Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a safe and happy holiday!

 

Walk Don't Run

 

How are you today?

 If you're in the U.S., are you ready for the Thanksgiving holiday?

It's been over 3 years since I've done any hand sewing.  I've had 3 hand surgeries so far and need another one--but on my left hand.  To be honest, it's been almost a year since my last surgery but I was just wary of picking up a needle.  And I didn't want to rush into a big project just in case.  I still get some aches in the right hand so I just held off.

Last month--I decided this:

I've been doing some little projects to get my hands used to the needle again.  At first my fingers felt clumsy but I kept at it.   I did one wee wall hanging and now I've finished four.  

I only did the binding on these but it is a start.  I also played for a little bit with a running stitch and was heartened that my stitches were smaller again.

During the next year, I'm hoping to do more of these "littles" as I call them.  I even bought some table stand quilt holders for my mom, me, and Linda's mom, Carolyn.  

Carolyn in particular has moved into an retirement community and has an apartment.  This retirement apartment building has a shelf outside each apartment for seasonal decorations.  Linda has been decorating her mom's shelf.

Linda loved the idea of the table stand quilt and even asked if I could do a Christmas wall hanging with a music theme.  She will pick this one up this week.

Anyway, these little projects make me happy and I use as much of my scraps as I can while doing them.

I doubt I will be doing much posting this week as I'm doing a lot of cooking, etc.  

Have a safe and happy day!

 

How are you doing today?

I feel relief.  We had some rain last night and it is really a joy to have some precipitation.  I've been worried about our trees and bushes so hopefully this will sustain them.

Lucky and I have been doing our walk at the park.  An enormous amount of nuts have fallen there and one has to be careful where one steps.

So the other morning we encountered another animal at the park.  It was really early (we like to go at daybreak).

She was eating and eating and looked at us and continued eating.  Turns out, deer LOVE nuts and she wasn't about to leave the acorns behind.  I talked to her for about 15 minutes and Lucky didn't bark.  Once in a while she would look at me as if to respond  to something I said and then continue eating.  It was a lot of fun seeing her so close!

Hoping you have a great day!

Scrap Pieces

 

How are you doing?

I've been buzzing around but finished a few tablerunners.  Mostly I was inspired by something I forgot to write about before.  This:

I laughed like crazy when I saw this!  But it did make me go upstairs and pull out a drawer of Christmas fabric to see what scraps I had.  Turned out I had quite a lot of 2.5 inch blocks and a few 4 inch blocks.

I had made table runners for my mom, Kathy, and my friend Nancy last summer so I put together one for each of them and one I'll keep.

What have you been sewing?

Have a safe and happy day!

A Treasured Catalog

 

I have a Grandma Dexter/Virginia Snow catalog in my collection.  One of the things that has struck me about some of these booklets is how they were treasured.  I suspect this catalog had fallen apart somehow but the resilient woman who owned it rethreaded the booklet.

Actually you can see it even better on the back:

I do believe that we sometimes take it for granted how lucky we are quilting or sewing in this age.  Yes, fabric is expensive but look at all the inventions and technology that makes our work easier!

My note on this piece said this publication happened after 1927 when Dexter Mills was purchased by Collingbourne Mills.  The same company that had produced the "Virginia Snow Studios" products. 

I often wondered if women kept these booklets to not order quilt patterns but to draft their own using the images in the catalogs.

I do enjoy looking at the patterns and sometimes have a difficult time picking my favorite in the catalog.

Wishing you a safe and happy day!

Squirrel

 

Greetings!  

Life around here can be hectic.  I only have a few hours in the early morning to get things done before I have to leave and check on family members.  When I finally return home, I have run out of energy.  No biggee, at least I can handle all of it.

Early 20th century embroidery of a squirrel

I spent the weekend purging my office and cleaning the sewing room.  I honestly haven't been able to work much in the office since the pandemic hit. It became the dumping ground and things there were soon forgotten.😕

But I enjoyed working up there (still not done by the way).  

