Today is my day on the American Made Brand Fabrics Blog Tour! I'm so excited to be taking part in this 50 State virtual tour of the US sponsored by Clothworks to kick off their line of fabrics made in America from Farm to Fabric! My good friend Barbara Burnham and I collaborated on the Maryland block below. Barbara designed the block, and I made it :)
But before we get down to business, I thought I'd give you a little pictorial tour of my beautiful state over here in the Mid-Atlantic region on the East Coast where I was born and raised...
Because of where Maryland is situated between the mountains to the west and the ocean to the east...the bustling Baltimore/Washington DC corridor in Central Maryland... the Chesapeake Bay running through the state...and it's rich history dating back to our earliest settlements...Maryland offers something for everyone.
The mountains of Western Maryland are simply beautiful. Hiking, skiing, and plenty for history buffs with many Civil War battlefield sites, including Antietam National Battlefield at Sharpsburg Maryland, the site of the bloodiest single day of the Civil War.
One of my personal favorite places to visit is the Western Maryland Scenic Railway in Cumberland :)
Then within just a few hours drive, you can go from the mountains to the beach! The Chesapeake Bay Bridge connects Central Maryland to the Eastern Shore.
The iconic Boardwalk at Ocean City Maryland...
...And you can go camping at charming Assateague Island.
Both the Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland are known for the beautiful farm lands.
And here in Central Maryland, my home county hosts the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival every year the first weekend in May at the Howard County Fair Grounds :)
There's the culture and happenings in Baltimore City...
...And history. Fort McHenry is located on the Chesapeake Bay just outside of Baltimore's harbor and is where the Star Spangled Banner flew during that night in 1814 when Francis Scott Key wrote the words that would later become our National Anthem. The Maryland Historical Society is home of the original document, and the original flag resides in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. The Maryland Historical Society sponsored the Stitching History Project that I was fortunate and honored to take part in last summer where we stitched by hand a reproduction of the Star Spangled Banner.
That's when Annapolis became the State Capital. You can not visit Annapolis today without walking down to the City Dock and enjoying the beauty of the sail boats on the water.
...That's why I thought the sailboats in our block really had the feel of Maryland :)
So anyway, now that you're familiar with Maryland, can feel the breeze on the water and smell the sea air, leave a comment below for a chance to win a bundle of Fat Quarters of the American Made Brand Solid Cotton fabrics from Clothworks! I'll choose one random winner on Monday, May 26th to receive a bundle of fat quarters from Clothworks, and then I'll pick another winner to receive a pack of 5" charms from me :)
...And then come on back here tomorrow for some tips on how I made our block, and a to link to the pattern! And every day you can visit all the Blogs on the AMB Blog Hop from all 50 states and collect their blocks as well :)
Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn
PS ~ Another kind of Maryland tour
is the Maryland Row by Row Shop Hop going on this summer. You can Click Here to see a list of participating shops, and visit in person our very own Brick and Mortar Spring Water Designs Shop for
your Free Row pattern anytime between July 1st and September 1st :)
255 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 255 of 255Love Maryland... I live in Virginia.. we are neighbors!
Currently living in Maryland. Beautiful hills unlike the flat lands of home in Ohio. Enjoy walks in the hills and crab cakes. What a pretty state to explore. Cindy
I think I might make a small wall hanging for my beach loving grandson using your pattern.
I think I will make a wall hanging from your pattern for my beach/ocean loving grandson.
Great history for your state and I love the block. Thanks for the lesson and the chance.
What beautiful pictures. I have very fond memories of visiting friends who live in Maryland while a child. It is a beautiful state. Thanks for Sharing your state and your block.
Love your block. I think it would make a perfect wall hanging gift for friends of our who love to sail on their MacGregor ( I think that is the sailboat they have.) I personally love looking at sailboats from the shore as I get horribly seasick when on them.
I love the water design. It would cute made with various shades of green with little sheep in place of the sailboats.
Thanks!
Maryland is awesome. Love the National Aquarium.
