RSVP B&W Block Request

It's that time of year again...

RSVP is in search of black and white 12.5 inch (12" finished) blocks in your choice of patterns. This first block is one of the free patterns I recently featured on FREE {quilt} BLOCK FRIDAY on Twitter. It's a Craftsy free project & it's a fun one! Check it out here: Craftsy.com. If you'd like to catch the free patterns of the week, be sure to follow retrogirl02 on twitter.

RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) is in need of blocks for charity quilts and the annual quilt raffle. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to contact me for more info at heatherL 02 (zero two) at yahoo dot com or check out some of the previous RSVP posts on this blog here. You'll find links to free patterns, information about the organization and see previous reader donations, too. 

Happy Piecing,

Heather =)

Sunshine, Blooms & Bookmarks

We've been busy playing outside, enjoying the fantastic weather 
all week long. 

Now that the ♥ white violets ♥ are popping up, 
I'm oh so thrilled about gardening. 

We've been watering the strawberry patch, 

thanks to a bunch of new blooms.
Almost all the tulips are out, the hostas are just beginning to open
& the creeping phlox is blooming.

A brief afternoon in the sewing room with munchkin today 

produced 4 bookmarks---a special request. 

Now that we have the hang of it, 

she'll be whipping up a few more this week.

*Thankfully, mom's fabric stash is always available.*

Hopefully, I'll have a bit of time to sneak into the sewing room
and catch up on some 

much needed RSVP black & white blocks soon.

Piece.

Heather

Vacation Spot Surprise

                                     Mr. Fabulous is one smart cookie.

Before heading out to the beach our very first day away, he drove us straight to a little quilt shop & watched the munchkins for me while I took a quick look around. Of course, I found a few goodies including these Aunt Grace 30s reproductions.

THAT'S the way to a quilter's heart, isn't it? Surprise Fabric Shopping!!

 I found a couple black and whites for
RSVP blocks, some red just because & some blue with white polka dots possibly for the Farmer's Wife Quilt....we shall see....but I rarely say no to polka dots.

PIECE, Love & Fabric Shopping!

Heather

RSVP Block

It's been a wonderful week with some fun in the sun, photos to follow soon. 

Today, I whipped up a quick block for RSVP using 

Jinny Beyer's Centennial Pattern (FREE). 

The templates are available for a 12 inch block here. 

My block came up a little short since RSVP likes 12.5 inch square unfinished. 

I added a little matching polka dot border to get it to their preferred size. 

I wonder if I was supposed to do scant 1/4 throughout 

or if anyone else runs into the same issue. 

In any case, block number one is done!

Now, if I could just master the photo editing on the apple I'd be set.

PIECE.

Heather

SHIPPING SALE!

Good things come to those who wait....

It's that time of year again: ERICA'S SALE DAYS!

Free US Shipping & 1/2 Price INTERNATIONAL Shipping on orders $75 or more (excluding tax)!!! It's good through 3/25/13, so get your shop on.

To find the 30's reproductions fabrics, be sure to click on the fabrics link at the left side of their first page and go to Old Fashioned. I had a very difficult time finding these my first visit but knew they carried a great selection of 30's prints, having shopped at a vendor site during a local quilt show. Going to the shop is definitely best, but when I can't get over to South Bend, having them online is helpful. 

A little plug for my 'local' shop-----it's a wonderful spot. Needle & Thread in Valparaiso, IN has some amazing flannels, GORGEOUS floss, wool, tons of patterns & a nice selection of 30s fabrics as well. It's the perfect spot for gifting civil war reproduction prints and for the material I use for RSVP charity blocks most of the time, too. Friends who love batiks are amazed when they step into the separate room of jewel toned goodness.  Have some themed fabric you're on the hunt for? You'll probably be able to find it here. This is my go-to shop for just about everything. Best of all, the owner & staff have always been FANTASTIC! 

If you can't find what you're looking for, just give them a call. 

Happy Shopping,

Heather

RSVP BLOCK REQUEST 2013

If you feel like digging out some black and white fabrics, RSVP is requesting 12" finished blocks of your choice in B&W. Please send an email for details if you'd like to participate. Any assistance is greatly appreciated. For links to free patterns used in the past, be sure to check out the fall color post and to view previous blocks donated, check out this post & the final raffle quilt photo here.

Piece.

Heather

Traditional Block: English Ivy Revisited

English Ivy antique quilts in museum collections 

date back to 1830...

though I'm still on the hunt for even older versions.

In my research, I came across the same pattern

entitled Clover Blossom.

