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Monday, May 29, 2006
Independance Day Swap Card 5

This is the fifth card for the swap. The block used on this one has several names: Shoe-fly, Monkey Wrench, Toad in a Puddle. This block is great for autograph quilts, to show off a special fabric, or to show off fancy quilt stitches. There is little documentation to prove it, but the Shoe fly pattern may have been among the blocks used in code quilts for the Underground Railroad. It was believed that this pattern was the symbol to let runaway slaves know that they found a station where they could stop, take a bath, and get clean clothes.

I also like this block because it shares a name with my favorite dessert. Shoe fly Pie. What can I say I'm a Pennsyvania Dutch girl at heart.
 
posted by Angel at 5/29/2006 11:41:00 PM ¤ Permalink ¤ 0 comments
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Independance Day Swap Card 4

This card is of the Ohio Star. When I learned the fine art of quilting in my early 20's (that's the age 20-something, not the 1920's) Ohio star was one of the basic blocks everyone knew. It is seen a lot on pictures that involve quilts. My guess on that was that it is simple to draw, and is visually appealing.

This pattern dates from around 1815 and became popular along with hourglass patterns and various star patterns. This pattern was easy to peice, required only two templates to cut out, could be frugally cut from a piece of cloth, and shows off a beautiful fabric nicely.
 
posted by Angel at 5/27/2006 11:44:00 PM ¤ Permalink ¤ 0 comments
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Independance Day Swap Card 3

When I was little, my father bought me one of those Jacob's Ladder toys. You know the ones, with the wooden blocks that seem to fall down the side. I loved that toy and played with it for hours. That simple little toy was like magic to me. It took me the longest time to figure out how it worked and even then, it was still magic. I even took my crayons and colored each side of the blocks different colors so that the colors would also change as the blocks fell.

What does all this have to do with the ATC I made? Well, the block is called Jacob's Ladder. The block was named after the Biblical tale in which Jacob dreams of the angels climbing up and down a ladder (or stairs) that reached from Earth to Heaven. See, I did pay attention in Sunday School when I was a child. To some quilters this block is also known as "Road to California". i haven't been able to find much detail on the history of this block other than it is reputed to be a Underground Railroad block. It is said that the layout of the colors on the block showed the way to freedon.

If anyone knows any history on this block, please feel free to share it with me.
 
posted by Angel at 5/25/2006 02:47:00 PM ¤ Permalink ¤ 0 comments
Independance Day Swap Card 2

This card is of a Dolley Madison Star. In addition to being a First Lady, Dolley Madison was quite the lady. She's credited for being the first to serve ice cream at the White House and she was known for being the quintisential hostess. She had a quick mind for politics and often advised her husband, James Madison, while he was president. She was also considered by many to be quite the diplomat. When the British burned the White House during the War of 1812, Dolley is credited for not only saving Stuart's Portrait of George Washington, but also saving the orignial drafts of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independance. The Dolly Madison Star quilt block was designed around 1900 to commerate this incedible woman.
 
posted by Angel at 5/25/2006 02:27:00 PM ¤ Permalink ¤ 0 comments
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Independance Day Swap Card 1

I joined a swap in my ATC group called "Independance Day-Red, White, and Blue". I began to brainstorm on ideas that would fit the theme. The hard part was that I could only use the colors red, white, and blue. Then it hit me, there is nothing more American than patchwork quilting. American men and woman took bits of fabric and created blankets from scraps of fabric since Colonial days. Patchwork quilting is American ingenuity at it's finest. I'm a fan of the recycle and use what you have theory.

My first card features the Card Trick block. I'm not sure when this block came to be, but I love it. It is a very simple block to piece together and it is so cool looking. Believe it or not, this block is done entirely in triangles.
 
posted by Angel at 5/24/2006 02:30:00 PM ¤ Permalink ¤ 0 comments
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
The Bag has been Felted

I really like how this bag felted. It turned into a nice firm, yet soft fabric. I'm also impresses that my stripes matched up so nicely, there are seams where you can't tell it was stitched together. It shrank by about a 1/3 once felted. Not bad. It's the size of a larger purse. I now have to do the lining and finish the I cord trim. I'm impressed with the way this bag is turning out.
 
posted by Angel at 5/17/2006 12:14:00 PM ¤ Permalink ¤ 0 comments
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Happy Mother's Day



I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day. Before I had my daughter I didn't realize how big of a job being a mother is. Now I realize it's one of the most important jobs in the world. There are days when I ask "why did I have a kid?" but I'm always glad I did.

Besides, mornings like this help remind me that it's worth it. My daughter and husband are making me pancakes and sausage for breakfast. It's just amusing to watch my daughter, the short attention span cook, drive my hubby nuts like she drives me nuts every time I cook with her. You all know the type of kid, wants to help but won't listen to all the directions first.
 
posted by Angel at 5/14/2006 11:59:00 AM ¤ Permalink ¤ 0 comments
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Not the Only Artist in the Family




Princess has an art show at school. Every spring my daughter's school has a night when the Kindergarteners and 4th graders sing and the rest of the grades put on an art show. Above are two samples of Princess's work. The first image is her Jackson Pollack painting. The art teacher has the glasses study several artists every year and then attempt their style. Princess loves this painting and when she brings it home I plan to frame it for her. The second image is of her dinosaur diorama. I thought you would all like to see what was done with the rubber dino I went on the hunt for. He looks very happy in his little dino-rama.
 
posted by Angel at 5/13/2006 11:56:00 PM ¤ Permalink ¤ 0 comments
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Song Swap Cards I Recieved

In the ATC_APC_ArtExchange Yahoo Group that I belong to we did a song ATC swap. The cards I made were already posted in this blog. I wanted to share the really cool cards I recieved.

Top Row (L-R): Mommas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys, Hotel California, Teenage Frankinstein.

Middle Row (L-R): Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Brown Eyed Girl

Botton Row: Song Swap Title Card

Thank you to the Hostess and to all the swappers. I had a lot of fun with this swap.
 
posted by Angel at 5/07/2006 12:19:00 PM ¤ Permalink ¤ 0 comments
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Tote Bag Ready for Felting

Several weeks back I mentioned that I was working on a tote bag/diaper bag for my hubby's cousin. Well, the body is finished and being felted as we speak. It turned out bigger than I thought it would, while working on it it just seemed smaller than it turned out to be when sewn together. The square thing sitting on the bag is an Altoid tin that I use to keep my needles in.

My daughter this morning thought that I now was going to felt it using my needlefelting needles. She was horrified at the idea of how long it would take to properly felt the bag that way. She seemed relieved when I told her all I had to do was toss it in the washer a few times.

I do need to make the handles for it and do the lining. I'm taking a break from knitting on the bag in order to start a pair of socks. I frogged my multicolored Kroy sock the other night. It didn't look right. I found this pretty pattern called Alhambra that I think will show off the yarn nicely. I"m hoping to get it started enough that I can take it to the library tonight. I love sitting an knitting in the children's library while my daughter plays on the computer.
 
posted by Angel at 5/03/2006 01:03:00 PM ¤ Permalink ¤ 0 comments