Chaos...

Currently my sewing room 

is being repainted, 

rearranged and redecorated.  

This was initiated after (I believe) 

my cat, Bobbin jumped on 

a 30-year-old bookcase shelf. 

I found a shelf of books 

on the floor one morning.

It was the final straw.

I was prompted to act.

So I accepted the help of friends, 

hired a painter and the project took off.  

I will send photos when it is completed.

The downside is that 

nearly everything I use to quilt 

is covered, packed up 

and stored up in various areas.

I really miss my piecing therapy.  

Yesterday I pinned a small quilt 

on Roscoe (my Gammill Statler Stitcher) 

and long armed it.

It is not squared off, 

but it won't be until the sewing room is back!

So here is a preview.

This quilt was a mystery quilt 

at Scrap Happy Quilt Guild 

around five years ago.

Audria Humphreys and I chose it.  

Honestly I don't think 

it was very popular with the group, 

but we liked it.

Yikes!!!  

That reminds me 

I have yet to start my 2015 Mystery Quilt. 

And the quilt room renovation 

will only delay me further.

But to be honest, 

I haven't even picked out my fabrics yet.

Hope you are not as far behind as I am.

Carlene

Hot off the Statler Stitcher!

My latest Civil War quilt has just been squared off 

and is ready for pink binding.

My paternal great-grandfather Jacob Buck 

served as a Union infantryman 

in the Ohio 29th Volunteers from 1861-1865.  

He fought in 19 major battles and never missed a roll call. 

 Only three soldiers in the entire war had that distinction.  

Amazingly he was never wounded and

 left the military as full lieutenant colonel.

I learned all this recently 

as I was unaware of much history on my father's side.  

His parents died when I was a child and he died when I was 7 1/2.

No one was there to pass on the family stories 

and I wasn't interested then anyway.

I am making a series of Civil War quilts 

and each is being named to commemorate a battle 

in which Jacob fought.

This quilt is named Columbia, South Carolina.

Columbia was burned to the ground in December, 1864 

by either withdrawing Confederate soldiers, 

drunken Union soldiers, or by 

out of control fires that spread by the blowing cotton fibers 

which were used as fuel.

For these reasons, 

I used the machine quilting pattern "Fire" by Cyndi Herrmann.  

The backing I chose is a red and black streaked fabric 

to represent blood and charred wood.  

I clipped this photo from a magazine
several years ago 

and always knew I would make it.  

Okay, okay I know it says 

"Turn-of-the-century quilts from the Midwest", 

but I figured since I was using fabrics from the Civil War era, 

it would become a Civil War quilt.

And that's all I'm going to say about that.  

Two of my sisters think this latest accomplishment

 is a waste of my time and fabric.  

(And hope that I soon finish this Civil War phase

and start using some prettier fabrics.)

Each of the Civil War quilts is being made 

from the same pool of 1800's style fabric, 

but is based on different blocks and 

has various settings and different border fabrics.

Some have been inspired strongly by Civil War quilts 

in books by Barbara Brachman

and others have come from my collection of quilt ideas.

Since I am a quilt artist, I am creating as I am inspired.

Also they are quite warm, bed-sized 

and are most often used when eyes are closed.

So I see it as a win-win and a part of my estate when I die.

Someone will be drawn to it, surely.

Actually when you think of it, 

we still are fighting some of the same battles today.

State's rights, civil rights, economic development,

political turmoil, etc.

Humans are so ornery.  

They never learn to truly work together, 

each giving a little and doing things the best way for the majority.

Most keep their stubborn habits.

Speaking from experience,

Carlene

* * * * * * * * *

Special Trip Around the Midwest completed!

In 2005 I retired and moved 

from Buffalo Grove, Illinois to Clarinda, Iowa.

The relocation went well, 

but I really missed my church and quilting friends from Illinois.

In 2007 

my friends Cindy Kiel, Lenor Davis, Glenda Foley, 

Carmen Talbott and Beth Carroll 

drove in to Clarinda from their homes in

 Illinois, Oklahoma and Kansas to visit me.

