It is a top!

Well I spent my National Quilt day in the quilt room and finished my civil war top!

I added a plaid and blue border.  Of course the plaid was cut on the bias so the quilt was handled very gently and I had to get the blue outer border on quickly!

I'm happy with how it came out...doesn't look as dark now.

  Next on the design wall...ocean waves...this could take awhile as it is king-size!

The yard sale was a bit of a washout.  We were all set up by 0730...sales were ok until 0930 when it got cold and started to sprinkle...by 10:00 everything was back in the garage and my husband and I huddled in front of the fireplace!

Watson did not like having all these visitors in his yard...he was exhausted from guard-duty!

Another quilt for the VA...

A few months ago a dozen pieced 12-inch blocks were donated to the quilt guild.

They were really well done. The fabrics are all civil war reproductions.  I added sashing and cornerstones to make a 9-patch secondary design and then added a border with 4-patch corners to camouflage the fact the border fabric had to be pieced!  (I even had some of the fabrics the maker used in the blocks!)

Now the to just needs to be quilted and then I can put it in the pile to be donated to the memory unit at the local VA.  I think the last count for our Guild is around 125!

So I think I deserve a piece of this banana cake with peanut butter fudge frosting!

CW re-enactors

Took a day out from sewing and attended the "Battle of Aiken." This is an annual civil war reenactment about 30 miles from Augusta.

Just for the sheer enjoyment of seeing the costumes and the shopping this was a good day! If I go again I will be better prepared to shop...nice civil war cotton reproduction fabrics were $5 a yard. Who would think that they would be less extensive at an event like this? Of course it may have to do with the fact you need 5-8 yards to make a mid-19th century dress! There were a couple of quilts for sale but they were from turn of the century...sigh.

There were some pre-made dress vendors there...if I were to buy a costume this one would be it! She also had gorgeous bonnets. Didn't get the vendor's name but I do remember she was from North Carolina.

Visiting the campgrounds was interesting. The older "soldier" teaching the younger one to play the marching tunes was fun. They were part of a Union Irish regiment.

My husband, being from Virginia, moved us to the other side of the field for the battle reenactment. Aiken is known for horses so the cavalry charges were exciting...the horses were beautiful.

Fall cleaning...

CW block 45: Port & Starboard

Sorry I've been out of blogland for a few days while we got a new computer up and running. It is amazing how much faster this one is than our old one! It is however just enough different to make things awkward...

Also I have been helping a friend with her search for a new dog...a lab to more specific. She is adopting Cleo from a shelter in South Carolina. Going to these shelters breaks my heart...but I have to say the folks working in the Aiken shelter really do a good job with the animals. It is so hard for me not to bring home another dog or cat every-time I go...this time I only brought home the scottie dog dish towel. You can imagine the sigh of relief from my DH on that one!

I've also been sorting, refolding and reorganizing some of my antique and vintage quilts. Every few months I like to take them out and check on them. As I am changing out the bed linens from summer to winter it just makes sense to to this at the same time. This redwork quilt top always makes me stop and think how lucky we are to have such a wide choice of fabrics to work with...imagine doing all that embroidery only to have the sugar print still show...

seeing stars...

The past couple of days I have been playing catch-up on some on-going projects...interestingly they all involved stars!Do you hold onto articles and patterns from old magazines? I've had a quilt by Georgina Fries on my idea board since December 2004! That means this has made it through two transatlantic moves. I had even started a box with bits of blues and greens and shirtings. The blocks above are for that project...it has moved from the idea board to the to-do list!This block is from the Halloween quilt I didn't quite finish for this year's holiday...only one more block to go so it is very likely I will have it ready for next year (as long as I don't pack the whole project up and let it hide in the closet!)

Above is the new donation quilt by my guild. The pattern is from "Quilts of Charm and Grace." The proceeds go to Camp Rainbow, a summer camp for children diagnosed with cancer. I printed off some photos for members of the guild.

I am so behind in my CW blocks! I did make this one though and if I can make one more before Saturday (when the next block comes out) than I am getting ahead of the game...I made a couple of 12 inch stars for a quilter in Tennasee who is collecting them to make quilts for the family and friends of a soldier killed in Afghanistan.

Scrap Attack

I know I've vowed off starting any new quilts this summer but yesterday I had no choice...I was attacked by scraps in the quilt cave.

I had only entered their territory to find some fabric to back a quilt with. Within moments a box of blue and white shirt fabrics leaps from the bookcase hitting me on the shoulder (yes, the bad shoulder!)

Piecing finished - now for some applique....

