All Together Now: Civil War Blocks So Far

After the last of the company left, I pinned up all the Civil War blocks on my make-do design wall.  Pinning is necessary b/c the act of putting up one block is guaranteed to knock off another, which in turns brings down at least another block.

The blocks may or may not be in their final arrangement but I can now see what colors I need more of and whether or not a block needs to be light or dark overall.

I've decided on an 7-block by 8-block grid, so I'll have to select several of my favorites of which to make extras.

I will be using this print for the border...  and will need to figure out fabric for the sashing.  I'm currently thinking of a small cream or tan print like this one:

Ideas/suggestions welcome...

Civil War Block 48: West Virginia

This week's block is #48 of 53... so only five more to go!  I'd been saving a good size fabric remnant to use and thought this week's block would be perfect....     *bzzzzz*

It was too narrow!   I love this flower and decided to piece it to make it large enough...

After I was finished, I realized I could have "framed" the center block so it would look less pieced...  but I am not taking it apart!   Y-seams are not easy, imho!

Civil War Block 44: Union

I just love blocks with a zillion itsy-bitsy pieces.... but I will NOT let it deter me!

There!   Done....

Civil War Block 43: Right Hand of Friendship

One of the easier blocks, Right Hand of Friendship allowed a variety of interpretations as shown on the Civil War BOW Flickr site.

I chose a two-color star and am pleased with the results.... however, others have also come up with some spectacular blocks!  I am tempted to make several of these blocks just to have different versions in my CW quilt.

Civil War Block 42: "H" is for Hospital

Thankfully, after last week's challenging block, an easier one...

...what a relief!

Civil War Block 38: Ohio Star

This week's block is the Ohio Star and I knew immediately which fabric I wanted to use for the center.  My Blog-land Angel sent me a gorgeous piece of red floral and I pulled it right out!

I chose smaller floral prints for the other two fabrics but thought the big swirling leaves looked cool in the back ground!

There are only 14 more blocks left... Barbara Brackman's Civil War BOW will be completed at the end of this year.  Assembling the quilt top is scheduled for January...  I'm looking forward to it!

Civil War Block 34: Rosebud

This week's block, Rosebud, came with some interesting information about Rose O'Neal Greenhow, who was arrested by Union troops in 1861 for spying for the South.

 Rosebud by Becky Brown

Interestingly, this is a block that I'm familiar with because I have been reading Sylvia's Bridal Sampler from Elm Creek Quilts in preparation for a QAL this fall with Mama Spark. 

You don't need to buy the book to access the block patterns; 

all blocks are available on the SBS site.

Being the rebel I am, I elected to use the SBS rosebud block where it looks like 4 nosegays of rosebuds rather than the bold pinwheel in the middle and I'm-not-sure-what-the-rest-is of the block.

Doing this over, I would use a lighter red for the rosebuds and/or a darker green for the nosegay holders.   But this will look well with the rest of the CW blocks.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cool Give-away!

Karen of Lisnaweary Quilts is having a give-away for some cool stuff from Creative Grids!

The give-away is open to international entries and I know there are two of these prizes that I very much want to try out...  especially the rotary blade sharpener!

Saturday Sewing

Barbara Brackman released her Civil War block #28: Next Door Neighbor this morning...

 

Several of my Blog-land Angel's fabrics are included in this block.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

I've been working on quilting the blue and white Kaleidoscope quilt...

...I'm about half-way done.

What's Wrong with This Picture?

I've read on several blogs to use your camera to look at a block after it's completed to make sure it's done correctly.  The CW blocks are my first attempt at fancy piecing and I found out that the camera trick works.  Let me show you...

I promise this block looked just FINE to me before I took the photo!

I either need my eyes or my head examined...   

I spent a little quality time with...

...and ended up with this...

Barbara Brackman's Civil War blocks:  #1 Catch Me If You Can

Looks a little better, wouldn't you say?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Congratulations to Miki Willa of Miki's Fabric Creations for winning the give away for the Civil War Block: #24: Ladies Aid Album!

Miki requested the block "as is" and it will be winging it's way to her in today's mail.

New Addiction

Barbara Brackman's Civil War Reunion blocks...