Pennsylvania Charm

I got a tip from one of my quilt history lists to check out Pook and Pook's upcoming auction. I think most of the quilts and needlework are in lots 300 and later. Look at this charming pieced and applique'd crib quilt.

And this Whig Rose. I love the birds in the border.

But for some reason, my heart is captured by this simple Shoo-fly doll quilt.

The Elizabeth MacCullough Hervey Quilt is my favorite Baltimore Album Quilt. It's also one of the quilts the Baltimore Applique Society has made a pattern of to offer for sale. I finally saved up the money to buy it a few months ago, only to find out I'd just missed it, and it was sold out. Now, because of so many requests, the BAS is willing to reprint this pattern if they get 25 orders for it. If you think you will ever want to make this quilt in the future, now is your chance to get the pattern. If you are interested or have questions, email Cathy at baspresident@gmail.com. You can read more about the quilt, and the other patterns they have made available, here, under the Past Activites tab.

By now you've probably heard about the new John Hewson fabric line from Andover on another blog or website. I've been counting the minutes till this was available early next month, and wondering if I should find somewhere to pre-order it so I'm not left out in the cold. :( Then my friend Sharon sent me a link to the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum. The bad news is the fabric arrival is going to be delayed a bit. The good news is, if you pre-order from them before Nov. 1, you get 20% off the fabric price. !

Don't miss the chance to get this great fabric, at a great price, and help support one of our increasingly endangered Quilt Museums. IMHO these panels won't last long. Thanks, Sharon, for the tip. ;)

Winner!

And the winner of the giveaway is Bonnie of Institches with Bonnie! Congratulations Bonnie, and I hope you enjoy your necklace!

Isn't this the most fun fabric ever?! Well, most fun non-repro fabric ever. :)

It's the lining fabric for the Prairie Crocus Tote. I may have to buy some extra. I didn't waste time waiting for the results of my poll last post, but dove right in. I would have had the tote done, but discovered I didn't have a wool thread that matched the base, so I sent off a quick order. It came yesterday, so I can get back to it tomorrow.

And here are the hexies I have basted for the Dutch Beauty. There are 4 different ones, but luckily the pattern has a good color chart, so I don't have to worry about the layout.

I kind of took the day off after a visit to the vet this morning with Rufus for a checkup. Anyone with a cat doesn't need an explanation for the need for rest after that. ;) I'm ready to get back to sewing tomorrow, though, and as soon as I get the tote done, I'll get the silk thread project on the frame and start working on that too.

Enjoy the weekend!

Giveaway!!

I've finally finished a commission that I have been working on exclusively for months, so I'm celebrating with a giveaway! Unfortunately, I was so excited to send it off that I forgot to take pictures, but she has promised to send me one soon.

I bought these great necklaces recently from 1 Stitch Off. They custom made them for me, one for my blog, and a Bird in the Window one with my boys initials on it. Aren't they great! I was thrilled with how they turned out. I am giving away one of these necklaces to the lucky winner. You can pick one from their etsy shop, or have one custom made just for you. But you have to read to the end of the post to find out how.

Now that I've finished with the commission, I am ready to tackle the stack of projects I have waiting for me. Which one should I do first?

I bought this Tree of Life panel from Happiness is Quilting last year after Di Ford used it in her Oh Dear, Mrs. Thompkins aka the Burnt Quilt pattern. It's from DenHann and Wagenmaker in the Netherlands. As far as I know, Laura Kay is the only one importing these to the states.


When I opened up the latest issue of Quilt Sampler, it somehow fell open to this!

I knew it had to be Laura Kay's shop. I thought I would use the panel for it, but then when I saw that some of the hexies were made from the D & W chintzes I have coveted for so long, I broke down and bought the kit. I just love the bright fabrics!

You all know I'm partial to Sue Spargo, and with my Imperial Garden BOM shipment, I added a new kit she came out with, Prairie Crocus Carry-All. More bright colors, and I love the jewel tones in the pack of threads. I almost don't want to open it.

And this little guy is on the back. How could I resist?!

I also signed up last month for a 6 month course in silk thread work. I'll be making a set of needlework accessories on 40ct. linen using Au Ver a Soie silk thread.

Aren't they amazing! The course is by Tricia Wilson Nguyen of Thistle Threads. She has several classes using historic needlework techniques. I downloaded the first class, and it is very detailed, with lots of pictures, and a section of historical background with links to more info. You can see more of her work on her website, and be sure and check out her blog. She still has some places left in the class, and you can sign up and see a video of the projects here.

Instead of my usual way, I invested in a roller frame so I could do it right. Some assembly required. You can see some of the rails are split. You insert the ends of your fabric in the splits, and then roll it up so that the section you are working on is in the middle. You can also adjust the tension on the sides, so the piece doesn't get pulled out of shape.

