A bit of a change

 Does anyone else like to embroider?  I remember the summer between 7th & 8th grades we stayed in Texas for the whole summer, and my grandma taught me to embroider.  She had a stack of butterfly quilt blocks, that we always laid out on her bed, just to admire.  She made them during her teens entirely from feed/flour sacks.  

I'm sure you know the block -- applique wings, with a contrasting center body and head.  Most people used the button hole stitch to outline around the wings, then embroidered the antennae.  I remember sitting outside on a warm, humid East Texas evening, sitting next to grandma and working on my butterfly blocks.  I don't know what ever happened to those, hmmmm...... 


Every few weeks, we go on long car trips, and I have a chance to do handwork.  I always have a basket packed with handwork, ready to take along.  It's amazing how much one can get done when forced to sit still!  I really love to make tea towels.  They are great to have on hand for gifts, and even nicer to have hanging in my kitchen!

These wonderful pieces of toweling arrived today!  I usually use about 2/3 of a yard to make a dish towel.  But this time I will use a yard length to have towels that cover rolls baked on a long cookie sheet.  The toweling with the plaid design will be cut into napkins.  I use 1/2 a yard for each napkin.  My dishes are the vintage and old Fiestaware, so the napkins will look great on the table

Does this book look familiar to anyone?  If you are unfamiliar with Susan Branch, you need to check out her blog!  It's amazing!  And read the comments under each posting, all the "girl friends" are amazing too!  Each one of Susan's postings is like a mini version of her books.  I've enjoyed reading her blog several times a week since the beginning, and always have a smile on my face afterward.  I have several of her books, and love the recipes as well as the artwork.  I pulled this one out today to make some killer chocolate sauce, yum.....  :)

On Susan's website you can find her online store, which stocks ready made kitchen towels in many patterns.  Susan & I share a love of vintage, and new,  made to look vintage towels!  I do love her web shop merchandise....   and have trouble picking items, because I want them ALL.  HERE is a link to her blog.

 I will leave you today with photos of two more of my kitchen towels.

Has anyone noticed my preference for red??  I can't get enough of it lately..  Red tops, red socks, red fabric, red yarn....  what's up?
I think it started when I saw photos of the New York red & white quilt exhibit.  And then there's all the red from the Just Takes 2 quilt along? I LOVE making those blocks.  I haven't had a challenge like this for awhile.Much less actually following a pattern & directions !  I'm beginning to think about making a Dear Jane quilt when finished with the red & white quilt. That would be amazing!  :)    ttfn

Friday, already???



All basted, and ready to quilt tomorrow!

 Technically, it is Friday, except my Thursday isn't over yet.  It's been one of those days that just go on & on.
It started much earlier for me today, as it was my turn to drive into town for the mail (a 45 minute trip one way).  There were a few errands to run, a stop at the BIG fabric chain store, plus grocery marketing to do.  But I knew my Priority Mail packages were due today, so I really didn't mind the drive today.

There isn't a good quilt shop within 60 miles from home, so I've started buying quilting fabric online.  I was skeptical initially, and did order a few charm packs for samples, but overall, I'm real happy with the fabric I've received.  If there were a quilt shop near by, I would shop there for sure.  I do look forward to my biannual trips to the Amish quilt/fabric shops up in Shipshewana, IN.
 

I found these adorable Tasha Tudor illustration prints on ebay.  Tasha Tudor has been one of my favorites for a long time, and when I found these prints, well... you know,  I just had to have them!  If you are unfamiliiar with Tasha Tudor you can read all about her ... HERE   I need to make quilts for twin baby girls (due to arrive very soon), and these cute, very girly prints gave me the motivation to get started!

I've been playing around with the idea of making double Irish Chain quilts in pinks and cream, and using fussy cuts of the scenes in the alternate open areas.  A simple pattern like that would sew up quickly.  Which is a plus, because I want to knit sweaters and bonnets too.  Honestly, I can't wait to get started!  Baby items always turn out so cute. 

I will end today with photos of a few more Priority Mail deliveries....  mostly just restocking the stash.  You know it must be done occassionally! 

I have had red on the brain since starting the Just Takes 2 quilt along.  I've been hunting down red and white prints.  The two red on cream prints are from different French General Moda lines.

The fabric below are Kansas Trouble prints, also from different lines.  I am dying to start cutting strips and fussy cuts tonight, but it's way too late for that. 

I know there will be dreams of quilts tonight.  Does anyone else dream of sewing/quilting too?  Sleep seems like a huge waste of time to me.  Wouldn't it be great if we didn't need to sleep?  Imagine all the quilts we could make then! 

