Other Sewing Finishes

It was a special day today, hand sewing with the extraordinary Chintz Chicks.  I remembered to ask permission to share some of their projects.

This pair of purses is only one of Deanna's finished projects.

The pair of hexagon purses are from Brigitte Giblin - digital patterns found HERE.  Deanna modified the tops to work with readily available metal purse frames.  The top shape isn't exactly like the pattern.

Wonderful fussy cutting and flawless assembly!  The hexagons are hand pieced and the bag portion is hand stitched to the purse frame.

They look great with the toile print chair.
So far she hasn't used the purses.  She's enjoying them on her sewing room shelf.



Another great finish Deanna shared is this basket quilt made from 4" basket blocks.

Fun fabric combinations.

Started in a Jo Morton club several years ago a while back, it is now finished.  Sorry the pattern name and year details aren't currently available.

We admired her beautiful machine quilting.





The alternate blocks have delicate feathered wreaths.  Yes, that's right - feathered wreaths to fit in a 4" alternate block!  They are perfectly executed.

The quilt has not been washed.  I love it as is!  She is planning to wash and dry it to give it even more texture.

I should have taken notes - she used an invisible poly YLI thread for the wreaths.  The border stipple is stitched with cotton YLI.

The Honeybee quilt has a longer story I will share in detail in a future post.  Do you like it?

With permission of the owner of the antique top, our small group reproduced this queen size quilt.  We hand appliqued all 972 leaves, using a beautiful variety of reproduction fabrics.

The quilt will be auctioned at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum live auction in May.

It is a beautiful quilt!!
It was a day filled with inspiring projects.

BOM Blocks and Organizing

Grounds:  Banana Yellow, Blue Dot and Orange

I started another color way of Catherine's Garden BOM.

It found a Judy Rothermel blue dot on white ground.

I've enjoyed the variety working with all of the colors and fabrics.
You may have seen Karen's HERE.





I keep my blocks, finished and in process in a three ring binder.
Each acid free page saver (from office supply stores) holds a pattern and all three color ways of the blocks.

The binder easily tucks into my take along tote, ready for those found moments of stitching time.

In the front of the binder I added a three ring school pencil bag filled with bobbins of threads, travel scissors and needles.  I also have an acid free 4" x 6" snap close container with larger supplies I can pop in my purse if I think I will be basting more prep on a longer trip.

  Always good to be prepared!

The blocks easily store without wrinkles.
Supplies and the patterns are close at hand.

I chose a decorative binder so when it is closed on the coffee table at home it looks nice.  More like a photo album...







This is flower 5, for month four - in upcoming months we have multiple flowers and the borders.

If you have not already joined, you can HERE.  You can always count on the blocks being ready before the first of each month.  It is fun to see those of you who are ready for the new blocks early!  I know that feeling.

For European customers, you know from your invoice the digital tax is automatically added.  For the rest of the world - tax is included in the $3USD price.  So much configuration for a little home based business!!

I prefer back basting, and baste ahead as I prepare for car trips or plane travel.

I am able to baste sections of all the blocks.  Some found time is best used on straight runs like stems.  Other times I can do smaller pieces.


I baste with high contrast thread, so it's easy to see in all kinds of light.
Yes, I have had odd looks on flights, but mostly people are just curious.

I once sat by a man from Africa who was quite intrigued.  After some discussion he then showed me phone pictures on the embroidered bed coverings his sister and mother make.  Lovely hand work.

Have a great week, I hope you have some flowers in your stitching and/or garden!

Thank You, Bloomington Indiana

Thanks to generous reader Diane, I have a virtual tour of the American Quilt Study Groups 2014 Civil War Study Quilt Exhibit.

First, I big thank you to the organizations that are supporting this touring exhibit the next four years.  Their support enables this informative and beautiful exhibit to be seen around the country.

Main Street Bloomington Indiana

We enter beautiful downtown Bloomington, Indiana...driving down a wonderful American Main Street.

Diane tells me 40,000 college students fill the town during the school year.  The weekend of her visit was a basketball game so the town was filled with activity and excitement.

For those of you who may not know, America is a little crazy for basketball in March - March Madness.

Let's continue the tour...we need to find the exhibit host - Monroe County History Center.

Monroe County History Center

Here it is...
What a beautiful building.

Diane tells me the building used to be the Carnegie Library - just about every county seat in Indiana had a Carnegie Library.  Most have been converted into history museums.  You can read more about it HERE.




The exhibit is in the Rechter Gallery, where rotating displays are FREE to the public.
American Quilt Study Group Presents: Quilt Study of Civil War Era Quiltcan Quilt Study Group Presents: Quilt Study of Civil War Era Quilts
The purpose of the Quilt Study is for members to replicate, either exactly, or as an interpretation, a quilt of a particular style or period. In this way, members can learn from the textile the history, techniques, and perhaps something of the person who made the original. This year, the Quilt Study replicated 25 Civil War Era Quilts. Opens: February Closes: June 2015.

Exhibit Entrance and Sign

This is the entrance to the exhibit.
The sign explains the exhibit and the study AQSG Members undertook.