We talked and quilted for four days and 

all went to the Praise Band service on Sunday at 

the Clarinda First United Methodist Church. 

Before they left, they gave me a gift of several fabrics 

and I added some of my stash

and made a quilt using the Trip Around the World pattern

to remember their visit.

I machine quilted it and my sister Judy Steeve 

just whipped the binding down.

Thank you, Judy!

Lovely fabrics....great friends....

Special Trip Around the Midwest!

* * * * * * * *   

My sister Deb Corcoran came today 

and helped me pin on another Civil War quilt.

Thank you, Deb!

Last night when I was choosing one to quilt, 

I found I had two (almost) identical  108" square quilts.

It appears I forgot I already made one 

from my "to do" list and remade it. 

Well, I really do like the pattern!

When they are both done, I'll send pictures. 

I can't believe I forgot I made two almost exactly alike.

(I do remember being grumpy 

because I was almost out of fabric.)  

Hope you don't do that...unless you want to.

Carlene

February quilt bonanza for Elllowyne and Linus!!

My niece Brittany Loudenback pieced this bright quilt 

for her 26-month-old daughter, Ellowyne's big girl bed.  

I chose a simple and sweet machine quilting pattern
that features hearts, flowers and circles.

The cotton flannel backing makes it so cuddly.

* * * * * * * * *

My sister, Jo Anne Souza pieced

 a Duckling and Puppy quilt for 

her new grandson, Linus Franklin Loudenback 

born February 15th.

* * * * * * * *

Ellowyne enjoyed making a snowman 

during the ongoing snowfalls in Connecticut.

My sister Debbie Corcoran pieced 

this Tawny Scrawny Lion quilt for Ellowyne.  

The illustrations on the quilt are based on 

the Golden Book of the same name.

Ellowyne will receive both the quilt and a copy of the book.  

My family loves quilts which makes me very happy.

* * * * * * * * * *

Great progress on Civil War series of quilts...

My plan is to name each my Civil War quilts after a battle
my great-grandfather, Jacob Buck fought in
during the War Between the States.



With the help of my sisters,
Deb Corcoran and Judy Steeve, 

Gettysburg, the Civil War modified rail fence quilt
shown on my last blog, is completed.

Deb helped me pin it on Leticia,
our Gammill Classic Statler Stitcher. 

 I used the Goose Down pattern
designed by Dave Dennis.  

Judy helped me square it off.  

I prepared the binding and sleeve
and attached them to the quilt.  

Now Judy is whipping down the binding and sleeve.  

I so appreciate their help so
I can get so many quilts completed.  

* * * * * * * *

  

When I saw this photo (above) 
in a Country Living magazine years ago, 

I knew I would be making it some day, 

so I ripped it out and placed it in my 
"Interesting quilts" file. 

 I decided it would be a unique one 
using Civil War fabrics 

and solid "School Bus orange", red and pink. 

This one (below) is still unnamed.

I used Electric Quilt to design it
to my preference--the 100" x 100" size
and determine fabric yardage needed.

 My family is not enamored with it, 
but I really like it.  

I'll have a better photo after it is quilted.  

I think I nailed the original, don't you?  

* * * * * * * *

Bobbin (below) in her felted wool cat cave.

Well, Bobbin, my mackerel tabby cat 
is giving me the "stink eye" 
as she is ready for "us" 
to go to bed as it is after 11 p.m.  
I can't wait to start 
another Civil War quilt tomorrow.

Hope you are staying warm
during our cold snap.

Carlene

I'm still alive and blogging again after almost a five-year hiatus!

Hello, friends!  

Several years ago I had an idea to make 

six different quilts featuring Civil War reproduction fabrics. 

 This photo is of the top half of one of these quilts.

I just finished piecing the blocks and 

sewing two sets of 25 blocks together tonight. 

Is it a pattern from the 1860's?  Who knows?  

I can't find the pattern in 

the Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns 

compiled by Barbara Brackman.  

My friend, Lenor Davis suggested the pattern 

could be described as a modified fence rail.  

Good idea.

My friend, Kathy Brooks from near Chicago, Illinois 

had made a quilt using this pattern years ago.  