When Kathy (my sister aunt) and I were young, we never minded "cleaning our room."  In fact, we actually enjoyed the task.  I don't remember anyone ever having to tell us to clean our room.  

We were the only girls and unlike our brothers, we had our own room.  It was our domain to do with whatever we wanted.  So we cleaned and reorganized often.  We often moved furniture here and there and changed decor (usually seasonally).

Whenever I clean my office or sewing room, I get that same satisfied feeling.  I am telling you this because the more I watch other quilters "tackle" their sewing room, I am struck by how much they dread doing it.  Some are just overwhelmed.  A few women complained about squirrels--a modern term that implies getting distracted and I believe originated from the movie, "Up".

Do you have any of these problems when you are cleaning or reorganizing your sewing space?

Speaking of squirrels...

I grew up hearing my grandfather say "if you want to get the squirrels out of your yard, throw peanuts out there.  They will grab the peanuts and then go to another location to hide and guard them."😆

Towels I made for my neighbors during the pandemic.  They became very attached to the squirrels in the neighborhood when a few squirrel babies were abandoned.

Wishing you a safe and happy day!

An Unexpeted Flower Friday

Surprise!  This post is late because I accidently posted on my other website--3poodlesand a nana.  So here we are better late than never!

It's an unexpected Flower Friday!

Robin shared an unusual blossom...a daffodil that surprised Robin and is called "Good Cheer".  Robin also said it has a wonderful fragrance!

Robin also saw a tiny violet peaking out!  What a nice find!

Impatiens are the most tender annuals here in Pennsylvania.  I had a volunteer on my patio and just didn't have the heart to pluck it.  Amazingly, despite frosts and 20 degree weather on Wednesday, this flower has endured!

So on that note, I wish you a safe and happy weekend!

Lucky Photobombs

 

It's Thursday and Mr. Lucky had an interesting few days last weekend.

My niece doesn't come up often so it's always wonderful to see her and my great-niece Remi.

This past weekend was a lot of fun and Maggie took a lot of photos.  But two of them inadvertently included Lucky and I found them amusing.  I think the kids call this photobombing!

Remi is 2 years old and so is Lucky and even though he met Remi last spring, he wasn't quite sure what to make of the fuss.

"Hey that little one has a lot of cool toys and my Mom won't let me play with them.  But I want them...."

The photo below really surprised me.  

"I like to be held too!"

Dogs and kids, I love em!

PS--We have some photos for Flower Friday so if you have anything to share, email them to me!

Have a safe and happy day!

Frayed

 

 

How is your week going?

We actually got a little rain (ok, very little) Sunday night so we are hoping that the drought eases!

I did some stashbusting over the weekend in the hopes of reducing my Christmas scraps.  There were just too many little pieces and I was hoping to move my Christmas fabrics to a smaller drawer (didn't happen by the way).

Today I'm wondering if you all could give me some insights on solid fabrics.  I like to keep solid black, white, and navy fabrics in my stash.  I used up most of the navy over the weekend but was dismayed at the amount of fraying that occurred.  

So here is what I want to know...when you use a solid fabric what company do you choose?

It seems to be a problem with most of my Kona solids these days. I'm just tired of wasting money on fabric that doesn't hold up.  If I had worked on a quilt, I would have not used the navy at all.  Little projects were okay for the fabric as the items don't get much wear.  I've always bought Kona because my LQS carried it with a huge variety of colors but I won't be buying it anymore.

So I'm almost done with the navy solids.  I used Fray Check, I used a fresh blade in my rotary cutter and it didn't help.  

The thing is--we shouldn't HAVE to do these kinds of things to our fabric when we spend good money already buying them.

I went to my local fabric store on Monday and bought some crackle black fabric because I was out of black.

Research indicated that Art Gallery Solids have a tight weave and I already love their fabrics.  So I ordered some navy

I'll report on what I find.  

