Together at last.....

Susie Wolfe has been visiting since Sunday and even though it was subzero weather and snowing, we had a grand time.  We had a fire going continually and kept our fingers crossed for no frozen pipes.  I sewed the suffrage quilt together and it all worked as I had hoped.

 

 

Susie herringboned all the seams on the back to make them lay flat.

And now I'm adding the beaded fans, cameos and the very final touches.  And making decisions about borders, trims, binding, label, etc.

 

While she was here Susie was working on a beautiful caddy for the table where she stitches.. It's base is a white cutter quilt and in addition to using lots of lace, she'll be  adding steampunk.

 

 

 

I was able to find a pincushion that coordinated with it beautifully.

 

 

 

Short person collection and visitor...

Other people collect things like aprons, antiques, and cookie jars.  I collect foot stools.  Mainly because I am short.  Not only am I short in stature, I am short armed and short legged as well.  On most chairs my feet do not rest on the floor and my legs become numb so I have foot stools everywhere.

The littlest footstool on the right enables me to climb onto my very high bed.

I am always on the lookout for needlepoint pieces at thrift stores because some of my footstools are reminders of Morris's puppyhood.

Not only do I collect footstools I have a good many step ladders...(short person syndrome)  I especially like little vintage wooden ones.  But my favorite functional stool is this one from Harbor Freight. for less than $20.. It rolls about like a dream and is great for doing things on a low level without getting down on my knees.  If you have a bad back or bad knees you REALLY need one of these!!!!!

Susie Wolfe is here visiting and we've  been so busy stitching... I should have some pictures up tomorrow... It has been bitterly cold and we have been staying close to the fire..  Molly is keeping Susie's bed warm.

Renewed focus and energy....

The fun stuff is starting now with all the goodies I've been hoarding for years for this project.  I started searching and sorting them this morning... Here are a few of the possibles.  I'm using black alcohol ink to "antique" anything that is too shiny or brassy.  The precious (but tattered) piece of petit point is from an old compact.  Like the trim "flowers" I will be making a lot of beaded fans now.

Back to work on the final stage of the suffrage blocks.  It is with much renewed energy and focus for several reasons....
  1.  The CQJP2013  blocks  are done and the deadline was met. Now I just have to think about assembly
  2.  My new series of CQ classes start the first week in January and I am totally prepared.  The supply lists, handouts, and samples are done and the pattern has been printed and ready to pass out.
  3.  And best of all, SUSIE WOLFE IS COMING the first week in February and I want the quilt ready for assembly when she arrives.  She will be my sounding board plus going over all the blocks with her eagle eye to see if I've missed anything.  She used Sharon Boggin's method to assemble her blocks for her tree skirt so I'll pick her brain on that also.  She's bringing her tree skirt and latest project which I can hardly wait  to see in person..  We had so much fun on her last visit working as a team on the boho bags. We started the first thing in the morning and stitched until midnight every day.  Her last visit was during a heat wave in the summer so living in the LA area the snow will be a novelty for her..

Lower right!

As I've on the finishing end I have been jumping from block to block trying to keep things balanced but the last step is always the buttons...and they're on here.  I'm sure there will be some last minute tweeting at assembly time but for now this block is done.

The fancy stitches are done on all blocks and I've just been beading ....and quite heavily but only tone on tone... It doesn't detract from the images but adds depth and complexity to the block..

I love to include tiny beads, button and jewels to fill out a trail of buttons... something learned from Sharon B..  It's so exciting to be using all the buttons I've been collecting for this project for the last three years.  You can see in this closeup that the beads on the brown gimp match it exactly.

Almost 2 years ago I went to LA to visit Susie and bought lots of trims, etc. for this project in the garment district.  One was this "rhinestones-by-the-yard" trim.

When I use a piece of trim from that trip I can remember the store...the smell, the diversity of items, the excitement of each find.... it is sewing on wonderful memories as there is certainly nothing like it here in Spokane.

Well I'm back and did I have fun!!!!!

I flew to Salt Lake City where Cathy K. hopped on the plane and we flew together to LA to visit Susie Wolfe for  for 5 days...  Susie had a packed itinerary for every single day starting with the LA garment district which was overwhelming to say the least...

We barely covered 2 square blocks in several hours.. I brought a big pull cart and we filled it.  This was a fantastic bead store with lots of vintage beads and trims... I did find velvet ribbon in many colors..  I love velvet ribbons. I found LOTS of gold which I will show in a later post.  There wasn't often a place to sit but when there was I rested... Let me tell you Cathy K. is a power shopper extraordinaire..

