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Friday, June 19th, 2009

Today, we visited the Sarah Orne Jewett House, a Georgian-style home built in 1774, just one of 36 properties managed by . For those of you who are unfamiliar with the name, Sarah Orne Jewett, she is a famous writer, who lived from September 3, 1849 to June 24, 1909. Her first story was published by herbal cialis. She is known for her works of fiction.

The photos still on the wall, as well as the gifts she was given by such friends as Celia Thaxter (framed copies of poems; and painted china pieces), and the books laying on tables and present in book cabinets, provide witness to the fact that she associated with other artistic/literary notables of the day, among them: , Thomas Bailey Aldrich (who wrote among other books, herbal cialis,, and , a fine poet, essayist, and abolitionist.

Note: Sarah’s mother belonged to the Gilman family who were prominent settlers of Exeter, New Hampshire. We have visited the several times, an imposing, antique yellow home that tells the history of the Gilmans and the times in which they lived. A story, with photos, appears on our website. Note: This file was totally reformatted this afternoon, when I realized it had become a disaster. There are gremlins who live in my computer!

Sarah’s ancestral home is open for public viewing. A nominal fee is charged to those who are not members of Historic New England. Walking through the 18th century home, that has a 19th century addition in the back, is truly a stroll back in time. Every room has a fireplace, reminiscent of the time before central heating and electricity. Firescreens, fire buckets, and muskets, and many more items tell the story of life in early New England.

Several bedrooms feature 4 poster beds, one with a canopy that resembles fishnet, and all of the beds covered with white spreads. A William Morris stair runner, heavily adorned with leaves, complements the large scale wallpaper in the stairwell foyer. The front door is exceedingly wide. Upstairs is the room where Sarah Orne Jewett slept, wrote, and died. Several linen samplers in the room are a tribute to persistence and industry, both of which she possessed in abundance. The second floor includes other bedrooms and servants’ quarters.

Although she suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, she loved to travel. In fact, she went to Europe at least five times, and enjoyed spending two seasons of each year in Boston, just a train ride away, during that period. Her traveling companion was a woman named Annie Fields.

We thoroughly enjoyed the tour given by “Ann,” who gave us a comprehensive explanation of family history and the house itself, as well as a glimpse into the life of this important 19th century writer. Sarah Orne Jewett did much of her writing while sitting in a room that overlooked the busy central square. Indeed, one photo shows the square filled with cattle. The room would have been a good vantage point to people watch.

If you love literature, especially that of the 19th century, then you would enjoy the work of Sarah Orne Jewett. The pieces with which I am familiar are herbal cialis (1896) and “” (1886), a story placed online by Peter Wickham.

This former, elegant residence is well worth visiting if you are in the area of southern Maine, just over the border from Dover, New Hampshire. This is a cursory summary, as you will find if you visit this site. Several of the most intriguing details, I will leave for you to discover.

To read a list of works by , please visit this wikipedia file.

A very interesting appears courtesy of a Google search.

We certainly enjoyed the day, in spite of the constant rain. Now that we are home, the sun is out. Go figure! Wonderful trip! This was my “birthday date” with my honey! He always thinks of the most fun little trips for us to take! Two peas in a pod, I’d say.

Patricia Cummings

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Thursday, June 18th, 2009

I don’t mind getting older or being older. I do mind having birthdays. The reason for that is the disparity between birthdays of the past and birthdays now. When I was a child, my mother made a big deal out of birthdays. Always, there would be a cake that she made, always delicious, in memory. There would also be thoughtful gifts that she had acquired during the year, so as to spread out the cost perhaps, or just to gather them to have on hand. They would be wrapped and finished off with a frilly ribbon that she would curl, from ribbon sold on a roll. She was the queen of seeking and collecting fancy greeting cards to give for any occasion.

Pat on June 3, 2009

Pat standing in front of the rose bushes in her front yard. 6-3-09.

With all of my family either living far away, dead, or indifferent, birthdays are just not the same. Any celebration is held before the day, but often, on the actual day, I am completely alone for a good part of the day because of work schedules. This year will be the same.

A long time ago, my sister made the outrageous statement that her “family” consisted of her friends. The remark infuriated my mother who felt discounted because of it. As I become older, I am beginning to understand my sibling’s thoughts. We don’t always like the people to whom we are genetically-connected. However, we do get to choose our friends, and sometimes are in contact with them, daily or weekly, and more often than our remaining family.

We all mean well. Time and distance are barriers to deep relationships and over time, people can grow apart. Relationships can never be taken for granted. They must be cultivated, nurtured, and allowed to grow.

