Some Old Candlewicking, Etc.

Back in the '80's I did some candlewicking and still have the pillows I made way back when. I don't think it ever became a big craze such as crossstitch, redwork, needlepoint, etc., but there were some books out with patterns, etc. I liked the looks of it and still do, but I don't think I will ever take it up again. I will say that I really learned how to make a colonial knot and can still do it without thinking about it. I like it so much better than a french knot - it seems to be so much neater. The little girl in the second pillow is one I did about the same time as the pillows in pink. She is hand appliqued and hand quilted. The pattern was from an old Quilt magazine, I think. I love the ruffle trim on the bottom two pillows. You just don't find that pretty stuff anymore - without it costing a tremendous amount. This makes me think of some of the multitude of needlepoint pillows I made in the '70's and '80's, some of which I still have. Will have to find those one day and take some pictures. That's a whole other thing! (Click to enlarge)

Fashion Friday

Here is Maggie Pearce holding her new granddaughter, Carol, and looking well pleased with the new little addition to the family. Maggie is wearing a very fashionable hat trimmed with a band and some flowers. Her coat has a matching belt loosely tied around her waist. Carol is dressed in an adorable bonnett and cute little outfit and leggings. Looks like they were ready for a Sunday drive. My mother told me that she was going to name me Margaret after my grandmother, but that grandma told her not to since she didn't like being called Maggie. Instead, mom named me after grandma's maiden name, Carroll - but spelled it differently.

(Click to enlarge)

From Birds of a Feather

Ever since getting the books from Blackbird Designs, I have been wanting to start working on the wallhanging that I like so much from Birds of a Feather. Really, should I be starting something else? I don't suppose so, but what the heck - you only go around once. It is actually going to be a lot smaller than the pattern in the book. I did lots and lots of figuring and scanning and finally got the right combination to be able to make the applique blocks and the pieced sections fit together - I hope! The colors will look just perfect hanging over a little old chest in my dining area.

There is a method I found in another book I just got - William Morris in Applique (Gorgeous!!) - that I am going to try out for some of the small stems in some of these blocks. You fuse the narrow stems on the block and then cover them with an overlocking stitch - I assume in a color to match the fabric. Anxious to give that idea a try. The whole book features quilts that are machine appliqued and done almost entirely in the buttonhole stitch.

It is amazing how much gorgeous fabric is out there, how many wonderful methods there are to try - how things have changed in the last twenty years. (Click to enlarge)

It's Just Beautiful

I just took my "garden tour" a few minutes ago - it doesn't take long nowadays - and I just had to take a picture of my Mandevilla vine. It is just loaded with blooms and is growing so tall and lush. The vines are loaded with buds - what a beauty.

A couple of other pictures - the fancy leaf begonia in the planter on my front stoop. How pretty it is also. The other is a picture of a hanging basket on the outside of my privacy fence with the geraniums, sweet allysum, another white lacey flower and a little pink flamingo. Some of the little begonias are not doing as well this summer as in the past - probably not enough hot weather. This old gal does better in the cooler weather, though! Temperaturewise, I have enjoyed this summer very much. (Click to enlarge)

Some of My Well Loved Dust Catchers

This is the baby cup that belonged to Ray's father. It has a chip, but it is beautiful.

Found these in an antique store. This sort of thing was popular when I was married.

She is so pretty! From 1958 (dated on the bottom) I have several of these. I found them in antique stores a long time ago. I think they are quite pricey now.

Two more of the little vases. The little girl in the hat is dated 1957, while the other little gal has $10.00 on the bottom - evidently that's what I paid for her. I did see one like her a few years ago and she was marked $60.00 so think they have gone up. I have so many things on my walls, my surfaces, and all around each room that it is really a challenge to dust! And, I must confess, I dust less all the time. However, I have this theory that dust is clean dirt - not filth - and once it is wiped it's as if it were never there. The catch is - it comes back, again and again. I am finding I can live with it for much longer periods than I used to be able to tolerate. Too many nice things to do other than spending lots of time cleaning! Getting smarter in my old age!!

