Something New Yet Old

Over the weekend I should have stayed focused.

Stuck with the projects I already had started.

But instead, I splurged just a bit

and added a new (old) quilt to my collection.

It's not in perfect shape.

A little wear around the outside border and on the binding.

But the color shouts out.

It's so vibrant..

The orange is just so happy.

Take a closer look at the blocks.

The quilter must have been happy because of the delightful color she was

working with, but

 didn't really care

how the blocks were put together.

I counted 5 different ways the blocks were pieced.

Maybe she just thought, "oh, well"!

Maybe it was one of those group projects and not everyone got the message.

I'm sure that #1 block was the original intent.

The piecing is nicely done with all the points in the right places.

The quilt was machine pieced and hand quilted.

The quilting was her forte.

The stitches are small and even

and the design is fairly elaborate with a feathered wreath in the open area

with

double lined quilting going over the pieced blocks.

It's difficult to date a two color quilt.

But based on a few other clues I'm thinking it was made during

the last quarter of the 19th century or early 20th.

Some general characteristics were:

Bindings were generally very thin

Simple patterns

less quilting than earlier

double lines of quilting

cheddar orange was popular

 more solids were being used at the end of the century.

Some of the orange fabric is shattering so it might have been 

made with cheaper fabric that was readily available.

Of course, it was made by 

"The Unknown Quilter"

We'll never know who made this, when or where.

But I will enjoy it here and now.

Until Next Time-Kyle

Fabulous Friday

For today: 

Looking Out My Window:The first few days of new cold weather takes a bit of adjustment.  The colors of fall have all but vanished.

My Weekend Plans Include: I'm definitely adding some play time in my sewing studio.It's time to look at my UFO's list again and see what I can get done quickly.

I’m Reading: The Cook's Holiday Baking magazine.  It makes you want to bake and bake and bake.

Movie Marquee: "Laws of Attraction" and "Intolerable Cruelty"

Something Quiltie:  Have you seen the new Dr. Seuss fabric by Robert Kaufman?

I liked these fabrics very much,

I had to do much more than touch.

I cut them by the yard and yard and yard.

I'm telling you it wasn't very hard.

So now I'll put them in my stash, 

They're so pretty, I'll be sewing in a flash.

A quilt is what I'll sew and create,

I'm too excited to sit and wait.

One of My Favorite Things: is baking cupcakes.  I tried a new recipe this week for Stashbusters class.  Those delightful ladies are my best clients. This month was Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes.  It's obvious with the chocolate and peanut butter combo why they were so good. I added a bit of Reese's on the top of the peanut butter cream cheese frosting.

 

I’m Thinking About: how I often delay doing something because I don't think I have " time."  Who knows if I will have the "free time" later. 

What’s For Dinner: Yesterday was the perfect day for Chili.  Leftovers are even better.

A Favorite Photo:  

 A sea turtle

We went on a snorkeling trip and 

several were swimming next to the boat.

It was a great sight.

Enjoying time together

Hawaii, 2010

Until Next Time-Kyle

Home

When Dorthy clicked your ruby red slippers,

she said, 'There's no place like home."

She was right, but I

think I could make my home where the

palm trees sway, and the temperature

doesn't vary too much from 80 degrees.

The perfect days.

So I went from this

to this.

Lesson:

We just have to make the best of
whatever circumstances we find ourselves in.

So instead of a working on my perfect tan,
it's the perfect day to snuggling inside with a hot bowl of chili.

Until Next Time-Kyle