quiltersmuse.com Blog

I could say that I have been working like a dog, but near as I can tell, dogs just look cute, slobber, and roll over. They don’t work much, unless of course, they are “working dogs.” I love dogs! A better term for what I have been doing is “working doggedly,” a quaint turn of phrase again, including the word “dog.” Hmmm … Let’s start over.

For the past three or four weeks, I have left my warm bed and husband long before the sun came up. I have returned to that place of repose, long after the sun went down. In between those two events, the computer keys have been kept warm by my constant clicking. Luckily, Jim cooked and called me to the table when he felt I needed sustenance to keep going.

What was I working on? I am doing a re-write of a book, first published in print form in 2005. I am a driven woman. So many people have asked how they could obtain a copy of my book on quilt care, now out-of-print, we decided to bring it back as a totally updated, revamped, and expanded e-book, with more photos and information than ever before.

Amazingly, just about every contact, previously listed in the first book, has either moved, died, gone out of business, is no longer an Internet presence, or no longer makes a certain product. I have scrambled to secure the correct information so that you will have the latest scoop! The phone lines have been busy!

Today, I spent quite a lot of time preparing a Table of Contents, plus subtitles for the 21 Chapters in the book. There are a few more photos I would like to add, but between Jim’s work and mine, we just about have this new item created. The e-Book will be called, Straight Talk About Quilt Care II, and will be sold on a CD that will be mailed. I love the easy built-in navigation system that Jim has installed. Makes it very easy to access any chapter. The price will be purposely reasonable so that money will not stand in the way of being able to share this great knowledge that I’ve worked so hard to collate.

This is an item that you might think about giving yourself for a gift, or definitely purchasing for a friend to whom you give one of your handmade quilts this season.
I hope you enjoy our efforts. My love of research and the blessing of having research materials on hand make a good combination. I guarantee you that you will learn information that you never knew you wanted to know!

Back to the drawing boards. Look for more information next week.

Have a terrific weekend!

Patricia Cummings, pat@quiltersmuse.com
Quilter’s Muse Publications

Unknown quilt block from photo dated 5/25/2004

Diane Fath writes:

Hello Pat,

We are trying to figure out what quilt block pattern was used in the attached quilt. My Mother made the quilt but has passed away in a car accident.

Can you please help me? Any help you can give is much appreciated. Thank you.

Diane

Full view:

Quilt made by Debbie

Sorry to hear of your loss, Diane. This looks like it is probably a “modern” quilt design from a contemporary design artist. If anyone has more information, please contact: pat@quiltersmuse.com
Thanks.

Letter to the Editor:

Hello, My name is Traci Cromwell and I am the Cultural History Collections Manager at the Indiana State Museum. I am trying to get the word out about the museum’s quilt collection that is available for research online in the artifact collection database. See Indiana State Museum online database. Currently we have close to 600 historic quilts in the collection online that date from 1810-2000. Highlights from the online quilt collection include:

* The largest collection of Indiana Amish quilts (perhaps Midwestern Amish too) and the best provenanced. Anyone doing research on Amish quilts should visit our site to see them. Includes examples dated in the quilting from 1869 to 1985.
* The Indiania (sic) Fancy Quilt, titled, dated and signed by Clarissa Rohrbach Strong of Delaware County in 1854. Wonderful documentation combined with excellent condition and visually striking design.
* Dogwood quilt designed by Marie Webster and made by Mary Ann Sipe. Webster was the author of the first American book on quilts and was a famous quilt designer from Marion, Indiana. Her work appeared in the Ladies’ Home Journal.
* Storybook appliqué quilt made by Martha Jungclaus in 1929-1937, following the children’s book illustrations of Fern Bissel Peat, an Indiana native.
* Indiana State quilt with all counties made in the county of origin for Hoosier Celebration 88, a state-wide celebration.
* The Lincoln campaign ribbon quilt. Made by 13-year old Maggie Frentz of New Albany in 1876, incorporates campaign ribbons of all candidates for President and Vice President in the 1860 election, including both Lincoln and Douglas.

Please let me know if you have any questions about the museum’s online database that I can answer. We would very much appreciate you posting our online database link to your wonderful quilt website.
Thank You-Traci

Traci Cromwell
Cultural History Collections Manager
Indiana State Museum
650 West Washington 46204-2725
phone: 317-234-1719
fax: 317-234-1724
tcromwell@dnr.IN.gov

Rubia, an organization that has 501 (c) 3 status as a non-profit, is dedicated to increasing the literacy of the women of Afghanistan. They raise funds for education mainly through the sale of embroidered goods. A few years ago, we had the opportunity to write an article for The Quilter magazine, based on a meeting with Hafiza Malikbaba and Rachel Lehr, (one of the American founders of Rubia, a fluent linguist who knows all of the Afghan dialects).

Small bag or embroidered purse made by a member of the Rubia organization in Afghanistan. Photo taken at Rachel Lehr’s home.

Today, I received notice that Rubia is offering their annual calendar, priced at only $10. each ppd. This year, it features the photographs of Afghan children, taken by Rachel and others. The Internet site for Rubia is selling some very sweet-looking, lavender-filled, 5″ embroidered hearts made of either silk, wool, rayon, and cotton, in other words, whatever fibers were available to the women when making these objects.

Please take a minute to visit the Rubia site: http://www.rubiahandwork.org/special_sale.html

To read more about Afghanistan and Hafiza, please read our online file: http://www.quiltersmuse.com/afghanistan_embroideries.htm

This announcement is brought to you as a courtesy of Quilter’s Muse Publications

Currently, two Hmong “Happy Fisherman” Pants are offered on eBay by “zootube”

This is auction #130344035302 Hmong fisherman pants

This is auction #130340681357 Hmong fisherman pants example 2