Archive for December, 2009

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Treasure Trove of Family Textiles Continues to Delight

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
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Posted in Antiques, Embroidery, Fabrics, New Hampshire | 2 Comments »

December Blessings

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

In taking my own advice about counting blessings instead of sheep, I am thinking the following thoughts this morning:

1) I am inside in a warm house, not on the street, and not out in the woods, like the wildlife that is foraging for some kind of food in the snow.
2) At the end of this closing year, I can look back to the many research projects I have undertaken and published, and all of the lovely people I have met along the way.
3) I can look back to the decent father and decent mother who brought me into this world. I was not “strung up by the hair of the head” but rather, had every advantage.
4) I do not have to leave my home to fight my way through airport security. I work from HOME and I love it!
5) My husband got up early this morning to go do the food shopping. Hard, concrete floors of grocery stores and warehouse outlets really increase the pain of my arthritis, so it is a blessing that he shops.
6) I am lucky to have recently seen my grandchildren, if only briefly. They are lovely creatures and very amusing.
7) My steadfast friends in the quilt world are a joy to know, and I seem to be making more friends as I go along.
8) I am thankful to have the courage of my convictions and to have no fear in speaking the truth. It’s about time someone did so.
9) I love Facebook! It keeps me connected with extended family across the country, in a day-to-day way, and up to date on the activities and accomplishments of cherished friends.
10) I am grateful for the technical expertise of my husband, Jim, webmaster for Quilter’s Muse Publications, and computer guru extraordinaire.
11) I am ever happy to live in America where we appreciate freedom, knowing that we only remain “free,” at a price.
12) I appreciate people like Don Beld and all of the state coordinators for the Home of the Brave program who attempt to make sense of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by making tribute quilts for families of fallen soldiers.
13) I am grateful for all of the new research work done this year in the quilt history arena and all the dedicated researchers, writers, and academics who are behind new discoveries.
14) I feel happy that a few magazines will still publish quilt history articles, and a couple of book publishers are still taking on the subject. So saying, I think of Bob Shaw’s latest book and that of Jinny Beyer, both master works.
15) I am thankful to still be a part of The Quilter magazine after more than 10 years of writing quilt history and related articles for that magazine title. I am particularly grateful for all of my husband Jim’s photos that make my words come to life!

Yes, I don’t have to look far or think hard to find many points of gratitude. Home, family, friends, country, meaningful activities … what more is there that really counts?

I wish you health and happiness in 2010. May all of your troubles be so tiny that you barely notice them. The New Year is upon us. If you “believe,” anything can happen!

Peace,

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Ways that People Utilize Information Found at Quilter’s Muse Publications

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

Millions of visitors have enjoyed our site since we first published it in 2002. Of course, we consistently add new files. The following is a list of some of the ways that individuals or groups have used information found here.

1) “Work for the Night is Coming,” an old song, sung by Patricia Cummings, was played at a funeral in AZ in honor of a grandmother who loved the song.

2) A recent article in the Bangor Daily News provided a link to my article about Girlhood Samplers.

3) People visit the file about quilt pattern identification and are able to access a long list of references that would be helpful in locating published names of any given quilt blocks.

4) Graduate students have inculcated information on the site in their master’s theses, citing Quilter’s Muse Publications as a source.

5) Book publishers have requested and been granted permission to reprint Jim’s copyrighted photos in their educational books. (Standard pricing applies).

6) Program chairmen for quilt guilds have secured permission to read entire files written by Patricia Cummings to their groups, as a program.

7) Church groups have published photos from the site in their bulletins.

8) Countless people have written to Patricia Cummings for information, direction, and advice about a number of textile-related questions.

9) Quilter’s Muse is a reliable souce of information. Many students find information here to supplement their papers and to help them understand various topics.

10) Our two associated “blogs” – one, multi-themed; the other a dedicated cooking blog that features related textiles, are updated frequently and enjoyed by many.

11) A teacher in Sweden asked her group of students to duplicate an embroidery design, previously offered, and she sent photos of the many ways in which her students interpreted it. Other quilters have re-created items by using the free patterns on the site for miniature quilts and embroidery.

12) Spanish students have found useful information in the files and songs that are placed on the website, intended to be educational.

13) Readers are kept up to date on the latest books via our hand-selected amazon links and book reviews.

