KIM's CHRISTMAS QUILT

Christmas comes early , sometimes. This is a wall quilt I picked up a little while ago ( a panel) . Hand quilted it  up for Kim. Added the borders to make it a little wider. The little figurines  were all done separately, and then beaded  and stitched onto the main piece. Usually I  shy away from panels, but this one I really liked. It was fun to send it early, complete with a Christmas card. Surprise. Surprise. I know that Kim decorates early, so when she is ready she will have this Christmas Advent hanging to put up.
    And why send it early? I call it "Just because"-syndrome. It is catching. Everyone should try it, at least once.  It is addicting. Spoil your friends. They deserve to know how special they are  to your life.

Fall Quilt

It's fall, it is October, put up my fall quilt. Had to mend the corners a bit, since some of the stitching fell out.  The fall fabric in the centre and on the inner border is rather neat, because it is actually a pattern of brown pointsettias...... Is set the centre with gold beads in the centres of each  flower.....and the triangle pattern circling round the quilt is known as Flying Geese.......very fall like. A pain to piece all those triangles, very repetitive....but worth it. Oh,yes, and there's Bo  sitting on the piano, inspecting it all.......

Turquoise and Gold Bag

 Another messenger bag, but this time, the fabricwas so wonderful and unusual that I just did not have the heart to do it in strips. Gorgeous turquoise knit ( of all things), with gold shot through.

 I think it is beautiful on its own. Just added a fringe and some trim to finish it off. Inside two large finished pockets, divided , and one on each outside portion. Pockets are filled, faced and lined for extra strength.

Even Bo likes the bag. She was following me around while  finished the bag off at midnight. Surprisingly enough , the knit was easy to work with, and most of the time I would not use a knit. Bo looks sleepy, I guess it's time to call it a night...

NEW MESSENGER BAG

New Messenger ag idea....make the strap long enough and padded with filler so that it can be slung on either shoulder for ease... I use this one to carry music . The front panel has been decorated with ripped fabric added on top of pieces to give it some movement.  I just love turqoise so wanted to add a touch of colour to the already dark fabrics.  This time I also double lined adn filled the pockets insde and out. Much more durable without adding weight.

 Original front before turquoise fabric was ripped and added on top........

Back panel with cool brocade fabric sent to me by my friend, Laurie, in Chicago. Love this stuff. Holds its shape and looks sharp.

Stockings for Salerno Twins

 More wild and funky stockings. This time, extra special for the twins of Tres and Julia Salerno. If you were at my wedding 23 odd years ago ( or was it 24...yikes), you may remember a little guy named Tres Salerno. He played the violin before the service and was the ring bearer. Now he is all grown up, married to Julia, and brand new week old twins.  A boy named Dru ( short for quadruple...since he is the FOURTH Kenneth Gordon Salerno in this world. Tres is the THIRD Kenneth Gordon Salerno), and Luciana.

 Luci's quilt is done in purple and white and gold. And yes, all the stuff hanging in pieces or threads or fringes, is supposed to be hanging. You'll notice the little red violin dangling from the collar....cause both Tres and Julia are violinists.

                  This is the back view of Luci's stocking.....jingly bells on the toes and all.

 Dru's stocking ( Kenneth Gordon Salerno IV), in red, and white and gold, and lots of feathers, to complement Luci's. Can't have enough feathers, I say. Strips of music fabric on both stockings, and yes, another red violin hanging helplessly from the feathery brim.

 Back of  Dru's stocking. And yes, the piece of red tinsel hanging down beneath the stocking, is supposed to do that.......hopefully no one will cut it off. Unless their cats  (and I know they have cats) dedcide to play with it.

And in this shot...I just liked the way the tablecloth looks...............

So, hapy birthday, Dru and Luci.....welcome to earth....

Morgan's Victorian Dress

 Morgan decided to make her Halloween costume for work, this summer. It took her all of July and almost all of August. Hours of sewing, and hand sewing. It is made of crushed broaded silk, with detachable train and bustle in dual colours. The sleeves are a victorian length split sleeve, and everything edged with lace, pearls, and tulle roses.

The Pattern is McCall'sM6097  ( $19.95) Lined top has low, square neck, with peplum, back band with laced cord or ribbon ( makes a corset style). Skirt is gathered with detachable train, bustle and back laced closing. SUGGESTED FABRICS:  satin, sateen, brocade, polished cotton, silk, shanung.
LINING FABRICS : cotton, cotton blends. Additional fabric may be need to match obvious pattern on fabric choice.
NOTIONS: Thead, 7 3/4 ys of flexible tim, 3 1/2 yds of 1/4 in cord or ribbon. 26 metal 1/4 inch eyelets, 14 1/2 inch buttons, 1/4inch double fold bias tape, 1 inch wide bias tape and 1 /4 inch snap.

New Grunge Card.........getting ready for Christmas.

 A card made for a friend this week. Kind of similiar to the Christmas cards I just finished. Decided to go with a grunge look.....just love distressing card stock and making angles.....trying to make it look vintage.

Inside, used one of my old photos. This one is from 1935, my aunt Isobel is on the left, my grandmother is in the middle, and my mum is on the right. Taken at the Bethune farm in Saskatchewan.  And every edge of the card and paper is inked and distressed.  Just like my fingers....have permanent ink stains!