These old, dingy mini lampshades needed to be replaced or rescued. So I grabbed my Gel Press plate and rescued them! The first thing that had to go was the yellowing from age color. Adding two colors of blue with a gel plate quickly covered up that drab old color. To get the pattern on […]

I am currently stitching the Carolyn Pearce Strawberry Fayre heart etui as a stitchalong project. At last, after nine months, it’s finished!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wow, this has …

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Sew 9 beautiful layer cake quilts and 9 gorgeous gifts from pre-cut 10-inch squares with this fantastic new book from author Carolyn Forster.

Catching a glimpse of a rainbow in the sky isn’t a daily event here, so when I want to enjoy the rainbow, I create my own on a gel plate! You can use any number of colors, in any order you want, and as a bonus, it’s quick! There’s a trick to this rainbow technique, […]

Learn the basics of crocheting with our beginner-friendly washcloth pattern. Quick, simple, and great for beginners—get started today!

Hi friends! I have a new pattern to share with you today! And the best part? It's FREE! I'm calling this pattern New Beginnings. Would you care to know why? I love when there's a story behind a pattern or it's name so let me tell you TWO reasons why I chose to call it New Beginnings. First, because of the Hourglass blocks. Every time an hourglass runs out of sand and you flip it over, time starts anew. The second reason I decided to call it New Beginnings, is because I actually made the X blocks for a different pattern but my measurements were off. They didn't match up with the alternate block I was going to do so I decided to scratch the whole thing and went a completely different direction! So the X blocks definitely got a new beginning! This quilt finishes at 70" x 70". Since I had a few people on Instagram ask what this beautiful backing fabric was...it's Wellington by Nancy Gere No. 34116 for Windham Fabrics. I bought it off a friend so I have no idea if it's still available though. New Beginnings was quilted by my friend Jen Ostler who did an awesome job. She used the Gemma 3 panto by Karlee Porter. I've used it a few times before and it's a favorite for sure! I also get lots of questions about my quilt labels. I get mine from Ever Emblem. They're the 2" x 1" cotton fold-over sew-on labels. I get the uncut ones (they're about $16 for 20 tags). Click HERE to check them out. You can customize them to your desires. Here are some tips for attaching those labels to a quilt: First, sew your prepared binding to the front side of your quilt. Then place a folded label so that the raw edges of the label are about 1/8" into the seam allowance of where your finished binding will be. Stitch it in place with a triple stitch to make it extra secure. Then machine stitch your binding down (just over the raw edges of the label, see above photo) because it's really hard to hand-stitch through the label. Then stitch the rest of your binding down to the back side of your quilt either by hand or machine. I hope you love this pattern as much as I do! I'm working on my second one and hope to show pictures of that soon! I think it would be cute for any occasion, gender and in any color scheme! Click HERE for the free pattern. Please contact me at [email protected] if you have any comments or questions about this pattern. And please tag me on Instagram (username @gigis_thimble) if you make it and post about it there. Be sure to use the hashtags #gigisthimblepattern and #newbeginningsquilt so I don't miss it! Thanks for stopping by today and happy quilting!

Amigurumi Bear in Pajamas Free Pattern

This is the pattern only. You must supply materials needed to complete. Designed by Carolyn Manning Model Specifications: Leaflet Style Print and Bag Chart Pack Stitch Count 105w x 105h Floss DMC

This is the base of the spoolholder from Carolyn Pearce’s book ‘Home Sweet Home Workbox’. Having assembled it over the plastic and interlining in the same way that I did for the l…

Creative ideas for Valentine's Day

This beautiful white wholecloth quilt was given as a wedding gift in 1902. Typical North Country motifs include a running feather, roses and flat-irons.

Handmade Christmas cards. I wanted to send them this year, and I had a rock solid, easy to make, guaranteed to work plan in my head! Easy to cut, quick to make. You know what that means- things definitely won’t follow the plan! And then there was the over thinking. Oh, was there over thinking! O.O.P.S.! Watch […]

Let them know how special they are with a Names Stories® art print. There’s a world of meaning and inspiration hidden in our names and Name Stories® artwork is a gift of affirmation to those who matter most. A person's name can shape how they perceive themselves; names also contribute to the formation of a person's identity. Carolyn’s narrative is a unique story full of hidden treasures that can instill a sense of pride in the past, belonging in the present, and purpose for the future. Names Stories® is not only a timeless keepsake of Carolyn’s name, but a thoughtful reminder of who Carolyn is: today, tomorrow, and always. Made-to-order in California, Florida and Oregon.

