This blog is once again full so I am starting over with a brand new blog. I hope you will stop over there and bookmark it to visit instead of coming here. The new blog is call Stitched Memories in Time and I hope you will enjoy it...
Thank you so much for all your comments here on All My Scattering Moments. I have so appreciated the friendships that have come about through the blog. Those memories are carried over into my new blog hence the name Stitched Memories in Time.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
Keeping warm on a cool summer's eve.....
The weather turned quite chilly again in Holland. We have even had a fire going in the wood stove in the evenings on and off. But I am warm regardless with my latest finish...
I wanted to dig into my rather large stash of yarn. I have really had a bad case of yarn greed since I started crocheting. At least this project helped out by plundering my stash for 19 skeins.
I wanted a delicate look so choose a pattern with the shell stitch but also made it look rustic with stripes of cream, light grey, beige and dark grey. I knew I would just have to keep going until I ran out of yarn and it happened faster than I had hoped when I ran out of dark grey. You see.....I hope it would become huge and I could use it on a double bed but instead it is a perfect size to snuggle up on the couch with. I am really pleased with it!
More finishes to come this week. One finish has to be kept secret. I finished a door hanger which is the theme this year for my quilt group's Christmas in July gift exchange. I just love it and hate to give it away which is a good sign. I cannot wait to have the party in July and see who gets it. I promise to share it with you then.
I wanted to dig into my rather large stash of yarn. I have really had a bad case of yarn greed since I started crocheting. At least this project helped out by plundering my stash for 19 skeins.
I wanted a delicate look so choose a pattern with the shell stitch but also made it look rustic with stripes of cream, light grey, beige and dark grey. I knew I would just have to keep going until I ran out of yarn and it happened faster than I had hoped when I ran out of dark grey. You see.....I hope it would become huge and I could use it on a double bed but instead it is a perfect size to snuggle up on the couch with. I am really pleased with it!
More finishes to come this week. One finish has to be kept secret. I finished a door hanger which is the theme this year for my quilt group's Christmas in July gift exchange. I just love it and hate to give it away which is a good sign. I cannot wait to have the party in July and see who gets it. I promise to share it with you then.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Of strawberries and stacks of projects.....
Back in April, Bep and I had our SAL day and finished our strawberry pincushions. These are pincushions that are specifically made for our quilting.
We sewed the strawberry shape and stuffed them. We added a crown made of wool felt cut to look as real as I could make it. We first pierced a kebab stick (Jos cut these to the size of a spool of thread for us) through the felt and well into the strawberry filling before tacking the crown here and there to the strawberry. The results is a pincushion which stands in the spool ready to hold any needles and pins as you quilt.
Our lunch theme this time was a typical Dutch sandwich (Bep made a "broodje gezond" which is tomato, cucumber, lettuce, boiled egg and cheese on a brown roll) and a typical American sandwich (I made a chicken club sandwich on ciabatta bread). We had our SAL day at Bep's this time due to the weather as she would have to bike to my house in the rain. Unfortunately, we had no SAL day in May since she is away on vacation. I missed our day as we have a fun new project to start on once again!
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As you can see, I really do use my strawberry when I sit down to quilt. I am working this weekend on hand quilting a doll quilt. It is nice to be able to park my needle and know where I put it. *wink*
It has been a busy week sorting through UFOs in my quilt studio. I have been grouping them together according to stitching, quilting or finishing UFOs. I added a number to my list for my UFO challenge. It is time to get back on track with them instead of any new starts. And since I have just bought three fabulous charts from The Primitive Hare, I will have to cross off at least three UFOs quickly to be able to start on them. I finished one today and will share it in the next blog post.
It is hitting home that we are already into June and I did not keep my goal up of 2 UFOs a month. To date, I have completed 14 things this year but only 7 of them are from my UFO list. It is not easy to only work on UFOs so I am now going to be thrilled if I can keep one a month as a finish. Many of my projects just cannot be finished so quickly. I have had two people comment recently that my quilt studio is looking more bare so I know it is working to focus on these stacks.
Anyone else doing well with working through their UFOs this year? Do you find listing them and working through that list helps. Or do you just pick up what you feel like it? Or...shock---horror...do you not have any UFOs? *grins*
We sewed the strawberry shape and stuffed them. We added a crown made of wool felt cut to look as real as I could make it. We first pierced a kebab stick (Jos cut these to the size of a spool of thread for us) through the felt and well into the strawberry filling before tacking the crown here and there to the strawberry. The results is a pincushion which stands in the spool ready to hold any needles and pins as you quilt.
