Bittersweet Needle and Thread

Bittersweet Needle and Thread

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Rag Rugs

RAG RUG

This is my first rug from the frame that I got from Missouri Town.  I used a brown fabric and added some colors that blended well.  


 
 It got a bit wavy, especially in the middle, but I'm hoping that it will work itself out.



  I wove it pretty tight so it was a bit hard to get out of the frame.

 
The rug fabrics are also the same that I used on my table runner.

 It looks good on the floor.

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 AND THEN MY SECOND RUG...

This one I wove looser and used random bits of fabric. 


It lays nice and I really like the multi color look.  It took me a few days to cut the fabric and 6 days to weave.  Do you think I'm a bit obsessive when I'm working on a new project?  This pretty rug goes to my sister. 



Thanks for visiting,
Cinder


Sunday, October 18, 2015

Patch Quilt

6" SQUARE QUILT

I inherited most of these squares from my friend Sherri's mother.  I thought they were an odd collection of colors and prints.  I almost separated them to use in different quilts, but that didn't seem right.  They came to me as a "set" so I had to work with it.  I added a few of my own to make this full size quilt.  Once I laid it out, the blocks started to blend together, bring out some good earth tones.
 
 

  
When it came to the border, I couldn't find anything to make it pop, to bring it all together.  I put several fabrics with it and they didn't improve it.  THEN, I found this piece of lovely brown in my stash, which I call "Cappuccino".  The brown really set the blocks.  

 
I hand quilted a straight stitch around the blocks but got fancier on the border and corners.  This was the quilt that my granddaughters helped me on.


I bought some brown, leafy fabric for the back and binding.  I'm really happy how it turned out.

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CAT PILLOW

I spent one Saturday with my sister and her 3 granddaughters.  We had so much fun bike riding, laughing and telling stories.  One thing the girls said was that they were going to get a cat.  Well, that was news to my niece.  They already had 2 dogs and NO, they were not getting a cat, she said!  Sooo, when the youngest birthday arrived, I decided to get her a "cat".


I grabbed some fabric and scissors and away I went.  The mouth is a zipper and was made so that she can store secret treasures in.


At least with this cat, you don't need a litter box!  
(It's really kind of homely!)
 
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Thanks for visiting,
Cinder

Monday, October 5, 2015

Girlfriends are wonderful!

MISSOURI TOWN 1855

This past weekend was the annual lost arts/living history festival at Fleming Park in Lee's Summit, Missouri.  There were crafter's making paper, spinning wool, rugs, and wood carving.  There was a tinsmith, a blacksmith and quilters, with many items for sale.  Also demonstrations on how to make apple butter, apple cider, sorghum and living history of medicine of the time period.  Children could play old time games from bow and arrows to stilt walking.  There were horse drawn rides and visitors could get up close to 2 amazing oxen.




 
  Mountain men vendors had displays of many animal pelts from buffalo to beaver with fun things for sale.  If you look hard, you can kinda see the tepee in the background behind the oxen.  

There were many other fun activities, along with some wonderful dulcimer, fiddle and guitar music.

Here is part of our crew:  me, Teresa, Sherri and Robin standing in front of one of the many 1855 buildings that you could tour through.

We would take time out from selling old time candy, baked goods, dolls, pottery and needlework in Teresa booth and visit the vendors.  
AND THEN I saw it!  A rug loom!  




  Upon my soul, I had to buy it.  I know I said I was going to work on all my unfinished projects, but.....OMG, what is a person to do!  I promise to continue to work on my other projects, I promise!

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LOOP LOOM

Sherri and I did some shopping before heading to Missouri Town and I found this 1960's metal loom in an antique store.  

 
All the parts were there, even the loops and booklet with instructions on how to use both loops and yarn.  I had to buy it!  $4.00!  It is a nice addition to my supply of fun projects for my granddaughters or great nieces.  

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GIFTS FROM SHERRI

I was so excited to have Sherri stay with me before we headed to Missouri Town.  When she opened the trunk of her car to get her lugage out, there were the Prairie dolls that she make to sell at the festive, along with a few topsy-turvy dolls and Lula Bea Butternut.  I almost started to cry.  LULA BEA!  Sherri asked if I wanted her.  Do I WANT HER!  Absolutely!  




Sweet Lula Bea is now sitting perched on the window ledge in the spare bedroom, keeping an eye on things with her button eyes.  

 
Sherri also brought me 2 beautiful crochet vintage doll dresses.  The needle work is exquisite and I have a shelf I will put them on in Lula Bea's room (notice how it went from spare bedroom to Lula Bea's) to display them.   She also gave me a set of quilt hangers and I already know where to use them. 

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What a great weekend I had and it was fun to get away and be with friends.  
BFF explains it all.

Love you girls,
Cinder