Since I was slightly injured I retreated dragging the vicious box of strips with me...they must be tamed. So, a couple of hours at the sewing machine and I have a domesticated quilt top...maybe I'll name it "when good scraps go bad..."
Also at the machine...I finished one more civil war block...since it is an Irish Chain I thought I had to use some green!

Quilt Cave Report

In the heat of the summer I find myself hiding in my quilt cave or in the family room doing lots of sewing. It was a bit of a mis-mash this weekend - some hand-quilting, lots of piecing, and even hemming pants (but we're not going to talk about that!)First, I finished quilting a little alphabet doll quilt. It is based on a small quilt shown in the photo below that I bought in Paducha a couple years ago. The letters are quilted not embroidered...I thought that was interesting so tried it myself. I quickly learned that it was easier if I quilted from the top down so I could slip the embroidery floss under the quilttop...it was way too difficult to bury an embroidery floss knot through the quilt top. I used a larger quilt stitch to match up with the stitches in the letters.I need to block the quilt before I bind it. This should also wash out the marker I used for the letters. I think it is fun how they placed the letters to include the entire alphabet - the Q is in a cornerstone and the I and J are combined in one block!

Hopefully today I will catch up on my Civil War block of the week project. This is this weeks block - Railroad Crossing. I love using indigo and cheddar together in blocks. I think this block would make up a really nice scrap quilt...like I need another project!

For each finish a start...

It is still brutally hot out so I continue my hibernation in the sewing room. (could this be a quilting cave?...just a thought....)
On the good side I have been sewing a binding on so soon will have a real and complete finish to show! On the other hand some of you may have read Bonnie Hunter's post the other day when she showed a photo of a 1940's Jacob's ladder quilt then posted the direction and asked if anyone wanted to "play" along with her making the quilt. Did someone use play and quilt in the same sentence...whoosh, I was off the cutting board. Who needs a finish when I can start a new quilt!
Yes, I know we have all been there - sigh...at least I am using fabrics from my stash. ( That rationalization works about as well as the about drinking diet soda with pizza to cancel out the calories...)

I finished this week's Civil War block...Now that I have a short stack I wish I had been bit more consistent in fabrics. These 9 blocks work well together while when I spread the whole bunch out...not so much. And that is coming from someone who loves scrappy...maybe the "scrappiness" combined with all the block variation is a bit much...I'll have to think on this one....

Mystery box

I'll admit there are still a few boxes from our move two years ago that still have not been unpacked. One marked "Linens" was in the back of the closet in my sewing room and finally was opened this past weekend...I guess our movers had never seen a box full of quilting UFO's before!
I showed a couple in my last post but this is the box that just keeps on giving...one big surprise was this piano key border that was made for a king size quilt. When I was finishing the quilt I looked everywhere (well, almost everywhere) and could only find three sides...so I ended up remaking one. Now I have the original 100+ inch piano key border to play with....First, I looked for a quilt in need of a border. No luck. Then I tried using the box of 4-patches with the piano key...not so much. Finally I cut the boarder into three pieces and auditioned fabrics for the alternate strips. The first group was too predictable and dark...the second took too much attention from the piano keys. This is the one I ended up choosing...
I think I'll baste it and handquilt some elbow/baptist fans. Maybe I'll call it the Goldilocks Quilt....

Made my Civil War block of the week...feels good to be back on track with this project again.

Guild Program

Yesterday I went down to Statesboro Georgia to meet with the quilters of Staying in Stitches. Lots of talented quilters in this group!I went down a bit early to view some quilts at Pauline's house. The quilts were really nice...here sewing studio to die for. Gave me lots of incentive to get organized. Though it was more than organized - it was comfortable and cute! Sorry no photos....but mine will be looking like it soon and will send pic then (ok, I can hear the laughter already!)

We then went over to the college museum where a couple of Pauline's quilts were being displayed along with artifacts from a local civil war archeological site. Her scrappy Ocean waves has great fabrics in it! You can study it for ages and still find new pieces to marvel at!

The program went well. I brought fewer quilts with but still found myself going a bit over time. But as long as there are quilts to look at or questions I'm happy to talk! During break they had some delicious trifles - chocolate or fresh strawberry. Strawberry fields around this area are bursting so how could I resist!
On a different note...here is a photo of Brownie (11 years old) and Dobby 5-1/2 months old) taken just yesterday. They now both weigh 7-1/2 pounds...though by now I'm sure Dobby has already grown a bit more....

