Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Finding Inspiration

 Recently I picked up a DVD at the grocery store. It was $9.99! What a deal! I knew I had seen it before.Turns out I saw it in 1982! It was a TV miniseries called The Blue and the Gray. Yes, a Civil War drama with the very young and handsome Stacy Keach as an aid to Abraham Lincoln, played to perfection by Gregory Peck. It has an all star cast, including Lloyd Bridges, Paul Winfield, Robert Vaughn, etc. Right in the middle of the Battle of Bull Run they focus in on a woman in bed while the battle rages around her home. Of course I focus in on the quilt on the bed!

I loved it! It stayed in my mind and I tried to remember what it looked like as I sewed strips of fabric together from Cocheco Mills, a line from Marcus Fabrics. It didn't occur to me until much later to try for a picture of the quilt. I paused the movie and took a couple photos off the computer. This photo, above, turned out pretty well. 
 This one is my rendition, and except for the hour-glass in the center of the block, it isn't even close! Shows where my memory has gone these days. I like them both, but now I want to go back and make something closer to the original. Meanwhile I will enjoy this version with all those luscious Cocheco Mills fabrics in it! These fabrics are reproductions of fabric from 1882, so a few years after the Civil War.

Yesterday I had a lovely day of sewing with two friends, Joan and Sue. We met at Joan's house and she fed us lunch. I brought fabric and pattern for making a quilt and the three of us went to town on it. Let me tell you, this is the way to make a quilt! The quilt consists of two alternating blocks and we got all 32 of one of the blocks done!
 As you can see, one block has a four-patch in the center and the second block...well, it is a mystery. It is only partially done, so until we get those blocks completed I will leave you guessing. Haha! I vote for another session with my friends. Those girls know how to sew like the wind! 

10 comments:

sewprimitive karen said...

Cool post, Marcie! I love your rendition and am envious of your Helping Friends!

Karen said...

Aen't you smart to figure out a way to get a picture of the quilt to work from. The quilt from the movie has lots of light fabrics where you version you have already made doesn't. But now you can give it a second try. But I do like the one you have already made.

Michele Bilyeu said...

Now all you need is a sleeping cap and a shawl. From my sidebar, I was expecting Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother. What a relief to find a lovely quilt and a great movie. So, how are the cap and the shawl coming along ;)

pcflamingo said...

I love your version of the Civil War movie quilt! Even if it's not exactly the same, it's a beauty.

onlymehere said...

I loved that series but haven't watched it in a long time. I would have never thought to look that closely at the quilt. No I'm going to be looking when I see period movies to see what the quilts are! I like how your's turned out too.

Anonymous said...

Marcie, Your reproduction quilt is lovely. In looking at your quilt and the TV pictured quilt I think what you need is a "string quilt" pattern. They are very easy to make and I think if you googled string quilt you could find a picture or pattern for one. You don't really need a pattern they are that easy. If you would like some help with one I would be glad to help you. Just contact me via my blog email...mrebec4@hotmail.com and put string quilt in the subject line. String quilts were very popular in the mid 1800's as they were easy to make and required no pattern.

Janet said...

That is a gorgeous quilt on the bed! Aren't you clever to get such a good picture to share with us! Your version is wonderful as well!
I love the larger red squares in the "in progress" quilt. What fabric is that?? It's lots of fun to sew with friends :0)

Kelli said...

I really like your version! Turned out great - do let us see the "other" version when you do it.

Sounds like you had fun and were productive with your friends - isn't it great to sew with others?

Mary Johnson said...

The quilt on the bed is a string quilt....And everyone knows how much I love strings...but I like your courthouse steps version too.

julieQ said...

That is a very cool quilt on the bed...I too focus in on those gorgeous old quilts!!