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!

Wedding Stockings

Wedding coming up for Christa McCowan and Yannick Stevens....just couldn't think of what to send. Decided that some funky Christmas stockings would do nicely....all covered with fringes, beadings, faux feathers. Love making these stockings...they are big and generous in size, perfect for stufing with all sorts of wonderful things.

Hot Summer Night

 Wall Hanging for Maria....in tropical hot oranges, pinks, batiks....I call it Hot Summer Night. It's been such a cold wet winter. This fabric just screamed summer. And it made me think of Maria ( not that she screams)... She is a dear friend, warm and vibrant.

 Backing  done in purples and batiks. Actually used left over squares to make the backing and a rod pocket.

Embroidered label. I have oodles of these big squares...supposed to be used to  a embroidered quilt, but I kind of liked them as labels for the backs of quilts.

Chained Messenger Bag

 Working on my Messenger Bag style. Decided that the bag itself needed more support. So lined everything, including the pockets...double sided with filler, and added pockets uner the flap and on the back. Stitched all the seams  with an extra edge to give more shape and filled the strap, stitching it numerous times to give it some hold so it does not flap around.   Much more stable.

Love the  fabric on the body of the bag. Reversible roses. Sent to me by my friend, Laurie, in Chicago. Very cool having different fabric from another part of the continent.  Wonderful fabric has gold shot through the  lines of the roses.  Very durable.  Pays to use less flimsy fabric and to work at stabilizing the  design.  Very cool.

Laurie's Chicago Quilt

 Laurie's quilt...sent all the way to Chicago. Made with box stars, bordered with forest green, purple batik and yellow floral. Took about two weeks to make. Didn't  hand quilt this one....much easier to do with machine. Came up very nice and flat and the fabric just took over...love the border. Added applique leaves hand stitched with a blanket stitch in the cross beams of the stars.

 Love this square...."pure grace"....."pure love"........"pure excitement"......pure friendship.

                   Hand cross stitched label on back of quilt.  "I Exist as I Am" ( Walt Whitman)

                                                    Handmade roses and leaves for corner, with pearls as well.

For my friend, Laurie, who lives back east in Chicago...met her in Digby, Nova Scotia, about sixteen years ago. Across the miles seems very close......