Hidden Treasures

I love aprons; I wear them all the time. Normally I wear a bib-style style apron that loops behind my neck and ties behind my waist.
I have made many of these over the years and have tried out different patterns for similar bib-style aprons.

I found this apron, pictured, in a box of my Mom's fabric this week, she brought it to me after she had cleaned out her sewing space last fall and I promised her that I would make good use of the long-collected fabrics. I had forgotten  about the apron, tucked neatly inside the box. This treasure is old, well-worn and made from flour sack fabric that is now as soft as a tissue; it is completely hand made, even the button holes.

My mother says it was made by her Aunt Lizzie. She remembers, as a small child, going to Aunt Lizzie's home and sitting on the horsehair sofa and looking at her family Bible. Aunt Lizzie was a skilled seamstress; my mother also remembers being served toast with mustard during these visits. 😝 Apparently, Aunt Lizzie's sewing talents didn't crossover into the kitchen.

It has a split-T back and buttons at the side waist. It is small. I can wear it but it would be much more comfortable if that strip at the back waist were lengthened and the buttons moved out just a bit.

I just love this style, there are no straps to slip and it provides good coverage, as any apron worth its weight in fabric should!  I can even see this being made adjustable, with two buttoning positions on each side, as needed. I am working on drafting a pattern from this beauty to see what I can come up with.  I might just have some strawberry print from which to try the pattern out. I could also make smaller versions for the granddaughters.

Stay tuned, we'll see how this goes first. In the meantime, this fragile but lovely apron from the past will be saved and admired; a testament to a tried-and-true style and some dedicated, yet delicate, hand stitching. 

Life is Good!

Forecast: Extended Summer Breeze

"Summer Breeze" 52" X 68"

What could be more welcome than a summer breeze?  Soft, light and sweet; providing relief from days of endless heat, a summer breeze can provide a refreshing respite. This small quilt is a combination of all the above, it lives up to its name. Seals and Crofts knew what they were talking  singing about in 1972.

"Summer breeze, makes me feel fine.  Blowing through the jasmine in my mind."  

The six inch pinwheel blocks are composed of leftover background pieces from "Out of the Blue", I had a box full.  Truth be told, I likely still have enough for yet another similar-sized project!
The top was sashed with an "audition" fabric that I had purchased for another quilt. It's an Essex Yarn-dyed Linen, the color is "Leather". It didn't work in the trial quilt I had in mind, but I love it here! I had just the right amount. While rummaging through the stash closet I came across a piece just perfect for the backing (folded on the sofa's arm); it came from my mother's stash as a result of a clean-out last fall, I was the lucky recipient. And yes, you guessed it, there was exactly enough! That summer breeze is a serendipitous one! The color in this photo reads a little "gold-er" than real life.

"Dewdrops in the Garden", a pantograph by Urban Elementz, added the perfect swirls and circles to soften the edges of all those angles and square corners. I love the way the thread appears against the linen weave of the sashing and borders.

Ready for binding, "Summer Breeze", front and back.

"Summer breeze, makes me feel fine.  Blowing through the jasmine in my mind."  

You're going to be humming along with me for the rest of the day!

Life is Good!

At The Depot

My Mom and Dad have gone back home now, but a week and a half ago, when we were all together, we spent a day in Spencer, NC at the
NC Transportation Museum. In this photo Mom and I are at the depot waiting for the train to stop and take us around the property there; we had a wonderful day.  While working on my homework for "Bible Study" earlier this week I put together this block, entitled "At the Depot".
I decided to make it up out of fabrics Mom gave to me, she'd collected quite a few small, Civil War type prints for a recent quilt and she gladly saved the leftovers so that I could put them to good use in these small blocks. So here we are together, At the Depot; she and I, in body and in fabric.

Life is Good!

Coming Up For Air

"Coming Up For Air" ~ 60" X 78"

I've been on a roll lately, the queue of "to be quilteds" isn't quite as long as it used to be; I've been using up a lot of fabric (backings), quilting thread and batting too; it's all good. I'm loading this String quilt  top today, it's the product of an Ami Simms class that I took at Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival back in February of 2012. I was hunting for enough backing fabric (5 yards) for this one when I received a message from a friend last week that she had found an odd bolt of Marcia Derse fabric (no longer available) by Troy that's about as old this quilt top. She remembered that I had been looking for this fabric some time ago and set the bolt back for me, she assured me that there was enough fabric remaining to back this String quilt. I stopped my my LQS and purchased 5 yards yesterday! Score!! Or so I thought.
When I got home and introduced the front to the back it was apparent that this fabric just wouldn't work... it's too mushroomy-gray compared to the honey-toned creams on the front.; this wasn't turning out to be the match made in heaven that I had hoped.  Now I was faced with another decision; piece a back from matching scraps left over from the class or dive a little deeper in my stash closet... I chose to take the plunge!

