I 've been working on these little house ornaments for MUSE in St. Helena, CA and also will send a dozen to Terrell Powell in Austin, Texas for a Christmas show there. Terrell does the most wonderful folk art paintings and metal work and has a two week show and needed some little stuff to go along with his paintings. So I will be sending him some pins, ornaments and cupcakes soon. (Terrell is on Facebook)
The little house are made from this wonderful old log cabin quilt top scrap. I think Syd gave this to me a few years ago and I've been using a little bit each year to make ornaments. I have a hard time cutting into it, but it came already cut into and it never was made into a quilt...so I feel like I am at least giving it some new life and appreciation. I love looking at the little stitches and basting on both the front and back and wondering who made them. There are a funny mix of fabrics on this piece. Wool, cotton, some strange synthetic looking pieces all mixed together.
And here is the mystery part...and I am hoping that some of you quilters may know the answer-on the back side, in the middle of each square, there is a little hole or snip! Have you ever seen this? Is it for good luck or to let the "spirit" out? Below, in the photo you can see the little snip in the center of every square.... I didn't notice this until I was making the houses and saw the holes in the center of some of the pieces....I wonder if this is a tradition for log cabin quilts or just something the quiltmaker came up with....thanks in advance for any info. you may have.
Love how the stitches show up on the dark fabric...
Above are three house from last year....still need to add the hanger part on top.
Three little flying heart pins with french knots for decoration....
I made these fiber beads a couple of nights ago. The Japanese fabric was part of a kit for making a pin cushion that I found at the thrift store...I made beads instead....and then put them together to make a necklace....
The beads are sewn onto a crocheted necklace made from that very cool Noro yarn that I love.
14 comments:
I am curious about the "mystery". I know nothing about that but, love
all the creativity going on over here! You are amazing!
You know Mary, nothing washes my workday away better than your blog. I can walk in the door, light tonight, just dragging. Then bingo, a flip of the switch and wonderful, fanciful creations are waiting that make me smile every time. THANK YOU. Love the houses and company.
Re: snips in the back of the quilt squares...they might be there to offer a bit of relief to each quilted section in case of shrinkage. Haven't seen it done before.
Oops. Intended ",like tonight,
Beautiful stuff. The houses have so much character with the old quilt fabric. I love the flying hearts too.
I have no answer to your mystery, but agree it's very intriguing.
Maybe they made the hole to remove a paper pattern piece? I'm intrigued. Will have to check back to see if there is a definitive answer!
the holes were to remove something i would say. or maybe just to leave an exit for evil spirits. don't laugh. my great grandmother used to do that.
Maybe the hole was left from the quilt having a tie there, and the tie has either been removed or rotted away. The fabric around the hole has a bit of puckered memory.
I'm a frustrated rug hooker wannabe, and really enjoy your work.
I agree with Quilting Frizzy. I think it was a tied quilt at one time.
I always love those houses!
love a bit of mystery, just as much as i luv your quirky houses, hope you find the answer to your questions...
A'isha
love your workxxxxlove the housesx
my blogs are...........
one image a day
ToolboxCounselli...
trying to create art each day
LIFE AND ALL THAT JAZZ
just in case you have timexxlynda
ooooooo, gotta make more houses! =]
happy Tday to you, sweet Mary and family. miss you! xoC
Oh, I see what houses you are talking about now!
The holes- I agree,, a tied knot was probably there, and I have seen tied pom poms in the middle of squares before.
I'm thinking it was there to remove a paper from paper piecing??
Your houses have such character... I'm in loooooooooveee with your wee winged hearts...... absolutely divine!
Post a Comment