Sunbonnet Sue Sunday #20

Even once a month, Sunbonnet Sue Sunday comes round so quickly for me. This is post #20 and we have two left before the completed quilt will be shown.
Remember the original magazine that Mom's quilt came from?

The year was 1988.

I want to start this post with a photo of my great grandmother's bonnet. I think it is quite unusual. It is very simply made. Cardboard is inserted int he strips to stiffen it. I was very very small when she died, but I do remember how she looked in it. Her face did not show unless you looked directly at her from the front and mostly if she looked up at you as she was a very short woman. Remember this was a time when grandmothers wore long dresses, dark hose and flat lace up black shoes, a broach and an apron. Small glasses sat on her nose and her hair (which you could not see when she wore her bonnet) was slicked back and placed in a small bun at the nape of her neck. My grandmother's aroma was one that came from the kitchen. It was a woodsy, smokey smell mixed with whatever she was cooking that day whether it be cinnamony or meaty, no matter, it was a wonderful smell.
She didn't have to bend down at all to pat a child and only lean to whisper in her ear. I remember brushing up against her skirt and pulling it to get her attention and the fabric was soft and silky to the touch and I am sure it was because it had been washed about a million times and scrubbed on a washboard and put through the ringer--litterally!!!. I did not mean to draw this out so long, but to tell you the truth, I got all wrapped up in memories. My SBS pattern on the sidebar was inspired by this bonnet above.

The pattern below is one included in the magazine. A pattern based on the earliest SBS drawings. It is probably my favorite--I hope it is new to you. I may have included it in a previous post. If I did, I am sorry, but it won't hurt you to look at it again as it is really d-a-r-l-i--n-g!!

This is a great one included in the book. Is she looking down or away? I never can figure that out~~~

Thisone is simple and looks like it could be paper pieced. Were quilters paper piecing in 1988? A question for another day.

The above is a quilting pattern that is meant to be used in alternate blocks or a border. Great pattern, don't you think?

OK--now on to the good part. It's October, it's Fall, it's the month for falling leaves, cooler weather and, yes, the spookiness of Halloween. A time when it is OK to dress as something or someone else and eat all the candy you possibly can.


IT'S OCTOBER NOW, YES IT'S TRUE

WHAT DOES THIS TIME MEAN TO YOU?

COOLER DAYS, COOLER NIGHTS

BUT LET ME TELL WHAT MAKES IT RIGHT

BUY SOME CANDY, BUY IT ALL

AND LOVE TO HAVE A POPCORN BALL

SNICKERS, SUCKERS, CANDY CORN

MOTHERS LOOKIN ALL FORLORN

TAKE THIS PUMPKIN IF YOU PLEASE

CARVE IT OUT WITH EXTRA EASE

GIVE IT A FACE, A CANDLE TOO

MAKE HALLOWEEN A REAL TO-DO.

Fro newcomers, this the October block of Mom's SBS Quilt which will be shown in completion in December's SBS Sunday Post. I will also be give the directions for the setting of the blocks. If you make a SBS block, send me a pic. I would love to post it. If you blog you pic, I will feature it on my blog. Just let me know--

THANKS FOR VISITING MOLLY'S PLACE. I AM NOT POSTING AS OFTEN AS I WAS FOR AWHILE. MY MOM IS IN THE LATER STAGES OF ALZIEMERS NOW. SHE IS STILL AT HOME AS WE HAVE HELP NOW. MY SISTER IS BATTLING BREAST CANCER. PLEASE COME BACK AND IF YOU HAVE A DESIRE, FOLLOW ME AND HOPEFULLY I WILL BE POSTING MORE OFTEN SOON. I AM FINDING A LITTLE MORE TIME TO QUILT NOW AND MY YOUNGEST SON, WHO IS BUILDING A HOUSE AND LIVING WITH US UNTIL IT IS FINISHED, WILL SOON BE MOVING OUT (WITHIN THE MONTH) AND THAT WILL GIVE ME EVEN MORE TIME, HOPEFULLY. LOVE YOU ALL--

LATER----

SUNBONNET SUE SUNDAY #18

It's Sunbonnet Sue Sunday time and I am just now beginning my post. No research ahead of time, no previous thoughts as to what I will include----oh boy--well--first the result of a quick search was successful in finding a pattern that I don't think I have seen before. I don't remember as well as I use to, but if I have included it, I apologize ahead of time. The pattern for the block at left is HERE. I love the Holly Hobby look of this one. This pattern did not evolve as a quilt pattern, but a cover for a yearbook. A quilter patterned it (of course!) and posted it for all us Sue lovers. How wonderful quilters are. We all share our sh----- stuff!

