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that needless to say is not only very out of date,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

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.

Baker City Quilt Show

I'm Baaack.  Just have to say it that way to wig you out a little:)  Baker was a blast as usual.  We arrived Friday morning and didn't even put our bags in the room.  We headed straight to the quilt show.  Many beautiful quilts.  First, we began by purchasing raffle tickets for the work of art behind us.  You can't really see the appliqued center, and this isn't the best picture of us, but it is the only one with all of us.  Oh well, we never claimed to be all together all together.  The two gals with name tags are Grace  & Virginia.  Both have been featured quilters and are highly deserving - very talented ladies.  The quality at this show is always remarkable and this year was no exception.  I was a little surprised at the number of "simple" designs this year.  It seems to go in waves.  I have been there when the complexity of nearly every quilt was over the top.

This is one of the quilts I voted for.  The applique would 'knock your socks off' so to speak.  Aaaand, the quilting truly enhanced it.  The quilt that received peoples choice was a different quilt made by the same maker. (Inez Lange)  Wow! 

This years featured quilter was Jess Berry.  He does fabulous work.  Mostly applique with piecing as accents and all hand quilted.  I adored the two little quilts with urns above.  He photographed then printed on fabric a couple from his collection.  They were hanging a little high, and I am somewhat vertically challenged so the view is not straight at them.

And I just thought this one was cute and merry.  What I didn't get a picture of was my own quilt - guess I thought I could look at it any ol' time.  I will have to get the camera out.  Also, a picture worth looking at was the trunk of the car.  Not another fat quarter would have fit, and that's with the quilts in the back seat.  Our bounty was plenty:)

I hope you are having a beautiful day.

JoeyLea

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.