Wednesday, December 19, 2018

December Little Quilt and Poinsettias

I know I'm a little early posting my December Little Quilt but the next two weeks will be rather busy :)


Early one morning (very early!) I started making this little quilt. Lo and behold! After it was done I noticed the red strip on the right was a good 1/4" narrower than the others. How did this happen?? I have no idea, lol!


In any case, I've always loved this St. Nicholas toile.


The back. Even my label looks skewed :)

Thanks, Wendy! I've really enjoyed this monthly little quilt journey and hope to continue in the new year. Maybe you'll consider joining in on the fun, too? It's a great way to try a new technique or to dig into your scrap bins and be creative.

Want to see some glorious colors???


My husband and I went to see all the poinsettias in the greenhouses located in the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Chatham, NJ. There were so many different varieties . . .


. . . each one more beautiful than the next . . .


 . . . in rows and rows of breathtaking displays!



We bought one with speckles of white. It's so pretty!

Wishing you all a beautiful holiday season. See you next year unless I pop in between now and then :)




__________
Copyright 2018, Barbara Schaffer


 

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Antebellum #11, Beach House, and Pillow

This post has a house theme :) 


Antebellum #11 Ever Widening Circle was made with our house in mind. 


Here's the original inking. 


Our house was built c. 1730 but is referred to as the Phebe Beach House. Phebe Burnet (1767-1852) was the spouse of Aaron Beach (1765-1826) who was a grandson of a landholder in Livingston. He enlisted in the NJ Militia in 1793 and was chosen an Overseer of the Highway that same year. He was also a signer of the 1811 petition to establish the Township of Livingston. 


Aaron and Phebe had 7 children between 1788 and 1807. Their son Marcus was an escort of the Marquis de Lafayette in 1824 when they retraced George Washington's route through parts of NJ. Aaron Beach died in 1826 and Phebe continued to live in the house until her death in 1852.


This picture was taken in the 1940s. It's the front of the house. See the porch?


Years ago we enclosed that porch by knocking down a wall and adding lots of windows. It's a wonderful room for plants :)


A couple months ago Rachel gave me this cute kit which she picked up on the freebie table at another guild she belongs to. Thanks, Rachel! After I finished the embroidery I wasn't sure if I wanted to make a pillow or a little quilt.


But the decision was made for me when this freebie pillow from a veteran's organization came in the mail yesterday. It was just the right size!


And now my pillow is done :)

Have a great week!




__________
Copyright 2018, Barbara Schaffer