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A Work(s) in Progress

A Work(s) in Progress

Many years ago my father-in-law chided me for having three sewing projects all in various stages toward completion but none finished. It was his belief that one did not start a new project until the last one was finished. How could a person work on …

Settling In Sewing, UFO’s First

Settling In Sewing, UFO’s First

    We have been in Texas for almost a month. The weeds are under control again. The mosquitos are fewer and the cutter ants have been subdued for a while anyway. And my temporary sewing room is set up in the camper— in fact …

Sewing Room Construction Continued

Sewing Room Construction Continued

Yesterday was the hardest day of work I have put in for a loooonng time! While Craig was under the park model (crawl space) wrestling with wires to get the electricity hooked up for the sewing room I was in and out of the 18” x 24” door numerous times bringing things like crescent wrench and flashlight and another crescent wrench, etc. And then I had to go in and get the drill so I could go back out and drill a hole from the outside for the wire to come out. Granted Craig wasn’t just laying under there doing nothing. He had to loosen the axle braces so he could get up and over them on his way to the front. Today I took it easy and nursed sore muscles and skinned shoulders after walking two miles to make sure the muscles still worked. He finished wiring the room and at end of day I have electricity in the sewing room!!!!!

Now for the insulation……after Christmas.

Circle of Prosperity, January 2015

Circle of Prosperity, January 2015

Circle of Prosperity, January, 2015 I have titled this small quilt “Circle of Prosperity”. It may be recognizable to readers as Burgoyne’s Quilt but was also identified by other names one of which was Wheel of Fortune. It seemed a likely candidate for sending a …

Circles of Life

Circles of Life

Circles are a part of  our quilt life but they played quite an important role in the progression of life.  Just a few photos from the past year to reflect upon the role of circles from our past..

Block of the month

Block of the month

For the next year I will share directions for making a 20″-24” table mat or small wall hanging once a month. Each will be based on a single block. The first reason for doing this is to provide my mother, who is in a care center, a bright spot in her room. When she first moved in for rehab I brought one of my small wall hangings once a month to brighten her room. I found they were a good stimulus for her to have conversations with staff and visitors and they also engaged her mind to examine how they were made, what patterns were used and patterns that emerged at the different angles from which they were viewed. She likes seasonal things and also bright colors—I think because her eyesight is failing and the brightness and strong contrast is easier to discern. She also likes to hear the stories behind why they were made. After going through the few small things I had in my closet I found myself scrambling to make sure she had a new and different one. Thus, a plan to insure there is a new one each month for the next year.

 

This effort also fits well with my desire to try different blocks that are of interest to me but that I do not necessarily want to use to make a larger quilt. Of course, it also feeds my addiction to try new fabrics and color combinations that may not fit any specific home décor needs. I hope that others may choose to use the directions in whatever way it fits with their need to create something from fabric.  (All will be fast and easy so would also make great gifts to have on hand for housewarming and other occasions.)

 

The first project will be posted next week on whatever day I have a strong enough internet connection to enable pictures to upload.  I hope you enjoy and will share this site with others.

Cover quilt

Cover quilt

The cover quilt for Something Stitched is my interpretation of a quilt featured in Pamela Dinndorf’s book “Colorific”.  I was inspired by our trip east through the Pocono mountains to pick up a camper as well as the Mississippi River bluffs where we live in …

Baby’s Playmat

Baby’s Playmat

    Baby’s Playmat Baby Bunting was a pattern identified in 1922 in Ladies Art Company and also in 1935 by Carrie Hall. Today, improvisational piecing with random grain placement on foundation pieced arcs makes an appealing modern twist for a baby’s playmat. Bright colors …

Sewing in Texas

Sewing in Texas

We have arrived at our Texas home for the next four months. Internet is much slower here so it will be a continuing challenge to post pictures with the words.  And to attest to that statement a message just popped up that I have lost connection!!  Well, suffice it to say I will be posting when I can and not when I want to.  I plan to stitch every day while here.  That may mean hand stitching or quilting or creating.

The Walnut Grove

The Walnut Grove

  Making art quilts that represent my heritage is one of my passions as I stitch something every day.  In this first blog I share one of my favorite childhood memories of my grandparents farm. The walnut grove separated the “home place” from my grandparents …