Sunday, June 21, 2009

I'm on the Way to Baltimore!!!


Actually, I'm not really going to Baltimore, although I would certainly love to go back. The last time I was there, I was privileged to view several old Baltimore Album quilts. I particularly love those that are almost obsessively filled with flowers, cornucopias, eagles, baskets, epergnes, and so on. I am designing my own "Beyond Baltimore" quilt, filled with flowers and a border reminiscent of that found in my Ladies of the Sea quilt. For now... here's a sneak peek at two of the blocks in the quilt. I will be teaching a workshop with these blocks at Elly Sienkiewicz's Applique Academy in Williamsburg next February (http://www.ellysienkiewicz.com/).

This block showcases an ornate floral basket block like those found in many of the Baltimore Album quilts made in the 1840s and 1850s; the choice of flowers in that era was symbolic -- to the extent that the Baltimore ladies read dictionaries of flowers to ensure that their bouquets communicated the appropriate message. My, how times have changed!

And every Baltimore Album quilt needs to have a Baltimore Clipper ship on it, right?! Baltimore was a thriving seaport during the era of album quilts - which allowed for the newest textiles to be delivered to the women who needed them for their quilts. More blocks and more history are to come... along with more quilts.

Until then, happy sewing!

Sue Garman
(c)2009 Susan H. Garman

8 comments:

  1. The blocks are beautiful! I just finished making my feathered star which I started in the CQC workshop in Pueblo with you in April. Gardening gets in the way of sewing this time of year! I love my feathered star block--may make one more since 2 units are done (I accidentally grabbed the wrong foundations for them).
    Judy in Boulder, CO

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  2. LOVE your Baltimore Blocks!!!

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  3. Hi Judy - I'm so glad you like the blocks - I am VERY excited about designing and making this quilt. I just need to get a few other projects (with deadlines!) out of the way. I'm happy to hear that you like your feathered star block, too - they are favorites of mine. I have very fond memories of my visit to Colorado -- and all the great quilters I met.
    Margo - could you say how you really feel, please? Ha ha!
    Sue

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  4. The blocks are beautiful, looking forward to seeing more!
    Kathie

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  5. Congratulations on wonderful blocks!!!

    I am fairly new to quilting (and even newer to blogging!) and one day I would love to make Baltimore Album quilt. I love applique quilts!

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  7. hello,your blocks are really stunning,best whishes,susi

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