RSVP quilt block: English Ivy

With this information, I was able to

track down free instructions:

Clover Blossom on the Quilter's Casche FREE 12" finished pattern.

Here's to hoping you enjoy the block

as much as I have.

Happy Piecing,

Heather

Traditional Block: English Ivy

I first saw this pattern at the International Quilt Show at Rosemont 

where a beautiful antique quilt called 'tobacco leaf' stole my heart. 

The majority of blocks I've found with tobacco in the title consist of curved pieces.

It took quite a while to track the original pattern down... 

I finally found it and whipped up a quick block 

for the RSVP fundraiser quilt. 

The English Ivy Vintage Pattern dates back to the early 1900s,

appearing in the Kansas City Star in 1931.

Can't you just see a whole quilt of these beauties?

Happy Piecing,

Heather

=D

Fall Themed Blocks

RSVP has requested some 'Fall Themed' Blocks

{12.5 inch unfinished} for their annual fundraiser quilt.

Anyone interested in creating pieced or applique blocks 

for the quilt is welcome to join in the fun. 

You can read more about RSVP here.

Please feel free to email for any questions/comments

at heatherL [02] at yahoo dot com

Some of the blocks RF readers 

donated in previous years include:

Kaleidoscope Variation

Indian Trail

Hidden Well

Album

Peace & Plenty

Carrie Nation

Contrary Wife

Shoofly Geese

Wild Goose Chase part 1 & 2

Bear's Paw Variation

Lady of the Lake

Weathervane

A search of RSVP on the blog will bring up 

additional posts, if you'd like to learn more.

All my best,

Heather

Speaking of RSVP...

How many blocks look familiar?

Here's a hint or two & links

(plus some free patterns):

Sometimes Things Don't Go as Planned.

{the second batch of floss was noticeably off}

I hit a roadblock on the RSVP 

car embroidery project and have been...

well, avoiding it as of late.

Sometimes things just don't seem to go the way you'd like & you just have to start over.
snip. snip. snip.

When we were kids & needed a second chance,
we "called a Do Over".

No shame in our game.

Do over it is!

Heather

RSVP Embroidery

Slow progress on the RSVP car quilt block, but it's been a while 

since I did any embroidery.

The fill should go quickly in red...

it's the chrome I'm a little worried about.

Those who were with us last year 

may remember my less than stellar use of the super thin 

(and incredibly slippery)

silver thread.

Have a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

We're going to celebrate in our jammies and get plenty of rest while we can.

Looks like our dog has a head start.

Best Wishes & Happy Stitches,

Heather

Embroidery

Sorting through my embroidery floss the other day,

I came across some beautiful colors that have me thinking it's about time

to start up a little hand work project.

 RSVP has such good timing! This is the car I'll be working on the next few weeks 

{when I'm not piecing a Farmer's Wife block, that is}.

Happy Sewing,

Heather

=)

Redrafts, Piecing & Applique Fun

'Soulard' fleur-de-lis variation

My very first applique block for RSVP is done and on it's way to the volunteers. I could not find a pattern that fit the black & white theme but kept coming back to a fleur-de-lis. After seeing a couple versions in the recently purchased Circuit Riders Quilt Book, I simplified the design, widening the ring in the process.

The white is Robert Kaufman Kona cotton and the background is from Blank Quilting, purchased at our local quilt shop in Valparaiso called Needle & Thread.





Spiderweb or Kaleidoscope

Bloggers' Block-A-Palooza #3, Shoefly Geese
Free Pattern available: HERE

Wild Goose Chase Free Pattern at Jinny Beyer's site

Redrafted Fancy Dresden Plate also known as Dresden China Plate, Aster & Friendship Ring

Originally, I saw a 20 petal 'Dresden Plate' pattern in Better Homes and Gardens' 1977 hardcover edition of Patchwork and Quilting. The pattern called for 14 1/2 inch background fabric and I had to get it to 12" finished block to meet the charity quilt criteria, so I eliminated several petals on the redraft.

You may remember I also purchased the Fancy to Frugal Book of 30s Patterns not long ago. 'Fancy Dish' is on the cover but calls for 17" blocks (and 20 petals, also)....I rarely go larger than 12" blocks these days, though I did find the additional petals look really pretty in various colors.

Talking about the variations of the Dresden online recently, I came across a wonderful quilter named Sue whose family was from Kansas. She was kind enough to share family photos from a vintage Fancy Dresden circa 1930s and other quilts made from the 30s to the 50s.

 Isn't this a treasure?
Thank you again, Sue for kindly sharing photos and allowing me to post them here.

