Sunbonnet Sue & Overall Sam, Still Kickin'

"A Meeting of the Sunbonnet Children"

by Betty J Hagerman (1979)

I never set out to collect Sunbonnet Sue & Overall Sam quilts.

Then how did so many wind up in my Quilt Cabin?

That could be a rather long story. How about we go with the short version. As I was moving quilts about the cabin recently, I suddenly realized I had so many SBS quilts that I could no longer ignore the fact that I must have been unconsciously collecting them. 

Most are rather eccentric and roughly made though. The photo below says it all.

(Below) Overall Sam/Bill hides his light under a lampshade.

However, there are a few very nicely made examples as well.

The most exciting part of collecting is the hunt, some say. But for me, there is also the documentation. That is another kind of "hunt" and requires time and sleuthing skills....and often sheer luck. Take "Sue Dusting the Flowers" as a case in point, a quilt added to my collection in November 2017. Whimsical, no?  I had never seen one like it before!

Now to find the source of the pattern. 

The first thing I did was check my copy of Betty Hagerman's book which you saw at the beginning of this post. Nada.....though there were a couple of designs that one could see might have inspired someone to rift in this direction, creating their own unique variation of SBS. But there certainly was no exact match.

Then I checked two other books in my personal library: Quilts for Babies & Children by Dolores A. Hinson (1983), Barbara Brackman's "Encyclopedia of Applique" (1993). Again, nothing.

But Lady Luck came a knocking the very next month via eBay. Though she didn't bring me the complete answer, she gave me a strong clue as to where to go digging next.......published embroidery patterns maybe?

Somebody inspired somebody.  Which came first?  The embroidered version or 

the appliqued version? What do you think? 

If you have any leads or clues, please leave a comment!

I hope to hang an exhibit of my eclectic SBS and Overall Sam collection next May or June telling the history if images of children and human figures on quilts. The exhibit will be here on Lopez island and will be a fund fund raiser for the maintenance of Woodman Hall, one of the oldest community buildings on the island. I hope to wrap it in with a meeting of the Washington Quilt Study Group as well  so stay tuned!

(I think we need to tweak this sign a bit so it is Sue & Sam doing the sawing!)

Click here to see more of my wacky SBS quilts and tops.

PS: See it again here: http://barbarabrackman.blogspot.com/2018/05/sue-narratives.html

Quilt History Retreat on Lopez Island

Welcome! Ready for a QUILT adventure on beautiful Lopez Island, Washington?

             

  photo of eagle and ferry by Charles Givens of Lopez Island      

Planning and holding a Quilt History Retreat here on Lopez Island has been on my Bucket List for 10 years. This Retreat is my personal way of promoting both quilt history and local history. I want this to be a FUN event as well as an educational event. We aim to show you a good time!

I have been studying quilt history since I became a member of the American Quilt Study Group in 1981. I moved to Lopez Island and became involved in its historical society in 2004.  Lopez Island is an ideal location for a quilt-related retreat because of its beauty, its close-knit small community and its many quilters.

If you live on Lopez yourself, consider inviting a friend to spend the week of May15-17 with you so that she too can attend the Retreat and visit you at the same time.

PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION to the ferry schedule as you plan your trip.

The challenges of holding any kind of event on Lopez is the FERRY SCHEDULE and the fact that you may be tempted to never leave the island once you visit!  Not every ferry goes to every island. You have to get in the right ferry line for Lopez Island and you should be in line at least 30-60 minutes ahead of time to be safe. They will tell you at the ticket window which line to get into when you buy your ticket. 

There is no “reservation” system. It is first come, first served. Here is the link to the Washington State Ferry site— http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/. We will be on the SUMMER SCHEDULE by the time you head for the Anacortes ferry dock to come to the retreat. The SUMMER schedule will be posted in early April.

This event is a Fund Raiser

SPACE IS LIMITED!

Please have Registrations in by May 8, 2014
But feel free to contact me after May 8 to see if there is still room.

You will receiving HOUSING INFORMATION 
when you request a Registration Form.
Click here to Email me for a Registration form and 
put Quilt History Retreat in the subject line.

