Patterns and Creativity

Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics

16 July 2012

In your opinion, do quilt patterns limit creativity?

This open query was posted on the FB page of a group I follow. As I commented in an earlier writing I will   be ruminating on random such comments when they spark deep musings on my part.

 

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The definition of a "pattern" is: A plan or diagram used as a guide in making something. A representative sample; a specimen.


I believe patterns in and of themselves have little bearing on a person's innate creativity. They can provide a framework - like the basic structure of a house. Block patterns give you the basics of construction, what size the pieces should be and occasionally in what order the pieces are put together to facilitate a block's construction.

For beginning quilters a pattern provides a comforting starting place. Technical information that lets them become more comfortable with a process, shape or technique. It can also show them how the graphics of a block in relationship to each other changes depending upon how they are placed next to each other. For example - the Log Cabin block which depending upon it's placement next to other blocks create vastly different final patterns such as Streak of Lightening, Courthouse Steps or Barn Raising.

 

 Where I find creativity runs into roadblocks are:

* Through the quilter themselves and their own lack of confidence. they don't trust their own vision, sense of color or interpretation of something "traditional".

* The "Quilt Police" = There are a LOT of people I have run into who insist that their way or opinion is the only one that is acceptable. These people - who very often lack imagination or creativity themselves - will do and say things in order to try and break the spirit or experimentation of another. They try to make everyone conform to their particular idea of what is "correct".


The item I see in many quilt and fabric shops which I do find to be detrimental to a quilter developing her own creative identity or "voice"  - are Kits. Kits that don't even require the creator to cut out their own fabric pieces since that has already been done for them - as had the selection of colors and specific fabrics. 


For me this is as non-creative an endeavor as building a model car or doing a jigsaw puzzle. Neither of which are bad hobbies - but let up not pretend that either is teaching you how to create the item from scratch for yourself.

Just because I wasn't hot enough .....

So, it has been uncomfortably hot and humid for the last week or so. Yesterday was icky hot and humid, to the point where you have rivulets of sweat running down the small of your back and all you want to do is take a long cool shower. Today was more of the same, and the coming week is supposed to be worse.

So - what does a Lioness do?

Find a lake or other body of water to hang out in? - Nah.

Hunker down in front of a fan and drink your volume in water and iced tea with a good book? - No.

Perhaps hang out in my first floor studio where it is cool and dark? - Nope.

No - What I decided is that heating up my kitchen with cooking corn relish and tomato sauce then canning them.

Yeah - I am fairly certain I have lost my mind.

Yesterday I ventured out to one of the few local farms where you can still pick your own raspberries. Most of the local farms have gone to selling them only - and of course the cost is almost double that of doing it yourself. But while I was at this farm I noticed one of the girls who work there culling overly soft or older heirloom tomatoes out of the for sale baskets into a discard bucket. She said they give the old and bruised produce to some local pig farmers. I wistfully mentioned how they would make good sauce .... hearing this her manager said "She can have them if she wants for 1/2 price"

BONUS! Great tomatoes and a sale price. Was there any way I would actually turn that down? I think not.

Then on the way home I stopped by my usual farm and bought freshly picked ears of corn, sweet onions, peppers and parsley. So on today's agenda was Corn Relish and Roasted Garlic Tomato Sauce.

Normally I don't do this kind of heat intensive canning until the Fall when I take an entire weekend to make my jams, compotes and applesauce using fruit I have prepped and frozen during the summer., or the apples I picked and stored for up to two weeks in the basement. However sweet summer corn has a short shelf life and the one time I tried freezing tomatoes and using them later for sauce yielded a weak and watery end product. So I have found you have to use these ingredients as you get them.

Sample of ingredients for Corn Relish

Ingredients for Tomato Sauce

Corn Relish in Process

Blending the tomatoes in bathces

One way to combat the heat is to turn down the AC then set a box fan in front of the floor vent in the kitchen to increase as much as possible the flow of cool air into the room. And it seemed to work as I did not pass out - and I actually finished the canning.

Ta Daaahhhhhhh!!!!

Theda and the Flying Squirrel

Okay, I had another weird brain glitch the other night that I thought I would share just for a laugh.

A good friend posted this on her Facebook page:

Quote:
So what does the P_____ clan do when it's 102? GO to a Flying Squirrels Baseball with Lori M. and crew. Why? Cause it said "Go Nuts" so we thought they were calling Us home~ (that should give Honeylioness and A.J. plenty of material for the evening.)

And here was my response .......
When the temperature’s high
And the family is bored
Then off they will fly
And join a great horde

Of Acorns and Walnuts
Pecans and Brazils
All gathered together
To watch Flying Squirrels

Bring water and sunscreen
Your camera and cell phone
Surrounded by other fans
You won’t be alone

The benches are metal
In the sun they’ve been baking
So be careful when sitting
Or visit to ER you will be making

Go cheer for the Squirrels
Those cute little rodents
‘Cause those who love you best
Already know that YOU’RE nuts !!!!

My contradictory relationship with bugs

Bugs are everywhere! I suppose it is a good thing that we are normally unaware of just how many bugs we live with on a daily basis, otherwise I for one would be too freaked out to ever sleep or walk outside my home.


Bugs make up more than half of all living things in the world. Today there are more than a million known species of bugs and there are many more waiting to be discovered. Scientists estimate that at any given time there are up to 40 MILLION insects in an area the size of a football field.

