The Quilt Index: a Tremendous Resource for Quilt Scholars

The Quilt Index features the records of thousands of quilts, articles about quilting and other quilt ephemera. I donated my copy of the 19th century Cunnings catalog that features thousands of designs that could be ordered at the time for stitching Outline Stitched embroidery designs (Redwork, Bluework, Greenwork, etc.). Since then, I have sent photos of some of quilts which I have documented following their 8 page documentation form that is quite detailed. I have also shared articles that were previously written for The Quilter magazine. I feel this is an important way to continue to share my research and my quilts for reference now and in the future. The link to the Quilt Index is https://quiltindex.org/ Some browsers will not process this link. The site is also currently experiencing a problem with bots attacking it but computer personnel are working hard to find ways to counter the attacks. I am listed on the Artists Page and everything that I have sent to be posted is available via links at the bottom of that page for Patricia L. Cummings. I feel very happy that Michigan State University has undertaken such an important program! One could get lost for a very long time perusing all that is offered there! Sometime in the future, I plan to post quilt and embroidery projects I made by enlarging tiny catalog offerings from the Cunnings catalog. Here is one design I embroidered: Clematis.

Angels Sing Thee to Thy Rest

 

This embroidered image was previously published to my website and I'd also made a pattern of it for sale. The design originates from Victorian times and is a quote from Shakespeare's "Hamlet" - "May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest." 

I was delighted to find a suggestion for this design in "Godey's Lady's Book," November 1879. They list it as a "Design for Pillow-Sham." A pattern is given in their Supplement. They say that the design may be worked in "outline, crewel, or in linen."  The design could be used in making a baby's blanket.

The first time I saw this particular design was on a very soiled textile I bought in Bethel, Maine. I took it home, washed it, and the image you see here is the embroidered textile I created. At the point of collection, I wondered if the one I bought had been used to drape a coffin. It's a mystery I'll never uncover. The reproduction is featured in my book, Redwork Embroidery and Needlework Traditions in Europe and America, now out of print.

Friendship Quilt Remains a Mystery

 

While browsing in an antiques shop in Rumney, New Hampshire, I spotted a Friendship quilt draped over the back of an old rocking chair. The quilt was a serendipitous find, even though it is less than one hundred years old and therefore, not a true antique. Its light orange sashings were a red flag as to a date of origin--some time in the 1980s.

After examining the quilt more closely, I did discover one block that indicates the quilt was made in 1989 as a birthday gift. With their embroidered messages and good wishes, the Friendship blocks are very unique. The quilt was described by dealer David Evans as "a piece of folk art in its truest sense."

This quilt's overall measurements are 56" x 66 1/2" and it seems to have been a labor of  love. Each one-of-a-kind blocks tells its own story. Many techniques, fibers and embellishments were used, including painting, applique and embroidery. The recipient seems to have had some international  connections!

Judging from the dirty condition of the quilt when it was purchased, one could perhaps conclude that the recipient is no longer living. I brought the quilt to the University of Rhode Island laboratory where students practice conservation measures including washing quilts. Some of the embellishments had to be removed before the quilt could be wet-washed. A lot of dog hair and sand was removed. To learn more about the URI's textile cleaning services, call (401) 874-2275. I thought that this quilt was worth preserving. Maybe someday I will find out more about this mystery quilt. I wrote about the quilt in detail in an article for The Quilter magazine, August/September 2011 issue.

Hopkinton, NH Historical Society Displays Bicentennial Quilt

 

Bicentennial Quilt

Maple Street School Fourth Graders

In 1976, a group of fourth-grade students and their adult helpers created and sewed this quilt under the direction of teacher Gwen Peters (now McGrath). Peters, who taught at Maple Street School from 1971 to 1996, conceived of the quilt as a fundraising project to help the class pay for a field trip to Old Sturbridge Village, where they hoped to enjoy a meal at the Bullard Tavern.

The students selected historical people, places, and events as subjects for their quilt squares. After researching their topics, they designed their own squares and chose from fabrics that Peters had collected. Mothers and community volunteers sewed the individual squares, and Peters assembled them into the finished quilt. The students completed the project by tying the quilt top to its backing.

