Quilt History

 The history of quilts is a fascinating one. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate class "History of Quilts" that I participated in when the class was newly-minted just touched the surface of the topic. The American Quilt Study Group with its publications "Blanket Statements" and its annual journal "Uncoverings" is constantly expanding our awareness of the subject of quilt history, in general, and it also highlights individual quilts and quiltmakers. State project books, of which there are many, further elucidate the study of quilt history. And, individual museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Colonial Williamsburg have published their own books to show off their quilt collections.

I have been studying quilt history for years now and there is always more to learn. Quilt collectors share information about their quilts which adds to a greater understanding. Online, the Quilt Index shows quilts as does the International Quilt Study Center. Sometimes new information trumps older information which needs to be updated. There are those who study and try to keep up with current data and there are those individuals who may base their information on one source that is not reliable.

Myths have circulated about quilting. These "stories" which are nothing more than "feel good" attempts are spread by well-meaning but deluded people. Before sharing information of a historical nature, it is best to document it using multiple sources.

One of the two biggest myths that I have taken on in the past is twofold: the story that slaves used quilts as signal devices on the Underground Railroad and that quilts were hung on clotheslines to denote "safe houses" for slaves. Both theories have been discounted as not plausible and with no evidence to support either one.

The second myth that comes to mind is the mistaken name of Ellen Emeline Hardy Webster about whom I wrote an extensive e-book in 2008. A previous researcher thought her name was Emily Webster. In my book, I describe the association between Ellen Webster and her non-related friend, Emily. Once a statement is in print, it is hard to rectify an error as people will continue to seek out source material and sometimes seize on the first reference they find, not looking any further, which is why multiple references are always a good idea. I gathered "proof" and know for certain Ellen's true name. She was a wonderful teacher, researcher, quilt chart maker and deserves to be known by her actual name.

New quilt discoveries and connections are being made all the time. It's an exciting time to be involved with quilt history. For those who are interested, I urge you to read all that you can and try to get the "big" picture of when quilting started, the many examples of types of quilts made for various purposes, the years when quilting was most popular, and so much more! It is a rich field! 

For those of you who are interested in block history, there is a new book out, actually the 3rd edition of The Encyclopedia of Pieced Patterns by Barbara Brackman. Color has been added to this volume and more blocks than the 2nd edition. To accompany the book, there is a software program that can be purchased separately called Blockbase+. This program is useful for printing out templates for blocks of various sizes.

There is always more to discover. Happy Quilting!

Patricia L. Cummings

Knitting: The New Craze

 Crafts seem to come and go in phases. During the 1960s Crewel Embroidery was "big." Then came a wave of Counted Cross Stitch and Needlepoint. I have works in all of those mediums. Then, in 1985, I made my first quilt and was "hooked." I wanted to know anything and everything about quilting and I tried many techniques. At first, machine quilting as it is practiced today by longarm quilters was a new thing. Most people who quilted in the 1970s and beyond were actually making comforters for not a quilting stitch by hand was in sight except by those who had learned the art of quilting from their mothers or grandmothers.

I made hundreds of quilts in all sizes ranging from miniature to queen size. I'll admit that many of the bed quilts were tied to secure the three layers together, not quilted by hand or by machine. As time went on, I took on a few large hand quilting projects (quilts) that took me a year each to quilt (like the Calico Garden quilt hanging on the wall in the photo below). Lately though, I have succumbed to the ease of having quilts quilted by a longarm artist. There is something gratifying, after all, in having a project finished and not hanging around as an unfinished object.

Today, the latest trend in "crafting" seems to be knitting. I belong to one circle of knitters. I find that I need to choose projects in which I don't have to think or count because I am too distracted when people start talking. So, I have taken to making winter scarves for needy children. I donate them to the Retired Senior Volunteer Program at the local Friends organization and they distribute them. Since March 2020, when the pandemic set in, I have made six scarves to donate. I use the knit stitch only for the scarves and leave the ends without fringe, per the organization's request. Fringe can get caught in zippers.

It seems that others, including some famous people, have taken up knitting, too. I learned to knit when I was about 12 years old through 4-H, about the same time I was taking 4-H sewing lessons. My mother neither sewed nor knew how to knit. I managed to make some sweaters for myself and family members but I did not knit for many years. I was too busy participating in the master craftsman program for quilt making and completed that certification in the year 2000 (after 9 long years of submitting projects to be judged).

As a quilt historian now, I find the field to be very rich with information. There are less details available about the history of knitting but I did find one book with some interesting facts about the topic. I shall have to sit down with that book soon and enjoy learning what I can from it. 

For now, quilting projects have taken a back burner to my knitting. I am sure I shall make more quilts but this has been a nice interlude. I like to make useful articles that people can enjoy and it cheers me to think of "forgotten" children enjoying my colorful scarves and hats!

Pilgrims Wall Quilt

 Some projects take a while and it is a good thing that I never throw out anything! In 1963 I embroidered the pilgrim woman and pilgrim man panels and not knowing what to do with them I set them aside. At that time, I was not a quilter. In 2013, I decided to finish them into a small wall quilt. Hope you enjoy seeing this project that was 50 years in the making! Happy Thanksgiving!

