These first two lovely siggies are from Canada, and they really reflect their Canadian roots. I love Monique Boucher's Fleur-de-lis. It's not hard to tell that she's from Quebec, non?
And this lovely from Windsor, Ontario is from Sherry Bedard. I've never seen a siggy done like this before. I love the flag fabric. It reminds me of the Olympics. I'm a little concerned that if I EVER get to actually MAKE this quilt, some of the embroidered text will go missing. It should still be legible though, and it's soooo pretty! I'm also not sure which end is up, but I decided that it bothered me more to see the flags flying upside-down (think mayday, mayday, SOS!), than to read upside down text. 8)
The next two siggies were from Mother and Daughter in Germany. My German is non-existent, but if I understand her letter correctly, Martha is 10 years old and lives in Korb, Germany, and has made a lovely free-hand machine embroidered kitty! (I see I missed the string there. Sigh.)
Martha's Mother, Regina, has made me this lovely machine embroidered flower siggy. They each sent pictures of themselves with their letters (I love that) and they have the CUTEST little doggy!
This last siggy, on a lovely batik from Mia Jansens of Geldrop, Netherlands highlights Winnie the Pooh. He's adorable! I'm a little concerned that the flowers ran a bit when I spritzed them with water while ironing, but thankfully, not enough to spoil it. (Man, some of these siggies come with almost permanent wrinkles. That's why I've chosen to send mine out in oversized envelopes, though folding down the ears is a good choice too. Folding in half, not so much!)
It will be 4 weeks Wednesday since my surgery. I had been doing really well, but then had a bit of a setback last week. Nothing serious, just a bit annoying and depressing because I thought I was PAST that part, you know?
Remember that painful flare-up I mentioned in my last post? Well, the hemorrhoids are history as of Wednesday, but they didn't exactly go quietly into the night. I haven't had much post-op pain, I just can't pee without having a sitz bath first. And I feel as if I have to pee ALL the time. Argh! I just keep telling myself, this too shall pass.
I'm way behind on posting my siggies, and I got some really cute ones too. This darling one from Carolyn Hosier in Des Moines is a calico applique of a real calico cat named Miss Abbie. It makes me miss my Libby, a dilute calico I had 25 years ago. She was a sweet kitty too.
This highly detailed siggy has an ironed on stamp of penguins that is meant to look like cross-stitch. (At least, I think that's how it was done.) The stamp is very smooth, but really looks like cross-stitch. Ineke lives with her husband in Maassluis, Netherlands and has a big collection of penguins.
This pretty siggy with embroidered ravens comes from Lotte Klint in Frederiksberg, Denmark. Lotte tells me that these two ravens have a role in Nordic mythology. One is Hugin (thought), the other is Munin (memory). They were sent out at dawn to gather information and return in the evening. Then they would perch on Odin's shoulders and whisper the news from all over the world. What a fitting symbol for siggies, which go all over the world sharing news of fellow quilters. 8)
Last, but not least, is this delightful little siggy from Janet Lee Monnett in Cloverdale, Indiana. I'm trying to find out if Janet Lee is related to Terry, my 2009 Secret Pal, since they have the same last name and are from the same small town. Janet Lee is an experienced quilter with lots of ties to Texas. The heart symbolizes the heart of friendship that goes out with each siggy. What a lovely sentiment!
Hey! I just pee'd without having to take a sitz bath first. That's progress! Wish me luck, and if you think of me in your prayers, please remember to bless my bottom. 8)
This past month or two have been hell: stress,
Stress and more STRESS! Between uncertain hidden health issues, a painful flareup of a known condition, AND having to be at work to teach a VERY important class, May and June have really kicked my butt. This weekend I hope to get some relief and I'll have the chance to catch up on my siggy obligations, get a June completion done and catch up on my blogging, all of which are SADLY behind.Wish me luck!
It's the last day of the month and I still haven't blogged about my April finish - that just won't do! I inherited this map panel from Brandy after her adopted son showed up unexpectedly last month. She had already pieced the back, so all I had to do was sandwich, quilt and bind it.
We all decided that "it would be really cool" if I outlined all the states with invisible thread, so that's what I did. Fifteen broken needles later, here's what the back looks like. Of course, it's all in reverse, but I like the way it turned out.
Here's Florida in reverse, with a little sailboat outlined as well. The oceans and gulf were too empty, so I outlined some of the little pictures too.
Here's my home state of Wisconsin, and I'm sure the UP'ers, LP'ers and Minnesotans amongst us will recognize their states as well.
And here's Texas, complete with the Alamo (remember the Alamo!) and a cow. Texas was too big to leave empty - lol. And you can see the compass rose at the lower left, helping to quilt up the Gulf of Mexico.
Well, that's my April finish. It will take a few years for me to forget what a HUGE pain it is to work with invisible thread again, but it was worth it for this - especially now that it is done! 8)
This gorgeous cross-stitched siggy came in the mail recently. It was made by Willie Timmer in the Netherlands. It is just stunning. I often wonder if the people who labor so much over each siggy are disappointed when they get my little stamped pony? I keep thinking I'll upgrade the mane & tail to turkey work or something, but there never seems to be enough time, and I end up just stamp stamp stamping away.
I got these two terrific siggies from Thomas and Mary LeClerc, my first husband and wife siggy team. Thomas and Mary live in Pittsburgh, Kansas, where Thomas is a retired psychologist and an ongoing student of western US history. His working cowboy stamp and saguaro cactus fabric reflect his love of western culture. I particularly like the "vaya con Dios", or "go with God", salutation on his siggy, which emphasizes the importance of the Spanish influences on the American southwest.
Mary's siggy is Kansas all the way, with Sunbonnet Sue on a bright sunflower fabric. Just lovely! Mary LeClerc. Mary is working on a Dear Jane (like so many of us) and has just finished a wonderful Dutch Treat quilt. Her blog is here.
I was informed a few days ago that another one of my siggies apparently did not make it to its destination last year. Poor Elfriede has been waiting patiently practically forever. And here I don't have any siggies made up. Got to get busy on that, she has been waiting long enough!
For whatever reason, it got washed before its time. And in doing so, became the poster child for why 1/4" seams are the gold standard of minimum seam allowances. But after a bit of trimming...
OK, a LOT of trimming; it's little flaws were exposed and sighed over.
Well, a good pressing makes everything look better.
I've decided I'll applique decorative circles over its few little owies. I found a coordinating brown fabric with white polka-dots last weekend for the applique. It will work for the back and binding too. A nice tight stipple should strengthen its mini seams enough for lots of wear and tear. Now I just have to get it done and it will be my August finish. I hate having skipped two months!
