Home Again, Home Again, Jiggidy Jig!

I've been on another whirlwind vending and teaching trip and it's so fun to do those things, but so nice to get back home as well. It has been so enjoyable to meet so many women and teach them a few tips and tricks in the workshops. I love sharing those tips and tricks as well as turn the light on for something new to someone. We all enjoy getting excited about doing something new and it's so fun to share that joy! Now it's time to finalize preparation and plans for Market and Festival! Will you be attending? I'm in row 7 so be sure to come see me!

One of the things that gets ladies so excited when they see it for the first time is Punchneedle! It's exciting to see many interested in this old art because I feel like it is a dying art. Not many shops carry Punchneedle and I fear it may be gone if we don't start getting new folks to enjoy the art. It is super easy to learn and so quick to finish the project. As many of you know, I have a different way of presenting the final product and love to make mini quilts from my Punchneedle projects. Here is a new version of one of my first Punchneedle projects as an adult.

A few years ago I sold my sample for the Punchneedle project titled My Primitive Baltimore. I should have never done so...I miss that special project because it was finished so uniquely. I've found time to make another one and decided to add it to my collection of mini Punchneedle Quilts. It's simple in its finish with big stitch quilting all around the design and a simple binding. Can't wait to have my mini quilt wall up in the house once the year of shows is over for a few months until they begin again! This will be a nice addition! The pattern is available for purchase on my website if you are interested HERE. (Look at the bottom of the page)

"I'm working on a Woolie version now and it's turning out nicely! It's been a while since I have been able to hand stitch and once again it's so nice to enjoy that peaceful time. It's football season so I'd better get some more stitching ready! (I stitch while my hubs is watching EVERY game! Haha! ). The fabric in this project looks like wool, right? Well it's not! It's a new Moda Line from Minick and Simpson called Cotton Works. It's thick and so nice to handle. Everyone I've shown this little project to thinks it's wool and then they get close and have to do a double take to see what the fabric is! For those of you who are allergic to wool, try to find this line at your local quilt shop and check it out! I am using Genziana wool thread and I'm taking very small stitches to cover the raw edges of the cotton Applique. I do love working with the Genziana wool thread because it is so nice to stitch with as well as it looks so nice. This wool thread also lets the beauty of the fabric show through and be the highlight of the project. Most of the time I prefer to use the whip stitch when stitching Wool Applique, but for this project I'm using a very small blanket stitch. Remember this specific project is made from cotton, so I want those edges covered well. This thread does the trick! You can find it on my website on the Notions Page HERE.

See how beautiful this fabric is up close and personal?!

This is another new pattern called Spool Candle Holder Quilt Cozy. Talk about a fast little project! It can be done in no time and the kit comes with the spool candle holder. It's about 5" tall and let me tell you these spools were hard to find. I have a limited number available while they last! You can find them HERE if interested. They would be darling in wool as well.

 

I was thrilled to see my quilt Pennies In My Garden on the cover of Simply Vintage! I never dreamed that would happen! We have a few more of these lovely magazines left if you'd like one for yourself. Inside you will find many lovely projects including one of my other small quilts, A Warm Welcome. The way the designers of this magazine present the projects is so lovely. A joy to look through again and again. You can find the order button on my home page at TraditionalPrimitives.com

New on the website along with the needles and patterns above are kits for various quilts. We are asked so often if we have kits, I've started making a few here and there when I have a moment. You will find them in the choices on the shopping buttons when they are available.

 

 

The next big project I'll be attempting is to organize my sewing room again. Remember that photo from about two years ago when we had a graduation party? We had to literally shove things back into a part of the room so we could use the basement for the party. I promised to show a photo when the room was all fixed up. If you read my blog often, you may have noticed I've not shown a photo of my nice organized room. This would be because it has NOT happened yet! I don't even know where to begin... So November is set aside for organizing my room. It will probably never be a pretty studio like I see in magazines, but my hopes are that it will be well organized. I plan to label things at least for a while so I don't have to spend a lot of time searching for specific things. Is there anyone else out there who needs a reorganization of your sewing space? Would you like to join me for a Sewing Room Oganizing Challenge to show our spaces and be inspired by organizing ideas from others? Let me know and we can link up on a certain date in November. I need some inspiration! Want to join me?