So if you have any insights, I would love to hear them!

Have a safe and happy day! 

Tuesday's This and That: November 10, 2024

 

How are you doing today?

The weather here has been really strange.  Last week it was so hot the air conditioner kicked on two days.  Then it was so cold that I had to put on long underwear.  My neighbor is worried about the bees in her hives getting confused.

Speaking of bees--I found this free pattern for bees here.  I might have to make something for our neighborhood apiarist.

Another interesting article is this article about bees and elephants.  It's a very interesting!

***

We all know how therapeutic quilting can be.  We've seen articles about incarcerated women who learned quilting and the positive impact it had on them.

But coming soon is a documentary about incarcerated men learning quilting.  The men make the quilts for children in foster care and it looks like it will be an interesting documentary.  

Details about when it will be available, etc. can be found here.

***

Wishing you a safe and happy day!

YouTube Sewing

 

Hello everyone! 

 Time for a new sewing week!

For a few years, Beth has been telling me about the YouTube shows she had been watching.  Honestly, I wasn't that interested--to watch something on my tablet or computer screen for any length of time was not appealing.

But over the summer we purchased a smart tv.  I still wasn't that enthused.  I rarely watch tv during the day unless I'm sick or something.  

And then I got sick.  During my two weeks of covid, I learned how to use the smart tv and started watching YouTube videos.  It's been providing me with a bit of sanity these past weeks.

So in case you are looking for a diversion, I thought I would post some of my favorites and recommendations from Beth!

My two favorite also feature dogs!  Both of these channels are so entertaining, I got hooked on them.

The Stitchery  I found Charlie's show on my own and when Beth and I compared notes this was high on our list.  She embroiders and make garments.  Not only do I not sew clothing but I had no interest in the topic at all.  However, Charlie is so entertaining that I'm hooked.  No, I have no reason to sew clothes but I love her show.  If you do decide to watch her, stay tuned for the very end of the video--she usually features bloopers.  😃

Shannon Makes  She's a circus performer at night--like a cirque  athletic performer.  She is also a creative force by day!  Shannon sews, knits, embroiders, upcycles and provides some interesting insights on wherever she is performing in the world. I love her new videos about the Victorian house she just bought!

Quilting channels I like:

Conquering Mount Scrapmore with Brenda:  I've mentioned Brenda before, she's the creator of the popular Potato Chip Block.  I like her videos because she is down to earth and shares a lot of tips and patterns!  She also has a Facebook page and the quilters there seem really nice!

Just Get It Done Quilts:  Karen Brown is a big favorite with quilters and I've been watching her for some time now.  She's wonderful and has a LOT of followers--exemplifying the quality of her videos.  By the way, she has a variation of the Potato Chip Block that you can find here (along with a pattern you can download).

Bits and Pieces Quilting:  Michelle has lots of videos and tutorials on her channel.  I enjoy her personality as well and she learned quilting from her mother.  One quilt I want to make is her pattern for Hills and Valleys (here).

Let me know if you visit any of these channels---or if you have some you think we might enjoy!

Have a safe and happy day!

Pin Cut Sew:  Nikki makes a lot of improv. quilts and I like them.  Maybe she will make me delve into that area?  She is married to a member of the military and also learned quilting from her mother.  She has a lot of tutorials on her channel!  I like her personality and I think you will too!  

Sewing and History:

Abby Cox:  Abby is a fashion historian and Beth told me about her channel.  I find her videos fascinating and she can be very funny.  I do want to tell you that sometimes she uses curse words but all in all, the information I've learned has been so interesting!

Update on Aunt Nelle's Quilts

 

Two interesting comments regarding the Tuesday post about Aunt Nelle's quilts.

Grace said, "I've heard the rule of thumb when dating a quilt is that they are as old as the newest quilt."

