It is so nice to have a couple of finishes to share as I have been busy with work work, and domestic work which all eats into my sewing time rather badly LOL, and I was desperate to have a few wins in the sewing room!
My first win is this Mourning Crosses Quilt, a design by Kathy Tracy which was the January (monthly) challenge! It spent a couple of weeks with the long arm quilter and now it has its binding on, I'm quite pleased with how it turned out!!
The border fabric was chosen after several hours of intense deliberation at my favourite quilt shop, I just love this fabric!!!!
If you love small quilts you can join Kathy's online group here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smallquilttalk/
or you can check out her blog here: http://sentimentalquilter.blogspot.com/
I didn't get time to do the February challenge but I have completed the one for March. It features little Civil War Basket blocks (4"x 4") from Kathy's book 'Remembering Adelia'. I decided not to make the quilt exactly, but did a variation.
This was such fun to put together, I also used up lots of small off-cuts from previous projects, that's always a good thing!!!! No fancy quilting, just stitch in the ditch, but around the handles I did do some handquilting which gives a gentler look than the machine could do!!
I had been doing a little shopping in a few of the local antiques/old wares shops in town when I spied something I have been wanting for a long time. I simply couldn't resist it and when I got it home it told me it wanted its own little mini quilt - how could I say no to this old lady!!!
This long yearned for item is called a Flat Sad Iron! It weighs around 3lbs, is 6 1/8" long x 4 1/4" wide and has a Steel Tube handle.
I'm not sure where it was made, but they were used widely by the early settlers here in Australia. Apparently these particular irons ranged in size from 4-9, mine is size 7. From what I can gather the 'sad' part of their name actually means heavy, so all heavy irons are known as 'sad' irons, where they have been recorded to exist as far back as the 16th century.
So to help my little Flat Sad Iron feel much happier, she now has her own little quilt!!!!
I had a play on EQ and designed this where the CW Basket blocks are 2"x 2". She's now smiling!!!!!!
You may remember in my previous post that I made my last CW block the wrong size at 6"x 6" (finished)instead of 8"x 8", obviously the flu had gotten into my brain as well LOL! but with a clearer head last week I managed to get it the right size this time!!!
The tape measure is there as proof I got it right!! You'll be pleased to hear that the 6" block has found a home! One of my friends is doing the Farmer's Wife blocks which are all 6"x 6", she had a bit of trouble with one of hers so I offered mine as a substitute which she very happily took home to add to the blocks she has already completed. Whew! it's no longer an orphan!!!!
I have another near completion so this is just a sneak peek!!!
It has languished since November 2010! oh dear!!!!! It'll have it's binding on very soon, and then I can show you another completed UFO!!
We are starting to feel the cooler temperatures of Autumn which is quite refreshing after all the humidity and rain we've had during our rather lack lustre summer, this should give you some clue about the sneak peek!!!
Thankyou for dropping by, I hope wherever you are you are safe and well and enjoying the change of the season be it Spring or Autumn!!!
Take it easy,
Merilyn






17 comments:
so pleased you are feeling better, half of Blogland seems to have had nasty lurgies. Congratulations on your finishes. I guess we will see a civil war top some time soon. Stay well
Fabulous finishes! Your sad iron looks happy on it's little quilt; happy those baskets are not filled with items to be ironed perhaps. I recognize those maple leaves. Both my quilts are languishing in the 'finish me' queue too.
I was just thinking of you the other day and wondering what darling little quilts you had been working on!! Now I know, and they are wonderful!!! Love the basket quilt - perfect to make that "sad" iron happy!! Glad you are cooling off! We are in spring and it has been a wet one for us, and very much appreciated. I know some areas have had flooding, and I'm sad for them, but we are in good shape here in Central Texas.
Have a great week!
You ARE going through all your UFOs. I think they have thinned considerably.
That must be the maple leaf block swap quilt you did. Loved the top and I know the finished quilt will be gorgeous!
Both of your small quilts turned out beautiful! I like your choice for the borders on that Mourning quilt!
What a lovely flat iron, it looks great on your little quilt!
Too much work! I hope things settle down.
Your mourning crosses turned out beautifully - that is the perfect border fabric.
Your flat iron and little basket quilt are quite a pair. Where are you displaying them?
Glad you found a home for your orphan block and got the 8" block made. I think I have some of that fabric in the corners. It's a wonderful color.
Look forward to seeing your next completion.
For someone who's been working a lot you sure have done a lot of sewing!
Love your finishes one and all! Your Mourning Cross quilt is charming. Love the little baskets in the corners of the other. So enjoy reading your blog.
I'm quite impressed with all the quilting you're doing and even finishing some UFO's. One question - may I send you mine? LOL
We must have been binding our January quilts at the same time!
I love your take on the basket quilt, it looks so pretty.
Now that we have hit autumn I have been thinking about my maple leaves. Looking forward to seeing what you did with them all.
Your Mourning cross quilt is beautiful! And I love the little quilt you made for your iron! I have an iron like that and I think it needs a quilt of its own too! :0)
Love the Mourning Crosses quilt.I have been making the handles for my basket quilt, so hope to get the top finished soon.
Glad to hear you are on the mend!
Love the tiny finishes!!
Sweet finish - I like that border too.
I love your flat iron/quilt combo - they are a wonderful pair. So happy your block forund a home ;-)
Fun post!
Merilyn, i love your unique little basket quilt, it works beautifully with your darling sad flat iron..a perfect match!!
Those maple leaf blocks are heavenly, can't wait to see what you do with them!
cheers...Marian
http://marianedwardsdreamweaver.typepad.com
Hello Merilyn, I enjoyed your post, never knew the name of Sad Iron....I have a very small one....I think was used for collars....gorgeous little quilts you have made..Hugs,O'faigh
Your CW block, even if it's the wrong size, is stunning... I love your color choices. The spinning star really pops out.The mini quilt, baskets and flying geese is cut and thanks for the iron lesson. Flat Sad Iron... very interesting! Take care.
Your posts are always so interesting and full of information... usually things I never knew, but find totally interesting!!!!! I love your Mourning Crosses quilt..and I love the little quilt for your antique iron. It is just gorgeous and perfect... I know why they're called Sad irons... it makes you sad to iron???? well me, anyway lol!!!
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