Block No. 35. Granny's Choice - I'm An Anti

No. 35.  Granny's Choice: I'm An Anti

Well there were women who apposed Women having the Vote.  I can't imagine why.  I think they considered it un-lady like.  They were called the  Anti's.  This block represents the Anti's.  The block was published in the Kansas City Star in 1948.  I foundation pieced the parts in the block and then hand pieced all together.  Being an Anti it was contrary to put together..may have to redo.  Can't seem to get a perfect 8.5".

No. 34. Coffee Cup - Not My Job Description

No. 34.  Coffee Cup - Not My Job Description

Coffee is my favorite beverage, so for that reason, I really enjoyed making this cup.  Note the heart.  The heart is for all the females in my family. 

At my age - will be 68 next month, one would think I experienced this - women are the coffee makers at the office  thing -  but I never did.  Perhaps its because I was too intimidating to even suggest I make coffee, or maybe my coffee was just not what they would like. 

Coffee brings up fond childhood memories for me.  Mom, my aunts, and Great Aunt Josephine, and I would go to Grandma's every Sunday after Mass. Grandma would make coffee (set to perk on the stove) and bring out her homemade cookies.  We would visit for hours around the kitchen table and talk about whatever.  There was much animated conversation and laughter. Some times the female neighbors would drop in.     

Then about noon we would all go our separate ways to make dinner for our immediate family.  Most of the time, Sunday was pasta day and  mom would make spaghetti with the tomato sauce  made from scratch.  This took a while so it was started at about one o'clock and done by dinner time.  The house would smell great all day long. 

So I suppose what I'm saying is that coffee on Sunday was a female family thing and I'm not sure but I don't think the men would be welcome.  Never attended by my brother, male cousins, my uncles, or my father.  Grandpa, when he was alive would wonder off somewhere - usually to tend his garden.

I foundation pieced this block.  The heart and handle are appliqued on.  The handle was pieced in while foundation piecing and then appliqued down.

 Fun block to make and for me brought up wonderful memories. I can smell the coffee.  When my Grandma died, I took the coffee cup she always drank from and every year on her birthday - March 1 - we have coffee together.  All my aunts are gone now too.  Mom's still here and enjoying life in Florida with my dad who is 91. 

BLOCK NO. 33 - CONTRARY HUSBAND

BLOCK NO. 33:  CONTRARY HUSBAND

WE ARE NOW ON BLOCK 33.  JUST 16 MORE?  

Well, I thought we were doing 50.  Then it's 17 more. 

 

This block is called Contrary Husband.  It was published in the Kansas City Star in 1938.

 

Somehow the description read in Grandmother's Choice - Votes for Women doesn't quite fit contrary.  More like criminal.  Contrary is when they won't take out the garbage or help with the dishes.  Beatings are a whole 'nother category.

 

I paper pieced this block's parts and then hand pieced the parts together.  I have continued to use up my scraps. 

BLOCK NO 32: MR. ROOSEVELT'S NECKTIE

Block No. 32:  Mr. Roosevelt's Necktie

We have now passed to week 32.  I can't believe I've actually been able to keep up with these blocks.  I haven't missed a one so far (although I've been late at times).  

This block represents the necktie worn by Teddy Roosevelt who supposedly had women's rights in his heart.  He didn't believe the cause of suffrage for women to be all that important really.  That is until the states started to give women voting rights.  Then he deemed it politically prudent to join in.  

The block was a pattern in Clara Stone's Pattern Catalogue dated 1910. 

I printed this block out from my EQ7 as a foundation piece.  Since the block couldn't really be foundation pieced all the pieces came out individually.  I then printed the pieces on to freezer paper.  I cut out the pieces and ironed them on to the back of the desired color fabric, then hand pieced the block.  The freezer paper allowed me to hand piece easily and also allowed for straight lines in the bowtie. 

Still using up my small (neatly organized) pieces of scrap fabric.

Block No. 31: Tinted Chains - Click

Block No. 31.  Tinted Chains - Click

This is the 31st week.  I printed this out as a foundation piece.  Foundation pieced the strips, removed the paper and then sewed the strips together by machine.  Locking the points and lots of pins helped to keep the points matching.  