Day two was the Rose Bowl Flea Market which was immense...  Luckily Susie goes often enough she knew where all the good booths were.  This one had only vintage linens... That entire pile on the tarp and the table behind were only a small portion... plus boxes and boxes besides...incredible stuff.  One treasure especially which I will show in a later post. There were other trim and fabric vendors at this flea market and we finished it off with a fantastic vendor specializing in only laces.... It just couldn't get any better than this...

But it did.... My favorite day was another flea market in San Fernando.  The pile is about 24" deep and is ALL lace trim and motifs for $1 each... You'll notice Cathy's arms are piled full.

There were numerous  tents of fancy fabrics which ranged $1 to $5 a yard.  Again Susie goes here often and was able to zip us around to all the best vendors.. There was not a wasted minute anywhere.

Another day we went to a warehouse discount fabric store like none I'd ever seen.  This is just one corner.  I did find coordinating fabric  for my Hoffman challenge project here... Again Cathy was the super shopper of the day with a big bargain here...  She has the EYE....  And I found a spot to rest a minute.

Another day included the largest thread store I've ever seen and it was where I spent the most money but will enjoy it all....  This was just one corner of two rooms. Here I found some rainbow thread and some rainbow silk ribbon for my CQJP 2012.

And Susie found lots of pink thread for her CQJP 2012.

Every day's outing ended with a "show and tell" of our treasures and sitting around stitching together until bed time.  Susie had a closet filled with thrift store  fancy garments and one evening Cathy and I went through them, each cutting off a sleeve.

Susie had put so much thought into this visit and made every minute count...  I've failed to even mention all the thrift store stops also....  Without her planning and organizing this all would have been impossible... Susie even got on Google to find the most convenient Starbucks for me.... how cool is that.  She also managed to have perfect weather...  It was about 75 degrees and sunny EVERY day. I had such a grand time and came home with so many memories of time spent with two dear friends and we did it all in just five days.

We interrupt this tutorial to bring you this important message!

There are kits for sale on my esty site with lots of goodies for making one of these bags.  But be aware I will be adding 10 more kits this weekend so waiting a few days will give you a better selection.
But don't wait too long because I have a limited amount of fabric cut...

I really acquired all that fabric thinking one day I would use it all but now realize it isn't even possible for me to live that long...

Remember when DH was giving me a hard time about not letting Susie out of the barn....well here's what she was doing! Sorting through bags and bags of fabric and cutting up the choices pieces suitable for bags. Then going through even more fabric and cutting up squares for coordinating fabric..

And what was I doing while Susie was doing all that work.  I was sorting through the piles of squares she cut and putting it all together with a focal fabric for a kit.  Of course she was slaving over a rotary cutter and I was sitting on a stool with a cup of coffee. Well owning the barn does has it perks...  After she went home then I started cutting gimp, braids, and fringes to finish them off.  And aren't they gorgeous?

Each kit includes a piece of high quality, focal fabric approx. 18 x 30" (unless otherwise stated.)...either tapestry, home decor or brocade plus:

 
• 9-11 coordinating pieces of high quality fabric large enough for 2-4 patches each and a variety of textures, sheens, colors, and patterns.

• Various lengths of coordinating gimps and cording.

• 4-5 lengths of various fringes suitable for use on pocket or flap might include fringes such as chainette, tasseled, and brush.

• 1 piece of fancy beaded fringe suitable for use on pocket or flap.

• 1 long piece of coordinating fabric suitable for a handle or for extra pieces.

• AND a surprise piece of lace or two as I pack your box.

Input from Susie

Susie sent me these photos today of the steps she took after the patches were fused to the foundation..  Step one: sewing around each patch to secure it.. Step two: adding lace to the sides of the seams.  Step three: adding gimp, braid, etc. to cover the edges of patches and lace.

When I get the tutorial all done these photos will be added...  Susie also added and I quote her:

"The other thing you should add to the tutorial is "Gerry's Rule for Victorian Carpet Bag Design" -- When you think you're done .... add more. It really did work for me. Especially after I decided that fancy stitched seams were difficult and time wasters - just adding laces on BOTH sides of the seams made the fancy stitched seams unnecessary....... adding another color trim or ribbon on top of that, improved the look. I kept her 'rule' in my mind and I think it made my bag better."

Susie's Progress

 I wanted you to see Susie's blocks at the point she left here.  She was itching to get home and dive into her stash to finish embellishing them and will send me pictures to post...  As I mentioned before I cut up my focal tapestry but Susie left hers intact and is crazy quilting her outside pockets... Her bag will  definitely be a large slouchy tote with a very long handle which she can wear across her body..






