Work is now started on a version of Dresden Plate using home dec fabrics with a formal feel. Silks, satins, linens, cotton damask and more are used to make the blades of the plate. They will be combined with my hand dyed linens in some …
I have always loved the poem by Robert Frost, “Nothing Gold Can Stay”, even before the high school literature teacher wanted us to make deeper meaning from it. I continue to associate it with nature and the beauty of all that we have been privileged …
The Piecemakers by the Bay 2016 Quilt Show is in the books. As always, there were many beautiful quilts. One part of the show is the guild challenge. This year it was titled Texas Two Step with the following guidelines. Two sides had to be 22″ and it had to also incorporate two in some way, shape or form. Whether that was tutus or tulips or two colors or whatever the imagination dreamed of. Below are the six entries by members who took the challenge. Each is unique in their interpretation and fun to view. Attendees of the show determined the winner by their vote. Since I was in charge of the challenge I can say that each was a winner in their personal interpretation and many complimentary comments were made by attendees.
January 30 and 31, 2016 will be a showing of quilts sponsored by the Piecemakers by the Bay Quilt Guild in Rockport, Texas. The show is 10-5 on Saturday and 11-4 on Sunday. I am in charge of the guild challenge, “Texas Two-Step”. While the …
A new color combo for me. Much brighter than the soft, subdued colors I usually choose. It has been fun and stimulating to make the selection. this is actually being made for a presentation on using vintage linens in our quilting projects. Presentation will be …
I have wanted to make a quilt with the Rose of Sharon applique pattern for many years. Hand applique has always been the reason I have not accomplished that aspiration. The time seems right. Using a design program I have drafted a pattern based on a quilt made by an Arkansas pioneer woman (Sarah Lucinda Coxsey Seitz) in the late 1800’s whose birthday happens to be the same as mine. It seemed a sign. She made her quilt sometime within a six year period from her marriage, giving birth to five children and her untimely death. I am motivated to get this done!
To test the pattern I have made this small wall hanging. I cheated just a bit and did machine applique so I could get the process down in preparation for organizing a kit to be taken on our summer travel in 2016. It might still need to be tweaked to look more like her version. The background of the sample is one of my hand dyed vintage linens in a golden brown paired with batik and textural fabrics to make a non-traditional coloring of this pattern. The setting is also non-traditional with a 20 inch block set into a rectangular shape resulting from wide side borders and narrower but elongated top and bottom borders. I believe this shape is more interesting than simply centering a single block with multiple borders.
My aspiration for the pattern is to use non-traditional coloring but to hand applique the bed size quilt. Sarah made hers with only a top and bottom plain border with nine twenty inch squares. I plan to have a top and bottom border that resembles a swag with the Rose of Sharon motif.
I am counting on 2016 travel time to be perfect for taking on a totally hand applique project.
Dec 18, 2015 Sewing has stopped for the time being so work can continue on the sewing room. The mini kitchenette area is being worked on by my husband with “help” from me. The sewing machine is covered by it’s carrying case and a sheet …
Dec 11, 2015
The last of the monthly wall hangings to brighten my mother’s care center room has been received. A year of projects that brightened her room seemed easy as an idea in December of 2014 but did take some time to figure out a monthly block that would trigger memories of family life over the years. It was fun for me to think about and create, to determine the fabric and colors that would please and brighten and to reflect on family memories as well. February’s “You Are My Sunshine” and May’s “Graduation Basket” were the most liked by mom and were also fun for me to create. She seemed to like those designs that had lots of interesting detail to be discovered in the fabric and/or design so that will be the focus for 2016. Most important for the 2015 project was the opportunity to reflect on the past and to share memories with those who came to visit—friends, relatives and staff.
Now, what to do for next year because the expectation is that the monthly creations will continue in some way. I will be away from the sewing machine in 2016 due to extensive travel plans so have decided to make one wall hanging with twelve blank 6 inch blocks that will be filled with embroidered design blocks. The wall hanging will be mailed in January with the first block. The blocks will all be made before we leave our winter home so they can be mailed each month, regardless of where we may be. That statement will be one of my sewing resolutions for 2016. Need to review 2015 resolutions, oh my!
Dec 10, 2015 We went into town this morning to get haircuts and groceries, mundane errands, huh? But we drove by a garage sale just getting started so made a side stop. I still need to find some items to re-purpose into sewing room storage …