Lovely World

vintage quilt block friday

Wagon Wheel pattern. These blocks are 15 inches square. Most of the fabric is cotton, but a few appear to be blends. The background is muslin. They are hand stitched. Probably made in the 1940s.

I have many of these blocks. They were given to me in 1993, after the mother of a woman I worked with died. In cleaning out her mother's belongings, my co-worker had come across boxes of sewing supplies. I was thrilled to be the recipient of one of those boxes. Soon after the blocks came into my possession, I made many of them into a bed-sized quilt. I still have the quilt, although it has not aged well. It was tied, rather than quilted, and I used a polyester batting. I think I'll take it apart and start again.

I love the variety of prints used in these blocks. In particular, I am smitten by the print of the houses, strawberries, hearts, and flowers on a black background. I also really like the nautical prints: the bright blue with anchors and crowns, and the red sailboats.

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Have a nice weekend everyone. I've enjoyed the comments and community this week.

legos

Legos have taken up housekeeping in many corners of my home. I think I should start charging them rent. At least these fellows appear to be offering me some protection from the enemy.

venice

I came across this colorful book at a used book sale. "This is Venice" was written in 1961 by the Czech author Miroslav Sasek. Sasek wrote many wonderfully illustrated books about the countries and great cities of the world. My book is a first edition, but I have found that his books are all currently available in reprint.

Did you know that Venice was shaped like a giant dolphin? I didn't (see second photo from top). And I love that lady with the lace. Wouldn't it be fun to shop for Venetian lace?

who could this be?

Who could this be? He is such a shy, quiet creature. He is gentle and never makes trouble. He looks a wee bit royal in his blue cape.

He is a bit of a work in progress. I was experimenting with a pattern for a polar bear. This guy was a discard. I had thrown him on the floor under my sewing table. My daughter wandered into my work room the other day and picked him up. She liked the look of him. She asked me if she could have him. Of course. She disappeared into her room after rummaging through my scrap bags. Back for a needle and some embroidery thread. When she returned again she revealed this lovely creature. She had made the cape with velvet trim and embroidered this very sensitive expression on his face.

I am continually thankful for the ways in which my children complete my life in so many (unexpected) ways.

after halloween

The day after Halloween, we ate a lot of candy. And we went on a lovely hike in the woods. And my son came down with a fever in the evening. I'm worried we will all get sick. I roasted a turkey breast and plan to make some turkey noodle soup today, hoping that will boost our immune systems.

vintage quilt block friday

8 inch squares in basket pattern. Fabric is cotton and appears recycled from clothing. The pieces are hand stitched.

These quilt blocks, and several others like it, were given to me by my dear sister for my recent birthday. The squares were made by my maternal grandmother, Ivis. She had made stacks of them, but never assembled them into a quilt. When she died in the early 1970s, my mother inherited them. Years ago, my mother made a twin-sized quilt for my sister out of many, but not all, of the blocks. And then she eventually gave her the bag of remaining ones.

I like that many of the blocks appear to be made of recycled clothing. My mother frequently talks about my grandparents' "depression-era" mentality, and I think that is evident in the fabrics. I was quite young when my grandmother died, and I guess that seeing these blocks connects me to her somehow - through a love of fabric, color, and pattern.

Please check out these other participants in the "Vintage Quilt Block Friday":

Courtney

Barbara

Heather

You? - Please join us!

bird

It has been a quiet week. Today is rainy and grey, simply increasing my tendency to nest about the house. Speaking of nests, I have had birds on my mind. They are such beautiful creatures, and make such delicately complex homes. As I walked back up our driveway after getting the kids on the school bus, I noticed a nest tucked into a bush. Bittersweet grew about the bush, and a bunch of the bright orange and yellow berries had fallen into the nest. It was quite a delight for the eye.

Yesterday, I happened upon a large group of turkeys while hiking in the woods. It was the first group I had seen in quite some time. In the winter, they come close to the house, scavenging for windfall around the apple trees and staking claim to anything that falls out of the bird feeders.

We have also had a great blue heron in residence. There are several bodies of water close to our house, including a pond and a stream. It is not uncommon to see this large bird fishing, oh so still and patient, at the water's edge.

quotable sunday

She discovered with great delight

 that one does not love one's children

just because they are one's children

but because of the friendship formed while raising them.

- Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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(My daughter made these wild-haired, happy folks the other day. She is a clever girl, and I do find such pleasure in having her around.)

vintage quilt block friday

10 inch block in the "Grandmother's Flower Garden" pattern, created with 19 interlocking hexagons. This pattern is also known as "French Bouquet," "Mosaic," or "Honeycomb." This particular square was made by Velma in 1932, as she has so brightly embroidered around the center hexagon. The fabric is cotton, and it is hand stitched.

This is a fun square. It is one of many signed blocks I have in this pattern. It appears that a woman's group was attempting to make a quilt together, which was never finished. I like that each woman signed her piece, and that some dated it. So much of women's craft work from the past is anonymous. We should all consider adding at least our initials to our work.

Please check out these other participants in the "Vintage Quilt Block Friday":

Heather

Courtney

You? - Please join us!

 

greetings

I love these old cards. They are just a few of many that my mother has packed away at her house. They are from my grandparents' era. Don't you think we should all have a greeting card with our name on it, like Lettie and Minnie? And how about that little Dutch girl?

The "Reward of Merit" card is interesting. A typically racist portrayal of a black family from the early decades of the 20th century. I think the mother is breastfeeding the baby. I wonder if a white woman would have been portrayed this way. Probably not. I like the idea of "Reward of Merit" cards, though. I think I may make some for my kids and hand them out when they do good deeds.

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Please join me tomorrow for the "Quilt Block Friday" that I am hosting. Read details here. Just leave a comment with your name and a quick note that you want to participate and I will add you to the list. Thanks.

Maribeth