Stitchers, Sewists or Sewers

Sewist or sewer, which do you prefer or do you care?  Or perhaps you avoid the name and call yourself a stitcher as I usually do. Maybe we should just all settle on what we really truely are...sewaholics.   Sewist (which incorporates artist) seems a little new-fangled to me but at least it won't get confused for a word of a completely different meaning like sewer is.
 But whatever we call or have called ourselves, we have been represented in art for as long as time. 

There are so many lovely images of women with their bit of handwork.  I can't help but think it must have been extremely meaningful to them to have their portrait painted doing a little sewing.  I wonder did the artists themselves have any clue as to which kind of sewing they were painting.



Woman Sewing In A Garden, 1881 by Berthe Morisot



This is a free pdf file of the portrait to colour or stitch from the wonderful Nadene at her blog  Practical Pages.
Nadene covers a range of topics in her posts and has very interesting home schooling material.  I love her emphasis on art in children's curriculum in particular and the Art Era Timelines are fun to look through.  I am thankful as well that Nadene led me to Charlotte Mason and her life's work improving school experiences for all children.  New to me and very interesting reading.

 

This photo appeared on my Facebook page via Melly Sews.  As you can imagine there were many comments.  Someone said this is like the opposite of an airbag!  Definitely an ardent sewist!  She's not going to get behind on her quilting, vacation or not.

Rex at the start of the Hawthorn Grove last April

I've mentioned that we have a hawthorn grove behind the house and our walking trail weaves through it.  I was telling you about how thorny these bushes are and how sharp the thorns are.  Well I was reading that thorns of  the Hawthorn tree were used as needles in ancient times and they are strong enough to pierce leather.





Here is a photo of  Hawthorn needles I found on the internet.
By my reckoning I would have had more than enough thorns to supply needles for the whole country's sewists, sewers, stitchers, whichever, just from my back yard. 

Naturally Beautiful Structures are Nests

This is the oldest tree on the property, the old oak which I've shown you before. Somehow it has escaped the axe in over a hundred years.  It is just coming into leaf in this photo.  As much as you might seek the shade on these hot summer days, you can't spend too much time under it as it is always losing bits and pieces of itself and any moment, you could get hit over the head with a bit of branch.  It still grows a few acorns though, which disappear as soon as they drop.  See the woodpile on the left; that's where two chipmunks live and I blame them for the vanishing acorns.

Hubby held a ladder for me but this was as high as I could get to take a picture.

This is last year's robin's nest in the oak tree and it had been abandoned by the time I took this photo. With much trepidation, I watched her build this nest.  There was not a leaf on the tree when she started or finished; the nest was completely open to the sky and unprotected from the elements or predators.  I assume she was a novice mother to have picked such an unlikely spot to raise her baby birds.  It was a relief to realize after several days of watching that she had abandoned this site before laying any eggs.  But what a waste of her time and effort.  Robins build beautiful nests starting with grass and twigs, then form a cup of mud-like material, this part is perfectly smooth and strong, then that is lined with softer grass, hair, or hay.  I hope her instincts have kicked in and she has chosen a better nesting site now.

This was another failed site, in the wood shed attached to the garage.  I watched the robin work hard at this nest and get to the packed mud stage before abandoning it.  I think the cat was on the prowl and scared her off.


Here is a chipping sparrow's nest.  Tiny and sweet

and full of Rex's hairs.  I could feel the warmth of them when I held it in my hand.

Aren't nests the most remarkable structures?

Last year's chipping sparrow's nest from the same fir tree in the back yard that the sparrows always favour.  There are usually several nests in this tree. This nest was like the one above, quite tiny and the photo can't let you tell just how small the nest and the miniature egg are but believe me very tiny.  Several days later when I checked back, there were four eggs sitting there.  In contrast to the robin's nest, I only knew this nest was there from observing the mother flying back and forth to the site. Just like this year, I had to lift the covering branch to see the nest and don't worry, I was careful not to disturb her any time when she was there.  Anyway, this nest was perfectly hidden, completely covered; no predator could see it from above for sure. 

And here is another robin's nest in a corner of the barn in 2013.  All three of these eggs were eventually fledged successfully.

                                             It is really amazing what a beak can do!

Things I'm Ignoring This Week

Things I'm ignoring this week ( warning: old woman whining)

That basket of laundry in the back bedroom that needs to be ironed. 