Our lunch theme this time was a typical Dutch sandwich (Bep made a "broodje gezond" which is tomato, cucumber, lettuce, boiled egg and cheese on a brown roll) and a typical American sandwich (I made a chicken club sandwich on ciabatta bread). We had our SAL day at Bep's this time due to the weather as she would have to bike to my house in the rain. Unfortunately, we had no SAL day in May since she is away on vacation. I missed our day as we have a fun new project to start on once again!
.jpg)
As you can see, I really do use my strawberry when I sit down to quilt. I am working this weekend on hand quilting a doll quilt. It is nice to be able to park my needle and know where I put it. *wink*
It has been a busy week sorting through UFOs in my quilt studio. I have been grouping them together according to stitching, quilting or finishing UFOs. I added a number to my list for my UFO challenge. It is time to get back on track with them instead of any new starts. And since I have just bought three fabulous charts from The Primitive Hare, I will have to cross off at least three UFOs quickly to be able to start on them. I finished one today and will share it in the next blog post.
It is hitting home that we are already into June and I did not keep my goal up of 2 UFOs a month. To date, I have completed 14 things this year but only 7 of them are from my UFO list. It is not easy to only work on UFOs so I am now going to be thrilled if I can keep one a month as a finish. Many of my projects just cannot be finished so quickly. I have had two people comment recently that my quilt studio is looking more bare so I know it is working to focus on these stacks.
Anyone else doing well with working through their UFOs this year? Do you find listing them and working through that list helps. Or do you just pick up what you feel like it? Or...shock---horror...do you not have any UFOs? *grins*
Friday, May 11, 2012
I know, I know.....
...I was going to work on mostly UFOs this year. But a girl cannot live on UFOs alone....right???
A couple of months ago, Jos hung my old huge cork board in my quilt studio. I was not sure I was going to use it in this house but decided I did have a wall big enough for it. It has quickly attracted a number of fun new quilt projects. More about the two doll quilts later. *grins*
Since my quilt studio is now downstairs in our new home right off the living room, I wanted the cork board to look nicer. Jos added an oak edging to it to give it a finished look. I just love it now!
Did you notice the project hanging at the bottom of the cork board?
I had been carrying the patterns for this cute stitchery quilt in my folder with my newsletters for my quilt group all this year. Not a good idea! When you see them constantly, it is hard to resist starting on them. But start I did and today just put the last touches on the quilt up to this point.
You can find these free patterns for Visions of Christmas here.
I am however still working away on a UFO which is being hand quilted. I have now been diagnosed with Raynaud's disease in my hand and it has been painful for over a month now. I am luckily left handed but still need the right for my needlework. This are slow but steady. I do hope to get a couple of finishes done by the end of May regardless. Wish me luck!?!
A couple of months ago, Jos hung my old huge cork board in my quilt studio. I was not sure I was going to use it in this house but decided I did have a wall big enough for it. It has quickly attracted a number of fun new quilt projects. More about the two doll quilts later. *grins*
Since my quilt studio is now downstairs in our new home right off the living room, I wanted the cork board to look nicer. Jos added an oak edging to it to give it a finished look. I just love it now!
Did you notice the project hanging at the bottom of the cork board?
I had been carrying the patterns for this cute stitchery quilt in my folder with my newsletters for my quilt group all this year. Not a good idea! When you see them constantly, it is hard to resist starting on them. But start I did and today just put the last touches on the quilt up to this point.
You can find these free patterns for Visions of Christmas here.
It is full of fun patterns like snowmen, nutcrackers, Santa, stockings, angels, gingerbread men and a little red wagon. Well...I made it into a little red wagon and added the Radio Flyer logo. You can enlarge the photos to see more details. What little kid in the US did not want a Radio Flyer wagon when they were growing up. Since I am in my second childhood, I asked my step father to get one of these cars so I could come home and drive it. For some reason he said no....lol. Take a look at this video of a couple in Alaska that have one.....
How neat is that? I bet it would stop traffic everywhere.
So now I have to decide on what I want to do with the pieced border so I can get this top ready to start quilting. I am using all woven homespun fabrics for this quilt to give it a primitive country look.
I am however still working away on a UFO which is being hand quilted. I have now been diagnosed with Raynaud's disease in my hand and it has been painful for over a month now. I am luckily left handed but still need the right for my needlework. This are slow but steady. I do hope to get a couple of finishes done by the end of May regardless. Wish me luck!?!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
A Woman's Strength and Courage
This past week, I happened to be looking for free daily offers on my Kindle and came across this children's book called Martha Ann's Quilt for Queen Victoria. I love quilt based fiction for any age.
Last night, I decided to read it before I went to bed. I was touched by this story that I woke up this morning and immediately started looking for information. As a quilter, when I read at the end of the story that it was based on a real woman's life and the quilt existed, I had to see if I could find a photo of the Coffee Tree quilt.
