Archive for March, 2011

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Quilts for Japan – Part II

Friday, March 18th, 2011

Wow! I reported a simple request from a Japanese patchwork magazine editor who asked that quilts be sent to Japan but did not expect some of the responses that have been flooding my mailbox. Many quilters would like to help but they are asking me to post solicitations for money (to be sent to them). Sorry, I just can’t do that. If supplies are needed, perhaps some of the local quilt shops that YOU personally frequent might be able to donate some spools of thread or pieces of fabric or batting. Quilt shops in the United States, like other businesses and individuals are stretched pretty thin right now due to the economy. I am sure that quilters could dip into their own large stashes and be able to put together a quilt or two with fabric and materials they would never miss.

I see the request for quilts as something more to brighten the spirits of the Japanese people rather than necessarily to keep them warm. Unless a quilt has a wool batting, it is not usually the warmest thing on the planet. For warmth, fleece blankets would be superior! It is snowing, at least in parts of Japan, and a quilt would be fun to cuddle up in, especially for small children who always like to have something of their own.

In the previous post, I provided an e-mail address to send quilts directly to Naomi’s residence. That is what she requested. When mailing quilts, please do not ever reveal the contents. If you must fill out a customs form, be vague, stating that it is a “textile cover” or some other euphemism. Quilts are stolen in the mail more often than you think! Why put up a red flag?

I’ve heard the Swiss Air has suspended mail planes to Japan. I do not have a way of verifying that information but I pass it along for whatever it is worth. The editor now has asked that people not send quilts right away. There is just too much confusion and turmoil at the moment. A quilt business has stepped up to say that they will forward quilts to Japan. I don’t see the point of that at all. Why not send the quilts directly? They will arrive more quickly and not have to pass through so many different hands. Of course, that is my opinion. People will do and can do whatever pleases them.

Valerie Hearder suggests that when filling out the customs form, declare a low value (under $100) so that the recipient does not have to pay a high duty tax. Good point! Thanks, Valerie!

That is the update for now. Check my last blog post for the mailing address of Naomi Ichikawa.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

Posted in Announcements | 2 Comments »

Call for Quilts for Japan

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

My friend, Valerie Hearder, received this note from Naomi Ichikawa, editor of Patchwork Tshushin, this morning (3/17/11):

Dear Quilters: It is still bad situation now in Japan. We are still nervous about shaking and radiation, but no way to escape. I start to announce to the quilters to send us comfort quilts for the people who are suffered. I would like to [ask] the world quilters. We will deliver the comfort quilts to the people who are very difficult situation. Could you please help to announce it to the quilters? We accept any size of quilts (baby to adult), new or unused.

I will appreciate if you help me. Naomi

Send quilts in June to:

Patchwork Tsushin Co. Ltd
Tohoku Kanto Earthquake Comfort Quilts
〒113-0033 Tokyo, Bunkyoku, Hongo 5-28-3

Telephone 03-3816-5538

or

Naomi Ichikawa, Editor
Patchwork Tsushin Co., Ltd.,
2-21-2, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku
Tokyo, JAPAN 113-0034

Note from Patricia Cummings:

When mailing any quilts, it is important to NOT write the word “quilt” anywhere on the outside of the package, if you want a better chance of it reaching its destination.

As you know, quilters always step up to the plate when there is a critical need for “comfort quilts” such as those being requested in the letter. I am re-posting this note, so that you will have addresses in Japan to send quilts. As she said, any size is acceptable and they can be for babies or small adults. Please help, if you can. If you can’t make a quilt, please help spread the word by re-posting this note to your guild or group page or Facebook page.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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The Quilter’s Bible: A New Book

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

I have very much enjoyed perusing a copy of the new book,The Quilter’s Bible, by Linda Clements. With all of its inspiring and colorful photos of charming quilts and projects, the book is like a breath of spring air. Published in both the UK and the US, the volume is paperback-bound and is touted as “the indispensable guide to patchwork, quilting and appliqué,” not without reason.

This author offers a comprehensive look at tools for designing, marking, cutting, sewing, pressing as well as a review of handy “gizmos and gadgets.” Then, various types of fabrics, batting, fusible webs, and embellishments are discussed. Many projects are offered and step-by-step directions are provided. Boxes titled “Bright Idea” include tips that are fun and informational. A foreword was written by Lynne Edwards and twenty contributors to the book’s projects are named at the end.

