Sentimental Stitches

1857 Album Quilt – Blocks 15 – 16 – 17

by Gay on 6:32 pm in 20th Anniversary, Antique Quilt, Applique Quilts, Block of the Month, Free Patterns, Uncategorized

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Hi everyone! I don't know about you but I can't believe I survived Block 14 from last month. All the ins and outs and roundabouts of that block were still on my mind as I selected the blocks for May. I hope you'll enjoy the simplicity of two of the blocks so you'll have extra time to concentrate on one of my favorite blocks in the quilt.

If you received this week's newsletter you've already heard that Susan K. was the winner of the pretty Heirloom Embroidery Scissors Pendant. She's sent me her address and the pendant will be on the way to her this week!

This month I'm bringing in the springtime flowers for the May prize with this pretty Laurel Burch Crossbody purse. It'll be perfect for going on shop hops and vacation this summer. Leave a comment on this post and on May 20th I'll draw for the winner!

Block 15

This block has an embroidered signature of "Auntie" so I wouldn't dare guess who might have made this one.

You can pick out your favorite red print or paisley for this block. It's a nice big leaf that's perfect to show off a great piece of fabric!

Block 16

This block is signed by Lizzie. The block could have been made by Laura's sister Elizabeth who was born in 1843. All of the petals are the same size so this one should be pretty easy to stitch.

Block 17

This block is chocked full of the most amazing details. It's one of my favorite blocks and wonderfully stitched!

The little cherries are each about 1/2" in size so you'll get practice making perfect circles. If you need any help, refer to the tutorial HERE.

This block has a tiny cross stitched signature of Amelia. I tried to do some research on this block using both the Ackerman and Griffiths last names. I've found Amelia Ackerman Smith. She was born about 1820 and lived in New York during the time these blocks would have been made. I believe her mother is Cynthia Ackerman (we have a block signed C. Ackerman) and Amelia has a sister named Louisa (we have a block signed Louise A.). It all seems to make sense to me.

The embroidery on this block is fantastic. We've all seen embroidered cherry stems like these but this bird was beautifully done. Most of the very dark brown or black thread has worn away. It looks like quite a bit of it was done using a single strand of thread so perhaps that's why it didn't hold up very well. The cream thread, which may have been a different color thread originally, has held up nicely and you can see the tiny chain and buttonhole stitches perfectly. Does anyone have an opinion on the cream color embroidery thread? I'd love to know if you think there has been a color change. This close up of the bird is included in the pattern along with my notes on the embroidery. If you want a faster finish, use broderie perse for the bird. There are lots of great prints out there featuring our fine feathered friends.

The 1857 Album Quilt - Block Set 5

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1857 Album Quilt – Blocks 11 – 12 – 13 – 14

by Gay on 7:23 am in 20th Anniversary, Applique Quilts, Block of the Month, Free Patterns, News, Site Updates, Uncategorized

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I know it's April Fool's Day today but I don't have any tricks planned for you. We're only having treats today! I am constantly surprised at how much happens in just 4 short weeks. We have over 325 members in the 1857 Album Quilt Facebook group! There's also a Dutch Facebook group for the quilt too. I can't encourage you enough to join in on that because the inspiration is fantastic. There are some really beautiful blocks being stitched and you don't want to miss them.

Let's start by finishing up a little from last month. I need to announce who won the March anniversary gift.

The winning name drawn on March 20th for this pretty pincushion filling sampler is Chris. Congratulations!! As soon as I'm back from the quilt retreat I'll send it out to you.

To make it a little easier to keep track of where we are with the quilt I've made a blank layout of the blocks. It will be on the 1857 Album Quilt Page and I'll update it each month when new blocks come out.

Block 11

You've already seen Block 11 which is part of this 4th set of blocks. You can read about the block and the engagement of Laura and Alfred in THIS POST. The individual block pattern is coming down today so the pattern will now be part of this group of blocks.

Block 12

Look at all these cute cheddar circles atop a cornucopia! I love the simplicity of this block.

We have little cross stitched initials JB signing the block.

I really wish the cornucopia fabric was still here. It looks like it was a darling print. I wonder if it wore away because it was a larger, unquilted piece.

Block 13

The embroidered initials on this block are AP.

I believe faith played an important role in Laura and her families life. She was christened in the Dutch Reformed Church on January 8 1841 in Greenwich Village in New York. I doubt you could pack up your family and move half way across the country to start a life in a new place without faith - I know I couldn't!