When I came up for air this is what I had clutched in my hand... and, yes, there's enough; it's a fabric ("Painted Desert" line from Hoffman International) that I loved so much back in the mid 1990's I bought all that I could at that time; a long-ago purchase that's paying off today. It's the absolute perfect backing for this quilt... and, a name has been assigned to this quilt now too, in honor of today's diving adventure:  "Coming Up For Air"; that moniker describes not only the sky quality of the quilt's backing fabric but also my recent full-on run at finishing up quilting projects. So, what to do with a now prewashed and pressed 5 yard length of Marcia Derse fabric? Not to worry, it will likely come in handy twenty years or so from now... after all, I'm on a roll!

Life is Good!

Sewing With PUL

A few weeks ago a request came to our small Quilting Bee from a fellow member, Spokes and Stitches, for handmade bibs. There is a project underway through Love Without Boundaries for items to make the lives of babies undergoing cleft surgery a little brighter and more comfortable.  I found a free online bib pattern by Heather Bailey and began to pull fabrics from which to make up a few; that was, until, I had an in-person conversation with my friend who made the request. She has a son who has already undergone one cleft surgery; her sweet boy has a second one scheduled for next month. She well understands the need for these bibs and she likes for his to be as waterproof as possible. She explained that since drool is excessive a shirt can quickly become soaked through; she showed me some PUL; a waterproof fabric that she had only just purchased. PUL was new to me; it's soft to the touch and comes in solid colors as well as child-friendly prints. After seeing hers I decided to give it a try; I got some and found it to be extremely easy to work with. I used PUL for my bib fronts, backing them with soft flannel. The only special attention that I gave to this new-to-me fabric was a fresh, sharp, needle and avoidance of placing the iron directly onto the PUL itself. I did press the bibs, and they did just fine, but I pressed them from the flannel side.

While sewing the bib fronts and backs together I kept the flannel side down, against the throat plate, so that the bibs would feed through smoothly and not "stick" or bog down. I used an overedge stitch for construction. The PUL that I bought was in a three-pack of precuts, each piece measured 21" X 24" and, with precise attention to placement, I found that I was able to get three bibs from each piece! I had never made bibs before, this pattern was wonderful to work from; I found the process to be fun and rewarding!

Try something new today, I, for one, am glad that I did!
I hope and pray that these bibs will be much loved and well used by their precious little recipients.
Life is Good!

Calling All Fabric Hounds!

You're good at sniffing out fabric, I need your help with this one. The fabric pictured here is from the "Samsara" collection by Benartex (circa 2009); I need five yards for backing. Here's the dilemma: while documenting projects for my UFO notebook I came across everything I need for a Shop-Hop row quilt. I have all the kits (including fabric), for six rows. I have the border fabrics and the binding fabric and all the instructions for the 62.5" X 84.5" quilt top, everything is stored neatly together in a bin with a photo of what the completed project looks like. I attached a note that says : "5 yards for backing" to the photo. Now, this is the weird part, I thought for sure that I had purchased this already. I can't find it. It's not easy for five yards of fabric to go missing, it's not in any of the ususal storage places. Apparently, I meant to buy it, but never did. I'd love to stick to my original plan if at all possible. If I can't, it's no biggie; I can go with something else for backing.  If you've seen this fabric somewhere, lingering on a bolt in the "sale" section of your LQS or on your own shelf at home, and are willing to part with it, please let me know. I've exhausted all the online search sites; so, decided to call out the fabric hounds; one never knows.

Life is Good!

Update: Call off the hounds!  Fabric found, thanks to a friend; 
here (alternate colorway, but that's okay), at a GREAT price.
I'm blessed to know some of the best people, those who understand the value
 of fabric and love a hunt just as much as I do... but are better at it! 
Thanks, Jessica!

Rounding Out The Jellyroll

This sweet little jellyroll looks innocent enough... all packaged up so pretty and tied with a bow. I find myself attracted to these adorable little two and a half inch strip bundles, in fact, I had to fight for this very one. At our recent Bee retreat  we enjoyed a belated Christmas gift exchange; the type of exchange where you can either go for the unknown by choosing a wrapped gift or steal someone else's already opened gift when it's your turn to pick. I had drawn the coveted #1 ticket which allowed me first and last choice this year. I'll admit it, I stole this jellyroll! Now, I would ordinarily feel bad admitting that, but when I stole it I had the knowledge that the one remaining wrapped gift on the table was the very one that I had brought; I knew that the friend I took this jellyroll from would adore the low volume fat quarter bundle contained inside. I was correct, she was pleased! Whew! So, back to the innocence of the pretty little jellyroll. Don't let her cute little outer appearance fool you. She demands more than to simply following you home to sit on a shelf. She requires company! A charm pack, some backing and binding fabric will round her out nicely and give her a purpose.

All the makings for a small quilt are assembled, this little jellyroll is happy now.

