Old Things Made Along the Way

 

 

 So, here's my story:

 

 

And, here are some things I have made along the way.  The "way" being years long.

I'm fond of these few things....none of them quilts, you will see.  I could have shown quilts, but my house doesn't have much to wall space to hang them, so it was just easier to show some small things.

 

 

 

 

 

This may be my favorite thing ever.  I do so love some embroidery...and I especially love the very old all white embroideries of days gone by.  The cloth on the end is one I found at the flea.  Immediately I knew I was going to try and reproduce it.  And, I did.  It's embroidered on linen with a beaded edge.

 

 

This is a pillow I stitched many years ago.  Redwork.  I remember I used two strands of, I think, DMC #816.  It doesn't take as long as you think.

 

 

 

Somehow I got into a habit of making pincushions.  I still love them and have LOTS of items to use to make many more.   I will....I may have to push harder but I have every intention of using a lot of this stuff up.

 

 

 This appliqued landscape I made for the old navy man.  He loved it...notice the power poles.  They weren't there at first, but he told me that barn would never have power if there were no power lines.

(He worked his whole adult life for the power company.)  I took his word for it, so managed to stitch a few power lines along the road.  There is even a transformer there.  It makes me smile still.

 

 

And this pincushion....I do love it so.  You've seen it many many times here.

It's very tactile...I just love holding it in my hand.  Several people have asked me how I could possibly stick pins in it.  I think that is hilarious as it has a million stitches holding it together. I actually don't use it as it was intended though.  Mostly I just look at it.

 

 

That basket.  I em embroidered that on a scrap of fabric, then didn't know what to do with.  I ran across some glass paperweights and knew that would be a good idea...so immediately put those two things together.  I've enjoyed having it.

 

 

 

 Another pincushion.  One of the Crazy Quilt things I felt compelled to make.  I may make some more here soon......as I have it in my head to fill a huge bowl I have with different pincushions and hearts.  We'll see.

 

 

This is a little book from Walmart's school supply section.  My kids are in their fifties, but every year I go to Walmart and buy some school supplies.  One year I picked up about half dozen of these.

I gave it a little artistic touch by covering it with a paper towel, then painting it, etc.  I write quotes in it.  There are never enough cute books to write quotes in if you ask me.

 

 

                                           

 

 This little 3" x 4" applique and embroidered bit of fun is another of my favorite things I've ever made.  What fun it was.  I still enjoy looking at it.........and, of course, it has been one of things that encouraged me to make LOTS of FRENCH KNOTS!!!

 

 

 

And, this little person.  Made her from a Japanese embroidered dinner napkin.  Except for her hair which I made from some hand-dyed fabrics.  She was so much fun to make.

 

And, I've saved this little pincushion for years.  It's barely two inches square.  Plain as can be.  I just never wanted to do anything to it as I thought it cute just as it was.  Don't really try to figure yourself out....just do the things you feel you want to do.  There really is nothing wrong with a plain pincushion, is there??
 

 So,there you are.  Many things you will find hanging around my house.  Hopefully....more will be forthcoming here shortly.  And that quilt I showed you a few weeks ago...I'd like to have it done by the end of 2022.   

Much goodness to come your way this year.......take care......pat ♥️

Stay safe and warm and have a happy heart

from

Bird Nest Cottage

♥️

Auld Lang Syne with Buttons and Birds

 

 

 We've been through a year, haven't we?

 

  

 

In some ways, it has been very long and in others, it just flew by.

All I'm going to say about it is this....

I'm not fond of having my life fly by.

I'm not that anxious to get to the end of it.

But, this year....2020, the one we have been tested by...it just can't be over fast enough for me. 

 

 

 

So, tonight I tried to make a little vignette.

A little something that some might think pretty.

 

 

  

                       Just to take us out of this year with the hope of a much better next year.

  

I'm beginning to hear the strains of 

Auld Lang Syne...

and I'm wishing you a much better

 

 2021

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 Wherever You Are Have a Warm and Happy Heart

from

Bird Nest Cottage

 

❤️❤️❤️

 

 

Heart Month - Post #2 (also with Giveaway #2)

 

"THE FACT IS THAT WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING

FROM YOUR HEART, YOU LEAVE A HEART PRINT."

