Flashback Friday 6-24

 

Was it a normal occurrence for a lady to have a bird? I'm not sure, but the image is one that would make a nice silkie, with embroidery added to the skirt, sleeves, and bodice. Color her with some pastel pencils...

English Garden I, DYB Completed

My blocks have arrived home! And each is wonderful! These were NOT stitched by me...but by my swap partners. I sent each lady a simple English Garden image printed on silk fabric, with a cotton floral border. They were to embellish the image. Here's what each lady did...aren't they marvelous!

Arlene W. of Australia

Ingrid G. of USA (California)

Marya B. of USA (California)

Maureen G. of USA (Connecticut)

Meg S. of UruguayI think that each one turned out lovely. These were only small blocks, less than 8 inches square...but still each required a lot of stitching...and stepping out of a normal comfort zone of standard crazy patch enhancement. Lot's of French knots and beads were sewn down in such a small space...and I am very appreciative of the efforts of each wonderful lady!

Wednesday Wine Country Monograms - G

 

Vintage Butterfly Pattern

 Isn’t this a beautiful photograph! I love the delicate nature of the stitch design. It is the cover of the October 1918 Needlecraft Magazine.  At first glance, I thought the butterfly cloth to be a small doily…but, each butterfly measures over 9 inches wide! That would make this more of a table cover!

This magazine is one of many vintage documents available for preview at the antique patterns library. I encourage you to go check them all out. As I was reviewing this specific magazine, I saw that it included a photo of the original pattern and instructions. Here is the artwork included in the magazine…

and below I've re-typed the portion of the article that describes the butterfly…(I’ve tried to be correct in the way the author punctuated…and the sentences are long…)

QUOTE:
A Handsome Centerpiece for the Library-Table
By Marion Matthews
“The butterfly is a popular motif, always; and probably it has never been used to better advantage than in the decoration of the centerpiece illustrated. The colors are well chosen and effectively combined; although rich in appearance there is nothing about the work to hint of gaudiness—it is in the best of taste, and the centerpiece may well find a place in the library, living room or hall of any attractive home.
The butterfly measures nine and one-half inches from ti to tip of upper wings, and reminds one of the rare specimens sometimes found in collections, but never seen outside them unless in some tropical land.
The legs and antennae are outlined with black, in close, heavy stitch; body and wings are also outlined with black, but this is not done until the embroidery is completed. The upper part of the body is done solidly with black, as are the tips of the wings. Beginning with the lower part of the body, work the tip in satin-stitch with the darkest shade of golden brown; make the next bar of black, the next with a medium shade of golden brown, the next of black, next of yellow, next with medium brown and finish with the lightest shade of brown. Work the edge of the lower wings, between the lines that are to be outlined with black, with medium brown, taking stitches of this up into the black of the tips, inside the second line fill in the top with dark blue, leave a space which is filled with scattered French knots of yellow, make a narrow band of blue across the wing—outlined on both sides with black, as are all the bars save those across the body: leave a space to be filled with the knows, as before and finish with blue. The upper wings have the space between the lines, or the edge, worked with the darkest shade of brown, taking stitches up into the black tip, as before; two narrow bars of yellow, curved, cross the wing at even distances apart, and the spaces between these and the portion joining the body – also of yellow – are filled in with scattered knots of blue. At the base of the antennae two tiny circles are outlined with yellow and filled in with black. As a whole, the butterfly seems very real indeed. And is certainly a lovely creation of the needle.”
ENDQUOTE

I tried to re-draw the butterfly pattern for you.

 Hope you enjoy the pattern.

Marvelous Monday Motifs - 6/20/2011

You can read all about my idea for Marvelous Monday Motifs here. Today we have pages 17-18 of the J. F. Ingalls Company, 1886 Catalog of Perforated Parchment Stamping Patterns. 

Please NOTE: This catalog is not under copyright any longer; but the scanned version released to the public domain on 17 July 2007 (the source of my information) does come with restrictions. None of these designs can be sold. They are for your individual use.

Happy Father's Day

 Hope you all have a great Father's Day today. And, if you still are fortunate enough to have your Dad in your life...please give him an extra hug...and be thankful he is still there.

My dad was not one to give advice in a kind and gentle manner...as Jesus would do. He was more like John Wayne...direct and to the point...with a kind of "in your face" approach.

He only said things once...Once was plenty enough for you to get the point.

Miss you Dad!

French Script Saturday - O

Time for another monogram!

Brazilian Embroidery is Back Home!

Thank you to Deloris, Diane, Karrin, and Rebecca for doing such beautiful stitching on my block! I just love it! Want to see some closeups? Of course you do!Here is Rebecca's work...

and Deloris's work...

and Diane's work...

and Karrin's work...

and, I'm not sure which lady stitched this motif...as it was not "claimed" in the attached booklet to the square. So hopefully, one of these folks will chime and and let me know who stitched this lovely floral group!

But, I do know that the block is gorgeous! And I'm a happy owner of this great stitching! All that is left is for me to add my own brazilian embroidery to it...and create a lovely pillow!

Flashback Friday

Fashion from 1881, makes me so glad to have my bluejeans and scrub tops!

 But, I enjoy looking at the designs and these ladies are SO MUCH MORE fashionable than I!

Secret Pal Giftee

I belong to the message board at HGTV.com; specifically the Quilting/Needlework group of that board. They are a great bunch of folks...and keep coming up with great events and swaps. One of the activities is to sign up for a yearly swap...with a "Secret Sister" You are given a person's name/address and some general information about things they like...and you send them a little gift each month (anonymously of course...hence the "secret" part). At the end of the year, you find out who has been gifting you the entire year. I signed up this year...and my Big Secret Sister (BSS) often sends along a little something for my grand-daughter Aidan in my monthly package. So often in fact, that Aidan says "We" have a secret sister. This month, she included some plastic canvas pieces in the surprise...of various shapes. I asked Aidan if she wanted to learn how to stitch these up...and she is working on a set of coasters for her Aunt. She has finished one (the one in the photo) and is steadily working on number 2 right now. Her goal is to complete four. Just thought ya'll might like to see a young stitcher at work...she is 7 years old.

Free Turtles...to a Good Home!

Look at this cute Turtle pattern at Make-It-And-Love-It blog! (photo posted with Ashley's permission). Wouldn't it be great done as a CRAZY quilt style! I'm loving it for sure and will be trying it soon!So, 'crawl on over' to Ashley's blog and get her free pattern and tutorial for making this little turtle! Okay, I could not wait...so here is my version in CQ!

 The embellishment was done AFTER the turtle was made.  A little tricky, but not impossible.

 ..but, I'm not going to add beads...thinking I might use it as a pin cushion...or a gift?

The Cutest!

I was doing a little cyber surfing this morning, and look at the cutest photo ever! I just love the smile on these faces! It's like they are sharing a secret!Isn't life grand!The OrkutGallery has other wonderful photography too!

Stitching Buddy

Here's my stitching "Buddy". Apparently life can be rough, when you have to stand guard over me all day!

Marvelous Monday Motifs - 6/13/2011

You can read all about my idea for Marvelous Monday Motifs here. Today we have pages 15-16 of the J. F. Ingalls Company, 1886 Catalog of Perforated Parchment Stamping Patterns. 

Please NOTE: This catalog is not under copyright any longer; but the scanned version released to the public domain on 17 July 2007 (the source of my information) does come with restrictions. None of these designs can be sold. They are for your individual use.