CCCQ The Final Stretch

We have had some wintery weather.  It is wet and windy, the first snow flurries are on the peaks and the vegetable garden is expecting the first frost.  It's a great time to be sewing the binding on a big quilt.

The Chester Criswell Quilt is nearly finished.  I do the hand quilting in the evenings while the television is on.  I will have the quilt completed sometime next week so I have to hurry and get another project ready for the evenings - perhaps some knitted hats for the grandkids.


I'm not much when it comes to housework, and we don't have a lot of visitors (after spending all day behind a shop counter we prefer a little peace and quiet at home).  As a consequence the level surfaces in the house tend to accumulate this and that.  If visitors were to arrive I would have to clear the couch.

This week's CCCQ Revisited block is Margaretta Harris Block 20.

The original block is not as round as my reproduction, if I made it again I might go for the wonky look.

Last week was Block 7 William and Harry.

And the week before Block 29 Maria Criswell. 

Swap Blocks Across the Seas

I got a special package in the mail last week.  I received a Royal Palm block.

It's a swap block made by Wanda of Scrap Happy AKA Blended Quilter.  It's flown all the way from Oklahoma to Gippsland.  What's really special is Wanda's signature - she drew it freehand.  I'm impressed.

Of course, there's another block that flew from the Southern to the Northern Hemisphere.

I signed my block, but I didn't trust my calligraphy abilities.  I traced my name.

This is my light box.  I typed my words on the laptop, picked a nice font, then inverted the image.  After I turned the laptop around, the image was right side up again, ready to trace.  It wasn't quite as easy as it looks, but it did the job.  Different tools to Elizabeth Clendenen's inked stamps, but we both use the materials at hand.

Wanda and I are both pleased with our blocks, and we're ready to swap again.  Are there any takers?

Photos of the Clendenen Block

I know several of you have finished the Royal Palm block already because I've seen your photos.  You can share your photo blogs here, we all love to get a peek at someone else's work.

Block 8 is ready to roll on March 1st.  It's not one of the easy blocks, but it does look great finished.  If you live in Australia you should receive your block in the evening, if you are in the US it should make an appearance in the morning. 



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A Block for William and Harry

The Royal Palm Block

There are two blocks of this design in the Chester Criswell Quilt, one for six year old William and one for three year old Harry Clendenen.



William Clendenen



Harry Clendenen

The blocks were made by their mother Elizabeth Clendenen.  Elizabeth was one of Mary Criswell's many cousins. Elizabeth and her husband Robert didn't live in Chester County; they moved around quite a bit and settled in the Baltimore area.

The names William and Harry suggested the block's name - The Royal Palm.  The pattern is available on the website now.  The feedback on the blocks and the stories is very positive, thank you so much, I hope you all enjoy this one too.

Remember, you don't have to use traditional reproduction fabrics for these blocks.  If you want to see some Very Different Blocks take a look at Michelle's blocks on her blog http://buttontreelane.blogspot.com.au . Now that's a horse of a different colour!

P.S.  Harry's full name was Isaac Henry;  in the pattern I've called him 'Harry' five times and 'Isaac' once.

www.twobitspatches.com



Royal Palms - Wikipedia photo