Between the Old Year and the New

The week between Christmas and New Year's Day always seems busy to me.  It's a catch-up time for unfinished things, especially ones that need to be finished before January comes.  And then there's planning and preparing for the coming year, particularly as regards quilting, family history research, and blogging for both.

Burgoyne Surrounded is not one of those essential things, but the top is finished as far as the extra blocks.

It is now four blocks by five blocks and measures 75" x 94", which seems seems huge.  My husband and I sleep in a queen-size bed and my thought for this quilt is to add an applique border on the long side to make it closer to 82" x 94" so I can lay it horizontally across the bed.  Neither of us likes the weight of a quilt handing over the end of the bed, and I love having extra on the side so I can pull it up and wrap it around me.  So it might work

I'm envisioning the border across the top appliqued with oak leaves and acorns, which means I'm almost right back where I started two months ago when I decided against a border all the way around the smaller version of the quilt.  I think that must have felt too daunting to me at the time.

I have lots of  leftover 1½" squares and strips to be cut.  I don't know if I'll make another Burgoyne Surrounded quilt or not yet, but they'll become something.

For years now I've made my own purse-size calendar book.  Many years ago I bought one that worked perfectly but when the new year came, they weren't making that style any more.  So I made my own.  Closed, it measures ~4½" x 7". 

A couple of years ago I bought a ream of paper and took it to a binder who has a guillotine paper-cutter and a machine to punch holes in the edge.  Old school, I know, but I go with the idea that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."  I'm also a person of habit and love consistency in some everyday things.  When the last week of the year rolls around and I don't have my calendar book finished, as happened this year, I feel rushed and focus my attention on just it.  Yes, it takes time to make it but I love it.  And now it's ready for 2023.

Christmas passed almost without my catching and enjoying it.

One of our favorite Christmas activities is going to Merry Tuba Christmas.  Thank goodness it was inside this year!  I love this experience for so many reasons.  The feeling of being inside a whale with the blubbery music all around fills me with wonder.  One of the other reasons I love it is because the audience is invited to sing along to some of the carols.  It reminds me of when I was a child and we sang from small booklets of carols.  Except with Merry Tuba Christmas, for someone who can hardly carry a tune, it's a great pleasure to know that the tubas are so much louder and cover any mistakes I make.

We baked Spritz cookies--so festive and delicious--

and made Buckeyes.  Yum!  From experience I now know that buckeyes are best with real butter (as opposed to vegan butter).

And the last event of the Christmas season came today when we visited the Nativity in the city.  It is a life-size or larger display of the Annunciation, of Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem, of shepherds in the fields with their sheep, the Wise Men, Herod, and Mary and Joseph with the Baby.  My photos do not do justice to the atmosphere of the environment when in person among these displays.

This display has been set up every year since 1931 by State Auto Insurance.  For many years it was in front of the building, elevated in a narrow space between the sidewalk and the building.  It was okay but a few years ago they created a small park where they arrange the figures in groupings to create scenes.  It is amazing to me that a secular insurance company can create an environment that feels so special and spiritual, holy even.  There is a sense of hushed reverence and awe while in that little park.  

The weather now, in the 60s, feels like spring.  But on the Friday before Christmas we had snow and the temperature was -5 degrees with a "feels like" temperature of -32 degrees.  No doubt the 26 mph winds helped it feel so cold.  I think that's similar to what many experienced around the U.S., except, of course, the Buffalo area was worse.  I love the snow, not so much the negative temperatures.

This is the last post of 2022.  I would breathe a sigh of relief that the year is over but I'm not letting myself do that yet.  The way this year has gone, anything could happen in three more hours!  It ain't over till it's over, as they say.

Happy New Year to you!

--Nancy.

Quilt Blocks, Out and About, Christmas Movies

I'm making progress on Burgoyne Surrounded blocks.  These are six of the last eight blocks. 

The pattern for this quilt is so strong that I it would look fine if it were really scrappy, with lights/darks only.  I think that was my original intention.  But I admit that the colors add a lot of interest.  Below are pieces of the last two blocks I'll stitch.  Maybe I will get them made before Christmas.  (Or maybe not.)

My daughter and I went to a trolley hop in the city last weekend.  Kelton House is usually our first stop.  I always look forward to seeing how they've decorated, always with Victorian pieces, some original to the house.  One of the Christmas displays was of small houses made from cardboard. 
They looked so festive.  I think my mom had some cardboard houses she used to put out at Christmas, too, but I doubt they were from the Victorian era.  A few days ago I was surprised to see a wreath made of paper houses and was pleased to see that patterns were included in the post.  I think the wreath houses are about a third the size of the ones at Kelton House.  The patterns could easily be enlarged.  

