September Mini and Country Roads

 This month's mini was so easy . . . 

There were some turn of the century blocks in Natalie's stash so I pulled them out and got started. This pic was taken upstairs in poor lighting . . . 

. . . and this was taken in good lighting near a sliding glass door. What a difference in color! In any case I put six blocks on the front . . . 

. . . and two on the back. I was totally surprised how the quilting lines crossed in just the right places. Didn't even think of that when I was making the back. 

Done! It's 13-1/2 x 18. 

Be sure and visit Wendy's blog to see her monthly mini along with links to all the other fabulous quilters who have joined in on the fun!

On another note the leaves were at peak color this weekend. Here are some pics of the country roads we traveled :)

 

The colors just take my breath away! 

Enjoy your week!

__________

Copyright 2020, Barbara Schaffer

Next Quilting Project and . . .

 A couple years ago I sewed along with Barb V. making basket blocks. . .

. . . and this was my finished top that's been waiting to be quilted.

I procrastinated for the longest time until Janet O. (Rogue Quilter) recently mentioned on her blog that she buys her quilting stencils from Quilting Creations International. So I ordered three different designs and decided on this one. Thanks, Janet!

This is how it looks on the front . . .

 . . . and on the back. 

The basket blocks are being quilted in the ditch along with triangles in the large sections and straight lines in the outer portions. I'm moving right along . . . 

Last week at the thrift shop, I found this piece of decorator fabric and couldn't resist. It's got lots of good motifs that I might be able to use in another broderie perse Deacon block. We'll see . . . 

There is a huge patch of these Chinese Lanterns close to the road in a neighbor's yard. Aren't they cool??

Early morning mist on the river taken at 7:15 a.m. I could barely see the mountain across the way.

Enjoy your week!

 

 

__________ 

Copyright 2020, Barbara Schaffer

Deacon Blocks 45-48

This month's blocks were definitely challenging. I made the ones that Gay at Sentimental Stitches provided but my friend, Dawn, decided to make some changes including re-drafting blocks so they looked more like the originals. Lots of pics! Enjoy!

Still bouncing around . . . 

Original Block 45 attributed to Anna Marie Coles, Gloucester (Sentimental Stitches website)

My block came out way too dark and 1/4" short on two sides. I actually added 1/2" background strips but they are not visible in the photo. 

With minor changes like curving the triangles and spiraling the center points, Dawn's block looks just like the original.

Original Block 46 attributed to Lydia R Deacon (Sentimental Stitches website)

My block. Read on to see how I tackled this one.

The first thing I did was print the entire pattern on freezer paper and cut out the individual pieces. I ironed those on the wrong side of the appropriate fabrics and used the paper pieces as a guide to sew the petals together.

That was not only a real time-saver but proved to be an accurate method for sewing all those small pieces together. I appliqued this ring to the background then sewed the entire center unit in place.

But look what Dawn did. She tweaked the center petals so they were narrower at the base leaving a space between each one. Love that little change!

Original Block 47 attributed to Susan B Haines / Rancocas (Sentimental Stitches website)

I made this block which Gay substituted for the original. I wasn't really sure how to approach making this block so I used the same freezer paper method for the center and appliqued that whole section to the points which I had already sewn on. The result was an uneven circle with bulky seams at the turning points. But I'm not doing it over, lol!

So, this is what it looks like when you take the time to re-draft it. What a fun quirky block, Dawn!

Original Block 48 attributed to Charles D Kemble / Jobstown (Sentimental Stitches website)

This is my version of the substituted block--sort of. There were 3-petal flourishes on each diagonal corner but they just didn't look right so I decided not to add them.  

 

Isn't this block fantastic? Dawn really nailed it when she re-drafted the pattern. The corners work out fine on this one because there are 4 extra petals to even things out. Just beautiful!

 

So to recap--here are my blocks . . .

 

. . . and here are Dawn's.

Thank you Dawn, for letting me post your beautiful blocks! 

 

Moving on to the next set . . . :)

 

Enjoy your week!

 

__________

Copyright 2020, Barbara Schaffer

Nineteen Years Later

It's hard to believe that fateful day in our history happened 19 years ago. Today I'm sharing some 9-11 memories with you. 

Pride of America Quilt 2001-2003 made by students in my husband's recreation class at Montclair State University. 

 Sept. 23, 2001 

Remembrance Ceremony, Liberty State Park

Dec. 1, 2001 

My daughter and I took the ferry from NJ to NY and went to Ground Zero. 

Sept. 11, 2002

Reflections of 9/11/2001

Sept. 11, 2003

9-11 Memorial in West Orange, NJ and . . .

. . . the Healing Fields in our town.

Sept. 10, 2006

9-11 monuments Highlands, NJ

Sept. 11, 2011 

 Sundial Memorial Livingston, NJ

Sept. 11, 2016 

Tribute in Light and Empty Sky memorial Liberty State Park

Sept. 11, 2019

Inscriptions of all New Jerseyans who lost their lives. 

Let us not forget what happened so many years ago--in our lifetime.  

__________

Copyright 2020, Barbara Schaffer

Scrap Strip Quilt and More

 I finished the quilt top that I started this summer. 

I added strips of varying widths to the bottom and top to bring it out to size. It's 72" x 92". I love the "campy" look.

Some of the many fabrics I used and all were pieces that I could cut crosswise on the grain to get at least 20" per strip. 

Another view.  I have the backing ready to go and today I plan on contacting a longarmer in the next town to set up an appointment :)

 

I have a small collection of dried flower pics that I hung in the bathroom. All are from thrift shops except the one with a long stem in the blue frame that my daughter gave me years ago.

They make me smile :)

Snakeroot . . . 

Chicory . . . 

That's all for now :)

See you next week!

 

 

__________

Copyright 2020, Barbara Schaffer