My New Logo

This is what I came up with for my new logo... I will do a post on logo design and show the process if there is anyone interested. Let me know.... I don't want to do it if no one cares....Anyway it is the fastest I've ever done one and a relief to have it in time for Monday.... I did not even use one of the new fonts I downloaded the other day... This one is "Papyrus" and have had it for some time and just couldn't find the right use for it..

I love this type of rose and it is synonymous with Art Nouveau.. and it actually has a name.... the "MacIntosh" rose.. It reminds me of CQ spider roses or a folded ribbon rose.. You see it a lot in Art Nouveau works and especially in stained glass work.

It is named after a Scottish Art Nouveau artist, Margaret MacDonald MacIntosh, who collaborated with her architect/artist husband Rennie MacIntosh... Unfortunately she suffered from ill health and died quite young...



This is a portion of one of the stenciled murals for which she is famous.

Cathy's art nouveau block almost done

I need to run some beads along the cording on the pleated braid bottom right and finish a dragonfly button but then it will be done.... The voluminous folds on her dress suggested an iris to me before the block even got here... I did the scalloped seam treatment to echo the yoke on her dress...

Morris kinda chewed the leaf part of the motif out of shape but Cathy will forgive him I know.... I was aiming for a rich opulent look...

Logos/tags etc.

I am committed to a craft fair on Monday and had wanted to take some miniature paintings on pins and buttons and realized I had no cards to put them on.... I do have some left from the nursery but they hardly seem appropriate if I'm moving toward a new direction. I'd let that business license expire and feel I need something fresh.. AND FAST!

I designed this logo for the nursery 26 years ago and it has served me well. I had a full length mirror on the freezer and put one across from it against the washing machine and actually posed while I sketched... It was more difficult then you would think to get the arms, feet and head positioned so it looked right... My back view wasn't that big then but it's close now....

That font is University Roman.....one of my all time favorites... BTW Susan... http:// Dafont.com has a "Alice in Wonderland" font.....

Why Around My Neck.....

Susan asked a good question and I should have explained....."why do you find it's best to keep your supplies around your neck rather than in a hussif?" I guess I'd first ask "How many times are you searching for your scissors? Losing my scissors, tools, and pins etc. is a pain (especially working in the car) and I can't lose them if they are attached to my body...

We used to travel A LOT... by car and by plane and I always did needlework... Just recently on my trip to Alaska I was able to stitch on the plane because there not much room for a hussif on a airline tray and it isn't easy to pick it up if it falls off.... The same goes for the auto shop, doctor's office and even if I stitch in the park while at summer events. I can move from place to place instantly and there's nothing to gather up and put away... When I was visiting Cathy last winter I was able to work in a tiny area across from her because I was "wearing" my supplies....what fun we had...

But even at home I have no "room" as such to work in... I have a hospital tray table by a window in the living room and the surface is only about 16" by 24" so wearing my tools is a great space saver here also.....When not in use it hangs on a lamp by my work area.....ever ready.... So if you always stitch at home and have everything at hand or if you always have space to lay your supplies or hussif on, I suppose there would be no advantage.

I also have a hussif (in fact two) and occasionally use it also... but years ago I figured out those stitchers in earlier days had a great idea so I just adapted it.... and it works for me.....

My chatelaine

Antique chatelaines were sewing tools on silver chains which needleworkers attached to their busom with an attractive brooch. I decided I to design my own chatelaine. Besides traveling, I often stop and start projects and needed everything handy.

To the left is my third try and close to perfect for my needs.For my first one I actually used two men's ties attached at the middle. I did attach scissors, needle cases and pincushion by chains and added small pockets at the bottom. The chains were always tangling and catching on things.

On my second try I used a man's tie for a pattern and used decorator fabric. I made pockets (or pouches) for items. In addition to needle cases, scissors and pincushion, I also had an emory bag (to sharpen pins and needles), an awl, a tiny tape measure, and sterling antique threads holders. It was too much and too heavy. So on my third try I stripped down to what I needed the most and decided to make it pretty as well as practical by doing it with crazy quilting.

On the far top right I have two needlecases. One is long and used to be a sterling case for a thermometer but is perfect for long needles I use for doll making. The other case is used for regular embroidery needles. Both are on chains and tuck into pockets so they won't get lost and won't interfere with my handwork.

Below the the needlecases is a flat pincushion in which pins are inserted from the side. I may replace it with one filled with emory powder. It holds only a limited amount of pins because it is small but certainly enough for handwork.

Below the pincushion at the bottom of the right side is a pocket that has a tab which swings out and holds needles that are threaded and in use. When using several colors the unused threaded needles can be pinned into the tab and needle and thread tucked into the pocket.

On the left side is my beloved scissor angel with its own pocket for the scissors. At the bottom of the left side is another pocket into which I tuck all theads I clip.

I've made it pretty to look at and pretty to wear by doing it with crazy quilting and adding favorite buttons and charms. I've used this many years now and it has traveled all over with me. If you decide to make one I recommend you make a list first of what you need to have and draw the size of pockets needed on your "tie" pattern.