Stars in Two Pines Park, Parts I. and 2.

 

Part 1. 

This week's post is in two parts.  Longer than usual, I guess.  Whatever 'usual' might be on this blog.

I bought this quilt several months ago at my favorite flea market...the Junk House in Beebe.  It is very pretty.  Vintage.  Hand pieced and hand quilted.  Pink and Brown mostly. And, a star quilt.  What's not to love?  

While it is pretty good condition....and beautifully quilted....there are seven or eight of the stars that are in various stages of disappearing.  Literally.  There will be evidence of this in a photo further into the post.  It happens with some older quilts...the fabric just melts away over time.  So sad.  

Years ago, Georgia Bonesteel made a quilt she named "Rescue the Perishing."  I thought of that some time back when I came into possession of several very old quilts also in various stages of decline.  Some of them way too far gone for rescue.  I have recently hand quilted a top made in the 30's.  The top is in decline also, but I've quilted it anyway.  It has a story but I can't tell you about it until after July when it will be given as a gift.  Do you remember a while back, I also rescued a beaded bag from the 20's?  It took a while.  So did the quilt I have been working on....and so will this one.  Perhaps in rescuing these quilts and other items, I am also rescuing myself.  Seems that way to me.

 Most of the quilt looks just like this.  Solid as can be, beautifully pieced and quilted.

 

 The batting is extremely thin, as you can see it where the fabrics are gone, but even the backing looks good and the quilting stitches are very small.

  

 And, it's very soft, both in looks and to the touch.

I took these photos about 5:30 in the evening.  The light is good at that time on a pretty day and being as I took the photos under the trees....well, you can see the quilting really well.

 

Lastly, here is a star that has virtually disappeared.  The only star fabric left is where there was a seam and in the center...down the five lines of quilt stitches.  The rest has gone.  So, those few stars will have to be replaced.  I'll applique as appropriate a fabric as possible where there used to be vintage fabric OR, I'll piece a new block and insert it into the space left by this one when I remove it.  We'll just have to see.  Tricky either way and time consuming.

I've two important projects going on and taking into next year to complete, but you can bet, this star quilt will be one of the first rescues I will attempt after they are done.  And, then I will show them to YOU.

 Part 2.

 

 As mentioned, I had decided to photograph this quilt yesterday about 5:30.  It really is a nice time to take quilt photos.   This photo shows the quilt and the back of my house, where there is a property where an old home used to be.  Now, on that property, way at the back is a clinic.  The front of the property is right behind my house, and though I think it also belongs to the hospital, as does the clinic, I call it my backyard.  For now.  I'm sure another clinic will be built there at some point.  I do love it though and as you can see, it's NICE.  I have also named it.  Two Pines Park.   There are two very large pine trees on this property.   You can see their trunks on the right side of photo #1 toward the street and also the photo below.  I wanted to tell you why I named it the way I did.  (Now, everyone I know also calls it TWO PINES PARK!)

A couple of years ago, I began reading a series of mysteries written by Louise Penny, a Canadian novelist.  You might enjoy them as much as I have if you love mysteries.  The stories of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, and the village of THREE PINES, a village south of Montreal, Canada, kept me on the edge of my seat through the entire series and I am ready for another!  They are excellent!

The first book is named STILL LIFE should you want to read one.  

So, did you catch why my little backyard park is named TWO PINES?  It's my little homage to the village in Canada.

Another little interesting fact:  my son-in-law has lived here his whole life.  He remembers the old home that was torn down when the hospital built the clinic.  It belonged to a family named Quattlebaum.  I was telling him about reading the books and why I named  the property TWO PINES PARK and he said, "Well, that's funny, because I believe Mrs. Quattlebaum was from Canada!"

Do you find that as crazy a coincidence as I do?

Love it!!!

So, there you have two stories....one about a star quilt and one about a fictional village in Canada, both connected, in my mind,  to this little cottage home of mine. 

  

We could have a picnic right here in this photo!

Here is a photo of the book.........if you like mysteries, you'll probably like this series.  You may also be inspired to name a special place of your own after the village...or maybe that's just done by a funny person like me.  Or, make a Star quilt....for no other reason than they are beautiful.

until next time

from

BIRD NEST COTTAGE

♥️♥️♥️

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! Celebrate with a Flag Quilt

 

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!

 

If you have visited this blog before, then you've seen this quilt several times, but I'm hoping you will still enjoy seeing it.   I made it for a class, way back in 2001.   It measures 24 inches x 36 inches. 

 

 It was pieced together on my Bernina sewing machine, but the applique and quilting were done by hand...my favorite way of making quilts, for now and always.

 

If you look closely, you can see the 'feathers' and curving lines of the quilting stitches.  Since it is a flag, I wanted some movement in the quilting design. 

