Not So Current Events

My friend Merikay sent a scrapbook page with a sketch of another Garfield's Monument pattern. See my post on this pattern on September 28th by clicking here: http://siputflash.blogspot.com/2010/09/intepreting-old-patterns.html

This may be the original publication of the monument style block. Wilene Smith thinks it might be from Farm and Home in the early 1880s right after Garfield's assassination.

Note there isn't much information on how to make it. You wouldn't want to applique all those right angles but there are no seam lines. This might be why there are so many variations. Everyone drew it differently so they could stitch it. No two quilts seem to be done in the same pattern.

Merikay has just been to visit Garfield's Monument and sent vintage postcards along with the scrapbook page.

Garfield's Monument, Cleveland

The glass mosaic in the ceiling is on the left.

See an EQ exercise using a Garfield's Monument block:

http://www.electricquilt.com/Users/FunStuff/MysteryQuilt/SkyLights/lesson09.asp

This is the kind of thing we can spend hours on---and do.

But the point I wanted to make here is....

I noticed on the same scrapbook page two designs named for Dewey.

The Dewey Dream Quilt and the Dewey Quilt, a reference lost to many of us today.

(The Dewey Dream is in lower left corner; Dewey Quilt in top right corner above)

Admiral George Dewey (1837-1917) was known for winning a battle in the Spanish-American War in 1898. He certainly was a victor in the propaganda battle as my Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns and the digital version BlockBase show 5 designs named for the Admiral or his wife.

Left to right:

Mrs. Dewey's Choice

The Dewey Block

The Dewey

Dewey's Victory

as well as my version of the Dewey Dream Quilt shown on the scrapbook page.

But on the scrapbook page I see there is another Dewey Quilt.

The Dewey Quilt

That is one wacky block.

It was easy to draw in EQ though. I realized it is based on the Maltese Cross construction.

With one line in every arm missing.

I just deleted those lines and recolored it.

And look how great it looks as an all-over pattern.

Pop test today:

Who was Admiral Dewey?

How fleeting is fame?

Doll Quilts in Lincoln, Nebraska

Doll Quilt from the Ghormley Collection

featuring Turkey red stars and a border of a blue and buff print.

Merikay (right) and I in 1996 at Joyce Gross's induction

 into the Quilters Hall of Fame. Hats and gloves

were the dress code at our table. She is wearing a feedsack dress.

I am over-accessorized.

Quilt historian Merikay Waldvogel is giving a lecture in Lincoln, Nebraska on September 19th at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum. "Childhood Treasures," sponsored by the Nebraska Humanities Council, will be at 2 pm at the Museum.

Gingham 4-patches and a chintz border

 

Merikay and collector Mary Ghormley worked together on the book Childhood Treasures: Doll Quilts By and For Children.

Mary Campbell Ghormley

Mary has donated her doll quilt collection to the IQSC. The Ghormley Collection contains more than 300 pieces gathered over a forty-year period from all over the United States.

A stereocard image from Underwood & Underwood, 1908.

This card and the one below are part of the

company's series of domestic scenes featuring children and pets.

The book tells the story of how Mary collected them over the years and features images of quilts, doll beds and period photographs.

Doll quilts were considered perfect for the first patchwork project. The tiny piece below was probably made by a small girl for her own doll.

Four Eagles by Mary Campbell Ghormley, 1996.

Mary's made many doll quilts herself. This one, inspired by the 4-block eagle quilts made in Pennsylvania from about 1880-1930, is 20 inches square.

To see more of Mary's collection go to the IQSC search page:

http://www.quiltstudy.org/collections/search.html

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and find the box labeled "IQSC Collection" near the bottom. Bring up the menu in the box and click on Mary Campbell Ghormley Collection. Before you hit Search scroll down a little further and click on the "Sort Results By" box and bring up the menu. Click on "Date". Then hit Search.

This will keep you entertained for quite a while as you view the antique doll quilts and then Mary's.

Ann Hermes has been reproducing doll quilts from the book. Click here to see one:

http://notesfromthequiltlab.blogspot.com/2010/07/another-antique-doll-quilt.html

Quilters Hall of Fame

Quilt researcher extraordinaire Merikay Waldvogel was inducted into the Quilters' Hall of Fame in Marion, Indiana, last week. She curated an exhibit and gave several talks. The photos show her gallery Walk-Through in which she talked about quilts in her collection.

Birds Eye View of the Chicago World's Fair

Milky Way Pineapple quilt with faux patchwork back

The fantastic flowers are from her friend Susan Salser who asked the florist to make an Indiana bouquet with the flowers and fruit in the Indiana Wreath quilt pattern.


This Indiana Wreath quilt is by Susan's grandmother Mary Gasperik.
See more about Mary Gasperik by clicking here:

http://www.quiltindex.org/gasperik.php

See another version of the Indiana Wreath by clicking here:
http://cindysantiquequilts.com/dynapage/IP409.htm

And for more about Merikay:
http://www.quiltershalloffame.net/Waldvogel.html