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

CCCQ #13

I completed block #13.
I prepped blocks 1 & 9 again this time using the same format I did for this block. I like how with the needle turn technique, I can turn under enough seam allowance between those narrow leaves and then not have to remove any freezer paper or deal with any glue. I have been using glue and freezer paper for applique for about 20 years. I am flying out to New Brunswick to visit my daughter next week  and I like the simple one piece block where I do not have to do any thinking for a take along project.

Blessings,
Chris

CCCQ #4

 I joined the Chester County Criswell Quilt Block of the Month at the beginning of year 2  which put me a whole 12 blocks behind, so, I figured that I could make 1 1/2 blocks per month and still finish when the final block is revealed somewhere around July 2015. Yeah, right. This month I completed block #9 and gave it away to my 88 year old aunt who helped me stitch on it. I had #1 partly stitched up and gave it to an artistic cousin  in Poland who got really excited about it. I am still working on the squigglies on block #13. AND, I have completed block #4.

Those little reverse appliqued  squigglies have really challenged me. I ironed freezer paper to the back of the block and basted it to the background. I then needle turned the edges under using a #10 milliners needle. I like the longer needle for turning under as it is easier for these arthritic fingers to manipulate successfully. However, the seam allowances were a bit too scant and it was challenging to turn under enough fabric without raw edges peeking out. Also, the freezer paper was not sticking therefore some of them were moving.

I took 7 threaded needles to Poland with me and came home with 2. One I gave to my cousin along with the spool of matching thread. I am sure the others will show up somewhere.

Blessings,
Chris

Visit to Poland

I traveled to Poland 2 weeks ago to meet my father's younger sister and her family for the very first time ever. We made a connection through facebook back in March after one of  my brothers posted a wedding picture of our parents looking for family.
Czeslaw and Halina met in 1945 after WWII and were married Feb 9, 1946 and moved to Canada in 1948.
His sister Albina was only 10 when he left home in 1935 and she saw him for 1 day when he returned to Poland only once in 1966 to see his mother who died a few months later. Halina died at age 73 in 1999 and Czeslaw in 2001 at age 81.
Halina never returned to the land of her birth.

So,  my 88 year old Aunt Albina is a real fire cracker. I pulled out my CCCQ blocks the first morning and she asked me to show her what I was doing . . . perhaps another quilting convert. When asked why I did this stitching thing, I replied that I liked to keep my  hands busy . . . an alternative to chewing off all my nails.
She stitched on this block for a while then commented her glasses weren't very good then stitched some more and again commented about her glasses. She stitched from left to right and I stitch from right to left.

Anyway, by the end of the week I finished the thing, removed the freezer paper to her wonder and amazement and then gave it to her as a gift. Not sure what she will eventually do with it, but it pleased her to receive it.
When I asked if I could go shopping to a fabric store, I was first taken to a store selling curtain materials, then to another selling upholstery material and finally to a tailor shop. I'm not sure quilting is a well known craft in Warsaw at this point, at least in my family there.

Blessings,
Chris

New Quilt Progress

I have been out of the country for 2 weeks and had prepared the following post before I left. 

However, I was not allowed in to my blog from a foreign internet provider.

So, now I am home and plan to catch up on a few things quilty. 

This is the progress so far on my new quilt. 

I started it Oct 1, 2013 by drafting a quick outline to get the dimensions.

This will be the border of the 35" on point center medallion. 

I used the Go cutter and those squares finish 3".

My excitement for this project will have to be quelled for a couple of weeks. 

I can wait.  

Blessings,
Chris

CCCQ Perspective

 I have most of this block done except for the 8 squigglies that go around the center.
This block will finish at 24" square and is the largest single block I have appliqued and have learned a few things.

• The angle at which you take the picture can make all the difference in how it looks when posted.
• Centering the pattern on a print is a good idea.
• Centering the pattern on an uneven print is not always easy to do.

 

• It is a good idea to be careful when outlining the center of the pattern as it will show every mistake when stitched.
• It is difficult to see a blue Frixion pen marking on a red and gold print especially when you forget to mark part of it.
• It is easy to make mistakes when reverse appliqueing a center when you cannot see the markings clearly.
• I will redo the lower left corner of the center because that is the only thing I can see on this block for now.

Otherwise, I am really quite happy with the whole thing. I am off to Poland tomorrow to meet with relatives for the very first time ever and will be gone for 2 weeks. I have prepped several blocks to take with me to work on. These ones have freezer paper ironed onto the back. I glued under some of the seam allowances and will needle turn other parts.

 When I get back from Poland, I will be going to the Quilt Farm www.quiltfarm.net for a retreat I had organized last winter. Cannot miss the opportunity to be locked away in a quilt shop for a whole weekend with my bestest quilting friends. I will be working on Dear Jane corner kites.

Blessings,
Chris

Oct 1, 2013 New Quilt Project

Its Oct 1, 2013 and a very good day to begin a new quilt project. I have SSSSSOOOOO many fabrics left over from my Dear Jane  quilt that I am planning to use them to make my very first ever reproduction quilt that I am drafting from a colour picture of a quilt that was started  . . .  now wait for it . . .
Oct 1, 1813.
Can you tell I am a history buff?
                            and a bit left brained.
I really like doing the drafting and figuring out how a quilt goes together. Copyright forbids me taking a photo and posting it so we shall see how this unfolds in the coming weeks.

These are the first ones that will go through the Go cutter and YES, I bought the whole bolt of the background fabric several years ago in preparation for a Baltimore quilt that is UFO # 32 but who is counting? It is another one that looks aged and stained. With my track record in doing laundry, I probably could take some unbleached  muslin out to the barn and wrap a cow in it for a few days then wash it and it just might be the right colour.

 Blessings,
Chris