Hand Pieced~ But By Whom?

I had the privilege of quilting a hand-pieced beauty this past week. Oh, how I'd love to know the history of this one. How old is it? From where did it come?

 

If you study closely, you can see the hand stitches that were lovingly placed, joining together this lively array of feedsacks and vintage fabrics. The top was purchased by a friend of a friend. She machine washed it (!!) before I received it for quilting. The stitches were strong and the top sturdy enough for a trip through the washer. I carefully pressed it with Magic sizing and squared it up the best that I could. 

Once loaded onto the rails I gently quilted an open, modified clamshell design. The result speaks for itself, I thought that the overall effect was just perfect. The quilt's owner plans to use it for display.

🤍

Oh, if this quilt could only talk!

Fiddle Sticks

I've been busy the last few days quilting up a few quilt tops for a friend, they were donated to her Quilt Ministry. They are both wonderful, scrappy quilts; my favorite kind! The first one is bright and spring-like in its coloration. Working on it was like a ray of warm sunshine. (Something that has been desperately needed in our neck of the gloomy, rainy woods lately). My friend told me that this one would go to a lady from her church who's a shut-in, she's very spunky and positive.

This is the quilt, my friend included a hot pink flannel backing and I thought that hot pink quilting thread might add a bit more "punch" to the overall look; I believe it will fit a spunky and positive lady!

The next quilt, below, is to go to a home bound gentleman. 

Here it is, before, during and after quilting. I used a pantograph called "Calm Water" by Anne Bright in a sand-colored thread. I'm inspired by this quilt design; all of the "bricks" are 2" X 6", the inner border is 4", the brick off-sets are all 2" squares and the corner squares are 6". I drafted up the design in EQ (above, left), so that I wouldn't forget, and named it "Fiddle Sticks". Guess which bin of precut scraps I'll be raiding next? My friend's Quilt Ministry is blessed, indeed, to have some fine piecers in their group. 

I began quilting on my own Star Flowers low volume quilt yesterday. The sun has returned and the days have warmed up nicely, such a change from the cold rain that we've been plagued with for weeks on end. That didn't stop me from quilting "Puddles" though. This is a new (to me) pantograph, I love the effect.

Life is Good! 

Sibling Quilts

Here they are, "Sister Bear" and "Brother Bear", both finished at last. Each of these are made from hand embroidered blocks done over a number of years, from the same book: "S is For Stitch" by Kristyne Czepuryk. These were fun to work on; and, like human siblings, each one has its own unique personality! 

It wasn't until they were both completed that I realized "Brother Bear" was larger than his sister quilt. I cut the logs for this one just a skosh bigger. That's okay, they're not identical twins. 😉

I quilted up the borders differently too; again, keeping them similar~ but different in their own way.

Mr. Goodneedle always asks me the same question when I'm hand stitching the binding down: "where is this one going?"  I honestly have no idea when it comes to these two. 

For now, it's simply enough that they're done! 

Life is Good!

Gettin' Chubby

I'm getting chubby these days; well, maybe (hopefully) not me, but I'm getting chubby with my binding! "Chubby binding" is the preferred binding method of Kim Diehl and it is explained in all of her books. I spoke about it here, having used it on a quilt last month. The appearance is quite nice and the corners turn perfectly square each and every time. "Brother Bear" has been prepared with this binding for hand finishing.  

This method uses a Clover tape maker (size 25) for turning a 2" cut strip. Since this method uses a single-fold over the raw edge instead of a customary, double-fold, binding I wouldn't recommend it for any quilt that gets a lot of use. For a wall hanging or light-duty quilt, however, it's my new go-to method.  

"All American" is quilted and off the rails. It will hang on a brick wall out on the porch, it will get  its chubby binding applied this afternoon. I can't wait to get this one done and hung! 

"The Quiet Road" has been loaded and the quilting's begun. I almost talked myself out of quilting it with orange thread and considered a neutral linen color; I'm SEW glad that I didn't listen now! 😍

The Tie-Dye kit that I ordered arrived yesterday. I've never done this before but am looking forward to having fun with this along with our oldest granddaughter. Lucy Ann decided to tie-dye her quilt backing fabric, I'd better get busy and read through all the directions in preparation for our dyeing day. 

