settlers peace

For The Love of Texas

A friend asked me to make a denim quilt with the Texas flag on the front and old jeans for the backing. This was the only excuse I needed to go fabric shopping in my husbands closet and rid it of the jeans that were not fit to wear in public. Mind you, I did have to patch some of the pieces to use in the quilt, and had, for some reason, been resistant to patching them for his continued use ;) I was really thankful for his long legs and the lengths of fabric I could get from each pant leg, something to definitely consider, should I ever need to purchase used jeans for future projects.

I did not use any batting, as the 'quilt' is already heavy due to fabrics, and I can't imagine trying to wash it with the added bulk of batting.

Another recent finish is this wedding quilt for my niece Cady and her new husband, Matt. The fabrics are an older collection of reproduction sugar sacks, sure wish I could recall the maker as I loved this bundle of fabrics. I also included a few pieces of a fabric that Cady shared with me years ago.

We just got back from the Round Top Antiques Fair. I was in great hopes of discovering a quilted treasure or two, but had never found one that really spoke to me. D's allergies gave him fits, as most of the vendors are in pastures under tents. Thousands of dealers from all over the states and what bothered me the most, was the lack of interaction the dealers had with shoppers, and even other dealers. For some of the dealers, it was day 2, others, day 7, and I didn't notice any difference in their behavior. They had their eyes glued to their laptop or phone passing the time away, and unfortunately sales, too. I LOVE to go to art and antique shows/fairs/sales as it is a time to get to interact with the dealers/artists on a personal level. Their story and/or the 'pieces' back story is often what will make me open my wallet, much like they say in an Etsy shop. It's really sad to say, but there may be more human contact via the web than in person. What the heck is society coming too? The other downside of the dealers on the web, it was eating up so much of the bandwidth that dealers that were trying to process credit card sales could not get a good signal to do so. And even so, I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 days with my man as we oohed and ahhed over the displays and antique treasures that wouldn't fit in the car to bring home, and we discussed a re-visit in the spring with a truck.

 

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Ripples

I have often heard  "It'll quilt out."  And I think with hand quilting, there is a bit more wiggle room.

But at what point do you ask yourself,

"Can I really quilt these ripples out and have a flat quilt?"

Apparently this quilter was forever optimistic about her piecing adventures.  I don't think that there is a 12" square that will lay completely flat.  I adore the fabrics and hexagon shapes though.

Lest you think that the waves are created by the grass,

here it is on the design wall.

Ideas?  Suggestions?  I'm not opposed to making several projects from it.

I don't think quilting is an option :)

A Vintage Modern Treasure

This weekend found us escaping the heat at an indoor flea market.  We are all willing participants, even the girls hate to miss an adventure with us, but no matter how hard I try to go and 'just look', I usually encounter failure.  Such was the case Saturday.  First, it was a few vintage photographs, then some game cards, then an autograph book, all easily tucked inside my purse, lest the family know of my fall.........add a bag of handmade lace.  

Then I rounded the corner and saw a rack of scrappy, cutter quilts.  Yes, my dear friends, my drug of choice.  I was calm, I was casual. I was selective.  I tried, really, I tried.  D. approached as I was I gazing upon the beauty and even held a side for me to get a better look,  turning it over to look at the back- he is well trained and could easily be my drug dealer.  Without comment or concern, he walked away.  Being the junkie that I am, I put his voice on every positive thought going through my mind, but really, how many junkies actually have reasonable negative thoughts at the moment of their fall?  Oh, of how lovely it is, so liberated, great use of solids, wonderful scraps, so many stories within the leftover blocks, and TWO sided to boot!  It's like two quilts for the price and storage of one, why wouldn't I buy it?  

Note the corner turned over to reveal of glimpse of the lovely pieced backside, or maybe it really is the front.

One side

And the other

Hi, I'm Juanita and I'm a junkie.  It's been two days since my last impulse and I'm still smiling, playfully imagining myself as the creator of this lovely quilt.  

