We're up to # 42 'H' is for Hospital.
The 'H' fabric looks brown in the photo, but it is a real green khaki colour!!! I have very few yellow fabrics in my stash so my choice was fairly limited, I chose the most muted tones I could find! It actually looks better in real life LOL!!!
Last week # 41 Red, White & Blue Quilt.
This block was a real doozie to put together!!! I'm ok with 'Y' seams, but five on a pieced star really took the cake LOL!!! I thought long and hard about using an easier alternative block but in the end I bit the bullet and gave it my best shot!!
It was a slow and arduous task and even then it came out just a teeny bit wonky around the outer edges of the block, (you can just see a bit of the wonky bit on the bottom part of the photo) oh well! done now LOL!!!
#40 Order Number Eleven.
I really enjoyed putting this block together, although I did have some reservations! I used Visoflex (in the US I think it is known as WonderUnder), and it sure makes life easy! I used one of my modern sewing machines (Janome 4800) to do the Blanket Stitch! I'm pretty happy with it, only hope it stands up to laundering down the track!!!
With this weeks Civil War block 'H' is for Hospital, it got me thinking as I read the research Barbara presented as to the horrendous conditions that women and nurses endured while working in makeshift hospitals near the battlefield, not to mention of course the injured soldiers! If you check this out, there is one hand-coloured photo of a field hospital in Virginia, what a nightmare... http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/
As a Registered Nurse I couldn't imagine working in such conditions with little or no proper medical equipment and nursing the wounded on the bare ground! No sanitation, no medication.....
We are very lucky to have such wonderful hospitals with everything at our fingertips, clean, odour free, privacy for our patients etc etc
I then remembered when I first became aware of nursing as a possible profession to follow. When I was around 10 years old I joined the Junior Red Cross at school (I was educated in New Zealand), we learned very basic stuff, how to bandage, how to clean superficial wounds, how to make someone comfortable and wait for the grownups to come and take over.
In among some long forgotten trinket box I also remembered I had my little badge, so I went looking for it, and here it is....
Now you know I really am a hoarder LOL!!!! I have kept this with me all this time, just over 40 years!!! I did have to give it a bit of a clean with an old toothbrush and some toothpaste, as it did look a tad tarnished, but here were the signs of things to come!!!!!
Now that I am all grownup I have another badge...
Like the song says, 'from little things big things grow'..........
I was inspired a couple of days ago to put together a little mini quilt. Kathy Tracy of SmallQuiltTalk yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smallquilttalk/ gave us a little challenge! I wasn't going to do it right away but as I was playing around in the sewing room I noticed a little pile of oddments left over that were calling my name and wanted to play, so how could I resist... this is the result.....
Kathy's pattern did not have a border, but I decided to put one on anyway, it is marked for handquilting and half hand basted and should end up being around 14 1/2" x 14 1/2" when completed. Some of those pieces have been around for a very long time, it is so nice that they have found a new life!!! If I get a giddy-up I should have it completed to show you the next time I post !!!!!
I would just like to mention that recently Blogger was having some issues which meant that I could not leave comments on some people's blogs, it seems to have righted itself now, but was a bit of a pain at the time.
I read that some other bloggers were experiencing similiar problems.
Rest assured I have been keeping up with your blogs and love to leave comments. I discovered that blogs which had the 'imbedded' option for leaving comments were the ones I had trouble with, the blogs which had the 'pop-up' comment box option seemed to work fine. So I changed my blog now to have the pop-up box.
Have a great and sewing filled week and thankyou for dropping by!!
Take it easy,
Merilyn
13 comments:
All three blocks are lovely Merilyn but I particularly like the purple stat. Your SQT challenge quilt looks great. Loving the blue and red.
The CW blocks are fabulous. I don't expect anything less from you.
Ah ... you ARE a hoarder!
I love the little quilt that you made for the SQT challenge! Now I should get off my butt and make one too but I am too entranced with some Christmas stitchery right now!
love your CW blocks, you always do such lovely work, I followed almost exactly you footsteps, here in South Aus, joining St John ambulance brigade at 13 and beginning my nursing training on my 16th Birthday, having begun my probationary period 3 weeks before. I don't think i have my StJohn badge but i certainly have and treasure my hospital badges. I think there is quite a number of nurses in the Civil War group,
Your CW blocks are great! I'm looking forward to seeing them sewn together in a quilt.
If you're a hoarder because you've kept a pin, I'm afraid of what I am! I'm sure it brings back many memories.
I didn't become a nurse but did seriously consider it. As a teenager, I volunteered at a hospital as a candy striper and then worked my way through college as a nurse's aide. Much older now but I'm still interested in health care!
Hi Merilyn, Love the blocks. I'm in catch up mode, as I just started the civil war blocks - but I've got 27 done in about 21/2 weeks. I'm pleased and I love the history. I love your nursing badges!!! What great treasures!! The small quilt is really cute! I too am going to do the challenge and I've made a four patch potholder with 1/2" sq., but want to make another. Thanks for sharing. I always enjoy seeing your work.
I am totally in awe of two things in this post!
1) your civil war quilt - I have plans for a hobo quilt one day but first need to get on top of my projects half done!
2) nurses! I have a great respect for nurses xxx
Your blocks are coming along nicely - such a great variety. I love that you saved your pin - very sweet, as is your little quilt.
Great Fun!
Thank you for sharing.
I'm with you - it was nice to have a plain little strip pieced block this time. Yours looks so nice.
Back in 1964 or 65, I was a candy striper at a hospital and I still have my pin from that summer. I had the uniform and cap too until I loaned it to someone for a Halloween costume. She left her husband, moved away, and never returned it to me. Oh well, just a couple less things to hang on to.
I enjoyed viewing your blocks. I was thinking the same as you about the new block being an easy one to make.
Your mini quilt is just beautiful! I had to switch to Google Chrome as my browser because of trouble commenting. Now I don't have any problems with it! :0)
You've been very busy! Love the little challenge quilt!!
So much to see today and all so lovely! Love the hospital block fabric and the star is excellent. I just stitched a Dear Jane block with the purple fabric. And, a very sweet mini quilt!
Not sure how I missed this post!
You are so good about keeping up with the CW blocks - they look great! They do look challenging.
Didn't know you are a nurse. Interesting story.
Love your little quilt - simple, but charming!
Was it easy to change your comments to a pop-up box? I couldn't figure it out.
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