Archive for February, 2008

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A Good Day!

Saturday, February 9th, 2008

Today was one of those extraordinary days when surprising and happy things occurred. I was busily working away this morning, and was pleased at all that I was getting done, when the mail arrived. I received three lovely notes from readers of The Quilter magazine, thanking me for my articles. Another package yielded an extraordinary catalog of a long-ago exhibit that a research associate thought I would enjoy. Yet another package brought a book that is inaccessible to the public, at any price, and a valuable source of information for me.

The largest package was one I had to find my seam ripper to open inasmuch as it was a handmade, fabric “container” within which was a tightly wrapped plastic bag, inside of which had been placed a wedding Chimildik that once hung in a yurt in Uzbekistan.

The piece is very large and quite colorful. The embroidery work on the edges  was probably done by tambour hook, as is a lot of the chain stitch embroidery done in Central Asia. I will carefully vacuum it, and trim some loose threads on this piece. I am in love with the colors and design of the embroidered flowers on the black velveteen background.

I received a call from a friend, and a call from a family member, and I got to go out to lunch with my favorite guy. All in all, I could not have asked for a more wonderful day with these expressions of affection and gifts from so many people. Days like today make me feel special and as if all is right with the world. Even the snow stopped!

Wishing you happiness wherever God’s plan has taken you, at the moment. I continue to think of our troops overseas and their safety and safe return to their homeland. We would not be enjoying the life we have, were it not for our brave young men and women who are willingly serving our country.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Patricia Cummings

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Letter from a Reader re: Amish and Mennonite Quilts

Friday, February 8th, 2008

example of southern Indiana Amish quilt

Above is yet another example of a southern Indiana Amish quilt. Photo provided by the quilt’s owner, Judy Morton.

Regarding my recently-posted file of Amish and Mennonite quilts from southern Indiana, Betsy Golden of Bethlehem, PA writes:

Dear Pat,

Here in eastern PA, in PA Dutch country, these quilts look quite ordinary to me. The fabric store I visit most often is owned by a Mennonite family, on their dairy farm near Kutztown, PA. My impression is that for many, making quilts to sell is a way for the Mennonites, and possibly the Amish, as well, to cash in on the average American’s romanticized notion of a quilt “made by the Amish.” They are really producing quantities of quilts in the patterns and colors which seem to sell best. Certainly there is a tendency toward more traditional quilt patterns and designs, but otherwise these quilts are a lot like those being made by other experienced traditional quilters in the area.

MY RESPONSE:

Thanks for the letter, Betsy. It’s always great to hear another viewpoint. There’s no surprise that the Amish and/or Mennonites cater to the tastes of the marketplace, especially if they are dependent on the sale of quilts for their livelihood.

In today’s world, “change” is always the catch word, and “change” is mentioned as though it is inherently better than the status quo. Just listen to politicians. This is the way it has been, traditionally, in the quilt world. Whatever technique is newest is what is considered best.

Now, art quilts are on the “cutting edge” of change, and touted by some, as better. I guess it is all in how we define the word “better,” and specifically, which quilt to which we are referring.
Our aesthetic tastes may be dictated by others, if we allow that to happen, or we can stick to what we know we prefer, one way or another. In any event, no one is right or wrong. We each make our choices as to what we like and what we make, as quilters ourselves.

Thanks for your thought-provoking note, Betsy.

Patricia Cummings

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Charter Oak Quilt Block

Thursday, February 7th, 2008

A Bit of Quilt History: The Charter Oak Quilt Block

by Patricia Cummings

Every now and then, a quilt block’s name brings home a certain point of history that is both charming and poignant. For the people of Connecticut, “Charter Oak,” an appliquéd quilt block, is very meaningful. The name of the block calls to mind a significant historical event of which residents are still quite proud. In 1662, King Charles issued a Royal Charter that proclaimed self-governance for the state. Having a change of mind in 1687, he sought to revoke the charter, and sent his troops to seize the decree.

