The weeks of summer race by so fast that I'm too busy gettin'-out-and-doin' to take time to get it all blogged about. Time for some catch-up, I guess, huh?
A month or two ago I happened across a picture of a gorgeous totebag on Pinterest that gave me the idea for a quilt. My mother has been on a quilt-making "kick" for the past 3 or 4 years. Knowing she and Dad were coming out for a visit soon, I emailed her a link and a note: "Got any lace scraps? I got the denim!"
And... being the life-time, frugal, saver-of-everything-practical... sure enough, she did! Her reply: "That is beautiful! And I just might
have lace. I got rid of a large box full at the yard sale, but I
think there is still a sample book or two of lace still in the
basement. That would be perfect because the pieces would be large
enough, yet varied."
The denim Lyle provided in the dozen or so pairs of jeans he had recently discarded, as being too worn for further wear as work pants. Taking a cue from my mother, I had hung on to them for just such a project.
Mother found her sample books of lace panels and packed them her suitcase. A day or two after they arrived, we set to work.
After Mother figured out the pattern, I did most of the cutting and marking.
She did all of the sewing, of course.
And we marveled as it began to come together. The fun thing was both sides were finished as it was assembled because that's how the Cathedral Window pattern works.
The amount of denim and lace we had ended up being just enough for a nice back-of-the-couch throw.
We left the raw edges of the denim deliberately, just to give it a nice country feel. I haven't washed it yet, but when I do the edges should fringe a bit and fluff up nicely.
We think it turned out beautifully! Mother wants to make another one featuring fabric from some of Daddy's shirts. I can't wait to see how that turns out. Hopefully I can show you when she gets it done.
As far as I could tell, downtown Eldorado, Oklahoma only has two or three "inhabited" buildings. There is the community building, where we met for our family reunion Labor Day weekend... an apparently current insurance office... and across the street, the historical museum. All the other buildings are vacant.
For such a tiny, dying town, the museum is quite impressive and full of interesting artifacts from the pioneering days of the community. It is open by appointment only, but one of my cousins who lives there made arrangements for the man to open it for us the afternoon of the reunion.
The most exciting discovery (for me) was a quilt made by the Midway Community Home Demonstration Club back in 1934-1935. Each member embroidered her name on a block. It was folded on a quilt rack hanging on the wall. My grandparents lived in the Midway Community (out in the country) when they were teenagers. I remembered reading about the Home Demonstration Club meetings in Grandmother's diary which she kept in 1934 and 1935 as a senior in high school, so I was pretty sure she had worked on this very quilt.
The name showing on the display just happened to be "Liffa Shumaker"-- my great-grandmother.
Pinned to the quilt, just below Mother Shumaker's block, was a list of the other names on it. "Ernesteen Shumaker" (Grandmother's maiden name) was on that list!
My cousin asked the man if we could possibly take the quilt down and unfold it, so we could see the other names. He kindly consented, and helped us with it.
Mother recognized quite a few of the names on the quilt, as she was born about 5 or 6 years after this quilt was made, in the Midway Community, and lived there until she was 17.
And sure enough, there was Grandmother's square!
Another square of interest was Aunt Thelma's. She was Granddaddy's sister and also Grandmother's best friend when they were teenagers. She ended up marrying Grandmother's brother, so their children were double cousins with my mother and her siblings.
I love that it was a friendship quilt, so each person's square featured their name in their own handwriting.
I could have easily spent several days in this little building, poring over records and documents from earlier generations.
This past spring when my mother fell and broke her ankle so severely, I knew she would have a hard time "just sitting" for 2 months while it healed. She likes to be active and doing, and has never been one to sit idly.
Instead of sending her flowers I tried to think of a gift to help her wile away the long hours of being immobilized. She has always enjoyed embroidery, so I chose an embroidery kit for this set of pillowcases. I thought the lacy ferns and Queen Ann's Lace flowers were so pretty. Mother's favorite color is green. Not only that, the kit was on sale, which I knew would satisfy her frugal heart!
I selected the skeins of DMC floss the pattern called for, and took the kit along with me when I went to stay with her. The minute I presented it to her, she sent me off to hunt for an embroidery hoop in her sewing room. I never did find the one she described, but I found one that would work, so she got started on them right away.
Being such a detailed, intricate pattern, it turned out to be quite time-consuming. But that was okay, at first, because Mother didn't have much else to do besides just sit. She was still working on the second one when they came to see us earlier this month (though she had been back on her feet for a month or two by then).
She finished that second pillowcase while they were here, and then she presented the set to me! I hadn't meant for her to do that, but she said they went with my quilt so nicely that she wanted me to have them.
I have to admit, they really do. I think they are beautiful! She does such exquisite stitching.
Thank you, Mother, for re-gifting your gift back to me.
