Gorgeous Quilts for a Worthy Cause…

Australian Homespun and Quilter's Companion magazines are running auctions for two stunningly beautiful quilts to benefit breast cancer research. The links are here and here.

Bjorn and Ursula are Going Home...

- and they are so excited to be heading to their new home out west, tomorrow!

Victoria Magazine is Back!

Woohoo! I just found out that Victoria Magazine has returned! That was my all-time favorite magazine - and I used to practically devour it cover to cover. It went on sale yesterday, so I need to get myself to the bookstore, soon! Did I say Woohoo?

A Little More TAST: Zig Zag Spanish Knotted Stitch, Twisted Satin Stitch & Drizzle Stitch

TAST: Zig Zag Spanish Knotted Stitch

Here’s my first stab(!) at the zig zag Spanish knotted stitch. I like!

Peak Autumn Color Poison Ivy…

These decorative(?) leaves are from a poison ivy vine that climbed up the side of the screen house.

Maine Lobsterman's Hat...

Well, here we are in the last week of October. Hopefully, the finished Shanty Claus dolls will be photographed and uploaded to the web site before too long. Both of my web sites are in need of major upgrades. I’m currently working on a new Santa for my Just Clauses site. I haven’t made one of those in awhile… and I really wanted to get back to them. He’s going to be a Maine lobsterman, sitting on a replica wooden lobster trap that I purchased in a shop on the Ocean City boardwalk. I added wire to his arms and legs for flexibility. I spent the day before yesterday creating his hat – that meant drafting an original pattern and figuring out how to put it together. I originally had interfacing in the brim but that made it too stiff – so out it came! Then it was back to the drawing board… Anyway, I finally finished it – see below. I’m working on his jacket, next... Lord knows, I do have fun with this stuff!

Delmar (on Shore Leave)

The origin of Delmar’s name is Latin and it means “of the sea.” He is wearing a jacket and cap made from tea-stained vintage chenille. His pants are made from a vintage piece of decorator fabric with a shell design. His cap is edged with a shabby piece of old upholstery trim. I attached a really neat vintage wooden toggle button to his jacket. The button was found in an old tin of buttons from an antique store in the Florida Keys. I always wonder what stories these buttons could tell…

On his lap is an antique nautically themed Christmas postcard depicting a life preserver and rope. The colors in the postcard very subtly echo the pale teal of Delmar’s outfit.

Playing with Lutradur and Lace…

Here’s the start of my little experiment with the lutradur and lace project in the premier issue of Fibre & Stitch (what a great zine!). I’m not sure whether to add more layers of paint first or just start adding stitches and beads…

TAST: Lace Border Stitch (Kinda Sorta…)

Well, I'm totally clueless here and any vague resemblance to the lace border stitch is purely coincidental…

Resting...

Okay, they're cute but they're always looking at me like I'm Spencer Tracy and they're the citizens of Black Rock - and it's about to be a real "bad day..."

TAST: Linked Double Chain Stitch

Love this fast and freewheeling stitch. (The hardest part was trying to sew with three small kittens swiping at the thread!) The background is a scrap from a piece of painted cotton I had used to test a stamp. I backed it with quilt batting to add a little loft to the unstitched areas.

Hubert Says Hello…

Hubert's name is Old German for “bright intellect.” Tied around his neck is a vintage scientific toy gyroscope. His coat and cap are made from a vintage tea-dyed chenille bedspread given to me by my dear friend and neighbor, jewelry designer Linda Bertino of Charming Trinkets. The vintage trim on his cap was also a gift from Linda. His trousers were sewn from a lightly tea-dyed vintage fringed tablecloth (an EBAY find). His coat is trimmed with two very old China ringer buttons from my button collection.

Meet Bjorn & Ursula...

Bjorn is Scandinavian for “bear.” He is having a confab with his little buddy, Ursula (Ursula is Scandinavian and Latin for “little female bear.”). Bjorn is wearing a coat and cap made from a vintage tea-dyed chenille bedspread. There are three wonderful, vintage collectible Bakelite buttons sewn to his coat. His trousers are made from tea-dyed vintage cotton in a great old print. Ursula is a new bear but has been “aged” a bit to better match Bjorn. She is wearing a “dress” made from a scrap of tattered old lace. Two small antique MOP buttons trim the front.