 I just know I liked the pattern and I had to make it.

* * * * * * 

Here are photos of some of 

the other quilt tops and completed quilts 

 I have pieced in 2014.

* * * * * *

I purchased two kits named Hanky Panky 

at the Pine Needles Quilt Shop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa 

and made this large queen quilt top.  

It is one of the 45+ quilt tops awaiting my machine quilting.  

* * * * * *

I purchased two layer cakes of the "Collage" fabric line 

and pieced this couch quilt which was a Christmas gift 

for my niece and her husband, Brittany and Doug Loudenback

 who live in Connecticut.  

I used the Missouri Star Quilt Company tutorial 

named "Cheerio" for my instruction.

I quilted it on my new Statler Stitcher and 

was pleased that it arrived at its new home before Christmas.  

* * * * * *

I had a generous selection of fabrics

 from the "Wordplay" fabric line 

and used them plus some of my other fabrics

 to piece two couch throws/wall hangings

based on the "Cheerios" pattern, too.  

After Statler Stitcher quilting, 

they were gifts this autumn to my sisters

Jo Anne Souza in Connecticut

 and Judy Steeve in Clarinda.

Well, it is time for me to retire tonight.

  My goal is to begin REGULAR blogging. 

 I hope you come back and 

find blogs every single week in 2015.

Merry Christmas! 

Carlene

Cool ties in progress

I have started another group of cool ties

 for servicemen and servicewomen in Afghanistan and Iraq

 for the American Legion Auxiliary. 

I should have started sooner....

as summer is already here, but better late than never.

I start with 17 yards of 45" wide 

cotton unbleached woven Moda 200 

which I dye with Tan Rit dye to a safer sand-colored one. 

All 17 yards are ironed and ready for cutting. 

Seven cuts 5" wide from selvedge to selvedge yield 7 Hugs.

Two 6 1/2" cuts from selvedge to selvedge

 (and then cut into 14 - 6 1/2" squares) 

become 7 Kisses. 

Using scissors I round off the corners of the 160 - 6 1/2" squares.

Sew the Hugs along the long side from one end to the other. 

Then at one open end roll the seam into the middle

 and sew across it using a 1/4" seam allowance. 

Using the piece of PVC pipe and dowel, 

I turned the 80 Hugs inside out 

and then pressed over the 1/4" seam allowance at the open end 

and crimped folds 10" from the two ends. 

The crimps are where I will sew 

after the 1/2" teaspoon of Watersorb has been added.

I matched up two circles (Kisses),

 sewed them together using a 1/4" seam allowance

 but leaving a 1" opening for turning,

turned them inside out and pressed them 

while tucking in the 1/4" seam allowances.

 After adding 1/4 teaspoon of Watersorb, 

I sew across the 1" opening to sew them shut. 

They're done.

A Hug,

 a Kiss, 

instructions for soaking

and a Thank You for Your Service 

are slipped into each snack baggie. 

They are all ready for mailing.

Tonight I got on a wild hare...

Hello!
Tonight instead of playing another game or two
of Freecell, Spider Solitaire,
Bridge Baron 19 or Internet Scrabble
while avoiding going to bed,
I decided to create a quilt on Electric Quilt 6.

I view Electric Quilt as a "computer game"
without the violence and with a useful and often lovely outcome.

Tonight I chose this antique quilt
which was made in 1896
and is currently hanging in the Quilt Room
of the Nodaway Valley Histoical Museum
 in Clarinda, Iowa where I am a Board member.

When I looked at my photo, I thought,

 "What a pitiful photo of this quilt!" 

While I worked on it, 

I decided the most appealing aspect of it

 in this photo is the aged antique look. 

It certainly is not the slightly unique, 

but not particularly interesting, blocks. 

But I was not to be deterred, so here it is.

How boring!

So that got me searching for 

and coloring a more interesting block 

and then choosing another nine patch alternate block to complement it. 

After I colored them a couple blues and white, 

I used the "Swap All Colors" tool 

and came up with this color scheme.

I have named this 100" x 100" quilt which has 81 - 9" blocks,

"Clearly you have made your point".

