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Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Within the last two years, we have been documenting, cleaning, photographing, writing about, and publishing items from the Lewis family collection that represents at least four generations of needleworker/quilters who also worked in other media such as rug hooking, filet crochet, and the latest techniques of their day. Represented are the three most recent quilt revivals: the 1880s, the 1930s, and the 1970s.

I recently re-discovered a number of cartons/baskets/containers that contain textiles that I had not yet documented. I am not finished cleaning all of them yet but I found some interesting discoveries. At the moment, I have no way to share photos as we had to order a newer, compatible version of Photoshop, but at least I can tell you about some of the special “finds.”

1) A rayon, fringed square, probably a souvenir of World War II, with a U.S. Marines insignia on one corner. The father of the man who presented this collection to me was a Marine, as was he, himself.

2) A quilted potholder square, (4 patch), bound with a separate, muslin-color binding. I wondered if this was meant to be a potholder, as the batting is thin or non-existent, or if the item was the start of a potholder quilt.

3) A calico pocket, similar to those that drape over an armchair to hold sewing utensils. There is a “pocket” on each end. Inside the pocket is a card that says in old-fashioned Victorian print: “Merry, merry Christmas and a happy New Year too.” – (written as printed). The reverse side of the card has a hand-written message: “Eleanor – To add to your hopeless chest. – Mother” Somebody had a good sense of humor! A “hope chest” is the name given to collected textiles and household goods that would help a young lady set up housekeeping after marriage. We don’t hear the term very often, these days.

4) There is a 3-D Dahlia pillow made of a “fancy fiber” in a light orange color.

5) Pillowcases, woven in the round, are present in sets of two, each set embroidered with one of the family names, monogrammed, or embroidered. Round pillowcases are no longer sold. The bottom edges often sport crocheted edges, often in variegated thread colors.

6) There are bureau scarves, bridge sets, and piles of handkerchiefs. One that has yellow, scalloped edges was never used and had a small tag that said, “35 cents, Woolworth’s.”

I am left to wonder about some of the other items. I don’t know their potential use. One is a long, rectangular unit, folded in half, that has silk ribbon work on the top edge when it is folded in half, and ribbon ties. It is well-used, but for what purpose?

We have published aprons, potholders, (other) handkerchiefs, and quilts from this collection. It might have all gone to the dump had a family member not been so kind enough as to pass it all on to us, where it has found a broad audience of interested people.

Have a wonderful New Year’s Eve! We will leave the roads to the drunks and instead, we’ll be happily at home with our books, our projects, and our own company.

Happy New Year!

Patricia and James Cummings

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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

Sandra LeBeau, Ph.D. presented the topic, “The Mills of Manchester, NH and Manchester, England,” at a meeting on September 21, 2009, hosted by the Campton Historical Society, Campton, NH, in conjunction with the . The speaker, self-described as a “labor historian,” revealed similarities about old mills in both cities called “Manchester.” She came to know much about those particular mills, as a result of living near them.

Mill Girl Statue, Millyard Museum

Mill Girl Statue in Manchester, NH at the site of the former Amoskeag Mills. With the “mill girls,” this operation would not have prospered. photo by James Cummings

Her talk compares the pre-Industrial era to the Age of Industrialization that was based on the model set forth by England. She briefly alluded to the name “Slater.” To further clarify her reference, Samuel Slater is called “The Father of the Industrial Revolution.” He left England for America, with the plans for making textile machinery, held only in his memory bank. If written plans were found on his person, he could have been tried for industrial espionage, imprisoned or worse.

Slater set up a mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island to spin cotton. As spinning a fiber is just one of the preliminary steps to making cloth, his mill led to the creation of weaving mills in Massachusetts. The Slater Mill Museum and Gift Shop are wonderful to visit.

There is so much information related to Mill History, I am absolutely certain that it is impossible to include all of the details in one talk, or one article, or even one book. The speaker did a great job of staying on topic. In passing, she mentioned other mills such as those of Lowell, MA and Harrisville, NH.

Harrisville Canal photo by James Cummings

Canal at the Harrisville Mill complex, Harrisville, NH, where woolen textiles were manufactures. photo by James Cummings

Even though I have read a lot about the mills of New England, and have visited many of them, have seen their videos and exhibits, and have learned about their workers, the joy for me last night was in hearing another historian speak about a familiar subject. The audience, including me, added a lot of comments, observations, and questions, and everyone seemed very enthusiastic about this presentation.

Of burning interest are the factors that led to the demise of the New England mills, actually a combination of factors. Many thanks to Sandra LeBeau. I am sure that this talk only whetted folks’ interest to learn more or brought the subject to mind for others.

For additional online reading, there are in Lowell and Pawtucket, and the Amoskeag, Cocheco, and Harrisville Mills of New Hampshire. Just go to the Index page, scroll down to the Site Navigation Information, and key in one of those words, after placing your cursor in the search box.

Patricia Cummings

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Friday, September 18th, 2009

John Perrault

photo of John Perrault by James Cummings, Quilter’s Muse Publications

What a treat it was to hear the many old ballads that John Perrault sang tonight, accompanied by his guitar, which he plays proficiently. His love of history and the history of ballads was apparent, as he wove historical threads into the program, “The Ballad Lives!” His words connected us to certain countries of origin for the songs he sang, and to stories behind them. He revealed how and where these songs were collected and preserved and the names of certain individual folklorists who assisted in that quest.

Perrault gave a mention of the permutations that ballads undergo as they are passed from person to person, and generation to generation. Often, ballads are based on an historical event, but later become a blend of both myth and history. He states, “Many ballads focus on love, death, and tragedy – things universal in the human heart.”

