Farmer's Daughter Quilt Backing

My backing fabric for my Farmer's Daughter Quilt is from the line Books and Letters by Whistler Studios for Windham Fabrics.  http://www.windhamfabrics.net/cgi-bin/fabricshop/gallery.cgi?func=show&file=1&Category=576&Page=1&v=1

I first considered choosing a Kansas Troubles fabric because my grandmother lived her entire life in Kansas.  But when I found this fabric featuring journals, I knew it was meant for this quilt.  The purpose of this project was to create blocks to go with my grandmother's 1916 diary entries. 

My friend and long-armer is going to quilt it for me.  I love her work.  She does everything freehand.  She has gotten very good results using bamboo batting, so that's what she'd like to use in my quilt.  Since it is a large king-sized quilt, she feels the lightweight bamboo will be perfect.



Entry in her diary.  The last task of my grandmother's day. 
She kept a diary most of her life. 
This photo was taken in 1950 by Life Photograph Wayne Miller.

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/10/farmers-daughter-quilt-before-borders.html

Farmer's Daughter Quilt Before Borders

This is my Farmer's Daughter Quilt before borders are added.  The borders will also be black and probably about 3" wide, so they will not radically change the look of the quilt.  Before borders, my quilt is 108" wide by 117" long - so it is difficult to know how to photograph it! 

The 140 blocks range in size from 6" to 12".  After completing all the blocks, I first put two or three blocks together to create 58 rectangles 18" in length.  For example, two 9" blocks together are 18" in length.  Two 6" blocks with a 12" block above (or below) equal 18" in length.  A 10" block joined to an 8" block plus 2" filler strip equal 18" in length.  Finally, three 6" blocks equal 18" in length.

I wanted each block to be featured, so I decided on a stained glass effect.  I sewed a 3/4" horizontal black sashing between the blocks so that each of these 58 rectangles ended up being 18-3/4" long.  They were of different widths, though.  I ended up with:

1 - 14" wide rectangle
22 - 12" wide rectangles
18 - 10" wide rectangles
9 - 9" wide rectangles
3 - 8-1/2" wide rectangles
3 - 8" wide rectangles
1 - 7-1/2" wide rectangles
1 - 6" wide rectangle

I decided to have six rows of 18-3/4" long blocks.  I drew a chart on typing paper and began to distribute the blocks evenly among the rows.  After playing with it, each row was either 108.25" wide or 108.5" wide - only 1/4" difference.  A miracle! 

After laying it out on paper, I worked with one row at a time and laid out the real blocks.  For example, one row called for 6 - 12" blocks, 2 - 10" blocks, and 1 - 9" block.  I arranged them the way I wanted and sewed the same 3/4" black sashing in between the blocks.  I began with the middle rows first because I knew those would show up the most on my king-sized bed.  

I will take another photo when the outside borders are on! 

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/10/farmers-daughter-quilt-backing.html

Sheep Fold Quilt Block

Harriet Edith Woodbury George

October 2, 1895 - December 15, 1986

My Affirmation:

     The Lord is my shepherd,
          I am one of his lambs.
     I shall not want -
          He takes good care of me.
     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
          Where the grass is tender and cool.
     He leads me by the still waters
          So I may drink from his Holy Word.
     He restores my soul
          Which gives me peace and comfort.
     He leads me in paths of righteousness
          And does not allow me to stray
     For his name's sake -
          Because I belong to Jesus.
     Even though I walk through dark valleys
          Where Satan lurks,
     I shall fear no evil
          From the Devil's wiles;
     For you are with me,
          Holding me close.
     Your rod and your staff
          Give me strength and guidance.
     They comfort me,
          Relieving me from daily pressures.
     You prepare a table before me
          For my convenience and sustenance,
     In the presence of my enemies -
          But my family and friends surround me.
     You anoint my head with oil -
          To relieve my mind from worry.
     My cup overflows
          With joy and assurance.
     Surely goodness and mercy will follow me;
          Then, God's presence will ever be with me
     All the days of my life;
     And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever
          because he has prepared many rooms for all of
          his children who love and obey him.
     For ever and ever.  Amen.
                                                            Harriet George
                                                            July 31, 1979

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/10/love-knot-quilt-block.html

Love Knot Quilt Block

     I found this Love Knot quilt block pattern in 5,500 Quilt Block Designs by Maggie Malone.  I drafted it to a 6" block and really enjoy making this unusual pattern. 

