique (man carrying the baskets) on page 94 and on page 146 the image used to inspire the goose.  [D]

The Cat is from the 1885 booklet Instructions in Fancy Work, by J.F. Ingalls.  The Calla Lily is also here.  [E]

1886 J.F. Ingalls Catalogue
Rooster on Basket & Cat Looking in Barrel are from the came page of the 1886 J.F. Ingalls Catalogue.  Also from this publication: Calla Lily; Horseshoe w/whip; Spider and Web; Moon Man (illustrated with an owl perched on the moon in the catalog)  [F]

Wait for Me Girls
Jenny June’s 1886 Manual Of Fancy Work and in Eva Niles book, Fancy Work Recreations (1884). [G] 
Owl Reading a Book motif was a popular design.  There are several sources with similar images.  From Godey’s Ladies Book, 1884, Volume 109, October (Colored Design in Front of Book), and in Ingalls 1886 Catalog. [H]
 
Oak Leaf and Acorns is from Godey’s Lady’s Book and Magazine, Vol 75, July 1867, page 74. [I]

The Fish and the Leaf Sprig were both found in Godey’s Lady’s Book and Magazine, Vol 63, 1861, pages 434 and 435.  [J]

The two floral patterns were found in Florence Hartley’s 1859  The Ladies’ Hand Book of Fancy and Ornamental Work…  Flouncing design on page 123  and Honiton Lace in page 147.  The larger motif (Honiton Lace Sprig  was  first found in  Arthur’s Illustrated Home Magazine, Vol 13-14,  January 1859.  [K]

Several of the other motifs were commonly depicted in illustrations for stories and ads published during the time this piece was being made and are found on many other embroidered items made in the same time period.  However, an exact source has not yet be identified.

With all the ‘borrowing’ and ‘recycling’ of images publishers did during the 1800s, the sources I identified above are ‘likely’ sources used, but are by no means the only.  If anyone finds a new source, please let me know.

I am in the process of re-creating this piece to enter into the Quilter's Consortium of New York State, Still Crazy After All These Years 2019 Quilt Challenge.