CWD: John Morgan

November 28, 1863: 15 years old Cora Owens Hume wrote in her diary

- Hurrah, Hurrah, Hurrah! I feel like I want to be somewhere that I can scream as loud as I can. I think I will get into the cellar and then no Yankee can hear me. Yes, Hurrah, Hurrah, Hurrah, for John Morgan and six of his men have escaped from prison. They dug through the floor in some way. - quote from Civil War Diary Quilt written by R. Youngs

Today's block is John Morgan. It's an easy one;o)
I wrote down some of the cutting instructions. You can see them in the adjacent photo.

 63. John Morgan

Happy Thanksgiving Day to everyone!!!

- although here in Finland we do not spend it...

A Busy Postman...

.... brought to us some treats today!

This year also Fenix got his very own SSCS -parcel. THANK YOU, Santa's little helper MARIA!!!

You know we are very excited...

somehow we had to hold back our horses... or something..., that we won't open them before Christmas Eve!

See you on Thursday... then it's again CWD block day!

LUS: C-7 Democratic Watchman

Niin se vaan on, että mitä helpompi blokki (tai muu tekele), sitä käsittämättömämpiä virheitä tekee!

Last night I had an hour between two TV -programs, which I wanted to watch. I didn't fancy to knit or read or do anything else. Because the BOW of Loyal Union Sampler looked quite easy, I went to the sewing room, ironed the fabrics, cutted them and... vau! I had still 45 minutes left! Maybe I'll sew the block right now... there is only Quick-Pieced Flying Geese units and Quick-Pieced Square-On-Point unit.

So everything supposed to be QUICK!

Kaikki ei kuitenkaan aina mene niin kuin Strömsössä;o)

Square-On-Point unit went well... it was exactly 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"... although usually I have problems with them (always too small or uneven). 

I was happy... so far SO GOO:D!

Then the FG units... It felt a little bit odd, when I laid the first two square onto the big light green fabric. They didn't overlap each other so much as they should... 

I looked the clock... oh, better just hurry, that I get this block finished before Midsomer Murders!

I sewed, cut them separately and Voila!... DAMN, damn!! I had four all too big (= wide) FG unit! Furthermore their seam allowances were all too narrow!

WHAT has happened?!?!

My mistake was, that I had cut the light green square for FG units 1/4" too big  (it should have been 

4 1/4" x 4 1/4" square)!!! Luckily it was too BIG, not too small and the mistake was easy to repair...

... but just after Midsomer;o)

Block C-7 Democratic Watchman

Jo aikoja sitten... joskus lokakuun alkupuolella Soile, Töölön Tilkkupajasta, "haastoi kaikki bloggaajat avaamaan aarrekaappinsa ja kertomaan, millaisia välineitä / erikoishärpäkkeitä käyttää tilkkutöitä tehdessään".

Mietin sitä jonkun tovin - ja toisenkin;o) - huomasin, että aika yksinkertaisilla välineillä pärjäilee...

melko pitkälle...

  - lyijykynä, the RATKOJA, hyvä leikkuri, ISO, tukeva neulatyyny, ompelukoneen tilkkutyöjalka ja valikoima erilaisia viivaimia!

Viivaimia minulle onkin kertynyt mukavan kokoinen valikoima - kuvassa ei läheskään kaikki, mutta mieluisimmat = eniten käytössä kuluneet;o)

Koska tuon edellisen blokin kanssa oli hieman "ohjelmaa" lentävien hanhien kanssa, niin esittelen tässä kaksi tuumaviivainta (olen tuumaihminen), jotka ovat oivia apulaisia niitä ommeltaessa.

 Folded Corner Clipper

Hyvä esittely sen käytöstä löytyy Modan ... the Cutting Table blogista täältä.

FCC:n avulla olen lähes poikkeuksetta onnistunut saamaan OIKEAN kokoisia ja muotoisia lentäviä hanhia!

Plussana: ei tarvita kulmasta kulmaan piirrettyjä viivoja! Tosin edellytyksenä on, että koneessa on 1/4" saumanvaralla varustettu paininjalka.

Miinuksena: ei sovellu sellaisille projekteille, joissa ei ole varaa "tuhlata" kangasta. HUOM! Kulmapaloista voi ommella 2 -väri kolmio-neliöitä (HST), joten kangasta ei mene hukkaan!

Toinen hyödyllinen erikoisviivain ommeltaessa lentäviä hanhia on Open Gate Quilts:n...

Fit to Be Geese

Niitä on saatavilla ainakin kahta eri kokoa. Itselläni on tuo pienempi viivain - olen sellainen pienen näpertäjä:o)

Hyvä tutorial sen käytöstä löytyy täältä. 

