What Quilter Does Not Love Flowers?

After the rain, the chives are in full bloom all ready for bumblebees!

The daisies are loving the good mix of sun and rain we have been having in New Hampshire

This Rugosa rose is sometimes called "Beach Rose" as they are often seen at the beach

First Siberian Iris of the season with more buds to open soon

What is a garden without a toad? They are very beneficial to the eco-system!

Just in time for Memorial Day - our Poppies are blooming!

Rugosa roses can be seen in white, as well as pink

Quilt Show at Belchertown, Massachusetts

Learning of another quilt show this year at the United Church of Christ Congregational Church in Belchertown, Massachusetts, we made plans to attend inasmuch as we enjoyed last year's show so much. In this blog, we will show you three photos to give you a taste of the show.

The theme of the show was "Hexagon Quilts," both old and new.

"Stolen Moments" close-up; quilt by Jane Crutchfield

Altar display features two Grandmother Flower Garden quilts by Judi Wilson and Virginia DeSantis. In the foreground is a brightly-colored polyester vintage quilt, and a Dime Size hexagon quilt by Lara Kline

To the left hangs a 1930s Diamond Hexagon quilt by Adrianne Duquette. To the right is "Stolen Moments," a modern quilt in the same style by Jane Crutchfield

There were two quilts that really stood out and are quite memorable. The first is a polyester quilt made of brightly-colored hexagons. The quilt was found to purchase in Ohio and features both solid colors and prints (one a cat). This was placed on a frame at the front of the church in the altar area display.

On the stage are two large Grandmother's Flower Garden quilts made by Judi Wilson, and Virginia DeSantis. A Dime Size Hexagon quilt was made by Lara Kline.

To the left of that display area hang two quilts, one an antique diamond hexagon made in the 1930s by Adrianne Duquette. To the right is a new quilt in the exact same style and with the exact size of hexagons used. The maker, Jane Crutchfield, calls it "Stolen Moments" and it is a quilt in progress done all by hand. I loved standing in front of it, looking at all of the conversational prints she uses in the center of each diamond block. It is an amazing piece of work! In unwrapping Duquette's quilt while hanging quilts in the show, Crutchfield was stunned to see the similarities between that vintage quilt and her own.

In the show, there is another bed-size quilt made by Crutchfield that is all half-hexagons, equally amazing (not shown). Of course, there were many other quilts in this most enjoyable show! In addition, piles of fabric, thread, yarn, and many, many quilt books were offered in exchange of a donation of one's choosing.

The show's theme next year will be "Bow Tie Quilts." If you are in the area, don't miss it next May!

Patricia L. Cummings
http://www.quiltersmuse.com

Civil War Activity Cited

The Concord Insider is a free, local newspaper in Concord, New Hampshire that carries a column which highlights happenings of the past. While reading a recent edition, I spotted this former yesteryear news entry related to textiles:

April 22, 1861: Meeting at the South Congregational Church, a group of Concord women organizes an effort to supply soldiers with "articles necessary to their comfort in the field." They have raised $200 and resolve to spend $150 on flannel for shirts for the First New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

Throughout the Union states, during the U.S. Civil War, women gathered in small groups to knit socks for soldiers, make quilts for the U.S. Sanitary Commission to distribute to soldiers, and gather other useful items to send by post. Any mail, including letters from the homefront, was most welcome by the troops. Whether working at home alone or in a group, the women's efforts were voluntary. They were doing all they could to support loved ones and others on the field of battle.

Ellen Webster Mention in Ephemera

Yesterday when I was reading Sue Wildemuth's blog: http://sew-eyeoftheneedlequilthistory.blogspot.com, I came across a mention of Mrs. Ellen E. Webster, the woman about whom I wrote such a lengthy e-book in 2008. Ellen was a quilt historian and quilt judge (among many other titles she held). She was friends with Florence LaGanke Harris who in this case served as a co-judge in the 1933 contest, as noted by a quote from Farm Journal magazine. The third judge that year at Storrowton, was Mary Ross Reynolds. I learned that the quilt contest of 1933 was the Second National Patchwork Quilt Contest conducted by Eastern States Exposition (in Storrowton). I do not know if Mrs. Webster was a judge during the first contest held by them.

For fun, I looked through my own book today and perused diary entries that I had excerpted from Mrs. Webster's 5-year diaries. On August 21, 1933, she says that she "went to Storrowton, Mass. to serve as a judge on the Quilt Exhibit."

On August 23, 1933 she notes, "Worked all day on quilts and came to decisions on prizes for the antique quilts." (She was judging antique quilts sent in from all over the country).

On August 24, 1933 she says, "Decided on prizes for the modern quilts and Mrs. Harris did part of the writing up of the notes for each prize winner."

On September 8, 1935 she mentions, "Mrs. ____(illegible) met me at the station and went with me to Storrowton where I am to serve as Chairman of Judges. The quilt exhibit of about 400 entries."

Again, it seems that she may have served as a quilt judge the next year. On September 13, 1936 she says, "Worked desperately to finish packing for Storrowton.

I was thrilled, of course, to see Mrs. Ellen E. Webster's name in print in one of the Farm Journal magazines.

This is the CD cover of my e-book. The book is for sale. The price is $24.95 plus $3.00 shipping. Please contact me at quiltersmuse@gmail.com for further information!