FRIENDSHIP EMBROIDERY MINI QUILT SWAP and word verification

I love hand embroidery.  That's one of the reasons I signed up for this swap (link on my side bar, but it is closed now).  My recipient said she likes blue, so yesterday I started pulling fabrics for the borders as well as embroidery threads for the center.  I won't use all of these fabrics, but it's a start for color palette to select threads.  I haven't decided on the border scheme yet anyway.

While watching TV last night, I embroidered the words in dark blue.  Next comes the arbor and flowers.  Mine has to travel quite a way so I want to get on it soonest.  I don't think this post will give too much away, as there are almost 200 swappers.

Word Verification:  I have once again removed that pesky word verification on comments that is so hard for some to read, thus making it easier for you to leave a comment.  As usual when I removed that step, within hours I had received two robot spam comments, but both were now caught by the comment spam filter, and weren't posted.  Yeah blogspot!  So as long as this works I'll leave it easy for you to comment.

Hope everyone finds time to stitch today.  I just came back from light aerobics, and am ready to get to work.

DEFT DELFT

LOTUS

 

CAT'S PAW

 

 

These 4" recessed applique blocks are from the book, Dutch Treat, by Judy Garden.  She named her beautiful quilt Deft Delft.  There are 196 blocks in this book based on Dutch tiles.  I've been wanting to give this a go for some time.

I've decided to keep with the traditional colorway of blue and white.  Recessed applique (also sometimes called reverse applique) is different in that the design emerges as you stitch back the foreground, rather adding the applique on top of the background.  I'm very used to my back-baste method of applique, but I'm starting to get the hang of this.

I'm doing this quilt as a block-a-week with my Applique Boutique yahoo group.  But, it would take 4 years just to finish the blocks at that rate, let along sash and quilt it.  Hmmm............  Well, like most things, it's about the journey more than the destination to me.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET

A photo taken on September 11, 2001 by the New York City Police Department as the North Tower collapses, engulfing lower Manhattan in smoke and ash.

(Photo: AP Photo/NYPD, Det. Greg Semendinger)

GRANDMOTHER'S CHOICE BLOCK 2: AMETHYST

This is block 2 in the patterns being offered by Barbara Brackman, on Women's Suffrage.  The name of this block is Amethyst.  It was chosen to represent the colors used by the Suffgragists and the more militant Suffragettes in England.  Their banners, etc. were made using symbolic colors:  white (purity), green (hope), and purple (dignity).  You can link to this BOW on my side-bar to read more, or to join in.

GRANDMOTHER'S CHOICE, BLOCK 1

 

Here's my block 1 for Grandmother's Choice, the new BOW about women's rights.  I'm happy with the way it turned out and with my colors.  I did pull some more mediums today.

 

My Grandmother was a teenager when women gained the right to vote in the U.S.A.  When I was 44 'ish and 'back in college' (a late bloomer?) I took a class on Women's History in the U.S.A.  It was actually about women's rights in the U.S.A.  While studying sit-ins, protest marches, arrests, and hunger strikes - and forced feedings in jail - I asked her how she felt about all this at the time.

 

I was shocked that she found the women to be 'kooks'.  This grandmother worked for pay her whole life.  She was always modern for the times.  Cut her hair and wore flapper clothes when that was in.  Owned and ran a farm by herself after her husband died.  I thought she was quite modern.  Kooks???  She said yes, while she and her friends were all for women voting, they thought the extreme measures taken by the women's rights advocates were nuts.  And all the men thought the women would just cancel out their votes.  Geesh!  What a surprise.

 

As a child of the 60's, I grew up with protest marches, sit-ins, hunger strikes, and arrests.  Even the National Guard murdering students at Kent State.  Even assassinations of civil rights workers, and one of our beloved presidents.  I thought, "Good for them!"  I wouldn't have had that courage. 