Christmas Cactus

 Anyone who knows me knows that I love houseplants. I became interested in them as a 4-H project when I was about 12 years old and have kept some plants ever since. Right now, I have two very large Christmas cacti, (three to four feet in expanse), one with broad leaves and the other with smaller, more delicate leaves. The one with broad leaves blooms twice per year for several months. As it has gotten older, one side blooms at a time, quickly followed by the other side. I don't know why that is happening as I rotate the plants a quarter turn every time I water them.

The broad leaf cactus has a history. I started the plant using one segment that had fallen to the floor of my mother's nursing home room when a visitor brought a blooming plant to my mother's roommate. The segment was in very good condition and my mother told me to bring it home to see if I could "root" it. I did just that! The plant grew by leaps and bounds and has consistently rewarded me with many blossoms.

The last time it bloomed was in May. Now it is October and it has begun blossoming again. I expect it will "go" until Christmas, if not beyond.

My other plants are succulents and African violets. I have one orchid that was given to me and when it finished blooming, it has put on more growth but no more buds. I have it under a grow light along with some of the African violets. When it comes to plants, I find it is best to water them once a week, fertilize them occasionally, and just let Nature do its thing. They are so cheerful and an added benefit is that they add oxygen to the air! They respond to Tender Loving Care and they never talk back!

The "Mayflower Quilt"

 The “Mayflower” Quilt

Patricia L. Cummings

The Oldest Known Wholecloth Quilt Brought to America

Perhaps the earliest known quilt found in North American museum collections is one that at one time was dubiously called, “The Mayflower Quilt.” Described as being made of linen, the wholecloth quilt was carried aboard the “Angel Gabriel” galleon by the Cogswell family.  Members of the family included John Cogswell (43) and his wife, Elizabeth (41), and 7 children: William (18), Mary (16), John Jr. (13), Hannah (11), Abigail (9), Edward, (6), Sarah (3), and Elizabeth, (an infant). They hailed from Westbury Leigh, Wiltshire, England and the “Angel Gabriel” departed from Bristol, England in 1635.

Lovely Lane Museum, Baltimore, Maryland, now owns the quilt. Robert Shindle, Museum Director, noted in an e-mail to me that no facts have ever been found to support an association of the quilt with the “Mayflower,” a ship that brought passengers to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620.  

Indeed, no record can be found of this particular galleon ever being called “Mayflower.” Originally, it was called “Starne” and was built for Sir Walter Raleigh to carry him from England to South America. After his unsuccessful attempt to find gold in Spanish-held territory along the Orinoco River, he was beheaded. Later, the vessel acquired the name “Jason.” Records show that at one point, it served to transport cargo such as cotton, lead, and raisins to the New World. The galleon was renamed “Angel Gabriel” in mid-1619.

Museum Acquires Quilt

According to Shindle, the quilt was purchased from Mrs. Susan Litch Williams for $85 dollars by Reverend N.T. Whitaker on September 1897 on behalf of Rev. John Franklin Goucher, then President of the Woman’s College of Baltimore (later Goucher College). Then the quilt was given by Dr. Goucher’s daughters to a church, now known as Lovely Lane Methodist Church, when it was in the process of opening a museum in 1954. Rarely seen by the public, the quilt was published in a 2006 calendar previously offered for sale by the museum

More Information Found

The “Angel Gabriel,” a 240 ton galleon made of wood and sails, carried 25 or more passengers on its final voyage to New England, a trip that was part of the “Great Migration” of Puritans to the New World from 1620 to 1640.

On August 14, 1635, the ship was anchored near Pemiquid Point, Maine for the night. The passengers disembarked by rowboat, carrying enough gear to stay on dry land, including the quilt. At 6:30 a.m. the following day, ferocious winds caused by the “Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635” smashed the ship to smithereens and washed the shipwreck out to sea leaving only scattered floating debris on the surface of the water. The vessel was never seen again, in spite of continued and concerted attempts by searchers who continue to seek out any remains.

Angel Gabriel: The Elusive English Galleon / Its History and the Search for Its Remains by Warren Curtis Riess (Bristol, Maine: 1797 House, 2001), mentions the journal account of Reverend Richard Mather, written in 1635:  “[…] most of the cattle and other goods, with one seaman and three or four passengers, did also perish therein, besides two passengers that died by the way,” (“Richard Mather’s Journal,” Chronicles of the First Planters of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay from 1623-1636, ed., Alexander Young (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1846).

Galleon Survivors and Their Descendants

Today, a plaque mounted on a rock at Pemaquid Point, Maine is dedicated to the Cogswell family which later settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts. A similar plaque honors the memory of Ralph Blaisdell (42), his wife (age unknown), and their son, Henry (3) of Lancashire, England who later first went to York, Maine and later settled in Salisbury, Massachusetts. Family descendants of those shipwrecked still live in New England. 

One such person is Barbara Bean Stevens, a resident of Groton, New Hampshire. She is a direct descendant of John Burnham who at the age of 10 was allowed by his mother, Mary Andrews Burnham, to accompany his uncle, Robert Andrews, the captain of the “Angel Gabriel,” along with John’s two brothers, Thomas and Robert Burnham. In information written for the Groton Historical Society in their Winter Newsletter (Vol. IV, Issue 4, 2006), Stevens provided information to Louise Traunstein, Groton Historical Society Archivist and Newsletter Editor.

