Does Anyone Know the Name of this Applique Quilt?

As family historian, I have taken on the task of properly labeling the antique quilts in my husband's family.  This one was made by his great great grandmother, Anna Alice Hite Dunn, 1862-1921.  I'm guessing it was made around 1900, but I have no idea what the pattern is called.  I would really like to find out the name of the pattern, if one exists, so I could add it to the label I'm making for the quilt.

The red and yellow motifs are appliqued on the muslin; however, the red border and the nine-patch corners are pieced.

The red eight-pointed star appliques are made from a single piece of red fabric, as are all the other appliqued pieces.  All applique was sewn with white thread, with tiny, but visible, stitches.

The muslin on the back matches the muslin on the front, and it is heavily quilted in white thread, which is probably why it is in such good shape for a quilt that obviously got used.   I would say Great Great Grandma Dunn was an excellent quilter; her stitches are tiny - there are no "toe-catchers" on this quilt.

If anyone knows the name of this quilt pattern, please either email me or leave a comment.  Thanks for all your help!

Blanketeers Raise over $200 for Alzheimer's Research!!!

Remember these six little beauties?  The Blanketeers donated these mini quilts to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative earlier this year, and five of them sold for over $200!  That's right, $207.43 was raised for Alzheimer's research, in the hopes of finding a cure for that horrible disease, which has devastated so many of our families.

The only remaining available quilt is Waltz of the Flowers (lower right) which can be purchased for $7.50 from AAQI.  Sadly the AAQI program is ending on 12/31/13, so act quickly if you want to make a donation to Alzheimer's research, and own this lovely hand-appliqued wall hanging.

Crocheted Baby Layette Completed

I started crocheting with Grandma Vivian this past year, and this baby jacket was the first thing I completed.  Grandma helped me get started and showed me a few tricks, since she has made this pattern dozens of times.

I used one of her vintage patterns from 1950.  The jacket was supposed to have long sleeves.  I was short on yarn and wanted to save some to accent the bonnet and booties, so I shortened the sleeves.  I actually like the shorter sleeves better than the long "angel" sleeves called for by the pattern. I think they look more modern. :)

The pattern only specified one size, but the "poke" bonnet and the booties seem like they're intended for a much larger baby than the jacket.  I loved the jacket pattern, but I think I'll select a different pattern for the rest.

I finished the bonnet and booties while we were in Green Bay for Thanksgiving.  My sister held a baby shower at her home for her niece, Nellie.  I've known Nellie forever, so I had my present all ready.  Nellie was thrilled by the gift.  She safely delivered a beautiful baby boy just last week, so it's all good!  

Christmas with Grandma 2013

We just got back from spending Christmas with Larry's Grandma in Shreveport.  Vivian is still doing very well at 102.  Santa brought her favorite "White Shoulders" cologne for Christmas.  Her mother, Dollie Henderson, made the Santa doll for Larry's Mom in the 1950s.  Santa is still in excellent shape too for being 60+ years old.

Larry & I had decorated the tree earlier, and Grandma enjoyed pointing out all the ornaments she had made over the years.  Here is some of her tatting; she still likes to tat.

I asked her for a tatted ornament of my own. (She wanted me to take one off the tree lol.)  Her tatting is still very fine, but it is getting more challenging for her to do.

She really enjoys doing bead work too, though she prefers hobbies she can do from her recliner these days.  :)

The three of us enjoyed a very nice quiet Christmas; her friends Edie & Tom dropped by for a visit after the smooching was over.  Tom is excited to be retiring tomorrow.  Edie was so excited she forgot her purse when they left.  I called her on her cell and her purse rang.  Whoops!  Fortunately she remembered right away and came back to get it.

Larry was complaining on the ride home that his glasses were covered in fingerprints.  Um, Larry, I think I know how that happened.  My two favorite Christmas clowns.  :O

Scrap Busting - There's No Such Thing as Ugly Fabric...

Just fabric you haven't  cut small enough yet!

I found Bonnie Hunter's method of organizing scraps, 

then I started this project two weeks ago.  

I had a Huge basket of scraps.  

It took me about 20 hours to organize it into this:

She recommends cutting strips in 1.5", 2", 2.5", 3" and 3.5" widths.

I cut the largest width whenever possible,

unless it made a leftover just shy of 1.5",

in which case I cut a 3" and a 1.5" strip instead.

I did not cut up yardage, just scraps.  

Some largish scraps, but mostly not too big.  

What I had most of was leftover backing fabric - 

many very long strips.  I cut lots of 3.5" strips. 

I didn't have any set length for the strip, but

very few are selvage to selvage.

Bonnie also recommends making 1.5", 2", 2.5", 3" and 3.5" blocks when there isn't enough length for a strip.

I always cut the largest block possible;

for some reason, 1.5", 2" and 3" blocks were very common, and

2.5" and 3.5" were not.

And yes, I do have plans for making quilts from all this!

For me, there is nothing like doing a boring, repetitive task to get the creative juices really flowing;

plus, now I can easily see what I have.

My Heart goes out to Canmore - updated since I clearly didn't get it right the first time.

