May Mini and Memorial Day

Three years ago . . .

. . . I put these patriotic pieces up on my design wall but they just weren't coming together.

Then a few weeks ago with Memorial Day in mind I took them out hoping that something would click the second time around.  
  

I pieced the back by matching the motifs and top-stitching the seam . . .  

. . . then quilted it from the back. 

 

And this is what it looks like on the front.

I can't tell you how good it feels to finish this little piece! Thank you, Wendy, for your monthly mini inspiration!

This Memorial Day let us not forget Pvt Walter D. Carle who died of wounds in WWII. He was only 21 years old and is buried in Restland Memorial Park, E. Hanover, NJ. 

Enjoy the holiday!




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Copyright 2020, Barbara Schaffer

 

Deacon Blocks 29-32

Lots of applique this month!

With this month's blocks completed the first 4 rows at both the top left and bottom right are now done!
 

Three challenging appliques and a broderie perse.

 29. Attributed to Hannah Anne Reeves

 

I'm sure some of you still have a scrap or two of that early Smithsonian green print!

 30. Attributed to Lydia Ann Homer

It always takes a little time to get in the swing of appliqueing the block I'm working on. This time after I finished the center wreath, I appliqued the top right pink leaf/petal before adding the other two and realized it wasn't centered the way it was supposed to be but I chose not to re-do it. I did much better with the other corners.

31. Attributed to Susan B. Haines / Rancocas

This is the original block with a lengthy sentiment in the center . . .

. . . and this is mine. I totally changed course from the original :) All the blocks in this quilt are set on point.

 32. Attributed to William G. Deacon

This block was definitely a challenge--and time-consuming. I finished it in the nick of time--yesterday! The next set of blocks is available Friday at Sentimental Stitches. Check out what other goodies Gay has to offer on her website. So many projects to choose from!

On another note . . . 

My daughter and I hiked Sunday morning in search of wildflowers in the snow. We saw this Red Trillium . . . 

 

. . . and Saxifrage. So sweet among the moss :)

That's it for now. Enjoy your week and, hopefully, warmer weather with lots of sunshine!

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Copyright 2020, Barbara Schaffer

 

  

Aww, So Cute! Plus . . .

Spring is just about here . . . 

I was out for a walk on my way to the Community Garden . . .
 

. . . when I saw my S-I-L after he had just captured these little guys hiding in the shed. My heart just melted. So cute! 

An early-blooming wildflower, Coltsfoot.

I put quilts on the beds where my granddaughters sleep. I'm really looking forward to seeing them soon :)

Last week when it snowed the mountains were glorious!

I managed to make a few masks and drop them off at Town Hall. I discovered that sewing the ties was so much easier if I used a Bias Tape Maker tool. Wow, what a difference!  

Enjoy your week! 




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Copyright 2020, Barbara Schaffer

 

April Mini

I wasn't sure if I'd make a mini this month but after I saw a little quilt in one of my favorite books it all came together quickly. 

This is my go-to book when I need some little quilt inspiration.

And this is the quilt that caught my eye. 

I still had some Churn Dash blocks from Barb V's swap and pink fabric that I had picked up at our guild a couple of years ago. That's all I needed. It's 18" x 24".

I thought those zig-zags added a little interest :)  

Even found a piece for the back that was just the right size.

The label :)

 

And here's how it looks on our table with a lovely Hyacinth from my good friend in NJ. Thank you, Renee!

Wendy will be posting her monthly mini soon so take a look and be inspired. You can always join in on the fun!  




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Copyright 2020, Barbara Schaffer

This 'n That

This morning we woke up to frigid temps, howling winds and 2" of snow!  

But just the other day I spotted this beautiful pink cluster of blooms along the driveway.   

What a pleasant surprise!   

I've been doing a little Adirondack decorating. The Bohemian Waxwing watercolor was painted by my granddaughter when she was in high school. She's now an art major at U Delaware and like everyone else is taking online classes from home.

I collect bird nests when they've fallen to the ground. The one on the left was actually found under our canoe.  

I'm making good progress quilting Dear Daughter :)

Sunday morning our daughter and her husband took us on a trail with a beautiful view of a meadow and Whiteface Mountain.

Another view.

A BIG black bear with an important message :)

Take care!




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Copyright 2020, Barbara Schaffer


 

Deacon Blocks 25-28 and River

I started this set of Deacon blocks in NJ and finished them in NY :)

It was really important to me to continue making these blocks during our move as I didn't want to fall behind. So far so good!

25. Attributed to Sarah Kemble

I spend a lot of time prepping! Each one of those red rays was appliqued separately unlike the yellow ones in the center which were cut from one piece of fabric. Interesting!

26. Attributeed to Anna W Coles / N Jersey

Last fall I bought a yard of this red fabric for a $1 at the local thrift shop. It looked like a "good" red to me at the time and it worked out just fine. 

27. Attributed to Sarah Ann Kemble

Talk about a challenge! I did both machine and hand piecing and the center is as good as it's going to get. When I finished the block it didn't lay flat so I re-did the corner squares and edge triangles by cutting them a little larger. 

I used motifs from these two oldies for the broderie perse block. The blue is Moda's Material Pleasures "Coral Garden" Tulip Vine by Terry Clothier Thompson and Barbara Brackman and the one on the right is a repro from the Oakland Museum. 

 28. Attributed to Mary S Haines

I fused all the pieces . . .

. . . and finished them with a small zig-zag stitch.  

Now that we are in the north country everything in our little town is within walking distance. The view on my way to the post office :)

Please stay safe!

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Copyright 2020, Barbara Schaffer

Three M's: March Mini and Moving

If you've been wondering about my lack of weekly postings it's because we're in the process of moving. But just before the craziness began I made a super simple mini for March.

Last fall our guild had provided the light-colored fabric and asked members to make a 9" block of their choosing to be included in a charity quilt. I made the block but never got to a meeting so in no time at all it became my March mini.  

The back with the last of the polka dots from my 1965 blouse :)

 

Normally I hem the binding by hand on the back but this time I machine-stitched it from the front and here's what it looked like. Not bad at all.      

And instead of making a label I wrote right on the fabric. I think this was the fastest mini ever! Maybe a couple of hours at most. 

I know Wendy will be posting hers soon with links to more so check them all out.

We sold our house in December with a June closing and are moving to our cabin. My daughter and her husband came down last weekend to load up a truck with a few small pieces of furniture plus boxes of clothes, books, quilts, genealogy files, etc., etc. 

The day after we arrived it snowed but it was gone in no time at all!

I've spent this week unpacking and finding places for all the things I brought with me. My new sewing space is in the loft where I can look out over the river and day dream :)

I've not only fully utilized this space but expanded to other rooms as well. 
Nearly all of my quilts are stored in archival boxes under beds and my fabric is in a closet. Quilt and genealogy files are in the basement in file cabinets. So far so good!

I hope to have some time today to work on my Deacon blocks :)

Thinking of you all during these uncertain times. Please take care.




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Copyright 2020, Barbara Schaffer