Sunday, December 8, 2013

In The Holiday Spirit

This weekend I visited several historic homes that were decorated for the holidays and two of them had quilts on display.


 Row upon row of poinsettias at a local garden center. Aren't they gorgeous?


First stop in the rain: Greenwood Gardens in Short Hills, NJ. The mansion boasts 28 rooms and is situated on 26 acres in the middle of suburbia.


A magnificent hand-wrought-iron gate featuring birds, vines, flora and fauna.


Only three rooms were open to the public. Wallpaper made in Switzerland covered the walls in the hallway and up the stairway. 


The dining room.


Paperwhites on a table in the hallway lent a festive flair.


The Zabriskie House in Wyckoff, NJ, is a beautiful Dutch home built c. 1730.


Love the front door.


A bed with a handwoven coverlet made by David Haring for Ellen Sip in 1832 and a 9-block friendship quilt which bears the name Mary Ann Mowerson. 


This wonderful c. 1860 quilt was hanging downstairs. Signatures include Banta and Zabriskie.


The Force Home in Livingston, NJ, is maintained by the Livingston Historical Society. The small Cook House was moved to this site when the Livingston Mall was about to be built in the late 1960s.  


A portrait of Jonathan Force and a beautifully decorated mantel.


One of the upstairs bedrooms had a Log Cabin cradle quilt with ruffle, a white on white quilt folded on the chair and a woven coverlet.
 
 

This simply decorated tree greeted visitors at today's open house.

Happy shopping, everyone!



__________
Copyright 2013, Barbara Schaffer



4 comments:

  1. that stairway mural is incredible! I love visiting historical homes this time of year. I'm planning to see Mark Twains and Harriet Beecher Stowes this holiday season - thanks for sharing these photos

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're going to love Mark Twain's house--Harriet Beecher Stowe's, too :)

      Merry Christmas!

      Delete
  2. Almost like being there! Thanks Barbara.

    ReplyDelete