14) The blog often mentions news events around the world, particularly as they relate to groups of people who are featured on our main website, such as the Hmong, Ukrainians, Argentinians, African-Americans, etc.

15) The extensive explanations I am responsible for having written continue to be understood and utilized in the classroom to counteract the Underground Railroad Secret Code Quilt Myth, by informed consumers of the Truth.

16) Photo essays of our trips and of New England landscapes are often shared.

17) Musings about life; humor; and a sense of place in New England, as well as New England’s history, especially in regard to quilt history are all part of the offerings at Quilter’s Muse Publications. Insightful reflections about people and about living life, including financial advice, are included.

18) Books about Redwork, its history and how-to-instructions; a comprehensive book about quilt care; and a biography of Ellen Emeline Hardy Webster (1867-1950), quilt historian, are available as electronic books on mailable CDs.

19) Service announcements for museum lectures and programs are shared through received press releases.

Of course, there are many other ways in which our information, freely-provided, has been of value to readers.

Quilter’s Muse Publications and Virtual Museum is a unique entity that offers special features and high quality books and articles that you will not find duplicated anywhere. At any rate, you have seen many of the topics presented here … FIRST! The July issue of The Quilter magazine will hold the 70th article that Jim and I have collaborated on for that particular magazine.

More is on the way. We deliver! Do you have an article that you would like to contribute, or a topic you’d like to see covered? If so, contact us at: pat@quiltersmuse.com

Patricia Cummings – “not for profit, but for service” – just like the Credit Unions my father organized during his lifetime
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Remembering … December 28, 1994

Monday, December 28th, 2009

The last time I heard Steve’s voice, he was in a philosophical mood, talking about Ishmael and Moby Dick … and God. The conversation lingered on and I began to wonder why, as we customarily did not spend that much time on the phone together. Little did I know, that a few hours later, we would be making funeral arrangements for my brother. He was 50 years old. He passed on before seeing any of his grandchildren born, and he departed this world leaving a grief-stricken mother, and three siblings, the first “kid” in the family to “go.”

Born premature at only 5 lbs. and with a heart murmur, Steve was a frail kid. He grew to be 6’3″ and 400 lbs. Right before his death, (due to heart failure), he had shrunk to a mere 310 lbs.

Two years later, my older brother died from a sudden cardiac arrest. My sister had an episode, more recently, but she has lived to tell it. I have been tested and also have arrythmia or Long QT syndrome, that is an indication that my heart may just stop beating at any time. The Long QT factor is more common than people realize and is present, even in children. Of course, it is a genetic pre-disposition. Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a medical problem that is becoming more well-known today.

Steve loved to sing. In his late teen years, he liked Dave van Ronk, and attended the Newport Folk Festival to hear him, as well as Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and other folk artists of the 1960s. He bought himself a guitar, but never did spend enough time with it to play songs. Later in his life, as a Baptist convert, he enjoyed singing in church. He invited us to attend one church sermon he was presenting and I remember his impassioned and fervent vocalizations, imitating the words of Christ from the cross. He was nothing, if not a convicted Christian.

He was a hard-worker, but generous to a fault. It was always hard for him to make ends meet, and he often suffered from depression and despondency. He took joy in being on a frozen lake, catching fish to feed the family. In fact, there was no pretense to my brother, at all. He felt no need to impress anyone and he found more consolation in the Bible than anything else. Of course, I loved him and I prefer to remember only the good things I know about him. He was prone to anger, many times the result of frustration and the feeling of being inadequate. I’d like to think that I understood him, and at the very least, could lend a listening ear.

Today, 15 years later, the gentle snow is falling softly on his black gravestone with engraved deer on it. We decorate the grave with flowers, twice a year. Steve’s journey is over; his mission fulfilled. What do any of us leave behind? Memories of the living, sound bites in our heads, photos, and sometimes, writings, recorded music, or even our collections. Those things are all that is left to represent the lives of common, ordinary people. Of course, the rich are in another category. They leave their legacies in buildings, such as the Newport Mansions, or museums named for them.

Selfishly, I wish Steve were still here, but we mortals have no control over life and death. Today, I dwell on the words he left me: “Be an overcomer!” / “My God can do anything! How BIG is your God?” / “To be in contact with people, you must be prepared to constantly forgive them.” He was wise beyond his years. Today, on this cold December day, I remember my mother at his grave, trying to give a red rose to everyone in the immediate family. I turned away, sadly, and then walked away. I wanted no remembrance that would soon look like death itself.

