Friday, May 9, 2025

Flower Friday: May 9, 2025

 

In this part of the country, we are celebrating the fact that we've gotten rain this past week!  

Carolyn sent some lovely photos this week:

Wild geraniums also known as sticky geraniums!

Carolyn is in South Jersey where they are also experiencing drought.  She also sent a photo of her columbine but said there weren't many blooms this year.  Wishing you rain Carolyn!  


Thank you Carolyn!

***
Our friend Sue is in Northern New Jersey.  She shared what's happening there too!  Thanks Sue!

These are Wood Hyacinths.  I'm so glad Sue sent this photo because I saw some in the woods near the park the other day!


Ornamental Strawberry:


Buttercup!

Azalea:

From my garden, the tree peony bloomed!


Thanks so much Carolyn and Sue!

Wishing you a safe and happy weekend!





Monday, May 5, 2025

Happy Cinco De Mayo!

 


 I hope you are going to have a wonderful day!

I'm also letting you know that I need to take a blog break--EXCEPT on Flower Friday.  I welcome any photos you want to share (allentownquilter@gmail.com).


I've so much work to get done here and not the least of it is the garden.  A big problem is the lack of rainfall and it's hard to move plants while they are so stressed.


I also need to get some things done in the house and I'm hoping to accomplish more while my husband is on a business trip.  

Maybe when I get back, I'll have more things to share (I've been depleted on the writing front as well).

Have a safe and happy week!  
I'll see you on Friday!

Friday, May 2, 2025

Flower Friday: May 2, 2025

 


Happy Flower Friday!

Sue sent some lovely flower photos for us.  
Check these out!

Wood Violets, the New Jersey state flower!
Sue said she has white violets, and ones that either mutated or somehow came aboard, that are completely white.




Azalea


German Iris


Myrtle



Thank you so much Sue!

Have a safe and happy weekend!





Thursday, May 1, 2025

May Day!

 


May Day greetings to all of you!


Tomorrow is Flower Friday so please email me any photos you might like to share!


Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Housewives

 


If you can remember Mr. Peabody, Sherman, and the Wayback Machine, you probably remember the women's movement of the 1960s and 70s. 

One thing I remember reading was a great essay entitled "I Want A Wife," by Judy Brady; it appeared in Ms. Magazine and you can read it here.  In many ways it is still relevant since studies indicate that women still do most of the childcare and housework even when she and her spouse both work fulltime.

But that's not what I'm writing about today.  I'm writing about a sewing kit that originated in the 18th century (probably in England).  It was used by both men and women and is often referred to as a hussif, huswif, or a housewife.  I've even heard it referred to as a hussy.  😆

When Beth and I did our Civil War program, we talked about the hussif and how soldiers used them to mend, darn, etc. while in the field.  Beth even found instructions from during the war and made an example for our programs.  This was a common use of the hussif, made by family members for soldiers in the field.

Civil War soldier sewing

You can see a lot of these antique hussifs online and a great essay on them with photos is here.  It was a small rolled up kit that included things like needles, thread, scissors and other sewing essentials.  


But women used hussifs too.  Those are the most decorative and I've found examples from both the UK and North America that are very pretty.   Back when Beth and I were looking at them, it seemed like only historical reenactors were interested in making them.  Then the pandemic hit and as more people hand sewed, there was a renewed interest in them.

The modern versions are often pretty and I encourage you to browse the internet for them.  The makers now incorporate slow stitching, embroidery, and all kinds of doo-dads like lace and rick-rack to make pretty sewing kits.  A great article for you to peruse is here.  Have you or would you make one?

Flower Friday is coming up and if you would like to submit a photo, please email me at allentownquilter@gmail.com

Have a great day!



Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Tuesday's This and That: April 29, 2025

 


Many thanks to Sue who identified the plant I asked about last Friday!


Virginia Bluebells!
Thanks Sue!

The one thing I want to ask you--how is your weather these days?  We are in a drought and most of the gardeners I know are talking about not putting any new plants in this year.  We get a little rain every now and then (often the predicted rain misses us completely) but we need a week or two of a soaking rain.

How is it where you are?

***

Ann Hermes is well known in the quilt history world and is a writer, collector, and quilter.

I have had this post saved in my bookmarks forever.  On her old blog it was an article on how to recycle yardsticks.  I don't know about you but I have broken yardsticks and some that have paint on them.  These are great ideas I hope to use someday!

***
Have a safe and happy day!

Monday, April 28, 2025

Say Cheese!

 


It's funny how trends come and go.  The last year or two, I noticed a lot more muted tones but also more cheddar like fabric.  Cheddar was popular fabric with the Pennsylvania Dutch.  Years ago, I knew a quilt collector who loved anything cheddar!

My favorite cheddar collection right now is "Cheddar Blues" from Connecting Threads. 

This appeals to me because of the combination with blue.  It's true, I think blue makes everything better.

Here's a late 19th century quilt top that was made locally.  I should really quilt this one of these days:


My favorite cheddar piece is this Moravian Quilt:

Do you like cheddar colored fabrics?

Have a safe and happy day!