Osceolaquilttrail's Blog

Patriot Star

osceolaquilttrail — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:52:57 +0000

Inspiration for quilt blocks can come from surprising places. When I visited the Theunicks to discuss their quilt block, they asked if they could use the design from the tile on their kitchen floor.

However, since both of them and several of their children had served in the military, they wanted the colors to be red, white, and blue. So this is what we came up with, and they named it Patriot Star.

It was a great day. All the family was invited for a “hanging” on Mother’s Day. Even the parish priest was there to bless the meal and share in the fellowship. The Theunicks have been married for 67 years, and have a large family. Some of the grandsons hung the block while the rest of us looked on. They told me that the barn was built in 1948 from lumber taken from two older barns. A great way to spend Mother’s Day, for sure.

The Cross

osceolaquilttrail — Sat, 12 May 2012 20:20:57 +0000

Love, Inc. in Reed City has a resale shop called the Inc. Spot. The revenue from the shop provides help for needy families in the area. Their new quilt block is over the back entrance from the parking lot. (There was no room for it on the front of the building.) In the next few weeks, we will be adding a smaller block inside the store, our first inside block.

Wheel of Chance

osceolaquilttrail — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:24:00 +0000

Al & Sally Johnston’s garage just outside of Reed City sports a new quilt block called Wheel of Chance.

Sally’s mother had made a quilt from this pattern some years ago, though we simplified it and changed the colors. The block is in her memory.

One of our volunteers added the detailing.

Potato Harvest

osceolaquilttrail — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 23:58:49 +0000

The new quilt block at the Tustin Museum is based on a traditional block called Country Farm. Joanne Iler designed the potato plant for the center, and Elsie Vredenburg added the railroad tracks. The railroad has been turned into a hiking/biking trail, part of the White Pine Trail that extends from Cadillac to Grand Rapids. It can be seen on the left.

Janice Peterson wrote the history of the building, and I’m going to quote her:
Block title: Potato Harvest
The first train (Grand Rapids and Indiana) came through the village of Tustin January 1, 1872.
Note: Nov. 2, 1900, Tustin Topics, “The M. & G.R. Ry (Manistee and Grand Rapids Railroad/Michigan East and West) now have their track laid up to the road south of the school house (Tustin) and while they have no regular service established yet the work train brought in the first consignment of freight the other day. It was a car load of Salt for Holmes & DeGoit from Manistee.”
Note: Aug. 16, 1895, Tustin Topics, “Al Bentley is having all kinds of fun moving the old school building down town for Frank Smith.”
The old school house was sold and moved downtown to Howard Street and used as a potato warehouse. The story goes that wadded-up newspapers were stuffed between the rafters for insulation. When the sparks from a passing train ignited the roof, the newspapers fed the flames and the fire spread to other businesses.
Note: 1915, fire, The Tustin Times, “The fire spread to the brick warehouse of C. Edgett which adjoined the McClintick warehouse on the north. The McClintick warehouse, which was formerly the old school house (moved 1895), was built over 40 years ago.”
Note: June 22, 1916, The Tustin Times, “Tustin is to have at least one more building to be proud of. McClintick & Co. are at work on a new warehouse. The basement has been excavated, the dirt being placed in the village lot to fill in around the wall. The new warehouse is to be about the same as the one which the Tustin Warehouse has adjoining the McClintick warehouse when completed. It will contain an elevator and grain and beans are to be handled on a much larger scale than ever before in this village.”
When Evan Hoaglund retired and sold the hardware store, he and Leona had to decide what to do with these historical treasures. In 1983, he was instrumental in forming the Pine River Area Historical Society. One of the goals of the new organization was to find a home for Evan’s collection. The old potato warehouses (McClintick and Webster) were purchased, renovated and opened to the public in 1990. Tustin Pine River Museum, Evan Hoaglund founder, is open to the public during the summer from Memorial Day through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
(Source: January 2003, issue 1, Pine River Historical Society article)

We’re “Live”

osceolaquilttrail — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:36:59 +0000

We have an official website now, thanks to a lot of hard work by a couple of people. Check it out at www.osceolaquilttrail.org

Moonlit Woods

osceolaquilttrail — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:44:16 +0000

The Woods family owns several Centennial farms in the Reed City area. They have named this block Moonlit Woods, as that is what they call their family corporation. This twelve pointed star with the moon in the background is stunning. The trees in the foreground represent the Woods’ grandchildren. The block is located on the loafing shed on the corner of Three Mile Rd. and 200th Avenue, southeast of Reed City, MI.

County Fair

osceolaquilttrail — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:35:05 +0000

Located right next door to the Osceola County Fairgrounds in Evart, this County Fair block is a beauty. It is on the north wall of the Osceola Grand Hotel, facing the camping area of the fairgrounds. The owner of the hotel said that he wanted the campers at the fairgrounds to be able to enjoy the block.

Star of Heaven

osceolaquilttrail — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:26:45 +0000

Dave & Delores Arndt chose this Star of Heaven block to place on their garage. Dee had made a quilt with this block in it, and she thought it would be a nice one to put on the garage. We think so, too! It is located at 14730 Wildwood Rd., Evart, MI, in the Sunrise Lake area.

The pictures were taken just as the sun was setting, so the light is not the best. I tried to enhance the closeup a bit.

Love of Art

osceolaquilttrail — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:24:53 +0000

The Osceola League for Arts and Humanities studio/gallery in Evart, MI recently installed this quilt block on the front of their buiding. It is actually two mirror image blocks angled out a bit from the building at the point where they meet, so they can be seen more easily from both directions as you drive down the street. Here’s what they say about it:

We have decided to name our quilt block “Love of Art”
Two OLAH Studio quilt blocks were installed November 28, 2011, at 207 N. Main Street in Evart, Michigan.
The Osceola League for Arts and Humanities chose this block design for several reasons.
The pink heart symbolizes OLAH’s love of art. The blue surrounding the heart expresses tranquility.
The purple bud represents artists who are just realizing their potential. The green leaves depict artistic growth.
The yellow border promotes a sunny outlook on life. Take time to enjoy the art that surrounds us !

The Studio is all set up for the annual Christmas Gift Shop.

Grandma’s Heart

osceolaquilttrail — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:23:04 +0000

Located on her garage near Evart on 110th
Avenue,
this heart quilt block is based on a quilted pillow top that Barb made a few years ago.

To add a little interest in the large heart, we divided the main part into four smaller squares. Barb wanted to honor her four grandchildren, so the small hearts were added to represent them.