It's Leap Day!!!

In the year 2000, I made a series of small quilts that celebrated a holiday or event for each month in the year. I designed the quilts and taught the classes in the Prior Lake Community Education program and have shared all of them in my Monday "What's on the line?" feature. I don't think I have ever shared this quilt which was also made in 2000. The year of 2000 was also a "Leap year" and I wanted to celebrate so I designed this simple wallhanging. If memory serves me correctly, I taught the class on Leap Day, February 29. And the measurement for the finished wallhanging............29 inches square, of course! Have a good day today! And happy birthday to all of you who were born on this day and only get to celebrate every four years!!!
Sandi

What's on the line?

A breath of spring is on the line today!! ......................

Isn't this one lovely? I adore the pink and green four patches that connect the rings. The fabrics look like they are from the 30's, 40's and 50's and the quilt appears to be "vintage". However, it's machine quilted but not in the typical way that someone would "stipple" a quilt nowadays. So, I am not sure of this quilts age. I only know that it's one of the quilts my folks bought at auction. Oh, and I know I really like this one a lot!! Do you think this one would be called a "Double Wedding Ring" or is it a "Pickle Dish"?

The weather here in Minnesota isn't exactly feeling "like a breath of spring". It was very windy all day yesterday and the big news is that there is supposedly a big snow storm coming on Tuesday!! I'm ready for it. We have had brown grass too long and need some snow so it will feel like winter. The ground needs the moisture so that when spring gets here things can turn green and the flowers will bloom!

Have a good Monday!!!
Sandi

What's on the line?

This is one of the last vintage quilts that I took photos of last fall. It has a soft, sweet spring look to it.................

It's just a simple Dresden plate but, oh, so pretty! It's very worn but still brings a smile. The pink binding is just the right touch for this vintage charmer.  I enlarged the photo and cropped it for the above shot. Below is the original photo taken when the leaves were still green in mid September.

Once again, I wish I had an idea of who made this quilt but it's just another one bought at a farm auction. I picture this one in a small bedroom with white eyelet curtains at the window. They blow in the wind in summer and in the winter you can pull them back and see the frost diamonds on the windows. There's a dressing table next to the bed and it's made from an old table with mismatched legs. The legs are hidden by a pretty cotton skirt made from gathered feedsacks. A small mirror hangs above the table and a satin covered jewelry box holds a locket and other treasures. The room is small but tucked in the corner is an old bookcase painted in a soft apple green. I see a copy of "Gone with the Wind" sitting on the shelf  and postcards from Hollywood stars like Loretta Young and Bette Davis. You may think I'm just imagining all this because I didn't grow up during the 40's. But my mother-in-law did and I have her copy of "Gone with the Wind". And my mother can remember that movie stars would send you penny postcards with their autographs. Over the years, they shared lots of memories and I only wish I written more of them down or recorded them. Now, my mother is writing things down as she remembers the "good old days", and when we chat on the phone and talk about the old days, I take notes. :-)  Ah, yes, simpler times, and simply beautiful quilts.
Have a lovely Monday!  And for those of you here in the U.S.......Happy President's Day!
Sandi

"Ladies Night In"

That was the title of a really lovely event hosted by the Scott County Historical Society last night at the Stans Museum in Shakopee, MN. I mentioned the event in a post a couple of weeks ago. You may remember that I ordered my ticket right away. :-)  The opportunity to meet Christopher Straub, the special guest for the evening was too tempting. Toss in chocolate and I was going for sure!
Christopher was a Season 6 contestant on Project Runway and I remember cheering him on for two reasons........I liked his designs and,....... he was from Shakopee just 15 miles from the town I lived in back then. It was like cheering on someone I knew just because he was also from Minnesota. :-)  Obviously, a lot of other women were watching him, too, and wanted to meet him because almost 100 ladies attended the event.  They enjoyed wine, chocolates, and conversation with Christopher as well as viewing the two latest exhibits that are currently on display at the musuem......  Marking*Time*TheRitualsofLifeAndDeath and Under*Where*UnmentionablesExposed.  Yes, it was a lovely evening and I have pictures to show you just what a fine night it was! 
Here is the special guest.......Christopher Straub and Lisa, his friend and long-time model for his designs...........

She's wearing a cotton knit mini that Christopher designed. The fabric is also his original design. He took a digital photograph of an abalone shell and that photo became the inspiration for the fabric!  The little shrug is gorilla faux fur (loved it) with leather epaulets with metal studs. And then there's that "one-of-a-kind" handbag she's carrying. Christopher designed that piece and I had serious "purse envy" of that handbag. Seriously, it was so perfect!  There was more "purse envy" over this little "Petal Clutch" designed by Christopher. As guests entered and purchased their tickets for the event, they could also buy a raffle ticket for this gorgeous handbag.  I bought a ticket and ...............

 I'll tell you who won it in a minute.