This spring my homemaking focus has been on completing the bedroom makeover that has been in progress for several years. I finally have it put together the way I had envisioned it, thanks in large part to major contributions from my mother!
Three years ago I started planning how I would like my bedroom to look. The walls are knotty pine and I liked the pioneer cabin feel of that, so I decided not to change them. Saved a ton of work right there. Also, the carpet is in good shape, and fortunately for me, it's my favorite shade of sage green. So I decided on a rustic-but-romantic style in keeping with what was already there, and my own country-girl personality.
Not too long after that my mother asked if I'd like to have "Granddaddy and Grandmother's bedroom suit" which included a double bed frame, a pretty mirrored dresser, and a "chester drawers." Without even thinking about it, I immediately said, "Yes! Of course I would!" I wasn't sure it would even all fit in our bedroom, but the entire 25 years we'd been married I had never had "real" bedroom furniture. Sure, we had a bed frame to keep our mattress and box springs off the floor, but no headboard or footboard. And only odd tables or night stands to set things on. Clothes were stored in the closet in bins.
Anyway, Mother had inherited this beautiful set of furniture from her parents. She didn't really need it, and of my brothers and sisters one sister also didn't need it, and the others are too tall for the bed. They need king-size beds. Even at that, Lyle had to do some cutting and welding on the bed frame to make it long enough for our queen-size mattress.
We were able to pick up the furniture on our trip in March. When we got home and had time to get it set up, I was thrilled with how well it fit our room. The Irish Chain quilt my mother and I made fit the bed perfectly.
I had originally thought I would crochet a curtain... but it wasn't turning out like what I had in mind, so for now I decided to just go with sheers (and a mini-blind for privacy behind the sheers). I talked Lyle into putting up a bookshelf above the window for my collection of vintage novels, in lieu of a valance.
I added other little touches of personal and family treasures for accent pieces, including my vintage suitcase on my nightstand-- and a shabby little stepladder topped with an old packing crate that belonged to my other grandmother for a lamp stand.
So for now, our room is done. And it makes me happy. I smile every time I walk in there. I'm sure I'll make adjustments right along, as that's the nature of home decorating.
Oh, and one last thing! I wasn't sure what "style" to call this room-- as it's not quite "cottage style" yet not really "cabin style"-- but I came across a new magazine last week called Romantic Prairie Style. "That's it!" I thought as I thumbed through it. Would you believe most of the rooms featured in the magazine had knotty pine walls?
Too bad I don't have a better camera, or photographer--or both!--to do my beautiful room justice. (But you can click on the pictures to make them larger if you like.) And if you're not quite as enthralled with it as I am, that's okay. It's my bedroom and I love it! That's all that matters, really, isn't it?
What would you choose if you had a $50 gift card to a big fancy quilting store? I can't decide! You remember I finished that big afghan for my doctor last fall? Well, this week I got a thank you card from her and she included a $50 gift card to Bear Paw Quilting! Wasn't that sweet of her?
So-- I stopped by there yesterday evening so I could browse. I didn't expect to actually spend my gift card before I had a chance to mull it over. Since it took me two years to get my Irish chain quilted, and since I have fabric for the Route 66 quilt that I haven't gotten around to piecing and tacking, I'm not in much notion to work on another quilt right now. They had lots of patterns for things like tote bags, aprons, wall-hangings. Don't need a tote bag or an apron, but a wall-hanging for my bedroom is a possibility. There were a few embroidery kits and patterns. They also had knick-knacks and stuffed animals. I thought about getting fabric for a dress. I've been wanting a black-and-white-gingham-with-cherries vintage-style dress. But then I remembered it was probably all cotton fabric and would have to be ironed, so I'm not sure that's a good idea. I also noticed they had Perle cotton in some really pretty colors that I could use for the little doilies I'm working on.
It's pushing two years since I first posted about my Bedroom-Makeover-in-the-Works. I wish I could announce that it is finally finished... but, no, it's still in the works. I have, however, finished the quilt. My mother pieced it for me and I hand-quilted it. She also made matching pillow shams. It was time-consuming, but we are both so pleased with how it turned out.
Next up, I need to decide on what to put on the window. I did start a crocheted curtain like I mentioned in my earlier post, but I'm not sure if that's really what I want or not. It's been awhile since I worked on it, so I should probably get it out and think about it some more.
I have also considered white-washing the walls, so that the wood grain still shows through the white. Lyle's not crazy about that idea. I think I would like it... but what if I get tired of it? I'm not sure it would be possible to take it back off, and then I'd have to just paint over it. So I think I'll just leave the walls the way they are.
How would you decorate if your bedroom had knotty pine walls?
The weather in my neck of the woods: currently chilly and damp, but we've had enough sunny days mixed in lately to make for a beautiful fall.
Things that make me happy: reading to my kids, even through their teen years.