Block 14

This is your challenge block! It has lots of things going on and will take some time to applique but I think it's worth the effort.

The signature is nearly gone on this block but the thread holes tell us what we need to know. It was made by M B Griffiths. I haven't been able to identify just who MB is but admit I haven't had much time for research this month. I truly welcome any information those of you who offered to help work on the genealogy can provide.

It wasn't until I uploaded and looked at the photo with the signature again did I notice the stitching holes on the yellow flower. Look closely............I don't think they're from any additional applique but I do think there were embroidered details on the flower. They aren't drawn on the pattern because I missed them when I was tracing. I think you'll be able to add them to your page if you'd like to do the embroidery. Secrets and surprises!!! I love this quilt!

There are lots of fine details in this block. Look at the tips on the rosebuds. They're actually two pieces of fabric - two different fabrics no less. You could applique them as one piece but I've drawn the block showing the two sections. The fabric I'm using has a print on one side and the back side of the fabric is a pretty solid color so I'll be able to use that wrong side for the tips of the buds. You might have something like that in your stash. If the tiny applique seems like too much work you could always embroider them using a satin stitch with two strands of floss.
Look closely at the leaf from the photo with with rosebud. I think I see stitching lines on this piece too.

I took my pattern and added vein lines to the yellow flower and both of the leaves like this.

April's anniversary prize is this beautiful embroidery scissors pendant. Pretty enough to wear and perfect to cut threads and clip curves while working on your blocks. Leave a comment on this post and I'll draw the lucky winner on April 20th.

Clutch and Zoe couldn't let the day go by without having a little fun. If you didn't get today's newsletter you might not know there are a limited number of chances to go shopping in the online store for digital patterns and get a 41% discount. Click here to go shopping and enter the coupon code NOFOOL to see if you're one of the lucky shoppers.

The 1857 Album Quilt - Block Set 4

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1857 Album Quilt – Love at First Sight

by Gay on 5:31 pm in 20th Anniversary, Antique Quilt, Applique Quilts, Block of the Month, Free Patterns, News

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I can't imagine what life must have been like in the 1850s. I keep thinking of Downton Abbey and how formal and proper everyone was when it came to courtship. I found the sweetest story online written by a family member about Laura and Alfred. It's only a few sentences but I think it speaks volumes about their love for each other. Remember, Laura was born in New York but her family moved to Wisconsin by the time she was 3 years old. I haven't figured out yet which of her family members remained in New York but that's where the love story begins.

Alfred worked for a publishing house was called "William Wood & Co." which was located in NYC. They published medical books. While he was there he met Laura at a party one night and shortly after that she returned to her home in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. It seems Alfred had fallen in love so he asked his boss if he could take some of the medical books out to her hometown and try to sell them to the doctors there. Luckily, the boss thought it was a great idea and let him go. He was one of the first door-to-door salesmen selling books! He did so well that he decided to ask Laura to marry him and come back to NY to live.

How sweet is that??? Laura married Alfred at the age of 17. Their wedding announcement appeared in "The Rockland County Journal".

MARRIED AT
Nya -k, on the 24th inst., by Rev. I
N. Felch, Mr. Cornelius T. Van Dervoort,
of Paterson, N. J., to Miss Anna Rebecca
eldest daughter of tbe officeating Clergyman.
AT Beaver Dam, Wis., June 17, by the
Rev. J. J. A/itre, Alfred S. Griffiths, son ol
Rev. J. W. Griffiths of this village, to Laura
R. daughtei of A. Ackermau, Esq.. ol the
first named place.

Block 11

In honor of Worldwide Quilting Day I'm sharing the love story and one of the heart blocks from the 1857 Album Quilt. This block has tiny cross stitched letters - M. B.- added by the maker. There are two blocks made by members of the Brink family and several with the letter B for the initial of the last name so perhaps they were made by members of that family.

I'm at the lake this weekend and I'm sorry it took me so long to pull this together. I left the printhead for the printer back in Grand Rapids along with my notes on Laura and Alfred's meeting. Thank goodness for Facetime and a patient husband. He went to the studio, found what I needed and emailed me pictures of it so I could still share it tonight.

Have a great quilting weekend everyone!

The 1857 Album Quilt - Block 11

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1857 Album Quilt – Blocks 15 – 16 – 17