Another Maple Leaf Quilt

Last month, at the museum sale, someone asked if I would take a photo of "the African American Quilts" for her. This Maple Leaf quilt by Rosie Wilkins was one.



When we were packing up, I asked one of the staff what made this an African American quilt. Besides having known the quilter, she pointed to the use of fabrics, the way the blocks are set together and the irregular quilting design.

I was thinking about this quilt when I was struggling with those 3-inch swap blocks. Made by many quilters, using several patterns, there was a lot of variation in size in my 48 swap blocks. I realized that it would never occur to me to put them together in a freer style like this quilt, where no effort was made to line things up.

Speaking of my quilt, thanks for all the suggestions and feedback on my little quilt. I'm hoping to have it finished and hanging in my office on Monday.

If you're curious, here's the other Rosie Wilkins quilt that was for sale, labeled Rolling Star.



Yes, I wish I'd opened them up and taken photos of the whole quilt, but Carolyn–who wanted the photos–was more interested in detail shots of the blocks (which you can see here, here and here.)

Border Update

Ginger and I had the same idea–that a darker tone-on-tone inner border was needed.



The quilt top measures 24 x 30 inches. I'm excited to quilt and hang this one.

90-to-Frosty

So far this week, record-breaking 90 dregrees and sun, two cold fronts and, now, frosty breezes. Autumn has truly arrived in the mitten state. Trees are quickly going from green to colorful to leafless . . . and I am already not looking forward to another Michigan winter.

Earlier this week, this volunteer sunflower–from my neighbor's bird feeder, I think–bloomed. I'm wondering now how long it will live.

To focus on the NOW, this afternoon, I pulled out some well-aged miniature Maple Leaf blocks (from an exchange in 2001) and started work on this little reminder of the beauty of the season.



I'm auditioning the border fabric--a sentimental piece, one of the first quilting fabrics I purchased and probably the oldest thing in my stash--what do you think?

I've been more than a little envious of the doll quilt swappers in the 4-seasons swap and of Ginger's swappeers on the forum on Quilting.about.com. This little beauty may tide me over until the next round of doll quilting swapping. Now . . . to decide on borders and get it quilted ;-)

Redwork: A Textile Tradition

While I was at the Museum last Saturday, I spent some time in the exhibit:



I really enjoyed seeing the pieces and reading the information provided which placed the work into a historical context. For example, the design from this block, from the Mikado Quilt came from the Ladies Home Journal, May 1889.



The quilt, maker unknown, is thought to be possibly made in Pennsylvania, ca. 1890 contains a variety of Asian-inspired motifs. Japanese-inspired designs became increasingly popular in American after the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition where more than nine million people were reported to have visited the Japanese pavilion.

The Blue Stars Flag Quilt, was made ca 1890. The flag in the center of this top has 41 stars--this was the official flag for only three days, after Montana was admitted to the United States on November 8, 1889. (Washington was admitted on November 11.)



The stars on the flag are the only blue embroidery on the quilt. I liked that.

There were a couple other redwork quilts, both made by Michigan quilters in the 20's or 30's. One, called Redwork Quilt, features scenes from Nursery Rhymes. The other, Boy's Quilt, had multi-color embroidery of the kid-themed blocks.

There were also pairs of pillow shams and other examples besides quilts in the exhibit. I liked this ca. 1910 apron--both for the redwork and the filet crochet at the bottom.

There were a couple of examples of redwork quilts created as part of fund-raising efforts. The Ishpeming Fundraising Quilt, 1902-03, contains the names of 400 church members who contributed money to the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Ishpeming, Michigan.

The church is embroidered in the center of the quilt. The rest of the design is made up of an artful arrangement of the signatures.




The other fundraising quilt–for the Ku Klux Klan–was under glass. It also consisted of signatures and images of the KKK. The Museum label explained how textiles are important documents of history.

The materials, construction, design, pictorial imagery, signatures, the oral histories and related ephemera, and even condition of this quilt hold clues that strengthen and expand our understanding of quiltmaking, of Klan activity, and the social and cultural history of a particular community at a particular point in time.