Here is her progress on her pockets.  She was anxious to get home and dive into her stash to finishing the embellishing.  She will send me pictures to post.

She brought a squeaky stuffed toy for each dog which they have adored...  Morris has the octopus and keeps it near at all times... Molly has a whale..  If Morris can manage it, he is on top of Molly's whale while he is playing with his octopus.  He went flying in to wake up Susie this morning and not only was Susie gone, so was the bed.  So he is a little blue today...

Morris not so stinky today but we can still smell skunks in the garden and have found where they are trying to dig under the house...  this problem reoccurs every few years. They travel in groups...so you never have just one.

Last Day

I can hardy believe it is day five and Susie is going home today.  We have had so much fun...  Yesterday I did take her on a long drive through the wheat country and then into the Idaho mountains and forest... We had a yummy lunch in Coeur d Alene and then stopped at 3 thrift stores on the way home and found some GREAT CQ bargains...especially jewelry for embellishing.  Then we stitched until late into the night...

Since we stitched all evening  the bags are gradually coming together.  The gimp and laces are mostly still pinned but you can get a feel of where it is headed.

Mine is more tote than handbag as I will use it to take stitching items with me.  It will be 16" square..
The gorgeous metal thing on the flap is a belt buckle...  I have a fairly large collection of them and Susie picked two  for the bags she is making. 

The back has the gimp sewn and now I'm doing the laces.  First thing today there will be some gold cording couched on the pocket...  I'm working on all sections simultaneously to keep things evened out...
Susie has been working out of my stash and is anxious to get into her own stash at home..

Tomorrow I will show pictures of Susie's bag.

(p.s. Morris is still stinky from the skunk  and also hid a pair of Susie's underwear which showed up 3 days later....)

Bag Progress

Since the home deco and tapestry fabrics are heavier  we want to abut the patches rather than have bulky seams...  We used a foundation piece the size we needed and used the cutting board and ruler and chalk to mark the pieces..  It worked so well we were amazed. 

Then we attached Misty Fuse to the foundation and then put the pieces on and sealed it all..  It is flat and stitches beautifully.   You can see Morris is guarding against a skunk invasion.. We had a problem the night before and Morris today is AKA "Stinky"

 Now we're adding gimp and lace to all the seams and then we'll do decorative stitching and beads.. We are each doing a different approach... I am piecing the body of my bag and  have a flap on the front and a smaller outside pocket with Cathy's L. block as the centerpiece...

Susie's bag is entirely the focal tapestry (no flap) and she is piecing two large outside pockets...  We spent pretty much the whole day working on the bags so we would have a good idea of how much accent fabric to include with each focal tapestry piece and also how much gimp and fringe to include when we made the packs..  That is today's agenda..

The bags  are absolutely gorgeous... and we are having so much fun...  Although DH says I should really let Susie out of the barn... I will be be making shrimp risotto today and he BBQed steaks last night so she is eating well.

Day One

We started sorting and cutting tapestries for our bags and for some tapestry fabric packs for etsy..
We figured out a cool way to piece the patches abutted to each other... will post pictures tomorrow..

I'm ready and so is the barn.... tomorrow!!!

If you were a follower last winter you remember the sewing room (12x30') in the barn looked like this...  I posted about the history of the barn.  Cathy and I mostly emptied bin after bin of "fancies" from under the counters so  the material on the racks is all still there...only folded .  It is all tapestries and home deco

This is what the table  looked like after my neighbor "Super Woman" Liz came and helped me  .

Today I nailed up heavy duty shade cloth over the long wall of window and hooked up 2 large box fans because it is supposed to be hovering around 90 degrees all week.. In February Cathy and I worked out there with big propane heaters and wore our coats and even gloves one day.  There's a long bank of double 8' fluorescent fixtures and I replaced all the bulbs  and hooked up the power cutter..  With two chairs, three sewing machines and a serger...we are good to go when Susie arrives. 

I'm thinking first we'll dive into tapestries and make our choices for our BoHo bags and in the process put together some tapestry packs to sell.  Then we can start sorting trims, ribbons, heavy laces etc. and make some final decisions on all the fancy trims for the pincushions...  During the hottest part of the day we'll have to retreat to the house and do hand stitching...  I'm so excited... I'll take pictures of it all....

As a special treat and eye candy extraordinaire I hung Lisa DuCoing's Arachnophobia quilt in Susie's room... It is one of my prize processions... Sorry the picture is not the best... it is so lovely..  I'd like to bring it to Colorado retreat with me...