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

* * * * * * * * *

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

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

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

Treasure trove of quilts to inspire you

I was surfing on the International Quilt Study Center and Museum website and found this quilt in their amazing collection.

http://explorer.quiltstudy.org/#/quilt/1997.007.0051/


So I went to my Electric Quilt 6 program and recreated the quilt and resized it to 101.5" square. What an attractive quilt with my favorite details....triangles and flying geese blocks. I think I am going to have to make this one!


This week I hope you find an inspiration that you choose to dream about.


Carlene

Leftovers

I found some leftovers in My Pictures and had to share them with you because they are related to the last two blogs. The colors chosen are more edgy.

I think the pumpkin and white is very peaceful.
Hmmmm, all I can think about is pumpkin pie with Cool Whip. Guess I am hungry.

Onto the green and pink quilt which is saying "Look at me!!!" Those large stars in the corners are quite demanding.

It is hard to believe both quilt drawings (on Electric Quilt) are sized to 100" square.
They each have such a different feel.





















These are crazy quilts and I am a crazy quilter. It is almost 3:30 a.m. I must go to bed.
Hope you are more prudent.

Carlene