More Civil War

Today Karen and I are showing you another block of our Civil War Sampler.   These blocks are really fun and easy to make.   Karen mentioned last Sunday that she is doing the 12" block version.   I'm making mine into the 8" version.   Click on over to see what she's managed to do with hers.   I know I'm gonna like it more than mine. :)

This completed one belongs to Woolie Lori who brought hers to Woolie group to show me.   Such wonderful inspiration.    It always helps to see what the end result will look like.  

Speaking of Woolies... we are all still working on our Buttermilk Basin Wool & Needle Handwork BOM.   These are the March mats.   We missed our March get together so I needed to get caught up for ya.  

Here are the April mats.   It's so fun to see how everyone puts their own unique spin on them.   That's mine on the burlap board.   I just took it right off the wall for show and tell.  

And I just thought I'd show you my little munchkins who were in town last week for my birthday (actually, it was for their spring break, but I can say they came for me).   I can't believe how big they are getting.  Mason turns 4 in May and Emma will be SEVEN in Sept.   Where does the time go?   Yikes!

Sandy (no blog) and I are also doing another Civil War quilt-a-long and I'll be showing you those blocks this week.

Hugs, Anne

Civil War and a Village

Earlier this year, Karen and I were talking about doing a "challenge/quilt-a-long" together and it took us awhile to figure out what we wanted to work on.  We finally decided to use our Civil War fabric stashes and stitch on Barbara Brackman's Civil War Sampler blocks.

There are 50 blocks in the book but we aren't sure if we're going to do all 50.  We'll just play it by ear for the time being.   Our plan is to post our progress on Sundays....the keyword being "plan"!

The first blocks are quite easy but I can see some challenges as we get farther into the book.   I even noticed TEMPLATES, God forbid!  

I love scrappy Civil War quilts, so am excited to see how this all plays out.  Now head on over to Karen's blog and see her interpretation of the blocks.  

In other quilting news, last May I joined a Block of the Month thru my LQS, Sew Many Quilts. The project was The Quilted Village by The City Stitcher.   I've actually had the pattern for a few years ago but until they offered it as a BOM, the pattern just sat in the box with all the other patterns I have.   I figured the class would be the motivation I needed, so off I went to sign up!

So, here it is...one year later...FINISHED!   I actually kept up and it feels so good!

The pattern has directions for paper piecing and applique.   Most of the ladies that signed up did the paper piecing technique.   While I do enjoy paper piecing, I LOVE applique, so I was one of the few who chose that method.

There was quite a bit of embroidery on the blocks and the pattern called for an embroidered clock on the front of the Town Hall.    I wasn't too excited about embroidering those tiny numbers, so chose to just embroider the words, "town hall", after a suggestion from one of the ladies in class.  

Sturdy Brick House

 Apartment House

Cottage with Birdhouse

Three Story with Dormers

Fixer Upper

Row Houses

The Church

The Schoolhouse

Dutch Duplex

Petite House with Pickets

Saltbox

I can't wait to get to get it off to the quilter for her to work her magic.  

Now that it's finished, it's time to round up another applique UFO and get busy.   I'll share that with you soon.    

Till later,
Hugs, Anne

Woolie Tuesday

Yesterday was our Tuesday Woolie group.  We meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month but last month, we were kicked out of Quiltworks in favor of some kids on spring break who had a class.  So, it had been a month since we'd gotten together and we all were happy to be back together again!

Our photographer/blogger, Anna, wasn't there because she's in the throes of moving to her beautiful new house.    Therefore, I felt it was my duty to fill you in on all the wool projects being worked on.

 Karleen brought more projects that she's been working on while recovering from shoulder surgery.   Looks like great therapy to me.

And, once again, Sandy had us all drooling over her finished gems.   This is her Comfort and Joy quilt that she quilted herself.   It's to die for!

This is her backing.   She realized that she's been "collecting" Kathy Schmitz panels for quite awhile and got to wondering what she was ever going to do with them.  Well, voila....the back is darn cute!

She made this little cutie from the Civil War Sewing Circle book by Kathleen Tracy.  I think the pink alternate blocks are wonderful.

And this one is a little kit she picked up at a shop on her way to Mt Rushmore last fall.  We were discussing the difference between the Churn Dash block and the Monkey Wrench block.  Anyone know the difference?

Mari just finished her snowmen quilt.   She said she's been collecting snowmen pattern ideas forever and finally put them into a quilt.

A few closeups...

Mary R was stitching on her Block of the Week 2011 from Primitive Gatherings.  It's going to be fabulous when she's finished.

Our newest Woolie, Colleen, was working on some Sue Spargo blocks.  She was snowbirding down south and said "everyone is working on wool".  Can I hear a WOO HOO?    More addicts to join me!

Nancy was working on this cute one.   I love how the scissor handles match the green in the project.  I wonder if she has scissors to match all her wool pieces.   Hmmm, not a bad idea.  

So that's it for another installment of the Woolie Mammoths meeting.  We always have such a great time.  Lots of "cleansing" laughter!

Hugs, Anne

The Snow Child - part 2

I hope you enjoyed the pictures from yesterday.

Let's continue on with the show.   Again, the quilts are inspired by the novel, The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.  See yesterday's post for all the information.

I love these dolls!

I hope you enjoyed the exhibit and if you haven't read the book, I hope this will inspire you to pick up a copy.   It will be well worth your while.  

Hugs, Anne