Another small civil war quilt done

This is my third small quilt from The Civil War Sewing Circle book by Kathleen Tracy.  It is my
version of the pink patches doll quilt on page 52.  This is made in faded browns and blues.  It looks
antique-y and actually reminds me of an old wallpaper you might find in the dining room of an old, old house.  Such a fun and quick project once again.  It's a good book and I know a lot of bloggers own
this one as I have seen various finished quilts in blogland.  Now to decide which one to make next

when I need a break from larger projects.

Surprised with a gift

A couple weeks ago the mailman brought me a little bundle.  It was from one of my sisters.  What could it be?  It was a little mug rug that she had made me.  I was totally surprised.  This sister is a rather newbie to quilting and when I saw her lovely work, I was doubly surprised.  Her skills from this project propell her out of the "newbie" category.  She chose great colors and even used the salvage edge.  It arrived at a good time for me as I needed a gift for a fellow quilter and this was a perfect gift
project. 
My sister shared the link with me where she found the pattern/directions and I will do the same for
anyone needing a little quilt to gift a friend.  The website should appear here.  You can make this
in color choices to fit your friend's taste.
I am not a coffee drinker so I told my sister that I would be using mine as a candle mat.  How cute!

I copied the Primitive Gatherings fabrics she used in this and started making a few.   Whether you use yours as a mug rug or a candle mat; make as a gift or keep it for yourself, this was a quick, easy and fun little project.

I remember Joan Vibert's great primitives.........

When I took my first quilting lessons in 1985, I chose blues and browns for my beginning sampler blocks colors and I tended to stay with the dark colors.  I enjoyed learning the new world of traditional
quilt blocks and traditional is still a favorite.  My quilting tendencies stayed on the dark side and soon
muslin wasn't getting it for me..........there needed to be a bit darker muslin for my tastes and that is
when I stumble upon the designs of a lady named Joan Vibert.  Her work opened up the world of

primitive dolls and quilting to me with this book. And she tea dyed muslin for ageing!  Notice that familiar co/author's name, Linda Brannock.


I made tons of primitive dolls from this book with some still surviving.  And being like a
stitcher on the prairie, I mostly stitched these by hand, including the bodies!

See that itty bitty next to the thimble?  I would not make that one again ever!

From then on I collected almost every book Joan Vibert had her name on and I still have them.
She had a little prairie girl character named Sarah Jane and I followed her faithfully.

There used to be a great quilting magazine published back then called Lady's Circle Patchwork Quilts.
I didn't dare throw away my copy that featured Joan's work and the work of her like minded primitive designers.  I made a prim flag doll quilt like she did, of course tea dyeing those wickedly white muslins
to get the old and worn look I loved of hers.

In those pre-internet days, I had always wondered why she stopped publishing her books and designs and never did know. Who knew how to find out?  But when her works stopped there seemed to be a couple names that continued the primitives I loved and
they are still designing today.  It wasn't long back then when a great book by these ladies was published, Snowbound, and even a first primitive fabric line only to be followed by many, many more lines.  Can you say Linda Brannock and Jan Patek?  How wonderful!

But when I look at my old prim books, it was Joan Vibert who first opened my eyes to crinkly, wrinkled, tea dyed fabrics and knot haired dolls of all sizes.  I don't know if she was the first or the first of many to begin the primitive era, but it doesn't matter.  I'm glad she/they did.  Thanks, Joan Vibert.........for me, it all started with you!

Just a little quilt finish

This is a recent finish from The Civil War Sewing Circle book by Kathleen Tracy.  I like
the simple little quilts she has in this book.  When bigger projects get too boring or when
I need something quick to make and finish, this book has some good little quilts to work
on.  A fast finish is always satisfying.  It is on page 43, One-Patch Doll Quilt.  Look how
different it looks from the book's photo by using some lighter greens, goldie browns
and a few star prints centered in the nine patch.  A fun little project  and I can set it out
for St. Paddy's Day without it screeming kelly green.  It's good for March decorating.

Re-making an old doll quilt and directions for you

A couple weeks ago I was quilt fabric shopping at Good Wives (Marion, Ohio) looking at a new Jo Morton line called Bridgeport when I let out a gasp.  There was a black mourning print in the line that reminded me of a print that was in an antique doll quilt I own.  How neat if I could remake my antique into a new doll quilt.  After all, reproduction mourning prints are hard to find.

After getting home and finding my doll quilt, I rummaged through the scrap basket for some

medium and light blues.  Since the original is machine quilted with diagonal lines thru each

square, I followed along with the new one.  See how similar they look?

 

This is a simple doll quilt to make and if you would like to make one for yourself, find some scrappy blues and get a bit of Andover Bridgeport #A-5604-K.  I bought a yard and I have a good piece leftover.  You may only need half a yard.

Cut 35 assorted blue squares 2 3/4 inches.  And cut 35 black repro mourning prints 2 3/4 inches square.

Follow the color placements in the photos.  Notice the short blue rows contain the same blue in a line.

The antique doll quilt is backed and bound with a grayish mini check.  I used a smokey gray tiny star

print on mine.

I hope you make one!

Rail fence top is finished

I enjoyed working on the rail fence but am happy it is completed.  Will pack this away for
a time before making a decision on finishing it.  I have always wanted to make a summer log
cabin spread and have never started one.  So I am thinking I could make this a summer spread
instead.  Still unsure so I will decide another day.  This actually made a big dent in my
scrap pile of strips.  I will now need to start adding more to the collection.

 How fun it is to see a scrapbook of other projects in this top.

Yesterday our applique group met and had the big reveal from a challenge we have been working on.
We each made a little piece from a Lori Smith pattern and chose our own way to finish it up.  It was
fun to see the various color choices each one made which made them so different and individual.  I
temporarily put mine in an old window frame.  It's just taped in on the back until I find what I
really want to use it the frame, then I can finish this little piece in another project.  Fun challenge
for us.

Now I am back to the stitching room to piece a back for the willow trees for yet another top to
baste.  Ahhhhh.............I should be hand quilting all of these instead of building a big pile of
need to be hand quilted tops.

Hot off the presses is my finished blue willow top. She is not de-threaded yet or even hanging straight, but I wanted to take a picture for a look thru the camera lens to get the over all effect. I thought I would post the picture as is. The camera still makes it look brighter than the duller quilt top she is. This will be put in the pile to baste.........argh......didn't I just mention I basted two tops last week. But it is nice to have this one sewn into a top and dream of the next applique project. She is larger than I guessed as each block is 20".

I goofed when I counted the blocks for the rail fence top I have been working on. I thought I only needed 120 blocks and was almost to goal when I realized, I needed 120 more blocks. O boy. Still stitching on those and I am actually using up a large amount of my 1 1/2 inch scrap strips. I may have to cut more. Fun!