Jane Austen Family Album : Cassandra, Leigh Austen Block

Every Sunday Barbara Brackman releases the next block of her album quilt representing the family of Jane Austen. This one was easy, all squares. :) The pattern is Thrifty and it represents Jane's mother Cassandra Leigh Austen.

See Barbara Brackman's blog at 

http://austenfamilyalbumquilt.blogspot.com

Jane Austen Family Album Block Three

The third block, Cross Within a Cross, represents Jane's father the Rev. George Austen. I decided I wanted a cross to stand out, and used a high value contrast dark green next to the inner white cross. The larger cross is the red striped fabric. I did some fussy cutting of the prints. But the red fabric has strips going every which way, because why be too formal? Austen may be a product of the Age of Reason, not the Romantic movement, but she had a feel for the ridiculous. So I can't have things too serious! 



So here are my first three blocks together.

I am using MODA French General fat quarters I bought from a bargain bin a year ago. I didn't know what I would do with them at the time, I just liked the quiet grey, red and brown colors and great prints. I went on eBay and found some additional yardage so I will have enough fabric for this project. I added the red strip and the off white tone on tone cream from my stash, and also the dark green.

This project makes a nice balance to the Love Entwined applique quilt. Pieced, easily accomplished in a few hours, and a more subtle and sophisticated fabric palette.

Follow Barbara Brackman's blog and patterns at http://austenfamilyalbumquilt.blogspot.com/

Block Two of a Jane Austen Family Album

Barbara's Brackman's second block is Sister's Choice for Cassandra Austen, Jane's best friend and only sister. I am using some fat quarters I bought a year ago from MODA, and some red and cream from my stash. I need to buy more of the MODA from eBay! You can find the patterns and articles about each family member on Brackman's blog:
http://austenfamilyalbumquilt.blogspot.com/

Most of what we know about Jane's sister Cassandra is from family letters and writings after their deaths. Jane's letters can be found online at http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/brablets.html

They are well worth reading to glimpse Jane's natural sarcastic humor and wicked insights into human nature. You can also find advice in novel writing, marriage advice,  poems, and read about the fabrics they buy.

This is what Jane had to say about her sister in a letter dated Sept. 1796:

MY DEAREST CASSANDRA,
The letter which I have this moment received from you has diverted me beyond moderation. I could die of laughter at it, as they used to say at school. You are indeed the finest comic writer of the present age.



Never having been a 'crowd follower' or a conformist (which I blame on my Anabaptist roots, lol) I feel compelled to mention that I became an Austen reader back in 1978 at Temple University in a year long honors course on Austen, taught by Toby Olshin. I blogged about this previously. http://theliteratequilter.blogspot.com/2013/12/happy-birthday-jane-austen.html

But I am thrilled that the movies based on her books has brought her books into the mainstream and into the lives of readers of all ages.