Polly Patchwork and Calico Bushes

 

And now for something completely different...I could use a diversion from politics and I'm betting you could too!

I had a blurb in my files on a 1928 book called Polly Patchwork.  I wanted to know what the book was about and wondered if I could read it online via Googlebooks.  I didn't find it but I found another book called The History of Polly Patchwork--the second edition which was published in 1815 in London.  

The History of Polly Patchwork is a Cinderella type story of a poor girl who has cruel sisters but makes her way in the world and becomes a servant to a wealthy family.  Eventually she marries a hard working man and as he prospers, Polly is named a Dame and has 6 children.

Then another book came to my attention as I researched.  It was a children's book of poetry called The Jingle Book.  Written by Carolyn Wells, it was published in 1906.  As it turns out Polly Patchwork is actually a character in a poem called "A Day Dream"--here it is:

But what about the original Polly Patchwork I found?

Well I couldn't read it online but the book appears to be about a girl named Polly who's Grandmother makes her a special patchwork dress for a spelling competition.  Here is Polly in her lovely dress:

The author of the book was Rachel Fields and I just knew I had heard of her somewhere.  Turns out, Rachel Fields wrote one of my all time favorite poems which was used in a lovely song--Something told the Wild Geese.  If you don't know the song, my favorite rendition of this is by the Van Trapp children (second or third generation from the original kids).  You can listen to it hear.  It is the song I like to listen to this particular time of year.

But of course, I couldn't just leave it there.  I was curious about Fields work and stumbled upon a play called The Patchwork Quilt.  Then I found the title of her children's book called Calico Bush.  This particular book made me wonder if she was a quilter and what the heck is this book about (what can I tell you, this is how my mind works).  I can tell you that Calico Bush was a Newbery Medal Honor book.

The story is set in Maine in the 1700s and features a young french indentured servant girl.  I haven't read the book.  But what the heck is the calico bush in Calico Bush?  And was Rachel Fields a quilter?  It turns out that someone else was curious about her too and an academic article was published about her work in 1996.  I don't have the article but you can read the synopsis here.  And somehow the quilt pattern, Delectable Mountains, figures in the book Calico Bush.

Weirdly, I've been planning to use this pattern in an upcoming quilt.

And just because I love to escape into anything unrelated to current events, I wondered (still) about calico bushes.  Turn out that calico bush is a common name for Mountain Laurel.

Mountain Laurel is the official flower of the state of Pennsylvania, unfortunately for me...

because ballot counting in Pennsylvania was the one thing I was trying to escape on this particular journey this morning.  

What can I tell you, it's Murphy's Law.

I hope you have a good day and wish you all the best!  

Stay safe!

Election Day: November 3, 2020

Thank you Kathie!

Kathie L. made this wonderful piece and allowed me to share it.  She said the pattern comes from bonjourquilt.com.

Beth and I have spent the better part of the last 5 years studying and celebrating the women's suffrage movement in the United States.  We would be remiss if we didn't post on Election Day-- especially this election--unquestionably the most imporant of our lifetime.  

1929 bluework quilt.  The stakes in this election are even higher  than the election of 1932 when Herbert Hoover was defeated by Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal was established.  

All the pundits are talking about the role of women in this election.  But the truth is that since 1984, according to the Pew Research Center, the proportion of women voters exceeds men voters (see here). 1984 is the year that we had our first woman as a running mate, Geraldine Ferraro.

Women are coming out in droves this election as well.  If I had to summarize what I'm hearing from women, I'd have to say that "women are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore".  Like our courageous suffragists, women are again concerned about children, healthcare, and the upholding of the Constitution.

George Washington redwork from my "Merry Christmas 1904" quilt

The first cross stitch piece I ever made in the 1980s.

During this election, according to data published on the blog The 19th, women have doubled their numbers in voting (see here).

Also from th Merry Christmas 1904 quilt.

In the back of my closet, I keep a special dress.  I don't sew garments and I certainly don't collect them but when I saw this dress, I had to have it.

I would guess it is from the late 1960s/early 1970s because of what the print records, including the presidential nominees of Nixon/Agnew:

The fabric summarizes many political campaigns--

Unity under Ike.