The quilt was controversial. I suppose that's why it came with it's own ring full of Frequently Asked Questions.



You can see all my photos from the exhibit in the Flickr set Redwork Show.

Moo U

When I went to the MSU Museum sale last weekend, I parked off campus and walked to the museum, past the Bell Tower.



It's unbelieveable to think that 35 years this fall, I was a 17-year old freshman beginning college there.

One Woman's Stash

When I went to the MSU Museum's yardsale-like event on Saturday, I didn't realize that all the fabric on sale came from one woman's stash.



There were several more tables full of fabric and a couple with quilt blocks, kits and UFO projects. I learned that when the staff went to pick up fabric from someone's estate, they carried out 35 medium size moving boxes of fabric . . . and only saw one quilt.

The Museum was also selling books, magazines and quilts.



The fabric was sold by the pound . . . here's what my eight and a half pound purchase looked like.



I confess I went back, bought two more pounds . . . and a couple books.

Farmers Market

Things at the Capitol are tense these days as the politicians attempt to resolve the budget deficit and the government may shutdown entirely next week, but . . .

A couple weeks ago, it was all sunshine and smiles when a Farmers' Market came to the Capitol lawn.



Everyone came out at lunchtime to shop.





And, as I walked back to work, I saw this sign of the season to come.

The Art of Music

Last Friday, I went with friends to the opening of the Michigan Quilt Artists Invitational. The theme for quilts this year was The Art of Music. It was fun to see how many different ways the artists interpreted the theme in a 20 inch by 24 inch quilt.

I am a sucker for graphic design, so it's no surprise that I loved Ode to Sousa by Joan Potter Thomas.



. . . and Cindy Mielock's guitar quilt, titled Killing Me Softly.


The photo is skewed–because a pillar in the gallery made it impossible to get a nice square shot–the quilt is not. I love so much about this quilt.

Everyone, including me, also loved the irreverent Night on Bald Mountain, by Janna Rust-Getsin.



Modest Mussorgsky, the composer of St. John's Night on Bald Mountain, was also represented in another quilt at the show, Promenade with Mussorgsky, by Barbara Kilbourn.



Modern composers and their music were also represented. I confess someone else had to tell me the profile on The Art of Rock and Roll by Nancy Brooks-Siebert, belonged to Bob Dylan



. . . but, I immediately identified the imagery in Mary Andrews' quilt, Grateful Dead, Grateful Life.



I could keep going on (and on) about the quilts I liked–for their clever or punny titles, beautiful technique, interesting embellishments. All my photos from the event are in my Flickr set The Art of Music–grab a cuppa and see what you like.

I am a Friend of Kate

I was excited to test Christine's pattern, Kate & Friends. As a little girl, I loved paper dolls and this pattern is just as much fun. Earlier this summer, I'd been reading along on her blog, Winnowings, as Christine developed the pattern and posted women, men and kids as she created them.

It took me too long to get into my sewing room–and even longer to blog about it–but here's my block.


The temptation to make a quilted paper doll version of myself was irresistable. I was surprised to find a batik that was pretty close to my graying blonde hair. I challenged myself to create a block wearing just what I was wearing, modifying the pattern a little to add short sleeves and adjust the length of my pink sweater.

Thanks, Christine, for creating such a fun toy for women who used to be little girls who loved paper dolls.

Invisible Woman

A couple weeks ago, I emailed a piece by Nicole Johnson to a friend. The essay is titled Perspective: The Invisible Woman and the title on my email message was similar.

My friend thougth I was talking about myself and the lack of activity on my blog.

Since the two sleep studies, my life has felt like one step forward toward restful sleep and feeling normal again and . . . two steps back. I struggle to go to work most days (and some days, it's just not possible) and many things have fallen by the wayside, including blogging.

Sometimes, I think that one day, life will return to something like normal and, eventually, I'll be able to catch up on everything. Other times, that feels like a crazy fantasy.

Yum

As a change from the usual flowers and vines, this year, a patio tomato graces my front porch.



Is anything tastier than a tomato, ripened on the vine and eaten still warm from the sun?

