I Found an Old Collection of Vintage Blocks

BOM Block 6 is posted! 

A few years ago I bought several CD's on Ebay that contained scanned images of old blocks from vintage newspapers -- the the Kansas City Star -- and other newspapers and magazines.  Someone had gone to a huge amount of trouble to scan and edit all those old clipping.  In addition there were a number of catalogs and booklets with designs which could be mail ordered.  I was thumbing through one of these called The Farm Journal and found some interesting blocks.

Now I digress for a moment because I remember growing up and seeing The Farm Journal in our house.  My dad, a fruit farmer in northern Ohio for many years, used to get The Farm Journal.  And I recall that they had quilt and embroidery patterns for women "back in the day."

This was a catalog which both contained some patterns and then offered others for sale by mail order.  I believe this was from the late 20's or early 30's but perhaps some of my readers may be able to help pin down the date better. Check out this blog for a clue to the date.

Block 6 of the Vintage Sampler is the Purple Posey.  But as you can see it looks a great deal like this Prairie Rose block from the Farm Journal Magazine.

The Farm Jornal called this a May Apple, but doesn't it look remarkably like Block 5 - All Thumbs?

Clearly, the quilter who made this block for This Old Quilt had to have the May Apple block in mind!  Oh, there is more!!

This is the June Lily and it looks a whole lot like the block I am calling Blonde Tulips.  The stem and leaves look remarkably similar and the flowers are much the same.  Only the small set of upper leaves on the central stem is missing.  I have read that some of these patterns are not really paper patterns at all, but actual fabric blocks.  They were made and distributed as patterns and many of them found their way into quilts.  But they were made up from a master pattern and sold as "patterns" to guide the quiltmaker.  Wow do we ever have it easy today.

This is the Rose of Sharon block and strangely, I used the same name for it when I drew the block.  Uncanny how it resembles it, complete with the little buds in the corners.

 

This Tiger Lily applique block is very similar to this block I am calling Tulips.  But it might not be tulips after all if we believe this old illustration!  Don't you just love how the patterns have evolved in the hands of quilters?  The new block I have drawn (on the right, above) is an exact duplication of the one in This Old Quilt, which likely dates from the same time as these old pattern illustrations.  Yet each quilter made them uniquely her own.

The next one is the closest of them all.  It is a practically identical verion of the Tulip Crossing block.  It is called the Tulip Circle in The Farm Journal.  Scarey, huh?

WOW!  When I discovered these pictures I was so excited and couldn't wait to share them with you. Now I am motivated to go digging some more to see if I can find some more old blocks that could have been models for This Old Quilt.

My theory is that one of the organizers of this Friendship Quilt must have had this old catalog.  I can picture the quilters sitting around the kitchen table in their aprons drinking tea and planning this quilt.  They hauled out their patterns and catalogs and paged through them and selected these designs.  Then they went home and made up their own versions of each block for the gift they planned to give to some lucky recipient.  The owner's name is losts, but the names of all 42 of the friends who planned this quilt are memorialized on the quilt, embroidered in each block.  WOW.

This old Poppy Block is quite similar to the one in This Old Quilt.  It was one of the few patterns in color in the Farm Journal pattern book.  I expect that these pattern were fairly popular at the time and widely shared from quilter to quilter.

The last block I found is called the Rose Wreath, and it shares a lot of similarities with this rosey wreath in This Old Quilt.  No not exact, but those funny blue blobs look alot like the three buds that appear on this old drawing.  I can see how the quilter simplified the block and made their own hand-made templates.  Not being a good artist clearly did not deter the quilter who made this Rosey Wreath block (on the right, below).

Ahhh, it was so fun to discover these.  I hope you enjoyed seeing the similarities between thes old Farm Journal magazine blocks and the blocks in Vintage Sampler.  I will post more if I find them.  Always on the trail of a mystery.

New Blocks

It seems like the only way I can get any real sewing done is to go to a quilting retreat!  LOL  I can be totally focused for a few days and actually accomplish quite a lot in a short time.

