It's Mostly (But Not All) about Bramble Blooms

If you're here for Bramble Blooms, scroll down a ways.  The first part of this post is about other than BB1.

There was a visit to the main library during the Trolley Hop last Saturday. 

The library building is a beautiful structure that was funded by Andrew Carnegie in the early 1900s.  A number of years ago, after the library leaders decided the interior needed updating, they tore out almost everything, including a beautiful marble staircase in the center of the building.  Much of the inner beauty was replaced with metal and glass.  I was grateful to see they left the staircase (above) and the arches and skylights (below).  Can you tell I love historic more than modern?

At one of historic homes on the hop route, Sweet Autumn Clematis furled around the fence.

Seed pods always fascinate me.

These ones delighted me with their little white fronds that look like feathers.  Too fun!
And then there is this adorable Airedale, Nona, who, I have found,

has become a thief!  And possibly a spy, as well.  She was sleeping on her bed while I auditioned.  I cut out a bunch of pieces for several parts of Bramble Blooms 1.  As I took each off to try another, I placed it on a chair in front of the board I'm using to hold the background fabric.  There must have been a dozen small pieces.  In front of the board, on top of the pieces, was a small stack of fabric so the small pieces were not visible.  I walked to the kitchen, a short 15 steps away.  When I came back a few minutes later, there was Nona in the doorway licking her lips.  And then I realized that the stack of fabric had been moved and all my sample pieces for auditioning were gone!  How did she know they were there and why, oh why, does she like to eat fabric?!  This is a habit that must be broken, and it would be a lot easier if she weren't so cute and I could catch her in the act!  In so many ways she's so very good....

And, of course, there was, and continues to be, Bramble Blooms.  I'm sorry Audrey's husband is ill yet thankful for the extra time to make decisions and stitch.  I hope he's improving and beginning to feel better.  I used to make quick decisions and usually regretted them.  Now I'm slow and careful with decisions, hence my gratitude for the delay.

This is my most recent iteration of BB1 and what I'm currently auditioning.  I tried a dozen colors/fabrics at the base of the flowers.  I'm still not sure which of these is better, or if some other color would still be better.  I didn't have a green that worked and I chose against gold thinking that it might be more cohesive to use a narrower range of colors--red to coral/pink--for the flowers since I'm keeping the little circles under the flowers.  It's interesting how different lighting changes what looks good/better/best.   

I chose the crock shape for the container.  The flower stems needed a wider opening than in my original ideas.  This crock is reminiscent of one we own which has an Albany Slip glaze.  It needs an embellishment.  My ideas went to the dog when she ate what I'd doodled on a piece of paper.  I tried several colors for the pot and liked this best, but only if it has an embellishment on it.  I'm still playing with that.  One shape, two shapes?  Blue and gold?  A brighter blue?  Light brown and ???  Or ?????

My last consideration is this.  Is this busy enough already or do the flowers need leaves?  Is that one long stem in the middle lonely?  Are the other stems lonely?  If leaves, what shape?  I think it would need to be one that doesn't overtake everything else.

I'm eager to begin stitching but won't until all the decisions have been made.  The last thing I want to do is unstitch!

As always, I'm grateful to read your thoughts on what you see and any changes you think might improve this center block.  Thanks so much for taking the time.

I'm linking this post to
>  Finished (or not) Friday at Alycia Quilts
>  Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
>  Peacock Party at Wendy's Quilts and More
>  Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Thank you for hosting, ladies.  I appreciate it.

--Nancy.

Scrappy Stars #4-6, Nona the Fabriholic

This set of stars (#4-6) for Taryn's Scrappy Star Stitchalong went much better than the first three.  When I finally adjusted my thinking and gave in to using fabrics I have that are similar in any way to those in the original stars, I began enjoying making these stars more.  My goal is to recreate the blocks as closely as possible in fabric/fabric style, colors, and placement.  Many thanks to Taryn for hosting this stitchalong.

Block #4, original and mine
Clearly, my blues are not as dark or intense and my corner blocks have light lines instead of dark lines.  Even though this block had nine different fabrics, it was the simplest so far, and the most symmetrical as far as color placement.

As I look at the original blocks I can't help but think about the person who created them....

Block #5, original and mine

This block repeated several fabrics from previous blocks.  I'm trying to do the same, though purple fabrics are a real challenge for me.  The lower right square in the original is such fun fabric.  I had nothing remotely similar.

