Giveaway!!

I've finally finished a commission that I have been working on exclusively for months, so I'm celebrating with a giveaway! Unfortunately, I was so excited to send it off that I forgot to take pictures, but she has promised to send me one soon.

I bought these great necklaces recently from 1 Stitch Off. They custom made them for me, one for my blog, and a Bird in the Window one with my boys initials on it. Aren't they great! I was thrilled with how they turned out. I am giving away one of these necklaces to the lucky winner. You can pick one from their etsy shop, or have one custom made just for you. But you have to read to the end of the post to find out how.

Now that I've finished with the commission, I am ready to tackle the stack of projects I have waiting for me. Which one should I do first?

I bought this Tree of Life panel from Happiness is Quilting last year after Di Ford used it in her Oh Dear, Mrs. Thompkins aka the Burnt Quilt pattern. It's from DenHann and Wagenmaker in the Netherlands. As far as I know, Laura Kay is the only one importing these to the states.


When I opened up the latest issue of Quilt Sampler, it somehow fell open to this!

I knew it had to be Laura Kay's shop. I thought I would use the panel for it, but then when I saw that some of the hexies were made from the D & W chintzes I have coveted for so long, I broke down and bought the kit. I just love the bright fabrics!

You all know I'm partial to Sue Spargo, and with my Imperial Garden BOM shipment, I added a new kit she came out with, Prairie Crocus Carry-All. More bright colors, and I love the jewel tones in the pack of threads. I almost don't want to open it.

And this little guy is on the back. How could I resist?!

I also signed up last month for a 6 month course in silk thread work. I'll be making a set of needlework accessories on 40ct. linen using Au Ver a Soie silk thread.

Aren't they amazing! The course is by Tricia Wilson Nguyen of Thistle Threads. She has several classes using historic needlework techniques. I downloaded the first class, and it is very detailed, with lots of pictures, and a section of historical background with links to more info. You can see more of her work on her website, and be sure and check out her blog. She still has some places left in the class, and you can sign up and see a video of the projects here.

Instead of my usual way, I invested in a roller frame so I could do it right. Some assembly required. You can see some of the rails are split. You insert the ends of your fabric in the splits, and then roll it up so that the section you are working on is in the middle. You can also adjust the tension on the sides, so the piece doesn't get pulled out of shape.

Now for the good stuff. To win the necklace, just leave a comment telling me which project you would most like to see me work on first. I'll draw the winner Thursday night at midnight EST. Good Luck!! While I'm waiting, I'll tackle that frame. And get caught up with my 1807 new emails. :)

The Madness of King George

George William Frederick, otherwise know as King George III, ruled longer than any previous British monarch; first as King of England and Ireland, and later as King of the United Kingdom. He succeeded to the crown in 1760, at the age of 22, after the sudden death of his father, King George II. The following year, he married Princess Charlotte in St. James Palace. Although they met for the first time on their wedding day, it turned out to be a true love match, and they had 15 children.

King George's reign was fraught with several military battles, arguably the most famous of which was the Revolutionary War. In later years, he suffered from intermittent and later permanent mental illness, which in more recent times has been theorized to have been the blood condition porphyria. Because of these two circumstances, King George III is often called "the Mad King" or the "King Who Lost America."

In c.1805, in England, this coverlet was made to commemorate these military events, and it represents a whole different kind of Madness! It is comprised of pieced circles of printed and plain cotton, with different designs in their centers, set in a white background. It has a medallion center, and 40 circular scenes around the border. The coverlet now resides in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, England.

V&A: T.9-1962

The central medallion is both pieced and embroidered, and depicts King George reviewing his troops in Hyde Park on his birthday, June 4,1799. It may have been added after the coverlet was pieced, as it cuts across several of the circles.

The design was taken from a print after John Singleton Copley, called "His Majesty Accompanied by the Prince of Wales and Gloucester. Reviewing the Volunteer Cops of London and its vicinity, in Hyde Park, on the 4th June, 1799," which is the longest title of a painting I've ever seen, but at least we don't have to wonder what the subject is. :)

National Army Museum: 1974-04-20

There are an additional 40 scenes of military and domestic life around the border. Some of these scenes were also taken from prints, paintings, and illustrations of the day. This is an illustration of the song Poor Jack by Charles Dibdin (c.1788), and below it, a scene from the coverlet.

National Maritime Museum: PAJ4029

And here is a hand coloured etching by Robert Dighton entitled "Descriptions of Battles by Sea & Land" and it's accompanying scene.

National Maritime Museum: PU473

To see other pictures and information about the coverlet, visit the Victoria & Albert Museum website.

If you feel ambitious, Marta from Cartulinas is drafting these blocks and hosting a SAL on her blog. She also has a SAL Flick'r group where people can post their blocks.

And Una from Samsy is also drafting these blocks, and you can watch her progress on her blog. I just love her fabric choices.

And you can watch a video of Tracy Chevalier, author of "The Girl With the Pearl Earring" as she meets with V&A Quilt Exhibit curator Sue Pritchard to view the George III Coverlet here.

