Family Reunion Tokens

I wanted to make something for all my relatives--we are having a big reunion next month, but wool toys didn't seem like the right thing...   I want something more meaningful.  I have had an old quilt, made by my grandmother in the 1920's.  My grandmother was about 80 when I was born and I never met her.   I grew up with this quilt.  It was old and worn, but we used it.  I took it to college and grad school as a piece of home.   My mom tried to repair it, and covered the most worn pieces with new fabric, but those patches always looked out of place.  I quit using it and have just stored it.  It is too worn to be a pillow, too worn to use, too worn for anything but display folded on a shelf.

So, I'm going to share pieces of it with my family.  I don't know that anyone else will remember the quilt as I do, but I think all will appreciate seeing stitches made by a grandmother, great-grandmother, or great-great-grandmother. 

I used fabric stiffener on the quilt and cut hearts.  I added a button and a string to hang.  We can use them as Christmas ornaments, scrapbook decorations, or whatever.  I'm happy with how they are turning out!  I actually think this was a pretty good idea.  I have some other cutter quilt pieces that I want to play with using the same techniques.  Birds?  Stars?  Garlands made from birds and stars?  Hmmm.  A lot of possibilities. 

It is for buttons

Wandering Lydia

I've been at this wool felt stuff for a while now.  I like my kitties.  I like them a lot.  But, OH MY GOODNESS--check out these fabulous goats/horses/llamas etc.  I have always admired Wandering Lydias hats and flower pins, but these have just made me swoon!  Go to her store right now and buy one. 

What is it?

From the thrift store. It isn't a fair question since the glass parts are in the dishwasher. Stay tuned.

A Day for Blue

Notice how the skirt has roses and the sweater has roses.  I love those kinds of details!

I limit myself to recycled, reclaimed fabrics for my work.  No going to the store to buy just the right shade of blue.  I find clothing and fabric at the thrift shops or in other peoples stash of scraps.  Today I made a brown kitty.  I was thinking I wanted to do a brown and blue theme, so she would need blue clothes.  Alas, I searched high and low for the right fabrics in my sewing room and came up empty.  Almost.  Finally I found a scrap of brown and pale aqua blue upholstery fabric.  Not a big piece, mind you, but a just big enough piece.  A matching sweater was soon uncovered.  Also not a big piece, but a just big enough piece.  So I have my brown and blue kitty.  She has a very short skirt.  That is the best I could do with the piece I had.  I made the smallest hem I could.  The other new girl is dark blue with different shades of gray and blue and almost green in the pattern part of the sweater.  Blue stripe and a blue sweater seemed just right. 

New pins

I'm enjoying the combination of wool and cotton in these.   It gives me more colors to play with.  The cotton lets me use patterns and more layers, the wool gives the piece body. 

The Queen Wore Yellow

Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat
Where have you been?
I've been to London
To visit the Queen.

Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat
What did you there?
I frightened the little mouse
Under her chair.