Notes: Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 25

In Episode 25, Eula learns the fate of her Sears Contest quilt.

The Sears “A Century of Progress” Quilt contest has some pretty impressive statistics. According to Barbara Brackman and Merikay Waldvogel, 24,755 quilts were entered, which means that one in every two thousand American women submitted a quilt. The prize money awarded to winners totaled $7,500 — close to $150,000 in today’s dollars. Thirty quilts reached the finals. As for the winning quilt … well, to learn more about it, listen to Episode 25! Without giving too much away, I will share this picture of the judges looking at the one that got the grand prize …

If you’re interested in learning more about the contest, the 1933 World’s Fair, and quilting during the 1930s, I highly recommend Patchwork Souveniers of the 1933 World’s Fair by Merikay Waldvogel and Barbara Brackman.

If you want to spend more time in the world of 1930s quiltmaking, come join Quiltfiction’s Facebook Group, the Quiltfiction Club. We’re having a wonderful time sharing our quilts, our grandmothers’ recipes, discussing quilt history and meeting up in a virtual quilting bee every Wednesday, just like our girls in Milton Falls!

Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to tune in next week for the latest on Bess!

Notes: Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 24

In Episode 24, Emmeline learns the fate of her Sears Contest quilt and hatches a new plan to put her back on the path to quilting fame and fortune.

If you’ve listened to this week’s episode, you now know why Emmeline’s quilt didn’t win any prizes. Accident or sabotage? That will be revealed at a later date, so stay tuned! For those of you who want an idea of what Emmeline’s quilt looks like, here’s a picture of Rose Kretsinger’s “Orchid Wreath,” which Emmeline’s quilt, “Wreath of Irises,” is based on:

Bess’s quilt, which I don’t think is named in the book (am I wrong? Please leave the title in the comments if I am!) was designed around the theme of transportation. There were several transportation quilts in the Sears contest, including this one (maker unknown, collection of Maryilyn Forbes)

We’ve seen Dorothy’s quilt before:

Eula’s quilt is a red and white spinning wheel quilt, based on this quilt by Emma Andres of Prescott, Arizona:

This episode is our last of the year, and Chapter 35 is the last chapter in Part Two of Friendship Album, 1933. We’ll be taking a holiday break until Friday, January 11, 2019, and return with Part Three. If you’re looking for a Christmas story to listen to while you stitch over the holidays, we’ll be posting the audio version of “A Friendship Album Christmas, 1932,” tomorrow. I hope you enjoy it! Merry Christmas and happy holidays, everyone!

Notes: Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 23

In this week’s episode, Dorothy’s heart is heavy as she prepares to say goodbye to her grandchildren.

I don’t have grandchildren, and I probably won’t for a long time. But I had a grandmother, so I can say without reservation that a grandmother’s love is like no other’s, especially if you have one of the good ones. I called my grandmother Mama Re (her name was Marie), and I thought she hung the moon. Darlings, she was fabulous–White Shoulders perfume and spectator pumps, dyed black hair into her eighties, and a voice like honey. Mama Re was from Williamsburg, KY, the heart of Southern Appalachia, but somehow she grew up to look and sound like a movie star. Even her cigarette butts, with their fuschia rings of lipstick, were marvelous.

Of course, I’m thinking about grandmothers because in this episode, Dorothy is facing the loss of her grandchildren. As a way of preparing, she’s made her eldest granddaughter, Alice, a pin wheel quilt, one of the most cheerful quilts ever. I posted a picture of my pinwheel quilt top in my last blogpost, but I’ll post it again here, in case you didn’t see it:

I made the pinwheels using repro vintage floral fabric from Washington Street Fabrics. Lovely to work with!

I would love to give you some amazing insights to 1930s culture and history as relates to this episode, but the Christmas crush is crushing me and my son will be home from college in forty minutes, so I must run. Just a reminder that next week’s episode will be the last one of 2018, but on Saturday, December 22, I’ll post the audio version of “A Friendship Album Christmas, 1932.” Lots of good stuff to look forward to. Thank you so much for listening!

 

 

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In which I say “Merry Christmas” with a Christmas Story!

Lots going on here in Quiltfiction Town as we wind down 2018. The big giveaway is happening–and it’s not too late to enter. We’ve still got lots of great prizes, thanks to our wonderful sponsors!

Here’s a gift for everyone–a Milton Falls Christmas story that you can download to your computer or device–it’s my way of saying “Merry Christmas and thanks for listening!” If you subscribe to the Quiltfiction newsletter, you’ll receive a link in your email box. Can’t wait that long? Click on the link below and you’ll be taken to the Book Funnel site, where you can choose where to download your copy. Feel free to share the story with your friends!

