The fifth and final One World One Heart blog event is starting this Sunday, January 30th
and runs until Feb. 17th. I am trying to decide what to offer for my giveaway- maybe a coaster,
a regular sized eyeglass case or a reader style eyeglass case;
Or maybe a pincushion (this is what my giveaway item was the last two years) or,finally:
a mini pincushion. I will decide and post the item on Sunday. See you then!
I love batik fabrics.I have quite a stash of them and sometimes use them for applique work. Lately it seems my time is spent making pincushions and eyeglass cases to fill orders and I would really like to stretch myself a little. I decided to treat myself at Christmas and purchase one of Jude Hill's online classes over at Spirit Cloth. I tried the cloth to cloth class which is an introductory course to her fabric weaving technique for quilting. The videos were wonderful- it is so interesting to watch an artist at work and see the process beginning to end.This type of quilting is so different from my usual work- much more spontaneous, it's nice to loosen up a bit. the first step was to tear strips of cloth- tear, not cut! That part alone was fun!
Then I started weaving sample pieces- some of these are the batiks and others are cottons I dyed myself. Playing with the colors was so much fun. the one above is a tiny piece using bright colors I'm especially drawn to and the one below has a dark blue purchased batik and a mottled sky blue that I dyed. Blue is not a color I use much, but this combo is so pretty. This piece will be the background for embellishing with embroidery and more. I would like to meld this technique with my crocheted flowers and embroidery.
I think the techniques will work well together. This is my 'work station'- the coffee table in front of me in the living room.
This is the green piece I decided to start with- the pieces are woven and now I'm stitching down the raw edges. When I made quilts before I would be chained to a sewing machine for the piecing and worked very hard on doing perfect, even quilting stitches. I soon realized I wouldn't be finishing very many quilts. What I love about this is handstitching everything is encouraged- a much freer form.
A few years ago my friend, Colette, was at a weaving demonstration and when the artist was discarding the selvage edge threads she scooped them up and very generously gave them to me. I have been waiting for the right project and this may be it.
The colors are just beautiful so, along with adding some flowers:
I'm going to use the threads for some of the embroidery- couching them done here and there.
It is early stages still and ,of course, I have to work around making more eyeglass cases:
and pincushions!
I go through a lot of thread making my pincushions ,etc. so I'm so glad I have a local needlework shop that carries everything I need and more. Stitchville USA is a small shop packed to the rafters with all manner of embroidery floss, hand dyed threads,
perle cottons in all sizes ( this is what I use mostly), silk ribbons, and anything else fiber related you might need. They specialize in embroidery and cross stitch as well as punch needle work so are well stocked on supplies. They also get their hand dyed wool from the same source I do.
Pattern books galore, kits, and even classes and stitching groups are available. The walls are covered in floor to ceiling examples of beautifully done needlework.
I have been shopping here for years and am happy to announce that they will now be carrying my pincushions. Since the shop carries both the thread and the wool that I use we thought it would be a good fit. My next step is to work up some patterns and instructions to sell-
buy one ready made or all the supplies to make your own. One stop shopping!
I did a little thrift store shopping this week before the big snow storm blew in and found this perfect magazine rack. The green color matches the green toile print wallpaper in my dining room. Speaking of magazines, I thought I would share some pages in another of my collection of vintage mags. This one is Home Arts needlecraft, October 1935- in the midst of the Depression.My mother was 1 year old and my dad was 3. Both sets of grandparents were raising kids ( my mom's family-4 kids, my dad's- 9 kids) on farms in northern Minnesota.
I love the art work in these old mags- and they can be quite amusing. Apparently only one guy makes the grade based on his brand of cigs.
Here we have a nice pattern for a chair set, mat, and table runner all done in applique and embroidery. The instructions are included elsewhere.
For the bedroom we have patchwork quilts done with floral applique. I wish this had been shown in color- the 1930's combinations are so fun.
And now for the dining room- gorgeous cutwork linens. It says these were done in buttonhole stitch in blue, green, gold,and orchid. I have done some cutwork and believe me it is time consuming.
Let's not forget a recipe page- these were all recipes using oysters- Creamed, Scalloped, Stew, and Bisque. I am not an oyster fan so I would have been disappointed these were the only recipes.
A little decorative stitching project to liven up the living room:
And, of course the fashion pages:I love the styles of the 30's, on this page I'm partial to the apron pattern.
And here's a few patterns for stepping out.The sizing is so odd, they are listed as 'years', such as "designed for 16,18,and 20 years".
The 'stove of your dreams' is a beautiful porcelain enamel combination coal and wood burning range. I like the look of these and have thought about buying one and having it converted.
And now for a contest- a chance to win $25 for first place with 22 more chances to win anywhere from $15 to $2.50. During those years that was probably pretty good. Plus, the first place winner also got a 9x12 Axminster rug awarded for 'promptness'. Just in case you needed a little help they give you some examples of words you could use- 'base', 'vase', 'ace', 'space', 'lace', 'face', etc.
And for all you ladies who can get 6 of your friends and neighbors to subscribe to Needlecraft magazine- you will be rewarded with this One and Only Shirley Temple doll. This would have been a big deal- I have pictures of my Mom and aunt at this time with those sausage curls: they endured frequent sessions of having their hair twisted up in rags to achieve this look.
Here are economical stamped linens ready to be assembled and embroidered. You can order any number of squares and stitch them together to make larger tablecloths.Prices range from .25 to.39 cents.
And now for some of the needlework I have finished . These pincushions are part of an order going to the shop in California.
I particularly like this one in shades of Flamingo pink and Orange sherbet.
And these eyeglass cases have been sent to the shop in Alaska. I have a few more to fill before Christmas and then hope to work on stockpiling so I don't always feel so rushed.
Hope you enjoyed the brief jaunt through 1935!
It's time to start thinking about the holidays, which is difficult with this beautiful weather. The first shop I need to restock is the Textile center's gift shop. The holiday show begins on Nov. 1st
and I'm working on ornaments first. I will need to make some for Swan Song and Lanesboro within the next few weeks. Thankfully they work up quickly, at least compared to pincushions.
I love using nontraditional colors, I think they show up nicely against the greenery.
I left some items at Swan Song when we were there a week ago- embroidered towels and crocheted potholders for gift sets,
and a couple of embroidered pouch bags. These are so much fun to make, but really time consuming.
All I need to stock for that gallery is ornaments. Lanesboro needs everything-
including more pincushions. Busy month!
I've gotten another wholesale order! These pincushions are headed for a shop in Santa Monica called Artful. Since we have decided to close our physical shop and concentrate on wholesale and internet sales this is another step in the right direction. We drove aways down the Mississippi River on Sunday checking out possible shops and galleries and found a delightful one in Maiden Rock,Wi. called Swan Song. As soon as I can make about 12 more pincushions we will be taking them down there. Delivering them ourselves gives us an excuse to stop at the Smiling Pelican bakery across the street from the gallery- wonderful bread and the best Apple Cardamom cakes! Tomorrow we are taking half a day to visit Stillwater and look into those galleries. I love daytrips!
This is the newest pincushion. I would have to say this is my favorite color combo so far. I gradated the colors of thread in the large flower to give it an ombre effect.
These were also finished this week and have found a new home in a shop in northern Wisconsin.