A day or so ago Ann Wood posted a pattern for scrappy Christmas tree ornaments.  I made one, then two, then three.  They finished at about 4 3/4" high.

I don't love these particular trees but I may make a few more with other fabrics.  Lighter colors would stand out better against our fir-green tree.

I'm sharing some Christmas movies we watch and love, sharing mostly because some of these are ones I don't see on others' lists.  The first three are comedies from about the 1940s, as is White Christmas. 

• It Happened on Fifth Avenue
• Christmas in Connecticut
• Bachelor Mother
• Home Alone
• The Santa Clause
• The Forgotten Carols
• Mixed Nuts
• White Christmas
• While You Were Sleeping
• A Child's Christmas in Wales
  
• The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, which was new to me this year.  I expect I'll watch it again next year.

And these are three of the Christmas books I love.

• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson.  (Listen on audio of you can.) 
• Christmas at Thompson Hall by Anthony Trollope

For some reason I'm not feeling very Christmasy yet.  I don't know what that's about but I hope it changes soon.   And I hope that's not so for you, if you celebrate Christmas.

I'm linking this post to Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.  Thanks for hosting, Judy.

--Nancy.

October's One Monthly Goal Finish

My One Monthly Goal for October was to play with border possibilities for this Burgoyne Surrounded quilt, including no border, plain border, applique border, etc.

At the beginning of the the month I was strongly leaning toward appliqueing oak leaves and acorns around the border, but in some arrangement other than with a vine.  I researched oak trees, oak leaves, acorns, etc., for colors and shapes and sizes.  Robin left a comment on my post with a link for a photo of scrub oaks that grow in her area, and they won my heart for fall colored oak trees.  I edited my fabric collection for autumn oak leaves.  Finally, I cut out oak leaves from white and brown paper (not wanting to squander fabric when I was still uncertain) in several sizes and started laying them out on the border fabric.

I think it's hard to do a foliage or flower border without a vine, and oak twigs didn't do anything for the leaves.

At some point in this process the thought came to me that I had one applique quilt in progress already, but I kept trying out ideas.  Finally, a few days ago, the question that came to my mind was, Why exactly are you starting another applique project now when you have one in progress and hand quilting in progress?  You'll have more handwork than you can finish in a year!  What you need is blocks to cut and sew!  At that point I started to reconsider an applique border and think about making enough blocks to go around two sides of the quilt to enlarge to full size.  And that's what I'm going to do.  (With 15" blocks, as these are, a 4- x 5-block quilt will measure approximately 75" x 93".)

So here's my tentative plan for eight more blocks--tentative only because the color arrangement may change.

I am not in the least heartbroken over not making an applique border of oak leaves and acorns for this quilt.  I can either make another Burg.S. quilt or I can applique oak leaves and acorns to a different quilt, or no quilt at all.  I'm happy to have taken the time to consider the options and possibilities.  It may be that at some time in the future I'll come to see oak leaves with a vine as a perfect choice for a quilt. 

I'm linking this post to October One Monthly Goal Finish Link-up at Elm Street Quilts.  Thanks for hosting, Patty.

Also linking to Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework. Thank you, Cynthia.

--Nancy.

October One Monthly Goal: Play

I wonder about the wisdom of setting a goal for October.  We're only seven days in and it feels like a hard month already.  But I know I'll accomplish more if I do set a goal, so I've chosen what I think will be a simple one:  to play.

I'll consider border options (to add one or not, to add one with applique, or one without applique).

If I decide to applique the border, I'll play with options for colors, fabrics, applique patterns, applique placement, etc.  Below are possible colors for the leaves.  I think shades of brown but maybe green/brown fabrics, too.  What is that color called, anyway?

What color are oak leaves in autumn, anyway? I guess it depends on the species of tree.  So many that I see around here are in the golden to medium brown range.  But do I need the colors to be exact?  Perhaps artistic license will come into play.

I'll also consider size of the applique pieces so they don't overwhelm the pieced part of the quilt.

Really, I'll just consider all the options.  I hope by the end of the month I'll have made a decision but I'm not going to create that pressure for myself this month.  I'll just consider options and play.

This is the inspiration quilt.   The original is red and white.  I don't think I want an oak vine, since oaks don't vine.  Maybe oak branches?

I'm linking this post to to October One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts.  Thanks so much for hosting, Patty.

I'm also linking this post to
> Finished (or not) Friday at Alycia Quilts
> Peacock Party at Wendy's Quilts and More
> Off the Wall Friday at Creations by Nina Marie
> Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework
Thank you ladies for hosting.

