Archive for September, 2010

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Mola Exhibit in Canada

Friday, September 17th, 2010

Knowing my love of molas of the Kuna Indians, and how extensively I have written about them, a dear friend sent the following exhibit link to molas currently shown in the Textile Museum of Canada. The name of the exhibit is: “Drawing with Scissors – Molas from the Kuna Yala.” Pieces will be on display until Feb. 13, 2011 in Toronto, Canada.
http://www.textilemuseum.ca/

http://www.textilemuseum.ca/apps/index.cfm?page=exhibition.detail&exhId=314

At the present time, there are two long articles about the history of molas on our main website: Quilter’s Muse Publications. Key in the word “molas” in the search box, accessible on the front page. Enjoy!

mola reproduction - in progress

This is an image of a mola that I reproduced, yet to be embroidered. I replicated the details exactly as they are in the original. Will finish this… someday! Needlework by Patricia Cummings; photo by James Cummings

Patricia Cummings

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Embroidered Mystery Objects

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

Someone from Rhode Island sent me a package of unusual items about a year ago. They are long, embroidered strips, some of them perhaps intended as a trim for something, but for what?

Trim or tie?

We wonder if this was intended to tie something else together or as a trim?

hand towel tie

The second one says “Hand towels” in German and appears to be a band that is tied to hold a pile of clean hand towels together (but why?).

If anyone is familiar with these objects, we would love to hear from you. Either leave a comment or write to me directly at: pat at quiltersmuse dot com

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Photo After 9-11 Brings Back Memories

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

bin Laden photo

The photo above, taken by James Cummings in northern, rural, New Hampshire in 2001, just about sums up the defiant feeling of citizens, right after 9-11.

Blindly, we believed the promise that bin Laden would be “brought to justice” for his mastermind plan that resulted in the deaths of Americans who were just going about their daily tasks and were cut down in an instant, without notice, in some cases.

In 2001, we were a wounded nation, a country united against a common threat, sharing the same purpose: to find and destroy the person responsible for inflicting such national grief upon us. An even greater loss than the dead was the feeling that we had lost something precious and irretrievable: our collective innocence. Yes, our feeling of invincibility, as Americans, was shattered forever.

I post the picture above as it calls to mind what seemed to be a common resolve: to “get” bin Laden. Today, his whereabouts are unknown and he still may be plotting further attacks. We don’t know. He is quickly fading into the woodwork of history and is barely on the lips of Americans these days. Yet, he is “at large.”

In the meantime, we have spent ourselves into a dangerous deficit, lost many more American lives in military casualties, and have been engaged in war in two countries as well as in disputes with their neighbors.

Like a child of divorced parents who paints an idyllic picture in school of a house with a Mom and Dad standing in front of it, along with a cat and a dog, the photo shared here represents a wishful moment in time, when life seemed to have simple answers and a goal that could be fulfilled. Now, many dollars later, that goal is still not accomplished for reasons unknown to most Americans.

Whether you agree with people from New Hampshire or don’t, just realize that we are a plain spoken and outspoken population. Many of us are opinionated. All of us care. My goal in posting the photo shown here is for your awareness, only, not for “shock and awe,” and not for political reasons, nor for the purpose of being offensive. The photo represents one New Hampshire’s native’s spin on things at a time that we all needed to make a positive statement, in the face of disaster, and feel that somehow, our voices would be heard. I asked Jim to take this photo as I felt it marked a moment in time that needed to be captured. And now, I am sharing it with you, nine years later. God bless the U.S.A.

Patricia Cummings

Posted in History, New Hampshire, Old Photos | Comments Off

Photo Essay Features Pincushions

Monday, September 13th, 2010

Early this morning, I posted a photo essay about pincushions. Enjoy the file on our main website:

http://www.quiltersmuse.com/pretty-pincushions.htm

Here is another photo:

glass keepers of pins

This photo shows a heavy glass antique ashtray that I use to keep sequin pins. Of course, it is always good to have a dedicated and safe place to put rusty, bent or broken needles or pins, thus the jar for “used sharps.” A pretty little doll oversees the scene. Photo by James Cummings

Pat

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Reader Mail Highlights “Barkcloth”

Monday, September 13th, 2010

We received the following letter on 9/12/10:

Hi Pat,

I just discovered your website about barkcloth. Thanks so much for the great history.