Book I'm reading:Angel Song by Sheila Walsh and Kathryn Cushman
On the menu for dinner: You know, I'm not sure. Making dinner is a responsibility my older daughter has assumed. Maybe chicken something?
On my To Do List: "Make a To Do List." Seriously! My mother is coming this weekend, and I'm getting ready to go away next week, so I have lots to do this week. School, cleaning, laundry, packing, a couple errands to run.
New Recipe I tried or want to try soon: Pumpkin Spice Cookies. (I didn't actually make them. My daughter did. But I found the recipe and printed it out for her. Does that count?)
In the craft basket: I just finished the quilt that I've been working on for a year-and-a-half. I love it! I'll show you pictures soon. I usually have several different projects going, but I think the only thing in "the basket" right now is a pair of socks that I'm knitting. They are nearly finished as well. Not sure what I'll start next. I checked a stack of knitting and crocheting books out at the library last week, so we'll see.
Looking forward to this week: Picking up Mother at the airport Friday, then visiting like crazy that evening, before setting off with Lyle for our 25th anniversary "honeymoon" on Saturday. My mother is so sweet to offer to come stay with the girls so we can do this!
My favorite blog post this week: We Have Forgotten @ Glimpses of Our World.
Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers): I haven't had a lot of time for much blog-hopping and discovering new blogs lately. I miss it. I enjoy blog-hopping so much more than Facebook. Hopefully I'll get back to it soon.
Lesson learned the past few days: It's best not to try to put potato peelings down the garbage disposal….don’t ask why I know this.
On my mind: My To-Do List!
Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses: The girls and I are currently reading through the Gospels (we're in the middle of Mark), as well as stories from the Old Testament to go along with the ancient history we are studying. We are also working on memorizing Hebrews 11-- the "Faith Hall of Fame." It's 40 verses long, so it may very well take us all year.
No, I haven't finished the quilt I started last winter. To be honest, I haven't picked it back up again yet this fall. I am about half finished quilting it, but had set it aside for the warm season. Now that cool weather is here again, I've been working on a few other projects for Christmas, so it will probably be a few weeks before I get back to it.
Even still, I couldn't resist the opportunity to enter the contest to win this delicious stack of "fat quarters"! I love the muted colors and primitive prints, don't you? Pumpkin Patch Primitives is giving away a bundle of 27 fat quarters! What a pretty quilt that would make! Head on over for your chance to win! And mention that Karla @ Ramblin' Roads sent you. The contest ends on October 31.
For St. Patrick's Day I thought it would be appropriate to show you my "Irish Chain Quilt" in the works! Several weeks ago I showed you my plans for my "bedroom makeover." I was so excited when I got the quilt top in the mail from my Mother! I am so pleased with how it turned out, and the combination of colors... I just now got it all pinned together with the batting and the backing to begin quilting. Since it's a little larger than queen size, I'm sure it will take me months to get it quilted. Especially if I swap off between this and crocheting the curtain... which is my plan! If you happen to quilt... and if you've won ribbons on your quilts at the fair, please don't look too closely at my stitching! I can't manage to achieve the tee-ninesy stitches that I've admired on prize-winning quilts at the fair.
But, I enjoy the process and I know I'll enjoy the finished product in my own bedroom, so I guess that's really what matters, isn't it?
It's been over 10 months since we moved into our "new" house and I still haven't decorated our bedroom. All the downstairs rooms are paneled in knotty pine, which I love. We've gone with a retro "road trip" theme for the family room, and a "north woods" theme for the bathroom. Neither of those really suit me for the bedroom, though. I want to go with more of a "pioneer cabin" feel, I think, but I'm having a hard time coming up with what that would look like. Maybe y'all can help me?First of all, here's a "before" picture. My mother made the pink and teal drapes and quilt top for me about 8 years ago, and I like them okay... but that was 4 houses ago. They don't suit this room, and besides, I'm kinda tired of them. When it comes to home decorating I try to pick things I won't get tired of before they wear out... but in this case, the fabric was given to me, and I liked it well enough for the house we were in, so I used it. But now I'm ready for something different.
I asked my mother if she would be willing to make me another quilt top, if I bought the fabric and picked a pattern she could do with the strip-piecing method. See, she loves to sew on a machine... and I don't. I do, however, enjoy hand-quilting, so if she will make the quilt top for me, I can quilt it.
She was agreeable to that, so we started looking at quilt patterns. I found a quilt on an Amish quilt website that I just loved. I "borrowed" this picture to show you what I have in mind. I decided on sage green, rather than the blues... and I probably won't quilt the flower outline in the white squares, so mine won't be exactly like this.
Mother emailed me a picture of the first block she made: I think it's going to turn out very pretty!
For the window, I'm crocheting this: And yes, I'm sure it will be a year (or more) by the time I get the quilt quilted and the curtain crocheted!
