Bea's Stitches

Many years ago,

I was visiting some friends

and happened to admire a certain pillow.

I was informed that 'his mom (Bea) made it.'

And theeeen....

"I have her stitch guide she drew up

if you would like to see."

Within minutes, 

I was holding the pages with hand-drawn stitches,

designs, and motifs.

I asked if I might just borrow them 

for an evening or two.

"Oh, of course."

I drew them all out by hand just as she had done.

I kept them in an old organizer/planner

that needless to say is not only very out of date,

but also in pretty bad shape.

(It was really embarrassing actually.) 

So, when I visited recently,

I asked if they had a picture 

of Bea that I could borrow and return.

I was presented with a few,

and chose this one.

I embellished it just a tad:)

I'm going to take this to show them 

when I go to make them dinner Friday
for his 93rd birthday.

I also have some of Bea's recipes.

I used 3 rings so that I can add them to it.

If you would like to learn from my mistake:
Notice in the 'B' a water mark.
There was a little (maybe 1/16") white spot
of iron away pen that wouldn't iron away.
I barely dampened a q-tip
to try to remove it.
I was soooo upset.
Don't use water or iron out pens on photo transfers.

Until next time,
Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

And there by the fire

while the snow outside whirled and danced,

while the woodwinds played their song,

and while onlookers watched,

she sat.

She sat, though hands not idle~

As the old adage goes.

Dreaming of warmth 

and facing the sun with closed eyes

in order to better hear

the sound of spring,

in order to better smell

the buds unfurl,

in order to bask

in all that's joyous,

she dreams, mind's not idle either~

And here

she comes to an end

and a beginning.

Finished another block of the wool crazy quilt.

On to the next.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches 

Old Beauty

At least several years ago, maybe more, I purchased a quilt through ebay.  It was found in a Chicago attic, no musky odors, but in pretty rough shape.  I think opening bid was ten dollars and I ended up paying eleven due to one other bid.  After I received the email confirming I had won the bid, I received another email - from the seller.  His remark was, "Really?  It's in really bad shape.  Did you look at the pictures?  If you don't want it, I understand."  I responded, "I looked at the pictures and am aware of the condition.  It's fine."  I'm sure he thought I was nuts.  And I knew there was no convincing him of its beauty.  A week or so later I received it.

Every year, I use this quilt as the tree skirt to my bedroom Christmas tree.  Yes, we have a tree in the bedroom too.  The other eleven months of the year, I generally have it hanging over the rocking chair my great-grandfather was rocked in.

I still see its beauty.  There is just something so wholesome and non-intimidating about those deep rich colors.  There is no maker's name or mark, but whoever she was, she too found beauty in it at one time.  And when she was gone, and there was no longer someone to admire it, it was packed away in an attic to wait for me.

I have other quilts that are far more pristine, in far better condition, with far brighter colors, but this one, yes, this one - I find it to be absolutely beautiful.  It's kindness welcomes me.  It's tattered fabrics let me know that my seams are strong and even beautiful when I am feeling completely worn out.  It reminds me that if someone cared enough to add a few embellishments to my life a long long time ago, I should still remember them.  

As you lay your stitches upon your fabrics with love, and pass the treasured quilt on to the recipient, keep in mind that perhaps, just perhaps, your stitches might mean something extraordinary to someone you will never know.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches



PS. - Those are chenille flowers and leaves, silk ribbon daisies, and pearl
cotton and silk floss embellishing stitches.

Oh Happy Me - WIP

Night before last, I returned home after working, and it was there.  It was the package I had been waiting for.  For two long weeks, I waited and waited anxiously checking the mailbox each day.  And what was I waiting for?

Aren't they pretty?  14 new colors.  I have about a dozen colors and got started using this #8 pearl cotton so wanted to remain consistent.  

