Sentimental Stitches » Redwork and Embroidery

More Amazing Quilt Race Shop Hop

Gay — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:36:11 +0000

I started my day with quilt shops that were closer to the cottage. They’re shops I’ve visited many times before so I knew right where I was going and pretty much what they carried. At shop hop time there’s always bound to be surprises though.

My first stop was Liberty Bell Quilts in Cedar. It’s a quick trip down a couple of country roads and I’m there. In fact, I was there a couple of weeks ago for a book signing by Amy Barickman from Indygo Junction. She was introducing her new book Vintage Notions..

The book is one of the most interesting and well presented books I’ve seen in a long, long time. If you like vintage and I don’t mean just quilts, this book is a must have for your library. You can go back to it again and again for interesting reading and inspiring ideas.
Amy and her Mom share a cottage on Torch Lake so she’s here for a few weeks every summer. I hope to see her at one of the shops again.

There’s a table just inside the door at Liberty Bell Quilts and it always has interesting finds or something new on it.

These are some of the new vintage hankies from Moda. The children’s group you can purchase individually or already sewn together by the yard. How cool is that?

This is just a glimpse of the fabrics you’ll find. Lots of great modern and repro collections, flannels, batiks, Kaffe and more including wool and embroidery supplies.

While not part of the official shop hop, I couldn’t resist going in Wool & Honey that’s next door to Liberty Bell.

Inside is a wonderful selection of beautiful yarn, supplies and even handcrafted jewelry. She carries lots of hand dyed yarn from local artists so you can always find something unique and the inventory is constantly changing.

I hope to be back there later this week. I saw the most beautiful shawl knit with a fine gauge, hand dyed yarn in the most yummy colors. A trip to a nearby fiber festival over this past weekend should mean a phone call letting me know more of the yarn is in. I’m going to get some of the beautiful stitch markers made from Michigan stones too when I’m there. I promise to take more (better) pictures for you.
Beautiful yarns, great samples and ideas, friendly and helpful. You can’t ask for more!

From Cedar I made my way to Interlochen which is about 6 miles from the cottage. It’s known world wide for the Interlochen Center for the Arts. I spent a lot of time there growing up. We attended concerts, plays and church on Sundays among the talented artists attending the six week summer camp held each year. Every year there are at least 2500 students in grades 3-12 from over 40 countries attending camp. Felicity Huffman, Josh Groban and Norah Jones are all alumni of Interlochen.

The Interlochen Theme – music to sooth your soul……...

This is Interquilten, a new shop that opened last year. They’ve already moved once after growing so quickly. Their current location is a charming spot that I remember as the Music Box Gift Shop growing up. I love seeing it now as a quilt shop.

The high ceilings make for perfect quilt display and their fabric offerings are growing each week. Earlier this summer I was able to find just the right pink print to complete a baby quilt I was working on.

There’s a nice yarn corner with both basic and specialty yarns for knitting and crochet along with patterns, books, needles, hooks and such.

Each time I stop in I admire the beautiful handcrafted bird houses they have. They are all a little bit different and some have rings on the top if you want to hang them from a hook or ribbon. They cost about $45 which is a bargain considering all the materials and work it takes to create each one.

You’ll find a great mix of fabric styles with something for baby quilts, landscapes, brights, flannels, traditional, holiday, batiks, basics and more. Don’t miss their music theme prints in honor of Interlochen.

They have a growing selection of wool fabrics, patterns and kits. If you are in the area I encourage you to stop in and enjoy a bright and cheery new shop. They have some very nice classes listed on their web site too.
I forgot to get a picture of their version of the shop hop quilt. Oh well, that means I get to take a drive over there and see if I can snap one for you.

That was my last stop of the day. There’s two more shop on the hop before I share the spoils of my labor.

Been Lost Beyond The Cherry Trees Quilt

Gay — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 02:59:53 +0000

Gosh, I have missed all of you. A trip to Grand Rapids sure sucked the hours out of my days and I’ve had one son and then husband and the other son here at the lake with me for some vacation time so you can imagine how busy it’s been around here. Even Clutch slept for a whole day after everyone went home.

The weather has finally turned to summer so I’ve been trying to finish up the raking, trimming and weeding. Somehow during the weeding process I got myself into rock digging.

I’ve dug and pulled and dug and dug some more. I worked to the point where my son said “Stop Mom, I’ll buy you some rocks”! What a sweetie, but there’s something about unearthing a 50 year old rock garden that pushes me on. I have rested the last couple of days due to age related aches and pains but I’ve got some beautiful stones and only a small section left to check for buried treasure.

