Saturday, August 21, 2010

A Vacation Souvenir


Our family vacations usually center around what my husband and kids enjoy -- Civil War battlefields or other historic sites, dinosaur museums, zoos, aquariums... It sometimes feels like I’m just along for the ride. 

The best vacations though have something for everyone. Our trip out West included a stop at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana, home to both dinosaurs and an impressive collection of Montana quilts!


This spunky nine-patch was my favorite! Made by Mollie Stine for her daughter Alice, it traveled with the family from Missouri to Montana in 1898. Details of their covered wagon trek were documented in a Bozeman newspaper (below).

double CLICK to read

The 224 nine-patch blocks really pack a punch! They're made from an astounding array of brown prints that manage to hold their own against a very bold cheddar. This interplay of color is what gives the quilt such energy.


When we got home, I pieced 80+ nine-patch blocks, with full intentions of duplicating the entire Stine quilt. Instead, I got waylaid by MS and had to pack everything up. I wish I had more than just the memory of that quilt as my vacation souvenir. 

Maybe I'll make a doll quilt for myself and share the rest of the blocks with friends. This Judy Rothermel print from Vicki's fabric giveaway might make a nice border.


I guess it's better to use up what I already have than pretend I’ll ever make more.

UPDATED June 2018: Well, I finally got around to sending Barb some blocks. Hope there's no expiration on good intentions!


Sunday, August 15, 2010

Fiber Therapy


Vicki Hodge from "What a Load of Scrap" celebrated her first year of blogging with a fabulous fabric giveaway--a chance to win 5 fat quarters and 50 3” squares of beautiful reproduction fabrics. I seldom enter drawings, but Vicki's prize was hard to resist. Lo and behold, I won!



Vicki, thanks for such an awesome prize! I can't stop petting, sorting, mixing, matching, and imagining all the possibilities these fabrics hold for projects yet to come.

Update: Vicki Hodge has a new blog, “From the Button Box” as well as a book, Button Box Quilts. Check them out!