Archive for April, 2010

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Riding the Rails for Free – Results in a New Book

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

My mother always told the story of how, during the Great Depression, her southern cousin would hop a train and head north to Manchester, New Hampshire to visit the family. He might not have looked like a hobo, but for all intents and purposes, he was. In her words, he would come to come to “leech off of” her family (of 13 people). My grandmother was always gracious and would feed any stray kitten, or so the story goes, and she welcomed this fine looking young man with open arms. Trouble is, he would most often overstay his welcome.

I am anxiously awaiting the release of a new book by Debra G. Henninger titled, Hobo Quilts: 55+ Original Blocks Based on the Secret Language of Riding the Rails. This book is due to be released in early May 2010 from Krause Publications. Debra has prepared designs to be made with the paper piecing technique, and several of the pages of the book shows the symbols and their meanings. The 256 page volume includes historical photos and reflects the author’s fascination with railroads. This book looks like a lot of fun, and contains a number of projects.

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When a Flower Speaks the Language of Love

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

Anyone who has studied Victorian times would know that each type of flower had an inherent meaning. I am not sure how long this tradition has continued, but one 18th century poet, Robert Burns (1759-1796) certainly had his trials with love, and yet, wrote a poem, “A Red, Red Rose.” The Scotsman wrote, in the first stanza:

Oh, my luve is like a red, red rose,
That’s newly sprung in June.
Oh my luve is like the melodie,
That’s sweetly play’d in tune. …

bonsai

Bonsai plant

My roses are not blooming yet, though they are busy putting on new leaves. However, a little bonsai plant, the gift of a thoughtful niece last Mother’s Day, has buds and has begun to bloom. The blossom almost looks like a miniature Hibiscus. I believe it is really an Azalea. Here is a photo. Isn’t it gorgeous?

close-up

Close-up view of blossom

We followed the directions that came with the plant that said to keep it in a cool place and water it very little during the winter. It seemed to like our closed-in, summer porch, and we could keep a good eye on it, coming and going out the back door.

This spring, it is loaded with blossoms, and as you see, the plant is now rewarding our vigilance with a blossom. Seeing this lovely plant come to life again and sprout new leaves is a reminder of love itself. If carefully nurtured, love endures. If neglected, love dies on the vine. It is a lesson for us all. We should listen to Nature more often!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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An Attitude of Gratitude

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Siberian Iris photo by James Cummings

Siberian Iris. Photo by James Cummings

The “attitude of gratitude” is good to develop. Today, in spite of the usual annoying aches and pains of aging, I woke up feeling exhilarated and with a profound sense of gratitude for ALL of the people I have known, even those with whom I have parted ways. You see, we are a collective, in the truest sense, and we depend on each other to make each of us “better people.” You and I both know all of our own shortcomings, unless we are blind to the truth. We are not perfect people. We have to struggle to overcome our own selfish motives, our own anger, and sometimes, our own prejudice (which can manifest itself in many areas, not just race).

Encouragement is the greatest gift that someone can give to another. It costs little to the giver, yet it is precious beyond gold. After all, most of us just want permission to be who we are, and to be accepted, and to have our work valued.

Some of us rattle the cage that constrains us, and sometimes the bars that hold us in consist of just being a woman. Everyone we encounter could use a kind word, from the clerk at Walmart to university professors. We all like to think that we are doing good work and that we are reaping respect and appreciation.

In the past month or so, I have increased my study of nineteenth century and early twentieth women. A strong-willed bunch they were! What I am learning is that they reached beyond the safe haven of domestic life, and some of them created lasting differences in society to the point that their names have been recorded in the annals of History.

The thought occurs to me that no accomplishment happens in a vacuum. Behind any successful individual are parents and family, teachers and mentors, opportunities given and opportunities taken. Sometimes, we just need someone to believe in us. During my lifetime, I can recall many people who believed in me, especially teachers who gave me good grades, smiled, and listened.

I hope you will take a moment today to be grateful for the people in your life, now and in the past, who have helped to shape who you are today. Man does not live alone. We are here by the continuing grace of the Author of the Universe, and by the kindliness of the gentle souls who inhabit our lives.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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News from the Manchester Historic Association in New Hampshire

Monday, April 26th, 2010

Dear members and other friends of the Manchester (NH) Historic Association,

The Millyard Museum is busy this week with two great programs. The first is the Open Doors Manchester Art and Cultural Tour that will take place on Thursday, April 29 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Admission is free.

