turkey feathers

Old Dog New Trick

I've always loved this adorable Scottie pattern, it's a classic, but never ventured to make anything with it because the applique, with it's pieced foundation, seemed rather fussy.  But recently, I saw Eleanor Burns technique and was curious to try it.  Well, I must tell you that I was really pleased with how simple it was to do!  It worked beautifully.  And the corner turns using a plastic drinking straw and a bodkin are pure genius.  Why didn't somebody tell us about this sooner?  It works for turning tiny arms and legs on stuffies too.  Works like a charm, in fact.  (I've actually learned lots of new tricks and shortcuts from Eleanor's Quilt In A Day series). 

Plus, Eleanor's enthusiasm is contagious and it took me pretty far, as you can see.  I am ready to embroider the features now; whiskers, eyes, noses.  Then I'll add some decorative handwork in the form of blanket-stitching around the appliques to finish the edges.  This little project should keep me busy for awhile.  Of course, machine applique can be done too.  Here's another quick technique for machine-applique featuring chickens and roosters.  Very cute!

I once saw a charming antique Scottie quilt that had names for each dog embroidered on it and I'm thinking about doing that too since they all seem to have their own personality.  So I need to come up with nine doggy names.  Suggestions are welcome.  Nothing too long or complicated though because they have to fit in the space above each dog.  I've numbered the blocks so you can refer to a specific dog if you like.  "Spot" sounds like a good name for number seven.  Short and sweet! 

Embroidery: Kitten Coverlet

Here's an adorable embroidery motif that can be used for a variety of things.  Three basic stitches are all that's needed; a basic outline, a straight stitch for the fur, and a satin stitch to fill in the eyes and nose.  Originally designed as a quilt block for a child's quilt, it can be embroidered as-is, or made into an applique by adding a 1/4" seam allowance around the edges to turn-under. 

Source:  WorkBasket August 1950

Download KITTEN COVERLET

 

 

Farm Life Quilt

Earlier this summer, we were thrifting about in a tiny coastal town off the beaten path, and I found this interesting, and very, very old, unfinished quilt top.  There were a few loose blocks that were pinned to it; a long ago forgotten work in progress.  For $20 bucks I couldn't resist bringing it home. 

The pattern wasn't immediately familiar to me, but Ruby McKim came to mind and a quick search led me to this website hosted by "Grammy's" family and friends, and which contained all the original (remastered) patterns from the 1920's-30's, with the Farm Life Quilt pattern book among them.  It is so exciting when that happens.  Anyway, while on my quest for info, I actually found lots of "Farm Life" quilts; OnLine Quilter shared this one--love the yellow and the fence border. 

I've finished old quilts in the past, but am not really moved to finish this one.  It's a bit too rough around the edges and the cotton cloth is aged and fragile, but I am happy to have it in my collection and will enjoy it "as is". 

I think this horse is my favorite. 

I'm making crockpot marinara sauce today with tomatoes and basil from the garden.  The kitchen smells so good.  We have plenty of pickles, green beans, and jam on the pantry shelves now.  Salsa is next I think. I've been watching online videos and researching recipes for canning some. 

And at the same time I'm eyeing my stash and thinking up lots of things I can do with it. 

Much of it has gone into my growing hexie "patch" though.  Only time will tell what this will become.  Still thinking . . .  

Calm After the Storm

 

Little Miss African Violet decided to make an appearance.  It is a rather rare event when she does so.  She takes her time and we wait ever so patiently for her.  Maybe she wanted to see what all the commotion was about.

Because, when last I wrote, I was calmly anticipating an upcoming shower and saying, "a summer rain is the very best kind of rain" (and it usually is), but little did I know that we would have a deluge of nearly three inches of rain in less than four hours, topping all previous records, with thunder that shook the house, rattled the windows in their frames and made our teeth chatter.

And that lightening strikes would split trees and sizzle electrical panels cutting power to thousands of people in the surrounding areas.  Or that storm drains would overflow and streets would flood, that sewage would spill into creeks and rivers causing contamination warnings.  Oh dear.

I was not expecting that. 

In fact, we were just carrying on as usual here, not even realizing how bad things were getting and about to drive up to the barn for Ginger's riding lesson, when all of a sudden a tremendous crack exploded in the sky, forcing us to stop in our tracks and rethink that plan. 

Once I'd gathered my wits about me and unpried both hands (which were clinging for dear life to the wooden stairposts), I went to check on the local 'emergency broadcast warning system' for storm updates.  Hmmm.  Didn't seem to be any, so we climbed into the car and began driving up the narrow, twisting well-worn mountain road; rain beating down, windshield wipers slapping, lightening flashes and rumbles of thunder in the distance. 

By the time we arrived at the barn though, the horses were freaked out and restless and in no mood for fun and games.  Who could blame them?  Animals know.  We decided to follow their lead, and went back to the safety of our home.  And not a moment too soon.

