Comfort Cottage

Nature Study

I spent today at the sewing machine, finishing the nature study spread for my Victorian quilt book.  I wanted it to be more rustic to fit the outdoor theme.

 

I began by stamping a piece of linen with a leaf design.  The bird is a gel medium transfer.   He's mounted to another gel medium transfer of antique field notes.  The bees were printed onto a transparency and then attached to a coffee-stained tag.  The ferns and the dragonfly are also transparencies.   The nest sticker is by Cavalini.

 

 

The large floral print is from the book Florals and Nature by Sterling Publishing.  There's a whole series of these books called Memories of a Lifetime.  They are very reasonably priced, and each comes with a CD of all of the images.

 

This spread is from an ongoing project.  I'm taking a quilt book workshop from a wonderful and accomplished artist, Lenna Young Andrews.  If you would like to see the rest of the book, you can find the photos on my Flicker site, or in recent posts here at Comfort Cottage.

The last thing I wanted to share with you is an art quilt that I did using the fabric from a vintage dress as a background.  I hand embroidered the edge and crocheted the flower.  The antique photo was printed onto a transparency.  The illustration is from an antique children's reader.  I scanned it, colored it with crayons, and heat set it.  I love old children's books.  They represent a carefree innocence to me.  

 

I'm not sure how it is where you are, but Spring finally arrived here in Pennsylvania-at least for a day!  I opened the windows and actually breathed fresh air.  It's amazing what a little nice weather does for your disposition.

Well, that's all for now.  Please pray for the citizens of Japan.  

Until next time,

 

 

In Celebration of Needlework

I finished the latest for my quilt book workshop project.  In this spread, I celebrate the timelessness of needlework. 

 I was inspired by this wonderful old photo that I found in my archive of public domain images.  I printed it onto a transparency and then sewed it to the muslin.  The cute metal doodads are from Karen Foster.  I honestly forgot I had them until I started going through my stash.   The laces and buttons are from my vintage collection.  I used to cringe at the thought of ripping fabric, but since I started taking Lenna's workshop, I rip fabric with abandon!  It adds a textured, tattered feel to the work.

 

I printed the antique ad card ephemera onto canvas.  The pink background fabric on this page is a print from England.  I was lucky enough to find about four yards of the stuff at the thrift store!

 

 

Here's what they look like together.  I think they'll fit in nicely with the theme of my book. 

 

What have you been up to?  I'd love to hear from you.  I'll be continuing with this project this week.  If you check back, I'll have more to show you.  See you next time!

 

Victorian Charm

I've been working hard at Lenna's quilt book workshop all week.  I finally learned to do a few things that I've never done before.  If you read my previous post, I shared a little about the workshop and included links to Lenna Young Andrew's blog and education page.  Here are the next pages for my quilt book!

 

This one has my first-ever  successful gel medium transfer.   I love the effect.  It looks more natural than direct printing.  I finally found a place to use one of the grungy old millinery flowers I pulled off an old hat.

 

 

Crazy quilts were a phenomenon of the Victorian era.  I just couldn't make a quilt book without one.  I printed the image onto cotton poplin.  The fabrics are all thrift store finds!

 

 

The last one I have to show you today is my favorite, so far.  It's a subject close to my heart...sisters.  I used plenty of vintage lace and buttons on this one!

 

 

This workshop has been the start of something wonderful for me.  It's caused me to make art in a more disciplined and purposeful way, and it has been loads of fun.  If you're looking for a way to connect with another artist who can help you draw out your creative muse, I enthusiasticly recommend acquainting yourself with Lenna.  Check out her blog and her classes.  I'm sure you'll enjoy them!  Take care until next time, and God bless you!

 

 

Remembrances

I've been a quilter for a long time - more than twenty years.  For anyone who has been reading my blog, you know how much I love fabric and quilting.  Measure, cut, sew, repeat...

I love everything about it.  Lately though, I've been getting the urge to do it differently.  There are a growing number of fiber artists out there who have been broadening their horizons.  They are doing things that ten years ago, I wouldn't have dreamed of doing.  The more I peruse publications such as Sew Somerset and Art Quilting  Studio, the more I'm convinced that they're on to something.  They figured out a long time ago what I'm just discovering:  there's more than one way to make a quilt.  These folks are doing infinitely more than measure, cut, sew, repeat.  They've changed the way we think of quilts. 

 

This week, I became acquainted with a marvelous artist - Lenna Young Andrews.  Lenna has worked her magic in mixed media art for many years.  I recently found her delightful and colorful blog, Creative Lenna, and her education site, A Little Creative Space.  They're a gold mine of eye-popping art, tutorials, and online classes.  After deliberating for about a week (I couldn't decide which class to take), I settled on the one that combines all of my favorite art forms.   It's a self-paced online workshop to make a Mini Art Quilt Book.  If you are interested in mixed media, but would like clear instructions, lots of ideas and interaction and feedback from your teacher, please check out Lenna's web sites.    It will open a whole new world of creativity for you.

