I'm sorry to be late this month with my post for the 1857 Album Quilt blocks. After watching my granddaughter three days a week and taking care of Sentimental Stitches there isn't much time for me to do any stitching. I wasn't feeling like much of a quilter and had to put fabric, needle and thread together to renew my spirit.

I wanted to make a quilt, valances and Minnie Mouse sheets for Violet's new big girl bedroom.

A quilt for her to snuggle up with on the couch this fall and winter when it gets cold.

At least two quilts for her little brother arriving in a couple of weeks and a quilt (it's a surprise) for someone I felt needs something special to remind them how much they're loved sooooooo I took some time to get those things finished or at least off to the machine quilter. Needless to say, when I take time to do that everything else kind of comes to a screeching halt.

I have four blocks for you today so let's get started -

Block 32

This block was made my Mrs. L Ackerman and I really look forward to stitching this one. It should go pretty quickly and I want to find the perfect yellow for those lemons!

Block 33

I didn't have the quilt or this picture with me when I was drafting the block so my embroidery design for the basket doesn't match the original quilt - insert my sad face 🙁

This block was made my M Gowdey. I feel she was quite an affluent quilter as she had a stamp made to use on the album blocks she made for quilts. Most basket blocks of this style are pieced but this one is appliqued in two pieces. It was adorned with black thread embroidery on the basket, base and handle making it a more complex block than it seems at first glance.

Block 34

This block was made by LB and is one of my favorites. It's got it all! Berries, flowers and interesting little details.

Block 35

This block was made by Anna Kerrington (or Kenington) and is your easy block for this month. I like the sweet little chainstitch embroidery details Anna added to the stem and leaves of her block.

Laura's mother, Hannah Ackerman
Now for something special!!! One of our fellow quilters, Niki Armacost has done some fantastic research on Laura and her family. I decided it deserved it's very own page on the web site so you could refer to it whenever you want. Not only did Niki find volumes of information on the Ackerman family, their relatives and friends but she was able to find a direct link between the 1857 Album Quilt and the Houseman Quilt. I encourage you to get yourself a cup of coffee or tea and spend some time going over the Genealogy page. It will bring a whole new meaning to the quilt and probably leave you with some of the same questions I have. One of them, how in the world did a quilt of this significance end up in my care?!?!
I don't know how to thank Niki for all her time and hard work in finding the historical documents she did. I would never have been able to do what she has done. Niki, your contributions to the history of the quilt are amazing and there aren't words to express my gratitude to you for all you've done.

Elaine was the winner of September's anniversary prize (Holiday Wishes book). This month's prize is a a copy of the 2017 New Hexagon Calendar. Leave a comment on this post before the 20th of the month to be included in the drawing.

The 1857 Album Quilt - Block Set 10