The room in which officials were meeting suddenly went black. After candles were lit, the charter was nowhere in sight. Under cover of darkness, someone had whisked the important paper away, in order to store it safely within the recesses of an aged White Oak tree. The only photo I have seen of an antique quilt that features appliqués of Charter Oak blocks is one in which the quilt has Rose Wreaths and both Eagles and Charter Oaks in the borders. This quilt is pictured in the out of print book, Woman’s Day Book of American Needlework by Rose Wilder Lane.

This appliqué looks like an upright tree, and is less obscure or abstract a depiction as several others I have seen that have been called, “Charter Oak” blocks.

If I can find the Charter Oak block example I once made, I’ll post a photo. In the meantime, I hope that I’ve been helpful in providing some background information about the block to answer a reader’s question today. If anyone has a photo that I could add to illustrate a quilt made with this block (or one version of the block, that is), I’d be happy to add it to this file.

You can contact me at: pat@quiltersmuse.com

Patricia Cummings

Posted in Quilts | 1 Comment »

Can Anyone Help to Identify This Quilt Design?

Wednesday, February 6th, 2008

I received a request for help in identifying a quilt design. The quilt’s owner believes that the quilt has a date of “1840″ on the side and is signed “Elizabeth Springer.” No other details about that were provided. The appraiser thinks that the binding is wider than usual for an 1840 quilt, or an 1890 quilt, for that matter. She thinks that it may be a variation of the typical quilt pattern “Burgoyne Surrounded,” often done in blue and white.

This is a portion of the 94″ x 81″ quilt.

Close-up.

Here is a little background about the quilt known as “Burgoyne Surrounded.”

I found an interesting entry in Yvonne Khin’s book. She states that British General John Burgoyne tried to take the city of Albany, NY but was surrounded by Americans at Saratoga on October 17, 1777. The pattern, Burgoyne Surrounded, was renamed about 1850 and called Wheel of Fortune. Taken west, it came to be known as “Road to California.”

If anyone has any further information on the quilt pattern shown here, please write to me at: pat@quiltersmuse.com Thanks!

An Addendum: The initial inquirer about this quilt pattern, has found an example exactly like the quilt shown above, only in red and white. It is located on the Nebraska state site. Their quilt belongs to the International Quilt Study Center, and is simply called “Burgoyne Surrounded.” To see the quilt, visit:

http://www.nebraskahistory.org/sites/mnh/patchwork_lives/community_involvement.htm

and then, click on the picture, for a larger view. The red and white quilt is smaller, at 86″ x 69″ and the estimated date of its making is circa 1900-1920 which would coincide time-wise with the colonial revival period in American history. The quilt is part of the donated “James collection.”

The appraiser was most likely right about questioning the date of 1840. Sometimes, it is hard to decipher numbers on old quilts, whether they are written or “quilted in.” She wonders if Burgoyne Surrounded quilts are made today and if someone has a book. Yes, Eleanor Burns published a how-to book, and right after her book came out, I made a queen size quilt of this kind, using a wool batting.

Patricia Cummings

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Miniature Quilts Photo Essay

Tuesday, February 5th, 2008

Today, I uploaded a file with photos of a few of the miniature quilts I have designed. To see them and to learn more about them, please click on the following link:

http://www.quiltersmuse.com/miniature_quilts_photo_essay.htm

Patricia Cummings

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The Black Pill

Tuesday, February 5th, 2008

“Mash,” a show that featured actor Alan Alda, has been named the most viewed show of all of television, with 183 million watchers. The Vietnam War was raging, at the time, and viewers perhaps felt a point of connection. What I remember most about watching the show was the frequent reference to the ominous “Black pill.” The idea was used as a kind of a spoof. If someone was ready to die, if they’d had enough of combat and of being part of the insanity of war, if they were ready to simply “turn in the towel,” they would ask the doctor for “The Black Pill.” Though the show was about war, there was also a comedic twist to it, albeit via dark humor.

Today, there is another war going on, as I write these blog remarks. The other night, I was astounded to learn that a great many soldiers are experiencing being knocked out, when a bomb explodes near them. Already, medical doctors are studying correlations of those events with the aftereffects of depression and suicidal tendencies.

