History
This quilt was made by Florence Beaton of 'Sunshine Farm' in the 1950s or 1960s. It is now owned by the Red Cliffs & District Historical Society Inc. at Red Cliffs Victoria. The Society also has a fine collection of Florence and Clara's needlework. Florence (Flo) Beaton (born McNabb 1920-1996) was the daughter of Clara and Frank McNabb who selected block 46 at Carwarp in the harsh mallee country of north western Victoria in 1913. They called it 'Sunshine Farm'. Florence was one of 4 children (3 boys). She recalled* that her mother Clara once won a nail driving competition, was an expert with a shotgun, worked on the farm driving a team of horses, had a wonderful garden and was a fine needlewoman as was her mother Ellen before her. Flo carried on the needlework tradition of her mother and grandmother and was accomplished in many types of needlework including making quilts. Flo did not have any children.
[*Reference: "A Woman's Work" by Florence Beaton. The story of a Mallee farmer's wife from 1913. Published by The Sunnyland Press, Red Cliffs 1985]
Description
Pieced construction, repeat block format, American Blue Grass pattern. Hand stitched and quilted with a machined edge. Mauve check stars, eight points, surrounded by sixteen point stars in yellow floral. One star per block plus green squares and red strips. The background is yellow cotton and so is the backing. There is a dacron type padding.
1980 x 1740mm