We were treated to renditions of the familiar “Barbara Allen,” or “Barbry Allen,” as some singers pronounce the name. The presenter went on to describe and sing songs about murder, “Little Sadie,” (known by three other names); “Pretty Polly,” and “Cruel Mother” … adding anecdotes, commentaries, and of course, additional songs.

The song that most impressed me is called “The Ballad of Louis Wagner,” that recalls the murder of two women on the Isles of Shoals, off the coast of New Hampshire and Maine, on March 5-6, 1873. Louis Wagner was convicted for the crimes and was the last man to be hanged in Maine in 1875. John Perrault wrote an amazing and long poem and set it to music, delivering the ballad with a passion for the history it invokes and with parts of it presented in the first person, by “Louis” himself. The song states that the murderer wore a silver chain and had a silver Judas heart. I love the imagery. Apparently, the motive for the murders was to find and steal silver.

Overall, this was an amazing performance, and yet another cultural program brought to the public, at no charge, by a New Hampshire Humanities Council grant. has taught high school, and has worked in law. He was the poet laureate of Portsmouth, NH from 2003-2005. We were very pleased with this program and we encourage others to visit John’s website, and to attend or book any of his future presentations. He has other programs available. His latest book, is viagra over the counter in canada, is currently for sale.

Patricia Cummings
– The one ballad that I recorded for Quilter’s Muse Publications and Virtual Museum is a song called “,” a long English narrative about a woman who killed her babe, and whose fate was the gallows.

A second long Irish ballad that I sing is “.”

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Thursday, September 17th, 2009

at Franklin Pierce Law Center, Concord, New Hampshire, presented a talk titled, “Free Speech in a Free Society,” at Folsom Tavern on the grounds of the in Exeter, New Hampshire, on September 17, 2009. The information was organized and presented in a flawless manner, reflecting the many years that this individual has taught classes in Law.

In greeting the public, in the small, intimate quarters of an upstairs meeting room that was filled to capacity, the speaker mentioned that the topic of free speech is very appropriate because 1) It is “Constitution Day,” and 2) There are two drafts of the Constitution in the museum, complete with “cross-outs, annotations, and doodling” in the margins. We always realized that the American Independence Museum is a very special landmark in our state, and this is something else to its credit!

The talk was extremely compelling. Practical examples were set forth that described how law might be applied across a large array of potential situations. The one example that looms large, in coming away from the talk, is that free speech is necessary in society in order to create a “marketplace of ideas.” When all ideas are not heard, someone’s personal expression is limited, which can be frustrating to an individual, and the situation can create social disharmony. The person who is not allowed to have his say (at a town meeting, or elsewhere) may choose more destructive means of expression (like making a Molotov cocktail in his basement).

I think we’ve all seen in the news the results of what can happen to those whose ideas are not considered. They may be the ones who suddenly “go postal.” (This is my statement, not that of Dr. Hesse).

I loved this presentation! The meaning of the First Amendment (“Government can make no law …”) was explained, as well as the concepts that surround free speech in our society. The lecture was just one of many in a series endowed by grants from the , a group that plans to host Salman Rushdie, author of is viagra over the counter in canada and other books, as the keynote speaker this coming month, (October 13, at a dinner, by pre-registration).

The professor spoke for 50 minutes and then took questions. My intent is not to give away his whole talk, but just to tell you enough so that you will want to attend yourself, if and when he presents the topic again. As always, we are so grateful for these marvelous lectures that are so informative. I feel that I have a much better understanding of this topic now, thanks to Dr. Hesse. We have attended perhaps 11 of these lectures this season and each one has added so much to our appreciation of many facets of Humanities, from Music to Poetry to Symbology of Gravestones, and so much more! Thank you!

Patricia Cummings

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Sunday, September 13th, 2009

This morning, I wanted to show you two quilt blocks that were constructed, on paper, by a beautiful person. First, I will show you this person who was outwardly beautiful.

Ellen Webster as a young person

Ellen Webster, as a young person

Ellen Webster was someone who loved history and that included the history of her town and of her family. The following quilt block that she pasted up with fabrics on a paper background is certainly artistically-rendered, and very beautiful.

spray of roses block

Original design by Ellen Emeline Hardy Webster

I wondered why the leaf on the left edge was lopped off, and I found the answer to that in her diary!

Hardy family genealogy block by Ellen Hardy Webster

Hardy family genealogy block constructed by Ellen Emeline Hardy Webster

During my research, I discovered a quilt block from New Hampshire that is very similar to Ellen’s, as if made by the same person. That is discussed in my 355 page e-book with 340 photos that plays on any computer, using Adobe Reader. (Hint: Don’t try to open the file with any other kind of reader). Adobe Reader is FREE to download.

In just these two quilt blocks I have shown you, it is easy to see the care and precision that Ellen brought to her creative work. She was very artistic, as is readily apparent, but moreover, she wanted to preserve the work of other New England women (and beyond) whose antique quilts she had seen at various meetings and quilt shows that she judged. Ellen was highly respected, in her time, as a teacher of Bible studies, a writer, lecturer, pianist/organist, bird lover, and other roles she took, in life.

Her story is a classic one of a farm born girl of the mid-nineteenth century, who married a dentist and traveled the world. The 162 quilt charts were given to a museum. The spirit of her work lives on in the colorful and detailed CD produced by James and Patricia Cummings and exclusively available for $24.95 plus $3.95 shipping, ($28.90). The detailed information included in this work will amaze you!