The Open Doors events are the best way to get to know the city’s brilliant and richly varied cultural landscape. Hop on the trolley and make the Millyard Museum one of your evening’s destinations. For this special “Trolley Night” the Museum is hosting a demonstration of flax and wool spinning by Gina Gerhard and Cathy Goodmen. These two spinning experts will be dressed in 18th Century costume while they demonstrate their technique on antique spinning wheels.

Other Open Doors venues include City Hall, SEE Science Center, Art 3 Gallery, Manchester Artists Association, Framers Market & Gallery and a new venue: SOPHA (The Studio of Photographic Arts). Free and convenient parking is available outside the Millyard Museum at 200 Bedford Street and at Langer Place, 55 South Commercial Street.

Our next event this week is a talk entitled “Native New Hampshire Before Contact: Archaeological and Tribal Perspective.” This will take place on Saturday, May 1, starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Millyard Museum. Admission is free due to the generous sponsorship of the New Hampshire Humanities Council. After the talk, attendees are welcome to tour the Millyard Museum, which includes an exhibit focusing on local archaeology.

The speaker will be Dr. David-Stewart-Smith, the historian for the New Hampshire Intertribal Council. His presentation will illuminate the pre-history of New Hampshire, including the area around Amoskeag Falls in Manchester. Northern New England was home to native peoples for almost 10,000 years before European contact. Natives were faced with the after-effects of an ice age, the emerging changes in ecosystem and climate, and new choices regarding materials for making tools, clothes, and shelter. Dr. Stewart-Smith will tell about how this “prehistoric” time was anything but stagnant or sedentary; rather, it was a time of tremendous movement, energy, innovation and survival.

18th Annual Historic Preservation Awards

The 18th Annual Historic Preservation Awards dinner is scheduled for Thursday, May 13 at the Radisson Hotel – Center of New Hampshire in Manchester. This event honors individuals, institutions and companies who have contributed to the preservation of Manchester’s historical resources. Proceeds enable the Manchester Historic Association to advocate for historical preservation in the community and to offer free and inexpensive educational programs for schools and for the general public. Tickets are $100 each ($75 for MHA members), or a table seating 8 for $600.

Won’t you consider supporting the Historic Preservation Awards program? If you cannot attend the dinner, please consider making a donation to the MHA at this time, in any amount. This is money well invested!

We thank our generous dinner sponsors: Central Paper Products Company, Inc., Public Service of New Hampshire, and RBC Wealth Management – Richard M. Bunker and Gregory G. Hood. Please check our website for further details about the event, and for a full list of sponsors with links to their businesses.

Please see the end of this e-mail for a summary of additional programs scheduled through June. Details are posted on the Manchester Historic Association website: www.manchesterhistoric.org, and also on our Manchester History Network website at www.meetup.com/Manchester-History-Network.

Best wishes on a happy week, and we will hope to see you soon at the Millyard Museum or at the Research Center!

Aurore

Aurore Eaton
Executive Director
Manchester Historic Association
Millyard Museum – 200 Bedford Street – Manchester, NH – 03101
Research Center – 129 Amherst Street – Manchester, NH – 03101
(603) 622-7531 ext. 223

List of additional programs through June 2010:

Walking Tour of the Amoskeag Millyard
Saturday, May 8 – Starting at the Millyard Museum – 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
$5 MHA members; $10 general public

Log Cabin Quilting Workshop
Saturday, May 15 – At the Millyard Museum – 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
$5 MHA member; $10 general public (includes museum admission)
Pre-registration is required.

Annual Meeting of the Manchester Historic Association
Friday, May 21 – At the Millyard Museum – 5:30 p.m.
Featuring a talk about the Pandora Mill rehab project.
FREE admission
Pre-registration is required.

Pine Grove Cemetery Walking Tour – Part 1
Sunday, June 6 – 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
$5 MHA members; $10 general public
Pre-registration is required.

Part 2 of this walking tour will take place on Sunday, June 13.

“Tracing Lincoln’s Footsteps” Walking Tour
Wednesday, June 9 – Starting at the Millyard Museum – 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
$5 MHA members; $10 general public
Pre-registration is required.

“John Stark’s Journey to the Battle of Bennington” Talk
Saturday, June 12 – At the Millyard Museum – 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
FREE members; $10 general public
Pre-registration is requested.