The quilt was later raffled, and the winning recipient generously returned it to Peters. In 2025, Peters donated the quilt to the Hopkinton Historical Society, where it now helps preserve and share the history of this unique community project.

From August through December, the quilt will be on display at Hopkinton Historical Society as part of its 2026 exhibit, “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times: Hopkinton and the American Revolution.” The museum is open Thursdays and Fridays 9-4 pm and Saturdays 9-1 pm. More information is available at www.hopkintonhistory.org.

Many thanks to Heather Mitchell, Director of the Hopkinton Historical Society, for allowing us to print this information. The quilt is a very unusual one inasmuch as it was designed by students and the blocks sewn by quilters of the community for the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration!

To learn more about Bicentennial Quilts, see the new book Commemorative American Quilts by Sandra Sider, foreword by Pamela Weeks, published by Schiffer Publishing.

Hope you enjoyed seeing this quilt as much as we did!

Patricia L. Cummings

Ararat: Political Block or Not?

 

This is my version of the Ararat quilt block designed by Eveline Foland and published in the Kansas City Star in the 1930s. She said that the Ararat design was made to honor an elephant named "Ararat" that had just been acquired by the local zoo.

Readers of the newspaper interpreted the design as a representation of the symbol of the Republican Party, the elephant. That was not the intention. Soon, other readers were demanding that their political party be honored in the same way with a donkey design. A few days later, Eveline published the pattern for "Giddap, the Democratic Donkey," just to keep her readers happy!

Ararat was published on 6/6/1931 and Giddap appeared in Eveline's column on 7/18/1931.

The design for the Ararat block is available today via various companies and had also been published in The Quilter magazine in a pattern by Lucy Fazely. My version of the block uses half-rectangle units which are much harder to piece than half-square triangles which are utilized in other patterns I have seen.

So, that is the scoop. "Ararat" was just a beloved elephant minding his own business until folks wanted to politicize him. What else is new?

Patricia L. Cummings

4-H: A Valuable Organization

 The other night a documentary show on PBS about the history of 4-H caught my attention. Jessie Field Shambaugh of Iowa is remembered as the "Mother of 4-H," an organization initially started in support of rural youth. It offered useful learning activities and still does, although now club offerings have expanded to include STEM projects.

"4-H" stands for "Head, Heart, Hands, and Health." The motto is: "I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living for my club, my community and my country."

My time spent with 4-H cultivated skills that have lasted a lifetime. Mrs. Florence taught me to knit and Mrs. Sanborn led a sewing group where I learned to use a sewing machine and do clothes construction. In addition, I was in 4-H Gardening with Mrs. Petersen. I also joined 4-H Horsemanship and had the camaraderie of other young horse enthusiasts, having fun meet-ups at the Deerfield, NH Fairgrounds.

In the 4-H fundraising activities at the Town Hall, I danced in a Can-Can line, modeled clothes, and played folk music on my guitar. I also served food at an International Dinner dressed in a green dress to represent Ireland.

I received a blue ribbon at 4-H Dress Review for making a green jumper with a square neck and also a shite crepe blouse with a stand-up collar and bell-shaped sleeves that had lace trim.

Luckily, I was chosen to attend 4-H Congress in Washington, D.C. with other Junior Leaders.

4-H helped to shape who I am today as an adult. I will be forever grateful to the adults who shared their skills and time with me.

Ellen Emeline Hardy Webster (1867-1950): Her Amazing Quilt "Charts," Her Writings and Her Life

 I wrote a 355 page book about Ellen Webster, New Hampshire's Early Quilt Historian, in 2006 and published int in CD form, n now almost obsolete technology. The book details Ellen's work and life in Hebron, NH and Franklin, NH. She was a teacher in a one-room school house and went on to teach college courses related to Bible study. 

Ellen loved quilts and was a student of their designs. She was hired as a quilt judge at Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, MA where she judged quilts in the antiques category. She was able to photograph them. No doubt the photos were helpful in helping her to draw and to draft quilt designs that she embellished by adding actual fabrics to them on her quilt charts.

