Friday, August 30, 2019

August mini quilt


I won’t mention how fast summer flew by because I think we have all felt the same way. Instead I will impart my funny story about this month’s mini quilt.

At our state show back in July, Laurie LaBar (Chief Curator of History and Decorative Arts – Maine StateMuseum) curated a fabulous exhibit of Maine quilts from the museum. Laurie has been working diligently on an upcoming book on Maine Quilts and we (along with friend Sue Rivers) spent some time chatting about it. One of the things she mentioned was that she didn’t think there would be room for any patterns in the book. Sue and I looked at each other and said, “Well, we have no problem with that but… you might sell more copies if you had just one pattern”.

We gazed around the room and almost at the same moment pointed at the beautiful c1830 Puss in the Corner quilt and said “perfect”.
Simple, yet elegant. We could give directions for the full size and one mini! Problem solved – oh wait did I mention that the deadline was August 17!!?

So… we don’t know if the pattern will make it into the publication but in the meantime, Sue has a lovely full size rendition and I have my August mini done.
Since it was a Maine quilt, I used this little vintage map fabric on the back. It was a bit troublesome to hand quilt through, but I love it!

The second part of the funny story is that I couldn’t find the photo I took at the show but because of the time crunch I chose fabrics and started cutting and piecing from memory. I grabbed all the c1830 fabrics I could find in the colors I remembered. I put the whole top together and decided I didn’t like this block
and that it needed more early green. So, I picked out the seams and replaced it with this one. 

After I had the whole thing basted and ready to hand quilt I found the original picture – yup you guessed it. There is almost no green at all. I usually have a good memory for fabrics, especially antiques. I think I was smitten with this one eccentric print that had a touch of green and yellow. Luckily, I like the new block and the whole quilt anyway! It is one quarter of the original and will be an easy one to reproduce should the patterns actually make it into the book.

End of funny stories!

Do visit the rest of the merry quilters who have made a little mini for August. Cheers to all of you who have taken a few precious moments of summer to stitch these lovelies!

Kyle (Timeless Reflections) 
Barbara (Quilts, Gravestones and Elusive Ancestors) - Barbara made 2 this month!
Janet (Rogue Quilter)
Randy (Barrister's Block)
Sandy (My Material Creations)
Shasta (High Road Quilter)

Although Dawn (Collector with a Needle) is not officially following along , you will really want to the two little quilts she made for a canopy doll bed (here). Gorgeous! And, my friend Gladi (Gladi's Quilts) makes a trio of mini's each year and I thought you would enjoy seeing some of her progress (here).

 Check back from time to time as I may be adding a few more followers!


16 comments:

  1. What a sweet quilt to include a pattern for. Leave it to quilters to "whip" something up!! LOL Love that green!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh yes. Summer has flown by and I don't like that at all. There is still plenty of warm weather in Florida to come but it is the thought that we move on to busier days of fall like things.
    I agree that a pattern of some sort would make it more tempting to purchase a book on antique quilts.
    What kind of fabric is the Maine map on the back of your mini quilt? Such an interesting choice. Just perfect (except for the difficulty of hand quilting) choice.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love the story about how your mini came about. It will be a lovely book. Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sweet stories! It is always nice to find a pattern included in a book that focuses on antique quilts - those of us who love quilts from the 1800’s early 1900’s get pulled in so easily with the history and naturally want to create the look. Your August mini is wonderful and the Maine map on the back is perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love your stories, and I hope the book will include a pattern. I think that adds so much to books on antique quilt history. Your mini is so sweet, and you found a perfect use for that vintage map fabric. Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Enjoyed your stories! I love your mini with the green fabrics and the Maine map on the back is really special. I hope your pattern is included in the Maine book. I'm really looking forward to that one!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love the story and also Puss in the Corner quilts! I made one with the Wizard of OZ collection.
    Your mini is just great and I hope it makes it into the book. For me, I don't care if there is a pattern or not, I love to collect the state books, I've been doing it for over 25 years so I can't wait.
    I'm glad Barbara S made 2 minis, because I blew it! I have 3 shows and a quilt at the NEQM so I've been a little busy.
    thanks for inspiring us all to make minis this year!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This little quilt turned out so cute. I love the map on the back.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Every quilt has some kind of a story. It's even better when it fills in two requirements. I always enjoy seeing what your creative mind comes up with!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow what a great story! So excited for you, hope the pattern makes it into the book. Such a great pattern, but one I have never made...onto the wish list it goes!

    ReplyDelete
  11. It is funny what the brain remembers and doesn't remember. I too hope the pattern makes it into the book.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh Wendy I absolutely love that shoofly quilt, and especially your mini version. Timely too, as I've had a vintage shoofly idea percolating in my brain recently. I can't wait to see that book!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love the story, hope the pattern makes it into the book! I am working on a mini.... for *next* month;).

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your mini looks wonderful, even if it's not a perfectly faithful adaptation! The map of Maine backing is perfect (I love maps)!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love it all, Wendy--the quilts (both large and small), the perfectly chosen backing, even the little block you removed. :)
    I hope the patterns do make it in, and I hope you let us know when the book is available.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hello i am here to spread this good news to the entire world on how i got my ex love back.I was going crazy when my love left me for another girl last month,But when i meet a friend that introduce me to DR IROSI the great messenger to the oracle that he serve,I narrated my problem to DR IROSI about how my ex love left me and also how i needed to get a job in a very big company.He only said to me that i have come to the right place were i will be getting my heart desire without any side effect.He told me what i need to do,After it was been done,In the next 2 days,My love called me on the phone and was saying sorry for living me before now and also in the next one week after my love called me to be pleading for forgiveness,I was called for interview in my desired company were i needed to work as the managing director..I am so happy and overwhelmed that i have to tell this to the entire world to contact DR IROSI at the following email address DRIROSISOLUTIONCENTER@GMAIL.COM and get all your problem solve..No problem is too big for him to solve..Contact him direct on DRIROSISOLUTIONCENTER@GMAIL.COM or call his mobile number or add him up on whatsapp via (+2348118829771). and get your problems solve like me.    

    ReplyDelete