Stevens recounted she had read in several historical accounts that during the hurricane,  noted ships were lost at sea, ocean swells were over 20 feet high, and Indians (Native Americans) had to climb trees for safety. Hundreds of trees were uprooted and dwellings destroyed as gale force winds continued for five to six hours. Unlike the Cogswell family, the sea captain and his nephews escaped only with their lives and nothing else.

A treasured piece of the past, the “Mayflower Quilt” name evokes a time when Christian believers gathered up their most valuable possessions and ventured from their familiar surroundings to seek religious freedom in the New World. We are very lucky that this quilt was saved and has been preserved in a museum setting. It is an early example of a quilt from a time when quilters simply used needle and thread to work surface designs in pleasing patterns. Perhaps, though, it is time that the quilt was called, “The Angel Gabriel” quilt.

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Patricia L. Cummings is a writer and quilter whose many articles have been published by The Quilter magazine and other publications. She writes books about Redwork embroidery, quilt history, and other topics. 

Hmong Needlework Traditions

 Hmong Needlework Traditions

Patricia L. Cummings

Had it not been for the friendship between the Hmong (pronounced “mung”) of Laos and the United States military during the Vietnam War, most Americans would be unaware of the rich textile traditions of these brave and gentle people. Hmong contributions to the war effort were immense. They intercepted Vietcong supplies along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, rescued downed U.S. helicopter pilots, were the eyes and ears of the Central Intelligence Agency, and worked as foot soldiers.

When the U.S. exited Vietnam in 1975, the Hmong people were at the mercy of the Communist victors, who were intent on retaliation. Ultimately, they fled across the Mekong River to reach the safe shores of Thailand. Half of the Lao Hmong population, about 230,000 people, were sheltered at United Nations refugee camps, where they were held until cleared to move on to another country. With little to do in the camps, both men and women passed the time by making embroidered Paj Ntaub (Hmong stitchery). These “story cloths,” containing motifs of animals, crops, and people, show what village life had been like and how it had drastically changed.

Story Cloths

Story cloths consist of two layers and often include embroidered images of pigs, chickens, goats, horses, cows, and water buffalo, which the Hmong customarily kept when they were hillside farmers. The detailed embroidered village scenes feature people at work – many with baskets on their backs – cultivating corn, weaving, or pounding dry-land rice. Women often carried their babies into the field using colorful papoose-like carriers with straps. The babies would wear special, embroidered hats to keep evil spirits away. The colorful huts and overall activity present a tranquil view of life in Laos.

When the Hmong men picked up a needle, a different story was told – that of Communist soldiers with guns terrorizing innocent civilians, while helicopters and planes drop mycotoxins that some called “Yellow Rain.” The lethal manmade concoction was repeatedly dropped on Hmong villages, causing severe illness and death. The story cloths of men show attempts to escape across the Mekong River. These included depictions of bamboo sticks to which they clung, rafts, tires, inflated plastic bags and occasionally boats (if they paid someone). Many drowned because they did not know how to swim. These story cloths serve to instruct future generations as to what actually happened and why it was important to seek asylum elsewhere.

Pa Ndau Applique

In addition to story cloths, the Hmong make “flower cloths,” needlework designs called pa Ndau (pronounced “pond-ouw).  To make a flower cloth, three layers of cloth are required. The fabric is marked, cut away, turned under, and appliqued down with tiny stitches. Of the geometric designs most common is the “Elephant’s Foot” motif.

 Another common design is “Snail House” which symbolizes the (important) extended family. “Dragon’s Tail” is a version of a “Snail House” design. Star designs and heart designs are also common.  Pa Ndau is often embellished with additional small designs and embroidery.

Needlework Traditions

Mothers begin to teach their children needlework from as young an age as three and the embroideries create an important connection for mother and daughter. Ia Moua Yang, in her booklet, The Pa Ndau of Ia Moua Yang: Keeping Alive the Treasure of the Hmong, touchingly observes, “As the mother gets older, she and her daughter make a very special Pa Ndau for a gift exchange so when they get to the spirit world, they will be able to meet each other again.”

Included in every Hmong girl’s dowry are special burial cloths that are given to her when she leaves home. Funeral celebrations are very important to the Hmong. New Year’s celebrations are also a time to show off Hmong-embroidered clothing and to compete for the “best of show.”

Besides story cloths and flower cloths, the Hmong make a variety of embroidered objects, including cross-stitched belts, purses. holiday ornaments and many other small textiles. Their needlework has become a means of revenue.

New Beginnings

Since the end of the Vietnam War, the Hmong people who came to the U.S. have had some time to become acclimated. There is no doubt that their culture is changing, an inevitable result of being exposed to a much different way of life. There is also a danger that Hmong needlework traditions will not be a priority with the younger generations. The skills may stand as an endangered species, just as the tigers they left behind.

About the Author

Patricia L. Cummings had her own column, “Pieces of the Past” in The Quilter magazine for 15 years. She is certified by the Embroiderer’s Guild of America as a master craftsman in quilt making. James Cummings serves as the photographer for all of Pat’s books and articles.

Adult Coloring

I was introduced to the idea of adult coloring at the senior center in my hometown. It was set up as an activity for people to do while the knitting group carried on in the same room. The seniors coordinator provided gel pens, colored pencils and a treasure trove of coloring books and loose pages presumably printed from the Internet.

