CCCQ #11

Last night I was prepping the next CCCQ block and instead of beginning to stitch on it, I folded it over to put away until another day and discovered that I had carefully measured to center all the pieces and pinned them all to the wrong side of the background. Glad I did not use glue this time.

Not sure how I could have made such an error.
On the left is the print side of the fabric and on the right is the backside.

Blessings,
Chris

Antique Quilt Block

I am sitting here prepping some applique blocks and got to thinking about how I ended up finding the antique princess feather block in Millersburg Ohio in Nov 2011.

Well, it all started when my husband told me that the American Guernsey convention was going to be in Lancaster Pennsylvania in 2010. Says I, "Hey, that's serious quilting country. Take me with you."
So we went and I got to visit some really nice quilt shops and that is where I found the place that sold 15 yard bundles at $2.50 per yard so I bought several. One of them is the background I am using for the CCCQ . It was there that I met Betsy who, when she saw me take out some applique to stitch on after one of several awards dinners, told me she found some old quilts in a blanket box a few years ago when they were doing renovations on their really old farm house. I replied that I would love to see them some day. So, the following year, my husband reminded me about the blanket box find and so I started brainstorming with my Q@F friends an idea to go to the north west corner of Pennsylvania to visit Betsy and see her quilts and as I was looking on the google maps I realized that she lived only 2 hours from Holmes County Ohio. Now I had been to Holmes County a couple of times before and visited some of the quilt shops and thought it  might be fun to visit there again with my friends so we made plans to drive out mid July. In the meantime, my husband had consigned a very special cow to the AGA Convention sale that summer and at the last minute asked me to fly out and meet him in St Louis. I was in the middle of back-to-back summer courses on my masters and, being a good, submissive wife, I skipped part of the last class and flew out to join him, all the while reading a 750 page textbook with more foot notes than text and a 129 page introduction. And it was in the parking lot between the hotel and the banquet hall that I met Amanda Sue, an Amish woman who owned some Guernsey cows, who told me she lives in Millersburg Ohio. Says I, " I am going there next month," so she gave me their business card and invited me to visit her and her husband. The next day, at the cattle sale, I was sitting in the nice air conditioned rental car reading my textbook when Amanda Sue knocked on the window and asked of she could join me. I explained what I was reading and why and she asked me, "If I read that book, would I understand my Bible better?"

Pause . . . for air . . .

"No." I responded. "You would only get more confused because it is a very technical book with lots of Greek that I do not understand and had to read it for marks for the course I was taking and had to complete by the end of the week." I still had 5 papers to write in the next 2 weeks and my husband had blessed me by getting someone else to milk cows every morning so I would have more time to do my school work.
Says he, "I think it might be a good idea for you to take Amanda Sue a Bible when you and your friends drive out there next month." So I got a modern translation Woman's Study Bible and planned to look up Amanda Sue after I completed all 5 papers and my Q@F friends and I drove out to Holmes County and tried to find Amanda Sue but I had left the business card at home and did not remember how to spell her last name. So we drove into Millersburg and stopped in an antique store and asked for help, but were not successful and we gave up looking since we could not find them in the phone book because they did not have a phone because they are Amish and it was raining the next day so we went shopping.
Three months later, I had a Wed class cancelled and packed an overnight bag, 11 commentaries, my laptop, my GPS and Amanda Sue's business card and headed out to Ohio to do a 10 stop quilt shop hop that just happened to be in Holmes County that week. Now, I may not be the sharpest pencil in the box, but it took me until then to realize that I was no longer getting up before 5 every morning to milk cows because I was retired and my husband tells people that he had to hire 6 people to replace me in the barn.
I found Amanda Sue at her beautiful old farm house and had a wonderful visit with her and asked her husband permission to give her the new Bible. They were both delighted, since most of us have difficulty reading a King James Bible. 

And that is how I ended up finding this old quilt block in an antique store in Millersburg Ohio in Nov 2011. (You can read more about it here.)
Blessings,
Chris

CCCQ #15

Its Wednesday and this is what I am doing. I have been working on this block for a while. This is the 3rd attempt at that top left leaf. The first time I got this far before realizing that I had cut in too deeply between the first 2 leaves. I got this far again when I saw that I had positioned the leaf 1/2 inch too close to the center. Now I am this far again and think I might go the distance this time.

