Friday, June 19, 2009

Redwork Projects!

Good evening everyone,

I am much later getting on here than I had planned. About noon, we had more storms blow through. It didn't amount to much, but kept me off the computer. I guess that is a good thing. (grin) Of course, it also kept me off my sewing machine, not a good thing. So I spent most of the afternoon doing some redwork. I am doing a darling cherry pie picture. I'll show it to you in a bit.

Speaking of redwork. I won the 1st day giveaway from Sandi. She was celebrating her one year blogging anniversary. I received my prize yesterday. I am so tickled with it. Sandi could not have picked anything better. There are 2 vintage Aunt Martha transfers, 4 skeins of floss, 18 (8 1/2 inch) squares of Mary Englebreit red cotton fabric, a package of Mary E. self stick notes, a cute gift bag and darling card. That fabric will be so cute as blocks around a redwork piece.
Aren't these vintage iron on transfers cute? They brought back memories for me. My grandma used to embroider tea towels with designs kind of like these. There is a price tag on one of them that says $.55 from T,G, & Y. I remember going to that store as a kid, but it has been closed around here for at least 20 years. Grandma used to buy her crochet thread there. The designs are kind of hard to see, but the one on the left is a bride's work week and the one on the right is called hillbilly romance. It is funny. Thank you again, Sandi. I love these.
I told you last week that I was going to work on some redwork projects. These first 2 had medium weight fusible interfacing ironed to the back of them, but it must have been old because it started coming loose as I started stitching. It didn't matter, though, because it was already held in place by my stitches.
One good thing about the interfacing on the back, it made the design area stiff enough that I didn't need a hoop. I started out doing a stem/outline stitch on the star of this welcome design. It didn't take me long to deside I didn't like that stitch much. So I finished the star then did the rest of it in back stitch. I guess I am just a backstitch kind of girl, because that is what I have been using the most of. The cherry pie design has a regular piece of batting behind it. I have been using a hoop with it.
Here is what it looks like this evening after working on it this afternoon. I may try doing some work without the hoop now and see how that works. So far, I like both the fusible interfacing and the batting behind the design area. The batting kind of makes it look like it is already quilted and is easy to tie off the thread in it, but I didn't have to use the hoop with the interfacing. I will say, though, that if my interfacing was newer, it might have made the needle sticky going through it. Wouldn't want that, so I will probably stick with the batting behind. I am having fun with this. By the way, I found all of these fabulous designs to download free from here. If you like primitive, you will love her designs. I am afraid to say that I added to my evergrowing pile of printed off projects, but I already have several of them prepped and ready to start. (grin)
Ever come up with a new dish by accident that your husband loves? That happened to me today. I was planning to fix hamburgers for lunch. (Dh works the 3-11 shift.) When I went to get the burger, it was still frozen in the middle. I already had my skillet getting hot, so I just dumped it in. I chopped up about 1/4 cup each of onion and red peppers (cause I put these in almost everything I cook) and 3 mushrooms that needed to be used. After this was all cooked, I added a can of diced tomatoes and a drained can of red kidney beans. Then I looked in the fridge and found about 1/2 cup peas leftover from my supper last night and about 1/2 cup steel cut oats leftover from our breakfast. Hmm.... Yep, I dumped them in, then added some sea salt, pepper, chili powder, and cumin. It turned out good! My hubby said to be sure to write the recipe down so I could make this again. So now, if I forget, I will come to my blog and check it out. LOL I think I will call this Hamburger Surprise. (grin)
Well, I have rambled on long enough. Of course, I have talked to dh in the mean time while typing. He usually calls me every evening during his break to make sure I am doing ok and see if I need him to pick up anything for me. Isn't that sweet? Yesterday, since the weather was actually storm free, I used my sewing machine alot. I came up with 2 kitty quilt tops from leftover blocks and strips. I plan to practice machine quilting on them. Anyone else make quilts for your cats or dogs? Everyone have a good weekend. Thank you for visiting and please come again.

10 comments:

Andrea said...

Hi Winona - yes my three cats all have their own quilt - lol... But they seem to gravitate to any quilt in the house anyway. It is raining out and all three have found a quilt and are fast asleep.

Crispy said...

Congrats on the win!! I love you Cherry Pie project...I'd always request cherry pie for my birthday "cake".

I made a rag quilt for my HUGE yellow lab grandpuppy. It was kinda small so it fit in his crate, where he liked to sleep. He must love it because during the day, he would drag it onto his big round doggy bed LOL.

Crispy

Pat said...

I enjoy embroidery projects, too. Looks like you won the perfect prize from Sandi with those patterns!!! I've never done embroidery with batting behind it but will have to try that soon....I like the idea of it looking quilted already!

~Bren~ said...

Your redwork is beautiful! I am just not a stitchy kinda girl. I love the look of it, but there is nothing like a quilting needle! I have a gorgeous pattern I want to make a quilt out of and it has embroidery squares....I am going to have my mom do them this winter and I will do the patchwork and hand quilting. That way some of my mom's work is in the quilt.
The storms we had yesterday were not bad until about 6pm last night. We had some pratty bad ones!
I love hamburger surprise...I have a couple of those I have stumbled across too!

Karen said...

I remember TG &Y stores. I used to buy fabric there a long time ago. Brings back memories.

Cathi said...

I love your stitchery projects. Have you ever tried using a white muslin behind your fabric when doing a stitchery? I tried it and loved how it worked. I just quickly basted the white muslin to the fabric on which I was stitching and then threw it in the hoop.

~JoAnn~ said...

Winona~ I remember T G and Y too, we had them here a long time ago. I Love your redwork. I have never though about using batting behind I do put fusible interfacing on everything I stitch and it does seem to help. Haven't had a problem with the needle sticking at least not yet. Thanks for the link looks like some nice things there. Glad your storms weren't too bad. Sounds like you have a very wondeful husband, you are blessed.
Blessings,Joann

Unknown said...

Wow I love your redwork stitching , they look great !

Paula said...

The redwork is beautiful, Winona!
I love the cherry pie and the fresh milk, but I love the welcome one the best! The little raggedy girl is so cute! I have a question- when you stitch- do you use a double strand of floss or single? Also- how do you knot it in the back so it doesn't pull through? I've always wanted to try stitching, but never knew how you get the thing started!

Myra said...

Wonderful redwork and goodies received Pat! 8-)

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