“Mr. Hargrave entered the drawing-room a little before the others, and challenged me to a game of chess. He did it without any of the sad but proud humility he usually assumes in addressing me, unless he is excited with wine. I looked at his face to see if that was the case now. His eyes met mine keenly but steadily, there was something about him I did not understand, but he seemed sober enough. Not choosing to engage with him, I referred him to Milicinet.
‘She plays badly, ‘ said he; ‘I want to match my skill with yours. Come now!--you can’t pretend you are reluctant to lay down your work--I know you never take it up except to pass an idle hour, when there is nothing better you can do.’”
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
Anne Bronte
Happy Saturday!
I hope you are well, and that the first month of the year has been productive and kind! I don’t know where the month has gone! To be honest, I have been trying to plod along in this odd time, and I feel like I have been very productive. Time seems to have lost much of its substance, though.
I love the above quotation because it points to the pursuits of embroidery or sewing as a “pastime” for upper class ladies in the evening. I think it is funny that Helen doesn’t seem to be much of a sewing lover; though she is an avid painter in the book. Though Mr. Hargrave is not really a good judge of women either, so his opinion of Helen’s love of sewing or not probably cannot be trusted.
I promised you in the last blog a sneak peak of current projects, and I decided to make the historical reproduction quilt I am working on the star of this particular blog! I am making a Sanitary Commission Quilt for a client who participates in Civil War reenactments. The Sanitary Commission Quilts were Union quilts created by a lot of volunteers and sent to soldiers in battle. My client ordered the kit, but he needed someone to piece and finish it for him, and I am thoroughly enjoying the process of putting this quilt together.
Chain piecing was so much fun with this project!
I have the top almost finished, but I started with the nine patch squares. They came precut into the two inch squares, and I had so much fun chain piecing them. (I really did, and I think I am going to use some more scraps to make a nine patch quilt!---of course when I have time!). I have finished all of the nine patches, sewn on the sashing pieces and am now working on the vertical rows. I may be able to quilt it this week!
I have also been working on a super special star quilt this week, and I spent a lot of time working out the pattern for it...I should share that next time!
Don’t forget, if you would like a graduation quilt finished by May or June, then you will want to get your order in to me by early March!
Happy New Year and Sending Quilting Love,
Ginger
Coming Next Week: Star Quilt(s)
I am Reading: Cræft: An Inquiry Into the Origins and True Meaning of Traditional Crafts by Alexander Langlands. I finished The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte, and I did start Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte---I just love the stark beauty of this novel. I am nearly finished with Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman, and I should get it back to the library. I am also reading The Yellow House by Martin Gayford.