I got invited to participate in my very first ever block swap. We are going looking forward to block #16 coming out in a few days. I think it would be fun to do other block swaps. Anyone else out there interested?
Blessings,
Chris

Planting bulbs

It's Nov 26 and a good time to plant spring bulbs. Not sure what the hurry is other than the storm in the Mid West is arriving here in Ontario this evening and planning to dump a lot of snow in the next couple days. Last year I planted them the end of October just before leaving for India for 3 weeks. It was still nice then but I had to pot up and bring in the 25 geraniums that I have been over wintering for years. This year the geraniums were potted up 4 weeks ago. I recall one year planting the bulbs in bare feet and wearing shorts on Jan 4 and then the  -20C cold arrived a few days later. Winter does not arrive as early as it used to. but it certainly does get cold eventually.

Blessings,

Chris

Welcome to my blog

I am a new blogger and still trying to figure things out. I have been blogging since Sept and have found it quite exciting so far . . . almost as exciting as starting a new quilt . . .

The first time I ever heard the word quilt was when I was a teen. The first time I ever saw a real quilt was in college way back in 1970-71 where I was studying home economics at Kemptville College of Agricultural Technology in preparation for real life. One of my class mates, Sheila Gorman, had appliqued a Colonial Girls quilt top and submitted it for one of our classes. I had knitted a scarf for the very first time. I was rather proud of myself for finally learning how to knit. But the quilt . . . this intrigued me. I found this quilt in St Jacob's  a few years ago. It has found a home on the ancient brass bed in my Blue Room in my 1840's farmhouse.

I bought my very first quilt book 3 years later. I think I learned the most from this one book. It certainly got me dreaming about making sampler quilts with a theme, like Bible Blocks or Rose of Sharon variations. Problem was, all the blocks were in different sizes and I did not know how to figure them out. Life came along and many years later I discovered that this very same book inspired Rosemary Makhan to design and make themed sampler quilts she is so famous for. I took a couple of courses with her and fell in love with drafting my own blocks. Originally I drew out layouts on the backs of envelopes and then graph paper. Now EQ7 is one of my favourite places to play.   http://quiltsbyrosemary.blogspot.ca/

 This book also introduced me to collecting old quilts. One of my favourites is the Double Wedding Ring. I had planned for years to make my own and started collecting hundreds of 1930's reproduction prints in preparation for the day when I would finally get around to starting it. Well, before I ever got started I found this hand pieced quilt top in an antique store in Millersburg Ohio. The tag attached says it came from an estate sale in Virginia. It hangs out on the former king size waterbed in the White Room until a guest comes along. Not sure if I will ever get around to quilting it. If I do, someone might sleep under it.

Blessings,

Chris

Confessions of an ADHD Quiltaholic

17 reasons that I suspect I may possibly be a bit ADHD

A few weeks ago I was told to look up the attributes of adult ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. As I read, I couldn't help but see myself in the articles and the realization that I was not alone. This helped me to  better understand why I do some of the things that I do and why I do not do some of the things that I do not do. And because I have chosen quilting to be the the thing that I am most obsessive about, I see the attention deficit and the hyperactivity played out in  my quilt room. Okay, it is evident in other areas of  my life, but this blog post is about quilting.

Here are 17 reasons to suggest that this quilter just might be a bit ADHD. Why 17? No particular reason, except that I think it is a great prime number. There are lots more symptoms on the list but this is not a psychological research paper, although the more I study counseling the  more I am convinced that quilting should be on the official counseling theories list.

1. Creative.
Quilters are extremely creative. Just think about the beautiful works of art and bed covers quilters have created with needle and thread on fabric over the last 200-300 years. Those who are right brain functioning, the ones who do not follow the rules, who colour outside the lines using the rainbow for a colour pallet, they are the ones who create new designs and patterns. Those of us who are more left brain, follow the rules the quilt police have established. I like sampler quilts with neat rows and columns, balance and symmetry and I am colour challenged when it comes to choosing colours for a new project.