The sky went dark and started popping and cracking like the fourth of July.  Barrels of rain poured down, our "creek" went from zero to warp speed in seconds as water cascaded down the road like white water rapids (our house is at the low end of the hill).  Neighbors got out their sandbags.  The roar of rain on the roof was all we could hear.  Tremendous rain.  The lights kept flickering on and off. Forunately, we never lost power, but some did. The girls and I huddled in the library with our books, but could only stare out the windows in wonder.   And then it was over as quickly as it had begun. That thunderous brute of a storm lumbered east, leaving behind it a steady rain that fell til the next morning.  

Later, we read in the paper, that a dramatic flash of lightening hit the old Call-A-Ride antenna on top of the Senior Center, "peeling the end of it like a banana" (a quote from the park operations supervisor).  Apparently bolts of lightening "danced" around a small Community Library, rattling employees and patrons.  Someone reported seeing a fireball come down in the parking lot. Neighboring towns had to evacuate schools and businesses due to flooding and power loss; lightening strikes set off alarm systems in hotels. And on and on it went.

I will never underestimate a summer storm again! 

All that happened last Thursday.  Today the sky is clear, the sun is shining and it's hot.  Maybe climbing into the 90 degree range, more of the same tomorrow, and then a cooling down.  That's what the forcaster says anyway.  We shall see.   

Quilt Block: Necktie

This pattern makes a fantastic MAN-quilt.  Especially when done in earthy muted tones, and plaids and stripes like this.  Perhaps made from his old shirts if you have them.  Mine is made from cotton scraps and good quality unbleached muslin.  It's lined with 60" wide heavy cotton flannel so it lies flatter, more like a blanket than a light-weight quilt. 

The backing is also unbleached muslin, cut a little larger than the quilt top and turned over to form a self-edging.  It looks really nice if you mitre the corners with a bit of blind stitching inside the folds.

"Joseph's Necktie" (the original name) is easy piecework and goes together quickly; not to be confused with "Bow-Tie" which requires a square in the middle--and can be a bit fussy to sew. 

Download NECKTIE QUILT BLOCK

September Song

Hi All!  We're back from our road-trip to south-eastern Washington (to attend a wedding).  It feels good to be home again and back into a routine.  In general, I've been getting caught up on things around the house, restocking the pantry, tackling the mail--virtual and otherwise, updating the website (we must not forget the new bonus transfer for September), and trying to get a handle on the garden, which seems to have flourished with abandon during our absence. I actually had to stop unpacking and make pickles right there on the spot!

It's been warm and dry and rain showers are in the forecast again.  Which are most welcome, as summer rain is the very best kind of rain, I think.  Autumn certainly seems to be nipping at the heels of summer.  The leaves are already drying out and drifting on the wind.  Soon the transformation of the landscape will begin.  Like a painting, in progress, as the colors blend and change.  It's my favorite time of year.  I'm SO excited, aren't you?  

The month of August sort of came and went in a flurry of activity around here, as good-weather months usually do.  There were places to go, things to be done, people to see.

I have been admiring and gathering up some of the flower motifs from the old WorkBasket magazines.  This page features the Aster; from Volume 20 - Number 12, published in September 1955.  It seemed a fitting subject for today (and the season), since I am short on sewing projects to share just now.  These are not hugely inspiring, but they are fun to look at.  Hopefully I will be able to pick up my needle again soon. 

Here's a summary of page 59, regarding the aster:

  "In late summer and early fall the roadsides and meadows and edges of brooks are turned to blue and purple by the abundant native aster.  In our gardens the same plant, in its cultivated forms, provides a bright display of pinks, blues, white and crimson.  In any of these colors, this cluster of asters will be a colorful part of our flower design series. They may be embroidered, appliqued, hand painted, worked in needlepoint, or traced on paper for children to color.  Quilt, bed spread, luncheon cloth motif, head scarf decoration, or needlepoint picture are some of the possible uses.

For a quilt, we suggest working design on 8 by 9 inch white blocks, alternating them in the quilt with white or pastel blocks of the same size.  Depending on size of finished quilt, you will probably need three or four blocks of each flower.

In embroidering, the petals may be made with open lazy daisy stitches, with the line down the center of petals just one long stitch.  French knots will make the centers.  Leaves and stems may be worked in outline stitch.  For the ambitious, satin stitch is a possible way of working the entire picture, and the effect would be striking. 

To applique, it would be best to cut the outline of each blossom, rather than attempt to separate the petals.  Details of petals may then be embroidered on, and the centers also.  Use pink, blue, white, lavender or crimson for the flowers, with yellow centers.  Make leaves a strong green."

The aster is also the birth-flower for September.  Did you know there are over 250 varieties of Aster?  Blue ones appear around the yard this time of year.  They rise up from the ground confident, no worries at all, as the deer seem to avoid it.  And that makes me love it all the more.

Because, this is often the scene out my backdoor, where nothing is safe!  (These two scallywags were waiting here for us when we got home.)    

You can click on the aster pic to save it as a file or print it out if you want.  I think it comes up rather large (full size) so you might want to preview it first to make any adjustments, or take it into photoshop to play with.   I'll try and share more patterns in future posts; find them under the 'free patterns' subject category.