Block 4 - the aristocratic instrument

Block 4 of "Baltimore Rhapsody" is the trumpet block.  One of my favorite things about quilting is that block elements don't have to follow the rules of scale...a giant trumpet looks perfectly appropriate towering above little pumpkins...pumpkins that would normally squash, or at least SERIOUSLY damage, a trumpet if dropped on it.  I based this block on one of the original blocks I drafted for my Civil War Bride Quilt.

This block is a little more "folk art" looking than some of the typical, more elegant Baltimore album blocks.  I love making pumpkins and anything that reminds me of fall, my favorite season!  It's nice to take a break from the typical fruits and flowers and do something a little unexpected.

The trumpet is the soprano member of the brass family.  People who don't play brass instruments wonder at all the loops, twists and turns in the instrument's tubing.  Before 1500, trumpets were straight and as long as 7 feet long...that would be a little awkward for the player, don't you think?  All those loops make the instruments more practical and easier to handle (just wait 'til we get to the TUBA!).

An ancient relative of the trumpet, made from a ram's horn, was believed to have brought down the walls of Jericho by Joshua.  In the middle ages, only noblemen employed a trumpet player...maybe to announce his entrance in a room.  Trumpets were later used in battle by the military to announce a charge and scare the pants off the enemy.  Remember the Imperial Margarine commercial with the fanfare and the crown that appeared after a bite was taken of the buttered bread?  Yep, that was a trumpet.

Now trumpets are used in orchestral, band, and jazz music.

I posted about making the sunflower in a "sneak peek" here.  To find out the back story about "Baltimore Rhapsody," check here.

My husband is almost through with the web site, and patterns are being prepared to put there.  I am so excited about this project!  I just want to be drawing, prepping and stitching all the time!  Too bad that there are meals to make, laundry to do, etc.

I now have a "Follow By Email" button above Weasley's picture at the top of my blog on the right side (thanks for suggesting it, Janice!).  If I did this right, you can sign up to receive email notices of new posts.  Let me know if it works...I'm not very good at this blogging thing!

In stitches,
Teresa  :o) 

Block 3 - bowing to Baltimore tradition...

I couldn't do a Baltimore Album influenced musical quilt without the most commonly seen musical instrument in antique Baltimore blocks - the lyre.  Harps and simple horns are sometimes seen as well.  I figured that the simplicity of the lyre would balance the complexity of other instruments.

The lyre was an ancient stringed instrument that had 3 to 12 strings, a simple way to tighten the strings to change pitch, and was commonly strummed with the hand.  Evidence of lyres dates back to ancient Sumaria, dating from 3000 B.C. (it is thought that King David played a form of lyre called a kinnor, as mentioned in the Bible).

Glue basting the petals of the country rose together, working off block.

The lyre was most popular in ancient Greece and appears in Greek Mythology where it was believed to be invented by Apollo.  A son of Zeus apparently played the lyre and the sound conjured huge heavy stones to move into place while the walls were built around the city of Thebes.
 

Gee...maybe if I had one of those, I could practice and at the same time conjure my housework to be done...  

Prepping the bases of the rosebuds.

I would guess that women chose the lyre for their blocks because the Greek myths were commonly known, it represented music and knowledge of the classics, and it was easy to draw.  

Referencing the pattern through the background, the stems, leaves, and buds are glue basted into place.

I chose to draw a large one and keep it simple by only depicting 3 strings.  I'm sure ancient man was blowing and beating on other things, making crude music or at least a beat to dance to, but I included a lyre as sort of the "mother" of later instruments.  

All the laurel branch pieces are placed and glue basted before the lyre and large rose are positioned.

Click here to see how I constructed the country rose, placed at the base of the lyre, crowning the laurel wreath.

Block 2 - hip-hip-hooray for all the clarinet players out there...

Block 2 of "Baltimore Rhapsody" is the clarinet block.  ("Baltimore Rhapsody" is my original musical pattern series in the making - to learn the back story, click here).  As a clarinet player, of course this had to be one of the first musical instruments drafted!

The clarinet, a single reed instrument, is one of the four typical kinds of woodwind instruments found in a symphony orchestra. It was invented about 1700.  Besides a symphony, clarinets are used in chamber music, concert bands, jazz ensembles, Dixieland bands, and waking up a napping Grandpa...