Best Wishes & Happy Quilting,
Heather



Berries & Blocks

Strawberries are coming in daily & the neighborhood kids find picking them quite entertaining. We've plenty to share {a Pyrex bowl a day now}...though some crepe eating family members may not agree.

A good part of our free time is spent outside these days. As a result, updates have not been posted as often as usual. Not to worry, RF readers...it won't be long and I'll have a few more black and white blocks to post for RSVP's charity block drive. The most recent 12" finished blocks have been slow going simply because the sunshine has been too tempting to miss. I'll be sure to post some free links with the latest blocks, assuming I see the sewing room this week.

Enjoy your weekend.

Best Wishes,

Heather

Catching Up

Lancaster County III by Judie Rothermel for Marcus Brothers

 It's been a long couple of weeks.

I won a stack of fabrics from the Wandering Stars Blog and a great pattern, too. Selina & Lizze of W.S. host a great cyber gathering on Friday evenings. You can catch the conversation on Twitter, hashtag #gdas. Hope you'll join in the fun discussions about favorite music, links and sewing related topics.

They're not just bloggers, but Etsy Shop owners, too. Find them at http://thewanderingstars.etsy.com/, on Twitter @ws_on_etsy and Facebook as Wandering Stars. Thanks again, girls for the goodies & Friday sewing parties!!

 So....here's my latest distraction. It's for RSVP's biggest fundraiser and I'm hoping an awesome car collector or sweet gear head bids on it.

What a fantastic gift it will make!

This is just one of the designs.

Each block is hand embroidered. Yes, HAND embroidered.

My block took 88.75 hours to complete. whew.

Don't laugh. I haven't embroidered since I was 10..I tried!

1967 Toyota 2000GT

Woo HOO! Fun mail included selvages this week!!!

Special thanks to the senders.

Happy Stitching,

Heather

=)

Applique Daffodils & Fun Mail

Using Barbara Brackman's vintage applique daffodil block pattern, available

at BarbaraBrackman.blogspot.com,

I whipped up a table runner for a birthday gift in 30s, reproductions.

The flowers in the yard must have been an inspiration.

The backing is the same print as the center block.

 I just knew I was hanging on to that Judie Rothermel Aunt Grace

ties one on fabric for a reason!

The applique fabric pieces were from the Dear Jane stash.

Speaking of stash...

Special thanks to the sender of this beautiful fabric.

My mind is racing with possibilities.

I had no idea the line included a pink version!!

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit with Shirley Johnson at RSVP. She's thrilled with the goodies and blocks from the RETRO-Fabulous readers and was kind enough to share a quick embroidery lesson. Next on my list: a detailed embroidery block for another RSVP project in the works.

Happy Stitching,
Heather

Tuesday's Triangle

RS 9: Another quick triangle to add to the completion list.

It won't be long and I'll be on to the left side.

Fabric choices for the remaining triangles should be ready this weekend.

I picked up a few supplies this week at the LQS...including some

black and white fabric for RSVP blocks.

I'll get back to those after finishing up the remaining DJ triangles & kites.

Happy Stitching,

Heather

 

3 Triangles Today & Debi's Blocks

TR 1, BR 13, BR 12

Today was a great day for sewing.

Adding BR12 & 13 to the finished pile as well as TR1.

The triangles for the bottom row are finished.

That's a good feeling!

This afternoon, I made fabric choices for the top row triangles

& caught up with an old friend.



Debi B (aka Quiltinggirl)'s blocks for RSVP
look to be a fun variation of the Ohio Star.



If you'd like a copy of the instructions for Debi's block, called Sunrise Star, you'll find it here.
For a traditional Ohio Star, please click here. 

Thank you, Debi!

A bit of black and white fabric arrived today {I love fun mail}.

It has me thinking of yet another black & white block.

All in all, a wonderful day.

I hope yours was just as fabulous.

Best Wishes,

Heather

Super SEW Sunday

Poor neglected Jane.

I finished the blocks back in September...some of you will, no doubt remember the post-a-day Block Blitz that ended on my 40th birthday.

Afterwards, I completed a few triangles but have not given my Over the Rainbow 30s Jane much thought since.

Today, I set aside the black and white RSVP blocks

(after whipping up just one more) and re-organized some 30s reproductions.

You know what that means.

It won't be long now.

For those of you new to my total obsession interest in all things Jane related, please take a step back in time to enjoy the madness.

Happy Super SEW Sunday!
{like I'd say Super Bowl! Good one. lol}

Heather