It must look familiar to me because I find the Art Deco style so intriguing, and have looked at so many photos of Art Deco everything. I can easily imagine this design as a wide tiled or relief border up either side of a fancy doorway, for example. Bottom line: I really like it.
July 30, 2014
Art Deco Flowers ... or Fans
It must look familiar to me because I find the Art Deco style so intriguing, and have looked at so many photos of Art Deco everything. I can easily imagine this design as a wide tiled or relief border up either side of a fancy doorway, for example. Bottom line: I really like it.
July 26, 2014
..... But Wait, There's More
I pawed around in a little basket of little ribbon bows, so ancient and decrepit, destined for the garbage bin. Underneath, there was this nice-looking button collection rattling around. They'd only sell it as a "set", so I bought the whole thing. You understand, I'm sure.
July 24, 2014
.... and More Buttons
July 20, 2014
Vintage Music
Covers went from black and white to color at some point during the intervening years.
July 9, 2014
Pennsylvania Tulips
July 2, 2014
When I Really Fell in Love With Quilts
June 26, 2014
Schoolhouse Quilt
This poor old thing was is pretty bad shape, especially the lower row and edge. I did both repair patching on the worst places, and a goodly amount of conservation backing and stitching where rips and tears were less dense. You can see both in this photo:
June 18, 2014
Glowing Pineapple Quilt
It's super large - about 81" x 92". Older quilts, meaning earlier on in the 19th century, are sometimes quite large because they were made for very high bedframe with trundle beds stored underneath.
Most of the fabrics are silk, with a few velvets in the mix. They are in pretty good condition. All I did for the quilt was to vacuum it to clear out old dust and freshen it up. Visit this post for instructions for vacuuming quilts.
June 9, 2014
Scrappy Bow Tie Quilt
June 4, 2014
Ancient Roman Mosaics
May 27, 2014
Crazy Quilt Saga - Repairs
I used three different techniques, depending on the type of damage in each patch:
May 25, 2014
Prize-winning Quilts of 1947
"Two women examine the award winning quilts on display at the 1947 Illinois State Fair."
Double Wedding Ring, Cathedral Windows, Grandmother's Flower Garden, Irish Chain
These are not at all unexpected as favorite 1947 quilts. Wouldn't it be fun to be able to see them in color?! The photo also provides a fun little glimpse of ladies' dresses, hats, and bags of the time.
The photo is in the extensive collection of the Illinois Digital Archives.
May 22, 2014
Crazy Quilt Saga - History
May 16, 2014
Crazy Quilt Embroidery and Family History
May 12, 2014
James and the Giant Peach On Stage
May 5, 2014
Attic Windows
April 26, 2014
James and the Giant Peach
The bodice of Aunt Sponge's dress is stuffed with fabric. The actress is wearing two bum rolls and 3 very long, very full petticoats that hang from shoulder straps. The dress is now too full to zip closed, needless to say. The back opening is secured with three elastics, and she will wear the matching apron as a capelet to hide the back.
The bottom ruffle of Aunt Spiker's dress was removed to make a straighter line, and leave her ankles showing to add to the illusion of height. Black trim is being added to emphasize the vertical, and the ruffle will become a turban-like hat.
April 23, 2014
Tablecloth Update
April 15, 2014
Favorite Quotes #5 - Becoming an Elder
I found this quote somewhere, so long ago that I don't remember where. The only note I have says that it is a Yorkshire proverb.
I like the double meaning possible here, for an approach to Life in general, and for pursuing creativity and expressiveness. I find it most uplifting.
Having recently passed my 60th birthday, I'm finding myself latching on to words and ideas to help me grow into the next stage of my life, thoughts about how to be an elder, and hopefully, a wise one.
I find I'm thinking of this chapter of Life as a time to gather the results of my experiences and share them, and as a time to give more space in my schedule for "just being", with myself and with others. And don't these goals have a place in both kinds of artfulness.
I'm appreciating the style of the Red Hat Ladies - having fun, breaking with convention, and togetherness. It's just around the corner now.
Publishing my book stems from my desire to pass along things I have learned. And really, now that I think of it, the cover is nearly in the official red hat lady colors. Oh! Maybe I am a red hat lady already!
The photo is of me and the life-sized doll I made for a production of "Arsenic and Old Lace". The doll played the double roles of the bodies of Mr. Hoskins and Mr. Spenalzo with a change of jackets and an added hat. Old and artful, the both of us!
April 2, 2014
Dresden Plate
March 25, 2014
Delicate Edwardian Dress
March 17, 2014
Cheery Cherry Wreath
This quilt was made near Millmont, PA. It was purchased in the early 1990s on the farm of an Amish quilter who was selling both her own quilts and those made by other quilters in the area.
The quilt block is called cherry wreath. I like the clean, clear look of the quilt, due to the great balance of color, and the expanses of white. And as every quilter knows, stitching all those circles is a challenge and requires an experienced hand at appliqué.
March 13, 2014
Wooden Art
March 9, 2014
Pewter Buttons
February 21, 2014
Needlework That Tells Stories: Exhibit in England
February 8, 2014
Russia, the Olympics, and Quilts
The "prints" on the diamonds contain references to many, many of the folk art traditions all across Russia. The design is being used all over the Olympic events, and shows up on the medals as well.
So I began to wonder about the tradition of patchwork in Russia.
Here is the Russian Quilters Association. Clicking on most of the links will take you to a page with photos to explore.
And the All Russia page shows lots of really wonderful quilts. I especially love the rendition of Klimt's famous painting "The Kiss". For some reason I was just imagining the other day how that painting could done in fabric - and poof! - here it is! I can't find the name of the quilter.
January 23, 2014
Romeo and Juliet - Costume Details
January 21, 2014
Romeo and Juliet - Costume Design
Eileen, our director, set quite a challenge for the costumes. She asked that the look straddle the Elizabethan and the modern eras, expressing the timelessness of the story. And she asked that the costumes be haute couture and edgy.
January 19, 2014
Vintage Metallic Trim
January 8, 2014
Snowboarding Meets Antique Quilt
The new US snowboarding team uniforms are styled with inspiration from an antique quilt.
Take a look: http://extramustard.si.com/2013/12/04/new-usa-snowboarding-uniforms-look-like-your-grandmas-quilt/
These will be worn next month at the 2014 Winter Olympics. How fun is that?