We as humans have decided that some bugs get to be classified as "beneficial", especially those that are pollinators or prey on less desirable species. These include bees, ladybugs, mantis and lacewings. 

It also includes spiders. Shudders. I have very strong feelings about arachnids. Very VERY strong feelings - most of them not all that positive. Though I think we have come to an agreement.

In my garden I understand and can even appreciate the benefits of spiders - preying upon and eliminating some of the more annoying other insects like mosquitoes, ants and flies. I have even come to terms with those that occasionally want to set up their webs outside my kitchen window. I realize that for them it is a good strategic move as the light from inside attracts flying insects into their webs. 

Big spider on the RIGHT side of the window ... OUTSIDE !

However if any insect ENTERS my home then all bets are off - full scale warfare will ensue. And I am not ashamed to boast that in the end I always win.

For the last couple of years there has been an issue with ants. These are not the tiny "sugar ants" that I remember my grandmother having to deal with - no, these are large black ants that crunch loudly when you step on them. For the past several years I have transitioned all the food storage in my pantry to either glass or heavy plastic containers. Finding you have to dispose of several pounds of brown sugars and cereal because of invasion is not something I want to go through again.

I have complained to the Association about these buggers. Because these insects have NOTHING to do with the cleanliness of my kitchen - these are Carpenter Ants. They are feeding on wet and rotting wood of the structure - most likely the sheeting of the unit side facing the main street. We have had problems there before. Additionally, workers have found significant wood damage from ants in all the trim boards. I have placed industrial strength insecticides into any nest openings when I can find them. I was assured that they would have a professional spray done this year - but not sure if/when that was done.

So until I get an answer or resolution back from the Association I guess I am fighting this particular battle by myself. Good thing my Arsenal is stocked. I just DARE any critter to cross this line of death ........

Quilts as Art or ???

Often postings, comments or questions come across my radar through one of several online message boards or forums I subscribe to which really trigger a strong reaction in me. This is occasionally a negative response, but more often what happens is I feel a need to really dig into the idea and really express my feelings and thoughts. 

This question was posted to a group's Facebook page on July 10, 2012:

Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics

Like if you agree: “When a quilt is moved from a bed to a wall it becomes a piece of art. Something to look at not something to use. Untouchable. Higher.”

57 People "Like" This

Response 1: Melissa J - Who says "art" has to hang on a wall? Do you have to remove a quilt from it's function to appreciate it's aesthetics? No. Absolutely not.

Response 2: Carola K -I don't agree! Art can be on beds, on walls or elsewhere. And quilts can be art - or "just" quilts. How do you define "art"???

Response 3: Melissa D (aka Me) -I don't agree either. In fact I am not pleased with the recent trend of those who only define or make quilts to hang on the walls like a tapestry. Yes I want my quilts to be lovely - but once they get larger than 40" square I also want them to be USED.

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After I wrote my response above I realized I had a lot more thoughts about the issue than I had time or space to vent in the small space given originally.

Merriam-Webster defines a "quilt" as:

 a bed coverlet of two layers of cloth filled with padding (as down or batting) held in place by ties or stitched designs

This is the traditional definition. The one I understood to it to be when I first learned to quilt. In fact, when I was first learning I thought that quilts were hung only for shows. I didn't fully realize that some quilts were made specifically to hang on a wall.

Don't get me wrong. I have made quite a few "wall quilts" myself. I have a collection of them that I rotate on a regular basis in my Dining Room and office space. But they are made small in order to fit a specific space. I have nothing against small quilts made for this purpose. Among other things, it lets me try a variety of different techniques and patterns without the commitment of a King Sized quilt.

But there is now an entire new group of items called "Art Quilts". And there are several large groups of quilters who identify themselves as Art Quilters. One of the larger groups is called the Studio Art Quilt Associates's . Their website lists the definition as:
 

SAQA defines an art quilt as a contemporary artwork exploring and expressing aesthetic concerns common to the whole range of visual arts: painting, printmaking, photography, graphic design, assemblage and sculpture, which retains, through materials or technique, a clear relationship to the folk art quilt from which it descends.

First off - am I the only person who thought that definition/statement could not have been vaguer or more pretentious? Perhaps it is just me. Perhaps I am missing some type of specialized art appreciation gene. Because 90% of the time when I see "art quilts" find it difficult to see past the "What the ....?" factor and see the workmanship. But then I do not really see the appeal in most "modern" art. I have no appreciation for Pollock, Lichtenstein, Warhol or Mondrian.

Getting back to the original query though ... does putting a quilt on the wall suddenly change it to "art"? And why would the assumption be that they are now "untouchable"? I don't want any of my quilts to be labeled "untouchable". I want people to touch them, appreciate the texture of the different fabrics or embellishments. I want my larger quilts to be snuggled under on the couch, make you feel cozy curled up in a chair and used to keep you toasty during a winter's night sleep.

I think I may need to do another post just on the issue of appreciating the artistry of "regular" quilts and their makers.

The Unfinished Quilt

I have more than a passing acquaintance with UFOs. Not the sort navigated by grey skinned aliens headed for Roswell, but those projects which we all have regardless of whether we talk about them. Quilts started in a class or after picking up that new pattern at a show. Maybe we just experienced the creative nudge to try something different so with great anticipation off to the fabric store we went in search of the “perfect” material from which to construct this next great masterpiece.

And yet – there they sit. Perhaps on a shelf neatly folded, it’s fabric and instructions wrapped around the partially constructed top. Maybe stuffed into a box and slid out of sight under a work table or buried amidst an avalanche of fabric swatches.

