Basket Blocks

Lots and lots of rain today with several periods of really heavy downpours. Such a good day to sew, don't you agree? Although I think most of us agree that any day is a good day to sew!

For some reason, I seem to have been trying several different projects and not being too enthusiastic about them here lately. However, I haven't spent that much time on any that I don't seem to get caught up with and haven't wasted that much time nor fabric. One example is the asterisk blocks which are really cute but kind of fussy to make. Today I made these little basket blocks - I had seen a very cute little quilt on the internet someplace and it was easy to make something similar to it. The applique is easy to cut out and quick to machine buttonhole stitch. It only took 15 to 20 minutes to applique each block. I decided to use black thread around all the pieces - that is a really old fashioned look. Three more blocks will be all that I will make then add the same color sashing with maybe some squares on the outside sashing all the way around as I did on Tisket a Tasket, then a white border. It won't be very big, but it will be fun to quilt. (Click to enlarge)

Fashion Friday

Here they are - Nan and Nelle, the two older Pearce daughters, all dressed up and standing in the street looking toward their home on Behrends Avenue in Peoria. Dear Aunt Nelle has written on the front of the picture as she did so often and pretty well nailed down the year. Both are dressed in lovely dark outfits and wearing their usual pretty hats. On the back of the photo, Nelle has explained who the fellow is in the background. Seems like they would have liked to have him out of the picture but evidently he wasn't cooperating. A nice wintry evening in Peoria. (Click to enlarge)

Frilly Little Quilt

Here it is - all bound and finished and waiting with several other little quilts to be used by some little baby in the future. I am so tickled with the way it turned out and adore the fabrics that are reproductions of the fabrics of the 30's. Next time, I will wait until the quilt is all pieced, sandwiched and quilted before I sew the ruffles on. It would be so much easier in that order.

These fabrics go together so beautifully - you just can't miss when using them. Just love it!

(Click to enlarge)

My Kaffe Ruffly Bag, etc.

Couldn't help myself - I made another bag and this time used Kaffe Fassett fabrics on a heavy canvas like fabric. The red circle of fabric will, of course, be replaced with a pretty big button. Joann has a lot of nice big colorful buttons and, if I can't find something smashing, I will get the biggest button form to cover and do it myself. I made the bottom of this bag wider and like the way it also makes the bag look wider at the top. When I cut the canvas, I did iron on some batting and just quilted some straight lines across the width in such a way that I could follow the seam to add the ruffles. For the lining, I had a pretty piece of striped fabric (part of it is the bottom ruffle in the picture). There are pockets on both the front and the back - a nice roomy bag. Loved the way it turned out. Silly me, I can see more ruffling in my future. Over on http://selvageblog.blogspot.com/ quilts made out of asterisk blocks have been featured and there was a tutorial last Monday and again today on making the blocks and quilt. I have made a couple of them and like the way they look, but don't know how far I would go with doing a quilt of much size. Construction requires slicing the block into two triangles, adding a strip, slicing it again, adding another strip, then slicing it in half with a strip added and that one sliced again and the final strip added. It's pretty but a lot of start and stop sewing. I'll do a few more as it always gets easier as you go along. (Click to enlarge)

Father's Day

I thought these might be appropriate for the day. Over the years, I have collected pictures which I think are called "motto pictures" and it all started from one that my daughter gave me for my birthday sometime back in the 70's. I just love them and have quite a few.
On this day, I think with love of two very important people in my life - my dad and my husband. Enjoy those special fellows in your life and all have a great day. (Click to enlarge)

If you would like to see more of the old pictures, go to labels and click on antique pictures.

Fashion Friday

It says right on the picture that this is Anna Pearce in Champagne, Ill, but I don't know how Anna is related to my grandfather's family. I do know that Dan and Maggie had some very good friends in Champagne. This pretty lady may have been married to the son of one of Dan's brothers. Most certainly, it looks as if there is a bird perched on her hat! Her outfit is fresh and summery with a skirt and overskirt and pretty blouse sporting a pin or brooch. And the hat!! Anna wins the prize for the best hat in pictures of my ancestors! Don't you agree? Interesting little purse she is carrying - looks like it could be a carton of Chinese food. I love this picture and hope I haven't posted it before.

A Quick Little Tablerunner

I'll ease up on the ruffles for a bit! I do have one or two more bags that I want to make, so will probably be showing more soon. I am thinking Kaffe Fasset fabrics for one. On http://www.modabakeshop.com/ there is a "recipe" for making the little ruffle quilt and you might want to check that out. I also want to do two more of those later on. In their directions you do all the piecing, then the layering, the quilting and after that is all done the ruffles are sewn on and it is bound. With the gathering foot, the ruffles are a breeze. And it's so fun to see them fly out from behind your needle

Here is a tablerunner that I found the how-to on the internet (so much great stuff out there!) and it said it was quick. It is. I just quickly picked out some fabric and put it together. It looks really nice on the chest in my dining area. (Click to enlarge)