2. Impulsive.
Quilters love to start new projects. We sign up for classes to make the newest patterns and learn the newest techniques and buy the newest gadgets and the newest collections of fabric. I start new projects with great energy and excitement to the exclusion of all else. I love to have several projects on the go. As a left brained colour challenged quilter, I have difficulty deciding which colours to pull together, so I love fat quarter bundles. I buy lots, especially when they are on sale. I have a project in mind for every collection I have purchased. Not sure how much I need for a background? Buy the whole bolt. Most shops give a discount if you finish the bolt.

3. Disorganized.
All that fabric I buy has to be put somewhere. I once had a quilt teacher who cataloged every piece of fabric she bought in several notes book listing how much yardage she had, where she bought it and how much she paid for it. Mostly I just quickly stash the bags in the closet, under the table, or in the laundry awaiting preshrinking. Not  everyone has a room designated specifically for quilting like me, except that I have two rooms and a hall closet. I used to set up my machine on the kitchen table in days gone by, but we did have to eat everyday, somewhere. 

4.  Forgetful.
Because I am somewhat disorganized, I misplace many gadgets or cannot remember where they are, so I buy more. I do not remember what is in my stash so I buy more. When I have had to de-clutter and organize my work space, I put projects into neat boxes, labeled, with all the fabric and patterns needed to complete the quilt. I have come to realize that if I cannot see it . . . it does not exist . . . therefore . . . it is easy to forget how many (37 . . . no wait . . . I started 2 new ones last month) un-finished quilts I have and start a new one with great energy and excitement. Therefore, in order to not forget, I have a notebook that lists every quilt I have ever started, when I started it, when I completed it and who I gave it to. Just so I do not forget, I often pull it out and review or re-write the list and then get overwhelmed at how many unfinished quilts I have, so I write a list of  which quilts I am going to finish in the coming year, one per month seems like a reasonable goal.

5. Easily distracted.
I often have an inability to focus and stay attentive.

6. Obsessive.
I tend to focus on one thing and forget about everything else. I see cute cartoony pictures on facebook that make fun of our quilting obsessions and yet, it really is not funny when I add them all the up and realize how many describe me and my behaviours. I scored 20 on the ADHD-I list.

7.  Extreme mental activity.
There are so many nights I lay awake drafting a pattern, systematically organizing how I will approach teaching how to make the blocks or how I would re-orgaanize my bookshelves and quilting room and then replay the same scenario over and over. I would sit for hours at a time looking at the Dear Jane quilt on my design wall and how I would approach some of the blocks on my next bright coloured one. Sometimes I think I spend more time thinking about the process than it would actually take to do it.

8.  Substance abuse.
Pretty much anything with sugar in it . . . and chocolate . . . or buying more books . . . or fabric . . . or gadgets . . .

9. Inability to complete projects.
It's not that I do not complete quilts, but rather that I take on some of the more challenging projects like Dear Jane. I impulsively invited several friends to join me in the journey of making this quilt four years ago and it is purely coincidental that I impulsively started a masters in theological studies at the same time, went to India four times that year and attended my son's wedding, on time, all the while milking cows every day and then started my first Baltimore quilt. I did graduate last year and impulsively started a doctor of Christian counseling program, but only after retiring from milking. Sometimes I forget all that I have on the go and dream of starting a new quilt.

10.  Procrastination.
I have come to realize that in my fear of failure, of not doing it good enough, of possibly being criticized for less than perfection, I avoid the pain of thinking about the pain that is involved with trying to do too much at the last minute and wait until the last minute and then do the thing poorly in a hurry and then criticize myself for doing such a poor job of something that I know I am good at. So . . . I procrastinate . . . I started this post  2 months ago and kept putting off completing it. Also, I cannot function in the clutter . . . but am too disorganized to know how to bring order to that clutter. . .  so I will go and read blogs or play games and avoid doing anything useful or, plan to start a new quilt.

11.  Anxiety issues.
This kind of mentality is a great environment for anxiety issues and has led me to depression. I could avoid a lot of stress if I learned how to pace myself and actually followed the detailed, colour coded to do lists I write for myself.