 I know women who love to iron, find it soothing and satisfying to have a pile of wrinkle free items to show for their work.  Not me.  Ironing is the last thing I will want to do though when I do get at it, I think 'this isn't so bad'.  Why the procrastination?  Just don't know.
Hubby, bless his heart, thought the problem was the tool and researched irons and ordered from the U.S. what is considered a wonderful iron. I was suitably pleased by his gesture but ironing remains on the bottom of my to-do list. 

The weeding in the garden

My morning glories are surely going to lose their way if I don't soon  pull out all the grass that is steadily growing higher and winning the race for the best spots on the fence and in the process, obscuring my little purebreds.
There is always weeding to be done. Comes with the territory and why is it weeds grow more profusely than anything else in the garden.

The fuss about Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner

I mean kudos to him for doing what he felt needed doing after all these years and if it is a help to others finding their way, all the better.  I'm all for extracting that meaning from the focus on her, but the dress she is wearing or which wedge shoe or who did her makeup is blurring the lines.
 I just think generally too much of our collective attention gets side tracked sometimes to a few celebrities and their various shenanigans.  I used to get so tired of all the Paris Hilton (remember her?) news....
Maybe this is just showing my old fogyness.  Pop culture will always be with us.

The Political Scandals, No Make that Politics in General

My capacity to ignore political stuff is increasing with my age.  I got tired of hearing about Greece there for awhile. I've been sickened by the Canadian Senate scandal involving using tax money for personal use ( for which we caught John Oliver's attention).   I just have to try to smile or else I'd cry.  Which means I do still care.  Oh bother.

 

That Inner Critic

Who lives in my brain.  I've had the conversation with myself often not to beat myself up about not getting things done. I blame this particular one on retiring; for some reason I  naturally thought when I retired I would have the time to get all the creative/fun things done. I still have a million and one things I want to do and about a million of them are not getting done.  For instance, I have a sketch book full of drawings but nothing has made it beyond those pages.
Yet my days seem so full with just about every minute accounted for which all is a bit of a mystery.

I think he was expressing angst about the Industrial Revolution, but these words of Wordsworth are still so meaningful...

"The world is too much with us; late and soon,

Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers. "

Hope you are making super use of all your powers.

Pleasing Perennials and An Ancient Wildflower

 My garden bouquet this week and the emphasis is on the yellows.  Of interest is the daisy like flower here which is Inula.  This is a perennial planted many decades ago and it has spread far and wide across the property.  Here they grow very tall, 3 to 5 feet, and are a treat to spy in between lots of thick wild vegetation.  Inula are hardy and long-blooming which makes them ideal for a garden.

Their leaves are very long and such a pretty shade of green I like to include them too.  Inula stand up  well as a cut flower which makes them perfect for my table this week.

The other yellow flower in this bunch is the Common Tansy.  To the right of our laneway, bunches and bunches of  this wildflower, Tansy, are now in bloom.  I must admit I just love the close up view of them...all these little button like flowers forming the one large cluster.  For centuries, this plant was used medicinally and its leaves can be used for a sage like seasoning.
In with this bunch, there are a few sprigs of white yarrow just starting to bloom to give a little contrast.

I took this photo on my walk  yesterday. The whole trail is darkened these days because of  the roof like canopy the meeting tree tops are forming.  It is pleasant and cool on a hot day. 

His Motto is "On The Go"

 

"Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting."

Usually three days of most weeks I babysit my younger grandson.  He is at that interesting stage of growth, betwixt and between infancy and childhood, a toddler.  It means he has the locomotion down pat...he can now race around, and knows to use stools, bureau drawers, chairs or boxes to aid in climbing.  But he doesn't have the sense to know what is safe and what is dangerous.  His curiosity knows no boundary. He will refuse a snack, sleep or cuddles to examine a small hole he has just spied in the wall; a hole no adult has ever noticed.  The very first thing he will want to do is put his finger in it. 

He is a typical active 20 month old who just goes from one thing to the next during his day. One minute riding his little scooter or balancing on his rocking horse, but the next trying to fit himself on the narrow window ledge to reach a fly.    I try to stay within arms' length because he is such an avid climber with a strong dash of dare devil thrown into his makeup. 

 Right now it is all about exploring and conquering his physical space.   

                              He asks two questions often and by often I mean all the time..
                              'what is this?'  and 'what is that?'

