Scrappy Wool Rug and Iris Wall Hanging

SCRAPPY WOOL RUG

What an interesting rug this turned out to be.  I was working on the braided rug, when I looked down in the trash and saw many small triangles.   These were trimmed from the stripes that I sewed together.   I had a brilliant idea and pulled them all out of the trash.  (Well, maybe not brilliant.)

I overlapped them and sewed them on denim.  Then I trimmed the rug edges with left over black wool.

 Here it is!  My 3 foot by 1 1/2 foot Scrappy Wool Rug.  It looks like mountain peaks.  I have it by the back door and it matches the large braided rug, two rugs in one!

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IRIS WALL HANGING 

I was given this unfinished, beautiful hand stitched wall hanging from my friend Sherri.  It was made by her mother.  Her fine needle work amazed me and I was honored to work on it and give it a place in my home.

I tried to get a close up picture of the small, neat stitches that were done, but the picture doesn't do it justice.  I added batting and plain white fabric for the back and hand quilted around the flower and leaves to give them more dimension.  Then I finished the background by quilting a diamond background.

It is so pretty hanging on my white wall.

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Happy New Year to one and all!
may you sort of, kind of, get close to, it's almost possible, meet one of your resolutions.   
And be sure to have fun too!

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Thanks for visiting,

Cinder

Happy Holidays to all

May You Have a Merry Christmas

Hope your holiday season is fun filled and memorable.
  Cinder 

PS: the fudge turned out "OK".  I think next year I'll stick to salads.

Wool Braided Rug and Willow Basket

WOOL BRAIDED RUG

My first braided rug turned out nicely.  I purchased all the wool at my favorite thrift store:  jackets, slacks, coats, skirts and a few pieces of misc fabric.  I was delighted to find 7 yards of a lovely tan (and cheap) and it is what I based one whole braid on.  The other 2 braids I grouped various colors together and then sewed them into long strips. I love the plaids!

 Then the fun began!  I folded the strips, then braided them together using a blunt needle with heavy duty thread, double stranded.

 After that, I used the same thread and tightly hand sewed each row to make a more secured rug.

 Then, voila, I made a rug!  What surprised me was how soft it is to stand on.  It took me about 6 weeks to make and here's the best part, I can enjoy it for many years!

I bought some anti skid to put it under it to make it more secure.  The rug measures 5  1/2' x 4'.  Now its time to start another one.

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WILLOW BASKET

Sometimes when working with natural supplies, as it dries, it has a tendency to occasionally warp out of shape.  That's what happened to this small egg basket.  I gathered grapevine and make several handles at one time and let them dry.  The willow I work while it is green, as it needs to be pliable.  Everything was going well, then oops, after it dried it would not sit up straight, so I make a kick stand for it.  Perfect!

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I've started my holiday baking.  My goal this year to make some of the treats my mother and grandmother made for us at Christmas time.  Oh my!  First I forgot to buy all the ingredients for the fudge, so I started on the Divinity.  Holy Moly!  It doesn't quite look right, humm.  Well then I moved on to the popcorn balls.  First batch I burned the syrup coating (not sure if I had the burner up too high or that I was working on a puzzle and NOT paying attention).  Batch #2 turn out right (I never took my eyes off of it!).  Tomorrow I will make the fudge and the sugar coated dates stuffed with walnuts (if I remember to by everything!).  Keep your fingers crossed, cooking is sometimes an adventure for me.
 
Thanks for visiting,
Cinder

Christmas Table Runner, 1930's Quilt Pattern and Blooming Cactus

SPIRAL TABLE RUNNER

I saw the pattern, Spicy Spiral Table Runner, and really like it.  I bought a wedge ruler, then sent off for the pattern.  Of course, as my luck goes, I didn't get the right ruler!  Oh well, I just recalculated the measurements, (that took a while and lots of figuring, I'm far from a math genius!) and winged it.  My table runner is not quite as spirally as the pattern, but I really like it.  The Christmas fabric was my grandmother's, left over from making Christmas tree skirts.  The white fabric I had and reminded me of snow falling. 

 

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CURRENT PROJECT

Recently I received 2 envelopes full of quilt pattern's from my friend Sherri, which belonged to her mother.  Many are photocopies of patterns from the 1930's Kansas City Star.  The Kansas City Star published free quilt patterns from designers and readers from 1928 to 1961 in the hopes of increasing female readership.  This one is an Eveline Foland design called Ducklings.  

The caption reads:  This rather simple block which is thirteen inches square, may be developed in many ways, using plain or figured materials.  The blocks may be alternated with plain ones of the same size.  Allow for seams. 
 (copyright 1932. by the Kansas City Star.)

I chose a mixture of vintage and modern fabrics and it's coming together really well. 

I'm researching this pattern to see if it's call by another name.  Does anyone recognize it?  In my McCall's 1973 Learn To Quilt book, it's called Duck and Ducklings.

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My cactus really bloomed this year.  Isn't nature amazing!

 

Hope your Holiday preparations are going well.
Thanks for visiting, 

Cinder