Tom Miner Quilts and Folk Art

One Lone Coneflower and Word Verification

2012-02-16T10:42:00.002-07:00

A little peek of a wonderful wool applique design from Jan Goos in the latest issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine. I really love her style.

I came back to add this note after reading Lori of Humble Quilts post about the changes in word verification when one leaves a comment. I think I noticed it yesterday and thought it was me, always tend to think that when it's computer related. Who can read those letters, even with good eyesight. So, as some are doing, will go without that nonsense of making sure you are not a robot.

Taking the Scenic Route

2012-02-14T17:21:00.001-07:00

A storm is coming.

A herd of elk along the road.

And more elk further down the road close to home.

Paradise valley.

Good to see the snow on the mountains.

Thank You Cheri

2012-02-13T17:05:00.000-07:00

I didn't renew my subscription to the Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine in time to receive the Spring issue. Thought, I can do without that copy. Thought I could. Then I saw some of the projects online. What to do. Order just that copy. I can do without. Thought that for days. And days. Then I read on Cheri's blog that she has some extra copies and she's giving those away. I won. I never win. It came today in the mail, only because I drove 40 miles to the box, it might have been there for a week, anyway, a pic of Cheri's basket quilt, easy instructions, very prim and aged. Another great issue.

Well, Sure

2012-02-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

I can quilt around you, don't let me bother you.

Projects and Snow

2012-02-10T19:35:00.000-07:00

I started back on my Emperial Blooms BOM 2011from Sue Spargo. This is the July installment. Making a few small changes as I stitch.

Progress on the Pictorial quilt from Harriet Powers, my fingers were cramping from stitching those tiny points.

And finally, snowing, all day. This is looking out to the upper meadow and the cliffs to the side of the house. Jim use to take me on a round about hike to get to the top, a tough climb no matter how you look at it. One of the cats decided to scale it one day, it was hours before we were able to get her down. I think she was grounded for a few days.

The Geese are Appliqued

2012-02-08T22:55:00.000-07:00

I appliqued the geese to the borders, see one isn't flying quite right, oh well, prim. Think I will use black crochet cotton and the big stitch to hand quilt it.

The rams in the lower meadow soaking up the sun, probably glad not to be laying in snow, but I'm starting to worry about the lack of moisture.

A Little Porch Time Wallhanging

2012-02-06T13:46:00.001-07:00

My unfinished block from Lynda Hall's A Little Porch Time, wool applique on a brushed cotton background. I decided I would finish it by making it into a wallhanging. Remove the blue star. Add a black moon and different stars.

Sewed some borders. Tried not to wince as I cut the last border, a vintage Brannock and Patek fabric that I have had for years. Needs a spot of color.

Audition some flying geese in the border, might need to

change that last "goose" in the right hand corner.

Doesn't suit me.

Some Old Wildife Photos and Sidney

2012-02-04T09:55:00.001-07:00

A black bear, that's seed falling down on him.

A cute baby.

Two beautiful rams.

Sidney flying. She's really making a jump to catch something in the grass.

A ram looking at me.

Black bear.

A beauty.

Rubbing his horn on a tree.

Block One from the Pictorial Quilt from Harriet Powers

2012-02-02T16:14:00.003-07:00

This is a closeup of block one from the Pictorial Quilt, courtesy of The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

As described by Harriet Powers, the first block,

Job praying for his enemies. Jobs crosses. Jobs coffin.

Using my Pattern Book to scan the images and enlarge them and then I use the computer monitor like a light box to trace the applique pieces onto freezer paper.

I'm using my stash to make the quilt, spent the last two days searching for fabric in two boxes of scraps, big boxes. So funny, or not, that I recognized fabric from 20 years ago. Trying to stay close to the color range from the original, but more intent in using the fabrics that I have.

Wildlife as in Big Horn Sheep

2012-01-31T15:04:00.000-07:00

No snow, the lower meadow full of dry grass, but the sheep seem to like it.

Hard to believe they eat this stuff.

A beautiful, healthy ram,

Munching that grass.

Watching me.

What is he doing?

A little one sticking close to a ram.

Running to catch up with rest of the herd.

What U Doing?

2012-01-29T13:37:00.000-07:00

If you have to ask, I'm hanging upside down.

I see that, why?

Are you the only Mum that has to know why we cats do what we do?

Just curious, you seem content.

And that's your answer, we do what we do, to be content.

Do what you do to be content. I'll remember that.

A Tiny Peek

2012-01-27T15:42:00.000-07:00

A look at trees with no snow in the background and a tiny peek of a quilt that I've been working on. Hoping a quilting magazine will like it.

Bailey

2012-01-23T17:20:00.000-07:00

I love my Mum! See my smile.

This is me feeling comfy.

This is the other side of me feeling even more comfy.

The Wool Purse and Hat are Finished

2012-01-20T15:34:00.002-07:00

I finished my wool purse based on Maggie Bonanomi's pattern that was in the Primitive Quilts & Projects Magazine. This is the front. I do get carried away with embellishing.

Such a great pattern. This is the back with the wool closure folded over. Have found that a magnet is not really needed to keep it in place. If you place the straps just close enough in from the edge, it will hold the wool in place.

The entire back folded out, yep, I do love to embellish on wool. That Sue Spargo influence. No surface left bare, or until your fingers start hurting. I used the vintage fabric from Brannock & Patek for the lining, straps and also for the lining of the hat.

