Rats in My Tree!

Don't worry I put them there!  This is Cloud and Stripe enjoying a Christmas romp in the tree.  The kids go back to school Jan.3rd.  I will have lots of sewing posts after that!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a very merry Christmas!

6 Star Blog!

I am happy to announce I have now achieved a 6 star rating (out of a possible 6) from Sewing Blogs!  Thank you to all my readers and folks just stopping by! 

What's New At Cat Song Stitchery-Its not too late to email a gift!

It is not too late to email the sewing people on your holiday gift list a pattern or two from Cat Song Stitchery !  I have 9 instructions/patterns for $7.00 each.  Purses, quilt, PJ Pants, cats etc.  Check it out!

American Quilts- Selections from the Winterthur Collection

Yesterday I visited the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond,VA http://www.vmfa.museum/  to see the special exhibit- American Quilts- Selections from the Winterthur Collection.  It was beautiful!  There are 36 quilts on display from the 1700's to 1850.  No pictures allowed, so these are from the brochure and the newspaper.

This star is actually part of a quilt.  See the last picture. 

Some quilts were from small scraps while others were made from (individually) an old dress, an embroidered wedding gown, brown wool breeches!  Actually, the brown wool quilt was very different looking with long strips of wool embroidery and then solid strips of chocolate brown wool from the breeches.  Very eye-catching and contemporary looking.    

This article appeared in the Richmond Times Dispatch in October.  Left: Small (30"x30"?)Hand applique, tiny people and animals are at the base of the tree. We would call this fussy cut now.  Center: A bed-sized applique Album Quilt.  Right: Bed- sized applique counterpane. 

There are examples of whole cloth (same fabric all over, but not necessarily one piece of fabric), trapunto, counterpane (applique but not quilted), stenciled/ painted, mosaic hexagons with paper backing, political, etc. 

The applique was stitched either with invisible stitches or the tiniest buttonhole stitch.  Some quilts had a handkerchief as the center square.

During this time period, quilt patterns mirrored floor and ceiling designs.  Sometimes they would quilt a dressing table cover and the bed curtains, pillow covers all to match the bed quilt.

A very inspiring show, I was amazed at the tiny precise stitches!

This show continues until Jan.2,2011

http://www.vmfa.museum/

http://www.winterthur.org/

New Legs for Raggedy Andy

Meet my dad's old Andy.  I'm guessing he is from the late 1930's.  He has held up quite well except for his legs.  The "socks" portion are rotting away, revealing a hard stuffing that looks like dryer lint.  Time to repair him.

I found some strong fabric, and added red ribbon to look as close to the original as it could. (The old leg is on the left of the picture.)  I hand stitched the new fabric over the old to help hold it all together.

Here he is with his new legs and his original clothes etc.  I think he's happy with the repair.

Ideas for Using Men's Ties by Jolee Tarbell

I was recently inspired by a speaker, Jolee Tarbell, at an American Sewing Guild meeting.  She showed us dozens of projects made from men's ties.  She uses only 100% silk.  She deconstructs some ties, but others she uses as is.  Above is a tree skirt on the floor (using ties-as is) and a crazy quilt (using tie pieces).

These are all tie scraps, fused with interfacing, pieced and framed.

Sorry for the blurry picture, but I love her jacket with a print tie sewn around the neck.

This is a vest with dyed lace over a tie. 

Other ideas included scarves, belts, padded hanger, collars, ruched and gathered trims for garments and purses.  Amazing!