Now you will either laugh at me or cry with me.  I love living in a rural community, but trying to find certain things such as pearl cotton is a bit challenging.  The closest pearl cotton is an hour away and only a few basic colors.  It is at times like these that I value the internet.

And to show you what I am using it on...

These are all works in progress so please excuse my markings and a few of the stitches that require more than one color are incomplete.

This will be a long term project as I don't get to work on it a lot.  None of these blocks are finished as I was waiting for more colors.  Now I can finish up a block at a time which is more like me.

I'm not quite sure how it happened that I have two hand stitching long term projects going at the same time.  Baaad me, shame on me.  Oh well, I won't be board - will always have something to work on.

The other long term project in my Cathedral Window quilt which if you are keeping track (as I'm sure you are:) I only have 54 more blocks to iron.

Keep warm and until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

The Whole Shabang!

It's probably not proper to begin a post with an apology, but I am anyhow.  One would think by my stage of life that I would have figured out how to take a strait picture, but nope not me.  I am just so good at crooked pictures:)

There is a little something to this quilt that isn't apparent at first glance.  Part of the label reads:

 In this quilt you will find,

Lots of luck of every kind.

13 Hats 13 #13’s 7 Pennies

13 Bats 13 Ghosts 7 # 7’s

13 Cats 13 Spiders 7 Winks

13 Black Pearls 13 Scary Sounds 7 Strands of Jewels

13 Black Blooms 13 Jack-o-lanterns 7 Shooting Stars

13 Brooms 13 Fabrics 7 Horseshoes

13 Full Moons 7 Keys

Okay, so the columns didn't copy and paste just right, but it's all there.  You can find all of those things in this quilt.  If you do the math, that's 218 'things.'

This leeetle guy is my mom's favorite.  She loves that he has his weee leeetle chains to go with him.  She likes the little jack-o-lantern also. I like the black blooms.

For some reason, with each quilt there are things that are just fun and things that are just a challenge.  The spiders in this quilt were a blast for me.  The brooms were my challenge.

Notice the little spider family at the bottom.  You had a bit of a preview of some of these.

You don't want to squish this spider - eeew!  Better just to get the vacuum.

I love these goofy faces.

That would be a broom key not a room key:)

So this has been the object of an hour or two of my time over the past week.  It is heading off to show this afternoon.  Wish me luck.

Until next time,

Nimble fingers & even stitches.

Just a Taste

I don't know if anybody else is this way or if I am just weird, but I don't like to show unfinished work.  They have been lovingly tagged as UFO's or WIP's, but I still have problems in sharing them.  It is not, however, very fair to you that I continue to say working on the crazy quilt or the this or the that and never even give you a glimpse of the project.  Sooo, I am trying to break out of my box - okay maybe just peeking out from a very small hole, but nonetheless, I am showing you a little sampling of where my efforts have been focused for the past few weeks.

I kinda feel like this some days when I look in the mirror.  She was just a fun little addition.

I shared one photo a while back of my favorite little spider.

 By now you can probably guess the theme of this quilt.  I have always wanted to do a Halloween quilt so finally got with the program and am doing it.  It's a hoot to think of the silly things to add.  I don't want it to be a scary quilt, but a happy quilt - one that makes people chuckle when they see it.  Do people still use that word?  Hmmm, I like chuckle. I will share just a couple more pictures then go get busy so I can finish it and show you the whole thing.

Pretty scary huh?

This photo isn't perfect, but you can see that it's one hot cauldron.  I can hardly wait to finish it and hang it up.  It might be up a little longer than Halloween - we'll have to see.

Have a splendid holiday weekend & until next time,

Nimble fingers and even stitches.

Diamonds in the Dust

*First, I would just like to say that I think my computer is being abducted by aliens.  We will see what happens when I try to make a post.

