My Latest Creation

I completed my last creation the last of November of 2020, but didn't get pictures posted as then the Christmas season took over my life as it always does, and so here it is, my original, Aboriginal Crazy Quilt made for my youngest daughter. She picked the material and my eldest daughter and I worked to machine sew the twenty five scrap blocks together using pieces with machine embroidery and well as pieces with appliqued designs. I  started with my daughter's favorite animals including an elephant, and then onto an appliqued cat. 

I have no idea about the elephant, as she had no pet elephant ever, unless it was possibly the elephants in the room that were too carefully avoided during her youth? But one animal begot another and I worked to master my Husqvarna Embroidery machine, the one that is old enough to need designs to be transferred to floppy disc that then are used in my machine. I also learned that "bird nesting" under the sewing machine foot plate is fixed by putting a loop of netting over the embroidery thread spool to keep it from feeding thread too fast causing such issues. An easy enough fix and works well.  I think this excellent machine had flaws from the beginning but with an adjustment or two, works incredibly well.

We worked in pieces that I had pre-embroidered and then I went on to get ideas for applique designs that matched my daughter and her boyfriend's interests and played with those designs as well. Years ago we used to get special braiding to sew on the seams of our alpaca coat liners that became our furry outside coats dressed up with such trim, but not so accessible at sewing stores any more. I found many on line at reasonable prices and ordered wild braidings to again embellish and add to the machine embroidered seams of the piecework. The final embellishment was to add a hand-feather stitch in black around each block of patchwork and then around the outside edge of the quilt blocks using black pearl cotton. Although this was to be a "fast" finished quilt, with all the embellishment, it took me most of a year and then some. All of us were pleased with the results. Mind you when we started, we could not even imagine how a bunch of mismatched fabrics would come together. A priest friend wrote back after seeing pictures of it "that perhaps it needed a bit more color!!" His comment made me laugh! Color was hallmark of this bright quilt and its personalized embroideries and appliques were a source of much delight in making it. My daughter wants  everyone to know that as usual, her mother and designer did not follow her advice, and yet she is still pleased with the results!

Some of the animals, I decided were symbols of various people in her life, though my husband did not agree with us depicted as a pair of slow turtles and seeing as how this was created in the midst of a separation between the two of us after forty years of marriage, I decided that perhaps my husband might well be symbolized as the chimpanzee which was embroidered from a machine pattern that gave great detail to his hind end, something that I didn't do in the colors it specified!! Humor prevails and was added into this quilt as well, though we never imagined that orange would be such a good contrasting color on the border, but black embroidery on black fabric would never work!! Truly this quilt had a mind of its own!!

Many pictures were taken so the viewer gets some close up visions of the detail that went into this quilt! I am glad that it is finished, and on the back are the best of dedications both embroidered and photographed of my daughter, her boyfriend and their cat, Sprockie and around a piece of patchwork my oldest daughter designed and sewed. My daughter is pleased with it, as is her boyfriend. My cat, Addie Boy was pleased with it as well, as he tried to roll on it and leave his gray fur everywhere! Likely Sprockie will no doubt do the same to leave his mark! I am on to new projects this year, but won't say much about those until they are partially executed and I am locked into finishing them!! Enjoy viewing this Original, Aboriginal Crazy Quilt!

Crazy Quilted Christmas Stockings

This last year I got an email from one of my cousin's children inquiring about my Crazy Quilted Christmas Stockings. She remembered that many many years ago she had seen one of my stockings that I had sent to one of my favorite aunts and wondered if I still made them and if so, would I make a couple for her children.  I was honored to do so.  These crazy quilted Christmas stockings have become part of our Christmas tradition, though we start early shopping in order to fill them along with purchasing gifts for Christmas. They are that big!! A favorite filler are canned goods from our cupboard at the last minute as they aren't so easy to fill, but our tradition includes all the sundry things that we would purchase in the new year: toothpaste, toothbrushes, special candies or treats that are specific to the tastes of those who are receiving the stocking. Small gifts also fit in them. 