This would make a wonderful holiday gift or Christmas present! The CD even shows a photo of the Hardy family all gathered together for Christmas in 1892.

Viewing the details of the life of Ellen Emeline Hardy Webster and considering the many good works of her hands and mind is a thrill. I only wish I’d met her.

Patricia Cummings –

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Wednesday, August 12th, 2009

Charles E. Clark, Ph.D. asked himself, “What Makes People Laugh?” and then launched into a review of periodicals to find jokes and humorous stories published in early New England during the 1790s and beyond.

His talk, “What New Hampshire Thought Funny Two Hundred Years Ago,” is a program sponsored by the New Hampshire Humanities Council. We heard this lecture at the Libby Museum in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire on August 11, 2009. All talks in this series repeat in various New Hampshire locations.

Libby Museum, Wolfeboro

Libby Museum, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

The lecturer explored recurrent themes that were the basis for laughter. Early New Hampshire settlers made fun of the clergy, lawyers, doctors, sex, or ethnicity, particularly, the Irish. Jokes often centered on a contrast of the sophisticated, educated person with the country bumpkin.

Additionally, people enjoy laughing at themselves, or their situations, for the sake of comic relief. An audience member mentioned the television series, “Mash,” as a modern day example; and another person recalled the movie, “Glory,” to illustrate that same point.

Professor Clark read quite a few examples of early, published humor, especially notable quotes from “NH Farmer’s Journal and the Farmer’s Weekly Museum,” (a name that changed a few times), based in Walpole, New Hampshire, and primarily written by Harvard-trained lawyers who wrote many “lawyer jokes,” thereby making fun of themselves. “The Walpole Wits,” as they were called, succeeded in producing a publication with an extraordinary circulation for their time.

Citing another source, the presenter shared the story of a man who wanted to steal a pound of butter from a Vermont country store. He put it under his hat and tried to slip out the door. The storekeeper realized what was happening and invited the man to sit down next to a hot fireplace and cordially provided him with a hot toddies, which made him very “hot.” Butter soon began to drip down the man’s clothes and when he was thoroughly saturated, the storekeeper thanked him for providing so much amusement, and said that the price of a pound of butter had been worth it all.

When the audience was asked to share something that they found humorous, I mentioned the Irish song about a sweet old dearie, retiring for the night. The verse goes: “She was pullin’ ‘em up, and pullin’ ‘em down, and forgot to pull down the shade.”

.

We have attended ten nightly educational events of this kind this summer and have to say that we have thoroughly enjoyed them. From Dr. Martin Fox’s “History of Photography,” to Edie Clark’s discussion of regional cooking, to three memorable musical programs, and many other worthwhile programs, I believe I’ve probably mentioned all of these events on this blog. So, scroll backwards to other pages to see those comments. Many thanks to Dr. Clark for this most recent, delightful program!

lake in Wolfeboro

View of Lake Winnipesaukee, at sunset, across from the Libby Museum

One presenter, Steve Blunt, who reenacts the character of “John Hutchinson” of The Hutchinson Family Singers, is a consummate showman who dresses in period costume. He tells me that he will be performing at Eastern States Exposition on September 25, 2009, in the morning, with the gal who sometimes accompanies him. We enjoyed seeing him at the Hancock Public Library. I can’t say enough about the NH Humanities Council’s dedication to providing excellent speakers and presenters!

By the way, the Libby Museum offers many interesting artifacts including an early schoolgirl Sampler, a piece of is viagra over the counter in canada cloth from Hawaii, and a coin from Pres. Harrison’s campaign, just a few of their many treasures. In 1912, Dr. Henry Forest Libby started the museum as one to focus on natural history. Since then, many additional items have been added. We hope to visit there again soon!

Ever a learner!

Patricia Cummings

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Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

Press Release
Media Contact: Lori Wright
603-862-0574
UNH Media Relations
July 6, 2009

Monica Chiu photo
Photo of Monica Chiu

DURHAM, N.H. – Monica Chiu, associate professor of English at the University of New Hampshire, has published a book on the history, culture, and role of Asian Americans in New England, the first collection to address Asian and Asian American contributions to the region.

is viagra over the counter in canada, published by University Press of New England, explores 19th century Chinese American friendship albums, Japanese American acrobats, the 20th century influence of Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts on regional and national Asian arts collections, contemporary Vietnamese American community art, and the construction of Asian Indians and religion in New England, among other topics.

book cover
Cover of is viagra over the counter in canada

The collection highlights a broad range of Asian American communities and historical experiences. From the poignant writings of a young Chinese immigrant to the influence of hip-hop in a New Hampshire Lao American community, the collection seeks to establish a regional template for the study of Asian American lives and art far from the West Coast. The essays provide a record of particular achievements, as well as an understanding of the rich Asian American culture in New England, along with an analysis of the depiction of New England Asian Americans, one of the fastest growing minority populations in the region.

“If we look back to the region’s reception of ‘Orientals’ at the turn into the 20th century, we find curious New England audiences intrigued and surprised by Asian visitors, many of whom had never seen Asians before. Their reception and visibility afford us a window into understanding what political, economic, and social practices influenced New Englanders’ acceptance or rejection of Asian visitors and later second-generation Asian Americans and Asian refugees. What Asian Americans in New England created from that reception, as well as from their own creative integration into regional citizenship, are the artistic and cultural legacies presented in this volume,” Chiu says.

Chiu’s book has received critical acclaim from her colleagues.