Alkuun palatakseni... niin, vaikka olisi kuinka oivia, hyödyllisiä, käteviä vippaskonsti - härpäkkeitä, niin erheitä sattuu tilkkuilijan taipaleilla! 

Mutta virheistähän oppii... ainakin jonkin aikaa muistaa taas lukea ohjeita paremmin ja TARKEMMIN okulaarit päässä;o)

HAUSKAA SUNNUNTAITA... and a Happy New WEEK!!!

PS. As you see we (Fenix & I) decided to start a Christmas time here in a blogland ;o)

Courthouse Steps... and UPS!...

...Sparklers!!!! Bling!

Now I do not mean that I would have fallen down the stairs of the courthouse and saw sparks. I have never been to the courthouse... and I hope I never be... So the sparks, which I saw were quite different...

Today our postman delivered the sixth block of the 2013 Designer Mystery BOM. And I had to sew it... HETI!... sofort!... forthwith! I guess my eyes sparkled all the time, when I sewed ;o) 

The block's name is "Sparklers". It's designed by Kate Spain.

I do not know, if it's just an illusion, but it seems to me that these blocks are becoming increasingly interesting month by month... I surely don't regret that I joined also this BOM!

Can you believe this BOM is already in a mid way? Time really rushes!!!

The first three blocks are BASKETs, the next three are STARs... 

uuuhhhrrr...., I'm thrilled... what is coming next....

BeFORE the postman visited, I sewed this week's Quilty Fun Sew Along blocks...

two Courthouse Steps - blocks!

If until now you've been wondering... am I crazy or what... and what do I write ... maybe you are now back on track in my mad funny tale...

Yes, these are those steps;o)

I did my steps with dotty fabrics... but I didn't want to make them as scrappy as Lori (& other Sew Alongers) has made.

Maybe I have said this many times earlier, but I use rarely bright colors... BUT after this Sew along I'll know what color therapy means! It feels SO good to watch and fiddle the fabrics... full of colors!!!!

Because I already warmed the machine B. for the sparkles, I sewed two 8" stars for my OH, My Stars -quilt.

Now I have ALL 12" and 8" star blocks ready! Only eleven 4" stars is undone.

OhMy... so close but still so far away from... the quilt...

Here's those all 8" stars!

Each star has the same white background fabric, but the light has altered so much, when I have photographed them, that's why the backgrounds are not similar in this collage...

Wishing you Quilty or Sparkling Fun time!!!

PS. Erehdyin eilen käymään Marimekon Outletissa, ja mukaanhan lähti palalaarista muutama palanen mm. tuota hurmaavaa Rati Riti Ralla -kangasta... Harmitti, kun ei ollut kuin pieniä paloja! Olisi aika veikeää essuna...

LUS: G-4 Massachusetts... and few other thing

I am so happily lucky that I don't have to talk to you now... 

because pronouncing this block's name... Mas... Massasaschusss... äsh... would be totally impossible! - at least to me;o)

 Loyal Union Sampler BOW - G-4 Massachusetts

OhMy...- even the writing of the name is difficult, I have to look it again from Jennifer's book...

This is the first LUS block, which I sewed using Luna Notte's fabric with a black background. I was a little frightened, would it be too gloomy block... therefore I chose the black fabric with the large flower print... maybe it's not too gloomy!?! Or what do you think?

Then I'll write few words in Finnish about the craft fair. The photo below shows you what I found there;o)

Tampereen Kädentaidot 2013 sitten oli... 

tässä jotain, mitä minun kasseihini tarttui... Voi, minuu...

... näyttää ihan Lankahullun päiväkirjan kuvasivulta...

Mutta eihän tuossa ole kuin langat parhaimmillaan 13 pariin sukkia... ja se sukkainen joulu taitaa tulla taas ensi vuonna;o) Olikohan tuo tarpeeksi vakuuttava selitys lankaostoille?

Kankaisen Ommellaan.fi -osastolta tarttui kohtuullinen! määrä kankaita mukaan... tarkoituksena oli ostaa vaaleita taustakankaita. Melkein meni nappiin!

Liekö tuossa mosaiikissa sitten uuden harrastuksen alku?

Perjantain Summa summaarum: Hauska, antoisan uuvuttava päivä kaikkinensa! Aikaa vain olisi pitänyt olla enempi...

Tension in Chookyblue's Secret Santa Claus Swap 2013 is growing... an excitement is almost palpable....

Tomorrow is the first day of the postage... and as you see I'm ready as a scout ;o)

This little rosy girl will deliver my secret parcel to my pal far, far and even farer away...

I'll trust her that she will success in her job... and my SSCS pal will receive her gifts in time!

... while one week seems to over - again! - ... 

I wish you ALL a WONDERful upcoming week!!!!