 

 Don't ask me how long it took to quilt this little flag quilt, as it's a little detail I don't care to know, so I don't keep track of the hours.  If I actually kept track of that kind of thing, I'd probably never make anything.  I prefer to enjoy the process and realize that it 'takes a long time.'  Actually, every quilt I've ever made was stitched in little short segments of time, squeezed into whatever else I had to do in a day.  Just like everyone else.  On occasion, I TRY to keep track of my time, for instance, if I intend to sell something I've made....but, really,  I love the process of making something out of a bit of fabric and a needle and thread, so it's all a labor of love on my part, no matter how long it takes.

 

 More stitching.

 

And, a bit more.  This photo is kind of blurry...so sorry.  I have to say, and I haven't said it in a very long time...when I am quilting, I take one stitch at a time.  I don't put a lot of stitches on my needle and then pull them through the fabric.  I never could get the hang of that, preferring, instead, to do it my own way.

 

I love the fabric I chose for the back of the flag.  Just a gorgeous piece of fabric.

 

I like the stitches on the back to look almost as good as those on the front...if you can tell from this photo.  You do remember I'm very obsessive-compulsive, right? Yeah.  It's a burden.

 

And, now, the quilt label.  Written on a very hot summer day.  I ironed the fabric to a sheet of freezer paper to keep it nice and smooth as I wrote, something I've been recommending for years.  And, there you have it....my flag quilt. Loved making it back then....and sharing it with you now as I celebrate the 4th of July.

 

  

 And, out front....Old Glory...a beautiful sight here at a different home, under different circumstances, but, as always, waving proudly. 

LONG MAY SHE WAVE!

Have a very Happy and Safe 4th of July weekend America!!!

from Bird Nest Cottage

Until next time,

♥♥♥

 

Out and About: A Quilt Adventure

Friday afternoon, my friend, Jim....you all have heard me mention him many times...well, he drove over to Searcy from Morrilton to pick up a carload of my quilts.  Well, it seemed like a carload to me!
He is doing a program on my quilts for the Arkansas Quilters Guild on Monday night in Little Rock.
He and my friend, Sharon, evidently cooked up this idea that seeing my quilts might make a good program and they talked me into letting them 'borrow' however many I would let go on an 'adventure.'
So, off they have gone.  (And, in case you are wondering...I was asked to go and observe the festivities, but I had to decline that invitation for reasons I'm not going into here...but rest assured, I'm sure I will get an earful from somebody on Tuesday!!! Probably and Jim and his shenanigans!)  I ended up sending twenty-three quilts....and so, today, decided I would show you a handful of them.

Now, none of these quilts are anywhere near new.  As you know, I haven't made a quilt in at least three years....but evidently, my friends at least, have not forgotten the ones I have made and I just chose some at random to send along.  You've seen these all on this blog before....but I hope YOU and the quilters on Monday night enjoy seeing them 'one more time.'  All are handquilted....as I am a dinosaur when it comes to quilting...still preferring to do them all by hand...well, except this Log Cabin which was pieced on the machine...and I DO love Log Cabin quilts!  My son chose the setting for this one, and named it "Virtual Log Cabin."

This one is my silk ribbon embroidered crazy quilt.  It took me nine months to design and make it...my favorite thing - the basket of roses and something you can't see here....the border has beads quilted in it...they are barely visible even in person...but I know they are there!

I'm sure if you click to enlarge you can see more detail, but these photos aren't that good, really.

That favorite basket.                                                                                                 

 Here is a sampler quilt I made for a week long class I taught at the Ozark Folk School in Mountain View, Arkansas, one year.  I wanted to make a quilt modeled after a cross-stitch sampler, only in embroidery and applique.  It's about two feet square.  (By the way, these photos were taken before the quilt was finished, so you see them in various stages of completion.)

I love the chickens.  A story:  in 'real' life, I am terrified of chickens.  I was attacked by a large white rooster when I was three and still have scars.....I'm ok as long as they are in front of me where I can see them...but I don't trust the ones behind me or to the side.  Weird, yes, but true!  These little appliqued and embroidered ones I can live with!

This quilt I made for a personal challenge.  I had to use only fabrics, threads and embellishments I already owned...I was to only use what I had.  Scraps from other quilts, etc.  It's one of my favorites.

 I used a permanent pen to draw the flower centers....a big vintage button on the large flower center.

This is the first quilt I ever made using my own design......so long ago.  My friend, Mary, hand-dyed the sky and the blue/teal colors.  My favorite thing about this quilt (other than Mary's fabrics, is the pinafore.....it has a pocket you can actually put something in!

It's called "Memories of Laura" as I meant it to remind me of Laura on the "Little House on the Prairie" tv show.

 I wanted this quilt to look vintage.  I used nine vintage blocks, taken apart and re-pieced, with a new handle added.   And, I wanted lots of quilting on it....as I like to do.  Never using much white fabric, when it was done...it was TOO bright for me....so I dyed it in my washing machine....on advice of a friend.  While it did tone it down a bit....it was not an over-all toning down, but kind of splotchy....which I didn't like.   Oh, well, live and learn!!!  I did manage to get a lot of quilting on it, however!

