Smocking, Sewing Buddy and Sunset

The last three weeks has been a whirlwind but I did manage to finish smocking Kelsey's Easter dress.  It turned out very sweet.  I can't wait to see her in it.  Last year her dress was pink and smocked with chocolate bunnies.  She said the bunnies matched her "chocolate brown" eyes.  Someone was looking at the picture of her in the pink dress recently and commented on the white gloves she was wearing.  They were very impressed.  She enjoys the dresses but not half as much as I enjoy making them for her.  I am still working on the baby quilt for the new little brother or sister that will be here on March 25.  I am definitely behind the curveball on that one!  I am also getting ready to make a lace ring bearer pillow for a good friend of my daughter.  Jennifer is in the wedding party and the wedding is in June.  We will be traveling a great deal between now and then so I am getting a jump start on the pillow.  I have it designed so it shouldn't take too long.

This is my chocolate lab, Renegade. (I sure am using the word "chocolate" a lot today, hmmmm).   Renegade stays under my feet when I am sewing and seems to gather my cut threads.  It is easier to pick them off of him than the carpet but sometimes he accidentally throws his 85 lbs on the foot control of my sewing machine.  Uh, oh. He is great company and unlike my husband he doesn't yelp when he steps on a long lost needle or pin.

Lastly, we have great sunsets in Texas.  I almost missed this one.  It looks like the sky is on fire.

A Smocking of a Day

Well, no work on my hexagon today.  I am going to have to put it aside for a few days while I finish my granddaughters Easter dress.  I finished the smocking over the weekend and today it got a steam bath to set the pleats.  Here is a picture of it in its blocking stage.  Kelsey is a sweet little thing and loves all of the dresses Nonnie makes for her.  She can rough it up with the boys but enjoys being a "girly" girl too.  The dress is snow white with pastel Easter baskets.  

This weekend my grandson Brendan had his 7th birthday.  He had a Davy Crockett birthday party.  The picture is of the coon skin cap cake that my daughter made.  She is very creative and talented but doesn't know it. Since she has a hard time with the sewing machine, I think she is a great candidate for hand piecing.   She will be delivering our 3rd grandchild at the end of March.  I am working on a baby quilt so that is another reason the hexagon has been shelved.

Progress on Grandmother's Starry Garden

The day was spent working on the layout and measurements of the border.  Since I am doing this quilt from a picture that is 4 x 4.5 it is taking a lot of experimentation to achieve the correct balance.  Everyone enjoys a challenge ever now and then. Right?

I thought I would share with you the little I know about the original quilt and its maker.  The maker was born in 1831 and passed away in 1888.  She was a farm wife who tended a large garden and raised turkeys.  The quilt was finished around 1880.  The quilt techniques used were applique, piecing, and stuffed work.  It appears the star was actually appliqued to the background.  The quilting is very detailed especially in the open areas toward the corners. 

I thought the quilt was very interesting.  Have you ever seen a 10 pointed star?  Don't you think it is unusual to see an applique border on a pieced quilt?  Of course the maker used fabrics she had on hand; wool, silk and cotton.  It is quite a treasure.

Grandmother's Starry Flower Garden

Grandmother's Starry Flower Garden took 1 year to hand piece.  I still need to add the applique borders.  This is an 8-pointed star made of 3/4" hexagons using the Inklingo method.  The original quilt was made in the 1860's.  

Dear Jane Quilts

Jewel Haseltine Jane is a Dear Jane quilt made in Civil War reproduction fabrics.  It is named for my sweet grandmother who was born in 1896 and lived a wonderful 96 years.  The 30's Dear Jane originated from an online block swap of Dear Jane blocks.  I participated in about 3 swaps -  each time adding borders thinking I was finished with it.  In the end, I decided to add the Courthouse Step blocks which was originally going to be an entirely separate project.  Dear Jane goes to the Courthouse was my first entry at a quilt show and received an Honorable Mention ribbon.  Sheri Mecom quilted both of them.  She is an awesome Long arm quilter.

Folk Art Angel

The Folk Art Quilt was an applique learning experience.

Chimneys and Cornerstones

Chimney and Cornerstones is one of the first large pieced quilts I did after learning how to quilt.