--Nancy.

Border Questions

Let me tell you, there is nothing like a quilt made from blocks with many small pieces to let you know how you're managing your quarter-inch seams!  A block with 97 pieces has a lot of room for error.  

I'm still considering an applique border of oak leaves and acorns for this quilt and thinking about how to do the border.  I have a question for you with experience.  Is it better to applique the border before sewing it to the quilt or better to sew the border to the quilt and then applique the pieces?  I know it would be easier to handle just a strip of fabric when appliqueing but isn't there a good chance of stretching it out of shape?  What say you dear quilters?  What are your experiences?

I have another question about a border for this little quilt which will finish at about 18" x 23".

I have a fat quarter of fabric which is definitely large enough to cut the border, but it's not long enough, going with the grain, without piecing.  Because it's a small quilt will it work to cut the fabric cross-grain for the border?  I know cross-grain stretches.  I would never do that for a large quilt but I thought maybe I could get by with it for this little one.  Does anyone have experience with cross-grain borders on small quilts??  Thanks so much!

Whether or not I have to sew strips to make borders, I think I'm still on track to get this little quilt layered and pin-basted by the end of the month.

I hope you're having a good week.

--Nancy.

Burgoyne Blocks, October One Monthly Goal Finish

My One Monthly Goal for October was to make one more Burgoyne Surrounded block, which would have left me with two more to make to reach the 12 I wanted for the top.  I pushed through (despite the kitties' interference) and finished all three.  Placed next to each other, they look like this.

I think they need a little space between.  To do that, I'll use either 9-patch or quadruple 9-patch blocks at the corners where the sashing meets.

The challenge of Burgoyne blocks, in my opinion, is their size:  at 15" there's not as much leeway in choosing a finished size as there would be with, say, 6" or 8" blocks.  There's no in-between with Burgoyne blocks other than altering the width of the sashing or borders.

I love this Burgoyne Surrounded quilt by Martha A. Page.  (Not copying because of copyright.)  It has quadruple 9-patch blocks in the corners between blocks and then wide, appliqued borders on three sides.  I think the finished quilt probably measures about 86" x 100".  That's bigger than the quilt I want, but I do love the appliqued border.  Maybe oak leaves and acorns for this quilt?

These are horizontal views of the quilt, first with blocks close together,

and with the blocks given space for sashing and cornerstones.

I love this block (even though these blocks didn't use as many 4-patches and I thought they would).  I don't think there's a way to ruin a Burgoyne Surrounded block, except by not keeping the light to dark/bright pattern, or maybe, if someone decided to use plaids or some splotchy fabric.  Otherwise, keep to the lights and darks and it works.  If I make this block again I will make the circles stronger by using scrappy, one-color fabrics for each individual circle and letting the diagonals be multi-colored and really scrappy.  This is a great quilt for using scraps! 

I'm linking this post to
> One Monthly Goal - October Finish Link-up at Elm Street Quilts
> To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal
> Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than housework
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

--Nancy.

Burgoyne Again This Month for My One Monthly Goal

It will be another Burgoyne Surrounded block for this month.

I would love to set a goal to make the final three but we're having guests for a while, my daughter's two kitties, and they really enjoy the room where I sew.  I think they'd like to sew themselves if it were possible.  So, it's my One Monthly Goal (an almost laughable one) to make one Burgoyne Surrounded block.

These are the nine I've finished.

I like these blocks a lot and if I make another would try a more controlled color arrangement.  However, they are not quickly sewn blocks.  I think there are 97 squares/rectangles per block (and I didn't count the seams).  There's aligning, pinning, sewing, pressing, all repeated again and again.  And then you have these fun blocks!

I have a blogging question for you.  Before you add photographs to your blog do you resize them?  My blog seems to load so slowly and I recently read that it might be because of the size of my photographs.  Anyone know about that?  Thanks!

I'm linking this post to One Monthly Goal October Link-up at Elm Street Quilts. Thanks for hosting, Patty.

--Nancy.

This and That, One Thing and Another, Etc.

I've been slowly making Burgoyne Surrounded blocks.  Gosh, they take a while.  There are a total of eight now, with four more to make.

I started with the intent of really scrappy blocks using four-patches I'd already made, cutting some 1½" x 2½" pieces from scraps, and trying only to use similar colors for the diagonals from corner to corner and the center squares. 
And then I tried a few that were more color-coordinated and less scrappy.  Scrappy or not, I think the blocks work because of the pattern.

I always envisioned these blocks in autumn colors--naturals with reds, rusts, browns, greens, oranges, golds, etc.  Some of the lighter colors don't work as well as the darker or brighter ones.