Recently I resolved to face these incomplete projects with objectivity and new eyes. I would not bow to the feelings of guilt for not having assembled them fully or lament the funds spent on their components. Instead I would try to see the reasons behind these undone objects and then take action.

The first bundle I opened was a collection of fabrics and a few blocks tied together with a strip of muslin. At one time a friend had commented that instead of a bug jar quilt I should make one for myself with fruits and vegetables. How did that comment become “I MUST do this” in my head? The colors don’t appeal to me anymore and would look garish in my kitchen. I placed the bundle into a bag – I will post on the Guild’s message board that it needs a good home. I am sure another member will be thrilled to get them. More bundles emerged into the light: these colors were wrong, the baby I intended this for is now nine, I never did like this technique / pattern / fabric.

I did find two projects that still sparked my interest enough to finish them, so I have freed them from the back of a shelf and into baskets next to my desk. This weekend I am going to work on one …. unless I find a new pattern at a quilt show.

I love kaleidoscopes

It is one of my favorite "toys"  - and has been since I was a kid. Even now I can spend an embarrassing amount of time just turning one of these tubes and watching all the new patterns emerge. It still seems almost magical and the patterns that form are somehow made more special because of of their fleeting existence. Even if you reverse the turn of the kaleidoscope you don't get the exact same design.



 These are two of my favorite kaleidoscopes at the moment.

The one on the left was acquired at a Tiffany exhibit gift shop several years ago. I especially like the richness of the colors within the beads and other items enclosed in the black end of the tube.







 These are just a few samples of some of the designs I got with a few turns of the black end of the tube.


It really makes me understand the recent fascination with trying to re-create these type of designs in fabric via Kaleidoscope Quilts.







The smaller object on the table above is not actually a true kaleidoscope but is called a Bug Eye and is a toy usually seen for sale at Science or Nature Museums. It is just a small wooden holder for a faceted dome of glass that acts like individual prisms. The difference is that it is completely optical. 

By looking at an object through the Bug Eye you get a multiple fractured image. I have used it in the past to see how a single quilt block would appear if multiples were made and set side by side. Or you can just get a cool look at a petunia on your back deck.

Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs - The Untold Story

Occasionally my brain takes a weird turn based upon something a friend may have posted online or said to me in person.  One such comment was made by a friend online a couple of years ago. It started like this:

Quote:

wvugurl, Looks like a beautiful day ahead of us, but alas, I'm still Sneezy. Or am I Dopey. My take on the Seven Dwarfs was that it was an allergy testing center for a major pharma, hehe.

And my response:

Oh no Sharing - you should KNOW by now how dangerous such a comment is .... it turns my little twisted brain down odd and scary pathways . And here is today's ................


From the files of Dr. W.I. Zard

• Bashful: In an effort to better handle his Social Anxiety Disorder the patient is now in counseling and on a regimen of Cymbalta.
• Doc: After years and years of being the authority figure for the other six, subject is now taking Amitiza for his Chronic Idiopathic Constipation.
• Dopey: Initially diagnosed as “slow”, this dwarf has more recently been identified as Autistic with savant tendencies. The group has elected to forego prescription drugs in favor of a controlled diet and supervised environment. Counseling is recommended to offset the associate self esteem issues from his unfortunate name.
• Grumpy and Happy: Recent genetic analysis has shown that the two are actually Monochorionic Twins. However due to a spell cast by the late Evil Queen’s grandmother on their mother the twins were not only born three months apart, but each was cursed to live at either end of the spectrum of Manic Bipolar Disorder. One being always Manic (Happy) and the other chronically depressed (Grumpy). Both are taking Lithium Carbonate while a reversal of the old curse is sought.
• Sleepy: Exhibiting all the classic traits of Narcolepsy the patient has shown a marked improvement in alertness and function since beginning treatment with Vyvanse.
• Sneezy: Severe environmental and seasonal allergies have been somewhat alleviated with the removal of allergen collectors, such as rugs and heavy drapes from the patient’s living quarters. Treatment with both prescription and OTC drugs for symptoms continues to be the best course of therapy.

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Sharing the Simple Lifestyle - 07/15/09 04:49 PM

Honey, Laughed my head off! And now...just have to ask for your take on Snow White! I still think I'm Dopey + Sneezy, haha!

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Well Sharing, it took a bit of digging but I was able, for a price, to get a hold of some session notes on the princess in question.

Excerpted from various session notes of Dr. Mack N Tosh, USDA

* Subject presents herself as the daughter of a King and his deceased Queen. Having lost her mother in infancy she was raised primarily by Nannies and Staff. An emotionally unavailable father and self-centered step mother have limited her ability to form appropriate attachments to parental figures - thus she has learned to self-parent however with mixed results.

* During a recent session patient claims to have seen and heard her step-mother "talking" to a looking glass, and that the object "responded". Recommend further evaluation to determine whether any psychosis is present.

* Patient missed her last eight appointments. Her story is that her step mother is jealous of her and ordered the King's Huntsman to take her into the woods on a ruse and then murder her - bringing back her heart as proof. We spent a lot of time examining whether this is the truth or a perception that may have arisen from her feeling as though she must compete with her step-mother for the attention and affection of a pre-occupied father.

