bloggers quilt festival





Amy's Creative Side

 
There's a first time for everything and this is my first time participating in the Bloggers Quilt Festival, hosted by Amy's Creative Side.



This is my Jell-O Jiggler quilt. I designed it, with some inspiration from home ...


The inspiration for this quilt comes from my hometown, LeRoy, NY, the birthplace of Jell-O, which celebrates its bicentennial in 2012.
According to the book, “Images of America: LeRoy,” by local historian Lynne J. Belluscio, Jell-O was introduced by Pearle B. Waite in 1897. It was named by his wife, May, and they trademarked the name.
The first four flavors were lemon, strawberry, orange and raspberry. Two years later, Waite, a carpenter by trade, sold the rights to Jell-O to Orator Woodward, for $450. It was Woodward who perfected Jell-O, launched an advertising campaign, including the Jell-O girl, and sold it via horse drawn wagon to rural communities in Western New York. By 1906, a year after Woodward’s death, Jello-O was earning $1 million a year.
In 1964, the LeRoy Jell-O factory was closed and moved to Dover, Delaware. Now, a Jell-O Museum sits proudly on East Main Street. And, as the village prepares to celebrate 150 years, it is a key factor in the fun.
A part of the celebration includes a ‘barn quilt’ trail. Local organizers have invited residents to make their own barn quilts (painted quilt squares on a board or barn) and be part of the tour. The Jell-O Museum’s quilt square is aptly called Jell-O Jiggler. It’s bright and colorful and looks like triangles of fun Jell-O colors.

The Jell-O Museum’s barn quilt was the inspiration for this quilt. For many people, their hometowns are places they can’t wait to leave. I was no different. It’s only now, that I live more than 450 miles away, that I realize what a true gem it is.
LeRoy is a town small enough where you can walk to the Post Office, school, local restaurants and yes, even to the Jell-O Museum. It’s small enough that most people know you, or your parents. And it’s a town with a history – not only with its founding, its Jell-O ties, but my own.
My mother grew up in LeRoy. My grandfather father was a police officer and owned a hardware store there. My grandmother worked for the village. My great grandfather was mayor. My parents still live there. The streets are full of people who I either went to school with, or whose children I went to school with. The cemetery markers remind me where we come from. It’s personal and special.

Comments

I love this quilt! Love the bold pattern and color. Fantastic!
CitricSugar said…
Great story! Beautiful quilt! I'm totally going to have to make Jell-O this weekend...
Jan said…
Wow, oh Wow, your quilt is fantastic!
Mom said…
great name. it reminds me immediately of candy!

margaret gunn
www.quiltsoflove.blogspot.com
Carla said…
Love the colors and design! thanks for sharing the story!
Wendy said…
Just lovely, love the bright colours
Anonymous said…
What a cool inspiration and great way to celebrate your hometown. I love off the beaten track small town museums, maybe I'll have to head to Leroy sometime!
Perfect quilt and thanks for the Jell-O history lesson. I never knew.

I love that there are barn blocks all over to help celebrate. That's cool.
Canadian Abroad said…
Very cool looking quilt!
straythreads said…
thanks for sharing the history Love the bbright colors
Ann
Janet said…
What a great quilt! It looks like Jell-O colours! Thanks for including the history of Jell-O. I bet Mr. Waites progeny are cursing him for selling out. Perhaps you'll move back to that town one day.
CathyH said…
These colors ar so amazing!!
Sue Daurio said…
What a vibrant quilt! Love it.
Amanda said…
I love the colors and the name!
The Thompsons said…
Yum- love it! :) Jello and the quilt.
the zen quilter said…
Wonderful, happy quilt, quite eye-catching.
grendelskin said…
Great quilt! It's very striking. Thanks for the backstory too, it was fun and informative!
Eileen said…
just posted about your quilt on fb! it's really cool, fun to know some history about it and you. looked at your profile and found out we've got the same name and actually spelled the same, but i think you're probably my daughter's age. anyway...love your quilt. it's one of many that is inspiring me to use solids--something i've never cared for before. thanks for sharing and have a great day, eileen!
Cindy Sharp said…
jello?! That is so cool.

Love your quilt.

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