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. 

Visit to Castlemaine

I've been quilting these two blocks - Elizabeth Cummins Block 26 and Maria Criswell Block 29.  I have two thirds of the quilting finished on the Chester Criswell quilt.  I was hoping to finish before the end of the year but that's not going to happen.

We traveled to our son and daughter-in-law's home a few weeks ago.  We only visit once or twice a year but we used a long weekend to stay a few days. 

Fortunately for me their house is near Castlemaine, an old gold mining town between Bendigo and Ballarat.  The Castlemaine area has old buildings and trains.

Castlemaine has a lot of nice shops but my favourite is Threadbear. Threadbear stocks a wide range of reproduction fabric; I've done a workshop with Di Ford Hall at Castlemaine too.

I bought some nice things to play with.

I also had a conversation with another quilter at the shop.  I don't usually strike up conversations with strangers, but quilters aren't really strangers - strange maybe, but not strangers.  I gave her one of my new postcards.

I later discovered this stranger's name was Robyn because when I arrived home there was an email waiting for me.

I met and spoke with you briefly when shopping for material in Threadbear on Monday and you gave me your card.  When you mentioned the Chester Criswell quilt it seemed familiar to me and on returning home I looked up your website.  I realized I had previously read about the blocks on a blog. I am so in awe of your history and that you retain the original 1852 wedding quilt with all the signatures. ... I now wish I had asked more questions of you.

How nice!  It was so lovely that someone had made that extra effort to get in touch - it made my day. Thank you Robyn for taking the time to write and all the best with your Baltimore blocks.

Time for some Photos

I was reminded that it's been a while since I posted links to everyone's blog photos.  I was amazed to find it's been almost six months since I asked for your photos.  So, if you've finished one of the following blocks now is a good time to share your handiwork.

Block 26 Elizabeth Cummins

Block 27 Susanna Criswell

Block 28 Mary McDowell

Block 29 Maria Criswell

Block 30 Elizabeth Crosby

Block 31 John and Martha Dickey

1. Write your blog post. Publish it on your blog.
2. Copy the link of the specific blog post. This is not just the link to your blog itself (www.chestercriswellquilt.blogspot.com), but the link to the specific post: (http://chestercriswellquilt.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/hows-it-going.html)
3. Click the blue link up button below and paste your link into the box.

An InLinkz Link-up

On Your Mark, Get Set, ....

Mary McDowell's block was January's Block.

CCCQ Block 28 Mary McDowell

Now January is nearly finished and February is the day after tomorrow.  Block 29 is in the gates and ready to sprint through the ether to lucky computers.

I have been thinking about projects for 2015.  I could finish UFOs but that seems too boring.  The last block for the Chester Criswell Quilt will be released in June so this project will be complete (apart from quilting...) I have spent three years in the 1850s and am ready for a new decade. I am working on a special something, I don't want to give too much away, but I will leave you with some clues.  Ready?