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Fashion Friday - Birthday Party Attire

Here is a picture showing what the invited attendees were wearing to birthday parties in August of 1931. Carol, who was three years old, is shown here with her hands by her face looking very cute in her summery dress and short haircut. Hmmm, that's sort of the way I wear my hair now. The other little girls are also wearing summery frocks. I am pretty sure the lady standing behind Carol is holding her new little sister, Joanne Lee, and her Aunt Henrietta, kneeling at left, is holding her little boy, Hap, who is Carol's cousin. Aunt Henrietta is wearing a cute sleeveless dress. She was a fun lady with a really cute giggle. Standing next to the birthday girl is Betty Brown, who is Carol's Uncle Ham's little sister-in-law. Dear Aunt Leah is at the right end of the second row holding an unknown child. On Carol's other side is her grandparents' little neighbor boy, Newell Smith. Newell lived with his grandmother and Aunt Rose. His grandma had a very high pitched voice and our grandma referred to her as "Squeak" but not to her face, of course. It fit her perfectly.

This is the first page in the baby book - there is also a post on

http://piecesofthepast-funoldhag.blogspot.com/

showing the other pages if you would like to check them out. How is this for a chubby, happy, healthy little girl? Probably 9 months to a year.

And this is the hospital bill for mom and baby for 12 days! They practically gave Carol away!

I am now 81 years old and cannot believe it. I am so thankful to have been so blessed for all these years with good health, a wonderful loving family and a very good life.

Sewing Machine Cover - Not Quite Finished

Saw this idea on http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=826 and it is very easy to do. It can be as plain or as fancy as you wish. If you click on the link you will find a tutorial on how to make one of these. I did not follow it exactly but it will give you an idea of how to get started. I actually have done it like a small quilt and have the binding ready to sew on the bottom. I will make ties from the same fabric, attach them to the sides and then bind the sides. My little yoyo flower covers a slit in one of the pieces of fabric that I accidently cut. Happy accident! Kind of like the flower and I might add two more yoy0s. Will have to see how industrious I am.

The shape of my machine makes it hang crooked in the back but it is covered so no problem. (Click to enlarge)

One of the Quilters Who Came Before Us

I found this sweet little quilter someplace on the internet and thought she was so cute. Look at the pillow on her bed - is that Elsie the cow? A lovely quilt covers her bed. Don't you wonder who she was? I am thinking I see a pair of mocassins hanging over her bed. She must be a girl after my own heart. (Click to enlarge)

Polka Dot Girls

Here is the second block or section of the girls. This is the prettiest fabric - Moda makes good stuff. Love the soft, romantic colors. I goofed on the big block on this one although I would never redo it. When I copied it in mirror image and printed it out, it was actually bigger than the original so I almost had to sew over some of the embroidery when I sewed the blocks together. Have it figured out for the rest of them. I was almost done before I realized and there is no way that I would make a new one. Things like that keep a person humble. (My color is not too good in these pictures - I suppose I have pushed some wrong button on my camera!)

The first section - the girls are so cute. Great designer. (Click to enlarge)

Fashion Friday

The weeks go by so quickly - I almost didn't realize it was Fashion Friday! Heavens to Betsy, that just won't do. So, here is that very good looking couple from Peoria, Illinois, Dan and Maggie Pearce on a trip they took to California to see their daughter, Nelle. Dan is looking dapper in a very handsome topcoat and cap. And Maggie - how lovely she looks with her lush fur stole, taffeta dress, cute pumps and very pretty hat that looks as if it has some flowers or ribbon on the crown. They stand in front of palm trees looking in opposite directions. I am sure they had a wonderful time on their trip. (Click to enlarge)

August Tisket A Tasket

Here's the basket block for August - eight down, four to go. As I have mentioned before, fast and fun little blocks. The buttons aren't sewn down yet but will do that later. (Click to enlarge)

Yearbook Yourself

When I was looking at Happy Zombie's blog (you can go there by clicking on the name in the list of some of my favorite sites), there was the cutest post that she had "yearbooked herself" on
http://yearbookyourself.com/. (Click on link to go there) I went there today and used the above picture on the right which is a year or so old and "yearbooked" myself. What fun! You just put your picture in the ones they provide and manipulate it to fit. There probably are too many pictures of me but it was like eating potato chips. When you have some time and want to have some giggles, give it a try. By the way, the picture on the left is my actual yearbook picture from the class of 1946.