I recently purchased a piece (see attachments) at a local auction… The size is approximately 7.5 feet x 5.5 feet, and it is two layers as you describe in you description.

Feel free to use the photos if you wish to show another example.

Regards,
Roger Chidester
Frederick, Maryland

close-up of barkcloth

Here is a close-up of the piece of bark cloth that Roger purchased.

To read the entire file that he enjoyed and to see additional photos, please visit: http://www.quiltersmuse.com/bark_cloth.htm

Thanks for the photos, Roger!

Patricia Cummings

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Why Book Burnings Don’t Work: A Personal Story

Sunday, September 12th, 2010

I was the youngest child of four and my two brothers were 7 and 9 years older than me, with my sister 13 years older. All of us went to parochial schools. Often, after school, my brothers would “horse around” in their shared room, or go fishing at the pond in back of our house. One of them was trying to learn to play trumpet; both of them liked to read comic books, and there is the rub!

One day, when report cards came out, one brother, in particular, who was never a terrific student, at best, brought home less than satisfactory grades. My father was enraged. In fact, he was so out of control that he gathered up every last prized comic book and brought them into the backyard and set them on fire. While he was at it, he gathered other items in the cellar, like a prized family heirloom rocking chair that had needed fixing for awhile and had belonged to my mother’s side of the family. The result was a huge bonfire, his personal statement of disgust, and rage, and his way of dealing with everything that seemed to be irritating him at the time.

One thing you have to realize is that my brothers were both paperboys. They had earned the money for the comic books and the comics were one of the few enjoyments they had in lives filled with obligations, requirements, and commitments.

What do you suppose the outcome of this was? It’s pretty obvious. They both stopped being paperboys. They stopped serving as altar boys. Neither of them did significantly better in school than they had been doing. Burning the comic books only proved to them that their father did not love them (whether he did or not). They were full of resentment and less cooperative than ever.

Burning books may “feel good” or “feel productive,” but it is not an effective way of dealing with problems. It’s been tried by governments: think of the 1936 Spanish Civil War; and it’s been tried on a lesser scale by individuals or hate groups. It’s bad karma. When you try to take away something that someone else loves, or defile it in any way, it not only makes you look bad, it always has a very bad ripple effect.

My father’s action was rash, unlike most of his other behavior which was very measured and rational. It is a sad memory when I think of my downcast and beaten down brothers on the day that the possessions they had earned were taken from them. Today, everyone involved with the incident is dead, except for me, and so, I tell the tale. Sad, indeed, and a lesson for us all.

Patricia Cummings

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9/11 Revisited

Saturday, September 11th, 2010

Today, I spent some time watching the History Channel. Life cannot be replayed, but tapes of it sometimes can be. Not all of the tragedy of 9-11-2001 was caught on film, thank goodness. By now, nine years later, I cannot remember or even count the number of times I have seen the towers falling, or the planes crashing into them. It was frightening, at the time, because we did not know what was happening or why. We probably still do not fully understand “why,” or who was behind these activities. It seemed like the whole country was under attack.

For a time, in the aftermath of the event, America seemed to be coming together while trying to heal as a nation. Today, the divisiveness of political parties and personal agendas seem to have set aside the lesson, “United we stand, divided we fall.” There is more hatred around than is healthy.

What we, as Americans, shall never be able to understand is how other Americans, just going about their daily routines, could be slaughtered en masse. Yes, now we have a group of deceased, instant heroes to recall. I can bet that their families could do without the hero status, if only to welcome their loved ones into their arms again, to sit at the same table with them, and to plan for the future, possibilities that ended on that fateful day.

Our response, one of military intervention in the Middle East has not had a satisfactory outcome. It is impossible to win a war against an enemy who can retreat over a border to another country for safe haven and to regroup and rearm. It is too simplistic to say that the effort is another Vietnam. It isn’t at all! The land terrain is different, as well as the amount of fighting in urban settings. The bottom line for most folks is that the so-called perpetrator of 9-11, Osama bin Laden, has never been caught. In fact, we do not hear anything at all about him now. Have you noticed? This is strange! Where is he and why has he not been captured? Is there a reason why the task is impossible? Is he dead, or just waiting to do us more harm?