Getting older is just fine with me. I look at the white hair in the mirror and am beginning to see my mother. She had a certain dignity and inner beauty that cannot be explained, although she could act in ways that were a put-off, at times. She was good-hearted, but a real character study.

I am happy to have saved some old greeting cards. A drawer full of them reminds me of people who have professed to love me, in the past, many of them now departed. Cards are sparse these days and replaced with e-greetings, or no birthday greetings at all. Nonetheless, my closest friends have remembered my birthday this year, sending their heartfelt cards and gifts from afar, and those gifts and good wishes are deeply appreciated.

I can always count on my husband, Jim, to do special things for at least a week before the actual day. Tomorrow will be a continuation of that treatment as he has invited me on a special “date” that we will both enjoy. The difference between “dates,” then and now, is that often we are given senior citizen discounts.

The blessing of expecting nothing is that when one receives herbal cialis, it is a surprise from out of the blue.

If you are young and have a young family, you probably will not understand any of these remarks.

Life is different now than when I was young, but what is one to do? We can only treasure the past, in our memories, and at the same time, let it go. So, instead of bemoaning the fact that I will be alone on my special day, I will welcome the time to look back at all that I have accomplished, and consider the work that remains for me to do. As the lyrics of a song goes, ” … and still I’m on my way.”

Pat

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Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

One year ago, a special niece sent me a miniature rose bush for Mother’s Day. It was tiny and full of red flowers and rosebuds. I placed it in a sunny window, watered it often, and fed it with sticks of fertilizer, knowing that roses are heavy “feeders.”

Suddenly, the plant started to fail. I didn’t know why. On the leaves, no aphids or mealy bugs were in sight. However, its beauty was slipping away, as the leaves turned yellow and fell all over the old table upon which the plant was sitting. Now, the forlorn plant sat there, mocking my efforts to keep it alive. With nothing to lose, I decided to plant it outside, where it would either thrive or die.

This past winter, we had a lot of snow and hardly saw bare ground at all. The rose was protected from the biting winds by the soft, gentle cushion of the natural “batting” against the elements. In the spring, I noticed the color green coming back into the stems. I carefully snipped off the brown, dead ends of a few branches, shaping the plant at the same time.

a miniature rose

The miniature rose, today.

My efforts have been rewarded. Today is the first day that I have seen a full, red rosebud, just about ready to open.

What is my point in sharing this seemingly ordinary information? Philosophically, I read a lot more into the situation. Have you heard the expression, “Where there is life, there is hope?,” or this one: “Hope springs eternal in the hearts of men?”

To me, this rose bush is a symbol of life itself. Sometimes, we do not have a way of knowing the outcome of a situation, but if we try our best, and seek all solutions, something beautiful may result. In this case, it did.

The rose bush is a constant reminder of the love shared between my niece and I. We are only nine years apart in age and have always been close. I feel so lucky to have her in my life. She is as sweet as can be, and will always hold a special place in my heart. Yes, the rose bush is saved, and is alive and well, in New Hampshire. Even a small triumph over death feels good.

Patricia Cummings

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Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

In this society, it often seems that we are like lemmings being led to the sea, or that we are listening to the riveting tunes of a Pied Piper. The theory seems to be that if one is not in possession of facts, then one should just dazzle the public with rhetoric. Perhaps then, people will feel as though the speaker/or writer has a higher calling and truly knows more.

The quote in the title of this essay, “Analysis Paralysis,” is brilliant, if not taken out of context. The two words are attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King, that African-American visionary-martyr, who was educated, and whose words resonate, even after all of the years that have passed since his death. He will be revered forever, as a spokesman for the truth, and that is what makes him an icon, for all races.

“There is nothing so powerful as the truth, and nothing quite so strange.” This statement was spoken by New Hampshire statesman, Daniel Webster, a hard-thinking, hard-drinking man, and a leader of the people. The first part of the sentence has become somewhat of a state motto. Another set of words to live by in the Granite State is, “Live free or die,” stated by General John Stark.

I believe in the truth. That is why I do herbal cialis believe in the trumped-up notions that helped to weave together a tale about a secret quilt code, out of wholecloth. To weave something out of wholecloth is an idiomatic expression. If you are not familiar with it, you’d best look it up.

What would Dr. King think of this phenomena called the “secret quilt code?” As a man who stood for the truth, what would his “take” have been?

