Vintage Charm-Bloggers Quilt Festival

Sunbonnet Sue...this is an all time favorite pattern.  I  have to admit, I did not personally piece/applique/or embroider stitch this quilt.  Nope, my part was more of a rescue of a vintage top that no one ever finished.  These poor old tops just need me, so I adopt them {by means of some green paper electronically on e-bay, usually}.  But, I am a good mama, I take care of any boo boos {repair rips holes tares}, I feed them stiches with my long arm machine, and then I give them lots of hugs and love.

I wanted to get this photographed in natural light, and the ground was all wet, so hence, the feet sticking out from my unhappy assistants.  I believe this was probably pieced as a top for a bed because of the direction of each block, especially the top row center two block that would be directed toward your face if you were lying down, I love how each corner and side is turned.

I fell in love with this one especially because of the pink sashing, I love pink and yellow are two of my favorite colors.  Yes, sometimes there are little stains, but I accept them with their little flaws, as I am not quite perfect either.

I used a basic off-white colored thread to blend in and not take away from the piecing, and found a sunbonnet sue pantograph quilting design to repeat the appliqued block design.

The attention to detail is evident in the hat stitchery, each hat has a slightly different stitched design and I love the accent black thread color.  I treasure the time that someone put into piecing, applique and stitching these.  I don't know where I'd find it.

I used a lovely fabric from Philip Jacobs that I seemed to fit perfectly, very vintage feel I thought and I love the print and colors.  {In ase any of you are wondering, no I didn't get the binding on, I just ran out of time, but that's for the next generation to do, right}

A little history on the Sunbonnet Sue.   In 1900, American Bertha Corbett Melcher published a book called The Sunbonnet babies.  her illustrations were used to decorate household items, such as china, and became the basis for what is commonly known as Sunbonnet Sue.  Sunbonnet Sue, her brother Overall Sam, and many relatives, including the Colonial lady, were most frequently used in the first part of the twentieth century.  They experienced a revival in the 1970s and 1980's when quilters used both traditional patterns and fabrics as well as moderrn fabrics with new variations on the pattern, sometimes placing Sue in politcal  and social settings, such as running for political office and mountain climbing.  Sunbonnet Sue Quilts are great examples of folk-style applique.
Thank you to Amy for again hosting this wonderful on-line quilt festival, I hope you enjoyed your visit and will continue to visit the pariticipants.  http://amyscreativeside.com/

Vintage clothespin bag

Friend, new friend, how sweet is that, I have a new friend.  Her name is Deb, maybe you've met her, you can find her over at http://homespunliving.blogspot.com/.  Go check out her blog, I first met her via "Artful Blogging" magazine, she was featured in it, and I noticed her address said Lockport, NY, oh well that's pretty close to me...maybe we will meet one day.  All along following her blog, next I pick up the book, "Blogging for Bliss", yes I found her there too.  One day, I'm checking out her little on-line store

http://fireflyfarm.freeservers.com/ and find these really cute vintage clothespin bags she creates...and I HAVE to have it, I fell in love, it just spoke to me.  We meet in person and I get this lovely bag and then look at the gift she gave me, an awesome little zipper bag with crocheted doily on it and a handknit dishcloth, well I was completely surprised and blessed, she even wrapped it with a country brown paper and string....homespun indeed.  I love my new things...I've even started one of the dishclothes myself and have my needles and yarn in my new zipper bag {she has the pattern on her blog}.  Thank you Deb, I look forward to our new friendship. 

Fun with Photos

Nicole-one of the loves of my life, my daughter!  I had soooo much fun with this photo web site, as you can see I couldn't stop, I could have kept going, but another day.

 I was reading Cielo's blog http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/ and stumbled along her post http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/2010/10/hi-ya-there-lovely-readers-would-you.html  regarding this web site http://www.photofunia.com/.  Most of the tempates are free to use.  I just used one photo for all of the effects.  Cielo's blog is amazing, if you have not been over there you must stop and visit, but make sure you have some time to spend.  Thanks Cielo for sharing this site with us and all your creativity.

I thought the chalkboard was cute, my daughter wants to be a secondary english teacher.  Let me know if you make any creations, would love to see yours.  Blessings, Michelle

Client Quilts Finished

Just a little show and tell today, with a couple of my clients quilts, they do such beautiful piecing and applique, it's a joy to quilt them.

Stmaped Tags/Cards

Hope you enjoyed looking at these, I absolutely love creating cards and tags.  Have a great day!

Fall Faces



Revelation 3:12
As for the one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God; he will be secure, and will go out no more, and I will write my God's Name on him, and he will be a citizen in the city of my God-the New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven from my God; and he will have my new Name scriped upon him.
Revelation 22:4
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be written on their foreheads.