She reports that unable to return to her home she has taken refuge in a cottage owned by seven small men. Further probing revealed the "men" are not just small in stature but are actually dwarfs. Having obtained their names I feel it my duty to do a background search on these individuals. Disturbing is the information that one seems verbally abusive, one is rather mentally challenged and they all sleep together in the same room. I urged her to return home and speak to her father but she claims to be happier being the unpaid housekeeper for these dwarfs. We need to address further her self esteem issues.

* Having come up with no public records of any kind on the dwarfs I am still uneasy with her continuing residence in their home. I am concerned that the patient may be slipping into a psychosis as comments about dancing with woodland creatures, birds helping her clean and other animal related tales come more often during our discussions.

* A new "character" has emerged in the patient's odd tales of life in the forest - a man. She states that one afternoon as she was gathering nuts and berries and performing operatic duets with chickadees (note: we really need to focus on this delusion!) a man just "appeared" to provide a pitch perfect tenor-baritone to this little concert. She claims to have run off and not done more than exchange a "warm glance" with said man.

While I am pleased to see that she may indeed still be able to find a normal man of interest, indicating that she is capable of learning to form more appropriate relationships, I am concerned that she still seems to only be at ease with the dwarfs. The P.I. I retained to dig deeper into their backgrounds has learned that they seem to have an abundant supply of gemstones to use in bartering for goods - but no rational or consistent explanation as to where the come from. He is looking into robbery reports within a five shire area to see if there may be a pattern.

* Patient again missed some appointments and two very disturbing tales were told by her. The first being that she had fainted and almost suffocated to death after being too tightly laced with new corset ribbons by a passing peddler. And then soon after an old woman looking for a few coins was combing her hair when she again lost consciousness. Both times she states that the return home of the dwarfs, and their actions, are what saved her life. My concern is this is further deepening her unhealthy attachment to individuals outside her own species.

* Patient again missed her appointment.

* I have been unable to make contact with the patient for almost a year. Then this morning there was a front page story in a special edition of Kingdom Gazette:

The Resurrection of a Princess

Dateline: Road from the western forest

We learned today of a remarkable ending to the story of a Princess no-one even knew was missing. An unidentified Princess was found deep in the forest by a group of men on horseback.

How this Princess came to be "lost" Whether she voluntarily left her home, fled or ran away is still unconfirmed at this time. However what we do know is remarkable enough. She has been residing deep within the Western Hunting Forest at the home of seven dwarfs. We have been able to confirm through a confidential informant that the dwarfs are the owners of Stinken Riche, Inc. The largest producer and wholesaler of gems in the Northern Hemisphere. The partners have a reported combined net worth of more than $35 billion and have served by appointment to the royal household for more than 400 years.

While living in the dwarfs modest cottage the Princess was approached by a peddler who offered her a basket of apples. However upon tasting one of the fruit the Princess fell lifeless to the ground where her benefactors discovered her that evening. Doc, a spokesman for the group, told us that they were so upset by this event, and out of their deep affection for the Princess they constructed a special coffin of crystal at which they took turns keeping vigil. Locals in the area had been noting for some time an odd parade of forest creatures making regular trips to raid their gardens for flowers, but the initial reports had been dismissed as a result of too much indulgence in hard cider.

When questioned about the logistical and sanity considerations of preserving a dead body for that long without noticeable decay Doc told us of a new device the company was soon to file patents on that would chill flesh for extended periods of time to delay deterioration. They are calling the process "refrigeration" and say the toughest challenge still ahead is working out how to supply the needed power source to homes - something called "electricity". The complete story of this appears on page 12.

Sometime last week Prince Noname from Kingdom Un-nohn was passing through the forest and came upon this shrine to the young Princess. Here the stories conflict as to what happened next. Some claim the Prince, so moved by her beauty and the tragedy of her death, kissed her gently upon the lips at which point she woke up. Other sources say that the Prince commandeered the device she was laying in and had his men load it onto a wagon to take to his castle for further study. During that journey a large rut in the road jostled the coffin so violently that the piece of the apple which had lodged in the girl's throat was dislodged and she gasped and began breathing again. (Editors note: We find the second scenario much more plausible .... and hygienic)

Learning of the girl's Royal Blood the Prince took her back to his castle before trying to discover who her family is - whether for a ransom or a dowry no one will confirm.

As of this writing a Royal Wedding is scheduled for this summer.

* Patient has contacted me to say she will be taking a "break" from our sessions for a while as she needs to re-acclimate to normal (at least for her) life and concentrate on the wedding arraignments.

* There was another startling article in this morning's Gazette.

Dancing with the Devil

Dateline: Kingdom Un-Nohn

In yet another bizarre twist to the story we reported earlier this year about the "found" Princess there was a gruesome incident at the Royal Wedding Reception yesterday.

As our King and Queen arrived it was clear to onlookers that Her Majesty was rather agitated. An inside source has told us that it appears her ill humor arose from something she heard from her "magic mirror" regarding her step-daughter, the Princess Snow White.

Sources tell us that the Princess disappeared from the palace more than three years ago, however the public was never told. A spokesman for the King said they were told by the Queen that the Princess had gone to a finishing school for young royalty several hundred miles away.

Around the same time her long-time Nanny also left the employ of the King to retire and live with her family across the sea. We have been unable to locate Ms. Wharm Huggs to confirm this.

What we have been able to confirm though is disturbing. The Queen has been engaged for years in various kinds of Dark Magic and has been found to have several "familiars" within the palace which report back to her daily. Unsealed records show that our King is her fifth husband with the former spouses dieing of "unknown causes". It is believed her use of a spell may account for why the King never expressed concern or curiosity about his daughter.