 

 

Dazed and Confused

S. was conspiring with a friend today on how to completely annoy another friend through text bombing.  She was wondering aloud when I overheard her say, " I wonder what A. hates?  Oh! Oh!  Let's send her pictures of us!!!"  I guess mean and ornery can be funny, too.

The weather has had me so discombobulated lately that I can't seem to find my way up.  I was crazy busy finishing the pink stack n whack quilt and prepping the house for a baby shower. The quilt went home with the baby, and I forgot to get pictures of any of it.  However, I did have a leftover piece of this

Food photography is down right difficult when you're hungry and others are swarming around you asking "Is that the last piece?"  I let them have the crust crumbs that were still in the pan.  I made a gluten free version, just to try it.  Yummy good, but so rich that I will pass on birthday desserts next week.

We went to an Antique Show this past weekend and had a good time looking around.  I love old buttons, fabrics, and trims, but was in complete overload by the third booth.  So many beatiful things.  I made it home with this calling card and 3 flower buttons from the 1860's.

No ideas on what to do with them as of yet but to look upon them and admire them.  It was very inspiring to see so many lovely things, and made me want to come home and dig through my treasures that are stashed away, and them the overwhelming feeling comes right back.  It's time to do some spring cleaning and a bit of de-stashing!

Searching

Each spring I find myself searching.  Searching for the clean house I know I left somewhere under all of the stuff that accumulates through the winter.  Searching for a new style, a fresh look, an adventure and new treasures. 

I finally stopped to snap a photo of some Bluebonnets along the highway while I was out treasure hunting the other day.  

Then around the bend I had to stop and bring these treasures home.

Now, back to searching for the clean house.  I'm thinking that a fresh coat of paint will make it all look better.   Hope that your days are filled with finding all that you are searching for.  Blessing

De-Stashing

For months, many, many months, I've been editing out my fabric stash.  This is usually motivated by the need for organization and space.  Really the editing part isn't the problem, it's the "How" to get rid of it that trips me up.  Overwhelmed by the sheer amount that I have to move out, I just kept putting it off.  But this week our guild is having a garage sale!  All proceeds will benefit our guild, and I suddenly have a "How".

This is where I've been taking my tea, and creating little 2 yard bundles.  Still so much to tie, but I had to take a break.  This is what has been tied so far.

Once I got over the shock of the fabric piles, it has been rather fun combining them together.  I've come up with combinations that would not have happened otherwise.  And while I'd be a bit embarrassed by some of the fabrics individually, I'm quite pleased with them in a bundle.  I just don't have time to use it all, and really want to focus on using that which makes me the happiest now.  My hope is that these bundles will help someone else build a stash and raise some money for the guild in the process, one of my ways of sharing the blessing of abundance.

The white of the design wall is so much more calming than the star that goes in that hole.  I really want to get the top together for show and tell at guild meeting this week, like I need something else to carry in!  So if your local, bring your pocketbook and join us at our garage sale on Thursday!  I only want to carry my show and tell home.

Not yet

Well, the sun just hasn't wanted to come out much lately, but the cooler weather feels amazing.  It does the body good, and certainly inspires one to do some sewing!   I've been sewing away on an adopted UFO, you'd think I had enough.  I have really enjoyed making it my own.  I also finally got this little guy done.  Yes, it is the same one that I declared would be done soon, way back in Dec. 2007!

 

I was at a loss for binding fabric, as I had no hand dyes left from the project.  Once I finally came to grips that there wasn't anymore going to appear, I made do and got it done.  I am pleased and relieved.

My little treasures from the sale last weekend have really captivated me.  When I first laid eyes on them I thought of disassembling them for jewelry etc. but the more I gander at them, I don't know.

I have been able to date the badges between 1882-1925 by the maker.  The metal fringe and trims are beautiful, not to mention the ornaments.

They are even in the original boxes.  I also thought that the label on the inside of the ribbon was too fun!

 

ohh, secret societies, you know that has my mind going!  My ability to grab these up was due to a kind man waiting in line ahead of us.  As it neared time to enter, he offered us better numbers, as his friends had not shown up.  We were 3 and 4 in the door!  Blessings abound!  Now if I could only decide what to do with them......  

