Winter Fabric Collage

I've been away from blogland for a few weeks.  Sinus infection and allergies have kept me from my studio.  Today I am sharing a fabric collage I made for the Winter Swap at A Swap for All Seasons.  My partner was Jill from Oregon.  She requested something in creams and soft browns.  The brown background is actually a handquilted piece from a vintage vest.  I found the vest at the thrift store some time ago and knew that eventually I would find a way to use it.  The vintage photo is from my collection.  I added the Pendleton label since Jill lives in Oregon.  I crocheted the cream flower and added buttons and Scrabble letters.  Tomorrow I will share the lovely fabric collage I received from Jill.

Fabric Valentine Cards and A Button Fairy

Happy Valentine's Day.  These are from two recent swaps.  The fabric cards are from a swap on Fabric in Altered Arts 2 and the button fairy from a swap on Fiber Art Traders.  FAT for short.  Button fairy is from the lovely Wanda.  Cards are from Cherie, Santa, and Carol.  Aren't they all lovely.  I have a few other Valentine items that I will post later today.  As for now, I'm off to have my eye's examined.

Vintage Valentine Doll Swap

Last week I posted a photo of the doll I made for Vintage Valentine Doll Swap.  When she arrived in Russia, Lena, her new mom, named her Valya.  You can read more about how I created Valya here.  Her dress is a vintage feed sack and she is holding hearts made from a vintage quilt top made by my great-grandmother.

Today for Vintage Thingie Thursday, I am showing you two picture of Valya as she learns about her new home in Russia.  There are even more pictures here on Lena's blog.

Looks like Valya loves her new home.  I'm envious of all the places she is visiting in her new Russian home.  Thanks to Lena for providing these photos.  And to think I almost didn't sign up to do an international trade.  What fun and I'm awaiting my doll from Lena.  Wonder what Arizona sights she would like to see????

Click here to see more Vintage Thingie Thursday posts.

February Block of the Month - Only 15 more to go!!!!!

This is the February block for the Civil War Chronicles quilt.  I only have 15 more blocks to go!  I spent yesterday and today (not all of it) cutting, sewing, and pressing 128 half-square triangles.  I'm so glad that I had an Accuquilt Go template in the correct size.  I was able to use the same template for all the cutting of this square.  I'm sure I would still be cutting half-square triangles if I hadn't used the Go.

This is a very muted block.  The 16 squares will be sewn into 4 larger blocks that measure 16 1/2".  Eventually they will be joined to last month's center square.  Our chronicle this month featured Lizinka Campbell Ewell.  Her story was quite interesting.  She settled in Tennessee after the Civil War.  I'll post one of the finished larger blocks later this week. 

Another Upcycled Denim Jacket

I recently listed this little upcycled denim jacket  in my Etsy shop.  It features a back panel of wonderful vintage fabric.  The fabric did not have a manufacturer on the selvage but it is vintage.  I have seem similar fabrics for sale on Etsy and Ebay.  The rick rack is also vintage.  I found the jacket at the thrift store and after washing began upcycling.

  The back panel is made from a piece of the vintage fabric featuring a ballerina.  I think this is my favorite denim jacket redo so far.  I just love the design on the fabric.  I found two pieces of this fabric in the thrift store some time ago.  The other piece is has pink instead of blue tutus.  Hope the jacket finds a good home with a "little ballerina".  This jacket is a 4 T. 

I've had requests for larger sizes but I have difficulty finding any jackets larger than a 4 that are worthy of upcycling.  I think the older children wear their clothing longer and most are quite threadbare by the time they reach the thrift store.  The little ones grow so fast that their donated clothing is usually in good condition. 

I Changed My Cabinet Card Canvas

I took the cabinet card canvas from the previous post and changed the cabinet card to one I created.  I used a picture of my two lovely grand daughters and made a cabinet card.  Very simple, I just used Photo Shop Elements to print the picture in Sepia tone and copied the original cabinet card.  Put the two together and I have a vintage cabinet card with my modern day beauties. 

My daughter-in-law's birthday is today and this is the gift I made for her.  We had a wonderful family dinner on Saturday evening at Famous Dave's to celebrate the event.  Happy Birthday Marcy!!!!!

Another Smitten Class Project

Cabinet Card Canvas

 

Each week we have a new project in the Smitten Class from Sugar Lump Studios.  This week the project was " Sweet Bebe Cabinet Card Canvas".  Nancy used a cabinet card featuring an adorable baby.  I decided to use a cabinet card from my collection.  I love this card featuring these two little girls.  I think it is a First Communion since one of the girls has what appears to be a Bible in her hand.

Following Nancy's tutorial, the collage was assembled on a 8" x 10" canvas.  Embellishments are from my stash.  It was a great project.  Looking forward to seeing what we do next week.