Vintage Thingy Thursday: Ashtray or spoon rest?

I am joining Coloradolady this week for Vintage Thingy Thursday.

Time: an afternoon last week
Place: a Goodwill store I haven't visited in a long time
Item: a leaf-shaped plate that I did not immediately recognize as an ashtray. That is how uncommon smoking is among my friends and family.
Markings: Back: Orion China, made in Japan. "Hand Painted"
Front: Sweet pink rose with two buds, gold accented rim. I'm not sure what is hand painted unless it is the wisps of gold on the bottom.
Condition: used, still pretty!

Yes I thought this would be good as a spoon rest for the stove top, and I am using it as that, but the shape is not the best.
It's hard to believe anyone would have such a pretty ashtray, but someone did. The gold accent is worn in some places, and there is a chip or two, but that is OK.

Viridian

Spring 2010 Blogger's Quilt Festival

I am joining the Blogger's Quilt Festival at Amy's Creative Side. See the button on my sidebar.

Amy asks: Share one quilt, and it's story. Why you made it, why it is special to you, what you learned about quilting/yourself while making it. The quilt doesn't have to be brand new, never seen before on your blog - show what you like!

This quilt has been about 10 years in the making, now that I think back upon it. I saw this pattern in a long-ago quilt magazine and fell in love with it. I'd seen vintage quilts in this pattern and wanted to make my own. So, many 2 inch strips of fabric were cut, sewn together, and cross cut. Each finished square is 1.5 inches across, which at the time I considered tiny. Obviously I hadn't started my Baby Jane in the style of Jane Stickle project yet!

This is a full-sized quilt, so there are indeed many little squares of fabric. I included a few vintage fabrics in there, to bring me a smile, and maybe cause a future quilt appraiser to scratch their heads. I used a thin cotton bat for an old-fashioned look, but the problem is that one must quilt lines less that 2 inches apart. I spent much time machine quilting on my home Kenmore, as you can see in the close-up. However the wreaths in the plain blocks are quilted by hand. I still have to put some sort of motif in the middle, or the batting will bunch up when I wash it the first time.

Why special: It represents a lot of my time. It is cheerful and sunny, and will be the summer quilt on my bed.

What did I learn: Patience!

And guess what - it STILL isn't done! I am sewing down the binding this week. I had saved some of the purple fabric used in the plain squares for the binding, but years later, I couldn't find it. So I am using pink bias binding instead.

Viridian

The ultimate DIY from Decor to Adore

I am linking to a post that brought this tough old blogger/mom/educator to near- tears. And I want a semi-permanent link so that I can find this again. Please take a look.

http://decortoadore.blogspot.com/2010/05/ultimate-diymay-you-be-inspired.html

Whirling Stars: 6 blocks done

The progress is slow but sure. I have 6 blocks done, including the applique of the yellow circle in the middle. Here's what they look like right now.

I described the beginning of this project in this post.

It seems like I have been sewing SO many pieces of vintage fabric and unbleached muslin together, and to only have 6 blocks done? Stay the course, quilter!

The block to block setting is the same as in my vintage quilt, and in the pattern I am using, which is in the book Feedsacks! by Edie McGinnis.

To me the blocks look a bit busy put this close together so I may separate then by muslin sashing. I am also thinking of red cornerstones. Then the triangles and cornerstones will make a shoo-fly block. Interesting.

viridian