My reaction to revisiting the events of 9-11 on television today are mixed. I am at once very sad and certainly sympathetic toward families who lost loved ones. At the same time, I am incredulous, saying, “How could this have happened?” and “How can we prevent it from ever happening again?” As Americans, we were shaken to the core. Yet, due to military decisions made, how many more innocent lives have gone to the permanent peace that is Eternity?

When I was a teenager, my Dad introduced me to a song called, “Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream.” Some of the word say… “I’d dreamed they’d put an end to war.” With the world’s people becoming more fanatic, or so it seems, I have no hope of seeing a lasting peace in my lifetime. On this sad day, I cannot even imagine the many who died in the trade towers. We take a moment to pay them homage, as well as the policemen, fire fighters and others who led some workers to safety. God bless them all, and God bless America!

Patricia Cummings

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The Flap Isn’t Over

Friday, September 10th, 2010

You will recall that yesterday, I came out in support of NOT burning the Koran / Quran books, but I was somewhat disturbed by last night’s news updates. The latest is that the pastor is planning to go to New York to meet with “those” behind the plans for the mosque / civic center, and he is deluded into thinking that they have suddenly changed their minds. I can see the writing on the wall. They haven’t and they won’t realign their plans, at least not based on his pressure. After all, even though he has received a lot of media attention, he is a relative nobody who came out of the woodwork. What is in it for the Imam to go to a lot of trouble and expense to find a different location?

It’s funny. As Americans we stand up for individual rights. The preacher would have been within his rights to protest the Arab world, Muslims in specific, but it was neither problem-solving or judicious to do so, in the manner he chose.

What strikes me as ironic is that while Americans are standing up for Muslims and the sanctity of their “Holy” book, they are burning OUR AMERICAN FLAG in their streets! I think that respect should always be a two way street, not a one-way dead end. While we are sacrificing our loved ones, put in harm’s way, for a hazy ideology that has been lost along the way, the very people we would try to help want nothing more than to kill us or make us all believers of Islam! In trying to get them to act in a decent manner toward each other and the world in general, they are thanking us by “acting up” and insulting our values. I don’t see anyone burning a flag from Afghanistan or Pakistan or Iraq in New York City.

It’s the American way to think that one man (or woman) can make a difference. It has happened so often that we really believe in the concept. Whether that man of God burns books on September 11 (or any time) has now become a moot point. He has set the idea in motion, and I can bet you dollars to doughnuts that if he doesn’t engage in this action, someone, somewhere, will. In the meantime, he is making a fool of himself thinking he is “negotiating.” I will be closely following the outcome of this most irritating situation.

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Stay Alert to Scams

Friday, September 10th, 2010

Yesterday, I was scanning my e-mail and came across a new attempt to trick me. Someone, posing as a company with whom I do business, told me that they had run into a glitch in processing my monthly statement and that I need to contact them immediately as it is an urgent matter. Urgent to them, I’m sure. They would love for me to verify my credit card information so that they can steal that number. Truth be known, I never pay that particular company by credit card. Yes, another scam.

In any given week, I receive tons of spam and scams from people who are trying to get me to click on this, or upload that, so that they can get access to personal information, with theft as a motive. People will try to steal you blind. I’ve even discovered in the last day or so that someone has attempted to say that my books are “copyrighted” to their company. No such thing. My books are copyrighted officially and that copyright is assigned to Quilter’s Muse Publications, a legitimate and registered business in New Hampshire!

If you get a message that some bank with whom you’ve NEVER done business is “closing” your account, don’t fall for the line. Just ignore the e-mail. Better yet, mark it as spam, and move on.

It was only a matter of time before the “bad guys” discovered how to dupe people online. If you’ll recall, the Internet was originally set up as a way for people in the world of academia to share information and findings. Today, with social networking, it has become much more than envisioned initially.

While we are on the subject of networks, please take Facebook seriously. By that, I mean be careful as to whom you add as friends. If I am asked to “friend” someone I don’t know and we appear to have no friends in common and the person shows no personal photos, or lists any common personal interests, I usually do not “friend” them. I simply wonder why and how they found me. Likewise, when the person seems to be pushing a business interest as the ONLY point of connection, perhaps hoping to gather names from my list of friends, in order to spam them, I quietly choose the “ignore” button.

I usually hear the computer stories after something happens to a friend. They just “click” on something and their computer crashes, etc. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. As Jim always says, “If in doubt, there is nothing to lose by waiting to act.” Good advice.

Stay safe. Stay happy.