The REGISTRATION FEES you pay to attend the Quilt History Retreat will cover the travel expenses of our out-of-state-speakers who will be sharing a selection of early English, French and American quilts from their private collection. Leftover funds after expenses will be donated to LIHS and WQSG. I earn nothing personally from this event except the sheer pleasure of sharing Lopez Island with you! Members of Enchanted Quilters our local island guild will be assisting! (Click on the name and you can visit their blog.)

You may register for the whole retreat at a discount if you are a member of the American Quilt Study Group (AQSG) or the Lopez Island Historical Society (LIHS).  ($165.00 for members of either group or $250.00 for non-members.)

Or you may choose from the a’ la carte  menu and attend only one or two sessions. If you are not a member of either group, the Registration fee is higher.  However, you may join either group right now (see links above) or when you register for the retreat itself so that you can take advantage of the discount pricing that membership affords you. 

SHOW & TELL

SHOW & TELL: We encourage you to bring quilts that relate to a given workshop's theme. However, all quilts are welcome at the general Show & Tell sessions! Time constraints may limit us to one each at any given event, but we can always gather in the evenings and share more!

Will we actually be doing any sewing or quilting?

Someone has already emailed to ask if there will be any time to work on their quilt or other needlework? By all means, bring some needlework with you!  But there are NO "how to" classes being offered. Having said that, Anne Dawson, one of our presenters, has a quilt business on Lopez and has many classes. In the future maybe we can schedule a "Sew-in Night".

SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 15   -   Optional Tour - quilts of Orcas & San Juan Historical Societies – full details will be sent to those who plan to arrive in time for this event. All three islands historical societies will have quilts on display. Arrangements will be made to go as a group if enough people show interest and commit to this tour. 

Friday - May 16,  9:30-11:30am            History of early 20thc Quilt designers Ruby McKim & Marie Webster – Karen Alexander. Bring a quilt or two from either designer to share. 

Friday - May 16, 2:00-4:00pm            Kate & Mary Edgar Collection of Early British, French & American 19th Century Quilts.

**Friday, May 16, 7-9:30pm       History of Signature Quilts and How to Research Them –  Karen Alexander & Susan Underwood at the restored Port Stanley one-room schoolhouse (Fund Raiser for LIHS)  (We will have Show & Tell as long as time allows.)

           

Saturday, May 17, 9:30-10:15am    Lopez Island Historical Society Tour (includes discussion of some of their Signature Quilts)

Saturday, May 17, 10:30am-12:00      Bed Turning - Karen Alexander will share a selection from her wide ranging teaching collection as well as share her documentation methods, files and extensive textile research library.

Saturday, May 17, 2:00-4:00pm     Quilt Restoration/Conservation –  Learn the important Do’s and Don’ts of caring for your quilts and basic repairs. Quilt Restoration expert Anne Dawson has her own restoration business here on Lopez Island! (Her business comes in from all over the country.) We will meet at the restored Port Stanley one-room schoolhouse for this workshop. (Bring one “needy” quilt and your questions.)

Saturday, May 17, 4:00-5:30pm    Show & Tell at PSS – the restored Port Stanley one-room schoolhouse.  Here is your chance once again to share quilts from you own collection.

 Registrations are due in by May 1, 2014

Email me if you need more time.

Expect some surprises along the way!

Maybe some wine tasting and shopping at 
The Quilter's Studio?

   

So what next? Remember, space is limited so click here to Email me for a Registration form and put Quilt History Retreat in the subject line.  Thank you!

Ya'll come!

(space is limited)

(One of my other pastimes on the island! Several of us quilters help a local farmer move his sheep from one field to another throughout the year as needed.) 

What else is there to do on 
Lopez Island?

http://lopezisland.com/visitorwhat.htm      


http://lopezisland.com/photos.htm

photo by Karen Alexander 2005 - Lopez Island beach

~Beautiful bays and beaches 

~Watmough Bight

~Biking (and Bike Rentals) 

~Sailing

~Whale watching

~Hiking 

~Driving tour of Lopez Island

~Kayaking (and Kayak rentals)

~Chimera Gallery 

~Art Studios & Local Crafts      

~Lopez Island Bookshop!
    
~A Beautiful Library with rotating art displays! 

