More Poetry from Sweetheart Pillows

In 2011 my book Sweetheart & Mother Pillows was published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. The other day, in going through my files, I found a few poems that were printed on some pillow covers that I would like to share with you today. These particular poems were not included in the book.

The first one is from Old Round Tower, Fort Snelling, MINN. It shows the image of a World War II infantryman, a tank, anti-aircraft, and a flying fortress. The poem is dedicated to "Sweetheart" and reads:  "Until you and I shall meet again/ Sweet thoughts of love to you I send/ And though I am so far away remembering/you day-by-day/ May all my blessings be with you/ Your sweetheart always true."

Another pillow cover is from World War II and has a blue background with 6 red roses and one bud and green leaves. The "Sweetheart" poem states:  "The hours I've spent with you, dear, /Are the happiest I've known. My happiest hopes and dreams are those/ I've shared with you alone / And as I wish you every joy.../ I'm looking forward, too / To all the future joy I'll find/ When I return to you."

Also, I saved the words from a WWI pillow pouch that shows three Doughboys carrying an American flag, Lady Columbia holding up a wreath and features a poem with the heading "Forget Me Not." It says, "O East or West/ it's home that's best./ The saying's surely True./ For when my thoughts would seek their rest, / They all come home to you."

Souvenir de France pillow cover that I acquired after publication of the book.
This shows soldiers marching through the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and is from WWI.

My book features hundreds of poems that appear on military pillow covers and pillow pouches that were sent home to loved ones, usually when military personnel was deploying overseas to battle areas, especially during World War II. Not all pillow covers featured poems; some just name the military base of origin.

I was just re-visiting my book in preparation for a presentation I am giving this week on the topic. I cannot help but be impressed by my own work and the photographs of pillow covers (and a quilt) taken by my husband for the book. It was a lot of work! Captions are very detailed and I researched every military base named on the pillow covers. The book serves as an historical document, a price guide and a care guide for these specialized vintage and antique items from World War I and II and the Civilian Conservation Camps. I am happy to have written this unique book on an obscure topic that most Americans today are not at all familiar.

Patricia Cummings

Gift of Redwork

I am so happy to have just completed a small quilt based on a quilt block done in Redwork by my friend in Germany. Tamara Shpolyanska decided to take the photo I sent to her which depicts my husband Jim and I wearing Civil War costumes and turn it into an embroidered piece. We had dressed up in these clothes while giving a presentation about Civil War quilts in August 2011 to a local historical society. By Christmas, we decided to don the garments again to take a "selfie" in front of our Christmas tree to send as the front of our Christmas cards that year. It is from that card that Tamara got the idea to embroider us. She has been a big fan of Redwork and enjoyed my articles in The Quilter magazine and the book(s) I wrote on the subject.

I layered the quilt block, hand-quilted the block, and added borders which are tied. Of course, I added a sleeve for hanging, as well as a quilt label which gives credit to Tamara for the Redwork and myself for the finishing of the piece, the place(s) where this object was made, and the date it was finished. I am very grateful to Tamara for this gift!

Jim Cummings and Pat Cummings dressed in Civil War costumes

The original photo from which Tamara worked