Pin it Weekly #87

Pin It Wednesday #26

Sunday's Quilt Inspiration had to do with crazy quilts because I needed some ideas for the crazy quilt bolster I've been working on.  Well, I'm still working on the bolster and need to see how lace was used on some of the Victorian quilts that I've seen.  So I figured that I'd start with crazy lace.  Then we'll just see what happens from there.  All of these photos are on my "crazy, quilts" board.

Notice the spider and spider web in the next piece?  I had to find out why so many crazy quilts included them and, it turns out, there was a good reason: women of the Victorian era, both in Europe and in the States, believed that spiders were a sign of good luck.  Additionally, because spiders "weave" their webs, they were good luck for weavers of cloth and those who used the cloth--needlewomen.  Naturally, because many crazy quilts depicted the interests of the family, needlewomen include the spiders and their webs to represent their own work.  

Although I found several articles on this topic, two were especially interesting reads: http://www.caron-net.com/featurefiles/featmay.html and http://cqmagonline.com/vol09iss3/articles/1002/index.shtml.  I recommend them if you're interested in learning more about crazy quilts in general.  The second article is from Crazy Quilts Magazine Online, which has many articles available for free.

Enjoy some more pins, these from my "vintage, joy" board.
  

Happy Quilting,

Mary

Okra and Embroidery?

Yesterday was an interesting day, which you may have gotten based on the title of this post.  First I did my three hours at summer school, which put me getting home just in time for a quick lunch then wiping down some okra to cut and cook.  

I've put the okra in the freezer before, but we always end up tossing out some that gets old.  Now most people will figure that means that we tend to put up too much.  Not this chickie--I just think there has to be a better way.  So if I don't put it in the freezer what are the other options?  Canning in jars, of course.  

Mom canned some okra that way a couple of times, and I canned okra in jars one summer but that didn't work so well.  I just figured the problem was MY problem.  That said, I didn't look up any info, read any recipes, or even call for advice.   Surely I'd figure it out. 

Perhaps I did.  Just look at these pretty pints.  Twelve in all.  Ready for a mix of family and  gumbo.

The other interesting thing is that I got supper cooked, played in the studio and worked a bit on the Victorian bolster.  I mean, when does it happen that we get to everything on the list?  

The bolster is the topic, though. I dropped in some ribbon stitches, added a red embroidered ship's wheel, and stitched down some pretty grey flowers.  How's that for advancement?

Here's the plan: add in anything that I can get my hands on by finding a place for it as I make the discovery.  It's that simple.  I found the ship wheel, or helm, while looking for some ribbon trim.  This is a way of using up some of the stuff I've stashed over the years.  

This is a crazy quilt, not an organized quilt.

Sunday Crazy Quilt Inspiration

How would you like to join me while I'm on a crazy quilt kick?  I've been looking over Pinterest and other sites for ideas for the crazy quilt bolster that I'm making.

I should clarify that I'm having fun with it now, but I don't expect my fun to last for as long as it would take to get the results in some of these photos.  More likely, I'll scatter a few ideas on the bolster and call it quits.  I'm way too ADD to expect much more. That means we need to take advantage of the momentum I have going.

Crazy Quilt Passion

This photo is from a blog I've found that makes for some interesting reading, Crazy Quilt Passion.  I love the pastels and the beading and all the extra embroidery.  Annette is a true artist and made this to decorate a bag.

Rocky Mountain Quilts / American Antique Crazy Quilts

Another site that I found and enjoy is American Antique Crazy Quilts.  This site provides information and photographs of antique quilts.   It is written by Betsey Telford-Goodwin, an antique quilts expert who started Rocky Mountain Quilts, a professional restoration facility for antique quilts.

I love reading the information and looking at the quilts.  If this site were published in book form, I'd purchase the book so that I could easily peruse it at my leisure.

The rest of the photos  all come from my Pinterest board, which I've been collecting for about a week now knowing that I wanted to make this bolster using the crazy quilt style.
  

Isn't it funny that I have no plans of completing a project with so many time-consuming details, yet these are the one's I'm drawn to?  

When we were younger and learning about the Victorian Era, my sisters accused me a few times of living in the wrong century.  I supposed they just knew me and it's probably true that I'd have been very happy as a Victorian.  

Another idea for a quick project using scraps....I really like this one!

And the last one is this update of my bolster cover.  I worked on the vine that I started last night, adding some crewel leaves and blue beaded flowers.  Not too bad for someone who hasn't embroidered in quite a long while, right?  

What do you think?  Should I take it out and start over or leave it in and hope that any errors blend in with the background?

Happy Quilting,
Mary