Alice Walker

 

 I love that quote. 

 And, it applies to just about everything you do, doesn't it?

WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING FROM YOUR HEART!

For years and years now, I have added hearts to my work. Either stitched or in the form of buttons, pieces of jewelry, lace, and ephemera of all kinds. Notice there are heart shaped pins in the pincushion.  Also in this display is a heart shaped dish with a lid and an embroidered heart.

 

  

  

There are Heart Prints you SEE, such as the

   kind I'm showing you here.  And, then, the most important kind...those that you feel.

You know....like when you remember someone with a nice note in the mail, or share a treasured portion of a faded and worn quilt with a dear friend, perhaps gift someone something special for absolutely no reason at all other than the fact you thought of them...like a favored book or flowers. 

Seems to me that Heart Prints would be a good thing to spread around this year.  So...I'm going to choose two of my blog readers every month and remember them with a Heartprint from me. I've no idea at the moment what the Heartprint will be...as I just now thought of it....but, something simple and old-fashioned and probably to do with quilting or embroidery or both.

And,  I'll do it the old-fashioned way sending it by USPS.

 

If you are interested, kindly comment on this post.

 

 

 

  

 I'll be showing you more hearts as the days go by....most much more colorful than these....Heart month, you know.  

❤️

Remember, comment if you'd like to be remembered with one of my Heartprints! 

 (I'll be choosing two readers a month in 2020.)

until next time

BE WELL

from

Bird Nest Cottage

❤️❤️❤️ 

A Vintage Book Cover, A Surprise Puzzle, and More Quotes

 

On one visit to the flea and a little while ago...I found this book.  Old.  And, falling apart.  Actually, you could not have read the complete title as it was so faded.  But, isn't it beautiful?  Yesterday, I decided to at least make the word Poetry legible.  

  

 The cloudy part there is where the cover material has just worn away.

  

 I used this Pilot Silver Marker to go over the very faded lettering.  It's like writing with liquid silver....in other words...FUN!  I've had that marker for YEARS....using it sparingly each time.

I need to see if they are still made...perhaps IMPROVED, as if you press too hard on the point, you can wind up with a silver blob.  Oh, they came in gold also...and may still.  You can be sure I'm going to find out.  

(Funny how you can renew an interest in something over time.)

Anyway....now, at least, you can tell it's a book of poetry.

I didn't even try to draw over the filigree pattern, as the pen point is too wide.

 

 A Surprise Puzzle

 My daughter took some photos from my blog posts to use in my mystery Christmas gift.

So, when I opened my gift at Christmas, I was quite surprised to see photos of some of my collections looking back at me!

She had used a section of this trunk photo

 

 

     and also of this basket of buttons to order

  of all things, two jigsaw puzzles.  Who would have thought of that???

    And, I, being totally behind the times, didn't even know you could do that if you had thought of it!                     Amazing!!!                       

  

 And, here are the puzzles!

When put together, each should measure 20" x 30"

and there are 1014 pieces in each.

Do you like jigsaw puzzles?

I do.

Many hours (weeks, months?) of fun ahead!!

 I wanted to include a selection of some of my favorite quotes today.

January being "the most quiet" month to me...means I lean toward reading and writing more quotes in my little 'quote books.'

"A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses."

A Chinese Proverb

 "The earth laughs in flowers."

 Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds round my neck."

Emma Goldman 

"Use the talents you possess for the woods would be silent if no birds sang except the best."

Henry Van Dyke 

"Where flowers bloom - so does hope."

Lady Bird Johnson 

until next time

BE WELL

from 

Bird Nest Cottage

❤️❤️❤️

 

A Little Primitive Table, A Lot of "Stuff"

 

I'm going to tell you a story on Wednesday night, along with some photos.  In a way, it's kind of an adventure.  The kind you don't want to have.  But, for tonight...I'm just going to show you my latest acquisition....this little primitive table.  So cute.  This window is in my bedroom/studio.  My favorite time of day in this room...is when the morning light makes stitches, threads, and fabrics look the best.

