Family Treasures

I sent an email to my aunt in Tennessee telling her about the work I was doing with the family heirloom quilt.  She sent an email back - she had an old photo album with pictures of the Criswell family, was I interested in looking at it?

Was I ??!!  I didn't know these photos existed.  I had some from my maternal grandmother's father's family but none from her mother's family. We organised to post the album to Australia.

While I was waiting I tried to imagine what photos the album would contain.  Would there be any wedding photos?  What would Mary Smith nee Criswell look like?  Would she be as lovely as the Long sisters from Kansas City? Maybe she would even look a little like me.

The album arrived the other day.  It is quite heavy.

Full of promise

The album front-piece

The recipients of the CCCQ

Mary McClellan Criswell

Well .... I'm happy to say that I don't look much like my g-g-g-grandmother.  I don't know how old Mary was when this was taken, I hope she was a schoolgirl in this photo and not a bride-to-be.  Not the most flattering hairstyle.

There are about thirty photos in the album, fortunately all labeled in my grandmother's handwriting.  I like this photo of Mary's daughter Alice Smith.

I wish I know what colour the dress fabric was.  The dress must be homemade because little sister Hannah Mary has the same material.

Good looks aren't everything.

Back to Block 14

Block 14  Twin Tulips

Mary Wilson was 16 and living with her mother when she signed her block for Mary Criswell's quilt.  Mary Wilson then disappears from the census records.  She probably married but there isn't an easy way to trace her once her surname has changed.

I decided to follow Mary's siblings to see if there were any clues to Mary's timeline.  I used one of my favourite genealogical sites, www.findagrave.com and discovered the grave-site of her sister-in-law Elizabeth Wilson.  Included with a photo of the tombstone was this intriguing historical snapshot.

"Elizabeth was the mother of Martha (Ella) Long, wife of R. A. Long, the lumber baron, who started his Long-Bell Lumber Company in the small community of Columbus, Kansas.
She was a Quaker and a woman of great courage and foresight. She moved her nine children from Pennsylvania to the new and primitive town of Columbus, Cherokee County, Kansas following her husband's death in 1868."

Martha Ellen (Ella) Long nee Wilson

I googled 'R A Long timber baron' and was introduced to the R A Long Historical Society.

Robert Alexander Long grew up in Kentucky and migrated to Kansas as a young man. He tried his hand at a number of enterprises and failed at each.  R A Long spent one season making hay which he stored in timber sheds; the hay was cut at the wrong time and proved worthless.  Long consequently dismantled the sheds and sold the lumber at a profit.  Selling timber led to buying a sawmill, then a coal mine, then a railroad and the successes never stopped.

R A Long built his home Corinthian Hall in Kansas City Missouri.  It now houses the Kansas City Museum.

Corinthian Hall

R A Long also built Longview Farm, a model farm of 1,780 acres with 60 buildings, a chapel, a hotel and 175 employees.  Longview Farm was famous for its show horses.

Show Barn at Longview Farm

R A Long married Elizabeth Wilson's daughter Ella in 1876.  Their first child, a boy, lived for only a few weeks.  Robert and Ella Wilson then had two daughters, Sallie America and Loula.

Sallie America Long

Sallie America Long went to finishing school in Washington, D.C. and then went on a world tour.  She met and married Hayne Ellis, a naval officer, and established a home in Washington D.C.  When her husband died she returned to Longview Farm to live with her sister Loula.

Loula Long

Loula Long was a horsewoman.  She was one of the first women to compete against men in horse and carriage events. Loula was well known for the horses she bred at Longview Farm and for her hats.  She married Robert Combs lived with him and her children at the Farm.

Loula Long Combs driving Capitvation

I found the story of the Wilsons and the Longs fascinating, I hope you have enjoyed this brief glimpse into their amazing lives.

House Quilts Down Under

A few months ago the editor of Down Under Quilts, Linda Robertus, asked for photos of house quilts for an upcoming article.  My 1937 signature quilt made the grade and it appeared in the current issue No.160. Hooray!

This quilt was made in 1937 by the ladies of Malaga, Washington.  I've started to reproduce this quilt, I have six blocks finished, and I am going to tell its story on my blog Patchwork Bits and Pieces.

Also included in the article was my little cottage quilt.  The pattern Honeymoon Cottage was designed by Ruby McKim in the 1930s.  McKim was a prolific designer and her quilt blocks and embroideries were influenced by the Art Deco movement. After I made my cottage I found the red and white one on eBay, and now they live happily side by side.

This house pattern really speaks to me.  It reminds me of my favourite holiday spot when I was 10 years old, Lake Hope State Park, Ohio.  We stayed in a cabin just like this one...

After last week's visit to Quilts in the Barn, I've been inspired to try something new.

Who likes hexagons?

Round and Round the Blogs

I posted my photos from Quilts in the Barn but I didn't add much description.  If you want to see some more quilts from the exhibition take a peek at these blogs (hello Carole, Miriam and Sue-Anne!)

Wheels on the Warrandyte Bus

Yellow Roses

 

 

 

 

 

Buddy and Me

 

 

 

And, speaking of blogs, I found a few more bloggers sharing their Chester Criswell Quilt blocks.

 

Marian Edwards Dreamweaver has put up a photo of her first three blocks.  There are so many red prints, you don't often see the same design twice.