This is Martha Ann Ricks. This photo is part of the collection taken at the National Portrait Gallery in London. It was taken on July 18, 1892. Her eyes and smile tell a story in themselves.
This is the Coffee Quilt which she stitched by hand for Queen Victoria. It was made with affection and conviction for the queen. She herself was quoted in The London Times saying...'The Lord told me I should see the Queen, and I know I will.' She hand appliqued more than 300 green leaves with red coffee berries.
Excerpt from Martha Erskine Ricks: 19th Century Quiltmaker by Hicks...
**The Coffee Tree Quilt Mrs. Ricks designed had over 300 pointed green leaves with plump red coffee berries all delicately hand-appliquéd onto a white background. The quilt was composed of a center tree trunk extending the length of the quilt. Mrs. Ricks divided the background into four quadrants with a main branch in each quadrant attached to the center trunk. Dozens of leaves with coffee berries attached to minor branches in each of the quadrants. Scalloped appliquéd leaves and berries bordered the entire tree. She most likely spun, wove and dyed her own cloth using both cotton and fibers from the silk cotton tree. The size of the quilt was at least as large as our present-day queen-size quilts.**
I found this version of the quilt from the story Kyra Hicks wrote on her blog. Isn't it beautiful! Thank you so much Kyra for sharing this inspiring story with the world through your book. Martha Ann has really touched my soul.
Normally, I use my book and food blog to write a book review but I just had to share this book with you. It is such an inspiration to any woman who sews, quilts or stitches. I will be quilting today with Martha Ann in my thoughts and a feeling that I am linked to her and all woman who worked magic with their needle and thread before them and draw on their strength and courage.
Personal note: I have been neglecting my blogs as I have not been feeling well. I had to go into the hospital over Easter and am not totally recovered yet. Rather than write it all out, you can read about it on my home and garden blog here. I find myself in bed at 7pm some evenings totally worn out. The specialist just talked to me this morning about my test results and it appears that my immune system just went on tilt which is something they cannot explain. It is not a result of anything I ate. I have an emergency kit with 4 medications to take if it happens again before I call an ambulance. I think I have a nerve infection in my right hand also which is causing me major discomfort for the last two weeks so my needlework is coming more slowly at the moment. I am left handed though and grateful that I still can do things. I do have some works in progress to share so hope to get to some of them on my next blog post.
Last night, I decided to read it before I went to bed. I was touched by this story that I woke up this morning and immediately started looking for information. As a quilter, when I read at the end of the story that it was based on a real woman's life and the quilt existed, I had to see if I could find a photo of the Coffee Tree quilt.
This is Martha Ann Ricks. This photo is part of the collection taken at the National Portrait Gallery in London. It was taken on July 18, 1892. Her eyes and smile tell a story in themselves.
This is the Coffee Quilt which she stitched by hand for Queen Victoria. It was made with affection and conviction for the queen. She herself was quoted in The London Times saying...'The Lord told me I should see the Queen, and I know I will.' She hand appliqued more than 300 green leaves with red coffee berries.
Excerpt from Martha Erskine Ricks: 19th Century Quiltmaker by Hicks...
**The Coffee Tree Quilt Mrs. Ricks designed had over 300 pointed green leaves with plump red coffee berries all delicately hand-appliquéd onto a white background. The quilt was composed of a center tree trunk extending the length of the quilt. Mrs. Ricks divided the background into four quadrants with a main branch in each quadrant attached to the center trunk. Dozens of leaves with coffee berries attached to minor branches in each of the quadrants. Scalloped appliquéd leaves and berries bordered the entire tree. She most likely spun, wove and dyed her own cloth using both cotton and fibers from the silk cotton tree. The size of the quilt was at least as large as our present-day queen-size quilts.**
I found this version of the quilt from the story Kyra Hicks wrote on her blog. Isn't it beautiful! Thank you so much Kyra for sharing this inspiring story with the world through your book. Martha Ann has really touched my soul.
Normally, I use my book and food blog to write a book review but I just had to share this book with you. It is such an inspiration to any woman who sews, quilts or stitches. I will be quilting today with Martha Ann in my thoughts and a feeling that I am linked to her and all woman who worked magic with their needle and thread before them and draw on their strength and courage.
Personal note: I have been neglecting my blogs as I have not been feeling well. I had to go into the hospital over Easter and am not totally recovered yet. Rather than write it all out, you can read about it on my home and garden blog here. I find myself in bed at 7pm some evenings totally worn out. The specialist just talked to me this morning about my test results and it appears that my immune system just went on tilt which is something they cannot explain. It is not a result of anything I ate. I have an emergency kit with 4 medications to take if it happens again before I call an ambulance. I think I have a nerve infection in my right hand also which is causing me major discomfort for the last two weeks so my needlework is coming more slowly at the moment. I am left handed though and grateful that I still can do things. I do have some works in progress to share so hope to get to some of them on my next blog post.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Looking forward to summer?
