Once again I’m going to attempt to mix it up a bit on the old blog (7 years and counting). There are several collections I want to share, and I’m just trying to figure out the best way to do it.
First is a large group of newspaper embroidery patterns created by Betsy Dean and published between 1922 and 1932. I had never heard of Betsy Dean until I purchased a shoebox of newspaper clippings on ebay. It’s unusual to see full-sized patterns published during this period — the heyday of newspaper pattern publishing was about 10 years earlier. Also, from 1926-1932, she published a pattern every single day. I want to share most of the 2,500 images, so I’m posting them to my Flickr account which you can access on my sidebar, and they will also be part of the Flickr group “Hoop Love Vintage Transfers.” My plan is to clean and upload a new transfer pattern every single day, just like Betsy Dean (although I only have to clean up the images, not draw them).
There are also some sweet McCall Pattern Company catalogs from the 20s, 30s and 40s, and I hope to post a pattern photo or two each week on “McCall’s Monday,” which is something I just made up.
Of course, there should be lots of quilty stuff going on as well. I think it’s going to be a good year for blogging.
Happy New Year! I am following your Flickr and I’ve joined the group, thank you! I would love to get back to doing some more embroidery and this will be just the inspiration I need. Looking forward to seeing your quilty stuff too 🙂
It sounds like a lot of interesting things in the New Year. I am really looking forward to it.
Oh! How exciting!!! You are truly generous and thank you!!
I look forward to seeing these!
Thank you for all the great patterns and inspiration you send our way. I will never be able to stitch all that I’d like to, but that is what dreams are for. Happy New Year and I will be with you each day anticipating what will come next on your blog. Love it all!
Oh my! What exciting things coming up. Looking forward to your sharing. Thanks!
Looks like an exciting year for stitching and coming up with ideas to use the patterns.
Thank You for your generosity!
Wow Martha, you are such an inspiration! I stumbled upon your blog and it has taken 3 days but I have gone through each entry and I am all caught up! Our interests are the same, so nice to find someone else with a collection of patterns, books and quilts! You have given me inspiration and I want to go into my sewing room and quilt away. I am definitely going to try and hand quilt since reading your blog. I have always done machine and free motion prior. My health is poor and some days are better than others. Over the years I have learnt to pace myself and except each day with a smile. Thank you for all your shares, it is very generous of you and time consuming! Waiting for the next entry, happy in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Those Betsy Dean transfers are amazing! I have been working on some blocks with random embroidered flowers in the center . . . trying to mix it up as much as possible . . . and was running low on ideas. These will be so much fun to try!