Connecticut is small in size, but like all of the original colonies, had great influence on the birth of the United States. This New England state earned its nickname “The Constitution State” thanks to the Connecticut Colony adopting the Fundamental Orders of 1639, considered by many historians to be the first written constitution that created a government.
Today you can find the best puppetry education at the Ballard Institute, part of the University of Connecticut’ (UCONN)’s fine arts program, along with the Museum of Puppetry. So if you want to be a puppeteer, it’s the place for you, but also worth putting the museum on the list of things to see in Storrs, CT.
Hawke and I drove across Connecticut after taking the ferry over from Long Island, an adventure in and of itself. Historic architecture, views of the Long Island Sound and relics of factories dotted I-95, but when we got off the main road, it got even better. The state is dotted with adorable little towns, perfect settings for the Hallmark movies that are filmed there.
Quilt Block
The first quilt block I saw for Connecticut was a star quilt block that while beautiful, it was too much for a state with a 2″ x 4″ block. I knew we needed to do something else. So instead of using the whole star, for the Connecticut block we’ll make just one arm of it for the Quarter Millennial Quilt, trimmed to the correct size. This block can be placed vertically or horizontally in the quilt, so if you’re using directional fabric, keep that in mind.
Quilt Shops
- Cotton Candy Quilts (Brookfield, CT) website
- Cate’s Sew Modern (Guilford, CT) website
- Colchester Mills Fabric & Quilting (Colchester, CT) website
- Stitch Chicken (North Franklin, CT) website
I can’t wait to see what you make with the Connecticut Star variation and if you’ve been to or live in Connecticut, tell me about your favorite quilt shops or places to visit in Connecticut!
Happy sewing!
