July 10, 1933

Detroit News Quilt History Project; Michigan State University Museum; Susan Salser

Detroit, Michigan, United States

A portion of a Beauty in the Home column discussing new homes and including letters from Quilt Club Corner members.

Beauty in the Home
Wall Space Is Important When Considering New Home
by Edith B. Crumb
This department seeks to give assistance to all who are interested in beautifying their homes and will be glad to answer questions pertaining to interior decoration. In order to serve all who, seek advice promptly no more than three problems will be discussed in any one reply. Readers are invited to write to this department as often as they wish, but to limit each letter to three questions. State your question clearly write on only one side of the paper, enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope and address Beauty in the Home department, Detroit News. Letters with their answers will be published for the benefit of all homemakers but names and addresses will not be made public.

(clipping cut-off)...they are too prominent also. So, the secret of the successful room is proper spacing of walls and openings.

In the accompanying illustration is shown a room which could not possible be more ideal if one wished twin beds. The two windows are well placed, each being the same distance from the adjoining wall and between these may be placed without crowding, the two beds and a table.

The walls and woodwork of this room might be finished in a light tint of apricot, the floor covered in plain light fawn carpeting and the furniture finished in turquoise blue.

Draperies of satin in this same tint of blue and bedspreads of apricot moire would bring the scheme together in a very pleasing blending of tints.

An easy chair covered in turquoise blue ground chintz with a floral design in taupe and apricot, an armchair with covering in apricot velvet and covers of cream lace for the chest and dresser would lend more charm to the room.

The lamp shades might be of silk, stretched, in an apricot tint over a lining of the same, trimmed top and bottom or bound with turquoise blue velvet ribbon.

Quilt Club Corner
It has been quite some time since I have written but I always read every letter and listen to all the broadcasts and get so much enjoyment from both as I so seldom every leave the house.

I did not want to write again until I had accomplished more on my Lucky Four Leaf Clover quilt but just couldn’t resist writing for our newest quilt pattern, the Trip Around the World as I have read such lovely comments on it that I think it must be just beautiful and I may drop my clover pattern and start the new one, if I can possible find enough loose pennies floating around for the material but trying to find those pennies is what has delayed my work on my other quilt. I have been seeing a few more lately, so please wish me luckily that it will continue for I do so much love all the pretty quilts and want to keep my fingers as busy as the busiest of quilt-makers.

Will you kindly tell me over the radio or in the Quilt Club Corner if quilts made of the appliqued tulip and the basket pattern that come in the News Wonder Package are eligible for the contest? And please tell me the correct way to make the basket pattern. I pieced the basket and then sewed it the handle on a plain square block; but my mother says it isn’t correct that it should all be pieced, but my sample block looks lovely, just the same. Oh, yes; I have one of the Wonder Packages bought in the winter when they first came out and must say it is certainly the wonder of all wonders. It surely is deserving of its name. When I write again I will tell you of the several uses to which I have put some of the patterns.
Mrs. Chloreia LaVoy
3634 Third St., Wyandotte, Mich.

First of all I certainly do wish you luck and that the pennies will start coming in faster. I am glad that their speed is increasing so that you can see your clear to making something more in the quilt line.

Yes, of course any quilt form the Wonder Package patterns would be eligible for the Contest.

Your mother is probably right about the basket pattern. I should imagine that when she was a girl they mad that pattern that way, but as long as you of all of yours by hand I do not see why it would not be all right and much easier to make so that it is smooth.

Be sure to write in and tell what you have done with some of the Wonder Package patterns.

Just a line to tell you that I made a visit to Howell and called on Gran. Well, girls she is snappy young old lady. She was 81 years old June 30, she told me, and you would think she was about 60. She keeps house and cares for he son and his four children. Howell is a very pretty town and the yards and gardens are beautiful.

Well so much for my visit. Now I am looking for information about the Trip Around the World pattern. I notice you mention that all of the plain blocks are to be made of green. Do you think this is necessary or could each plain one be different? What I mean is- suppose the center block is a green print and then there is a plain green row, then when we come to the next plain row, couldn’t this be made of another color of plain material to harmonize with the other prints, and so on through the quilt? I have some very handsome prints and also plain colors and would like t mix them in. I will appreciate any suggestions from any one, for I am not ready to make my Trip as yet as I am making two quilts for my little grandson and granddaughter and when these quilts are finished I'll be ready to start all the other quilts I want to make.

Much success to the Club and regards to everybody in the Corner.
Mrs. Marvin Sprague.
2017 Glendale Ave., Highland Park, Mich.

I am so glad that you went out to see Gran. Everyone is wondering about her, I know and will be interested in your report.

As for your Trip, I think the idea of mixing the plain colors instead of having all of them green is very good; but I hope that some of the other quilt makers will write in what they are doing about laying out their color scheme. It is interesting to see how many different ways on pattern may be put together.

Do you remember me? I entered a quilt in the contest last year here in Wayne and you so kindly told about it in your Corner.

I have not joined the Quilt Club as we are leaving town soon-going way up north of Traverse City to live, so I will not be able to enter my quilts in the Contest therefore feel that I am not eligible as a member, I am waiting now for the Trip Around the World patter as I want something interesting to do next winter. Thank you for all favors.
Mrs. W.R. Burtch.
R. No. 2 Wayne, Mich.

Yes, indeed I do remember you and I know that some of the members will remember reading about your quilt in the contest. Don’t let moving way up north keep you from belonging to the Quilt Club for there are members from eight or nine different states, so why should you hesitate? Be sure you write us when you get settled in your new home.

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.