What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

  I have done some study on the friendship quilts from the 19th century to the present, and notice that signatures are often accompanied with drawings.  I thought I can't draw, but maybe I can doodle; so ...

 I completed another block for the McHenry Landmark Crazy Quilt:

This is the Nicholas Bohr Stone House built in 1911.  It's located on Broad Street here in McHenry, Illinois where I live.  

This is the 2nd house that Nick Bohr built for his family.  He was a stone mason and plastered a lot of the of the historic homes and building in the early 1900's.

This is a traditional Victorian style crazy quilt that I started back in 2017.  Each block is 9 inches square and pieced by hand on a cotton foundation.  

Here is a photo of ...

Progress continues on my McHenry Illinois Landmark Crazy Quilt.  I've completed Block #31.  This building was originally known as the Fox Pavilion.  A dance hall built in 1931 to replace the original dance hall which burned down in shortly before this one was built:

This building eventually became McHenry's Roller Skating Rink.  Sadly, it burned down in May of 2021.

I have 9 more blocks to do for this quilt.  It's been a huge project, trying to preserve the memories of our landmarks here in McHenry, Illinois where I live.

Here is the entire quilt so far ...

I just finished up another block for the McHenry Landmark Crazy Quilt.  This is the McHenry Brewery built in 1868 by George Gribbler:

Here's an older photo of it:

Much of the original building has been replaced but it's still in operation!

Here's the entire quilt so far:

The family story of these three quilts is at Three Quilts, Three Generations - The Story.  Here, I will descirbe the repairs that I made to them.

The two crazy quilts were made primarily of wool and flannel fabrics.  One of the crazy quilts has an embroidered date and name, as well as more and more varied embroidered details.  The crazy quilts have some fabrics in common, so it's likely that they were both made around the same time.  The log cabin is cotton and significantly older. 

The repair techniques chosen for each quilt were chosen according to the kinds ...

I've just received a wonderful story in my email.  It comes from a woman whose family quilt I've just repaired.  If anyone ever asks why history is important and fun and how quilts can be a part of history, here is the best answer!

Good morning.  Last evening my grand daughters, Desmin 7 and Cecilia 3 were over for dinner and we were sitting in the dining room. Desmin was facing the quilt and Cecilia with her back to the quilt. The girls are usually very observant and notice anything different in our house but had said nothing ...

This is a stand-out crazy quilt, isn't it?  

I generally think of Victorian crazies as having so many more blacks and maroons, browns and navies, with brighter fabrics and embroidery threads interspersed only now and then. 

So I looked back at photos of other crazies that have crossed my path, and well, was surprised to see how many are very colorful after all.  So what is it about this one that makes it feel so very different? 

This quilt is super joyful!  It is packed of a wide variety of embellishments, all heightened by beading and other creative and ...

I've been slowly working on my McHenry Crazy Quilt which features vintage and antique photos of the landmarks in my area.  I just completed Block #21:

This was the Central Opera House.  There was a store on the main level and then upstairs, was an Opera House.  

Sadly, it burned down just a few years ago.  Personally, I think it was a long match but that's just me.  It wouldn't be the first time that's happened in McHenry.  Heartbreaking but at least we have lots of great old photos to remember it.

Here's the entire ...

Tooting my own horn here for a moment! 

Here's the lovely email I just received from a woman who bought my book.

My mother-in-law made the crazy quilt in the photos in the 1920's.  My daughter inherited it.  It had damage where it had been folded for all those years.  Otherwise, it was in pretty good condition.  I show the before and after pictures of a pink piece (photos 1 & 2), and the last photo is of the quilt.  I used your book to plan and make the repairs.  I would not have known where to start otherwise ...