The snow, coming down in heavy flakes, is a silent tribute, covering the ground with a cloak of mystery. Rest in peace, dear Stephen.

Patricia Cummings

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Joy and Conflict – How Were Your Holidays?

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

If you call up your friends and they tell you the truth, no doubt they would relay their disappointments as well as joys, experienced during the Christmas holiday. Not everyone is the Walton family. In my case, I spent Christmas day by myself and did not hear from a soul on that day, until I made a call in the evening. My husband was working. In the 25 years we have been married, he has held human service positions that more often than not require his presence on holidays. After all, people who need care can’t be neglected just because it is a special day. I understand. However, understanding did not help my perception of being utterly alone while everyone else in the world was opening gifts, sharing a special meal, etc. In fact, I could not have felt more sad or more abandoned. I’ll get over it. As I jokingly told a friend, “Christmas is past. Now I can stop feeling suicidal.”

I tried to remind myself that Christmas is not about me. After all, I did receive some lovely gifts from close friends (that I opened on Christmas Eve). The gifts were thoughtful and suited exactly to my tastes. I am blessed with a handful of wonderful friends, and one close relative who never fails to be in touch on special days and who also sends gifts and cards. She is like a daughter!

Gifts aside, although they are a way of showing love during this special season, Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus. I know that fact gets lost in all of the hubbub of the shopping frenzy and other preparations. The day is His birthday, or if not the exact date of birth, at least a close approximation.

To get a bigger picture of what was happening in the world, I turned to news headlines of the day. As you may have seen, a video from a captive U.S. soldier dominated Internet news, but was barely mentioned on the news broadcast at night. What the enemy does not realize is that we will not bargain with them. It would only encourage more kidnappings and more demands. Basically, the Taliban was just trying to disrupt Christmas, and in so doing, violated their own rules of Islam.

A good friend of mine listened today while I complained about the non-events of Christmas. (I don’t even feel like Christmas happened this year). She gave me some wise advice that I’d like to share with you.

1) Develop “the attitude of gratitude.”
2) Get up in the morning and start mentally appreciating every little thing, like the hot water you use to wash your face. In Africa, the people don’t have that luxury and have bugs crawling all over them.
3) See the glass as half-full, not half-empty.
4) It doesn’t matter what happens to you; it does matter how you “process” it.
5) Continue taking note of all of your blessings, every day. By the end of a day, you’ll have a long list.

She is absolutely right. Sometimes, we just have to be reminded.

I don’t know about you, but I am more than ready to say good-bye to 2009. I am looking forward to new beginnings in 2010. Part of that plan will be to try to be more creative, have less expectations of other people, and be even more self-reliant and independent than I am now. Have you made any New Year’s Resolutions?

Patricia Cummings

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The Quilter’s Album of Patchwork Patterns by Jinny Beyer: A Book Review

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

A Book Review by Patricia Cummings

I did not weigh the new volume of quilt designs, The Quilter’s Album of Patchwork Patterns, offered by Jinny Beyer, but I can see that my mailman was walking a little more slumped over, after delivering it. The 1 1/2″ thick book with 488 pages offers 4050 unique pieced quilt patterns with their first published names. The author has taken the time of show each block in color, using her own fabric lines, it seems. She describes the gridwork on which each is based, making it easy for a quilter to re-create blocks in any size by understanding how they are composed.

I own her first book, The Quilter’s Album of blocks & Borders that featured 532 pieced blocks and 212 pieced borders and was printed in 1980. She has come a long way since then! This book and all of its carefully-researched documentation would be an invaluable resource for any quilter, appraiser, librarian or other quilt aficionado. The layout is easy to use, and the blocks are graphically-attractive with choices of colors that only an expert in color, like Jinny, could implement.

With so many other pattern identification books in my own library, I wondered if I should take a chance on purchasing this book. I can truthfully tell you that I am so glad I did! I am sure that it is a reference book that I will turn to, again and again. The book has just now become available on amazon. At $32.97, it qualifies for free super shipping.

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A Matter of Interpretation

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

This is a short story that I shared with the about.com Spanish site, and it was published recently.