Pine Grove Cemetery Walking Tour – Part 2

Sunday, June 6 – 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
$5 MHA members; $10 general public
Pre-registration is required.
Part 1 of this walking tour took place on Sunday, June 6.

“A Franco-American Murder Mystery in Manchester: Lambert’s The Innocent Victim” Talk
Saturday, June 19 – At the Millyard Museum – 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
FREE MHA members; $10 general public
Pre-registration is requested.

“Tracing Lincoln’s Footsteps” Walking Tour
Sunday, June 27 – Starting at the Millyard Museum – 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
$5 MHA members; $10 general public
Pre-registration is required.

These announcements have been provided by Quilter’s Muse Publications as a public service.

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New Conservation Park Next Door A Possibility

Sunday, April 25th, 2010

Today, we read the good news that the property next to ours might be purchased by the City of Concord, NH for a conservation area with public access. In the nineteenth century, the site held a mill that dyed wool for Union soldier’s uniforms. The current property owner, a 91 year old man whose Finnish parents acquired the lot in 1918 and built a house on it, tells us that he has a mill stone that is permanently dyed blue from the Indigo dye used. Very cool to have this piece of history!

Plans are in place to tear down the house, when the agreement is complete. The nine acre lot goes all the way back to the Merrimack River, to the hiking trail there that is part of the Heritage Trail. The plan to use the land for public recreation is a nice one!

Good News!

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Immigration Reform Needed… Like Yesterday!

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

The health care bill has passed and it was only logical to wonder which elephant would be tackled next. I predicted that it would be Immigration, and I am correct.

Certain problems, after all, have been allowed to fester during the 8 year Bush administration, perhaps because the U.S. was so heavily-involved in fighting overseas. The body bags of returning soldiers are no longer shown on the news (thank goodness). The losses serve as grim reminders of a plan that mushroomed out of control and is still not resolved, ten years later.

Meanwhile, immigration has been put on a shelf, as it is not a popular political topic, especially during times of election. However, this week, Arizona’s governor has signed a bill that has a great potential to racially-profile certain groups of people, based on their language and skin color.

President Obama is questioning the constitutionality of the bill. Apparently, the governor thinks it is the answer for her state, but it will never work! Any time we legislate in order to better manage our own fear and our own hatred of other ethnic groups, the plan is doomed to failure. Any time, legislation pits the public against those who are charged with carrying out the letter of the law, sentiment will run high against the “enforcers,” and it is they who will be targeted. Haven’t we had enough law enforcement officers murdered in the line of duty? This bill is INSANE!

Yet, everyone has an opinion, whether they know anything or not. Talk is cheap, and so is prejudice.

I agree that criminals such as murderers, drug lords, etc. should not be allowed to roam the streets in gangs. That would be true if they were French, Italian, Greek, Polish, Russian, or any nationality or ethnic group. Crime is crime and I agree that it must be fought for the good of society. Leave peaceful citizens alone!

This new Arizona law clearly targets people of color who happen to speak Spanish. I am sure the whole country is watching to see the outcome of this action. One does not have to be a Democrat to be outraged. As always, there are those who will speak out because they feel they have to mimic the “party line.” Sad to say, we are a country of parrots, without much original thought, in many cases.

A friend used to say that she never understood “Hooman Beans.” I include myself in that thought. I don’t understand humans either. I fear that some of us have lost our Humanity and certainly, our Charity toward others, especially when it comes to the issues of Immigration. By the way, where did you come from?

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Murders at Smutty-Nose Island, Maine

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Last year, John Perreault performed “The Ballad of Louis Wagner,” in a musical presentation sponsored by the New Hampshire Humanities Council. I enjoyed his original song very much, and only wished that it were a recording one could purchase. That wish has come true. The song now appears on a CD disc that is for sale; and the lyrics are listed on the following website:
http://seacoastnh.com/smuttynose/ballad.html#lyrics

Yesterday I learned of an article by the famous poet and Isle of Shoals dweller, Celia Thaxter. The article was published in the Atlantic Monthly in May 1875, two years after the murders it describes, in Volume 35, pps. 602-615.

Celia Thaxter has captured the details of the crime: the murder of two peace-loving, happy, Norwegian women by their “friend” Louis Wagner on the night of March 5, 1873. Anethe and Karen Christensen were killed, one with an axe; one strangled, in a premeditated action, while yet another woman, Maren, escaped Louis’ notice where she hid outdoors in the freezing winter weather, and lived to name the killer. Louis was the last man ever to have received capital punishment in the state of Maine. At least one of Louis’ intentions was to steal money.