Another year, another batch of nap blankets for the Pre-K program at a local elementary school. I'm not sure how long the small quilt group of which I'm a part has been contributing 45 nap blankets (three classrooms of fifteen), but I'm guessing somewhere between seven and ten years. This years' contributions will be "held" until the Pre-Ks return in person (at least nine weeks from now) given the amended school calendar concessions for COVID-19. They've been delivered and we'll start looking ahead, the need is ongoing; it's never too early to get a head start on next year's batch. 

Life is Good! 

And Sew It Goes

I've finished the quilting on this little one, "Sister Bear"; I have the binding all ready to apply, and wouldn't you know it, it's a batik and there's enough left over to make more masks! Yay! 

This is the batch from last week, thirteen adult sized and one child's mask; they've already been distributed to their new families and I have nine all ready to go this week! I thought that my batiks were dwindling away.  Nope, think again! One family member that received masks was so kind as to repay me with a generous cut of beautiful blue batik from her own stash! This kindness reminds me of a line from my favorite-of-all-time Christmas movie: "Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas". 

There's a scene in the movie when Emmet and his mother, Alice Otter, are rowing on the river and he teases her "you trade socks that you've knitted for pumpkins so that you can bake them into pies which you sell for money to buy more wool to knit more socks..." and so on! Yes, I'm trading masks for fabric to make more masks, and SEW it goes!

In other news, phase three of the dental implant saga happened yesterday with the placement of the abutment. I feel a little like I was kicked in the jaw by a mule today; basically just sore but there's no pain at the site. I'm sure glad to have gotten to this point, and have all the rest behind me. In three weeks the plan is to move ahead with the crown made and that's the final step. It's been a long haul since that blasted tooth cracked down to the root last October. 😬

Today, July 1, is both National Postage Stamp day and National Letter Carrier day. Do you remember this stamp? I sure do, it was one of my favorites. A 13-cent stamp is almost impossible to believe today, but not in 1987. 😉

Hannes and I would like to wish you a happy July and a wonderful summer ahead. This picture is a couple of years old, here he's resting his head on "Red Hot Summer", a Stack and Whack quilt. 

Life is Good!

My Home State

I loaded this panel onto Snowbird last week to do some bead board, straight-line, quilting. I decided to use the panel as is, it measures 19" X 44" and is perfect, without being bordered, as a table runner for our kitchen table. I had it quilted up in no time.
One of the very best tips that I've ever heard is one that I learned from quiltdivajulie. She makes her bindings before she's quilted her pieces so that they're ready to go when the quilt is trimmed and needs finishing. For me, this is a psychological trick-- it takes no less time to have it made and ready ahead of time, but it is such a efficient way to work. My mind doesn't want to stop and make binding after quilting and trimming; but, I have no trouble loading a quilt, preparing the binding, and then setting about the quilting. When the trimming is finished, the binding is applied right then and there; this is helpful to me and seems like the most productive way to work.

Speaking of efficiency-- actually, I quilted two at the same time. The New Hampshire panel is a gift for my mother. Shhhh-- don't breathe a word if you're reading this and know her, she'll be surprised!

This was done and on the table by last evening. These panels, My Home State, are by Northcott. Mine was a gift from Quiltkeemosabe, check at your LQS for the state of your choice.

Mr. G and I play Cribbage every day, if you're familiar with the game you'll understand the smile on his face-- he had four 5's dealt to him and a Queen turned; this hand is worth 28 points! He had trouble not laughing as we played out the hand, he knew that this experience is very rare and lucky!

Life is Good!

Loafing Around?

I spent a lot of time in the kitchen last week, moving forward with my bread-making pursuit. At this time I have two, different, sourdough starters going. These loaves are a result of the second starter, it's a recipe from my life thirty years ago;  originally, I received a cup of starter as a gift from a neighbor. At that time, with children at home, I made two to four loaves each and every week! This starter that is fed with instant mashed potato flakes, sugar and water. 
Getting that going is all thanks to a good friend; how do you spell friend? I spell it: Y-E-A-S-T! This particular starter requires a boost of instant yeast and I got such a surprise when this baggie arrived. I got right to work. Now, to keep it going, I'll be feeding and baking once a week, I need to assign a bread-baking day.