These two are so dimentional!! Look closely at the embroidery floss hair, real dried flowers, lacey undergarment and who knows what the boots/shoes are but doesn't look like just fabric! the folds in the fabric for the apron, buttons on the jacket, maybe wire on the basket. Ok on to more`-`-`-`-`!

Go to the Sunbonnet Sue Blog to find some really neat history, patterns and quilts. You can stay here for a-w-h-i-l-e. The author is a collector of articles pertaining to Sunbonnet Sue and she buys and then researches the items. She has bought penny squares from Ebay and then found the exact picture it came from. This site is a MUST.

I wanted to post new pictures of all of Mom's blocks that I have shown you in previous posts. I have a new camera and I took new photos and thought you would be able to see more detail with new pics. But Blogger is not cooperating with me today. I am not able to move the pictures down to the bottom of the post as I have always been able to do. Maybe it is a glitch that will be fixed soon. I will post Mom's August Block--------

It's a warm Sunday in August and Sue's beau walked her home from Church. As they visit in the yard, he offers to give her a push in the swing. He pushes her high until she could touch the branches of the tree. Her beautifully embroidered bonnet shields the sun from her face, but her ringlets blow from underneath the back of it. Is it proper for an eyelet petticoat to peek out from a lady's skirt? It doesn't matter today! Sue is having too much fun!
Next Month Hopefully I can repost all the blocks thus far so that you can better see them. Until then--Happy SunBonnet Sue Sunday and Have a great AUGUST!!!

SUNBONNET SUE SUNDAY #17

Well girls, better late than never, I always say. Sunbonnet Sue Sunday #17 is about 2 months late. SSS #16 was short and sweet and that was in May. I skipped June all together, but am making up for lost time now in July.

If you remember, this is the magazine that my mothers SSS of the month quilt came out of. She changed up the blocks to some extend and "did her own thing". Now I know where I get that gene! LOL As promised, I will show the completed quilt at the end of the year after I have shown you the entire 12 blocks one at a time in the appropriate month. Yes, I did skip two months and you will see 3 months worth in this post.



May depicts two Sues carrying their Maypole.

June is a Sue Bride. So simple and sweet is she. I started to crop these pics then decided not to as you might want to see my mother's beautiful hand quilting.

This Sue is wishing you a wonderful 4th of July. Flag and Fireworks in Red, White, and Blue--How Patriotic she is. When I think of the flag stealing and burning that is happening these days, I am sickened. Our country is so special--so wonderful--so undeserving of such treatment. Who would do such a thing.!! Certainly not Sue!!! ON TO SSS!

Remember my trip to Round Top Texas where I found a lady with many many vintage patterns she was willing to part with as a group. She gave me a really good deal and I have not shared any of them as I have not had time to figure out the best way to do that? Well, this is one of them. Tea Towel Applique. Aren't they precious?

A PDF file for this precious pair is available HERE. I think this is fairly new. I don't remember seeing this one at ABOUT.COM before. HERE is the link to a quilt made with these patterns. Visit ABOUT. COM for ohhhh sooooo many great patterns.

Visit Quilted Cats to see Janet Wickell's complete quilt. It is fantastic!! I love the color choices.

I want to end with a link to Pat's Place. Pat is a Texas Panhandle girl and has a special Sunbonnet Sue story of a quilt that her great grandmother (I believe) made. It seems there was some playing on the quilt by Pat. I will let her explain. Go see PAT as soon as you leave here. I did not tell her I was linking to her post, so please comment to her and tell her where you found her blog. I would appreciate that.

Sue's Tree House also continues to provide Sue's for us HERE.