"Strawberry Lemonade" is completed and ready for Lynnleigh's 1st birthday party today!  Made from nothing more than a jellyroll and a charm pack (plus backing and binding) this is a quick to make and attractive quilt, measuring 60" X 60", is a good size for both children and adults alike. The pattern is "Easy Breezy" by Touchstone Designs; this is the fourth quilt I have made from this pattern, and as you now know, it won't be my last! Don't say you haven't been warned... those sweet little jellyrolls can be very demanding!

It's all good~

Life is Good!

Update: I am so sorry to report that the pattern mentioned above is out of print 

and no longer available. I will post a photo of the completed quilt design 

with measurements for anyone who might be interested, stay tuned...

Quiet Time

It's quiet time around Chez Goodneedle, it's been so  for the last few days.  However, while I've been away from blogging for the past few weeks, our home has been anything but quiet! My parents have been visiting with us from New Hampshire, and in observance of their presence we hosted our grandchildren overnight more than a few times, we welcomed old family friends traveling from Florida back to New England for a relaxing dinner one evening, and we took several daytrips around our beautiful state in between catching up on family news and events. We happily welcomed spring several times, but it hasn't chosen to stick around just yet! In the meantime, we've enjoyed watching a couple of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at the feeder as they rest up here before they continue on their journey northward. I have planted all my summer plants and moved the houseplants outside to the porches. Today my parents are back at home sleeping in their own bed once again; our grandchildren are too, and the Grosbeaks have moved on. The activity level has shifted down into low; but there's still plenty happening here, it's just at a much more tranquil level. My collection of low volume fabrics is growing by leaps and bounds; this, my newest addiction, is the perfect project for these quieter days in my life right now. The soft colors and muted prints are reflective of the goings-on that are always happening in the background of daily life; hushed, almost silent actions that are often overlooked but always present, like the ticking of a clock or the hum of the refrigerator's motor. I derive great peace from studying this stack of soft and quiet prints and smile inwardly at the thought of the serene, quilted, wonderfulness that they will one day combine to become.

Life is Good!

Sight Vs. Vision

My husband and I see things differently, well maybe we SEE things the same way but we certainly have different VISION. My husband looks at this and sees a neatly folded stack of fabric while I can see a most beautiful Christmas quilt begging to be born.

I look at this and see logs while he can see the magnificent bowls and vessels within!
Seeing is one thing, vision is something different altogether!

Life is Good!

Backing Preview

I wanted to share this photo today so that you could smile along with me; the backing fabric won't be visible again for a while. I got this Picture Play quilt  loaded onto Sundance yesterday and now I'll have to wait to begin quilting until the package with the bobbin thread (that I ordered) arrives. I'm really in love with this large scale print, how can you not be happy when you look at it?

Life is Good!

We're Born That Way!

You know the feeling... you've just been fabric shopping and you can't wait to get home to wash it and cut it up. You simply have to slip it out of the sack and hold it, caress it, right there in the car. You'd like to wrap up in it but you're fearful of what passers-by might think. Well, my friends, I now know that it's not a learned behavior; we're born that way! My daughter is in town and we made a quick run to the discount department store today to pick up some long-sleeved T-shirts for Miss Lucy Ann, she wanted to carry "her" bag to the car. On the way home we looked in the back seat and this is what we saw; the shopping bag had long-since been discarded to the floor and she had an armful of her soft new shirts... by the time we made it into the driveway she had draped them around herself like so many long, luxurious scarves. Oh, sweetheart, Nana knows. I had some beautiful Moda yardage that I wanted to "wear" the very same way just a few weeks ago!

Life is Good!

  

Another Quilt Show Is History

Our Guild's "Art Of Comfort" quilt show is history today, but I thought I would share some of the sights, and the quilts, from this past weekend as seen through the lens of my own camera. It was a terrific gathering of friends, fabric (vendors) and fun (quilts, of course!). I have posted below photos of quilts that caught my attention, these are just a mere drop in the bucket of all that was on exhibit. I am inspired, as always, and proud of the Guild to which I belong; such a richly talented group of quilters and friends!

Enjoy the show~

I was so happy to finally meet fellow blogger, Cathi, from Shakerwood Quilts. 

She made me feel like we were longtime friends!

I look forward to seeing her again in August, 

she will be presenting a program for our Guild then, I can't wait!

This beauty was a stunner... it won 1st in category, Best Hand Applique, 
Best Longarm Quilting and Viewer's Choice!
Can't you see why?

One of the quilt show chairs, with her lovely Floral Tiles quilt... well done, on both counts! Bravo!!

And then... as fast as it had gone up, it all come down. One by one, the quilts were returned to their
respective pillowcases and claimed by their owners. 
The process went like clockwork, a smooth Swiss clock.

...and a good time was had by all...

We'll be back; with another phenomenal show; in 2014!

Life is Good!