Superior Quilts

historic Magma Hotel vintage bar

We made a field trip to Superior for an annual end of summer festival - Prickly Pear Days. 

We found some unique quilt art. But not all of them are actual quilts. See what I mean?

Apologies for the blur - I'm learning new phone/camera settings.
The black and white border is bugle beads in-the-ditch. And the binding is variegated crewel yarn whip-stitch. I like how the quote stitching crosses the background and first border.

There was a series of these mug-rugsized  arts, each with the hound's-tooth check background path. 

Did I mention my new camera issues? Sorry I can't show you the complete series.

These heart triptych fabric boxes are the same mug-rug artist, now with broderie-perse and stuffed hearts. I couldn't tell how they constructed the fabric boxes - sew clever!

This Town Hall quilt is painted blocks of local historic places.

I have to make special mention of the smokestack - it came down (video) 9 months ago. A landmark for 100-ish years, all gone. But commemorated in quilting and plenty more local arts :)

I just really liked this local artist painting of cow-girl with coyotes, so I wanted you to see it tool:0.

Thanks for sharing our trip!

House's House Quilt

This is relevant under the heading of Quilt Watching. Don't you just love when quilts turn up in unexpected places?

Speaking of unexpected finds...discovered this Hugh Laurie album in Starbucks a year ago. That's right - Dr. House is a killer jazz pianist. Honest!

 

[here is the link since YouTube is refusing to show in post:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGiNa-7opKk ]

Didn't It Rain album is simply excellent. [See what I Mean!? Evenin' is my FAVE. Which one is yours?]  All superb musicians with The Copper Bottom Band.
Take time to read Mr. Laurie's liner notes!!! Equally superb writing.

So after a year of dreaming and waiting impatiently, yes stamping my little foot the entire time, HL & The Copper Bottom Band [with  Elizabeth "Trombonista" Lea -  showstopper extraordinaire!] finally came to town! We got tickets third row center!! And this is what we saw!!!

House Quilt :)

 

In the spirit of One For My Baby...and One More For the Road (which they bring to a new standard on this album, btw), here is our original favorite Hugh Laurie piano, from way back, remember Jeeves and Wooster?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnCNJD3-e7g

 

"Oh, and one for yourself...of course."

 





Sewing for Music

This was Bill from Canada's idea. Bill is tenor in our community choir. Alex and I both sing in the choir. Well, Alex sings, and I am learning :)
Choirs don't use music stands like other musicians. Sometimes it can be challenging to hold all your music. Bill made a super sewing project that solves all that. Really!
Are you ready to see it?

 

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Ta-Da!

Bills genius idea is to sew an elastic handle on your music binder!

 

 

• I used 7" of one-inch-wide plain old braided elastic. I'm wishing I would have used 9".
• Tape elastic in place 1/3 of the way from top of binder. Make sure you can close the binder without stretching the elastic.
• Machine tack ends of elastic in place. Use any old needle that you are ready to throw out. I used darning foot and covered feed dogs.
• Bill was right, you must hand turn your machine. Not that it's not strong enough to sew on the binder, but the thread keeps breaking unless you hand turn.

You never know where you'll meet new sewing friends! And I'm always pleasantly surprised when the defi de jour is solved with stitches:)  ---Mom

Vintage quilt upcycled

 

I found a too well used but really lovely Depression Era Northern Star quilt when I was vintage hunting with my neighbor Mary this Spring. It had already been cut down, so it was oddly sized and wouldn't work on a bed. The new binding was crooked and hideous, and plenty of stains remained, poor old quilt. But it was still too precious to leave unloved in a crowded shop, so I brought had to it home. Finally I decided that Northern Star would be happier repurposed into a new vintage treasure that could be shared and loved all over again.

 

But I couldn't cut into it. Couldn't do it. So I asked my Twitter Friends for help. @JeanneGwin of The Learning Curve Quilts and Such wrote this amazing poem, just that quick:

 

Bless this quilt, Oh Lord I pray.

To the owner I say;

Thank you for leaving me this quilt today.

I'm repurposing it in a wondrous way.

 

 Thanks, Jeanne, it worked!  

 



 

Here is a new bag I made from old the quilt.  It is so cuddly warm, and makes the day extra fun when I have get to take a piece of vintage with me everywhere. 



 

I've made a few extras, and I'd love for you to share one too. Please visit our always FREE shipping  RoadHomeQuilting.Etsy shop. And with special thanks to Jeanne and all the FriendsWhoLiveInMyPhone, you are welcome to use Coupon Code 4FTLIMP for -15% off everything in our RHQ Shop thru December 5th.

Happy Holidays, Friends!