12. Verbal hyperactivity.
I have been told that I do not have ADHD because I do not physically bounce off the walls in hyper activity.
I can go off on verbal tangents as I engage in hyperactive dialogue, or rather monologue. I have come to realize that I love an audience of one. But then, sometimes I am the only one talking . . . about my favourite topic . . . me . . . and what I am doing.

13.  Low self esteem.

14.  Financial stress.
My husband seldom ever looks at the Visa statement, but one day recently he asked what did this mean? paypalpaypalpaypalpaypal? for  . . . what is this? $900? I pay off the credit card every month, pay no interest and travel the world with the airmiles our farm business collects. I am not stressed financially, but I sure could be the way I spend money on fabric and books, forgetting what I bought the day before. And, I love sales and freebies. My downloads file is filled with hundreds of free patterns.

15. Sleep disorders.
Extreme mental activity, anxiety issues, substance abuse . . . it isn't any wonder that I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea.

16. Poor time management.
Quilters with ADHD tend to be goal oriented and tend to create such unrealistic goals and lists that we cannot follow them through, so we start a new quilt . . . because . . . it is exciting.

17. Creative.
Quilters are extremely creative. Just think about the beautiful works of art and bed covers quilters have created with needle and thread on fabric over the last 200-300 years. Those who are right brain functioning, the ones who do not follow the rules, who colour outside the lines using the rainbow for a colour pallet, they are the ones who create new designs and patterns. Those of us who are more left brain, follow the rules the quilt police have established. We like sampler quilts with neat rows and columns, balance and symmetry and are colour challenged when it comes to choosing colours for a new project. Some quilters start and complete one project at a time. Not me. I love the energy and the adrenalin rush of starting yet another new quilt project.

Bless your heart,
Chris

CCCQ #10

This was a fun block to stitch up. I prepped it with freezer paper ironed to the wrong side of red fabric from the Dear Jane 2 collection. I tried something a bit different and did not like it so will not do it again. For years I have done applique by gluing under the seam allowances and more recently started needle turning over the freezer paper with out gluing first. However, turning those wretched, tiny inside curves has been challenging me on this project. I have done a gzillion melons on my Civil War Dear Jane quilt, but they are mostly outside curves and points. I found it difficult to continue turning under where I came to the part that was glued and could not turn under a smooth curve. This might sound like babbling but I understand it.

I have been thinking about what I might write into the centers of each of the 31 blocks that will eventually make up this quilt. This block of the month is the Chester County Criswell Quilt that was originally made as a wedding quilt in 1852 from http://www.twobitspatches.com/ . Each of the family members that stitched up original designs signed their names in the centers. I might write some of my family members names. Just a thought. One advantage of doing straight up needle turn is I do not have to go back and remove the papers from inside.
Blessings,
Chris 

Canadian Blogathon

Today is the first day of the Canadian Blogathon and the first time I am participating. I am a new blogger and still trying to figure things out. I plan to visit as many blogs as I can this week. I have thought about doing a giveaway, except not sure how that works other than writing out everyone's name and pulling one out of a hat.
I have been working on my first Dear Jane quilt for 4 years now. The center 169 blocks are all completed and I think the rows are all joined together.




This whole bunch of fabrics is patiently waiting in a box ready to make DJ2 as soon as the first is completed. I am hoping to find a few other quilters who want to take the journey with me.

Blessings,
Chris

CCCQ # 9 again

It is Monday and I am working on some CCCQ blocks as I babysit my youngest granddaughter -oh joy oh bliss.
I stitched up the first edition of this block while visiting family in Poland last month and gave it to my 88 year old aunt who helped me stitch it. I took several prepped blocks with me while visiting my daughter in New Brunswick last week.
I like to keep my hands busy and applique is much more satisfying then chewing off all my nails.
Blessings,
Chris

My Mommy

It is Remembrance Day here in Canada. Every year on November 11 we remember those who died in war and those who survived fighting for the freedom that we enjoy as a way of life. I have not always honoured this special day, however, since visiting  my mother's place of birth last month, l have a new appreciation and awe of the heroic woman I called Mom. 

