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October 3, 2024
Comparing Quilting of Old to Today from Quilting & Learning

At the end of August I went to Toronto. Since I "liked" the ad on Instagram for the ROM's (Royal Ontario Museum) exhibition, Quilts: Made in Canada, it kept coming up so I just had to see it! It was a great exhibit and I highly recommend it.

As a quilter and history buff, there wasn't much that was new, but it was great to see these old (and new) quilts and read about how they were made. My conclusion - things haven't changed that much in the last two centuries. Let me explain.

A Group Made Quilt ...

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January 11, 2024
On making a journal from Crazy Quilter on a Bike!

Well, the whirlwind that is my life is ramping up! And we talked about the "next week" syndrome yesterday. "It'll be quieter next week - I just need to get through this week." Well, that quiet next week never seems to arrive! But it's all fun, and I love what I do, making the chaotic schedule much more doable!

However, I'm at a retreat, yet I'm not at a retreat. I'm at home this morning. I swear DH looks at my calendar and says -- "oh, DW is away this week, so I should go on a ...

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December 17, 2023
My Quilt Ladder, and Christmas Slow Stitching from Romany Quilting

Just in time for Christmas, I've received my new hand crafted quilt ladder.  Robin had found a plan to make one of these on the internet, and asked his Menz Shed builder friend for advice.  While he was in hospital getting his second knee replacement, and the subsequent eight weeks recovery time, Brian the builder took the job over for him.  He measured the timber, cut and assembled the ladder for Robin - how kind of him.  Once Robin could comfortably stand on his knee again, he took over the sanding and the wood staining.  And then brought it home ...

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November 30, 2023
Overwhelmed from Crazy Quilter on a Bike!

I don't usually get overwhelmed by emotions, but I can easily control them when they happen in daily life. 

In the past, I had two experiences where I was someplace and was totally overwhelmed by feelings I couldn't describe, and I don't know why they were so powerful. 

The first was at the Anne Frank House (Museum) in Amsterdam. That was a profound experience that I'll never forget. It makes you want to scream that the family stayed hidden for so long, only to be betrayed by a "friend." It's much more complex than that ...

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January 4, 2023
The Prettiest Quilt Shop in Town from Romany Quilting

There’s no doubt about it, as we drove past this cute little shop on the way to Greymouth, towing the caravan behind us, I remarked that we would have to return to this shop the next day.  Bright and colourful on the outside, I was sure it would be just as nice inside.

P1010351

Pink Possum Quilt Shop

I was after some backing fabric for my second piece of traced out stitchery.  Yes, Sue had some of that and cut me a piece, then I had a look around the shop to see what else took my fancy.   There were ...

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May 13, 2022
Church, Chocolate Fish and Monsters from Romany Quilting

During the week we joined 40 or so members of our Probus Club for a Big Day Out in Wellington City.  The alarm clock was set bright and early as we were having an early start.  I’m pleased I decided to take my walker with me as we were to be on our feet for hours, and I didn't know how my back would cope.  I don’t use the walker much at all these days, but for this outing it was worth it’s weight in gold.  It folded up and tucked neatly away in the baggage ...

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April 1, 2022
A "Crazy" Story from Telling Stories Through the Needle's Eye







When we first started our blog and set up our Through the Needle's Eye website, our hope was to invite others with stories of their quilts to share. In fact, on the home page of our website, there is a form asking you to share stories you may have about your treasures. We were absolutely delighted to receive this email a few weeks ago from Kathleen Barden. Her story was so fascinating that we asked her permission to share it with you. She has kindly accepted our invitation, and thrilled us further by sending pictures. Thank you, Kathleen! And ...

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August 9, 2021
The American Presidents: George Washington from Queen of the Unfinished Projects...

Welcome to the first installment of the American Presidents series (which I've decided I will probably abbreviate as tAPs from now on. Why? Because I like it. It's cute, right? No other reason needed.) We're starting at the very beginning. I hear it's a very good place to start. (Cue all the groans from Rodgers and Hammerstein fans)





(Thank you to Amazon for having a great cover picture of the book when my camera refused to cooperate. You can click over and grab your own copy if you need one.)



As you can see, the book ...

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April 18, 2021
The McHenry Quilt = An Update from Kitty and Me Designs

I was finally able to get back to a little crazy quilting!  If you remember, I started a traditional Victorian Crazy Quilt a few years ago.  The purpose is to document the historical landmarks of McHenry Illinois where I live.

I plan to hang it in my home and use it to promote The McHenry Area Historical Society.  I'm  a board member and the editor of the Facebook page.

So I just finished block #19:

This is the very first Mill in McHenry owned by The Owen Brothers.  It sat on Green St.  Of course it's not there ...

