Appliqued Butterflies

I went to St Jacobs today which I would recommend as a destination for any visitor to Ontario, Canada. Hubby and I went to see a musical theatre performance there and arrived three hours early so we had some time to kill. What luck that there happened to be a huge antiques mall just across the street. Guess how I spent the extra time.

I thoroughly enjoyed browsing at all the furniture and collectibles. Presently I am searching for a soup tureen and found one, but it was gaudy. Really horrible. I always keep my eye out for textiles too and had better luck in that department.

I picked up a couple of hand appliqued butterfly quilt blocks for only $2.00 each. They are simple and unpretentious and the whoever stitched them was skilled with a needle and thread. The main reason I wanted them was because of the vintage fabric. As I look at these blocks, I wonder who stitched them, how long ago, and what other things did this woman make. I also picture myself wearing long cotton dresses with these prints. Are these not the kind of prints found in the house dresses of women not all that long ago?

Floral Butterfly

This butterfly is almost finished. I just need to add some sort of light weight ribbon (organza?) for the hanger.

Starting next week, I will be working on some tartan ornaments to sell at our local Highland Games. I know a kiltmaker who assures me that the Highland dancer crowd is always on the lookout for something different. She says as long as it has some tartan on it, there's a good chance it will sell.

Making these little cotton things is a hobby I took up a couple of years ago. I'm still experimenting and learning and I'm nowhere near as skilled as I'd like to be. But I am improving and have made a few items which I cannot part with. I mention this because selling my work is not important to me yet.

Anyway, I expect to be posting a lot over the next month. Maybe I'll even find time to catch on old flick on YouTube every now and then.

Little Green Butterfly