Sharing

Me with a few of my pinballs

 Last week I bought some of my pinballs to the Needlework Guild of Minnesota.  HERE  After discussing pinballs, they did my workshop on mosaic pinballs. Pattern HERE.  (paper patterns also available)
I made limited edition kits just for them!

I've already heard from a few who are planning their next pinballs - how fun!  They have some wonderful embellishment ideas to further personalize their projects.

It was a fun evening!

How many bunnies can you count?

Deanna sent me this photo of her pinball as well as a little walk down memory lane.  She pinned her ball with white glass headed pins.

The Hex box was a gift a few years back from another member of our sewing group.  The clam or pinch purse I made her along with the walnut pin cushion the same year.
Maybe 5 years ago??  Fun we know her so well to use the same In The Beginning Toile.  When she was here we checked the selvedge - the year was 2002.

Her little pink bear is named "Carrie".

What a precious and sentimental collection!
Maybe next she will share her berries?!?

Saturday, I was the guest speaker at the Saint Paul Needleworkers Guild Spring Luncheon.  HERE
The luncheon tables were each set with a different spring color and matching floral arrangement - Beautiful!

I was able to setup two full tables of handwork related embroidery and sewing items.  At the end of the table I had my book and an area to sign copies.
They are a wonderful group of enthusiastic and talented stitchers.

On Thursday I will be doing a program for the Saint Cloud Heritage Quilters.  HERE

I'll be bringing antique fabrics, quilts and antique quilt related needlework tools.  Guests can attend for $3.

Lots or repacking and regrouping going on!  Great Fun!
I can customize a program for any interested group - contact me or have your program manager contact me directly.

I try not to duplicate to much so people who attend multiple events always have a surprise!






Then I am off to Pennsylvania, where I am speaking at the Penn Dry Goods market.  HERE 
Their exhibit is antique sewing tools from the museum an private collections.
My lecture is sold out and they are taking names for a wait list.  There are so many great speakers I can hardly wait!  From quilts, plushwork and silk - Two full days.  Plus, the shopping - I aways find a treasure or three to bring home.



If you can't make it to an event, signed copies of my book are available directly from me - I'm happy to provide free gift wrap on mail orders.  HERE

Happy Stitching!

Dawn

I Hope To Meet You HERE - Future Dates:
June 11 Minneapolis Quilters
June 14 Minnesota Quilters Book Signing (MQP Booth)
October 10 & 11 American Quilt Study Group Study Center Lincoln NE
November 7 & 9 Minnesota Quilters Thursday & Saturday Programs
December 7 & 8 Colorado Quilt Council  

Happy Easter Weekend

We are hosting Easter Dinner on Sunday so i thought I would post now.
All things spring are happening around here!
Warm Weather, greening grass and the tips of perennials showing in the mulch.
I am especially happy as my Yellow Peony is showing signs of healthy spring growth!

I have not done much spring decorating, it has been busy and I'm not sure I have time to also put it all away for summer.
I'll share some spring photos of past years.

The bunny in this photo is my pattern, and I embroidered and beaded her outfit.
The bears were made from Emily Farmer kits HERE.  I highly recommend her kits, and have almost all of them!

This photo shows the scale.
They are hand sewn, but you could do them on a machine.  The embroidery and embellishment is by hand.  The kits include everything but the fiber fill.

The kit packets make great gifts for sewing friends too!

There are kittens, bunnies bears in all kinds of variations.

This bunny print is the backing from a vintage quilt.

Aren't they happy bunnies?

Is that a hula-hoop?

So cute for a baby and spring.
I think pastels are no longer popular for babies.
hmmm.....personally I like it better than gray.

This is an embroidered and appliquéd crib cover.

The curtain has a three dimensional curtain.

I like the moon looking through the window at the bunnies sleeping peacefully tucked in their gingham sheets.

I wrote much more about it in 2013.  HERE.

These are sewing eggs.  I have yet to find the Singer Egg.

The milk glass egg is an Asian import, yet very similar to a glass darning egg.

The red and gold eggs are sewing kits.









View showing the eggs opened.

Many supplies in a tiny space, thimbles, needles, threads and pins.  Not the greatest quality!
Typical in 20th century imports.

Enjoy your weekend!

Dawn

PS

I am offering free US postage and gift wrap on signed copies of my book for Mother's Day.  

I'm also including a card. Postage will be refunded right away!   HERE

References:

Emily Farmer Kits HERE

Nursery-rhymes.org (Longer verses and history)  HERE 

More about baby bunting HERE

Crib quilt with the same name HERE

Redwork I Cound Not Resist

Happy Spring!