La nariz (The nose)

When I lived in Spain, I taught some English classes to Spanish-speakers in the university. One day, I asked a student, who was just arriving to class, how he was. He answered, “un poco constipado.” A strange look must have come over my face because he quickly added, “la nariz, la nariz …” I remember it being funny as I’d automatically jumped to a conclusion of what I thought he meant, without knowing at all.

—quiltersmuse

Patricia Cummings who was 21 yrs. old at the time (1972)

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American Soldier Condemns War in Afghanistan on Propaganda Video on Christmas Day

Friday, December 25th, 2009

An American soldier, held for five months as a P.O.W. by the Taliban, and wearing dark glasses, decried American involvement in the war, in a video that zoomed in on photos of Abu Ghraib, as he spoke today. He said that he had not been mistreated as Muslim prisoners had been at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

This is “news,” but I question the reason for running it on the Internet on one of the most sacred and holy of Christian holidays. I also wonder why the soldier is wearing huge sunglasses. I shudder to think why. Seeing this video makes me feel angry, sad, and disgusted. The soldier has “sold his country down the river,” and yet, is this the price he is paying for maintaining his own life? He condemns U.S. involvement in previous arenas, some of which called for military reaction to protect American citizens or their property. Iraq and Afghanistan are not Vietnam. The Vietnamese people never took American lives on American soil.

This kind of video could be very disheartening to fellow soldiers and disruptive to the mission (which is the goal of the Taliban). Isn’t the timing just great? I like to keep abreast of the news but I will say that I am sorry to have watched this footage. It was offered as a Yahoo news headline update. This is a devious move by the enemies of America. I feel sorry for the 23 year old soldier who was coerced into saying what he did.

On this cold Christmas Day 2009, we are sending warm wishes to all of our military men and women, wherever they are located in the world. The gift of their time, their attention to duty, and the sacrifices they make are beyond measure. We pray for peace and the end of to all wars, knowing full well that that will never happen here on earth. Nonetheless, we wish nothing but peace for the hearts of those who serve their country with dedication and pride. In turn, we are proud of you and honor you, in life and beyond. Never, ever give up hope. For hope for better times is all that any of us really has. It is believed that the soldier’s statements were made “under duress.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091225/ap_on_re_as/as_afghan_captured_soldier (today’s video)

Video links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0snkYYCcb4 (his first video)

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Success in Textile Cleaning

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

More than a year ago, I received a wonderful collection of various types of family textiles from some prolific needleworkers who made quilts, potholders, aprons, and many other items. I am still documenting all of them, but in the meantime, wrote several articles based on items from the collection for The Quilter magazine.

I “discovered” a pile more of handkerchiefs and then another pile of pillowcases. Holding up the pillowcases, I could see that they were made at a time when completely round pillowcases were manufactured, precluding the need for side seams. Some were embroidered with colored threads (one set had a basket motif; another, flowers). Yet another pair of pillowcases features a monogram on each one. Still another set has the entire last name written out in cursive and embroidered with raised stitching.

The one thing these items had in common is that they smelled bad. A second common trait was that they were severely-yellowed, in an uneven pattern. I decided to try to “improve them,” by trying the safest products first. Here is what I did:

I added Cheer Free and Clear to a half washing tub of water, agitated the solution, and let them soak overnight.
Result: a discernible musty odor was still present

The next day, (today), I poured about 1/2 cup of a product in the wash water that smells like lavender and was guaranteed to “whiten” the pillowcases. The pillowcases smelled like lavender (of course), but were not whitened.

Next, determined to be successful by trying this and that, I added about 1 cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda powder and 1/4 cup of Clorox II together with the pillowcases and washed them for a longer cycle, no longer on the hand/delicate cycle, but on the gentle cycle for 10 minutes.

The result is that I now have odor-free, non-yellowed, antique pillowcases.

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season! I find that it is always the “little things” in life for which I am the most grateful. Have fun!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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It’s All in the Details

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Once, I used to visit a much older woman. She would ask me if I’d like a cup of tea, then going to the cupboard, she would find that she had no tea. She would revise the offer, and say, “Would coffee do instead?” I’d say, “Sure.” Then, she would take note of the fact that she had no coffee. She would open the refrigerator door, in the hope of offering me a soft drink. No, her family would have consumed the last can of soda. Eventually, I’d settle for a glass of water, which, by the way, was fine with me.