I'll save the rest of my "restocksing the stash" photos for another day.  ttfn

A Quiet Sunday... sort of!

It's been a very nice, Sunday around here.  I've been privileged to have had a private concert of my husband's favorite music from the 80's with him featured as the main soloist!  As I write this, I hear we've transitioned into mello instrumental/rock, more suitable for evening listening!  :)  Thank you honey.
:)
So... I've continued to work on my red & white blocks from the "Just Takes 2" quilt along.  You can get more info, and download the 4th installment HERE.

I'm behind on this project, having 2 more blocks to finish before starting the 4th installment.  I do love how the blocks are turning out though.  Unless I've missed something, we don't know how the finished quilt will look once assembled.  So, I will keep plugging along here...

Anyone else out there love Amazon.com?  I LOVE browsing the books, among other things.  It's also great for seeing what newly published quilting books are out there. 

I just ordered this book, "Amish Quilts and the Welsh Connection".  Kathie over at Inspired by Antique Quilts recommended it earlier in the week.  It sounds like more story than patterns, just what I like.

Can you see the thread shelf (one of them) ?  The old, wooden utensil trays are perfect for small item display, like for thread!  I hammer a small brass picture holder onto the center back edge, and instantly have a shelf! Perfect for small places and small items.

I hear my old sewing machine calling my name, so I'd better go!  Back to work.

 I went to a quilting retreat (a while back) and we named our machines....  This is Latte... named for her creamy mocha complexion!  She's my favorite and she knows it!  ttfn

Squares

I LOVE my machine quilter!   Today, I took a drive out to pick up a finished quilt.  She lives about 20 miles north of me.  Usually, it's a very enjoyable drive through farm land.  However, for some reason, on the last few trips I take the wrong road and get lost!  Not lost for real, just enough lost to turn on the GPS and figure out where I am.  The road today took me to Hartford City, IN.  When I turned onto their Main Street, I saw the most magnificent court house in the center square.  The building was completed in 1894. Serendipity in action. Each county has one of these stately old buildings.  Each time I see a new court house, I'm always in awe of the design, the stone, and the sheer size of them.

The quilt to the right was picked up today.  As usual, she did a great job!  I left her with my last machine pieced quilt top.  I have a few more that are hand pieced, and still can't decide if they should be hand quilted.  I'm strongly leaning towards machine quilting, as I'm afraid they will never be quilted!

The quilting pattern, (seen better on the back) really pops off the brown backing fabric.

This is a scrap quilt.  The unifying element is the black fabric used for the center square and the outer boarder.   It is a Thimbleberries paint box 2004 print I believe, and is out of print.  I've used this fabric in many projects, but am down to a few feet of a 10" strip.  I've looked everywhere online for it, without luck!  Have you ever had a favorite print that you search for everywhere?? Afraid of using the last few yards??  I've quite a few favorites, and will only use all of a piece if I've found more online.  Bad! Bad! I know! 

Someday, I'll have to show you my fabric stash.  Actually, I have my "daily use" stash wall, then the "long term use" room.  I don't think anyone needs to see the room. haha....

The weatherman is predicting a nice sunny weekend here.  I'm excited... some sunshine will do me some good.  I hope it's sunny where ever you are!

Where have I been??

Where haven't I been?  That question is more appropriate.  Winter in Indiana & Michigan is much like that shown in this photo of the Bean Blossom Covered Bridge.  Not much snow on the roads, but in the fields and woods there is a bit.  It's been cold enough for ice on the roads though.

I've had two sets of out of town company since I last sat down to post.  Of course company is wonderful, and I love to see friends and family.  The quiet of our empty home is nice too.

Speedy, named for his incredible speedy run.

Our two outside kitties have free access to my husband's huge shop with a wood stove and nice cozy beds, but these two are true "kings of the back yard". They love to hunt for mice, chase little rabbits (which they never catch), and otherwise do all the cat things we never know of.  I do like watching them from the windows.  We have a prairie dog who lives under an out building, and the cats like to stalk her, slowly creeping closer, until she catches their scent, then sounds the alarm and races back to her burrow!  It's truly quite exciting!

Miss Rosey, she is so sweet

 I have sewn/pieced a bit while having company, but today I'm back at full force.  A quilt must be prepared for the machine quilter today.  I don't think I've posted pics of this one, so will wait until it's finished.  I've been pushing hard this morning to get my red & white blocks finished before the new patterns come out!
Happy quilting!!  or knitting, crocheting, weaving, spinning....  etc!  we love it all...