Repair To Restore A Vintage Quilt

I was given this #vintage #Sue Bonnet quilt from either 

the 1930's to 1940's to make some repairs

 to this old damaged quilt.

I thought I took a picture of the damaged quilt but 

my files showed none.  (This blog was posted and

some how deleted.  I am rewriting and reposting.)

It's hard to tell but, a few of the dresses 

on the Sue Bonnet quilt needed to be 

replaced.  Here's one damaged dress.  

Before I attempted to work on this quilt I had 

to find some matching fabric that would go 

with the original pieces.  I did find the bright 

yellow one you see on the right.  It actually was

 a reproduction fabric from the 1940. 

 It was way to bright to use on the quilt so I 

bleached the fabric.  I would have liked the 

fabric to remain yellow but the end result was great.

after                                                                    before

After preparing the fabric

I carefully removed the embroidery floss from 

the dresses, the sleeves and on part of the bonnet

 in order to replace it and create a new pattern.  

The rest of the embroidery floss was 

removed from the bonnet once I started sewing.

I traced the dress onto the fabric I 

prepared.  The original fabric had the seam 

allowance folded under so I just added

 1/4" seam allowance to each dress.

I had to reverse one of the pattern 

pieces because Sue was facing the other way.

Here you see the dress pinned in place with 

the seam allowance turned under 1/4".

I also pinned the sleeve in place. 

I matched the color of the original embroidery floss used 

and began to sew.  In order to make it look right I did 

remove the rest of the embroidery floss from the bonnet.

  

When it came to repairing the larger holes on this vintage quilt I simply took some cotton thread and stitched around the hole to prevent the hole from getting larger.  The smaller holes were mended by hand with the same cotton thread to match the fabric.

Here's the end result and the quilt has been restored.  Can you tell which ones were redone?

He Has Made Everything Beautiful In Its Time.  
Ecclesiastes 3:11 

DIY-Painted Family Tree

For sometime now I've been wanting to paint a tree in the hall way of my house.  I finally got the nerve to do it.  

I simply used acrylic paints, and it actually turned out really nice.  The pictures you see in the photos are a few of the  ones  I had hanging before the tree.   

                       




If you want to paint a tree, have no fear!  It's only paint and you can paint over it!

First, look on line to get a feel of what type of tree you want.

Second, decide where you want to paint your tree.  Do you want to paint the tree in the center of the wall, to the right, or to the left; how big, or small, etc. Also, what room of the house you want the tree in.  I have a girlfriend who wants to paint one in her daughter's room.

Then pencil an outline of your tree onto the wall.  I drew my tree on the left side of the wall.  I used a ruler to draw the  trunk of the tree just to make sure it was straight.

Third,  paint  the tree with two different colors of brown paint.  It didn't take much paint which I was really surprised.  I found I had to dip the tip of my brush with some water to smooth it out on the wall.  My tree is very simply.  It dried fairly quick. 

                            


                                         




 Paint your leaves and hang your pictures!!
                 


I'm in love with my wall.  Who knows I just might paint a few more leaves and branches on the right side of the same wall.  

Hope you will give this idea a try and if you do, please post your pictures of your wall!  I would love to see them.  Because I really do love trees.

He Has Made Everything Beautiful In Its Time.  
Ecclesiastes 3:11  

Dresses for Mila!

Just recently I had the pleasure of attending

 a baby shower!  The young lady is adopting 

a two year old orphan from Uganda, Mila!

That is so amazing!

I whipped up a few simple dresses 

for Mila.  Using the #pillow case

 pattern for the first two dresses,

 this is what I sewed!

I just measured the front side of 

dress from seam to seam and cut 

 a piece of lace with the 

measurement I just took.  I  

sewed the top of lace in place!

Here I  cut (2) pieces of lace measuring 7" 

long.  Then I cut (1) 7-1/2" long 

piece of dress fabric and pressed 

down all the edges. Next,  sew

 this piece down the center!  Remember

 to start sewing below the top seam or 

you won't be able to get the 

ribbon through the seam!!

Here I used a pattern, but the pattern was

 so bad.  I ended up making by own pattern! 

Here she is wearing one of her dresses!

So Cute!!

He Has Made Everything Beautiful In Its Time.  
Ecclesiastes 3:11  

Red, White and Blue Mini Quilt

Here's my red, white and blue mini quilt!

About a month ago I was rearranging my books in

 my sewing room and came across one of many favorites 

books I own, "Little Quilts All Through The House," 

by Alice Berg, Mary Ellen Von Holt and 

Sylvia Johnson.  It's a cute book filled with 

lots of photos and you can use your scraps too!   

Flipping the pages, I came across this quilt.

Well, I just had to make it!  Forth of July was 

coming up and I've always wanted to have a 

quilt for every holiday!  I gathered up my 

materials, fabric I already owned.  Yeah!!!  

Cut and sewed my strips together.

Instead of sewing individual blocks and hearts

 on my mini quilt as directed on the pattern, 

I decided to just cut the size of the finished

  block with my star fabric.  I sandwiched 

the batting with the front and back fabric.  

