Month 10 Matilda's Pineapple

Mix of prints and solids

This isn't the setting or layout for the blocks, I just wanted you to see all the blocks together through month 10.

Thank you for joining this journey, if you are stitching or reading along.

Month ten is ready.  Plenty of surprise blocks left.  We tried to bundle the monthly sets with at least one surprise block.

This evening I was speculating how Matilda felt when she saw the quilt completed.

Applique bands on the pineapple block

The three Noah and Matilda blocks for month ten include a potted cactus, a Mexican rose and a pineapple.

In Matilda's colonial America, pineapples were both symbolic (hospitality), as well as a food delicacy.  Having a pineapple on her quilt and home may have been a rarity.  But then, the cactus isn't a common 1850's applique pattern either.

My pineapple applique bands

In the 1850's most entertaining was done in homes.   Creative food displays were popular for formal dinners.  Pineapples are visually attractive in a centerpiece, they were rare and expensive - if available at all in 1850.  The pineapples imported from the Caribbean Islands were candied chunk, glazed and packed in sugar.  An actual whole fruit was even harder to obtain.  They did show up in markets (delivered on the fastest ships) in larges cities like Boston, Philadelphia and Williamsburg.

Perhaps botanical prints were the inspiration for the cactus blocks.  


This print has many similarities to Matilda's blocks.

Matilda's Cactus Flower

This is one of Matilda's yellow flowers - the quilting adds beautiful texture next to the yellow wave print.

You can see the hand piecing of the block seams.

I love her green dot print, but was unable to find one I liked.

My Cactus Flower

This is one of  my yellow flowers.
I got as close as I could to a stripe/wavy print.

I think any medium yellow would work, even a solid.  I chose fabrics in the colors the quilt would have been, not the way it is today - faded.

You can read more about the quilt and the block sets HERE.


I hope you have a great weekend, we are enjoying some fall color here, as well as cooler temperatures - great stitching weather!

Thread Cabinet

I recently added to my collection of thread cabinets.  This one varies from my others.  It is a two drawer, shelf with eight thread guides.  It also has bone finials.  Even though the original pin cushion is missing, it is still a great piece.

I always wonder who originally owned it?  How did she use it?

Now I have some answers with this piece.

I have some family history!

Ann gifted the box to her daughter

It was owned By Constance (keeping the last name private).  

She was born in 1896 in Boston MA.  

Throughout her life everyone called her Christine, except her grandchildren - who called her Mimi.  

The box was a gift from her mother, Ann.  Ann is pictured on the right.

Ann had six children: Aida, Arthur, Gerard, Marjorie Roger and Christine.

Christine is the youngest - with the white bow on her head. Roger is next to her in a sailor style outfit.

Constance (Christine) and Roger

Christine and Roger were close.  

What fun, giggling together on the lawn.

They shared many laughs as children.  

Little did they know a war would someday separate them.

At some point in her childhood Christine stitched a sampler, still owned by the family.

Ann's son Roger was called Uncle Buzzy - he was a WWI Flying Ace.


Roger spent time in a German POW Camp in Landau Germany.

Here, he is pictured second from the left (white collar, part in the center of his hair).

Imagine their joy when he came home!

Christine Married Edmond and had three children.  

Only one, Patricia survived to adulthood.

This is Christine and her daughter Patricia in 1926.

Wonderful isn't it?

I don't have the year the thread cabinet was given by Ann to Christine. Perhaps it was a wedding gift?

The box was gifted by Ann to Christine. Christine later passed it to Patricia.  Patricia passed it to one of her daughters. It has since come to me (not family) and I will keep the family history with the box.  

The family permitted me to share this story with you.

These are a few of Christine's (Mimi's) grandchildren having fun at her summer home in Connecticut.

What a party! 

With those big smiles I can imagine that summers with Mimi were filled with fun parties.

drawers and shelf out

How was the box used?

Ann and Christine (Mimi) were ladies, with the means enabling them to not HAVE to sew.  

They stored basics in the box. Their maids did the majority of the sewing and mending for the household.

The cabinet is in very good condition. However, the pin cushion was worn out and removed before it came to me.

Top level of cabinet

Patricia, Christine's daughter made needlepoint pillows. The wools were to bulky for the dainty drawers of this thread cabinet. It was displayed in their home with empty drawers.

Here, with the lid off you can see a small spool of thread, the end of the thread extends through the bone eyelet.

With the lid replaced, the thread can be used, yet remain hidden.