This is true.  I took quilt appraisal classes years ago and that is what we were taught.  Additionally, my own antique quilts have been appraised that way.

Sue also weighed in.  "In Robin's first quilt, the plaid sashing in the center of the photo appears to be cut on the bias. Interesting and to me indicates scraps. I would think the indigos are older and doubt Uncle Clarence had flower prints on his shirts. Probably many of the fabrics are from his shirts but not all. Old friend Dottie (1914-2017) just keeps on giving information. I have fabrics from her scrap bag that include some of her grandmother's, mother's, mother in law's fabrics. Deep scrap bag! Nothing went to waste. Thanks for sharing these interesting quilt tops."  

And finally got an email from Karen who asked if my quilt top, "Pajama Rama Ding Dong" fit any of the criteria we discussed.  Yes as a matter of fact it includes orphan blocks.  Although the vintage fabric goes back to the 1950s/early 1960s this piece--as Grace has pointed out--would be appraised and assessed as a 2024 quilt.

Wishing you a safe and happy weekend!

First

Questions about Aunt Nelle's Quilts

 

Good morning and how are you?

I just love when a topic creates so many comments!

Robin sent me an email with these photos.  She inherited Aunt Nelle's quilt tops that were as Robin put it, "supposedly made from Uncle Clarence's work shirts."  Aunt Nelle passed away in 1961. 

Robin learned to quilt on this first piece:

Robin said, she loved the use of the chambray in this piece below:

For some of us who have studied antique quilts, these examples may present even more questions.  Without the back story of these pieces, I would have sworn each was from the late 19th/early 20th centuries.  

Aunt Nelle had what we call "a deep scrap bag."    This term doesn't appear often in current modern quilting articles.  The term implies that the fabric used in the quilt appears to span a few different decades.  In this case, fabric might have been passed down in the family or gifted from friends.  And by the way, it isn't that unusual to see a quilt that fits the description.  

Chambray which is the alternate block in the nine patch was very popular in the early 20th century because calico quality had diminished.  Chambray and gingham were the two most popular cotton fabrics because of the durability those fabrics provided.

Bow tie quilt from my collection, other photos of this quilt can be found on this post.

In the case of the first quilt, I wondered if orphan blocks had been handed handed down to Aunt Nelle.  Certainly the sashing in the first quilt appears mid-century.  

Robin is interested in hearing what the readers insights might be--especially those of you with some quilt history background.  

As she put it, " I agree that Aunt Nelle probably inherited fabric from her mother, sisters, and her aunt who was a dressmaker." 

I also wondered about the indigos that appeared and Robin said,  "It could be indigo, I inherited a hand pieced indigo and white quilt as well."

So let us know what you think.  One thing is for sure, the quilts are lovely and look so soft and comforting, don't they?

Have a safe and happy day!

Lucky's Gotcha Day

 

Happy Monday!

Today marks the first anniversary of Lucky's Gotcha Day--a celebration of when we adopted our pupster!

Been a year of learning and guessing since all we know about his past was that he was microchipped and abandoned on the streets of Allentown.  The first time the Humane Society found him, his owners via microchip came to pick him up.  The second time--well the people had moved and disconnected their phone.  

Lucky was so matted that the vet had to anesthetize him to shave him down.  He was also terribly underweight--a mere 17 lbs instead of the recommended weight of 25.

Lucky at the pound.

The boy didn't know what a treat was or how to play with a toy.  We've taught him all this and more but there is still a bit of a wild streak in him.  

We suspect he is part terrier (and most agree Jack Russell fits the behavior).  He jumps up and mouths us even though he KNOWS at this point it is not good pup etiquette.

I like to say he puts the "terror" into terrier.  😁

But we do love and adore him and that is all that matters.  He's gotten quite comfortable with us and by September I knew he had realized he is in his forever home. 

We are happy to have him in our family and enjoy all his antics.  He is one hilarious fellow!

Wishing you a safe and happy weekend!