Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Quilt Plan and the Turn of the Century Home

I've been working on the plans for Sweet Teen's Opportunity Quilt.
 Here is the plan for the quilt.  I decided that due to it's size, I wanted the simpler blocks  in the corners so the quilt will show itself off better on a bed.
 I'm still figuring yardages for cutting since I want to strip piece it and EQ7 can't really provide me exactly the information that I need. This quilt was inspired by a 1903 triple Irish Chain made in the Oklahoma Panhandle that by the mid-1980's was living in East Tennessee.  I made a rather close copy of that blue and white quilt, but I no longer have the quilt.  I'll look for a photo of the original or of my quilt and scan it so that I can share it at some point while I'm making Sweet Teen's quilt.

These are the main fabrics.  The one in the Lower left barely shows, but it has many colors in it, is much more intense than the background fabric, and will show up in the quilt. I think one of the challenges of making quilts is that complicated fabrics don't usually show up well in photos.

I've also been very busy painting in preparation for the likelihood that I'll be back to work on Friday (after I see the rehab doctor on Thursday).

I repainted the fireplace surround in the livingroom and changed the display to seven of the pitchers I've collected over the years.  The one on the left is the oldest--from the days when my grandparents lived in a house without indoor plumbing.
 When we first bought this house, we used the fireplace all the time, and I didn't understand that the reason we were getting smoke in the house was that our chimney just isn't tall enough.  Now we never use it.  It's pretty, but it's just not worth the work and the mess. In any case, the mantle and the surround direly needed painting.
 This is why I'm questioning "The Turn of the Century."  When I was a child I always loved visiting homes that were much like they had been at the turn 19th to the 20th century.  I'm sure almost anyone would say I have just too much in my house, but since I'm not trying to sell it right now, and since my house is definitely my haven, I love being able to see things I treasure.  These boxes are full of yarn and needlework.  The lovely spider plant is one my assistant gave me a start of when she moved last January or February.  Clearly, it loves living in my haven too!
In any case, we may have passed the next turn of the century, but I still have a seventeen year old turn of the century house.

I rearranged another wall in my living room--putting up more plates that need a new home now that my buffet has a "hutch". Two of these plates have been in my family for at least three generations, one is fairly new, and the others were gathered from thrift stores, antique stores, friends, and a flea market over the course of many years.

Although my computer shows the wall color as somewhat lavender, it's actually a pale orchid.  Because the living room is on the north side of the house, blue would have been too cool a color (although I did use blue and yellow in the kitchen).  The orchid shade looks cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
 I really was a Victorian when I rearranged the piano and the wall above it. I will be putting more doilies along the edge of the shelf when they are dry.  I just love the little things I've collected.
The plate on the wall to the right is a commemorative plate from my hometown's centennial in 1954. (My daughter loves that it has a picture of my high school--apparently built from a plan used by many different communities.   Some people bought enough of these plates for a table service.  My mother had a few, but this is the only one I have.

 I love the antique candy dish my cousin Joy gave me a few years ago, and the inkwell is one that has been in my family for many years.  I have no idea what happened to the lid.  It had been a while since I polished the tray it sits in--but it's no long blue and black with tarnish!

 The rose plate at the rear is very old, but I found it cast aside at a thrift store.  The silver birds are a salt and pepper set my mother received as a wedding gift (the salt has corroded the head and neck of one).  The little blue iridescent bird is dated 1990 and was a gift from my Aunt Louise.

This little harp playing angel was part of a set my mother purchased decades ago, but it's the only one left, the others having been seriously chipped and broken over the years.

See?  Lots of little treasures that I still treasure (and which make my daughter crazy).

 And here's the freshly painted "hutch" that is actually an Ethan Allen Nutmeg book case from the 1950's  I bought it because I've been looking for about 15 years for a hutch that matched my buffet.  The irony:  you can't even see the lines at the top that match the bottom and top of the buffet.

I'm going to link to Esther Liu's WIPs on Wednesday and Freshly Pieced, as well as Connie's Freemotion By the River  and will hope that none of my visitors mind seeing the redecorating endeavors.

Updating to add a link to Vintage Thingee Thursday over at Suzanne's blog.


Happy Quiltmaking.....

18 comments:

Rosemary Dickinson said...

Dora, I love all the wonderful items you've collected. My parents are both immigrants so everything we have is fairly new. But my husband's side has been in this country much longer. I was thrilled to get some old china plates and tea cups. I even have actual drawings of his great great great grandparents on their wedding day. Those items are so precious. Hold on to them!! I'm sure your quilt will look great. You've chosen some great fabric!

Anonymous said...

Dora, you have such lovely treasures. I live in a 200 year old house, so plates and teapots and such are a joy to decorate with...just like you :)

Thank you for stopping by the cottage and saying hello. I am so glad that many other ladies, like yourself, use a treadle sewing machine :D

Maria

Christine said...

How neat! You have some really pretty treasures.

Quilting Babcia said...

"Staging" a home for sale is highly overrated in my opinion. I'd never buy a house that didn't look lived in by a real family. What you have is a real family home with treasures that make YOU happy! My home is similarly decorated, with the treasures big and small that we've accumulated over the years, and family photos in a 'rogue's gallery' on the wall just above the computer where I can see them every day. Love those thrift store and yard sale finds!

Auntie Em said...

Thanks for the tour of your freshly painted living room. What lovely little treasures you have in every corner! I especially like the new hutch.
Congratulations on being well enough to return to work.

Antiques And Teacups said...

Lovely! I especially like your plate wall and your blue and whites...but then, that's my favorite! Wonderful collection. So pretty! Happy VTT!
Ruth

Pokey said...

What a beautiful visit around your home, Miss Dora! You have such nice collections, and they are displayed so nice, it truly is a haven!
I know you must be having mixed emotions on the visit tomorrow, I'll be praying for the answers to come. Tomorrow is our picture day, you know how fun that is!
:-}pokey

Coloradolady said...

What treasures you have showed here today! I simply LOVE that quilt pattern and the fabrics you have chosen. I have had a quilt like that on my list for a while now, just have not gotten time to start it!! I love your white pitchers too and of course all the rose pattern china!! Happy VTT

The 4 Bushel Farmgal said...

What lovely vignettes you've created to make a warm and happy home! So many cherished family treasures to have love all around. Thank you for inviting us in today. Have a wonderful VTT!

Anonymous said...

nice post thanks for sharing...blessings

LV said...

You are using your fireplace in a very nice way. I live in front of mine in the winter.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Pretty treasures. I hope you get to go back to work tomorrow. I know you have missed it. Good luck.

MQuilter said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
bunbear said...

ohh such pretties! what treasures you have!

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Your home looks beautiful, cozy and inviting with all the wonderful vintage and antique pieces! Love seeing your displays! Thanks for sharing.
Freemotion at the River Linky Party Tuesday

Glenda said...

Lovely lovely treasures and so beautifully displayed. What a joy to see them all. Cheers Glenda

Glenda said...

Lovely lovely treasures and so beautifully displayed. What a joy to see them all. Cheers Glenda

DragonPoodle said...

I love seeing your goodies. Congratulations on going back to work--hope all goes well for you.
Cheryl Warren

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