Quilt No.125BF - Bud and Patricia Ford

1829 x 1525mm
This utilitarian quilt (originally with cretonne cover) was made by Mondi Gertrude Hortense Ford at Miles Queensland for her husband Hugh Bird Ford father of the present owner Bud Ford. It was made for carrying in a swag. It is not used now and is stored in the shed at Aldersyde East "because my wife told me to get rid of it and I couldn't do it" [Bud Ford]
"Bush blankets such as this one were usually coloured stripes on a dark grey base. They were inclined to be rough and probably made from low grade wool possibly either by Morris Mills of Ipswich or Bendigo or Geelong Mills." [Bud Ford]
Mondi Ford (born Fowles) 1893-1980, mother of the present owner, was the maker. She was the youngest sister of a brother who served in the Queensland Mounted Rifles during the Boer War. She spent time in China and Japan as hostess to her brother who was an honorary British Consul. "She was bored to death, luxury wasn't her style" [BF]. In 1921 she eloped with Hugh Bird Ford. They were married in Melbourne in the Anglican Cathedral with the verger and sweeper as witnesses. Mondi Ford was an accomplished musician and artist, a prolific correspondent. She was a needlewoman but hated cooking.
Related Quilts:
1010 x 840mm
The coverlet is decorated with rows of pieced work surrounding appliquéd and embroidered scenes. A panel down the LHS of the quilt and a smaller panel lower RHS depict animals and floral images. In the centre RHS an elderly couple sit beneath a tree. In the upper left a bride and groom accompanied by three flower girls are showered with petals from a wicker basket carried by a very large angel. Glass beads, sequins and a button have been used to highlight the appliqué and embroidery.
As with all of Mary Jane Hannaford's quilts, the work is stitched by hand and quite crudely, but the naivety of the images is overwhelming with their charm." [NGA] The quilt is not padded or lined. 1950 x 1690mm
1920 x 1756mm