She loved my mother’s cooking and would always ask for recipes, but not having a full “larder,” she’d make many substitutions that were not even reasonable ones. Then, she would bemoan the fact that her cooking was not as good as Betty’s. The problem reached the point that my mother no longer would share her recipes with the woman. They came out so awful, my mother did not want others to hold her responsible. No, we cannot substitute unlike substances and expect a recipe to come out right.

In life, details are important! Yet often, doctors do not pay enough attention to details and then we hear of a patient walking around with scissors accidentally sewn up inside him. Of course that is a drastic example. In medicine, though, weird situations happen all the time. A person is administered a drug that has some component to which he is allergic, or has the wrong limb amputated.

In old census records, we find all kinds of spelling errors related to names, places, and dates. It is really difficult to make sense of our ancestor’s lives, when a record or records are incorrect and also scant. If no birth record exists, as was often the case, it can be difficult to prove that a person is a certain age. This was true when my mother applied for Social Security and had no birth record from the town in Georgia where she was born. She ended up scurrying to find other records to help prove her age.

cover image of e-book on CD - Ellen Webster

Cover image of e-book on CD about Ellen Webster, New Hampshire’s early quilt historian

The person about whom I wrote an extensive biography last year had been referred to as “Emily Webster” when her name was truly “Ellen Webster.” Perhaps no other information ever would have been available, certainly not a 355 page manuscript with many family photos, like the one I wrote, had everyone continued to believe that the quilt historian’s name was “Emily.” Indeed, she did have a friend (not related to her) whose name was Emily Webster, but that is a longer story than I can recount here. Photos of Emily are in my e-book.

Yes, life is in the details. It is an easy lesson to learn when one cuts a long border of a quilt 1/4″ shorter than what it should be. Don’t ask me how I know! Minute matters matter! Here’s to all the other sticklers out there who care about getting their facts and their fractions right!

Patricia Cummings, author of Ellen Emeline Hardy Webster (1867-1950): Her Amazing Quilt “Charts,” Her Writings, and Her Life (Quilter’s Muse Publications, Concord, NH, 2008) – an e-book on CD
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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A Day of Recollection

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Today seems like as good a day as any to spend time remembering some events of the last 25 years. You see, this is our silver wedding anniversary. When I met Jim, he had long hair, a beard and a moustache, and I had brown hair and was much thinner! It’s funny how physical appearances can change, but when you love what’s “inside” another person, looks don’t matter much at all. A couple just grows older together.

We have seen each other through good times and bad. Over the years, we have lost many family members, but yet others have been born. Together, we raised my son from a previous marriage, and now, as you’ve seen, he has children of his own.

In the last quarter of a century, I held various positions of employment, Jim retired from his main career and has continued to be employed in human services work – always helping others. That’s the kind of guy he is. He is temperamentally-suited to be a caregiver, always realizing, at the same time, that there is not a lot of money to earn in nurturing people in institutions like homes for the developmentally-delayed or nursing homes.

Both of us have always maintained a sense of independence. Our website (2002-2009) is intended to share our thoughts, interests, and creative pursuits, in many different ways. Through Quilter’s Muse Publications and Virtual Museum, we have touched many lives, if only gauging that idea by the number of people who have written to us for information, or who have commented on what they found on our two blogs or main website.

We are happy. When I look around at married folks who are not “clicking,” it seems that there are always two main points of disagreement in a marriage. The obvious one is competition for money, or control over how available resources will be spent. The other main issue is so ever-pervasive, it needs no explanation or mention.

Fidelity counts. So do common interests and goals, respect of each other’s space, and right to pursue one’s interests. Jim and I have outlasted many other people in their length of marriage. We attended some of the weddings. The bride had to have the biggest diamond ring, a full court of attendants, and a huge wedding with lots of guests, a band, etc. Everything was for show, and the couple was in hock up to their eyeballs before the wedding even took place.

Jim and I believe in simplicity, and have always been our own point of reference, never needing to go out of our way to impress anyone. We like the simple life: reading books, cooking nutritious food, taking walks and nature hikes, visiting museums, the library and antiques stores. Jim enjoys photography and I enjoy writing for publication. He “works” some. I work only for myself (self-employed). We also work together. Our lifestyle is perfect for us.

I feel very lucky. Who can say that they married their best friend and have had an ongoing relationship, every day, for 25 years? I am sure that many of my friends have been married even longer. My friends share the same core values of appreciation of their spouses, a self-less commitment to their relationships, and a willingness to do whatever needs to be done.

