The Very Little Quilt that Thought it Could: Acceptance of Imperfection or Thinking Outside The Block

I began my first Baltimore Album quilt when we lived in northern Virginia over fifteen years ago.   

I had the great opportunity to take a class at G Street Fabrics from a lovely person, Ann, who had learned needle turn applique from Elly Sienkiewicz, the goddess of Baltimore Album quilts.

This quilt has  been hibernating while others have been finishished and I even cannablized a couple of blocks from it.  There was an emergent need for blocks for a group raffle quilt that was based on the theme of theme of shelties and the beach.  I donated two blocks.  Before I did, I changed one of the blocks to include a mermaid and a sheltie.  

What I (humbly) find incredible about this block (the basic block is one of Elly’s)  is that I did the permanent ink drawing after the applique was finished. (I took a portion of the applique apart in oder to insert the fabric mermaid tail “behind” the applique.)  I drew the mermaid and the sheltie directly on the fabric with ink “free-hand", and the image is out of my imagination.  Given those variables, I am delighted with its outcome. So delighted that I photographed the image and had a printer make some large greeting cards from it.  This was one of my first applique blocks and the circles near the mermaid’s head are not perfect but you know, I still love the block because of the drawing.  I love the way the light plays on it and I believe that it communicates an emotional connection between the mermaid and the sheltie.

The whole topic of Baltimore Album quilts is quite fascinating.  The first time I saw one, I was truly captivated by their beauty. In the late nineteenth century the seaport of Baltimore was receiving some exquisite fabric - and the idea of making quilts for decoration instead of warmth had emerged.  Further, the blocks are very symbolic, many with symbolic origins associated with Masonic ideas.  The quilts also had inkings - messages as well as signatures.  Beyond being decorative, they were a form of communication. This site has a great deal of information about the original Baltimore Album quilts.  It discusses Dr.William Dunton’s role in studying and “archiving” the quilts. He was a psychiatrist and placed the quilts so they were viewable by his patients.  This site also discusses how he and his wife felt that needlework was important therapy for nervous ladies. (LOL)  I have enjoyed many chuckles about this especially because it relates to the recent saying, “I knit so that I don’t kill people.”   

This quilt has not turned out as it was planned.  It is much, much smaller.  But I think it is important to finish it and enjoy it - imperfections and all.  This is the block that stopped the progress.  It is a cornucopia with fruit - symbolic of blessings.  I disliked the fruit element.  So I began to cover some of the fruit with flowers.

 

This first ruched rose on the right was the first effort at covering the fruit.  It is made from a fabric that was the first border on the quilt that I donated to Sophie’s rescue. This fabric was also on the entire back of the quilt.  Being able to use this fabric in this quilt reminds of Sophie and the many blessings she brought to us.  I liked this rose so much I used the same fabric again in a rose that has a slightly different construction and it looks a little different but still related.  This rose and the the one in the center have not been sewn on yet they are just pinned for a little audition- but I think that this is going to work.

Even after I resolve the fruit problem there are some things to resolve like the red leaf to the left of the pear, and I am wondering if I can get away with not adding any more red grapes...

Originally I was going to applique the border.  But there is a problem - I have had some of the blocks out and they have yellowed a bit with age (Denise, is this not a surprise?) while the fabric to finish the quilt has been in a container, and it is slightly lighter.  So here is the new plan.  I found some fabric in my stash that would be perfect for a border.  The only problem is that I did not have enough and it is discontinued.  I found some in Canada and it is on the way.  I am going to use it for the border and I am going to also use a design element in it for sashing between the blocks.  I was not going to do sashing either but one of the blocks is slightly lighter (surprise, surprise) than the others and sashing will make it less noticeable.  The block that is slightly lighter is not in the photo. 

The blocks are on point and here are two others with the border fabric and sashing (Sorry the picture is so dark - the border fabric is there, it is just hard to see.)

 

The last block to be added is a wreath of rose buds it just needs the buds - hope to have a picture of that very soon... 

Comments

[Kym]

I love the mermaid and sheltie drawing. It's somehow soothing -- just emerging there, out of the swirls and circles. Very nice. I have never heard of Baltimore Album quilts before (I have very limited quilt knowledge, period), so found that fascinating!