quiltersmuse.com Blog

Yesterday, as I was standing in line at the post office, waiting to part with some cold cash, the total amount owed by the man in front of me was $54.40. He said to the postal clerk, “54.40 or Fight?” Confused, the clerk had never heard the historical term “54-40.” The customer went into a detailed explanation about the term’s connection to disputed land ownership in the Oregon County/Columbia District, with both the United States and the British having had an interest in claiming the land that reached from the 42N to the 54 40 N parallel. To read the details for yourself, please visit Wikipedia.

I spoke up and stated that “54-40 or Fight” is a name for an historically-based, quilt block. He said, “a WHAT?” I replied “a quilt block.” I’m sure I lost him.

This photo, taken by me in May 1994, with a Polaroid camera, shows two blocks on the right that are of that same pattern. The other two blocks are “Ohio Star.” The sashings is a Hoffman print, I believe, of hot air balloons. The quilt measures 37 1/2″ square and was a gift to my sister. The name of it is “Balloons for Barb.” I took the photo so that I would have a memory of the quilt, as she lives clear across the country and I knew I would never see it again.

I made a single “54-40 or Fight” block in red, white, and blue, to illustrate an article for The Quilter magazine. Quilt blocks that have associations or greater meanings are very appealing. They are like mini-recordings of historical moments.

Have a great Wednesday!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications - The front page has a photo of an unidentified quilt block of grapes and leaves. Have you seen this before?

Stephanie Saboor has sent us a photo of her great grandmother’s quilt, made in the 1950s. The woman’s name was Grace Ellen Traylor and she lived in Springfield, IL. The twin size bed quilt features the Democratic Donkey and “Ararat,” the Elephant. She states that her grandmother made a second quilt of this type, but featured the Elephant in the middle and the Donkeys in the corners on that one, and that quilt was raffled.

We are always happy to feature photos sent by readers.

To see other examples of these blocks, visit our website file: http://www.quiltersmuse.com/republican-and-democratic-quiltblocks.htm

Thanks, Stephanie.

Patricia Cummings

From the quiet of our living room last night, we watched television and waited for the outcome of the presidential election. While it is difficult to lose a dream, John McCain was gracious in defeat and the true gentleman he has always been. When the big news came, crowds had already assembled, across America and across the world.

In the Chicago’s Grant Park, the throng included such notables as the Reverend Jesse Jackson, and the famous Oprah Winfrey, both with tears in their eyes, like so many others there. The President-elect was inspiring in his acceptance speech. All that was missing from the program was a chorus of “Let Freedom Ring … let the white dove sing.” The crowds gathered could have just run out of their homes and businesses to see the Second Coming. Some were on their knees, some were jumping up and down, all were moved by emotion in their anticipation to once again hear Obama speak.

Earlier in the afternoon, in visiting another quilt historian’s site, I came across a link to a disturbing site. The (Ph.D.? or is that he a Dr. of Divinity?) “Reverend” was condemning the political candidate of his same color, using very derisive language including the abhored “n” word, and exclaiming the most hateful things I have ever heard a “man of God” say. In fact, I only stay tuned to his message, out of shock. For 22 minutes, his video railed against Obama. The only thing I took away from the message was a great feeling of shock and sadness that anyone could act so vile under the guise of calling himself a follower of Jesus. There is also the issue of separation of church and state, if he does, indeed, have a church, and the video is not just propaganda.

Barack Obama has the support of millions of people, worldwide. His record, one of scholarship and leadership, speaks for itself, and the majority of those in this country have affirmed his selection as our president. We will be watching the change of guard closely. At the same time, we know that one president cannot “do it all.” We shall pray for his safety and continued success. Like others in the crowd, there were tears in our eyes at this monumental milestone in American history. We will soon “pass the torch” to a young leader, a leader of promise, a leader who has the “audacity of hope.”

Patricia Cummings

Today is a day to celebrate. The contentious fight for political power will soon be over and we can all sink into our easy chairs to watch comedy shows and educational television rather than negative political ads. At least, I would enjoy relaxing with anything that is less taxing than choosing the man will lead this great country of ours for the next four years.

