Thimbleanna – Page 122 – My little online diary.

Patches

50 Comments / May 15, 2009 February 22, 2011 / Around the House, Quilting

Thanks for all your wonderful comments about TheSecondChild’s graduation. You are all so very kind and thoughtful. If only you could stop time for us, we’d be in business!

After all of that excitement, it’s been a very slow week around here. A month or so ago, I joined a fabric scrap swap (button in my sidebar) that was started by Penny. There are 9 of us in the group and we all swapped a bunch of our scraps (and boy, oh boy, did I get some beautiful scraps.) As part of the challenge, we have to create something with our scraps over the next several months. I had been looking around and had several ideas, when Crazy Mom posted her 9 patch quilt along. Perfect! I decided to join in and I’ve been working on a few of my blocks.

The ugly tree wanted to model for you — she’s sporting some beautiful new, bright green growth this spring. I’ve always loved 9 patches. They’re amazingly versatile and so easy to piece.

I’m really enjoying making these 9 patches. I’m officially behind in the quilt along, but I’ll catch up this weekend. There are so many fun versions of these 9 patches popping up all over. I’m not trying to coordinate my blocks, so my quilt will be really scrappy — just the way I like it. While I was out in the backyard taking pictures of these blocks, I thought I’d see how they look on the squirrel ravaged patio chairs. I’m still in the market for new cushions. Too bad I’m not motivated enough to make patchwork covers for them.

And to make up for hurting your eyes with those ugly cushions, I thought I’d show you my little herb garden. MyDadLovesMeBestSister did a fun thing for Christmas this year — she bought MeMum and I each some pots and some plant markers. Aren’t they cute? Unbeknownst to me, the gift also came with the promise of some herbs when spring arrived. So, imagine my surprise when she called a few weeks ago and said she was bringing over some plants and nice fresh dirt to put in the herb pots! Lucky me huh? She’s a great sister. We have a good relationship. She gives me beautiful herbs. I hang old bras all over her yard. Such a deal, huh?

Well, gee. I guess I should get to bed. I’m getting up in 5 hours to go help the newlyweds move this weekend. I’ve packed a picnic lunch for all of us movers and I’m all ready to go.

Have a good weekend!

XOXO,
Anna

One Weekend in May

68 Comments / May 11, 2009 February 22, 2011 / Family

Happy Belated Mother’s Day to those of you in countries that celebrated yesterday. I picked some flowers for you — aren’t they beautiful? We spent our weekend at the college graduation of TheSecondChild. These flowers were in big patches all over an absolutely gorgeous campus.

Most of our weekend was insane. Traffic was insane. The crowds were insane. The ceremony was insane. Three hours long. It was moved indoors at the last minute — into a stadium that hadn’t reached cool temperature yet (at 9 a.m.) so it was hot. We were stuck in the upper deck. Here’s a peek at our view. In. Sane.

Thank goodness for modern technology. TheSecondChild was able to text us and tell us where he was in that pinheadsized crowd. See all those kids in caps and gowns on the floor? They all walked. Just crazy. Knowing where he was in the crowd helped, ’cause when it came time for him to get in line, we were able to spot him. A little yelp from his cousin and help from my zoom lens and we managed to get this, the closest picture to anything recognizable.

Still, we all had a good time. We were high enough up that we could wander around and talk and visit without disturbing anyone around us. And when it was finally all over, the school hosted a very nice champagne and strawberry reception. I was amazed that they pulled that off with so many people. It was fun to see the tables full of mounded strawberries with big bowls of powdered sugar. A very cool idea and a chance to toast our new grad.

Our guy threw his hat in the big hat toss, so he lost the little year charm on his tassle. But that’s ok, we all know the year. Those four years disappeared in a blink. He graduates with a degree in chemistry and now he’ll jump into the big abyss. It’s not a terribly fun time to be a new college grad.

So, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go find a comfy chair and a cozy quilt, and try to figure out where the $#*$ the last 22 years went.

XOXO,
Anna

The Unicorn Tapestries

54 Comments / May 5, 2009 February 22, 2011 / Travel

WARNING: Long Post Ahead.

A little over three years ago, when MeMum, Big Daddy, Aunt Annie and I went to Scotland, we visited the impressive and beautiful Stirling Castle. As we were touring the castle grounds, we were completely surprised to find a tapestry studio where the famous Unicorn Tapestries are being recreated. Have you heard of the Unicorn Tapestries? The Unicorn Tapestries are considered to be the finest surviving set of medieval tapestries in the world. There are seven tapestries in the collection and they tell the story of a unicorn hunt. The project to recreate them was begun in 2002 and is expected to last until 2014. As of last fall, tapestries 1, 6 and 7 had been completed.

When we were there, we were told that there were three main weavers and at least one of them works on the tapestry every day of the year, except for Christmas and one or two other days that I can’t remember. The studio is fairly small and visitors are expected to be quiet so that the weavers aren’t disturbed. When we visited, we were the only ones in the studio, and the docent in the room allowed me to take the above picture of the weaver working on tapestry number 6. (This was pre-digital camera for me, so this is a scanned photo.)

I can’t even begin to describe the amazing weaving process. Behind all the threads on the loom was a pencil drawn version of the tapestry. At the far end of the studio, hanging on the wall, is a blown-up picture of the original tapestry. The level of detail is amazing and it was so fascinating to watch the weaver tuck the threads in and out and then tamp, tamp, tamp them down with her little stylus. I was also fascinated by the fact that they weave the tapestry sideways — the right side of the tapestry as pictured on the wall, is running along the floor.

We learned that the original tapestries are hanging at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in The Cloisters in New York City. And the whole reason I’m telling you this story is because when I went to NJ last week, I managed a quick trip to the Cloisters before my plane left on Friday.