Today, we celebrate! Thank you all for your good wishes! You validate us.

Patricia Cummings
December 17, 2009
Quilter’s Muse Publications and Virtual Museum

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The Joys of Grandchildren – A Family Story

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

Jim and I got up extra early this morning, in the hope of getting on the road and beating the rush hour traffic, heading south on the Interstate. Although we left by 7:30 a.m., by the time we reached the Chelmsford/Lowell area, the traffic was backed up to a snail’s pace. Once we made our way through Massachusetts, circumventing Boston, and were in Rhode Island, the traffic was still heavy, but not as bad. Our destination on this clear but very cold day, devoid of snow, sleet or freezing rain, was the home of our son, James and his family, who live south of Providence.

Due to this and that, I had only seen my granddaughter, Hannah, once before, during the summer, and was looking forward to seeing both her and her big brother, Patrick, who will be three years old before Christmas.

Grandmother Pat and Hannah - Dec 2009

This is Hannah, who was born in July, sitting on Grandma Pat’s lap.

Of course, we were greeted by the German Shepherd dog, Emma, when we first arrived. I always forget that it is her job to poke me with her long snout and sniff to make sure I’m an alright person. Finding her snout in an uncustomary place is always rather startling! Ahem!

The all-black cat was friendly today, and wanted to occupy the seat next to me during lunch. When I started to pet him, he was okay for a little while but then chomped my hand, a behavior of his since he was a kitten. I’d forgotten.

Patrick enjoying cake

Grandpa Jim made a delicious applesauce cake with walnuts and raisins in honor of Patrick’s birthday. Here is Patrick enjoying a piece with whipped cream on top.

Earlier in the day, I had admired the Advent candle on the table and my son, James, lit it and two other candles in the candleabra. I’ve never seen a candle like this one. It was marked with the days of December in increments, so that one could burn about 1/2″ per day to reach the correct, current date.

We left the candle going while we ate. After lunch, the three candles in the candleholder were still burning when it was time to give Patrick his birthday present. The present, a “barn” that contains four animals that make their own sounds (a pig, a duck, a rooster, and a cow), was a difficult gift to wrap so I’d just wrapped in red tissue paper.

In helping to unwrap the gift, Jim unwittingly tossed the tissue paper … on the burning candles! We had a few moments of hurried activity to put out the flames. You’ll be happy to know that the only other bad thing that happened during the visit was Hannah “urping” on my clothes. That will teach me to bring a change of clothes next time!

A fine time was had by all. Always good to see one’s “kids.” James’ wife, Rebecca, even had a chance to scoot home for a little while, at lunch time, to wish us “Happy Anniversary.” Before heading back to New Hampshire, we all went out to the new park at Narragansett Bay. There were hundreds of Trumpeter Swans in the bay. Here is a photo:

Narragansett Swans 2009

Swans at Narragansett Bay

Today, was an extraordinary day. We love spending time with the grandchildren and feel very blessed that they are happy, healthy and have caring parents. Patrick loved his gift and it was great fun to listen to him talking to his new found “friends.” He loves animals!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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New England Quilt Museum News

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

PRESS RELEASE

Amish Spider Web quilt for child

Spider Web Crib Quilt, early 20th century. Collection of Sara Miller. Photo by Lisa Bisson

Lowell, MA—December 15, 2009—The New England Quilt Museum is very excited to announce their first exhibition of the 2010 season, Bettina Havig’s “Kinder Komforts: Amish Crib Quilts.” This exhibition will bring together many of the most remarkable examples of Amish quilting, all the more exquisite for their small dimensions.

As Ms. Havig writes in an upcoming article about the exhibit:

“Old Order Amish families live a simple and somewhat cloistered lifestyle. They are well-focused on a work ethic, a religious dogma, and on family especially on children. It is not at all surprising that crib quilts and children’s quilts are an important component of their quiltmaking. There is no way to project the number of crib quilts ever made by Amish mothers and grandmothers but family size suggests that a family might have needed several at any given time. Families that have numbers of children in double figures would have made, used and demolished by use many small quilts. For this reason surviving Amish crib quilts are rare, more so than the larger quilts used on their beds.”

The exhibition draws primarily from the collection of Sara Miller, herself a member of the Old Order Amish community for most of her life.

