On the Cutting Table Today...

Vintage Quilt Tops

Oh I do Love a good Quilt.

Last year, One of my Quilting projects was to complete this quilt top for one of my lovely clients.

Full story on that quilt here.

My client, Mrs. Ann, shared some of the history of these quilt tops with me.  The quilt above, and the one that I'm working on now, were some of the last quilt tops that her mother made.  She passed away in her 90's.  When she was younger, she made incredible quilts like this one...

Incredible precision... and all done by hand.  Every stitch.  No sewing machines.  The points in these quilt blocks are absolutely perfect.  Not to mention the actual quilting.  Just beautiful.

When Mrs. Ann's mother could no longer finish the quilts, she still made quilt tops, which were handed down to her daughter.   These quilts hold so many precious memories... they are treasures... and I am honored to finish these quilts, so they can be handed down to grand-children, to be treasured for years to come.

So... this is the latest quilt top for Mrs. Ann.

The individual blocks are called "tree of life" blocks.  All are set on a diagonal with brown sashing in between the blocks. 

The thing about quilt tops...

they must be flat.  The blocks must be square.  Or else it is a nightmare to try to quilt. 

The lady that hand quilted the top was almost blind when she made this quilt top, so there are a few problems.    First... there are large wrinkles or bubbles in the top.

Like this...



Second...

that is about as far from "square" as you can get.

As much as I hated to do this...

the entire quilt top had to be taken apart.

There was just no other way.  I felt a little bit.. as though.. I was disrupting the integrity of the quilt.  After all every stitch was done by hand, in her last days.  And that in itself is so very special. 

But take it apart... I must. 

In her day, a quilter would use many scraps of fabric, of all different sizes to finsh the block, and then trim away the edges to make the block "square".



At her age, and losing her sight, she forgot, or just couldn't see to square the blocks up.  So I'll just do that for her. 

The blocks on the left have been squared,

the blocks on the right have not. 

So now, as soon as I get the top pieced back together, I can get to the process of the actual quilting.

So many of us have quilt tops like this that have been handed down.  And I love to finish them, I love the stories behind them, I love the history of each and every one.  If you have a quilt top that you would like for me to finish, I would be happy to do that for you... just drop me a line.

Finished quilt photos coming soon!

All in the Details

Take Two ~

Every detail counts.

There's probably no event which that holds true for,

more than a Wedding.

Aside from my usual sewing projects, you know...

the upholstery, window treatments and quilts, I have my little Etsy shop, where I sell my handmade table linens, cloth napkins, table runners, and the like.  I do lots of projects with Brides-To-Be.  You can see some of my earlier wedding projects here.

Well just last week, one of my brides (yes they are "my brides" once I work with them), let me know that her wedding was published in "STYLE ME PRETTY"!

SO ~ I just had to share it with you!

First ~ The Bride ~

Location, location, location...

The Grand View Lodge, Nisswa, Minnesota.

Now, KK didn't want your cookie-cutter wedding or reception.  She wanted her guests to feel comfortable, as if they were at a summer party, something unique, with lots of charm.

Milk glass vases belonging to her Mother.

Burlap table runners for some old-fashioned charm.

Roses with Queen Anne's Lace in blue mason jars...

what could be prettier than that?

The brides bouquet wrapped in ticking stripe.

She didn't want to waste money renting the typical reception items, so the ticking stripe fabric was used to make tablecloths...

The cotton napkins were sweet country prints ( I think we used 16 different fabrics ).  She'll never have to buy napkins again for the rest of her life! 

A sweet reminder of her very special day,

that she can use every day.

The ticking fabric will be used to  upholster her kitchen chairs, and outdoor furniture this summer.

Keeping with the outdoor summer party vibe, the menu included fried chicken, mac n cheese, and corn on the cob...  YUM!

Even BBQ sandwiches...

Feels more like south Georgia than Minnesota,

and I LOVE IT!

Cotton Candy, too!

Tender moments...

with furry friends, too.

And they lived Happily Ever After.

 Wedding Design & Coordination: Elizabeth Anne Weddings / Wedding Photography: Whitney Furst for Laura Ivanova Photography

Baby Love

One more thing...

Who's the cutest little thing on the planet?

Well now...

That would be little Jewel!

With a sweet thing like this around, I couldn't help but make a few baby things.  So... yes, I made the little jacket for her, sash made of ribbon with a big silk rose, and crochet hat, too!

Guess I better add this one to the portfolio.

I'm Back!

And Better than EVAH!

2011 was quite the rollercoaster...

One year ago, I lost my dear sweet Grandmother. 

My Mother, my sisters and I were all by her side.  As we had been for so long.  Losing a loved one is never easy, but to watch your loved one suffer for so, so long... well... the suffering just seems so cruel, and the point comes that we pray for the suffering to end. 

Now her pain is over.  But ours still feels so fresh. 

I miss her so much. 

But we have to carry on.

 
So much has happened in the last year.
We lost one precious Jewel,

we gained another.

There's so much to be thankful for.

Loved ones all around us...

with new life to celebrate.

And that's what it's all about.

Love

and Life.

Checked one off the bucket list...

Wrongs were righted...

In spite of tweedle dee and tweedle dumb ass... 

and their bad intentions.

Kinda back-fired for them...

Didn't it?

(Sorry... I still get a kick out of it!)

My son got his Dad back,

the kids got a new pool...

and Me???

well I finally got my new sewing room!

2012 is shaping up beautifully...
lots of new projects in the works,
and a few surprises that may shock you...

stay tuned!

 

How to Sew a Tiny Rolled Hem

This hem is best for evening and bridal wear, prom dresses, etc. 

Also great for chiffon, charmeuse, any slippery, or whispy type fabrics.

You will be sewing around your hem 3 times, but only 1 stitch line will be showing.

First, mark your hem.

Cut your fabric 1/2 inch below where you want the finished hem to be.

Now you should start sewing (with a normal straight stitch).  You can see that I have the cut edge of my fabric on the 3/8" line on my throat plate (the little silver plate underneath the presser foot).

That's your 1st hem.

It should look like this...

Now you will want to fold your fabric to the left, directly on that stitch line.  This gives you a perfect 3/8" seam allowance for the hem.  Next, stitch very close to the fold. About 1/8" or less.

This is your 2nd hem.

Next you should trim away the excess hem fabric.  Cut as close as possible to the second hem-line.  You need a good pair of sharp scissors for this.  I like to use my small embroidery scissors.

A closer look.

Now roll the hem to the left again, and stitch as closely as possible to the left edge of the hem.  This is your 3rd and final hem.

Press and you are done!

I know... it's been forever since I've posted anything about sewing... Right?

Have a Lovely Sunday!



Thrills N Chills

THRILLS - check

CHILLS - check

HOT GUYS -  double check

Remember this scene from the movie "Point Break"?

Keanu Reaves and Patrick Swayze.

Double Yum.

Did their own stunts, and their own jumps.

You can jump out of that very same airplane at

ADVENTURE SKYDIVING CENTER

in Cedartown, Georgia, about 45 minutes north of Atlanta.

 My skydive instructor Johan, was just awesome..

and the video shot by Junior was incredible! 

I can't stop watching it!  I want to re-live it, over and over..

YES, Skydiving is addictive!

check me out....

My Bff's DH jumped with Scott.

(Scott was HOT!)

Aaron and Junior (videographers) coming in for a landing.

They were hot, too!

It's a Cougar Playground!

I'll keep you posted on the next playdate.