Photos at the Finish Line

The final block of the Chester Criswell Quilt was certainly a challenge to make.

There are two of these blocks in the quilt, one made by Jane Trayner and one by Martha Turner.  I wonder if they chose a difficult block because they wanted to contribute their best to the bridal quilt, or if they were a bit inclined to show off.

I certainly found this block daunting.  I keep putting it off because I was uncertain if I could do it justice.  Fortunately applique is just one stitch at a time and once I started I found that it wasn't impossible.  You can hardly tell that my circles aren't quite evenly spaced around the wheel (that's part of the charm, I tell myself...).  At the end of this post there is a place for you to share your pictures of Block 32 and Block 33.

Have you downloaded a copy of the e-book yet?  It's now in my Etsy store in US dollars as well as the website in Australian dollars.  If you choose to suit your location you can save a little in exchange rates.

Round is the Ring That Has No End - Australian currency 

Round is the Ring That Has No End - US currency

 

Here is the place to share your photos.
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

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

Photos of Sarah's Laurel Block

Sarah Stubbs' Block was Number 25 in the Chester Criswell Quilt.

The laurel wreath was used with signatures in a number of the quilt blocks.

Ellen Cummins and Humphrey Hood

Did Ellen and Humphrey live happily ever after?  You will find out in Block 26....


According to Wikipedia, the laurel wreath was a symbol of victory, a sign of graduation and is a common motif in architecture, furniture, and textiles.

Grave goods portrait, Romano-Egyptian, 100-110 CE

Escola Eliseu Maciel, Centro, Pelotas, Brasil

You can add your own laurels here.


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

CCCQ First Year Finish

I received a photo this week from Kathleen Connor in the north west hills of Connecticut.  She's a CCCQ fan and has made this quilt top from The First Year patterns.  Not only does she have a finish, two of these blocks are Kathleen's own design.

I asked Kathleen about her journey with the Chester Criswell Quilt.  She says,

"I've enjoyed every stitch I took for this quilt! The first Chester Criswell block I made was Jane Wilson's block, #1. I found that I loved doing the one piece, papercut style block with needleturn applique. Next up was Block 2 which reminded me of the traditional leaf and reel blocks found in many antique quilts. Sharon's patterns were a joy to work with, well drawn and not difficult to stitch. At that point I thought of making a 9-block quilt with the leaf and reel style blocks balancing "square-shaped" blocks like Block #1. I knew I wanted to put the circular Block 4 in the center; this is my favorite block though it's hard to choose a favorite, isn't it?

I designed two new versions of reel blocks for the quilt.  I thought I'd design an applique border for the quilt, but when the blocks were put together with the sashing, I visited a new-to-me quilt shop and found the perfect large scale paisley. I'm going to hand quilt around the edges of each applique motif. Then I might do echo quilting in the background of each block, or I'll do diagonal quilting lines across the backgrounds and sashing. I had better decide soon!

I've had a great time with this quilt, and I plan to use more Chester Criswell blocks in a future quilt."

Thank you very much Kathleen, for sharing your work.  I'm impressed with the way Kathleen's new designs blend with the old.  Every one has favourite blocks ... and not so favourite blocks.  If you don't like the block you have to make next just replace it with one of your own. 

Another CCCQ fan, Wanda at Scrap Happy aka Blended Quilter, is looking for a swap partner for Block #24.  If you're interested just hop over to her blog.

Photos of Alice's Oak Leaf ~ CCCQ 24

A work in progress, but the end is in sight.

 

If you look carefully you will find next month's block.  Block 25 will be ready for the 1st October.

 

Alice's Oak Leaf has been a popular pattern.  When you finish, why not share your photo?  You can link up your blog post below, or send me an attachment and I'll add it to this post.


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

Pinning and Posting

I've jumped on the Pinterest bandwagon.  There are so many inspiring images in cyberspace, I've decided to collect a few.  One positive feature of Pinterest is the picture's source always stays with the picture - you can easily visit the original post and view the original context.

I've set up four boards.  I only have one follower so I would be pleased to gather a few more.

Friendship Quilts

 

 

Antique Album Quilts

Patchwork Blocks

Chester Criswell Quilt

There is no new Chester Criswell Quilt pattern next month but there is still plenty of activity around the CCCQ community.

 Carole from Wheels on the Warrandyte Bus is choosing fabric.

 Miriam from Yellow Roses has finished Block 23 - the Bat Signal block.

 Chris is Quilting at the Farm and finishing Dear Jane as well.

Wanda appears to have five blocks on the go at the same time - Scrap Happy.

Nancy's design wall is working overtime - these are half of her completed blocks. Tattered Garden Quilting.

Last but not least, Jan Mac's design floor.  Sew Many Quilts, Too Little Time.



And what have I been doing?  Well, don't tell anyone, but I bought another antique quilt.  Shhh...

Photos of Block 22 - Rosebud Bouquet

CCCQ Block 22 - Jesse Jackson Smith

 I haven't found out any more about these 'odd botanical' blocks in the Chester Criswell Quilt.  I was hoping for some photos of similar blocks in similar quilts but nothing has appeared.

I've noticed a few finished blocks, if you put your link here we can all enjoy them.


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

I had my own bouquet of roses last week for my birthday.  Flowers don't appear very often in our household, I was very surprised and very pleased. There is just something special about roses, isn't there.

Photos of Block 21

Block 21 was nice and easy, I've finishing quilting it now.  I decided to Quilt As You Go for this quilt.  The hand quilting is quite enjoyable when you are only doing one block at a time.