Thaxter’s article, “A Memorable Murder,” is 23 pages long, printed out, and can be accessed at: http://seacoastnh.com/smuttynose/memo.html I hope that you enjoy Celia Thaxter’s account as much as I do.

An abbreviated version of Celia’s article, “A Memorable Murder,” is published in this volume.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Three New Press Releases from Remick Country Doctor Farm & Museum – Tamworth, NH

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

The Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm
Director: Bob Cottrell
Public Relations Assistant: Christiana Amesquita
Phone: (603) 323-7591
Fax: (603) 323-8382
www.remickmuseum.org
pr@remickmuseum.org

Remick Museum and Farm holds free Pre-school story hour Monday, May 3rd!

April 15, 2010-Tamworth, N.H: The farm is a fantastic place for learning and exploring! Please join us with your pre-schoolers at the Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm on May 3rd from 10am to noon for free!

On May 3rd, we’ll learn all about tractors! Story-hour begins with reading from some of our favorite seasonal and farm related books and concludes with an inside craft activity or outdoor farm time. The next following free story hour dates will take place: June 7th is all about cows, September 13th is all about apples, October 4th is all about pumpkins, November 1st is all about Harvesting and Thanksgiving and finally December 6th will be all about the winter season!

There is no pre-registration required to attend story hour. We ask children to be accompanied by an adult please! For more information please call (603) 323-7591 or toll free (800) 686-6117. You can also visit us online to learn more about our educational programs, events, workshops and more at www.remickmuseum.org.

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Last Basket Weaving Workshop May 8th at the Remick Museum and Farm just in time for Mother’s day!

April 15, 2010-Tamworth, NH- Please join us at the Remick Museum and Farm in Tamworth, Village for our last basket weaving workshop on May 8th; the Heart Shaped Basket from 10am-1pm.

The last in the third part series, participants will learn how to create a heart-shaped basket to hang on your wall or give as a Mother’s Day gift! Participants need no previous experience in basket weaving, we’ll teach you!

The deadline to sign up for this workshop is April 30th to hold your seat. Please call the Museum’s Visitor Center at (603) 323-7591 or toll free (800) 686-6117. Workshop cost per participant is $20., plus a $5 materials fee. Payment can be taken over the phone or by mail. We ask that participants bring a bag lunch. For more information please call (603) 323-7591, or visit us online at www.remickmuseum.org. The Remick Museum and Farm is located at 58 Cleveland Hill Road, Tamworth, NH. Easily accessible from Routes 16 and 25.

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“I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream!” Dairy Workshop at the Remick Museum and Farm on May 15th

April 14, 2010-Tamworth, NH- Join us at the Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm, May 15th, 2010 from 10am-noon for a Dairy Workshop.

During this workshop, participants will learn how to make their own ice cream, yogurt and sour cream. Take these skills home with you and save some money at home! For more information, please the Museum’s Visitor Center at (603) 323-7591 or toll free (800) 686-6117. Cost to attend this workshop is $20 per person plus an additional $5 to cover the materials fee. Children, 16 and up, must be with an adult! Please note, the deadline to sign up for this workshop is by May 7th to reserve your space! Payment can be taken over the phone or by mail.

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Lime Color Trees and Mint Colored Ice Cream

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

Today, Jim and I escaped the telephone, and the dust, noise, and utter mayhem of street re-construction in front of our usually quiet home. We got up early, had a quick bite to eat, and then headed North, our favorite direction to go. Jim had just read an article about some nice antique shops to visit. We were disappointed in stopping at the first one. The sign outside did say “Antiques” and a sign inside reiterated the idea, but the only “antiques” we saw were some pieces of chinaware. Evidently, there is a space above the breakfast bar that has a lot of antiques, according to the article, but at that moment, it was not open (for whatever reason). We went on our way.

The second spot, also advertised as a wonderful place had signs that said, “For Lease” on several windows, and no one was in sight. Continuing up the road, in Rumney, we found a small, but eclectic and well-appointed shop that had a variety of neat items. Jim was happy with his “find” of a baggie full of old recipe books. I’m sure he will be sharing that treasure trove with you, on his Vintage Cookery blog, eventually. I found a book about the History of Plymouth that I have read before, but do not own, or did not own until today! Happy to have it in my library. I also found an unusually-made Signature Quilt that is very unique.