In the meantime, I'm trying to figure out what to put on the walls. No, I will not be painting them. I love the natural knotty pine! I was thinking of dried flowers (lavender maybe?) tied together with string, and maybe some framed vintage photos. Also, there's a 6-inch wide ledge about half-way up the wall along 2 walls. That feature lends itself to creative decorating, too. Any ideas?
I am participating in the "I Remember Laura" art swap in conjunction with the blog-a-thon hosted at Quill Cottage. Miss Sandy provided some basic elements for us to start with, and our job is to embellish them. The first project ties in with the first week's theme of quilts. Miss Sandy sent a basic 9-patch block from a vintage quilt, along with a picture of Laura Ingalls Wilder printed on muslin, and a handful of vintage buttons. I blanket-stitched around the picture of Laura, and then embroidered the outline of a sunbonnet girl with red embroidery floss, and L.I.W. with gray, then tied on a button in the shape of a pencil and another in the shape of a spool of thread. I added a strip of vintage tatting and another of tiny red rick-rack. Then I crocheted and stitched on a poke bonnet, added some buttons and a fabric "yo-yo", and finally crocheted the edging. Voila!
"Laura brought her Dove-in-the-Window quilt that she had pieced as a little girl while Mary pieced a nine-patch. It had been kept carefully all the years since then." --These Happy Golden Years
I grew up with quilts. Not necessarily the lovely works of art that you see at fairs and exhibits these days, but practical, made-from-leftover-fabric-scraps, use-every-day quilts. Since the theme this week for the "I Remember Laura" blog-a-thon is quilts, I wanted to show you some of the quilts I have that have special memories for me.
This first quilt was made for me by one of my great-grandmothers. "Mother Shumaker" was my mother's maternal grandmother. She loved to make things for all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and sent us little hand-made Christmas gifts every year... perhaps an apron or a pot-holder or a handkerchief. Then one year she made quilt tops for my siblings and me. This was in the 1970s when double-knit polyester was the fabric of choice... so my quilt is "nice" and heavy. Not exactly what you're looking for in a "vintage" quilt, but at least the pattern and colors are pretty, and I treasure it because Mother Shumaker made it for me.
This is a picture of my bedroom, circa 1979, right after my quilt was finished. Here is a picture of the same quilt that I just took this week. It has been retired from use, as the seams are coming apart. (I am persuaded that the fabric will last forever!) I do intend to repair it, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Does anyone know what the name of this pattern is? As far as I know, it's just a Six Point Star.
I have another special polyester double-knit quilt, too! This one makes no claims whatsoever to being pretty. When I was in high school my mother's paternal grandmother came and stayed with us for several weeks. "Granny" was in her 90s by then and blind. She could still piece quilts, but only simple squares and someone else had to cut the blocks and arrange the colors for her. Oh, and thread her needles! She also worked best with heavy fabrics, so even though polyester was on it's way out by this time (early 1980s), Mother decided this would be the perfect use for her leftover sewing scraps. So we cut squares for Granny and thread needles by the dozen, and she stitched happily away while my siblings and I were in school. She made each of us a quilt top during that visit. No. It's not beautiful. However, I have always enjoyed and appreciated it because of the memories and love stitched into it. I do still have it, and it has proved to be very warm and serviceable over the years, but I'll spare you having to look at it again by not posting a current picture! LOL!
Mother Shumaker passed away at age 90 when I was 16. It was the year before I graduated from high school and she was in the process of making a Friendship quilt for my graduation when she got sick. She had finished the blocks but hadn't set them together yet. Several years later my grandmother (Mother Shumaker's daughter) finished it. Rather than putting the names of my classmates on it, since it was several years after my graduation, we put the names of Grandmother's grandchildren on it. I've haven't stayed in touch with my classmates, but I do stay in touch with my cousins, so that makes it more meaningful to me. I had been married several years by the time I finally got this quilt, so it hasn't been used as much as some of the others.My favorite quilt pattern is the Wedding Ring, so that's what Grandmother made me for graduation. I loved this quilt and used it for a bedspread when I went away to college. It has been well-used over the years, and the fabric hasn't held up as well as the never-wear-out polyester, so this one has also been retired from use. I usually just keep it on my quilt rack to look at.Each of the quilts I've shown you so far were made for me. But the prettiest quilt I have actually doesn't have quite as much sentimental value as my other quilts. It's older and is made of the old flour sack vintage fabrics, which I love looking at. I "inherited" it after Lyle's grandpa died, but no one seems to know who made it. I thought perhaps Grandpa's wife (Lyle's step-grandma) made it, but no, they say she didn't make quilts. So my theory is that probably someone made it for her, or passed it on to her, when she was young. Maybe her mother, or a sister, or aunt?In any case, I think it's beautiful. Such exquisite stitching and in the Wedding Ring pattern that I love.
I have other quilts... even some I've made myself, but these are the ones I treasure the most.