So, that "wild" yeast starter is the trickier one of the two. I'm NOT giving up on it though. Last week I measured out a cup and set it aside for something less ambitious than loaves. Pictured in my mother's original, antique measuring cup. After doing much reading and research I decided to try my hand at English Muffins.

These turned out perfectly! They go through two risings; one before they're cut out and one after, then they're griddle baked on each side for ten minutes. They smelled wonderful during that baking phase. The great news is that they tasted every. single. bit. as good as they look! I may never go back to store bought. 

Buoyed up by the English Muffin success, I tried more rustic loaves with that same starter. They rose just fine, but I was underwhelmed with the outward, lumpy appearance. I would prefer a smoother, more elastic dough. I'll keep at it this week, I'm not about to quit yet. 

Sliced, these loaves did not disappoint. It's a denser, heartier bread- perfect for going beside soup or with olive oil for an appetizer. The flavor is quite good, it has a pronounced sourdough "tanginess". 

This one, the first bread that I mentioned (above), is sweeter and lighter, perfect for toast or sandwiches. Mr. Goodneedle couldn't wait to cut into it; even hot, right out of the oven! This received a thumbs-up.

YAGOF* was completed last week and in its rightful spot on the porch. As cool as it's been the last few days, it's nice to have it out there right now. Spring temperatures have retreated temporarily.

I backed this one with a wicker print. 

"Sweet Sixteen" is currently under the needle, just in case you thought I never left the kitchen-- I did!

And, once again, the Rose Breasted Grosbeaks have returned to the feeder. They've appeared every year for as long as I can remember, they don't stay long, a week at the most and then they're off.

This post is a recomposition of one created yesterday, I think that this is a reasonable duplicate of what I wanted to say. There's few things more frustrating (at least for me) than losing something in an instant while at the computer. Here's hoping that your week is a happy and productive one. 

Adapting in an upside-down 🙃world: We'll start to see a few things returning to the "new normal" here in North Carolina this week, we're in Phase #1 of re-opening. Fingers crossed that all goes well. I need to get back to my LQS, hopefully they'll reopen this week, I'm running out of supplies!! Wash your hands, my friends,🧼 stay safe!

"Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word." - Psalm 119:74

Life is Good!

*You're A Grand Old Flag

'Tis the Season

With the month of May come big changes, seasonal ones!
Yep, the strawberries are ripe at our local U-pick farm, each and every berry is absolutely as delicious as it looks. The porch quilt has been updated to reflect this full-fledged launch into spring and sunny days ahead. Much more time has been spent lately out-of-doors than inside. It feels so good to get out and to get dirt under my fingernails!

Year two of my perennial garden has yielded great returns: plants coming in vigorous, hale and hearty! I'm encouraged by that. As time goes by these will fill in more, I'm working to ensure color throughout the seasons, early spring through fall, through the selection of plants. So far, so good.

These two False Indigo plants have been such a nice surprise, they did nothing last year! I honestly had almost forgotten about them until they emerged and began to bloom. They'll get better and better from here. 

Mr. Goodneedle finished the brick retaining/planter wall in the back behind the patio; we transplanted some Day Lilies and Liriope into this spot. I also planted a cabbage, it's circled. The cabbage was a school project of Gregory's that he left here after a stay in mid-March; before the quarantine. I told him that I would take good care of it. I'm hoping that it will grow to maturity in this spot and he might enjoy some coleslaw later on this summer. Fingers crossed on that one. 

Inside the house: I completed the quilting on "You're A Grand Old Flag" for the back of the sofa on the porch. I had already prepared the binding but, after considering the options, decided to pipe the binding with red to set off the navy edge. It took a bit more time-- but, hey, what else do we have right now?

Here is is, piped, bound and hand-basted into position for finishing in the evenings in front of TV.

Adapting in a upside-down 🙃 world: I went on a scavenger hunt yesterday, I used to call that grocery shopping! Three stores, multiple experiences of waiting in lines at properly distanced intervals, just to return home with basics (flour!). A few stores had restrictions in place for meat purchases. This reminds me of the ration tokens that my grandmother told me about during the Great Depression; she gave me some as "souvenirs": red for meat, blue for milk, cheese and eggs. I'll have to go looking for those. Our state will begin phasing in the new directives for openings and gatherings at the end of this week. Keep the faith! Be safe, my friends, 🧼 wash your hands!

"It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." - Lamentations 3:26

Life is Good!