Humble Quilts - String a Long

It isn’t often I post twice in one day, but I completely forgot about my Humble Quilts String blocks update. I have made some progress this summer. I am making this one in the potholder method.

I know – nothing new there – but I am experimenting with this one by making it entirely on the machine. Not easy in the hot summer months, but I have had a few cool mornings to get some blocks stitched together. 

Not sure I will ever do another completely on machine again. One of the things I like about the potholder method is the hand work. I did enjoy piecing these guys. I used a strip of orphan pieces in the center of each one.

My friend Meliss gave me a bunch of half square blocks which helped the cause nicely. I might even get this one done this year! Check out Lori's blog (here) to see how everyone else is doing on their string flings!

August mini quilt

I won’t mention how fast summer flew by because I think we have all felt the same way. Instead I will impart my funny story about this month’s mini quilt.

At our state show back in July, Laurie LaBar (Chief Curator of History and Decorative Arts – Maine StateMuseum) curated a fabulous exhibit of Maine quilts from the museum. Laurie has been working diligently on an upcoming book on Maine Quilts and we (along with friend Sue Rivers) spent some time chatting about it. One of the things she mentioned was that she didn’t think there would be room for any patterns in the book. Sue and I looked at each other and said, “Well, we have no problem with that but… you might sell more copies if you had just one pattern”.

We gazed around the room and almost at the same moment pointed at the beautiful c1830 Puss in the Corner quilt and said “perfect”.

Simple, yet elegant. We could give directions for the full size and one mini! Problem solved – oh wait did I mention that the deadline was August 17!!?

So… we don’t know if the pattern will make it into the publication but in the meantime, Sue has a lovely full size rendition and I have my August mini done.

Since it was a Maine quilt, I used this little vintage map fabric on the back. It was a bit troublesome to hand quilt through, but I love it!

The second part of the funny story is that I couldn’t find the photo I took at the show but because of the time crunch I chose fabrics and started cutting and piecing from memory. I grabbed all the c1830 fabrics I could find in the colors I remembered. I put the whole top together and decided I didn’t like this block

and that it needed more early green. So, I picked out the seams and replaced it with this one. 

After I had the whole thing basted and ready to hand quilt I found the original picture – yup you guessed it. There is almost no green at all. I usually have a good memory for fabrics, especially antiques. I think I was smitten with this one eccentric print that had a touch of green and yellow. Luckily, I like the new block and the whole quilt anyway! It is one quarter of the original and will be an easy one to reproduce should the patterns actually make it into the book.

End of funny stories!

Do visit the rest of the merry quilters who have made a little mini for August. Cheers to all of you who have taken a few precious moments of summer to stitch these lovelies!

Kyle (Timeless Reflections) 
Barbara (Quilts, Gravestones and Elusive Ancestors) - Barbara made 2 this month!
Janet (Rogue Quilter)
Randy (Barrister's Block)
Sandy (My Material Creations)
Shasta (High Road Quilter)

Although Dawn (Collector with a Needle) is not officially following along , you will really want to the two little quilts she made for a canopy doll bed (here). Gorgeous! And, my friend Gladi (Gladi's Quilts) makes a trio of mini's each year and I thought you would enjoy seeing some of her progress (here).

 Check back from time to time as I may be adding a few more followers!

Hospital Sketches update

I have been faithfully stitching along each month with Barbara Brackman’s Hospital Sketches (Civil WarBlog). However, I have not been keeping up with my postings. I must admit it is easier to simply post a photo and quick blurb on the Facebook group (here), but when it comes to posting on my Blog I like to be more descriptive and that takes time I just don’t seem to have this summer. 

I know I am preaching to the choir. Many of us are in the same boat this year and I for one am happy that we are all still afloat!

My last Hospital Sketches post was the Coxcomb and Current block in May (here). I think that one was my favorite, but I’ve made 3 more since then. They have all be a joy to make. I adore my fabric choices – right up my color alley!

The Pineapple was block #5. I added the leaf shapes in the center as I needed to add some purple somehow for balance. 

I was happy to see that the Laurel Leaf was the next block since it is so simple and July is so hectic. 

The Tennessee Rose was my latest finish. I do love how bright and perky this one is. 

Only two more to go. Still trying to decide if I will finish this in my ever popular “potholder” method. What do you think?

Do visit the Facebook group for some wonderful renditions of these blocks. There is so much variety. It makes me want to make another one – maybe half size??

Pam Buda's Vintage Patchwork August project

Vintage Patchwork (by PamBuda) project #8 – “Tess of the D’Urbervilles”. My sister liked Thomas Hardy and read many of his books back in high school while I was still reading Roy Rogers comic books!

This one was a cinch. I had so much fun piecing all those little half squares. Trimming is not my favorite part of quilting, but when doing a little one like this it is essential. This is the pile that was left after trimming! 

 I actually finished this one early as I wanted it to go to our silent auction (with “designer permission” from Pam) last week along with these past monthly minis. 

Our state show (Maine Quilts 2019) hosts a silent auction for different causes each year. This year’s proceeds went to the “Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence”.  Not sure of exact totals but, I think they all did fairly well. Thanks to all who donated and purchased!

 You can get your copy from Pam (here). 

I have been working diligently (but not speedily!) on my c1880 blocks as well.

I joined through Cyndi's, Busy Thimble shop, but you can visit Pam's Blog (here) to see how you can join the fun!