The hat. Same embellishing and lining fabric with an embellishment stitch on the top of the hat.

I need, I must make myself draw up the pattern for the hat. Will let you all know when I make myself do that.

Coming and Going

2012-01-19T14:30:00.000-07:00

The big horn sheep on the trail.

Not bothered by me in the car.

We are all waiting on a winter storm for two days now.

Not in a hurry for it to arrive. I would like to take the garbage and get back, though. I have stitching I want to do.

Lot of traffic in the road, though.

We're moving, remember, we don't like to hurry.

She's back, and we were just starting to rest and take a break.

The Wool Purse

2012-01-16T14:42:00.000-07:00

Almost finished with the applique on this wool Maggie purse. Stitching the lining for the hat today.

Why are Bailey's paws peeking out from under the quilts?

Got snow, that's why.

Oh no, She has the camera!

2012-01-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

I hate it when she has that camera, if I give her my evil eye, maybe she'll leave.

I'm going to ignore her. Give her my blank stare.

Nope, not going to look at you.

I'm not looking.

Not funny, I'm not playing.

This will get to her, go to sleep on her new quilt.

I'm not moving, I'm shedding as we speak.

Big Horns

2012-01-13T23:32:00.000-07:00

The big horn sheep lounging on the rocks after being gone for a few weeks. A wildife agency helicopter had been monitering the herd for pneumonia. Finally after all of us complained that the sheep were being terrorized by the helicopter, they relented and the sheep are together once again, all looking healthy and relaxed to be back in an area they call home.

Folk Art Quilt

2012-01-12T17:30:00.000-07:00

My friend, Juliann, of Lining Up My Stitches blog is thinking of making this quilt. I have always admired this quilt, so folk art, so original and eccentric in it's design. This picture is courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. I actually bought the book by Kaffe Fassett, Museum Quilts, years ago for this quilt. His adaptation would be much easier to stitch. It has a pieced background instead on the whole cloth for the applique. As Kaffe said in his description, "there doesn't seem to be a story told or a rhyme or reason to the collection of objects the maker chose to feature." I think there is.

Bailey and Progress on the Wool Purse

2012-01-10T23:12:00.000-07:00

Bailey makes me laugh, no matter where I am, he's watching me. Here on a chair in my sewing room he's watching while I pin baste a quilt on the floor.

Found a vintage Brannock and Patek fabric from my stash for the lining of my wool purse and hopefully will have enough for the wool hat the matches the purse.

ALPT Top Finished

2012-01-09T17:37:00.000-07:00

The top is finished by adding the black border. I will machine quilt it. My fingers are screaming from too much hand work.

A Little Porch Time Lap Quilt

2012-01-07T16:54:00.001-07:00

I was planning on stitching Lynda Hall's A Little Porch Time BOM, don't see it happening. I have two blocks finished and they are each large, 18" square, so I decided that I would add some strips and a large border and make each one a lap quilt. Here is the progress on the first one and what the block looked like before I started. I appliqued wool to stitch the center instead of sewing it. I just found a black with red stripes in my stash to add as the border and that should make it a nice size.

Wool Applique

2012-01-04T15:54:00.000-07:00

A look at the wool applique and embellishment that I am stitching for a hat and a purse. I love the look of black wool for a background, but what I don't love about it, it shows every little hair and misplaced thread.

Love!

2012-01-03T17:06:00.000-07:00

Unconditional love!

Finished!

2011-12-31T16:37:00.002-07:00

So thrilled to have sewed the binding on today and call a finish to Jim's Cross Quilt. Seemed appropriate to have finished it today. Just had to take a picture of it outside on the old corral fence in the snow.

I got side tracked taking the pictures when I saw mountain lion prints in the snow. Had to track it a bit to see where he or she was heading, the tracks lead to the upper meadow. The tracks started in the ravine which is behind the corral, Jim always called it predator alley. A spot for predators to watch and wait for a potential kill. I never go back there now without a pistol to use in case I need to fire a warning shot.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T13:17:00.002-07:00

Hand Quilting Finished on Jim's Cross Quilt

2011-12-29T13:36:00.000-07:00

Very pleased to finally finish the hand quilting on Jim's Cross Quilt. It was more difficult due to all the seams and using the crochet cotton, but I wanted that big stitch, hand made look. Now to add the binding while waiting for another winter storm.

Remembering

2011-12-26T23:05:00.000-07:00

Remembering you on your birthday.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T00:24:00.000-07:00

I read that 77% of adults believe in angels. I love that people believe. Do you? I do.

Another Prim Christmas Gift

2011-12-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

So prim Christmas, another surprise gift in the mail from a friend. You might recognize those ornaments from the prim work of aka Woolensails and some of her own wools. Love the snowman fabric, aged like the ornaments for a wonderful prim look.

Got Snow!

2011-12-22T10:56:00.001-07:00

These still pictures are courtesy of the National Park Service from their webcams in Yellowstone. Top picture is of Mount Washburn located in the interior of the park.

Old Faithful Geyser, you can get here on snowmobiles or snowcoaches and a lodge to stay in for a memorial visit. Jim and I went many years ago and it was 30 below, painfully cold. The beauty out weighs the pain.

