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Showing posts with label fabric. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fabric. Show all posts

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Pretty Finds

Just some lovely fabric finds to share....


How stinkin' cute is that Nursery-Versery from Heather Ross!

 

seriously???


Anna Maria Horner's Field Study....


a precious dot and deer print from MoMo...


and some darling trims!
All from my little slice of heaven on earth....

Happy Sunday!
mary

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Flea Market Finds - Part 2.... AND MORE!!!

In my last post about the Springfield Extravaganza, I showed you the sweet apron fabric.  Well it has already begun it's new life {for a later posting}....but there are a few other finds I want to show you...

one more look at the apron fabric :)

I found this piece of red and white buffalo check....love it!


We arrived at the market Sunday afternoon.  The vendors had been there since Thursday evening so they were ready to pack up and go home.  I am sure we missed a lot of fantastic finds, but by Sunday afternoon the vendors were willing to give us a bargain price!  So I found a very large quilt....not in good shape but that is what I wanted.  I wanted one that was well worn so I could cut it up without the guilt. 


Love the little dark blue triangle.  I have lots of plans floating around for this quilt.  It is completely hand quilted so it will make a lovely base for some embroidery, etc.


This was only about $10.00 and it is a full size quilt....cha-ching!

Vendors at Springfield come from all over the country, but we met a lovely couple from Ohio....just west of us.  They had a load of items....quilts, quilt blocks, just tables and tables of things.  I picked up a quilt and turned it over and over looking for a price.  The vendor told me her mom missed marking a few things and she would put $50 on this quilt.  My mind did some flips and I tried not to look shocked!  I was holding a queen size double wedding ring.  Completely hand pieced and hand quilted.  Scalloped borders with a lovely lavender binding....I could not pass up that price!

    
It is barely worn and I would guess it was done in the 30's from the fabrics....it is simply lovely!


I can tell someone loved making this quilt....what gorgeous borders....


This bit of wear on the binding is the extent of the damage.  I think someone took good care of it for a very long time :)

That's it for my finds....
In my last post I teased you with a look at a little project I have been working on.  I found this whole cloth quilt pattern in a book full of Scandinavian needlecrafts....by Clare Youngs.  I am using a large lemon yellow check {flannel} and quilting a heart design in the center.  The directions call for transferring the design with transfer carbon, but I have never had much luck with transfer carbon.  And I didn't really want to mark the top...so I thought I would give this technique a try.  You can find it here.... demonstrated by Leila of Where the Orchids Grow.  


I traced the design onto a tissue-like paper.  This one is actually designed for machine quilting...I don't have the original wrapper, but I think it is called Golden Threads.  Then pin the paper to the quilt {all three layers are basted together}.  And stitch just as you would normally stitch.  I will be demonstrating quilting with perle cotton to a group of quilters and I thought this would be a fun option to show.
If you look closely at the design there is a row of French Knots and a row of Lazy Daisy like flowers...I will add those at the end after I take the paper off.

Well, yesterday I received a package from Australia....I was so excited I forgot to take a proper picture of the wrappings....so I have recreated it here! Hee hee!  The French postcard is an early Happy Birthday wish to me.... 


In the year I have been blogging I have gotten to know several bloggers that I just adore!  I can just tell if we were located in the same town we would be stitching together and having a great time.  Suz is my sweet friend from Australia!  {But you all know that and her wonderful blog...PatchworknPlay}  We began corresponding when I reached out to her for some help with quilt instructions {don't you love it when the instructions are wrong}......and we haven't stopped emailing each other almost daily.  I must say, that is one of the most wonderful things about blogging - that there is a common thread {excuse the pun} that winds through these connections and pulls us together in friendship.  Okay...sorry...sounds like a Hallmark card....but you get the idea.

Suz is one talented lady!  Not only is she a master quilter, but she can knit!  Yahoo!  And I am the recipient of a lovely knitted scarf.....


I have been drooling over a similar scarf from Anthropologie...but this one is so much better....because it was made just for me by a friend :)

And if that wasn't enough....a very precious hankie made with Liberty fabric!  Oh my!  I am so spoiled now....I will be sneezing in style this winter!!!


I am such a lucky girl!!!  Thank you Suz....I am sending you a big hug!!!

Are you still with me?  I know this is a super long post and you are ready for me to just zip it!!!
But I have to tell you....the friendships are not just of the bloggy nature.  I have a dear friend whom I met through the shoppe and quilt classes....Mary Jo.  We had a class last night and at the end of the evening Mary Jo hands me a bundle of fabric! 


Wow!  I feel so blessed to have such wonderful people surrounding me :)  I love them all!
Have a great Tuesday!
mary   

Sunday, May 22, 2011

244!!!

Want to know what 244 hexagons looks like?


 
Almost enough to make a full row!!!



And a few cute grabs from this weekend!!!  Love gingham and dots :)

Hope your weekend has been fantastic!
mary

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Lovelies....

I picked up some lovely fabric and fabulous buttons while at work yesterday....


The buttons stacked with roses will go on the back of a Dresden Pillow....


This one....


applique the center circle....