Your block is beautiful and a great representation of Maryland.
The best thing about Maryland is crab-cakes! MMMM! (Love your block too..it represents well!)
I need to put your state on my travel list!! Love your license plate - those are so my colors!
Thank you for sharing pictures of your state, having never been there...now I want to make it back east even more! Love the sailboats, too on your block.
Nice to see this picture story of Maryland. My only experience there is flying in and out of Baltimore and from there, cabs to and from DC.
Very nice block.
Have enjoyed Maryland many times. As an OR resident, I love rafting! Thks pjrcontest@msn.com
Very cute block and history of your state! Thanks for the block pattern :)
I am so excited for my LQS to get American Made Brand! This blog tour is a great way to kick it off!!
Thank your for your tour of Maryland. I have never been to your state. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com
Maryland is a beautiful state! We have driven through many times on our way from No. Carolina to visit family in New Hampshire. I love your block!
Maryland is one of my favorite states to visit especially during blue crab season. Little Italy in Baltimore has some of the best Italian food in the USA.
Great food, beautiful hardwood trees, rural scenery, the Eastern shore and friendly people.
Your block is one of my favorites so far!
I love the way your block turned out. The waves and boats look great.
I enjoyed reading all about Maryland. We visited there last summer, but I missed some great sites.
Lovely post about Maryland. Your license plate quilt is adorable, I really like the combo of colors for the water.
Maryland sure is beautiful! I would love to try those blue crabs!
Love your block. Maryland looks like a beautiful state.
I love you block. Would live to visit Maryland some day.
I so wish I lived on the coast. All the things you talk about are what I dream of. You,I made a great block!
I have never been there before but after reading all about it I would love to see all the sights. I love your block. Thanks for sharing
I love your sailboat block! Thanks for wonderful photos and information about Maryland--beautiful! It is the land for me. Mary
Maryland sounds beautiful and I love that crab, so pretty.
Thank you for showing us your state on your blog post.
Love your block. Thanks for the chance to win.
Really like your plate design and will be using it in a quilt for someone who lives in your state. Thank you.
I love the Maryland block. The colors, curves, and slant of the boats really give it motion. Thanks for all the photos of your colorful and historical state.
Great block. My best friend from high school moved there so I visited the state a few times
Love your plate! I have wanted to visit your state since I was a child and read the stories about Assateague Island.
I lived in MD (in the very North and East corner)for about 6 years and really loved the area (but not the traffic issues on 95!). Great job on the license plate and thanks for the chance to win! Sarah: crjandsbj(at)netzero(dot)com
Very nice post! I'm in Virginia and have passed through MD many times on the way to someplace else. One of my memories of MD is when my 4 kids were little tykes and we went on a family vacation to the Baltimore Aquarium. They were around a lot of school tour groups and picked up chicken pox. They all still remember that trip very well!
You and Barbara did a great job on the block, Dawn. Fun history in photos of the state of Maryland.
Thanks for the intro to Maryland!
Your block is beautiful in it's simplicity. And your description of your state very inspirational and inviting - are you sure you don't work for the tourism board?
You've done an excellent job of convincing me that I absolutely need to visit Maryland! I've lived in Southern California all my life and have never been to the east coast. -- soparkaveataoldotcom
My husband and I met in Frederick, MD, and lived there for several years. Great block and a great state!
Love your block! Thanks for the tutorial and history of your state.
your block looks great.
syvisser@gmail(dot)com
I love the sailboats on your license plate. Your state is very pretty.
I enjoyed your post and I liked the waves you put in your license plate.
Great post - thanks for the tour. Your block is beautiful.
Lovely tour and lovely block. Have lived in MD a number of times in my life and always enjoy it!
Have lived in MD a number of times in my life and always enjoy it. Lovely tour and lovely block!
Love it!!!
Your license plate is great! Thanks for all the info.
Really great block design! Thanks for the giveaway. info(at)cocoplumbeachhouse(dot)com.
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