They are fun and festive, not unlike another favorite of ours being English Christmas crackers..nothing too essential but all festive and fun and wards off any hardship posed by Christmas expenditures! We are well provided for into the new year!! These are pictures of the stockings I recently made. They are a bit richer in fabric and totally unique. They all vary a bit in size as well as fabrics selected! I use fabrics rich in color and diversity and my stitching is as varied. Each is unique. There are none alike!! I do hope my cousin's children enjoy using them. I made a couple of extra as Christmas needs to be able to expand to fit whoever are gathered. I am honored to share with her one of our favorite traditions!! My cousin's adult child chose the backing fabrics used in them and I chose the rest of the fabrics to coordinate with them!

We have used our crazy quilted Christmas stockings now for more than forty years!! I will make these on special order, but will need plenty of time to sew them as you will note each one is rich in hand- embroidered embellishment as well! It is never too early to think ahead for Christmas and these make a lasting traditional gift to be re-used each year!!  Just send me a note if you would like to order any. and some of your favorite colors, and I will created them from the fancy fabrics I have on hand to defray expenses.

Remembering Part 3

This is the final and last chapter of the history of Little House Home Arts. I recently told my daughter that I wanted to make a final quilt, and she started laughing and said, don't you mean, you want to make "a final SERIES of quilts"...as truly I have several partly done and another in a beginning stage and yet am talking about making another detailed appliqued quilt besides? She knows I never stop dreaming of making quilts! "Yes, I guess that is what I mean" and had to laugh as well. So many quilts not yet finished, such that I was sure that she was nudging me to not leave them partially done for her to finish!!

I don't produce anything in singles and haven't for a long time. It seems that creativity means getting loose and staying that way, and making huge messes and starting more before I have finished the last. For too long sewing has been my therapy and why quit now? Yes, I am aging, BUT didn't I say that I wanted to be the Grandma Moses of the quilting world?  Besides, I seem to be right in the middle of some serious marital discord, that apparently for too long has not been reconciled and so likely I will have more time on my hands and not less in future days, as we each seek individual counseling, though the outcome is beginning to not appear different from when it started.

I am sad about it all, but am not finding viable options except to change what I can and accept what I cannot. I could feel hopeless very fast but that isn't my style. Life is full of opportunities and I refuse to think that problems cannot be solved, but when the parties aren't desiring that; keeping positive and headed forward seems to be the only answer.

My sewing has evolved into making quilts, which is actually where I wanted to go when I first started sewing professionally, but was realistic about quilts not being easily marketable, nor fast to produce. Sewing for money was never what my sewing was about and still isn't. I simply love to create and so I will find uses for whatever I make and to date, have done just that. Anyway, here are glimpses of some of my past as well as present projects. A quilt, for me, is like a good book that lasts a very long time, especially when working on multiple projects at once. It isn't about "having" the creation as much as "creating" that brings me joy and keeps me entertained.

These are some of my more recent past and current projects: Enjoy and don't worry, I am still here and sewing! Some things don't change!!

Fabrics for new Bee-Attitude Quilt.

One machine embroidery of many for the Bee-Attitude
Quilt.

Another machine embroidery for the Bee-Attitude
Quilt.

A Bee-Attitude for the same quilt.

Another Bee-Attitude for the same quilt.

                                                                               

A wall hanging made from Japanese
Dwaibo fabrics (all appliqued and
quilted by hand.)

Close up of Dwaibo wall hanging in process.

Strips of fabric ready to make machine
sewn quilt. It is done, just not pictured.

My mother's hearts and flowers candle-wicking quilt, needed
to be finished by me. It is done by hand, using quilt-as-you-go
technique.

My mother's hearts and flowers quilt needing the last row of
blocks attached with two long sashing strips and hand-
quilted. (done by Mary M. Campen) (God-willing com-
pleted by me.--"my ticket to heaven", only if done!)