This book would be terrific for anyone new to quilting but even experienced quilters would find tips and insights. I know that I will want to spend a lot more time discovering all that this book has to offer but even just glancing through it, in a preliminary sort of way, I can see that it would be a valuable addition to any quilter’s library.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day on March 17!

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

vintage card
This vintage postcard says, “I’ve donned the green, so dear to me, On this glad day to welcome thee.”

Whether you are Irish or not, I hope you will enjoy the following sayings that are “Irish Blessings.”

1. May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night and a smooth road all the way to your door.

2. May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day. May songbirds serenade you every step along the way. May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that’s always blue. And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.

3. May you get to heaven a half hour before the devil knows you’re dead.

4. May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live.

5. May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been, the foresight to know where you’re going, and the insight to know when you’ve gone too far.

I am learning more and more about my Irish ancestry, thanks to my son, James, who is doing an extensive family genealogical search. My great great grandparents were born in Ireland. It is uncertain whether or not my great grandparents were the first to come to America, or not. Surely, most Irishmen who came to America during the nineteenth century were seeking a better life and an improvement over poor employment opportunities and religious persecution. Ironically, once here, they were faced with signs in windows that said, “Irish need not apply.”

One couple in the ancestry chart, some of my father’s ancestors, I suspect of being Scots-Irish as they were from Belfast. Many Scots-Irish settled in New England.

Based on census descriptions of employment, James has concluded that a number of family members worked in both the woolen mills and cotton mills of Massachusetts. They worked in the Blackstone Valley and in the Norfolk and Lawrence industrial complexes. James points out that some of the fabrics in my antique quilts could have been made by my own relatives. What a thought!

In closing, I will add another “blessing” that came to me in an e-mail today: “May your troubles be less, your blessings be more, and may nothing but happiness, come through your door.”

Happy St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow, on March 17!

Patricia Cummings

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Dihydrogen Monoxide: A Discussion

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

Yesterday, after I realized that I needed a new rotary cutter, we ventured out to the nearest JoAnn Fabrics. I spotted two that had 60 mm cutting blades. The deciding factor was price: $28.99 sounded a lot better than $45.99. When I reached the checkout counter, I was pleased to learn that a sale was going on and I happily brought home the new item for about $16.00. I was gleeful until I looked at the back of the package. In small print, there is a warning that the product may cause cancer or be harmful to women and reproductive health. Alarmed, I called the company to ask just how this benign looking object can cause cancer. The representative’s response is that the warning was necessary because of the law in California that requires manufacturers to divulge potential danger of any product. He added that one would have to grind up 50,000 cutters and eat them and yet, the person might not die or even get sick from the product.

One of my friends pointed me in the direction of a video on YouTube. Seems that some folks set out to determine the gullibility of the American public. A woman with a petition in hand to ban Dihydrogen monoxide asked dozens of individuals to sign it. She explained that this substance could be found everywhere: in ponds, lakes, used to make fertilizer…and it had health effects like excessive urination if taken in quantity. What is this harmful substance? H20, in other words, water! Yet, the general (unknowingly) public were happily signing their names until a man stepped in and asked one signer if he was against water. The respondent said, “No, of course not! That’s crazy!” No doubt, you would say the same!

Dihydrogen monoxide is another scientific name for water, a term that is hardly ever used, but handy for a hoax situation like the one just described. The Federal Government mandates descriptions of products used in the workplace and requires a list of physical properties and precautions for use. Someone has a funny bone. There is a Material Safety Data Sheet for Dihydrogen monoxide!

There is an old saying: “Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear.” I have come to the conclusion that life itself should come with a warning: “This condition could be fatal.” Now, it’s time for breakfast. I can assure you that I will find better use for my new rotary cutter than grinding it up and sprinkling it on my oatmeal!

With many thanks to my Facebook friends who always “keep me in stitches!”

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Japan

Sunday, March 13th, 2011

Like the rest of my fellow Americans, I have tuned in frequently to news broadcasts to seek updates about what is happening in Japan. The videos coming out of the country, many taken by amateur photographers, have been stunning. The events there are a sure reminder that life can change rapidly and when least expected. At the beginning of March, I shared a link with you of the large quilt show in Tokyo. Today, like you, I am warily watching as the nuclear threat dominates the news, the death toll rises, and the living are struggling for the very basic necessities of life: food, water, shelter, and disposable diapers for their babies. Yet, I have not seen any looting going on. The few stores that remain open sometimes have quiet, peaceful, patient people waiting to get in. That said, there has been a rush to secure whatever commodities were available and it appears that there is little left in stores.

