Something Old and Something New

I mentioned that I have been spending a lot of time on Cindy Needham's blog and website in my last post...and she has inspired me to dig into my collection of oldies, and pair them up with some new things.  I have always had an appreciation for things that have age.  This is something that has really bonded my Husband and I together over the years and always surprises friends and family.  My Husband, baseball loving rough and tumble type of guy that he is, doesn't usually strike people as the antique shopping type.  But that is one of our favorite things to do together!  He appreciates old things as I do and is always on the look out for something that tells the history of baseball.

So with my new found inspiration I went digging and pulled out these old appliques.  My last name begins with an S so when I purchased them at an estate sale it was only because of their charm, I didn't think to use them.  But I happened to find this lovely scroll fabric recently...and don't those look like C's?  Well my maiden name begins with...a C.  :)  So now this MUST become something for my parents, don't you think?

I also found this green fabric that didn't photograph so well.  It has a circling sort of cathedral windows effect to it that didn't show up here.  Here it looks like green snowflakes!  Ack!  Anyhow I thought these would be a beautiful combination.  I don't know where this is going yet.  I know I have linens around but not the luxurious kind that Cindy uses.  I have lots of those old needlework linens and doilies that were never embroidered.  I don't know what I'll do with these.  I had always planned to embroider them myself, but you know how plans go.  :)

Here's another little find I just thought I'd throw in.  Do you remember when JC Penny sold patterns?  I don't think that was in my lifetime to be honest!!!  :)  I don't know, I'm thinking this must be from the 30's I'm guessing?  Older?  Newer?  I can't bare to open it up and find the date as it is stapled shut.  It came in a box of items I bought that mainly had tatting tools and threads.  Some of the newsprint was from the early 1900's.  I need to find a creative way to display these old items.  I just love them and am compelled to save them from deteriorating in someones attic or basement.

Have I Mentioned I Love Thread?

Some quilters collect fabric.  Other crafters find themselves drawn to buttons.  For whatever reason I am finding my fascination is THREAD!  Experimenting with their different uses, textures, and effects is as thrilling to me as an artist experimenting with different kinds of paint.  I often look to established well known quilters for inspiration and to see what I can do to improve my own quilts - one of my favorites is Diane Gaudynski.  She uses silk thread to achieve amazing effects with her quilting.  Her feathers made me just fanatic about mastering free motion feathers!  I'm still not there but after looking to her quilts for inspiration and a lot of practice I'm getting better.  She also uses paintsticks to shade in and add depth to her feathers - oh DROOL! 

So inspired by Diane I picked up silk thread this evening while at Jo Anns.  Just an itsy bitty bit - 125 yards to be exact.  Sometimes two different thread brands can offer the same type of thread but are worlds apart when the two are compared - so I don't know what to expect from Gutermann silk thread, but I'm really looking forward to playing. 

I also picked up some bronze metallic thread.  I tried a different kind of metallic thread years ago but had just a nightmare time with tension.  This metallic looks much easier to sew with.

I bought half yard of the pretty sparkle fabric to match the threads I picked up (isn't that the way you do things?) and then found those buttons - they are made from coconut shells!  Isn't that neat???  I love  them!  I had just put lotion on my hands but I could swear they even smell like coconut...

...so off I am to sleep and I bet I will dream about thread and trapunto.  :)  I hope all the quilters in blogland are finding time to sew this week. 

- Valerie

Winter is Just Around the Corner

I hope everyone in the states has a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow!  (I hope everyone NOT in the states has a wonderful day too!!!)

Today I am cooking, cleaning, and finishing up projects.  Can you believe winter is just around the corner?

Happy Sewing!