I think it is much more interesting. 

Don't you?

Never one to give up the fight easily and retire to bed,

I decided to reduce the number of blocks

 from 81 to 49 by removing the outside row of blocks, 

revising some of the coloring

 in the alternate blocks along the sides, 

inserting a middle border, 

and enlarging the outer border to 15" 

to keep the quilt at 100" square 

and allow the center 

to fit on the top of my queen-sized mattress 

and only the borders to drop over.

Hmmm, which do you prefer?

I'm glad I skipped my other computer games 

and went for "Electric Quilt."

I always feel more productive. 

If I do decide to make this quilt, 

I can use EQ6 to print off my rotary cutting directions,

 yardages and a printed drawing to select fabrics to match...

or not...as I desire.

I hope you dream of quilts tonight, too.
Carlene

Can there ever be too many green quilts?

On April 10th my friend Barbara Mills and I 

attended the Iowa Illinois Quilt Study Group 

which met in Kalona, Iowa. 

The focus of the daylong program was 

"Depression Quilts" 

and each of the 60 attendees

 was encouraged to bring two quilts to share with the group.

 I took this photo of two of the antique quilts 

draped over a quilt stand. 

A comment on the caliber of the attendees: 

These women are well-schooled 

and have gathered many quilts in their travels. 

Each time a show of hands was asked for--

"How many of you have a double wedding ring quilt 

at home that you did not bring?"...the tally was at least 23. 

This is coming from 60 ladies. 

This is in addition to the 120+ quilts they brought that day 

which we all oohed and aahed over. 

The attendees were asked the question over and over--

with a change of pattern name--

trip around the world, Sunbonnet Sue or Overall Bill, 

postage stamp, etc. 

I just wanted to rave about this group

 and share a green quilt and as Forrest Gump would say,

 "That is all I am going to say about that."

My friend Lisa Christensen admired this quilt entitled "Maddox".

Now just tell me the green doesn't make it pop!

I just found this next quilt photo 

on the 2010 International Quilt Festival/Chicago 

(actually Rosemont, Illinois) website 

at http://www.quilts.com/sqf10/enVivo/ 

in the SPECIAL EXHIBITS section. 

You may want to check out these 11 special exhibits. 

This quilt which appears in the "Celebrate Spring! 2010" exhibit 

is entitled "Blazing His Own Trail" by Ann Crowl Meyer. 

In addition to being named the Viewer's Choice, 

it was one of the quilts detailed in the VIDEOS section 

(Celebrate Spring exhibit) 

where closer photos 

and interviews of featured quiltmakers were recorded. 

I just love to look at it.

 Don't you?

But to be honest...
not all green quilts are created equal.
I hope my examples have proven that.

If you are not sold yet,
you WILL BE after seeing the next quilt
I made many years ago.

I found the coleus printed fabric
and purchased solid-colored pink and green to go with it.

Mistake #1.

I decided to "fussy cut" a coleus plant for the center

and border it with the green and pink "delectable mountain" blocks.

Mistake #2.

Admittedly this did give me a chance to practice
 the "delectable mountain" blocks which I do like,
but...really...is this a pretty quilt....I don't think so.

The center square looks more like a human heart than a lovely flower.

Hence the name, "Pepto Bismol Beating Heart."

And the border just doesn't do anything for the quilt...
really...what does do anything for the quilt.

So, this is an example of an ugly quilt...
and yet, a quilt which does serve a purpose...

as a warning to others...

DON'T DO THIS!

So there CAN be too many green quilts!

Learn from my mistakes.

But, of course, we must all make our own mistakes.

 If you have, don't let it break you.

It didn't break me.

I must have made another 30 or 40 quilts since this one.

And almost every one is MUCH better.

Laugh at your mistakes and plan a better quilt.

Until next time,

Carlene

Going green...

I design all the quilts I want to make on Electric Quilt

before I purchase fabric and begin construction.
Here are drawings of two 100" x 100" green quilts
 I am currently working on.

This one features "deviled eggs on a tray".