All of the fabric is from my scraps.  The purple dates back to 1998 and probably most of the others too.  The purple I can prove to myself.  The date of the fabric was on the salvage.

The meaning of this block can be found on the Grandmother's Choice Blog.    Some women are in chains but don't realize it.  The click comes when they reach their ah ha moment.

I had fun doing this block.  It gave me practice in matching my points and it allowed the use of small pieces of scraps I have....which are all now nicely organized.

No. 30 Broad Arrow: Prison Garb

No. 30 Broad Arrow-Prison Garb

Using up my scraps.  I have been organizing my sewing room and in the process found loads of fabric that I forgot I had.  Some of the fabric is from back in the early 90's.  I had some fossil fern from Pat Campbell.  I don't think you can get those colors anymore.  

This one is totally machine pieced.  

I hope all of you who are preparing these blocks are having as much fun as I am.  We are now 3/5ths of the way done.  I think we have 20 more to go.

Blocks No. 28 and 29

No. 28 - Ocean Wave:  My Friend Erma

No. 29 - Seven Pointed Star - For Australia

Loved doing this block but alas noticed after I finished it that blue "waves" are going in opposite directions.  Oh well, maybe it's a tsunami.  














This one was a bit difficult.   The star was hand pieced and then it was appliqued to the background.  Still enjoying the process of making these blocks.  Each week presents a different challenge.

Block 27: Grandmother's Dream - The Houghtons

Grandmother's Dream - The Houghtons Block No. 27

                                                                                       
This was a difficult block to piece.  It's a combination of English paper piecing and hand piecing.  Finally finished.  Learned a little about English Paper Piecing along the way.

From BlockBase No. 4107

Block No. 26. Ladies Wreath - Mourning for Mother

No. 26.  Ladies Wreath - Mourning for Mother

Block No. 26.  Ladies Wreath - Mourning for Mother

I had a hard time with this block...not in the piecing, but in the choice of colors.  Such a difficult time women had in the birthing process.  

Block is from Blockbase No. 1131, or if you don't have Blockbase but have EQ, you can easily make it using Easy Draw. 
Ladies Wreath is from the Ladies Art Company - 1890.

Block No. 25: Carrie Nation

Block 25 - Carrie Nation

CARRIE NATION BLOCK

This is the 25th block in our weekly series.  I'm happy to keep up.  I'm continuing to use up scraps from my stash.  The little pieces for the yellow came from my waste basket.  

My sewing room is a mess today.  Fabric and little treads everywhere so I will be cleaning that up.  Seriously ...how can a woman make such a mess in so little time?

The block was foundation pieced and then the sections were hand pieced together as I watched a movie with my hubby last night. 

Basically, it's a double 4 patch.  If you have EQ you can find it there.  If you have Blockbase it's block 1105.

Every time I make a block and foundation piece with the foundation piecing papers I get on EQ, the blocks come out just a wee too small, so I'm trying something different.  I'm asking EQ to print out the foundation papers at 8.1 inches instead of 8 inches and it's working.  I have a perfect 8.5 inch square, not 8.25 as it had come out in the past.  Yes, I know to make a quilt they should all be the same size, but I just had to know if this would work.    

Block No. 24 - True Blue - Too Smart

Block 24:  True Blue - Too Smart

Block 24 now finished.  Sections are foudation pieced and then hand pieced sections together.  







 





Looking at the process

Colors tested in EQ7

Foundation Pattern is printed ready to cut into sections.   Each color is marked.

Each section is cut out and pieced and trimmed with 1/4 inch seam allowance.  Lines are drawn on the sewing line in preparation of hand piecing.

Each section organized for hand piecing

This is my process.  Once I begin the hand piecing the paper is removed from the back before I piece.  It's easier to piece without the paper.  Organizing is important for me.  Without that I'd get all mixed up as to what goes where.  I mark the sewing lines for ease of piecing.

Block 23: Girls Joy - An Ounce of Persuasion

Block 23:  Girls Joy - An Ounce of Persuasion

Block No. 23 - Girls Joy - An Ounce of Persuasion

This is the 23 block of Grandmother's Choice sew along.  Keeping with my promise...I used fabrics from my stash.  Individual Sections were paper pieced and then the Sections were hand pieced together