CCC #4 FINISHED at last!

Thanks to a three day weekend in Kansas City with dd's team first tourney of the season and her requirement to use my computer for her stats homework - leaving me empty handed - and behind in online grading! Yikes. But as you see, I made the best of it by working on and finishing block #4! YEAH! What else could I do? :)

The Inspiration: Hayley is coming!

My daughter's mentor, a lovely, Godly woman, and mother of three is expecting a special baby #4, (due in May?) A girl, recently named "Hayley." Of course Hayley will need a special baby quilt! Let the planning begin! It will be a special treat to plan and sew together with my daughter this spring as she finishes high school and prepares to move far away to college.

After searching through many quilt books for inspiration and bookmarking about 20 idea for "modern type designs" I thought dd might like, she chose an Irish chain design. Below is the picture of an Amish crib quilt in Pellman's (1985) book: Amish Crib Quilts that was the inspiration. Of course, the original quilt is just the starting place for dd's development of design inspiration. And, it is a great choice!  . . more to come!

The Inspiration:

Latest installment on Block #4 CCC

Thanks Carole and Sharon for the encouragement on my work on block #4 of Chester Co. Criswell quilt.

I'm finished with those last curved channels and on to the curvy ones which were kind of fun. Even the last curved channel wasn't so bad. Certainly the outer edge of the block is a breeze! At the rate I'm going I'll be on to the next block by the end of the week (taking several days off to catch up on grading papers). I'm glad to be reforming my feelings about this block since I see block #6 also has some channels - although fewer and perhaps slightly larger. Happy Quilting everyone!

Moving forward...at a snails pace, but moving!

I've been stuck on Chester Co. Criswell block # 4 for awhile now. Since I began, the Dec. and Jan. blocks have come out! I have sewn on block #4 at about 5-6 different sittings (some pretty long stints like while watching Citizen Kane last night with dd). Still have not found this block very enjoyable. But, regardless I am going to do it! It is looking fine, but I will like it best when finished!

Comparison with last update...

Design Wall

I haven't posted any quilt items lately so here's a cropped shot of my design wall to keep some quilty icons up front - nothing new. It's a mix of in-progress items in various stages of completion. I love to look at it!

P.S. I have worked on CCC block #4 a little but not enough to show.

A follow-up from last week's "TODAY" post

She's in and will play ball! It's her official acceptance response and her dream come true! Thanks to so many teachers and coaches, friends and family, and especially to the Lord for guiding each step so far...and many more steps for the future. She has also consistently worked hard to get to today. More hard work to come. She is SOOO happy and excited about the challenge ahead! It's her 110%!!! A year ago we would have never imagined this path, but we are happy too :) Thanks for letting me share the celebration with you. P. S. Tonight - I will work more on CCC block #4! It's still got a long way to go.

TODAY!! (More about that later...)

I have made very little progress on November's Chester County Criswell block. It is not much fun either, I sighed while sewing the other night. My family asked..."Then WHY do you keep sewing it when you aren't having fun with it?" HA! I am determined to do it! To have the experience and dedication to reproduce these 150+ year old blocks. I'm wondering if anyone has some tips that will make it easier. Let me hear from you! These skinny channels are not fun for me. Actually the channels aren't so bad along the middle but the ends are difficult!

I have already traced and cut out the pattern for Dec. block. It looks so much more familiar.