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?

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.

Decided to frame these

 and put them in my etsy shop.

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 

My Impeachment Crazy Quilt

 or should I say My Crazy Impeachment Quilt?  Started this small doll quilt the day before the hearing and worked on it all through the testimonies and videos. Hardly missed a word or a moment of the rioting.

backing, batting and quilt top are studded with nickel size yo yos with a tiny button over top

made with all vintage fabrics!

measures 15 1/2 inches x 22 1/2 inches

Finished the day after the acquittal!

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!

Finished quilt!!

Got the finished quilt from the long-arm quilters this afternoon.  It is gorgeous and Selah and I are so pleased with the way it turned out

and so is Matthew!

It is his post birthday pre Valentines gift from his loving wife.

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!

Quilting with Selah (second report)

Almost all the rows are made so its time to sew them together.  Being its a Queen Size bed, we have to spread them out on my craft room floor

Here are the first four rows in two pieces.  Quite elegant, don't you think?

Quilting with Selah

Haven't constructed a large quilt in many years, but my Granddaughter Selah wants a quilt to gift her husband and so . . . .

 we have all the pieces cut

and just had to put one block together to see how it looked.  So masculine with the greys and a pop of dark purple in each square.

She was hoping to give it for a Christmas gift but I don't believe that will happen.  As she said ~ his birthday is in January and there is always Valentines Day.

But in the meantime, she helps us with our TV and internet problems, and besides the quilting guidance, we have the pleasure of that sweet young woman's company about once a week.  It's a "win win".

I will show our progress here as we put all the pieces together.

Autumn Leaves

~ I have been inspired lately by the glorious display the trees around us have presented to us ~

Haven't done any quilting for ages, but found this pattern in an old book and couldn't resist!  All the cottons came from my stash and I was surprised how beautifully they came together.

Picked up the lovely leaf on my walk yesterday

Rag Bagging

I have never found a quilt I didn't like.  No matter how old (older the better) or worn (who cares?) it comes home with me.  In fact I search out the antique and collectible quilts no matter how small and ragged the pieces.

Therefore, I have ample cutters to work with.  Here is my latest projects using scraps of patchwork . . .

Judiciously cut pieces using small tatted doilies and ornaments.

My next project will be framing an early 1900s crazy quilt piece.  The poor thing couldn't be saved in its entirety but have some lovely embroidered sections.  Have to find just the right frame for this one.

Four Pin Friday

It's been weeks since I packed up my craft room for the big move thinking surely I will be set up in our new home soon.  Well . . . things lately never seem to go as planned.  We are still in the moving mode, and I am missing my almost daily play time!

Pinterest has been giving me itchy fingers and lots of inspiration.  Needing to pick up the brush, or papers for ATCs or start up the sewing machine.  Going through withdrawals big time!!! 

Here is something I'm going to try when I'm able:

faded find

This past week the thrift store gave up this sweet old bucket with a bale handle.  It went so well with the old tattered quilt, doily, book and crocheted bag that they needed to be thrown together for a photo vignette!

I'm sure others would have passed up these faded old pieces but they are precious to me.

Takes me back to a gentler more kindly time and I really need that right now.  

Came to the rescue

of this sweet old worn lavishly~loved & cherished quilt.  Couldn't help myself, I had to have it.  Definitely a cutter quilt but so precious. I can only imagine the history behind this old soft patchwork with cotton batting falling out of its flower centers.  A wonderful seamstress hand~stitched every piece together and then quilted it stitch~by~stitch.

Laundered so many times, it has artfully faded into beautiful pastels.