Both of the leading candidates for the “first” office of the land have exemplified behaviors of leadership. In addition, we were blessed to have had other, primary election, candidates in the race who were willing to lend their hearts, their minds, and their hands to the cause of democracy as we know it. Supposedly, the two men who are best qualified to be president have been left standing.

Tonight shall be an exciting time, as the votes are tallied. For Presidential hopeful, Barack Obama, it will be a bittersweet experience due to the loss of his grandmother yesterday, coming right on the heels of this great day. For Presidential candidate, John McCain, even if he does not win, he can rest assured that running for the presidency was an act of patriotism.

I have expressed my choice by going to the polls, and so doing, I remembered the 1920 election when women were first allowed that privilege, due to the efforts of outspoken women such as Susan B. Anthony. I hope that you will vote today. In our capital city of New Hampshire, a sleepy little town compared to the much larger cities of the U.S., there was no waiting at the polls this morning. I went prepared for a long wait. I suppose that many people will vote after work.

Sentiment is running high in this country as we face more problems and more tests than ever before. Please vote your conscience, thinking seriously about who will best address your issues, whether they include better and more affordable health care, an opportunity for higher education for your children, an end to the war in Iraq, or a current lack of employment for you or loved ones.

In these hard times, we need to pull together. We need to see the best in each other. We must give others the same opportunities that we demand for ourselves. We must accept people of all colors and languages as belonging to the same human race, and treat them accordingly.

Of course, like you, I hope that my slate of candidates will win, both in local and national races. We must cross the dividing lines, as Barack Obama has stated. We are, after all, and forever, “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Patricia Cummings

After all the speeches are given, and all the promises conveyed, if you vote in the presidential election on Tuesday, November 4, and I hope that you do, you will be alone in the voting booth to help determine the course that our country will take in the next four years.

This year’s slate has a curious balance. Regarding one presidential candidate, there are charges of inexperience and liberal thinking, and for the other contender for the office, there seem to be thoughts and worries about longevity, and his potential successor. Both men are great leaders, and both men have given of themselves to the country. Service and patriotism and level of commitment are non-issues for either one of them. Those qualities can be assumed.

Like many other Americans, I have concerns about the emphasis on the Economy by either of them. As far as I know, neither man has a college degree in Economics. Yet, in the last days, this has become the major focal point of speeches.

As the candidates have flipped from issue to issue, in a soup du jour kind of a way, the election has seemed disjointed at times, with wild promises to spend more money than should be spent, coupled with an added commitment to cut taxes. There has not been any emphasis on just how we got into this pickle in the first place.

Obama seems to have a Robin Hood kind of plan. In taking more in taxes from the very rich, he can level the playing field a little more. That will allow a tax break for the middle class citizens who have made the rich, “rich,” in the first place.

In a town hall meeting in Peterborough, New Hampshire tonight, McCain stated that his priority was to finish the wall between Mexico and the United States and that “some” of the people (in Mexico) are “good people.” He offered to “incentivize” businesses who provide “green technology” to private homes and businesses, to fix all the government buildings, so that they are in line with “green” thinking, and to grant more money to students who are seeking higher education.

Campaign promises always seem to be forgotten, once anyone attains the office they seek. I wonder if anyone has ever done a study of broken campaign promises.

On the face of it, it seems that we are in a state of “Promise her anything, but give her Arpege.”

This weekend, many people in other states have tried to vote in pre-elections. Some have stood for hours, until they could stand in line no more, without food, drink, and a place to sit down. If you are in your 80s, you’d have a hard time holding out, too. Some elderly people just gave up after waiting more than two hours and being told that the wait would require at least three more hours.

On Tuesday, I doubt that the lines in New Hampshire will be too long. However, I plan to go prepared with everything I need to wait in line, if that means a thermos of coffee, folding chairs, a winter coat and scarf, an umbrella, snacks, and a good book. We are determined people, in New Hampshire. I, for one, do not want “four more years … ” It is, America, indeed, “time for a change.”

Anyone out there making any political quilts?

There you have it, and that is how it looks from this corner of cyberspace. Patricia Cummings, reporting from Concord, New Hampshire, home state of the first primary election in the nation.