 The workshop I'm participating in is wonderfully flexible.  No participant's project is the same as anyone else's.  Would you like to see the first pages of my book?

 I decided on a theme of "Remembrances of a Young Woman."  It has a definite Victorian flavor.

 

 

 Almost all of the elements are vintage finds from thrift shops and antique stores.  I gather potential materials every chance I get.  A few of the buttons were too white, so I soaked them in a cup of coffee.  It did wonders!

 

 

 

I've found incredible amounts of vintage laces for pennies at my local thrift store.  The crochet lace on the sides of the angel was from a ten-yard piece for 15 cents!

 

 

 

I incorporated my hand made ribbon rose into this one, as well as my embroidery and beading.  The quote is from Anne Frank.  The time period may be different, but some things are timeless.

 

I'll share more of my pages as I finish them.  Have a great week.

 

Until next time,

 

 

 

Quilts and Redwork

I know I said this post would be about tea towels, but I need a few more days on that project.  You know how that goes.  A distraction here, an interruption there, and before you know it, you're running to catch up.  That's okay, though.  I still have some antique quilts to share with you.  Grab a cup of tea, sit back, and enjoy the third installment of Quilts from Poole Forge.

I regret that my documentation wasn't better.  I'm unsure of the date for this one.  Possibly, early 20th century.  I love the arrangement of lights and darks.  The yellow triangles really emphasize the pattern.

 

This one was made for the quilter's last of six grandchildren in the early 1900s.  She made a quilt for each of her grandchildren.  It's in fine condition for one so old.  Isn't the pink sweet?

This is the first feathered star quilt I've seen with flower blocks and applique.  Isn't it gorgeous?  I've yet to try a feathered star.  Piecing all of those little triangles would be a serious challenge.

 

State flower quilts were very popular and a number of different patterns have been circulated over the years.  This is an absolutely outstanding example!  It was made during the 1940s.  The current owner told me she found it on a farm, covering a tractor!  I cringe at the thought.  I'm amazed that it is still in such pristine shape.

I would have loved to have seen the whole thing.  There simply wasn't enough room at Poole Forge mansion to hang more than a hundred quilts.

The sun streaming in the window made this one very difficult to photograph.  It is a lovely example of blue work with a touching story.

It was pieced and embroidered by a remarkable eleven year old boy.  (Yes, you read that right.)  He was recovering from rheumatic fever and could not engage in strenuous activity.  This was how he passed the time.  His embroidery is flawless.  He embroidered his initials in the center and signed the back of the quilt.  His mother did the hand quilting.

This is an inspiring example of how one boy, when handed lemons by life made lemonade.  What a legacy!

Finally, a beautiful example of redwork.  I had to stand back pretty far to capture the whole thing.

 

Redwork, or red embroidery on white fabric, finds its origins in Europe.  It was then referred to as turkey work, after the colorfast dye, turkey red.  When it made its way across the pond, it became known as redwork.  It is traditionally done in an outline stitch, or Kensington stitch.   One of the earliest patterns for a redwork quilt appeared in an 1881 issue of Harper's Bazaar magazine.

There lots of great sources for redwork patterns if you'd like to try it. 

One of my favorites is Quilts and More Redwork by Laurene Sinema.

 

There are many other sources out there, including some free online pattern sources.  Some of those sources include Grandma's Attic, Pattern Bee, and NeedleCrafter.com.  One of the best sites is Favorite Transfer Finds.  It is a wonderful blog by a gal named Floresita.  She offers an incredible selection of patterns, free to download.  I hope this gets you started!

It's time for me to get back to the studio.  Did you like this latest collection of antique quilts?  I hope I've inspired you to try something new.  Redwork isn't just for quilts.  It is perfect for tea towels, pillowcases, and table runners,  just to name a few.  If you would like to see more of the Poole Forge quilts, click here and here.

That's all for now!  God bless you until next time.

 

 

Quilt Show at Poole Forge

A few months ago, I attended a wonderful quilt show featuring antique quilts dating from the mid 1800s to about the 1940s.  I love quilts.  They bring warmth to our homes and the old ones tell us so much about the industrious people who came before us. 

 

  

 

The quilter made this quilt in memory of her baby sister, who died of pneumonia at the age of one.

 

 
 

 

 

Isn't this gorgeous?  It's one of the most intricate pieces of needlework I've seen!

