Heirloom Adventures.

 Very late in February I was having problems sleeping, my mind was being kept busy with a bundle that came my way some time ago, someone was nagging at me to make some progress. After three very restless nights I pulled out a box of precious items and sent a plea to Janice, asking for some help. We bounced a few ideas around in messenger and came up with a plan for some of the items. One or two still need more thought. One thing was very clear, I really, really need to record this stuff.

So here goes. When mum was diagnosed with Leukemia back in 2013 she started to have one last big sort out. Many items came my way and many of them are used here in our home daily, some were gifted to my children and some I chose to hang onto with a plan to do 'something'. Those items are what I'm sharing today.  

This cute wee bib was made for my sister Fiona, who sadly died as a very young child. Myself and my other three sisters all wore it too, on very special occasions only. It's been around since 1967. I'm not one hundred percent about who made it. Maybe my Gran? Or maybe my great grand mother?

The Hedgehog bib was made by my Great grand mother when my brother was born, it's been around since 1965.

This little yellow jacket was made by my Great, great grand mother for my mum when she was born, in 1944.

It is pure silk and all hand sewn.

This little white jacket was made at the same time.

This yellow romper suit was my brothers and the cute wee pink piggies were added when my sister Fiona wore it. I'm sure myself and my sister Kirsty also wore it.

This last item of clothing mine from when I was a tiny baby.

My younger sisters and my own daughter also wore it.

That's it for the clothing items and after my wee brainstorming session with Janice I know where they are going. A plan has been born. It needs a tweak or two but I have the basics.

Thank you Janice.

Also in the bag of goodies were some items of table ware.

This wee set I remember well. My Grandmother made it.

It lived on her dressing table. The big oval was in the middle, a tray lived on it with a beautiful brush, comb and hand mirror set. The two smaller pieces were sat on either side. Sometimes they would have a vase of flowers or a small pot plant on them.

I didn't know the provenance of this next piece. I don't recall it, but mum assured me it was made and used by my Gran.

This tray cloth came from a set that was mums. I remember the table cloth that matched it, I'm don't know where that went, but I'm sure one of my siblings is keeping it safe.

There were also six or eight serviettes, I hope they are with the table cloth.

These two serviettes were also in the bag.

I really do not know where they came from and don't recall asking mum about them. But, Tony has a table cloth that he purchased in China and has a set of napkins matching it. These two very closely resemble that set. They may end up together.

And finally. 

A wee table cloth that Mum started to embroider when she was eleven years old.

Tucked into the bag along with it were the threads she was using stored in an old cigarette box! That would have been Her Aunt Effies. (My Grans sister, Great Aunt Euphemia, but we all called her Aunt Effie.).

 and Mums hussif that she had made herself.

My chat with Janice convinced me that I should complete the embroidery. 

Some of the motifs needed very little to see them finished while others are not even started.

Two French knots were all that was needed here.

A little more this time.

After two sessions I have only the middle motifs left to sew.

Yes it is stained and I can tell that my mother was an inexperienced embroiderer. But as Janice had to keep reminding me, it just adds to the story and provenance of the item. It is after all 70 years old, when I reach that age I'm sure I will have a few blemishes too.

Thank you Janice for helping me sort these items and set my mind to what needed to be done.

That particular night visitor is now letting me get some rest. I wonder which one of my ancestors it was keeping me awake?

I plan to add a new page at the top of my blog and use it to record progress for this particular collection.

The February Round Up.

Another month is gone. We started the month with my lovely Mums birthday and we end it with my Grans birthday. Well we would if it was a leap year. Yes she was born on the 29th. 

I set out to write this post on 1st March, yesterday but a recent update sent my laptop to a blue screen! Oh no! Lucky for me I have Mr IT Tony and he was able to rescue it and get it working again for me.

So here we are a day later and  how did I go with my February goals?

The Chookshed Challenge.
I pulled out #10, it was an adopted piece that I had picked up at an Altrusa sale.

I finished the block that had been started then made one of my own.

And decided that this project really is not for me. The fabrics are pretty but of very poor quality. I thought about it for a while and took on board all of your comments and thought about it some more then put all the fabrics back into their bag and sent them to the Op shop. I'm sure someone will give them some love. That said I'm going to call this one done. I did make progress after all, I completed 2 blocks.

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Next on my list was to complete a Christmas Ornament.

Yes, just one this month.

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Sew or Crochet for 15 Minutes a day.

Nope, I failed.

I did make some progress on my scrappy crochet project and even did some hand sewing for 15 minutes most days but not every day.

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Work on my Pretty Little Pots project.

Well I printed out some of the patterns does that count?

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Try a new recipe and share if it's good.

We have tried a couple of new recipes, but they were not meals we will be making again, so only one share for February.

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Walk every day.

Well of course I walked every day, but those extra walks....?

Not every day. I think I missed about 6 days so not bad but no gold star.

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So if my goals are such a wash out what did I do?

I put together two scrappy quilt tops.

I plan to add some Applique to this one. BUt I will quilt it first I think.

It's difficult to see here but these fabrics are mostly stitching and sewing related.

This top just needs quilting.

Of course I spent time in the garden gathering produce, clearing out the old and planting new crops.

Which means I spent time in the kitchen making sauces and relishes and preparing produce for the freezer.

Talking to Tony yesterday and we agreed that if you had said to us 15 or even 12 years ago that we would be gardeners and have a large greenhouse and be producing our own vegetables we would not have believed you. 

I played with some French General fabrics and made some secret stuff.

I took my EPP along to patchwork club and started another Celestial Star.

And pulled out some orphan blocks creating a small quilt top. Janice and Chooky both had input on the borders. Thank you ladies.

This is only a small top, good for a cot maybe. I want to practice using my rulers when I quilt this one.

As I said earlier I have been picking away at my crochet project.

It's not pretty, just lots of different yarns all hooked together. It will keep someone warm though.

I pulled out some more scraps and made a cute wee pouch.

It looks quite pink here, but I assure you it is purple.

My really big Hurrah! for the month was getting my Blue Lanterns EPP quilted and bound.

I gave myself a pat on the back for closing the binding by machine. 

I'm very happy with this one.

And finally, on the second to last day of the month I sent out a plea for help to Janice once again but the reason for that deserves a post of it's very own. I'll do that soon.

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So although my goals didn't add up to much, as you see I did achieve quite a bit in the shortest month of the year.

I hope your February was a good one.