I love making scrappy--a bunch of different fabrics and colors--but it sometimes takes longer and I'm not always satisfied with the outcome.  Sometimes I think I'm missing something.   Maybe scrappy requires some constant other than just the pattern.  What are your thoughts on scrappy quilts, if you make them or if you love looking at them? 

Cheddarback is now layered and basted, with one block quilted.   I forgot to brush my fingers with liquid bandage before I began.  I'll change that before I put needle to quilt again.

I had the silly notion that if I quilted one block per day I could finish this quilt in a month.  Ha!  That was before I realized/remembered how hard it is to hand quilt through so many seams!  I'll be thrilled if I get it finished in a few months. 

When you baste a quilt and have extra backing fabric, what do you do?  Cut it off?  Fold it over and secure it with pins?   I folded that long piece at the bottom and pinned it.  I knew if I didn't cut it before quilting, I would have slightly larger piece when I cut it after quilting.   But I'm just wondering what you do and your reason for doing it.

I found a sweet surprise in the closet this afternoon when I was looking through some boxes I thought were empty.

I bought these Madelaine's foil-wrapped pansies around Easter time and hid them from myself.   Today was a great day to find them!  Have you eaten Madelaine's chocolates before?  Their foil-wrapped hearts are the best.  (No affiliation with Madelaine's, just a happy chocolate-lover.)  These are about an inch and a quarter in diameter and 3/16" thick.  Perfect to let melt in your mouth.

And any of you who enjoy jigsaw puzzles will appreciate this article telling their benefits and how they can improve your quality of life.  And then head over to this link, scroll to the bottom, and put together a quilt puzzle.  I don't seek out puzzles but when they come my way I can hardly resist doing them.

I'm linking this post to
> Finished (or not) Friday at Alycia Quilts
> Peacock Party at Wendy's Quilts and More
Thanks for hosting, Alycia and Wendy.

I hope you've had a good week and will have a great weekend.

--Nancy.

Burgoyne Surrounded Block - One Monthly Goal Finish

I abbreviate the names of my quilts when I write them on my to-do list, but I didn't want to call the Burgoyne Surrounded block B.S.  That seemed downright cruel.  So it became Burg S. or BurgS.  Silly, I know, but it works for me.

My One Monthly goal was to finish one Burgoyne Surrounded block.  And here it is.

I planned that this block would be scrappy but decided I should choose a consistent color in each block for either the X or the circle.  (If I make more.)  After consideration, it became the X.  If I make more, each X will be a different color but the fabrics will be similar.  I like this block better in person than in this photo.  Anyway, it seems to me that the colors (against the light background) carry the pattern whether it's scrappy or consistent.  And I think the scrappy lights will carry the interest, especially on close inspection. 

I like the 15" size --only 2 seams are longer than 5½"-- but I've found the larger the block, the fewer the size options for a finished quilt.  With a 15" block, a quilt can be 30", 45", 60", 75", or 90" wide, etc., without sashing measurements added.  But, of course, a border could alter that measurement, too.

Will I make more?  Probably.  I think cutting takes more time than sewing.  I already have a few pieces cut, and I have more scraps....

I'm linking this post to One Monthly Goal June Finish-up Link-up at Elm Street Quilts.  Thanks for hosting, Patty.

--Nancy.

June, 2021's, One Monthly Goal

It's Burgoyne Surrounded this month.  My goal for June is to make one block only, as a test block, and then I can decide whether to make a whole quilt.  I think the blocks finish at 15".

They have many small parts but it won't take more than 20 blocks to have a twin-size quilt!

From the photos above (a screenshot from a Google image search) you can see that there are many variations in color placement for Burgoyne Surrounded blocks.   Mine will be at least somewhat scrappy.  If I had to use identical fabrics for 20 blocks I would get bored.  I don't anticipate this block (or group of blocks if I make more) being a 2- or 3-fabric block!

I'm itching to use these 4-patch blocks I've been sewing as leaders/enders (when I remember).

They are 1½", the perfect size.  I'm hoping the darks will be consistent enough to carry the diagonal from corner to corner.  I'll play with colors and fabrics, in the color range of the 4-patches but probably somewhat brighter, for the rest of the block and see what I come up with.

There are a few Burgoyne Surrounded quilts that I like here, here, here, and here.

I'm still quilting Autumn Maples but I just couldn't bring myself to post another photo of it again this month. 

I'm linking this post to One Monthly Goal June Link-up at Elm Street Quilts.  Thanks for hosting, Patty.

--Nancy.