A-5 Yellow/Pink Tulip Month Five

"This block has the traditional crossed stems seen in many quilts with the Laurel Leaves design, lending a more formal rendition of the Valley tulip motif. Different from the Pennsylvania tulip, this floral element has three segments, sometimes called "trinity." ...Neva Hart

I’ve treated and sewn all of my leaf “pairs” as though they were one single piece/shape. I think the stem work lays smoother on top of these joined pieces and eliminates the potential for excess bulk due to overlapping seam allowances.                                           (This is a personal preference of course)

Once I completed all of the leaf sets, I added the first of the 2 crossing stems.

I created the stems for this block using a ¼” bias tape maker, 1” strips of fabric (cut on the bias) spray starch & and an iron. This is just one of several techniques I like to use for making bias stems.



Next I added the center portion of the Tulip, turning under just the tips.

 The side petals were added and then the leaf cups to finish the block.

                                   ...Doreen


Some Tulip Trivia by Dawn Cook - Ronningen
Do you grow tulips in your garden?  Esther may have, or at least she saw some colorful tulip prints.

Tulips originated in Turkey and were brought to Europe.  The saturated rich colors were very popular.  Tulip mania reached it's peak in the Netherlands in about 1637.  A single tulip bulb could sell for 10x the annual salary of a skilled craftsman.
Since it takes 7-12 years to grow a tulip from seed, the most expensive multi colored bulbs could not be rapidly grown.  The solid color flower bulbs produce 2 or 3 'daughter' clones that mature about the time the mother bulb no longer flowers.  You can read more about tulip mania HERE.
One newspaper account cites the first tulips in America were grown on the estate of lawyer, Richard Sullivan. He had a 500 acre estate near Lynn and Salem Massachusetts from 1847-1865.  He gardened plants from all over the world.  If this is true, Esther may have seen tulips in botanical prints.
I'll never look at my tulips the same.

Please stop back on the 15th as we begin Show & Tell.... our favorite time of the month where we feature blocks made by quilting and blogging friends participating in this sew along.  You can submit pictures of your blocks to us via email or post them to us on facebook HERE.
We look forward to seeing your Tulips Bloom!

Happy Stitching!

Doreen & Dawn