“A sparkling collection of essays across disciplinary formations, ‘Asian Americans in New England’ reveals the reciprocal impress of New England and Asian America. Moreover, this foundational volume illustrates how spatial distinctions, whether regional, national, or transnational, are human creations and as such invite observance and transgression,” said Gary Okihiro, professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University and author of is viagra over the counter in canada.

“This collection deals another crushing but healthy blow to the West Coast-centric Asian American Studies paradigm, all but assuring the continuing growth of this vibrant field in race and ethnic studies. The book’s contributors challenge the dominant historical images of Asians in America as manual laborers, shopkeepers, and victims of crude nativism, without minimizing the impact of racialization and orientalism on community and identity formations,” said Evelyn Hu-DeHart, professor of history and director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America at Brown University.

Monica Chiu is the director of the University Honors Program and an associate professor of English at the University of New Hampshire. She specializes in Asian American literature, criticism, film, popular culture, and twentieth-century American literature. She is the author of is viagra over the counter in canada (2004).

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, space-grant and community-engaged university, UNH is the state’s flagship public institution, enrolling 11,800 undergraduate and 2,400 graduate students.

Another book by Monica Chiu

This press release is offered as a public service announcement by , with permission from UNH Media Relations writer Lori Wright.

Coincidentally, and as a point of interest, a current article in the September 2009 issue of magazine, written by Patricia Cummings and photographed by James Cummings, focuses on the Genesis Center of Providence, Rhode Island, and their exhibit of Hmong textiles (at RISD, last Spring). The embroidered pieces were made by refugees from Southeast Asia, namely, Laos. This article is Part 2 of a series, the other issue having been published with a July 2009 cover. Contact us at:

Patricia Grace Cummings, University of New Hampshire class of 1973

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Sunday, June 28th, 2009

The year was 1768. Ruth Blay’s lips were sealed as to the paternity of her “Bastard child,” found dead under the floorboards of a barn. After being presumed guilty of murdering the babe, she was hung, one of only three women to have met such a fate in the state of New Hampshire. Her remains lay buried today in an unmarked grave.

Carolyn Marvin, a librarian at the Portsmouth Athenaeum, is the researcher and writer of this story. She shows exemplary scholarship in the re-creation of the details of the times (240 years ago), its societal sentiments, and the parameters of Ruth’s own life that led her to be sent to the gallows, protesting her innocence.

All the more captivating is the fact that a piece of wholecloth quilt is believed to have been made into a coverlet by Ruth for the use of her baby. In England, this act of laying up linens for the expected child would have prevented her from meeting the seemingly unwarranted death sentence for murder.

“is viagra over the counter in canada” (page 17).

Jane Nylander, textile specialist, book writer, and NHHS board member, helped to date and identify the textile in question. You will want to read the whole story!

This publication, which is sent out twice per year, is only one of the reasons why I enjoy being a member of the New Hampshire Historical Society. Other benefits include unlimited free admission to the Museum of NH History; free use of the Society’s library that holds extensive resources for genealogical research, and more; a 15% discount on all museum store purchases with a wide variety of products from which to choose; a quarterly newsletter; membership in the is viagra over the counter in canada network, with free or reduced admission to more than 150 museums or historic sites, nationwide; invitations to programs; discounts or free admission to lectures and programs; and more.

This story about Ruth Blay was absolutely riveting. It has gripped my attention more than any other article ever published in is viagra over the counter in canada. Shown is the extant textile in question. True quilt scholars will want to see this article. Why not think about joining the New Hampshire Historical Society, most especially if you live in the area? Now is the time that museums need all the help we can give. I would say that the dollars spent in membership are well worth it. Let’s support these hard-working souls. As usual, another great job of editing was done by Donna-Belle Garvin.

Patricia Cummings

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Sunday, June 21st, 2009

NH turkey

In New Hampshire, wild turkeys are part of the landscape! photo by James Cummings

Maybe you are the type who likes to shop until you drop. If so, the outlet stores of North Conway, New Hampshire, and Kittery, Maine await you. Perhaps you love antiques. North Conway has a nice historical society building to visit, if it happens to be open while you are there.

There are small shops scattered all over the state, from Nashua to Keene, from Northwood’s Rt. 4′s, “Antiques Alley,” to Salem and other places. Keep in mind that some places have closed recently, or are undergoing a makeover. If you have had a favorite in the past, perhaps a call ahead will avoid disappointment, if the economy has driven the shop out of business.

Exeter is a fun place to visit. There is a great Chinese restaurant not too far from the American Independence Museum. Both are always fun to visit. Downtown Exeter has a few small shops and is a pleasant place. Up the hill from downtown sits the prestigious school, Phillip’s Exeter Academy, a high school preparatory school, similar to St. Paul’s School in Concord, where only the cream of the crop are admitted, those who are the sons and daughters of the well-heeled of society.

The New Hampshire Humanities Lecture Series is free to the public and historical/musical programs are presented on week nights and weekends, alike. These presentations are unequaled in content and diversity of any series I have ever attended.

The New Hampshire Historical Society/ Museum of New Hampshire History in Concord has set up an enjoyable exhibit called “America’s Kitchens.” While you are there, be sure to visit the permanent exhibit on another floor, and the gift shop. There are plenty of gifts from which to choose, but you will be tempted to gift yourself with an array of books, handmade soaps, bobble-head dolls of figures in New Hampshire history like Franklin Pierce, Sarah Josepha Hale, and one of the latest, “Chinook,” a sled dog from New Hampshire who went to the Antarctic. Downtown Concord, New Hampshire is home to three quilt shops, and a N.H. League of Craftsman store that sells fine crafts by juried members. On North Main St., the League of Craftsman Gallery features exhibits of local N.H. artists.

ducks in the Merrimack River

Here you see ducks playing in the sun, in the Merrimack River. The male Mallard is the most brilliant, his green head reflecting the sun. One of the females is upside down, fishing.