Take a look at those steps. Aren’t they the most pitiful mess you’ve ever seen? We thought maybe the chipmunks had been digging tunnels under them and that caused the tip. There’s been much discussion about whether to use a 3 ton jack (whatever that is) to lift them up and put sand underneath. We’ve all thought about taking out our frustrations by smashing them with a sledge hammer and considered just building a section of wood steps right over the top of them but……….

we discovered one of these little buggers is actually the critter who has taken up residence under the steps. He swims under the last section of dock and right down the melon size hole he dug at the shoreline to get to his mansion under the steps.

I got me a lawn chair and got me a gun and just like Granny Clampett I’m going to be hunting muskrat! Wish there was a way to trap and release but he’d be back in no time. Gotta save those steps.

For now Clutch is on muskrat patrol!

Back to stitching – I’ve posted the July blocks for the Sally Post Floral Sampler quilt and the Beyond the Cherry Trees quilt.
The Beyond the Cherry Trees block for July is in honor of the National Cherry Festival that was held this past week in Traverse City.

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels were here this year so most of us locals kept our distance from town so that gave me plenty of time for all that pulling and digging.

Click on the picture to go to it’s Flickr page. You can see the stitching details on the original size photo.

There’s as much going on in this block as there was at the festival. We have hidden stitches galore.

A flower……

another flower………

and a third flower!

two leaves………..

a star…………

and four cute little hearts in the center!

The border section right above this block has some interesting quilting hidden in the stitches too.

I’ve studied and studied the embroidered stems on the cherries. The thread has faded to nearly white. The dark thread you see in some of the pictures is where I stitched over the lines so I could see them for tracing.

The thread is heavier than quilting thread but not glossy like perle cotton. I’ve looked at tatting thread and haven’t been able to find a color to match the green. Anyone have any ideas?
Each stitch is about a 1/8″ long chain stitch with a single strand of the thread.

Trick or Treat Kids – Block 12 – Happy Halloween

Gay — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:38:00 +0000

The sun is shining and there’s nice weather predicted for late afternoon when the kids come downtown to trick or treat at all the shops. Clutch and I bought four huge bags of candy to hand out and hope we don’t run out before we close at 6 PM. I don’t have trick or treaters here at the lake so it’s fun to see everyone parading through the store.

I want today’s kid to come live at my house. She could iron all my fabric and maybe a shirt or two for Rob who has just about given up on me for ironing anything unless it’s for a special occasion. Actually, I’ve become addicted to steaming. That’s what we use at the store and I’m training the entire family to just hang everything they own, shoot it with the steamer and watch in amazement as the wrinkles fall right out. With all the energy that little girl could save by not pushing around that heavy iron, she could do a little cooking and cleaning so I’d have more time for pattern design and stitching. Sounds like a great Halloween treat to me? Darn, the trick is she’s only a quilters wish………… I do love her dusting hat. My Mom and Grandma told me about wearing them. It makes me wonder how much dust they let accumulate in their houses if they had to wear a hat to protect their hair.
Have a great day everyone, play like a child and eat some chocolate. I’m going for my dark chocolate covered cherries from Cherry Republic. Dark chocolate – good for your heart. Cherries – good as an antioxidant. I can’t go wrong!

Trick or Treat Kids – Block 12 (Free Pattern Link Retired )

Trick or Treat Kids – Block 11

Gay — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:25:39 +0000

I realized while looking at my “to do” list this morning that the Nancy Page Magic Vine block of the month will be ending with the flip of the calendar page for November. I hope you’ve been able to complete all (or some) of your blocks. I have embroidered strips I want to finish this winter. They’re in Grand Rapids so no photo of them today. Sorry……..

I’m not sure what will replace this quilt. Nancy Page had some really interesting pattern series during the 1930s. It’ll be hard to decide on only one.

Today’s kid is a little farmer. His flower looks a bit skinny, so maybe he should try another profession.

Trick or Treat Kids – Block 11 (Free Pattern Link Expired)

Trick or Treat Kids – Block 10

Gay — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:53:11 +0000

Clutch is glued to my lap this morning. I sure wish it would warm up a little around here. It’s a good thing I have lots of stitching I want to do today and maybe a trip to town later in the day.
My assigned Stitcher’s Angel likes pink and blue pastels so I pulled a few fabrics to finish up my last gift for her.

Aren’t these pretty? They were part of a big fat quarter bundle I got at Quilt Market a couple of years ago. I used some in another project but still have lots left.

Today’s kid is a little ballerina. When I was a little girl I always wanted to wear a tutu but never had any desire to take dance classes. I was too busy with piano lessons.

Trick or Treat Kids – Block 10 (Free Pattern Link Expired)

Trick or Treat Kids – Block 9 (Lazy Morning)

Gay — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:49:35 +0000

Clutch and I have been sooooo… lazy this morning. We’ve been snuggling on the couch for almost 4 hours. Clutch hasn’t even gone outside for morning peepee and poopsy. He looked at the open door as I was making coffee but didn’t move and when he saw me grab the remote for the TV he followed me to the couch, jumped up on my lap and spread his little body out.

