French Cottage Find

There hasn't been much going on in the sewing room for the past month, and I'm in serious withdrawal!  I've had just too many other things going on.  But that doesn't stop me from snapping up a quilting bargain when I see one and I just couldn't wait to share it with you.

On the way to the grocery store yesterday I stopped in at the thrift store next door.  There on the shelf for only $14 was a complete quilt kit for "French Cottage," a block-of-the-month from Jo-Ann.  All twelve blocks and the setting kit, all together and unopened!  At full price it probably ran about $195.  Whoop!!!

French Cottage block-of-the-month

Never having used purchased pre-packaged kits like this, I was surprised to find that all the pieces are already cut!   I thought there would be fat 1/8ths of the different fabrics and you cut your own pieces, so I picked it up thinking I'd just add the fabric to my stash.  I really don't need yet another quilt project - I have so many on the list to do this winter - but it should really fly together if I don't have to cut out the pieces.  Seems like it's half done already!

Have you ever made a block of the month like this from a kit?  Did your quilt look like the original, or did you make changes to make it your own?

Display boards

Pearl buttons, apron patterns and Workbasket magazines.

No quilting again this week, but I've been super busy putting together all I need for my demonstration booth at Heritage Days tomorrow.  Costume done (check!) Trunk packed with quilts (check!)  Two display boards finished (check!)

Still have the large quilting frame to bring up from the basement, and then pack up the van.  If you are in the Twin Cities come on over!  I would love to see you at Bloomington Heritage Days.  The historical society tents will be open from noon to 6pm.

Notions, advertising and 1940's sewing books.

Park and Ride from Kennedy High School on 98th and Nicollet, or from Normandale College on 98th and France.

Fabric in the mail!

It was so exciting to get a package of gorgeous fabrics in today's mail!  One of the blogs I follow is Field Trips in Fiber written by Vicki Welsh, . Vicki is a wonderfully creative quilter and artist who hand dyes fabrics.  She has been encouraging her readers to get busy finishing up UFO's so we can get to work on our Dream Quilt project.  I've been commenting just to keep myself on task with my UFO's, and much to my surprise, she had a drawing to win a yard of her hand dyed fabric - and I was the winner!

We sent a couple e-mails back and forth, and she generously sent these luscious light blue pieces. Thank you, Vicki! I'm planning to use them to make my dream project...a Storm at Sea quilt.  (Which I constantly keep calling Ocean Waves for some reason.)  Now I have all the fabrics, and the pattern, so this fall/winter it's 'game on' for Storm at Sea.  No excuses.

Vicki has a great Etsy shop where you can get some of these, and many more, wonderful fabrics for your own special project.  The weight and quality of the fabric is very good, and her colors are so clear.

In addition to her fabrics, and her quilting, Vicki is an amazing artist in a number of other mediums.  She is creating a mosaic wall she in her home, and makes lovely bowls with slumped glass.  She also makes beautiful quilted postcards for her family and friends and shares how to make them on her blog.  Someday I'm going to give that a try!

More State Fair Quilts

Most of the quilts entered into the Minnesota State Fair can be found in the Creative Activities building.  And what an amazing display!  You will have to take my word that there are stunning applique and intricately pieced quilts all throughout the building.  I tend to photograph quilts that I actually have a fighting chance of making myself some day. So, let's take a look around and see what caught my eye....

Market Basket - traditional block

flannel Floating Friendship Star - traditional block
This just looked so cozy!

Some darling small quilts were also on display.

This grouping in the Ramberg Senior Center included
an award from a LQS: Rosebud's Cottage 

And though I don't think Dear Jane is a quilt that I will attempt, this lovely version was folded on a display shelf. I wish we could have seen the entire quilt to fully appreciate the artistry that goes into making it.

Dear Jane in batiks on black background

Surprisingly, there were not labels with the quilter's names on the quilt displays in this building so I can't give credit where due.  Congratulations to all the quilters whose work is displayed!  You have outdone yourselves again this year, and it was a delight to see your quilts.

Minnesota State Fair time

Minnesota Bedrock Geology Quilt 2011 by Aileen Lively

We're into the "12 best days of summer" here in Minnesota and that means the MN State Fair is in full swing.  This huge event is attended by millions of visitors each year - and it's a hoot!  Where else can a 15 foot tall cow be seen going down the street on a trailer and be absolutely normal?  Kids and adults alike wear crazy paper hats that look like pigs or pickles, and it's as common as a baseball cap.  And the food.... foot long hot-dogs, corn dogs, cheese curds and even meatloaf-on-a-stick.  Strike up a conversation with a complete stranger as you sit and enjoy some musical entertainment, and folks would think you'd known each other for years.  We're all family after all.

The amazing talents of quilters from all over the state can be seen in multiple venues.  Here are a few snapshots from this year.

The first quilt I saw was this 84x108 inch quilt in the Dept. of Natural Resources building.  The quilter appliqued 80 different batik fabrics! Stunning.  This photo does not do it justice.

A version of the Milky Way block called Chinese Coin
traditional block made by Sandra Claessens

There is always a nice collection of quilts in the Ramberg Senior Center, and I was able to look at these while listening to a men's choir sing some great old-time songs.  I'm always drawn to these jewel-tone colors and this one has an alternating light/dark secondary pattern which gives the quilt so much motion. The one below is so wonderfully scrappy.

Old Maid's Puzzle traditional block
made by Mary Jane M.

Cathedral Window traditional coverlet
made by Angie Rogers

Are you fascinated by Cathedral Window quilts?  I have actually tried one once.  Lots of work, but so very pretty.

And look at this Little Red House quilt with alternating background colors.  It reminds me of the suburban neighborhood I grew up in, with the houses close together.  It's a lovely setting for this block that I don't think I've seen before, and I was immediately drawn to it.  Love it!

More to come....

Little Red House traditional block
made by Carol Schwankl

Postage stamp quilting

Guess what I've gotten myself into...Postage Stamps!  At the beginning of August the postage stamps that Dad had collected over the years came to my house.   He supervised the mail room at work for years.  When a commemorative stamp came in, the empty envelope ended up at our house in a box.  Twelve boxes to be exact - and now opened for the first time in 35 years.  Unsorted, some stamps still on envelopes, many just torn off and stuffed in another envelope.  Overwhelming!

I feel I have to go through every box, bag and envelope closely. Already I've found a newspaper clipping with my great-grandmother's obituary, a photograph of Dad at work, envelopes from letters Dad sent home to his folks during WWII, and even a couple of checks from the 1970's.  

In 1978 the US Postal Service issued a set of stamps with Quilt Blocks.  Do any of you remember these?  I was just barely starting to quilt back then.  What a treasure to find quite a few of them.   I think they look so cute in a little frame from the thrift store.  Don't you?

 

The old stamps are fun to look at.  Sounds like the real collectors want the stamps to be mint condition, or perfect.  These humble little cancelled stamps would never meet their standards. If you would like a set of four basket stamps to put in your own little frame let me know.  There's enough to share!

July stragglers

July was a really productive month in the sewing room here.  There are two more little quilts that didn't get photographed until August.  Both were made from 'bonus' HST's from other projects.  It's so nice to use those little bonus pieces.  Seems like the quilts go together in half the time!

original design  33 inches square
(traditional Irish Puzzle and Sarah's Choice blocks)

Summer Star  19 1/2 inches square
pattern by Sherri at a quilting life.