I then used a decorative wave stitch just on 

the star area of the quilt. 

I then used a straight stitched on the rows of 

red and white strips.  I used the width of 

my walking foot to determine the 

width between stitches. 

Here's a look at the back of my mini quilt.

This post was linked up to: 

Glory Be Quilter 33

who is hosting

and

Crazy Mom Quilts
          

Check it out!

He Has Made Everything Beautiful In Its Time.  
Ecclesiastes 3:11  

I Love To Quilt

Add caption

I'm so excited to share this mini quilt,  I've had the pleasure to be a tester for  Lorna McMahon @ Sew Fresh Quilts newest pattern!  

Here's a picture of just the top I sewed before realizing I had sewn the letter (I) upsized down! I did fix it!  I also changed the blue on the iron!  I decided to use gray as you will notice on the finished quilt below.

It's so adorable and you have the option of making it horizontal or vertical.  I choose to make the horizontal mini quilt because it best fits my wall space.  I'll be making this quilt again and again for a few of my friends. This mini quilt really makes a great gift for either a birthday, Christmas, or a just because gift for yourself! 

Lorna includes full color photos and diagrams with easy to follow instructions.  Her list of materials, fabric requirements  and sewing directions makes this quilt fun to sew! This mini quilt measures about 17" x 32".

Here's my finished quilt!!  

Here's a picture of the backing and the binding I used!

Thank you Lorna for allowing me to be a tester! 

Don't forget to visit Lorna's site to see both mini quilt options!

Sew Fresh Quilts

Do To Some Emergencies

Here's a post to inform all my readers that I have not posted
 anything lately, due to some emergencies we've had in the family.

I  tried to continue with the 
6-for-4-Mindful-Consumption Challenge, 
but due to  the unexpected,  I have not!


Please continue to following Eden Hensley @
The Road To The Good Life 

I will soon be back on track!

Thank you!

He Has Made Everything Beautiful In Its Time.  

                                                    

Ecclesiastes 3:11

The 6 for 4 Mindful Consumption Challenge Week 1

Sorry folks I'm a couple days behind this challenge, but I have selected 6 pieces from my closet to wear for an entire month!  I have been only wearing these clothes I've chosen so far.

What is this you say?  I was reading Eden's blog over at The Road To The Good Life and she presented a challenge. Choosing 6 items from your closet to wear  for four weeks.  Sunday May 4th through Saturday May 31st.  Now work uniforms don't count, neither do jackets, under garments nor shoes!  Also, any exercise clothes. 
Thank goodness, because I wouldn't be able to take part in this challenge! 

Eden does ask us to refrain from purchasing any clothes during the month of May. So, if any of you want to take part in the challenge then just jump right in!   I'm interested in tackling my closet and learning how to make smart shopping choices.   

Week 1: Take Inventory of Your Wardrobe

Week 2: Stretching Your Fashion Budget Dollars

Week 3: Getting to Know Your Brands

Week 4: Making Smart Shopping Choices

Here are my 6 garments I have selected! 

A pair of boot leg jeans.

I can dress these up with boots, heels, or just sandals.

I have a memorial service I'll be 

attending, so this 

is the dress I've chosen.  

Also, I can wear this dress for 

Mother's Day or church.

The long sleeve white shirt.  I can mix and match with different 

jackets or accessories to change

 the look.  This shirt can be worn different ways.

I decided on a gray and a black t-shirt!  I'm a more casual girl so 

these are great for playing 

with my grandson, Ben or just hanging out! 

I've also decided on capri jeans.  These can be dressed up or down 

and are great for warmer weather!

Choosing my six garments was very difficult.  I have a closet full of clothes and dresser shirts, dresses and pants but, my main activities will be around the house.  Maybe, to the park with Ben 

and some BBQ's turing the Mother's Day and or Memorial Day! 

I have no need to dress up other then Mother's Day, the Memorial Service and church!

This may be a great time to clean out your closets!!!

Thank you for visiting!!!

He Has Made Everything Beautiful In Its Time.  

                                                    

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Hollywood Sewalong Challenge - The Notebook Part 3 - The Big Reveal

Here's the finally reveal!  I wish you could 

hear the drum playing ta da!

I just love my new red polka dot dress inspired by the movie, 

" The Notebook." 

Because it was really hard to take pictures of 

me wearing the dress,    

 I had to take the dress off to capture 

some of the details of the dress!  You won't 

be getting any of those pictures... 

just kidding!  I didn't take any!

I used a cotton fabric with a low count of polyester!  

This keeps the dress casual and I felt like I could 

wear it more often. Even dress it up if I wanted too!

This dress has details from the 1940's. 

The pattern I used was 

McCall's 8181

View A

Please click on the links below to catch 

the girls that put this challenge together

and check out their finished project!  I can't 

wait to check them out myself!!!

Hollywood Sewalong The Notebook-Part 1

Hollywood Sewalong The Notebook-Part 2

Please leave me some comments!  

I would love to hear from you all!!

Thank you for visiting!!!

He Has Made Everything Beautiful In Its Time.  

                                                    

Ecclesiastes 3:11