Admittedly, the size and shape of a traditional 15-inch block makes the long, skinny instruments more of a design challenge than, say, a tambourine or a stocky drum.  I finally settled on the instrument in the center of a heart wreath, which is appropriate for one of my favorites.



When I make this one again (I'm sure I will make a few of each block...), I will use a batik or similarly high thread count fabric to make all the silver keys of the instrument.  The grey that I used was a little testy as I glued/turned under under all the edges of the little circles or long rods.  I also want to experiment with some grey ultra suede, which has the advantage of being used "raw edge."  Alternately, it will also give me an opportunity to work on my raw edge applique...

After gently soaking the block to remove the glues, there was one tiny piece that I neglected to hand applique all sides down.  Due to the looser weave of the grey fabric, it was hard to wrangle the raw edge by needle turn to stitch it down.  No problem!  I just invented an extra key to cover up the area that looked a little threadbare...can you clarinet aficionados out there see where I fudged?? 
  

Picking the fabric palette for this project has been fun.  I felt I needed to use sort of bright fabrics for the flowers, fruits, birds, etc. due to the rather limited, muted palette of the instruments (blacks, greys, browns, and golds).  Then, I picked more traditional greens for leaves and vines to tone down the brights.  Hopefully the contrast of tones and values will cause movement in the finished top.

After drafting the heart wreath, I didn't like the empty spaces in the bottom corners, hence the loose blossoms.

It probably makes the gardeners crazy, but I am just making up flowers, right and left (I'm not sure I've ever seen this color blue in an actual blossom before, ha-ha).
 

The first 16 blocks will contain instruments found in a symphony orchestra.  But don't worry, the rest of the blocks will feature everything from organ pipes to accordions!

In stitches,
Teresa  :o)

Block 1 - no more sneaking around...the gradual reveal...

I am going to FINALLY share what I've been quietly working on for the past few months...even though this is a work in progress, I've been able to secure block copyrights and I've learned how to watermark photos (certainly am glad I married a computer geek...).  I'm still a little nervous about sharing it before it is all finished, but I may have a gray beard by the time I finish all the quilts I want to make with these blocks!  Also, the whole reason I started blogging was to share what I was working on!  It feels weird to be working so much "off line" and have nothing else to share on the blog.

In addition to studying chemistry in college, I studied music.  It has always bugged me that there were few quilts, quilt patterns, or block patterns that had anything to do with music.  Then, when I find one, often the music notation or instruments depicted are incorrectly/incompletely/poorly drafted.  Music notes with the "flags" (stems) drawn incorrectly is one one my big pet peeves!


With my love of music, applique, and Baltimore Album style quilts, I had a real head-slap sort of moment when I realized that I could combine the three elements and draft my own blocks.

So, even though I'm not much of an artist, I've been drafting blocks and having the time of my life!  The name of the project is "Baltimore Rhapsody."

By definition, a rhapsody is "a composition in free form, particularly popular in the nineteenth century."  That's the perfect definition for what I am doing...these blocks are definitely free form and Baltimore album quilts were popular near this time in history.

I have a pile of drafted fifteen inch blocks (about 30 so far) that feature individual instruments combined with the traditional elements of Baltimore album quilts...flowers, fruits, veg, birds, animals, etc....PLUS introducing some non-traditional, more folk art elements (my journey of making and completing "The Civil War Bride" quilt encouraged me to be creative and think outside the box).

For those math-letes out there trying to figure out the dimensions of an album quilt consisting of 30 fifteen inch blocks, not to mention possible sashing and outer borders, you are right...that would be HUGE!  It is my hope that by having so many possibilities, one could choose favorite instrument block(s), and then set them (it) with the borders I'm drafting and come up with LOTS of possibilities for finished projects...either a one block wall hanging or quilts set 2 x 2, 2 x 3, 3 x 3, 3 x 4, 4 x 4...or whatever.

