Another favorite subject for the Victorian Crazy Quilt are butterflies! The Victorians loved bright colors and what is more colorful than these beauties!
This beautiful Swallowtail is enjoying a visit to my Purple Cone Flowers. These photos were taken last week.
Cross Stitch Patterns inspired by nature, animals, holidays and scripture by Pamela Kellogg
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
The Monarch Butterfly
I was trying to be patient with this little one, waiting for her to open her wings but she just wasn't cooperating with me! Still, I'm so pleased with this photo. Notice the little white dots on her tiny body.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Garden Spider For The Crazy Quilters
Well, if you don't care for spiders, don't look at this photo!
I've never been a big fan of spiders myself, but I think after seeing the spider on rollar skates in Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, I've sort of developed a new way of dealing with them!
This harmless garden spider is a Argiope aurantia also known as a Black & Yellow Writing Spider.
I first noticed her on the soffit above my front porch. I was so taken with her web. And yes, this is a female. The males of the species don't look anything like the female.
What really caught my attention was her web. That heavy zig/zag down the middle of the web reminded me of the zig/zag stitch on my sewing machine!
A spider and/or spider web was a popular motif on Crazy Quilts for the Victorians. They believed it was good luck to have a spider in their house. Hmmm....I don't think I want this one in my house but she would certainly make for a beautiful embroidered motif on a CQ!
I had noticed that she was moving every couple of days. I thought maybe she was trying to find a better neighborhood! It wasn't until I did a bit of research this morning that I found out that she moves on a regular basis, eating her web almost daily and then building a new one. She's now on the soffit on the side of my house.
Anyway, as I've mentioned before, I can take beautiful photos of birds and butterflies which are always moving but give me something sitting perfectly still and it always comes out blurry!
I've never been a big fan of spiders myself, but I think after seeing the spider on rollar skates in Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, I've sort of developed a new way of dealing with them!
This harmless garden spider is a Argiope aurantia also known as a Black & Yellow Writing Spider.
I first noticed her on the soffit above my front porch. I was so taken with her web. And yes, this is a female. The males of the species don't look anything like the female.
What really caught my attention was her web. That heavy zig/zag down the middle of the web reminded me of the zig/zag stitch on my sewing machine!
A spider and/or spider web was a popular motif on Crazy Quilts for the Victorians. They believed it was good luck to have a spider in their house. Hmmm....I don't think I want this one in my house but she would certainly make for a beautiful embroidered motif on a CQ!
I had noticed that she was moving every couple of days. I thought maybe she was trying to find a better neighborhood! It wasn't until I did a bit of research this morning that I found out that she moves on a regular basis, eating her web almost daily and then building a new one. She's now on the soffit on the side of my house.
Anyway, as I've mentioned before, I can take beautiful photos of birds and butterflies which are always moving but give me something sitting perfectly still and it always comes out blurry!
Bargin Appliques
My mom was out and about last week and in her craft/sewing supply travels found these beautiful Venice Lace Appliques for my Crazy Quilting! What a bargin at only $1.00 each!
As I mentioned last week, I have some cross stitch design work that I'm doing for Zweigart. They have lovely products to work with and I truly enjoy being able to look at and hold these beautiful textiles.
With my current work schedule, my stitching time has been cut back just a bit. I have been stitching, working on a few gifts, but it's a bit slow going at the moment.
I'm so looking forward to getting back to my Crazy Quilting. As you know, I've aquired some new beads and now with these Venice lace pieces, the desire to do CQing is even stronger! The Harvest Peacock block is calling me and now I have been inspired to do a Peacock In The Snow block. Can't remember if I've mentioned that or not! Anyway, the ideas always come to me faster than I can do them!
As I mentioned last week, I have some cross stitch design work that I'm doing for Zweigart. They have lovely products to work with and I truly enjoy being able to look at and hold these beautiful textiles.
With my current work schedule, my stitching time has been cut back just a bit. I have been stitching, working on a few gifts, but it's a bit slow going at the moment.
I'm so looking forward to getting back to my Crazy Quilting. As you know, I've aquired some new beads and now with these Venice lace pieces, the desire to do CQing is even stronger! The Harvest Peacock block is calling me and now I have been inspired to do a Peacock In The Snow block. Can't remember if I've mentioned that or not! Anyway, the ideas always come to me faster than I can do them!
Friday, August 05, 2005
Vintage Tatting
After writing my post yesterday, I remembered that I had some vintage tatted pieces and thought you might enjoy seeing some of them. I purchased these earlier this Summer at a flea market. They came in a box of various crocheted edgings and small doilies.
I believe the stitcher used something a bit heavier than tatting thread but I don't think this is #12 perle cotton either. I've actually tried working with regular tatting thread, but I always end up with a great big fat kanoodle so I stick with perle cottons and crochet thread. Someday, when I have plenty of patience, I'll try the tatting thread again.
When I bring my vintage crocheted and tatted pieces home, I always wash them right away. I then roll them in a big fluffy towel for a little while and then I iron them dry. You might find it amusing knowing that I really don't like ironing for the most part. I make sure that I fold laundry right away when the dryer shuts off so I don't have to iron any clothes. But I can stand in the kitchen for hours ironing these little handmade pieces. I listen to my music and I wonder who made them and when and what they were intended for.
I also wanted to share a website with you that I found quite a while back. The website is titled, "Vintage Tatting" and offered there are many vintage (public domain) tatting patterns along with a brief history of tatting. These patterns are written for shuttle tatting but any pattern written for a shuttle can be done on a needle. One of these days, I'm going to take Linda's advice and rewrite the patterns I want to make so that they're easier to follow. It's all the #'s and abbreviations that keep me from trying some of the more complicated designs.
There are some absolutely beautiful patterns here including one for a baby bonnet and one for a slipper! Be sure to take a peek if you have time.
I believe the stitcher used something a bit heavier than tatting thread but I don't think this is #12 perle cotton either. I've actually tried working with regular tatting thread, but I always end up with a great big fat kanoodle so I stick with perle cottons and crochet thread. Someday, when I have plenty of patience, I'll try the tatting thread again.
When I bring my vintage crocheted and tatted pieces home, I always wash them right away. I then roll them in a big fluffy towel for a little while and then I iron them dry. You might find it amusing knowing that I really don't like ironing for the most part. I make sure that I fold laundry right away when the dryer shuts off so I don't have to iron any clothes. But I can stand in the kitchen for hours ironing these little handmade pieces. I listen to my music and I wonder who made them and when and what they were intended for.
I also wanted to share a website with you that I found quite a while back. The website is titled, "Vintage Tatting" and offered there are many vintage (public domain) tatting patterns along with a brief history of tatting. These patterns are written for shuttle tatting but any pattern written for a shuttle can be done on a needle. One of these days, I'm going to take Linda's advice and rewrite the patterns I want to make so that they're easier to follow. It's all the #'s and abbreviations that keep me from trying some of the more complicated designs.
There are some absolutely beautiful patterns here including one for a baby bonnet and one for a slipper! Be sure to take a peek if you have time.
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