Our snow is almost melted. However, last year we got another 24" in April so we are enjoying the sun while we can.

I liked this redwork spread when I saw it.

The more I looked at the details I decided I had to have it.  Why did I even contemplate not buying it?!?

The fine stitches are on a wonderful linen fabric.

Each block is outlined in a gorgeous feather stitch.

This baby and dog is one of many sweet blocks.

"Best Friends" would be a good caption for this one.




The designs are so clever, they deserve captions!

This one might be one of the hand drawn designs.

It is one of the only blocks with some light wear in the embroidery.

I've never rented a bathing suit - have you?

The figure in the striped suit wading into the waves is so sweet.  Maybe the water was cold that day.

How about something like, "The things we do with friends"
A back story...They went out to lunch and decided they couldn't resist a dip in the ocean?

"How does your garden grow?"

Maybe the neighbors stopping by to checkout the garden?


The coverlet is dated 1890 and has some references to Boston and Salem.

This one is your turn...
What's happening here?

Hogs in Hand?
Pigs on Fingers?
This Little Piggy?


What's your caption?

Enjoy,
Dawn

New Children's Book

We have a shelf in the family room with a basket of toys and stack of children's books for young visitors.

Some of the books are activity books.  I have a nephew who loves maps, puzzles and mysteries....and a niece who loves animals!

I just added this book, "Rabbit No Pants and the Mysteries of Pantaloon Woods" by Gareth Shone.  Since we have a wooded lot and lots of rabbits I thought the kids would have fun!

There isn't an age recommendation, however I would guess it falls into the 'Young Reader' category.  Also good to read aloud.

I ordered my copies from Amazon HERE.
There are preview pages to give you a sense of the story.

The book is sprinkled with cute little line drawings that keep a young readers interest.


The book is a planned series, so stay tuned for more adventures!


It would be a sweet addition to an Easter Basket too.

A bit more from the back of the book.

Gareth and Julia are new parents.  You can tell from the book what a wonderful young family they are - making their way on an old (new to them) farm.  I'm guessing there are a few bunnies in their gardens.


Enjoy - and HAPPY READING!

Dawn

Antique Shopping - Come Along

We spent some time antique shopping this weekend.

Join me and we'll look together.

There were still many red items out from Valentines Day.

Good for us because we hadn't been out with all the February snow.  But kind of sad too, meaning these treasures weren't sold.

I would have loved them instead of flowers and chocolates,
how about you?

I love the look of linen and lace with blue cottons.

The linen so crisp and clean, the hand crochet edging is beautiful.

The quilt top was just shirting squares but still quite nice.

I really like coverlets, and have a few in the collection.

This case mixed a few decades of bed coverings with the drunkards path quilt and woven coverlets.

Red, White and Blue is always striking.

This coverlet is "Bird of Paradise"

If you look closely at the bands you will find the words woven in the smallest areas.

It is very heavy, about mid 19th century

I always look for nice hand quilting, and this trip was rewarding.

Inspiring fine, even stitches.


Always motivating to see when working on a large hand quilting project.  I couldn't help but wondering...how long did this take?

I really liked this clever foot stool.

It is an octagonal wooden box open on the bottom.

The top is covered in needlepoint with a well done corded edge.

The ring is handy to move the footstool around to where you need it!

The sides are covered in wooden thread spools that have been sawn in half.

They are stained to look like a dark walnut.

On closer inspection, each side of the octagonal box has a different spool arrangement.

Kind of like quilt blocks, or mosaic work.

Some of the sides had a circular variation, while others where square, almost looking woven.




Very clever, and a fun use of empty spools.

This sewing cabinet is missing the drawer labels, but it was very nicely made.  I think the handles are original.

This stack is from a shopping trip a few years ago.

I can just imagine adding yesterdays find...Imagine being the key word!

If I had a retro kitchen this pot holder hanger was adorable...I thought the list os uses on the front was charming.  It's that red and white theme again...

No antique shopping in the mid west would be complete without seeing at least one Sun Bonnet Sue!

Just for spring, this is example has a very tiny bouquet of flowers in her hand.  Sweet.

I hope you enjoyed this arm chair shopping trip!

I am busy quilting away on my Noah and Matilda (HERE) 

Be sure to checkout Wendy's (Constant Quilter) stunning Noah and Matilda (HERE)

Doing some Mary Witherwax applique (HERE) 

and mostly enjoying some sunshine and warmer weather!

Happy Stitching,

Dawn