As a beginning to this Dear Hubs has taken the old ping pong table and attached it to a big long table frame we had on hand. So now I do have a large table to work on and hopefully I can figure out a way to keep the projects and piles below and break the habit of a multi project filled table. Recently I purchased a few plastic storage drawers to put under the table. I had visions of it looking beautiful, but for now I'll just use plastic drawers. Perhaps once I get organized I can transport the projects to something prettier. That's the first step in my reorganization plan...having space on my table to work from! Yay! It's a small thing to be excited about, but it's a beginning.

Well, back to work I go! Sorry if the blog seems to be a sales pitch today, but with so many new items on the site, I want to make sure you know where to find them! Don't forget to let me know if you want to join me in the Sewing Room Organizing Challenge! Thanks so much for stopping by today and as always,

Take Care,

Missie

#showmethemoda

 

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Nice Night On The Deck!

Just a little stitchin' going on out on the deck tonight! I'm about done with the Wool Applique on these blocks and it will be time to put this baby together very soon. It will be fun to see how it will look! Working with my favorite wools and reproduction cottons layered and stitched with a blanket stitch. Yum yummy!

I'm using a stitching technique that's new for me. I'm not really sure I've seen it done before by anyone else, but I'm liking it for this type of sewing. The seam allowance is on the wide side of 1/4" and I'm doing needle turn Applique, but with a big blanket stitch. First I've drawn the shape onto the front side of the cotton fabric with a chalk pencil.

Then I'm turning the seam under with the needle as if I were going to do needleturn Applique. I'm only worried about turning that white line under as far as my next stitch for now.

And then I'm taking the next stitch right at the point I'm holding with my fingernail. Easy peasy! Gives a rustic look to the cotton Applique. The wool is sewn with the same blanket stitches but of course no seam is turned under. This is what I refer to as layered wool and cotton Applique.

We have great temps tonight before the next heatwave hits tomorrow. Hubs and I are enjoying the breeze and mild temps tonight! Some of you may have met Jeff at a show here and there. He's a good helper for me when I'm working at shows!

Have a great weekend and Take care,

Missie

PS...there's a great floss giveaway going on at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe if you want to enter!

 

Visit my web store www.TraditionalPrimitives.com

Hexies Are EVERYWHERE!

Have you noticed that Hexies are found everywhere these days?!? We bought a new (to us) car last spring and believe it or not, the seats have a Hexie texture to them! I drive a Nissan Juke if any of you want a Hexie car too! Haha! it is not the reason we bought the car, but it sure was a fun little perk for me!

And here is a close up view!

Since then, I've started noticing Hexies EVERYWHERE !!! Here are a few pictures I've collected. These are from TV- weather reports, auto commercials, news reports, TV shows, football; Product Packaging- toothpaste, TVs, advertising, clothing, non quilting magazines, Auto grills, shopping carts and MORE!! That snowflake is a photo of a real snowflake! Look at that Hexie in the middle!

 

As I'm typing this post in the living room, a news story has come on the TV and I just had to pause it and snap a nice picture of a few more Hexies! This is a 3D food printer...WOW! And see the beautiful Hexie shapes it's using to build sugar decorations?! WOW! Wouldn't we love to build candy Hexies in our own kitchen to serve our quilty friends a special treat!

 

As you are out and about, start looking...Hexies are EVERYWHERE!! So fun! We Quilter's are not the only ones Hooked On Hexies!! Have these shapes always been used in marketing and TV or am I just now noticing??

I'm sewing on some Hexies today trying to finish up the little Candy Stripes small quilt I started a while back. (Like a YEAR ago!) This little quilt keeps getting pushed to the back of the line when it comes to stitching order. But it's so cute, I thought I'd bring it front and center in stitching order to get this little gem done.

I have made up kits for the Dallas Show in a few weeks. Some are red and ivory and some a blue and ivory. If you happen to fall in love with this little gem, send me a note and I'll give you pricing info. This little Candy Stripes Quilt is about 12" Square. Just big enough for a little mini quilt or table topper! Of course, you could always add more to it and make it any size you want.

This little quilt pattern explains my starch basting process and is a good starter if you want to learn my way using the Finger Stiletto and Starch Brush found on my website. It's just another little addition to my starter kits to learn the method. Quick and simple, not counting all the time it sat in my "to do" pile! Haha!

Notice I don't keep the papers in while sewing Hexies together. I keep my finger nail very close to the edges and this helps me to take tiny bites in the fabric, keeping the stitches hidden from the front.

