late to the party again!

 I always find myself behind the trends it seems.  When I saw sashiko boro patches (Japanese method of mending) show up on Pinterest, it sparked something in me.  I've been doing small sashiko projects for years but never thought of pairing them with fabrics to create small pieces of art ... art that could enhance clothing actually. 

The last couple weeks my arthritic fingers have been super busy producing these pieces for my sharny etsy shop . . .

The denim pieces are ones that can be applied with a simple running stitch to jackets, jeans, etc. The other two can be applied as well or hung from chopsticks as a wall ornament.

And a table runner that got me started . . .

Wish someone would tell me what the next big thing is so that I could get a jump on it!  Anyone?

Collections

 For the fun of it, I started counting the woven baskets we've collected over the years!  I came up with 75, give or take, and know there will be more if we ever empty boxes we moved into this garage over 5 years ago.

I know ... I know ... We have, in our 66 years of married life over~collected certain things we love.  Some of our baskets are very old, old, mid~century, ones I wove and newer but I treasure each and every one.

Here are my personal collection of tiny baskets ~

and my bittiest one.  Can you even imagine trying to weave this small of a basket!?

Next, my bowls.  Stay tuned

 

Goodbye old friend

 You have served me well

for at least 60 years that I have been sewing, but I cannot deal with the leakage you have developed.

 

It's a long slog 'til April

 Snowing again! Looks like a long long winter and being stuck at home, my options are limited.  Either I clean house 'til it sparkles and shines or I go up to my craft room and while the hours away.  Guess which one I usually choose?

I have a huge stash of fabrics in all sizes and styles (mostly scraps).  Lots of cottons so I'm digging in and making small quilts and pillow tops and anything else I can think of to use up some of it.  Been working on a little quilt this past week.  Just enough vintage check with tiny roses for the squares along with other mostly mid century cottons.

Then there is always my stacks of papers. I will never use it all!  Time flies when I'm cutting and pasting them for my gluebook, notecards, greeting cards or tags.

I guess I'll make it through but it's a long way to April

Four Pin Friday Hand Stitched and Vintage

 I want to know the women who preserved and lovingly stitched these small pieces of precious fabrics together.

I want to know where each little square came from.  A daughter or granddaughter's school dress?  A son or grandson's home made shirt?  PJs and nighties?  Were they too worn or outgrown clothing from their family?

1930s patchwork

Feedsack squares

Love them . . . old, hand-quilted and wrinkly!

They were made for warmth, not art, and we will not know their history because they were usually never signed.  They held no value at that time.

I have a few oldies that I hold dear and have given some away to friends and family.

Scavenged Fabrics From Mom

 Years and years ago, while visiting my Mom in Minnesota, I was allowed to look through the trunk that held her fabrics.  And she said I could pick out what I wanted.  That included as much as could be taken home with me on the plane.

I have put to use so many of those vintage fabrics that she sewed with most of her life.  Been saving these pieces ever since . . .

They are printed cotton samples.  The colors are reminiscent of the 50's to me.  Remember pink and brown together and that certain shade of green?

Since it will be a rainy week as predicted, I decided I would make small heart pillows with yo-yos.  Each piece is just under 10" x 13" and there are two in the groups that match.  So maybe a pair of similar pillows.

Here is the first one made this morning . . .

Ruffles and yo-yos and rickrack . . . all vintage from my stash!

Thanks Mom ♥

Two more

 

Somebody stop me!!

Struggles

Some may call it a waste of time, but when time is all you have, you fill it with the most mundane of inessential goofing off.  Over the years I have admired the works in "Galloping Pony Studio" (check it out on Pinterest) and the way Virginia Cole adds bits of quilt pieces, buttons, quotes, sayings, etc to her collages. I especially like the little Dresden plate pieces and wanted to replicate them in miniature as she does.

At first I tried making paper patterns of what I thought would work for the pieces it takes to build the plates . . . big mistake!  After spending nearly a day trying to figure that out (with the help of the internet), I gave up and ordered Marti Michell PERFECT PATCHWORK TEMPLATES.  Just exactly what I wanted to make a 3.5" plate.

The first one I struggled through didn't turn out the way I really wanted . . .

 I ended up having to glue the center down over the wonky petals.  Not at all happy.  But I have plenty of time as I said.

As always happens, you learn from the first try and, if you are as stubborn as this blogger, you try again.