I am sad that the most beautiful place on earth has been beaten up so badly by what is now being called

"The Great Canmore Flood of 2013".

I am so sorry for the people who lost their homes and belongings.  

I never met an unfriendly person in Canmore, and I believe that the stereotype we have in the US of all Canadians being super nice is very close to the truth.  

(This is what I was trying to say the first time and it didn't come out right at all.)

It doesn't surprise me at all that they are pulling together to get through this soggy nightmare.

All the folks in Alberta are in my thoughts and prayers, especially Calgary.

Previously only regarded as that irritating impediment to get through to get to the mountains.  Sorry

If anyone has any information on the current state of the Smith-Dorrien Trail please let me know.

I keep hearing that Canmore was completely cut off from the rest of the world,

but they have the most beautiful back door in the world!  

Parts of the Smith-Dorrien above Canmore were barely there to begin with.  

Has it been washed out too?  Say it isn't so.

Wheelchair Bag for Grandma Vivian

Grandma Vivian just loves her new wheelchair bag.  

She made the needlework squares in plastic canvas a long time ago.

All 24 of them!

The back and front are identical, as are the sides.

I found the squares last fall when I organized her craft stuff.

I showed Larry how to sew them together,

then I whipped the top edge, and put in the lining.

Larry sewed on the handles,

which we put on the ends instead of at the middle.

The bag works really well on the wheelchair.

It even accordions at the seams when the chair is transported.

Grandma was VERY pleased.

Grandma was honored at her church on Sunday for being the oldest Mother present.

At age 101 she had them all beat by a mile. 

They presented the altar flowers to her as a gift.

It was a beautiful bouquet, almost 3 feet across.

It poked me in the arm as we shared the backseat of the car.

lol

Grandma said she had a really wonderful Mother's Day.

And I hope you all did too!

Butterflies Complete for Little Girl's Row Quilt

I finished the applique butterfly row I am contributing to the row quilt my friends and I are making.  I selected the following stitches from the TAST challenge for the butterfly antennas.

TAST #14 - Whipped Stem Stitch

TAST # 15 - French Knots

TAST #43 Whipped Magic Chain

TAST #33 Pekinese Stitch

TAST #9 Couching
I embellished the bodies with  fancy stitches from my new machine; I used a different stitch for each butterfly.  It was fun to try to coordinate the stitch with the butterfly.  I particularly liked how the round design on the purple body mimics the circles on the fabric.
I had lots of fun with this project and I'm fairly pleased with how it turned out.  I was inspired by a video of Ira Glass on creativity on a post over at The Unbroken Thread.  Glass encourages beginners like me to just do the work of creativity, to set goals and even deadlines.  It's a new approach, but it worked for me in this case.  It's easy to get paralyzed by having too many choices to make on a project like this, so surprisingly, having a self-imposed deadline really helped.

Easter in Shreveport: Spring has Sprung!

We had a lovely party on Saturday night to celebrate Easter as a family.  I made a tri-color bundt cake.  I filled the hole with malted milk ball eggs.  It was easy to make and was turned out tasty and festive.  I used Grandma Vivian's Noritake china - isn't it pretty?

Spring is in full bloom in Shreveport, from the rhododendrons at the front porch...

to the wisteria on the bird feeder.

Wisteria grows wild in the trees in Shreveport - it's just beautiful!

These azaleas are my favorite.  They should be ready to pop in a few more days.

The rhododendrons and magnolia tree give the entry way almost a "Secret Garden" aura.  I love this time of year!

I was glad to see that the "house" plants managed to overwinter outside just fine this year.  I've been watering them with rainwater every few weeks and they are thriving.  In fact, as I filled the watering can with water from the bucket, a budded succulent leaf floated to the surface.  I planted it in the back of the top cascading pot along with another budding leaf I found on the ground.   I love plants that can fend for themselves!

Cake Pan Carrier with Table Runner - Two March Finishes!

  

My sister gave a number of these 

retro fabrics as a fun fat quarter Christmas present a few years ago, along with a pattern from The Sewing Basket for a cake pan carrier and table runner, which I took as a big hint.  

I had good intentions of finishing this for my niece's birthday in January - better late than never!

The table runner wraps lengthwise around the outside of the carrier that is holding the pan.

The carrier has handles and wraps the short way around the pan. 

I designed the patchwork for both the table runner and the carrier.  The table runner has stitch in the ditch quilting.  I love how it turned out.  I really enjoyed working with the retro fabrics.

Designing the angled stripes into the carrier fabric was challenging.  I really wanted the carrier to coordinate with the table runner, and the dull green fabric just wasn't getting the job done by itself.  I upgraded the handles to leather.  Larry cut out the leather for me.  (Twice!  The pattern called for 1 yard of cotton webbing and it should have specified nearly 2 yards.) I bought a leather needle for my machine and it sewed like a dream. 

I had to settle for a covered muffin pan because I couldn't find a nice 9" x 13" covered cake pan like my sister bought me a few years ago.  (It is totally awesome.  The cover is engraved with my name so it will never go missing at a potluck!)  Now I just have to send it off to Green Bay.  Patience, winter people!  8)