Fish, Snow, and Hawk

My final completed project of 2017 is the fish table runner that I made for my brother's birthday. 

The wool fabrics are all the ones I recently washed and dried in anticipation of making some wool projects and this one was perfect.

I found the pattern in Terry Clothier Thompson's book Lewis & Clark: Quilts for the Journey.  

Because my brother is a master fly-fisherman, I wanted to make something that he'd appreciate and was meaningful at the same time. So I included a piece of tan herringbone wool that once was our father's sport jacket. I think he'll like that :)

Here's the back with a fused fish label.

 

Mother Nature cooperated this year with a beautiful White Christmas!

The view from the restaurant in Lake Placid where my daughter, daughter-in-law, and grand-daughters took me to lunch for my birthday :) The sled dogs were out on the lake.  

I'll end with these pics of a Juvenile Coopers Hawk that I took from my dining room window.

Happy New Year to you all!




__________
Copyright 2017, Barbara Schaffer

 

It's All in the Details

Here are the last of the photos I wanted to show you. They are mostly details of repeat block quilts.

Beautifully quilted Laurel Leaves. 

Wild Goose Chase in a patriotic color scheme.
 

Lots of feather quilting.

Well-executed King David's Crown. 

This "Apple Pie Creek style applique quilt" was described as a pattern that "is unique in quilting history to the Apple Pie Creek area of Virginia, a Quaker settlement." (For more info see History of Apple Pie Ridge on Lynda Chenoweth and Mary Robare's Quaker Quilts blog here.)  

 

The same red fabric was used throughout. Close straight line quilting in the border creates a stippling effect.    

An Album Quilt from Windsor, NJ, includes signatures of both men and women along with symbols of the Odd Fellows (IOOF) fraternal organization.  

 

An unusual roller-printed Oval Medallion Quilt.

There are stars on three sides and dogtooth borders on all. 

Quilted in cross-hatch and chevrons.

Silk Four Patch with Federal Backing (back is folded to the front). 

Gorgeous eagle fabric! 

This Cutwork Appliqued Bed Cover has 63 blocks each with a signature. Names are attributed to New Brunswick, NJ.

Teeny-tiny stitches on the appliques!

That's all for now :)

Enjoy the holiday!

 __________

Copyright 2017, Barbara Schaffer

A Few of My Favorite Quilts

Several quilts at the exhibit had Prussian Blue fabrics. I just love that color! It's my all-time favorite. 

A charming 1840 Puss In the Corner crib quilt.

A detail. Wonderful Turkey Reds, too.

 

A Chimney Sweep with signatures--sort of.

An unusual way of signing a name. 

All done in the same style. No first or last names. Initials only followed by tiny cross stitches "x x x x."

Oh my! I could have stood in front of this Birds in the Air Variation forever, lol!

It would be a fun one to reproduce!

So many wonderful prints.

The binding is a stripe but not as narrow--or woven like Trenton tape. I took this picture from the staircase. Wish I had studied it more closely. 

If you'd like to see more examples of Prussian Blue there's lots on my Pinterest board.  

We arrived at the cabin yesterday. It's 11 degrees and snowing. So pretty!

__________

Copyright 2017, Barbara Schaffer

Welcome! Come on in!

What a lovely surprise to see so many quilts on display in this beautiful historic house. 

The Morristown (NJ) Chapter of the DAR maintains the 1760 Schuyler-Hamilton House which is in close proximity to the Ford Mansion where General George Washington and Alexander Hamilton made their winter encampment in 1780.

Welcome!

Forty-three quilts from different time periods were on display. It was like being in 'quilt heaven.' They were draped over furniture, railings, and fireplaces, and hung on racks. So much to see!

This Log Cabin Courthouse Steps was in the entryway.

And this striking Log Cabin Barn Raising was one of several in the hallway.

Some like this Triple Irish Chain were adorned with festive garlands and bows.

A door with hand-forged hinges.

A lovely broderie perse quilt in an upstairs bedroom. I'll show you details in another post.

 

Three 20th century quilts: Tumbling Blocks, Arrowhead Star, and Orange Peel Variation.

A detail. The red fabric is quite effective, don't you think? Check out those little appliqued circles in the centers. 

A simple window decoration. Great idea. I have quite a few hand-blown ornaments so I need to do this!

There are lots more pics to share and some quilts you will not want to miss. So check back soon :)

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!




__________
Copyright 2017, Barbara Schaffer

#3 is Done and So is Friendship Harvest!

Two big finishes just before the holidays--

Broken Dishes was #3 on my '17 in 2017' list. It's the result of Barb V's block swap in August 2016. I came up with this design and really had to concentrate to keep the blocks going in the right directions. 

I was one of 40 swappers in the 'Civil War Group Swap.' Keeping to a red theme each person made 2 blocks for a total of 80. Everyone sent their blocks to Barb who did her magic and returned 80 to each of us. Thanks, Barb, for a fun swap!

Barbie longarm quilted it in a wonderful all-over leaf pattern. It was the perfect choice for this quilt.

For some reason I wanted to put a paisley print on the back and wouldn't you know I found this one on sale at our local quilt shop. 

My solution to piecing and matching the print on the back was to turn under 1/4" and then top-stitch it down rather than sew a conventional seam. It actually worked quite well. 

My other finish is Friendship Harvest inspired by our guild's Disappearing Nine Patch block-of-the-month. 

I had quite a stash of fall-themed fabrics . . .

 . . . and enough fabric for the sashing.  

Barbie quilted this one in a charming pumpkin vine pattern.

The back with the last of the fall fabric. What small pieces I had left I gave to the guild for their 'drop and shop' table which is where I bought the tan-striped fabric last year :)

I can't believe Christmas is just around the corner. I've got most of my shopping done, do you?

I just discovered my Scrappy Squares quilt top with stars leftover from the Stars In A Time Warp SAL is on Barbara B's Civil War Quilts blog today :) Thanks, Barbara! 

Have a great week!




__________
Copyright 2017, Barbara Schaffer