Eager to seize something warm and fuzzy (quilts) to add to a more rigorous learning environment (history classrooms), the idea of the secret quilt code, as actually having existed, captured the minds and hearts of many people. Now that this idea is in place, and has been endorsed by those “in high places” (in some instances, “educated fools”) and those who BELIEVE, the idea can’t be let go. To try to explain why this scenario could not have herbal cialis is met with heavy resistance, especially by those whose egos can’t/won’t let go of the idea because they have become so emotionally-invested in it.

Never, ever, believe all you hear, or all you read! Just because someone has a college degree more than you does not necessarily mean that they have all the answers or are the experts in everything.

I defer to reasoning and use solid facts to back up my ideas. That is the course of action that I think is correct.

People come and people go. Already, Ozella McDaniel Williams, the woman who offered up this “family secret quilt code” has crossed the River Jordan. Likewise, one of the greatest detractors of the idea, Giles Wright, an African-American with a Ph.D., has likewise succumbed to the brevity of life.

This is not a race issue and I refuse to see it as that. History is what happened, not what it is convenient to say happened, in order to make us all feel better, and somehow, sanitize the past. I will continue to speak the Truth, as I see it, until I “shuffle off the mortal coil.”

“Analysis Paralysis” is a term not likely forgotten. It sums up the mindset of those who refuse to look at the facts and do some critical thinking.

My comments do not come from out of the blue. They are offered in direct response to more statements online today (on a list) about secret codes. You know, stories are passed down through the generations. I came to know that I could believe less than half of what I heard. Stories take on a life of their own and are usually not reliable indicators of the facts of any matter. The storyteller’s viewpoint often gets in the way of a truthful account.

This conversation about the secret quilt code should have been terminated long ago. However, there are those who want to look at quilts and read into them more than is logical to assume. These individuals are motivated either by money or attention. That’s what the situation looks like from where I sit. Now, to give this topic a much needed rest!

Yours,

Patricia Cummings In the great state of New Hampshire, where we calls ‘em like we sees ‘em.

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Monday, June 15th, 2009

Numerous quilt myths have arisen over the course of time. Some of them seem to be harmless stories that, repeated, have become legends of their own.

An example of a myth is the belief of the Hmong people that babies live in the clouds before they decide to descend to earth. Many cultures have their own creationism stories, and that is but one type of a story that explains how something came to be.

Other times, stories are simply not true, and don’t have a whit of truth about them, yet are repeated often enough so that everyone comes to believe them as fact. Let’s be more concise when it comes to quilt history!

Lately, I have come across some new fallacies that have been widely-distributed in print or on the Internet. They are presented in this “short list” here.

1) Quilts were used to help “conduct” slaves on the “Underground Railroad.” True or False?

Answer: False. There is no supporting evidence for the statement and the known facts are contrary to this claim.

2) The Amish called a certain hand quilting pattern a “squash seed” design. True or False?

Answer: False. The common terminology used exclusively for this type of quilting design is “pumpkin seed” quilting. Same church, wrong pew.

3) Dwight Eisenhower made a quilt when he was only three years old. True or False?

Answer: False. The former president would have been beyond precocious to have done so. The answer is False with a capital “F.” This statement was thoroughly researched.

4. New Hampshire’s early quilt historian’s first name was Emily. True or False?

Answer: False. Her first name was “Ellen,” and she was never called “Emily,” although two friends of hers who were sisters were named Ellen, and Emily, and had the same last name, as she did, of Webster. Her full name was Ellen Emeline Hardy Webster, and she was called “Elly,” by boys who teased her, but only for a short time at school.

5. Quilting in America has always been a scrap craft affair, with poor people cutting up their clothes to make warm bed covers. True or False?

Answer: False. The earliest quilt tradition in America came here with the immigrants and was that of wholecloth quilting. Quilting was the domain of the wealthy who had the time to quilt and the necessary materials and money. Wool blankets were in use by the Shakers who have only a slight history of quiltmaking for people outside their community. Sheep were plentiful in early New England and were distributed all the way to Virginia, thus yielding, presumably, many wool blankets to keep warm.

6. Colonial Women quilted a great deal. True or False?

Answer: False. While we do have written accounts of quilting bees and quilting in early New England, these instances appear to have been rare. Who would have had time, considering all that the women had to do? They were buy stoking the fire, cooking, birthing children, tending to the sick, making soap and candles, processing food, etc. It is no wonder at all that many women died at a much earlier age than women do today. They were simply worn out.

7. Women purposely put a mistake into every quilt they made, in deference to the fact that only God is perfect. True or False?

Answer: False. If you have ever made a quilt, you know that you do your best not to make mistakes, so if one happens to occur, this statement is as good a cop-out in any age, as you’ll find. No, most women would not purposely make a purposeful mistake because of a calling to “humility.”