All of the dealers we met today in Rumney, Orford and Lyme were very friendly! That is always a good way to be, whether or not you have something for sale. I saw a number of quilts for sale, as well as quilt tops. I am sure someone pays the prices that are asked for some of these items, but I find it difficult to meet most of the prices asked, considering the condition of the pieces. I don’t think that most dealers have caught on to the fact that the market for old quilts right now is “soft.” Of course, the quality of old quilts can vary as much as old cars: we have the jalopies, and we have the Cadillacs. Everything is relative, and I suppose desirability of any item depends on one’s intended use for it.

We ended our trip in Lebanon, NH after driving through some of the ritzy sections of Hanover, past bright white, old Federal style homes, perfectly-manicured lawns, and blooming bushes. Intermittent sightings of the Connecticut River were pleasant today, and of course, just over the river is Vermont! At one road intersection, there must have been about 150 white, orange, and yellow Tulips planted en masse. What a cheerful sight, but of course, there was no way to snap a photo!

The last of the big spenders (not) we stopped at Friendly’s and Jim had a soft serve ice cream, while I chose a one-scoop dish of Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream. We did not want to go inside and wait a long time to be served. Finishing that, we headed back down the highway, discussing how long the U.S. has had highways, and as usual, Jim knew the whole history. There does not seem to be a fact of history that has escaped him. Amazing!

The one memory that stands out from today is the lime-green color of new leaves on the Deciduous trees of the mountains, otherwise covered with Evergreens. I love seeing the mountains, and when I am in that “neck of the woods,” I remember Ellen Webster’s fondness of climbing the nearby Mt. Moosilaukee. What a wonderful day!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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The Importance of Authenticity

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

A few years ago, I walked into an antiques store in a nearby town. Right in front of the door was a quilt, laid over a chair. It was represented as being an antique quilt from the 1800s. I looked at the fibers and details closely, and quickly realized that the quilt was newly-made with just-printed reproduction fabrics. An old quilt of that style would have been a utilitarian quilt and would have shown much more wear, and would certainly not have the patina of this one.

Whether we are talking about a quilt or discussing how to conduct one’s life, the need for authenticity is a requirement. What do I mean by authenticity? My thoughts are pretty simple. Don’t pretend to be someone you are not, to have college degrees you never earned, or to have accomplishments you never succeeded in doing. Whatever we authentically do, in life, can be proven with a paper trail of some kind. For example, I say that I studied in Spain. I have an international driver’s license, a certificate of excellence issued by the university where I studied, I have postcards I collected in Spain, as well as my international student’s identification card issued by the university. I have photos of me, leaving the New York airport, luggage in hand. I also have the transcripts of my grades that prove that I took the course work that I claim to have studied, etc. There can be no question as to my status because the ephemera in my possession proves it.

Today, there are sleazy outfits that, for a price, will issue a piece of paper saying that a person has “graduated” from a certain school. The paper is not worth a thing. There are ways of checking for facts and no one except a fool can be duped.

When people ask me what I do, my answer is usually this: “I am a writer.” The next question is always, “What do you write?” That is followed by my usual answer: “quilt history articles.” Now, if I did not have a huge pile of articles and books to prove my point, my statement would not be believable. What I am getting at is this: “the proof is in the pudding.”

During my lifetime, I have run into a few people who are delusional and that includes being delusional about their past accomplishments. Now, the word “delusional” means “suffering from delusions,” usually a clear symptom of mental impairment. Just because someone announces that she is the Queen of England, after all, does not make her so!

All I am saying is to strive for excellence. Be the best that you can be. Put aside the bravado, the false pretenses, and social posturing, as you parade knowledge that you never researched yourself and through which you are trying to establish yourself as an “expert.” The only path one can follow, if one wants to become a true expert, is to discover facts for oneself and develop them into a greater body of knowledge through the use of critical thinking skills, and comparatives.

Be who you are! In most cases, that is good enough! We all have something worthwhile to share. Be authentically you!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm Announces Free Fishing Program for Children

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Remick Museum and Farm to Host Annual Children’s Fishing Derby on May 16, 2010 – Catch the Big One!

