Now, you were probably wondering what Mrs. Crowfut was standing on!  Well, it is my quilt I made and taught for Jo Morton's Little Women Club called "Holiday Inn".  Here it is hanging at our annual quilt show that was held this past November in Elmira, New York.  It has lots of reproduction fabrics in it and is a true medallion quilt.  Teaching this quilt was a challenge and I was so happy when all the ladies finished theirs with much success!!  My friend, Linda, quilted it beautifully and even did a miniature stipple among the birds!  I hope you like it.

I promised you another "Makedo".  Well, meet "Mrs. Penny Crowfut".  I was lucky enough to have a friend in our local embroiderers' guild show me what her friend had made and was asked to re-create him.  This is what I came up with!  He has a warm pennyrug coat made with soft grey and gold wool and vintage buttons.  He is standing on a glass candlestick that my friend had gotten lots of for her daughter's wedding which she decided not to use.   Guess who got the rest of the candlesticks!!  My poor closet!  I love her!  I have given the ladies I taught in a wool applique class a challenge that when they finish their quilt I will share the crow with them and they can make one of their own.  That excited them!  Have to get this planned.  Well anyway, enjoy Mrs. Crowfut.  She is also named after my friend's maiden name! 

"Anniversaries of the Heart" Sampler by Blackbird Designs

My sampler, Anniversaries of the Heart, by Blackbird Designs was finally completed in the fall of 2011.  Each house block has a name or initials of someone in my family where their birthday or anniversary occurs in that month.  The last large block in the bottom right records my name, birth date, and home town.  I hope this sampler will be enjoyed for many years to come! 

It is nice to have something special to put on your dining room table when you remove your Christmas tablecloth and are anxious to redecorate.  I made this "Winter Apple" table quilt, which was designed by Blackbird Designs, this past fall.  I just love the fabric I selected and really enjoyed appliquing the four segments until all four went together into a quilt!  I eventually taught it as a class at a local quilt shop where all the ladies got my fabric selection.  They all did a wonderful job!  My friend, Linda, machine quilted it using a mactavishing technique she is great at.  My mother helped select the binding fabric, which put an elegant finished edge to the quilt!  I put my heirloom etched glasses on it to add another touch.

Scarlet Letter's Elizabeth Sheffield 1784 Sampler Reproduction

Wanted to share with you my Elizabeth Sheffield sampler that I did in 2010.  The framing of the sampler was a Christmas gift from my husband.  I began this sampler last June and worked on it diligently with my friend, Carole.  We had so much fun seeing the beautiful colors emerging on the sampler.  The dirty linen was 35 count and quite a challenge with all the petit point stitches.  I was lucky enough to have a four bulb floor lamp that made it possible!  The sampler was reproduced with the permission of the American Folk Art Museum in New York City.

My French Inspirations Pillow and Mr. Tomato Bird

I loved making this pillow using the new Moda toweling and hand dyed wools!  I stitched the wool applique pieces using buttonhole and overhand stitches with beautiful hand dyed threads.  The soft colors of pink, rosy red berries, bordeaux pomegranate, blue heron, and green look lovely on my applique "Harvest Basket" quilt by Blackbird Designs.

Now meet Mr.Tomato Bird Makedo.  Every now and then I just have to make a "makedo".  This one is now my favorite!  It is French Inspirations design creation which I love.  I used Moda red wool and Valdani green 202 hand dyed thread for the feather stitch and buttonhole stitch.  He came to life when I placed him on a fence post finial which I stained walnut.  Boy what we go through to create our "makedo's".  Wait until you see some of my others in the near future!