new cases

Just finished an order for one of the galleries- new eyeglass cases. I have been playing with different threads, more variegated silk perle weight ones like the small blue flower in the case on the far left. They work up beautifully in crochet.Next time I am at the thread store I will stock up! By the way, the Hardanger piece I use for the background in the photos is a piece I did years ago. I don't know if my eyes can take that intricate work anymore! I am on to pincushions now, also working on a small quilt project I will share soon.

giveaway-OWOH

The fifth and final One World One Heart blog event is starting this Sunday, January 30th
and runs until Feb. 17th. I am trying to decide what to offer for my giveaway- maybe a coaster,
a regular sized eyeglass case or a reader style eyeglass case;
Or maybe a pincushion (this is what my giveaway item was the last two years) or,finally:
a mini pincushion. I will decide and post the item on Sunday. See you then!

needlework magazine

I did a little thrift store shopping this week before the big snow storm blew in and found this perfect magazine rack. The green color matches the green toile print wallpaper in my dining room. Speaking of magazines, I thought I would share some pages in another of my collection of vintage mags. This one is Home Arts needlecraft, October 1935- in the midst of the Depression.My mother was 1 year old and my dad was 3. Both sets of grandparents were raising kids ( my mom's family-4 kids, my dad's- 9 kids) on farms in northern Minnesota.
I love the art work in these old mags- and they can be quite amusing. Apparently only one guy makes the grade based on his brand of cigs.
Here we have a nice pattern for a chair set, mat, and table runner all done in applique and embroidery. The instructions are included elsewhere.
For the bedroom we have patchwork quilts done with floral applique. I wish this had been shown in color- the 1930's combinations are so fun.
And now for the dining room- gorgeous cutwork linens. It says these were done in buttonhole stitch in blue, green, gold,and orchid. I have done some cutwork and believe me it is time consuming.
Let's not forget a recipe page- these were all recipes using oysters- Creamed, Scalloped, Stew, and Bisque. I am not an oyster fan so I would have been disappointed these were the only recipes.
A little decorative stitching project to liven up the living room:
And, of course the fashion pages:I love the styles of the 30's, on this page I'm partial to the apron pattern.
And here's a few patterns for stepping out.The sizing is so odd, they are listed as 'years', such as "designed for 16,18,and 20 years".
The 'stove of your dreams' is a beautiful porcelain enamel combination coal and wood burning range. I like the look of these and have thought about buying one and having it converted.
And now for a contest- a chance to win $25 for first place with 22 more chances to win anywhere from $15 to $2.50. During those years that was probably pretty good. Plus, the first place winner also got a 9x12 Axminster rug awarded for 'promptness'. Just in case you needed a little help they give you some examples of words you could use- 'base', 'vase', 'ace', 'space', 'lace', 'face', etc.
And for all you ladies who can get 6 of your friends and neighbors to subscribe to Needlecraft magazine- you will be rewarded with this One and Only Shirley Temple doll. This would have been a big deal- I have pictures of my Mom and aunt at this time with those sausage curls: they endured frequent sessions of having their hair twisted up in rags to achieve this look.
Here are economical stamped linens ready to be assembled and embroidered. You can order any number of squares and stitch them together to make larger tablecloths.Prices range from .25 to.39 cents.
And now for some of the needlework I have finished . These pincushions are part of an order going to the shop in California.
I particularly like this one in shades of Flamingo pink and Orange sherbet.

And these eyeglass cases have been sent to the shop in Alaska. I have a few more to fill before Christmas and then hope to work on stockpiling so I don't always feel so rushed.
Hope you enjoyed the brief jaunt through 1935!

eyeglass cases

I am trying to keep all the shops well stocked for this Holiday shopping season ( it seems to start earlier all the time), but let's face it, my items are a bit time consuming. I only make ornaments at this time of year although with a few alterations these make great mini pincushions. The Textile center expands their gift shop for the holidays and I took a bunch of ornaments down last week along with other things and hoped to work on eyeglass cases for a couple of other places. Well, they sold out in 5 days!
So, in the middle of making these- the above ones went to Alaska and the unfinished reader sized ones below are going to Lanesboro- I have to switch gears and 'quickly' make more ornaments for the Textile center. We had to cancel doing the No Coast show because of this- just not enough time to be well stocked. Starting in January I will try to set things aside all year for at least a couple shows as well as all the shops. The best laid plans!

projects

It seems I have been spending all my time making the same thing over and over again, namely pincushions, to fill orders. It's nice to take a look at other projects, finished or not,from time to time. The above is a centerpiece of hardangar I made a number of years ago. I love the intricacy of this type of embroidery, but I'm not sure my eyesight's up to it anymore! Those are crabapples I picked today. Don't they look like cherries?
Among my current unfinished projects are these eyeglass cases waiting to be sewn up, 12 more to make and then sent to Alaska.
I have also been working on a hooked rug I started a couple of years(!) ago. I'm not sure what color to use for the background, I'm leaning toward a cream color.
The design was inspired by a book I have on Clarice Cliff pottery- the ones with floral designs. For pottery made in the 20's and 30's it is so bright and funky.
Now for some finished projects. I made two batches of jam- strawberry and raspberry/blueberry along with bread and butter pickles. The cucumbers came from the garden, but the berries I had to buy from the farmer's market. Next year some of the raspberries and blueberries will be from the backyard!
I have also kept busy painting the outdoor furniture- all in new colors.
The light green color has become a favorite- in fact I'm going to incorporate it in the kitchen when I do a little ( just painting and rearranging) remodel this fall.
It is amazing to me that all this furniture was stored away- the only thing I bought this year was a new umbrella.
And ,finally, a birdhouse I painted long ago and just recently reclaimed from storage. Well, back to sewing!

Bluff Country Art Tour

The Bluff Country Studio Art tour is this weekend and it is a wonderful excuse to drive through what I consider the prettiest part of the state. The bluffs, valleys,and rivers are breathtaking. The tour includes galleries and 31 artists who open their private studios. Our items are in the Lanesboro Art Center. Lanesboro is a quaint little town on the Root River
that is really booming in the summer and fall and really quiet in the winter. A very popular biking and hiking trail runs right through town.
The falls are also right in town and there are lots of shops and B&B's and even a theater. I brought down some of my eyeglass cases which I now do in two sizes ; smaller ones for reading glasses:
and the bigger ones for regular sized glasses.
The flowers are hand crocheted and then I add embroidery.
I am especially pleased with the blue one since I have trouble working with blue. Of course, I had to add orange!




When I delivered them I thought the gallery was still stocked with pincushions, but they were nearly sold out so I will have to replenish that supply. I also have to send cases to California and we have a new shop in Anchorage, Alaska that has put in an order. There is also another studio art tour in Wisconsin along the Mississippi in May and we will have to restock the Swan Song gallery in Maiden Rock before that. Before I get too stressed at all this work in such a little amount of time I am going to enjoy how well these turned out.

Orchid Show

We are finally seeing an end to winter here. The temps are in the 40's (finally!), but we are not completely out of the woods yet. A few weeks ago when spring didn't seem quite so imminent the Minnesota Arboretum held an orchid show.

Each one is so delicate, exotic and colorful.

The one above was one of my favorites. It was in a glass case as part of a collection of smaller orchids.

I have tried to grow them, but have never had much luck. The cat knocking them over probably didn't help.

I am in such a mood for flowers that I completed a set of eyeglass cases covered in blooms. These go to California and will also be for sale on our website soon. Here's to Spring!