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April 8, 2021
Swiss Lace & My Grandpère from Where Art & Life Meet

My father’s father, Maximilian Oscar Zürcher, my grandfather, imported Swiss lace to all the Couture Houses in Paris. Originally from Teufen, Switzerland, he moved to Paris where he and his wife raised my father, who was born in 1919 and my Aunt Jeanne. This was the extent of my knowledge regarding my grandfather. And then… Continue reading Swiss Lace & My Grandpère

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February 18, 2021
The J-less Alphabet and Other Things from From the Strawberry Patch...

I'm still cross-stitching my winter evenings away. This little sampler was a big surprise; there's no letter "J" on the pattern. That sent me scrambling for answers. My friend, LP, informed me that there was no "J" street in Washington DC. "Back in the day", she said, "the letters "I" and "J" were so similar in form that Charles L'Enfant, the designer, refused to use the "J" for a street name to

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The J-less Alphabet and Other Things from From the Strawberry Patch...

I'm still cross-stitching my winter evenings away. This little sampler was a big surprise; there's no letter "J" on the pattern. That sent me scrambling for answers. My friend, LP, informed me that there was no "J" street in Washington DC. "Back in the day", she said, "the letters "I" and "J" were so similar in form that Charles L'Enfant, the designer, refused to use the "J" for a street name to

read more
February 9, 2021
My Visit(s) To The National Quilt Museum from From the Strawberry Patch...

I borrowed the photo (left) from the Internet. When I visited the museum on January 30 it was raining so hard in Paducah that I was NOT posing for a snapshot out front! These photos, below, are from the first time I visited here in 1993. Can you spot the  biggest difference between the two? The museum has undergone a name change! Somehow I missed this occurrence when it happened and it became my

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My Visit(s) To The National Quilt Museum from From the Strawberry Patch...

I borrowed the photo (left) from the Internet. When I visited the museum on January 30 it was raining so hard in Paducah that I was NOT posing for a snapshot out front! These photos, below, are from the first time I visited here in 1993. Can you spot the  biggest difference between the two? The museum has undergone a name change! Somehow I missed this occurrence when it happened and it became my

read more
November 25, 2020
Kimonomomo Library List Part 2 from The Ardent Thread

Sashiko and Boro reference books – hard to find/out of print editions worth seeking out

Three lovely books for visual and text reference. One in Japanese, and two in both English and Japanese. These are not how-to books, but beautiful resources for getting a feel for sashiko, kogin, and boro textiles in historical context.

Links provided were valid on Amazon at the time I wrote this, but as these books are out of print they may not be available or may be ridiculously expensive. I’ve provided ISBN numbers for the first two you can use to search for these ...

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October 24, 2020
Kimonomomo Library List Part 1 from The Ardent Thread

Japanese clothing in historical context, including social and economic status and what they tell us about clothing

This is not meant to be a comprehensive bibliography but a sample of what I have on specific topics in my reference library. Click on the book covers or titles to preview and/or purchase the books online. I make a few pennies if you purchase a copy through the link, but I always encourage people to check your local library for resources.

Memories of Silk and Straw – A Self-Portrait of Small-Town Japan – by Dr. Junichi Saga, translated by Garry O. Evans

This ...

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September 18, 2020
"She Hath Done What She Could" from From the Strawberry Patch...

I first posted about this thimble twelve years ago, this is an updated version of that original post, I have more information now and pictures as a result of my recent trip "back home". I wear this gold thimble on a chain around my neck, it was a gift from my grandmother many years ago, before I was a quilter (amazingly there was such a time!). I had it made into a pendant a while back, when I

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"She Hath Done What She Could" from From the Strawberry Patch...

I first posted about this thimble twelve years ago, this is an updated version of that original post, I have more information now and pictures as a result of my recent trip "back home". I wear this gold thimble on a chain around my neck, it was a gift from my grandmother many years ago, before I was a quilter (amazingly there was such a time!). I had it made into a pendant a while back, when I

read more
March 22, 2020
The Beastly Y-Seam Block Has a Name: Cathedral Window by Nancy Cabot, 1933 Chicago Tribune from Cheeky Cognoscenti

When I was recreating, resizing, recoloring and revising the Moda Modern Building Blocks Sampler in EQ8 Quilt Design Software, swapping out some of the blocks for others in my EQ Block Library, I didn't pay much attention to the information contained in the software "notecard" for each block.  After toiling away at all of these Y-seams, however, I was curious about where this block I'm making came from and I went back to my software to find out.

Cathedral Window by Nancy Cabot, Originally Published in 1933 Chicago Tribune

The 20" block I'm currently working on was ...

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January 17, 2020
the owl and the pussy-cat . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea
     In a beautiful pea-green boat:
They took some honey, and plenty of
           money
     Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
     And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my love,
     What a beautiful Pussy you are,
          You are,
          You are!
     What a beautiful Pussy you are!"

Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl,
     How charmingly sweet you sing!
Oh! let us be married; too long we have 
           tarried,
     But what shall we do for a ring?"
They sailed away, for a ...

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