Thursday, February 14, 2019

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Mary's Leaf Collection


Our weather had given me a lot of stitching time!

I finished hand quilting "Mary's Leaf Collection" and hung it.  

It is so refreshing to see leaves with our winter weather.  Six weeks until spring, but who's counting?

I used the leaf blocks from our Mary Witherwax pattern. I found several photos of antique garden trellis quilts from the 19th century and looked at their technique.  I liked the applique X approach.



The wall hanging finished at about 36" square.

I enjoyed every stitch!

Hand quilting includes:  Echo, grid and outline.

Each leaf is a different 19th c. green repro print from stash.

Mary had all of these leaves in her quilt, I think she was a leaf lover and would approve.




The Breakfast Club events at Eagle Creek Quilt shop were a great success.
Thank You Eagle Creek Quilt Shop.  HERE.
The weather cooperated!
The day before we had the coldest day in 20 years with temps -29F before the wind!
The snow stopped too - breakfast was wonderful - the ladies turned out early.  The freight room was packed with enthusiasts.

It was nice to meet so many people!!


The shop caters to many quilting styles.

They have Kaffe, batiks, modern solids, all kinds a popular prints and many, many beautiful samples.

You don't have to love reproduction fabrics to appreciate antique needlework tools!  I incorporate women's history and information on materials you might not recognize!

The shop is large, housed in the former train depot.
Large windows, high ceilings highlight all of the samples in every room.

I like the combination of contemporary quilts and antique fixtures.





We love to hear from customers!

I met Sally online, then in person in Australia.

She gave me permission to share this picture of her hoop bag  made from our pattern. (HERE)  Several antique styles are also shown in my book. Pattern (HERE)

Didn't she do a wonderful job?  
Sally added all the features you can't see as well.  Interior pockets, holders under the top and a lovely closure.

Well done Sally!
Thank you for sharing.



On the Mary Witherwax Facebook group I've been sharing my alphabet project.
I even showed my messy design wall.

I almost have the complete alphabet stitched and am experimenting with how to set them.  So far I am liking the nine patches...that could change.

I pinned the "Heritage Roll" to the design wall to hold tape measures, sticky notes and a pencil.  It's handy!  I sent the first check off to the museum - ALL proceeds from this pattern to go the Schwenkfelder Capital Fund.



My book was reviewed on the Hands Across The Sea Floss Tube.  HERE

This was quite an honor as I admire Nicola's work.

Listen as she shows you her her newest antique samplers, new charts for beautiful sampler reproductions, wonderful cards and my book.

Enjoy!!

If you love it as much as I so - subscribe!



I also did a little bit of crochet.

It had been a long time but I remembered!

I bought a four post doll bed at the local antique fair last month.

Mr. Collector cleaned it all up, it had been stored for decades in an old attic accumulating layers of dust.

I wanted a netted canopy, but that wasn't likely to happen.  I crocheted one I am happy with.  I added hand tied tassels for the final touch.  Then I decided it was too white so I coffee soaked it.

I'm pleased so far - once I have a quilt made for it I'll show you.



I have also been posting daily to Instagram.

You can find me there - 'Dawn Ronningen'

Quilts, needlework tools and embroidery photos.
I've "met" lots of friendly people there!

I posed this quirky pin cushion last week.
I love these one of a kind pieces of folk art.







I posted  these Black Forest bears on Instagrom.

The one on the left is antique Swiss.
The pin cushion is on his back.
His front paws hold a thimble.

Mr. Collector, carved the thread holder bear.
The white rod is cow bone.
His back is also a pin cushion.





The weather has been near record breaking in cold and snowfall.

The deer in our backyard come out on the milder afternoons, usually for some sun.

This doe is resting near some brush that breaks the wind.

The entire family has been out since the -50F wind chill weather so we know they survived.

So have the birds and squirrels, they stock up at the feeders on the warmer days.





After the severe cold we had snow -  20" just this week, I'm ready for a vacation someplace WARM.  I took this photo today.

The snow piles are getting taller and we have more snow on the way this week.

I say I had more stitching time, but that's not totally true.  It takes time to clear the snow.  We have a snow blower, but some areas just have to be hand shoveled.
It also takes longer getting around - I just go out less!
The snow pile are getting as high as the STOP signs, making driving around slower.

Thanks for stopping by.
Happy Stitching!!
Dawn

Link to signed copy of my book:  HERE