See in this lower right corner....the background changes color a bit.  I really did like the quilting though.

I embroidered a little design on the bottom of each basket.  Now, I really DID like that!

And, so, here we are.....twenty-three quilts in these bags in the back of my little car.  I took them to the downtown studio, where Jim picked them up and off they went on their little adventure.  What do you think they will say when they get home? 

Sure hope you all enjoyed seeing these....hope to post something completely different in a few days...meantime....stay safe, warm and cozy and have some FUN!  pat

My "New" Old Quilts

On Tuesday, I showed you my Bear's Paw quilt. The one that survived the fire in the early 80's.
I've heard from some of you. Thank you so much for commenting! Yes, I DO consider this quilt a 'miracle quilt.' It's just a wonder that it survived. And, it looks so good despite it's history. Thanks to that old navy man!!!

I have been asked if that quilt is as long on the other side of the bed as it is on the side you see in the photos. The answer is Yes. But, there is a trick there. It really is a large quilt, but the day we put that bed in the Nest, I realized that with the bed so high above the floor, ALL that 'stuff' I wanted to store under the bed would show. (Remember, no bedskirt!) It was at that point I decided to put the quilt on the bed with the top and bottom toward the sides, making it longer where I needed it to be longer. There is still plenty of quilt at the bottom and top....but not enough to match the length on the sides. Anyway, it did cover up all the stuff underneath....and it not only looks good, but a person can still sleep under it and have their feet fully covered. Great solution to an odd problem, if you ask me.

So, now....about these two quilts. I purchased them at two different flea markets. The Rose one before Christmas at the Freeway Emporium and the Star just last week at Green Alley. I got the Rose one for $40...yeah, that's what I said! And, the Star for $50 and some change. Yeah, I said that too!!!! Couldn't have said NO if I wanted to....such pretty bargains. I wonder what great ladies made them? And, they are soft, so very soft!!!

The Rose is cross-stitched. Hand-quilted. Full size. Delightful. And, doesn't it look good in the Nest? Yeah, I know, you can see a lot of my 'stuff' in the room. You can check my 'label list' and find studio and see more of it...but I guarantee that it never looks the same many months at a time before I've moved it around. Won't be that easy anymore with a bed out here, but, I bet I find a way to change it once in a while anyway. I've posted several photos....one of my faves is the dark one. I posted that one just because I like the 'mood' of it. Would like to be curled up in that bed right now, all cozy and with my Kindle!

The Star quilt is wonderful. Older than the Rose. It has lots of wear, especially in a lot of the diamonds....but is still in good enough shape to use. Gently. I can piece a quilt...but I most often applique. I guess that is why this quilt spoke to me so loudly in the 'flea.' I would never make it, so therefore I love it. Whoever the maker was...she did a FINE job....not only is the piecing wonderful...the hand quilting is fabulous. I know I would have liked this lady a lot!!

So....don't you love them too? Thank you so much for visiting.....I'll be back soon with whatever I can find to share with you.....you know you are special!!!! stay warm, safe and cozy, pat

A Little Peek at Some of My Quilts

During my time at the downtown studio today, I got the bright idea I'd give you a little peek at some of my quilts. I think you may have seen most, or even all, of these quilts at one time or other, but today I thought seeing just a 'snippet' of each might just tickle your fancy. So to speak.

These quilts are all hand-quilted. At least one is pieced. Some are appliqued. Some are crazy quilts. Some are embroidered. And, one is embroidered with silk ribbon. Some are a 'mixture.'
In this bunch....there are doll quilts, bed sized quilts, small, medium and large wall quilts. Some are beaded, but you may not see that part in these photos. One is really 'whole cloth' but looks pieced.

I've used cotton prints and solids, muslin, neckties and one of them was made with fabric from a relative's stash....the fabric as old as I am. Lots of DMC embroidery floss, cotton batting, and original patterns I have drawn over the years were used to create these quilts. No telling how many needles I've gone through. I used to quilt with a size twelve needle, but had to change to a nine as time passed by. I do needle-turn applique and use a size 10 Milliner's needle for that. I do hand embroidery. I love to write on quilts.

I haven't finished a quilt in two years or so. So much to do....so little time. I do have an appliqued quilt in the quilt closet that really needs to be quilted. It's a big one. Maybe I'll get to that this year. But, for today, it is fun to have a tiny look back at some quiltwork I've done. If you want to see more of any of them...just let me know....it doesn't bother me at all to show these quilts again.

And, look closely....on one you will see tiny embroidered hearts...remember, I will be showing you how to do those close to the end of February.

Hope you've enjoyed the 'peek' and that your 2012 is going well. take care, pat