Mammoth Hot Springs, the north entrance to the park, always open to regular vehicle traffic. A quaint, historical, beautiful hotel to stay in. No TV, radio or room service, but you do have hot and cold running water in your room unless you choose to share a bathroom with folks down the hallway. Two suites do have cable now. No difference from when Jim and I visited 20 years ago. You get to bond with nature and wildlife instead of the outside world. I like that.

Waiting for a Winter Storm

2011-12-21T00:16:00.000-07:00

Out and about today to buy groceries and such since this area is waiting for a Winter storm this evening. And a long drive to snap pictures and get me out of my melancholy mood. Hoping for the snow, could pass on the frigid temps. These pictures are just outside of Yellowstone. The foothills should be covered in snow, so little snow that the park has only been able to open some of the roads to winter traffic. Snowmobiles and snowcoaches need lots of snow on the road for tourists to travel thru the park.

A Primitive Christmas Gift

2011-12-19T22:25:00.000-07:00

A thoughful prim Christmas gift from a dear online quilting friend to brighten my day. A small notebook cover of wonderful wool applique. Will certainly look nicer on the desk than the spiral notebook I use now. But then, I'm one of those that doesn't like to use special gifts given to me, like to set them close, where I can admire them. A reflection of sorts.

I Love Vintage Postcards

2011-12-19T12:48:00.000-07:00

Michael

2011-12-12T23:08:00.001-07:00

Today would have been Michael's birthday. I have now found out that Michael died in his sleep, an apparent heart attack. I will remember that he died peacefully, dreaming a good dream is what I pray. Now his cremations are on his way to Montana from South Carolina. After I see his ashes and the realization that he is really gone, he will continue his journey to Texas to my last living brother to spread his ashes on the beach where we lived and played so many years ago. A long journey, a needed one. I have come to believe after Jim's journey, that the last journey is the most important one.

I write to remember, a surprise birth he was to my parents who were already reaching middle age. I was 12, my older brother was a senior in high school, soon to enlist in the army and fight in Vietnam. My oldest brother was in college. A blessing to my parents at this stage in their life.

I remember my usual grumpy Father was giddy at Michael's birth. We went together to a flower shop and bought flowers for my Mother. I had never known my Father to ever do that. Another son, to bring life back to ease the struggles in his life.

Michael was a brilliant child, achieving a scholarship to college, becoming an engineer, traveling to Europe for a job and living there, visiting every country he could. He never married, not wanting a woman to tell him what to do. So he traveled, and finally return to the states to settle on a beach in South Carolina, never wanting to be far from the beach or the ocean.

And so to fulfill the promise to my Mother, I will take care of him to this end, making sure his final journey is the right one for him and for me.

I'm Taking a Break

2011-12-08T22:53:00.000-07:00

My younger brother, Michael passed away suddenly. He was only 48. I promised my Mother before she died that I would take care of him, and that is what I must do now.

Sidney is Cold and the Wool Hats

2011-12-06T17:28:00.000-07:00

Frigid the last few days here and can you tell that Sidney is cold, even on her heating pad.

Donna, would have emailed you directly, but you are a no reply. I am drafting a pattern for the wool hats for a submission and will let you know when the pattern is available. Thank you for your interest in the hat.

Wool Hats and a Big Horn

2011-12-05T15:17:00.001-07:00

I made this hat last year. Several in fact, same style with different applique and embellishments.

I'm going to use black for this hat with the plaid and other wool bits for embellishment for this new one.

And then a huge Ram in the lower meadow. He doesn't look cold, he should be since it's frigid as in below zero, once it gets that cold, it's just cold. At least for now there isn't much snow to blow around. He seems to have lost his herd.

Jim's Cross Quilt, Rug Hooking and Bailey

2011-12-02T22:30:00.000-07:00

I'm hand quilting Jim's Cross quilt, making lots of progress with the big stitch or utility stitch as some call it using the crochet cotton for the thread.

Shy Bailey, rolling on the carpet to soak up the heat. As I said, he's shy. Funny, odd, I have no idea how that white spot got there. I don't think he knows how to photoshop a pic.

I think I should become a ten minute hooker. After seeing the cats hundled on an old quilt in front of the heater, decided they need a nice rug. I've had this rug in progress since 2005, bought it on Ebay and it was actually started by the seller. I have hooked a bit on it. Would be a nice break for my fingers from all the Christmas stitching.

My Montana

2011-12-01T15:06:00.000-07:00

Out and about today, a picture of the snow covered mountains behind the dry rimrock formation. Looks so odd with little snow in the lower elevations, but the clear blue sky is a stunning background for the mountains.

Wool Ornaments and Straps

2011-11-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

I stitched a few more wool ornaments. I small piece of jewelry for one and a vintage button for another.

I added a thin strap to the red Maggie purse. Hangs just right now.

Primitive Placemats and Have a Little Faith

2011-11-27T17:16:00.001-07:00

I finished three of the primitive placemats made from the Brannock and Patek labels. I like them. One more to go.

I'm looking forward tonight to be able to watch the movie on TV based on the true story, Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom. I read this book to Jim during his final days. An inspiring, thought filled book.

My favorite passage from the book.

"The story of my recent life. I like that phrase. It makes more sense than the story of life, because we get so many lives between birth and death. A life to be a child. A life to come of age. A life to wander, to settle, to fall in love, to parent, to test our promise, to realize our mortality-and in some cases, to do something after that realization."

My Maggie's Purse is Finished

2011-11-25T18:03:00.000-07:00

My Maggie purse is finished, the front. I added straps this time and now I think I will go back and add straps to the red one since I like the way it looks and hangs.

