Finishes

I recently read a comment by a blogger that said, “I’m a quilter that blogs, not a blogger that quilts”.  I wholeheartedly agree.  And, for several months, I have been quilting and not blogging.

I found myself at my blog site today and decided to write a few words and post a few pictures of quilts that I have finished over the last 6-7 months.

Galaxy, my NQA 2014 Block of the Month, was finished in time to display at my local quilt guild show in September 2015.  Some of you may know that the NQA has dissolved it’s organization.  I received a final member letter December 29, 2015, outlining some of the final steps taken by the board.  It is sad to see the organization go, but not surprising.

Medallion is my entry into the Circa 1825 quilt challenge for the American Quilt Study Group.  I finished the quilt in July and it was displayed at the annual Seminar in September 2015.

Sugar & Spice is a queen size quilt I began last summer and finished just before Thanksgiving.  It is a pattern from Joan Ford‘s book Cut the Scraps and uses her Scraptherapy method.  The quilt was finished for my niece and her new husband, who were married in October 2015.

I also finished have finishes for projects that I did not photograph, but some of you may have followed the progress on my blog.  I completed two Feather Tree Advent calendars for each of my daughters to have for my grandchildren.  I was so determined to finish them to be used in December, that I neglected to take photographs of the finished feather tree quilt with all the wool ornaments attached.  You can look back at several blog posts about the wool ornaments, here, here, here, here, and here, that I made throughout 2013 & 2014.

I also completed two Christmas table toppers from my Groovy Girls Club days with my two sisters.  I spent November and part of December machine quilting both of the Advent calendars and table toppers.  And finally, I finished the binding on my second Dotty Quilt…finally.  I sent the quilt out to the long-armer in January last year.  I attached the binding, but never completed hand stitching it down until New Year’s Eve.  I decided that I wouldn’t move on to another project until the binding was finished.  As I think about it, the quilt really isn’t finished, because I still need to add the label.

I am on to other projects.  I always set quilting goals for the year.  Some are new and others are UFO’s and WIPs.  Maybe I’ll find the time to come back here and let you know about them.  Hopefully, I won’t be away for so long this time.

Happy Stitching!

Civil War Quilt Study and The UGRR

The American Quilt Study Group has self-published a book on their 2014 Civil War quilt study. Titled, In War Time: A Study of Civil War Era Quilts 1850 – 1865, the book features all 50 of the study quilts that were displayed at the 2014 AQSG Seminar along with photos of the inspiration quilts and the written statements. I am excited to get my copy of the book, since I participated in the quilt study and had my Rose of Sharon quilt on display at the 2014 Seminar.

AQSG 2014 Quilt Study book

Rose of Sharon quilt on display at Bay Heritage Quilter’s Guild April 2015 quilt show.

Studying quilts and quilt history brings to light our past, uniquely telling the stories of women. Facts and myths about American quilt history proliferate in the quilting world, and studying quilts aids historians in recognizing those stories that are merely fiction. The DAR Museum in Washington DC has an exhibit on display until September 5th, Eye on Elegance: Early Quilts of Maryland and Virginia that debunks some of those myths. Mary Fons put out a Fireside Chat on a recent Quilty episode busting five common myths related to American quilting. Check it out here.

One myth is the idea that quilts were used to direct slaves North on the Underground Railroad (UGRR). In fact, many of you reading this sentence may get angry, scoff at the comment, or even stop reading this post altogether just for me stating that line. But, anyone interested in finding the truth will seek out reliable sources of information. I wondered about the idea when I first read Jennifer Chiaverini‘s fictional story, The Runaway Quilt, published in April 2003. In 2005, I was in Atlanta, Georgia walking through Underground Atlanta in the Five Points district when a sign caught my attention that directed passer-bys to an UGRR quilt show. The steps lead into an antique shop that featured an historical display of quilts, pictures, and stories advocating a quilt code used on the Underground Railroad. None of what I read convinced me that the stories verified a quilt code. After returning home, I researched the topic and found much more information on both sides of the aisle. Hidden in Plain View, authored by historians Jacqueline Tobin and Raymond Dobard, brought to light the idea of an UGRR quilt code. However, as any historian will tell you, history is constantly being retold as information is studied that brings new facts to bear on topics.