Eggs are very appealing as he loves to pick off the shell.  Likewise the Babybel cheese.  He loves picking off  the cellophane and the red rind. 

  He has a great appetite which delights the grandmothers and luckily will happily eat greens and other vegetables, so far. We know this can change in a heartbeat.

 He is trying to get his blankets to stay put on the sides; he succeeded in making a little fort which he sat in and looked at a book for about three minutes.  

                                   The car is one of his favourite places to be.  On the go.

But it's when he wakes from his nap that is my favourite time with him.  He is very quiet and cuddly and that is when I get to read to him.  For about five minutes.  Then it is back to 'on the go'.

Mystery Quilt Along and All Her Quilts

I wanted to tell you about a site that for a special reason you might like to check out right away.  The site is The Painted Quilt.

The lady behind this wonderful quilting site is Kaaren Johnston.  She is an artist and designer who posts frequently and has a wealth of knowledge and sewing know how to share.  Kaaren offers a full bank of sweet patterns all available to download for free. She also generously provides tutorials so her site is very fleshed out especially with her Etsy shop connection and various sites she is linked with.
Kaaren currently has a stitch along project that I wanted to show you as I'm sure many will be interested.  Her post,  Mystery Quilt Along, Step 1, provides all the information to get you started. The beginning is Houses and who doesn't love houses.  This is a great little design, simple yet effective, and what a great way to use up scraps.





Kaaren offers a Pdf file with complete instructions and information.  By the sound of it, many people are joining in so it promises to be a great stitch along.

And I'm showing you this photo titled All Her Quilts that floated around Facebook last month.  It is a lady in a Newfoundland outport with some of the quilts she has made. It seems she's been very productive! The quilts all look interesting and it's a shame the photo isn't clearer.
 What an interesting way to display quilts...a fence and a clothesline in the great outdoors. 
 

You Must Hear This

                                             


I don't know how many of you would have read this story.  I do know many of you probably hold pins in your mouth when sewing.  It is the classic image really, isn't it?  Seamstress on her knees, holding the hem of a gown pinning the length while gripping an extra pin or two in her mouth.  You must read  Annie McCarthey's story  I Inhaled A Pin Into My Lung about a pin that one second was in her mouth and the next down her throat.  I guarantee when you read this you won't be using your mouth as a pin cushion again.

And speaking of pin cushions or pin keeps as they are sometimes called...instead of your mouth...

Look at this beauty.  It is found at fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net and was pinned on Pinterest.  I would love to give you the embroiderer's name but a search did not reveal it.  If anyone knows, would you please email me the information.  This is just too pretty to miss.



  
And this is a lovely crocheted African flower pin cushion made by the very talented Sandra at Cherry Heart and the link To Her Tutorial to Make This Sweet Project is Here.



 


I've read ideally a pin cushion should be filled with steel wool.  This helps sharpen the pin each time it is inserted.  I would not have thought of that.

 There are so many clever, innovative, and beautiful ideas for making unique pin keeps I just have to keep showing you more.

 These below are quilted and I thought what a great way to use up scraps.  You can find a complete tutorial by Judith Dahmen at The Liberty Craft Blog Uk.
 Judith is an accomplished quilter and I love her use of colour in particular.
You can follow Judith's quilting journey at her blog which is Needles and Lemons.

 





How about a traveling pin keep?  Who doesn't have these old medicine bottles around and wonder what to do with them. Find out how to convert them at Christy Robbins Blogspot.  Christy's site, From Glitter to Gumdrops is chock a block with all kinds of ideas for every occasion of the calendar year, many very economical and clever.

And lastly, one I think is a small work of art.




Lori Ann Corelis is a textile artist who creates original bears and rabbits.  She describes the tuffet as the pin cushion and the little mohair rabbit as being ready and able to help with any of your sewing projects. Adorable.  You can read more about Lori and view her gallery of work at her blog The Spotted Hare.

So many great projects to hold pins rather than your mouth. But you know I bet Annie is not the first person to have swallowed a pin.  Gives me the willies just thinking that thought.

You'll find oodles of pin keep ideas on the web.  Pinterest alone has hundreds. They seem to be a favourite project for many stitchers, I guess because they are small, doable and don't require a lot in materials. 


Something completely different. I couldn't resist showing you this.

 I always knew John Lennon was my favourite Beatle for a reason!

                                        .