A Gift for the Bride to Be

This year in July, my cousin Daniel St. Pierre will marry this beautiful woman.  Lauren is a wonderful person and we are all looking forward to having her as part of our family.

Her bridal shower was yesterday and I unfortunately wasn't able to attend.  But it looks like she had a great time.

For the bride, I made a wedding purse.  Traditionally at weddings, our family traditionally does a dollar dance, where we bless the newly weds with gobs of cash.  This is always a lot of fun and fruitful for the new couple.  

Assembly:  8 pieces were cut from Satin. 4 of which were embellished and embroidered for the outside, 4 for the inside.  + a pocket for the inside.

Then each outside embellished piece was sewn to an inside piece (wrong sides together) and then turned, the hole was hand stitched.  (I recommend a light facing).  

Button holes were made by hand (thanks Mom!) 

Then the sides were hand stitched up the 3/4 of each side.

Two cords were folded in half and threaded through from either side.

The bag was embellished with lace from Lauren's mother's wedding dress.  How do you cut up a wedding dress?  My Aunt Debbie did it for her.   

So some lace, beaded flowers and cloth buttons from the dress; part of her veil.

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Some of the embellishments were from my stash.  But some of the buttons and bling I collected just for her. 

Daniel's mom, Debbie St. Pierre, collected photos of women from both Daniel's side of the family and Lauren's.  I took all the photos into Photoshop and made them all similar in size and used a sepia hue to give them an antique feel.  I printed them onto a fabric sheet and heat set.  Then ironed to fusible web.  I cut out the photos and ironed them in place.  Then did the embellishments and embroidery.

 

After the wedding, this becomes a prayer bag, where her hopes and prayers can be watched over by the many amazing women in her family, as the Lord works his ways.  These women have experienced every situation as wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, cousins, aunts and on and on.  Many of them teachers which is a special legacy for Lauren who is a school teacher as well.

The pattern I purchased for Julie's wedding.  By Roxanne's Ribonnry.  






This is the 2nd wedding purse I made.  The first, I made for Daniel's sister Julie in 2009.  The first one looked a little more traditional crazy quilting style, with different fabrics.  This one was mostly lace.  The project took about 6 months, but just because I have to think about a thing before I act on it.  Once you get started and visualize where you are headed, you just start.  Don't be afraid to leave areas you don't like or are just ok.   Life isn't like Facebook where you only post your perfection, when you look back to areas you don't like, they are equally part of who you are.  So leave it all, it makes it richer!

My Aunt Debbie says that Lauren loved the purse! So I guess mission accomplished.

The crazy quilting thing is fun and freeing.  I am not sure I would like to do this for a whole quilt but maybe a photo album cover (do people even use those?)  or prayer box for someone special.

Thank you all for stopping by!

I hope you had a chance to sew this weekend!
Love Aunti Nicole

A Harvest of Plenty

So when you have a cold for 1 1/2 months and you don't feel like doing anything but sitting in front of the TV and blowing your nose and sleeping, what do you do?  Well I read and I quilt or embroider.  That's about it.  Oh and eat and sleep and go to work.  Sometimes I force myself to go into my quilt room and finish a project thats due..for a baby thats due or for previous commitments.

I have read about 5 books from the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child, a little addicted to Reacher.  Just finished the 11th one today Bad Luck and Trouble, You don't mess with Reacher!
Haven't missed much work, but my personal time has been mostly a wash for the last couple of month.  I have spurts of energy thus the minimal blogging.

Meanwhile I wanted to share this project that I'm working on.  This 1st of 9 blocks.  Its from a book by Helen Marshall called The Embroidered Miniature Quilt.  This cornucopia is about 3" SQ.  But there is a lot in that little space.  Mostly followed her directions, with a few variations on stitches and colors.

The book has lots of techniques including neadlelace which you see here in the horn.  You actually sew a border around on a piece of a paper template and then work small buttonhole stitches across and wrap the edges.  The you pull away the paper and lay it over a couple layers of batting and sew it down.  I used a Perle cotton Variagated that I picked up from the Wool Lady in Temecul and I love how it turned out.  The benefit is of being sick is that my multitasking is reduced and I can only focus on one thing.  I can actually follow instructions, imagine!

The pineapple was satin stitch sewn over batting.  I must have been feeling better, because I did a variation from hers.  Then a trelis over top of it and a bunch of boolean knots on the top, which were as she directed.

As I said this is one of 9 and I'll post them as I get them done.  The whole quilt is only about 24" Square.  Fun project though!

Mom bought her Sweet Sixteen and is quilting up a storm up there in Northern Cali.  She bought the table mounted one and is having a ball.  I can't wait to see her results.  She's already an amazing quilter, so this will just inspire her to the next level.  Can't wait to visit her and use it.  Or get my own, hehehehe.

I hope you all are keeping away from this nasty bug which will just not go away and that you get some time for yourselves.

Love to All,
Aunti Nic

Phases of the Moon

I started this quilt while living in New Mexico and fnished machine quilting in 1993. My first applique project. I create the design. My sister Dana sent me applique instructions and I embellished with leather and beading.


It now lives with my good friend Gina in New Mexico.

WillieNo! is playing Vanna White in the corner. He is such a showcat!