I just realized last week that the images on my site are distorted using Internet Explorer 8. Apparently the problem has something to do with my WordPress theme, but so far I haven’t been able to figure it out. If you are using IE8 and the images are messed up, you can click on the…
This is one of two quilt tops I recently purchased on Etsy. I plan to dismantle this top for the fabric, and there are several reasons I liked this particular top — the block pieces are relatively large, there are lots of cool prints (especially shirtings, and most especially red shirtings), and it was hand…
This concludes the O-P Craft series of photos from my little brochure. They’re probably right about the “No Experience Necessary” part, but I’m not sure the results would rival “a rich old Flemish tapestry in color, texture and appearance.” Maybe those Crayonex crayons are a lot better than I thought. Click here for more O-P Craft…
In May of this year, Gina at Doe-c-Doe sent me a huge package of old quilting templates that she picked up at an estate sale. They were wonderful, and I have already used several of them. Also tucked into the group of templates was this little leaflet published by O-P Craft Company advertising their designs…
I love this vintage piece which I purchased on Etsy a few months ago. Of course, I planned to make some sort of quilt with it, but when Emily saw it, she thought it would look great on a wall in their apartment. Gordon made the frame and finished it just in time for Christmas….
The idea of purchasing a finished quilt had never crossed my mind. I’ve bought lots of tops, blocks and pieces, but a completed quilt….never. Why would I do that? I’m a quilter (not a collector), and although I have lots of vintage fabric, I always plan to use it to make quilts and don’t think…
As some of you may know, my daughter, Emily, is getting married next year. She and I have had a lot of fun collecting depression glass and old china plates for her vintage themed wedding. Last month I happened upon this beautiful book published by C. R. Gibson in 1923 and illustrated by M. Farini….
In the past two weeks, I have purchased three vintage quilt tops — two finished and one unfinished. One was extravagant ($130) and the other two more reasonable ($40), although certainly not a steal. The top I’m showing you today is one of the $40 tops and the first one I have received in the…
This top was purchased on ebay a couple of years ago, and it was so cheap — $20, including shipping. It’s difficult to determine the age of the top since there are no prints. If I had to guess, I would say 1930s or 1940s just because of the color and weight of the green…
A couple of months ago I purchased on ebay a catalog of perforated patterns from the M. J. Cunning Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio. Included in the sale were 2 groups of actual perforated patterns — the holes are so tiny that I imagine the pouncing powder must have been very fine. Although there is no…
One of my most favorite things in the whole world is a bunch of vintage quilt pieces. I also like old tops, blocks and scraps, but cut out quilt pieces that were never put together are the best ever. So….I was pretty happy when I came home recently and found a surprise package from my…
One of my favorite events at St. John’s Catholic School was the fabulous annual Halloween carnival. In second grade I got to wear a beautiful blue Little Bo Peep costume which my mother had sewn — it even had a staff with a little stuffed lamb attached. My older sister, Sally, a seventh grader, was…
Thank you for your concern about my stupid injury. I am moving around a little better now, but still can’t sit or stand for very long. I did manage to get up and take a few photos today for the vintage fabric gallery. Although the size of my scraps varies wildly, I decided to take…
This is my latest quilt top purchase. My plan (as usual) was to take this apart to make antique doll quilts, but now that I’ve had a chance to look at it in person, I am almost tempted to remake it in it’s current form. There are many puckers (which really bother me), together with…
Here are some photos of several of my vintage fabric pieces. I have collected thousands of scraps, small pieces and swatches, and I’d like to document some of these patterns before they get sewn into quilts. If you click on the thumbnails, the enlarged photo represents a rectangle about 2 1/2″ x 1 1/2″. My…