Get My Free Christmas Story

Click Book Jacket to Get Free Story

If you’d rather listen than read, I’ll be posting an audio-version of the story on Saturday, December 22nd.

Membership in the Quiltfiction Club, Quiltfiction’s closed Facebook group, is growing! If you like talking about quilts and food, and sharing stories about all sorts of things (Milkmen! 1930s dresses! What’s up with Emmeline?!), then you should join us. Just head over to the Quiltfiction Facebook page and click on “Groups.”

I finished a quilt top on Sunday–when you listen to the new episode on Friday, you’ll know the story behind it.

And I finally got started on my Christmas shopping, but I have miles to go before I sleep! Hope everyone is having fun preparing for the holidays (or doing their best to avoid the hubbub)!

Notes: Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 22

As I recorded this chapter, I realized that one of the main threads in Florence’s story is about how much control she has over her own life. Sure, she’s an independent young businesswoman, but she’s also a woman. Neither of her brothers are ogres, but they clearly feel she needs overseeing. As for Arthur Purefoy, on the one hand he’s been an enormous help in getting the Milton Falls Quilting Company on its feet. On the other hand, it’s possible he’s starting to have some proprietary feelings–about the business and Florence.

I assume at some point — maybe in this book, maybe the next (because I’m starting to think I’m not going to be able to finish up this story in one book) — Florence is going to have to think seriously about what it would mean to her career if she got married. This is going to call for research, so if you know of any good books about women business leaders in the 1930s, let me know!

Thanks to Quiltfiction Club member Virginia for letting me know that these two women are the grandmothers of a quilt shop owner in Ortonville, MI. The shop is called Mabelena’s—the women’s names are, of course, Mabel and Lena.

Have you wondered what’s going to happen with the Sears “Century of Progress” quilt contest? Lest we forget, this was a real contest, with a real winner — and an interesting twist at the end. I’m not going to give anything away here, but let’s just say that the first round of judging didn’t take long!

I’m curious — do you enter your quilts into contests? I just entered two into QuiltCon, one of which was rejected last year, but I thought I’d give another chance with a new crew of judges. As someone who has judged writing contests, I can tell you at some point the judging becomes — well, not arbitrary, but it’s rare that a story wins because it’s heads and shoulders above the stories that came in second and third place. In the end, it’s a matter of taste. Not arbitrary — the top five and six stories are usually better than the rest, but it’s quite possible another judge would have picked another winner. Same with judging quilts, I assume.

I almost didn’t enter this year. I had two quilts at QuiltCon two years ago, and it was exciting, but also provoked a lot of anxiety — how would my quilts look next to the other quilts, what if they were all wrinkled by the time they made it to Savannah, what if the judges made a horrible mistake? When neither of my entries got in last year, it was a bit of relief, to be honest. So we’ll see what happens next year. It’s fun to have a goal to work towards, but it’s also fun just to make quilts for the heck of it.

We’ve got two more episodes of Friendship Album, 1933, before we finish the current section and take a break for the holidays. However, as a Christmas treat, I’ll be posting a special Milton Falls Christmas story!

One last thing: Monday is the start of our 12-Days-of-Christmas Giveaway! The prizes are amazing and include everything from a membership to the Quilt Show to a subscription to Quiltfolk, to fabulous fabric, patterns, notions and books. The cool thing is, you only have to sign up once and you’ll be entered in each day’s drawing. So get over to our Giveaway page–you just might win!

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Wednesday Bee and a Big Giveaway

If you’re on Facebook, I hope you’ll consider joining the Quiltfiction Club, which is Quiltfiction’s closed Facebook group. We just got going last Friday, and already we have a lively and fun membership. In fact, I’m going to have to get a little more disciplined during my writing time about checking in to see whose posted since I last checked. Way too entertaining!

Since today is Wednesday, we had a Wednesday quilting bee–because, of course. Our girls in Milton Falls meet on Wednesdays and so do we. Eula was our host, chocolate cake was served, and a lot of wonderful quilts were shared.

Do I sound a little bit crazy? I suppose if you’re not listening to Friendship Album, 1933 on the Quiltfiction podcast , I sound absolutely nuts (you really should go listen!). Nonetheless, I love the idea of entering into the story this way. It’s like playing, isn’t it? There are people who go to Renaissance Faires, and there are Civil War re-enactors, so why not a Facebook group where we’re pretending to eat cake before we get out our needles and thread to make our quilts?

Okay, that does sound a little crazy, but I swear it’s tons of fun!

