Quilting Frame and Quilt

NEW QUILTING FRAME

OMG!  What was I thinking?  Did I take measurement?  NO.  Did I consider the size of my living room?  NO.  Did I consider the weight of the frame just to move it?  NO.  Did I want it?  YES.  Do I like it?  YES, YES, YES!!!  I'm talking about my new quilting frame. 

Look at how much space the frame takes up, but I have the whole Duckling quilt on it and still have some (hum) room to move around in the living room.  My "area" is on the far side of the room and only encroach on my husbands side when I have to work on the the right side.  And... he doesn't seem to mind that its there.  Wow! 

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 SMALL CRIB QUILT

This small quilt I made last year.  I only had small amounts of each of the fabrics and this is what I ended up with.  The colors go well together and I used a light purple for the back.

 

What I did differently was add some of the fabric to the binding and I really like it.

 

 I machine quilted this one, but I'm not very good at it.  I prefer hand quilting.

 

 This quilt is going to a 4 month old little girl.  Her mother is a Physical Therapist Assistant student that I have been working with on her first clinical affiliation at my facility, which is skilled therapy in a nursing home.  She's been with me for the whole month of January and tomorrow is her last day.  What a good therapist she will be.  Her patience, communication skills and knowledge base is very good.  I know our patients have enjoyed working with her and so have I.  Best wishes to her on her continued studies and next clinical experience.

Thanks for visiting

Cinder

Baskets

 DEER ANTLER BASKET

Here is a collection of some of my baskets that I use every day.  This basket was one of the first deer antler baskets that I made around 2001.  It was very different then regular handled basket, as I had to make sure that it was balanced and would sit without falling to one side.  I helped this out by adding the stone with a hole in it that I got from my friend Sherri.  The ribs are willow and the reed was dyed in walnut hulls.

 This basket is in my bathroom holding wash clothes. 

 

 POTATO BASKET

This basket was made in 2004 from reed that was dyed in walnut hulls and yellow ritz dye.  I also used sunflower fabric for weaving.  The rim is an old embroidery hoop that was my grandmother's.

 This is where I keep my curlers. (Yes there are some of us out there that sleep in curlers!)

  

WILLOW BASKET

I purchased some bamboo handles in the mid 1990's and made this fun basket from willow and dyed reed.  To dress it up I added a green satin ribbon.

 

 

 This basket holds my makeup.  It's getting pretty beat up from daily use and some of the ribs are getting broken.  I'll use it until it wears out and enjoy every minute of it.

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UPDATE:  I'm soooo excited.  I just purchased a new quilting frame this week and can't wait till it arrives.  NOW I'll be able to hand quilt crib to queen size quilts!  Up to now my frame only allows full size as the largest and that would put a strain on it.  Oh what fun I'm going to have.  And my husband is sooo happy to have it in the living room!!!!

 Thanks for visiting

 

Flying Geese and Receiving Blanket Quilt

FLYING GEESE QUILT

I had fun making this small lap quilt from miscellaneous scraps.  It is one of the quilts I hope to give to the local women's shelter.

I hand tied it and wanted to keep it simple. 

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RECEIVING BLANKET QUILTS

My niece, Virginia, had a sack full of receiving blankets from her 3 girls and asked if I would like them.  At first I said no, then I got to thinking (sometimes that can be dangerous for me!).  Why not!  So this is what I was able to make.  A twin size soft flannel hand tied quilt.  When I was done with it, I gave it to my sister, Dawn, to be used at her house when the girls come to stay the night.  Now the girls can continue to use their blankets in a blanket.

  

Can you see the stain on the white block in the last row!  I left the receiving blankets just like they were, stains and all.  I bought a pink/brown polka dot flannel for the back.

And then.....from bits left over I was able to make this small lap quilt.  What fun and so soft.   I don't remember what this cross pattern is call but its cute.

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The Duckling quilt is really coming along.  I have all the blocks done and have added the blue border and sash.  Now I have to find some fabric for the back.  Then on to the quilting frame!

Oh yes, I started another braided rug!  Fun, fun, fun.

Thanks for visiting,

Cinder

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