Hello 2013!

When last I left you, I was showing all the stuff I'd been working on for family, clients, and even myself.  I'd like to report that my clients were thrilled with all their work.  Especially the Civil War reproduction quilt.  I had picked out a fabric for the backing from Hancock's of Paducah, but they later wrote to tell me they were out of stock of that particular fabric.  Very frustrating.  So, I had to sit at the computer and spend another couple of hours finding a replacement.  Here is what I picked -

It is extra wide and will not need to be seamed to cover the whole back of the quilt.  I ordered this fabric from Keepsake Quilting.

I also showed the Prairie Schooler Christmas Eve piece that was stitched several years ago and never finished.  I had put the patchwork borders on it by the time I posted it last.  Now, it is finished.  I am really, really happy with it.

Not all the Woolrich Wool I'd purchased in a box-lot went to making Veteran's Christmas stockings.  My Great Britain friends can confirm this for me, I think that the plaid (tartan?) is called Royal Stewart.  I saved a huge batch of it.  I made a tablecloth for the dining room table, a cloth for a side table in my living room, and then I had a little more left.  I wanted it on my hunt scene needlepoint that was my take-along project last year.  I had also decided that I wanted to add a bit of leather to the pillow and I was going to go on the "hunt" to my local thrift shops.  How fortuitous that I was walking by my husband last weekend and he had a belt in his hand.  I must say, this usually excites me, but this time it was for a different reason!  I asked him what he was doing with the belt and he said he was tossing it.  I asked if I could have it and he, sweety that he is, gave it to me.  So, I did this -

and this -

Also, a bit ago, I showed you the Charles Craft linen I'd picked up for a dollar at the thrift shop and said I was going to do a pillow for my car.  Well, I finished the stiching some time ago, but it's been languishing to be turned into a pillow.  The car is as red as the trim, with black and silver interior.

I also mentioned that I'd found some old quilt squares and got quite a deal on them.  Well, I've decided what I'm going to do with them -

I will be looking in my quilt shop for some shirting prints that are similar in scale and color to what's used in these.  I'll use that for some borders just to get this sized right.

Above is a pillow.  It was designed by that Fredericksburg, Virginia designer whose name escapes me right now.  Each section has needlework and then all of them are stitched together to form the pillow top.  Clearly my spacing didn't work out too well.  But, I give myself a lot of credit for having it finished only two years after I finished the stitching.

 

I showed you the Blue Jay I did for my husband, over the summer; but I just finished the fantasy bird in the foreground.  These things are crazy to finish and I'm not sure I'll do anymore because of it.  I think I'd like to figure out a way to do them on linen which is much more forgiving to seam than Congress Cloth is.  I found it hard to get into the spirit of Christmas this year and finally, a week beforehand, put up my small tree.  I made the tree from a tomato cage and some lighted garland wrapped around it about fifty billion times.  I have some natural things hot glued onto it and when I use it, I only put a few extra ornaments on.  So this year I put on the candles (we don't light them) and the bird ornaments that I've collected over the years.  She was already taken down a couple of days ago, but sure was pretty while she lasted.

 The wool needlepoint Hershey Bar was my end-of-year take-along project.  I ended up putting it all together on Christmas Day and gave it to my husband that night as a belated present.  He absolutely loves it.  In fact, I have to get it back from him so I can take a picture of the finished product.  The backing I put on it was from a man's wool herringbone jacket.

We had a full moon this last week.  By "we", I mean all of us.  We (usn's here) had snow on Christmas Eve that gave us a White Christmas and also the day after Christmas.  So, when I took the dog out  a few days later, and saw this moon rise, I just had to get a picture of it.

I just love the blue glow that I say you can only get when you have
 snow on the ground.



So, above is when the dog went out (I ran into the house and grabbed the camera quick before I lost the shot!).

And here on the right is about five minutes later.  Within thirty minutes, the whole thing had disappeared into the clouds and was gone.

Before I go, I've had a terrible time with my laptop lately.  For the last couple months actually.

I bought myself a new one before Christmas.  But, that one had Windows 8 on it.  Windows 8 is made to operate like a phone.  I am still in shock when I say that .  Microsoft decided that it was a brilliant idea to cater to the crowd who are still living in their parents basements when they designed their new operating system.  I am a pretty savvy home computer user.  but I knew it was bad when I actually had to do an online search to find out how to POWER DOWN THE LAPTOP.  Turns out that Microsoft has just arbitrarily decided that people don't really need to turn off their PCs.  The problem is that you are not supposed to move a laptop from place to place without powering it down.  It would be like taking your record player - while it was playing your favorite Beatles album - and moving it from your bedroom (upstairs) to your basement two stories down.  You are just not supposed to do that.  Just like a "lap" top is not really meant to be sitting on your lap.   I thought I was going to LOVE LOVE LOVE my new laptop and it really turned  out to be HATE HATE HATE.  I really, really mean it.  The straw that broke the camel's back was when I tried to load on my photo editing software and my family tree software and it would not load.  I am not a person who is often without words, let alone speech, but I sat there speechless when this occurred.

