The Next Best Thing

The best thing is to see them in person...and time is short.

Infinite Variety - Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts

from the collection of Joanna S. Rose.

Six days.

650 red and white quilts.

It boggles the mind.

The next best thing is to see nearly nine minutes of photographs to music here and additional photos here.

~~Lisa

Spring is Here

Happy Spring! I have sewn a little wallhanging in honor of the occasion. It began with the floral focus fabric and initially I planned to pair it with a lovely bright pink and yellow with small flowers in a nine patch on point. Once I laid it out I knew the plan needed a little tweak.

These nine patches will find a place in another quilt ~ they didn't seem to suit this one.

...and this is what it evolved into...the darker pink (Pantone's honeysuckle?) and a deep, dark green.

This is the revised Spring wallhanging

Given that we have had rain since Friday ~ this may be the only Spring I see today!

I have also been working on the Civil War Quilts blocks lately. I have a few blocks to catch up on and yesterday there were a couple of hours to sew. They have each been lovely and some more challenging than expected. I enjoy making them and learning more about piecing and Civil War history as I sew. Once next week's block is released I believe we will be one quarter of the way finished sewing the blocks. Hard to believe, just one block per week and we will have a lovely commemorative quilt.

~~Lisa

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I have an update on recent sewing but Sunday - Monday I had the flu which slowed me for a couple days. Of course now I'm heading to work so there is little time for updating at the moment...but soon!

Just popping in to say Happy St. Patrick's Day!

~~Lisa

In Search of Spring

My thoughts and prayers continue to be with our friends in Japan who suffered yesterday's earthquake and tsunami.

With March Madness, Daylight Saving Time and the Spring equinox right around the corner, this morning I went looking for Spring in my fabric collection.

I think I found some.

Today I will start a new project and not feel any guilt for putting a project or two aside while I work on it. It's simple and small ~ I'll make a nine patch on point.

~~Lisa

**Update**

By 7:45 I had pressed and cut the fabrics and they're ready to sew!

More Civil War Blocks

While sewing these blocks I like to imagine what it must have been like for a young woman to have been sewing blocks to make a quilt in 1861, the year the Civil War began. She most likely hand pieced the blocks in the evening after working all day to keep the household going.

According to many, the sewing machine was invented in the 1840's by Howe and brought to many homes by Singer in the mid-1860's. It seems it was a controversial invention because 'delicate and excitable' women may not have the 'technical ability' to operate the machines. Additionally, it was thought that sewing and other tasks 'occupied the time' of women and if they didn't have the handwork to keep them busy they might spend their time shopping and playing cards. Here is a brief history of the sewing machine if you're interested. Here is an article on early sewing machines and quilters.

This morning I completed blocks 9 Birds in the Air and 10 Lincoln's Platform. Long ago I embraced the technology of the domestic sewing machine and I used it to make these blocks. Maybe next week's block will be hand pieced to pay homage to our fore-quilters (men and women alike!).

~~Lisa

Quilt in One Day?

Have you ever made a quilt in one day? I have not. Well, I have made potholders in one day, and I guess one could consider those quilts.

I am reminded of my first quilt; I don't dabble in things but rather jump in with both feet. You see, my first quilt was king sized! It was Lover's Knot by Eleanor Burns of Quilt in a Day...so I suppose I have made a quilt in a day but it took a couple of months! My second project was a wall hanging (can you blame me?).

How about making a trip around the world in one day? I am tempted to challenge myself with Bonnie K. Hunter's pattern and see what it takes. It seems that with the strip piecing it will make up quickly, but in one day? Think it's possible? Perhaps we'll find out!

The ingredients for this pattern are being assembled, thanks to the sale table at a local fabric shop. Here is a possible grouping with nine fabrics featured in the quilt:


If you have thoughts on the fabrics please comment!

~~Lisa