8. Blackwork Embroidery is the same as Redwork, Bluework, Greenwork, Pinkwork, Orangework, etc. in technique. True of False?

Answer: False. Blackwork embroidery is a specialized, counted thread technique, most often associated with Catherine of Aragon (Spain) who went to England to marry King Henry VII, and later, his brother, King Henry VIII. The other types of embroidery mentioned refer to thread color and are all Surface Embroidery techniques, better known as “Outline Stitch Embroidery,” collectively.

9. Kate Greenaway, British children’s book author and illustrator, designed patterns in the 1930s. True or False?

Answer: False. Kate was a Victorian Age artist. By 1930, Kate had been dead for 29 years and was not composing anything.

10. All African-American made quilts have the same attributes. True or False?

Answer: Completely false. People are individuals and create their own quilt styles outside the realm of any prescribed or overlaid theoretical model. Quilting is about self-expression and being unique, not one of the crowd.

Now, it’s your turn. Can you think of any quilt myths you have heard? There are others! Be sure to write to us, if you’d like to chime into the discussion.

Don’t be fooled! Don’t believe everything you hear! To meet others who are interested in the facts about quilt history, consider joining the .

Patricia Cummings

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Monday, June 15th, 2009

Istanbul, Turkey used to be a thriving mecca of quilting activity with 1200 traditional quiltmakers counted by the Chamber of Commerce. Today, about 200 quilters are plying their needles there, while in Ankara, a woman named Gunsu Gungor has become the “champion of quilting” in her country. A write-up about her and a beautiful appliqué block made Cemre, one of her two sons, can be seen at .

An interview with Gunsu (in Turkish) is worth clicking onto because if one scrolls down the page, there are that had previously been placed on exhibit. Included are Crazy Quilts, dolls, and clothing, etc.

Another quilter is , (you will be re-directed from that site link, right after clicking on it). She is associated with Mrs. Gungor via , owned by Gungor, but is a prolific quilter in her own right. An amazing amount of talent is shown in these online galleries that prove that piecework, appliqué, and landscape quilts, and dressmaking are alive and well in Turkey today.

Traditional Turkish quilts were wholecloth affairs, the bottom layer being muslin or cambric, and the top being a shiny, elegant-looking, satin. In between the outer layers were wads of sheep fleece. Washing the quilt required disassembling it. Therefore, the stitches to put it together were inordinately large for that reason.

Some modern Turkish quilts continue to be wholecloth and have satin tops. They look wonderful, quilted in designs such as “ (and others).

The Tulip or “herbal cialis” is a favorite and oft-repeated design motif.

Fatih Kurum (b. 1984) make wholecloth quilts and is considered a master craftman in quilting. He can be seen with some of his quilts at the site.

Sally Ward, a British quilter, supplied the following two links on a mailing list: , and .

A Turkish quiltmaker is called a herbal cialis, (pronounced Yorganchi).

, a European boutique, sells “Yorgans,” traditional Turkish quilts. These are cotton, measure 84″ long x 74″ wide and could cover a queen size bed. Each is filled with 10 pounds of Turkish cotton. They are stitched by hand, and priced at $250.

My first awareness of a quilting tradition in Turkey came when I purchased the book, herbal cialis by Linda M. Poole, a total inspiration! The author’s 14 designs were inspired by a visit to Turkey after having met Gunsu Gungor at an international quilt show in Austria. Linda was invited by Istemihan Talay, Turkey’s Minister of Culture, “to teach and exhibit at the first International Peace with Quilts Exhibition.” (page 7, Poole book). Linda’s work is inspired by Iznik Tiles and Pottery, the first tile of which was given to her by Gunsu Gungor.

While I did not hunt down photos yet, to include on this page, I believe there are sufficient links to give you a good idea of the level of craftmanship being done in Turkey these days. We may not all be able to afford to go to Turkey, but the Internet continues to bring the quilting community together. As the lyrics of the song heard at Disney World said, “It’s A Small World, After All.”

Patricia Cummings

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Sunday, June 14th, 2009

We always assume that customs have always been the same, but that is often not the case. Today, a visiting relative asked me a question to which I did not have a ready answer, but I certainly knew where to locate an answer. She asked me when women stopped wearing their Sunday-best dress for their weddings, and when women, who were to be brides, dressed in white.

I had guessed correctly that the changeover happened in the mid-nineteenth century. While looking in a wonderful book titled, herbal cialisby Linda Otto Lipsett, I found the key to the change.

