I find the quilt-making process exhausting and yet every time I finish one (not that there have been that many times) I’m already thinking about my next.
Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow is a movie that has certainly grown on my over the years. (I know I’ve must have mentioned this movie before!) I love the production design, especially the costumes; Colleen Atwood can do no wrong. But in the last few years (I watch it annually around this time) I’ve changed my focus to something else: the quilt.
This quilt is one of the prettiest I’ve seen. The pictures are dark, I know, but I hope you can see what I see. This simple triangle pattern might be my favorite quilt design. I’ve seen this type of pattern more often in older quilts, like early and mid 19th C. What I find most interesting are that the triangle’s bases in one row do not line up with those of the next. (Unlike the example you can see here.) Instead the triangles themselves line up with the triangles in the second row over. (Sorry for the possibly convoluted explanation.) This pattern seems less common than the former, perhaps because it’s more difficult to keep all the rows lined up neatly without having the bases to match up.
Here you can see some detail. This is also proof that I’m a certifiable sewing nerd: “Folks, forget Johnny - LOOK AT THE QUILT!” Oh, I even love the shattered pieces and yellowing. Look at the blue piece by Johnny’s right ear, isn’t it lovely? (Gosh, I wonder how the art department found such a quilt. It looks like a genuine antique, doesn’t it?)
Another slightly more awkward image of Johnny, I mean Ichabod, on the quilt.
I’d like to make a quilt like this. I don’t know if I’d use feedsack or feedsack-like prints or something more Victorian. I’d probably use colors that are lighter and maybe a little brighter although I really love the ones used in this piece. Anyway, I don’t know when I’ll make this but I already have some fabric in my stash that would be suitable. I hope to start this winter.
In the meantime, I’ve got some frocks to finish up and share with you!
I love to watch movies for the costumes. (And if you’re anything like me, you do too!) I had placed Kit Kittredge: An American Girl in my Netflix queue months ago for this very reason. I’ve never had much interest in the American Girl doll phenomenon (I have to admit, I’ve been more of a Barbie fan) but when I saw the trailer for this movie I figured it would be a wealth of Depression era fashion inspiration.
“Depression era fashion inspiration” sounds rather contradictory. But even those families who had to pinch their pennies often managed, with a lot of creativity, to produce unique and pretty clothing for themselves. Feedsacks, scraps and old clothes were given new life and transformed things like day dresses and quilts.
My favorite part of everyday 1930s fashion (besides the sweetest prints and handmade sweaters) are the little details: plackets, collars, ties, buttons, etc.!
I don’t want to spoil the movie for you so I’ve only posted some of my favorites. There are plenty more highlights in the movie, including lots of inspiring grown-up wear! (I even spied some Remix shoes.) It’s a cute family film with a wonderful cast (Stanley Tucci, Abigail Breslin, Joan Cusack and Julie Ormond), albeit a little slow at times. It would be a good movie to watch on a Sunday afternoon or weekday evening with a pot of tea and some vintage sewing or knitting to work on.
Have you seen this movie? If so, what are your thoughts? What costumes movies do you find inspiring?
Two very talented ladies (”very talented” doesn’t even begin to describe them, actually) are coming out with new craft books this year. I’m very crafty myself (um, yea?) but I don’t own very many craft books. Nowadays I tend to only get the ones I really, truly want; too many craft books in my collection have ended up on the local library steps (figuratively speaking) and that can get expensive (although I’m always happy to donate useful things).
And the books I’m referring to are about two of my favorite things: embroidery and paper dolls! Both so dear to my heart, perhaps because they remind me so much of my childhood art-making.
My friend Alicia’s “Embroidery Companion” is such a beautiful book, due out August 10th. I mean, look at the cover! Sheesh, I love that skirt. I want that skirt. We need to embroider more, don’t you think?
Emily Winfield Martin (I just had to mention her middle name, as it is the best ever), also has a book coming out on November 2nd called “The Black Apple’s Paper Doll Primer.” This book looks like so much fun for both little and big kids (I.e. moi). I bet you could get lost in it (which is fine by me, especially if that sweet little white bunny led the way).
Both books are available for pre-order if you want to make sure you get a copy. And don’t forget to click the above links to find out more info and see some sample projects!
Where the Cardinals Sleep; 8.5 x 11 watercolor on paper
This is one of those pieces that had a very humble beginning. I’m acquiring a much better habit of sketching to just draw and see where that takes me.
The other night Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow was on TV and with hot chocolate in hand (seems like there’s almost always hot chocolate involved any task I do!) I drew this lass, a cardinal friend. Can you see references to the movie? I think they kind of snuck in there unconsciously.
This watercolor and its sociable birds remind me of the time when I was younger…I was outside on my parents’ porch while my mom watered her garden. The birds always liked to come by when she was doing this, perhaps because the fresh water was so much better than any standing pools they could find. A house finch flew down from the birch trees and landed on my arm, Sleeping Beauty-style. I was in a state of delight and concern for I had never experienced an encounter such as this - was this bird really friendly or was she trying to tell me something? She looked at me and chirped and hopped from side to side a bit. She jumped onto my shoulder just before tweeting her good-bye and flying back up into the trees.
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