The most recent original Aboriginal Crazy
Quilt done using machine embroidery,
hand-applique, with embellishment stitching
done on machine and by hand. Still needs
last black border to front and tied to same-
   colored backing--(hard to find final fabric
 needed to complete it during this pandemic).

Civil War machine pieced blocks. I became "a class of two", so
each of Barbara Brachman's blocks were done twice using
different fabrics for different effects. All waiting to be joined
to make two quilt tops.

Same project as above. Different view.

Was created to be a backing to a Batman quilt for a niece's
child. It was too wild for her. Waiting for completion as
a quilt.

Machine sewn comforter. Hand tyed.

A sample of some 100 hand appliqued double heart blocks,
all sewn on various shades of muslin, waiting to be sewn into
one or two quilt tops.

My "near famous" Crazy Quilted Christmas Stockings.

A simple comforter made for my niece's child with her
favorite Disney Princesses.

My niece's daughter on top of  her
new comforter,with her bed tent
and birthday gifts gathered around
her! The comforter was made
to be durable, washable and
functional!

Remembering-- Part 2

Too many pictures for one blog, so I decided to do a second part to my last "Remembering Blog". I found it good to see what I had been busy doing the past several years on my blog. It started as an experiment in me sewing while I was on a medical retirement from nursing. I was in treatment for Chronic Lyme and so creating Little House served as a distraction during an experimental long term treatment program for Lyme Disease. 

My treatment involved taking Benicar in large doses to eliminate Vitamin D from my body, as it was felt that perhaps my body's production of Vitamin D interfered with my ability to fight off diseases that had been retained in the body's biofilm.  The thought was that Vitamin D acted similar to a steroid, and prevented the body's immune system to fight off low grade infections that tended to continue on. So low dosed antibiotics were pulsated,  taken on an "on and off schedule" that along with eliminating Vitamin D would perhaps cause better "kill off " of these various "hard to kill  chronic bugs in my biofilm.

Treatment was to last 3-5 years, though my regular provider was forced to abandon his patients and was routed to another clinic, so was no longer around to help me wean off this protocol in a safe fashion.  The loss of my provider in the middle of this protocol, meant seeking another quickly. As we wore special dark glasses to prevent our bodies from creating our own Vitamin D when stimulated by light and wore long sleeves, people in small communities knew all in their small towns who dressed like this, and made it easier to track down those in treatment especially as I traveled around to different towns in Vermont to sell my pincushions. In this way I was able to track down patients treated by my doctor and networking with them was able to find a future doctor willing to treat me further. I continued this Marshall Protocol using a second doctor in Massachusetts. My treatment continued for eight years total, so Little House  Home Arts continued on as well and my oldest daughter and husband  took over doing sales and craft shows in limited numbers each year. I needed to live in low lux light or wear dark glasses and the sales became too exhausting! My sewed creations continued and was the distraction I needed during this long-lasting treatment. Here are more pictures of my continued creations, truly my occupational therapy during this time! Fortunately I was not contagious and my sewing became a real blessing for me!

Pet pincushions.

Owls, blooming cactus pincushions, owl scissor holders 
that when inserted made eye glasses for their big eyes,
 ice cream sundae pincushions and a plain pincushion in a cup.

From pincushions to wool pictures with 
embroidery work.

More wool pictures with 
embroidery as well as
quilting.

Remembering

Memory of days past are speaking loudly to me these days. It is one thing to lose something or even someone, but those whose memories have been damaged lose so much more than simply the present. Their past can be tainted and potentially rob others of the good memories of the past.

I am wading through much sorrow these days on many fronts. As I grow older, my friends are incurring life-threatening illnesses and even my husband has experienced a serious crisis that stopped me in my tracks. He suddenly shared with me that he didn't want to be married to me anymore after just celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary. It was devastating, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that something was going on with him that wasn't normal. He agreed to seek counseling and so we are both in the midst of our own individual counseling. What is going on is serious and will require long term therapy, we have been told. Both my husband and I decided to not give up easily on what it has taken us years to build!

