Handmade!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bobbie Horowitz on December 22, 2011 at 5:07pm

I know how wonderful it is to get handmade gifts! I used to make things myself when my son was little and I'd sit in Central Park knitting away. I did that in college too. It helped me concentrate and get great grades and also made people happy! A wonderful woman, Sherrie Knowles from Utah, made the most GORGEOUS pillow cases for me for Christmas. I will never forget them and enjoy looking at them as I think of her kindness. Wonderful Evan lawrence, who used to teach for me, made me the most lovely beaded bracelets. I feel like the person is with me when I enjoy their handmade gifts. 

Permalink Reply by Keddy Ann Outlaw on December 23, 2011 at 8:55am

Bobbie - Thank you for reminding us what it's like to be on the receiving end of handmade gifts. We really do treasure such things in a special way. I made a quilt some 30 years ago for my very first nephew, and the last time I saw it, well  - it resembled a holy relic, but that's fine! I know what you mean about knitting, tho I've been more of a crocheter. If I ever achieve any accomplished level of knitting, I'll be amazed since I only took it up a year or so ago. I attend a fiber crafts circle a couple of nights a month. We made scarves for a small orphange started by a UU woman in India, and we were very happy to get back a photo of the kids with their new scarves -- so cute!, see below:

Permalink Reply by Beth Jukuri on December 23, 2011 at 6:04pm

Love Love the scarfs!  How cool is that?  Nice to see them displayed beneath the smiling faces.

And to see a quilt in 'rags' means it has been used so much.  It is a sign of being quilt worthy!

Beth

Permalink Reply by Bobbie Horowitz on December 24, 2011 at 10:54am

OMG!. The children in your scarves are captivating!

Permalink Reply by Kay Van Hoesen on December 24, 2011 at 11:56am

These children and this photo are precious! It must warm your heart to make these beautiful scarfs and know that these sweet, innocent, deserving children have not only received them but also appreciate them and the gift. It's almost enough for me to break my vow of no-knitting-ever-again and join a knitting project.

Permalink Reply by Kay Van Hoesen on December 24, 2011 at 11:54am

I knitted one project in my whole life. Naturally, I couldn't choose something simple. No, no, no. A v-neck, raglan sleeve sweater make with tiny, thin thread and little needles. It took me months to finish it. After that, I swore off knitting forever. And I've kept my word.

Permalink Reply by Beth Jukuri on December 22, 2011 at 10:08pm

Keddy I love the quilt and I really love the yo yo's they will add so much fun for your niece.  I love the dress material...the patchwork quilts are so much fun to do...simple, but fun.  The fabric is the most fun part, choosing what you like, then finding a project to put it in.  Great job!  It does take much longer than we plan for, and the glitches eat up lots of time. But a handmade gift is priceless.  She will think of you when she uses it

It was my intention to make myself and my three daughter Manger Quilts.  Or I guess you would call them Nativity Scene quilts.  I did do four, but ended up giving one away to a Silent Auction to benefit a family whose son has cancer. My three daughters each received one for Christmas...(I gave them already so they can be hung for decorations.)  

What I learned doing these was that I did them like an assembly line. And it was interesting how I lost the connection with each one, when I stopped and started.  I would do all the skies, then all the wooden structure, and then the figures.  I will not do it like this again.  I love being involved with the one piece. 

Permalink Reply by Keddy Ann Outlaw on December 23, 2011 at 9:00am

Beth - I know what you mean about assembly line production, that mode of work doesn't do much for me either. I love your choice of fabrics in this piece. How long have you been quilting, and how do you figure out the shapes of your pieces? Getting the scale so right looks tricky. Do you draw a picture first or does it evolve as you experiment with shapes, etc.? I know this is a busy time of year for everyone, so no rush for you to answer.....

Permalink Reply by Beth Jukuri on December 23, 2011 at 6:01pm

Keddy,  I do draw on Freezer paper, a rough image. But mostly, I cut as I go...The Manger above was part of a pattern that I redid.  So, it isn't my creation...but it is my fabric selection.  I love finding the right fabric to use as the wood, or grass etc. The Manger it self is my design, but the figures were from a patter I found in a magazine years ago and made them and sold them at Craft Sales.  Now, I revised it and do it in a simpler manner.

My Lady quilts are all my designs, and i just play until it seems to be the right balance.  it is a feel as you go creating.  The more people you do, the more you can sense what is scale and when it is off.  When I do the ladies, and need to figure out if their arms are long enough, I measure them like my own.  Meaning my fall near my hips, so the ladies will too....Make sense???

I love that you keep this group going.  I know it can't be easy to come up with new ideas.

Beth

Permalink Reply by Kay Van Hoesen on December 24, 2011 at 11:58am

This is gorgeous, Beth. I love all the fabrics your chose for the sky, the ground, the building, the head dresses. Stunningly beautiful.

Permalink Reply by Shirley Graham on December 23, 2011 at 7:38am

I think the quilt is beautiful. Been so long since I did any quilting. I'd watch my Aunt hand quilt when I was a child and that is how I learned. My Mother-in -law quilted too. In her older years, before she became so ill she could no longer sew, she made each of her children a quilt. Ours was one I treasure but she did a lot on the sewing machine. My Aunt did it all by hand. Both made some of the most wonderful tops and I was amazed at how the patterns would come together. I made a couple when I got older. So many years ago. I don't sew anymore but use to make a lot of my girl's clothing when they were small. And my own too. My SIL and I would sew all the time, spent many hours in the sewing department of the stores. I miss those days. Patterns and fabric got so expensive we could buy ready made cheaper. I remember when I was in HS and we sewed in class, my teacher was surprised I knew how to lay out the pattern on fabric and understood what she meant when she talked about cutting facings against the grain. lol

Permalink Reply by Keddy Ann Outlaw on December 23, 2011 at 9:07am

Hi, Shirley - That is terrific that you grew up learning about quilting from the older generation. I remember taking home ec in junior high and really having a hard time making an apron, yet I loved learning how to sew just the same. I've tried a few patterns but not recently. Sometimes the experience was frustrating. It might be worth trying again, since I have more patience than I used to for such endeavors. I do like to hand quilt but rarely take the time, except for very small projects. I too remember when the tide turned, and fabric became more expensive than ready-made clothing. I sometimes buy used clothing at resale and charity shops to cut up for sewing projects. And when I buy fabric, I usually have a Hobby Lobby or Jo Ann's  coupon in hand... Thanks for reading and commenting!

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