Tamworth, NH- April 29- In the heart of Tamworth Village, the Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm has always strives to provide the public with fun-filled educational events. On May 16, 2009 from 10 am to noon, the Remick Museum and Farm will host the annual Children’s Fishing Derby, sponsored by Bearcamp Valley Sportsmen’s Club and the New Hampshire Division of Fish and Game.

This special event is a wonderful opportunity for children 15 and under, to experience the excitement of fishing! Our fish pond will be stocked with fish and children can compete for trophies. Trophies will go to the biggest fish, smallest fish and first to catch the limit. We welcome you and yours to come and enjoy the infinite beauty of the Remick Museum and Farm and put those fishing skills to the test!

We ask those attending to bring your own fishing gear. There is no fee to enter the Children’s Fishing Derby. If you are interested in future special events, programs, workshops, etc., please visit our website, www.remickmuseum.org or call the Museum at (603) 323-7591 or toll free (800) 686-6117. We’d be happy to answer any questions! The Remick Museum and Farm is located at 58 Cleveland Hill Road, Tamworth, NH, 03886. Easily accessible from Routes 16 and 25.

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Christiana Amesquita
Public Relations Coordinator
Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm
58 Cleveland Hill Rd
PO Box 250
Tamworth, NH 03886
(800) 686- 6117 or (603) 323- 7591
fax (603) 323- 8382
www.remickmuseum.org
pr@remickmuseum.org

“Explore over 200 years of self-sustained living, as we preserve the agricultural way of life in New Hampshire.”

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“Cutter Quilt” or Not?

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

Just key in the words “cutter quilts” in the eBay search engine and you will come up with page after page of pillows made from “cutters,” and a recent trend: dealers cutting up old quilts to sell them as pieces. Some tops or quilts are left as a whole unit, leaving it up to the buyer as to how he/she wants to treat the object, cutting it being just one possibility. If eBay is a true reflection of the marketplace, then I shudder to think what is happening

The problem I see with a non-specialist’s interference with an antique item is that they may possess a “diamond in the rough” and not even know it. With today’s availability of reproduction fabrics, if the original old textile has a hole or needs replacement patches, a restoration specialist could probably assist. It takes someone who appreciates quilts and their history and who wants to preserve them, rather destroy the work of some anonymous quilter, to decide what best to do.

Here is an example of a quilt I would not “cut” – eBay #250614634071. This looks as though it has a lot of intricate piecing, and appears to be quilted. The description does not cite any problem areas, or explain why this is a “cutter,” rather than just an old quilt for sale.

However, in the interest of a fast and easy buck, some dealers are finding it more expedient to just cut to pieces otherwise viable antique quilts. In the interest of full disclosure, just last week I purchased a four block section of a quilt from the 1800s and was happy to do so! I would not have wanted to store a larger quilt, particularly one with a lot of fading or surface damage, but felt I could photograph one of the blocks for demonstration purposes. So, purchasing cut pieces of quilts can have some value to professionals who publish or teach.

As a general rule, I would caution dealers against making cutting an habitual practice. I’ve seen too many blocks that were cut too close to the edge, particularly applique designs and crazy quilt patches, rendering the blocks completely USELESS for anything else. Adequate space should be left around any block to allow for joining it to other units or finishing it with a binding. Here is one auction that recommends purchasing the block for re-use. I ask, “How?” eBay #260579112147.

For some reason, I cannot help but think of the quilters who went before us in other centuries. There they sit in Quilter Heaven, looking down on us mortals who are cutting up their quilts, the work of their hands, for the sake of money, or making cutesy new crafts from them. Somehow, on some level, it seems a shame that we are de-composing that which they composed.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Singer Featherweights

Friday, April 16th, 2010

Singer Featherweights are lightweight, easily portable sewing machines that are popular for quilters to take to quilt classes. I’ve had one since the early 1990s and it is my favorite machine of all times. It must be handled gently, oiled regularly, and have lint removed often, or there will be problems. Other than that, it hums along. Mine has a special (new) foot that has a 1/8″ seam allowance on the left side, and a 1/4″ seam allowance on the other side, making it perfect for piecing miniature quilts.

In recent years, a company has manufactured sewing machine oil with a long nozzle, perfect for reaching those hard to reach spots, when oiling the machine. Unfortunately, the bottle we had was barely used, when it developed a leak. The plastic housing was not durable enough. This week, at JoAnn Fabrics, we bought a similar contraption and have high hopes that it will work as well, and perhaps, last longer.