When he is totally relaxed his little tongue falls out of his mouth. It just melts my heart which is something he’s figuring out and will stick it out once in a while when he’s trying to get his way. Paul snapped this photo as he was sleeping in my arms one day. Now isn’t that just too cute?

Because we’re feeling guilty for being lazy this morning I’m posting an extra Trick or Treat Kid today. The first is a bashful little Dutch boy and the extra one a bashful Japanese Geisha girl.

Trick or Treat Kids – Block 9 (Free Pattern Link Expired)

Trick or Treat Kids – Extra Block 1

I do have things I planned to accomplish today so I better get myself moving. I can’t speak for Clutch. He might stay on the couch all day.

Trick or Treat Kids 8

Gay — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:37:34 +0000

It’s a gloomy, windy, cold and wet morning here in TC. It would be nice to stay snuggled up with Clutch on the couch today doing some applique or embroidery but that’ll have to wait until tomorrow when we have a day off. I have some final stitches to finish up my Stitcher’s Angel gifts and get them in the mail by the 30th.
Paul and Angela went home last night which adds to the gloom of the morning. I love it when the kids have time to come up here and enjoy the cottage. It’s always hard to go back to Grand Rapids on Sunday night. Hanging out at the lake is a great way to recharge your batteries.

Have you printed the latest block for the Shipshewana Amish Mystery Quilt?

Did you notice the pretty little flags on the right side of this page? They are language translators for those of you visiting from outside the United States. If you click on the flag it will translate the page for you right here.
There is a new Archive listing to help track back to previous posts and soon we’ll have a Catagory listing to make things even easier to find. A big “thank you” to Paul for adding these features.

Today’s kid is a cute little boy dressed as a sailor. Rob’s father was in the Navy during WWII and my oldest brother served in the Navy. He was stationed in Turkey.

Trick or Treat Kids – Block 8 (Free Pattern Link Expired)

Trick or Treat Kids – Block 7

Gay — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 13:33:42 +0000

It’s supposed to be a cold and very windy day in Traverse City. I’m off to work at the store today – no surprise there huh? I spent the morning making some extra signs for sale items and one in particular that says “Not For Sale”. That one is going above Clutch’s bed. Everyone wants to buy him!
Yesterday he had five little girls, about 11 years old, around his basket all rubbing him. He was in heaven.
Later, I had a husband laying right down on the floor next to him rubbing his back for at least 10 minutes. I had to take a picture of that one. I’ll post it tonight when I get home unless the 50 mile per hour winds take down another tree.

Today’s kids is “Baby, Oh Baby, It’s Getting Cold Around Here”

Trick or Treat Kids – Block 7 (Free Pattern Link Expired)

Trick or Treat Kids – Block 6

Gay — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:46:30 +0000

International Quilt Market in Houston opens today. I can picture it all in my mind, right down to the Paula Nadelstern like carpeting

in the walkways from the Hilton Hotel over to the convention center.

More on Quilt Market later. Right now, it’s off to work at the store. I can’t quite make up my mind if today’s kid is Mary, Mary, Little Bo Peep, or just a little girl playing dress-up.

Trick or Treat Kids – Block 6 (Free Pattern Link Expired)

Trick or Treat Kids – Block 5

Gay — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:18:48 +0000

I woke up this morning to hear more disheartening news about the economy around the world and warnings of another crazy day on the U.S. stock market. Profits are down for this company and that one, job layoffs in the hundreds of thousands and I can attest to employers downsizing with my own job ending in November. My boss is closing two of our stores, hopefully just for the winter but who knows?
It’s hard to not let all this doom and gloom get to you. I’ve always seen my glass as half full and hope I never lose that sense of optimism. Last night I came across a postcard that made me chuckle wondering what in the world the Palace of Depression could possibly be. It’s an actual place, not just a state of mind. Who knew?

Palace of Depression

What does all of this have to do with the Trick or Treat Kids? I thought we could use a little boost of the American spirit so today’s kid is my little Betsy Ross. Betsy was a bit feisty in my opinion, cutting the a five point star on a dare from the men who said it would be too difficult for a seamstress to sew. Ha! Tell me it can’t be done and I’ll do it!
Here’s my challenge to you – many of the nations food pantries are in dire need of donations. Everyone has been cutting back, me too, but if each of you gave one box of mac & cheese or can of tuna for every Trick or Treat Kid I give you – think of the people we could feed. Don’t I sound “preachy”? I don’t mean to – it’s just a thought.
I love sharing my quilting with you and my friend Brenda and I have often joke about how rich we’d be if we got paid for all the things we give away. We are rich, much richer because of sharing. Everything isn’t defined in $$$

Trick or Treat Block 5 (Free Pattern Link Expired)

Have a great day. Paul and Angela are driving north tonight to spend the weekend here. They’re going wine tasting tomorrow. Sounds like fun but Clutch and I will be at the store.