Closeup of the bone finial - there are 12 total on this cabinet.

They about 3/4" tall. The grooves were painted with thin black lines.

I hope you enjoyed the story that came with the cabinet. Maybe one day we can see a picture of the sampler Mimi stitched.

I treasure this cabinet!

Fall Quilts

Books are usually aren't on the floor...really!!

Today I rotated some quilts out for fall and thought you might like to see them.

Even though the room is in the process of holding two rooms of furniture, I still wanted some fall color.  My next home project is new carpet and I need to empty entire rooms into others.

You might recognize Calico Paradise, if not you can read about it HERE.
I have some additional photos of the scrappy pyramids below.

The scrappy pyramid quilt is a completely hand sewn antique quilt.  See the white dots on the green?  They are the knots of the quilting thread - all the knots are on the front of this quilt.

Deep wonderful green borders surround the pyramids.  Even the borders and binding are hand applied.

The fan quilting is a little under 1/2" apart.

There is a multitude of stripes cut every which way.

This makes the quilt all the more interesting.

More knots on top for your viewing pleasure.


How about some more fabrics?

Do you like the knots on top?  Would you do it?  I'm thinking I need to on a doll quilt this way.

How about the fabrics, do you have a favorite?

Thanks for taking time to leave a comment!

Dawn

The Graduation Quilt

A start with so many more blocks to go...

In anticipation of a special graduation next year, I started this quilt.  I plan to hand quilt this project, it is machine pieced.

This isn't the final arrangement - just showing you the blocks I have done so far.  I am trying to keep the fabrics on the masculine side.  As you can see there are some solid blocks that require no piecing.  I'm estimating about 100 blocks so I am about 1/10th of a way there.  Surely there will be some rejects.

I've also selected some prints with special meaning.  Conversational prints with a bike and a turtle.  One print from dad's shirt so I will need to come up with something from me too.

Wish me luck! Have a great week!
Dawn

Noah and Matilida - A Little About the Children

Month Nine already!
The pattern files were posted last week, I am always amazed at those of you who are ready for them early.  I appreciate your enthusiasm!  Month Nine is HERE.

This month's set includes more reverse applique - if you elect to do it.  I chose to.  You could skip it, embroider the detail - or applique it on top.  Make it your own and do what makes you happy.

You can tell from the photo, I love mixing prints.
Great fun!


Preliminary information on Noah & Matilda's children:

Abby or Abbey - born 1822 or 1823, married Logan Brown 10, Aug 1839 in Morgan Illinois.  Died 1902.  Moved to Morgan County Illinois in 1839 - perhaps right after her marriage?

Amelia (Millie R) (DOB?) married Christian Spiegel 16, June 1845 in  Morgan Illinois.

Thomas Taylor (1829-1862) born in Scott County Kentucky.
  Noted as moving with his father Noah, from Scott County KY to Morgan County IL in 1835.  No mention of Matilda, Although Matilda's daughter Angeline was possibly born in Morgan County Illinois.
Still exploring his possible service in the Civil War

Angeline (Anna) 1830 - 1904 born in Morgan County Illinois.
Married Thomas J Smith (1825-1862) and had two children
    Samuel Wesley (1857-1938)
    Luelle (1857-1942)

Married Willis Green Bolar and had two children

    Franklin (1870-?)

    Eugene Alvin Bolar (1872-1946)

Evaline Boyce Bolar (1835 or 37- 1913) Married WH Bolar 
Children Ella Cather Bolar 1859-1939

In addition to many other areas left to investigate - The Bolar family connection needs to be explored.

Daniel Durbin Boyce (1837-1901)  Born in Scott County Kentucky
Married Sarah in 1862
At some point married Nancy Josephine Baldwin - she is listed on his head stone.

Margaret Ann (1839-?)
Married William Hodgson

Paris - Died as an infant?

William H (1850-1922)  Only 7 years young than some of the grandchildren
Married Ida F (1858-1928)
Buried in Blaine County Oklahoma

Four other children - possibly died as infants.

So much left to research and clarify.

A few more block details for this month:
Mixing prints and solids.

Applique instead of piecing...very simple when back basting!

A little bulky at the points, but I can live with that.
Not afraid to show it!!

One of the few blocks I chose to stick with all solid fabrics.

I like the way she alternated the leaf/petal colors.

I will have more time for some in depth research into the family now that summer is fading and I look forward to some snowy days this winter.

In the meantime enjoy some warm weather and happy stitching!
Dawn