Japanese cranes

Japanese cranes, the symbol of long life, in a “bamboo fabric” setting, a quilt block made by Patricia Cummings

Ironically, an article I was asked to write for a Japanese magazine was scheduled to be in the April issue of Patchwork Tsushin. I was told that the magazine shipped to the printer on February 22, but where that printer is physically located remains unknown to me. Unless the magazines were printed immediately and already have been shipped out, I rather doubt that I will see that issue. I am sure that is the least of my worries. I was happy to successfully contacting the editor. She is safe and her family members, who live in the area with the most devastation, are also safe. She is in Tokyo and was forced to walk home from work after the earthquake struck. It must have been a terrifying experience, not knowing what would come next. Having acquaintances in the country makes this disaster more personalized for me. I certainly hope and pray for their health and endurance in the challenging days ahead.

This weather event is startling and cannot help but make us all to ponder as to what will be next. It is a good thing that we can only live one day at a time. The Japanese people are hard-working and determined. I can bet that, given the chance, they will get right to the task of cleaning up the damage and rebuilding, a mind-boggling task, certainly, but so was the destruction of the Twin Towers which cannot even begin to compare!

Meanwhile our hearts are with all of those who have suffered sudden losses of loved ones and who must work diligently, if they are to regain any sense of stability in their lives. God bless these people and all of the international teams who already are working tirelessly on their behalf. When the going gets tough, the tough get going!

Peace.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Whimsie Balls

Friday, March 11th, 2011

In 1988, I purchased a pattern by Nancy Brenan Daniel called “Whimsie Balls.” At the time, I made one and sent it to my niece’s new daughter. With a good memory of how much the child enjoyed this old-fashioned style toy, she recently asked if I would make two of these toys for the twin children of her friends.

whimsie ball

I chose various 1930s reproduction prints for these “love tokens” as the pattern designer calls them.

Whimsie Balls have been around since the Victorian Age. Nancy’s pattern offers four different sizes, one small enough to be used as a Christmas ornament; the others in “small,” “medium,” and “large.” Each ball has 36 pieces in two different shapes. I chose to hand cut and hand mark sewing lines on the fabrics and hand piece each segment. Assembly was by hand, of course. Making the toys took 20 hours for each one. Nancy tells me that she machine pieces the segments. I prefer to hand piece curves. It was a time-consuming but very fun project.

While working on the balls, I could just imagine tiny fingers grasping the segments and enjoying the tiny motifs in the fabric. After all these years, Nancy Brenan Daniel still sells this pattern…but only from her home. It is not offered in shops. For more information, please write directly to her: nancydaniel@me.com

Have a great weekend!

Patricia Cummings (a satisfied customer)
pat@quiltersmuse.com
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Another Favorite Verse by Robert Louis Stevenson

Thursday, March 10th, 2011

By the way, did you know that the famous sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, whose former residence one can visit in New Hampshire, created a sculpture to commemorate the life of Robert Louis Stevenson in his home town, Edinburgh, Scotland?

The Land of Counterpane

by Robert Louis Stevenson

When I was sick and lay a-bed,
I had two pillows at my head,
And all my toys beside me lay,
To keep me happy all the day.

And sometimes for an hour or so
I watched my leaden soldiers go,
With different uniforms and drills,
Among the bed-clothes, through the hills;

And sometimes sent my ships in fleets
All up and down among the sheets;
Or brought my trees and houses out,
And planted cities all about.

I was the giant great and still
That sits upon the pillow-hill,
And sees before him, dale and plain,
The pleasant land of counterpane.

Note that the word “counterpane” is derived from the French word, “contrepointe” which originated in medieval Latin phrase culcitra puncta which means quilted mattress, according to The New Oxford American Dictionary. Since the 17th century, the word “counterpane” has meant bedspread, although today, it is considered to be an archaic term.

