Memories of Hitty & April Dolly quilt...

What a difference 2 weeks can make at the edge of the northwoods in Wisconsin...from a snow storm of “historical” significance to this week...patches of snow here and there but mostly bare ground and opening the potting shed to gather rakes and work gloves - let the yard work begin! Asparagus roots and onion plants have just arrived in the mail and need to find their place in our garden...

During the snowfall of April 14-15, the sewing room was like a cozy retreat and time was there to work on April’s Dolly Quilt Challenge organized by Wendy at The Constant Quilter. Finding a little 6 1/2” orphan block in pink was easy...the little basket pattern was from a long time friend and has always been one of my favorites. I love the accent of “spikey” embroidery stitching around the edges.

The basket is surrounded by scraps from a Judie Rothermel fat 8th bundle purchased at a long ago quilt show. And there was “just enough” of the vintage look toile fabric left to do a small border and backing for the dolly quilt.

Pinks and browns in a quilt always bring to mind stories such as Little Women or Hitty, Her First Hundred Years.

And any time I recall these beautifully written books, my Mom is never far from my thoughts. One Christmas I made her a Hitty doll (Mom was a doll collector) complete with bonnet and boxes. Are you a follower of Gail Wilson? Oh my, there was a group of us who got together and for months everything was all about Gail’s stunning doll kits. I still have 3 other kits of hers that wait to be done...I am not sure if the hands or eyes could complete the details needed now.

I look at Hitty with her painted face, tiny coral necklace and minute lace edging on her undergarments which I made by crocheting thread on a needle and know it would be a challenge at this time. Everything was done by hand. Now that Mom is gone, Hitty has become even more special to me and memories flood back. I miss her so...I would like to think she would approve of April’s little quilt.

Happy stitching and sweet memories to you this week...

Pat

Brimfield Awakening and more snow...

With what is now being labeled an “historical” snowfall for our area here in Wisconsin, the weekend meant staying put, making an artery clogging loaded potato soup (oh yes...complete with bacon and cheese) and some extra time in the sewing room...

My view out the window as I stitched away...

The winds blew, the snow fell, but the power stayed on...a significant thing in our rural area...

All my Brimfield Awakening blocks are done - and appliqued to the background squares...which are trimmed and now put together to make the top...

The original pattern shows no real definitive border - the blocks just kind of float out there...but I would like to add something...problem is...not enough of the background left and a limited amount of the fabrics I used to paper piece the rings. Thinking I might have to go on a search and hunt internet journey to see what might turn up.

In the meantime, a mix of rain/snow is forecast and most of us here in the Northwoods have forgotten what green grass looks like...

If you have any extra sunshine and warm weather, can you Fed Ex some up here....please??

Happy stitching...

Pat

Giving winter the boot...

....at least we had hoped so...Mr. Outback had enthusiastically started to dismantle our old deck in preparation for a long delayed remake...but this Easter has brought at least 8” of the new white stuff with blustery winds and plunging temperatures. And tonight 8-10” more...Such is the way things are at the edge of the northwoods. Any bunnies are hunkered down in their burrows instead of delivering Easter baskets.

Meanwhile, our holiday kitchen was in full swing with our dear daughter-in-law helping to cook up the traditional Easter dinner.

And I so appreciated the assistance as this annoying boot has to be on my foot for about 3 weeks...

just as the pneumonia was disappearing, the main tendon that attaches to the ankle became inflamed and had made walking near on impossible. If the boot does not help, then a hard cast will be put on - not something I want at all...ugh!

So, under doctor’s orders for ice and resting the foot...it does mean some extra sewing time which I suppose is the silver lining in the clouds. Working on the Brimfield Block project - appliqueing the rings to the backgrounds...

And being able to sit at the sewing machine means some simple piecing can be done and finding more puppies looking for their ears...

While I appreciate the time available to do some fun sewing, I am not a person who normally sits much of the day and it has all ready started to lose its charm...

Spring cleaning will just have to wait and I am trying hard to follow doctor’s orders because, despite the new snow, garden season is not that far off...

Have a good week everyone!

Pat