Sunday, March 4, 2012

Some sewing at last

I've been a really bad blogger lately but honestly, I had nothing to show here. I've hardly sewed at all because I've been playing with another interest of mine.
I finally got my mojo back and dived right back into the sewing room. Lucky the sewing machine hadn't rusted up in protest.
I got the sixth panel joined to the Trailing Vines at last. It's been hard to take photos though because  the sewing room really is a cave and to top it off we've had dark wet weather so these will have to do.
The first four panels have 1/2" main stems but the last two I switched to 3/8" which I like better. Susan McCord's Vine quilt has uneven sized stems so it's in keeping with hers I suppose and I love that.
A friend recently emailed me and alerted me to the news that the Henry Ford museum has acquired the thirteenth Susan McCord quilt. What an exciting acquisition and you can read about it here on their blog. Check out the signature leaves on the borders!

This is what I've been doing the last two weeks. I just had to take some time and play around with sourdough formulas to get the bread we like to eat. It's not too sour because I like to try and bring the flavour of the wheat to the forefront. You wouldn't believe how bogged down by science I got. I think I might play with fabric this week instead.
I lost an email from somebody wanting the block pattern for the Coxcomb and Currants block. My sincere apologies and if you think it's you, could you email me at

45 comments:

Karen said...

I went to the site to see the quilt you mention. What a beauty. I like that it is the Irish Chain design in the middle in beautiful fall colors. Then the leaves and flowers are the border in Susan's signature style so add to the beauty. Do I see another quilt in your future?

Joan said...

You are so tallented with your applique - and your bread :) Went to the sie and checked out the quilt - its beautiful. I think your vines quilt will be a winner :) YOu have done it so beautifully.

YankeeQuilter said...

Your vine quilt is breathtaking! I have tried making sourdough bread but always end up with too much sourdough starter (folks start running from me much like when the zucchinis take over in the summer....) I have had a lot of success with the No-knead books though!

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

The quilt is looking great, how many strips left to do?

Susan said...

I don't make bread, and I certainly couldn't make an amazing trailing vine like yours! It is really beautiful Janet! A real prize winner!

Sujata Shah said...

Janet,

Love your vines. I can't believe how many leaves there are ! It is breathtaking. I have the same question as one of the previous visitors.. How many more columns are you making?
I did go on the site and checked out the 13th quilt. Thanks for sharing that.

Janet said...

Be still mt heart!! Oh Janet it's incredible! I can't wait to have 2 panels to attatch together. 6 panels - you're nearly halfway!
I saw the new McCord quilt online too - the borders are marvelous.

Oops-Lah said...

Your quilt is looking amazing. And the leaves look very much like the "original". And your bread is not bad either. Did you make your own starter?

Thimbleanna said...

Wow Janet -- you're hiking right along on your quilt -- and it's looking fabulous! Thanks for the info on the Susan McCord quilt. Apparently I've been under a rock -- I'm only a few hours from the Henry Ford museum -- I'm thinking a road trip is in order. Hopefully, if I wait long enough it will be on display!

Kathy said...

I've just come across your blog and which I've enjoyed reading and marvelling at your great applique skills. I'm just a beginner and looking at all the leaves and vines that you've done blows my mind!

Dixie Howard said...

Love how your vines quilt is coming together. Thanks for sharing the news about the newly-acquired McCord quilt - how wonderful that they are all together. A visit to this museum is on my bucket list. Can practically smell your bread - it looks absolutely delicious!

Julia said...

Wow Janet, your quilt is looking amazing...and I love the Irish Chain quilt too...yum that bread looks looks so good!...love fresh bread.
Julia ♥

Nifty Quilts said...

This is one of my two all-time favorite quilts. The other one is Susan McCords!

Dorothy said...

Hi Janet, I'm almost finished my second strip of leaves. I made my first vine with bias bars and got 1/2" but made the second strip with a bias maker and got 3/8th so mine are different already. Yours is looking soo wonderful, it's keeping me going seeing how great more strips together look. I may even put my sashing on.

Alison said...

Looking very special Janet. Bread, quilts - do you garden as well? Quilters often enjoy all three!

Thanks for posting so regularly.

Alison

Shari said...

I love how your quilt is coming together. It's spectacular and a great tribute to Susan McCord.

Bread looks good. Will you share your recipe?

Shari said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
regan said...

The quilt is really coming along....and it's gorgeous! And that bread looks amazing! Yum!