After telling a friend of my new interest, she bought me a set of 36 colored pencils and later gave me a set of gel pens. My husband, who had taken an art course at (adult education) at the high school, had acquired a nice set of Prismacolor pencils. He has since ordered more art supplies such as flesh-colored pencils for doing faces. He also bought me some earth-tone gel pens on amazon. All in all, we are well-stocked with coloring supplies.

We have a "date" every Sunday night. We color in my studio while listening to the Folk Show on National Public Radio. Music is a good background for our artistic efforts. It is not as easy as it looks to choose appropriate colors.

Recently, Better Day Books offered a free coloring book to download. It has quarantine themes and words related to "flattening the curve," etc. So far, I have finished two of the coloring pages. Here is the second one.

I like the message. "It's a Good Day to Have a Better Day." We could all use better days these days. We are tired of the stay-at-home order and limited access to businesses. It is unlikely that we will ever get back to "normal" again, or so it seems. There is hope of a vaccine and limited testing has been done so far. A vaccine is our only hope of resuming all activities as we once knew them and even then, many of us will approach public activities with caution as our brains have been programmed to fear being with other people. For now, we can only make the most of Today and try, against all odds, to have a better day!

Cloth Dolls to Love

Today I am going to show you a collection of cloth dolls I collected a few years ago. I purchased them at an antiques shop. They are small, printed and embroidered, and each has a number at the bottom. I am wondering if anyone has any information about them (such as who the print manufacturer was and when they were printed). They are really charming! The "backs" are printed and embroidered, too. Hope you enjoy seeing them. All photos were taken by James Cummings.

There are seven of them in all. The boy with the dog and watermelons and the man playing a banjo make me think of these dolls as having a southern theme. They will all be going to a good home - to a collector of cloth dolls. I hope she enjoys them as much as I have!

Please leave a comment if you have any further information about them. Thanks!

Remembrances of Spain

Spain has been one of the hardest hit countries with corona virus. I have very good memories of living in the country while attending the university in Pamplona. The people are very warm and welcoming. I recall a peasant family who sat across from me on a train headed south when I chose to do some sightseeing over Christmas break. The family offered to share their loaf of bread with me although they clearly had very little themselves.

When I first arrived there to take a month long course in Spanish that I would encounter in various disciplines, depending on which courses I chose for the academic year, I was in class with other international students. Two of them became good friends. Chieko, a girl friend (from Japan) asked me to teach her more English even though she knew English pretty well. Whenever we were together, we conversed in Spanish. Masayuki was a Japanese boy in my class who offered to walk me home whenever it was raining. Although he was much shorter than me, he had an umbrella and would hold it high so I wouldn't get wet. He was so kind!

My first apartment was on the outskirts of town in a new high-rise (three stories high). In Spain, widows often rent out extra rooms in their apartments to students. Such was the case with both apartments where I lived. My first landlady kicked me out so that she could have three priests move in with her. She cooked for them at a local monastery. She was very nice but needed the income and I could not find other students who needed a place to live which left two bedrooms vacant.
The second apartment is one that I moved into with Pat, a woman (fellow student) from Australia. The landlady was elderly and suffered from very swollen legs. At Thanksgiving time, she and Pat put their heads together and made a special meal for me consisting of roast chicken, white asparagus, olives, and other foods, as well as flan for dessert.

I loved my travels through southern Spain checking out La Alhambra (an old Moorish castle), the cathedrals (which have a lot of beautiful sculptures and paintings), and the usual tourist attractions. The paella that I ate in Sevilla was memorable! At the university, I signed up for the History of Spanish Art and Architecture and German. I loved my studies.

Come February, I was back home and doing my student teaching at a NH high school. It is fun to revisit these memories of when I was young (21). I earned a certificate of "sobresaliente" for my university work (A+). I met lots of friends at the university including Gigi from Puerto Rico who lived in the equivalent of a dorm (which served meals and also had its own chapel). She often invited me for lunch and for the tertulia (meeting of friends with conversation and guitar music). That's where I learned a lot of Spanish songs. It was all a lot of fun!

What Would Mom Do?

In the wee hours of the morning, when I could not sleep, I got up and sat in my recliner and thought about my mother and how she would have reacted to the current crisis. In particular, I recalled one night when she was staying with us toward the end of her life. She had dementia and would wander at night. That night I found her sitting on the living room couch. I sat down next to her and in the poignancy of the moment and the stillness of the dark room, I started to cry realizing that she would not be with us much longer and would have to be institutionalized for her own safety and well-being. I put my head on her knee and she stroked my head, telling me not to cry and that it would be alright. Neither she nor I knew the heartache that would come for both of us as a result of her illness. She did not like being in a "home" and I felt guilty and sad that she needed to be there but it was what it was and there was no changing the course of events as they transpired.

Today I am feeling the same kind of vague anxiety about the future. None of us has a crystal ball that can predict who will get the much-dreaded corona virus that is killing thousands of Americans. We have government officials that are basically leaving interventions and guidelines up to the state governments. The federal government seems more interested in upholding private corporation's ability to make money from this situation. We are assured that things will get better but at what cost of life in the meantime?

My mother lived through the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918. She suffered through the Great Depression and all of the sacrifices people were asked to make during World War II. She worked at a factory, making $12.50 per week from the time she was a sophomore in high school and forced by her family to quit school for the much needed income and she worked there for 12 years until she married in 1937. At least her family of origin (13 people in all) was resourceful. Her father had a large garden and her mother and the three oldest siblings helped by canning food. Later in life, she came down with the Hong Kong flu and nearly hemorrhaged to death and would have died, had I not been on hand to call an ambulance.

Yes, Mom managed to escape death from several pandemics. She maintained a good attitude of "It's going to be alright!" Even though that word, "alright," may mean different things and may represent various outcomes, I can tell you that she lived to be 92, having outlived two of her children.

Somehow, the remembrance of her words soothes my soul. Like her, I feel that I am a survivor, having gone through a number of miserable experiences in my own life. For today, and in the comfort of my own home with no place to go and nothing to do but creative and intellectual pursuits, I believe her words. No matter the outcome, life will go on. The daffodils will still come up in the spring, the dandelions will blossom like clockwork, and people will live or die according to a Divine Plan of which we cannot know or imagine. "All is right with my soul," as the old hymn says.

Patricia Cummings
April 2020

Job's Troubles Revisited

This past week I mentioned that I had found a reference to the "Job's Troubles" quilt block in a research notebook I had prepared. The block was called "Snowball" by Donald Beld in his pattern for a Civil War reproduction quilt originally made in Vermont and given to the U.S. Sanitary Commission. In my previous post, I mis-cited an entry found in Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Patterns which lists "Snowball" and "Job's Troubles" as alternate names but shows an entirely different drawing than the "Snowball" block used in the Civil War quilt.

This reproduction of a Sanitary Commission quilt made by Patricia Cummings has two sets of blocks: plain ones with Biblical inscriptions and pieced ones called "Job's Troubles." The original quilt was made by Caroline Fairbanks.

The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns by Jinny Beyer has a colored diagram called "Job's Troubles" that corresponds to the block seen in the quilt by Caroline Fairbanks that I mentioned. The block was published by Clara Stone in Practical Needlework, ca. 1906. This date post-dates the Civil War time frame but do we really know the name that Fairbanks had called the block? To me, the name "Job's Troubles" makes a lot of sense because the quilt is religiously-based, containing quotes from the Bible, the Book of Common Prayer, etc. Today, we know the alternate block which includes an octagonal shape as "Snowball." I postulate that it could have been known much earlier as "Job's Troubles." I have not yet checked other encyclopedic sources for quilt blocks which I have on hand.

Twiddlemuff

I just finished making a Twiddlemuff from an Australian pattern from an unknown source. (I modified the pattern a bit). A Twiddlemuff is a circular, knitted tube onto which embellishments such as buttons and pompoms are sewn. Once in the hands of an Alzheimer's patient, the person can have fun touching and fiddling with the embellishments.

Twiddlemuff by Patricia Cummings; photo by James Cummings

I adhered to the instructions, using bulky yarn. I did not own any "fancy" textured yarns to add in for interest's sake. I used straight needles, size 10 U.S., and cast on 45 stitches. I first knit an 11" inch "cuff" and then 23" more in various colored yarns in a stocking stitch. The long sides get joined together on the purl side. Then, the tube is turned inside out and the two ends are stuffed in to make a final length of 16 inches. The ends are tacked in place with the addition of embellishments, securely sewn on. Due to choking hazards should an embellishment come loose, the Twiddlemuff should only be used under supervision. I took extra care on securing the buttons, etc.

After the initial 11" of the same yarn, I alternated colors in blocks of 4" with 2" of ivory yarn in between each color. I had never sewn purl sides together before and I benefited from watching an instructional video on Google. I like every project I make to be a learning experience!

I plan to donate the finished item to a county nursing home in hopes that an Alzheimer's patient there will enjoy it. Both ends of the cuff are open, allowing the person to insert a hand in either end. I feel good about finishing the project. It cost about $25. between the price of the bulky yarns and the embellishments. I hope some poor soul will get some happiness out of using it.

Christmas Shopping on Elm Street

In the 1950s when I was a child, Christmas shopping meant a trip to downtown Manchester, New Hampshire where the stores were wall to wall and decked out in their finest. Christmas Eve was the most exciting time to get on a bus and head to the heart of the city. I remember shopping with my mother. We would always go to Pariseau's, Leavitt's and Hill's, all dry goods stores where mother could buy on credit in those days before bank-issued credit cards. At Pariseau's she would go directly to the "basement" where all the mark-downs were located. With so many people to remember with gifts, any bargain was welcome.

A favorite store to browse in was Woolworth's Five and Dime. It was exciting to see the baby turtles they sold and over the years, I owned several of them. I had a plastic turtle "pond" that had a raised, dry area where the turtle could escape the water and also eat the raw hamburger I fed it. That was in the days before the scare of salmonella infections stopped the sale of the little guys.

Woolworth's had doilies, table runners and pillowcases and they sold embroidery thread. I loved working on those small embroidery projects! They also sold used postage stamps in big envelopes. I had a huge stamp collector's book and delighted in the many beautiful stamps. So on these expeditions out shopping, Mother would indulge me in some small purchase. We also indulged in a hot fudge sundae at the wonderful ice cream counter they had in the store. That was the best hot fudge in the world!