The back.

Mom put my heating pad on her bed with my quilts so I could be in the same room with her while she stitched. I'm so comfy that I'm afraid I may snore. It's so embarrassing when that happens.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T16:37:00.000-07:00

A Random Act of Kindness

2011-11-22T16:22:00.000-07:00

I received this wonderful, thoughtful gift out of the blue from an internet friend from Canada. A perfect gift, thimbles appliqued to each block, each fabric motif reminded her of a story of me or Jim that I had told. The last thimble has extra special meaning, a dove with Jim's initial embroidered underneath the dove. I'm am so very touched. I'm trying not to cry.

Thank you so much Denise!

My Maggie's Purse in Progress

2011-11-20T23:58:00.000-07:00

One side of the my Maggie purse finished, love this color of wool and the multi colored embellishment threads. I just happen to have that big vintage button with just the right color on hand to add to it.

Stitching on a Kenmore

2011-11-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

I decided to move my old Kenmore sewing machine that I've had stashed in the closet for years downstairs to Jim's bedroom or my bedroom now as I make that transition. Thought it would keep me from running up and down the stairs. So I get the machine all set up, runs, but I couldn't remember how to fill the bobbin with new thread. Stared at the machine for a few days, thinking I would have that light bulb moment and remember. Of course I didn't have a clue where the directions for the machine were.

Finally broke down when the light bulb didn't go off and as always, the internet to the rescue. As I read how to rewind the bobbin, why didn't I remember that.

So now, I can stitch a few quick seams when I need to without going upstairs, or having to take a quilt off my Bernina, a great time saver.

Another view from my window, the big horns in the lower meadow at the salt lick.

Start of another Maggie Purse and a View from my Window

2011-11-18T15:50:00.000-07:00

The start of another Maggie purse from the Primitive Quilt magazine, love this wool, can't describe the color, like a brownish pink. Happen to have some great embellishment threads and then will find some stash wools for the stems and leaves.

A view from my window, can sit at the computer and this is what I see. A couple of inches of snow last night.

What is She Doing?

2011-11-16T17:18:00.000-07:00

What is she doing on the floor? I'm too sleepy to keep an eye on her.

And I'm not. I'll try and stay awake, but you know this is when she sneeks up on me and makes me take my "medicine."

Is she moaning or singing, can't tell.

I think she heard us, she said she's basting Jim's Cross quilt.

What's basting?

Primitive 2008

2011-11-14T22:38:00.000-07:00

Moving some quilts around, from the upstairs, to the downstairs, to the ceiling. So while it's available for a pic, thought I would show it to you. May have shown it in previous posts, but it's from 2008. I actually machine appliqued and machine quilted it. Think it must have been a test, must not have liked the technique since I've never machine appliqued another quilt.

The red purse will probably go without straps for now, tend to carry my backpack with my life in it and can put the little purse in it when I go out and just want to carry my wallet instead of a ten pound backpack.

Still having lots of bear encounters in and around the park and here, hunting season so it tends to happen. The one funny thing is that there is a bear coming to where we all have to take our trash down to the highway for pickup. They call them the green boxes, but I call them dumpsters, enclosed by a big fence. The officials have put up signs, saying bear, beware, make noise. And close the gate when you leave, like the bear would use the gate instead of climbing over the fence.

The Red Purse

2011-11-14T09:53:00.000-07:00

To add straps or not?

Maggie's White Purse in Red

2011-11-12T23:02:00.001-07:00

I started the little purse that Maggie designed that I posted earlier from the Primitive Quilts & Projects magazine. Red being my favorite color and having this thrift red wool, decided to use it. I ended up adding a thin batting to stabilize the wool and hand quilted it a touch with perle cotton. I couched some wool yarn in addition to the applique. Just need to add the straps and the button closure. It was a quick and easy little purse to make, think I make actually keep it for myself.

Quilt Country Mag from France from a Friend

2011-11-11T16:35:00.000-07:00

I received this wonderful patchwork and applique magazine from France, from a wonderful internet friend, thank you so much Mickaela!

Filled with prim projects as you can tell from the pictures. I love the quilted tablecloth that is pictured on the back of the magazine. Quilting and stitching can pretty much be self explanatory regardless of the language, but I've been translating some of it from Google translate.

Then a picture of pure content. Sidney and Bailey soaking up the heat from the fake fireplace, just a small electric heater.

Brannock and Patek Vintage Label Panel

2011-11-10T15:51:00.000-07:00

I started sewing the label panels after cutting each one out. Just adding enough strips to make each one the size for a placemat.

Snowman Mat Finished

2011-11-09T13:56:00.000-07:00

The snowman mat is finished. I used cheese cloth for his scarf, a safety pin to hold it in place and more not so rusty safety pins to hold the mat together in places. A variegated gold perle cotton for the button hole stitching on the border. I don't fret about making perfect stitches, that's what so nice about primitive work. I see an influence from Sue Spargo, the bird, doesn't every prim piece need a bird, and Lynda Hall, she stitches great snowmen, lots of other prim designers with their crooked trees, who wants a perfect tree, not even at Christmas, it all evolves to a process that influences what I make.

Progress on the Snowman

2011-11-07T22:24:00.000-07:00

I think I need to dirty up his face some. He still needs a scarf, will add that after I stitch the backing.

