“‘What shall I do with all my books,’ was the question; and the answer, ‘Read them;’ sobered the questioner. But if you cannot read them, at any rate handle them, and, as it were, fondle them. Peer into them. Let them fall open where they will. Read on from the first sentence that arrests the eye. Then turn to another. Make a voyage of discovery, taking soundings of uncharted seas. Set them back on their shelves with your own hands. Arrange them on your own plan, so that if you do not know what is in them, you at least know where they are. If they cannot be your friends, let them at any rate be your aquaintances. If they cannot enter the circle of your life, do not deny them at least a nod of recognition.” [Winston Churchill]
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much
Allison Hoover Bartlett
Hello!
Can one really have too many books...as you may know, I range to the side of probably not! I hope you are well and keeping yourself safe.
February was a busy, wonderful month in the studio. I finished the Commissary Reproduction quilt, and I am super pleased with how it came out. I hope I can photograph it in a special place before it has to go to its new home.
Reproduction quilt of a Civil War Union Commissary Commission Quilt!
I also designed and ordered new labels from Spoonflower, and I love them! I will create my own labels every time now. The colors are great, and I think they are much prettier than the last labels. I have about ten of those labels left, and I will use those for bears, but I am already plotting a smaller bear/pillow label from Spoonflower, too!
New Labels from Spoonflower; I love the colors!
I also managed to finish piecing the Anniversary Quilt top! Yay! I know...you were concerned I would never finish...but I did, and I am now deciding on how to quilt it. I have a couple of other quilts ahead of it to quilt, so I have time to think about it. Any ideas would be appreciated!
Anniversary Quilt Ready for quilting…I have decided to put cherries on the back of it!
I promised you last time that I would tell you about Star Quilts...I have a customer who wanted a star quilt made from clothes...some of it was knit clothing, and she had already finished the interfacing and sewing of some of the pieces. I needed a pattern that would allow me to use those pieces and a pattern that was a little more friendly to knit fabric than some of the Lone Star patterns are. So I set about to make a pattern with bigger pieces, and I made a “mock up” along the way. I had this beautiful rainbow fabric left from another order, and so I decided to try different techniques with it. For instance, I wasn’t sure if Y seams would be a good idea with what I had to use, so I made them both ways in the mock up to see if there was a difference. I created a sweet little pattern that was a great help in piecing the star quilt for my customer, and I decided I liked the mock up so much that I will finish it, too! It is in line to be quilted soon!
Customer Star Quilt…I think four generations of clothing are represented in this quilt!
My Star “Mock Up” that I decided is pretty enough to be finished! Just waiting to be quilted!
Currently, I am elbows deep in a huge custom project, and I just finished another custom quilt for a customer. She sent me the nicest email days after she received it. I will share that one soon! I am also designing a beautiful heart memory quilt and doing some hand applique...Can you tell I’m having fun!
Have I gotten you all caught up now with what is happening in the studio? I think so!
I hope you stay safe and well!
Sending Quilting Love,
Ginger
Coming Next Week: That special Custom quilt (which features applique!)
I am Reading: Cræft: An Inquiry Into the Origins and True Meaning of Traditional Crafts by Alexander Langlands, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (though I am kind of stalled there...I was led away by the lure of another text!). I started Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow; a friend gave it to me...it is the book upon which the musical Hamilton is based. I just really love a good biography sometimes! I am also reading The Yellow House by Martin Gayford. (My brain may be pining for some Willa Cather, so don’t be surprised if she shows up soon, too! I know I seem fickle, but really I am just insatiable!) Let me know what you are reading!