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

♥️

Miss Minerva Prim

 

 

And, here is Miss Minerva Prim.

In 1994, my quilt guild held a doll challenge.  An  identical ready made doll was given to all interested and the challenge was to dress a doll to your own liking and then winners would be chosen at a future meeting.  Miss Minerva Prim was my entry.

After finishing the doll, I couldn't think of a good name for her until my little group went to Paducah, Kentucky for the annual quilt show.  

 

We decided to ride around the town for a bit looking at pretty houses 

 and the blooming Dogwood trees.  At some point, we turned onto a street and when I read the name of the street sign, I knew that would be the doll's name.  I believe the name of the street was Minerva Place.  I named her Minerva Prim because I thought she looked rather prim and proper.

The things we do.

 

On her petticoat, I wrote:

🖤 Miss Minerva Prim loves to talk about quilts. 

 My name, the year and the town I lived in.

 

 

I made her clothing, her knitted shawl, a basket with "bolts" of fabric," a sewing basket and several                                   quilting books.  I also found a pair of glasses for her.

 

Oh, yes, I found a chair and table just the right size for her

and just today, added

  the silk bonnet on a stand, a tea cup and saucer, plus the brass bird pincushion I've shown here many times before.

 

   

    And, I made a little set of quilt books for her too.  Not real books of course. I could make those better now but at the time, I didn't really know what I was doing.

                                        

I glued them all together so I wouldn't be chasing them all over the place.  Still holding up pretty good since 1994!

And, the tea cup...so cute.  I have a bunch of these I purchased just a few weeks ago, not even thinking they would be the right size for Miss Minerva!

She is wearing a long sleeved blouse, embroidered down the front, a skirt made of black file with embroidery along the hem, that petticoat I wrote on and I found the perfect size shoes for her when out shopping one day before she was finished.  That was lucky.  She is also wearing a button that looks like a watch and also a shawl I knitted for her from bedspread weight crochet cotton.

She is working on a quilt square as you can see.    A friend of mine made that quilt square and being unsatisfied with it she threw it in the garbage.  This was way before I made the doll.  I had rescued the wonderful little square from the garbage and saved it, and when I made the doll decided Miss Minerva would love to have it.  

Once again, the things we do!

I hope you liked the visit with Miss Minerva. 

                         She has been with me a long time now and every so often she likes to be seen.                      
                   
                                                          Wherever You May Be This Day

                                                                            BE WELL                                                                        

from

Bird Nest Cottage

❤️❤️❤️

 

                                                             
 

Heart Month #4

 

More hearts for Heart Month.!

 This is a doll I made in 2001.  It's made from a square of Crazy Quilting.  I don't remember where the doll pattern came from....but it all began with a small pillow.  She's very 'boxy" but I made her anyway.  And, you have to look for the hearts.

  

I loved this assortment of fabrics and even though I thought she was a bit "homely" she thanked me for making her anyway.  Imagine!

 

She also has a pet lamb....and a favorite heart I chose to include in the photo, even though

None of them were made in the doll's time period.

 That red and black heart was made from felt and silk ribbon.  One of my favorite things...it's about 7" tall and has aged well.

I did not make the little lamb but I did add the heart.

 

I know you will ask about the Redwork embroidery.  It's a pillow I made...I LOVE redwork!

It has nothing to do with this little 'story' about the hearts and doll, but it is RED. ❤️

 

She has simple little face....and, Oh, My!  That hair! 

It's made from many 'ravelings' taken from different fabrics.  I always knew that stuff would come in handy if I thought about it long enough.

  

Funny and cool, all at the same time.

 

This is my favorite Crazy Quilt book from back in the day, 1986.

 I'm showing it to you because I took a quote from that book and wrote it on the back of this doll.

I was amused by it.  It's about the concern early Crazy Quilters had for losing their vision while doing tedious embroidery and quilting.  It seems the lack of lighting back then, and the very long hours they spent stitching, caused worrisone eye strain.

I understood that, as I have never had decent vision, worried about it then, and still do.  But with lots of lighting, much determination and a great love of stitching...I managed to do a fairly decent job of stitching all these years.  You really have to WANT to do it and you will overcome.  My idea has always been when I get to where I can't stitch....I will just talk about it!!! 

You can read the quote below.

 

And, to read it more easily:

  

So, there you are...another heart post.

I have decided that since my next Sunday post will be MARCH 1,  (where did that month go!!),

I will be announcing the winners of the February Heartprints on Wednesday night, the 26th.

until next time

BE WELL

from

Bird Nest Cottage

 ❤️❤️❤️

More Hearts and a Doll Update

 

So last Tuesday, my friend, the one I call Mr. G. came for a visit.  He always brings things.

He knows I love the work of Kelly Rae Roberts and he was lucky enough to find this print of hers at the flea market.  So, he brought it to me.   She will join my collection of other KRR loot...and I will enjoy seeing her here.  Thank you, Mr. G.!❤️

 

 I love the sentiment there:  "Whole Hearted."  Indeed!  I have a sign in my living room that says

"You have my whole heart."  How else are you supposed to love?

 

And, here are the hearts she has placed just so.  One is a "ghost heart."  You never know where you will find one of those, so they are extra special.

 

Here's a silk ribbon embroidered heart I made long ago.  I'm thinking there is absolutely no limit to the ways you can make a heart.  ❤️

  

And, here's one I also did in silk ribbon long ago.  And, in this photo, it is sitting on a segment of a vintage Log Cabin Quilt.  I shared that quilt with my friend, Brian, way back when.  He has done many beautiful things with his.  Mine is still here waiting for me.  It twirls around in the back of my mind a lot and calls my name, reminding me that I have miles to go before I sleep. 

Several of you asked for more information about this doll I showed you last week.  I found it interesting that so many were interested....she's one of those things I've done over time that I felt only I would enjoy.  You know....the doll only her mother would love.

Yes, I DID make her.  Yes, her funny hair is just strips of fabric a stitch through her 'scalp' and each strand tied in a knot.  That's it.  Yes, it was made with one embroidered napkin.  I tied her hands and feet into knots because I didn't think I could really make anything that looked like hands and feet with that small napkin.  Her little tote bag was an afterthought really, as I wanted to pin her on my own totebag I was taking to the quilt show.  Her face is drawn with a permanent pen.  The little fabric 

pieces in the tote are just folded and placed inside....I made a long fabric bead from some fabric and trimmed it with some beads and gold thread.  One of my favorite parts is the blue glass bead she is wearing as a pin.  It too, is a very tiny heart.

When I was ready to take a photograph of her for the post, I needed a way to make her stand.  Sometimes you just need something to quickly solve a problem.  I had this little bottle of colored sand....my grandson did that when he was a little kid....and it had a cork I could stick a pin in, so that became the 'stand' to hold her up.  I used a tiny safety pin on her back and put a T-pin through it...stuck it in the cork.  And there we were.  

 

 

  One more peek at the back.

 I really hurried with this photo, so she slipped a little before I snapped the photo.  She's as graceful as I happen to be.  Meaning NOT!

 I still LOVE that chair.

And, I love that the chair, the doll and the print, all share pretty much the same colors.

How does that happen?

 

 Thanks for visiting.  Do take care and enjoy the rest of Heart Month.  February has flown by so fast.

Thank you, too, for asking questions about the doll.  I learn things from you and I hope you learn a few things from me now and again.

until next time

BE WELL

from 

Bird Nest Cottage

❤️❤️❤️

For the Fun of It

 

A doll and her tote, both made from one dinner napkin.  

 She was FUN!

And, love the resin chair.

until next time

BE WELL

from

Bird Nest Cottage