My project at the retreat I attended last weekend was to get a start on my set of Vintage Sampler Blocks.  I gotta tell you, I had a blast working on these blocks, and never got near a sewing machine until I got home!  Look what I got accomplished:

I did the first four rows of blocks (there are seven rows) in three days!  Now before you get all impressed, I did raw edge fusible web (machine applique) and didn't stitch down any of the edges at the retreat.  I just traced, fused, cut, and pressed all the parts onto blocks.  Also, they are not in order, so don't panic that you didn't get any of the blocks in the top row yet.  Those are actually row 4 blocks but I didn't have room on the design wall to put them below row 3 so I stuck them up above!

I used Moda Bella solids for my blocks.  I wondered if they might prove a bit dull with just the solids, but as you can see, they came out looking pretty vivid, and that is before edge-stitching or embellishment!  Whooo hooo, I am so pleased with how they are coming together.

Once I got home, I started blanket stitching the edges down, and have a few blocks completed.  If I do a little bit each night I should be able to get them done and start on the next three rows over my spring break in March.

 

New Pattern–Market Place Mosaic

I am so excited to be bringing out this pattern.  I have been working on this design for a long time, then just let it simmer for several months, and finally got off my fanny and got it completed.

I saw this fragment of a tile floor in a book called The Tile Book: Decorating with Fired Earth by Elizabeth Hilliard, page 141, and thought it would make a great quilt design. I first talked about this design back on May 12, 2010!! I designed the quilt pretty quickly, but spent a long time trying to find fabrics and colors that I liked and that felt right for this quilt. At first I wanted to use Stonehenge fabrics.  I love them and used them in my Bath of Apolausis Quilt I made last year.  But Ro Gregg’s new fabric line called Marblehead just came out in December and I loved the tones and textures that look like marble and stone.



I loved the detail in the red tiles and drew the motif as an applique.  But four of those motifs in one block was just too small for a quilter, so I opted to put one large motif instead of four small ones in the center of the blocks.
It really stands out against the dark blue background, even better than it did against a red background.  But then you can make it any color you want it to be in your version!  Don’t you just love that?  I designed it for fusible web so it would be easy and fast to add to the blocks.
I really love those stone and marble textures in this fabric.  And these blocks are easy enough for a beginner to make with rotary cutting instructions which are fully illustrated in color!
It is available NOW on my website for a great price, only $9.00.  And best of all it is a downloadable PDF so you can have it today!

Click here to purchase the pattern.

This is a companion quilt to my Bath of Apolausis Quilt which came out last fall.  The are both available now on my website you you could take your pick of either one, or get them both!!

          

You will find the Bath of Apolausis quilt here.

Now for more good news:

I have posted the next Vintage Sampler Block on the BOM page a few days early!  Whoo Hooo.  So go get the Camellia Block while its free!

My newsletter subscribers will still get the two bonus blocks on the 15th as scheduled.  And I have posted the next two blocks on my website, so if you just can’t wait, you can purchase Block 5 and 6 (set of 3 blocks for each) at a very special discounted price for a short time.

Block 4 – Camellia

Sample Block made by Pattern Tester Charlene Calhoun

Block 3 and Winners!

Vintage Sampler BOM Block 3 is posted. 

Check it out on the BOM page.  Its a cutie this month, and appropriately,  a Morning Glory! 

Morning Glory 9" Block made by pattern tester Charlene

Got Winners! 

Time for the winners of the give-aways to stand up and be counted! (And to get their goodies)

Winner 1:  Posted a comment about the new Vintage Sampler BOM:

Vicki x wins a Free Pattern of their choice!

Winner 2:  Posted a comment and placed my BOM Badge on their Blog or Website:

Kathy Wylie wins a Fat Quarter Bundle!

Winner 3: Posted pictures of completed blocks on the Vintage Sampler Flickr Group page:

Grams 2012 wins a Charm Pack!

Winner 4: Suggested project ideas for blocks?

Debby Patz Wins a Fat Quarter mini bundle!

CONGRATULATIONS to all of this month's winners. 