It now seems likely that Princess Snow White fled out of concern for her safety after learning of the Queen's evil ways. Whatever the reasons the events today will not be forgotten soon by any in attendance. For upon entering the Reception Hall and seeing the face of the "new queen" whose wedding she was attending the Queen froze in her tracks. She then began to rant about how her mirror had told her "You, my queen, are fair; it is true. But the young queen is a thousand times fairer than you."

Everyone present were taken aback when the King then moved to the bride with tears in his eyes to embrace her. The Princess has steadfastly refused to answer any questions as to her origins so her relationship to our Beloved King was a complete surprise.

Witnesses report the King shook his head in an odd manner as if trying to shake off the effects of a long sleep - then turned and had his guards detain the Queen, who at this point was shaking with rage and dread at this public unveiling of her treachery.

As punishment for her wicked ways, a pair of heated iron shoes were brought forth with tongs and placed before the Queen. She was then forced to step into the iron shoes and dance until she fell down dead.

Afterward the Bride, Groom and King left the Hall for approximately an hour before returning to a puzzled group of guests and a Hall devoid of any traces of the execution that had occurred, to continue their Wedding Feast.

We cannot help but wonder what long term effects this incident will have not only on the individuals directly involved - but on inter-kingdom relations as well.

* Met with patient for the last time. She has adjusted well to life as a wife and mother, and while she still retains a bit of naivete regarding people's motivations it is tempered with a better sense of caution.

There was a rough patch in her marriage early on where she was frustrated and angry with the Prince over his not living up to her romanticized expectations of him, and his aggressively eager-for-grandchildren mother. However with work and perseverance she has been able to establish some boundaries to keep all the parents out of the relationship between husband and wife.

She also has come to understand that the Prince's idiosyncrasies are just a part of being human. That not picking up after himself, snoring, spending too much time with his friends does not mean he loves her less and that she needs to choose her battles.

Having felt too narrowly defined as a wife and mother she is finding a lot of satisfaction in getting a new foundation off the ground. Funded by her friends the dwarfs, with whom she still maintains a close friendship, the foundation will be geared to empowering women to stand up for themselves. They have a prototype name of STFU.

Overall patient seems to have a measure of contentment and happiness in her life. And an understanding that life is not a fairy tale or something that just happens to you, but it is something you need to work on every day in order to get what you need and want out of it.

Ads we won't see again anytime soon

I was sent one of these images in an e-mail this afternoon and it got me searching around the Web for other similar images. This is what I found so far:

Dated Advertisements

It is probably very politically incorrect - which is not something I really ever worry about - but I thought these were really funny.

No More Excuses...

I received this short essay from a daily newsletter I receive about beading. However I really liked the concept so re-posted it here - changing the word "bead" for "quilt".
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No More Excuses: Let's Quilt Something!

I have a confession to make:  I'm pretty good at sabotaging my own creative work. There are days when I can find a whole list of excuses to send me away from the quilts, even though my fingers are itching to make some new quilted designs. And I'm sure that I'm not alone! Take a look at some of my favorite reasons not to quilt, and see if they look familiar to you:


Addicted to Perfection. I strive for perfection in many areas of my life, but none so much as in my quilting. That can be both a blessing and a curse. Don't let your desire for perfection give you a reason to not to make your own designs. Embrace your mistakes. I can't tell you how many times I've made a mistake that actually ended up as a beautiful piece of quilting!


Fear of Success. This might sound like a stretch, but for some people, it's very real. Some people actually fear success, particularly artistic success, because it means that they might actually be good at something they love. But really, what's the worst that could happen here? (Maybe you might end up getting a quilt of yours published in, say, _________ magazine?) Abandon your fears and feed your dreams when it comes to your quilts and quilt designs.



There's Nothing New to Make! This is another one of my favorite excuses for not making my own quilt designs! Just when I think I have a great new idea for a design, it's way too easy for me to talk myself out of actually making the design if I tell myself, "Well, someone else has probably already done this before." Not so. Quilt designs are only limited by the human imagination, so let your fabric tell you what to do.

My Quilting Isn't As Good As... One way to set yourself up for failure with your designs is to compare your work to that of another quilt or fiber artist, particularly one that you admire. There are plenty of amazing quilts that are being made by artists in obscurity all around the world, including your own! Your original quilt designs are an expression of your personal experiences, and that has a value all its own!

Adventures at the Career Center

For those who are new to my writings online some background. I was laid off in November 2011. This is just one of my writings about the process of looking for work.
 

Oh joy of joys - last week I got to attend a seminar/workshop at the Career Center of Lowell regarding the (EUC) Emergency Unemployment Compensation Orientation / Review.

Actually this was not really an option. I received a notice in the mail that I had to attend one of these sessions by July 6th or risk losing my UI benefits.

It is always an interesting experience sitting in a room at any State or Federal Agency office. It is just such a .... unique ... mix of people. It is also a rather sobering experience since all of us in this session were there because we had exhausted the initial six month State funded unemployment and were now being funded through the special program the Federal Government passed to help the long term unemployed.

There was a lot of things that they covered which, for me at least, seemed incredibly simplistic. Not just because of my prior working with the professional counselors at Transitions Solutions, but also my previous experience working in Human Resources.