The quilter embroidered her name and the year in the lower left corner.  I've marked it with an arrow.  I can't believe this quilt is still in mint condition!

There's so much to look at.  I could have studied this one for hours!  In this section alone, there are maracas, a horse, a six-point star, a fan, a bird, and multiple snowflakes and flower sprigs!

I have many more photos from the show to share.  I'll be posting more soon.  Keep on creating!

 

Just A Little Pink

Hello my friends!  Happy Pink Saturday and welcome to Comfort Cottage.  Please give a great big hello to Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.  She does all the hard work of organizing all of us lovers of pink each week.  I did a lot of blog visiting this week and I want to introduce a member of our group that I visited for the first time.  Her name is Sandra and she has a lovely blog called Cottage Dreamer.  She has a wonderful collection of hand painted enamelware by Debi Coles.

I have a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.  My Etsy boutique, Comfort Cottage Shop is finally open.  I hope you'll stop by and check it out.  I would welcome ANY feedback.  I've put some of my hand painted items and pillows in it.  My Pink Saturday contribution is a new item that is now in my shop.

I found a set of seven lace sofa covers at a thrift shop last week.  They are the perfect size for my hanging pillows.  This is my Forever Friends keepsake pillow. 

I chose a pretty pink rose print (what else?).

I chose a few vintage images and collaged them in Photoshop.  Of course it wouldn't be complete without some vintage buttons.  The printed collage needed to be set apart from the lace, so I hand embroidered a chain stitch border around it. 
 

 

I sewed a bouquet of ribbon flowers and leaves and added beaded centers.

 

 

I'll be working on tea towels this week.  They should be appearing in Comfort Cottage Shop soon.  I wish you a safe and restful weekend.  God bless you until next time.

Happy Pink Valentine's Day!

What could be better?  It's Pink Saturday and almost Valentine's Day!  I've been very busy making all kinds of goodies to share with you.  It's about time we had some other color besides white around here.  So far, we've survived two blizzards and a total of 48 inches of snow within a week!  Click here to see blizzard #2.

 

 

Before we celebrate the day of love, I'd like to introduce you to Shirl at Wings of Eagles.  I visited her last week and I was transported to a world of beauty, classic literature, lovely vignettes and interesting history.  I know you'll enjoy visiting her and I'm sure she would love to hear from you.

I'd like to thank Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for hosting Pink Saturday.  Please stop by to see her today.

In honor of the occasion, I've set the table for you.  Come on in and enjoy a steaming  cup of coffee and a cupcake...or two...or, oh just eat them all, before I do!

 

 

It's really interesting to discover the things that men associate with love:

 

This is a note from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to his wife,  Constanze, penned on April 16, 1789.

"Darling wife, I have a number of requests to make to you: -

1st,  I beg you will not be melancholy.

2nd, That you will take care of yourself, and not expose yourself to the spring breezes.

3rd, That you will not go out to walk alone - indeed, it would be better not to walk at all.

4th, That you will feel entirely assured of my love."

 

 

I'll leave you to ponder that little gem.

 

Here's a card I made.   Obviously, this guy's idea of love is a little different than Wolfgang's!

The next two cards I made are on the lighter side.

This guy definitely has a unique way to express his love:

 

"I can neither eat nor sleep for thinking of you my dearest love, I never touch even pudding."  (Horatio Nelson, admiral, to Lady Emma Hamilton, January 29th, 1800)

 

 

I think Admiral Nelson has been at sea way too long!  His lack of appetite for pudding may have more to do with seasickness than anything else.

In between making cards, I spent some time at the sewing machine.  I designed these little door pillows after finding this cute set of fabrics at Joann.

 

A few more Valentines:

I hope you've enjoyed this little romp through the garden of love.  I can't wait to see what all of you have to share.   God bless you until next time!

Time's Blessing

 

 

Welcome, everyone!  I hope you've all recovered from the holiday season and have a few warm memories to get you through the winter.  I've had so much I've wanted to share with you, but alas, I wasn't even able to get a post off last month!   December is always a busy month, but this year was particularly eventful. 

In addition to a lovely Christmas and New Year's celebration, two other momentous events occured within the same week.  First, my darling son, the joy of my life, reached his eighteenth birthday the day after Christmas.  Second, my sister's daughter, whose birth I was present for,  married her college sweetheart two days after Michael's birthday.   As I looked around at the familiar faces and graying hair of  friends and family, I was reminded of the certainty of time's passing and of the equal certainty that we cannot stop it's determined march.   Admittedly this truth might be fruitful ground for a bout of melancholy.  However, as I pause at the entrance to this new year I am curiously liberated.