I’m not trying to convince any of my readers to change their minds, but hope that anyone truly interested in quilt history would search out the facts by studying the topic. I see so much of the quilt code myth being used to market quilting, whether through a book, fabric sales, or a quilt shop club. Some good resources to encourage study include noted quilt historian Barbara Brackman’s many published books, and her historical blogs here and here. Hart Cottage Quilts also has a reliable website with an extensive look at the topic of quilts and the UGRR.

Book by Barbara Brackman

I hope that some of you ameteur historians, like me, will check out the AQSG website and the book on the recent quilt study. And delve into the topic of quilts and the UGRR for yourself.

Enjoy…

Putting Quilts into Judged Shows

I enjoy quilt shows and putting my own quilts into shows. The Bay Heritage Quilter’s Guild show was this past week-end. I entered my Rose of Sharon applique quilt made for the American Quilt Study Group 2014 Civil War quilt study. Quilters could choose to have their quilt judged.

Rose of Sharon by Pamela Koppleberger

Many quilters shy away from having quilts judged. Many quilters do not feel that their work is good enough to put into a show, let alone have it judged. However, judging is a great way to find out what part of the quilting process you are good at and what part you can improve upon. The judge’s comment sheet from this show stated at the bottom, “This critique is intended to help you improve your quilting skills. Please use it as a learning experience, remembering that the finished quilt was judged, not the quiltmaker. Thank you for entering your quilt!”

You may have noticed a red ribbon on my quilt. I was fortunate to receive a second place ribbon in the Mixed or Applique, Individual, Machine Quilted category. There were twelve categories and seven additional awards, including Best of Show. Having lots of categories gives entrants more of a chance to receive recognition.

Check out this overhead view of the quilt show, followed by a few pics of my favorite quilts.

Courthouse Steps by Carol Collins

100 Year Quilt by Nona Simnitch of Frankenmuth, a good quilt friend of mine

Butternut and Blue by Nancy L. House

Cathedral Window by Lois Reminder

Circle Dance by Eleanor Henning

Primitive Gatherings by Kay Vink

We Find the Defendant Quilty by Laura Patterson

This last quilt was my pick for Viewer’s Choice. It was totally stitched by hand. Here are a couple more up close pictures.

I hope that you enjoyed my quilt show post. There are lots of quilt shows springing up and I hope that you’ll have the chance to attend a few.

Happy Stitching…

Challenge Quilt

I started a new quilt project. Unfortunately, I cannot show you any pics of the progress. As a member of the American Quilt Study Group, I am participating in the Past & Present Circa 1825 Challenge.

I purchased fabrics for this project in the fall. They are from the Circa 1825 fabric collection by Sharon Yenter and Jason Yenter for In the Beginning fabrics. Below are pics of fabrics from the collection. They are lovely prints. I have chosen the large floral fabric as a central block and designed a medallion style quilt around it.

Here are more of the lovely fabrics.

Designing a quilt can be challenging. I tend to have several ideas jumbled together in my brain. When I finally take the time to sketch out a design, I use traditional graph paper and pencil. As the pattern takes shape, I am able to determine the dimensions of the quilt and quilt blocks. Sometimes, I plan in advance and purchase the fabric needed. In this case, I planned the design after purchasing the fabric. Now the trick is to make the quilt with yardage from at least eight of the fabrics that I purchased.

If you haven’t participated in a challenge, you should give it a try. Guilds, fabric companies, and bloggers offer opportunities to get involved.

Happy Stitching!