When political candidates speak of homeless veterans who are alcohol or drug dependent, it is easy to see why. To be actively engaged in war means being in danger 24/7. At least some sleep deprivation is present and good health requires adequate rest. Seeing all that war entails, first hand, and being able to “smell” the danger, as well as feel the threat of bodily harm on an ongoing basis, would disturb the strongest of psyches. So, if we truly had such a thing as a “Black pill,” one could see how some returning GIs might be tempted to take it, if “ending it all” were that simple.

While I continue to wish for a time of peace in the world, I realize that evil lurks in the hearts of men, so I don’t believe my thought or hope for world tranquility is grounded in any kind of reality.

So, I retreat to my studio, where I work with color and design, in an attempt to create objects that previously did not exist. I enjoy my work. Call me an escapist. Engaging in the arts is a quintessential form of retreat. For a little while, an artist is divorced and insulated from the real world, and has the chance to create his/her own vision. I can’t solve the world’s problems, nor the hatred that exists between selfish people, each seeking their own personal gain, and each reaching for the fulfillment of their own agendas. However, as a party of one, I can choose to be happy, today, because this day, this hour is ours. Actually, this very minute is all we really have.

Patricia Cummings

Posted in Musings | 1 Comment »

The Appeal of Miniature Quilts

Tuesday, February 5th, 2008

Interest in certain kinds of quilts ebb and wane, depending on the market, and who is teaching what class, or who has just written a book. Miniature quilts, like many other kinds of miniatures, are perennially appealing. I’ll never forget the charmed feeling I had when viewing a large collection of miniature quilts, placed carefully on their own little beds, a guest exhibit done by Tina Gravatt at the Vermont Quilt Festival.

Of course, that is one of the key elements to having, making, or collecting miniature quilts. One likes a way to display them. Miniature beds are made in all sizes and from all materials. Some of them I’ve seen in antique shops have stayed there, due to high prices. A few other ones have come home. Some things are a buy for the soul.

Miniature quilts and miniature beds go along with collecting miniature dolls. I only wish I had realized that miniature dolls can be restrung when the strings that hold them intact break. I threw away some dolls I’d brought home from Spain as I didn’t know the difference. I just thought they couldn’t be fixed. Of course, some people collect miniature teddy bears or Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls or even small beanie babies, with the idea of placing them atop one of the beds.

Miniature beds are particularly fun because of their many styles: brass beds, iron beds, wooden rope beds, Eastlake style beds, canopy beds, trundle beds, and others. They come in all sizes, and often one has to create a mattress, a pillow, and sheets to fit the size of the bed, as well as the top layer: the quilt.

Sometimes, I believe that middle-aged women and older women like to recapture the essence of the childhood they perhaps never had. By collecting miniatures, they too can “play,” and in some instances, share the fun with a grandchild.

Be on the lookout for miniature doll bed patterns. The Wenham Museum has some patterns for sale for a Redwork quilt and other piece miniature quilts. Making miniature quilts is so much fun, I bet you can’t make just one! They take little fabric; just your time and imagination and creativity. That’s the extent of my thoughts for today!

Patricia Cummings

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God Bless the Keepers of the Past

Monday, February 4th, 2008

One does not have to look beyond places like eBay, Ruby Lane, or Copake Auctions to see photos of absolute treasures from this country and across the world. I suppose that those who never want to save anything would not understand the “hoarding” mentality of collectors who save material goods. However, in good times or in bad, there will always be those of us who seek out “old things” as a way to make sense of “new things” and the way we live today. For it is only in examining our collective past that we can even begin to understand our collective present.

Throughout my website, you will see many examples of artifacts. I do not own all of them. Luckily so. I would not have room for them. Kind people have let me “borrow” photo images of their goods, whether they be items for sale, or possessions they own.

In my opinion, the keepers of the past are a special group. While it would be ridiculous to think we could save everything, and also an impossible feat, it does bring a smile to my face when I am in an antiques store and see a doll, just like one I had as a child. When that happens, I feel old, but not in the sense of despairing old, rather, I am proud to be a “senior.” I know more now than I ever knew, in ways that count, in life’s lessons learned. We only become who we are after we have been “tested” by the fires of life.