This is the gallery shot Diane sent.

The next best thing to being there!

It is impossible to get all 25 quilts in one photo.

Here is another angle.

The music stands hold the information card for each quilt not on a wall.

Besides each beautiful quilt, there is a wealth of information about quilts in the Civil War era on the important tags that travel with the quilts.

If you get a chance to see the quilts, I hope you go!  PLEASE tell the venue that you came to see the quilts.  We need to get the word out that  quilts related to antique quilts (as well as antique quilts) attract attendance!!

Diane also provided a shot of my little flag quilt.

You can read more about it HERE, and see my inspiration quilt.

My quilt is hand pieced and hand quilted, and includes the 19th C. setting and construction.

I hope you enjoyed the virtual tour.

I am so appreciative to Diane who made this post possible!

Have a great weekend,

Dawn

DAR - Eye On Elegance Quilt Exhibit

Tree of Life 1820-1839 Detail

Eye On Elegance Early Quilts of Maryland and Virginia
"In Eye on Elegance, the DAR Museum uses its extraordinarily rich holdings of Maryland and Virginia quilts to examine regional styles prior to 1860."

An extraordinary opportunity to see early quilts, most with known makers.  On display October 3, 2014 through September 5, 2015.  Read more about the DAR Museum HERE.

Young coed from Georgetown enjoying the exhibit

There is an exhibition catalog is a hard cover book that includes quilts not in the exhibit.  At 180 pages, it is a wonderful compliment to the exhibit.  Filled with informative research about the textiles, makers and quilt details.  

You can order a copy HERE through the museum shop.  They also have a full selection of related gift items - cards, magnets etc. if you want to add a few items to your order.     

104.5" x 120" finished quilt size

It is always interesting to see the detail in the quilts.  It was not crowded, so quality time with each quilt was easy!

This block is from the Waring/Arnold family.

17" Blocks, dated 1851

Beautiful embroidery and stuffed work.

Details on pg. 143 of the companion book.

Part of the exhibit gallery

The exhibit is arranged into four sections:  Applique, Albums, Pieced and Migration.

The exhibit space is filled with signage for each quilt.  In between the quilts are complimentary displays including sewing tools and fabric printing techniques.

Album block detail

More block detail.

This Baltimore album block is from circa 1850, unknown maker.

18" Square

It includes stuffed work, inking, and wonderful embroidery in a variety of stitches.

(Better photos in the book)

Hand work detail

The hand quilting was so inspiring to see close up. This example is noted as 15-16 stitches per inch.

Aren't the details important?

Made for Mary Mannakee Nichols (1827-1916)

17" Blocks, dated 1851

Sandy Spring, Montgomery County MD.

The pattern for this quilt is available in the DAR gift shop.

Fish Motif hand quilted

Detail from the Pieced Star Quilt dated 1853

Made by Mary Maccubbin Waters Waters (1817-1864)

Hand quilted at 15-17 stitches per inch

Fabulous block and roller-printed (solid too) cottons.  Blue Fondu sashing print.  

More information on the maker and her family is in the book.

Embroidered appliqued stuffed flower buds

The embroidered details add so much to the designs.

I think these flower buds are exquisite.

Baltimore Album Quilt about 1848

Made for Betsy Hobbs Harper (b. ca. 1810)

16" Blocks

Hand quilted 12-16 stitches per inch

Inked detail

The inking on the quilt is beautiful.  It is unusual for the center of a medallion to have such a large detailed ink design.  This photo is only one small section of the central design.  The book has several pages dedicated to this quilt.

Made by Mary Rooker Norris (1785-1868)

Williamsport, Washington County MD

104" x 102.5"

Hand quilted at 9 stitches per inch

Reverse Applique Detail

Reverse applique from one of the Catherine Markey Garnhart basket quilts.   This one is dated 1849.

Note the slight shadow of green showing through the ground fabric.

The book explains in detail the connection this quilt has to others from the same maker in the exhibit.  There is also a connection to the Eagle quilt shown HERE.

Hand Quilting Detail

Last, but certainly not least, I leave you with another detail of hand quilting from the quilt made for Mary Mannakee.Beautiful applique, embroidery, and hand quilting.

I hope you can make it to the exhibit and if not consider adding the exhibit book to your personal library.

Have a great week,

Dawn

March Blocks and Flag Travels

2015 BOM Blocks Catherine's Garden

It always makes me smile when you find the BOM blocks before I get the blog post written.  You know you can count on the blocks being there a bit before the first of each month.  Thank you!  Click HERE.

This is a picture before I selected my ground fabric.  A little auditioning of green grass options.

This isn't the final setting, but it could be if you wanted to!

My set on orange ground is coming along.  I also found the blue dot I wanted for an additional set. Will Share those next month.

Civil War Star - Collection of Jeananne Wright

The AQSG Civil War Study quilts have started their travels.  Click HERE to see each quilt with entry statements.

This is an outstanding group of quilts, enjoy every minute of your browse through all of the entries.

Star from the inspiration quilt I was so graciously granted written permission to interpret.


Have a great week!!
Dawn