So now, I am madly making blocks!  The first sixteen that I am making have to do with the instruments of a symphony orchestra plus a couple of general music blocks (clarinet, flute, oboe, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, strings, harp, piano, timpani, G clef, F clef, conductor, notes).  Those 16 will be combined with sashing and outer appliqued borders to make a tradition-looking album quilt.  Since I love all kinds of music, I've also drafted blocks from instruments used in country, pop, folk, jazz, and church music (guitar, dulcimer, mandolin, banjo, handbells, less known woodwinds, string bass, cello, viola, antique metronome, organ, saxophones, opera singer, various percussion, general music symbols, etc.).  Smaller quilts I want to draft would be groupings of blocks...like woodwinds, brass, strings, percussion, instruments used in church (organ, handbells, etc.), and others.

Individual blocks could be worked into wall hangings as a gift for a person who plays a particular instrument.

Being a musician, I know musicians that I have wanted to make gifts for...these blocks are what I have yearned to find for my own use for a long time.  I figured that if I was going to the trouble of drafting them for my own use, maybe other music lovers would appreciate them as well.  In addition to the fruity, flowery 15-inch blocks, I am drafting just instruments, alone, larger, all different sized blocks (some guys...and gals...don't want all those fruits and flowers).

  

In order to make instruments fit in 15 inch blocks, some are tiny, tiny!  Some instruments come in inconvenient sizes and shapes!  The larger sized blocks will be easier for both hand and machine applique.  I will make multiple settings that will incorporate pieced filler blocks and strips.   Then, I also have some drafts of music "scene" projects planned.  There is no end to where I want to go with all this!
  
Eventually, when I have good pictures of finished blocks, I want to self-publish them as full-sized pattern sheets, either individually or in small sets, along with different-sized appliqued border options.  That way people can pick and choose the one or few blocks they are interested in making.  (My nerdy husband is making me a web site to make this possible.)

Block one is a wreath-style invention made from "G clef" symbols, cone flowers and hyacinths.  I made it using the glue stick (turned-under edge) method of hand applique.  It can be made using any method of applique.  The G-clef is also known as the treble clef (tiny piano students know it as the "right hand" clef).

I'm very excited about this project and will show block 2 very soon.

In stitches (and finally out of the quilting closet),
Teresa  :o)

Blog Buddies Make it Big...

I definitely have quilt show fever as I look forward to attending the AQS - Grand Rapids, Michigan show this week.  I had 2 quilts accepted, so I am excited to see them hanging with so many fabulous quilts.

There are times, recently, when I am convinced that I lost the last nine or so months of my life.  I wasn't posting on my blog or staying caught up with my favorite blogs that I follow, much less doing enough personal sewing  This thought came home to roost a few days ago when I was thumbing through a recent issue of the AQS quilt magazine.  I stumbled on the pictures of winners from the AQS shows in Lancaster and Paducah, and THERE WAS BARB VEDDER and her beautiful quilt!  How did I miss this??  (Barb's blog is Fun With Barb, and you will find it here - the pictures are shown here by her permission.)

She won first place in the "Wall Hanging - Hand Quilted" category.  There she was, in the magazine, her thumbnail picture right next to a picture of her quilt.  Isn't it cool to find someone you "know" in a quilt magazine...especially when it is someone who does high calibre work all the time?    (her "Mother's Garden" quilt also took a blue ribbon at the Vermont Quilt Festival this year...).

Click here to read about the genesis of this beautiful work.

I keep finding pictures of quilts made by Kathie Holland in magazines and calenders...her blog is called Inspired by Antique Quilts.  The Better Homes and Gardens American Patchwork and Quilting 2010 Calendar is just one example (where her quilt made the cover AND she was "Miss October.")  Then there are several more of my favorite bloggers with recent books - wow!  Can I pick 'em, or what?  They all keep me so inspired and charge my creative battery on the days when I drag myself to my computer.

Karen, of Quilt...Etc. blog just emailed me to let me know that my "All Around the Town" quilt got an honorable mention ribbon at the AQS - Grand Rapids Show (Wall Quilt, Hand Quilted)!  Yahoo!  I was already excited beyond belief about going to the show tomorrow...now I wonder if I will sleep!  

Click here to see the YouTube video of the winners!

If you are feeling out of sorts and a little uncreative, I hope you find some inspiration soon...sometimes it is found in the darned-est places (I'm sure darned-est isn't a word, but I bet you get the idea).

In stitches,
Teresa  :o)

Isn't August the Unofficial Sunflower Month??

Now that it is not so stinking hot in Michigan, I can think about appropriate signs and symbols of the end of summer.  (Instead of stuff like sweat, red faces, brown grass, wilting trees, successful rain dances, etc.  Note to self: must research my part-Cherokee Indian heritage for rain dances that WORK...).