Pat

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How Much Do You Know About Islam?

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

Last night, on television I saw the preacher who has promised to burn copies of the Koran. Not surprisingly, he admits that he had never read the book. At the very least, it’s a good media gag and has gained him attention from people in “high places,” even the Vatican.

This is a book so sacred to the believers of Islam, they carry it with them. It is the one possession they reach for before taking flight, at a rapid rate, from say Afghanistan to Pakistan, as the Afghan woman I met had to do with her family.

bag for the Koran

A special bag made to transport the Koran

Lately, it seems that some Americans are experiencing a delayed hysteria, possibly an outcome of 9-11, and possibly a reflection of their degree of mistrust of government, and the FALSE belief that our president is a Muslim.

This morning, I nearly choked on my coffee in reading that the proposed Islamic conference center in New York, located at least full two city blocks away from Ground Zero, is nothing more than “a 15 story high, middle finger” of Arabs toward America. The “free” paper where I read this editorial would be better used for cat litter. Its far right editorials fall a hair short of nonsense, most of the time.

The writer made an analogy that the Japanese did not build a Shinto shrine at Pearl Harbor. I would suggest that the author of that statement do a little more investigation into the nature of the Shinto belief system and that he also try to understand that the bombing of Pearl Harbor had nothing to do with religion. His thought is so lame, it’s on crutches and falling down.

Yet, in this country, anyone can have opinions and anyone can do anything or build anything, if the rules are followed. The law does not discriminate (at least theoretically). People have a right to their own religious opinions, as strange or as unpalatable as they may seem to others, and people also have the right to adhere to a NO belief system, if that is their choice. Religion is a personal matter and it is always best to keep it to yourself. Believe me, I came from a very religious background. Yet, you would never have seen my father trying to foist his religion on anyone else.

So, now, those of us who consider ourselves to be broadminded are called liberals, with a derisive and demeaning snarl. Again, all we have to do is to look at history. Book banning or book burning have never worked in the past. If anything, such actions generate more interest in the book(s) being destroyed. Other than getting a quick media fix and attention given to his plan, the pastor has not accomplished anything, except to show how small-minded someone can be. To burn a book when one does not even know the content strikes me as a bit weird, but no more weird than the editorial I read this morning. Tolerance is key to world peace.

Patricia Cummings

9-9-2010

The following comments were received:

Since I can’t figure out how to comment on the blog I’ll just send a note.

Countdown on MSNBC had a story on last night about the Islamic Center in Memphis that was damaged by arson. It’s being built next door to a church, and as soon as church members heard the center was coming, they put up a big welcome sign. The church is currently allowing the center to use the church hall for its events until the center is rebuilt. The pastor of the church commented that, “Jesus told us to love our neighbors, and that’s what we’re doing.” (could we bottle up his attitude and release it all over the country?)

It was a wonderful story. I know there are many more like it out there, but most of the people involved are happy to quietly do what’s right, and not interested in attention for just behaving honorably.

Wendy L Starn
Alexandria, Louisiana
http://splendiferousfiber.blogspot.com/
http://public.fotki.com/wlstarn/

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The Conspiracy Theory

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

Hello!

I used to think that people, afraid of their own shadows, were alarmists who subscribe to the conspiracy theory. As I have grown older, I have become even more in-tune with my late-father’s desire for security. I am horrified by people who do not lock their home or cars doors. In one instance, I knew a couple who lost a prized set of European family heirloom china because they were too tired to haul it into the house and thought it would “be alright” until the next day. What you have to keep in mind is that every dastardly, possibly bad circumstance in your life is just waiting and watching for an opportunity. A lot of times, we just don’t see or sense things that might go wrong.

Being sick with the flu and moping about today, I flipped on the TV news at noon. I was astounded to learn that a 19 year old man in Massachusetts stole a canoe so that he could get close to an elderly couple’s house to break in. He chose the wrong party. You see, the 83 year old, U.S. Marine veteran of World War II, was not going to give up without a fight. While he was “engaged” with the kid, his wife called the police, who took the intruder off to jail and the veteran off to the hospital for stitches. Man, you don’t want to mess with an former military man! I cheered!

In other news today, a woman was hit with lightening this morning in the Boston area, as she ironed something in the basement. She was shocked (literally), but survived the incident.