A Wool Snowman Mat and Vintage Wool Ornaments

2011-11-05T19:36:00.000-07:00

Stitching on this wool table mat today, making it up as I go along. I cut the backing so the tongues are already attached as you can see. Then I can stitch the gold wool backing I have to the entire piece. Not as difficult as stitching each tongue to the mat. The snowman still needs a scarf and need to add another tree and a little something hanging from the bird's beak. Need to add applique to the tongues, also. Another day of stitching for all that.

And then a close up of the vintage wool ornaments, not mittens as I said in another post. Just wool circles with vintage lace stitched to the wool and a vintage button added for additional embellishment.

Accuquilt Go! Baby Giveaway

2011-11-04T16:18:00.001-07:00

Join me in a chance to win an Accuquilt Go! Baby cutter. I have been wanting one of these since I've seen how many quilters are using them to speed up that endless cutting of fabric.

The blog for the giveaway is http://www.tozzscorner.blogspot.com/

More Christmas Wool Mittens

2011-11-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

Stitched a few more wool Christmas ornaments. The dark one is all purple, looks better in person, there is a variation in the purple wools and I love the pink one, pink is for a lady.

Maxine and her Cat Quilt

2011-11-02T08:27:00.000-07:00

I love this picture. It's a picture of my internet friend Maxine. She is a member of my yahoo group, known her since 2005 or longer, never met, but feel as though I know her, she's from Texas, that's a bonus. Loves cats, another bonus, and at an age when most of us would be standing still, has many quilting bees and events that she attends.

This quilt was made by her wonderful friends from one of her quilting bees for her, a Jan Patek design.

Primitive Quilts & Projects Magazine, I Love This Magazine

2011-10-31T16:14:00.001-07:00

I love this magazine, I love this magazine, one more time, I love this magazine.

The top picture is a sneek peak for you. A project from Maggie Bonanomi. So many wonderful prim projects.

Christmas Wool Mitten Ornaments

2011-10-29T16:17:00.000-07:00

Just a pic of a few of the Christmas wool ornaments I have made so far. Nice way to use small pieces of wool for the appliques. I have some round designs to start with wool, old lace and vintage buttons. Should be fun, been wondering what I was going to do with the lace. Will see if what I see in my head can be transfered to an ornament.

More Big Horns

2011-10-28T16:33:00.000-07:00

The Big Horns come up to the house when they hear me pouring water into the pail. The females are more skittish when they have their babies with them, but once they realize, water, I don't seem to be a problem to them. The babies are so cute.

Christmas Mittens and Big Horns

2011-10-26T22:11:00.000-07:00

I started stitching some wool mittens for Christmas. An easy pattern to stitch and add applique and then add a rusty tin hanger. The pattern is an easy one to draw out, just a mitten with a contrasting colored wool for the top edging.

The first big herd of Big Horns were down today, all females with three new babies. The little ones got a kick from Mom when it was Mom's turn to get to the salt, an early lesson in who comes first. They are trying to lick salt from the dirt in that spot, need to buy a new salt lick for them and the elk that move thru.

Thanks for all the nice comments on Jim's quilt, will hand applique it this winter, which is here already, with an off white crewel thread that I have.

Update, Jim's Cross Quilt

2011-10-24T21:46:00.000-07:00

I decided to stitch two more borders to Jim's Cross quilt, think it shows off the crosses more, now I'm ready to start quilting it, either by hand or by machine.

Brannock and Patek Vintage Label Panel and a Finish

2011-10-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

Received the fabric panel in the mail, like it lots, will be perfect for placemats. The background is a wonderful brown and the images are very prim like so many of the older Brannock & Patek applique blocks.

And then as if you haven't seen enough of the Reindeer mat, just one more, the finish.

Reindeer Mat

2011-10-20T22:23:00.000-07:00

I finished the tongues today on the mat, purposely wonky and added a red wool circle to them. Just need to stitch the red flannel backing that you see here.

For Synthia, a pic of the variagated perle cotton I used by Valdani, size 8 and the color is P4 whatever that means, otherwise, an off white that changes to a light brown and then white and so on. I like the variation and have used lots of other variagated perle cottons for embellishment to add a different look.

Thanks for all the nice comments. I rarely make traditional Christmas theme projects, but have liked this mat since I saw the pattern. It may come from the time in my early days back in Texas, my 20's, when I actually worked as a floral designer for a few years until I knew that couldn't pay the bills but had the best time with my co-workers, especially decorating trees for Christmas. We were really out of the box, pink or blue tree decorations, feathers, not your traditional colors and they always sold. Funny that I remember that.

More Progress on the Reindeer mat

2011-10-19T15:51:00.000-07:00

I was able to stitch all the pennies on today without incident, adding a few more for a better layout. I use freezer paper templates, but tend to cut them out free hand and not on the line to make them prim and wonky. I'm using a variegated white perle cotton for the thread. I'm working on the tongues this afternoon and have a red wooly flannel by Moda for the backing, a flannel that looks like wool but isn't and lots cheaper.

Reindeer Table Mat Progress

2011-10-18T12:01:00.001-07:00

Doesn't look like much progress, but considering it was with minor injury, just glad there's not blood on that white wool. I decided I wanted off white wool for the base penny and so on a hunt for my thrift wools, I had to start sorting thru wools in a basket in a closet. Not wanting to lose an opportunity, decided I would grab my winter coats while I was in there. Grabbed a coat and next thing I know, I'm attacked by a coat hanger, it came flying out from behind the coat, hitting me in the face under my eye. Oh.

