A November completion

Another finished project to share!

This one is based on Barbara Brackman's 2021 BOM HANDS ALL AROUND.  I finished the block series and the entire quilt ahead of schedule this year, because I wanted to use it here at home during November.

The blocks are large -- 16" -- and the fabrics are either Jo Morton or Barbara Brackman prints.  I'm calling this quilt "Abundance."

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Hands All Around

It's Month 5 of Barbara Brackman's BOM

HANDS ALL AROUND

#5 - Star Puzzle

This month, Louisa's younger sister Elizabeth is remembered.

I feel like I'm beginning to settle back into routine.  I'm spending a little time each morning in my studio, before we get busy with the day's home activities.  Everything is going well.

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Hands All Around

HANDS ALL AROUND BOM

#4 - Eight Hands Around

Louisa May Alcott is remembered in this month's post.  In particular, her time spent as a volunteer Civil War nurse, and the after-effects of that effort are discussed.  

Those experiences led her to write her first successful book, Hospital Sketches.  I was fortunate to purchase my copy of Hospital Sketches at Orchard House when we visited Boston a couple of years ago.  Looking forward to returning!

The block set is growing!

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Hands All Around

Reporting in with my March 8" blocks for Barbara Brackman's

HANDS ALL AROUND BOM

March's variation was Anna's Choice.

I'm always pleased when enough blocks are created that suddenly a color scheme becomes apparent!  Now we can see the personality of this scrappy pinks and blues block set.  I'm planning a strip set for these blocks eventually.

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Hands All Around

 

Barbara Brackman's 2021 pieced BOM series

HANDS ALL AROUND

#3 - Anna's Choice

This month, Anna Bronson Alcott Pratt is discussed.  She was Louisa's older sister.  Anna married and had two sons.  She is remembered as a kind and dutiful woman.

This block set is beginning to develop its personality: light stars on red backgrounds with a brown accent.  I'm still undecided about a layout and a setting fabric. 

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Hands All Around

I forgot to share a photo of my February 8" blocks for Hands All Around.  The variation this time is Missouri Star.  I'm going scrappy/utility with this block set.

My sewing time and attention have been distracted recently by house hunting.  I think we've found a house to purchase, although the real estate market here is totally crazy.  Fingers crossed.

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Hands All Around

Month 2 of Barbara Brackman's 2021 BOM

HANDS ALL AROUND

 

#2 - Missouri Star

This month Louisa's father, Amos Bronson Alcott, is discussed.  He is remembered as an educator, a philosopher, and a vegetarian.

It was my plan to do a straight set with my blocks, in a 5 x 5 layout with something interesting as the alternating blocks.  But now I'm reconsidering a mosaic-type arrangement that Barbara designed which uses varied-size blocks.  I'm going to let things simmer a bit longer in my mind before I commit.  

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Hands All Around

I have started another block set for Barbara Brackman's BOM

ALL HANDS AROUND

My earlier version of this month's Hidden Nine Patch block was larger and more formal, and is planned to be part of a queen-size quilt.  This new group will be pieced in the smallest 8" variation of the BOM, and will be scrappy pinks and blues, to become a soft vintage utility quilt.  

We rewatched Little Women this past week, such a pretty movie!

 Here's Laura Dern as Marmee, Jo's (Louisa May's fictionalized) mother.

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Hands All Around

 Today is the first installment of Barbara Brackman's 

2021 pieced BOM series

  Hands All Around

Each month Barbara will be discussing Louisa May Alcott's family and friends in Concord, Massachusetts, and their responses to the Civil War.  This month, Louisa's mother Abigail May Alcott, Abba,  is remembered as a committed anti-slavery activist, and a strong role model for her daughters.

 

I've decided to use a variety of red prints for my blocks, and I've also set aside some fabric for alternate blocks and borders.  I have copious amounts of all these fabrics, so I'll be sewing the 16" block options.  When I add something interesting for the alternate blocks and borders, I'll end up with a queen-size quilt. 

Hidden Nine Patch

There is every good possibility that I will launch a second set of blocks in one of the smaller sizes and a different color scheme: I have soooooo much repro fabric in my stash!!

I'm a big fan of the Alcotts, and have visited the Orchard House museum twice in recent years.  I have a number of related books in my own library -- this is the one Barbara recommended today.  I'm going to enjoy this BOM!

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Wednesday

 HANDS ALL AROUND

Barbara Brackman has just announced her upcoming pieced BOM for 2021.  Her topic for this quilt will be the Alcott family of Massachusetts -- Louisa May's family -- and in particular their reaction to the war against slavery. 

 The variations on pieced sawtooth star blocks will be released on the second Wednesday of each month.  A variety of block sizes and setting options will be available. 

I didn't participate in Barbara's 2020 series, although I had good intentions -- the year just got the better of me.  But I'm a big fan of the Alcotts, have visited their Orchard House in Concord Massachusetts twice, and I'm looking forward to this series with much anticipation!   Hooray -- we're going to begin a new year at last!

  

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