Block #11, Civil War Bride Quilt, & Trial Layout

I started the Civil War Bride quilt 4 1/2 years ago - boy does time fly.  I completed my 16th block some months ago but neglected to post a picture.  So.....here it is.  It's block #11 on the pattern - a robin and nest of eggs.

Since I've been helping care for my baby grandson, my time to spend on quilting has decreased a lot.  I've been re-thinking priorities and have decided to call this quilt good with 16 blocks rather than 20.  I plan to add some more applique to the first block in the first row, and a little bit of embroidery on a few of the blocks, sew it together, and start on the borders.  Here's a picture of a possible layout of my blocks.  Input welcome!

Additional Vase Block for my Civil War Bride Quilt

I've been playing with the layout for my Civil War Bride quilt and decided to make an extra vase block so I can put a vase in each corner. Here's what I came up with.........

Civil War Bride Quilt - Block #15 & Groom Block

Here are the next two blocks I've been working on for my Civil War Bride Quilt.

I thought the Bride looked lonely so made a groom for her. I've also completed Block #15,the redwing blackbirds block.

I'm getting close to another decision point on this quilt - whether I'll stop at 16 blocks and make it a square quilt or push on to making the full 20 blocks. The next block I'll make is another vase block so that there will be one for each corner of the quilt and then think about which block I'd like to make for my 16th if I decide to stop there. Decisions - Decisions.

Block #12 and Picture of My 12 Finished Blocks, Civil War Bride Quilt

I've picked up my Civil War Bride Quilt again, after nearly 2 years with it on the back burner, and completed my 12th block.

I'd forgotten how much I had enjoyed working on these blocks.  I'd like to finally complete this quilt whether I end up with a 12 block, a 16 blocks, or the full 20 block quilt.  I'd really like to make a groom for my bride so am thinking I won't stop at 12.  Guess I'll press on to the next decision point of 16 blocks.

Here's a picture of the 12 blocks that I've completed so far:

Block #5, Civil War Bride Quilt

I enjoyed making this block, especially the vase.  Plus there weren't too many leaves in this block, compared to many of the other blocks, so it went fast too.   This is the 11th block I've made out of 20......finally I'm more than half way there!

Block #1, Vase of Blue Flowers, Civil War Bride Quilt

Over the long weekend I finished a couple of quilt projects. One of them is block #1 from the Civil War Bride Quilt I've been working on.  This is actually the 10th block I've made on this quilt.  That means I'm half way there.

Block #10, Strawberries (Civil War Bride Quilt)

Here is my latest block for the Civil War Bride Quilt.  This is block number 10, the strawberry block.  I decided to embroider the strawberry tops, I got the idea from Janice Vaine's latest book, "The Art of Elegant Hand Embroidery, Embellishment, and Applique", page 62.  There were some strawberries in her book with these cute embroidered tops.  I also decided to make some strawberry flowers.  I searched for a pattern to make three-dimensional flowers and also found them in Janice's book on page 128.  I've finished 9 blocks so far; here's a picture of them all together.

Block #8, Fruit (Civil War Bride Quilt)

Here is my next block.  I really enjoyed making all the fruit.  It seems like a happy block to me - maybe because of the yellow.

Count down:  8 finished - 12 more to go

Block #4, Grapes (Civil War Bride Quilt)

Here's the next block I've been working on - the block with several bunches of grapes.  I finshed this block last week but discovered my camera was broken.  I was so disappointed, I really liked that camera.  My husband lent me his so I was able to get a picture.

I made extra grapes so I'd have them ready for block #8.  Guess I'll do that one, with all the fruit, next.

Count down:  7 finished - 13 more to go

Block #14, Peahen (Civil War Bride Quilt)

My little peahen is finished and is busy strutting around under the wild rose bush.  I sure am captivated by this charming quilt - can't seem to put it down.   I hope I can keep the enthusiasm going because this is only the 6th block I've made.  There are still 14 blocks to go.  It feels a little daunting when I think of it that way and of all the little pieces that go into each block.   But, one stitch at a time and it will eventually be a quilt.  :-)

Count Down:  6 finished - 14 more to go

Block #7, Peacocks (Civil War Bride Quilt)