Of course, while the bulk of Christmas shopping fell to my mother, my Dad could complete his gift buying (for Mother) in one fell swoop. He'd simply visit LeMay's Jewelers which was conveniently located right near his office on Elm Street. My mother did a lot of holiday shopping at Moreau's, a hardware store that carried fancy glassware, casserole and serving dishes, candy dishes, etc.

Often, we would meet relatives who were also doing last minute shopping. Of course, that was only the beginning of the evening. Once home, the gift wrapping would continue. Over the years and at more affluent times, Mother got in the habit of collecting potential gifts during the year. Buying "gifties," as she called them, over time, makes more sense than frenzied shopping at the last minute.

Honestly, I don't know how she was able to get everything done what with all of her holiday baking, rounding up four children and making sure they were dressed nicely to attend Midnight Mass. Did I mention that Mother held a full-time job during the week? She would always start thinking about Christmas baking at Thanksgiving time when she would begin macerating fruit in rum with which she would make homemade fruitcakes! She always made a yeast sweet bread called Stollen, as did her Austrian ancestors, which is a lot of work! Then, there were the usual cookies and always a Coconut layer cake with peach preserves in the center. Mother loved to bake!

In the age before Shopping Malls and online shopping, Christmas shopping was a challenge! It meant having to physically go to individual stores in person and pick out gifts, one at a time.

Elm Street in Manchester is one of the coldest streets in the world in the winter! The North Wind blows down the street and brutally attacks anyone who is not prepared for the cold that it brings. Mother never learned how to drive, so without the opportunity to take a bus, we never would have been shopping together on Christmas Eve!

Times have changed considerably. Now the number of homeless people who live in city parks and hang out on the streets of Manchester make shopping the downtown area less desirable. The drug problem and the crime that is often the result of that has also infiltrated the city. For me, as a little kid, I felt safe shopping on Elm Street at night. People were honest and all there with a common purpose: to buy gifts for loved ones. I have only good memories of childhood Christmases but I realize now that much of what I remember was from the work and sacrifices of one person:  my Mother!

Here's hoping that you enjoy the holiday season and don't get so busy worrying about little things that you forget the meaning of the season:  love! Have a peaceful and joyous time whatever your beliefs or lack thereof. I love everything about Christmas especially the tree, the ornaments, the special foods, the music, gift giving, and the chance to be with the people I love! Joy to you!

The Man Who

Back in the 1960s, my Dad served as clerk to the Board of Selectmen in a small New Hampshire town. On one occasion, he was to drop off some paperwork to one of the Selectmen at his home. Upon approaching the door, Dad noticed that the door was open with just a screen door in place. Shortly, he heard a woman's voice calling "Man Who," "Man Who." Dad did not know what to make of this strange call out. He knocked on the door and soon the lady of the house appeared. She explained that she was calling her cat and that she named him "Man Who" after listening to all the political pundits on television claiming they were the man who did this or that. Dad came away chuckling. He always did enjoy humor.

Humor seems to be what is lacking in our current election process. The Democratic debates showed no levity whatsoever. Not that there is a lot to laugh or joke about in today's America. We all know the problems and they seem to only be getting worse.

I like to think of the 1960s. There was much civil disobedience, much vocalization when it came to folksingers speaking out and singing out their hearts, trying to call the status quo into some kind of accountability. There was hope, too. "We Shall Overcome" and "Not Gonna Study War No More" were two of the more popular songs. Bob Dylan and Joan Baez were oh so young back then, just "kids" really but people with a social conscience.

When I think of it, folk music has always been the voice of the common folk who have been concerned with issues bigger than themselves. Whether the topic was prison ("Midnight Special" or "Folsom Prison Blues") or the war in Vietnam, there was a song addressed to the issue.

A yellow rose, the symbol of insincerity but beautiful just the same. Let's hope for sincerity and truth in our politics. Rose photo by James Cummings taken in our garden.

Every Sunday night my husband and I have a "date" to do some coloring in my studio while we listen to the New Hampshire Folk Show on National Public Radio. Last week's offerings included many songs that had references to the city of Baltimore, nostalgic thoughts, all. The songs were appropriate due to the previous week's slammings by Tweet by the official Tweeter-in-chief which demonized the city as "rat-infested" and a place "where no one would want to live." These thoughts were followed up with personal attacks on Rep. Elijah Cummings who is from Baltimore in retribution for political discourse. The songs leveled the playing field a bit, giving voice in a sense to a city under attack.

Baltimore has always been a fine city and in the mid-19th century, the place where the famed "Baltimore Album" quilts were made and presented to departing Methodist ministers. These quilts are some of the most prized in the world and have, in some instances, been duplicated by members of the Baltimore Applique Society (and other quilters) who wanted a challenge.

We need to start seeing the good in places and in each other. We need to bring back communal laughter which could bring on a sense of well-being again. Not laughter in a jeering and hateful manner but perhaps laughter at our own human condition, bringing on a sense that we are all in this life together and need to make the most of that fact.

And so, I leave you with my memory of a cat named "The Man Who." Let's hope that the results of the next election will bring us the man or the woman who can turn this country in a different direction.