I have since sold the new computer to someone for what I bought it for.  I think I have decided to go buy an Apple Mac.  I have no experience with a Mac operating system, so I am going to see someone tomorrow and ask about ten million questions.  I am hoping that I can get lucky and find someone who is selling a new laptop with Windows 7 on it.  I could get that cheaper and also, it will give me the time I  need to save my moo-lah and make a final decision about whether or not I want to buy a Mac.  I am told that Mac is SO much easier.  But, when you've been a Windows user for the last 30 years - and before that writing programs in CPM (that was what they had before there were windows), I think that the transition may be more difficult.  Anyway, I just wanted to warn you all - IF any of you are looking for a new PC and you're looking at one with Windows 8, be VERY VERY WARY.  My husband says (he who is the Techno-Geek) that there's a reason they are doing the advertising blitz that they are now doing.  He says there's been a lot of push-back against Microsoft because Windows 8 is nearly universally despised.  I have to say, it took me a long time to find a positive review of Windows 8 when I was looking online and I think that one positive review was made by a Microsoft employee. 

Hope you enjoyed.  Next time, pictures of  Patty O'Quilt - the one in the making for my granddaughter, a hopefully - so much more!

A Very Merry Christmas to You

It has officially been 80 days since my last post.  I wish I could tell you that I've been on a trip round the world.  But, no, I've just had w-a-y too much on my plate lately.  Hugs to those of you who wrote to make sure that I was OK; I cannot tell you how much I appreciate that.

I'm really OK.

And here is the post that I promised you I'd make before Christmas.

So, what's kept me from you?  First of all, I'm writing a book.  It won't be for general publication, but I've been commissioned to write a family history for a local citizen.  This is my third foray into this type of work; it can be extremely time-consuming.  I'm doing most of the research and all the writing.  Printing is scheduled, so far, for sometime this coming spring.

The other big project is winding down - the Civil War reproduction quilt.  I was working on the book and took some time away from the quilt, but here lately, I've been working on putting it all together.  I have finished the top and share with you these photos:

Viewed from one side

viewed from the other side

Viewed from the middle

It is now ready for the customer to see it.  I've ordered the backing fabric, however, sadly, it is on back order.  I will wait until after Christmas to decide if I will choose a different backing fabric, or wait, goodness knows how long, for the back ordered material to come in.  When the backing fabric finally does come, it's off to the quilter.

I've also worked on these client projects:

These were cute - she wanted to put them on top of five gallon storage containers.  So, I made the lid covers and attached the needlepoints to them.

This had been finished by another person.  She'd made it a pillow that looked like it was a shopping bag.  The pillow part was inside the turquoise outer bag and was finished with royal blue fabric.  The client ended up deciding that she really didn't like that finish and brought it to me with the question, what can I do with it now?

 I looked at it and said, well, why don't we make it into a shopping bag, for real?

Then I posited that I could take the inner pillow and make it into the liner for the bag.  Not only that, I could make it into a removable liner.

 So, that's what I did.  I added plastic purse handles to it using ribbon that goes along with the color scheme, but you don't see it until you're looking inside.  Then I made the liner and it attaches with velcro.

Put something messy into the bag and the liner comes out for washing; which will save the outer bag - with the needlepoint on it from a lot of wear and tear.

A few needlepoint pillows . . . .

Two sides of the same coin - applique work on muslin; very pretty.

Finished as a pillow with a foam insert.

    Another sweatshirt makeover.  This one started as a vintage lace collar and aqua sweatshirt.  The client also gave me the aqua and peach daisies and some lace with a peach ribbon run through it to incorporate into the design somehow.

On the personal work front, I've finished my Juliet's Ribbons Civil War reproduction quilt that has been at least two years in the making.  However, the weather here's been rotten and I haven't been able to get it outside for a really good picture.  I'm hoping for a break in the weather on Christmas Eve, just before some snow pushes into our area.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Otherwise, here's what I've been up to:

 I was at a thrift store this summer and found this beautiful blouse that was hand-embroidered in pink and apple green.  I am almost sure that it was Indian (from India) and must have gone with an equally beautiful sari.  Sadly it was about 85 sizes too small for me to wear.  So, I paid the two dollars for it and cut it up.  The front portion went into making a pillow case for a travel-size pillow that will go to my granddaughter (it's her color-scheme).

