Thursday, July 21, 2011

Defying definition




Brave members of my stitch group helped me brainstorm names for this quilt today. Drumstick Dan, Lacross Larry, Rugbeater Ronnie, Jai alia Harry, all good. However, we are fortunate to be surrounded by ukelele players here in Lawrence, Kansas. This quilt could also be Sam Gives Up the Ukelele for Good, don't you think?

Not only are the figures mysterious, strange and slightly menacing, but they are all different. I've included details of a few. Some have claw-like figures extending from the one armed creature, some do not. Some have an odd bit of embroidery on the torso (pocket?) others do not. All are arranged slightly differently. The pattern is definitely not in the Encyclopedia.



Quilt details: it measures 65" x 79". The blocks are stitched together by machine, it is hand quilted in straight rows. Each figure is appliqued with a blanket stitch. The maker meant this to be viewed from several directions (from the foot of the bed and from the person in the bed) but it has barely been used, perhaps because the little person in the bed was too frightened by it to sleep.....

I found this quilt at a garage sale last summer. I actually left it behind when I first saw it, but when I came upon it at a garage sale at the same residence a few weeks later, I figured it must be fate and took it home with me.....

12 comments:

  1. Okay, I'm curious. I noticed the "claw" hand, too, and thought it was odd...hope someone recognizes it. Did you ask the people selling it?
    :-}pokey

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  2. This is a good mystery! Thanks. I'll look forward to someone solving this one.

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  3. This is SO WEIRD that it's charming! I'm glad you bought it.

    (I vote for "Sam Gives Up the Ukelele for Good" = that's certainly what it looks like!)

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  4. I'm thinking about it in a historical context. The fabric's look 1940ish. Doesn't the figure look Asian? And the hurtling object looks kind of bomb like. Maybe I've been watching too many WWI documentaries...but just a thought. The claws? No idea on that one!!

    Deb

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  5. Is he having a right old strop on the tennis court!? Contesting the umpires 'out' call and throwing his racket on the ground? We've all seen that before!

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  6. Maybe it is a Weed Whacker William quilt. They were popular in Utah (hence the shirt embroidery) during the 30's.

    Just kidding.

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  7. LOL! Maybe she meant to embroider in the hand holding the whatever (baseball bat perhaps).

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  8. Goodness, Deb I think I'm going to have nightmares. This is too strange but thanks for sharing it.

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  9. It really great art and crafting creation in this fabric designs.Different shape of designs are look so beautiful.I really like this designs in colorful fabrics.Thanx to share with us.

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