Possessions link me to another time. Things that once belonged to people I loved who are no longer here help me to remember them and their generosity. There is satisfaction in holding something in one’s hand, something that had meaning to its former owner, like my Dad’s magnifying glass, or my mother’s dictionary — these things meant a lot to them.

Whether you write down a memory in a diary, or affix a written tag to identify your grandmother’s eyeglasses, you, too, are a keeper of the past.

Without a collective memory, we would lose some of life’s instructions. Humans would repeat more mistakes than they already do.

No matter what the anti-hoarders say, material possessions that have personal meaning are our connection to our past. God bless the Keepers of the Past.

Patricia Cummings, columnist, The Quilter magazine, “Pieces of the Past” (since 1999).

If you are accessing this file, via a “feed,” reload the page with this link:  http://quiltersmuse.com/blog/ to see stunning examples of southern Indiana Amish quilts, in the past two blog entries.

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Playing With Crayons

Sunday, February 3rd, 2008

My friends,

There is a lot to be said for the ordinary crayon. Today, I was “coloring” – but it wasn’t on paper. It was on fabric. What a lovely time I had. I had drawn an image and will embroider the edges and so some beading and couched thread work, and I shall have fun doing all of it. Who said that quilting and the needlearts are not “child’s play?” Today, I indulged the “child within.” I have no major plans yet for the finished block. Playing is playing, after all.

I hope that you set time aside tomorrow to do something simple, something enjoyable, something that doesn’t have to win a prize, something to do … just for fun! We could all stand a little more fun in our lives? Today, for me, that was coloring!

Patricia Cummings

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If you are looking for me …

Saturday, February 2nd, 2008

If you are looking for me, you will find me living in a cave. This past week, we were “updated” with our home technology. Translated that means that we get more television stations than ever, just in case we should get a rare urge to watch television. The cable modem for the computer is now upgraded, too. We may have less to say, but we can say it faster!

This afternoon, certain unmentionable words were escaping my lips as I tried to turn on the television. Jim had to come rushing to the aid of his beloved, hardly able to believe that a college graduate could not turn on a television. Take my word, the ensuing interchange was one for a comedy routine. The more he explained, the more my eyes glazed over. See, you can’t just turn “on” the television any more. You must turn on the cable box and the television AND make sure that the channel is set to “3″, even though your hand held control determines what channel you are really on. It’s all too much for a simpleton like me.

Then, tonight, we uploaded photos. At least one person keeps getting a “page not found” message on each of the diverted pages from thumbnails. We see the thumbnails and the larger versions on all the browsers we try and there is no problem that we can find here. We’ve checked and re-checked the settings. Technology! It’s great when it works, and darned exasperating when it doesn’t!

So, as I started to say, if you are looking for me, you may well find me living in a cave … maybe in Spain. I can ponder the cave paintings and perhaps add some of my own. I can go barefoot and toothless and beg in the streets, pretending to be a gypsy (oh, heavens – come to think of it, I might be too tall!).

I just figure that in a cave, it will be more quiet, and there probably won’t be computers and telephones and televisions and noisy traffic and swarming humanity. Given the choice, most people would not live in a cave which is exactly why I’m headed there. Just send letters by passenger pigeon, in care of “Cuevas de Altamira.” Maybe they will get there, sometime in the next century. While you’re at it, why not send a few quilts to help keep me warm?

Patricia Cummings

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Two New Articles Added Today!

Saturday, February 2nd, 2008

We have added two articles today. The first features the photo of a lovely, award winning Redwork quilt made by Margie Hammett. It’s really charming!

The second article is about Amish and Mennonite Quilts and Quilters of Southern Indiana. There are photos of 34 quilts, sent to us for publication by the collector and owner of these precious and important quilts. Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, we were unable to feature one other quilt photo from the collection. All of the quilts are stunning.

I have added in some historical tidbits and thoughts, based on my own experience and reading. I am sure that I have much more to learn and that this article merely scratches the surface. However, I’m sure you will appreciate Judy’s generosity in sending the photos of Amish and Mennonite quilts for your enjoyment.