Please send me your complete name and mailing address to claim your prizes. 

Email me at reeze AT morningglorydesigns.net

Thank you for all of your wonderful comments and links.  I so appreciate your support of this project. 

Leave a comment about how you would embellish block 3 and become a follower on my blog to be entered to win a Fat Quarter Mini Bundle in February!

If you have not yet subscribed to my newsletter you are missing out on more free blocks -- twice a month.  You could be getting the free patterns for these two additional block!

12" Morning Glory Block

12" block by Pattern Tester Jean B

16" Morning Glory Block

Thanks for playing along with this years Block of the Month.  If you haven't started yet, now is a great time to begin.

Look What Came in the Mail!!!

My friend Deb at Quilter's Crossing in Tomball, TX sent me a box of fabric today for my Vintage Sampler Quilt.  Her shop carries a HUGE selection of Moda Bella Solids.

So I sent her my list and look at what she sent me back.  

Whooo Hoooo I am in Fabric Heaven!  Thanks Deb and Mandy!  You totally rock!  If you are using Moda Solids for your version of the Vintage Sampler check out their wonderful Quilt Shop down there in the Houston area.  I go there every time I am in Houston!!  :-)

Now I can get started on my set of blocks and will be posting tutorials of the steps I use to do fusible machine applique.  Wow, can't wait to get started!

Post Your Vintage Sampler Block to Flickr

Post a picture of your completed Vintage Sampler BOM Blocks to the new Flickr Group and you are entered to win in our monthly prize drawing.

Here is the Link:  Vintage Sampler BOM

Anyone is invited to post a picture of their completed block.  Each block is an entry to the drawing.  I can't wait to see the blocks you are creating!!  This month's prize is extra special. I'll be back later to post a picture of the prize but I just couldn't wait to tell you about the Monthly Drawing. 

New Free BOM for 2012

It finally time to reveal the new Block of the Month I have planned for 2012.  It has been months in the planning and I am getting ready to start sewing.  I will be sewing along with all of you on this project, as I am making 2 different versions.  Ok, getting ahead of myself.
It all started about 6 months ago when I saw an absolutely stunning applique signature quilt from the 20’s 30’s on eBay.  I fell instantly in love with this quilt and tried to buy it but the price was waaaay out of my range! What I did get was a picture of the quilt and the crazy idea to make an adaptation of it from the picture.  Oh my!  What a challenge that was.  The picture was poor quality and low resolution and many of the blocks were difficult or impossible to see in the photo.
I started researching 30’s signature quilts and amassed a wealth of information on the type of blocks, fabrics, and even the signatures used in these old quilts.  I was able to recreate many of the blocks from this old quilt and fill in with additional blocks from the 1920-30’s.  It was a fun project and one I just couldn’t let go of until I had the whole thing drawn.  So finally, here are all 42 blocks of the 2012 Block of the Month:  Vintage Floral Sampler! 

It is all applique, and my patterns will be given in 2 parts.  You will be able to download a full sized applique placement guide of each of the 9” floral blocks.  Then I provide full sized REVERSED templates for use with fusible web. Throughout the spring I will be posting instructions and tutorials on my blog on how to do fused machine applique.  Of course you can adapt it to whatever form of applique you prefer.
I will be making one of my models using Moda Bella Solids and the other using batiks.  I have several wonderful pattern testers who are busy making up blocks in other fabrics and color ways and their work is just wonderful.  Wait till you see their samples!!
My newsletter subscribers will get a special bonus:  For each block I have designd a “crossing block” – four motifs arranged in a crossing or “X” style in a 12” block size.  I have also done a 16” wreath block featuring a variation of each block using 6 repeats of the basic motif.  These are really stunning and would be a great project for intermediate and advanced quilters.  These special block patterns will be available free ONLY to my newsletter subscribers.  Others may purchase these block patterns from my website.

Now here are the rules which govern this year’s BOM.

I love to design and share my work but it reflects literally hundreds of hours of my time.  I will ask that you respect the requests I make for the use of my work. 