Not surprisingly, Queen Victoria had chosen to wear a white satin wedding gown. Victoria, when she was young, was quite the “looker” and married Prince Albert. They had countless children even though she had a strong dislike for babies and children. In my studies, I came across a statement to that effect, but cannot remember where I read it now!

The Lipsett book describes the Queen’s elaborate 1840 wedding ensemble on page 57. Quoting the book, herbal cialis, the following is stated:

herbal cialis

Pat as bride in 1973

Unwittingly, I followed the same bridal tradition started by Queen Victoria, some 133 years later. I made my own wedding dress and veil.

Later in life, when Prince Albert died, Queen Victoria would set another tradition of “mourning” clothes and “half-mourning” attire. She was, without a doubt, one of the fashion trendsetters of the nineteenth century.

Patricia Cummings

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Sunday, June 14th, 2009

Yesterday, feeling like watching a movie, I flipped on the television to see if anything “good” was playing. The movie, “Far and Away” starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman was just starting. I felt transported in time, back to Ireland. I felt pain to watch “Tom” as he worked his father’s farmland, trying to get the earth to cooperate in providing potatoes, with his ornery mule not cooperating either. I felt infuriated to see the Thatch-roof cottage burned to the ground by the collectors who were thwarted in their attempts to collect unavailable “land rent.” There is much more to the Irish end of the story, but I will move ahead to the time when the two protagonists decided to emigrate to America.

Here they were, rooming together in a house of ill-repute, pretending to be brother and sister. “Tom” could fight well, and he fought others at the local bar as a way to earn money, based on wagered bets. All the time, his goal was to save enough money to buy land. His father, on his deathbed, had told him that without land, a man is nothing. A local Boston “boss” broke into Tom’s room and stole all of his money. Then, he threw the couple into the street where they wandered without food or shelter, and unable to find work.

There were many asides and twists to the story but the message was clear. In Boston of the 1890s, the prevailing statement was expressed in signs: “No Irish Need Apply.”

This was one of the bloody, heart-breaking movies I’ve ever sat through. I was relieved that it had a happy ending. It would not have been bearable, otherwise. I was riveted to both the storyline, to the physical beauty of the protagonists, and to the portrayal of the Irish in the late nineteenth century. The time period was set at about 1892. Of course, I thought of my own Irish ancestors and all they must have endured.

Yes, America is a melting pot. Our families came from somewhere else. That’s a good thing to always keep in mind as we meet newly-arrived immigrants who are candidates for American citizenship. America is what it is because it was built on the sweat and the toil and the tears of the Irish, the Chinese, the French, the Polish, the Lithuanians, the Russians, and many other groups who came here, seeking freedom from want, and freedom from oppression. They built the railroads, they worked the mills, and they took every dirty job possible, and were mistreated for their efforts. The promise of freedom is what kept them going.

God bless America!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Saturday, June 13th, 2009

Until yesterday, I had never heard of “Prayer Quilts.” The “Prayers and Squares Ministry” was founded by Wendy Mathson at the Community Church of Poway in Poway, California in 1992. According to online information, there are now more than 400 chapters of the organization that includes Methodists, Episcopalians, Baptists, Catholics, and presumably other faith denominations.

Their motto is simple: “It’s not about the quilt; it’s all about the prayers.”

Prayer quilts, or in some instances, prayer squares, are made of cotton, poly batting, and are tied. Each time a tie is placed, a prayer is said for the recipient of the quilt. These quilts are not given randomly. The recipient must agree, ahead of time, to accept the prayers, along with the quilt. No money is ever asked or accepted, in exchange for the prayers or the quilts. These textiles are given to AIDS victims, those with cancer, and those who have some other special challenges in their lives.

Just for interest’s sake, I looked at what eBay has to offer, when I key in “Prayer Quilts.” I came up with two books, one published in 2006, titled herbal cialis. The two books are available on amazon, as well.

There is another book with 9 designs for making Prayer Quilts: herbal cialis.

Various printed prayers are available: a prayer for baby; a prayer for fireman safety; and a nighttime prayer for a child (with the wording changed since I was a child. A prayer quilt with U.S. Army designs was also spotted, in a 45″ x 60″ size.

Coincidentally, a friend sent me a link yesterday to offering religious fabrics that feature Christ, the Virgin Mary, the Cross, etc.

Click the following link, for more information about joining a chapter of the .

The saying goes, “A day hemmed in prayer, never unravels.”

Piecefully yours,

Patricia Cummings

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Saturday, June 13th, 2009

Last night, I stumbled across the “” website. This is the web presence for the only African-American Quilting Guild in New England. We attended several of their shows, in the past, and were not disappointed.