I go downstairs to have a look, yep, big whelp under my eye and a cut. I go to the pantry to get something to clean it off, open the door, hit my head with the door. Oh.

Get the stuff and go to close the door, on my finger, blood blister. but at least not to a sewing finger. Finish cleaning the cut under my eye. Rethinking what to do next, better get a cold pack and put it under my eye for a few minutes, and take a break. I got the ice pack without injury, went to lay down on top of the bed and feeling a chill, went to pull a quilt up and over me, my hand slipped and I hit myself in the nose. Oh.

Yep, a nose bleed. Where's the white wool is all I can think as I hold my nose closed to stop the bleeding.

So there's a good reason that I'm glad there isn't any blood on that white wool, even if this morning it looks like I was in a bar fight, and lost.

And I found all my off white wools, well worth the fight.

Emperial Blooms, a finish for now

2011-10-16T20:42:00.001-07:00

My other quilting self picked up block 6 from Sue's BOM and added a few more embellishment stitches until my fingers couldn't pull the thread any longer. I added the little beads that I happened to have to the velvet piece and can't tell you how many of the little blue beads around the center wool piece I lost, enough to know it was lots. Never worked with such tiny beads. So I will leave this block for awhile and go back to my primitive quilt, a big wool applique piece that I started.

Brannock and Patek Vintage Label Panel

2011-10-15T15:02:00.003-07:00

I won this vintage Moda panel by Linda Brannock and Jan Patek today. I was the only one to bid, so got it for next to nothing, another addition to my collection of vintage Brannock & Patek fabrics.

When I see it in person will decide what to make from it. The labels are small but thinking with multiple borders of prim fabrics that I can make some needed place mats for the dining room table.

I have to smile thinking that I had good place mats until Jim used them all for the cats. He thought all the cats needed their own place mats, nice ones. And at one time, we had five cats, that's a lot of place mats.

Wool Reindeer Table Runner

2011-10-14T11:41:00.002-07:00

The designer of this pattern is Jan Speed and was published in the Fons & Porter magazine back in 11/12 of 2006. I made the table runner in the top photo several years ago for a Christmas gift. Pretty sure I've posted a picture of it before. I used white wool and lots of red. The picture below is one I started when,

I can't remember, but now would be a good time to start working on it for the holiday season ahead. This one will be smaller as you can see. Just love this simple pattern design, can do so much with it to make it yours.

Bailey

2011-10-12T17:07:00.002-07:00

Baby, it's cold outside.

Mum opened the screen so I could soak up some rays on the roof.

I'm so comfortable and

sleepy.

I got hot.

The Start of a New Prim quilt

2011-10-09T21:09:00.000-07:00

The start of a new prim quilt. A strippy background of the Together line from Brannock and Patek and a bold red striped brushed cotton for the borders. Needs huge applique to make it work.

Emperial Blooms progress Block 6

2011-10-08T10:08:00.000-07:00

Showing my progress on the next block of Emperial Blooms, a zillion bullion embellishment stitches to add to the yellow wool with a beautiful thread. Sue included some tiny little blue beads to stitch on the outer edge of the blue center wool applique, leaving that to last.

Sidney and Bailey

2011-10-05T17:14:00.000-07:00

Sidney and Bailey on my best applique quilt and a heating pad, I'm waiting for the fight. Bailey will cuddle with Sidney and then when she least expects it, he bites her neck to get the comfort all to himself. She falls for it every time.

Angel Panel, 1995, Brannock and Patek

2011-10-03T16:43:00.000-07:00

I love this panel, and the fact that it goes all the way back to 1995 from Linda Brannock and Jan Patek is awesome, and even more awesome is that an internet friend gave it to me. I machine quilted a simple stitch on it and am sewing the binding on it today, another prim lap quilt for the me and the cats.

Emperial Blooms progress

2011-10-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

I finished block 5 today, decided to wait to add the outline embellishment stitches until the quilt is quilted. Remember now that is what I did previously to anchor the applique since it is difficult to machine quilt up close to the embellishments, at least for me.

Difference between the two layouts, yes, or there will be, decided also to add the scraps of leftover fabrics to my blocks to break up the background and just like the look.

Too Pink Strippy Quilt

2011-09-30T12:11:00.001-07:00

I finished the stitching and hand appliqueing the "Too Pink Strippy Quilt" as I'm calling it for now. Needle turn applique. Thinking it needs to be aged just a little. It's screaming pink.

Baskets, Berries and Leaves, by Jan Patek and Alma Allen

2011-09-28T15:16:00.002-07:00

Last night I was looking for an orange plaid homespun for an internet friend, have had this drawer full of all things orange or orange/red for Baskets, Berries & Leaves, a BOM from 1998.

I intend to make it someday. I have been collecting those fabrics since 1998.

I must have got side tracked, thinking you won't make the whole quilt and made one block into a wall hanging. The design is one that has to be made, so I hold on to those fabrics. I will make it.

So I had one more place to look for fabrics, some boxes in a closet. Didn't find the fabric. Instead I found of box of cards and letters from long ago. Of course some were from Jim or the cats, he would write for the cats.

I dream a lot. And I often dream about Jim as I did last night. I woke myself up this morning singing the song from Dirty Dancing, "I've Had the Time of My Life." The cats were looking at me with a strange look that cats can have as I belted out that song, probably because I can't really sing, but it felt good.