My Windows XP home computer did not survive long after the customer support for XP finished.  I have been using my laptop while I was waiting a brand new computer to be installed at work, so the work computer could be retired to home.  Now when I need a photo to upload I need to think, where is it?  Is it on the old computer, the backup external hard drive, the laptop, the new computer or still in the camera?  It's in the camera, good, now where is my photo software......?

Hopefully you can find some photos to share.

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

Photos of Block 19 Emily Carlile

I was searching through the photos that have been used on the blog already.  It is interesting how these three patterns are similar in form and colour but the patterns are all different.

Block 19 Emily Carlile

Block 2 Elizabeth Cowan

Block 6 Reuben Stubbs

I was also searching through Ancestry.com to find some clues about the next few block makers.  I was fortunate to find a family tree that showed that two of the block makers were cousins, and some of my surnames seemed to be attached as well.  A signature quilt is like a family tree.  The big difference is that with the quilt you already have all the names, but none of the relationships.

Have you finished Block 19?  If you have your can share a blog post below.

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.

Work in Progress Eye Candy

Kathleen from Connecticut sent a photo of her nine CCCQ blocks.

Well, it's actually a photo of seven Chester Criswell blocks and two Kathleen blocks.  Can you pick the two that she's designed herself? I do like the way the green elements balance the whole set. 

I finished quilting my Block 16. I love the feel of the quilted block.  The applique block itself is nice to look at but the quilted block is nice to hold.

A Stroll Around the Blogs

My stitching is going a little slowly, so I'll show you what everyone else is doing.

Carole has had to evacuate her home in the face of bushfire threat - yes really.  Fortunately her home is safe and the wheels are back on the Warrandyte Bus blog.

Yellow Roses Miriam has finished the latest block, belonging to Mary McKissick.

Chris is Quilting at the Farm and has finished Block 16 for a swap with ....

.... Wanda the Scrap Happy Quilter.  Wanda and Chris have been coping with blizzards; Carole and I are watching bushfires.

Nancy from the Tattered Garden has finished the centre block (and quite a few other blocks as well).

Jan of Sew Many Quilts - Too Little Time has been making up for lost time.

How are you going?  Any photos to share? Stay safe everyone!

Photos of Blocks 15,16,17.... Anything!

The posts for your photos have got a bit behind, so now is a good chance for a show and tell.

Block 15 Alice McClellan

Block 16 Adeline Gibson

Block 17 Criswell Gibson

If you have blogged about your blocks, please follow the instructions to link your post.  If you have finished one of the earlier blocks, why not link it too - the more the merrier!

Do you make New Year resolutions?  I don't really but I do think about what I would like to achieve in the next twelve months.  A lot of people focus on their UFOs  - unfinished projects that have been hidden away. I have as many UFOs as the next person, but I leave them hidden.  Occasionally one surfaces and gets completed but I try not to feel guilty about them.  I had fun making them, and when they stopped being enjoyable I put them to one side.  How do you treat your UFOs?


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.

Happy New Year 2014

Happy New Year!  Hope your 2014 contains everything you wished for!

In October I received a photo album from my aunt in Tennessee that had photos of the Criswells as well as other relatives.  My sister flew to Tennessee for Christmas and I sent a copy of The First Year as a thank you for the photo album.  It was well received and appreciated by my American cousins.
My aunt and uncle are in the process of moving to a smaller home and their family was told, take anything you want.  My sister happened to see this photo frame on the wall and brought it back to Australia for me.

These are photos of Jesse Jackson Smith and Mary Criswell Smith, taken about 1870 (according to  my grandmother's handwriting on the back of the picture).  I will need to take the photos out of the frame to make a good copy, but I couldn't wait to share them.  Do you see the carpet that Mary is standing on?  It's like one of the applique patterns from the quilt.  How many yards/metres of fabric would it take to make one dress?  And how many petticoats are under the skirt?

Block 17 is on the website now.  The fabric I used is Moda's Collections for a Cause Friendship.  The ring of flowers around the centre was a nice surprise.

Photos of Mary Wilson's Block 14

Have you finished Block #14?  If you have we would all like some show and tell.

Block 14 Mary Wilson

I was working on this block while DH and I were away on a short holiday break.  Whenever I see it I think of the beach we walked along and the lovely bed and breakfast accommodation (complete with sauna and massage).  This block makes me smile.

Do you make associations with quilts you are working on?  I know a lot of women take hand sewing along while waiting for children's swimming lessons or sporting activities; some women are sewing in hospitals or sickrooms.  How does the context of your stitching make you feel about your finished project?

If you have posted about Block #14 just follow the instructions below.  If you haven't a blog you can send me your photo and I'll add it here.

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.

Photos of Alice Criswell's Block 13

Block 13 was a big one, wasn't it.  But I know that a few are finished now so it's time to share your creations.  It's easy to share your blog entry, the instructions are below, or you can send me your photo and I will add it to the post.

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.

Block Round Up

Here are some photos of CCCQ blocks that have recently been finished.  It doesn't matter if you are working on Block 3, or if you are completely up to date with Block 14 - the quilt has been around for 160 years and another year or two won't make any difference.

Carole at Wheels on the Warrandyte Bus has been sewing in tropical far North Queensland.

Wendy from Legends and Lace has finished Block 9.

Quilting at the Farm's Chris also finished Block 9, but she gave it away.  Chris finished Block 1 and she gave that away too!  Visit Chris's blog to get the whole story.  Here is her Block 4.

Scrap Happy Wanda has a gorgeous Block 12.

And this is the block I'm working on.  I'll tell you more in a few months.

If you haven't entered the competition to win The Second Year patterns, be quick!  You've got one extra day to guess the buttons.

Block 14, Alice McClellan's block, is about to jump into cyberspace.  I wonder what Alice would think to see her handiwork flying though the ether?