I hope everybody had a fantastic weekend.  I was lucky enough to get some stitching time in.  I love the folklore of having a spider in a crazy quilt so usually try to add one or more into the works.  By doing so, I have made various types and styles of spiders, but I have to say, "This just might be my favorite."  I can't even tell you where I got the charm.  I have been known to buy 'odd' garments at a yard sale etc. just for the buttons.  About a week ago, I ended up with about a measuring cup full of single earrings, odd pieces of jewelry, and 'imperfect' miscellaneous pieces for a dollar.  I was thrilled.  The folks running the sale were kinda looking at me funny.  There was an older fella there, and he asked what I was going to do with them.  I told him I like to make crazy quilts so I like to have little treasures on hand.  He smiled and said, "Crazy quilts huh."  We didn't get to chat as others were needing his attention, but I am just guessing he had a story. 

Friday, I went to a downsizing/moving sale and found this beauty. 

Now hang on a minute.  Look closer.  I gave 50 cents and look what I got.  I wasn't after the polyester gabradine with the stain or even the fashion statement of the 1960's elderly population.  It was this.

It took a matter of minutes to remove them from the dress, and I now have these beauties to use on some fun project.

A couple of other goodies I found at the same sale:

This recipe book has a copyright of 1882 & includes instructions like, "use a piece of butter or over the eggs pour the lot."  I was having a blast reading it.  Our language has certainly changed over the years.

The point of all of this is that 'junking' has become quite fashionable within recent years, and we are eager to dig into what appears to be... well - junk.  Maybe, we should do that more often with people.  It might only take a moment to offer a kind word, and our treasure might not be tangible, but it will be priceless.  Think about your friends.  How many of them were introduced to you, and how many began simply as strangers then a smile and hello were made?  Please don't mistake me - People are not junk, but there are millions of them around & isn't it just amazing when we pick one and turn them into a friend?

Until Next Time - Even Stitches & Many Smiles

P.S.  I didn't mean to tease you with only the picture of the spider.  I will show you the rest of the quilt when it is finished:)

Wool Crazy Quilt

Good Morning.  I hope you are all recovering from the wacky holiday week.  I am so happy; I finally found some crazy quilt blogs.  As I said to Pat from Pat Winter's Gatherings, "I knew I couldn't be the only crazy one."  I am nearly finished with one crazy that I thought would be simple, but has turned into quite the challenge - more about that one later.  The one I am anxious to continue on is the one in the bag.

Yes, this is the bag.  To give you an idea of the actual size, it is the bag for my printer (like anyone would pack around a printer???) 

I have the blocks made-up.  They are 14 or 16 inches square (can't remember off the top of my head.)  I made them using all wool, solid colors, recycled/upcycled garments.  I did dye a few of the pieces to get a little  more color variation.  I couldn't resist.  I started stitching on it.  My thing is that I don't use the same stitch on any two seams within the same block.  

 I know that one is smaller than the others:(

 Another thing I did when making these blocks, is use red in the center - represents the hearth of the home.  I like that.  I will be adding 'pictures' to the blocks, but that will be the last thing I do, because I will want to lay all the blocks out and see where the pictures need to be and decide just what kind of picture will need to be in that space:)  Just a me thing.  I have began my own journal of stitches in a real journal given to me to write down my inner most thoughts - stitches work!  I have a few crazy quilts to refer to and jot those stitches down as well as ones I come up with out of necessity.  There are a few books that I just cherish also.

'An Encyclopedia of Crazy Quilt Stitches and Motifs'  This is a great book for beginners.  It has a lot of the basics and I use it often to make sure I have the needle turned just right or just to remember something I should know. 

'Treasury of Crazy Quilt Stitches' is amazing!  This was my birthday present to myself a couple years ago.  Love it!

And 'Elegant Stitches' has a lot of embellishing for the finer side as well as ribbon embroidery and some stumpworkish sort of stitching.  This one is a little more advanced, but has great illustrations for making even basic stitches.  You could use this book from beginner to advanced stages of stitching.  Okay, so this really makes me want to go thread my needle.

So, until next time - happy stitches.