Basket Embroidery Patterns

When we moved back to Illinois in 1984, I discovered auctions. That was the main source of having estate sales and they were such fun to go to. However, you had to spend a lot of time there because usually what you wanted was down the line away. At one particular auction at a farmhouse west of where we lived, I bid on and got two boxes of miscellaneous things anyone who sews, embroiders, etc., has lying around the house. This lady did a lot of embroidery, evidently, and there were numerous patterns, floss, etc., plus a lot of other neat old things. I even found a salesslip from Bergner's Depatment Store in Peoria from the notion counter for some floss. It very well could have been written by my Aunt Leah as she worked there for years. I still remember going in the side door at Bergner's, up the stairs and the notion counter was right there. When I was working after I graduated, I used to have lunch with Aunt Leah in the tearoom occasionally. I digress.

In the boxes, I found a lot of old patterns but now the paper is very brittle and the big foldout sheets some of them are on are hard to open. Pretty old baskets have long been to my liking and I have managed to scan these that I found. Maybe you can right click on the picture after enlarging it, then "save as" and transfer them to your files if you wish. I have a few more that I will post later. Embroidery seems to be making a big comeback and we have a group of gals in the guild who are enjoying this very satisfying and soothing handwork. That includes this old hag.

I love the pretty little baskets, don't you? (Click to enlarge)

Fashion Friday

For the last Friday in July, the featured model is Molly, my favorite middle granddaughter, wearing some brand new jeans shorts with the price tag still attached. A white belt cinches her little waist and a smart sleeveless top with a turtle neck in hot pink completes her casual look. It was her tenth birthday, and her grandpa and I had driven to Midland from Chillicothe. In not many days from now, the entire family will gather in Portland, Oregon, to celebrate Molly and Doug getting married. I am so looking forward to dancing at their wedding!

My Gumball Machine

We bought this old thing when we lived in Overland Park - got it at a garage sale in our neighborhood. Instead of gumballs, I put M & M with peanuts in it and for a nickle you probably can get 75 cents worth. The small wooden box beside it held nickles but, anymore, we don't mess with the nickles. There is a key in the top and I just leave it there, so all you have to do is take the top off and dig in! The granddaughters all love it and Ann, Bill's wife, is a great fan of the M&M's, too. I have not had candy in it for quite a long while since I am another big fan and really don't need it. When Hannah was here a couple of weeks ago, she brought up the fact that there weren't any M & Ms. So I bought some the next trip out and had it maybe half full. As you can see, it's down - and even further down since I took the photo. If you come by my house, dip into the gumball machine and have a treat on me! The old cowboy guarding it is a carving Ray did. He took up carving after we moved here and he made some very neat things. This fellow is my favorite with his cigarette and gun and pot belly. It never was painted or finished off in any way, but I love it the way it is. (Click to enlarge)

Poisies and Teacups

Finished appliqueing the last of the setting triangles for the posey quilt. Here it is on my basement wall ready to be pressed and sewn together in rows. I will bind it in a multi-colored binding made from pieces of the fabrics used in the piece. I need to rearrange the blocks as I have too many similar ones together.

And here is my little teacup quilt all together and ready to be made into a quilt sandwich. As in the other little bluework quilts I made earlier, I will also sew a button in each of the little blocks around the cups. Next time I post these, they will be quilted and bound. These have both been fun to make. (Click to enlarge)

Fashion Friday

My favorite 21 year old granddaughter, Hannah, and I have been working on a sundress for her to wear this summer and what fun to have her around her again. We used to spend lots and lots of time together when she was little but she went and grew up (wonderfully well, too) so it's been a long while since we've had much one on one time. A trip to Joann's produced the pattern and in about three sessions we produced a cute sundress for a cute little gal.

Here Hannah models her new frock for you on Fashion Friday. Please note the RUFFLE around the hemline. It didn't get cut as long as it should have so guess who suggested the ruffle. Actually, I think it looks very cute.

She did almost all of the sewing - had never really done much before except a little bit of piecing when she was much smaller. She used to ask if we could make a "kilt". None of the girls really have taken to sewing but maybe they will one day. I love them anyway!!!! Being their grandma has been a joy and still is. (Click to enlarge)

Great Blog to Visit

Here is a post from http://catalogliving.tumblr.com/ a very clever, witty blog that follows the "people" who live in catalogs. Take a peek - I think you will like it. The author adds funny captions to the photos.


"Gary, I can tell you’re chewing something and I told you the mossballs are for our guests!"

Pinkwork

I have had these little teacups and sugar bowl in the works for quite some time now and have finished them. There are six and will be six inch blocks. I plan to put them together the same way that I did the little antique bluework blocks wallhangings sometime back.

I was able to find a couple of pieces of fabric at the quilt shop that went with them and found some more at home here in my stash. The fabric that I have for the polka dot girls would really go with these but don't want to use that - and I should get back to working on the girls again. Maybe they will go with me to sit and sew on Tuesday. I have also fused the last block for the posey wallhanging done in reproduction fabrics and am getting the setting triangles ready to go.

(Click to enlarge)

Fashion Friday

Here is a little fellow I have never featured on Fashion Friday - what a good looking little guy!
This is Bill, our son, when we lived in Fort Madison, Iowa. Not in color, so you can't see the red of his blazer and probably his tie, also. The slacks he is wearing were charcoal gray. I am almost certain this photo would have been taken before going to church and maybe on Easter. Extra care has been used in combing his hair - and he is wearing one of his biggest, best smiles. I think Bill is a good choice for this Friday post. (Click to enlarge)

A Good Old Book

I have had this book since about 1993 and have turned to it many times. It is Sensational Settingsby Joan Hanson and published by That Patchwork Place. It is a honey! It is full of lots of useful information and many ideas for the layout of quilts. This page is just one of many that you can glean different ways to set your quilt blocks. And it also enables you to pretty much figure out the size of your quilt from the wealth of information contained in the book.

