Sunday, June 24, 2012

Creative Quilters


This past Saturday I
found creativity galore at the
West Virginia Quilt Festival 2012



held at the Summersville Arena & Conference Center
in gorgeous Nicholas County.


One highlight of the Festival was meeting retired dentist,
 Dr. Don Locke, from Texas.
Look at his 51,816 piece quilt depicting da Vinci's
"The Last Supper."




Much of the fabric was hand dyed.
 Each square is half an inch.
I think Leonardo would have been impressed!





Many great vendors were at the Festival, too.
was one of my favorites!
They're two shops in one --
 a country store and a quilt shop.






You can email them at neffscountryloft@sbcglobal.net





The quilters who participated in the show
were outstanding.

This art quilt was stunning!



This bluejay wallhanging with swirling leaves was just lovely.
Look below to see how the quilter quilted into the white background
the image of one of the batik leaves.
Can you see it?





Some great embroidery.









I thought I'd end with this little bluebird,
 part of a Baltimore Album Quilt.
If you give it a glance, you'll think "how sweet."

Look closer. 
 The quilter specifically chose and angled
 the fabric for the back wing.
The spiral of the fabric pattern is just right
 for the fanciful wing.  She also added
her own pen to the bird's underside
 and back feathers.
See her shading on the front wing feathers.
  It looks like she used a black micro-pen.


How inspiring!
I feel like sewing.

Amy





Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Free Printable Embroidery Pattern

I recently came across a vintage

piece of embroidery.



I bought a large lot from the seller.

Two pieces were marked "Really Old."

(The idea of distinguishing
"really old" from "young old"
somewhat tickled me,
but that's another post.)

This pillowcase was one such "Really Old" piece.

The simple embroidery of the mirror image squirrels
is done in a single thread of red embroidery floss.

The stitch isn't really a stem stitch. 
The sewer chose more of a rough straight
stitch or back stitch done in red.



I call them my "Dancing Squirrels."

The closest I can come to dating the age
of the design was to find
some 1920 embroidery transfers that
had similar animal characteristics to the above.

The animal transfers of the 40's - 60's
are much more cartoon-like
 with smiling faces and bigger eyes.

Enjoy your
Free Color Embroidery Pattern

Black and White Pattern Option


Amy



Friday, June 15, 2012

Friday's Find


This Friday's Find is a little different.
Most of the time I own my Friday's Find.
Today, I'm sharing a find.

Last weekend, I attended the
West Virginia's Writers' Conference
at

 
While I was eating in the dining facility,
I noticed a large rug displayed on the wall.

 
It looked somewhat odd as a display piece
in a rather informal cafeteria.

After eating,
 I went over to read the plaques displayed beside the rug.
Imagine my surprise to see Pearl K. McGown's name!


If you didn't catch my post about Pearl K. McGown and her
great influence on the rug hooking craft,


The Conference Center features unique handcraft workshops like basket making, pottery design, stained glass how-to's.  The fact that rug-hooking at one point made its way to the Center as a workshop made sense after I thought about it.  I wonder if Jane McGown Flynn was involved with that workshop.  Jane is Pearl K. McGown's daughter.


One side of the dining facility is in honor of both Pearl and Jane.


This photograph gives a better perspective of the handhooked rug's size.

From what I could discover,
 the Southern Teacher's Workshop
was still meeting in the area as recent as 2010.

Really interesting.




I've finished some more teacup
pincushions.
The cashmere aqua rose is in a small
1965 souvenier World's Fair teacup.




What projects have you finished recently?


Amy





Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Peony Magic




To be overcome


by the fragrance of flowers
is a delectable form of defeat.

Beverley Nichols
(British Author)



I'm just now finally taking the time to share
the pictures of my peonies.



One of spring's last blessings
and summer's first offerings.


They amaze me with their capacity to give
 so much  bloom while requiring so little.


 They only ask for gentle support when their heads hang low.


Amy

Do you grow peonies?
What color?











Thursday, June 7, 2012

Lord Nelson Chintz

Every Friday I love to share
a vintage treasure.

The vintage item might be something I've
 found on the shelf at a thrift store,
or in the basement of an estate sale.

Sometimes, a lovely friend knowing
 just what I enjoy
brings me a treasure they've found along
one of their own journeys.

At other times, I may share a vintage treasure that was
passed on to me by family.

Such is the case for today's vintage find.


This is a Lord Nelson Salt and Pepper set
 in the Chintz Briar Rose pattern.

How darling!





While I love the Briar Rose pattern, Black Beauty
is Lord Nelson Ware's most coveted
pattern.

Delightful!


Except for the Royal Winton line, most Chintz makers
stopped production in the 60's.


The Briar Rose bowl pictured above
 would be a wonderful addition
to my tea service collection. . .

Sadly for this thrifty shopper,
 chintz patterns aren't the most affordable beauties to collect.



Their value makes this little set all the more precious.

It belonged to my husband's grandmother.

As far as we know,
 it was the only chintz piece she owned.

Every time I see it or touch it, I think of her.

Isn't that the real find?

Amy
 
 






Tuesday, June 5, 2012

The Old Clock

This clock needed a new look.


The shape of the clock has always appealed to me,
 but I have had it for several years.

It's time for a new look.


I made a ruffled ribbon rose for the top.

Since I can never have enough time to read,
I'm going to decorate this clock
with a few of my favorite
writers in mind.

See if you can spot them!



I placed pearls on the clock face.
The shelves were backed with some of my favorite K&Company Papers.
I then went to my favorite thrift store to find some mini treasures --
the itty-bitty aqua bead box and the mini antique red pin cushion.


I had to add some of my linens --
My great grandmother's hankie and a vintage bookmark.


I also made some tag art.




What do you think?



Did you spot all four authors?

One is difficult to see, I admit.

Can you list them for me?


Amy

Friday, June 1, 2012

Vintage Butterick for Friday


It's time for Friday's Find!

Can you ever have enough patterns?

I like these vintage Butterick patterns
because they're for a small child, size 2.





This sweet puppy makes the jumper
 pattern illustrations complete.






The second pattern is also for a small child, size 2. 
 It's a slip pattern.


Look at the price.  What a bargain!



I'm having difficulty dating these patterns.

Butterick didn't print on the tissue paper pattern until the late 40's.
Both have printed patterns.

They have no copyright or date marked.

Do the outfits and hairstyles strike you as 50's or 60's?

Amy