I hope you have enjoyed this Sunbonnet Sue Sunday post. I promise to try to do better in upcoming months and not let you down. My only sister has been dianosed with Breast Cancer. She has had surgery and will start her Chemo and Radiation soon. Please keep her in your prayers. Her name is Brenda. She is so special to me. She has been very tramatized by this whole ordeal. I am trying to keep her spirits up and take sole responsibility of my mother with Alzhimers. Bren is able to help me some and her husband also, but when the treatments start, it may be a different story. Hang with me please and know that I will be with you when I can. All my love to my dedicated blogging friends. You mean alot to me even though you are virtual friends. You are amazing.

SOON.-.-.-.-.-.

Sunbonnet Sue Sunday #16

Sunbonnet Sue swap is starting--go HERE if you are interested. It is thru Block Central. There are several choices of style and fabrics.

Sunbonnet Sue Sunday #15

Round Top Texas--a giant outdoor Art/Craft/Junk weekend. My sister and I went and I took pictures of several Sunbonnet Ladies and Little Girls that I found. Below is an embroidered apron.

Then this is a portrait style lady--isn't she beautiful?

This was a spread. It seems to be painted on Chimis? It was absolutely beautiful. She was displayed hanging on a wall with twinkle lights behind the see through fabric.

This is just a typical simple SBS.
As is this--with lovely fabrics and more detail and embroidery. This was a 4 block wall hanging and was priced at almost $200.

This little girl has a face, but I think she is just precious and unusual. I have not seen her before, have you?

Pat was gracious enough to allow us to see a recent SBS project that she finished as a result of a class. The pattern used: Umbrella Girls by Betty Alderman. I so appreciate Pat taking the time to contribute to my now monthly SBS posts. She has been a loyal patron to my site. The quilt graces her sewing room and rightly sew! It is a jewel and a constant reminder of Sue's quilt status and of Pat's quilting talent. Please visit A Little of This and a Little of Pat and I guarantee it will be time well spent.

Mom's April block--Well, just as the typical month of April - Mom's SBS block depicts it's reputation for being wet.

Sue started her morning by picking out the prettiest dress she had in her boudoir. You see, Spring is in the air and Sue is ready for a day of the outdoors and plenty of Sunshine. Mother warned her that rain is expected, but Sue is absolutely certain that she is wrong. No rain this day as it is her special day. A walk in the park will result in her meeting of her beau, Bill. BUT WAIT! A few drops are starting to fall. Good thing she wore her Bonnet!!!

Happy Sunbonnet Sue Sunday to you. I did not yet have time to finish this post. I wanted to post a few patterns from Mom's vintage magazines that I feel I can share with you. I will post them next week. My trip and the weekend has caused me to be behind. Of course I have had an entire month, but if it weren't for the last minute, I wouldn't get anything done. Thanks for visiting and be sure to sign up for the free magazine subscription, followers!!!

Sunbonnet Sue Sunday #14

A Rose by any other name is still a Rose? Right?

What if the name of the Rose is Sunbonnet Sue--That's right! A little trivia to start this monthly Sunbonnet Sue Sunday post. Sunbonnet Sue was also the name of a 1945 musical starring Gale Storm that was typed as a farce.

A Sunbonnet Sue Flickr group boasts 257 uploads. If you have some free time, you can spend some of it there. You will see crafts and quilts devoted to the star of this post.

I found a free quilt pattern here that includes the two darling patterns on the right. The Sam is one of the cutest I have seen. He is a little chunky guy. BTW--I found that one other author is cited as a source for the faceless children. Bernhardt Wall's characters were published about the same time as Bertha Corbett's. His girls wore a different style of bonnet and no aprons. Also, it is in Mr. Bernhardt's work that we first find a male character now known as Overall Bill. This article by QNL is excellent and gives the best complete history of SBS that I have found. If you are only going to read one, this is the one.

Marti Mitchelle offers us this free pattern over on her site HERE.