 

But then I realized I thought the women's liberation movement movers and shakers seemed like kooks to me.  Bra burnings?  Unshaven hair on legs and underarms?  Leaving your kids in day-care (which I actually did for a few months).  But I'm all in favor of equal rights for women in the work place and society.  Hmmm..................  What comes around goes around?

 

I'm so proud that we've come so far.  Women are free to stay home with thier kids, or work outside the home.  They are free to do what works for them, their goals and dreams, their families' needs.

 

You can find a link to this BOW in my left sidebar and earlier posts.

NATIONAL SEWING MONTH

Sept. is national sewing month?  Who knew?  Well, not me!  There's even a web site for it.  Click here to read all about it and get ideas on how to celebrate.  Me?  Well, I'll be spending Sept. in the sewing room as much as possible.

START

Today after church I started getting ready for my Grandmother's Choice BOM.  Step one, select fabrics.  Gold and black or gold and deep violet were often the colors used for suffrage banners, etc., in the United States.  To be true to the cause for the quilt, I've washed and pressed this grouping, all from stash.  Looks like I might need a few more mediums, but we'll see.  The gold of that era was more what we call cheddar today.  I think I'll look for more of that in my stash.  I'm sure my CW bin must have some.






The BOW just started yesterday.  Maybe I can keep up.  That would be a first!  Here's a link in case you'd like to join along, or just read more about the struggle for women to vote, not only in America, but around the globe.

LABOR DAY ALREADY

Traditionally Labor Day marks the end of the summer.  Wow!  Sure came fast this year! 

Upper Michigan has a unique way to celebrate. They open lanes on the Mackinac Bridge to walkers. The bridge connects Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, is 5 miles long, and was built in 1957. Click here for more info on this structure. 

I was a 6-year-old when the bridge opened, and like many trolls (those living below the bridge in Michigan) my family was eager to check it out.  It was quite exciting to no longer spend the day waiting for, and traveling across on the auto ferries!

This is a large mass of humanity walking the bridge. It's not on my bucket list, but here's to those who do it -- some every year.  So, how are you celebrating this week end?  I'm hoping to get some stitching in.

GRANDMOTHER'S CHOICE

Barbara Brackman is doing it again!  This time her BOW is in honor of Women's Suffrage.  This starts Sept. 1 and lasts through Aug., 2013.  Click here to go to the Grandmother's Choice blog.  There will be lots to learn as well as a quilt block each week.

I took a course in Women's History in the U.S.A. in college, and found it really, really, interesting.  This quilt will discuss Women's Suffrage around the globe, not just in the USA.  I can't wait!  Just two more days.

THREAD HEAD QUILT ALONG

Thread Head is having another Quilt Along.  Click on the button or here for details.  This one starts in September.  Not sure if I'll join in or just follow the fun.  Either way, I look forward to this one. 

 

FRIENDSHIP EMBROIDERY

http://quiltinggallery.com/quilters-fun/friendship-embroidery-mini-quilt-swap/

I signed up for this little swap, did you?  Click for all the info.  I love embroidery and quilting mixed.  This should be fun!

THE PATH LESS TRAVELED

 Company is gone.

 Just the two of us now.

Or a pink and blue quilt on the horizon?

JULY LOTTO BLOCKS

I won my small group's block lotto for July.  Yeah!  Love these black/white/reds.  I think I'll be using them with other same color group blocks for a larger quilt.  There are 16 in all, but my one is hiding somewhere.  These are the 15 sent to me.

LOYAL UNION SAMPLER QUILT

Jennifer Chiaverini posted this picture on her FB yesterday.  It's her new quilt pattern, Loyal Union Sampler, that will be published Sept. 2013. Looks to me like this version is made in Jennifer's Anneke's Collection.


This is the quilt I'm collecting blue and grays for.  The clouds I showed a few days ago inspired my color scheme, as well as the obvious blue and gray CW sides.

Here's the start of my collection.  Good thing I have a year!  This will be an awesome quilt, and I'm sure many will want to stitch one.

PLETHORA OF PRESENTS!

My Dear Jane Secret Sister gift for June arrived yesterday.  Yes, she's behind, but quickly catching up with a vengeance!  The fabric int he background may go into my blue/gray bag.  The black/white/red will go with current project.  New seam ripper, well who doesn't need one?  New marking tools, ditto.  And the sweet needle minder will get a work-out.  The little booklets have bookmarks, stickers, and postcards, all quilt-related.  Dear SS, you if you are reading, you sure are thoughtful!  Thanks.

QUILT INSPIRATIONS

What inspires the color schemes in your quilts?  I'm often inspired by nature.  We had some wonderful storm clouds over Lake Superior last week.  1000 shades of gray, LOL!  Oh, and the vibrant blues.  I'm planning to do a new CW quilt next year.  It will be called, "The Blue and the Gray".  The inspiration for the color scheme, right here in the storm clouds. 

 I'll have a year to collect FQs.  I think I have lots of blues, but not much gray.

100+ FLORAL CHARMS

This is what 100+ floral charms look like!  Goodness me!  Lots of project ideas floating in my head here.  What to do, what to do?  They are from a swap where I cut 5 each from 20 fabrics and got back 100+ unique ones.

"MUST HAVE" MOCCASINS

When my daughter was in boarding school and college, I often visited her for a 'mom and me' weekend filled with girl stuff.  We generally bought and wore matching pajamas.  Now that she's all grown up, we decided to revive the tradition while she was visiting us in Upper Michigan.  We got matching Minnetonka moccasins; this time slippers with a very cozy fleece lining.

Minnetonkas are a 'must' souvenir when vising northern Michigan.  I always got them, and an Indian doll (that's what they were, and are still, called -- not native American) when my family traveled "up north" when I was a kid.  Her 4 kiddos all got slippers too this year.  Two got Minnetonkas, one bears, and one moose, to match their pj's.

Fun, fun, making and reviving memories and traditions.

SEEING RED

These many luscious fat quarters are from a FQ birthday swap I'm in.  I had a super pattern in mind for them (everyone needs a red quilt lately), but now I'm thinking maybe Sarah's Revival.  Hmmm....................  Thanks girlfriends!

BIRTHDAY BAG AND MORE

My dear friend, Carol, sent me this sweet needle minder.  I had been ogle eyeing them on my last blog hop but passed.  I'm so happy to receive this from Carol.

She also gave me this monogrammed bag.

It will come in very handy for stitching or could be used as a purse too.  Love the pretty monogram!

Thanks so much, Carol, and especially for your friendship, which has gone on for 30-some years!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

My next few posts will share a few of my birthday gifts.  This first set is from grandsons Brendan (5) and Charlie (4), with a little help from mom.  They are going on the wall pronto! 

I love homemade gifts, especially when they have my interests at heart!  Love the art, and love the boys!

RUFFLE SCARF

I love the new ruffle scarf yarn and the way this one turned out.  In my travels I've seen the fnished scarves selling for as much as $40 (at Tamarac in WV) and as low as $25 (at the Blueberry Patch in Paradise, MI).  This one went to my sister.

SEWING WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER

Two of my granddaughters are visiting, and we've been doing some sewing.  This is Ali at the machine.  She made a little purse/bag.  It has two pockets inside, and is perfect for her camera and some cash, LOL!

She found the button to decorate it in my button box.

I love to see the young'uns taking an interest in stitching!  Makes a Nana proud.

TOWERING TREES

July is a super time to start getting ready for Christmas.  A gal at my Monday group shared this Towering Tree pattern.  Yes, it's a tad wonky, but not as much as it looks in this picture!  The sparkly stars on the fabric aren't showing up well either.  I might add more adornment, or maybe a star at the top.

HI!

No stitching lately, but just wanted to check in with my blogging friends and let you know I'm fine, surviving this heat wave my style, LOL!