Well, not really looking forward to summer already but I finished another UFO! This is a SAL that I did back in 2010 from Sofie's blog. I loved the lacy simplicity of this design.
But it was round and I could not decide what I wanted to do with it. A couple of weekends ago, we left for Cranberry Cottage on Friday morning so I asked Jos if we could stop in at a shop I like in Staphorst. I knew this sampler was sitting in a stack waiting for attention but was not looking for anything for it. When you least expect it, there it is...the solution.
I found a round candle tray that I was thinking would be about the right size for this sampler. I cut a piece of poster board in a circle to fit inside the tray and glued a couple of layers of quilt batting to it. Then I stretched the sampler over the poster board and laced it after which I simply glued it into the tray. A piece of lace glued around the edge finished it off just right.
So far, I have finished 13 projects this year of which 6 were on my UFO list. I am really pleased with how many I am finishing so have been adding more UFOs to the list. I hope I can keep up the momentum.....
Anyone else working this year on UFOs?
But it was round and I could not decide what I wanted to do with it. A couple of weekends ago, we left for Cranberry Cottage on Friday morning so I asked Jos if we could stop in at a shop I like in Staphorst. I knew this sampler was sitting in a stack waiting for attention but was not looking for anything for it. When you least expect it, there it is...the solution.
I found a round candle tray that I was thinking would be about the right size for this sampler. I cut a piece of poster board in a circle to fit inside the tray and glued a couple of layers of quilt batting to it. Then I stretched the sampler over the poster board and laced it after which I simply glued it into the tray. A piece of lace glued around the edge finished it off just right.
So far, I have finished 13 projects this year of which 6 were on my UFO list. I am really pleased with how many I am finishing so have been adding more UFOs to the list. I hope I can keep up the momentum.....
Anyone else working this year on UFOs?
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Rabbit season.....
When I came across the Mosey'n Me free chart called Hare's Another Rabbit on Patty's blog, I loved it. Then I saw it again at Miss Linda Lee's and that was it...I had to make this one for Easter.
I decided to work on it while I was online talking to my mother each evening on Skype. I figured I would be able to finish it easily on time since we talk for at least an hour each day.
I already had decided that it would look adorable in a frame I had bought to paint and use for my Dagi sampler wall. I will just look for another frame later for those cat samplers. This frame was just too perfect for this little rabbit picture.
I used 30ct. Apple Brown Bindy R&R Linen for this one stitching 2 over 2. My eyes need a rest. Then I used Crescent Colours Roasted Chestnut to create a milk chocolate bunny. You see, I only eat dark chocolate so this will prevent me from biting his cute little ears off. Then I used Carrie's Creations floss Olives to create the little gingham border on two sides of the design. That was just a little deviation on the original design to work well in my frame.
So that's it...rabbit season has begun! Just in case you are not in a holiday mood for Easter here is Peter Cottontail which I played over and over to drive my mother nuts with. *grins*
Note: I am so sad that I am not able to comment on any WordPress blogs. It refuses my comment until I sign in but I am not a WordPress member. I hope this problem is solved soon but wanted to let people like Lillian, Amy and Barbara know that I am not able to comment. Is anyone else having this problem?
I decided to work on it while I was online talking to my mother each evening on Skype. I figured I would be able to finish it easily on time since we talk for at least an hour each day.
I already had decided that it would look adorable in a frame I had bought to paint and use for my Dagi sampler wall. I will just look for another frame later for those cat samplers. This frame was just too perfect for this little rabbit picture.
I used 30ct. Apple Brown Bindy R&R Linen for this one stitching 2 over 2. My eyes need a rest. Then I used Crescent Colours Roasted Chestnut to create a milk chocolate bunny. You see, I only eat dark chocolate so this will prevent me from biting his cute little ears off. Then I used Carrie's Creations floss Olives to create the little gingham border on two sides of the design. That was just a little deviation on the original design to work well in my frame.
So that's it...rabbit season has begun! Just in case you are not in a holiday mood for Easter here is Peter Cottontail which I played over and over to drive my mother nuts with. *grins*
Note: I am so sad that I am not able to comment on any WordPress blogs. It refuses my comment until I sign in but I am not a WordPress member. I hope this problem is solved soon but wanted to let people like Lillian, Amy and Barbara know that I am not able to comment. Is anyone else having this problem?
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