Did I choose that light to take these photos in?  Well, no.  I simply forgot I wanted to do that and by the time I remembered...the light was gone. 

 And, now, these will have to do.

 

You've seen all this "stuff" before...well, most of it anyway.  

I enjoy making these little "collections."

 

 

 So hope you enjoy seeing them once again.

 

 Hearts.

There are always hearts here.

One of my favorite things....the Daisy Chain Beaded necklaces there on the left. 

They are so sweet!

The light blue one I've had for a very long time.

I paid ten cents for it.

LOVE!

 

I also love the tiny houses here.

One on the teacup and one on that little vase.

Inspiration for stitching for sure.

 

Love the black card of buttons.  OLD.

And, the little heart box.

 

Old button cards....all white.  

They are everywhere in my house.

And, I never tire of them.

 

The color of this thread....my very favorite these days.

"Just the color" of lots of old crochet and tatting.

 

"Stuff." 

I ordered more of these heart straight pins the other day.  

Hopefully to include on several projects.

 If I can just get my act together.

 

And, Oh My! 

I love these old hat pins in this vintage silver plate sugar bowl pincushion.

 

And, here we are.  

I find myself standing here looking at this collection sometimes several times in a day.

 By the way....Kathy and I could not decide if this 'curtain' is really for the bed or for the table.

We decided it could be for a window.

So of course, I like seeing the light come through the window in the mornings, making everything glow.

Even the embroidery on all that netting.  

Y'all take care out there.

See you late Wednesday.

until next time

BE WELL

from

Bird Nest Cottage

❤️❤️❤️

Gatherings

 

Other than the actual stitching of quilting, embroidery, beading and so forth...there is nothing more fun to me than finding all the things required to make them, then gathering them together in a basket, a box or a bowl, or on a platter, well, just any decorative item that would hold them, then display them around the house.

I find them to be beautiful and I look at them over and over.  Eventually, some of them are used to create my various projects and when they are...I enjoy them again in the stitching.

 

I've taken to wrapping DMC embroidery floss in pieces of fabrics...pre-selected for an as yet designed project.  It's FUN!

 

Just pick a color scheme and shop your house for any and all items calling your name that day.

 

You can tell from these photos exactly what kind of things I like to collect.  In the upper right square of this box, you can see a piece of knitting rolled up.  I knitted that with crochet cotton in one of my favorite colors....I don't really remember, but I think I used a size 1 or 2 knitting needle.  So tiny.

I've no idea what I will do with it, but it will tell me what it's supposed to be one of these days!

 

I've tons of buttons, just took a few from my collections to add to this cute little divided box made from yardsticks.  I love that blue one with a star.

 

 I loved these glass leaves....and clear glass buttons too.

 

 Here there are two crowns.  Hard to tell here.  I like to find them...reminds me that my daughter calls me 'the queen of everything."

 

 Here are two very old bodkins, given to me long ago, by my friend Jim.  I treasure them, of course.

And, who finds rayon seam binding labeled with their own last name?  

 

 A little pincushion made by my friend, Deb,  another treasure from the past.

 

 One roll of embroidery floss wrapped in fabric, one in a vintage dinner napkin.  And, an odd cotton thread wrapped in lace.

 

 Just seeing them makes me want to stitch something.  I'm trying very hard to get back to doing more of that....but the vision issues get keep getting in my way.  As it goes now, no stitching until afternoon and I've turned into a real 'night person.'  Isn't it always something?

 

 I've never been able to tat.  I have tried.  Over and over.  One instructor once told me to stick with what I know and quilt.   So, I buy tatting whenever I see it at the flea.

You can use it for a thousand things.

 

There's that piece of knitting again.  I just love it...not to even mention how much I LOVE Perle Cotton.  I once quilted two quilts with Size 12 Perle Cotton in black...Seriously, what fun that was!

 

 And, this house I call a 'cottage' is loaded with the kind of stuff shown here.

There are buttons and threads, fabrics and beads to make flowers and trees.  Really, whatever I please.

My cup does runneth over.

until next time,

BE WELL

from 

Bird Nest Cottage