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

The Wall

For those who pay attention to the latest cause and effect of government policies, the proposed border wall is the topic of conversation. To some who live in border states on the border between Mexico and the United States, a wall would be an answer to a dream, that dream being the keeping out of illegal immigrants that flock to their communities needing food, shelter, medical care, and education for their children. Others who look at the cost of a wall that would stretch across the total border (an estimated $50 to 60 billion dollars in all) see it as a foolish exercise because a wall can so easily be breached by tunneling under it, climbing over it, or (in the instance of steel slats) cutting through it.

We have to ask ourselves what would be the goal of the wall. It is clear that it could keep some immigrants out. As far as controlling drug traffic, it would be ineffectual as most drugs come through legal ports of entry, by land, sea and even by air. Most of the fentanyl is being flown in by China, for example.

The president is portraying asylum seekers from Central America as murderous thugs, rapists, terrorists, and other lawbreakers. In reality, crime by illegal immigrants is statistically much, much lower than the general population. For the most part, the individuals coming to the border are arriving with their children and it is true than many of the women have been assaulted or raped on the perilous journey north, seeking the promise of a better life only to find no such "promise" in place.

Many on the left have said that the Statue of Liberty is "weeping" over current immigration policies such as the inhumane separation of children from their parents. In essence, the tent cities are making a lot of money for those who administer them. Word is that in some cases caretakers are abusing the small children in their charge. I am wondering if those caretakers even speak a modicum of Spanish? In two instances, sadly, two children have died of causes potentially linked to lack of water and nutrition and care when they suddenly got very sick.

The president says that he is all for immigration but the policies of his administration say something entirely different. He has also made the remark of not wanting immigrants from "sh*thole countries" and only wanting new citizens who are "smart" and can contribute to fields like technology. So, I guess he is for selective immigration or what he calls "merit" immigration.

This is all part of his "America First" policy, a thought that had its roots in the 1880s Republican party and led to isolationism which just about kept us out of World War I. Isolationism is based on fear of "the other." Some have called the president a "racist" because the people being targeted are non-Caucasians.

Whether one agrees with the president's thoughts or not, it is clear to me that a wall across the entire southern border is not a feasible answer. With steel slats that can easily be cut with tools from Home Depot, it does not seem like such a bright idea after all. And then, there is the question of eminent domain:  the usurpation of lands that are privately-owned along the border. Some people do not want to sell, at any cost, and have their land divided permanently by an obstructive wall.

There is a lot to think about. Immigration and "the Wall" are thorny subjects and both have now indirectly affected hundreds of thousands of federal workers who are not being paid during this government shutdown. The president has threatened to declare a National Emergency. The problem is that while there is a humanitarian crisis involving people, there is no real "emergency." If anything, immigration numbers are way down from even 10 years ago. This is a manufactured crisis!

I hope that the politicians can figure out what to do. Meanwhile, while all this is in limbo, many people are being hurt while the president tries to bully others just so he can complete his ill-founded campaign promise. The result is chaos and disruption to the lives of many. It is a sad day when people who are mandated to work without pay have to resort to getting their food from soup kitchens and charitable pantries. Let's hope this mayhem can be resolved soon. May God bless America!

Christmas Seasons of Yore

Christmas will be here again in less than two weeks. Holiday shoppers are scrambling about, gathering gifts to be presented on that special day. My mother often left shopping until the last minute. I recall her bringing me with her to downtown Manchester (NH) on Christmas Eve to buy last minute gifts, sometimes at great mark-down prices. She had to be economical as she had so many people to remember, including some of my aunts and uncles. One time she got so distracted, she laid down her wallet on top of some dry goods and forgot it there. Luckily, someone retrieved it and gave it to store management, so she did get it back!

At that time, downtown Manchester was a hub of shopping opportunities. There was Leavitt's, Pariseau's and Hills for fine clothing, Lemay Jewelers, and Pandora Mills for great sweaters and knit goods. There was also a high end hardware store that sold kitchen goods (crystal, china, etc.) of great quality. It was the era before the malls that have taken over in recent years but which now seem to be in decline. Elm Street (the main street in downtown Manchester) attracted busloads of shoppers!

I enjoyed the shared excitement of finding gifts for everyone on her list. On one occasion, we ran into one of my maiden aunts who was in a frenzy trying to do some of her last minute shopping, too.

At home we always had a fresh tree nicely decorated with tin ornaments and shiny balls, garlands, lights and lots of tinsel! My mother has a plastic set consisting of a white sleigh, a Santa figure, and reindeer, attached to each other by ribbon. She displayed that on the fireplace mantel. There was a stocking for each "kid" - four of us in all and I loved getting stocking gifts that would continue to amuse me all the day. I especially liked plastic puzzles that featured separate tiles that moved around would make a "picture" of a giraffe or something. I also remember a clown that had bendable arms and legs that could be re-positioned.

Of course, food was a big part of the celebration. Mother always made Stollen. Her father was an Austrian-American. I loved smelling that candied bread baking. She drizzled a glaze over it and topped it with candied cherries. The two large loaves would be doled out, a few pieces at a time. She always made fruitcake, macerating her fruit in rum from about Thanksgiving. Santa always was treated to a white layer cake with peach preserves between the layers, topped with white frosting and sprinkled with coconut.

