Center Medallion Block for Patriot Quilt - TaDa!

It is really finished - and it is a beauty!  It's hard to notice the beautiful lemony roses in the background fabric in the very outside of this block.  I love yellow roses!  There will be 4 large blocks (in this fabric) surrounding this center medallion block in the quilt.  The green is a directional fabric that took some fuss'in over before I could sew the entire block together.

This block honors Martha Washington, General Washington's wife.  I didn't realize she made several trips a year to see her husband and the troops.  She was a gracious celebrity during wartime.  She never refused to stay a little longer when she was invited to share at Ladies Teas.  She walked with her husband among the troops to offer words of encouragement and hope.  It is only fitting that this block should be named in her honor and stands out among the rest as 24 inches square compared to the others that are 10 inches square.

Well, it is on to the Log Cabin inner border! Last night, when I was studying the directions, I noticed 2 out 3 dark-side fabrics are directional prints.  Another inspiring challenge for these 20 blocks!  This quilt makes me chuckle as I often ask myself, "would I have taken this challenge if I knew there were so many directional fabrics?" - that is yet to be determined.

Let me know what you are working on!

Elaine
Chipper Piecemaker

Alpaca Quilt Batting

Good Day Friends,
For those of you wanting more information about Alpaca Quilt batting, here is the information Brenda sent me. "Yes. I meant to do that Saturday evening! I have crib size for $30, thow for $32, full for $51, and queen for $60. The batting is 70% alpaca and 30% merino."  Her prices are great!!!  I believe I will have to consider this for one of my quilts.

When I saw it in her shop it was as silky soft as alpaca and merino can be!!  I imagine it would be a pleasure to hand quilt.  Brenda assured me alpaca is very breathable to sleep under. 

Let me know if you want more information.

Elaine
Chipper Piecemaker

Patriot in Petticoats 15 & 16

                    I woke up this morning determined to sew and not buy any more yarn or fabric until I finished some projects.  It was a beautiful day, high 40's and sunny, a good day to shop.  I had a great breakfast and promptly went downstairs to my sewing room.  Today, I completed all the individual blocks for my Patriot quilt and I'm in awe of 16 blocks.  Each one was just a little more challenging and block 16 was no exception.  I really tried to get each detail in line, but two little spots couldn't be helped.  I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I have piecing them!

Here is Block 15 and 16...

Block 15 honors Mercy Otis Warren, an American writer and playwright.  She was America's first female playwright and wrote strong anti-British and anti-Loyalist propaganda plays.  I loved this quote taken from a letter to one of her friends, " America stands armed with resolution and virtue; but she still recoils at the idea of drawing the sword against the nation from whence she derived her origin.  Yet Britain, like an unnatural parent, is ready to plunge her dagger into the bosom of her affectionate offspring".  Wow, I love her word pictures!

Block 15 - Mercy Otis Warren

Block 16 honors Hannah Arnett, who is buried in Elizabeth, New Jersey.  In December, 1776, her husband and local friends were gathered in their home deciding between loyalty to Britain or America.  Hannah was so upset she burst into the room and started screaming "traitors and cowards"!  Her husband made her leave, but she would not stop!  She continued to berate them and assured them she would leave Isaac if he deserted the American cause.  Stung by her persistent passion, the men reconsidered and refused the British offer of "protection of life and property".  Now that's what I cause a persuasive woman! 

Block 16

These blocks have been a wonderful learning experience.  I have been challenged to re-think my piecing skills.  After previewing the center medallion block I'm anxious to jump in and start piecing.  It's a large block with an eight-pointed star in the center.  I looked at the log cabin blocks and don't you know,,,two of the fabrics are directional!  It's going to be quite a challenge to match the directional prints with the blocks going completely around the inside of the quilt.  I wish I were not such a perfectionist when it comes to piecing my work.

Late this afternoon, Leah and I went to visit an Alpaca Farm, "Stewart Heritage Farm", a few miles from our home.  The owner was very hospitable and allowed Leah to take pictures of her beautiful Alpaca's.  I couldn't resist buying some yarn to bring home.  When I told Brenda, the owner, I was a Quilter, she showed me "alpaca quilt batting for a full size and crib size quilt".  I was so impressed!!  She is going to send me price information.  Her yarn colors are beautiful and now I wish I had bought a skein of brown and a skein of cinnamon brown.  I have an incredibly hard time resisting local alpaca yarn.  When I was in high-school a German woman taught me how to do hairpin lace.  I made an afghan that I continue to sleep under every night.  Perhaps I should consider making a scarf with hairpin lace - I could do a two-color scarf with hairpin lace.  I wish I could find other interesting patterns in hairpin lace.  

What a blessing to be creative!  What a blessing to love the work of your hands!  What a joy to share it with others and to bless them!

Enjoy the work of your hands!

Elaine

Chipper Piecemaker

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!

I surprised myself yesterday by completing 2 Patriots in Petticoats blocks and they were definately the most challenging from a "matching the pattern" perspective.  When I was growing up, my Mom made all of my clothes.  She could sew anything and match the plaids with absolute perfection!  I kept one of my jackets for my daughters to wear and treasure.  I hope my Mom would be proud of these two blocks.  I cut and pieced each one to match the patterns as they came together.  In block 13, I lacked an inch in the width of the red fabric to make the center square match the rest of the reds.  Oh well, the rest of the reds match, as do the green flowers.  In block 14 the background and the green branches all move in the same direction.  It is more pleasing to the eyes when the patterns flow in a balanced manner.

Block 13 honors Phillis Wheatley the Poet.  She was kidnapped in 1763 from West Africa and purchased in Boston by John Wheatley.  His wife and daughter encouraged her education and she published her first book of poems in 1774.

Block 14 honors the bravery and courage of Betty Zane.  When Fort Henry was under attack from American Indians (allies of the British), she courageously walked out of the fort to retrieve supplies, as in gunpowder and bullets.  The opposing forces were surprised to see a woman and let her leave and return to the fort.  Because of her bravery they defeated the Indians.  What a gutsy woman!!  My Dad owns many Zane Grey western novels.  I was surprised to learn that Betty was one of his descendents and he wrote a novel about her.  I'm going to ask him if he has read about Betty Zane.



While our family was visiting Davis Merchantile in Shipshewanna, Indiana, I had to pop into Lolly's Fabrics and just dream.  I was captivated by a quilt hanging on the wall called Star Trip by Jane Martin.  Lolly's had it done in Kansas Troubles Favorites collection and I was captivated by the colors and the simplicity of the pattern. 

You know when you just want to sit down and make something beautiful and love every second you are working.  You have some great music on while you are working from your machine to your iron and you are humming the whole time... 

Now, I love a crisp-looking batik quilt with a flannel backing and swirly quilting...  Since Hannah was with me, I looked at her and said, "Could we make that quilt out of 12 batiks...would you help me pick them out?"  She just grinned and said "Where do you want to start?"  The blues and greens were pretty easy, but we were slightly stuck when it came to the golds/rusts I wanted.  A very kind Shop Assistant jumped in to offer suggestions and we were at the counter in no time.  From my picture the yellow star fabric is too light, but the multi-color overlapping it, is my border.  Don't you just love them :)  I am yearning to start this, but I'm trying to delay until I finsh the Patriot In Petticoat Quilt.  My goal is to finish Patriots by the end of February and I still hope to make that deadline.         

                                                      



I hope you like my Patriot blocks and batik's :)

Let me know the projects and fabrics that compell you to love piecemaking and quilting!

Happy New Year!

Elaine

Chipper Piecemaker