Brannock and Patek, APQ 1997

2011-09-25T20:09:00.000-07:00

A great prim find today as I was looking for "something" in my stash of magazines. The 1997 issue of American Patchwork Magazine featuring Linda Brannock and Jan Patek. A wonderful article about the ladies and great primitive quilt pictures and even stoneware that they designed. Lucky person out there that has that collection of stoneware.

Sweet Grace by Jan Patek, Top Finished

2011-09-23T20:38:00.000-07:00

I finished stitching the blocks today and added the red print borders. Love that dark red. I can't take credit for the fabric choices. The fabrics came with the BOM kit and out of the left over fabrics, I chose the red for the borders.

The triangles inside the pineapple were suppose to be stitched, but not liking to stitch triangles, I appliqued them to the background. Now that I see the quilt, wow, it's bigger than a lap quilt, unless I have a big lap.

The cats have their noses pressed to the screen in the one open window that I leave open for air, must be a bear or a maybe a mountain lion, but then being cats, it could be a moth. I can remember one time when Jim and I had a bear come to each window, late at night. The bear was looking in each window, I finally opened a window and slapped the bear on his nose, didn't want him tearing the screen. It startled the bear and I yelled to Jim, "I touched his nose." "You did what?" "I touched his nose, felt just like a dog's" "Oh for goodness sakes."

Sweet Grace by Jan Patek

2011-09-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

I started this BOM, Sweet Grace by Jan Patek in 2005. This is as far as I got and I don't see myself finishing it as it should be as shown in the picture below. I hung it on my make shift design wall as you can see to hopefully come up with a design with the blocks that I did finish and after adding some borders, I can turn it into a nice lap quilt.

2005 must have been a busy year since I have found lots of unfinished projects.

Emperial Blooms progress

2011-09-19T08:48:00.000-07:00

Switched gears yesterday to start another block from Sue's Emperial Blooms. Love making those little circles, so I went over board on them as you can tell from the pic. Easy to make with Sue's creative idea to use a hole punch.

Need to applique a few more pieces and then add the embellishment stitches.

Red, White and Blue

2011-09-16T16:24:00.002-07:00

I was looking for some red, white and blue fabrics for a friend in Texas from my quilting group who has friends that lost their quilts and fabrics in the recent fires. Their guild make lots of quilts for soldiers and lost 40 quilts. I knew I had some fabrics in that color way and found another unfinished quilt top using Minick & Simpson fabrics that I started when?

Not my usual style, but I was taken with the horses. And this is quite terrible, but it was many years ago and I tend to forget about quilts, fabric, unless it's sitting out where I can see it and I can't remember if I the received the fabrics as a win or a gift. Sewed the strips on batting first and then put it away for some reason. So I started the needle turn applique today. Then will add the backing and quilt.

Here's my inspiration, Minick & Simpson, '3 Brothers Farm', the horses and the stars.

Flying in Circles Prim Quilt

2011-09-13T22:38:00.000-07:00

I started this quilt back in 2005 using all vintage Brannock and Patek fabrics. I have no idea where the idea came from back then, but I finished the top tonight. Flying in circles since 2005, looking for a destination? Looks like I'm aiming for the sun, the moon and the stars.

Hello Bear!

2011-09-12T12:23:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Just checking things out.

Just one lick before you run me off.

I'm trying to balance, see my paws, I'm holding on. It'll be okay.

Oops.

An Aged Egg

2011-09-11T19:44:00.000-07:00

Another aged Egg quilt that is. This is the larger one and just need to hang it on the ceiling. And then on to another project.

9.11

2011-09-11T14:45:00.000-07:00

I heard this today as I was watching the various memorial services, 'an emotional day of remembrance for our country, but also a celebration of the human spirit.'

Last Egg Quilt

2011-09-09T22:28:00.000-07:00

A picture and a close up of the fabric before I age this last egg quilt. Spent most of the day looking for rusty tin and porch posts for the deck to see if it's in my budget to cover the deck. Rusty tin is expensive, but I don't have enough shingles left over from the roof and seems to be my only option if I want to cover the deck from the winter weather. I have a carpenter who will do the work if I can come up with the supplies. Decision to make soon. Very soon.

Quilts on the Ceiling

2011-09-08T19:50:00.002-07:00

You asked for a picture of the quilts on the ceiling. I think I saw how Buggy Barn hung quilts like this in their store in a magazine way back when, and after seeing how the ceilings looked like after Jim scrapped off all that popcorn texture from the ceiling, had to cover it with something and so I did. We always tried to just make do, and we did. Just used push pins thru the seams of the quilts, not thru the fabric itself to hang them.

Aging, Painting and Favorite Things

2011-09-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

Actually thought to take a picture of the before and after, the second picture is the before, didn't age this one as much, funny that I'm finding these old quilts I made years back. To think I actually stitched HST's, and the triangles don't look that bad. Must have been too much since I only applique them now. Have no idea where the pattern came from or why I made it. Obviously it was one that was one of those, okay, made it, don't really like it, put it away or use it to cover up something. Now it's on the ceiling, adding color to a room. Easier than painting.

Have one more "Egg" quilt to age to finish off the ceiling in the room. Will probably do that tomorrow. Don't need to get on a ladder for awhile.

