Saturday, November 26, 2011

Gingerbread Houses 2011



Every year our Christmas Season begins with my Grandson's and I decorating Gingerbread Houses. Each year the decorations become more elaborate and the boys come up with new ideas. It is always great fun for us to continue one of our Christmas traditions.

The supplies are ready




Candy anyone?












This year they opted for bigger fireplace chimneys.


Front of Zack's House     
Back of Zack's House
House backs-Jake's on the left, Zack's on the right.
Zack's chimney.
House fronts (Zack-L,Jake-R)


Front of Jake's House
Side of Jake's house.
Fireplace chimney on Jake's house.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

New Addition

I received a surprise gift in the mail today. A "new addition" to my quilting studio. My friend Chesapeake, from the Norfolk Eagle Cam Open Chat, must have known just how desperately  my studio needed an official name with proper identification..

Thank you, Chesapeake LOL



Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Americana

Americana
Eagle Applique on back of quilt

Label

Block with eagle quilting
 This quilt began as a "Block of the Month" from the Byrne Sewing store in New Britian, PA following 9/11. I kept up with the blocks but never completed the quilt.

My grandson was in need of a quilt to replace his "I Spy" quilt which was well worn, although he did not think so. I decided to give him this quilt for his eleventh birthday.

After 9/11 there were many patriotic prints available and I collected many of them at fat quarter sales. I decided to use many of them in finishing this quilt. I believe I have 103 different prints in this 87"x 102" machine pieced and hand appliqued quilt. The quilt was machine quilted by Ruth Stonesifer.

The back of the quilt features a hand appliqued "Eagle" that I found in a old quilting magazine. The original eagle can be found on a quilt now in the Smithsonian Museum. http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object.cfm?key=35&gkey=169&objkey=9552

This quilt is reversible although I think my grandson prefers the more colorful side.


Carrot Table Runner




This small table runner was made for Easter 2010. I also made two more for gifts. The body measures 14" x 24 1/2".

Broccoli Costume


So...... just what do you do when your grandson asks you to make him a "Broccoli Costume"? Well, you put your thinking cap on and get to work. I believe I bought 15 yards of green tulle and sat and made hundreds of individual poufs by hand. I remember him coming home from school one day and I had many of these poufs in a brown grocery bag. I asked "What do you think?" His answer- "Looks like brussel sprouts to me"! I told him it would be OK in time. After a few fittings we had a broccoli costume. The white store receipt embroidered on a piece of stabilizer to prevent tearing, reads Mr Millers Market complete with the price for broccoli.

This costume was made for Halloween 2009.

I asked him "why broccoli?" He explained that everyone in the school has been told by Mr Miller, the music teacher, how he hates broccoli. His teacher says his mother made him eat it too often as a child and he hated it. My grandson thought it would be funny to go as broccoli. The second photo shows my grandson and his teacher. Mr Miller has this photo as his screen saver and he tells my grandson it will remain on his computer forever. My grandson continues to take guitar lessons from one of his favorite teachers.

My grandson also wore the headpiece when he ran his "Mean Green Broccoli Machine" car, complete with broccoli on the top, in the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby race. He certainly did not win for speed but he did win first prize for "originality".

More Provence and More







This small 36" x 42" wall hanging was made from the remainder of the Doreen Speckman fabrics.

It was machine pieced and machine quilted. It hangs in my studio.

My Dollies

My Dollies

Clothing and bag

Bag

Detail
This was a fun quilt to make. It brought me back to my childhood as I loved cutting out paper dolls and playing with them. The jumbo rick rack on the edge adds a wonderful old feel to the quilt.

This 100 % cotton quilt was hand appliqued, machine pieced and machine quilted. It was given to my friends granddaughter as a baby gift. I so love this quilt that I am going to make two more to leave to my grandsons in the event that they someday have a daughter.