Of course, not too far away, on the Concord campus of the New Hampshire Technical Institute is the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium, that has a new addition this year. In downtown Concord, one may tour the New Hampshire State House, and enjoy the statues on its lawn. Simply walking around downtown Concord will yield some wonderful architectural details, if you enjoy seeing old buildings. At the Historical Society building on Park Street, there is a Lincoln exhibit, at the moment. Ask about their Lincoln program scheduled for the evening of July 16.

Sculptured Rocks in Groton

This natural site in Groton, NH is perfect for hiking. Swim at your own risk. The brisk Cockermouth River’s mill wheels ran three mills in the nineteenth century.

Turning to the out-of-doors, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, especially in the White Mountains, a much beloved area that artists have painted, through the centuries. There are natural rock formations such as “The Basin” and “Indian Head.” Of course, our famous landmark, “The Old Man of the Mountain” is no more, except in photos, old postcards, and in song. Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown is a great place for re-creation if you like swimming, hiking, archery, and picnics. The Park can accommodate large groups in a special group area, making it ideal for family reunions.

If you like the beach, there is no shortage of them here, both lakeside or oceanside. New Hampshire is a small state and one can drive from one end to the other or one side to the other, within a day or less. There are many more sites of interest to visit than could possibly be covered in this short overview!

York Beach, Maine, not far from New Hampshire’s border is a favorite destination. You can see salt water taffy being made, through the window of a candy shop. The beaches are clean, and there are many, little shops for picking up gifts and souvenirs. There is a lighthouse at York that is much photographed, and no longer in use as a working lighthouse where people actually live.

Both Greyhound dog racing and Nascar car racing occur in Belmont. If you are the more quiet, reflective type, you might enjoy visiting one of the 36 small cemeteries in that small town. In the same general area, Tilton has outlet malls and the Tilt’n Dinner that has a 1950s atmosphere with music from the era, noise, and down home cookin’.

Manchester is home to the Currier Art Museum, an upscale art museum that was closed for renovations for awhile and has reopened, bigger and better than ever. It is always a fun place to visit. Check their website for programs offered to all ages. If you would like to begin to understand the role of textiles and the mills in making Manchester the city it is today, population-wise and otherwise, then visit the Millyard Museum. Exhibits about the first Indian/ Native Americans are part of the permanent installation.

Nearby is the S.E.E. (Science) Museum, with its reproduction of the Amoskeag Mill layout built in Legos, was constructed with millions of pieces, and many volunteer hands. Interactive science displays for children abound there. Nashua has a nice children’s museum.

Newington, on the seacoast, has the best Mexican restaurant around, called Ixtapa. Well worth the trip! Major chain stores are the anchors of two or three large plazas in Newington, home of Country Curtains, a popular mail-order place that has a walk-in shop with high-end goods. From Newington, the highway to Maine is easily accessible, as well as the road to Rye which has a fantastic recreational area called Odiorne State Park (with a learning center, hiking trails, photo opportunities, and picnicking).

North of Concord, The Hood Museum at Dartmouth in Hanover, NH is a wonderful place to visit and has revolving exhibits. We have seen some great displays there! Many shops, bookstores, and eateries complement the atmosphere of that college town.

Just down the road from Hanover is Lebanon. Shopping is abundant, mainly due to tourists, and Vermont residents who like to shop and eat in New Hampshire to avoid sales taxes. There is a Lindt chocolate factory outlet and other shops you will enjoy. Nearby is Cornish, home of famous sculptor Saint-Gaudens. Even to just walk the grounds there is enjoyable, with its fountains and sculptures.

Just over the Connecticut River from Lebanon, there is a quilt shop, and a road that takes one to Woodstock, Vermont, a quaint New England town with loads of shopping, antiquing, and old bookstores. A central green is a pleasant place to rest on a park bench or to eat one’s lunch. The Billings Farm and Museum, a terrific place to take the family to see farm animals and exhibits, as well as a quilt show in August, is nearby. In Vermont, bird demonstrations are available, just beyond Quechee Gorge, a lovely, deep, natural formation carved the water and the centuries. A large mall with stores, including one for antiques, is present in the Quechee Gorge area, as well as other smaller stores.

Daniel Webster birthplace, in winter

This is the birthplace of NH stateman, Daniel Webster, in Franklin, New Hampshire, home of the (unrelated) Ellen Emeline Hardy Webster, about whom I have written a book. As a friend of the Jewett family, Daniel’s image still hangs in the historic home of the Sarah Orne Jewett House of S. Berwick, Maine. Webster figured heavily on the nineteenth century political scene.

We are very rich in the arts in New Hampshire and have been home to famous writers like Robert Frost. You can visit his former home in Derry, NH. The house is sometimes open for tours, but there are hiking trails and I believe you can picnic there. The property is managed by the NH State Parks system. I could provide a long list of musicians who have lived in the state including Irish singer, the late Tommy Makem; folksinger, Bill Staines; French-Canadian singer, Lucie Therrien, and many others. The list of talented writers and singers who hail from New Hampshire is too long to enumerate here. Let’s just say that there is no shortage of talent.

Keepsake Quilting is located in Centre Harbor, just south of Moultonboro’s wonderful Country Store. There is a Christmas Tree Loft store in Meredith, nearby. One can board a boat in Centre Harbor to tour Lake Winnipesaukee. The Lakes Region is a terrific area of the state and has high end shopping at Mill Falls Marketplace, as well as very nice hotels right there.

