Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Broken Sugar Bowl Quilt Block

     
     I enjoyed making this 6" Broken Sugar Bowl quilt block from the pattern in The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt by Laurie Aaron Hird.  I've been working on trying to improve the value contrast in the colors I choose for a block.  I'm pleased with the results of this one.  
    Mother is Hattie's step-mother, Louise Daniels Woodbury.  Hattie's Mamma died three years ago.  Charley, Orvel, and Elmo are hired men who work on the farm.  They eat their meals with Hattie's family.  Mrs. Hile is a neighbor who helps with the housework.  The bunkhouse where the hired men live is jokingly referred to as the "Country Club."  Anna is Hattie's 11-year-old sister.  (Anna has a twin named George).  Hattie is taking a correspondence course through the University of Kansas so does her lessons at home and then mails them in.     

Wednesday, March 15, 1916 -
"Oh!  I know the best joke!  Hope I can play my part of it tomorrow.  To begin with, Mother made two cakes Monday P.M., an angel food and a yellow one.  The angel cake we had for supper, and the other one was left in the pantry window until after supper, when she put it in the breadbox.  Yesterday morning when she was packing the kids' lunches, she discovered, much to her dismay, that a big hunk had been taken out of one corner.  I never saw Mother more provoked and angry - she called me clear downstairs just to show it to me.  Each of the kids declared, 'I didn't do it.'  But still Mother suspected one of them had done it for it didn't look like the cat had bothered it, and it was not broken for no piece was in the box.  Mother threatened to tell Papa of it and have the children punished for telling a story.  I never knew one of them to tell a lie so flatly as that, but still I couldn't account for the mystery.  No one else had been in the kitchen besides Mother, Mrs. Hile, and me - even the men go right out the dining room door.  But Mother let the matter drop, and nothing more was said until Mrs. Hile told me this A.M. not to tell anyone but that Charley told her that Orvel and Elmo had taken the piece as they went out from supper Monday night when the cake was in the window!  I suppose the piece was gone when Mother put it in the box, and she didn't notice it.  I suppose the boys didn't have time to think anything, only that it was a joke.  And tonight we had some on the table.  I passed it to Orv and, looking straight at him, I said, 'Will you have some cake, Orvel?' 

"He didn't look me in the eye as usual, but without any sign of embarrassment whatever said, 'Yes, thank you' and taking it, helped himself and passed it on to Elmo.  I kept strict watch and neither cracked a smile until it had been passed on.  Then they sort of grinned to themselves. 

"But my part - unless Mother sends the remainder of it in the kids' lunches - I am going to take some on a plate over to the Country Club and put it on the table so they can have a little refreshments when they are hungry.  I see now why Orv acted rather sheepish when I gave him the divinity yesterday!

"I have been sewing some today - made Anna an apron and cut one out for myself, or rather Mother cut it.  Then I did the mending this morning, too.  I studied a good share of the afternoon and got another lesson ready to send.  I have been crocheting this evening and am dreadfully sleepy as I got up quite early this morning."  

You might enjoy reading my previous post:
http://starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2011/10/box-quilt-block.html

10 comments:

  1. A beautiful block and I had a smile reading the diary about the missing piece of cake! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. i like the contrast of these fabrics together, and the interesting prints too :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. The block is very nicely done! Loved the cake mystery, too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I also think that this is a wonderful tribute that you will cherish for the rest of your life. You will be able to pass this quilt on to further generations along with the diary.Make sure that you are keeping up with your personal log about how you are feeling about how certain blocks and passages affect you more than others. You may want to print out your blogs as well as keeping them on the computer. This journal (blog) & quilt that you are making will become a wonderful tribute. It will have your grandmother's journal, your quilt and blogs. They will be important to your family in generations to come about your grandmother & you. After you complete the quilt, you might want to consider having your quilt framed.

    I just found this site about an hour ago. You can see how it has touched me & I'm not even a family member. I plan to follow your blog & complete as many of the blocks that I can. I'm not being able to find the patterns for the blocks on the website. Where will I find the patterns. (I also love the materials you are using.) :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nearly all of the patterns come from the book The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt by Laurie Aaron Hird. It is available on Amazon.com as well as most quilt shops. If I did not get the pattern from there, I give the source at the beginning of each blog post. I'm glad you're enjoying my project. I'm having a lot of fun with it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. very complimenting selection of fabrics using light, medium, and dark

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very nice block and I am a new follower. Do you share your patterns or share where you got them I would love to try this one...

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am always happy to share where I got my patterns. A 6" version of the pattern is available through the book The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt by Laurie Aaron Hird. It is available on amazon.com. A 12" version is available free online at http://www.quilterscache.com/B/BrokenSugarBowlBlock.html

    ReplyDelete
  9. Pretty block to go with a wonderful story!

    ReplyDelete

I love hearing from readers. Your comments make my day!