So far I have hand appliqued a golden orange yolk
onto each of the 23 egg whites

(made from Kona white cotton).

(Two eggs are missing because...

when have you ever gotten the deviled egg tray 

to the table with all the eggs on it? 

People are always grabbing one off

 as you approach the serving table.)

Now I need to applique the egg whites
onto the large piece of "hostas" background.

Isn't this "hosta" fabric (for the tray) excellent!

My current dilemna is to find a way to keep the hostas

from showing through the egg white fabric.

When this quilt top is completed,
I had planned to stencil "paprika" on the yolks.

Someone recently suggested "pepper" instead,

so now I am considering a second quilt featuring fried eggs on a tray

which I might have to name "Over Easy".

If I do make it,

I would probably have to use some brown/tan striped fabric

and add some 3D rippled bacon strips.

(And yes, I do sleep under all my quilts.)

The next quilt I am prepping for is the sheep in the pasture below.

The sheep will be foundation pieced and sashed

so that they can constantly graze on a lush green grass background.



I hope you are going green, too!
Carlene

You just never know...

 

On March 20, 2010 I was speaking about my quilts

 to a group of women who were visiting Clarinda 

for the National Minneapolis-Moline Collectors Convention. 

In addition to sharing stories about more than thirty other quilts, 

I also chose to set up my 96" x 124" quilt named

 "Holocaust: A Hate Movement" 

in the main area of the Nodaway Valley Historical Museum.

 Since men and women were expected at the Museum that day, 

I thought its message could reach a large group. 

As it turned out, we did have 102 visitors that Saturday.

I shared the messages which are built into the quilt

 through blocks, fabrics, text, dimension, texture and quilting. 

Seventy blocks, chosen for their names 

from The Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns compiled by Barbara Brachman,

tell the story of the Holocaust in chronological order. 

The Nazi swastika block was drafted from a photograph. 

Bright colored prints first released in the 1920's and 1930's 

are featured in the beginning of the quilt. 

At the time when life became precarious, 

only solid-colored fabrics were used. 

The chosen colors were black (hate), red (death), orange (fear), 

brown (Nazi uniforms), dark blue (U.S., British and French flag color) 

and light blue (Israeli flag color). 

The four gray border fabrics represent everyday "normal life" (left), 

ashes blowing in the wind (top), 

ashes in the furnaces (bottom) 

and tendrils of hope growing from the ashes (right).

Blocks pieced with their seam allowances 

on the surface (instead of inside) 

reverse the meaning of the original block name. 

For example, the reversed block "Peace and Plenty" 

depicts the lack of peace and plenty at that time. 

Text such as "Where is God" and "Men to the left, Women to the right" 

documents both memories and agonizing concerns. 

Overall hand quilting in three-inch intervals 

represents the barbed wire fences 

surrounding the extermination and work camps.

In 1991 I was inspired by God 

to make this quilt after visiting Yad Vashem, 

The Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority 

near Jerusalem, Israel. 

Yad Vashem was founded in 1953 by the State of Israel 

to recognize those killed and harmed during the Holocaust 

and to acknowledge those who worked to rescue the survivors.

The software programs Electric Quilt and Blockbase 

were used to design the quilt layout and print templates 

for cutting out the pieces of the blocks. 

The names of the 77 quilt blocks 

are listed in alphabetical order as follows:

American Homes

At the Depot

At the Square

Attic Window

A Victory Quilt

Boxcar Patch

Broken Windows

Brown World

Children Israel

Church Steps

Churchill

Day and Night

Danger Signal

Depression

Father's Choice

Follow the Leader

Ghost Walk

Hide & Seek

Home Again

Hour Glass

Lost Children

Memory Block (seven - each containing one of the texts below)

..."Men to the left, women to the right"

..."Work will make you free"

..."Break the body, break the spirit, break the heart"

..."Where is God"

..."Whatsoever you do to the least of these my brethren, you do unto me"

..."I was only following orders"

..."Never again"

Next Door Neighbor

Nothing Wasted

Our Country

Path Thru the Woods

Peace and Plenty (backwards)

Peaceful Hours (backwards)

President Roosevelt

Prosperity (backwards)

Railroad Crossing

Road to Paris

Rob Peter to Pay Paul

Salute to Loyalty

Secret Drawer

Star of David

Swastika

Target

The Stockade

Trial and Troubles

Underground Railroad

Victory

I am drawn to tell stories about my quilts. 