• I will release two blocks each month – one on the first of the month and the second on the 15th of the month. 
• Each pattern will be available for free for 30 days only.  Once removed, blocks will be available for purchase on my website. 
• They may be downloaded and printed for personal or charitable use only.  You may not print and share them with others, but you are free to direct others to my blog or website (www.morningglorydesigns.net) where they will be able to download a copy for themselves. 
• These patterns are copyrighted and may not be sold or used for commercial purposes of any kind without the specific written consent of Reeze Hanson.
• Patterns will only be available as downloadable PDF files and requests to receive patterns by email will not be honored.  You will need to download a current version of Adobe Reader (available for free) to open and use these files.
• I encourage you to share the link to this BOM and post a picture on your blog, website, or Facebook page.  Here is the picture and link:  (copy and paste the picture and link as a gadget on your blog)

http://www.katlovesquilts.blogspot.com/p/2012-bom.html

Of course I want to start off my new BOM with a Bang!!

so I will do a Give-Away! 

1. Leave a comment on this post and you are entered to win a Free Pattern of your Choice!! 
2. Leave a comment stating that you have placed a link on your blog or website (include URL) and you will be entered to win a Free Fat Quarter Pack!!

Thanks so much for participating in my 2012 BOM.  Watch for details of Monthly give-aways and other freebies associated with this BOM.  Most of all

Happy New Years

from Morning Glory Designs

February Issue of Quilters World -- 2 Quilts!!

 The February 2012 Issue of Quilters World is on the News Stands and there are 2 of my patterns in this month's issue!! 

You have seen these before on my blog but it is always so fun to see them in print.  The first was made by my super good friend Peggy Hartnett of Powell, OH -- who despite quite a lot of "complaining" about the difficulty of this pattern, put it together beautifully!!

Brenda Weien's fabulous quilting is featured on this quilt as well.  And I gotta tell you, it is really pretty.  I wish I could keep it, but its going back to Peggy who did the real work on this one.  The design was adapted from an old quilt I saw on ebay.  McCalls Quilting was interested in a full size version of this runner, but eventually ruled it out as being too difficult for their readers.  Well, I never!!  I think McCalls readers can paper piece with the best of them!!  The tough part of this quilt is getting the right color on the right piece.  But then. . . there are only 2 colors so you pretty much can't go wrong. . . well, ok, you can, but not if you are careful.

See Peggy, they even printed your NAME!!!!

The other quilt in this issue is a simple Irish Chain runner that I designed just for the fun of it.  The fabric line is Farmhouse Retreat by Andover Fabrics,  and it worked up very easily. 

This is a much easier quilt to piece, as long as you follow the color placement instructions on the strip piecing.  I just love designing quilts that challenge the eye as well as the quilter.  But they are really simple techniques that any careful quilter can do.  That's the fun of designing for me.  Make it look complicated but make it super easy.

 And of course, Brenda's quilting adds the 'piece du resistance'!!  Check out her curved cross hatching around the inner edges.  She just amazes me.  By the way, Brenda does a regular feature for "On Track" magazine (now edited by my good bud Kathi Eubank) where she reviews new gizmos and gadgets for long arm quilters.  She does a great job testing and talking about new rulers and thing-em-a-bobs on the market.  Congrats to Brenda (and Kathi)!!!

 And hang on because the new 2012 BOM is just about ready to start.  I am soooooo excited about this quilt.  I have been working on this pattern for months and months, it seems, and it is almost ready to begin.  I have a group of really great pattern testers, Jean, Ellen, Charlene, and Linda's "Second Tuesday" Quilters who have been making blocks and testing the patterns, fabrics, and helping me refine the block designs.  Their input has been invaluable, and wait till you see their blocks!!!  They are just fabulous.

One last item for this post.  I just have to show you these wonderful table runners made by Betty King, who won a great set of fat quarters as part of the 2011 Jewels BOM monthly give-away.  Look at these three incredible table runners Betty made from her winning FQ's.

 Didn't she do a fabulous job??  Thanks so much Betty.  You totally rock.
 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years from Morning Glory Designs