Some Christmas gift bags made from scraps of pre-quilted fabric and yard sale-find zippers.

 Recently I was Christmas shopping in an antique store.  It was the first time for me in this particular store.  I ran across a cardboard box with quilt squares in it.  The tag said "45 squares, $45".  I looked at them.  First off, I saw they were red, white and blue (mostly).  Then I saw the handwritten note pinned to the top square, with a really old pin "From Gramma to Tillmer 1922 Christmas Present".

Who Tillmer was is anyone's guess, but she never did get around to making the quilt that her Gramma apparently wanted her to do.  And where these blocks have been since 1922 is a mystery as well.  I am not sure if the ones that are blue/pink were originally blue/red.  I am pretty sure that it's not a hoax though, because these 13 inch blocks are all hand pieced.

As you can see, I've already been planning how to use them.  All of them will make just shy of a King size quilt.  I will need to add a small top and bottom sash and a 5 inch sash on each side.  The little piece of paper will be preserved and become a part of the quilt's history as well.  And who knows, maybe I can eventually discover who Tillmer was.

In December of 2009 - three years ago !!! - I finished Prairie Schooler's "Christmas Eve".  It was stitched with Caron Watercolors on a hand-dyed Tula.  I have finally gotten around to doing the quilted border for it that I always intended.  Got the border done yesterday, now all I need to do is the quilting and finishing.






Over the summer and fall I was working of the Summer House's E Pluribus Unum which I think is just a gorgeous design.

The wings are different sizes.  That being said, I did have to make some modifications to the design layout to get it to fit my piece of fabric.  The linen was 32 count, Wichelt which is a smokey blue.  Remember when I stitched the Opus Magnusson and I got a whole lot of Gentle Art Raven that I couldn't use because it had too much green in it?  Well, I used all that Raven on this.  It required so much that I had to go out and get more.  And now I've got leftover of that.  So, if you need any Raven with the green, let me know; I've got about four or five leftover skeins of it.

I bought this book; I think it's one of their older publications.  I cannot wait until the quiet of Christmas week when I can read it.  It begins with a lot of quilting history.  Information about the fabrics, the styles of fabrics, the dyes, etc.  And then the history of the designs.  Then, it goes into talking about the quilts in the Henry Ford Museum collection.  On a quick look-through, it looks like it will be VERY interesting.

Finally, I have worked the last couple of months on my granddaughter's Christmas stocking.  She's a pink and purple girl and is in ballet.  She was on the cusp of dropping ballet and going into soccer, but she ultimately decided to stick with ballet.

And she loves her dolls.  So, pink, purple, ballet and dolls - those were my design directions.

It took me about a month to design the stocking and then about another two months give or take two weeks - to stitch it.

Here are the results:

What I do is take the Stocking design and tweak it to go along with the person I'm doing it for.  So, this stocking from the Better Homes & Gardens Heirloom Christmas Stockings in Cross Stitch is the one for the the little girl.  I removed several elements.  For instance, there was a sort of old fashioned nightgown hanging on the wardrobe door.  The wardrobe was also painted blue.  I changed it to a ballet dress and one of those French provincial-style that's a creamy-white; like this:

I also added some Christmas art stuck onto the door; like a five year old would do.  The original stocking did not have the Christmas tree with the birds.  That came from another stocking design.  Originally there was a Nativity scene at the top of the window, but I turned that into a lighted village.  

The paintings were designed to have floral motifs, but I designed two ballerinas.  Those are stitched, mostly, over one.

On the bed is a quilt that I currently have in the to-do pile to make for my granddaughter.  On top of the doll house I designed a partial Santa and sleigh with a full reindeer.

On the floor is some more light up Christmas village.

This one is Santa's toy works and outside is the Abominable Snowman ( from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) putting the star on the tree and the elves relaxation station run by "Elfis" (you can see his name on the sign).  

I added bits and pieces from other stocking designs - mostly the dolls; or changed up their colors to go with the theme.  I thought I had all the petite beads I needed to finish the project, but alas, I do not.  Delivery is next year, so I've got time.  In the spring I'll begin working on the one for my grandson and then I'll be out of the stocking-making business for a while.

So, that's it for now.  More updates soon - I promise.  Until next year, have a 

Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

hope you enjoyed!  Katherine

What Does It Do When it Has Five Leaves?