In the book, I include many photos provided to me by a relative of hers. Featured is a photo of her in a "Civil War" style dress that she wore sometimes when giving quilt lectures. I even show a diary entry in which she mentions Florence LaGanke, a co-judge at the Exposition! There are many photos in the book, as well as genealogical information. She made about five quilts in her life time which she described as ordinary.

The Quilter magazine published an article about Ellen. Yolanda Fundora also published a blog with lots of information I provided to her. 

For the longest time, the maker of the 169 quilt charts was thought to be "Emily" Webster due to a misinterpretation by a former curator of the New Hampshire Historical Society. An Emily Webster is mentioned on the charts as well as an "Ellen A. Webster." They were sisters who were friends of Ellen Webster and who had a collection of antique quilts, some of which Ellen E. Webster featured on the charts.

Anyhow, the record is now set straight. There had even been a TV segment on WMUR that did not provide the correct name and showed a ghost-like figure in lieu of a photo of Ellen E. Webster which they did not have. In a book by Fritz Wetherbee, again mistaken information was published. 

It was a big undertaking - this book! I'm happy to have written it.

Garden of Eden Quilt

 A number of years ago, I collected an antique quilt even though it is in very poor condition and even though the piecing on it was not accurate or up to our current high standards. This quilt was obviously made for utilitarian reasons and it has been used extensively. Patches have worn off and some fabrics have faded. Nonetheless, I love it for its wonky layout and its use of many blue fabrics ranging from light blue to a very dark blue.

 

This past week as I was perusing my Facebook page, I spotted an advertisement by Connecting Threads. Right away I contacted the company and ordered two sets of blue fabrics that ranged from light to dark. The fabrics and a photo of my old quilt will be the inspiration for a new twin size quilt that I plan to make.

This morning I printed out rotary cutting directions for #1873 (Garden of Eden) from Blockbase, a software program by Barbara Brackman that is so useful in block construction. I am pretty certain that the maker of this quilt did not have a rotary cutter available.. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 This St. Patrick's Day, more than ever, I've heard people mentioning that they were going to have corned beef and cabbage to celebrate the day. I wondered where this tradition came from inasmuch as Ireland, traditionally, did not raise many beef cattle and tended to have sheep or pigs instead on their small tenant farms. 

At dinnertime, while we were eating a boiled dinner consisting of boiled pork shoulder, cabbage, potatoes, onions, celery, and carrots, I turned to my husband, Jim, and asked if he knew anything about the tradition of corned beef for Irish-Americans. Of course, he did! He told me that when the Irish first came to America, they were poor and they settled in big cities like New York, Boston and Chicago. They shopped at Jewish delis that were present in the ghetto areas. Corned beef was originally a Jewish food. 

The Irish were used to boiling their food and by St. Patrick's Day, in Ireland, they would still have root vegetables left from the previous year's harvest and cabbage which was a staple in their diet. Thus was born the boiled dinner!

Jim arose early this morning to make Irish Soda Bread. I have not been a fan of it, in the past, but his is excellent! The key is to cool it completely and then, to keep it wrapped in a damp towel. Feeling like baking today, Jim also made a squash pie. He is a keeper. Anyhow, I now have my answer to the corned beef question and thought maybe you were wondering about that, too! It's an Irish-American tradition, but not an Irish tradition!

Presidents' Day

 At some point, we stopped celebrating only George Washington's birthday and extended the holiday to include all former presidents of the U.S. Therefore, the day should rightly be called Presidents' Day, not Presidents Day or President's Day. It seems that many just don't know where to put the apostrophe. Jim calls me the "Grammar Police," a title I own up to. It really bugs me when people misspell words or, in this case, put the apostrophe in the wrong place.

Today does not seem like a holiday. Some banks are open, some are closed. Some businesses are open and others are shuttered. Some schools are out on vacation for the week (I think Massachusetts and Maine). Some charter schools in NH were in session today, as was Nashua High School but in that case, the kids were sent home early due to someone putting a bullet in a toilet. (That individual probably just wanted the day off). The post office was closed as it is a federal holiday. 

