Not Much Stitching . . . . .

Between taking a day off to wander around with a bunch of botany nerds in search of the Eastern prairie fringed orchid on Wednesday . . .

. . . and packing the car on Thursday to move all this stuff to the group yard sale . . .

I haven't done much stitching the past few days. 

Meandering through wild areas, off-trail in search of this lovely wild orchid was like being 12 years old again and exploring the over grown fields around my childhood home.  I feel like I'm with my tribe when I hang out with folks that enjoy all the nuances of exploring wild places!

The orchids are scarce and we were distracted by anything interesting like frogs -- but not just any frog -- Leopard frogs!!  They seem rare these days compared to my youth.  But not in the swamp forest at Maumee Bay State Park in Northwest Ohio -- we counted over 120 as we searched along the boardwalk near the Nature Center for more orchids. 

I could catch one of these with my bare hands when I was 10!!

It hasn't been seriously hot here (yet) but it's quite dry (we need rain!!) -- but it's perfect weather for dragonflies which accompanied us every where we wandered -- I would estimate close to a dozen species and hundreds of individuals.  A first for me in my sixty years of exploring.

I think they are lovely but can't identify any of them without a book or a friend.

The thinning out of my fabric stash and the painting of the studio are complete!!  I like the transformation in my studio.  There are even empty spaces on the shelves?!?

Expecting to have stitching time,  I've packed a knitting project

and an applique project that reappeared during the stash clean-up for the slow moments.

I'm looking forward to a couple leisurely days plopped in a lawn chair with my stitching and friends!

Hope your weekend is a good one!!

Mary Huey

A little destashing!!

I didn't do much stitching over the Labor Day weekend -- spent two days enjoying the 50 year reunion of my high school graduating class -- what a great time we had!!  And made a trip to the Pittsburgh, PA zoo with my family -- it took all six adults to manage the four youngsters?!?

 

I did get up to the studio Monday afternoon for a bit of putter stitching and pulled a few things out of my "destash" pile from the August tidy-up to offer to any interested stitchers today.  Maybe one of them will catch your fancy?

 

First up is a set of six bands of flying geese -- all the same two fabrics -- 5" wide by approx. 74" long.  They are hand pieced, clean (only found 1 small stain), and I estimate they date to the 1890's or very early 1900's. 

Here's a closer look at the fabrics.  They were donated to my charity group but we decided they were too nice to use for a rough and tumble quilt so we are selling them to benefit our supply fund for batting.  $25 plus shipping.

This is an assortment of odd buttons -- there are three sets that are "tied" together and the rest are all singles.   $3 plus shipping.

Two packages of 1" finished hexagons from Quilt Patis -- plastic with a hole punched in the center so they are reusable (and they have been used) -- 90 in each package.  $7.50 per package plus shipping.

Two packages of 1 1/2" finished 60 degree diamonds -- same as above -- never used.

60 in each package -- $7.50 per package plus shipping.

Just under 1/2 yard of fine cotton lawn -- 11" by 60" -- not sure if it's Liberty lawn but if not, it's Italian and the same quality -- bought it in the late 1980's.

$4 plus shipping.

3-plus yards of brown stripped Italian cotton lawn -- 36" wide -- I hope the ruler gives you a sense of the scale of it.  I bought it in the late 1980's.

$12 plus shipping. 

3 1/4 plus 2/3 yards (two pieces) of Italian cotton lawn purchased in the late 1980's -- 36" wide.

I've taken several pictures in different light situations and this is the closest to the true colors but the photo is brighter than the fabric.  The contrast of colors is more subtle.

$14 plus shipping 

 Hmong applique with embroidery embellishes purchased in the 1980's -- approx. 8 1/2" square.

Back is finished.  $5 plus shipping.

Hmong applique with embroidery embellishes purchased in the 1980's -- approx. 6" square.

Back is finished.  $4 plus shipping.

Hmong applique with embroidery embellishes purchased in the 1980's -- approx. 6 1/2" square.

Back is finished.  $4 plus shipping. 

I have already de-fuzzed it -- didn't see that until I posted the picture and too lazy to take another picture??

If you'd like any of these items, leave me a comment with your ZIP code.  I'll be in touch with you via a reply to your comment with a shipping cost and other details needed.

 

You know what they say about other quilter's treasures!?!

 

Have a good stitching day!!

 

Mary Huey