Unconditional Love

 

“Who would believe such pleasure from a wee ball o’ fur?”

-Irish saying

                 

                                                       Murray

                            December 2002 – February 23, 2011

Channeling my inner Maria von Trapp…

with a vintage version of Amy Butler's Frenchy Bag made from a thrifted (where else?!!) vintage curtain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the boys got a free gift out of this one, too, as when I  opened out the hem of the curtain, the original seamstress had used marbles as her drapery weights!  There were about 2 dozen, cat’s eye marbles -  a fun find, indeed!

It’s so cold here today!  I can’t wait for spring.  The weatherman says warm days ahead for the rest of the week, but until then, I’ve got the tea kettle on!  I hope you do, too!

-Elizabeth

More wall art

Well, I’m still hooked on the ticker tapes.  What started out as some throw pillows for our bedroom, ended up as some more wall art…

  I used a dark, chocolate-brown linen for the background fabric, and then I cut into a small piece of pink and brown floral yardage from my stash for the “tickers”.  I quilted the linen and squares to some flannel, and then washed and dried them to get the raveled and wrinkled look.   I had some large pieces of thick cardboard that I simply wrapped the finished pieces around.  I then secured them in back with tape.  This way, if I decide to use them for something else (like pillows!), I can easily remove them.  

I’d like to make a few ticker tape doll quilts to stash away for gifts, too.  I love being able to use those tiny scraps that I hate to throw away.  I’ve really had a lot of fun!

 

Over the summer I found this little book at the thrift, and I am just now getting around to looking through it. 

 

It is mostly in black and white,but the information and history is quite interesting.  There are some photos of quilts from the mid 1800’s that are beautiful, even without being able to tell their colors. 

 

 

 

Where did these ladies find the time to dedicate to their quilts?!!  So beautiful and so inspiring.

May your weekend be filled with inspiration,

-Elizabeth

A finish

I have been inspired by all the snowy quilt photos around blogland, and it motivated me to finish up this quilt for it’s own photo shoot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Elizabeth

An exciting find

for me, at least!  Over the weekend, I popped into our local thrift and found this…

  A Viking 5540.  She came home with me for $9.99!  Cosmetically, she is a bit rough around the edges, but her motor runs very smoothly.  I may take her into the “machine doctor”  to have him check out the reverse button as it appears to move a little slower than I think it should (the button itself, not the actual reverse action of the motor).  Sadly, she is missing many of her extra feet – only two were included (a regular utility foot and the zipper foot) – but there were lots of extra bobbins.  There was no manual either; however, I easily found one online to download for $7.   Overall, I am thrilled to give her a new home where she will be loved and cared for.

I am enamored with vintage machines.    This love affair started mostly out of necessity.  I learned to sew on my mom’s vintage Singer and also on our high school’s older model Singer’s (home ec).  But when I went away to college, I used some graduation money to purchase a lower-end model machine (another Singer), the first “new” machine I had ever sewn on.  I took good care of it, and it saw me through college and on into the early years of marriage and parenthood.  Until, finally, it just gave up.  Not having any extra money in the family budget for a new sewing machine purchase, I began scouring the rummage sale ads until I found a 1970’s Kenmore for $30.  Two daughters were selling it from their mother’s estate, and it had been lovingly used and cared for.  I gave it a new home, and it has helped me create many, many items for my family and friends.  And so the obsession began.    Since then, I have acquired a 1940’s Singer, another 1970’s Kenmore, a 1960’s Singer, and now the Viking.  I truly love the older machines.  I think they sew beautifully, and have lots of great character.   I can feel the hands of those who have sewn on these machines before me, and I love it that my own hands are now a part of that history.

And on the above mentioned Kenmore, I finished this dress for my niece.  This pattern from Oliver + s is so cute.  This is the second dress I have made for her from this pattern.  I hope she likes it!

Well, it’s another snow day here on The Lane, this time with the addition of some sleet and freezing rain.  We have so much snow here in the city, there is just no where for it to go when we scoop and plow.  It looks like much of the nation has gotten hit with this latest storm.   This winter has been so crazy -  stay safe and warm!

With cozy, warm wishes from my home to yours,

-Elizabeth