The Tutu Tree on the left, the shop on the right.  Below, two other views of the shop. 

Update to "the Bounty" and "the Suitcase" - the fabric is identified!!!

A great big thank you to Glenna Tull Hailey for identifying my fabrics!!  Thank you Glenna!


Hi Cathi-- Just took a look at your pics. Fun stuff! These fabrics are generally from the 30's - 50's. The 6 pointed stars are earlier, probably from the 30's maybe into the 40's. The small squares are definitely later, from the 50's possibly into the 60's. The eight pointed stars with the plaids look 50's to me and the one on the right may be feedsack. The double wedding rings have a wide variety and looks like some feedsack in those. This is not uncommon at all to find these together. People saved their fabric then, just like we do! I have fabric from the 80s, 90s, 2000s in my stash. Quilts are dated from the latest fabric they have in them. I sure hope this helps and if you have any more questions, please get in touch! Thanks so much--- Glenna

ramblings, rachel bag and felted wool

I looked at the pics for the Rachel Bag and they do not do any justice for the bag - looks pretty sad - actually. You do not see the top that folds over or the top band, etc. My aunt loves the bag - it opens down the back with a zipper. I will have to try and take better pics.


Felting Wool - I was lucky enough to have a neighbor give me a man's black wool dress coat (the moths had gotten to it). Last night I disassembled part of it and did wash and dry - however - I have a front loader machine and just as I thought - it did not work. Sew..... I will take it to a friend’s house that has a top loader washer and wash away. I also have three wool sweaters that I have washed and dried a couple of times and I am beginning to see a difference, and yes, they did shrink some. I will take them along with the black wool and see if I can actually "felt" the wool. Can't say why I am so obsessed with felting wool - just am.

One Million Pillowcase Challenge

 This is a great group project - all you need is a little bit of fabric and about 30 min of your time. Most of the local quilt shops are accepting the completed pillowcases and will donate to local charities, or you can deliver the pillowcases yourself. I belong to one online group and we are doing as a group project - we will each take our pillowcases to a drop off site in our individual community - everything stays local. Here is a link if you are interested: http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases.


I hope all of you will take this challenge - what a great way to use up some of your stash. I think I will also make a few from some of my holiday fabrics - might be kind of fun! If you need some fabric, let me know ok?

the"Rachel Bag" - for my "purse making" friends

This bag is from the book "Bag Boutique : Making Fabulous Purses and Totes" by Amy Barickman, Indygo Junction Design Team. The purse is really fun and pretty quick to put together. The bottom band and inside are made from a gold silk, the body of the bad is a home dec remnant I found in my stash. I lined each piece before assembly to give a little more stability to the seam allowances. I have had this fabric for quite some time - just could not decide what to with it. (it kept saying "purse" -but I wasn't listening). I love the patterns in this book, if you are a purse maker, be sure to check it out.

Hint - I use the hard plastic placemats for the bottom liner in my purses and totes. The placemats are easy to cut and give quite a bit of stability for the base and are inexpensive.

Below is a close up of the trim.  This is actually a free w/order from Fire Mountain Gems - worked out great!  If the bag looks a little out of shape  - it is because it is stuffed with tissue paper.  I thought it would help with stability for pic taking.  However - made it look worse - but you get the idea of the bag.  The colors are much bolder than they appear in the pics and the purse has not had the final pressing.  I wait until the day I am ready to deliver for the final pressing.