Baltimore Album Quilt Revolution

Our American Revolution, that is...At our last Quilt Guild meeting, Rita Verroca presented a number of Baltimore Album squares made by she and her students for a future quilt to be featured in a publication (unfortunately I did not write down the name of the book or author!) All of these wonderful American History squares are hand appliqued.....

Revolutionary War soldiers

Washington Crossing the Delaware

Washington chopping the cherry tree (Rita says, even if it didn't happen...it's part of our American folklore, and represents Washington's honesty and integrity)

Washington commissioning Betsy Ross to make the flag (another probably "never happened" event)

Independence Hall, Philadelphia

Paul Revere's ride

The Custom's House, site of secret meetings

[sorry about the hand!]  Anyway, this represents our nation.

The Liberty Bell

I've forgotten what this house was

Hamilton's Log House

First Washington Memorial (I think this is at his gravesite)

Even though this block was not made up for showing, this is a picture of the kit to make it.  I had to include it, because it is a favorite.  Monticello, Jefferson's home.

Amazing Rita Verroca!

The Tucson Quilt Guild is a wonderful organization!  The quilters are so talented, but not "snooty" about it like a guild I once belonged to in Texas.  The members recognize that we all represent different stages of expertise (or lack thereof).  We do a lot of quilting for charities, and our quilt show is amazing.  There are always incredible speakers at the meetings.  This past Wednesday we had the pleasure of seeing a presentation by Rita Verroca.  She is a German lady who moved here thirty years ago and discovered quilting.  It is a uniquely American art form, and she encourages those who quilt to follow the traditions of hand piecing, quilting and appliqueing, if possible.  All her quilts are done in this way, and they are incredible!  And she seemed like the most personable, fascinating lady!  Wow...what a meeting!  Here is a LINK to her website. 

Lady of the Lake, one of her Houston show winners!

Rita Verroca...an inspiration to us all!

This next quilt was called My Fairy Trail.  Rita told that she and her husband were watching the movie The Tall Man with Clark Gable and Jane Russell and she said Jane Russell carried a coverlet with her through most of the movie, and she fell in love with it.  It became the inspiration for this gorgeous quilt...

One of her more traditional Baltimore Album quilts.  I plan to do a second post on some individual Baltimore Album squares she has that are part of an American History quilt!