You are so talented! I'm in awe!

antique quilter said...

just BEAUTIFUL! good to hear from you again...I was starting to worry!
yes I saw that about Susan McCord and I do hope they display her quilts again I will go !
Kathie

Rachaeldaisy said...

Gosh your quilt is so beautiful!! I can just imagine how good your bread tastes, I like the look of the crust. I'm off to read about the Susan McCord aquisition.

peawink said...

Your quilt is absolutely stunning and thank you for including the link to the new acquisition. I sure would love to know more about your bread ... Did you start with a basic recipe? How much did it all change before you were happy with this spectacular result?

Miriam said...

Janet, your Trailing Vines is magnificent!!! Wow, you have sooo much done!
The Irish Chain quilt on the link is stunning! Love the colours Susan used.
Congratulations on sticking with getting your bread "just right"!!
Have a fun week playing with fabric. :)

*karendianne. said...

Oh Janet, this is coming along so beautifully. I did get the directions and read thru them since I did finish my appliqué class (successfully this time) and I'm ready to go. Well - not quite. I didn't really realize I was going to have to do something more with all those leaves. After I read thru the information I found even more amazement in this great piece. I just love having you here to share all this wonderful work with us!!! Yours truly, *karendianne.

Pat said...

Beautiful quilt.

Vivian said...

Needless to say your vine quilt is stunning and it has been fun to follow your progress on it!

Thanks for the link to the post about the new acquisition. I love, love, love the idea of the signature "Vines" as borders! Ms. McCord was truly a quilter who thought "out of the box" in her day.

Barb said...

your vines look lovely. Thanks for the link. I am unfamiliar with that quilt and love the vine used on the borders with the piecing in the center -
your break looks crusty and delicious. Just add cheese and wine.

Jan said...

Seeing your strippy coming together actually made my jaw drop! Just wonderful. And, I appreciate the link to the "new" Susan McCord info!

Carrie P. said...

Congrats on a finish. It is fabulous!
I just made a starter yesterday. I plan to make some bread this week.

Ann Champion said...

Your Vines quilt looks fantastic! It captures the feel of the original SO well.
Thanks for the link about quilt #13 The top border looks different from the others to me? I'd love to see those quilts in person..and it's within driving distance from here.
Your bread looks fabulous!

Lori said...

Yahoo!! Love the Strips and different size stems. It is going to be an awesome quilt.
I saw the new McCord acquisition and loved the border- recognized it right away!!

Barb said...

Glad you got your groove back...love your quilt, it is so amazing!

audrey said...

your quilt is such a wonderful version of one of Susan McCords quilts. very beautiful work.:)

Sue-Anne said...

Your Vines quilt is magnificent Janet! I had a look at the new museum quilt, she has definately made it her own.

Your grandbabies are so cute and pleased you had a lovely time away.

kim mclean said...

Your Trailing Vine is gorgeous Janet! if the day has 48 hours I might have a go at it,for the time being I'll just look at yours. Kim McL

Jeanne said...

Your vines are breathtaking! I love looking at the fabrics. You're making such good progress on this quilt.

Nedra said...

Thank you for telling us about the Susan McCord quilt and providing a link. What a find! I see a similarity in her vine border and your beautiful vines! Wow! On both!

Ivory Spring said...

Oh my goodness, Janet.... you have outdone yourself AGAIN!

Abby and Stephanie said...

Hmmm...both vines and bread. I'd like to play around more with bread as homemade is always best.

KarenQuilt said...

You are to be congratulated for tackling this pattern!! Your work looks gorgeous. I have known about this quilt for years for it appears in several quilt history books I have in my library, but I didn't really studied it's construction closely. Now I am in love with how she constructed those leaves! Since I started doing a little more stitching later instead of so much writing---applique at that-- I've just got to try these leaves in a smaller variation that a full size quilt. I did some research on Strippy Quilts a few years ago. Another reason why I love this quilt.

Janet H. said...

I've been wondering how you attempt the leaves that have multiple strips of fabrics. Do you appliqué everything or do you piece the strips and then turn it into an appliquéd leaf?

Pat said...

Susan McCord is smiling in grand approval, Janet...just love the soft curving lines of this - and of course, your workmanship shines!

Beautifully done!

Karen said...

Beautiful! Can't wait to see it finished...

fiberdoodles said...

Absolutely beautiful!

Minka said...

The vine quilt is drop-dead gorgeous. Love-love-love it!

imquilternity said...

The quilt is gorgeous, of course, but what a l-o-t of work. :) Beautiful work, I might add.