And one impeachment:

One last thing today.  I've been appalled by a lot of things these past four years.  But yesterday the suggestion was made by one of the candidates that votes shouldn't be counted after Election Day.  In my lifetime, 6 different elections did not have the results in by the end of the day (1960, 1968, 1976, 2000, 2004, 2016).  Our brave men and women in the armed forces can vote up until a week after the election (in my state of Pennsylvania at least).

Let us be reminded of one of the brave rallying cries of our suffragists:

Stay strong, safe, and keep busy today.

The best phrase on the political dress.
 

Panel Question

Suebee asked last week for suggestions about a panel she had purchased.  She was looking for ideas on what to do with it.  Here is her panel:

Kathie responded right away and said she had just seen this idea on Facebook the day before:

Additionally, Robert Kaufman (the manufacturer of the fabric) has a free pattern here.

I hope this gives you some ideas Sue!

Most manufacturers provide free patterns on their website so you can always check their websites for ideas for your fabric!

Today is a rough day with a lot of anxiety for me so today's and Tuesday's post will be brief.  Tomorrow I'll post some patriotic things in honor of the official day of voting.

In the meantime I'm offf to do some washing and cleaning and sewing!  Stay safe and have a good day!

 

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

I don't normally post on weekends--but when I do it's because I'm inspired by YOUR quilts!

Alice made thislovely wall hanging a few years ago and kindly shared it!  I love the applique (especially that first pumpkin) but I love the alternate pinwheel blocks as well!

Sam made this lovely house which is great for the holiday!  Yes that is Tula Pink fabric which she and Beth both love!  I love it--especially the swirling black background which takes it up a notch!

Have a safe and happy holiday!

 

Flower Friday: October 30, 2020

 It's Flower Friday and time to share photos of floral images to brighten up the beginning of our weekend--and of course--Halloween weekend.

Here's a smile for you!

 Sue sent this enchanting photo of her cat to us.  

The photo has the perfect title:  Linda in the Lilies!

Some of the last flowers in my garden:

On the sewing front, Suebee sent a photo of a panel she has and wants to work into a quilt.  She is looking for suggestions.  

The panel is "Venice" by Robert Kaufman.

I've seen a pattern using this panel here that I liked here.  I'm might change the side blocks to flying geese instead of the stars but anything Sue chooses to do with this I'm sure will be fantastic!  It's such a pretty panel!

For you that embroider, you might like this embroidered block design from a 1951 issue of Needlewoman and Needlecraft.  It's very seasonal and features the flowers, Chinese Lanterns and Honesty or Silver Dollar plants.

How it can look embroidered:

Have a safe and happy weekend!

Happy Halloween!

 

Happy Halloween!

I won't be posting on Saturday and Friday is for flowers so I thought I would wish you a happy holiday today!  

Halloween is the favorite holiday for many people.  I noticed that many quilters right now are finishing up the Halloween Haberdashery quilt designed that features a witches hat and some pumpkins:

Beth shared a neat video that you might want to watch.   It's called "A Dress Historian Explains the History of the Witches Hat" and it's on youtube.  I found this really interesting and you might too.  You can watch it here.

I've done a few Halloween themed pieces for family members: 

I also have a wall hanging upstairs somewhere that needs to be quilted.  But to be honest, Halloween has never appealed to me like Christmas or Easter.  What's your favorite holiday to make quilts for?

Tomorrow is Flower Friday and if you have any floral images, photos, etc, to share--email me at allentownquilter@gmail.com

Have a safe and happy day!

Propeller Quilt--Not!

In the 1890s, banks bought some of the textile mills.  By the 1900s, people who sewed rarely bought calico because it was thin and didn't hold up to wear.  

This quilt is a great example of what happened.  I initially bought it because I thought it was unusual.  I bought it online.  One of my kids had a long hallway and were looking for some unusual pieces to hang.  I thought it would be perfect and unique.  By the way, the piece was less than $30 and when I received it, I realized why.

The fabric was so thin that it felt like batiste.  One couldn't see it on the photos but it was actually a large Lemoyne Star.  The diamonds alternate to the red ones  were completely eroded.

You can barely make out the white blades alternating the red blades.  The yellow fabric that had once been the background had faded to a beige.  At the seams I saw that it was initially a bright yellow background--much in keeping with the vivid colors that the Pennsylvania Dutch gravitated towards.

 I still love the piece because of the rick-rack style border and it's unique qualities.  Unfortunately, it's too fragile to hang but it IS another piece of our history as quilters.

Have a safe and happy day!