Rose of Sharon Study Quilt

I am working on a Rose of Sharon quilt for the 2014 American Quilt Study Group (AQSG) quilt study. If you are not familiar with a study quilt, check out the guild website to see the Colonial Revival quilt study from 2012. I had read about the quilt study and wanted to get involved with one when I finally joined the AQSG two years ago. I submitted a  participant release form that placed me on a waiting list. This particular study is very popular. Then, I had to find an inspiration quilt that represented the quilt study period of 1850-1865. This quilt can be recreated or inspire a design that must meet certain guidelines. Earlier this year, some of the participants dropped out of the study, so now I am among the fifty quilters that will have the opportunity to present my study quilt at Seminar in September.

I chose my inspiration quilt last Spring and received permission to use it for the study. The inspiration quilt is in the permanent collection of the DAR Museum in Washington D.C. You can view the quilt on The Quilt Index at the following link. The quilt was made in Missouri for Mary Ann Poindexter, who married Dr. John Marshall Staples on September 30, 1852. Her mother and sisters made the quilt. It is dated 1852, so it easily falls within the guidelines for the study. Unfortunately, Dr. Staples died during the Civil War and Mary Ann’s sister Elizabeth presented her sister with the quilt on the occasion of her marriage to Parks Gunn in 1872.

I have been preparing the applique shapes over the last couple of days so that I can finally applique the blocks. Here are the pieces laid out in the pattern design.

Rose of Sharon applique parts

Rose of Sharon is a popular applique pattern that has many variations. It is one of many patterns with a biblical name, derived from a verse in Song of Songs, “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.” Ruth Finley states in her book Old Patchwork Quilts and the Women Who Made Them, page 126, “The best known appliqué pattern of all was “The Rose of Sharon”. Many examples of the quilt still survive simply because they were made as special quilts that did not receive frequent use. Most often, the pattern was made as a wedding quilt, the last of a young woman’s dowry of thirteen quilts. My quilt uses an earlier version of the Rose of Sharon pattern that has a single stemmed rose with several rosebuds radiating out from the central flower. The inspiration quilt used red, pink and green fabrics, but I chose to use two shades of pink. The study quilt will be a four-block design with a swag border, more simplistic than the swag border in the inspiration quilt.

Center Rose Applique

One of the first quilts that I made back in 1981 was a Rose of Sharon pattern. I used a newer pattern design with a center flower and mirror images of vines with rose buds and leaves coming out from the four sides of the center rose. This design is often seen in vintage quilts and is more often made with shades of pink fabric. My first Rose of Sharon quilt was poorly constructed using a raw edge satin applique stitch. Cotton solid fabrics were not readily available in the early 80’s and I did not know any better than to use the cotton/poly blends found in my local five and dime store that sold fabrics. The quilt did not hold up well with continued use by the recipient, my sister. For this reason, I chose to make the Rose of Sharon pattern for my study, so that I could utilize my improved applique skills to produce the quilt. This time around Kona cottons are my choice of fabric. I am also hand stitching the applique pieces, although I plan to machine quilt the finished top.

I have a lot to do before this quilt needs to be finished, but feel confident that it will go quickly. Hand applique is my favorite method of stitching and the portable quality of the project will allow me to take it wherever I go. The next step is to cut out the four white background blocks and position the pieces onto them for stitching. As well, I have to finish my Written Statement to submit within the next month.

I know that many of you enjoy challenges. This is actually my third type of quilt challenge this year. Having a deadline helps me stay focused on finishing a project. How about you? Do you prefer working with deadlines or working along at a leisurely pace?

I’ll keep everyone updated on the progress.

Happy Stitching!

Beginning Another Baby Quilt & my Study Quilt

My sister and I are on to another baby quilt for her next grandchild. Yes, I know that we haven’t finished the last baby quilt, but that’s okay. I have quilts in various stages all the time. We need to baste and quilt the Dresdan Zoo baby quilt for our great-niece. Certainly, we can begin cutting out the squares for the next baby quilt. I’m sure that many of you do the same thing.