This picture shows how I "bind" the edges, which really isn't a binding, but just a pretty old fashioned finish. After the top is completed, I lay more Hexies around the edges, right sides together and sew all around the edges, attaching the new pieces together at their side seams so they will lay flat. When they are sewn all around the edges, I'll just flip them to the back side. You can see those pieces lifted slightly in the picture below. While looking at the backside, see how wonderful those seams look? That Starch keeps things nice and neat!

 

When all of the "binding" pieces are sewn in and flipped to the back, I'll slip in the batting and backing, appliqué the edges of that binding down and quilt a simple design!

I wanted to say a quick thank you to all of you who have been purchasing the kits for Colors Of Coxcomb which is in the current Spring 2015 issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects Magazine. It's been overwhelming and I'm so grateful that so many of you like this little wool or punched design! Thank you, thank you!

 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Take Care,

Missie, PS- I've added a new tip to the Gardens Of A King Tab

 

 

Visit my web store www.TraditionalPrimitives.com

Back To Reality!

After a wonderful week in Destin, FL, we are back home and back to work! I'm getting ready for the next show I will setting up house at in Ft. Dodge, IA. The show is at the Fairgrounds in Ft. Dodge and runs Saturday and Sunday beginning at 9am. After having larger spaces the last two shows, I sure hope I can fit back into the 10x10 space!! Come see me if you are nearby! I'll be doing the demo on the starch Brush most of the day. I also love to show folks how to do Punchneedle and Rug Punching! Fun fun!

Here's my spacious booth last time I vended at Threads Across NE! Wow, all that room was nice!

You can see the quilts all have room to spread out and be seen below...yep, that's a full view of Gardens Of A King you see there on the right!! That's before the borders were added. I know I keep saying this, but the finished version will be shown soon...

Traditional Primitives

And here's the other side of the booth. Usually Charmed Beginnings does not have room to be seen, but you can see it on the far left. Ladies love this quilt shown in reproduction prints with lots of cheddar and red. It was also a fresh look to have ivory drapes to frame the booth.

I promised to show some pics from the Des Moines Quilt Show and I've finally had a moment to download some pics! I'll show a few today and a few more in the coming days since there are so many beauties to share!

First, it was lots of fun to be present when the raffle ticket was drawn! My friend Marilyn won the beautiful quilt, Rapsody In Blue. The title of the quilt goes well with our show theme, Whatever Makes Your Heart Sing. The pattern is Jacobs Ladder, you know like the song...We Are Climbing Jacobs Ladder... Lucky lucky Marilyn!

The quilt below belongs to my friend Diann. She loves this friendship quilt. Our small group did a block exchange and she is one of the few who has finished hers!

The next quilt was made quite a few years ago. Look at that perfect quilting! I'm sorry I don't have a full quilt picture!

This quilt was made by a friend, Carol Wilson. She has brought the wool appliqué to small group a few times. What a nice fall quilt!

Here's Gardens Of A King! My version of the King George III Coverlet, made from English Paper Piecing and Appliqué Techniques. A lot of cotton and a wee bit of wool!

This antique reproduction is a beauty! Karen Woten has done it again with another stunning quilt!

And the last picture I'll show today is from my friend Julee Prose ( who also helped me in NE. Thanks Julee!). This is a Kansas City Star Quilt. She loves making their BOMs.

The quilts shown above were all part of the Des Moines Area Quilters Guild side of the AQS show. We hold our own show off to the side of the AQS show. Thanks for stopping by today! I'll post a few more show pics very soon!

Take care,

Missie

 

 

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Thanks To My Hometown!

My hometown is Springfield, MO...the Ozark Piecemakers Guild did a wonderful job at their quilt show and welcomed all of the vendors with a helping hand. It was great fun meeting all the ladies who enjoyed shopping at the vendor mall...so fun to chat with others who love quilting! I also enjoy sharing my passion for English Paper Piecing, Applique, Wool and the tricks I use when making a quilt.

I had to set up most of the booth by myself this time and it took every minute to get thing organized. My mom was my wonderful helper the first day of the show and she did an awesome job for me! It was great fun to have a girls day together, even though we were super busy and didn't have too much time for relaxing. Thanks Mom! Love you! My husband joined me for the weekend days of the show and was also a great help! Thanks Jeff! Love you too! I couldn't do it alone, that's for sure...

Above, you can see my new "department", wool rug punching or rug hooking. Thanks to one of my followers from the blog, Colleen, who helped me out and made two of the rugs you see there! She made the one with the pineapple, "Little Bird Welcome" and the circular chair pad on the bottom right, "Wooly Blossum". She will get them back after my fall shows and I will hate to give them up! I am working on my own to have, but she really helped me get these done in time to show at the hook in a few weeks ago. Thank you Colleen! I still have not had time to add these to the website...if you are interested, please let me know and I'll get you the info!