There was very little traffic this morning at 8 a.m. when we ventured out to go eat breakfast at Friendly's Restaurant and inside the establishment, there was only one other gentleman eating during the whole time we were there.

Today we celebrate George Washington's birthday, as well as all the other presidents, a later add-on to the day. Enjoy! 

Jim Shore Impersonator

 I fell victim to a cyber scam by responding to an ad on Facebook. The person posting claimed that Jim Shore was going out of business (he isn't), and he was offering Jim Shore Christmas ornaments and other products @75% off. It seemed too good to be true and that was the case. I ordered on November 16 and today, December 2, I thought it was a long time that the package was delayed. 

I checked the website provided by the "seller" and it does not exist. I had also received a confirmation of my payment and the email address to reach out for support, also is a non-working address.

My husband went on Facebook to Jim Shore's page and found out about the impersonator today. I have contacted my credit card company. What a nuisance! It's always something!

February 10, 2024 Update

I never did receive a package of Jim Shore Christmas Ornaments from VIKRASSETH LIMITED, the company to which I paid $59.88. They provided a photocopy of a postmark with what looked to be Chinese writing stamped all over it and submitted that as proof to my credit card company that the package had been mailed and said that it was mailed on December 9. The credit card company took their word for it and charged my account. I have reported this case of fraud to the Federal Trade Commission and written to my credit card company once again, saying I did not receive the package. 

March 3, 2024 Update

There is an online website that discusses the company who scammed me. The link is: https://malwaretips.com/blogs/vikrasseth-com/ 

Presentation on November 29, 2023

 I will be presenting a retrospective of my 40 years of quilt making via a slide presentation as well as a show of some quilts that the audience will be able to see "in person". This talk, "Every Quilt Has a Story," will be given at the Concord Parks and Recreation building on Canterbury Rd., Concord, New Hampshire on November 29 at 10:30 a.m. - to approximately noon (which provides for a time period for questions from the audience). The program is free and open to the public, with prior registration.

My decision to give a program about my quilts is based on a desire to spread the joy of quilt making and to demonstrate some of the reasons why quilts are made. Often, when I say that I am a "certified master craftsman in quilting," people don't know what I mean. They think I belong to the NH League of Craftsmen, a marketing group for handmade crafts of all kinds. No, I am not a member. I don't sell my work. The title I earned was through a TESTING program formerly offered by the Embroiderers' Guild of America. I started the program in 1991 and finished in April 2000.

Over 40 years, I have given away a lot of quilts and made all kinds of quilts, exploring various techniques and styles. My favorite types of quilts are small ones (miniatures and wall quilts) but I've been known to make quilts in all sizes, up to and including King size ones. I like small quilts because of the quicker turn-around time. Also, I don't need any more bed size quilts. In fact, on my own bed, I have a comforter bought at Walmart or some such place. I've given away all the larger (bed) quilts that I made over the years, save one. I prefer applique quilts and quilts that incorporate Redwork embroidery.

I think it will be an eye-opening exposure to what quilting can entail and I hope the audience enjoys it. I am happy that I've documented my work as far as taking photos and measurements, etc. over the years. A few years ago, a dear friend put together a printed book of many of my quilt projects up to the year 2012. Of course, I've made more quilts since then. Quilting is a pastime that can be enjoyed by all ages of learners. I'll admit that I have slowed down and I don't produce quilts in the great numbers I did in the 1990s. It's been a fun journey and one that I am happy to share.

O

Keepsake Quilting 2023 Gift Box

 Back a few months ago, I decided to give myself a treat by ordering a gift box of fabrics, notions and other goodies from Keepsake Quilting. I was able to pay in two installments which made the price more affordable. Yesterday the 2023 gift box arrived and it did not disappoint!

Included are fabrics in a strawberry theme, a small container of strawberry preserves, a Keepsake mug, some wonderful coasters, a pair of new scissors in a fancy protective sheath, quilt patterns, and lots of small notions like a double needle threader, a thread cutter to add to the side of a sewing machine, and a fancy new zip "un-sewer," and other things!

It was really a fun thing to do, ordering this. We often do so much for other people but rarely do we do something just for us. It is good to infuse some enthusiasm into our sewing rooms with handy new objects and colorful fabrics with a theme! I am so glad I ordered this box. I'm looking forward to next year's box!