I realize now that the passage of time is a gift beyond measure.  It has seen the healing of old wounds.  The driving rain and wind of trial has brought forth a garden of new wisdom.  The tree that is my faith has been bent low, and its branches torn, but the storms have given it roots of iron.  It has endured the barren humiliation of many winter seasons and  has clothed itself in the garment of humility.  It has finally yielded to the Gardener's relentless pruning and it has turned its leaves to the light. 

On that happy note,  settle in and let me share my pinkness with you!

The first order of business is to share a brand new blog site with you.  Please join me in welcoming Kim of The Sheep's Nest to the creative blogging community.   She hails from Stony Field Farm in upstate New York.  Check out her blog as she shares her dream and some wonderful photographs of a recent trip to England. 

Oops!  I was supposed to introduce a new member, wasn't I?  The absent-minded artist strikes again.  Well, I just visited the blog of a brand new Pink Saturday participant, Sherry at A Happy Valentine.  I especially enjoyed my visit because I learned that she is just beginning to learn to play the flute.  Being a flutist myself, it was a nice surprise.

Last summer I began experimenting with Jacquard's Dye-na-flo fabric dyes.  This is one of the fabric designs I came up with.  Shocking, isn't it?

This one was fun.  I sprinkled large sea salt crystals onto the wet dye.  Unfortunately, to get this effect, you have to leave them on until the dye dries.  Getting them off is a challenge, but the result is worth it.

 

I found this delicately knit pair of gloves at one of the local antique stores.  The cup and saucer is German, also an antique found at a yard sale.  The Victorian calling card is from my personal collection.

This is a Valentine brooch I made.  I used felted wool and hand-embroidered it.

Another of my Valentine brooches.

This was one of those double-take moments.  I was wandering through our local thrift store when I spotted four five-yard spools of this delicate antique crocheted lace.  Imagine my surprise when I saw the fifteen cent  price tag!

This is one of my hand-painted trays.  I painted this one after receiving a fabulous book on the work of the Zhostovo painters of Russia.  They begin their training as young children and spend many years perfecting their art before being allowed to paint trays to sell.  It is a tradition that has been carried on for centuries.  Their luminous florals are typically painted on metal trays.  The trays are often painted black, but red, white, dark green and even dark blue have been used.    They usually have intricate filigree-like borders painted with gold paint.  No two are ever alike.  This one is my own design.  I'm not particularly fond of the mass produced blank trays that are sold for this purpose, so I've resorted to finding antique serving trays that have seen better days.  They are much heavier and have a lot more style to them.  The Russian masters traditionally work with a limited palette of oils, but the same techniques can be mastered using acrylics.  I prefer acrylic gouaches.  They are opaque watercolors that can be layered repeatedly to produce great depth and luminosity.

I hope you've had an enjoyable visit.  Many thanks to Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for hosting Pink Saturday.  Stop by her blog for a list of more lovers of pink.  God bless you and keep you until next time.

 

 

 

 

 

Cockadoodledooo!

 

Hello everyone!  Are you ready to see my roosters?  I've been looking forward to this!  I almost didn't make it here today.  Two days ago,  my computer's operating system  totally crashed.  My hubby thinks I was hit with a massive virus.  It took him two late nights and pre-dawn mornings to research and correct the problem.  Let's hear it for the techies!  Mine is a miracle worker!

 

 

First up on my rooster show and tell:  a small part of my growing vintage salt and pepper shaker collection.   I think the white ones are probably hens, but hey, without us hens, there would be no roosters!

 

This book page is from an antique children's reader.  I was so excited to find this at the antique store.  It has color illustrations on every page!

 

I thought this was the cutest thing.  It is an antique postcard from the Animals collection by Kathy Albert from Memories of a Lifetime.  Sterling Publishing puts out a wonderful line of books loaded with royalty free antique ephemera.

I recently cross-stitched this bread cloth.  The design was from wonderful book of bread cloth designs:  Bake-a-Batch Bread Cloths by Sandy Orton and Barbara Baatz Hillman; Leisure Arts.  Are there any cross-stitchers out there?

Another page from the children's reader.

 

 

I've had this lamp for years, and it's still my favorite.  Very country French!

 

 

Another great post card from Memories of a Lifetime.

 

 

Of course, when I found out we were having a rooster party, I had to paint one too.  The plate is an antique enamelware piece that had seen better days.  Most of the painted work I will offer when my Etsy site opens will be vintage items.  I have another rooster plate in progress but it will have to wait until after Pink Saturday.  Maybe I should paint a pink rooster :)   What do you think?

 

 

Are you having a good time?  Want to see more?  Click on the rooster button on my sidebar to find lots more roosters.  While you're there,  give a great big thanks to Barb at Belle Vista for hosting this light-hearted and fun-filled day.  THANKS, BARB!!!