The March winds are the inspiration for Mom's Block of the month. No Shamrocks or excessive bright green, or Leprochans or pots of gold, thank goodness. Just a high wind and a homemade kite. I think her dad helped Sue make this kite and her mom provided rags for the tale. Her bonnet is tied on tightly so as she won't lose it. Her bonnet is worn on this day because her mother told Sue that if she does not wear her bonnet her hair will blow and become entangled . Sue does NOT like to sit for hours in front of her mother as she detangles her long locks. Mama put her hair up today and positioned the bonnet just right so that it helped hold her hair underneath to prevent tangles. It so happened that dad found the time to help Sue launch her kite today. Her dad took the kite from her and began to run with it. Sue tried to keep up, but was becoming so tired when suddenly dad let the kite go-----up----up----up it went. High in the sky. The tale was turning and twisting and flopping in the wind as the kite went higher and higher in the bright blue sky. Dad handed the stick with the kite tied to it to Sue. She just stood there with the sun shining down on her face as she locked her eyes on the kite. What a wonderful day today is. A beautiful day, a wonderful kit and great day with daddy. Sue will never forget this day---never.

SUNBONNET SUE SUNDAY #13

I have discovered some wonderful free hand embroidery patterns this week. Some bloggers post wonderful vintage patterns and allow you to download them. Go to Needlecrafter for far more patterns than you would want to download. You may just want to "bookmark" the site. The link is for a free Sunbonnet Sue and Sam pattern.

A Vintage Collection is a fantastic blog where many many vintage patterns are free for the taking. The pattern below is available there (this IS a SBS post, ya know! ;D). This is only the complete image. Visit the site for the pattern pieces.

If you have little girls or are a little girl at heart, please go to THIS SITE and print off the most darling let of paper dolls. These pictures would also make an adorable paper quilt. I can imagine a little girl carefully cutting out the pictures and gluing them into a design on paper and making her first quilt.

PENNY SQUARES--Do you know what these are? Go here to see a set. They are based on the SBS of 1905. Great Buy! Penny squares were small squares with simple embroidery designs stamped onto them that could be purchased for 1 cent. They were often used to teach young girls stitching skills. They were very popular around the turn of the century and continued through the 1930s. There are also some cute quilts here and more. It is the Sunbonnet Sue Blog.

There is also a post HERE about a comment by Alex Anderson saying when she made a Sunbonnet Sue quilt just check her into a home! Go HERE to read the whole story.

Ruby Short McKim is a famous designer of "Penny Squares". You can see and purchase her designs HERE.This is one of her SBS designs.

Also, just FYI, all of Ruby's pieced patterns from her book 101 are free on her grandaughter's website here.

My mother owned this book. It was originally published in 1931 by McKim Studios. She was a self-published author. Such dedication and self confidence amazes me. Mother's copy was republished in 1962. It is falling apart worn!

The comments on this series of posts has really fallen off. I am thinking of changing the posts to every 1st Sunday of the month. I could do a better job with the research and also have time to post about other things. If you are really enjoying the posts, but not commenting, please leave me a quick opinion of the subject.

SUNBONNET SUE # 12

In May of 2003, Traditional Quiltworks Magazine offered an article to it's readers about the Quilt Code of the Civil War. In it, it explains how traditional quiltblocks were used to relay messages to slaves trying to escape from the South to Northern Freedom. The Sunbonnet Sue block is mentioned explaining that the block used must have been what we call Colonial Girl, Umbrella Girl or Southern Bell patterns. This issue is controversial, but if it is true, would of course mean that the pattern has been in exsistence since the 1860s. Visit this site to read more on this subject. It is very intriging and the site has links to many more sites of interest.

I did find on this site that the first known applique SBS was made by Marie Webster, was called Sunbonnet Lassies, and was published in the Ladies Home Journal Magazine in 1911.

Southern Belle embroidery was popular from 1920 until 1950s. Here is an example of stamped embroidery pattern typical of the time.

Below are photos of typical patterns used during this time.

Below is my Mom's embroidered SBS done when she was 16----in 1942.

Kellie, over at There's No Place Like Home is a SBS lover and collector. She has several quilts and I have permission to post two of them here to show you. The first is an Umbrella Sue---

The second one is a pattern that I have never seen--A SBS Profile--it was purchased in Canada.

I have one Colonial Girl quilt in my collection. It was made by my Great Grandmother Lamberth. My mother had it quilted for me in the first years of my marriage.

I hope you enjoyed this weeks post.

Have a great week.