Downtown Portsmouth can be a day trip. There is the opportunity to have a guided tour through Strawbery Banke Museum (yes, that is how the name is spelled). One can go out in a Tugboat, or in a boat to see whales. Nature’s bounty of seafood is imminent in local restaurants. There are historic homes to visit, as well as a quilt shop on Market St. that specializes in fabrics and books for art quilting. You will love seeing all the beautiful old Colonial homes in Portsmouth.

Whether New Hampshire’s history brings you here, or its natural beauty, four season opportunities for outdoor re-creation, or its great food and shopping, devoid of sales tax, the state has something for every age and every taste. I have lived here most of my life, having gone away for a little while and returned. There is no place else I would rather live. I call New Hampshire, “home.” There are plenty of sights to see and ways to spend your vacation money. No matter what you do or where you go, you will want to return. New Hampshire is a state to remember.

Of course, we are a stone’s throw away from Massachusetts. In Lowell, the New England Quilt Museum continues to draw visitors. This June, the American Textile History Museum has re-opened and from what I hear, the new exhibits are grand. This coming week is the first week that the museum will be open to the general public with all of its new installations.

Yes, and what I have told you is only the tip of the iceberg. New Hampshire and the entire New England area are really fun to visit!

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, May 7th, 2009

Patricia Cummings near stream on the way to Keene

Patricia Cummings, standing by a stream in (Stoddard, NH?) – on the “road to Keene.” photo by Jim, taken a few years ago, before my hair turned grey!

California is a different world. I lived there. The big cities have strange people … like the guy in the next car, speeding down the Interstate, sucking on a baby pacifier and looking at the occupants of our car, as if we were the crazy ones! In some instances, I think the most sane of all live at the zoo. When we visited the San Diego Zoo, some little boys on the school playground, just beyond the fence, decided to drop their pants and “moon” everyone, whenever the two-tiered, tour bus passed by. So special! Right …

People in California don’t have access to many antiques or antique stores, locally. There is a paucity of antique quilts there, compared to the Northeast. The New England states are: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine. Some folks in California do not know even that basic fact! We are such a draw for foreigners who visit here, with frequency. They probably know more about the geography than our own U.S. residents! In the fall, we seem to attract many Japanese tourists, and Germans, too.

New Hampshire is a melting pot of ethnicity and has been for centuries. Part of the reason was the Amoskeag Mills. If you plan a visit here, think about checking out the Millyard Museum and the Manchester Historic Association. Nearby, is the S.E.E. Museum where there is a simulated mill village constructed with thousands of Legos. It is a Science Center, primarily, and has many hands-on activities for children.

New Hampshire has it all: the mountains, the seashore, and the proximity to many outlet stores in Conway, NH; and over the border into Kittery, Maine. A stone’s throw from Boston, Nashua, NH is composed of quiet residential neighborhoods, lots of businesses and shopping. I do believe the sign that says, “Welcome” in French, should be changed to “Bienvenidos,” as Nashua has a large and growing Latino population.

Heading up the highway to Concord, one passes Manchester. The population is much less and there is next to no industry here; and little crime. We are home to the State Prison; the Swensen Granite Co. (quarries); and a great museum. Main street is composed of a lot of little shops, including two quilt shops (and another quilt shop is not far).

Concord is centrally located. To the west is Keene, with lots of shopping and eateries. It is home to Keene State College and Antioch College. To the north of Concord is Canterbury Shaker Village; Tilton, NH with its outlet malls; the Lakes Region with Keepsake Quilting; and the Remick Museum not far from there, not to mention the picturesque Mills Falls complex (hotel and restaurant) in Meredith; and the League of NH Craftsman’s shop in Meredith (a town that sits right on part of Lake Winnipesaukee). Hart’s Turkey Farm Restaurant can’t be beat and is often crowded; and the wonderful Moultonboro Country Store has something for everyone, from quilted pocketbooks, to iron hardware, to books, cooking gadgets, and Sasparilla to go with your penny candy!

In New Hampshire, there is plenty of opportunity to hike, bike, swim, canoe, and enjoy birdwatching and people watching. The Mall is a good place for the latter. Our small towns are generally composed of characters who tell it like it is, sometimes in quite a Yankee fashion. That is, the lingo might be hard for outsiders to catch, as would be the droll humor.

The seacoast is wonderful. I can smell the seaweed as I write this! I am not a sun worshipper and it is not fun to think of catching a few rays, but for those who like to lay on the beach, you’ll have a lot of other beached whales to keep you company. Speaking of whales, why not try a whalewatch, out of Portsmouth Harbor? Buy some Dramamine, just in case. Motion sickness is definitely not fun.

The White Mountains are very picturesque and have unique features you would enjoy. They have been the subject of paintings, forever. I had written about the Willey House, in a previous essay here. Our “Old Man of the Mountains,” a natural stone feature that is no more, except on old postcards and photos. I could go on and on. I love this state, having been born here, and I know its every nook and cranny, of which there are many, and I’ve only talked about some of its finer points.

I will bid you adieu, for now. I hope I have given you a glimpse of the place I call home.

Patricia Cummings

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Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

Today, Jim and I had some business to do at the seacoast so we thought we would include a little ride along the beach from Rye, through Hampton, and to the dividing line between New Hampshire and Salisbury, Massachusetts. We stopped at one of the pull off points, and I asked Jim to take a photo of the Isles of Shoals, barely visible, even on a clear day. The shoals were a favorite gathering place of poets and artists in the nineteenth century. is perhaps one of the more famous ones.