Now for the good stuff. To win the necklace, just leave a comment telling me which project you would most like to see me work on first. I'll draw the winner Thursday night at midnight EST. Good Luck!! While I'm waiting, I'll tackle that frame. And get caught up with my 1807 new emails. :)

The Madness of King George

George William Frederick, otherwise know as King George III, ruled longer than any previous British monarch; first as King of England and Ireland, and later as King of the United Kingdom. He succeeded to the crown in 1760, at the age of 22, after the sudden death of his father, King George II. The following year, he married Princess Charlotte in St. James Palace. Although they met for the first time on their wedding day, it turned out to be a true love match, and they had 15 children.

King George's reign was fraught with several military battles, arguably the most famous of which was the Revolutionary War. In later years, he suffered from intermittent and later permanent mental illness, which in more recent times has been theorized to have been the blood condition porphyria. Because of these two circumstances, King George III is often called "the Mad King" or the "King Who Lost America."

In c.1805, in England, this coverlet was made to commemorate these military events, and it represents a whole different kind of Madness! It is comprised of pieced circles of printed and plain cotton, with different designs in their centers, set in a white background. It has a medallion center, and 40 circular scenes around the border. The coverlet now resides in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, England.

V&A: T.9-1962

The central medallion is both pieced and embroidered, and depicts King George reviewing his troops in Hyde Park on his birthday, June 4,1799. It may have been added after the coverlet was pieced, as it cuts across several of the circles.

The design was taken from a print after John Singleton Copley, called "His Majesty Accompanied by the Prince of Wales and Gloucester. Reviewing the Volunteer Cops of London and its vicinity, in Hyde Park, on the 4th June, 1799," which is the longest title of a painting I've ever seen, but at least we don't have to wonder what the subject is. :)

National Army Museum: 1974-04-20

There are an additional 40 scenes of military and domestic life around the border. Some of these scenes were also taken from prints, paintings, and illustrations of the day. This is an illustration of the song Poor Jack by Charles Dibdin (c.1788), and below it, a scene from the coverlet.

National Maritime Museum: PAJ4029

And here is a hand coloured etching by Robert Dighton entitled "Descriptions of Battles by Sea & Land" and it's accompanying scene.

National Maritime Museum: PU473

To see other pictures and information about the coverlet, visit the Victoria & Albert Museum website.

If you feel ambitious, Marta from Cartulinas is drafting these blocks and hosting a SAL on her blog. She also has a SAL Flick'r group where people can post their blocks.

And Una from Samsy is also drafting these blocks, and you can watch her progress on her blog. I just love her fabric choices.

And you can watch a video of Tracy Chevalier, author of "The Girl With the Pearl Earring" as she meets with V&A Quilt Exhibit curator Sue Pritchard to view the George III Coverlet here.

Every year in October I head to Northern Michigan for the annual Fabric of Friendship Quilting retreat. It's three, four, or more days of fun, fabric, and friendship, not to mention good food. The optional classes are free, and there is also a scrap quilt class, if you're interested in that. You might remember the pictures I posted last fall of Lake Michigan and the Victorian houses in nearby Bayview.





If you would like to join us this year, email quiltingretreats@gmaildotcom for information. Hope to see you there!

Doll Quilt Swap Reveal

Now that Carolyn from Lee Prairie Designs has received the quilt I sent her, I can show you the whole thing.

I shrunk down four of the blocks from the Sally Post quilt. If you haven't heard of this quilt, you can buy the pattern at Sentimental Stitches. There is a signature block on it, done in cross stitch, that reads Sally Post, 1854. Age 63. I've had all the fabric to make this for a few years, you know how that goes. :) But I liked the smaller version so well, I may make the whole quilt that way.

My LQS owner, Chris, from The Attic Window Quilt Shop, gave me a new product to try out, and I have to say, it's the best thing I've found since the 1/4" bias maker, which is saying a lot! It's called Lapel Stick, and it's a temporary, non-staining adhesive that's water soluble. I used it to place my berries on a current project, and when I wanted to move one a bit, I had to PULL it off. I've tried about every liquid and stick glue out there, and wasn't impressed with any of them. I finally just bought an extra couple bottles of pins. :) But you really need to try this. It works better than you could imagine. I need to pick up a couple more so I have one in each room.

I love looking at everyone's pictures of flowers and birds, and I'd love to post some of my own, but with no garden, I'm stuck with just my four bird feeders, and here's what my attempt to take a pic of a woodpecker looks like. :(

Today I read about how the Bald Eagle has made such a comeback in Michigan, with over 700 pair as of this year, so I thought I'd leave you with a picture of a little fluffy baby chick. Unfortunately, eagle chicks might be fluffy, but they are anything but little. Very cute just the same. :)

Please keep Grand Rapids in your prayers this week. With a spree killer leaving 8 dead, and our hometown girl Betty Ford passing away, we are a city in mourning.