While we were staying at the Martello Tower in Folkestone, we helped our friend, Vicki, celebrate her 70th birthday. She has a fondness for Viking ships.

Northeast Topographical Engineers.
Early morning at the Daniels Farmstead on Mendon Street in Blackstone, MA.

Working from the right side of the pattern copy, I mark the colors I plan to use and number them.


Using freezer paper, I make templates of each specific color.

Background comparisons.

I spent all day on Saturday and Sunday at the Wrentham Antiques Marketplace explaining the Baltimore Album concept to a large number of ladies who stopped by to chat. Some were familiar with the concept of applique, but were not familiar with Baltimore Album applique. It was fun telling them about the history behind the Baltimore quilts and the fine points about the process of creating these quilts.

After struggling with the Bamboo batting (below), I used Mountain Mist Light for this one. I had contacted Nancy Kerns for advice on the battings she uses. The difference was dramatic. I was able to take much smaller stitches more quickly and was able to use my #11 straw needle (which would have broken on the Bamboo batting. It is still visible in the upper left).



I had bought a lot of Bamboo batting for a template keeper project, so I thought I would try using it with hand quilting. I had to use a short, fat, clutzy needle (so ...

That's Patches on the left, and Spooky on the right (19 pounds worth of cat). The cat at the end of the bed is stuffed (Spooky's special friend). Their "Mom" is a world-renowned applique artist. You'll have to go ask my cat, Mandu, who that is.

Nancy Bryan, one of our local applique ladies, is working on this quilt which is using a combination of both wool and cotton. We love the look!

My friend, Nancy Kerns, has just finished this wonderful appliqued quilt. Many years of dedicated time go into the applique work and quilting of a large quilt like this (the finished size is in excess of 100 inches square). The original Mary Simon quilt did not have a border. Nancy designed this border herself. She has given me permission to share the quilt with you. (If you click on the photo, it will enlarge. Click one more time for an even closer view.)

I am always looking for a more efficient way to transport my applique projects. I purchased this bobbin holder and more than enough bobbins to store in the holder. I use mostly silk threads, so the next challenge was to wind the bobbins. Several nights while watching favorite programs on TV, I sat with my silk thread and spend hours winding it onto bobbins. I use YLI 100 silk thread, and after many hours of winding, it didn't look like I had accomplished much. Alberta, who is a member of our local applique group, suggested I used a bobbin ...

On June 5th and 6th, the NorthEast Topographical Engineers (Civil War Period) will have displays set up at the Wrentham Antiques Market. One of the Topogs will have his vendor's tent set up, selling period items.

Since it was Mother's Day, we decided to travel to the mill town of Willimantic (Windham). This town was the site of a prominent silk and cotton thread mill. The mill is no longer operative, but houses the Windham Textile and History Museum. Adjacent to the old mill is the Frog Bridge, depicting frogs atop spools of thread. In the mid 1700's while the men were off fighting in the French and Indian War, the remaining residents were awakened one night by a horrible screeching sound. They thought the Indians were raiding the town and emerged with rifles ...

My friend, Nancy, from our local Applique group, reminded me today about this great Christmas Album Quilt. We love to do all manner of album quilts in our large applique group, so, throwing caution to the wind, I ordered it today under the guise of Mother's Day. I will still be working on Mary Simon, Ladies of the Sea, and Civil War Bride, but Christmas quilts are also a lot of fun, don't you think?Pearl Pereira has designed several nice quilts, but I really think this one is exceptionally balanced and attractive.

In case you don't normally read my assistant's blog, I thought I should clue you in to his love of fabric. He has a passion for colorful fabrics, lace, ribbons, patterns, thread--anything that has something to do with my stitching projects. As I sleep at night, he carries all of the above items from their storage places, dropping bits and pieces throughout the house. I know he is just trying to help, but doesn't understand the reasoning behind it all.

Time for an applique break from my Mary Simon quilt. I made this Ladies of the Sea block, the Oseburg.

Sometimes it is fun to just work on something different. I thought this illusion was interesting.
VASE, or FACE?

Photos taken in April -- Wrentham, Massachusetts

Robbie Redbreast is always the first bird to show up in the Spring. He stays in the same spot every year. I like to think it is the same bird who has returned for the last 30 years!

Dogwoods in bloom are generally a May event.


The dogwood blossoms are several weeks early and are more sparse this year.


Several of the Dogwood trees did not blossom at all.

Northeast Topographical Engineers at Fort Trumbull in New London, Connecticut


New cannon barrel for the fort.

The Topographical Engineers will be at the following Civil War events this year:

June 5-6, 2010 Wrentham, MA Antique Market (No battle scenario)
July 10-11, 2010 Fort Adams, Newport, Rhode Island
July 22-23, 2010 Fort Knox, Prospect, Maine
August 7-8, 1020 Battle of Brimfield, Brimfield, MA
September 18 - 19 Battle of Windy Knoll, Rutland, MA
October 9-10, 2010 Sayler's Creek, Winchendon, MA
November 20, 2010 Plymouth Parade, Plymouth, MA

Earlier, I talked about individual blocks in my early Baltimore Album applique lessons. The quilt with the black background was my first ever quilt. The one with the light background was my second quilt. One learns as one practices the techniques. After making several hundred reverse applique teardrops, I decided that wouldn't be the way to go on the 2nd quilt. One can learn which colors are too dominant and which did not offer enough contrast. Rather than re-do some of the blocks, I put them all together and labeled these my "Learning Quilt #1" and "Learning Quilt #2".