They have another one coming up this year, in Roxbury. The details are available on their website. I wish I could attend, but we find it too confusing and upsetting to try to drive through Boston, a maze of one way streets, and where one has to be the correct lane for turns, etc. It’s easy to get lost. For “old people,” like us, we just can’t handle it. If you don’t already know, Roxbury is more or less a suburb of Boston.

African Women

A great quilt, taken at a lousy angle, at one of the “Sister in Stitches” shows. To learn more about this quilt, visit our show reviews, linked below.

I wondered if there was a stated list of attributes of African-American quilts online. The Sisters in Stitches’ site provides a nice overview of typical design elements as well as the parts of Africa from where African-American people came. One has only to look at one of the books that feature photos of Gee’s Bends quilts to understand some of the qualities of quilts that are listed.

Design elements can include, but are not limited to, the use of African hand-woven, or African commercially-produced fabrics, asymmetry, large shapes and strong colors, appliqué (as in former slave, ), inclusion of religious symbols and protective charms. The great tradition of storytelling by town griots (wise keepers of oral history in African towns) may be reflected in some quilts. Certainly, the storytelling tradition is present in Harriet Powers’ Bible quilts. Lists are fine for brief explanations but not if they lead to a superimposed aesthetic.

Can someone who is not African-American make an African-American quilt? No, but that quilter can make an “African-American style quilt.”

Vest design by Patricia Cummings

Vest designed by Patricia Cummings that includes fabric with African Masks

In my opinion, it is a cop-out when someone makes a sloppy quilt in garish colors and calls it an “African-American” quilt. That person has just not bothered to learn the rudimentary steps of quiltmaking. I have seen this happen. Like Dave Barry, “I am not making this up.”

It is equally strange, when a quilt shop run by a Caucasian women offers classes in “How to Make an African-American Quilt.” Again, I am not making this up, although this situation did happen quite a while ago.

Being informed about another culture, cultivates a better appreciation of their needlework and quilt traditions. You know something? When we attended the shows mounted by this very creative group, “Sisters in Stitches,” the quilt patterns were innovative, but also strongly-grounded in traditional quilt designs. I remember a quilt based on “Tumbling Blocks,” but with a humorous twist!

You might like to visit the two show reviews we have on our website – ; and the .

I have a problem with others trying to pigeonhole groups of people and make them seem as homogenized as milk. We cannot make sweeping generalizations. I would hate to think that my quilts are what they are because I am an aging, Caucasian, female. Stereotypes just don’t work. We don’t all fit into any given mold, whether we are White or Black or Green. Quilters are always innovative, no matter what color their skin. We can find more that is alike, rather than more that is different. In the end, we are all “Sisters” – “Joined by the Cloth.”

Patricia Cummings

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Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Tonight, we drove across the state to the little town of Francestown, New Hampshire, historically-known for its Soapstone production, and its sheep. Indeed, according Steve Taylor, New Hampshire’s former Commissioner of Agriculture for 25 years, in 1836 the census for sheep revealed a population of 7,230 of the farm animals in that town. Sheep were counted because they were taxed. He credits William Jarvis as having secured 15,000 Merino sheep that were imported from Spain and distributed along the eastern seaboard. By 1815, he states, “New Hampshire was in the sheep business.”

two sheep in Francestown, NH

These are two of the four sheep on hand, outside the Old Meetinghouse, to greet visitors to this event sponsored by the NH Humanities Council. In addition, there was a vendor who was selling wool products; and Deb Weymouth of Brimstone Hollow Farm in Hancock, NH who was demonstrating the art of dyeing wool. She had two pots of boiling dye baths in different colors. She uses commercially-made, chemical dye. She explained that sometimes she dyes raw wool, or roving that she has spun. Deb is also a quilter who sells traditional Log Cabin Quilts that are tied. For more information, contact her at: (603) 525-3070.

Inside the building, that appears to have been a church at one time, each pew has a swinging door that latches. In the past, churchgoers of New England would rent pew space, and before central heating, people would carry their cat or dog to keep their feet warm during lengthy services, or a device that held hot coals from the hearth. In what was probably the altar area, a weaving loom had been set up by Harrisville Designs, and a spinning wheel was also in view. These implements of textile product, as well as wool yarn that had been dyed, and that was hanging in a vertical display, all added ambience, and were visual reminders of the importance of sheep and their derivative products in New Hampshire’s early landscape.