The booth was a little different size and it was nice to have room to show all the quilts well. Usually things are quite scrunched as I design new projects...things get more crowded!

 

This is the Punchneedle department...crowded and packed, empty towards the end of the show!

 

Here's a small group watching my EPP Demo. My table gets so filled and messy, but I love to be able to grab a project and help people lean something new, so it's all right there within arms length. (Just like at home! Lol, I'm a messy gal!)

 

I'm finished with my (first) Reproduction of the King George III Coverlet, Gardens Of a King! It is quilted and delivered to hang in the Des Moines Quilt Guild Show next week. The pattern will be available soon. I'll show you the entire quilt at that time. If you might be interested in purchasing this pattern, please let me know and I'll make sure you get the info in your inbox. It was so rewarding to finish this one! I may have to make another to hang in my home full time! Most of my quilts are not hanging in my home...they are off at a shop trunk show or packed for a vending trip. I have started making duplicates of my faves so I can enjoy them too! I have a long way to go until I get to enjoy all of them at home!

The AQS/Des Moines Quilt show is next week. Another fun week of beautiful quilts and shopping! Can't wait! Then I'll be headed to Kearney, NE for Threads Nebraska October 9-11! Is anyone headed to this fun event?

Thanks for stopping by today,

Take care,

Missie

 

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Great Travels...Good to be home! And Give Away Chance!

We're back home from a trip across the country to visit both sides of the family for a few weeks! It's so good to see everyone...living away from family makes you try to cram everything you can into a 4 day visit! We had campfires, fireworks, shot rockets high in the sky and chased them across the far, played cards and of course, we ladies did a little shopping in Downtown Bucyrus, Oh. These paintings are so beautiful, added to old downtown buildings to warm up the area and bring in tourists.

This first picture depicts Lady Liberty holding a wounded soldier, signifying respect we have for our brave soldiers. It is absolutely stunning...

The next painting is next to a park and the painting is of the city itself, many years ago. It shows the view you are standing in as you gaze at the painting and also shows that agriculture and industry have influenced the area. What wonderful artists to create such masterpieces!

 

We went to my husband's church and hanging on the wall is a quilt given to the church in honor of his parents. You can't really see it, but quilted in the bottom border of the quilt is their names. The makers did a wonderful job!

I also took a little road trip to Sandusky, OH to visit a new quilt store! M&E Quilt Shoppe is right on Market Street and is a wonderful shop! What a joy it was to meet these two friends who decided to open the store together. They really have a good thing going!

Lots of displays...and a beautiful check out counter. You can't see too well in the picture, but they glued buttons on the front of the counter to add a few swirls to the front. It is really unique!

Very cool fabric shelves. One of the owners said her father used these ladders long ago to work on this very building. She came across them, added some plant hangers to the sides and is now using them in her store! How cool is that?

If you are ever in the area, be sure to stop in to see these ladies! They are lots of fun and have a great selection of beautiful cottons and wools. And now they are carrying many of Traditional Primitives patterns as well. I'll be sending quilts their way for a trunk show ASAP!

 

We saw the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile as we passed through Indianapolis. Years ago, when my kids were in elementary school, we saw this fancy mobile while staying in a hotel in Omaha. And I have a tinly little whistle of an Oscar Mayer Weiner Whistle in my box of my favorite toys...somewhere in the basement. Brought back some fun memories!

 

Ginger had enough of the bucket seat and climbed into the back to lay on some of our soft sided suitcases! Do you see her?

I managed a wee bit of sewing while away from home. Here's a few more sneak peaks of the next quilt I'm working on! This quilt will have elements of English Paper Piecing and Appliqué. It's coming together nicely, but I need a bit more done before I can show off the actual blocks...

 

I really can't wait to show you this new quilt! I hope to show you next week! It is wonderful to be able to create again after being so busy for months! It is so exciting to have a project you just can't wait to pick up and get to work on!

Don't forget to go back a post or two to find the give away post! I'll be drawing in a few weeks for that cute little sewing box! I've found a few things that fit inside and I'll be sending it to someone who lets me know they have shared my blog on their sidebar or copies me in on an email as they share my blog with other quilters. I'm trying to grow my blog a bit, so help me out if you care for a chance to win this cute little box filled with a few goodies! Thank you!

Take care and thanks for stopping by today!

Missie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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