The Homestead

                                         The Homestead
 
There are three friends with whom I take turns making Christmas gifts. Each four year turn seems to come around faster each time. We started this craziness in 1987 when I made a wooden "Christmas Tree Napkin Holder". You can see my last gift in the July section of this blog (Garment Bags) http://cottonkapers.blogspot.com/2011_07_01_archive.html. We have had discussions as to how long we were going to continue this tradition. We decided we could bow out of our next turn only after the other three had opened your most recent gift. This year I announced this was going to be my last turn. We raised our families and have had many wonderful times in the "hood" and I felt I would leave the exchange with my interpretation of a somewhat primitive rendition of their "Homestead".


When I got the idea for my gift I went out in the car with my camera in hand and took photos of each home. I needed to take repeat photos when I was uncertain about a particular feature. I downloaded my photos to my Kodak software which has a "Coloring Book" feature. This made it easy to get a workable line drawing. I printed that drawing and took it to have it enlarged to the size needed. From that point it  soon became learn as you go.

The sizes of the pieces vary but measure approximately 16 1/2 by 24. The actual sizes are noted with each home.

Fabrics used are 100% cotton, buckram, Heat and Bond and chiffon
.


Techniques used are fused applique, free motion quilting, outline sewing, machine embroidery and hand sewing.