During all our summer car trips this year, I loved passing fields of sunflowers...with all their beautiful, sunny yellow "heads" all looking in the same direction...usually toward the sun (wouldn't it be weird if while you were passing, admiring them, they all turned toward YOU??).

Anyway, I've been putting a sunflower, and a couple of sunflower buds, together, petal by petal.  I could not pick just 3 golden fabric colors (large petals, tiny center petals, and center).  Narrowing down fabric choices is my LEAST favorite quilting activity.  So I sorted through my leftover snippets for possibilities.

Welcome to my insane, miniature applique world!
 

Now that all the petal fabric decisions are done, the petals are prepped with freezer paper patterns ironed on the RIGHT SIDE of the fabrics.  Then I glue the scant little edges to the back with the Elmer's Disappearing Glue Stick.  Now I can start constructing a sunflower (insert diabolical, evil overlord laugh...).

I use one of my pattern weights to keep the flower center anchored while I pry up the edges and insert the tiny inner petals under the edge, one by one, each with a tiny dot of glue, all the while making sure that I am following my pattern.  Then after the "dot-dot-not-a-lot" touches of glue (Roxanne's Glue Baste) set a bit, I add the outer petals in the same way.
 

 

Ta-da!  Now, as Janet of the Quiltsalott blog would say, time to do a little applique stitching "off block."  (I LOVE that description!  Thanks for sharing it!)  

Using YLI silk thread, I applique the sunflower center to the glue basted petals, and stitch the tiny petals to the longer petals.  Now when I place the whole sunflower head on the background, I only have to stitch around the outside of the long petals.  

I like doing this for 2 reasons: 

1)  once layered motifs are basted to the cumbersome backgrounds, I find it much more clumsy to do all the inner stitching along with securing the edges

2)  now if I want to trim some of the background fabric from behind the appliqued motif, in preparation for doing hand quilting, I don't have to worry about keeping my applique stitches in the middle of my motif from penetrating the background fabric as well as the more immediate layers

Now on to the little sunflower buds...yes, the petals are tiny, and I am insane.  I could have simplified the sunflowers and buds quite a bit, but where is the fun (or insanity) in that?

 

Just like when building the whole sunflower head, I glue baste the tiny petals to the stem head first, then follow with the longer petals. 

 

 

I lay out and glue the little pieces to each other right on my pattern.  A tiny bit of glue may bleed through, but if the motif is actually stuck to the pattern, I've used too much glue baste ("dot-dot-not-a-lot"). 

Then I applique these little units "off block" before placing the all the motifs on the block background.

My block prep work this week also had me thinking about fall (my FAVORITE season) as I prepped and appliqued the following little motifs "off block."

  
I love to make these tiny, fat pumpkin babies!  They range from about an inch tall to a little over 3 inches tall (I forgot to stick Thomas Jefferson in the pictures, for reference...).

 

And as a Michigander, of course I had to make a basket of tiny apples (the swirly one on top is about the diameter of a pencil eraser).  When this basket is on the background, I will embroider handles on the sides.  I will also add twirly vines to the pumpkins.

I almost have my copyright issues taken care of so I can stop giving you tiny sneak peeks and finally show you whole blocks!

I hope you have some time to sew today...I am glad to almost be back to normal, whatever that is.  School started for my HS sophmore last week, and driver's ed started the week before that. It hasn't rained in WEEKS, and of course, her first time behind the wheel of a car, it rained.  There she goes, tooling around the AAA parking lot.  There's a terrified instructor next to her and two pale teenaged boys in the backseat, who have already had their turns driving for the day.

Riley was the last of the three of them to drive in this first session, so she parked the car at the end of the lesson.  I hope "hitting the thing behind you" isn't part of the parking lesson (notice the orange cone behind the car...).

I am getting a lot of hand applique done, hanging around waiting in the AAA parking lot.  This is a required course in the state of Michigan.  In addition, she and I have been spending time in a local empty parking lot learning how to drive a stick shift...I can just feel the strands of hair turning gray...

Of course, she prefers the slick, new, automatic transmission car at AAA, but both of our family cars have stick shifts...DOH!

In stitches,
Teresa  :o)