I did appreciate getting the listing of Labor Market Research sites where I can see a better, or more current, range of information on not only what salary ranges are currently being offered - but whether specific job titles are in decline - and where my skills may be transferable.

One of the things they "recommend" is that you sign up to attend several of the other topic seminars offered. Actually, they pre-complete this part of the form with topics such as "Introduction to LinkedIn" and "How to Write a Resume". There is also a listed requirement that you need to have certain documents in place as well as a Career Action Plan.

The documentation they were looking for included:

* A resume - CHECK. Actually I have two versions both developed during my sessions with Transition Solutions.

* Copies of the weekly logs you have submitted in the last 6-8 weeks showing at least three job search activities per week.

When the workshop leader came around to review my documents I mentioned that I had not been printing off the weekly online submissions. HOWEVER - what I did have to show her was my complete job listing spreadsheet of all the positions I had applied to since November 2011 along with separate spreadsheets showing each agency contact and websites that I have registered with.

So no big surprise - they signed off my paperwork and gave me a "pass" on needing to attend the resume, LinkedIn or Microsoft Suite seminars.

Too bad I can't get paid for tracking job search activities. Seems as though that is something I could actually be good at. 

Collecting Quilts

Sawtooth Star Quilt circa 1910

I subscribe to several electronic newsletters on various creative mediums: Beading, Fiber Arts, Mixed Media, Drawing and Quilting. Every so often one of the forums will post a general question or observation that really make me think about my own relationship with creativity and the creative arts.

Today a group on Facebook called Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics posted the following question which brings me to my musing below.

The original question: For those who collect. How do you find great quilts? New technology or old school networking?

State Birds - quilt top only, 48 States
Found on-line

My response on their forum was:

New technology for the most part. I have one website in particular that has not yet caught on with a lot of collectors. In fact, I am looking at one find from the site which is hanging on my living room wall - hmmmm, time to rotate to another one for the summer I believe.

The old quilts I am attracted to are probably not going to ever be worth thousands as they are not pristine or made by a Master Quilter - but they speak to me. Some show signs of being very well loved, many are "quirky" with odd colors or design - but for me they all have one thing in common.

Someone loved them. Some woman spent a lot of time and effort making this item to keep her family warm while at the same time expressing herself creatively in perhaps the only way she had. And they were used and appreciated - at least until I find them and rescue them from the hands of people who are unable to appreciate their true value. Which has nothing to do with money.

Lady of the Lake, circa 1920s
Found on-line

A few of my teddy bears made from old quilts
All acquired on-line

1812 Overture

  Well, this was different. In all the years I have been watching / recording the Boston Pops concert on the Esplanade in Boston I don't remember this happening.

Just as the local news was getting ready to go national with the concert and then fireworks - starting with the 1812 Overture of course - the first shot you see is of empty seats and lawn areas. The Massachusetts Police evacuated everyone from both sides of the river and told people to seek shelter.

I knew there were thunder storms moving through the area as I had been seeing flashes and hearing the rumblings for the past half hour or so - I just didn't realize how strong they were. Seems as they headed into Boston the winds were picking up and the lightening was getting stronger and more frequent.

Ah well ... the delay let me do a little bit of research on this iconic piece of music which has become such a staple especially here in Boston.

This is what I learned:

The "1812 Overture" may be an American tradition, with its patriotic strains and thunderous battery. But while orchestras across the land, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra tonight at Point State Park, will perform it with clanging bells and cannon fire, the music could hardly be any more distant from the Stars and Stripes.

That's because the overture, written by famed composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, depicts Napoleon's retreat from Russia in 1812, not America's battles against the British, as many might think.

That's right -- at the height of most Independence Day ceremonies, Memorial Day pageantry or other fireworks displays, the "1812 Overture" blares strains of the French national anthem "La Marseillaise" and the old Russian national anthem "God Save the Czar "across our amber waves of grain. But this bizarre twist is not as unpatriotic as it might seem.

The obvious reason why the piece found a home during America's annual firecracker festival is that gunpowder loves company. "It is one of the few pieces with good musical content that has cannons exploding," says Leon Botstein, president of Bard College and a conductor and music scholar who has written about Tchaikovsky.

The "1812 Overture" premiered in 1882 at the consecration of a church in Moscow commemorating Napoleon's retreat from Russia. Telling the story of the end of the French invasion of Russia in musical themes, "La Marseillaise" is eventually beaten back by a rousing Russian anthem and cannon fire and church bells. When performed with full-scale replica artillery (with blanks) today, the "1812 Overture" usually requires musicians to wear earplugs.

"It is the one piece of classical music that includes 'The Bombs Bursting in Air,'" says Deane Root, a music professor at the University of Pittsburgh and director of its Center for American Music.

But can the popularity of the piece be tied only to cannon fire? Bard's Botstein, for one, feels that although Tchaikovsky disparaged the "1812 Overture" as "very loud and noisy," the music should be given more credit: "Tchaikovsky knew how to write a barn-burner, and they are really hard to write."
Tchaikovsky's popularity in America also played a role. "Tchaikovsky had a foothold in the late 19th century in the broadening public taste for classical music," says Botstein. "He came to open Carnegie Hall in 1891 and was a kind of pop figure when he arrived in the United States."

While America was developing an affinity for Tchaikovsky, it was not having much success creating patriotic music of its own.

