Another Day, Another Apron

This apron was requested by a customer, and I finished it today.

To all my dear girls waiting for a parcel from me:
You are not forgotten, I'm working on it . . .

My Brother Makes Quilts

My brother, David, is a quilter. The following pictures are his newest quilt in progress. Dave is still piecing it and is almost ready to add the batting and backing. He is an experienced quilter, quilting for at least 15 years (right, Dave?) Every stitch is sewn by hand, no machine quilting. Even more interesting, David designs his own patterns. This quilt will be the 7th quilt my artistic and talented brother has made!

I love the selection of rainbow colors! This quilt is bright and airy and Dave thinks he will call it "Springtime." It will be finished with a light blue border, then completely hand quilted.

The quilt design consists of hexagons, big square panels, small squares and arrows.

David has been working on this quilt for 6 months, on weekends. He is a busy Dad of 2 boys, both teenagers now, and he works a full time job, and he is an awesome quilter and designer. Wow, huh? I hope that he will share his gorgeous photographs with us on this blog. Vermont is one of the most beautiful states in the country, especially now with all the trees in the mountains turning red and gold, and Dave's photographs really do it justice.

So, ladies, what do you think? I love to read your comments . . .

The Apron Renaissance

This is my friend Jessica. Jess is a good sport to model my aprons! Thanks, Jess.

This is the white embroidered apron, great pic of Jess but you can't see the embroidery.

Jess in the red apron

Love that cute smile, just had to include it!

The blue apron. I made the pattern myself and I was glad to see that it fit someone as petite as Jessica. But wait a minute, it also fits me and I am, well a sturdy size 14 (oh my.) So I am happy with the way the apron fits all sizes.

Here are the original 3 aprons in the afternoon sun on the front porch.
Now that I know they fit everyone, they have magically multiplied to 20 aprons.

Turkey Feathers so kindly made these folk dancers available to those who visit her fabulous web shoppe she calls Patternbee. The minute I saw them I could feel the music. Aren't they a happy couple? If you are looking for vintage embroidery patterns Patternbee is the place to go, where you can find hundreds of old patterns reprinted as new iron-on transfers. You can get the folk dancers for free here, thanks to Turkey Feather's generosity. Do some shopping, too!

Aprons are IN! I am having a wonderful time reading apron blogs . . . of course, I am so suggestible, just mention something to sew and I want to try too!

HAPPY SEWING . . .

Have You Ever Seen A Vintage Tina Turner?

Well here she is!

It's just something about the hair and those great legs! Yup, that's who she reminds me of all right. Of course she doesn't have a real name, I never think of great names for my dolls. But I think of this little lady as the fabulous Tina Turner. She is made from my homemade version of an Edith Flack Ackley doll. EFA dolls were made famous in the 1930's and 1940's.

EFA dolls are little, sweet and are made in endless variations. They usually have a distinctive face, with tiny square black embroidered eyes and a wee rosebud mouth, and 2 dots for a nose. My dolls faces are a bit different from the original pattern. As you see, Tina is not finished but soon she will have my version of a little face. I like more realistic embroidered eyes and nose so I will finish Tina in the next two weeks and you will see her new face.

Tina is made from my favorite old linen dress, soft from many washings. It took me three days to twist and hand root her cotton fiber hair. I thought I would never finish but I loved the thick mop that appeared . . . finally. Tina is very flexible and can pose in any position. She is simply fun to play with.

The Sewing Fairy Tiptoed In

The sewing fairy tiptoed into my studio last night.
She sewed and sewed until the clock stuck twelve.

Remembering

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, in whose hands are the living and the dead: We give thee thanks for all thy servants who have laid down their lives in the service of our country. Grant to them thy mercy and the light of thy presence; and give us such a lively sense of thy righteous will, that the work which thou has begun in them may be perfected; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen The Book of Common Prayer

My colorful family.
We have green hair.
We have pink hair.
And we have red hair.

The gorgeous redheads are my real family:
Kerry, Kim, Rick and Nancy. Love you guys, Meg

Best Blogs

From time to time I want to share some gems I come across. For a good time and a giggle read Mary's Requiem to the Dell at Simple Happy Home. You won't be sorry.




I'll Bee back!

Autumn Sewing Madness!

All her life Ms. Meg had been a miss who aimed to please, a Daddy's girl, a pushover, rather Hyacinth Bucket-ish (Bouquet, you know). Something horrible has happened to her. She is simply not herself these days. Is it the full moon? Or has she gone "sewing mad?"

Have you seen her sewing addie for her Halloween bags? Sheer madness. Why, it is folly, scandalous - she might absolutely ruin her business, not to mention her pristine reputation for all things cute, lovely and good!

People say she mutters to herself about losing her damn pins, . . . and her dull scissors, and not having time to prepare Martha Stewart meals. Wouldn't it be delirious if the sewing authorities put her in the fabric bin, excuse us - we mean the looney bin. After all, with that glazed expression on her face and that sharp seam ripper in her hand, she might be dangerous. Children are frightened, the elderly lock their doors.


It must be autumn madness. If you ask us, she's not well, not well at all. The woman needs a vacation. If you dare, read below to see how she hocks her wares:

'Allow Dearie

Sewed in hideous haste, guaranteed 100% wonky Halloween bags. Each and every one peculiar in its own ghastly way; sublimely tasteless and tacky. Unmatched perfection of repellent fabric, sold entirely without shame at all the best places for only the highest prices. Cunningly conjured up by that persnickety witch, Dollie Dillie.

Autumn Bliss

Clarice at Storybook Woods is the hostess for Autumn Bliss Week for creative bloggers. Interested? You can join too! Head on over to Storybook Woods and let Clarice know you are interested.

She writes "I would like to host an Autumn Bliss week. I have several autumn crafts, recipes, ideas. I plan on having Autumn Bliss the week of 10th through the 16th of September. If anyone feels like joining in, send me a link to your post and I will post it. It can be any idea, craft, poem, corner of your home, recipe, ect. Also feel free to use the image above."

All "Dolled-Up" for the Camera!

Meet Margarita

Margarita named herself in Spanish after me, Meg

Civil War girl in her 1861 finest promenade dress

Poor Civil War girl doesn't have a name. Can you help?

Civil War maid from old Vermont needs an elegant
New England name, . . . something like Emily Dickenson?

This is Pinkie, of course

Pinkie has asked Mommy many times for shoes, sigh

Tote Bags in Production

Halloween Bag Handles

Halloween Bag Lining

Like the little fellow in the picture, "I am just sew-sew-sew at present." That is, I am sewing day and night to be able to make some bags and aprons so that I can have a stall for the upcoming markets in September and October.

I am making Halloween cloth bags. My idea is to make them out of bandanas, the standard 100% cotton kind that have been around for years, well since my hippie days. I found them at Walmart and they have a great selection of red and pink owls, red and black with white skulls, orange and purple witches, and more! I am using my fabric stash to back and line the bags. Kids can go tricker-treating with them and they also are big enough to make natural fiber alternative shopping bags or autumn book totes.