This is the page that is really one that I have used a lot. The info on setting triangles is terrific. And it's a good idea to heed the advice of overcutting the squares by 1/2 to 1 inch larger then trimming after piecing the top together. One of my favorite books. (Click to enlarge)

Fashion Friday

Our model this morning is a very pretty KU student in the very early 1970's. Sherry is wearing a suedelike coat with faux fur collar and cuffs and holding our pretty, big, fluffy cat, Cup. It most certainly appears that Sherry bought the coat to match the kitty. I think this picture rather captures the time in which it was taken. (Is that correct grammar?) Anyway, enjoy today's
photo. (Click to enlarge)

Three More Blocks

Three more of these blocks. I find I am really loving working with this fabric. Have not done anything with the Civil War reproduction before and really enjoy the look.

The blocks are quite easy to applique - even the smaller circles aren't that bad and they add a lot.

The block above doesn't have the circles on it yet and is not appliqued either. This is one of my favorites so far.

There are the five together. Thirteen more to go plus setting triangles. (Click to enlarge)

Hot, Muggy Summer Day

I know I have probably mentioned it before - but I am not a hot weather fan. And today it reminded me of Kansas and Illinois in the good old summertime. However, I have my ac running and am comfy, contented and have been working with some reproduction fabrics. Isn't this pretty? It is made for twenty inch blocks but I reduced them to about 7 1/2 inches and it will make a piece somewhere around 36" square. That would be perfect for a wallhanging or even a tabletopper.

I am not the neatest quilter when I get going! There is fabric everywhere - I have way too much to choose from and then sometimes can't find anything I like. We just have too many choices anymore. However, there is no way you can have too much fabric. Note in the picture above that my basket blocks are together and I am deciding what to do about a border. Maybe just a piece on each side as I have put on the top and bottom - then it could be bound in the light or a pieced binding of the print fabrics. It has a nice soft look to it.

The big tub of fabric - see that little dark piece with the pink and the blue? I just love that chunk of fabric.

My oversized ironing board I bought at an estate sale across the street. It's wonderful, but where will I ever get a cover? And I will have you note that the floor under the ironing board is free of scraps - they are all in the basket! That won't last!!!!

The first block I did. They are cut oversize and I will trim them down. Love the way these fabrics look. And I was lucky to find some smudgy looking background fabric - and a lot of it - that I must have bought on sale someplace. It's perfect for these blocks.

This one is partially buttonhole stitched. I am doing them in black - like the look.

So there are the first two blocks - all together I will need 13 plus the setting triangles. I thought about leaving some of the little circles off but they really add a lot. Works well by just narrowing the stitch and shortening the space in between stitches a little bit. (Click to enlarge)

Fashion Friday

This Friday I am posting two little "models" from a more recent time than usually featured.

Here are Molly and Norah (alas, Hannah didn't come along until a while later) when they came to visit their doting grandparents one summer day. It could very well have been the Fourth of July but can't say that for sure. Molly is a vision in pink wearing a little drawstring kneelength skirt and lighter pink teeshirt. Her socks have a pink band and her shoes are dark walking shoes. It is her hat that is the highlight of her outfit - a beautiful pink color and lovely big visor. Cool heart shaped sunglasses and a great grin complete her outfit. Norah is dressed more conservatively in what appears to be a one piece lavendar short jumpsuit with blue socks and white shoes. A hairband keeps her long dark hair in place. She, too, wears fashionable sunglasses and a sweet smile. Ain't they cute? (Click to enlarge)

Tour my "Garden"

It's an absolutely beautiful day today - just perfect. It reminds me of what a neighbor said one time on a day such as this - "This is what heaven is like" - I had never heard that expression and it so aptly describes the day to perfection.
I haven't taken any pictures of my flowers since I planted them so here are a few photos of what is on my patio and the side of my house. Above is a kettle of flowers with a wave petunia, daisies, allysum and lobelia. The macrame hanger is the only one I have left of the many that I knotted back in the 70's. You could find such cool beads and all sorts of different rope, cord, etc. I loved the heavy white cord that looked like thick postal string. I think this one is a plastic as it has held up admirably over the years. Right now the geraniums in it are rather between blooms but there is some pretty allysum and some blue lobelia and pink begonias. It's kind of pretty.

I have several mandevilla and there is a pot of it on each side of the patio door. Gorgeous red. What looks like a green Christmas ornament is a little gazing ball. Then part of another hanging basket on the fence with a very ruffly petunia and some sweet little yellow daisies. One of the plants in this one died and I will see if I can find another to put in the little empty place. I don't think I picked some of the right flowers this time - I shouldn't have bought so many of the double petunias as I think they will be leggy. Oh, well, hopefully there is always another year.

Some gorgeous lobelia - I love the blue but sometimes in the past have had trouble growing it. This seems to be doing just fine. They are in the pot with the petunias and daisies. Next is my white mandevilla that is starting to climb the trellis propped against the side of the house. It is growing like a mad thing and is just lovely.

Closeup of the red mandevilla and another ruffly pink petunia. You have now toured most of my garden. There are a couple of pots out front that are doing fine but the deer stopped for a midnight snack a few weeks ago and it is recovering. Happy gardening! (Click to enlarge)