Bee Happy Quilt Preparation + COLOR!

This is some of the fabric from Lori Holt's Bee Happy Quilt!

This is the pattern instructions cover.  You can read all about it by clicking HERE.

These are instructions you print out yourself, and Lori has weekly tutorials on her blog/website for construction instructions.

You MUST first get everything organized, and this takes some time.

She recommends placing all the CUT pieces (which you cut yourself) into baggies with each block name (I counted 57 different blocks).

So it's quite a bit of work before you even start sewing.  However, I find this task to be relaxing.  However, ONE MUST, pay attention and double check before cutting each piece, so as to get the measurements correct.  It takes concentration, but I could still watch a movie while doing this.

More of the fabric. . . .

. . . even more of the fabric. . . 

. . . .and more.  I am about halfway through the stack for cutting!

In the meanwhile, the trees are changing color, and are magnificent!

Our flag is bravely waving in the breeze coming up from Hurricane Nate.

Mums are beautifully blooming.

The Fig Tree & Co Nantucket Mystery BOM blocks are coming along.....

. . . . and soon I will be sewing!  The woven cloth is one I made when I was a teenager, and wanted a loom of my own.  I made one from a frame of wood and nails, then proceeded to weave strips of fabric.  It took me a while, but it is about the size of a placemat, and it works great under my sewing machine.  I like to slide my machine around to suit me where I'm sitting, and this works.

The square pincushion is my own design, and I will have these kits up at the PeonyStreet Studio on Etsy, again, pretty soon.

The strawberry pincusion is made from red corduroy that my mother used to make overalls for one of my brothers, when he was about 2 years old.  I saved the leftover fabric (from about 50 years ago or more).  It reminds me of my mum.

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Take care out there.  It's been so heartbreaking all these weeks.  I can't even bear to talk about it.  Keep your chins up!

XXOO

Washing The Quilt

Hello!  These are the makers:  Hannie Jo and daughter-in-law, Sarah J.

This quilt was hand pieced and hand quilted, circa 1890's.

This was on Sarah J's bed in the old house.  Before the house rotted away, this quilt was rescued and stored for many years.  Every time we took it out to look at it, it smelled funny.  It was kept dry, and so the deterioration was stopped.

See how yellow and spotted it was??

Finally, I got brave and decided it was time to actually wash it- YES-

with a wet wash.

Here is the product I used:

Vintage Textile Soak (tm)

It really works wonders.  I tried it first on a white stained linen dresser scarf, and was convinced it would work.

I first put the quilt in a bucket,

then I just put it in the tub!

I had fun swishing it around and decided it looked beautiful.

Look!  It's a FISH!!

"Fish"

I think the quilt rather liked the warm bath.

I spread it on a sheet out on the porch floor on a warm day.

Some of the stains are still there.  That can't be helped, but it doesn't smell anymore!

 It's dry now and looks so much better!!  It's laying inside the house now, and that's a poplar hardwood floor, by the way.  It's beautiful as it ages (the floor and the quilt!).

The quilt is much cleaner now, and should last another 100 years!

Much cleaner!  I like the Vintage Textile Soak.  I think quilt restorers don't want you to wet wash anything, but for me- I had to try it at my own risk on my ancestor's quilt.  I knew the dirt in it would most likely keep deteriorating the fabrics.

Though tattered and torn, this quilt is my favorite one off all times, because I rescued it, from the old log house.  I preserved it, and now, carefully washed it.  It makes me feel so close to my ancestors. Many of the fabrics are from old clothing they wore.

I think I'm going to have to reproduce this quilt.  I am already working on it,

Grandma's!!  Made for your memory.

Love you.

XXOO

Projects

 A Lynette Jensen Thimbleberries project.  The top is finished, after 

being in storage/moving/etc. since 2014.

 Amy Gibson "Meriwether" fabric for kitchen curtains

 Nantucket Mystery BOM from Fig Tree quilts

 Sweetwater flag quilt

 Some more of the fabric from Fig Tree & Co block of the month.

 The hand embroidery on the flower blocks on the quilt above.