Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Museum At FIT

Black Fashion Designers is an exhibition that examines the impact of African American and African designers on the fashion industry. It will be on display in the Fashion & Textile History Gallery at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City from December 6, 2016 through May 13, 2017. 


Black fashion designers began to gain recognition during the late 1940s, even while still segregated within the fashion industry. A section of the exhibition devoted to black designers breaking into the industry features work by New York-based Zelda Wynn Valdes and Ann Lowe, who created custom-made gowns for society women and celebrities. They represent the transition from nineteenth-century dressmaking traditions that encompassed countless, unnamed black dressmakers, to the modern conception of a fashion designer. Designers such as Arthur McGee, Wesley Tann, and Jon Weston worked for New York manufacturers before establishing their own businesses. For example, Weston, an FIT alumnus, started his ready-to-wear company in the mid-1960s, stating, “I’d gone as far as I could go on Seventh Avenue; it wasn’t growing with me.” 

Monday, January 2, 2017

New UFO's?

It's the new year--a time to begin those new UFOs!  Yes, I know, when I begin a project, I'm just sure that it will not end up in my UFO pile for another year.  This Year it will be different--I say to myself!

I resolve---oh, I hate that word!  But, I PLAN to take at least one UFO out of the box to finish--yes, I said FINISH! before I begin another UFO!  It's a definite challenge to just reach in the box and pull out an unfinished object--don't look!  Just reach in and do it!  Okay, so it's not one you REALLY want to do now--but, it needs to be finished sometime!.

I know there is a 'game' you can play with yourself, especially on knitting UFO's--place the project with needed yarns in a plain paper bag; staple it shut!  and pile into a box!  Gee whiz--so many--but, the next time you want something to knit--reach into the box and pull out one of these bags!  You can't look in the bag--it's stapled, right??

It's not so easy with quilting UFOs--okay, here we go--first up--to finish one of those Christmas hangings I didn't do before Christmas 2016--so close to being finished, of course.
This is one of those Christmas panels that has been 'aging' forever!  Luckily, I did copy off some instructions--thank goodness! 

Okay, it will be ready for Christmas 2017!  
Finished!! just need to cut the binding and select a backing and off to the
quilter it will go.
Now, doesn't that feel good!?
on to the next UFO to finish...........

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Happy New Year!


Here we go again!   2016 was a full year of daily blog journals.
I hope you have enjoyed my ramblings, events, and just plain
happenings.
To each of you,
I wish you the best of the new years--may 2017 bring you
joy, peace, good health and many happy days of stitching!
Let the 2017 begin!!


Saturday, December 31, 2016

Auld Lang Syne--2016




"Auld Lang Syne" is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song. It is well known in many countries, especially (but far from exclusively) in the English-speaking world; its traditional use being to celebrate the start of the New Year at the stroke of midnight. By extension, it is also sung at funerals, graduations, and as a farewell or ending to other occasions. The international Boy Scout youth movement, in many countries, uses it as a close to jamborees and other functions. The song's Scots title may be translated into English literally as "old long since", or more idiomatically, "long long ago", "days gone by" or "old times". Consequently "For auld lang syne", as it appears in the first line of the chorus, is loosely translated as "for (the sake of) old times". The song begins by posing a rhetorical question as to whether it is right that old times be forgotten, and is generally interpreted as a call to remember long-standing friendships. Most common use of the song involves only the first verse and the chorus. The last lines of both of these are often sung with the extra words "For the sake of" or "And days of", rather than Burns' simpler lines. This allows one note for each word, rather than the slight melisma required to fit Burns' original words to the melody.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne

Friday, December 30, 2016

2017--The Year of Stitches



A year in stitches--Take a blank canvas, each day add at least one stitch to that canvas.  This is
a great way to practice all those techniques you want to learn or already know.  It is also a diary of
each day's progress in your thread world.


Michelle Anas Beauliew Morgan created a colorful canvas stitching each day in 2016.  Check out Facebook, Pinterest, and blogs to find tutorials on special stitches.

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Gathering With Friends!

It's always a grand time when friends can gather to share fellowship.
Rosemary was our hostess for this day--we enjoy seeing her Christmas tree,
which is loaded (over 200 handmade ornaments!).  We can spend hours
looking and admiring these ornaments gathered over the years.

Most are handwoven, felted 

Some arrive from foreign countries or visitors to 
Rosemary's home

All of her ornaments are small and Rosemary says she 'talks' to each one
as she places them on the tree--she shares memories of each

This was the day we exchanged handmade gifts, either made by yourself
or someone else.  This was felted fingerless mitts made by Olga--
we all loved them!!

Olga is a super felt maker!  She made these wonderful bracelets

Dottie was wearing her little snowman pin, handwoven and stitched.

A knitted cowl was given from Penny's hands to Olga--
perfect match her lovely bracelets.

Marion received this super cotton scarf woven by Pat

My gift was one of Rosemary's handwoven cards and one of her
little woven angels--wings are lace from her wedding dress of
50 years ago--what a privilege to receive this sweet angel
with such memories

Ann received two indigo dyed towels, shibori stitched
by Connie

Connie stitched the stars and moon and hand dyed with indigo

Penny received this wonderful thread angel. 
Perfect day with friends!

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

A Good Way To End The Year......................


Yep! It's a good way to end my year--just ordered a new magazine subscription
that is loaded with more UFOs for me to add to my stash!

I'm so excited to see another publication on wool art applique, hooking, etc.
First issue released January, 2017
Check it out.

I already 'love' Primitive Quilts--have done some projects from past issues!

And now I'll have more!


X Y Z

 X Y Z   The slang phrase XYZ, meaning “examine your zipper,”  has been used since at least the 1960's  These letters are used for const...