The Sarah Morrell quilt

I haven't started a new quilt this year and I think I lasted quite well but seeing the Morrell quilt around blogland was just too much and I finally ordered the pattern pack and a starter kit of fabrics.
This is the original quilt pictured in Glorious American Quilts.
It's dated 1843 New Jersey.

This is the pattern from Threadbear by Di Ford. The ladies at the shop give great service and are extremely helpful.

I made a start on the center block and if you knew me, you'd know that hand piecing isn't my forte but I never shy away from a challenge and this will be a good skill building project.

I have a friend doing an insane handpiecing project that helped me with some great tips for hand piecing.

I appliqued the center to the background instead of piecing it in, just because I didn't want seams.

I've never done broderie perse before but I always wanted to have a go and I really lost myself in making this floral arrangement. I'm still in the process of buttonholing the edges and I'm using cotton sewing thread to do it. The pieces are fused on first.

I was fortunate to get the fabric below which  is Austen Manor by Harriet Hargrave and is a bit darker than in the photo.

I've been fabric foraging for the broderie perse and thought I'd hit the jackpot when I discovered the one Di had used called Sophia Pearce from Andover from the Winterthur collection.  It's got floral sprays on a cream background. I ordered it from Quilters Corner only to be told they didn't have it. If anyone knows of a source, let me know. It's a few years old now so I don't fancy my chances.

Edit: never underestimate bloggers, you are the best! Thanks to Miriam, who is also making the quilt, she put me onto a shop that had some and thanks to Christine who also offered some to me.