My Mother was 13 years old in Sept 1939 when the Germans began occupying Poland. She dropped out of school and spent the next 5 years living in the midst of all the atrocities committed against the Polish people, especially the 350,000 Jews  most of whom were put to death for no other reason than they were Jewish. As I was driven through what used to be the Jewish Getto in wartime Warsaw  last month, I could not help but recall the scenes from the movie "Shindler's List" that was made in black and white to use actual film footage of the time.

When my sister and I met relatives in Poland for the very first time last month, we were taken to the Museum of the Warsaw Rising 1944 where we made a very emotional journey through each of the 63 days that the citizens of Warsaw rose up and defied the German armies. I spent 3 hours looking for her face in the many photos and film clips. Most of the insurgents as they were called died and the city of Warsaw was destroyed and burned.  http://vimeo.com/16582392 

My 18 year old mother was among the 1000 who survived and among the thousands of Poles who spent the rest of the war in prison camps. An actual footage movie will be coming out next year to commemorate the 70th anniversary.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2397873/Warsaw-Uprising-colour-Black-white-photos-turned-incredible-feature-movie.html

She met my soldier father when  he was taking food to her refugee camp. You see, he was a butcher and had served as a cook in the army. He made the most phenomenal Polish sausage and bigos. They were married soon after and were given the opportunity to to move to any commonwealth county of their choice. They chose Canada.

My 20 year old mother was 7 months pregnant, with a toddler in tow, when she arrived at  Pier 21 in  Halifax where all those who immigrated to Canada first made port. My parents bought a small farm near Brantford Ontario. Five more babies arrived in the years to come. My mother never returned to her place of birth. She died at age 73.

I have chosen to honour my mother's memory each year at this remembrance time. She is more a hero to me now than ever before. I wish she was alive today so I could hug her and tell her how much I love her.

Blessings,
Chris

CCCQ #15

Its Wednesday and this is the block I am working on today.
This is block #15 of the Chester County Criswell Quilt originally made by family members as a wedding quilt in 1852. Part of the charm is that it was made 100 years before I was born and my father's name was Chester.
I am enjoying doing the hand applique. For this block I cut the oak leaf shape out of freezer paper,  ironed it onto a piece of civil war red fabric and traced around it with a fixion pen. This pen marking is supposed to disappear when heated. We shall see.

I am cutting away the extra fabric around the seam allowance until it is time to change direction.
I use a #10 milliner's or straw needle to turn under the seam allowance, press it with my thumb and take 2-3 tiny stitches then repeat. I am getting the outy curves turned under nicely, however, the small inside curves are challenging my skills at this point. As Brenda Palidakis of dearjane.com states: "What we do most we do best".

Blessings,
Chris

CCCQ #7

I had prepped this block a month ago and stitched it up yesterday during Q@F and later while avoiding doing any real work.
I am packing my bags to go visit my daughter for a couple of weeks. I have 3 blocks, net book, journal, oh yes, and 2 textbooks to do some schoolwork. For some reason I get more homework done there. Might have something to do with being away from my quilt room.

It is my granddaughter's 6th birthday this week so what better gift than a tea cup from Poland.

The 5 fat quarters here are the colours for the Trend-Tex Challenge  for Quilt Canada 2014. The theme this year is Modern Ways. I love the idea  of the challenge, but original creativity is not my cup of tea.

Blessings,
Chris

Antique Block

This is a 30" hand appliqued block I picked up in an antique store in Ohio 2 years ago. I paid about $20 for it. The  note attached to it reads:

Oak Leaf

Made by Mary Kimball 

Clarendon Vt.

1860-1880

My sources identify this block as a Princess Feather. Whatever name it is given, it is a remarkable work of art. The stitching is done with white thread at 14-15 stitches (not counting gaps) stitches to the inch.
She used a tiny whip stitch that is very hard to see. The fabric is finer than the cottons we use today and the thread looks finer than what we use today. This may account for the finer stitching. The seam allowance is turned under at a scant 3/8 of an inch or less in some places. And, yes, she did make tiny cuts in the inside curves to turn a very, very smooth curve. Where the 8 stems all come together in the center, she pieced the points together before appliqueing the whole thing to the ground. There are no ripples, no pleats, no tucks. This was done by a truly gifted needlewoman. I can only aspire to such needlework.

Blessings,
Chris