This Appa Embroidered Sweatshirt is the perfect way to show your special someone how much you care. With a unique design and beautiful embroidery on the cuffs, it is sure to make a statement. The soft and comfortable material will keep them warm and cozy and the stylish design will make them look fashionable. This sweatshirt is the perfect gift for any occasion and is sure to be a hit with your loved one.We make our products at home with utmost care, please message me if you need anything! Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL 8 oz., 50% cotton, 50% polyesterSafety Orange is compliant with ANSI - ISEA 107 High Visibility Standards1x1 ribbed collar, cuffs and waistband with spandexDouble-needle stitching throughoutPill-resistant air jet yarnSet-in sleevesWe use tear away stabilizer on all productsSome stabilizer may still be on the embroidery, we leave this because its easiest to remove after washing the sweaterFeel free to remove the stabilizer as preferred, but we recommend leaving some in the middle to keep the embroidery sturdy.Also some thread will show on the inside of the embroidery, this is the case with all embroidery Please DO NOT remove excess thread as these are knots to keep the embroidery in shapeColors of the text & design/sweater may vary a little from the photo due to lighting, printing, or your computer/phone screen

Becky Brown reproduction block Vintage indigo print from early 19th century The figure is slightly blue in this print with a background we might call navy blue. Detail of a quilt date-inscribed 1833 by Elizabeth Kimbrough Neal Brockinton's mother. Collection of the Briscoe Center. Perhaps three indigo prints or one navy indigo and two lighter Prussian blues. There were other blues too. See more here: http://www.cah.utexas.edu/db/dmr/image_lg.php?variable=e_wqh_0252 Indigo prints featuring white or pale blue figures on navy blue grounds are seen in our earliest quilts. Date-inscribed 1795, Jones, Art Institute of Chicago The indigo figures in these early prints tend to be spotty and rather minimal in design. An early-19th-century pocket with an indigo blue on blue print in the star. You wore a pocket under a slit in your skirts to stash your hankie and your keys. Stars in the Sashing, mid-19th century? from Stella Rubin The classic two color quilt: It looks like a solid indigo here, which is a possibility, but a detail photo probably would reveal a minimal white on blue print. Detail of a worn nine-patch quilt from about 1820-1850. The scraps of indigo are more colorfast and the fabric is more durable than many of the other prints. Indigo blues are often the best survivors in these early 19th-century scrap quilts. I did not find many indigo prints featured in mid-century scrap quilts. More complex Prussian blue prints were so popular in the 1840s and '50s that indigo must have looked hopelessly old-fashioned and primitive. Of course it was old-fashioned and primitive---part of the charm. Date-inscribed 1843, from the Historic New England collection The navy blue here could be a solid indigo but it is more likely a small print. Note the damage on the left lower corner---possibly an encounter with a strong bleaching agent. Indigo is usually colorfast. Mid-19th century indigo staple print Small x's for a figure, set in a half-drop repeat. The figure has a touch of blue indicating the cloth may have been dyed light blue with indigo before the resist paste was printed. The cloth was then dyed to a darker blue and when the resist chemical was removed the pale blue remained. Vintage quilt, date-inscribed 1843, Elanor A. Robinson Double dots set in a half drop repeat. We are beginning our time travel in the mid-19th century so we will begin with the simple indigo prints used then. For William Dudley Blodget, date-inscribed 1867 Single dots set in a half drop repeat---this repeat results in a diagonal grid, a design idea quite fashionable during the 1840-1870 era. Knitter about 1860 A half-drop repeat was THE look during the sixties. Date-inscribed 1845, M. Lasher A dot: You get the picture about the repeat. A dot repro Here's a recent picture from eBay. How old? Indigo stars---not much of a clue. But it looks like the blue print is a single print throughout the quilt, and it's simple. I'm guessing before 1880. The corded, stuffed quilting in the border is a better clue---probably before 1860. Vintage indigo star print The simple figure here is a five-pointed star, a flag print. Vintage block from 1875-1900 These little stars in white on indigo blue were fashionable after the Civil War but you also