Day of Rest...not so much

Today is supposed to be a day of rest but since I am sitting on a To-do list longer than my arm I've got to get a bit of work in before the list is dragging on the floor and trips me up!I've already spend a few hours on the deck preparing for a guild program next Tuesday on Quilt Appraisals. This did double duty as review for the exam later this month...cannot believe it is finally here! (Dobby likes to sit play on the deck when I have my morning coffee...can you believe how much he has grown!)
Also the kitchen needs to be cleared of fabric and quilt-y stuff before I leave for Paducah which means I need to start now! And speaking of "kitchen fabric," I finished this week's CW Block of the week. I pieced it a bit differently from the directions - instead of sewing a 2-1/2 square to a 2-1/2 inch HST I sewed a 2-1/2 inch square on the diagonal to the 4-1/2 inch strip. That gives the stripe continuity...and me less of a headache! This may be one of my favorite blocks in the growing pile!

Finally, the dreaded spring cleaning of the closet. Temps here are already into t-shirt weather so the heavy sweaters and coats have to move to the to shelves.

So with this...I'd best be off seeing to chores...even if it is a day of rest!

Adding to the block pile...

I feel like all I have worked on lately are random blocks...it is a bit disconcerting!I did finish my CW block for this week...They are starting to add up! (a few are blocks I've added since I want to make a bed size quilt...)
I also made a half dozen blocks for Clare at Quilt for Leukemia. Last year I promised if I didn't meet my finish goals that I would make a quilt for the "cause." Though is does sound a bit backwards - I can't finish the UFO's I already have so my "punishment" is to start another quilt?!
I am making good progress on it...several blocks are cut out and ready to go...with just a bit of luck (it is St. Patty's week after all...) I should be able to finish it this week....
Speaking of St. Pat's Day. This is a favorite recipe for using up day old Irish Bread....

Irish Cream Bread Pudding

3/4 pound Irish soda bread with raisins
3-1/2 cups milk
3/4 cup Irish cream liqueur (like Bailey's)
1 Tablespoon butter
1-1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1/2 cup raisins

Sauce:
1 cup confectioner's sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 egg beaten
1/4 cup Irish cream liquor

In a large bowl combine milk and Irish cream liqueur. Cut soda bread into 1 inch pieces and add to the milk mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour - stir occasionally.

Preheat oven to 350 degree. Use the butter to grease a 9x13 pan. In a mixing bowl whisk together the sugar, eggs and vanilla. Pour into the milk mixture and stir. Fold in raisins. Spoon into the baking dish. Bake until bread is set (about 50-60 minutes.) Cool.

To make the sauce combine sugar and butter in the top pan of a double-boiler. Stir constantly until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is hot. Remove from heat and immediately whisk in the egg. Continue until mixture is cool. Stir in the Irish cream.

To serve heat the broiler and line a jelly roll pan with aluminum foil. Cut pudding into serving size pieces and place on foil. Spoon the sauce over the pieces. Broil until pudding is bubbly on top. Serve warm or at room temp.

St. Patrick's Day (week!)

Not too much sewing going on the past week hopefully I am going to change that by working on this week's Civil war block today. I may also try to put together some Halloween blocks. And if I am feeling really energetic I will sew the binding on one quilt that is languishing in the "almost done" pile!

(My grandfather's family from County Kerry. At this time, according the the Boston Globe, they were the largest Voting family in Boston. Women didn't yet have the vote...)

I also need to make some Irish bread for my Dh to bring to work tomorrow. My family has two Irish bread recipes. I posted the recipe of the one I use most often here on my blog last year at St. Patrick's Day. It is a large round bread with lots of caraway seeds and raisins. The second one, posted below, is sweeter. It also has raisin but no caraway seeds. This recipe came from Ellen Delaney, neighbors of my Mom's family in Dorchester. I am giving it to you the way it was given to me..."butter the size of an egg."

E. Delaney's Irish Bread
3 cups flour
4 Tablespoons baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
milk, as needed
butter the size of an egg (about 1/4 cup)
3/4 cup raisins
2 eggs, well beaten

glaze/frosting:
3 Tablespoons of powdered sugar
1-2 teaspoons water

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Break in butter with fingers. Add eggs. Add enough milk to make a stiff dough. Add raisins. Mix/knead well. Form ball and place in a well greased 8-inch skillet or heavy cake pan. Cut an x into the dough about 1/4 inch deep.

Bake at 360 degrees for 45 minutes. Remove from oven, take the break out of the pan and place on a cooling rack. Cover with a damp towel and let cool. Frost with the sugar and water glaze/frosting.