Friendship Quilts

How wonderful to have a piece of ancient Americana, the quilts of early time truly demonstrate where the country was at the time the artful blankets were made. I want to portray this particular friendship quilt because I think it is spectacular.

The pattern is included above, enlarge by clicking on each one then right click to print, or add to favorites, then print.

The pattern of friendship quilts vary from region to region, this one is from New England. This quilt always had the names, sometimes the date and a heartfelt saying.

It's a project without the boundaries of a formal pattern, it can be appliqued, simple blocks, or each person can do a individual square to be assembled later. Generally unless it is a mother making for a daughter/son, one person is elected to do the writing. One with the best penmanship. Whatever the tangible is becomes a reminder of time, memories and family.

This pink pattern is called, Chimney Sweep, and because it is autographed it's referred to as Chimney Sweep Album Quilt. Finished size of this example is 87 3/4'' x 99''. The main portion is arranged in 8 vertical rows with 7 blocks in each row. The quilt also has a drop down of 2 block by 4 section to fit around the bedpost. Each block is separated by muslin sashing.

I wouldn't complete this post without crediting the book I got this quilt from; Better Homes and Garden, Traditional American Crafts, published 1988, fourth edition in 1991.

Fabulous Book! C & G Design.

Knickerbocker Ann + Andy

Besides making Ann + Andy dolls to call my own, I can say.....this cute little pair is also mine. I believe myself and my sisters were each given our own pair one Christmas, I think they were in our stockings. Although I believe Santa is the spirit of Christmas, I'm pretty sure my grandmother picked these up with us in mind.

By goodness, I must of been eight years old and I can still remember how cute they were to me. Cute, because they didn't look normal, orange hair, and side way glancing eyes. Doll maker, Georgine Averill, was given permission to make Ann and she was the first to change the hair color. Although Bobs-Merrill, Inc. had the rights following Georgine, it wasn't until Knickerbocker when the eyes changed.

I was fairly sure I'd seen my pair in one of my books and just when I was ready to give up on trying to find a value, wa-la! The price book I located them in was published in 1997, valve updated in 2000. (Sometimes the books themselves are hard to find.) Anyway, the rule of thumb about dolls is, value increases 10$ every decade unless its a highly sought after doll, then value is the limit. Least that's what I've read over the years. I've included the picture of these 6'' cuties. Mine still have the tags, Knickerbocker Toys, Inc and Hallmark Cards.

Even with the clothes stitched on, I had to check...nope, no candy heart.

C & G Design.

Bully in the sink

What do you do when a house cat surprises you at every turn? This is how I feel about our Maine Coon Cat we lovingly call Wooley Bully. The wool speaks for itself.

I tell ya....Wooly is no Bully, he is the most mellow cat I've ever had the pleasure to be around. He was given to us little over a year ago (original name Dakota), he rides well in a car, almost never hisses and won't even think of scratching any thing. We recently started to let him outside and he is so ridicous attempting to catch a bird....ever see a giant cat jump through the air crossing his paws in midstream and the bird is 6 feet away? Unworried at that! I'd be shocked if he caught a cold!

I think he's alittle big for his recently discovered cool bed, tempatures are warm right now, I thought I was seeing things when I got up in the middle of the night.








I'm told.....he was taken from his mother when he was 7 days old and when we first got him he didn't spent alot of time grooming himself, he had several bad mats. He's learned a trick or two from our other cat (Sophia), she's taught him well, only what she wants him to know.

Such a pretty boy......maybe he should be called Kodiak for the bear? NA!

C & G Design.

Clothscapes-part 3, wool

I'm working ever so diligently on the clothscapes, I'm changing my mind about how to do this sampler, I can only think it might be better to stitch every picture aside of each one and forget the stripping in between. Just a thought......

I wanted to say something about the yarn that is used in making these beautiful pictures. It wasn't until I took a design course that I discovered the difference in the wool that is used in crewel, needlepoint and even knitting. I acquired a list of manufacturing companies that supplied free material on how their product was labeled, used and made. Today, I'm going to talk about the labeling, I found it very interesting and I never knew.

Virgin wool-It's the wool fresh of the processing, thus the virgin!

Pure Laine wool-yarn that has been used once, like in a blanket. The first work is taken apart, the yarn in wrapped on stretchers and soaked in water (maybe some glycerin). Once the wool dries it's packaged for sales.

Shoddy wool-Wool that is what it sounds like, it's been used more than once.

I've made and purchased alot of sweaters in Laine wool, I thought this was high quality, obviously it's Virgin that is the better product. Prices go accordingly.

Now you know. C & G Design.

Deco Darlings

I needle pointed these ladies eons ago. It's a perfect project that uses many extras. My inspiration for these art deco are the frames.

I saw these kits in a sales magazine for needle pointing, the name escapes me now. Anyhow, I reproduced my rendition on a small piece of needlepoint material and with whatever thread I had. Most visitors to my house like the first picture.

I don't really have a taste for art deco but I must admit, there is something to it. I can not see myself with sleek pipes for furnishings and or....anymore abstract pictures on the wall. I'll stick with these.

They are small. C & G Design.

Alice

I have a fondness for storybook dolls and fairytale dolls, there is something memorable about seeing and being around the characters of my childhood. Alice is one of my first storybook dolls, she is made by Effanbee, and was a early composition doll of the same name company.

Alice in wonderland is a hard plastic with vinyl head. I had to redo her hair when I bought her as it was a snarly mess.

Alice is marked Effanbee, c. 1976 on the back of her head and she is a exact reproduction of the composition doll, including the same outfit. Such lovely shoes!

I have others from this series and the international doll collections by Effanbee. The company was established in 1910 and is a recognized, very popular company of today. All of my Effanbee dolls have sleep eyes.

I HAVE thought.....Alice would make a wonderful topsy turvy, turnabout doll.

But that's for another post. C & G Design.

Can it all be done?

Okay, I'm one for the vintage crafts and fabric, I think the items from long ago and the history that comes with it, is just glorious. I enjoy pass-a-long crafts, etc., and I've never refused any of it. I have to start asking myself, "Can it be done?" Oay vey....check out this latch hook.

This pretty latch hook is about 9'' x 5'' and is meant to be oval when finished. IF....if I get to it, I'll make it square because all four sides are bound. My mother in law gave this to me, she was given a bunch of latch hooks about 12 years ago and promised me this one for the house. She has had poor health and can not do alot. Look what else came with my roses.

I tell you.....isn't hickory-dickory-dock cute!?! I like the blue rug also, it reminds me of the older patterns or at least, seems less modern. The one in the middle is actually a pillow, it's double sided.

Through out the years, I've been purchasing wool rug yarn for the roses because it's one thing, I know, needs quality materials. I feel that way because so much work goes into these rugs, they should have the best. My mother in law also gave me back the yarn.

And then some. There are two of these large trash bags full of cut yarn, also the yarn I bought. I ask......

Can it all be done? C & G Design.