From My Quilt Files: Sturbridge Strippy 2000-2003

I used to document everything when making a quilt and as a result many of my earlier projects have detailed info in the file. Here is the story of Sturbridge Strippy.

May 14, 2004. I saw the most beautiful c. 1830 quilt at the Northern Comfort Symposium at Old Sturbridge Village in June 1998. Not only was it a strip quilt with cut-out corners but the borders had the most magnificent blue fabric that I have ever seen. I was smitten!

But after a futile and unsuccessful first attempt to reproduce the quilt I ultimately had to settle for a different version.

 

During the course of the 2-day symposium, Rachel, Rita and I spent a great deal of time studying the original quilt and planning a smaller version to reproduce. It was the topic of conversation nearly every spare minute and at every meal but the big question was where would we ever find a suitable blue fabric? We were working from a color xerox of the quilt which was published in Lynne Bassett's book, Northern Comfort: New England's Early Quilts 1780-1850 (1998). Thus began a 2-year quest to find the right fabrics.

Here are some of the fabrics I used in the center strips. Many of the blues and browns I purchased in Lancaster during our annual fabric-shopping trips. In fact, it was on one of those trips that I found a blue print that I thought might work for the borders.

Well, that blue fabric didn't work at all. It was too "squiggly" and gave the wrong appearance from a distance. In addition, the width of the borders was off and even though I wanted to have cut-out corners like the original, the whole top was out of proportion. I was really disappointed with the outcome.

Then sometime in Fall 2001 or Spring 2002 I decided to enlarge the quilt so I could use it on our bed. This meant increasing both the length and width by about 18" each. It also meant replacing the borders with a different fabric and making them much wider. There is a defining row of triangles that marks the beginning of the section where I added on. The fabric I used for the borders was Moda's Ruffled Iris by Barbara Brackman and Terry Clothier Thompson.

I used Quilters Dream Request batting and quilted a "a little every morning" for 9 months. I chose a knife-edge treatment for the outer edges as opposed to an applied binding. The finished quilt is 89" x 97" and is probably the largest reproduction I will ever make. I was pleased with the final result and it looks so nice at the bottom of our bed.

 

In June 2004 I entered the quilt in the Bed Quilt Pieced 280" or Larger category at the New Jersey Quilt Convention in Edison, NJ, and took 3rd place :)

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Copyright 2014, Barbara Schaffer

Lincoln's Woes

My new little quilt, Lincoln's Woes, quickly became "Barbara's Woes" when some of the red fabric ran as I was removing my blue quilting lines. But perseverance paid off in the end even though I didn't want that laundered look.   

I've long been a Lincoln fan following in the footsteps of my grandfather, Stan Bower, whose Lincoln postcards were sold at Gettysburg in the 1930s.

And just for fun I looked up Abraham Lincoln on Ancestry . . . 

 

Last August I began making 6" red stars with Civil War motifs cut from Marcus Brothers Civil War Companions by Judy Rothermel. The alternate blocks are 4-Patch Posies made from Gettysburg Toile by Quilting Treasures. When all was said and done 2 sides of the red and white borders ran even though all the fabric was cut from the same bolt of Kona cotton. I know, I know. Pre-wash!

Multiple washings and 8 dye catchers later all the red was finally gone.   

 

This is the back. Note the four motifs from Gettysburg Toile that I fussy cut and sewed back together to make the Posie blocks: soldiers on horseback, flags, center medallion, and Abe. 

 

I've never made a quilt using the 4-Patch Posie technique so had to adapt and experiment a little. 

My maternal grandfather, Stan Bower (1888-1965), was a commercial artist in the early 20s and 30s and an insurance salesman later in life.

He did this pen and ink drawing of Abraham Lincoln in the 20s.

And in 1930 designed this layout with Lincoln's portrait and The Gettysburg Address. It was printed in two formats: 9" x 12" and postcard-size.    

This postcard was sold as a "Souvenir of the Battle Field at Gettysburg, PA" in the 30s.

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One of my all-time favorite books is The Lincoln Family Album by Mark E. Neely, Jr. and Harold Holzer (1990). I remember paying $3 for it years ago but I see it's on Amazon for 1-cent plus shipping so it's still a bargain! 

Always the curious genealogist :), I searched for Abe on Ancestry.com and GenealogyBank.com:  

1850 Federal Census, Springfield, Sangamon, IL. Abe 40, Mary 28 and son Robert 7.

1860 Federal Census, Springfield, Sangamon, IL. Abe 51, Mary 35, Robert 16, Willie 9 and Thomas 7.

Headlines of an article in the NY Tribune, April 5th 1865:

Reception 

of the

Remains

of Abraham Lincoln 

Sixteenth President of the United States,

In the City of New-York

April 24, 1865

Solemnity of the Occasion.

The Cortege.

The Streets Thronged.

The Body in State at the City Hall.

A Requiem from 1,000 German Voices.

The Struggle to See the Corpse. 

Scenes in the Streets.

The Progress from Philadelphia. 

New-Jersey in Mourning.

Further Details of the Pageant in Philadelphia

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Abe and his immediate family are all linked together on Find A Grave :-)

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Copyright 2014, Barbara Schaffer

 

Quilt Fest NJ and Baltimore Beauties

Yesterday I met my friends at the Quilt Fest of NJ where we spent the day chatting, shopping and catching up with other quilters we haven't seen in a while. I was in awe of the "A is for Applique" exhibit featuring quilts made by the Baltimore Applique Society. Their workmanship is truly outstanding and the quilts . . . what can I say?