CWD: Fasting and Knitting

November 15, 1861. 16 years old Sarah Lois Wadley wrote in her diary:

This is the fast day appointed by our President to pray for a continuance of those blessings which God has thus far bestowed upon us. - I have not eaten any meat or butter, however, having been reading and knitting socks all day. - (quote from The Civil War Diary Quilt written by R. Youngs)

CWD block #118 - Fasting and Knitting

The block looked like a medium-difficult block to me. First I thought that I foundation paper piece it... but nevertheless there is many pieces (8 mini blocks) to sew together. I took "a risk" and decided to test my measuring skills;o)

I cut the fabrics for mini blocks like this:

Cream A: cut 8 - 1 5/8" x 1 5/8" squares

Green & Purple B: cut 4 - 2" x 2" squares

* cut them diagonally once. You have now 8 green and 8 purple B triangles.

Green & Purple C: cut 4 - 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares

* cut them diagonally once. You have now 8 green and 8 purple C triangles.

After I had sewn them together I had a little bit... but just a bit.. larger rectangle than is needed for the mini blocks... so  I trimmed the mini block like this:

The finished Fasting and Knitting -block is quite ok! And it's just 6 1/2" x 6 1/2"... you can guess I'm a happy lady;o)

And I want to wish you a HAPPY WEEKEND!!!

PS. I cheated on you a little bit, because I sewed this block already on Wednesday. Today, on Friday November 15, I'm on the Finland's largest craft fair. I left there early in the morning... come home very late at the evening. I'll go there by bus (about 8 hours sitting in the bus... blaah)... it's very likely that I'll knit socks for the entire journey;o)

Twinkling Tuesday

I'm almost 100 % sure that you have already heard of this...

Quilty Fun Sewalong & Blog Tour.

Lori's fantastic book was released about month ago. It's full of color and happiness like Lori's blog. Every time, when I need some color therapy I visit at her blog. As soon as I heard that she will publish a book I decided to have it;o)

She hosted a Row-along... was it last year? I don't remember exact... and these colorful blocks: apples, stars, mittens, mugs etc... became familiar to us quilty people. At the time I hadn't time to be in... and I have regretted it. So this time I'm in right from the start! JIHUU!!!

 Last week (the first week) we sewed APPLEs!

I collected one autumn apple 'Punainen Melba', one summer apple 'Valkeakuulas', one winter apple 'Lobo' and one 'Granny Smith'. The first three apple varieties are grown (also) here in Finland.

This autumn has been so dark, RAINY and gray... Oh, I really need these fresh shades!!!!

Where the snow lingers??? We need more light!!!

And also the photographing is a bit of a challenge in these conditions... 

at least to me... with a poor camera...

If you like to watch the other Quilty Fun Sew Along -blocks, you'll find them here.

"See" you again on Friday!

It's a new CWD block coming...

LUS: H-7 Peace and Plenty

First... let's take a peek on the wrong side of the block...

That such an amount of blocks (in LUS quilt = 121 blocks) will remain in order, I mark their "code" (H-7) with a thin pen on the wrong side of the block... naturally always on the seam allowance.

The code H-7 means, that on the quilt the block's place is on the row H and it's the 7th block counted from the left to the right. 

Here is the next block of the LUS...

 

H-7 Peace and Plenty

... with Jennifer's book. The Loyal Union Sampler quilt is based on or is inspired by The Union Quilters. I'm looking forward to read it... and I'm starting to wish a longer hours ;o)

... but now I wish you a relaxing Sunday!!!

CWD: Bitter Enemy

Nov. 7, 1863 Eldress Nancy Ellen Moore wrote in her diary

Clear and beautiful day this 7th. Today Brother Patterson J. was out at the town of Franklin Kentucky. While there he saw the dead bodies of two guerrillas; who had been shot by Federal soldiers of Colonel Johnsons company. - A good many man who were acquainted recognize one of the dead bodies to be that of George Milligan who was formerly one of our near neighbors and a bitter enemy to believers. (quote from the book: Rosemary Youngs' The Civil War Diary Quilt)

I also wrote early this morning to my CWDQ journal: a beautiful and relaxing start to this 7th day.
The next CWD block was so easy compared to the previous one. Only squares and HSTs!

CWD block #27. Bitter Enemy

Here's some cutting instructions, if you like to sew it. The block's size is 6 1/2" including 1/4" seam allowance:

- cut 1 blue and 1 brown 4" square to make 3 1/2" HST square
- cut 2 brown and 2 cream 2 1/2" squares to make 2" HST square
- cut 4 brown 2"x 2" squares

The squares for the HSTs are a little bit bigger than needed, but I prefer to trim HST squares after sewing. That's way I get the right size HST squares;o)

If you wonder why I take quotes from Rosemary's book... I do it, because I want to clarify you the name of these CWD blocks.