The thing I’m getting at is simple. We never know when we will be a victim of a personal or group tragedy (thinking of 9-11, today). We can get suddenly very ill, as I am right now, or we can be involved in a car accident or lose property. None of us know what the future may bring. Life kind of sneaks up on you, just when you think you’re doing fine. Right about now, if I had not become so ill, I would be gathering everything to take with me for a talk. Alas, it was not meant to be… at least not today.

I’m not sure if I’ve totally ascribed to the conspiracy theory quite yet. What I do know is that we can never take people or things in our lives for granted. It may seem trite to say that each day is a gift, but that is the truth. “Like sands through the hour glass, so are the days of our lives.”

Patricia Cummings

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Reader Mail Brings Query

Monday, September 6th, 2010

Nancy Murray sent a photo of a quilt whose name she cannot identify. The photo sent was very small and of low quality, and the original was very hard to see. However, based on what I could determine, it “looks like” it is a 1930s pattern. The quilt is quilted, not tied. The Sunflower block may be the one that Barbara Brackman identifies as having been designed by Nancy Cabot, later printed in Capper’s in 1948 (entry 3459 in Encyclopedia of Piece Quilt Patterns). Each alternate block has four appliquéd hearts. If anyone has any other ideas as to the origin of this block, I’d love to hear them. I suspect this may have been sold as a kit.

Here is a slightly enlarged photo image.

two block quilt

Two block quilt image sent by Nancy Murray

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Question About Redwork

Sunday, September 5th, 2010

Within the last several days, a number of people have written to ask the same question: “Why do some Redwork quilt have blocks with varying alignments that are not just presented vertically, but may be sideways or upside down?”

First of all, I have not been privy to seeing many Redwork quilts of this kind, but if some do exist, then short of holding a seance to ask 19th century Redwork enthusiasts, “What were you thinking?” – I’ll try to answer, as best I can.

In my opinion, the tradition could stem from the way in which quilt blocks on Baltimore Album quilts were aligned. Here is an example from the Dunton book:

Dunton's quilt

The quilt can be appreciated from many different angles, and in some cases, top and bottom could be made reversible, which would mean that the quilt was not getting more wear on one end.

In the meantime, I have been able to “guess,” from a certain clue given, that the question posed is on a test for the certified appraiser’s training program. Good luck, all!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Dream Foundation Makes Adult Wishes Come True

Sunday, September 5th, 2010

We saw an account of this story on NBC Nightly News the other night and found it a most fitting tribute that the Dream Foundation would fund a World War II veteran’s trip to the Battleship U.S.S. Missouri. Hope you enjoy this story. Pat & Jim

For Immediate Release
Contact: Erinn Lynch, (805) 564-2131 x126

Dream Foundation Fulfills Final Wish for one of the Last Living WWII USS Missouri Veteran On the anniversary of VJ Day, 95-year-old Frank Borrell will to go back to the ship where he served and witnessed the surrender of Japan

Honolulu, HI – On August 31, Dream Foundation, the first national wish-granting organization for adults in the end stages of life, will fulfill Frank Borrell’s final dream − to visit the Battleship Missouri Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Borrell, 95, served on the “Mighty Mo” as a Second Class Gunner’s Mate during World War II and witnessed the surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945. His trip will coincide with the 65th anniversary of Japan’s surrender. Borrell suffers from lung cancer and has been given a 4-month prognosis of life.

Not only did Borrell serve aboard the USS Missouri from 1944 to 1947, he helped construct the ship prior to its launch and witnessed its commissioning in 1944. At the surrender, Borrell watched as Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and other Japanese officials signed the formal Instrument of Surrender in a ceremony presided over by U.S. General Douglas MacArthur and involving representatives of 10 nations. Borrell owns a rare, priceless Surrender Card, an item given only to those who were present at the event, which he plans to donate to a memorial.

Last month Borrell and his daughter, Barbara Borrell, wrote to Dream Foundation with an urgent request to go back to the Missouri, now decommissioned and open to visitors as it stands perpetual watch over the sunken USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor. “This trip will be a homecoming of sorts for my dad,” says Barbara Borrell. “He’ll be able to pay his respects to the brave men with whom he served – and the ship that has made such an impact on his life and service.”

Dream Foundation will be coordinating airfare for Borrell and his daughter from Orlando, Florida to Honolulu as well as accommodations during their 6-day stay, amongst other activities and tours.