And here is Chris's Quilting at the Farm, a new blogger but obviously a very experienced quilter.  Isn't that red print gorgeous!  Chris has started with Block #13 and it's looking great.

Block #14 is getting put together, it's running a little late but it should be sent out tomorrow.



A Day at The Barn

After yesterday's storms, wind and rain it was fantastic to have perfect weather to visit Quilts in the Barn at Wonga Park.  The theme this year was "All About Chintz".

The quilts, old and new, were remarkable.

 It was a great opportunity to rendezvous with friends....

Miriam, Sharon and Carole
The Blogging Triumvirate

... and a chance to add some variety to the stash.

New Purchases

I picked up these two prints from the Friendship Collections for a Cause by Moda.  The range was based on a 1850's signature or friendship quilt.

I think the red will do nicely for this block.

And the cream print was too pretty to leave behind.

I bought a new book too.

I was hoping to go to the exhibition at the Queensland Art Gallery : Quilts 1700 - 1945 from the Victoria and Albert Museum.  I didn't make the trip so I bought the book instead.  Actually, I bought the original London catalogue book because the Australian one is sold out.  It's brilliant, lots of pictures and lots of history.  

I missed out on Queensland, but I am going to Quilts in the Barn at Wonga Park.  I will be going on Friday, I'd love to say hello if you are going too.

Alice Criswell's Big Block

How do you like the first block of The Second Year?

Alice and Andrew Criswell's block

I think it has a Hawaiian feel about it.  This block isn't more difficult than the previous blocks, the challenge is in the preparation.  

I started by taping the two pattern pieces together to make one quarter.  This is my first draft of the pattern, it hasn't been prettied up yet.  I've taped it to the table so it doesn't shift.

I found a large piece of light interfacing, big enough for the whole pattern.  I taped the interfacing over the pattern and traced one quarter.  Then I turned the interfacing over and traced the next quarter on the opposite side of the interfacing.  That gave me a mirror image and I could see the first drawing through the sheer material.  I did the same for the next two quarters and the pattern was finished.  

Cutting it out took time, I had to be careful not to tear the interfacing.  When finished I basted the interfacing to the fabric.  The interfacing stayed on while I did the needleturn, it was easy to fold out of the way to see my stitches.

I found that this method worked well for me.  If you have a clever way to prepare a big applique we'd love you to share it.

Ready for Another Year?

One year ago today I visited Quilts in the Barn for the first time.  Linda and Bev had invited me to bring and share the CCCQ with some like-minded friends. The year that followed has been awesome!

These blocks belong to Nancy from Tattered Garden Quilting.  Nancy can't stop at just one, she has made two of almost every block.  She made one for me too.

So, what's new for the second year? The Second Year is what's new.  There are eleven more patterns to be released once a month, and the first one will be ready .....  Now!

You can get just Block 13, Alice Criswell's block, or you can sign up for the whole Second Year.  Or you can visit Two Bits Patches on Facebook.  Or you can leave a comment below.  Enjoy the journey!

Quilts in the Barn

Are you going to Quilts in the Barn?  I haven't been before but I am going to go this time.  Linda Collins very generously opens her home and studio and hosts a wonderful quilt show.  Last year the theme was red and white quilts; this year it is All About Chintz.  You can read more at Linda's blog.

You might win the raffle quilt....

Photos of Martha Lambourn's Block 12

Did you enjoy Martha Lamborn's block?  I found it challenging myself but I was very pleased when I finished it.

Block 12 Martha Lambourn

This block was one of the blocks in the original quilt that had me convinced I could never be clever enough to make this quilt.  How glad I am that I was wrong!

On Facebook today I came across a post by James Clear.  James was writing about Richard Branson's successful lifestyle.  This quote stood out for me.

If you want to summarize the habits of successful people into one phrase, it’s this: successful people start before they feel ready. Branson has started so many businesses, ventures, charities, and expeditions that it’s simply not possible for him to have felt prepared, qualified, and ready to start all of them. In fact, it’s unlikely that he was qualified or prepared to start any of them. 

 If you’re working on something important, then you’ll never feel ready. A side effect of doing challenging work is that you’re pulled by excitement and pushed by confusion at the same time. If you’re working on something important, then you’ll never feel ready. A side effect of doing challenging work is that you’re pulled by excitement and pushed by confusion at the same time.You’re bound to feel uncertain, unprepared, and unqualified. But let me assure you of this: what you have right now is enough. You can plan, delay, and revise all you want, but trust me, what you have now is enough to start. It doesn't matter if you're trying to start a business, lose weight, write a book, or achieve any number of goals... who you are, what you have, and what you know right now is good enough to get going. We all start in the same place: no money, no resources, no contacts, no experience. The difference is that some people — the winners — choose to start anyway.

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.

The Wow Factor

I received this lovely photo from Zoë in British Columbia, Canada.  She's completed all The First Year blocks.

Zoë has stuck to the red and green 1850s colour scheme but has chosen from a wide variety of values and prints.  I noticed something interesting in the top left hand corner and asked Zoë about it. It's a little drawing of her house.

Yes, it's a picture done in brown ink.  I have enough trouble just signing my name in a block - how special is it to create an inked sketch? I feel very privileged to find that my patterns have become a starting place for some beautifully creative work. 

A number of people have completed the first twelve blocks.  If you send me a photo I will put it in the next blog post. 

And  if you are waiting for the Second Year check your email inbox next week. Details of the next exciting installment will be soon revealed ....