I enjoy learning these interesting points of language as the origins of words has always been a fascinating subject for me. There are those who make this kind of word study their life’s passion. At any rate, it is fun to find poetry that is somewhat related to quilts! Hope you enjoyed this one!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Childhood Verses

Thursday, March 10th, 2011

Much of the folklore of childhood as well as its perception by adults, in retrospect, can sometimes center on the poetry associated with those long ago days. That idea could be the subject of a lengthy discussion! Suffice it to say that this morning I woke up thinking about a poem that I was required to memorize in its entirety during the first years of my formative Catholic education. Only the first two lines have remained easy for me to recall from memory:

My Shadow

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head,
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow–
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow,
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an India-rubber ball,
And he sometimes get so little that there’s none of him at all.

He hasn’t got a notion of how children ought to play,
And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close beside me, he’s a coward you can see;
I’d think shame to to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!

One morning very early, before the sun was up,
I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

During the time that my mother was growing up, there was much emphasis put on memorization of poetry and recitation. In fact, she was tutored in “elocution,” a fact of which she was always proud. Her penmanship was exquisite and in the early schools I attended, students were graded on how well they could implement the Palmer method of penmanship. These early forays into expressing the written and spoken word seemed vital to a good education. I suppose that in today’s classroom, this emphasis has probably gone the way of the dinosaur.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Time

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

When we are young, we do not think much about time passing. We are too busy growing, learning and becoming. We believed rocker Mick Jagger when he crooned, “Time – it’s on your side, yes it is.” It is only in retrospect and from the viewpoint of a baby boomer that I realize that while time is not necessarily on our side, how we use our time matters.

As a child, I would rise before the sun came up so that I could look out the kitchen window of the farmhouse to see deer grazing at the crack of dawn. The day and the rest of my life seemed endless. It is easy to take time for granted. After all, we can only “live in the moment.” Perhaps not knowing the tribulations that might lie ahead is all for the better. Daily, we make choices as to how to spend time.

Some years ago, I made a major decision to work only for myself: quilting and writing. Both of those activities (for me) are solitary ones with the result that I have time available sometimes to listen to music and words of songs that attempt to place “time” within a greater conceptual framework. Today, as I sat doing some appliqué, I listened to Tom Pirozzoli who sang, “If you think money can buy…buy you back your time, you’re out of your mind.” He is right, of course. No amount of money can buy you back time that you spent doing something you did not want to be doing. The last few moments of life are perhaps the most precious ones when one may wonder if their time was spent wisely.

Time passes, with no help for us. Time is measured by clocks and watches (a fashion accessory that is becoming obsolete due to hand held technology). Time periods are studied according to which war was going on at the time, which fashions were in place, and the array of objects of material culture (including quilts) that were being made and used within the era.

“No time like the present” is a saying that urges us to accomplish a certain goal. Inferred is the statement “while we can.” “Time and tide wait for no man” shows us man’s inability to stop the march of time or to change the tides.

Within the scope of history we are all like blips on the radar or else “flying UNDER the radar.” In the greater scheme of things, humans are fragile, disposable and not long-lived, relatively speaking. The days roll on. What do we have? What will we leave behind? Time is at the root of those questions, at least partially so. We cannot save “time” in a bottle.” We can only use it wisely and to the best of our own abilities. We can’t make more time (or add a moment to our lives by worry) but if we apply an awareness to how we spend time allotted to us, we might be able to craft a more satisfying existence.

Patricia Cummings

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Last Surviving World War I Veteran Dies

Monday, March 7th, 2011

hollyhock

The Library of Congress, American Folklife Center’s Veterans History Project has preserved some interviews with Frank Woodruff Buckles who died on February 28, 2011 at the age of 110. Joining the Army at just sixteen, Corporal Buckles used his uncle’s name instead of his own, and served in the United States, France, England, and Germany during World War I. His hometown was Harrison City, Missouri.

Washington Post story

To learn more about him, please visit the Library of Congress website. A message from them states the following:

Mr. Buckles was one of two million men who served in the American Expeditionary Forces in France. Before his passing, Mr. Buckles gave oral accounts of his military experience in 2001, 2004 and 2008, which have been preserved by the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. His personal account along with the stories of his fellow doughboys who fought in the “Great War,” are shared here: http://www.loc.gov/vets/stories/ex-war-wwi.html

The Mission of the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center is to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Learn more at www.loc.gov/vets. Share your stories with VHP to be considered for future RSS. Email vohp@loc.gov and place “My VHP RSS Story” in the subject line.

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New Crossword Puzzle: “Food Glorious Food”

Sunday, March 6th, 2011

Thinking about the song from a musical titled “Food Glorious Food” (“I’m willing to try some”), I decided to put together a food-related crossword puzzle this morning, just for you!

