The unexpected quilt

It was a beautiful sunny Sunday, so my hubby and I decided to go for a drive.  We headed to the coast to visit a town that had a quilt shop for me and a Maritime Museum for him.

Unfortunately, the quilt shop was closed.  

My husband felt bad for me, but I jokingly  told him not to worry and that maybe I would find a "Maritime Quilt" in the museum. 

You know what's coming next, right?


I did find a quilt at the Maritime museum!

Mixed in among the exhibits of famous shipwrecks, Coast Guard history, and models of Clipper ships was this beautiful crazy quilt made by Alice Brown.  Alice was the daughter of a sea captain, and she and her mother occasionally sailed with Captain Brown on long sea journeys to the Orient. Alice worked on her quilt during  the voyage.  (The captain's quarters were set up for comfort, and included red plush upholstery and an upright piano!)


The quilt is made up of exotic fabrics she collected at ports of call.  Here is a detail of a pair of playful kitties:

The cats were embroidered, but some of the little scenes on the quilt were actually oil painted on fabric by Alice.

Alice Brown Brigham (1863 - 1956)

There were a few personal items belonging to Alice that were also on display.  One of which was this kimono:

According to the description, the kimono was was custom made in Japan from a Scottish shawl that Alice had been wearing aboard the ship.  Ever since I discovered that my great, great grandfather was a weaver back in Paisley, Scotland,  I get a little tingle up my spine whenever I see a vintage Scottish shawl.


Since this year marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, there was a special exhibit about it.  We all know the story, but the exhibit included unexpected little tidbits, like this sheet music for the "Wreck of the Titanic":

I don't suppose even Celine Dion could turn that tune into a hit song.

Thank you for your well wishes for my shoulder.  It's been feeling a lot better and hopefully will allow me to get creative again soon.