I picked a couple of these last night, chopped them up and added them to some pasta, olive oil and fresh basil. Then, poured a glass of Pinot Grigio and enjoyed. Yum.

So Nice

Thank you, Rian, for this sweet award.

She likes it. She really likes it.

Here's the photo I received from my swap partner, Dawn, of her daughter Ela with her new doll quilt. I have her permission to share.

Who knew? I was making a quilt for a living doll.

Edited to add, I should have seen it coming (but didn't). A second quilt for twin brother Raif is in the works.

Doll Quilt for Ela

Today, I received the sweetest note from Dawn, my swap partner in DQS2. My quilt made the trip from middle America to Istanbul Turkey in 6 days and was well-received by her almost three year old, Ela.

It was killing me to NOT share a photo . . . but now I can :-)



I hoped the black cat would look like the black Moroccan cat that I'd been told was part of the family. Ela recognized Pasa immediately. Yay!

Jinxed?

Kate's Birthday Block swap has been interesting . . . and frustrating.

When I made the first block, I saw red when the red fabric bled. It had to be re-made.

This weekend, I made the second block and realized (just in time) that dyslexic me had screwed up the orientation of one of the units. Rip, rip, rip and resew and it's OK now . . . I think. Here's the before and after.



I made the third block today. I like the fabrics; it follows Amy's guidelines, but I hate it. It's back to the drawing board on that one.

I am feeling jinxed.

Making Lemonade and Birthday Blocks

The saying goes, When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.

This would be the lemon in my life at the moment . . . a vehicle that has an intermittent won't start problem–always at an inconvenient place and time.

The mechnic didn't finish on Friday and so I am spending the weekend, carless, at home.

And here's the lemonade--two of three blocks made for Kate's Birthday Blocks Swap.



The Dresdan Star block on the left is for Robin who asked for a 10 inch block in Traditional Christmas Colors. The 9 inch Snowflake block in purples on white on the right is for Deb.

I also made a block for Amy . . . who said she wanted to be surprised. (Check out the cool blocks she's already received from Kathi and Kate on her blog).

Discovering Mudcloth

I made this virtual mudcloth at the Smithsonian's site, Discovering Mudcloth. Three interesting artists who create, work with, or are inspired by mudcloth are featured.

It's Leaving, on a Jet Plane . . .

I'm just back from the post office. My Doll Quilt for the swap is (finally) on its way. It's going to be hard not to share a photo for a few days.

If you haven't received your quilt yet, this could be it . . . as viewed from the back (one last tease).



Bye bye quilt!

Doll Quilt Swap Update

Earlier this week, I received this beautiful doll quilt from Deedan.



Here are some details–of the interesting fabrics, red ties and perfectly mitered binding.



I honestly didn't know what to expect from this experience, especially since I didn't provide any clues at all, specifying Quilter's Choice. I might have mentioned that I intended to hang it in my office . . . what a happy coincidence that it coordinates so well with the walls and my lamp.



One quilt received and one almost sent. I am finally putting the last stitches into my own very late Doll Quilt.



Today, at lunch, I sewed on the label. Tonight I'll finish sewing the binding down and then it will be ready for it's long, international trip. Here's another sneek peek.



Look for complete photos of my quilt in a few days. I'm very happy with it--I hope my swap partner will be, too.

Bed Turning

One of the hightlights of the Light House Quilters' show last weekend was a Bed Turning. An antique brass bed held 20 antique and vintage quilts, arranged in chronological order, one atop the other. Two guild members pulled each quilt off the top for a show and tell, with the historical information provided by a third member. If was fun to see the quilts and hear their histories.



This arrangement of New York Beauty blocks is known as Baby Bunting and is completely hand pieced and hand quilted. It's from the late 19th century.

All my photos from the event are tagged Bed Turning on Flickr; here are a couple more of my favorites.

A 1930's Double Wedding Ring.



A graphic pink and white quilt from the 40's.



A yo-yo coverlet with a very organized arrangment of yo-yos.



A classic red and white Chimney Sweep quilt–which one member of the quilt police in the audience insisted was an Album quilt (and wasn't happy with me when I suggested that both block names are correct).