Tapestry #1: original on left, reproduction on right.

I was so excited to see the tapestries, I think I almost cried. They are so amazing and the colors are still so vivid. The tapestries are believed to have been created in the Netherlands, between 1495 and 1515. The first known record of their existence is from 1680 when they were part of the inventory of the belongings of a French Duke.

Original tapestry #2 on left, Original tapestry #3 on right.

Because of the differences in style of some of the tapestries, it is believed that the tapestries have been created as part of three different sets, The Three Hunts of the Unicorn. Tapestries #1 and #7 are part of The Hunt of the Unicorn as a Lover, tapestry #5 is part of The Mystic Hunt of the Unicorn and tapestries 2, 3, 4, and 6 are part of The Hunt of the Unicorn as an Allegory of The Passion. It is also believed that there could be other tapestries that are missing, particularly from the first two hunt series.

It is unknown who the original tapestries were created for, but they all have the letter A with a reversed E that appears frequently on the tapestries, which leads to the theory that they were all created for the same person. Sometimes the letters are in corners, sometimes in the middle, and as you can see below, they even appear in the dogs’ collars.

It is also believed that symbols of aristocracy were contained in the blue skies of the tapestries and that they were cut out in order for the entire tapestries to escape destruction during the Reign of Terror (1793-94) of the French Revolution. If you click on the picture below, you can see applique stitches where the people of the castle (from tapestry #6) have been stitched to a new sky.

During the Revolution, populist mobs looted the chateau and took the tapestries where they remained out of sight for several generations. It was rumored that they were used to cover espaliered trees and protect potatoes. In the early 1850’s a peasant’s wife came forward with news of some “old curtains” that were covering vegetables in the barn. Can you imagine? It’s amazing that they have managed to retain their pretty, bright colors.

Original tapestry #4 on left, Original tapestry #5 on right.

Perhaps their life in a barn would explain the huge missing sections in tapestry #5. The pictures are misleading as to the size of tapestry #5 — the fragments are actually much smaller than any of the other tapestries. I can’t wait until the weavers get to tapestry #5. Will they recreate the sections just as they are, or will they make assumptions and create the missing parts of the tapestry?

Tapestry #6: original on left, reproduction on right.

When TheManoftheHouse and I went to Scotland last year, I really enjoyed seeing the progress that had been made on the new tapestries in 3 years. Tapestry #6 that had been on the loom, was now finished (it took 4 years to weave) and hanging in the Chapel Royal at the castle.

Tapestry #7: original on left, reproduction on right.

Tapestry #7 is the most famous of the tapestries. You can definitely see that it shares a similar style to Tapestry #1 with the floral background, which is different from the woodland backgrounds of the other tapestries. If you’ve seen any of these tapestries in pictures, you probably would have seen this one. I even remember seeing a quilt of a unicorn in a fence years ago at a quilt show.
Oh well, I could ramble on for many more blog posts about these stunning tapestries (and if you’re still with me, you rock!) The artistry and the detail are amazing to me. After seeing the weavers in Stirling, I just can’t help but wonder how on earth the original tapestries were ever created. Our conveniences now surely make it a much easier job. If you can call it easier. Can you imagine the patience required to sit at a loom all day, every day, year in and year out? If you’re ever in Stirling, Scotland, or NYC I sure hope you’ll take the opportunity to visit these breathtaking tapestries.

XOXO,
Anna

Some Birthday Presents

51 Comments / May 2, 2009 February 22, 2011 / Sewing

Thanks for all your great comments and birthday wishes for MyDadLovesMeBestSister! I saw the 50 or Bust idea almost 10 years ago and I’ve been patiently waiting for the big day. About 2 years ago, I started collecting the bras from friends. MyDadLovesMeBestSister is a great sport and she called me that morning, laughing and saying “I hate you” at the same time. It was a lot of fun, but I think if I were to do it again, I’d skip all the streamers — they distract from the bras hanging there, and the casual passer-by can easily miss them. And what a tragedy that would be, no?

In the meantime, I gave my sister a few more serious birthday gifts, a few of which I made. I wanted to make her a sisters pendant and I had a specific picture in mind, so I went to MeMum’s to look through the family pictures.

While I was there, I stumbled upon the picture of the two of us with a banana seat bike, which worked out perfectly for the reversible apron that I made her. I have no idea who’s bike is in that picture — we had cute little pink banana seat bikes with big flowers on the seats. But that’s ok, at least we have a picture of us with a banana seat bike. (SweetiePie is here this weekend and she graciously agreed to model the apron. She was also the “stylist” for these pictures. Thank You SweetiePie!)

I’ve loved this Heather Ross banana seat bike fabric since I first saw it. I used the banana seat bike fabric on one side of the apron and then I searched for a darker fabric, but with the same pink/orange/brown of the banana seat fabric for the back.

I chose the dark brown contrasting fabric to coordinate with the black button that I’ve been saving for a special occasion. It’s just a bit rude, so I didn’t want to ruin the effect of the sweet innocent bicycles, which is why I wanted the apron to be reversible.

When MyDadLovesMeBestSister is feeling all sweet and cute, she can wear the banana bike side out. When she’s feeling a bit sassy and rude, she can wear the SkinnyB*@ch side out. I also made two coordinating hand towels out of huckcloth. No rude buttons here.

So, that was the birthday from my part. Just so you know that I’m not 100% mean to my sister. ;-)

In unrelated news, today at work, our health department sent us all a serious e-mail describing the facts and myths related to swine flu. Five minutes later someone sent an e-mail saying they’ve discovered the source of the flu. I thought you might be interested: