Day's work

Two posts in one day. That's unusual for me! But I had to share some thoughts.

Jack in the Box

And all the sections of my New York Beauty.

Part of my goal of this month was to get some progress made on the rest of my Sylvia's Bridal Sampler blocks. Here's one completed and another 3/4 way through.

I was stitching away tonight, listening to the Aloha Quilt on CD by Jennifer Chiaverini, learning through her character Bonnie, more about Hawaiian appliqué-style and Hawaiian quilting. And I was thinking about my own project of Hawaiian-style appliqué that I'm working on. 

I was suddenly struck by this awe, this reverence, for a new culture, a new style, a new tradition, and the opportunity and inspiration that I've been given to learn this new skill. I haven't done much appliqué and haven't liked a lot of it that I've seen...but this is different. I know that I've been blessed from my Heavenly Father with talents to learn, develop and share, and the intelligence and desire to seek to learn something new, and the desire to bless the lives of others with my talents.

I just hope that I can decide on a design to complement and enlarge my appliqué into a quilt.

And I hope that I can finish in time for the recipient to enjoy it before she passes on.

Wow. Does anyone else ever feel this flash of divinity while working on this lovely, useful, artistic obsession that we call quilting?

New York Beauty

Hi!

Here's my finished paper-pieced New York Beauty sections.

Aren't they pretty?

Ok, so I'm a history buff as far as quilt blocks are concerned.

Why is it called New York Beauty?

What year did it first appear?

I kind of had an epiphany while working on these the other night....I think this part looks like Lady Liberty's crown (Statue of Liberty). That would explain the New York part, and beautiful part.

What do you think?

Any other insights to other block names?

(Who is Aunt Sukie and why did she "choose" that block?)

Peteetneet Quilt Show and Scottish Festival

Two fun events occur every year in my "small town": the Peteetneet Quilt Show, and the Scottish Festival.

The Peteetneet Quilt Show is put on every year at the old historic Peteetneet School. It's pretty much the oldest and largest building in my town. It's now a museum and community center. The show is small, but it's a lot of fun. They have a challenge kit every year, a featured artist, a few classes and a quilt walk on a Saturday. It runs for two weeks. It's not a judged show, but visitors can vote for their favorites.

I didn't have anything to enter this year, but I can't miss it. Here are some of my favorites:

Blogger Konda Luckau lives in my town, and made these first two quilts--hexagons! I liked the color combinations.

The next is a Judy Niemeyer pattern, that the maker made in a class in Arizona. I just love the color combination! The photo doesn't do the aqua and purples justice.

And this one is just cute! Shades of green blenders, in stars, surrounding greenwork  cross-stitched pre-printed blocks. The pale green as a background is really inspiring to me.

I know I had a few more, but a certain little boy with autism now knows the pass code on my phone and loves to look at pictures. Occasionally, he deletes a few in accident. And, I would have gotten more pictures, but I was alone with a baby in a stroller, and running after two rambunctious boys.

The Scottish Festival is the second weekend in July, Friday and Saturday, in the city park. We usually like to go on Friday night for the Ceilidh (kay-lee). There's live entertainment of Irish dancing, Celtic music, and all the vendors are set up. It's a lot of fun to walk under the huge trees, through the vendors and family Clan tents, sample Scottish food, browse the jewelry and trinkets, plaids, armor, family history booth, and listen to the music.

I've bought my matching Claddagh earrings and pendant, with my green Peridot birthstones, two consecutive years from Gypsy Moon Emporium.

My newest jewelry acquisition is this Celtic knot star.   Here it is, next to my Claddagh.

My other favorite booth to visit is Damsel in This Dress. Michelle is the owner of her company and designer of all the custom corsets, skirts, and vests. And it's fun that she does it out of her home, which is in next town over from mine. She has her website for custom orders, an Etsy and an Artfire store, and travels to a few Renaissance and Comic-con shows per year. If you've never tried on an amazing-fitting, slimming corset, you have got to try these! I own two now.

here's a picture of a display at her booth last year. I love the Revolutionary War military-style look in the "Vixen" corset, with the bustle skirt and peasant blouse (she also makes both of those from her own patterns).

Me the Pirate, dressed up for Halloween 2012 at work in the ER. This is Damsel's "Vixen" corset. I made the satin skirt.

Patches

I'm thrilled, because I accomplished part of my monthly goal today! Yay!

It feels so good to feel like I have made progress on something!

I have finished cutting all patches for the rest of the blocks, for the baby's star sampler. It took me all afternoon and evening, in between being referee for the older boys, playing sports on the Wii with them, snacks, playing with the baby and feeding the baby. But it really wasn't too bad and not as much to do as I thought.

Now it is really easy to just pick up a Baggie, layout a whole block, and start sewing!

Now I'm going to relax on the sofa and work on Plumeria for a few minutes while watching one of my favorite movies.

Tiny progress

July rolls on, and I'm making bits of progress.

Needle turn appliqué is slow and careful with tiny stitches. It's hard to see what I've finished so far, so I've put some markers on the piece in the picture:

One quarter is finished (by the natural-colored spool), plus halfway up one side of another stem (see the tail of thread by the beeswax), and up another stem with one flower almost finished (the scissors are pointing to the thread tail).

I just realized that this Plumeria pattern has 16 leaves, and 60 petals!

I'm not sure how I forgot to mention this, but I finally got all the feeling back in my fingers in April (3 months postpartum). So  what do I go and choose as my first project to do with hand stitching?! 

Very intensive and detailed Hawaiian appliqué!

 And I've discovered that I need to take short breaks because my fingers holding my needle get numb and fuzzy again.

Well, off to bed!

AYOLF: July Goal

Hello,

Do you ever get discouraged, thinking you don't have much done so you don't have anything to share? Yeah, me too.

July goal:

Since I only partially completed my June goals, I will continue into July.

--Piece more Sylvia's Bridal Sampler blocks

--Cut blocks for the baby's star sampler.

--Stitch the Hawaiian appliqué block and decide how to finish it.

(Piles of fabric for the baby's sampler and a sneak peek at the back of the Hawaiian appliqué.)

Sneak peek

Happy July!

Here's a sneak peek of what I'm doing tonight.

I'm getting ready to do a lot of hand-work ! It involves a lot of appliqué.

I can't tell you enough: I adore these fabrics and colors!