Quilt Steals the Show

 On Saturday, September 23, 2023, we attended at quilt show in Keene, NH set up by the Cheshire Quilters' Guild. "Fall for Quilts" was spectacular! One outstanding quilt stood out from the rest, Norma Ippolito's quilt that she calls "Confetti Carnival."

There are 288 appliqued circles on a "confetti" fabric background and they are set around 9 starry wheels that remind the quiltmaker of "ferris wheels at a lively, colorful carnival." She created this bed quilt at the height of the Covid pandemic. With her permission, we took her photo with her quilt to post here. We offer hearty congratulations to Norma for making a fine quilt! By the way, she did all the work herself and worked with rulers to accomplish the machine quilting (which is exquisite). Well done!

As always, when attending a quilt show or viewing anyone's quilt in person, "Don't Touch the Quilt!" In the photo above, Sunbonnet Sue is behind bars. She must have touched a quilt! All hands have oily residue unless just washed and this gets passed onto the surface of a quilt. If enough people handle the quilt, it will look like an oily rag, eventually. So, that is the reason for the warning.

Betty Boop

 Having had a vintage Betty Boop doll in my collection for some time and not knowing her back story, I decided to look up information about her so I turned to a Google search.

Betty Boop, a blue-eyed, curly-haired woman with long earrings first appeared in 1930. She was an animated cartoon, the work of Max Fleischer and Grim Natick. She is probably best known for her "Boop-Oop-a-Doop" phrase. In one instance, after she successfully fought off the advances of a circus performer, she stated, "He couldn't take my boop-oop-a-doop away!"

A Black singer of the 1920s is thought to have been the inspiration for Betty Boop although Esther Lee Jones was never given that credit officially. Originally, Betty Boop was portrayed as a singing, talking French poodle with long ears, but eventually, those ears became earrings. Another cartoon pup, Bimbo, was her main love interest. 

Betty Boop was depicted as having a sweet personality. The garter she wore signaled her as a "liberated" woman because women of the 1920s often tucked a flask into their garter. 

Betty's first film was "Dizzy Dishes" in 1930. By 1934, she was censored by The Hays Code of 1934, and by 1939 the series was discontinued altogether. Always controversial from the start, the reason for the ban in 1934 was the use of laughing gas.

Betty's image has been reproduced on many material objects such as playing cards and other goods.  

I have been the happy caretaker of Betty Boop for a number of years now as she sat in my studio, keeping me company. A few years ago, some fabric companies reproduced her image. I only wish I'd bought some of that fabric when it was available. If anyone knows where I could get some, please reach out and let me know. I enjoyed learning more about her and hope that you did, too.

The Featherweight Shop: a Review

 Sometimes, folks do such a good job with serving the public in their business dealings that it is worth a few comments. The Featherweight Shop in Idaho is an outstanding business. I am the proud owner of a 1948 Singer Featherweight, Model 221. It is in great shape and sews beautifully. I have enjoyed adding accessories to it from the Featherweight Shop. I purchased an extension table, an LED light, a new electronics connection, and a kit to make a tiny Dresden Plate quilt block with a hole in the center to put on the spool holder to keep the spool from spinning too fast. In addition, I bought a new leather case, a red pouch in which to store the electronic component, and a "super belt" that we replaced today. 

The machine is humming along, making great stitches. Oh, and I also acquired some chrome needles, size 80 that I was told would be good to use with this machine. If you are in the market for anything for your machine, consider the Featherweight Shop. You won't be disappointed. The shop also offers great tutorials and information in their "Schoolhouse." 

The Featherweight Shop, LLC

P.O. Box 620

Kooskia, Idaho 83539

(208) 880-8887

The Featherweight Shop

Happy Sewing!

This has been an unpaid testimonial from a satisfied customer.

Patricia Cummings

Machine Appliqued Project

 Let me start by saying that I had never appliqued by machine until my latest project. My wish to do so started when I saw a very cute design by the whole country caboodle offered as a kit online. I don't often work from kits, usually preferring to design my own projects but this was too adorable to pass up and I was up for a learning challenge.