"With the exception of 'America the Beautiful,' the U.S. is short of patriotic hymns," says Botstein. "'The Star-Spangled Banner' is a tongue-twister; then you have 'America,' which is really the British national anthem. Being an immigrant nation, we are not offended by using another country's national anthem." These developments set the stage for the Russian overture's remarkable transformation in America in the midst of the Cold War.

Though some ensembles had played the "1812 Overture" earlier -- Chicago's Grant Park Orchestra performed it on Independence Day 1935 -- most had done so only sporadically before the '70s. The PSO, for one, played it only four times prior to that decade. In 1974, however, the "1812 Overture" came into its own as a pan-American tradition.

That July 4, famed Boston Pops conductor Arthur Fiedler decided to perform the overture with fireworks, real cannons and a coordinated steeple-bell choir to increase attendance at the Pops' summer concerts on the Esplanade, says Bridget Carr, archivist of the Boston Symphony.

Also, the nation's bicentennial was around the corner and the desire to have a spectacular show outweighed Cold War conniptions.

"He was a good musician but the ultimate showman," says PSO clarinetist Thomas Thompson, who toured with Fiedler in 1962. "Audiences loved him, and he was a genius at marketing."

A massive, celebratory outdoor piece pushed by the nation's premier outdoor orchestra, whose July 4 concert was broadcast across the country, captured the public's imagination. Countless orchestras began performing the work outdoors, quickly solidifying the tradition and the piece's connection to American patriotism.

So, while its roots lie in a conflict continents away and its purpose was to fete Russian superiority, Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" is now as American as apple pie.

By Andrew Druckenbrod, Post-Gazette Classical Music Critic


I then wondered about the choral portion of this performance as the Pops usually have singers accompanying them during their performance.

THAT seemed to be a more difficult question to answer.

Tchaikovsky did not write any lyrics - the piece was instrumental only. However as the piece became more popular several versions and attributions have been made as to the source of lyrics set to the music.

One version is said to be a prayer written by Tsar Alexander I - who was only a boy of 13 in 1815:

(Key Eb major - The Tsar Alexander I is praying)
"Holy Father, I implore thee, hear my prayer.
From the lies of evil men, Lord deliver me.
O hear me; in my distress I cry unto thee, Lord, that thou might answer me.
I have dwelt among my enemies.
And have ever made my plea for peace with those who would peace destroy. (bar 23 - woodwind)
My earnest desire is peace. But when I speak, my foes all call for war (43 bars orch)

Alleluia, praise unto the God of hosts.
Praise, O praise the Lord in his mighty firmament (bells)
O praise him: for God takes pleasure in his people and adorns the meek with victory (bells)
This then is the glory for all his faithful people, Praise, O praise the Lord. (Key change to C major)

Father omnipotent, (Guns) God of all ages, Let all creation praise his holy name, (Hymn tune: Russia)
Praise, O praise the Lord, Praise the Lord (x 7)" (Band, orch, bells, canons, lasers, rockets, fireworks!!)


Some sources suggest the words are either the old Imperial Russian National Anthem or "God the all-terrible King" which is an old English hymn based on the hymn "God the Omnipotent" from the Hyms Ancient and Modern from the Church of England.

Two of the more common sets of lyrics I found include:

Mighty Lord, preserve us from jeopardy.
Take Thee now our faith and loud crying in penitence.
Grant victory o'er our treacherous and cruel enemies
And to our land bring peace.
O mighty Lord hear our lowly prayer,
And by Thy shining holy light.
Grant us, O Lord, peace again.
O mighty Lord hear our prayer
And save our people
Forever, forever!

OR

"Mighty Lord, preserve us from jeopardy.
Take thee now our faith and love, thine inheritance
Grant vict'ry o'er our treacherous and cruel enemies,
And to our land bring peace.
O Mighty Lord, hear our lowly prayer,
And by Thy shining, holy light
Grant us, oh Lord, peace again.
O Mighty Lord hear our prayer and save our people.
Forever, forever. Amen."

Either way - it has become one of our country's "anthems". And for me it doesn't really feel like the Fourth of July until I have heard the Boston Pops play it with the National Guard cannons.

Happy Independence Day !!!!

I hope you all hade a wonderful day. I love these holidays that are so uniquely American. I was invited to come to Chelmsford Center for the parade and then a cookout by the owner of Candlelite Quilts. 

Now, I did not realize that they would be closing all the roads leading into the Center by 9:00 am. So there I was, at 9:30 am, facing several barricades, orange cones and a couple of young police recruits. However I was able to sweet talk my way past these boundaries and was the last vehicle to creep through the crowd on the wrong side of the street in order to make my way into the back parking lot behind the store. 

The original plan had been to drape red, white and blue quilts borrowed from various friends and clients, along the front fence and the overhand above the front door. However we had rather strong showers pass through in the morning that soaked everything. Even though the rain had stopped and I along with two other quilters had no problem with our quilts potentially getting a bit damp - the owner was not sure about putting them out. She did have a point, if we only displayed a few and not all - there were going to have people who questioned why THEIR quilt was not shown. So - we just displayed the one the owner had made with photo transfer images of local service men and women.

Lisa (L) manager and Cathy (R) Owner of Candlelite Quilts

 

The town puts on a rather large parade that is a real old-fashioned American Small-Town type affair. We had the police cars, a group of local veterans from the current wars, Vietnam, VFW members, antique fire trucks, local Boy Scout troops, the High School Marching Band, a group of local political candidates and town officials.

We also had a real Army tank - and this thing would pause occasionally to shoot blanks skywards - and there was a tape of what the automatic mounted guns would sound like ... MAN those things are LOUD !!!!

