DIY Leftover Yarn Winders

Isn't this a clever idea for your leftover embroidery floss and knitting yarn? I have way too many clip clothespins and this would be a good use for them.

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Old Indigo Blue Textile

Vintage Japanese Indigo. This graphic design reminds me of an American wedding ring quilt.

Perfect Summer Textiles

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Blue and White Awning Stripes.

Blue and White Ticking.

Blue and White Checks.

I love them all, especially in the summer.

Beautiful Embroidery

Flower Detail: Top Panel of Jane Nicholas Mirror stitched by Lorna Loveland.

Middle Panel

I wish I could see the entire finished mirror surround, don't you? Oh, the power of a woman with a needle!

UPDATE: I found the entire mirror!!!

It's beautiful, isn't it? via

Lovely Spring Things

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My snowdrops are up but the grape hyacinths haven't popped yet. I don't think I've ever seen a blue and white platter with this spring bulb in the pattern. It looks hand painted rather than transferware. 

Winter Antiques Show in NYC. Will you be going?

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POTTER, Beatrix. The Tailor of Gloucester. Privately printed in London for the author, December, 1902. Original pictorial pink boards. Housed in a custom chemise and half morocco slipcase. Offered at $32,000. Read more.

Click here for the list of exhibitors.

Lovely Woodland Fabrics

I love this fabric with original designs from nature. See more examples in Golly Bard's photostream on Flickr. I would love to have some draperies using any and all of these designs, wouldn't you?

Gorgeous Green Draperies

Click photo to enlarge.

This beautiful living room by Hudson Interiors is a perfect summer room, isn't it? I love the moss/sage/lime green fabric that was chosen for the draperies. I had a room painted the color of these walls once in my life and the paint color was called Lemon Sage. Now I'm loving it all over again. To see more photos, choose Wellesley Estate when the website opens. I love the symmetry of this view and you know I am a huge fan of black lampshades. Very.Nice.Indeed.

Wild Grape Vine Detail

     Photographed here at the cottage one day this week while on a nature walk with Webster. I love the shape, color and intricate design on wild grape leaves and this one is perfect. Stay cool in this heat wave. Ours is supposed to break on Sunday and I cannot wait. I am so tired of having the air conditioning on 24/7. It's okay during the day, but I really miss sleeping with my windows open.

     The big walk-in closet is empty downstairs. I cleaned it top to bottom yesterday and it looks so nice. I took a break for a few days but now I am moved to continue dealing with my mother's ground level dwelling. I have donated most of the clothes and am feeling good about that. She had the best taste in classic dresses and jumpers that never go out of style. I put aside a few of my favorites and I have them airing outside. Don't ask me why but one day I'll know the reason. 

     There was an interesting segment recently on NPR about "The Global Afterlife of Your Donated Clothes". I didn't know that 80% of all donated clothing ends up in the hands of textile recyclers. Anyway, it's better than having them end up in the landfill. Article and podcast here. Read it and weep.

     Have a great weekend and try to keep cool. I'll see you later.

Waiting for His Walk

The question is, "Who will be walking whom?" Isn't this the perfect use for a window seat? via

Laundry Day in the Country

Is she doing laundry or dyeing fabric? I can't tell and I want to know more. I love the house and the setting. I'm sure this rustic scene is in England, right? Andrew Montgomery photo. via
UPDATE: The lady is Polly Lyster and her firm is Dyeworks. I have the best researchers working for my blog. Thank you!

Gorgeous Bedroom

I think it's perfect in every respect, don't you? The headboard is beautiful and the chosen linens are wonderful on this bed. I'm quite sure the rest of the room is amazing too, just by looking at the windows. via

Hooked Rug with Not Quite White Owls

Not Quite White

21" x 27"

#8 and #6 cut wool on linen 

Designed and hooked by 

Karen Larsen

Crows’s Foot Farm Designs 

Elliottsburg, Pennsylvania 

2012

I recently reconnected with an old friend from this area who now lives in Pennsylvania. She has been hooking since 2006 and one of her original rug designs is on the November/December 2012 cover of Rug Hooking Magazine. 

Read about why these owls are "Not Quite White" in a portion of the article Creating White from Colors. I think she did a wonderful job, don't you? Her home was just photographed for an upcoming feature in Rug Beat. The owl rug looks beautiful on her dining room wall.

Image: IMPACT XPOZURES

Bee Quilt

It has been over a month since the beginning of the bee quilt. Hand printed bees on hand dyed fabric. Wonder how it's coming along? I love it so far! via

Royal Embroidered Monogram Crowned Initial 'E'

This is beautiful needlework, isn't it? I'm assuming it's for Queen Elizabeth II but I'm not really sure. See it full size at Townmouse on Flickr. You will be flabbergasted! 
Here's what she says about this piece in her embroidery photostream: "From an old, long out-of-print Italian book on beautiful monogram embroidery. It includes some of the best examples of this type of work I've ever seen. Many of these pieces were ebroidered for royal and titled families over the last century, hence the use of crowns in quite a lot of the work. The text is in italian."

I love this tree-themed sampler ! ! !

"Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree." ~ Martin Luther

I wish I could find a larger image of this delightful piece of needlework so I could read what's in the lower right portion. It's wonderful, isn't it?
Three Four readers were able to read the small print within the tree lower right. It says, "He who plants trees loves others besides himself." I love that quote by Thomas Fuller too. Thanks so much!!!
This sampler called 'And A Forest Grew' was designed by Karen of Rosewood Manor and the xstitch pattern is available here.

Chintz Love

The world just looks better when viewed between vintage chintz draperies with roses, doesn't it?

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Eye-Dazzling Red and White Quilt

This is one of the quilts that was exhibited in New York City at the Park Avenue Armory. I don't have any information on this particular quilt but I really admire this monumental graphic design that makes me dizzy and a little woozy when I look at the photo. The display lasted only 5 days and there were 650 quilts -- all red and white. I saw a short segment on Martha Stewart and learned that this color combination was the most popular because the dye formula that was used made the red fabric the most stable color of all. This must be true because I don't see any fading or running in all of the quilts that were on view. I didn't go in person but I've seen many photos...including those sent to me via iPhone by a friend.

650 Red and White Quilts at Park Ave Armory NYC

Free to the public. On display March 25-30, 2011

Park Avenue Armory, New York City

“Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts”

On loan from American Folk Art Museum

This special exhibit has a very short run which is such a shame. Five days is not long enough!!! When will you ever get another chance to see so many red and white quilts in one place so beautifully displayed? It's free too. Are you going? Read a great article about these quilts in the online edition of the Wall Street Journal.

You can download the FREE App for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod showing all the quilts in the exhibit in case you can't attend in person. How cool is that?

Purse Love

Love these purses patches and all. Do want! via