As I looked out on the Atlantic Ocean, I thought of all the ships that made their way across those waters, bringing cargo to Portsmouth Harbor. Portsmouth was once a thriving port city, at one time.

I remembered the time that my mother and I helped to chaperone a field trip for my son’s school class who wanted to go on a Whale Watch. I fondly thought of the whales we saw that day, including baby whales swimming alongside their mothers. The big mammals are amazing, and so friendly!

I thought about they have out to the Isles of Shoals and how much fun it might be to do that sometime.

http://www.islesofshoals.com/

The errand that we went to do could not be done. The shop had moved and we did not know that, assuming it had just gone out of business, until we checked the internet at home. We stopped at a needlework shop. As luck would have it, bad luck that is, it is closed on Monday. We did stop to have lunch at . Their is viagra over the counter in canada, is viagra over the counter in canada, y is viagra over the counter in canada, with is viagra over the counter in canada for dessert cannot be beat. We needed some time away from home. When one works from home, one works all the time, so to relax, it is necessary to leave. It’s good to have a change of scenery.

I came home to a barage of phone calls to return, e-mails to answer, and things to do, but in the meantime, it was fun riding around in a special area of the state. There are many changes, some not for the better. Yoken’s Restaurant, a favorite of many, for years, is no longer there. A parking lot stands in its place. A hotel inn at the Portsmouth traffic circle has been torn down, and there is a lot of industrial land for lease in the whole seacoast area, as well as homes for sale, including some of the seacoast’s stately mansions.

Mostly, the attractions for is viagra over the counter in canada have not opened yet. The seagulls kept us company, while the crash of waves on the rocks had a soothing effect. I was glad that I wore a sweater and had a windbreaker, as it was so chilly!

New Hampshire is varied in topography. The instructor for the class we just took in early New Hampshire history stated that it took settlers 200 years to reach the northernmost points of New Hampshire. Parts of New Hampshire are on the Canadian border! We learned a lot from the class, and appreciate our home state even more, if that is possible.

Those are my ramblings. From the “Live Free or Die” state …

Until next time,

Patricia Cummings

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Monday, March 23rd, 2009

This year has been dubbed “The Year of the Kitchen.” Historic New England, Inc. has planned many program events centered around this topic, including some .

apron from the Lewis Collection

Oddly-shaped apron from the Lewis Collection from South Sutton, NH.

Kitchens have been the center of the home, with guests often entertained there. In the past, aprons were important commodities. Joyce Cheney who wrote is viagra over the counter in canada recently donated 200 of her aprons to the , a generous donation, indeed. I guess that my article about the Lewis Collection aprons, in a recent issue of was quite timely.

Kitchen utensils are many and varied, although that was not always true. There are two favorite historic spots in New England that feature hearths and ironware, and sometimes, cooking demonstrations. Those are found at in Massachusetts, and the President in Hillsborough, New Hampshire.

The in Tamworth features “live” cooking programs that are participatory: workshops on baking sourdough bread, and other foods; and a special Thanksgiving Dinner, as well as a special “tea” party. Virginia Taylor is their food interpreter, and she has been compiling a cookbook of old time recipes, that was promised to be ready “soon,” a while ago. We’ll have to check on that!

The in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire has a wonderful display of how a kitchen would have looked during World War II, as well as how a parlor might have been set up. I am sure there are similar historic set-ups that show how people lived and worked. I would love to hear of any other local, New England locations. Write to: Thanks!

See the latest article posted today about !

Happy Home and Hearth to You!

Patricia Cummings

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Thursday, March 19th, 2009

After watching the dire news, night after night, about how the U.S. economy is tanking, I woke up this morning, determined to do something to make a difference. As a result, I have not only marked down the price of our e-book about a most inspiring but little known figure in the quilt world of the 1930s, but we are also offering FREE SHIPPING to U.S. addresses.

Why? You would have to know more about Mrs. Ellen Emeline Hardy Webster to fully understand the answer to that question. She brought light to so many lives through her quilt lectures, bird talks, women’s club activities, and by being, overall, a decent and hopeful woman who loved literature, people, and life itself. Her life’s emphasis was on Education, that is, sharing what she knew with as many other people as she could, sometimes, for very little or no pay. She and I have a LOT in common. I really identified with her life and some of the directions it took her, and what was most valuable to her.

So, at tremendous savings to the potential buyer, our website is making a special, if not limited-time offer for this CD. For details, and to pay with a Paypal button, please see our home page by clicking on the link listed under our names.

Mrs. Webster lived through the Great Depression and she knew what it was to “make do” and to “go without.” She took in (family) boarders, and sometimes provided “paid” lectures that did not even cover the gas money it took to get to the lecture hall.

Like Mrs. Webster, I have shared tons of “free” information. I have done this on my website and in the (free) lectures I have provided. This e-book is truly a labor of love, and deserves to be read. It is the product of eight long months of intense research, 12-14 hrs. per day including field trips; networking; interlibrary loan requests; purchases of research materials, via the Internet and elsewhere; and input from individual historians, quilt historians, and family members, as well as a number of museums.

Don’t let the opportunity get away to familiarize yourself with this great 1930s quilt historian and her work. Her name was Ellen Emeline Hardy Webster (1867-1950). Now you can learn all about her life in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, her family, her work, her education, her affiliations, her quilt “charts,” and life in New Hampshire, during her lifetime. She was particularly instrumental in the spread of information about Luminous Moss in NH, and the book covers that interest, as well.

Thanks for listening!