2006 Doll & Crib Quilt Exhibit at the Lopez Library

Eat! Lopez has at least 7 establishments 

that serve excellent food! Click on the links and check them out.

~Holly B’s – our renowned bakery mentioned in  the New York Times!  http://www.hollybsbakery.com/

~The Bay Cafe - Also mentioned in New York Times

~Vortex - Vegetarian

~Vita's - Wildly Delicious - take out or eat on patio

~The Love Dog Cafe - across from Holly B's and Vortex in the heart of the Village and a stone's throw to Vita's.

~Buckey's - fabulous fish tacos! Next to Holly B's.

~The Fudge Factory - plus jellies and jams!

~Locally Grown Organic Produce and Meat to take home! (Bring your coolers!) (This is the farmer we quilters help herd sheep for!)

~Lopez Island Winery & Tasting Room

                         

** Signature Quilt workshop Friday night is a fund raiser for LIHS.

But perhaps I have saved the best for last — our GREAT Historical Society & Museum! 

http://lopezmuseum.org/schoolhouse.html

The above list is hardly an exhaustive one but it gives you a good overview of what Lopez has to offer.

Jean Wells Keenen visits Lopez-II

As I was sharing with you in my last post, I have admired Jean Wells Keenan's work for years. Finally, an opportunity to take a class without my having to drive that long distance from northwest Washington to Sisters, Oregon. Our small island quilt shop brought her to Lopez!


This is Part II about the class that just took place here in Lopez island June 2nd and 3rd.  I'll post names of the participants under the corresponding photo once I get my hands on a class list.

WHERE  DO JEAN'S IDEAS COME FROM?

They are all about us. Not only does Jean tear pages and images from magazines, she takes a lot of her own photos and zeroes in on potential design images found within.

Jean encouraged us to keep a file folder of inspirational photos and to then sketch certain elements that intrigued us into our own sketch books.

above - selection from Jean's inspiration file 

Another Class Challenge

Another limitation we had with the fabric Jean gave us in class: we were supposed to try to get nine blocks out of those six 5"x44" strips. This meant you had to think ahead and plan a little. An interesting challenge....don't know if I am going to make it. This is all I have left and I've made only FIVE blocks so far!!

Maybe I made by first four blocks too big?  Well, nothing wrong with really small blocks! It will just make the final layout more challengeing, right?

GOOD Teachers Know How to Encourage while Critiquing

Another wonderful part of taking a class is what you learn as the instructor goes around the room discussing student's work in progress with each student, one at a time.

We love to tease heather about her love of purple!

(above) Debby discusses the possible choices for background fabric for her blocks

and how each effects the over-all color impression of the individual blocks as well as the whole piece.

Anne Dawson (below), our co-organizer and host for the weekend workshop, explains her color choices and responses to the challenges of the study blocks.

Edi Blomberg (below) discusses why she feels black will work better than a dark navy as her background piece.

Mary takes a good look at the possibility of adding black.

Pat, my table-mate. I showed you some close-ups of her blocks in my first post.

(above) Jean asks Karen Alexander a question about her process.

I rather feel like I am learning to sew all over again. It has been so long since I used my machine. Can't quite get those seams to press flat yet!

We are so fortunate to have the use of the restored one room school house at Port Stanley on Lopez.

Discussing Finishing Details

One of Jean's more recent pieces. 

The machine quilting is fascinating.

Some of Jeans' Sample Pieces

As I photographed some of the unfinished samples Jean brought, I didn't want to take anyone away from their work by asking them to hold the pieces up. So I just layered them one on top of the other since there was very little space left to spread anything out.  When I downloaded the photos later and saw what the overlaying had "created", I was intrigued.

The first overlay.

The 2nd overlay.

The 3rd overlay.

Someone saw me struggling to photograph this one and offered to hold it up. I think it is Nancy Caleshu.

The public began to show up about 2 pm to see our work in progress. Barbara Gonce (above) chats with Jean Wells.

My work in progress...

I think this is my favorite block of those I have made so far.

A Potpourri of Jean's work follows

Starting my own idea and sketch book

Below are examples from my own file folder. 

Now that I have taken Jean's class, I feel I feel I have a better handle on what I could do with the one below.

So here is my preliminary sketch...