Here are some beauties in the exhibit: 

D.A.R. Comes to Rhode Island by Brenda Devine, 81" x 81", hand quilted.

Love those blues!

Pride of Baltimore by Barbara Burnham, quilted by Marty Vint of Dogwood Quilting. This quilt was featured in American Quilter Magazine, September 2011.

The center medallion was inspired by a clipper ship used during the War of 1812.

Swag borders with Black-eyed Susans.

A Legacy of Love for My Daughter, Heather Jeannette Wilson Barnstead by Judy Shapiro, 98" x 98", hand quilted.

Isn't this crab terrific?

Halloween Quilt by Nancy Doyle Williams, 53" x 52", machine quilted by Charlotte Martinez.

Detail of the center block with candy corn and other goodies. 

 A cute owl perched on a branch.  

Deep Within My Heart Lies A Melody: A Memory of Texas by Polly Mello, 97" x 97", machine quilted by Lona Gayle Hull.

Creatures large and small. . .

. . . including snakes, bees, and butterflies.



It's always fun to get away for a day :)




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Copyright 2014, Barbara Schaffer

Coming Home, Snow Days, Prayer Flag, Quilt Exhibit

With so much snow this winter, I've had lots of time to sew and quilt. I finished a Quilt of Valor, participated in a Quiltalong, made a Prayer Flag, and then made more just because . . . 

When I read the appeal for quilts for veterans on the Quilt History List that I subscribe to I knew I had to make one. Maybe you'd like to, too? Quilts of Valor was established in 2003 and to date has distributed an astounding 97,209 quilts to our veterans! 

You won't want to miss the Quilt Exhibit in April sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Study Group. Details below. 

I had a lot of patriotic fabrics including a panel with flags of all sizes and shapes. The center was inspired by an antique quilt in All Flags Flying by Robert Bishop and Carter Houck (1986). I started Coming Home last October and finished it this week though I still have to do a label. It will be one of the quilts in my upcoming exhibit in April after which I will send it off to Quilts of Valor. It is 60" x 80."

Barbie Vanderfleet-Martin quilted it for me and suggested a large star design in red thread which turned out great! Hopefully, you can see it in this close-up.

I had enough fabrics in my stash for the strips on the back then purchased mini-stars on beige for the 4 panels. 

Here's a detail.

When I read about the Mid Winter Blues Quilt Along on Barb Vedder's blog, Fun With Barb, I thought I'd give it a try. Here is the link to Lori's Humble Quilts and the instructions for making this small piece. I really enjoyed following along and learned some new techniques in the process. I've decided to call mine Snow Days and intend to hand quilt it.  It's 21" x 21".

I made this small Prayer Flag for a friend and sewed a piece of selvage across the top for ties.

 Then I made another just because . . .

And another. No, I didn't piece these diamonds. This fabric reminded me of the patchwork designs at the Olympic Games . . . 

And another from 2" leftover squares :)

And this one from Cheater cloth. I have no idea what I'm going to do with these little flags but I'm having so much fun making them. Each one is lined and I'm thinking of tying them together and hanging them as a valance on the window in my sewing room. I'll no doubt continue to make more until I run out of selvages that are long enough to use as ties. 

Mark your calendars for the quilt exhibit and seminar in Flemington, NJ April 5-13. Quilts in the exhibit are on loan from five local organizations that will simultaneously exhibit other Hunterdon County quilts. The fee for the seminar on Sat. April 12th is $50 and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Featured speakers are Sue Reich, Karen Dever, Newbie Richardson, and Dana Balsamo. For more information contact Judy Grow at judy.grow@comcast.net with Common Threads Quilt Exhibition in the subject line.

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Copyright 2014, Barbara Schaffer

Valentine's Cards & Hearts

For the past few years I've been making paper-cut Valentine's cards for my husband from free patterns that I found on the internet. Each one has been a bit of a challenge but I love the way they turn out.

Aunt Midge saved Valentine's cards going back to the 30s so I'm sharing some of those and then I posted some heart-shaped appliqued blocks which, after 25 years, still remain unfinished.

I waited until the last minute and made this card yesterday morning. I used regular copy paper which I taped to a rotating Olfa 12" square mat and cut the design with an X-Acto knife and #11 blade.

Last year I made this cute Valentine with two squirrels. And talking about squirrels. . . .

This little guy was tunneling under the snow yesterday to get to the bird seed I had thrown out.

My first attempt at paper-cutting got me thinking--wouldn't it be fun to do some gravestone cut-outs? lol

Maybe ten years ago or so, I made this card out of handmade paper, fabric cut-outs, lace, and ribbon. Long before that my daughter and I had made the paper out of an assortment of newspapers and magazines.

When I was making Milestones & Memories, I included this block to represent all the beautiful Valentine's Day flowers my husband had given me through the years. 

  

All the above are from Aunt Midge to Uncle Warren, World War II.

Top left: from my mom to her sister, Midge. "I've got a heart full of love for you. Tetta"; right: "To My Pal," from "Daddy Pal" dated 2-14-39.

Bottom left: "Dearest Midge" 1942 from "Daddy Pal"; right: "To My Baby" from "Dad." 

Twenty-five years and still wondering. . . will I ever do anything with these appliqued blocks? 

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Copyright 2014, Barbara Schaffer