Here are the links:

Food Glorious Food Crossword Puzzle Clues

Food Glorious Food Crossword Puzzle Solution

Don’t forget to check out Jim’s “Vintage Cookery Blog.”

Enjoy!

Patricia Cummings

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Jean Ray Laury

Friday, March 4th, 2011

I am very saddened to learn of the passing of Jean Ray Laury. No obituary can “tell it all” about a woman who was so active in the world of quilting and who touched the lives of so many others. I am sure that those who knew Jean personally, or saw her quilts on exhibit, in person, will have some great memories. My knowledge of her work came through the books that she wrote. Perusing my library very quickly, I found two books, one called Applique Stitchery (1966) and another more recent one titled 14,287 Pieces of Fabric and Other Poems (1994). I do not recall which book has a humorous quilt that she made, early on, that still has me giggling every time I think of it. Her sense of humor always made me wish I could meet her in person. If I locate that photo, I’ll let you know more. In the meantime, she is remembered in this obituary:

http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/03/2295579/fresno-artistauthor-dies-at-82.html

To hear a wonderful talk by Jean that she presented at the International Quilt Study Center, please copy and paste this link:

http://www.quiltstudy.org/education_research/resources/podcasts.html/title/-our-mothers-knees-jean-ray-laury-march-2-2007-43-minutes

Many condolences to her family.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Loons

Friday, March 4th, 2011

Yesterday, I received a lovely letter from my friend in Germany whose first language is Ukrainian and second language is German. She does well trying to communicate with me in English but sometimes a word gets lost in the translation. Such was the case when she referred to loons as “wild ducks.” She sent a photo of a quilt she just finished in December and a piece of border fabric from a fabric panel designed by Joan Messmore for Cranston Printworks. Tamara received the fabric twenty years ago from another American friend. The bird motifs are not ducks but “loons.”

Loon quilt

This central medallion style quilt by Tamara Shpolyanska is one she calls “The Blue Waters” and it measures 81 x 81 inches (207 cm. square). On the back of the photo she says that she remembers the rivers “Wolga, Enisey, and the Baykal See” that she saw in “Sibir,” when she was young. They are deep and have dark blue water. She states that in this quilt she combines an impressionistic style and traditional elements.

border fabric

This is a piece of the border print that was sold along with the main panel that Tamara used in the center block of the quilt.

I have loved the Common Loon (Gavia immer) for a very long time! They are seen in New Hampshire during the summer where they nest on lakes. Of late, they are a threatened and endangered species due to the encroachment of humans on their territory, oil spills, and pollution, as well as predators. Their eggs are eaten by raccoons. They can dive to amazing depths in a matter of seconds and can hold their breath for interminably long lengths of time. The adult male and female look alike and both weigh about ten pounds each. They are top heavy and struggle to walk on land, looking very awkward. There is no greater delight than camping near a wilderness lake and hearing the loons call to each other at dusk. The sound is eerie and enchanting. We heard many loons during one summer’s camping trip to Lake Umbagog in northern New Hampshire.

The Loon: Voice of the Wilderness (New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1988) was written by Charlene W. Billings who holds a Master of Science degree from Rivier College and taught math and science at the high school level. It is an enjoyable and easily understood book

The following image is the front of an invitation I received to a 1991 reception for volunteers at the New Hampshire Audubon Society. I had donated many hours of word processing to the organization. Stored in what I thought was a “safe” plastic sleeve, moisture built up and has made the inks smudge and run, a cautionary tale for others who like to save ephemera! I love the loon’s “shadow” in the water!

invitation

Loons are fascinating creatures! On the east, they overwinter in coastal areas from Newfoundland to Mexico and in Trinidad, the Bahamas and the northern part of South America, according to Billings, while on the west coast, they inhabit coastal areas from California to Alaska. One of my favorite stuffed animals is a loon that has a built-in “voice” that can be activated by squeezing. The much celebrated “voice of the wilderness” can be heard in the movie “On Golden Pond.” Better yet, come to New Hampshire to experience loons for yourself!

Click here for information about the Loon Preservation Committee of New Hampshire

Patricia Cummings

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Quilts in Tokyo

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

Someone was kind enough to share a link on Flickr where 312 quilt photos of the Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival 2011 can be viewed.

If you click on any of the photos, a larger image will appear. Press your “back” button to return to the screen.

Enjoy!

Patricia Cummings

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