Wyoming Breezes

patriotic panel embroidered by Sue O. August 2017 Sue O. gave me the eagle panel for a Quilt of Valor, and I pondered a design that would complement and showcase Sue's work. I searched for patterns online and in magazines, and finally found something that I thought would work in Evelyn Sloppy's Sew One and You're Done book. I sketched the design, calculated the measurements, cut the fabric, and started sewing. Sue's Eagle Quilt of Valor 58 x 70 inches I love how it looks and how the eye is drawn into the center panel. Sue, thank you for making this Quilt of Valor possible. Sue's Eagle is Quilt of Valor #121 Update : November 7, 2017 November 7, 2017 Riverton, WY Quilt of Valor presentation night Sue's Eagle was presented to a veteran at the Quilt of Valor presentation night Riverton, WY November 7, 2017

Year of Stitches challenge February 2017 It's a work in progress. . . earlier posts can be seen here

Year of Stitches I don't work on this project as frequently as the original challenge requires, but I'm progressing at my own speed. After the blue stitches were added ( shown in this earlier post ), I saw an "H" and an idea quickly came to mind. I like where this small piece is headed. I have a lot of DMC floss on hand, so that's what I'm using for this Year of Stitches project.

beginning a Year of Stitches January 21, 2017 While I currently have enough projects and potential projects to keep me busy for decades, I took on a challenge at the February Fiber Guild meeting. Vicky B. presented a program on embroidery and the Year of Stitches project. I haven't embroidered in years, but it quickly came back to me. The concept is to work on an improvised design a little each day. I started with the pink and light green swoops in the upper left at the meeting. Saturday evening and Sunday, the other stitching was added. I had no idea what I was creating, but once the feather stitch in the middle was added, an idea popped into my head. I'll occasionally post my progress.

An unusual round handkerchief approximately 10 inches in diameter   Frequent readers know that I love searching for vintage linens in antique stores and thrift shops, and two weeks ago, I hit the mother-lode and at a bargain price. Out of curiosity, I stopped at a local thrift shop to browse, and found three plastic bags stuffed with ladies handkerchiefs. Each bag was priced at $2. It didn't take me long to decide to purchase the bags. When I got home, I sorted the handkerchiefs for laundering and checked them for condition. Some still had paper labels attached: "Oriental lace," "made in Switzerland," "made in Ireland." I threw the ripped and the very thin handkerchiefs away and washed the rest. A multitude of screen-printed hankies. Because of the designs and color, I think some were manufactured in the 40s or 50s. While I ironed these lovely pieces of cotton, linen, and lace, I admired either their simplicity or their beauty. I have ...

Crazy Quilt ca. 1879 - 1890 made by Agnes Bell Cunningham (1843 - 1924) Sue and I visited the Pioneer Museum in Lander recently. The first display inside the museum featured a Crazy Quilt created by Agnes Bell Cunningham. I have never seen such an extensively embellished Crazy Quilt.  Agnes even added embroidery to the edge. The information card inside the case stated that Agnes immigrated from Glasgow, Scotland and eventually settled in Wyoming. She crossed the Great Plains three times in 1879, which could not have been an easy journey. The quilt was large enough for a double bed, but due to poor lighting and a glare on the display case's glass, it was impossible to get a photo of the entire quilt. Agnes Bell Cunningham was certainly skilled with a needle. 

While Marilyn and I visited at a lot of quilt shops on our trip, we also browsed antique shops. Marilyn was looking specifically for old beer signs for her husband, and I searched for vintage linens. Call me old-fashioned, but I use scarves on my nightstands, an antique buffet, and an antique dresser. I found some wonderful pieces for very reasonable prices. It was the six-inch crochet on each end of this linen scarf that caught my eye. Even though the piece had some yellowing, I knew the $8.95 price was a steal. After a good wash, most of the yellowing has disappeared, and the scarf fits the buffet nicely. Because of the two doves, I think this scarf was a wedding gift. The linen and lace are in excellent condition, so it was probably only used for special occasions. This scarf has a delicate edge and minimal embroidery in the corners. The untrimmed edge is the fabric selvage. It fits the dresser well for $2.95. I love this embroidered and cutwork piece (detail sho...

The backstitching is done! It always amazes me how much the backstitching adds to a piece. The metallic thread that outlines the circle tangled and frayed like crazy, but it sparkles in the light. I still need to sew on the beads for the holly berries and find a frame, but essentially this project is finished. Even though it took me over 20 years to get this far and contains numerous mistakes, I am pleased with the result. Its progress over the last year can be seen here , here , and here . My sister sent an e-mail yesterday to show me a project she is going to have framed. What are the odds that we worked on the same project? The beads are sewn on her picture, so you can get a better idea of the completely finished picture. Nice job, Sis!

This style of needle threader has been around forever (at least in my memory, as I remember using this type when I was in 4-H in the 60s). They invariably come apart like the one pictured. Yes, I've owned and used other kinds of threaders, but this one works well until the wire pulls out. I suppose it's possible to repair, but I never bother because they are inexpensive -- 3 for $ .97. If cost for this tool were higher, I would be grumbling or at least trying lengthen its usefulness. As luck would have it, the wire pulled out when I attempted to coax a metallic thread for  this project  through the eye of the needle. I can't really blame the threader because the thread is heavier than normal. Do you still use this kind of threader, or have you had success with something else?

I first posted about this project in June 2009  and in July 2009 . My attention waned, and life got in the way. Again, it was stuffed in a drawer. When I stumbled across the project in December, I decided that enough was enough and that it was time to finish this piece. I've been working on it off and on for a couple of weeks. Now, the actual stitching is finished and all that remains is to backstitch, launder, iron, and add the beads for the holly berries. Hopefully, this project will be finished soon and I can get it framed and off of my UFO list.

I am making progress on my summer goal , but I am having to make some unexpected and sometimes major alterations in the pattern. I am sure that I stopped working on this piece several years ago because my count was off and I got frustrated. I'm still frustrated, but I have more time to try and make it work. At least the alterations are not glaring, but I worked hard to make sure the angel's face and hand were not too morphed. Since the angel is made with half-stitches, the work went fairly quickly. Now, I need to stitch the holly and the back-stitching (a part I detest, but it always makes the piece look polished) and add the seed-bead embellishments. My errors from the past will continue to cause problems, but now they seem more manageable.

Over the years, I have done a lot of counted cross-stitch, and The Sleeping Baby is my favorite picture. I originally made it to be a birth announcement with name, weight, etc. in the bottom right corner for my niece, but sadly she did not have any children. It hangs in my sewing room along with a picture made by my niece and a sign made by my mother. This Victorian House with the door sign hangs by my front door. The sign has Velcro on the back and is interchangeable to reflect the holidays or special occasions. The "Welcome Friends" sign is displayed between holidays. This piece with an Amish family at the clothesline is on display in my bedroom. I especially like the colors and the movement of the quilts. It reminds me of hanging clothes when I lived on the farm. I also have a lot of Christmas and Winter counted cross-stitch pictures; perhaps, I will remember to post photos of them when I hang them in November.