A Very Unique Baltimore Garden Quilt

At the 2013 American Quilter's Society show in Lancaster, Pennsylvania ... First in line at the Exhibit Hall doors (with hundreds of other quilters) - yes, that's me back there in the crowd. After the countdown, the Exhibit Hall doors open and quilters stream in to see the beautiful quilts.

Always happy to reunite with long time quilty friends, the first person I see is my friend Phyllis Hatcher, diligently at work appraising the show quilts. Imagine my surprise to see that the quilt she is appraising is a reproduction of my Baltimore Garden Quilt!

Here is Phyllis, wearing gloves, showing the back of the quilt (Thanks, Phyllis!)

I am constantly amazed at the creative vision of quilters, and this one is no exception. Linda H. of Stockton, Missouri contacted me earlier to request the required permission to exhibit her quilt, so I knew the quilt would be there, but WOW! I had no idea how very different it would be.

Linda reproduced her Baltimore Garden Quilt using modern fabrics and techniques. She used a different color multi-print batik for each of the 25 blocks and the border. The blocks are replicated in silhouette on a black background! Her applique is raw edge, and each block is machine quilted in different color threads. Some are variegated threads. Each block was completed separately, and then assembled using double sided bias tape. Lastly, the dimensional flowers are hand made and attached to the quilt. Amazing....

I wonder what the original quiltmaker of the antique Baltimore Garden Quilt would think of Linda's version of this quilt!

Keep stitching!
Barbara M. Burnham

(c) 2015 Barbara M. Burnham. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any kind is expressly prohibited without prior written authorization.

Last week, at the American Quilter's Society Quilt Show in Lancaster PA, all the quilts were fabulous!  I admit I supported the vendors generously.  But I have to share this story.

In between the crowds, I was taking a photo of one of the wall quilts, an undersea landscape quilt of dimensional corals, seahorses, fish, seashells and dimensional seaweed, quilted in watery waves and splashes and bubbles and sparkles. 



Camouflage At Sea - by Flora Joy

 There are fish hiding behind the corals!

A lady reached out from the crowd and pointed toward the quilt. I hoped she knew we are not supposed to touch the quilts! She was pointing to a big button on the quilt. Then she reached out for the button, grabbed it and started yanking on the button! I just about had a heart attack! She must have enjoyed the look on my face as she grinned and explained "It's my quilt!" She was Flora Joy, the quiltmaker!

The buttons on the quilt are magnetic. Each of the 3 corals has a magnetic button, and allows the coral to be opened like a book to reveal the camouflaged fish! Of course, we are still not supposed to touch the quilts. But Flora enjoyed opening the buttons for me to take pictures, and gave me permission to share them.




Flora Joy sharing the secrets in her quilt.

 








Who is lurking behind that black rock?

 

Of course! It's a ROCK fish.



What a special treat, meeting the quiltmaker in person!

Next post, I hope to share some of the beautiful Amish quilts from the Esprit collection that we saw at the Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum in Lancaster.

AQS Lancaster Quilt Show

Looking forward to a trip to the AQS Lancaster Quilt Show next week.  Hope to see you there!
The reproduction quilt, M.E.C. Remembered will be exhibited on Author's Row.

M.E.C. Remembered at AQS Lancaster 2010

Another quilt of mine, Pride of Baltimore II, will be in the competition. Look closely, and you might recognize some things from the M.E.C. quilt and the book Baltimore Garden Quilt. One of the blocks appears in a 12-inch reduced size, and the same double swag border with an expanded corner, joined this time with Maryland's State Flower, the black-eyed susan. (This is the quilt that appeared in American Quilter September 2011 issue for the article Hand Applique with Coffee Filters.)  Does this give you some ideas how to use these patterns in your applique quilts?

In years past, we have enjoyed Lancaster City and the surrounding area. Keep a lookout along your drive for covered bridges – this one is in Poole Forge.

Be sure to visit Central Market, right across the street from the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center (Check their hours.) A grand feast for the eyes and the appetite (more pics later to entice you).

The Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum is a MUST SEE, especially this year. Please support this museum and “Save Lancaster’s Quilts!” Proceeds from this special full-collection exhibit will benefit “SAVE LANCASTER’S QUILTS:  Preservation for Today & Tomorrow,” a campaign for the care of the museum’s quilt collection and an endowment with the Lancaster County Community Foundation that will assist in providing a home for the artifacts in Lancaster County. (Does that give you a hint that they might not be there for us to see next year?!)

The Lancaster County Convention Center, where the AQS show is held, adjoins the Marriott Hotel. It was all built around the old Watt & Shand building, and retains part of this historic building right inside the convention center.

As you know, there will lots of fabulous quilts to enjoy! And lots of vendors on three floors. Here is a panorama from 2010 of the just the main vendor hall. There are two more floors filled with vendors!

Be sure to visit the AQS booth to buy your books and 2012 T-shirt. Stop by the QuiltLife booth and say hi to Jan Magee.

 So much to see and do! Look for me too!