I finally, finally finished the trim on the outside of the house on the lower level. That's why my body is screaming, stay off a ladder. Anyway, actually found this little woodpecker at a garage sale on Saturday, how perfect for the back door. It's a door knocker. I asked the lady what is this, it's a woodpecker, gave her my look, what does the woodpecker do, and then she showed me and we both laughed, too cute.

Some of my favorite things, and not expensive things either, the driftwood piece from Galveston, an elk head with a full set of antlers that Jim found as a winter kill, meaning it died naturally, I could tell that story of him carrying it home on his back on one of his beloved hikes, more antlers just laying around and little Bailey, watching me as usual thru the screen.

Aging, Me and A Quilt

2011-09-05T20:02:00.001-07:00

We all aging, but instead of thinking about that today, I decided a couple of days ago to dig out some old quilts that I stitched years and years ago, talking maybe 16 years ago, before I found primitive quilts. I bought this "egg" fabric, liked it because it had bird eggs on it with the name of the bird it came from. Never put it out on display, and I even made a matching one, somewhat larger. Colors not me, so in that Cheri Payne tradition, I only had some walnut crystals, mixed that together and sprayed the quilt to dull those bright yellows and blues and give the quilt that aged, primitive look. Came out okay. I will use Cheri's recipe next time with the coffee and tea, easier to come by and far less expensive.

Hope everyone had a safe, fun holiday. Thinking of my home state, Texas, with all the wildfires burning, loss of precious lives and so many homes, land and property.

Vintage Look Tablecloths, A Giveaway from Amy of Indigo Junction

2011-09-03T20:42:00.000-07:00

A unique giveaway from Amy Barickman of Indigo Junction. Here's the link,

http://www.amybarickman.com/blog/misc/comment-to-win-tablecloths-and-apron-patterns/

Good Luck!

Emperial Blooms Block completed, Grizzly Bear, updated

2011-09-03T11:53:00.002-07:00

Finished block 4, April of Sue's Emperial Blooms. Seem to be picking up some speed on the embellishment stitches that I am not familiar with and not having to go back and look at Sue's instructions, like the bullion stitch.

I added the blue shell beads instead of using wool. Embellished the center with the bullion stitches all over the green wool instead of at the top, had thread left on the needle, why not use it.

And yet another grizzly mauling in the last week in the park. The officials weren't sure if the man died first and then was mauled, but it looks like after the autopsy of the man that he died from a bear mauling. This evening, I added this after just reading that they have trapped the bear, a grizzly that returned to the site, checking the DNA of the bear for a match, doesn't make sense to me since a separate bear could have originally attacked the man and then the other bear came later. I'm sure they know what they are doing. Sad, in so many ways, we think we will always be safe, but life can change in the blink of an eye. The man was hiking alone without bear spray. I think a company needs to donate bear spray and hand them out to all visitors entering the park, to increase their knowledge of just how dangerous a wildlife park like Yellowstone can be and the precautions that need to be taken for a safe, fun trip.

Primitive Circles and Stars, Completed

2011-09-01T19:24:00.000-07:00

Great weather, cool, so a nice day to sit outside and sew the binding on my quilt. Did chose multiple orange, red and brown plaids for the binding. I think I like it. I enjoy the inspiration from the older patterns of Brannock & Patek. This block is based on one from The Collector Series, with a little less applique, just the basic circle and star.

My Pattern Book Arrived

2011-08-31T08:32:00.000-07:00

The Pattern Book for Harriet Powers's Pictorial quilt arrived yesterday. I'm lingering over each page, the quotations for each panel, and the wonderful drawings from Harriet.

One of my favorite panels so far, a dove, since the doves had sent Jim on his final journey. The caption reads, "John baptising Christ and the spirit of God descending and rested upon his shoulder like a dove."

Sea Grass

2011-08-29T23:11:00.000-07:00

First time I have ever used this speciality thread, sea grass, I love it. Love the look, the matte look of the stitch and the ease of stitching with it. It came from Sue Spargo with her kit for her BOM Emperial Blooms. It comes in all kinds of colors, even black. I can see using it when you don't want that gloss look of perle cotton, like on prim projects.

Waiting to hear a thud

2011-08-28T19:56:00.002-07:00

Could Bailey get any closer to the edge of the bed, keep waiting for him to fall off. He knows he's not suppose to lay on the fabric, well, maybe just a tiny bit of it. Never fails that I get a design laid out on the bed, he'll jump in the middle and do a cat dance all over the pieces, and I have to start over.

That's another cross quilt to start. Different shades of muslin and Jim's shirts to start cutting. My neighbors, Iva and Vern had been so kind to Jim and me. When I showed them one of the cross quilts, I could tell they would like to have one. Iva had flown out from Pennsylvania when she heard that Jim had come home on hospice and spent the last two days with him before he passed away, telling him stories about the wildlife, and I knew he heard her, a twinkle came into those beautiful eyes of his. So I'm making them a quilt for one of their beds, have to complete it soon before they leave for the winter.

Emperial Blooms, Almost a Finish

2011-08-27T22:06:00.000-07:00

Lots of progress today on this block from Sue's Emperial Blooms. Just need to add two shell beads and the embellishment stitches. I used a crayon art pencil to add the markings to the off white velvet, thought it needed just a bit of color. Wasn't sure it would work on the velvet when I ironed the crayon onto the velvet, but it blended nicely when I ironed it on.