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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Go Oft To The House of Thy Dear Friend.....For Weeds Choke Up An Unused Path

Today, my dear friend Dee brought out two old projects that I had made for her years ago, and I thought I'd share them with you.  I love the old fashioned feeling they both have.

Both patterns are from an old needlework magazine that she bought in England while traveling.  The first is a needle case made from four cardboard hearts.  I had such fun making it, and she has treasured it ever since I gave it to her.  The saying embroidered around the edge is:  "Go oft to the house of thy dear friend....for weeds choke up an unused path."  So true!
 
 
Two of the hearts are cut into halves so they fold, and the two whole hearts are padded with batting on the inside, to hold needles and pins. The four hearts are whip stitched together.


 

I braided strands of pearl cotton in a lavender color to make the ties that you use to tie a bow to close the hearts.

The second project is a travel laundry bag that she takes on trips.  It was hanging on a peg in the closet when I visited her, and she says she uses it all the time.

 

It's made of muslin on the front, and yellow gingham on the back and lining.  I changed the pattern to write "Ocean City" on the towel on the clothesline, since we had vacationed there together.  Here's a closeup of the embroidery.

I'm flying back home tomorrow, and will miss Dee very much.  

Here's a picture of one of her quilts that we worked on together this week.  It's now a completed quilt top, and I just love it.  We have very different styles in quilts, but it really inspires me to visit her quilt room, and see all of her projects.






































The circle making the "coffee" in the cups is the cup fabric, but the wrong side of the fabric!  So clever.  She machine buttonhole stitched around each cup.
I think it's so cute!  

I will be flying home tomorrow, and am going to be working on redwork in the airports.


7 comments:

Sharyn Mallow Woerz said...

Waving a friendly hand to both of you!

Leah Rubin said...

I totally love the 'vintage' embroidery work! You two are so blessed to have this longtime friendship! Thanks again for the call and the invitation yesterday-- I was SO sorry that I could not join you... Safe travels!

traditional_quilter said...

What a wonderful friendship! The projects are really cute. How special to know she has them still and treasures them! I wish I had pictures of all the quilts and projects I have made and given away over the years as a remembrance. Quilts and such that I made and gave away years ago, you forget what they looked like and all that you made. (Many baby quilts). Of course I never labeled them. I need to start a remembrance project book for pictures. Thanks for sharing! Have a great day! The cup quilt is lovely also!

Lori said...

What sweet projects! I am positive I have the pattern for the needlecase! The embroidery may be different, but the style is the same.
So glad you've had a nice time.

Barb said...

love the coffee mug quilt - very fun.

lil red hen said...

Fantastic needlework!!!

Jeanne said...

Love the heart and the cups quilt!