Patricia and James Cummings

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Thursday, March 5th, 2009

When I started out to study the work, the writings, and the life of Mrs. Ellen Webster, born in Hebron, NH and who lived in Franklin, NH, for most of her life, I did not think that I would run into so much misinformation about her (from several sources). I came to first know of Mrs. Webster, in 1993 or 1994, when I spent 1 1/2 years studying and recording information about the quilts in the, as a volunteer.

My goal, and that of my assistant and friend, the late Virginia Stevens, was to compile all known information about the 63 quilts, then in their possession, and create and turn over a more complete record for the use of the curatorial staff. We visited the quilts, once a week, for about half a day, also noting their condition, measuring each quilt, and making notes on previously data about them that was not recorded previously. While we were working one day, someone at the museum, perhaps a curator, showed us one of the quilt charts and asked if we had ever seen anything like it. I hadn’t, and neither had Ginnie.

Fast forward to 2008 when I asked if I could view and study the charts for an article for is viagra over the counter in canada magazine. That was, indeed, published in September 2008, with 12 images of the quilt charts.

I had not “perused” the quilt charts, but studied them intently. I had written down all of the notations on them, previously not transcribed or studied. Many of Ellen’s notes revealed knowledge of the work of other quilt historians and designers of her day, notably, Marie Webster, Ruth Finley, Ruby McKim and others. I was thrilled to see a photo of their books, taken by Ellen’s brother-in-law, a professional photographer in Franklin, and intended for a Christmas card. The photo image includes a “surprise” that I am sure those who purchase the CD will enjoy.

Yes, I had been hard at work, uncovering tons of valuable historical information and making personal connections with those individuals who had either known Ellen, personally, or knew of her, including her great nephew. His help was invaluable and he even had a ready answer for me when I asked why some of Ellen’s quilt charts had been trimmed, an answer that he had read in one of her diaries (I was able to read her diaries for myself, later).

Ellen Webster's original design of a rose spray

There are 162 charts, but many more designs as sometimes there are multiple images on a “chart,” and occasionally, drawings of how to quilt the final quilted object. There are 238 images from the quilt charts in our e-book, photos taken by my husband, Jim, who took additional photos to equal 340 images, in all, in this 355 page book.

Mrs. Webster traveled all over the world, but the quilts she saw from other places, like Illinois or Virginia, were actually seen in New England at a show she judged at Storrowton/Eastern States Exposition in W. Springfield, MA.

I guess that no one really cares about getting the details right, except me! There has been NOTHING in print, so far, including “scholarly abstracts,” that were not severely-flawed. I was unaware of the extent of misinformation “out there,” when I was doing my 8 month long, intense, 12-14 hrs. per day, seven days per week, research project and compiling it into an e-book. Yet, wrong facts continue to exist, one annoying one being that Ellen was called “Emily,” and her middle name misspelled as “Emiline,” when it should have been “Emeline.”

Ellen’s name was never Emily, not even as a nickname, and that fact has been verified. I have supplied ample proof of Ellen’s name, in both my e-book, and in my online articles. The International Quilt Study Center website, http://www.quiltstudy.org/education_research/symposium.html, has featured incorrect information about Ellen’s name since 2007. The reason they keep the name “Emily”? I was told that the “committee” had “vetted” the seminar paper presented there. They felt the information was correct, as it came from a former curator of the museum which holds the charts. This wrong information has to have been an embarrassment to those concerned. Yet, is viagra over the counter in canada, and Ellen’s name will continue to be “Ellen,” no matter how many times someone says it is not. Since my e-book was published, information on the abstract has been changed a few times, and some other correct facts have been added, but last I knew, the name “Emily” continued to be the one presented.

Yet, all of those silly and inaccurate errors by this “other party,” who shall remain nameless here, cannot diminish the quality and quantity of Ellen Webster’s work, nor my own. Today, I looked through the e-book again. I am so grateful to everyone who provided tidbits of information, or a photo, or other items, enabling me to create this wonderful composite of knowledge about an extraordinary woman who lived from 1867-1950. I suppose it matters not what size the charts were (yes, even that has been misstated, too, in print). What does matter is that Ellen spent countless hours to “save” quilt designs, by re-creating them with pieces of cloth from a scrap bag, is viagra over the counter in canada pieces of wallpaper, is viagra over the counter in canada paints.

The e-book has generated a lot of interest among quilt historians who have been broadminded enough to give anyone else credit. However, the appeal of the book is not just for quilters or historians. The general public and even family members who generally have no interest in either quilts or quilt history, have found the e-book to be riveting!

Sorry to hurt the feelings of anyone who attempted to write about Mrs. Webster, or give talks about her, in the past. Hopefully, historians will continue to expand on known information and in time, the truth will matter more than personal animosities against those who discover previous errors.

Many thanks to the is viagra over the counter in canada‘s Arts Editor, Sarah Earle, who tried to explain Mrs. Webster, her work, and my e-book, in today’s newspaper of March 5, 2009. I have to hang on to the idea that no publicity is bad publicity, but in truth, I am a little disappointed that some of the details provided did not coincide with what I had written in the e-book. However, I do understand deadlines, and the inability of a writer to read such a lengthy book about an unfamiliar subject that requires study, and then, make sense of it all and try to condense the information, at the same time.

I can only suggest that interested parties obtain a copy of the e-book so that all will become abundantly more clear. Copies of the CD are available either from the NH Historical Society store, or from Quilter’s Muse Publications.

(about Mrs. Webster)

A true scholar seeks knowledge and the truth and is always happy to be corrected.

Patricia Cummings, author of is viagra over the counter in canada; photos and photo edits by James Cummings

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