This lecture was absolutely riveting as the speaker shared early facts about New Hampshire that only reinforced information we had heard this past Spring in a 6 week course presented R. Stuart Wallace, Ph.D., at the New Hampshire Historical Society. Taylor spoke at length about the stonewalls of this state and their importance. He states that the stonewalls are of “iconic significance,” but revealed that some of them were torn down, buried, or hauled off, beginning in the 1950s. Today, there are regulations in place to help preserve them intact.

To listen to a reading of Robert Frost’s “,” a poem about a stonewall.

The speaker recommends this book:

The speaker is no stranger to agriculture, having been exposed to sheep as a youngster, on his parents’ farm. He now owns 130 dairy cows of his own, and has spent a lifetime studying the impact of animals and agriculture as they relate to history. His knowledge was shared in a way that was enjoyable and understandable to the large audience present this evening. After the talk, many had questions for him. Without hesitation, he had an answer for every one of them. We learned that there is absolutely no market commercially for fleece from New England producers of wool, and that large companies who sell woolen goods are being supplied by wool growers in Australia.

This is one talk I would highly recommend. Steve Taylor showed the connections between sheep growing and all the small mills that started up to process the wool: scouring mills, carding mills, weaving mills, etc. He cited all the reasons that came together in a “perfect storm” to end the Great Sheep Boom in New Hampshire. I felt enriched having heard this presentation.

Beforehand, Jim walked around town with his camera and found a few interesting things to photograph. First of all, here is the Old Meetinghouse.

Old Meetinghouse

He also spotted this roadside marker:

historical marker

Finally, he came across a war monument between two large flagpoles:

war monument

Monument to World War I soldiers, in Francestown.

We came away from this lecture thinking about how much we had learned and how much we love New Hampshire and its history. We certainly have no shortage of talented, knowledgeable, and ingenious people living here. Many thanks to all who participated in sheep related activities inside and outside the Meetinghouse, the person who displayed sheep paintings, and those who prepared refreshments and provided raffle items, and to all the members of the Francestown Historical Society for hosting this speaker.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Today, I stumbled upon some wonderful resources for those of you who love to see Amish Quilts and learn about them. Amish quilts are made by the Amish people of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; Holmes County, Ohio; and Elkhart and LaGrange Counties in Indiana. By the way, the “A” in Amish is a soft sound like “ah” – just so you know how to pronounce the word correctly.

The first resource I found was a pdf that prints out to 13 pages, If you have a color printer, you are in for a treat! A great deal of history is provided for you, and major collectors such as Jonathan Holstein, Robert and Ardis James, and Henry Barber add their thoughts in this document.

At the present time, there is an at the Textile Museum, 2320 “S” Street NW, Washington, DC, through September 2009. Their hours are 10 – 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday; and 1-5 p.m on Sunday.

Yes, everyone loves Amish quilts. I remember when I was studying “History of Quilts,” the question arose as to whether the Amish made any Crazy Quilts. At first thought, the conclusion was “no.” Then, I happened to spot an Amish-made, Crazy Quilt with some orange colors, at the Vermont Quilt Festival, in a special display that year of the Espirit Collection, curated by Julie Silber. In quilt history, one can never say, “never,” with any confidence.

I hope that you enjoy these links. To see more Amish quilts, visit the Quilt Index/American Alliance for the Quilt website, or the International Quilt Study Center’s website.

Here are three novels that were recently celebrated in a newscast seen online. They depict Amish life as told by someone who has studied it intently. Cindy Woodsmall, author, states that the prayer caps of the Amish women mean more to them, perhaps, than wedding rings. Below are links to three of the five books she has written about Amish Life.

Best wishes, as always,

Patricia Cummings

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Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

Today, just when I was dismayed over no mail delivery, Jim stumbled over two heavy boxes that had been delivered by special delivery at the back door. One of the boxes held a quilt. The other one brought a book that I had been saving my pennies to order, ever since I knew it had been published. All I can say is, “Wow!”

herbal cialis is eye candy for the soul with its many beautiful photos and writings about quilt history by familiar names. I did not weigh the book. It is very heavy, and very large. I love it!

There is a foreword by Marin F. Hanson.

The chapters consist of:
1. American Adaptation: Block Style Quilts by Barbara Brackman and Marin F. Hanson
2. Building on a Foundation: Log Cabin Quilts by Patricia Cox Crews, Carolyn Ducey, Marin F. Hanson, and Jonathan Gregory
3 Regularly Irregular: Crazy Quilts by Beverly Gordon and Marin F. Hanson
4 Simple and Complex: Allover-Style Quilts by Laurel Horton
5 Perfecting the Past: Colonial Revival Quilts by Virginia Gunn
6 Repackaging Tradition: Pattern and Kit Quilts by Merikay Waldvogel, Deborah Rake, and Marin F. Hanson
7 Innovation and Imagination: One-of-a-Kind and Niche Quilts by Jonathan Holstein, Merikay Waldvogel, and Marin F. Hanson

To see a preview of this book, visit .