Aw, shucks! I think I like me as a hippie!

Happy Birthday, Norah Lee

Today is my oldest granddaughter's 32nd birthday. She was the beginning of a very lovely new phase in the lives of Ray and me - being grandparents. I know I have said it many times, but there is nothing like having grandchildren.

Here she is in her jewelry - I had an old candy tin and filled it with old costume jewelry for the kids to play with. That was well used - and for years. Also, you can see to the left, the AdLib game which Norah and I played a lot. Lots of wonderful memories of the three girls.

Here she is on her third birthday - poor little girl had a cold but she still enjoyed her birthday. This is a truck she got - and I think it was from Uncle Bill and Aunt Ann - but I could be mistaken. This was in 1980 - where have the years gone?

Norah and Chad - they will be married in just a few weeks and I am so looking forward to being with all the family again. What a great couple!

Again, Happy Birthday, Norah, with so much love from Grandma

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Red Delicious BOM

Here is the latest Red Delicious - two more to go. There will be one more leaf pointing downward that will actually extend into the block below and also a narrow sashing between the blocks, so the third leaf will be appliqued later. Also later will be some embellishment to the three flowers. (Click to enlarge)

Summer Challenge - Inchies (Plus Size)

For our summer challenge this year, we are to make "inchies" only make them one and a half inches. When I was looking on line for examples I found that they called these larger ones "plus size". These are tiny artist trading cards. I think there are about 16 taking part in the project and yesterday I started working on my little cards. These are printed on paperbacked fabric for printing. I first put the backgrounds in my program I use for things like this, then the pictures on top, printed them out and added the batting and a sheet of fabric I had made by scanning a pretty piece of scrapbook paper. Freehand quilted around the pictures and the surface of the inchie. Next, I cut them apart and added the decorative row of stitching, then buttonhole stitched around each one. I am trying to think of something else to embellish the pieces - embroidery is not much of an option as it is too hard getting a needle through. So, I am looking for something to glue on - will come up with something. (Click to enlarge)

Fashion Friday

Last Saturday at our fabric dyeing class, Nancy, our hostess, came out with this very sweet picture of her mother. She reads my blog and mentioned Fashion Friday in regard to this photo. She let me borrow it and bring it home to scan and here is the delightful------- Vida VanPelt Newell, fashionably dressed in a dark, two pieced outfit featuring a ruffled blouse. The jacket appears to have a lovely fur collar and she carries a beautiful fur muff. Like the other up-to-date women of the time period, her hat provides the crowning touch to her chic ensemble.

Added later: (I think I was mistaken that this is Nancy's mother - I believe she is her grandmother.)

Thank you, Nancy, for sharing this really beautiful picture. (Click to enlarge)

Some Flowers - Inside and Out

My hoya plant has been blooming these past weeks - as many as nine blossoms. I took these pictures from beneath the flowers - the first one is getting ready to open and the other in full bloom. They are so pretty the way they hang.Outside my mandevilla (sp?) plant is blooming nicely and outgrowing the trellis. One of the pink flamingos looks over it. (Click to enlarge)

My Polka Dot Girls are Back Again

I'm liking the fabrics in this! They are so very lush and pretty - shabby chic? I am using the layer cake from Moda called Aviary plus a few other pieces that I like with it. This first section still has another row to go. It's going to take quite a while to get all the blocks embroidered - although my friend Barbara has finished embroidering hers. They are gorgeous. Will do another post when I finish the third part of this section, but I was anxious to get this up. (Click to enlarge)