     My cousin Phil grew up next door to our grandparents.  In 1982, he wrote:

"Grandmother's top talents are two-fold: first, knowing and interpreting the Scripture and second, her written composition and poetry.  Each birthday card or Christmas package would include a short, original verse.  I will always remember her corn and oysters casserole, homemade cottage cheese and home-churned, turkey-shaped butter created especially for family dinners at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 "Although she has lived ninety-five percent of her life in two places within five miles of each other, she actively developed an international perspective, and her influence in people's lives has been worldwide.

"She and Granddad opened each morning with devotions together at breakfast and closed each day sharing time together in the living room or watching the sunset on the back lawn.

"In many ways they were opposite from each other.  For example, Granddad seemed to enjoy travelling and visiting with people whereas Grandmother seemed to enjoy sharing her home.  She has always been very meticulous both in her dress and her work whereas this was not as important to him.  It was remarkable how they came together and complimented each other.  They shared over fifty-one years of wedded life together.  They both loved each other very much and loved their family immensely."




The Upper Room
Taken by Life Photographer Wayne Miller



For Saturday's baked beans, we give thanks.
Taken by Life Photographer Wayne Miller

Turkey-Shaped Butter

Grandma's Corn and Oysters

2 cans cream style corn

1 can oysters, drained

14 saltine crackers

2 Tablespoons butter

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

2.  Pour one can of corn into a greased 1-1/2 quart casserole dish. 

3.  Cut each oyster in two.  Put half the can of oysters in a layer on top of the corn.  Break up 7 crackers over the oysters and dot with 1 Tablespoon butter.

4.  Repeat with the rest of corn, oysters, crackers, and butter.

5.  Bake 20 to 30 minutes until bubbly and the crackers are browned.  

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:

http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/10/grandmothers-own-quilt-block.html

Grandmother's Own Quilt Block

     I found the pattern for this Grandmother's Own block in 5,500 Quilt Block Designs by Maggie Malone.  It is also known as Shepherd's Crossing and Four Square.  I drafted the pattern to make an 8" block.      
     After my grandparents married and settled into their home in October, 1917, they had three sons and a daughter - Jackson, Phil, Doug, and Eleanor.  Years later, they also had 15 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren. 



Doug, Phil and Jackson George
Doug is my father.



Jackson, Phil, and Doug George



Foregound:  Harriet and Frank George
Background left to right:  Jackson (31 years old), Margie, and Patricia George,
Phil (29 years old) and Judy George,
Doug (27 years old) and Roselyn George, and Eleanor George (17 years old)
October 2, 1950 on Sunbyrne Farm near Lebo, Kansas
Taken by Wayne Miller, Life Photographer

 Grandma George

                    Grandma had two tables,

                    There was the dining room table,

                         set with her crystal,

                         and the apple dishes we loved

                    that was the table where she served her guests

                    And then there was the kitchen table

                    It was a very functional thing,

                         a wooden frame painted white

                         and a porcelained steel top

                    At that table she entertained her grandkids

                    At the kitchen table Grandma did her work,

                    It seemed her hands were always busy

                    kneading bread

                         cutting cookies

                              churning butter

                                   slicing apples

                                        putting up preserves

                    and wiping the dishes clean again

                    Grandma's hands

                    must have had minds of their own

                    Because while they were busy

                         preparing the day's next meal

                    Grandma would tell us stories

                         of days long ago

                    Stories about the people

                         that passed through her kitchen

                    Stories about Great-Grandma's kitchen,

                         where she learned to cook

                    And animal stories:

                         Great Granddad's dog

                              Uncle Bob's lamb

                                   and the horse Mom rode to school

                    Grandma's kitchen was warm,

                         because that's where her stove was

                    Grandma's kitchen was cozy

                         because that's where Grandma was

                    And though we were Grandma's guests

                    we knew that Grandma's kitchen

                    was the place where we belonged.   

                                                                                      George R. Pasley, 1995
                                                                                                 


Left to right:  Roselyn (my mother), Uncle Jackson, Cousin Patricia, Aunt Margie,
Aunt Eleanor, Grandma (Harriet), and Aunt Judy
October 2, 1950 in the kitchen of Sunbyrne Farm, Lebo, Kansas
Taken by Wayne Miller, Life Magazine

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/09/new-home-quilt-block.html