After almost five months, there has been what I consider to be a major breakthrough. My husband is appreciating that his past traumas are affecting his present life in a way he has never experienced before, creating misunderstanding in his communications. He just caught himself in the midst of misplacing his frustration and anger where is doesn't belong, corrected himself and apologized. This is a major!  My hope for his recovery is positively reinforced. His therapy is working and at a miraculous pace!! I have new hopes for a future I had never doubted before.

This last Memorial Day was sad as we couldn't celebrate the weekend in our usual small town ways largely due to Covid19 and all the changes it has created in our community. Parades and other social gatherings and small town events were all cancelled, but I am not forgetting  those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country, nor am I forgetting good memories shared with my family, though our proud history needs to be un-buried and remembered. I recall memories that need to be celebrated and rekindling hope that normal life will return in the near future. It has been a double whammy to be hit with the corona-virus pandemic and its social isolation all in the midst of our own personal crisis! To be free of both someday, will be huge, as I have a new-found appreciation for all the small things in life  that make life worth living!!

I have found it helpful to take time to visit the "fruits" of our marriage, being our two grown daughters and confirm that our family life was wonderful and real! They are my proof and tangible evidence! Many happy memories were shared as a family and they help to validate all we have lived through and for! These celebrations of memories and histories are so critical to the well-being of our country and the values we embrace!! What is occurring with us as a family seems similar to what is  happening on a larger scale in our communities, cities and countries.

In the midst of a rather complicated, but simple transaction on line, I found myself sharing with a total stranger, my history of creating Little House Home Arts and referred her to my Etsy Shop. Sadly I am so behind in terms of keeping my present creations listed, but also realized that my wares listed no longer represent all the different mediums I have explored while doing my on-line business. I went to find photos of some of my earlier creations, and found it very validating to see how our home was transformed into a house of multiple sorts of creations and thought you, my readers, might also enjoy some of the pictures I found. I am still not finding some I remembered, but was none-the-less excited to see our former days, not all that long ago, when life was simpler and thought you might enjoy seeing them as well!! These were some very fun and colorful days!!

Life  and stress has a way of wearing us all down and most of us are so blessed with memories  of  past days. It is important to take time to collect these memories about us during such a time as this and remember and hope that life will return to being less complicated, and with new-found appreciation for the small things that add such joy to our living! It is also good to remember values we embraced prior to days of this pandemic as well as days of relative peace, without rioting and so much civil unrest! Did you know that after the Spanish Flu, there also occurred much civil unrest?  It gives me hope that our future will have normalcy in it again, as our country has been through this before and recovered!! Do keep your hopes and dreams of better times alive and well!

I hope these pictures will stimulate memories of some of your more care-free, energetic and productive days or give you ideas for future creations to try yourself!! I will split them into groups and spread out my findings in blogs ahead as well! Enjoy!

Days of embroidery and needle-felting...Embellished wool
Easter Eggs!

Applique and Needle-felting combined.

No matter how small, detail work is fun...

And variations by changing colors for new looks.

Primitive needle-felting, my start to painting with wool roving.

Applique with touches of needle-felting.

And pincushions by the batches. A batch of fruit pincushions.

Acorn Pincushions.

Any design I could imagine...

Wait! An ear with pins, a perfect gift for
my acupuncturist with realistic first
treatments.

More batches of tiny pumpkin pincushions!

A blooming cactus and other colorful creations by the batch!

Blooming potted plants of all colors.

All making for a colorful display booth!

Even political cushions! Fun displays!

Potted Strawberryplant blooming!

More colorful blooming cacti!

My own patterns, though most preferred me to sew them!

How about a dog pincushion?

More of my needle crafts of the past to come in the next blog!