Every year in October I head to Northern Michigan for the annual Fabric of Friendship Quilting retreat. It's three, four, or more days of fun, fabric, and friendship, not to mention good food. The optional classes are free, and there is also a scrap quilt class, if you're interested in that. You might remember the pictures I posted last fall of Lake Michigan and the Victorian houses in nearby Bayview.





If you would like to join us this year, email quiltingretreats@gmaildotcom for information. Hope to see you there!

Doll Quilt Swap Reveal

Now that Carolyn from Lee Prairie Designs has received the quilt I sent her, I can show you the whole thing.

I shrunk down four of the blocks from the Sally Post quilt. If you haven't heard of this quilt, you can buy the pattern at Sentimental Stitches. There is a signature block on it, done in cross stitch, that reads Sally Post, 1854. Age 63. I've had all the fabric to make this for a few years, you know how that goes. :) But I liked the smaller version so well, I may make the whole quilt that way.

My LQS owner, Chris, from The Attic Window Quilt Shop, gave me a new product to try out, and I have to say, it's the best thing I've found since the 1/4" bias maker, which is saying a lot! It's called Lapel Stick, and it's a temporary, non-staining adhesive that's water soluble. I used it to place my berries on a current project, and when I wanted to move one a bit, I had to PULL it off. I've tried about every liquid and stick glue out there, and wasn't impressed with any of them. I finally just bought an extra couple bottles of pins. :) But you really need to try this. It works better than you could imagine. I need to pick up a couple more so I have one in each room.

I love looking at everyone's pictures of flowers and birds, and I'd love to post some of my own, but with no garden, I'm stuck with just my four bird feeders, and here's what my attempt to take a pic of a woodpecker looks like. :(

Today I read about how the Bald Eagle has made such a comeback in Michigan, with over 700 pair as of this year, so I thought I'd leave you with a picture of a little fluffy baby chick. Unfortunately, eagle chicks might be fluffy, but they are anything but little. Very cute just the same. :)

Please keep Grand Rapids in your prayers this week. With a spree killer leaving 8 dead, and our hometown girl Betty Ford passing away, we are a city in mourning.

I'm Still Here!

I know it's been a long time since I've blogged, and I apologize. I had some tough times, and went through the worst two months of my life. I want to thank everyone who emailed, called, and prayed for me, as I wouldn't have made it through if not for my friends. Thank you all so much. I hope you will be patient with me while I get caught up with the going-ons in Blogland. :)

I didn't sew the whole time, so there's not a lot to tell, but I was entered into the second round of Christine from Once Upon a Quilt's Doll Quilt Swap, and my partner was Carolyn from Lee Prairie Designs. She has been waiting patiently for me to get caught up, so here is her sneek peak. I'll post a full pic after she gets it. Some of you may be able to guess what quilt it is. :)

And here is what I got in the mail from her. I just love it, so many fabrics and blocks in it. And she included a little needle case and book. I hope she likes the one I sent her as much as I like mine!

I also got a care package from Margaret from Quilt Station. She sent some fabulous antique lace, a piece of Smithsonian fabric, and an Aussie kitchen towel. I loved her note card so much I'm going to have to buy some!

I went to a local Antique Market last month with a friend, and bought a couple of books for my sister for Christmas. On the way home, I was looking through one of the books, and the pages fell open and I found this ~







I think my luck has changed. :)

This and That

You've probably wondered where I and my Quilt of the Week have been! I've been laid up with a terrible sinus and respiratory infection for over two weeks, so I'm a little behind the times. There are three levels of sick with me: Sick, Too Sick to Sew, and Too Sick to Read, otherwise known as Really Sick. Most of the time I was at Level II, but I've been sewing a little the last couple of days, working on the Maltaville. I've gotten one block done,

and I'm working on two more.

Since I signed the Process Pledge, I thought it wouldn't hurt to show something in progress once in a while. :) These are going quickly, and as soon as I'm caught up, I'll be starting on the Friends of Baltimore, which I'm thinking might take a little longer.

There's a new magazine out, called Primitive Quilts and Projects, and I can't wait to get the first issue.

This looks like a "must have" if you are into primitive quilts or working with wool. It has patterns by a lot of great designers, including Maggie Bonanomi, Cherie Ralston, Lisa Bongean, Bonnie Blue Quilts, Renee Plains, and many more. You can check out the other designers, and subscribe, at their website here.

Have you noticed that zippers are everywhere these days? They are used in the cleverest ways, to decorate clothing, or make cute little tote bags. Indygo Junction has a couple of new patterns to make flowers and jewelry out of zippers. Here's one of them.

And here is a video of how to make a simple flower and leaves from zippers.

I found a great website called Photofunia, and it's kind of addictive. You just pick an effect, upload a photo, crop it, and hit GO! It puts your picture into the template you chose by magic! I'm glad there are people smarter than me out there that think this stuff up. I used some pictures of the boys, and came up with these.

A still life of Brody

Rufus on a billboard

And Little Teague on the cover of Glamour

I'm pretty sure it works with human photos, too. ;) Have fun, and I'll be back with my Quilt of the Week on Thursday.