Quilt Along and Giveaway

 A fun Quilt Along is starting at Christa's blog :-)

I'm still stitching church window pieces together...only 4 more rows till that part is done. I took a short detour and started a wool wall hanging. Pictures to follow :-)
And soon...I'm going to share copies of Jennifer Chiaverini books and some sweet pins she designed to celebrate them.
Stay tuned :-)

 

Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker

 Jennifer Chiaverini has written another book close to the heart of many quilters. This story illuminates history during the Civil War era and brings to life what individuals at that time experienced.
Elizabeth Keckley is the dressmaker that centers in the stories told here as her sewing skills and artistry are woven into the lives of prominent and political households in Washington City. Her story is interesting and moving.
Along with a copy of the book for me to read came a written copy of an interview that Jennifer shared with questions and answers about the new book. I enjoyed one question in particular of how she came to research and write Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker.

Question: Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker chronicles the friendship between First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln and Elizabeth Keckley, who was born a slave and earned her freedom through her skill with a needle. What brought this story to your attention, and how did it inspire your first stand-alone historical novel?
Jennifer's answer: "More than a decade ago, I was researching antebellum and Civil War era quilts for my fourth novel when I discovered a photograph of an antique masterpiece. Arranged in the medallion style, with appliqued eagles, embroidered flowers, meticulously-pieced hexagons, and deep red fringe, the quilt was the work of a gifted needleworker, its striking beauty unmarred by the shattered silk and broken threads that gave evidence to its age. The caption noted that the quilt had been sewn from the scraps of Mary Todd Lincoln's gowns by her dressmaker and confidante, a former slave named Elizabeth Keckley. I marveled at the compelling story those brief lines suggested-a courageous woman's rise from slavery to freedom, an improbable friendship that ignored the era's sharp distinctions of class and race, the confidences sharted between a loyal dressmaker and a controversial, divisive First Lady. What I would give, I thought, to have been present as Elizabeth Keckley measured Mary Lincoln for a new gown, to overhear their conversations on topics significant and ordinary, to observe the Lincoln White House from such an intimate perspective. From that moment, my interest in their remarkable friendship was captivated, and it never really waned."

These words from Jennifer really got my attention as I see in the book evidence of so much research as well as creativity bringing this time and its people to life in such a full and interesting style. I am really enjoying reading and learning and highly recommend reading it!



quilts by other quilters

I'm enjoying a couple of quilts made by other quilters in my home.  This first one was gifted to me at Christmas by Mary at Quilt Hollow. I love the fabrics and sweet quilting on this little quilt that I'm using as a table topper. Thank you again, Mary!  I hope your move is progressing without too much chaos :-)

This next quilt came as a purchase from Cheryl Wall of Country Quilts who was doing some spring cleaning.

The smile on the crow cracked me up and I couldn't help but want to hang it up where I could see it all the time. This wall hanging is a big 54" affair and so displaying it will take a little thought and effort but I have the perfect place for it in mind. The homespuns and flannel suit me and this just all puts a smile on my face.
Hope you are finding some happy things to enjoy too! 
For quilting progress...I have sewn three rows of country windows together and cut out another pack of charms. Today, I'm marking them and machine piecing them into more rows.  I think I may need about 20 rows...we shall see.


 

country windows start

I love the look of scrappy one piece blocks like large hexagons or small tumbler blocks and this country windows block.

 

I purchased a template from Country Threads and charm packs of beautiful Kansas Trouble fabric from my favorite LQS, Quilter's Cupboard in Atascadero, CA.  And I'm off like a hurd of turtles  :-)

 

It's a slow process. Cutting the template pieces and marking the seam lines...important because the charm pieces are not equal and some of the seams are scant. I've also had to purchase white chalk refills for my Bohin mechanical pencil because using them in the small lines of the template seem to be pretty hard on them.  I can use a regular lead mechanical pencil for the light fabrics but the dark need the white.

Then I'm machine piecing them together into rows...then will hand piece the rows together.  All for a table cloth quilt.

This will take awhile but I sure love the look of these all together and it's a perfect project to do in some stolen moments.

 

 

popping up

Well, it's almost Groundhog Day so I'm popping my head up finally with a little progress to share. Mom is doing great and getting around pretty well though stuck with a walker from now on. So just a little time for sewing here.

For a Christmas gift, I used a tumbler template from Carrie at Rosie Quilts to make a small table runner.  Didn't get a picture of it completed but here it is as a flimsy. I think I would put the tumblers together top to top next time.

After getting all things Christmas ready to go, I was so relieved that I whipped out a little quilt of leftovers from the Bunnies by the Bay line for a quilt to send to Blankie Depot for someone affected by Hurricane Sandy.
It took till this past week to finally get it quilted and bound but finally it is packed up ready to send.

I quilted allover freehand feathers. My first time to attempt that and it didn't turn out awful :-)  I thought it would be too dense with quilting but the feathers were big enough to avoid that. I think I started out to do a rail fence but forgot about the correct color placement.  Looks more like basket weave...so that's what I called it...Basket Weave Bunnies.
A neighbor decided to send along a quilt with mine. She pieced this top and then another friend longarmed it with fun freehand flowers.

I love the purples and greens!
Only a bit more time here to share...  I'm reading a good new book from Jennifer Chiaverini that I will review here soon. Mrs.Lincoln's Dressmaker
I am really enjoying reading it. I enjoying reading American history and Jennifer really brings it to life. 


 

quick post

Not much time for sewing around here as my mom fell again about a month ago and broke her hip....almost to the day of when she fell and broke her wrist last year. She is 90 years old but is amazing in her determination to recover and be strong again. God has protected her through complications and she will be out gardening again...with some help.

I stitched little wool snowman ornaments while sitting with her in the hospital and rehab. The pattern is free from All People Quilt. Then I stitched up some quick mug rugs when siblings came to help with her at home. The mug rugs are patterns from Quilt Doodle.
Helping Mom will keep me busy from here on out but hopefully there will still be time to sew a bit....so I stay pleasant :-)
Hope to get some of these in the mail today.
Merry Christmas to you all. I hope this season you are filled with God's love and peace.  

 

Sunday sewing

for victims of Hurricane Sandy. Erin in Virginia came up with an idea to make quilts for those that have lost homes, belongings and even loved ones in the storm that took so much from the east coast this past week. Visit her site, My Patchwork Life to read about her plans. I'm joining in with the making of disappearing 4 patch blocks and this is what I've done this afternoon using some fat quarters I won in a recent giveaway.

Thanks for a great idea, Erin. Sending money helps but this also feels like comfort sewing and hopefully will comfort a family on the other side of the country from me.