Better . . . much better.  This time I made a little yo yo, turned it upside down and glued it in place.

Then I looked closer at the Pinterest offerings from Virginia's site and saw that she made another Dresden plate pattern than the one I had been struggling with.

What a difference the pointed petal made to save time (although I have plenty of that) and picky picky work forming the curves.  This one went together so quickly, I feel like I have to make more of them.

Although there were more petals in this version it was so much easier to turn each one. The next one will look even better!!

These were made from the tiny pieces of vintage fabric I have been collecting for years. It's a small thing, but I feel I have accomplished something new for myself.  

I 

What I was playing with in 2018

 My latest obsession is decorating small tins. This one began as a Whitman candy container. I have transformed it with ephemera (old and new) buttons, lace, glitter, faux flowers, jewels and pearls making it a little work of art. It stands on four faux pearl buttons.

The lid is covered with a perfectly fitting paper doily upon which is a vintage carved button with a jewel atop, picture of a Victorian lady, some silk flowers, pearls and more. The tin is just 3.5" x 3.5" and stands 1.25" tall including lid and feet.

 Couldn't stop at just that and had to decorate the bottom and inside lid as well!

Finishing a project can be so rewarding

 Attempting to find positivity in this time of COVID, I'm working on some UFOs.  Anyone who crafts knows what that is!

I started this sashiko a few years ago and finished it yesterday.  Good for me!!  Now I'm trying to decide how to use it.  Don't need another pillow and already have a sashiko table runner.  Never carry a purse anymore.  Come on stitchers ~ give me some ideas please.

What goes around, comes around

 Years ago when Selah was a just a little girl, I was making Christmas stockings for her and all my grandchildren.  This year, as a newly married woman, she asked me to sew up one for her and one for her husband.  So happy to do it and thankfully I found my stocking-making talent has not left me over the years!

Merry Christmas Matthew and Selah.  Hope I'm around when you need another stocking for your family!

My busy last 7 days

To save my sanity, I'm watching much less news and trying to keep busy.  Pandora is a real blessing.  As my grandma used to say ... "The key to happiness is keeping busy"

So here is what I've accomplished in a week ~

If you've been following me and saw my last blog posting, I talked about making a doll quilt.  Well ~ here it is (20 inches square)

and here is the Country Kinfolk doll made to go with it.

Plus I read a book by John Grisham on my kindle just before my Fire Tablet gave up on me.  But since I loaded up my retreat with reading material when I saw what was coming, there are plenty of paperbacks on the shelf.

Four Pin Friday ~ miniatures

I've always been fascinated with minis whether they be quilts, tea sets, dolls, whatever.

Giving little dolls their own small quilts is a sweet combination.  I found a few special examples on Pinterest this morning and added one of my own making ~

Here is my "I Spy" quilt made a few years ago ~

Inspires me to make another one ... and maybe a doll to go with it!

My latest projects

The last month or so I started making aprons from my huge stash of fabrics and vintage embroidery and trims. 

Was hoping to sell them on etsy, but so far no go!  They are fun to construct and here are two I made for little girls ~ ~ ~

 Yo Yos and rick rack are two of my favorite vintage items to use

 Nothing says old~fashioned better than gingham, eyelet and ribbon

Happy Valentine's Day

In many past years I hand~made Christmas cards for friends and family.  I gave that up two holidays ago and decided it would be more fun for me to make Valentines ~ ~ ♥

Which is what I have done the last two years.  Here are just a few of this year's cards

Left an opening to tuck a little note into each

Sharing this again

Found on Pinterest, this little tip has changed my life.  I'm finishing up three Valentine ATC's and (with pride) plunked a tiny silk bow on each of them. 

I've always had trouble making the perfect bow.  For me this is the best new thing in my crafting world!

Just had to share

Quilt (part 3)

We got the quilt put together, snipped all the loose threads as we were instructed to do, and took it to the long-arm quilters.

They will have it ready for her to give to her beloved by Valentine's Day.

I so enjoyed putting this quilt together with Selah this last month or so (when we could work it out between holidays and her work schedule).  

She is also acting as my model as I'm designing some aprons.  Here is the first one I made using only goodies in
from my unbelievable mostly vintage stash ~

Love her to pieces!

Four Pin Friday ~ ~ ~ I'm in Awe

of these gorgeous doors, gates and windows:

 The workmanship, design and time it must have taken to create these beauties!