Umbrella Wall Quilt Update

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I was making a little wall quilt for my bedroom.  I had a stamped embroidery piece in my drawer (from my mom's stash) of an umbrella with flowers.  I finished the stitching and all I have left to do on this is to add some little seed beads for the flower centers and on the umbrella:

Unlike the cat quilt piece that I did a few weeks ago, I don't think this piece is vintage.  I think it's newer.  I'll have to ask mom.

Anyway, it's just about done.  After Easter, I'll take a day and start putting it together into a quilt.

Free Patriotic Cross Stitch Pattern

In light of our current events, both domestic and international, I've decided to re-release a counted cross stitch freebie that I designed back in 2001 after the September 11th attacks here in the United States.  My sentiments remain the same as they did on that day:  United We Stand!

You will have to download each page individually.  Right click on each image and save to your hard drive.  Feel free to share the design but please, if you post this on your blog or social media, include a link back here to my blog.

Saving The Past

I think most of us have a fondness and appreciation of old things.  Especially things that are handmade.  Years ago, I found this little piece of an old appliqued quilt in an antique mall:

It was in pretty good shape at the time.  I brought it home, washed it and sewed a back on it.  I stuffed it with polyester fiberfill and called it a pillow.

Over the years it of course has continued to age.  Time is not always so kind to vintage textiles.  It was time for another good cleaning and some repairs.

I washed by hand in my kitchen sink and replaced the missing french knot for the birds eye.  It had a few tiny tears so I tucked a tiny piece of fusible web beneath the tears and ironed those in place.

Finally, I added a piece of lightweight iron-on interfacing to the back and squared it up.

I pulled a few of my 1930's reproduction prints out, soft shades of green and yellow:

I decided to do a border on the top and bottom of the vintage piece using strip quilting which I do on a foundation:

When I finished up the strip piecing, it kind of screamed "new fabric" against the vintage piece.  I didn't want to "olden" it by tea dying or running through my washing machine a bunch of times so instead, I pulled out some of my cream colored laces and sewed strips of that down over or next to the seams:

This definitely softened the look of the new fabrics also adding a feminine quality to it.  Once I completed that, I squared up my "sheet of fabric":

It was at this point that I realized I had made a much bigger piece than what I needed!  I really just wanted about 3 inches on the top and the bottom of the vintage piece.  That's okay though.  I'll save the rest for something else.

Here is the finished pillow:

This now sits in my living room in an antique spindle chair that my father in law gave me.

Easter Egg Robin Free Cross Stitch Pattern

While digging around through my pattern files last week, looking for my Good Luck Robin design, I found this little Easter Egg Robin pattern.  I don't think I ever published it.  Well, now is a good time isn't it?

Right click on the image and save it to your computer.  I hope you enjoy stitching it!  It's perfect for a little door hanger or as the focal point on a Spring Crazy Quilt block!

Good Luck Robin Complimentary Cross Stitch Pattern

I received an email from a nice lady asking if my Good Luck Robin Cross Stitch pattern was available anywhere online.  It wasn't until now!

With St. Patricks Day coming up, I thought everyone might enjoy this pattern so I'm posting it here on my blog.  This is one of my free complimentary designs from 2007.  Enjoy!

Right click on the image and save it to your computer.