“Frank is a living legacy and an American hero. As one of the few remaining veterans from our ‘greatest generation’ he is a treasure to the history and foundation of our country,” says Dream Foundation Founder, Thomas Rollerson. “Regardless of his prognosis, it’s almost our duty as a nation to see to it that Frank’s dream is beautifully acknowledged.”

Borrell and his daughter will be arriving to Honolulu on August 31, where he’ll receive a hero’s welcome. During his visit, Borrell will participate in the following activities:

* Sept 1 TBD: Make a personal visit to the USS Arizona Memorial, where he’ll pay his respects to his fellow service men. (Note Borrell has a brother-in-law who was buried with the ship.)
* Sept 2 8:00 – 9:30: Attend “The End of WWII” 65th Anniversary Ceremony at Ford Island
* Sept 4 8:00 – 10: Attend “Mighty Mo Legacy Breakfast to Honor Veterans” at Pacifica Beach Hotel

Borrell has been officially honored and inaugurated into five Veterans Museums. Following his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1947, Borrell worked his way up through the ranks at IBM for 30 years until his retirement. He lives in retirement in Florida.

The timing of Borrell’s dream coincides with Dream Foundation fulfillment its 10,000th dream for adults battling life-threatening illnesses. As one of the only organizations that grants wishes to adults, dream recipients are 18-years or older, have been given a year or less prognosis, and meet certain financial criteria – ensuring resources are allocated to those who would not otherwise be able to afford their dreams.

CKE Restaurants, parent company of Carl’s Jr.® and Hardee’s®, has adopted Frank’s dream as part of Dream Foundation’s 10,000 in ’10 Challenge and will assist with funding. CKE Restaurants, has been a Dream Foundation supporter for more than eight years.

For more information about the Battleship Missouri Memorial, visit ussmissouri.org.
ABOUT DREAM FOUNDATION’S 10,000 in ’10 Challenge

In 2010, 16 years after the fulfillment of its first dream, Dream Foundation will realize its 10,000th dream. In celebration of the 10,000 dream recipients – and their heartfelt final wishes – Dream Foundation is asking the national community to partake in the 10,000 in ‘10 challenge.

Honoring 10,000 fulfilled dreams; Dream Foundation is aiming to collect 10,000 gifts in 2010. Gifts can come by way of a contribution of $10 or more, 10,000 donated airline miles, 10 volunteer hours, and other “10-themed” gift options found on the Dream Foundation website at www.dreamfoundation.org.

“This is truly the best way we could honor our dream recipients,” says Rollerson. “Those who have had their dreams fulfilled are the most invested in seeing us to carry on our mission. So often we receive cards and humble donations from our dreamers beseeching us to help others. No one knows better the importance of the service we provide than they do,” adds Rollerson.
About Dream Foundation

The mission of Dream Foundation is to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their families battling life-threatening illness. With approximately 1,600 dream requests annually, Dream Foundation relies on donations of cash, airline miles and other resources to make many of their dreams come true. For more information visit www.dreamfoundation.org or call (805) 564-2131.

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Quilts in the Film, “Trail of Tears”

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

The documentary film, “Trail of Tears” is a compelling story of Native American history that is not often told in school. In watching it, I feel that I gained a lot of insight into the events that led up to the forced march of Cherokees from Georgia to Oklahoma and got an inkling of the less than favorable conditions that resulted in the pain, suffering and death of approximately 4,000 Cherokees. It is a black chapter in American history when a president overrode a Supreme Court ruling so that rightful inhabitants of the land could be ejected in favor of white settlement.

Politics aside, I cannot help but mention the use of quilts in the film. The first quilt I noticed was a Double Wedding Ring quilt. I guess it did not matter to the producers of the film that they were depicting the years 1838 and 1839, and that particular quilt design is clearly a 20th century fabrication!

Then, as I saw other quilts, I noticed that the colors were off. Purple and its derivative colors do not show up on cloth until after 1856. That is the year that 18 year old Sir William Henry Perkin (1838- 1907) accidentally discovered the color “mauveine). Cadet Blue, as a color was not around until 1870. Pastel yellow (a “tint” of yellow) was not produced until the 20th century.

The general public will not know the difference or may not give a hoot. Given the opportunity, it would be great if “Hollywood” would pay a little more attention to quilt history when they are depicting topics of general history.

Patricia Cummings

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