Sew Much Fabric -- So Little Time

Here is a picture of my newest finished embroidery piece, a Claddagh inspired (Irish design) as found at http://triciarennea.blogspot.com/

The Claddagh's distinctive design features two hands clasping a heart, and usually surmounted by a crown. The elements of this symbol are often said to correspond to the qualities of love (the heart), friendship (the hands), and loyalty (the crown). The expression which was associated with these symbols in the giving of the ring was: "With my hands I give you my heart, and crown it with my love."


I am always searching the world wide web, books, magazines, catalogs, and designs/patterns in anything I see for inspiration on that next sewing project. I recently purchased a handful of craft magazines at our local Goodwill distribution warehouse. I was overwhelmed at the quantity of items to go through -- huge cardboard barrel type boxes with tons of printed materials to toss here and there while looking for items of interest.

Two years ago I started machine sewing my first quilt top. I completed 9 tops that year and also completed a king size yo-yo quilt by hand. (I will have to show pictures another time of some of them. They are packed away for an impending move -- going west!!)

A wonderful friend of mine (Judith) blessed my creative thoughts with a large plastic bag piled with 1 inch cotton strips and another piled with 2 1/2 inch cotton squares in an enormous variety of colors. Shown here in this log cabin designed block king size quilt top is a tiny indication of the wide spectrum of colors.

At first, I found myself intimidated in sewing such a small width. Soon, however, I was flying on the machine and a delight came over me of the color combinations I could use on each block.

Now I find I want to continue to add to this treasured gift. I am salvaging scrap pieces into strips and blocks. I am shopping for fabrics and certain colors to incorporate in the future.

I feel another sitting spell at the machine coming on. I hope you will take time to do the same if that is your creative pleasure.

Paper Cutting Art -- Scherenschnitte

Very recently in one of my outings to a thrift shop, I spotted a little colorful book and became very excited to find it. Paper cutting is an artform that I love, but have not done very much work in since I was a teenager. The book I found is in the pictures in this blog. Can you believe it -- such a find for 39 cents!!

Scherenschnitte means "scissors cutting" and is the German and Swiss art of paper cutting. Wycinanki also means "scissors cutting" and is a Polish style of papercutting. In Turkey, the practice is called "ka 'ti" while the paper artists are called "katta." Kirie is the Japanese art of paper cutting, while Kirigami, also called Monkiri, involves cutting and folding paper.

Chinese Paper Cutting or Jianzhi (Chinese: 剪纸, jiǎn zhǐ) is the first type of papercutting design, since paper was invented by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han Dynasty in China.

Chinese paper cutting is a unique artform and has existed for thousands of years with a long history featuring both national and regional themes. Paper began as a precious commodity in the Han Dynasty. Most of the people with access to paper for an entertainment cause such as art were usually nobles in royal palaces.


Today, papercuttings are chiefly decorative. They ornament walls, windows, doors, columns, mirrors, lamps and lanterns in homes and are also used on presents or are given as gifts themselves. Entrances are decorated with paper cut outs is supposed to bring good luck. Papercuttings used to be used as patterns, especially for embroidery and lacquer work.


In Chinese culture it can reflect many aspects of life such as prosperity, health, or harvest. Some cuttings represent stories about the happiness gained from the accomplishment of common goals.

There are two methods of manufacture: one use scissors, the other use knives. In the scissor method, several pieces of paper - up to eight - are fastened together. The motif is then cut with sharp, pointed scissors.

Knife cuttings are fashioned by putting several layers of paper on a relatively soft foundation consisting of a mixture of tallow and ashes. Following a pattern, the artist cuts the motif into the paper with a sharp knife which is usually held vertically. Skilled crafters can even cut out different drawings freely without stopping.

Flowers Make A Day Brighter

How come one smiles when they see a field of flowers? Even just to see a handful or a large bouquet, a smile will appear.

Flowers in their delicate state and beauty have been a form of expression since the beginning of time.

Flowers have been painted on canvas by many artists - novice or accomplished. Yet, appreciated just the same.

Just to say the word "flowers" brings images of life and splashes of color to ones mind.

One poetic quote comes to my mind when I think of flowers:

"What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet"

From Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, 1594


In a lot of my embroidery (needlework), flowers are a part of the pattern. I finished a piece with a girl holding a bouquet. I loved the detail it has in flowers and plan on doing more pieces to include in a quilt in the future.






Also, in thinking about flowers, I was able to locate just recently in one of my outings, a Wexford prescut glass vase -- antique now days. It is so beautiful and goes with my growing collection of dishes from that same pattern. (A friend of mine found the very rare plates at a yard sale a few weeks back and purchased them for me. Thank you my friend, Kathleen!)

Valentine's Soon Here

Everywhere I look, I am seeing Valentine's decorations or things are reminding me that we are already in the month of February 2009. January flew by so fast!

I just finished an embroidery piece as pictured here.

With that now I have Cherubs floating around in my head. -- More of that Victorian thing going.



Also while out visiting one of my favorite thrift stores recently, I found this beautiful prescut glass candy dish shaped in what reminds me of a chocolate hershey kiss. Chocolate is such a tradition for this holiday time of the year -- especially with me! (It calls my name quite often).



From Wikipedia:

Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14 by many people throughout the world. In the West, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

An alternative theory from Belarus states that the holiday originates from the story of Saint Valentine, who upon rejection by his mistress was so heartbroken that he took a knife to his chest and sent her his still-beating heart as a token of his undying love for her. Hence, heart-shaped cards are now sent as a tribute to his overwhelming passion and suffering.

The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines." Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards. The sending of Valentines was a fashion in nineteenth-century Great Britain, and, in 1847, Esther Howland developed a successful business in her Worcester, Massachusetts home with hand-made Valentine cards based on British models. -- A very creative and smart business woman with a good idea!

Thrifty Decorating

One's own sense of style and decorating is a unique and creative way to express your individual SELF.

I have developed my own "idea" of Victorian as to the things I find while shopping around town at thrift stores like Goodwill. (Check out their online site: shopgoodwill.com) I got this wonderful art print recently in an auction at shopgoodwill.com.



Now I will have fun picking out a matting and framing look for this beautiful artwork. I see Elizabeth and Jane Bennett from my favorite book by Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, in this.

Another find at a thrift store here in Nashville, TN called Southern Thrift is a wonderful brass Victorian looking shoe vase that I have chosen to put eucalyptus in for display.



I am always in search of my next acquisition for that special decorating touch. A big sense of satisfaction (picture me smiling) comes from saving money also.