This one has been the most difficult so far. 

In addition I have found that remembering history

opens my eyes to the current lack of justice and peace

in so many areas of our world.

 Keep your eyes open. 

Be courageous and speak up. 

You just never know when you might make a difference. 

Do you know of a venue which would welcome 

a short term display of this eye-opening quilt with a serious message?

Peace,

Carlene

Surfing in new waters

This week while surfing, I discovered Rocky Mountain Quilts

(which is located in Maine) which sells spectacular antique quilts.

http://www.rockymountainquilts.com/?gclid=COqA_r-DzqACFRk45wodF0MQzQ

I have included a few, but they have dozens and dozens....

maybe hundreds...of eye-popping quilts grouped by centuries and types such as

Amish, Crazy, African American, Blue and White Quilts, Silk Quilts, 20th Century Quilts, etc.

If you are wishing to be inspired, consider surfing, too!

Carlene

Surfing in new waters

I created this 100" x 100" quilt
(with slightly different inner borders)

after viewing a photo of an antique quilt online.

As you can see, green is a powerful draw for me yet.

What would you use to make the 378 half square triangles--

Triangle Paper, Wonder Ruler or traditional methods?

Also I discovered two more websites of interesting quilts.

On the BBC website I found information about England's

Victoria and Albert Museum current show of quilts from 1700-2010.

Check out the hexagon quilt probably made by a sailor.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/arts_and_culture/8578091.stm

Below is the website where you can view the winners of the

Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival 2010 and 2009.

http://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/e/quilt/

You know I loved the quilt entitled "Variations of Green" by Chinami Terai

which appeared with the 2009 winners.

http://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/e/quilt/8/original1.htm

Keep quilting--in your style and with your favorite colored fabrics--or not.

Whatever you choose, I hope you have a lovely spring!

Carlene

Jacob's Extension Ladder

Perhaps you know by now that I like to find quilts that interest me and recreate them on Electric Quilt. Check out this 1870-1890 Jacob's Ladder quilt on the International Quilt Study Center and Museum.

http://explorer.quiltstudy.org/#/quilt/1997.007.0037/

What intrigued me about the antique quilt was there were four Jacob's Ladder blocks in "the" block. First I recreated the quilt up to 100" square in pretty much the colors of the original. However, notice that I did not use half blocks in the top and bottom rows.

 I found this drawing pretty boring. It was hard to appreciate the block. 

 It had popped in the antique quilt, but not in the drawing. 

 When I look back at the original and this drawing, I don't find much different. 

 I think I thought the original quilt's blocks popped because I zoomed in on them.

 But meanwhile, I decided to spice up the colors.

Actually I still don't like it. 

 As it is now, I wouldn't be willing to make it.

What is wrong? 

 Leave a comment if you know what I should do differently. 

 We can all use help. 

 Carlene

I believe a skunk just cozied up to my basement window

There is an amazing "skunk" stench wafting through my basement window. Definitely time to go to bed. Sadly, my bedroom windows are directly above this basement window.

Here is one more quilt from the International Quilt Study Center website circa 1900-1920.
http://explorer.quiltstudy.org/#/quilt/1997.007.0291/

Isn't this a lovely two-color quilt? I hope you see beauty this week...and don't have a skunk near your basement window!

Carlene

Interesting border with Union Star

I found another interesting quilt on the International Quilt Study Center and Museum website dated from 1875-1895.

http://explorer.quiltstudy.org/#/quilt/1997.007.0053/

I think it is interesting because the "unknown" quilter chose not to predictably have a sashing border. Instead "he or she" chose to allow the blocks to float on the outer white border.

I enjoy a quilt that shows someone chose not to take the typical path, but instead to try something new.

Courage always catches my eye. I hope you or someone you see this week chooses to stretch artistically.

Carlene