I want to take this opportunity to encourage you to sign up for the amazing Quiltfiction giveaway we’re launching on Monday, December 10th. I’m absolutely floored by the generosity of our sponsors–The Quilt Show has donated a free one-year membership, Quiltfolk is offering a subscription, Fat Quarter Shop is going to send one lucky winner a $25 giift certificate … and that’s not all! Each day something amazing is going to be given away–Bonnie Hunter’s new book! Patterns and fabric from the marvelous Christa Watson! HollyAnne from String and Story is offering not just patterns, but one of her terrific classes. Need a new rotary cutter? Olfa has what you’re looking for and you might just win it. Need fabric? We’ve got fabric–from Michael Miller, Paintbrush Studios and Island Batik. Aurifil (my favorite threadmaker!) is sending out a thread collection worth $140! Need fun notions? Look no further than the fun cutters from Sunflower Quilts. Of course, because this is a Quiltfiction giveaway, we’ll be doing a book bundle–how could we not?

We’ll be giving something away every day from December 10th-December 22nd, and you only have to enter once via the sign-up form to be entered into each day’s drawing. I hope you’ll sign up, and I hope you’ll come visit the Quiltfiction Club on Facebook. If you do, you’ll find a special surprise on Monday morning for club members only, and a really nice community every day of the week.

See you Friday with a brand new episode of Friendship Album, 1933. Big new awaits!

Notes: Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 21

This week we’re spending time with Bess. Now, one of the things that interests me about Bess is that she’s a PK–a preacher’s kid–or to put it more delicately, the daughter of an Episcopal priest. I don’t know about you, but some of the wildest kids I knew growing up were PKs. They seemed intent on proving that just because their fathers were pastors, it didn’t mean they weren’t wild and crazy guys.

How I imagine a young Bess …

It’s hard to imagine that Bess going wild as a teenager, isn’t it? It doesn’t seem to be part of her temperament to act out. But I could see her being a bit of a prankster, and if she drank a glass of champagne at a high school graduation party, well, that wouldn’t surprise me either. Of course, she graduated high school around 1913–do you think they had champagne at high school parties back then?

Cary Grant and Irene Dunn in “The Awful Truth” (1937)

One of the subjects that gets discussed in this week’s episode is the difficulties of parenting older children. I definitely feel for Bess, who has to be both father and mother to her daughters. I have a son in college and another in high school, so I’ve reached that stage of parenthood where mostly you just make yourself available as needed, especially with the ones who are hardly home any more. Still, there times I’d like to be able to bend my children to my will, especially when I see them making the same mistakes I did at their age.

The question we’re left with at the end of this episode is what will happen with Bess and Joe Mayfield? In all honesty, I don’t know! I think the attraction between the two of them is clear, but is romance a possibility? Is Bess ready for that? I’m not sure that she is, but people can surprise you, even the ones you’ve made up!

If you’re enjoying Friendship Album, 1933, I hope you’ll review it on iTunes (you can search for the Quiltfiction Podcast, or use this handy link: QuiltFiction Podcast). It’s a great way to let other people know about the story.

Have you signed up for the Quiltfiction Newsletter? You’ll want to when you hear about the great giveaway that begins December 10th.

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Crown of Thorns Quilt–Finally Finished!

So I finally finished quilting Crown of Thorns, the same quilt Dorothy made to enter the Sears “Century of Progress” Quilt contest. (Is it weird that I think Dorothy is real and really made the quilt? I get that way about my characters sometimes.) Here’s how it turned out:

I hate it when people show you something they made and then immediately denigrate it. So let me start by saying I like the overall design of this quilt. I like the pink and white blocks and the sawtooth border. I think Crown of Thorns is a beautiful traditional block.

But the fact is I don’t have the skills to machine quilt a quilt this large. I thought because I was doing straight-line quilting, I could pull it off, but a lot of the lines are erratic. And there was one section that kept pleating, no matter what I did. It’s about two feet long and a foot wide, and it looks really bad. Maybe I should have quilted it differently, or done the lines on the diagonal instead of straight up and down. I don’t know. I’m going to get out all of my machine quilting books and study up so I can do better next time. I’m also going to rewatch Jacquie Gering’s Craftsy Classes on quilting with a walking foot.

My friend Patty, who does all my quilt math for me, very kindly worked up an abridged Crown of Thorns pattern to share with you. I think she’s planning to eventually put up a full pattern on her website, Elm Street Quilts, and I’ll let you know when she does. ETA: Here’s a link to the post that Patty put up; not a full pattern, but musings on the design.

(Speaking of Patty, she and my friend Kristin are doing a hand-piecing QAL in the new year. I can’t wait! For more information, check out their websites. Patty’s is linked to above, and Kristin’s is SimpleHandmadeEveryday. I hope you’ll sign up–it’s going to be big fun!)