I really enjoyed making this block.  I love to look at peacocks.  The ones I made, using civil war fabrics, aren't quite as brightly hued as a real peacock but I'm pleased with how they turned out.  I embroidered the feet as someone on the Civil War Blog suggested and was much happier doing them this way rather than appliqueing them out of fabric.  I'm discovering that the finishing details in a block are what captivate my attention and excite me.  This block was one that got me excited because there were lots of details to play around with............couldn't wait to see what the peacocks would look like when they were finished.   I just love seeing how a block evolves itself (anyway it seems like it takes on a life of it's own and creates itself the way it wants to be sometimes, if you know what I mean. I don't really know how to explain it but I just love that part.)  So here are my peacocks:

Count Down:  5 finished - 15 more to go

Block #6, Red, White, & Blue Flowers (Civil War Bride Quilt)

Another block is finished.  I feel like I'm beginning to make some progress on this quilt - this is the fourth block I've made.  Since there are 20 blocks, it will be quite an investment of time and effort.  I found I enjoyed making this block a lot.  I thought of my grandson, who is in the military, as I was making it what with the red, white, and blue flowers.  If I counted right, there are 46 leaves in this block.  It actually felt like it went faster than the last leafy block I made.........and the last one had a few less leaves.  I think I may be getting into a groove here.  :-)

Count Down:  4 finished - 16 more to go

Block #2, White Flowers (Civil War Bride Quilt)

When I originally saw the CWB pattern my first impression was that there were an awful lot of leaves.  I thought that if I ever made it, I'd cut back on the number of leaves I put in each block.  Then I decided to make the quilt and wouldn't you know it, I put every last leaf on this very leafy block.  I guess the charm of the quilt got to me and I just couldn't help myself.  So here is my block #2 with leaves galore.

Count Down:  3 finished - 17 more to go

Block #3, The Bride Block (Civil War Bride Quilt)

The other block I worked on for this month is the Bride.  I decided to put her in a wedding dress and give her a bridal bouquet instead of a second apple as shown in the pattern.  Her head is done using permanent micron pens and then is shaded with colored pencils.

Here's a close-up of the Bride.  You can double click on the picture if you want to see more detail.

Block #9, The Bird of Paradise Block (Civil War Bride Quilt)

I've logged a lot of hours working on two of the blocks for "The Civil War Bride Quilt".  The first block I made is Block #9, the Bird of Paradise Block.  The main fabric line I'm using is a Moda fabric called Rouenneries designed by one of their newest designers, French General.  This fabric is in shades of Turkey Red, grays, and oysters.  It was inspired by French textiles of the 18th century so fits in with the era of the Civil War.  I'm also using some Thimbleberries fabric and some reproduction fabric from my stash, and am using muslin for my background in a tea dyed color.  I've been longing to use the beautiful Rouenneries fabric that I got last year for a special quilt for my front room.  I wanted something with gray and red in it for in there.  This should work out great.

Here's a picture of the Bird of Paradise that I made.  He's kind of handsome, isn't he?

Civil War Bride Quilt

Now that the Baltimore Album class I took at the Quilted Apple is finished we've started on a new series of classes to begin making the "Civil War Bride Quilt" (also sometimes called the "Bird of Paradise Quilt").  It looks like we'll be aiming to get two blocks finished per month. It's a 20 block quilt so at that pace plus one class for the border it will take us nearly a year.  When the instructor, ArleneS, told us about the next project, I didn't realize it was the same quilt that the ladies on the Baltimore site I follow (BaltimoreQuilts@YahooGroups.com) have been so excited about.  I was doing an internet search for some pictures and history when it dawned on me that it was one and the same quilt.  I already thought it was a beautiful quilt but this made me even more excited.

Since there were so many of the ladies in the Yahoo Baltimore group that were planning to make this quilt, one of them decided to start a separate blog (thecivilwarbridequilt.blogspot.com) so that those interested in making the quilt using the pattern from Threadbear out of Australia (Threadbear.com) can all encourage each other.  Can you feel my excitement ramp up another notch..........I think it would be so much fun to do a quilt along with both a blog group, and a class, and be able to share ideas.

To make a long story short, I received my pattern from Threadbear last month and finally pulled fabric this week.  Yesterday I made some design changes (I want a groom for my bride plus a house and.............) and also prepped the blocks.  In class Arlene decided we'd try block #9 (Bird of Paradise block) and block #3 (Bride block) first.  I'll likely be making them in the order the class is making them.  Today I started on block #9 and also sent an email to the blog coordinator to see about joining in the discussion on the blog. 

Here's a picture of the Civil War Bride Quilt that was developed by Corliss of Threadbear that I'll be working on: