Scottie Dog Embroidery Set #2

I've been working on two more Scottie Dog embroideries.
Free vintage patterns from French Knots

Aren't these cute?
And we don't even own a dog.
For now I'm content with needle and thread.
I've been collecting vintage animal embroidery patterns to be placed in a baby quilt.

Handwork is so therapeutic.
I've especially enjoyed working on small embroidery pieces as we've traveled on road trips.
I know a lot of people can't stitch as they ride in a car, but I find it relaxing.

Fun to mix it up with a few little Lazy Daisy stitches and French Knots.

"Did you ever notice when you blow in a dog's face he gets mad at you? But when you take him in a car he sticks his head out the window! "
(Steve Bluestone)

Little Dorrit

Do you like to watch a good movie while quilting away?
If so, I have another BBC Drama to recommend.
Lately I've been drawn to BBC, PBS or Masterpiece Theatre, particularly anything set in England in the 1800's.

Little Dorrit a serial novel written by Charles Dickens, is a little dark in setting and theme, but don't let that stop you.
It does have it's happy and quite humorous spots.
Written as a satire ( Noun: The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues) Dickens exposes the shortcomings of government and society in 1850 England.
A time in which people who owed money were thrown into Debtor's Prison.
Interesting subject for Dickens, especially when his own father was imprisoned in Marshalsea as a debtor when Charles was 12.
Little Dorrit is well done, winner of 7 Emmy's and can be found on Amazon.com

Crazy Patch Quilt

Crazy Quilts became quite the fad in the 1880's.
Inspiration came from the asymmetrical art displayed at the Japanese Exhibit during the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition.
(*as a side note, the 1876 Exposition was the first Worlds Fair in the United States).

Crazy Patch shown by Suzie Evenstad at the Gilbert Museum.
Completed in 1921 by Suzie's grandmother Rosa Mae Barnes Guthrie.

I've always loved to study the practice of piecing old bits of fabric together.

Originally, Crazy Quilts were often made with ornate fabrics such as velvets, satins, tulle and silk. They usually were embellished with buttons, lace, and trims.

In later years thrifty housewives used everyday fabric like cotton and wool.

As you can see Rosa used cottons, and embellished with embroidery patterns that are having a resurgence in popularity today with the use of bees, owls and
pitchers.

Images fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.

It's fun to see Rosa's imagination in use of various embroidery stitches.

What was once a Victorian past time, keeps my interest over 100 years later.
I've never made a Crazy Patch quilt, but would like to give it a try at some point in my quilting experience.

Butterfly Vortex

Not all of the quilts displayed at the Gilbert Museum show were vintage.
Butterfly Vortex, made by Janet Real actually made me a little dizzy as I stood and looked at it.
This is such an interesting quilt!

Janet saw a similar design in a quilt book. Because no pattern was available, Janet and her husband made one using the metric system.
Wow.
There are 52 rays with 21 pieces each.
An abstract butterfly arabesque is hand appliqued in each corner.

Yes, looking at it from the side made me just as dizzy!
I always knew that quilts were hypnotic.

All hand pieced and hand appliqued by Janet.
Hand quilted by Oro House of Patches, Philippines.

Guild Charity Quilts

One of the things that has impressed me the most as I associate with quilt guilds is the volunteerism and charitable works that are contributed by the group.
It doesn't matter where we live, whether the guild is large or small, quilts are being donated to bring comfort within our communities, and around the world.

I had the opportunity to attend the May meeting with the Delightful Quilters of Scottsdale.
For their work meeting they worked on quilts to be donated to the Tumbleweed Center, a shelter for Youth ages 11-22 who have been abused, abandoned, troubled, or neglected.

If you are looking for ideas for how to organize a sew-in with your guild, I thought I'd share with you how the DQ's successfully involved their members.
Prior to the meeting, members of the guild were asked to bring 4 1/2" batik squares.
I thought a real plus was the display of sample quilts around the room that would be worked on that day.
Patterns and instructions were provided, and groups were organized into stations.
Some sewed, while others ironed.

Many participants donated larger pieces of fabric.
Turning Twenty is made with 20 fat quarters, a great quilt for all skill levels, and easily constructed.
(The instructions say one person can assemble the top in around 3 hours)

I loved this quilt that showed good contrast between lights and darks.
A good way to use up scraps of blues and browns.

And the top was machine quilted using a large zig zag stitch.
I'm certain the Tumbleweed Center will greatly appreciate the donations from the D.Q's.
These quilts will provide so much more than warmth.
They are stitched with love, and filled with a message that someone cares.