After looking closely at the construction of the blocks, I can't help but wonder if this was a young girl's or young woman's first quilt.

Block #6, original and mine

That blue stripe is a stand-out fabric in the original quilt and I was sure I had a similar stripe somewhere.  But no, I must not have.  This was the closest I could come.  I was puzzled by the two greenish triangles in the bottom and left blocks.  They look like two different fabrics and they look green/grey with prints.  I had nothing similar.  If I happen to find a similar fabric I think I would replace the one I've used.  Really.

Always, when I'm trying to reproduce antique quilts, I wonder about the makers and who they were.  Unless the quilts are signed, we'll never know.  Perhaps they are like me and could never imagine one of their quilts lasting so long, or even being of interest if it did, hence no signature.  Who knows, but it's fun to imagine.

I'm sad this stitchalong is happening only on Instagram.  My experience with sew-alongs is that they build community and are just fun to see everyone else's blocks.  This one feels isolating, though I'm enjoying making the blocks.

These are the current quilt bloggers I know who are participating: 
   > Barb at Fun with Barb
   > Jeanne at Spiral
   > Linda at Koka Quilts
   > Tazzie at Tazzie Quilts
   > Wendy at The Constant Quilter
   > Katy at KatyQuilts
   > Kathleen at A Sentimental Quilter
   > Cynthia at wabi-sabi quilts
See non-bloggers' blocks on Instagram using #scrappystarstitchalong.

Aside from quilting....
There's sweet Nona.  She is enthusiastic about fabric and quilting.  She's eaten a number of scrap triangles I had in a box on the floor, and she decided she didn't like one of the little star blocks so chewed holes into part of it.  (It took a few hours to unstitch, recut fabric, and sew together again.)  I forgot what it was like to have an Airedale assistant quilter.  My previous assistant limited her interest to laying on the blocks and sniffing and rearranging.  I'm keeping small pieces of fabric and finished blocks away from Nona.  I think she needs a different title but I can't decide what it should be.  Definitely a demotion.  ;-)

She had a bath and a clip in preparation for her spay yesterday.  All clean and clipped, she enjoyed a roll in the grass.  What a happy smile!

Our weather has been cool but I think warmer weather is headed our way next week. 

I hope all is well in your world.
--Nancy.

Everyday Patchwork--August One Monthly Goal Finish

My version of Cheri Payne's Everyday Patchwork is finally layered, pin-basted, and quilting is in progress.  That was my One Monthly Goal for August.

Of course, now I can see how some blocks could have been placed differently.

I deliberated what quilting pattern to use.  I'd been leaning toward Baptist Fans and finally made the decision to go with three arcs per fan, each about 1¼" apart.  I've never marked the fans before and I didn't really want to this time, but I always feel uncertain about the irregularity of my freehand/free motion hand quilted arcs.  I found encouragement in this article, "How-to Quilt it Freehand," by Joe Cunningham at Threads magazine.  My arcs will never look like his, but then this is a primitive-style quilt in which perfection is not expected, right?

Quilt beginnings with dark green thread, right through the appliques.  Will I like it?  I don't know but I wanted to try all-over quilting on an appliqued quilt.

I love the combination of teals, dark greens, and greens-leaning-toward-blues.  Cheri used black for her background but I just couldn't do it.  These dark greens were the closest to black I could find on my shelves that looked pleasing to me.

It's a wonder I'm getting anything done.  I have little energy and no motivation.  Maybe it's the heat.  Even with central air conditioning, the humidity and high dew point make themselves known.   I'm looking forward to fall and cooler weather.

Just for Fun....

My husband grew a small patch of sunflowers a number of years ago....  The centers, with their amazing symmetry, never fail to attract and hold my attention.

And our girl, Nona, tight-lipped and not thrilled to be the Airedale-of-interest for the camera.  (She is always thrilled to be the Airedale-of-interest in person and loves any bit of attention.)  This is one of the first photos in which she looked my way and held a pose.  I'm still working to help her adjust to being photographed.  

I'm linking this post to
> One Monthly Goal Finish Link-up at Elm Street Quilts
> Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
> Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese
> Finished (or not) Friday at Alycia Quilts
> National Dog Day 2023 at Quilt Fabrication
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

I hope all is well in your part of the world!

--Nancy.