When I look back, I marvel at all that my mother accomplished and all she did to make holidays special. The family attended Midnight Mass at the cathedral which always had many poinsettias and a large creche at the front of the church. The kids would be bleary-eyed, staying up so late, and also "wired" thinking of Santa who would arrive so soon. On Christmas day the first one down the stairs from the upstairs bedrooms was my brother, Jack. He always swore that he had heard the hooves of Santa's reindeer on the roof! How my parents were able to get all those gifts wrapped and under the tree "in time" is nothing short of a miracle!

"Patti" at Christmas in 1956 with "Jill" the doll and a tea cup set

It is fun to reminisce about Christmases from years past. I remember receiving many practical gifts like socks, new pajamas, a wool shirt or other clothing. We were a big family and my parents needed to be reasonable in their gift-giving. I had a god-father who spoiled me with fashion dolls that were too nice to play with. One was a "bride" and another was a society doll with a dress, wearing nylons, high heels, and a hat! But, I received other dolls, too, all of which I still have!

I can't reclaim the total magic that was Christmas in those days when I believed in Santa - those dreamy days of childhood that can never return. I try to re-create my mother's traditions of Stollen, Coconut cake, and cookies but not the fruitcake! I now have some of the ornaments that were on those Christmas trees of the 1950s, a time of awakening for me, spiritually and otherwise. I would love to hear about your family traditions, if you care to leave a comment! Merry Christmas to all who celebrate the holiday!

A Little Quilted Treasure

There is something enchanting about folk art themes! I found a mini-quilt to purchase at an antiques booth at a quilt show. The place where I bought it has long escaped my memory. I have had the little quilt tucked away in a drawer for a few years.

The main feature are two deer that are facing each other. Both are outlined by black quilting stitches that are very tiny. It is difficult to determine whether the background fabric is stenciled or printed, and/or if it is flannel, or is tea-dyed.

This mini-quilt measures 7 3/4" x 7 3/4" and is an example of folk art.
photo by James Cummings

A stone walk leads to a log cabin with a chimney and a very large star overhead. Two large fir trees that are outlined in green stitches are positioned on either side of the house. The border has tiny triangles that feature lines of tiny red stitches and there is a second border of triangles. In between the rows of triangles are tiny trees that are slanted this way and that. The back leg of each deer intrudes beyond the first triangle border.

The quilt is finished off with a gingham border that makes it look very "country" or like folk art. The back has two plastic curtain rings that are sewn on for hanging. All in all, this is a delightful little quilt! I am left wondering whether this is antique or just made to look like it. Nevertheless, I wish the quilter had signed the back so we could know who made it and give her credit!

Sarah Good hanged as a witch

Arrested and Hanged As a Salem Witch

One of Salem, Massachusetts' Witch Trials first victims in 1692 was Sarah Good, a woman of childbearing age who, indeed, was pregnant, at the time of her arrest on February 29, 1692. The baby was born in prison and died there. Accused of bewitching children, Sarah experienced a fate not ever envisioned, a fate even worse than losing her father John Sobert to suicide, a fate worse than the loss of her first husband Daniel Poole in 1686, or the inheritance of all of his debts, to pass on to her second husband, William Good.

Forced to beg alms, door to door, Sarah's physical countenance resembled that of someone twice her age. Her matted hair, and weathered face, and the curses under her tongue to those who did not help her, perhaps frightened townspeople. When the accusation of “witch” was uttered, it fulfilled the thoughts already on the minds of the churchgoers and wealthy of her community. It is always easy for society to persecute those who are “different,” or do not conform to the expected norm.

On June 29, 1692 Sarah was convicted of witchcraft and she was hanged on July 19. At the last moment, Reverend Noyes urged her to admit to being a witch and ask forgiveness, but she refused. Instead, she proclaimed, “I am no more a witch than you are a wizard. If you take my life away, God will give you blood to drink.” Years later, when the judge died of a hemorrhage that resulted in blood in his mouth, Salem residents remembered Sarah's statement.

A descendant of Judge Hathorne, novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864), included a similar scene involving the death of Judge Pyncheon in his fictional work, The House of the Seven Gables.

Ellen Webster visited the Corwin House (in the 1930s?) where Grace Atkinson rented upstairs rooms to sell antiques. Atkinson died in 1943. The following year, the city of Salem, MA bought the house. In 1944, it was opened as a museum. Ellen copied an appliquéd block from a quilt. She wrote the following statement on a quilt “chart.”

Quilt found on a bed in the “Old Witch House,” Salem, Mass. when the first hearing was held for the trial of witches. The “witch” was Sarah Good, and the house was Jonathan Corwins', corner of Essex and North Streets. J. Corwin was magistrate.

Quilt inspired by Ellen E. Webster's quilt chart and made by Patricia Cummings

Neither the quilt pattern, nor the fabrics used to re-create this block, are believable entities for a quilt made in 1692 (17^th century). At that time, wool or linsey-woolsey wholecloth quilts were popular, their fibers dyed with Indigo and other natural plant dyes often from local New England plant species. Turquoise calico is more typical of the 1930s and fits the pastel color palette of that era.

Quilt made by Patricia Cummings, Concord, NH, in May 2010, to display in talks about Ellen Webster, the subject of her 355 page book, published in 2008.