I have a patch of clover in the back yard.  Well, one of many.  These are patches of clover that Southern States did not kill when they sprayed herbicide on the cornfield next to my property and allowed the spray to drift all over my yard - where my dogs go; where my child goes; where I go.  Anyway, I discovered this patch quite by accident one morning when I bent down to pick something up.  There were some four-leaf clovers, but there were also these  . . .

A few weeks ago, I took a weekend and cleaned up and rearranged my work space.  I have it  in the guest bedroom until other space becomes available in the house.  So, here is a peek behind the curtain . . .

 
I used to sit at my sewing machine, facing the wall; now I can look out the window and enjoy the view.  That doesn't really help with the rest of the configuration though.  It actually makes it a little more unweildy.  But, I have high hopes a new space will come free soon.

In the wasted corner, I've got a spot for Buddy to lay on the floor - he usually has to be as close to me as possible mostly with his head resting on my feet.

   A wider view.

The work table; fortunately, the ironing board slides right underneath.  Just under the window I have a bookcase chock full of quilting, sewing, and needlecraft books, magazines and pamphlets.  The plan was that would actually be seen, but I ran out of space.

The decorating theme in this bedroom is Americana.  You can see some hints of it here in these pictures.  The most atrocious gaff, however, is the paint color on the walls.  We are just the world's worst at painting, so we put it off and put it off.  I know this may sound counterintuitive with Americana, but I was thinking a nice brown would set things off.  The quilt, hanging on the bottom of the ironing board is one I made and quilted.  I am quite unhappy with the quilting, so hope to one day undo it all and take it to my long-armer for a proper quilting job.  My most recent tool acquisition can be seen sitting on top of the cabinet in the window.

I have wanted an Oliso iron for something like four years.  My current iron gave up the ghost as far as steam went and I've been working on a project that really needs steam ironing.  I spent a lot of money buying the iron, got it home, pulled out the manual and read and stopped and went, oh, I'd better talk to hubby about this.  The manual said that so many amps were drawn when using the iron.  You don't usually see that kind of language in manuals for electrical things; I mean, they don't usually feel they need to inform you of a units amperage.  I was curious why they would do that and felt I should not continue until I had consulted my own personal Electrical Engineer.    The geek hates to read stuff - especially manuals.  Mostly because he's a man.  But also, I have found, engineers are a little know-it-all-ish and feel manuals are beneath them.  But, mine read the manual when I asked him and he got to the part about the amperage and he looked at me and said, "You haven't used this thing, have you?"  I knew my instinct had been right.  Basically, he told me, we would have to turn everything else off that is drawing power on the circuit that I would plug the iron into.  Since my workroom is in a guest bedroom, then that pretty much means almost everything upstairs with the exception of the washer and dryer which have their own circuit.  So, until we can run a circuit for the iron - and only the iron - to run on, I have a very expensive paper weight.  Sucks.

I finished a project today that I've been working on since January -

My DAR chapter supports a unit at the local VA hospital.  The unit is called CAT-5 and is for vets with alcohol and drug dependence.  These guys have hit rock bottom; so far down that even their families have given up on them.  I don't judge the families because I haven't walked a mile in their shoes.  But, at Christmas-time, we try to bring these folks a little cheer.  Every year we stuff stockings with sudoku books, playing cards, socks, canteen chits, etc.  Chock full.  And the staff at the hospital put the stocking out for them at Christmas.

End of last year, I volunteered to do the stockings this year.  They were made out of a lot of wool yardage that I'd felted, a lot of upholstery and home dec. fabric that I had in my stash, and some things that I picked up at yard sales and thrift shops throughout the spring and summer.  The biggest deal was getting the trims that went on them.  There are 100 stockings (I recounted this morning) and no two are exactly alike.

 

Finally, I mentioned the Quilts of Valor program.  I email-exchanged with the WV/VA regional contact and found out for sure that in order to participate now, you don't need to work through a quilt shop.  That was a big hang up last time I looked into this.  I talked to my Regent last night about the program and us -as a chapter- getting involved and she wants me to bring it to our board meeting in January.  I did go and get some material for that quilt in the Fons and Porter September/October magazine -

The fabric in the middle, the tan paisley on navy - that one is for the inner border.  The stripe on the bottom is for the outer border.  I love the way the tan paisley plays with the navy paisley that's going to be the "field" portion of the "flag".  I also love how the leaves in the red fabric read like stars.  I don't know the final destination for this quilt.  It may end up being for my own son, who is a veteran; or it could go to the chapter project.  I guess I'll have to see how much I get done and how that January board meeting goes.

A final shot - this is Leamann Mill north of Hagerstown, MD.  A gift/decor shop is run out of it now.  I just love old mills and love it when they are repurposed.