Kinder Komforts represents a new view of Amish quiltmaking. Amish crib quilts are made with the same saturated colors and simple, striking patterns as traditional large scale Amish quilts. They are made, however, with a greater degree of freedom than larger quilts, precisely because they are intended for rough wear and utilitarian purposes. These small quilts present notable variations in color and design, making Kinder Komforts an eye-opener, even for those who think they know Amish quilting.

“Kinder Komforts: Amish Crib Quilts” runs from March 4 through May 9, 2010. An opening reception on March 6 at 1 p.m. will feature a lecture on the Amish lifestyle and its intimate connection to quilting by guest curator Bettina Havig, an internationally-renowned quilt expert and author. In addition, quilt historian Gerald Roy will give a talk on the Amish use of color in conjunction with the exhibition on April 17, 2010 at 1 p.m.

During the exhibit, the museum will feature, in its permanent collection rooms, the work of Dorothy Bosselman. The late artist set out to re-create 60 historical Amish quilts, most dating from the early 20th century, in miniature. Her reproduction quilts, most of them no larger than 6” square, were recently acquired by the museum and will be exhibited for the first time in 20 years.

Support for this exhibition is provided in part by A Quilters’ Gathering/Eastcoast Quilters’ Alliance LLC.

About the New England Quilt Museum

The New England Quilt Museum, located at 18 Shattuck St., Lowell, MA, preserves, interprets, and celebrates American quilting past and present. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday; and Sundays 12-4 p.m., May through October. Closed January 1–18, 2010.

Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for students/senior citizens; Museum members are admitted free.
Visit http://www.nequiltmuseum.org/ or call (978) 452-4207 for more information.

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www.nequiltmuseum.org

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Some Amazing Work

Monday, December 14th, 2009

Artists are those who bring light to darkness of the world. This evening, I’d like to mention three cultural opportunities, for lack of a better name, that “made my day” today. The first is a new “green” magazine that is written by celebrity quilters who assist Jim West in leading quilters to exotic places all over the globe. The magazine is free and is available at: http://quiltposium.com Included in this issue are recipes and inspiring photos. I viewed it before the sun was up so I am not sure but I believe there may be 308 pages to this issue!

Today’s mail brought Irish Quilting magazine. This Christmas issue is the best ever! The magazine is full of color and therefore, full of life! I especially love the photos of quilts placed in natural settings in the Irish countryside. The issue has many patterns and is chocked full of inspiration.

Creative Journeys blog features a video of Ricky Tims singing his song, “Christmas in a Small Town” from his latest music CD, recorded in Nashville this past summer. The blog offers a link for ordering the CD. Ricky, a master musician, did all of the arranging and conducting for this work, and wrote some of the songs. For one day only, December 15, 2009, listen to songs from “Christmas in a Small Town,” on Ricky’s website.

Fort Hood Quilt

Fort Hood Quilt made by Don Beld over 33 days and 250 hours of work. Photo courtesy of Don Beld. Photo edits by Patricia Cummings

Donald Beld of California, founder of the Home of the Brave project to honor Fallen Soldiers, has completed a marathon of hand piecing and hand quilting to construct a beautiful quilt in honor of those whose lives were cut short at Fort Hood in the brutal massacre there on November 5, 2009. He has plans to present the quilt to the facility.

I hope that you are enjoying the Holiday Season, wherever you are and whatever you have to do in your daily life. May your travels be safe. It is always satisfying that “home” is as close as the nearest Internet connection, and friends abound with whom to share experiences, thoughts, recipes, songs, and the joy of the season. Thank you all, and God bless.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications and Virtual Museum

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Christmas Ornaments

Monday, December 14th, 2009

Christmas ornaments are just like jelly beans. You can never have just one. What do you have when you have two or three? Why, you have the beginning of a collection. Every year, I look forward to seeing the ornaments that have been so carefully packed away in acid free paper for a year. I carefully unwrap each one and place a hook on it. Some of the older ones are too fragile to remove hooks, so those stay year round.

This year I decided to take an inventory of the ornaments and create a pictorial essay in the form of a slideshow for the web so that you can see them, too. Today, after four days of doing photo edits on the more than 200 images that Jim took, I asked him to create a slideshow format, the first time we have done anything like this. I am pleased to say that you may now view our new file that consists of a brief essay and a link to the ornament photos.

Enjoy the show!

Patricia and James Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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