By contrast for technology, though they came close in noise level, were the historic re-enactors who fired off their muskets along the route.

After the parade our group spread out in the shade along the side of the building next to the quilt shop, ate burgers, talked, played a lawn game, listened to Country music and ate some more. It was hot and muggy and no one really wanted to be in the full sun - even though most of the time there were clouds drifting in front of the sun.

However those period of overcast sun was not enough cover for me it seems. I only spent a total of about an hour in the sun watching the parade, and had taken off my outer shirt because I was sweating like crazy. THIS is why I don't sunbathe ..... 

(Sorry for the weird orientation ... because I took it with my iPOD I wasn't able to get it to rotate when I imported it here) .

LOOK at that upper arm ... OUCH ... the other one looks about as bad.

Blueberry Buckle

Because I am sure you ALL want to know - a little etymology for you:


Most people have heard of fruit cobblers. "Cobbler refers to a variety of dishes, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom, consisting of a fruit or savoury filling poured into a large baking dish and covered with a batter, biscuit, or pie crust before being baked. Unlike a pie, cobbler never contains a bottom crust.

In the United States, varieties of cobbler include the Betty, the Grunt, the Slump, the Buckle, and the Sonker. The Crisp or Crumble differ from the cobbler in that their top layers are generally made with oatmeal. Grunts, Pandowdy, and Slumps are a New England variety of cobbler, typically cooked on the stove-top or cooked in an iron skillet or pan with the dough on top in the shape of dumplings—they reportedly take their name from the grunting sound they make while cooking. A Buckle is made with yellow batter (like cake batter), with the filling mixed in with the batter or set atop it. Apple pan dowdy is an apple cobbler whose crust has been broken and perhaps stirred back into the filling. The Sonker is unique to North Carolina: it is a deep-dish version of the American cobbler. In the Deep South, cobblers most commonly come in single fruit varieties and are named as such, such as blackberry, blueberry, and peach cobbler. The Deep South tradition also gives the option of topping the fruit cobbler with a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream."

Now that you know the difference, let me share one of my favorite recipes for Blueberry Buckle. This comes to us courtesy of the Better Homes and Gardens "New" Cook Book. The classic with the red and white plaid cover. Mine was printed in the mid 1960s and isn't ashamed of the generous calls for eggs, butter, cream and other foods some consider bad for you today.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 cups sifted flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 cups fresh blueberries
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup sifted flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 cup butter

 Directions:

• Thoroughly cream shortening and 3/4 cup sugar
• Add egg and beat until light and fluffy
•  Sift together 2 cups flour, baking powder and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk.
• Spread batter into a greased 11x7 inch pan
• Top with berries. Press berries lightly into the batter.
• Place the remaining ingredients in a small bowl and with a pastry cutter cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly
• Sprinkle topping over the berries.

 Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes.

 Notice how in the picture on the right I have added the amount of berries called for in the original recipe .. but what is wrong with this picture??? Hint: You can still see the batter underneath!

The picture on the left is MUCH  better ... and next to it you see the completed buckle ready for the oven.

Buckle can be served warm with ice cream or enjoyed at room temperature with a cup of coffee.

It is Blueberry Season once more

Yes, it is that time again. My favorite Pick-Your-Own farm is open for blueberry picking.

 Early season picking is much different than the conditions you find towards the end of July and early August. Berries which are ripe now usually make up only a part of the clusters formed - so the ripe ones need to be plucked off the branch carefully, one by one. Later in the year when the entire cluster is ripe you can cup your hands under the bunch and literally "roll" the berries off their stem with your thumbs,

Still - the first picking was good .... over 10 pounds in under and hour. And YES ... I am well recognized at the Farm as being one of their "serious" pickers. 






Of course for many people the question then is: "Once you have all those berries just what the heck do you DO with them?" .

Valid question in this day and age. After all many people seem to have forgotten or abandoned some of the basic skills our grandparents knew and practiced. That you preserve or can seasonal produce as it becomes available so that after it's season is past you still can enjoy them, and have food for your household.


Fortunately for me I have something earlier generations didn't - a reliable stand alone freezer. This lets me not only preserve foods by freezing them but it allows me to gather produce at it's best - but to postpone the hot work of canning until the weather has cooled in the Fall.



There are however some important tips you should keep in mind when preparing and freezing berries.


I do NOT pre-wash my berries. First because the farm I use is managed under a PMI system so there is rarely any pesticides used. And Secondly - because they would need to be carefully dried prior to freezing or you get "clumping".


Cover any kind of cookie sheet, or even pie plates, with waxed or parchment paper. Lay out the berries in a single layer - removing any stems as you find them. Put the pan into the freezer until each fruit is frozen solid.

Once all the berries are frozen you can place them into ziplock freezer bags for storage.


By freezing the berries individually you have made things easier on yourself down the road. Throughout the year you can toss a handful of berries into pancake or muffin batter, blend them with yogurt and milk for a quick breakfast smoothie or add them to a winter fruit salad.
 
This is what you do NOT want to happen ... A large "Clump" of berries and frost. Even if you are merely freezing the berries to make jam later, these sort of clumps cook unevenly and add a lot of unnecessary water as well.

Note: I did not create this clump on purpose - this happened last year when my old freezer died and many of my berries partially thawed and then were re-frozen.


Taking the time now to properly prepare your produce will save you a lot of effort and aggravation later on.