Now I must hurry to make my morning walk... there is yet clear sky... a bit.

See you!

Mr. Tambourine Man

Today I hummed with Bob D... 

... take me disappearin' through the smoke rings of my mind

Down the foggy ruins of time, far past the frozen leaves

The haunted, frightened trees, out to the windy beach

Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow

Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free

Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands

With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves

Let me forget about today until tomorrow...

... and I sewed Aurifil Designer 2013 BOM.

November's designer is Laurie Tigner. When I read her story and saw her works at the Aurifil's page, I was afraid that she has designed something very complex for us. But she wanted to "keep it simple"... luckily, so I got my BOM finished in no time;o)

The selecting of fabrics was not slow either, because already last month I decided to use these fabrics...

(... and sometimes funny coincidences happen... it seems to me that those flowers are really waving themselves beneath the diamond sky... they look like hands... or do I have too vivid imagination?)

Mr. Tambourine Man

... but first of all I wanted that a topaz will be my precious stone in November!

Did you know this: Topaz is commonly colorless, light blue, yellow or orange-brown, but there is also pink, dark red and green topaz. Most prestigious topaz colors are pink and orange-yellow Brazilian imperial topaz. I remember reading... the warm tone of gold imperial topaz is like a battery that will recharge both mentally and physically stimulating a positive attitude.
Does it have the same effects as Mr. Tambourine Man could have?

Here's my all gems together:

1. Emerald, 2. Ruby, 3. Amethyst, 4. Yellow diamond, 5. Peridot, 6. Alexandrite, 7. Amethyst, 8. Garnet, 9. Sapphire, 10. Watermelon tourmaline and 11. Topaz.

Kiiik! Only one more jewel (BOM) left... which one would it be?

I'll try to NOT to be here tomorrow, because I MUST KNIT...knit...knit...

... wishing you a happy WEEK!!!!

LUS - B-6 Charlie Stokey's Star

... is this week's Loyal Union Sampler block.

Challenges of the block were:

a lot of small pieces... Y-seams... but I made it... somehow!

I was going to place the blue and red fabrics the other way around, but I was almost cut in all the fabrics until I found that "mistake" ... perhaps they are better this way ... it was a blessing in disguise ... for once;o)

B-6 Charlie Stokey's Star

This block would be fun to be a bigger size... for example 12". Now it's only 6" finished.

I'm happy that you popped up here... see you soon!

CWD: Feeding the Rebels

It's ALWAYS very dangerous to clean up your sewing room...

Why?

Because at least

I ALWAYS FIND the things that I have almost forgotten... or I pretend I had forgotten.

The one such thing, which I found last week was the blocks of Civil War Diary Quilt

And especially at this time it was dangerous, because I have one kind of SAMPLER boom going on...

I started to sew CWDQ blocks in January 2009. My passion waned... the latest block is sewn in June 2011. I was then sewed 76 blocks. I'm a really master of WISPs... UFOS... and such a things... You, who have been following my blog for longer, you remember that I sewed those blocks by date -system. And I took quotes from Rosemary Youngs' book. It was interesting and I got more enthusiasm that way. And it was fun, because I also wrote my own diary of sewing those blocks.

TODAY I started to sew CWD blocks again;o)

It's November 1st and in 1861 Eldress Nancy Elly Moore wrote in her diary...

Lieutenant Colonel Campbell with eight pickets rode up and called to the brethren for place to put up for the night... Also Captain Level with 75 Calvary called for shelter from the storm for the night... We furnished supper and breakfast for the whole of them. The brethren carried the victuals over to them after the sisters prepared and cooked them....

I had two options to sew today's Feeding the Rebels -block. 1) paper piecing or 2) traditional way. There is no templates or cutting instructions in the book. So you have to make all the instructions by yourself.

I know it would have been easier... and much more less risky (=easier to nerves) to paper pieced it... but I choose the option 2.

In the book is many blocks with narrow stripes.... and you guess they are not my favorite pieces!

First I cut red and cream 7/8" width stripes and then I sewed them together. The stripes around the middle square are the same width. And then I crossed my fingers and hoped that I had about the right size...

They were about right, but you see, they are not all the same width... BUT that was then my smallest problem! When I sewed red and light brown triangles to the side of striped pieces, I noticed, I cut the light brown triangles all too small... not much, but enough... the block was 6 1/8", not 6 1/2". Fortunately, there is a seam ripper invented!

After one resewn...

CWD Block #14 - Feeding the Rebels

Oh, there is 44 blocks left.. How long my passion will last this time?

I wish you a peaceful All Saint's Day!!!!

PS. If you click the picture of myCWD quilt on the sidebar, you will see all my postings labelled with CWD.