The Crown of Thorns block looks more complicated than it is. If you give it a try, I hope you’ll send me a picture!

 

Crown of Thorns Quilt–Abridged Pattern

Directions by Patty Dudek

Ingredients for the Block

Each block requires 16 HST (half-square triangle), 5 background squares and 4 primary fabric squares. For a block size of 10 ½ ‘’ (unfinished), you’ll need the following:

  • (5) 2 ½‘’ squares of background fabric and (4) 2 ½ ‘’ squares of primary fabric
  • (8) 3″ squares of background fabric and (8) 3‘’ squares of primary fabric

Using this tutorial and your 3″ squares, create 16 HST and trim to 2 ½‘’.

Following the block diagram, assemble your Crown of Thorns block.

The Crown of Thorns blocks featured in the quilt in Friendship Album, 1933 were set on point and each Crown of Thorns block was offset with a 10 ½ ‘’ square from background fabric.

Setting triangles and end triangles will also be needed. Subcut a 15 ½ ‘’ squares into four triangles to create the setting triangles. Subcut a 8’’ square in half to create the end triangles.

 

 

Assemble your quilt top in rows as shown below.

 

Consider multiple borders for your quilt. Perhaps a inner and outer white border with a middle sawtooth border.

 

Notes: Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 20

In Episode 20, Eula gets a surprise visitor and teaches her first quilting class.

As much as I love Emmeline, it’s always a bit of a relief to follow an Emmeline chapter with a Eula chapter. It’s like going home after a busy day, kicking off your shoes and finally getting a chance to relax. At the beginning of Chapter Thirty-One, we find Eula getting ready to teach a quilting class, using Maisie as her guinea pig.

The block Eula starts with is a Churn Dash block and, for fun, I decided to make one for myself. If you want to make your own, here’s a quick pictorial tutorial:

For a 9″ finished block, you’ll need (4) 3.5″ half-square triangles (go here for a simple HST tutorial), (4) 3.5″ half and half squares that you’ll make by strip piecing (2) 14″ x 2″ rectangles, one of each color, and then cutting (4) squares, and one 3.5″ square for the center. Easy!

 

 

Sew all your units together and you’ve got your block!

I think I’m going to use mine for a potholder.

Eula’s quilting class takes place at the Milton Falls Library, which I imagine as one of the libraries Andrew Carnegie built. Are you familiar with the Carnegie Libraries? The National Park Service has a nice post explaining their history here, but the basic facts are that 1,670 libraries were built all across America between 1886 and 1919, funded by Carnegie to the tune of 40 million dollars.

Here’s a picture of the Carnegie Library in East Liverpool, Ohio:

I can just see Eula climbing up those steps back in Chapter One, can’t you?

FYI: The Quiltfiction Podcast will be taking Thanksgiving week off, so look for the next episode on Friday, November 30th.

Also, have you entered the Quiltfiction Book Bundle giveaway? For more info, go here.

And finally, one more thing: If you’re enjoying the podcast, please leave a review on iTunes. Thanks!

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Special Episode: An Interview with Quilt Novelist Marie Bostwick!

Welcome to the Quiltfiction blog! If you’re new to our site, be sure to check out the free audio podcast of my novel-in-progress, Friendship Album, 1933. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Marie Bostwick and Deb Tucker!

A few days ago I had the opportunity to talk to Marie about the upcoming Hallmark Hall of Fame movie based on her book, The Second Sister. The movie is called “Christmas Everlasting” and it airs November 24 at 8 p.m. Joining us in our conversation is renowned quilting teacher and tool designer Deb Tucker, who designed a quilt to commemorate the big event. Such fun to talk to these amazing women!

To celebrate the premiere of “Christmas Everlasting,” I’m doing an extra special giveaway. See below for details about how you can win copies of The Second Sister, Birds in the Air, and Margaret Goes Modern!

RSVP to Marie’s Watch Party here! You’ll receive some fun recipes and Deb’s quilt pattern when you do.

The party will be held on Marie’s author page on Facebook.

Check out the Hallmark Hall of Fame page for “Christmas Everlasting” here.

Visit Deb Tucker at Studio 180 Design!

Isn’t Deb darling?

If your LQS is interesting in hosting a Marie Bostwick experience, contact the good folks at Island Batik fabrics. Check out this blog post about the “Just in Time” blog hop they did in October.

Comment on this post or follow this link to enter the Quiltfiction Book Bundle Giveaway!

Here’s the link to Marie’s “Fierce Beyond 50” website.