And add some hand quilting with perle cotton!
Hope you are having a lovely Sunday :)
mary

Thursday, March 24, 2011

I'M BAAAACCCKKKKK!!!!

Well, I had a couple of fun relaxing days with my mom.  We talked and talked and laughed and laughed....ate too many brownies....and thoroughly enjoyed each other's company.  It is so nice to go home, but so sad when it is time to leave.
That's okay...I am going back in a couple of weeks and this time I will not forget my camera!!!
While I was there I popped into the quilt shop....
my mom lives in a very small town so in the quilt shop I was able to get some of the latest scoop about town....and of course I picked up some fabrics....I absolutely believe in supporting the local economy no matter where I am :)


I thought these would make perfect additions to my QAL scrappy quilt....ha!!!  I always get a kick out of buying new fabric for my scrappy quilts!!!  

I just loved these....and I know they will find a home somewhere....

Today I am waiting for my sister-in-law to stop by for a visit....she is bringing Girl Scout Cookies....YUM!  And a couple of old quilts she wants me to look at.  I think they have some areas that are worn or torn.  I have always felt quilts that are torn and unable to be repaired should be left in that state rather than cut up for pillows or other projects.  I still think there is a lot to learn from looking at old quilts - even if they are a bit tattered.  I don't know...do you have an opinion regarding quilts that are in disarray?

So while I was waiting I wanted to just play around a little with some fabric...and the Kaleido- ruler....


I sewed some 2.5 inch strips together....


Using the ruler I cut triangles following the line for an eleven inch block....


From the other end of the ruler, I cut triangles (4) for the tops of four corners to make this a square block...again using the measurements for an eleven inch block...add the triangle tops to 4 of the pieced triangles....
I joined the the eight {pieced} triangles together in pairs and then joined the pairs to make two halves....


You guessed it!!!  I joined the halves to make one cute spider web block....




Hopefully, later today I can fool around with this some more....I want to cut smaller strips and strips of different widths to give it a more "liberated" look.
Hope you are having a fun day....I can't wait to sit down this evening a see what everyone is working on!!!
mary

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Weak in the Knees.....

I've been waiting for the remainder of my Strawberry Fields {quilt} fabric to arrive....Oh GOODNESS....does fabric ever make you as giddy as a school girl, weak in the knees, and an all-around blithering fool???



Delicate Lace - Tea Party....by Hokkoh




Day Bloom Bouquet - Garden....by Hokkoh
**smile**
mary

Friday, November 5, 2010

Busy Week!

I was away for a few days this week helping my mom.  I love visiting my mom overnight...she pampers me terribly - even though I was there to help her.  We always have a good time together.  Lots of laughing and plenty of conversation :)
I did make a trip to the local fabric store and then on Thursday, we went to Charm and Mrs. Miller's...I did my part to boost the economy.  Not only did I find fabric, but I also found Marti Michell rulers (which was a fantastic find since I have to order them from Georgia).  And a little finger rotary cutter...might be useful for little templates.
Then on the way home, I stopped at Sew To Speak and continued my spending spree....
But just in case you thought it was all play...I continued working along on this....
And just a little peek at my quick project from today...it just needs some binding and I will take proper pics...
Okay...that's it for now!  Just one more thing...thanks for all the wonderful comments on my entry for the Quilt Festival!  I love getting comments...so you made me one happy camper!
Mary :)  
  

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Heaven

I so enjoy waking up in the morning and sitting at the table to quilt.  The house is cool and quiet.  It is a great time to just sit with my quilt, a cup of coffee, and stitch....stillness.
I basted my quilt last night and I did decide to use perle cotton and hand quilt. 
I chose to use a single piece of fabric for the backing - rather than piecing the backing.  Hand quilting with Anna Maria Horner voile is just incredible.  The needle glides through the fabric like a knife through warm butter.  And the feel of the fabric is beyond compare.  Although, basting is a bit tricky.  I have found masking tape will not adhere to the voile so I use temporary adhesive (KK 2000 - Sulky) to hold everything in place while I add the basting pins.  It is worth the time and effort.     
A special thank you to April from Sew To Speak!  She acted as my tutor yesterday and gave me some terrific technical advice regarding my blog.  I have yet to put her suggestions to practice....hopefully I will be able to remember everything we covered :)  Thanks April!
Back to stitching!
Mary   

      

Monday, July 26, 2010

Two Days In A Row - YAY!

The last of the borders has been added and now to quilt. I have been reading and studying the process of Liberated Quiltmaking by Gwen Marston . The process is indeed liberating! So much in fact mistakes become design options and pre-planning or drafting is tossed out the window.



I could live with this method of quilt making. It fits my love of somewhat rough-around-the- edges, scrappy quilts. No need for templates or patterns - just do what you love. Use the fabrics and the colors you love. Brilliant!


I think I will pull out the perle cotton again for this one. It keeps hand quilting interesting and fun , working with all the lovely colors. Although, I am a sucker for hand quilting...I find it very relaxing. And using perle cotton has become one of my favorite choices in hand quilting. This one was quilted with perle cotton and this one too!
So back to work - I have the house to myself today - YAY!
Mary