I did not realize what I was in for. After reading over the instructions multiple times, I realized that I needed to relax and take things one step at a time. First I had to make the pillow cover and order a pillow form online because of its odd size (14" x 20"). The material provided to make the pillow cover was a towel.

Next, I needed to fuse the yellow fabric to an adhesive, cushiony backing and then mark lines at 45 degree angles, going both ways. I then machine stitched those lines which form a grid background for the applique motif.

I had never pre-assembled appliques before and needed to buy a silicone mat for doing so. After carefully removing the paper from the pre-fused appliques and clipping the laser cuts of them, I was ready to do this work. I watched the tutorial provided by Leanne Anderson of the Whole Country Caboodle that shows how to layer the appliques, carefully fusing parts of them as I went. I then fused the pre-assembled unit to the background. 

An online video about doing machine applique on a Bernina machine was very helpful. I chose to do the buttonhole stitch to secure the pieces. Some of those pieces are very tiny and it was not an easy task, especially for a beginner. Oh! And I had to visit the quilt store to buy an open toe presser foot (#20) for my machine, and the threads mentioned in the video. The applique work is not perfect but I was pleased with it as a first effort.

To finish I needed to make a binding, sew it on, and sew on wide rick-rack, and Velcro on the ends of the pillow wrap. I think it is a very unusual project. I've never seen anything like it before. I would highly recommend it for anyone who wants a challenge or is really "into" machine applique.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing the completed work! That is my accomplishment of this summer. Now, on to other projects!

Happy Quilting!

Patricia Cummings

Bees

 Bees are important to human existence. They pollinate the flowers of vegetables and cross-pollinate fruit trees. I especially like Bumblebees. They seem to be the first to appear in the Spring and they really are fond of the early Rhododendron bush that will be blooming soon enough. Honeybees are great, too. They are certainly workers. It takes a lot of work to produce just one teaspoon of honey. Now, you are probably wondering why I am writing about bees. The impetus is a note from an old friend who told me that her grandchildren are terrified of bees that are visiting her flowering shrubs. She is wondering if bees are "good" or "bad." 

Without bees, we would not have vegetables and fruits. Simple as that. Their pollination is vital to the success of any garden. We have a special pollinator garden planted just for the bees. It consists of flowers and flowering herbs that they love. They are especially fond of oregano! We have cone flowers, Sunflowers, California Poppies, a Wildflower mix, Evening Primrose, and other flowers. Between the garden beds, the rows consist of clover that Jim plants every year. The clover keeps down the weeds, which is good, but is also food for the bees!

Hornets and wasps are a different thing altogether! They serve no purpose that I can see. Wasps often build nests in the ground and hornets build paper nests on buildings such as wooden houses. We are always knocking down nest especially at the front and back doors. One year, when Jim was painting our three-story home, he had to deal with a huge nest of hornets at the top eave. That was scary being on a ladder that far up and trying not to get stung. I think he knocked down the nest in the evening when they are less active and in the nest and he probably sprayed it first.

There must be books written about the importance of bees. I would hope there is one for children. Caution should be used around any bee because some of the stings can cause an allergic reaction but, for the most part, they are not aggressive and a healthy respect for them goes a long way. We have to contend with lots of bees on the raspberry bushes when we are picking. If one doesn't bother them, they don't bother anyone.

All I am saying is don't confuse beneficial bees with hornets and wasps. Certain types of bees are becoming endangered which is not a good thing. Happy gardening and enjoying the out-of-doors! Learn to co-exist!

Our Christmas Tree - 2022

 The house is decorated and "it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas." The focal point of our decorating is the tree. This year we opted to purchase a brand new, artificial tree from the National Tree Company. It is well-made, symmetrical and pleasing to the eye. Unlike my home, growing up, we do not use tinsel or garland or even bows. We string lights and add ornaments, each one unique, that we have collected. I enjoy remembering the circumstances in which I made them or bought them or received them as gifts. Some of them are the result of skilled artisans hands, my friends who are artists, quilters or cross-stitchers.