First, though, here's the wine table with Teresa Norman pouring wine. She's the museum's Curator of Exhibits and Collections. Volunteer, Fran Bohlke, encouraged guests to try the chocolates from Abdallah's.  And, oh, were the ones with the peanut butter centers ever delicious!!! I know because I ate three of them. :-)

The ones wrapped in red foil had the peanut butter filling. :-)

The Stans Museum where the event was held is, in my opinion, a little treasure right in the heart of Shakopee, MN. There have been so many wonderful exhibits since it opened in 1994. In addition to special exhibits and events, there is a permanent exhibit of papers and artifacts from Maurice Stans who was born and raised in Shakopee. He was Secretary of Commerce during the presidency of Richard Nixon. His boyhood home sits next to the museum and can also be toured if you visit the museum.
The view below is from the entry and looks down the long hall where the paintings of local artists are on display. To the right and left of this exhibit, you will find the artifacts relating to Maurice Stans. In the second room, you can see Christopher Straub with arm raised as he chatted with guests. That areas is where the "MarkingTime" exhibit is located.

 I walked down the hall and found these happy guests who were near the entry to the research area and the room where the "Unmentionables" exhibit is located.

I could see Christopher surrounded by guests.......

 and engaged in conversation with guests!

Christopher was a true delight. He shared lots of stories about his time on Project Runway, his designs and more. I was surprised to learn that the entire season of Project Runway was filmed in five weeks! This meant that one ate, slept and dreamt design for all that time. Wow, what focus one would have to have!!! All in all, it was a great evening! And for one lucky lady, it was even better when she won that clutch..........

The lucky winner was Mary Keohen and can you believe how perfectly that bag matches the scarf she is wearing? I think she was definitely the right winner!! She's pictured with her friends and it was fun to listen to them laughing and having such a good time. I love to see people have a good time. :-)  On Mary's left is Barb Weckman Brekke (Chris' second cousin), and on her right is Jean Marschall and Alice Weckman.
After the drawing, there was still time for more wine, more chocolate and more conversation. That's museum director, Kathy Klehr on the left and in the background is the museum entry area...........

And, last but not least, in the background of this photo is Allison Drtina, Program Manager at the museum and this event was her "baby". It was her first special event since joining the staff at the museum and I say "very well done"!!

I had to lighten the photo quite a bit to get Allison's face to show up. I am great at taking pictures. I'm just not so good at the actual photography.  There is a real difference in the two!
That's about all except for this.........I may not have won that cute petal clutch, but as I was leaving Kathy handed me that pretty bouquet that was on the wine table as thanks for helping with the flowers and a little wine-glass washing. It occurred to me as I was driving home that I should have had someone take a photo of me at the event. I am so often the one with the camera in my hand at Christmas, birthdays, etc. You know how that goes. Soooooooooo.....proof that I was there is in this photo.......When I got home, I did a little "self-portrait". I have flowers in hand and right after this, I got out a vase and put them in water. Nice to have a little reminder of a lovely evening!!!
I hope you all have a lovely weekend!
Sandi

A bit of an afterthought here..........I remembered a post I wrote about a year ago on my own dreams of being a fashion designer. If interested, you'll find that post here .........written exactly one year ago today!  

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

I bought this little Valentine at an antique shop a couple years ago. It's a Whitman Valentine but no date is listed on it. It is cut along the edge of the umbrella and the inside is folded in......

and when you open the card, the puppy pops up with his bouquet! Cute!

Wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day!!!

What's on the line?

It's a re-run!   LOL!

I was busy watching the Grammy's and

almost forgot to do a blogpost. 

It's almost Valentine's Day .........

and I wanted to share a heart-themed quilt .........  

Soooo, go here for my favorite little hearts quilt.........

Crazy*for*Hearts! 

And then there's this one that you've seen before...................

One of the vintage quilts that my mother and dad bought at auction.

I have gathered up a stack of red fabrics and

plan to start making a reproduction of this vintage quilt.

I need a "carry it along with me" project and I think this will be just right. :-)

A couple night's ago, my husband came into my sewing room and

observed that I have a number of "started projects".

I told him that "yes, I sure do" and then ........

I recited a couple things undone in his shop. :-)

I might as well start another to add to the pile. :-)

All for now.........Have a good Monday!
Sandi

What's on the line?

"Pretty in Pink" is what's on the line! And isn't it lovely? And even if you don't like pink, isn't the design simple and pretty?!! 

Take a close look at the lay-out in the photo below and you can see how easily you could make this quilt - basically the Drunkard's path pattern - in your favorite colors..........

This is another quilt my dad bought at auction and it's fairly worn but still has such beauty. I dearly love the old quilts. They are full of stories that we don't even know. I so often wonder why someone chose a particular pattern or where did the fabric come from that was used in a quilt?  Oh, yes, how fun it would be if the old quilts could talk!!   As I look at the close-up, I wonder what it would look like to pick a pretty leaf green for the pink fabrics and then some lovely floral for the white fabric areas? Hmmm.......another project I can add to my "to do" list. Boy, is it getting long or what? LOL!

Just want to say thanks for all the comments in my "Chase away the winter blues giveaway". I really enjoyed reading all of them. I find myself wishing that I could give away fabric to all of you, and I probably could gather the fabric..........I just couldn't cover the cost of mailing. LOL!

You all have a good Monday!
Sandi