My nephew will be having a child later this summer. My sister is planning a special quilt for her grandchild, but thought that we could work on another quilt from the great-aunts. The pattern is a scrappy bow tie from Quilter’s World Summer 2014 by Chris Malone. The quilt has 64 bow tie blocks measuring 6″ X 6″ finished. We sorted through our stashes and pulled out small scale prints in several colors. No pinks or florals in this baby girl quilt. We chose a lot of dots, stars and mottled prints and each took a stack of fabric to pre-cut the squares for the blocks.

Fabrics for Bow Tie baby quilt

Here are a few of the fabrics cut into the 3-1/2″ and 2″ squares for the bow ties. I seem to have kept the yellows, browns and greens. I also have a stack of purples, reds and oranges yet to cut. My sister is already finished cutting her fabrics, so I need to catch up.

Unfortunately, I have another deadline for a study quilt. I am working on an applique pattern for my AQSG Civil War study quilt that will be presented at Seminar in September. I’ve been working on my idea for over a year, but haven’t put it into fabric until recently. I spent several hours today cutting and basting shapes. The pattern is emerging just as I had planned, so I am pleased with the progress. I hope to make a lot more progress this holiday week-end.

The NQA annual show is happening this week-end in Columbus, Ohio. I am missing out, but just couldn’t work out attending. My SewBatik challenge quilt is hanging in the show, so maybe you’ll see it, if you are able to attend.

Enjoy the holiday!

 

WIPs – Works in Progress

LIfe can get in the way of my quilting projects. Life should – it is more important. Although, there are a lot of quilters out there that may be missing out on life because they do so much quilting. Me, I have chosen to make quilting number three on my list: Faith-Family-Hobbies.

Grandpa (my husband) & I have been watching the granddaughters a lot in the evenings, since our son-in-law has been on 10-hour work shifts. Then, there are the day-to-day activities, and of course, life includes having a job, which has been very hectic. So, I haven’t been able to do much with my quilting projects. I say that, but some of you will see my accomplishments as a lot. What has it been, three or four weeks since I last posted? At that time, I was working on wool felt ornaments for an Advent calendar. That project is still in progress, although moving along slowly. I’ve only finished two more ornaments. Several are put together and just need blanket stitching. Stores don’t seem to carry a selection of #8 perle cotton, so I finally had to order it online to get colors that I wanted. I was able to finish the key and the bell ornaments.

Wool Key Ornament

Wool Bell Ornament

I stitched together a couple of aprons, I cut out last Christmas. Trying to get ahead on gifts.

Vintage Apron pattern with rick rack trim

My applique heart quilt is in the final stages of completion. This is the first Applique Club project that I led our guild in two years ago. All the leaves have been added and now work is progressing on embroidering leaf stems and appliqueing cherries. Here is a peak at that progress.

Leaves & Cherries

Applique Heart Quilt border

My local quilt guild met the week before last, and I held the first Applique Club meeting for the 2013 guild year. Lots of new faces and some challenges in leading the group with the newest project. Songs of Spring by Lori Smith was chosen for the year’s project. I am finding this challenging, working with six-inch finished blocks, so I can only imagine how others are feeling when they are new to applique. I sure hope that I am able to lead these newbies along. The block is only partially finished.

Songs of Spring Block #1

I basted the Charm Squares Baby Quilt for my nephew and hope to spend some time today doing the quilting.

Charm Squares Baby Quilt

Baby quilt closeup

I am also designing two quilts; one for the The Modern Quilt Guild Riley Blake fabric challenge and the other for the American Quilt Study Group biennial quilt study. I have decided on a bargello style quilt for the MQG challenge, and a Rose of Sharon quilt from 1852 is my inspiration for my study quilt.

I also stitched the binding onto an exchange block quilt that my long-armer quilted back in March. I haven’t done much of the hand stitching, but it should be a fast finish, if I could find the time. My surgery put a lot of quilting on hold and now I am playing catch up. So, there you have it. Far too many WIPs, you may wonder how I remember what needs to be done. Lists. I make lots of “To Do” lists. I feel like I am accomplishing something when I can cross it off from my list.

Hopefully, it won’t be so long until I post again. And, hopefully, many of these WIPs will have progressed to being finished projects.

Happy Stitching!