Have a good weekend.

Patricia Cummings, http://www.quiltersmuse.com

Posted in Quilt Art, Quilt Show | Comments Off

One Busy Quilter Shares Photos

Friday, February 1st, 2008

Charlotte Croft of Vermont has been a busy quilter this winter. She has sent us the following photos that I am sure you will enjoy. First, she reports having read my blog entry on toads, and because of it, she was inspired to send some photos of recent frog quilts.

This first photo shows a little quilt that has frogs instead of toads. It was made for the new grandson of a co-worker where Charlotte does child care. She says that the border fabric was left over from making Boxer shorts.

Charlotte’s friend, Jeannine, who has moved to Virginia, loves tree frogs, so this little quilt was made for her.


The small quilt shown above was made for “Olivia,” born in December 2007.

The lucky recipient of this fun quilt was Ian, the little brother of a child Charlotte knows from the child care center.

Charlotte was asked to quilt this “Tree of Life” quilt, a wonderful design that we have seen finished and hung in several Vermont quilt shows. Originally, it was a pattern kit that could be ordered. This particular quilt was appliquéd in 1990. Charlotte has spent forty hours hand quilting it and estimates that she is about half way finished.

Close-up view of Charlotte’s hand quilting on the “Tree of Life” quilt.

We hope that you have enjoyed seeing these quilts as much as we have. Thanks, Charlotte, for sending us your wonderful pictures. We are happy to know that you are busy as ever and still creating thoughtful and wonderful gifts for children and others. Keep up the good work!

Pat Cummings

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Deer

Friday, February 1st, 2008

The deer have been making regular rounds to pick on our poor, lone arborvitae, a member of the cedar family. Food in the woods must be mighty scarce. Only once have we seen the deer visit, so they must wander up the hill from the brook, late at night, when we are all sleeping.

Small branches, once green, now yellow, litter the ground under the tree. They have also been chomping off the bark. Rodents will do the same thing in winter, especially to fruit trees.

When there is so much snow, it’s hard to imagine that critters and birds are still “out there” and are ever searching for food.

One night, around Christmas one year, I was staying at my mother’s farm. She was always a nervous Nellie, in the best of times, and was the type to have shades, curtains, and drapes as well. Her living room was like a dark cave, in any season of the year.

Well, I heard a rustle near the window, and being naturally curious, I stood up to go see what the ruckus was all about, much to her chagrin and admonitions. She had phone in hand, poised and ready to call the local police. Pulling back the layers of window protection, I saw two eyes staring back at me. They belonged to a stag with the most remarkable set of antlers I’d ever seen!

Looking more closely, I could see another deer who was also chomping on the arborvitae bushes just under her windows. At the time, there was a light on a tall telephone pole near the large meadow to one side of the house. My folks had moved from the city to the country and were uneasy about not having more light at night so had asked the light company to install the massive and out-of-place light. Under that light, there were several more deer, playing and romping.

So, my fearless attitude saved the day. The town’s one policeman could rest comfortably and not be called out on a chilly winter’s night for some old lady’s notion that her house might be ready to be invaded. Soon after that, though, she had a security alarm installed and I have to hope that it gave her increased mental peace.

Deer show up everywhere, and in the most unlikely places. About ten years ago, one jumped across a busy highway and collided with our car. What had started out to be a quick food shopping trip, out of town, extended into hours of waiting for Jim to get home, not knowing what happened. The deer’s antler had punctured the radiator, and the impact had damaged the car.

When one lives in the city, it’s easy to forget that even moose, bear, coyotes, opossums, raccoons, and many other creatures are around. It’s a thrill to know that we haven’t driven all of these animals to extinction yet, by taking over their habitat.

Today, as we drove along, we noticed more patches of land without any snow. The sun is getting stronger every day. Luckily, February is a month that always seems to go fast. Soon, we will be washing our winter coats, and putting away our winter boots, as we see the first signs of flowers and the earth awakening once again. It will be awhile yet, but there are hopeful signs of Spring.

Patricia Cummings

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