My Civil War Heroes quilt--Done!

In early 2013 I started to make a quilt to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War and to honor my gr-grandfathers who so bravely fought for the Union.

I began making Log Cabin blocks and followed the directions for Barb Vedder's Four-Patch Log Cabin in Quilt Almanac 2013. Thanks, Barb! The Log Cabin pieces are 1/2". It was a great way to use up a lot of scraps but I was definitely lacking in the "lights" department.    

All the letters are done in reverse applique. I purchased a set of alphabet stencils at Staples and laid out each name on a large piece of paper before transferring it to fabric. 

Here's a detail. I quilted around the inside of each letter and did diagonal row quilting in the background.

The center of each corner block features a Civil War general. I quilted concentric squares on point (3/4" apart) in each area of darks and lights with cross-hatching in the borders.   

Robert Bower, my maternal gr-grandfather, enlisted as a Private on 25 Aug 1862 at the age of 34 in Co. C 50th Regiment MA Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered out on 24 Aug 1863 in Wenham, MA.

Horace E. Davis, my paternal gr-grandfather, enlisted as a Private in Co. G 2nd Regiment NY Mounted Rifles at the age of 27. He was wounded on 17 Jun 1864 at the Battle of Petersburg.  He served from 30 Dec 1863-10 Feb 1865 and was discharged from Finley Hospital in Washington, DC. He received a Distinguished Service medal.

James McCord, my maternal gr-grandfather, enlisted as a Private on 19 Aug 1862 at West Farms, NY, in Co. C 6th NY Heavy Artillery at the age of 24. He was promoted to Full Sergeant on 26 Feb 1864 and Full Sergeant Major on 14 Apr 1865. He was mustered out on 28 Jun 1865 at Petersburg, VA.

I put this Lincoln Toile on the back which is the same fabric I used in Lincoln's Woes.

Here's the label with all the pertinent info :-)

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Copyright 2014, Barbara Schaffer

One--or Two--of Each: Quilt, Gravestone, Photo

Another quick post this week.

I made this little One-Patch repro based on a quilt in Merikay Waldvogel's book, Childhood Treasures: Doll Quilts By and For Children. I really fussed over my fabric choices and was lucky to have found a close-match black print for the border. Finished 2013. 

 Hanover Cemetery, E. Hanover, Morris, NJ

What do you think? Quilt patterns on these two gravestones? Different cemeteries same inscriber. 

 

 Whippany Burial Yard, Whippany, Morris, NJ

c. 1929. Three generations of Bowers. My mom, Etta Bower, sitting on the running board. Her sisters--Leila and Midge, back and front. My grandfather and grandmother, Stan and Etta Bower, standing next to my gr-grandmother, Irene Florence McCord Bower Landwehr. Far left is Irene's 2nd husband, Fred Landwehr. Kneeling is my gr-uncle George Kroepke. Most likely taken in the Bronx in front of Irene's car. 

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Copyright 2014, Barbara Schaffer

 

A Western Town and a Small Quilt

We were in Colorado last weekend for our niece's wedding. We had an extra day so we took the train from Durango to Silverton, a little western town with lots of artsy things to photograph. 

 

We rode in one of the open cars and I snapped this pic of the train going around a sharp curve. The scenery was breathtaking.

This little "graveyard" in Silverton made me smile--and laugh.  

Lola Fent 

Kicked Up 

Her Heels 

Away She Went 

R.I.P.

I Told

You I

Was Sick

Here Lies 

Lester Moore

Told A Lie

No Les

No More

Chief Payme

He Cheated

At Cards

He Will Cheat 

No More

 Beautiful Columbines. 

A large painting on one of the buildings.  

A creative planter. 

Painted ladies adorn the windows of several stores. 

I didn't notice the Quilt Show flyer until I uploaded my photos.  

Detail of above. 

 

An Indian princess.

Love this red-white-blue image. 

Newel post on a vacant building.  

I was determined to finish this little top before we left on our trip. I've always liked Lori Smith's patterns and finally bought one this past year. She calls this Delectable Appalachians but I'm still thinking of what to name mine. 

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Copyright 2014, Barbara Schaffer

Fabulous Flowers

This year has been exceptional for growing flowers and our garden is flourishing. Following through on a flower-theme--I have one small and two large quilts, two embroidered pics, and two rugs. 

These Stargazer Lilies were absolutely gorgeous.

Here's a Grandmother's Flower Garden doll quilt I purchased at the AQSG seminar in Williamsburg many years ago.

I have a lot of Columbines in a variety of colors.

This Garden of Eden quilt top was a gift from my kids :)

 Here's a detail. 

Lots of pink and white Phlox near the house. 

 A Rose Wreath quilt I bought at a garage sale for $2.00.

 

My mother was a master at embroidering flowers. She made this piece in the early 1960s.

Feverfew in the borders. 

 
Another by my mom. This one with her initials--Etta Bower Davis.

Lemon Lilies.

A great garage sale purchase--$1.00!

Love Spiderwort!

A hooked rug my mother made. One of my future goals is to learn how to be a "hooker." :)

What's growing in your garden?



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Copyright 2014, Barbara Schaffer