Button Block #34

The seams on Button block #34 are covered now:



Yes, I'm going to plug my book again, Elegant Crazy Quilt Seam Treatments and mention that my seams are worked from my own charted borders using Waste Canvas. I love the perfection of the stitches and the variety of designs that can be worked using my charted borders. If you're new to my blog and are interested in learning more about my technique, click here.

I'm going to start talking more about the variations that can be created using charted borders as well as how I actually go about beading them. I do plan to put Volume 2 together in the near future and that will open even more doors to new borders and designs. I already use the borders in Volume 2 on my projects along with borders from my own personal collection.

Stay tuned!

Needlecraft Embroidery & Fancywork Catalog

Yesterday, I started to post a booklet that I have on Cutwork & Filet Lace. Robin left me a message saying that The Skinner Sisters offer this on CD on their website.

With a bit of sadness, because I was excited about this sharing my booklet with my readers, I have decided to withdraw from posting this so as not to infringe on the Skinner Sisters business. Instead, I will offer the link to their website so my readers can order it if they choose to do so.

The Skinner Sisters website.

I will share with you another catalog that I have. This one is called Needlecrafts - Embroidery & Fancywork. There is no date on this catalog but judging from the projects and the prices, I would say that it's from the 1930's.

So, here are the front cover and page 1:





Be sure to click on the images to go to my Flickr site where you can see the large version.

Again, I will put these in a folder over at Flickr and store them there.

Button Block #33 Completed

I finished up on Button Block #33 this morning:



So I'll be starting on Button Block #34 next:



If you would like to see all of the Button Blocks that I've done so far, click here.

I have a ton of finishing that needs to be done and I'm hoping/planning on doing some of it over the weekend. I have Comfort Dolls to finish, my 2009 Just Cross Stitch Ornament (thank you Kim!), a doorhanger and 5 purses! Stay tuned!

1926 Italian Cutwork & Filet Lace Booklet

As I mentioned in my post yesterday, I have a booket from 1926 by Variety on Italian Cutwork & Filet Lace. Each day, I will scan 2 pages and post them here for your reading and stitching enjoyment!

I have not tried this technique so I can't comment on the quality of the instructions but I do feel that it's a treasure and I wanted to share it with my readers.

I will set up another folder for it over on my Flickr site and store the entire booklet there:





As I mentioned, this was published in1926 in Boston, Mass by Carmela Testa & Co., Inc.

Vintage Glitter

I didn't get to any stitching on my current Button Block. I got a bee in my bonnet and decided to re-organize my beads. I have some of them in those stupid little bead jars that screw onto each other and I just don't care for that system. They're too heavy and bulky and take up too much space. I've been putting them in tiny ziplock bags and will then store them by color.

In the meantime, look at what my mom gave to me:



I know most of my readers are needle-workers. In fact, I don't know if I have any readers who do paper crafts. If I do, please speak up and leave me a comment! But certainly everyone can appreciate vintage stuff. Mom gave me an old shoe-box yesterday filled with vintage glitter! What a treasure! I asked why she didn't want it and she said prefers new glitter. Well, I was thrilled and I'll use it!

In other news, be sure to stop by tomorrow. I will be sharing another one of my booklets with you. This one is called "Variety" - Italian Cut Work and Filet Lace. The booklet was published in 1926.