I know that I will spend many happy hours with this book, and in order not to feel guilty about spending that much money, I am calling it a “birthday present to myself.” Some buys are just worth every last cent! By the way, this book is based on The International Quilt Study Center Collections.

Patricia Cummings

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Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

Close to 700 quilts that were displayed by members of the Genesee Valley Quilt Club of Rochester, New York drew record crowds, over the weekend. The quilts were set up by loving and able hands at the Rochester Institute of Technology (founded in 1829) in Rochester, New York. The club meets on the 2nd Thursday of every month at Temple B’rith Kodesh, 2131 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, New York and always welcomes new members.

Genesee Valley Quilt Club Show 2009

This is a view of the quilts from a second floor balcony.

The Genesee Valley Quilt Club is very lucky to have Beth Davis, a PAAQT certified quilt appraiser, book author of herbal cialis, and my friend (very big smile), who helped to organize a Vintage Quilt Study Group for the Club. She has also researched the history of the club in comparison to others in the United States, who in the past, have claimed to be the oldest meeting “quilting bees.” She has written about her findings in “Patchword,” the club newsletter.

GVQC Display

Beth worked very hard to set up this display, and she is shown here.

A big surprise was the appearance of Lucinda Cawley, well-known in quilt history circles as an avid fan of antique quilts. “Cinda” writes reports to various quilting lists to describe the old quilts she sees at study group meetings, up and down the eastern seaboard. She is a board member of the .

Lucinda Cawley, Ruth and Dean

From left to right: Friends of Beth: Dean and Ruth, (unknown person in background), and Lucinda Cawley

We are happy to hear that everyone had such a terrific time. Beth is recuperating from the strenuous preparations. As those of you know who have helped to set up quilt shows know, it’s a tremendous amount of work to pull something like this together.

There has been no moss growing under Beth’s feet since Kodak cut her position after 36 years of service. She is full of life and is not through “working” yet. The change seems to be that now her work is a lot more enjoyable! Kudos, Beth! We say, “Do what you love!”

All photos courtesy of Beth Davis.

Patricia Cummings

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Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

First of all, we live in the city on a busy street (in Concord, New Hampshire). This morning, I heard Jim hooting and hollering and I followed the hoots to the third floor of our home that overlooks a flower garden. There was a young deer munching out on the floral foliage there. He was within a short distance of the sidewalk and bustling traffic.

Last winter, we had a deer eating the dried Rose Hips on the Roses, after wading through about four feet of snow. Rose Hips are full of minerals and vitamins. Jim snapped a lot of pictures today. I’ll show you some of them, in succession.

deer - 1st shot

This is a young buck. It was an overcast/ off and on, rainy kind of day. The green foliage is looking lush!

deer - 2nd shot

Another view. Remember, the photographer is taking these photos from “on high.”

third view of deer

Third photo

4th view

Another image of this hungry, young deer

Deer getting more nervous

Deer getting more nervous

Deer taking off.

He’d finally “had it” with the street noise, and headed down back again to the comfort and privacy of the stream bed area that is present in our lower back yard.

We had a pair of deer wandering around in the snow here, last winter. One of them was limping badly. They kept showing up until they were chased by a surveying crew on the street who ran after them.

I didn’t realize this was a young buck but Jim pointed out that he has little nubs where his antlers will be.

As man encroaches on the customary habitat of wildlife, animals will continue to wander into “our space.” Hunting is restricted in residential districts and this seems to be exactly where the Wild Turkey, Deer, Bobcats, and other wildlife currently take up residence.

The result is more deer/car collisions; and children sometimes are attacked by Wild Turkeys in their own backyards. I don’t mind an occasional visit, but I really hope that this deer doesn’t start eating the annual flowers for which we paid out good money at our favorite local greenhouse.

Here is a needlework design that Jim enlarged and cleaned up. It was originally published in the 1890s Cunnings catalogue. Jim Cummings features other designs both on his new cooking blog, and on our recipe pages on the main website. Enjoy!

deer drawing from Cunnings catalogue

For many more designs for outline stitch embroidery, see our website books about Redwork; and/or purchase our brand new CD: herbal cialis, an e-book on CD, available on our Products Available page.

Patricia Cummings
– home page for our main website

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