The other day, as I was sitting in my den hand-quilting a queen size, wholecloth quilt, I was listening to music. One of the songs has lyrics that question who will know the meaning of the ornaments on his tree and treasure them as he does when he is no longer here. The thought struck me as rather poignant and it hit home. Who, indeed, will know the names of my friends who made some of the ornaments or how or why they were given to me? As I think of old friends, some now passed away, as I hold the tangible work of their hands, I am brought back to other times in the past, good times of shared camaraderie.

I love Christmas ornaments, it is true! Each one is a work of art in miniature. On my tree are two nutcrackers, each different, made in Germany and sent by my sister when she lived there. She made me an ornament of a tiny wooden spoon tied with a bow, and sent me a polar bear ornament from the Smithsonian, as well as some others, one of which is a red metal heart with an overlay that simply says, "Merry Christmas." With her gone now, these are among some of the treasures she left behind.

There is the folded paper star, made by my daughter-in-law in the Danish style she knows so well! There are many cloth ornaments, some composite ones denoting Santa Claus. I made a Saguaro cactus that is blooming, out of felt and small, artificial blossoms. There is a face sculpted to look like "Granny" with her white hair and folded paper structures, an oven and a church, sent by a friend from Vermont to thank me for being a quilt judge at a quilt show she was assisting. Teddy Bears, in small form, adorn the tree, as well as a few ornaments that come from my family of origin. I could go on and on about the collection but I'd have to write an essay that is longer than you would want to take the time to read!

No tree would be complete without a German pickle ornament! There is a legend that goes along with it that I can't quite remember without looking it up! It has to do with the first person to spot the ornament among the branches. Either he/she will have good luck or will be the first to open presents. Getting older is a challenge sometimes when details are lost and have to be re-visited!

On top of the tree is an angel whose hymnal she holds in front of her light up with the words "Joy to the World." She runs by battery and is a piece I bought from Avon when I was a sales representative for the company. And, of course, I made a tree skirt that is Crazy-Quilted and has large hearts, each decorated with Christmas fabrics of skaters, holly, etc. and "fancy" embroidery stitches.

In the photo above, the item on the left that competes for attention is a Christmas cactus that is more than 25 years old. So far this year, only a section of it has bloomed. To the right of the picture is another Christmas cactus that is a little older than the first and that one has only bloomed once in about six years with only two blossoms! Not sure why it's decided to quit blooming!

With all of the Christmas cards mailed, all of the gifts bought, and plans underway for making Stollen and other special holiday foods, we are in great shape this year. We will be happy to greet old friends and enjoy holiday meals with some of them. Here is wishing you a lovely St. Nicholas Day on December 6, (if you live in Germany), and a very Happy Holiday Season otherwise.

Patricia Cummings

Liberty is Our Motto

 I had a lot of fun designing and making a quilt that I call "Liberty is Our Motto," inspired by a song title sung by the Hutchinson Family Singers, a 19th century group that hailed from Milford, New Hampshire. The popular family singers traveled the world, even appearing before the Queen of England!

Liberty is something we all hold dear. It is the principle upon which this country was founded. Liberty from oppression and the dictates of specific religions, and liberty for all men and women is important to Americans. With that in mind, I fashioned this quilt. The center block features a traditional pattern known as "Whig's Defeat." (The Whigs were a political group). I chose a red, white and blue theme which makes the quilt appear patriotic in nature. The appliqued hearts feature the words, "Abolition," "Temperance," and "Suffrage," all important themes in the 19th century (1800s) and into the 20th century. 

In the upper right hand corner is a piece of fabric I printed on my home printer. The design features Presidents George Washington and Barack Obama and was designed by Barbara Brackman. I finished this quilt in 2010 and it is hand-appliqued and hand-quilted. I have made very few quilts in this color combination. It seemed appropriate that I post this for the upcoming 4th of July. I took the liberty of adding a "political statement" via the chain sewn onto the border which represents the former bondage of Black Americans as slaves. This is an intensely personal quilt that shares my "values." Butterflies are hand-quilted onto the center block. Butterflies are always free. I hope you enjoy seeing this original design.

Patricia Cummings