Somewhere in my notebooks, those ever-present volumes of collected tidbits, I printed out a paper from the Internet that tells how to determine the age of a Singer featherweight 221. If I recall correctly, mine was made in 1948. They are a mid-20th century phenomenon. The only (slight) drawback is that one needs to have the needle down and in the fabric before beginning to sew a line of stitches. It’s a matter of habit.

A lot of times, the old Black cases, used originally to house the machine when not in use, smells very bad. Some people have had good luck by putting a bar of Irish Spring soap inside the case and closing it for a month or so. In my case, I’ve saved the case, of course, but I went to Walmart and purchased a much bigger case that is large enough to hold bobbins, the electrical parts of the machine (foot pedal, etc.), and the sewing machine manual.

Nancy Johnson-Srebo from Pennsylvania, someone from whom I took a class on piecing miniatures when I was first getting started with doing that, wrote a book that contains all the information you would ever want or need to know about featherweights. She has collected a number of the machines herself, and is an expert at getting them to work properly. I could not find this book on amazon, which is a shame, as it is a good reference.

So that is the scoop on this dreary, cold, and rainy New England day. The Lilac leaves are opening, and there is snow on the ground. Go figure. Time to oil my machine and make it Purr again.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications – old things

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Joni Mitchell: A Prophetic Artist

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

When I think about folk music, my thought sometimes turn to Joni Mitchell. One line from a song she wrote/sang will always stay with me: “They tore down paradise and put up a parking lot.”

Today, as Jim and I made out way through the back roads of New Hampshire, on a very short trip to Vermont, we began discussing times of old. For example, when our home was first built in 1821, the road that went past it was gravel. In sharp contrast, today, a road crew is tearing up the old pavement and the concrete underneath, and in a few months, we will have new roads AND new sidewalks. In years past, Elms lined this street that used to be a main corridor to points north, and is now a little less traveled perhaps due to an possible alternate route: the Interstate highway.

Back in the old days, Daniel Webster would have traveled this road on his way to Concord. My study subject, Ellen Webster, also traveled this same road from Franklin to Concord. How do I know this? She mentions businesses where she stopped!

Thinking back to when I first lived in Concord, going on 30 years now, there used to be a lot more clear land in West Concord. Now, there are many apartments buildings, housing for low-income people and refugees, and trailer parks. Before, there was land for hunting and fishing. Even the Merrimack River sports a trail, now part of the Appalachian Trail, where people walk their dogs, and where other less savory activity has occurred, reportedly.

On the news the other night, the news reporter was interviewing a business man who has a plan to develop land along the Merrimack River in Hooksett – retail space. All I could think of is that we have finally been able to provide habitat for nesting eagles along this corridor, and now someone wants to spoil it with yet more construction. Don’t we have enough pharmacies, and chain stores already? As far as providing job for the locals, low paying “service jobs” only seek to keep people at their lowest level of functional behavior. Minimum wage has never been known to save the world, or the economy.

I suppose growth is inevitable. However, I balk at this kind of change. It has so upset the wildlife in New Hampshire, and the birds, they no longer know where they should go. They are not even safe in wooded areas along the Merrimack River. And, after years of attempts to clean up the pollution in that river, construction seems counterproductive. I’ll ask the obvious question: Where will the human waste that is generated by such a project go? This isn’t pretty.

Yes, Joni. Your prophesy of the 1960s has come true. They’ve torn down paradise and put up a parking lot. Once in place, the lot or the buildings will forever stand. There has to be better answers, folks. When are people going to begin considering the environment? Is my generation the only people who care?

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Kelli Wood Wins Free Copy of Ellen Webster e-Book on CD

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

Kelli Wood of Ohio is the winner of a CD drawing today at noon. She will be the new owner of our book, Ellen Emeline (Hardy) Webster (1867-1950: Her Amazing Quilt “Charts,” Her Writings and Her Life.

This opportunity was open to readers of our Facebook Fan page and our blog. Thanks to all who participated. Jim assisted by pulling a piece of paper out of a basket to determine a winner!

If you sent in your name, but did not win, I am offering $5.00 off of the CD until May 1, 2010, ($19.95 for the CD). Shipping to US addresses is $2.00/ and International mailings are $4.00.

Paypal accepted, or checks, if need be. Just contact me at: pat@quiltersmuse.com

To those who wish they had won, stay tuned. I hope to offer similar drawings throughout the year.

My best,

Patricia Cummings

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