Home Tour

Well, I have been trying to make myself get in the sewing room and get creative, and seem to find myself total inspired to clean and tidy.  From the looks of the sewing table, you can tell it does need it a bit, oh and the pile on the floor beyond.  

The cottage in the midst of all of this rubble, was begun at ArtFiberFest in a class with Charlotte Lyons.  I can't say that it is done, and I can't say that it's not, but I can say I'm done working on it for awhile.

I love the old label from Dallas, and the window pieces are some vintage jewelry findings.

The bob is by Sally Jean and says ' It works because we find ourselves endlessly amusing.'  So true.  I am happy to say that I am rediscovering my childlike sense of wonder, and life is definately endlessly amusing!

The jewels on the doily sway when I move the house.  While I have always loved the farmhouse look, I am wanting a chandelier.  I don't know these folks in the celluloid frame, but I had the same maiden name as on the tag.

I guess that you could say this is the catch-all wall of the house, kinda like a junk drawer of treasures.  It has been a real joy to work on this house, once I got going again on it.  It has inspired so may other things to do with all of the treasures that I have accumulated and am finally getting brave enough to use.  My biggest trouble was editing, I love so many things and yet love a clean and tidy look.  I am a study in contradictions.

Hope that you are tackling any creative urges that you have, wether in the garden, kitchen, craft room or beyond, laundry can wait, I promise.  Have a blessed day!

Nothing to sneeze at

Collections evolve over time, and sometimes we wonder how they ever started in the first place.  My friend Jana has been collecting handkerchiefs for quite awhile now, and she remembers it starting with the idea of making a quilt with them.  No design plan in the beginning, but a need to amass a large assortment of hankies.  Then she got picky and started buying only the choicest hankies- round, floral shaped, scalloped, and color saturated.  The plan started coming together as she appliqued them to squares of fabric and then set them on point.  With a quilt top done, our friend Susan did the quilting for her.  Many of us pretty much give Susan free reign on quilting as she always has a great eye for thread and design that we would normally shy away from.  She did an edge to edge pattern in a primary variegated thread that looks amazing on this quilt!!  Please forgive the poor quality of pictures, I used my phone, I just couldn't delay in sharing the beauty with you.

Isn't that grey daisy hankie gorgeous?  She must have a small fortune invested in the hankies alone, but oh so worth it!!!

Rumor has it that she is working on an idea of using more hankies to finish of the edges/binding.  I'm thinking that she must really have a collection at this point that she can choose from.  What a great idea to start with, and a wonderful result to the years of hunting.  I am so lucky to be surrounded by such creative friends, and happy that they are using those vintage treasures in new ways!  

Junkin'

Wow, we have been hit by the junk of the season.  Both girls have been sick with completely different things, and one or another or both have been home for a week!  In the last 10 days we have had 9 doctor visits, 1 vet visit, and driving a rental car because some high school girl backed into me in the parking lot one day after school!  They were back at school yesterday, and I'm still trying to play catch-up with the house.  Well, I say that, so far today I've taken myself out for breakfast and journaling time, and then hit a few estate sales.  Just trying to refuel, right?

I found an odd mix of treasures that all seemed to be calling my name.  There is the platter, lace, thread, jewelry bits, crystals, doll arms, mirror, photographs, tea tin, plastic deer (what was I thinking?).  Actually, as I type this, I'm wondering why I question the plastic deer and NOT the doll parts?  Hmm, something to be said for my nursing skills lately I suppose.  Anyway, treasures, just the same.

I did get some time to work on my challenge project, which is coming along nicely, once I decided to break the rules!!  Luckily, I know that the "someone" that is getting this is okay with that fact.  Oh, and the big news is that Cuddles goes home today!  A true lesson in the fact that we don't need to add anything else to our life.  She's a sweetie, but high maintenance.  

I guess the best thing about this last week, is that I have gotten a new perspective on my morning routine, I haven't been running near fast enough!  Time to get more intentional with how I spend my time.  I'm off to sew before they get home.  May the junk in your day be the kind you treasure!