see them earlier. I saw them referred to as "flag prints" in an 1875 catalog from Montgomery Ward. Vintage quilt date-inscribed 1846 A.B. Ruby Vintage block from 1875-1900 Two reproduction star prints from Moda, Left: Old Glory Gatherings from Primitive Gatherings: Right Lexington by Minick & Simpson Cathy's vintage top pictured on Cyndi's blog The stars are set with sashing of a flag print barely visible here at the bottom. Hard top to date because the prints are such classics. Vintage block about 1880-1900 Orange madder-style prints and complex indigos. This woman loved pattern. We'll return to indigo when we go towards the end of the 19th century, the heyday of indigo prints. The dating rule is: The more variety in the indigo prints the closer to 1900. Reproduction star by Becky Brown with 3 indigo prints and 1 shirting Another style change towards the end of the century: quiltmakers liked to combine indigo ground prints with prints in other colors. Vintage block about 1890-1920 These later indigos with a variety of figures are more fun to make so you might copy them now. Vintage stars about 1890-1920 Gretchen's Reproduction Cheddar Block The indigo and chrome repros really capture the late-19th-century look. Vintage block about 1890-1920 Older block, a single, simple print Reproductions Reproduction quilt by Julie Hendrickson, Blue and Brown quilt from History Repeated I. The triple dot is the perfect mid-century indigo. Two simple figures in half-drop, diagonal repeats by Nancy Gere. Good for early indigo reproductions. Indigo Revival from Minick and Simpson who often do indigo reproduction prints. Spinning Stars by Minick and Simpson using their Lexington line http://minickandsimpson.blogspot.com/ Setting idea for your stack of star blocks: A Border of Stars Set on Point Vintage Quilt dated 1822 by Fanny Hurlbutt. Documented in the Connecticut Quilt Project. Photo from the Quilt Index. See the full strip quilt here: http://www.quiltindex.org/fulldisplay.php?kid=47-7B-10B Kathie Ratcliffe, detail of Leesburg, one of her miniature quilts in the Star of Bethlehem design. Kathie Ratcliffe, Star of Bethlehem http://www.ninepatchstudio.com/ Bettina Havig, Peace Haven Match the setting triangles to the star backgrounds and the stars float. Connie Chunn, Mary's Harvest, 2006 A great finish to a tiny medallion. Sue Garman, Ancient Stars http://suegarman.blogspot.com/ One More Thing About Indigo Blue Indigo prints have been popular around the world because the dye process, while complicated, is reliable and produces beautiful, durable results. Indigo dyers created pattern on cotton in two primary ways. Samples from the IQSC's exhibit Indigo Gives America the Blues Timeline. One method is to use a resist to produce a figure, what we might call a batik. A thick substance (wax or paste) is printed on the fabric which is then dyed in an indigo bath. When the paste is removed: a blue ground with a white or pale blue figure. Resist Printing above. The other is to dye the cloth blue and then apply a discharging chemical that bleaches out the figure. Discharge Printing above. I am relieved to know most experts say it is very hard to see the difference between these two processes, especially with the industrial printing in the second half of the 19th-century. Sometimes it's obvious, but don't worry that you can't tell which is which in an old print. (If it's a new print it's screen printed---unless it's a true batik.) See a great online exhibition on indigo dyeing at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum's website at Indigo Gives America the Blues. http://www.quiltstudy.org/exhibitions/online_exhibitions/indigo/indigo1.html

Careers Whether they're moving into a new role, taking a sabbatical, or retiring these gift ideas are perfect for someone leaving a job.

This free sewing pattern and tutorial from Choly Knight is for all of the cat-lovers out there!

Spirit Horse Poster Print - Carolyne Hawley-would make the perfect addition to your home or office or gift recipient. This licensed Fine Art Print was reproduced on Premium Heavy Stock Paper which captures all of the vivid colors and details of the original. This magnificent Fine Art Poster Print is ready for hanging or framing and ships in an oversized tube for maximum protection.

I’m so excited to finally be releasing the Lily Quilt Pattern ! Name after my daughter and releasing in celebration of her first birthday, this pattern is one of my favorites for so many reasons. I don’t often design or gravitate towards block based patterns, but this one combines the modern geomet