September 11

Let Us Never Forget.   God Bless America

STAGES

Sounds like a self-help book  LOL - well I am in various stages.  My Frost on the Ferns quilt is back from the long-arm quilter.  I think she did a great job.

Today I picked up the Nebraska Waves quilt, but haven't even sewn the binding on or trimmed it.  I think I will leave the hand sewing for a retreat I am going to  in a couple of weeks.  It is quilted in an all-over design here is a close-up.

I have also put the last cross stitch in the Mary Wigham sampler from the Ackworth School.  I think this was one of the hardest samplers I have made. The counting was very hard.  I should have basted a grid on it.  However, it is a reproduction of what Mary did.  I am blown away how these young girls executed these samplers.  Mary was only 7  when she stitched hers.    I still need to press this before I take it to the framer.

 

Today I finished my Burgoyne Surrounded top.  This is not the best picture it is only bordered on the top and bottom.  The pattern is from Kaye England based on an antique quilt she saw.  I think it is unique since this quilt is usually done in as a two color quilt.

 

 

 

 

Until next time.

Pat

Settled Again

A week ago we had hardwood floors installed in the guest room and my sewing room.  There was stuff strung all over the house.  Like this

and this

And the sewing room was emptied out and Mr. Quilts painted it too.  Thank you dear!

So once again things are back in place.  I am very pleased with it.  It is nothing spectacular like some you see, but it is all mine.

Here are a few shots now

I am very happy about my new design wall.

A place to sit and sew or look at a book and dream about the quilts I want to make.  Behind the chair I will have a gallery of small quilts and samplers that I have stitched.  I love the looks of the Cherry floors.  They are so  slick I could have a chair race on them. LOL

This is the cutting area and more storage.

 

 

 

 

 

I am still sorting through books and such that I want to recycle in some way.

And most of all I want to start to sew again.  The little quilt on the design wall needs a correction and to be quilted along with several other small quilts that are patiently waiting their turn to be quilted.  I guess I better get to work. 

Until next time.

Pat

Something Old Something New

I will start with the Something New.  I made this little log cabin quilt for my sister.  I think it turned out real cute it is from the book "Twenty Little Log Cabins" by Gwen Marston.  If you like small quilts like I do it is a good book to have in your collection.  Amazon has copies for sale.

Since it is so beastly hot here in Texas I have spent a lot of time in the house.  I finished up one quilt top and have it ready to go to the longarm quilter.  I also made this small quilt - it is machine pieced and machine quilted.  It was fun to make.  I think it will look great this fall with a pitcher of fall leaves or flowers sitting on it.  It was designed by Jo Morton.

Now for the Something Old.  Dawn always shares her wonderful collections of old sewing items.  So today I thought I would also show you some of the things that my deal friend Janet (no blog) gave to me.

First are a couple of looms for weaving - do any of you remember have anything like this when you were small?   Perhaps you wove a blanket for your doll.

The price for the littlest loom when it was new was .50 cents. 

 

 

Here is an assortment of  items.  I am not sure how  the bone needles were used - I am thinking perhaps for weaving, maybe even darning.  Do any of you know.  Also the needles in the lower right corner look more like stakes LOL they have a flat very sharp point on them.  One has a small knob on the end and I am thinking it is a tapestry needle which have blunt ends on them.  The blue glass darning egg is one I favor.  The little shoe hook is about 2 inches long so I am thinking it might have been used for a childs shoe.

I also have this collection of mother of pearl belt buckles and buttons which I would like to display some way .  The emery stawberries are silk and well worn.  The item below the emery is a ivory book mark.  And below the bookmark is a little Brown Jug - anyone remember hearing that song? Sorry it tipped over.  In the center is a little silk purse the size of a quarter.  I have to wonder what was carried in it.  Maybe a sixpence for good luck on someone's wedding day??  The small bar of Ivory Soap at one time had a eyelet on the top and was used as a shoe fob.  It was a giveaway from Proctor and Gamble with so many Ivory Soap Wrappers sometime in the late 1800's.

I hope you have enjoyed this little trip down memory lane.  Thanks for stopping buy.

Until next time.

Pat