A Sunflower Quilt in Cross-Stitch

 

 Last week, my friend, Kathy, showed me this quilt top, one she had found on one of her and Morgan's junking excursions.  Oh, my!  It was such a cheerful sight on that rainy day.  How could you see sunflowers and not feel cheerful?  She asked me what I thought about it.  Well, first of all...it reminded me of the kitchen in our first house.  It faced East, so received the morning sun.  I had made kitchen curtains from yellow and white gingham, so in there, every morning....you couldn't help but feel good.  Funny what quilts can help you remember. 

 

 I took the quilt 'out back' in Two Pines Park.  As you know, I often take quilts back there to get "their picture" taken.  Not a room in my house is large enough to photograph a big quilt, so Two Pines Park works out well.  I thought it was going to rain for several days, so hurriedly took these photos.  I did not take the time to press the quilt, but I wish I had.  It is a lovely quilt, beautifully cross-stitched.  Once again, one wonders why it was never quilted.

 

 A rather messy close-up.  I should have deleted this photo, but I liked the "moodiness" of it, so left it in.  There are several butterflies there too.  This quilt is made from a kit.......and one of the few I have seen where all the stitching is complete.  It's in excellent condition.

 

 Here it is in the Park.....right behind my house.  I rarely photograph anything facing the clinic that is behind the park.  Actually, I believe the park belongs to the clinic, so I am grateful to borrow it as my backyard from time to time.  Where will I photograph quilts if they actually build something there one of these days?  Doesn't the quilt look good in that shade?

By the way, the quilt measures approximately 82" x 98"

 

 Another moody picture. 

 

 This photo was taken between my house and my next door neighbor's house, giving you a better look at the sunflowers..........they are really pretty.

 

 I waited about half an hour too long to take these photos.....but, better than rain, so there we are.

 

 I like that some are a light yellow and some are a darker yellow.  And, I love that thin line of green cross-stitches around the whole center seam...it sets it off nicely.

 

 And, here is the quilt thrown over my chair in the living room.  I think it looks great.  Kathy wants to sell the top and intended to put it in the store, but I asked if I could show it on my blog first.  For something a little different........so, should you be interested in it, you can email me and I'll give you her contact info.  My email address is in my profile...you see a place to find that right there under that photo of me on the right.  So....enjoy looking that this beautiful quilt top.  Maybe we will hear from one of you.

 

 And, one last view.  I found this sunflower quote.......lovely.

"And the yellow sunflower by the brook, in autumn beauty stood."

William Cullen Bryant

until next time

BE WELL

 from

Bird Nest Cottage

♥️♥️♥️

 

Rescue the Perishing, Part 3: A Dresden Plate Quilt

 

 A couple of weeks ago, I mended this quilt for a friend.  He had mentioned this quilt to me...saying it had just one hole in it and he'd love to know how to repair it.  Oh, my goodness gracious.  This project had my name all over it.  Because I knew I could actually 'rescue' this quilt and it wouldn't take a huge amount of time to do it, I asked if he'd like me to do it.  With stipulations....he would have to trust me with his lovely quilt, I would have to do it as I saw fit, and I would have to be creative with the fabrics used to mend it, as I have a few, but not a lot of fabrics from the 30's.  A trusting soul, he agreed to it and I brought it home.

 

 It's a wonderful vintage DRESDEN PLATE quilt.....and in great condition...well, except for that big, glaring hole right there!

 

I just wonder how that hole got there, don't you?

 

 I'm sure there is a story there somewhere.

 

 All I can say is we were lucky the hole is where it is.....if it had been in the sashing of this quilt, it would be much harder to mend so it wouldn't show....but, as it is...well, these print fabrics can hide a multitude of sins......including this hole.  I went to my 30's fabric stash (which is slim) and chose a pink fabric to use.  Also, a piece of white for the background.  A bit brighter than the original, but the closest I could get to matching.

 

 Oh, and let me say, that one white piece on the right side of the plate....isn't a faded piece or a mended piece.  The quiltmaker actually did use a white fabric for that.  It's odd, I think.  Maybe all  she had.  Sometimes we have to do crazy things to make something work out.  I'm glad it worked for her, as her quilt is beautiful.  I tried to make the mend as invisible as possible.  If you look closely though, you will see the mending.

 

 So, look closely.  The white patch on the background.  And, a pink piece between the yellow and lavender pieces.  See it?  I unsewed* the lavender and yellow pieces (old torn piece was a white/blue print) removed the white/blue altogether, mended the white background, and then appliqued the new pink along with those on each side to finish the top.  I then, added some batting and patched the back of the quilt, returned to the front and requilted where necessary.  And, there you have it.  Done.

 

I'm pleased. 

 

 And, here is the back.  You get to find the patching here yourself.  Not perfectly done.  But, pretty good.  And, now the quilt is whole again.  And, ready to use.  Charles, I hope you enjoy owning (and also using) this beauty!!!

Another rescued quilt.  I love it!!!

* Let me say....I prefer "unsewed" over the word "unpicked."  I can't exactly say why, but maybe because I think it's almost as hard to unsew as it is to sew it in the first place.  And, oh my, I also love to unsew as much as I love to sew.  To unpick, well, it just doesn't sound fun to me.  That's just me though, so I say suit yourself.  In any rescue work concerning a textile, there will be lots of sewing,unsewing and resewing.  All  can be challenging and  tedious, but also FUN!

My next post will show you a very happy quilt top.  I think you will enjoy seeing it!

until next time

BE WELL

from 

BIRD NEST COTTAGE