Respect and Remembrance
As much a part of family legacy as the birth of new generations is the passing of those we love. There are many ways we may show our respect at the passing of a loved one. In the past colors used for clothing …
Author: sharonwasteney@gmail.com
Rusted Relics
Rust Yesterday I tried rust dyeing for the first time. It’s not a new process but I had never actually done it for myself. This morning I rinsed and pressed the small pieces of fabric. I learned several things. Results are less definite if too …
Pearl Buttons
I acquired a vest and purse totally covered with pearl buttons more than twenty years ago. They have graced my sewing room as a testament to the buttons used on blouses, baby clothes and more. The vest was in a bad state of repair when I acquired it and finally I decided that the buttons were more useful to be incorporated into artful quilts while the purse remains in a frame hanging on the wall. I did not expect it to take so long to remove the buttons but the “string” used to sew them on was still quite strong. At the end of the task I had a pint jar full of mother of pearl buttons of various sizes and shapes. Now to dream up a new project that highlights their beauty.
Ode to Quilter’s of ’57
Ode to Quilters of ‘57 Before leaving for our extended summer vacation throughout northwest USA and Canada and Alaska I had cut pieces for a quilt that I might work on while traveling. I did take my Featherweight Singer machine thinking there would surely be …
Black Hills Quilt
As we are traveling this summer I was wondering how I would cope with my passion for quilts and the designing of them. No problem in the inspiration department!! We haven’t even gotten to Alaska, our ultimate destination and I am thinking about possibilities that would remind me of the trip. This first posting is inspired by the granite and ponderosa pines of the Black Hills area that give way to grassy plains home to buffalo and prairie dogs along with various other wildlife. Below is the first design, Black Hill Pines.
Wind Cave Quilt Show
I was surprised to explore the Wind CAve National Park exhibit and find small art quilts representing the National Parks and their 100th anniversary. The quilters are a group from Nebraska that are “friends of the parks” and decided to make the quilts, contacting the …
A Cherrywood Challenge
I have been incubating an idea for the 2016 Cherrywood Challenge and finally started it today. Below are the pics of the dimensional leaves being “veined” and then sewn into the background strips and finally the rough finish. Now to find the right quilting pattern. …
Pandolph Willow
I have taken an interest in hand applique, especially since we are going to be spending a lot of time this summer traveling–good handwork, little space needed. I love using my hand dyed vintage linens as the background for many of my projects and this project will be no exception. I dyed four napkins that were a pale pink with a dye mixture to make a tan background. Inspired by Cynthia Collier’s work I chose a Robyn Pandolph pattern to adapt as needed for a traditional four square layout. The first square will be the willow vase. To compliment the formality of the rayon napkin I have been getting silk ties from the resale shop for the leaves. A batik serves as the stem and embroidered velveteen will be the vase. More as the project progresses.
Woven Star
The initial block was made with a border type fabric and then fussy cut and enhanced with woven ribbon strips of color. A brave step to meet the parameters of a challenge was to cut this carefully planned and sewn block to make something new …