Making Do - Part Two

One of my very favorite categories of primitive collectibles are the odd but treasured objects called "make-dos".

In earlier times when household items were treasured and saved, people took the time to repair and reuse things. This was partly out of frugality--a much prized virtue!, but also necessity. "Make it do, or do without." In pioneer days, a town with a general store could be hours or even days away. During wartime, goods were scarce.

The following is a quote from The Gatheringsa blog that has featured make-dos and sewing whimsies:

"What is a make-do? It is any object that had been broken, or unusable in its former usage, turned into a usable item again."

Sewing whimsies, make-do pincushions, often on recycled base of some sort, are especially treasured.

sold

These are my  newest versions, HEARTS (of course!) for Valentine's Day or any day.

My make-dos often have an implied---maybe mysterious?--- history, a story hinted at by the treasured photos and trinkets I add to the piece.

This is called Goober and Briscoe after the boy and his pony in the old sepia photo. On the back is a love note dated Dec 4th 1944. It reads: I love you my dearest wife & buddy. Lots of hugs and kisses, [signed] Your salty sailor".....

He was stationed in the South Pacific during WW2. Some of the old buttons are brass Navy and Army buttons. Are they from his uniform? Her brothers'? Or.... 

And there's an old key....?

Is the boy her childhood sweetheart, now grown up and gone off to war?
Did he write the note? Did he come home...or is she still waiting?.......you decide.

This heart is Victorian in feeling...was it a memoriam heart? What does the key unlock?
  

  

Who was/ is the little girl with the doll?

...Perhaps the owner of the pincushion, sewing and musing on old, faded memories? A child lost to illness, or  a daughter now grown up and far far away, married to a pioneering man who farms the endless prairie in Kansas or Montana. Do you sit and mend, and pray that she is well and happy?

Who gave her the LOVE ribbon and why did she save it forever?

Again, our imaginations differ, so you can decide....these HEART make-dos are available now in my etsy shop, come visit!

The photos and love note were shared by my dear friend Lisa, from her extended family's archive! Thank you, babe!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach......

Making Do - Part One

When life gives you lemons [lemonade!].....When life gives you scraps [make a quilt!].

Overused homilies, of course....but oh the fun of making something wonderful out of bits, bobs, and found objects! Lucky for me, us, it is a choice we make...for artistic pleasure, for the good of the Earth, whatever.

During pioneer days, then later the Great Depression and WW2, it was a necessary part of life.

I love this patriotic encouragement!

When I was working on my HQ doll quilt, I mentioned using "shirting"...

...and a friend who wears gorgeous handmade dress shirts took note.

A week later, when he received new shirts from Hong Kong, instead of discarding his worn out shirts, he passed them onto me!

I was thrilled! The cotton fabric is so fine, so lovely! Not exactly what we as quilters mean by "shirtings" but definitely a great addition to my stash. I trimmed away the collars, cuffs and plackets, saved the real pearl buttons...

...and now I am thinking: Can I use them for my next HQ doll quilt?* Or maybe blue and white Lone Star or simple nine patch?

I know I will use them...and think of my friend.

The colors are so me! I almost kept the shirts to wear....

Tomorrow [or soon!]...Making do with rescued woolens and leftover quilt blocks. Plus a make-believe love story of sorts!

*PS: Yes I know I was cranky about my first HQ little quilt, but now I feel challenged to try another---and do a better job! Plus the fun of replenishing my antique fabric stash...again, tiny bits, saved by frugal housewives so long ago!

love

               lizzy

[gone to the beach]

Almost Done....HQDQ

Hi! Yes I am still picking away at this little project!

Probably only the die-hard quilters are still with me at this point,lol.

It isn't trimmed because I was short on fabric for the corners, I may have to redo them....

                              

I was taught that the back of a needlework project should look as good as the front....
No way is anyone gonna see the back of this little guy. I am going to choose a backing and layer it up right away, even though I won't quilt it til summer on the beach....

First though I was auditioning borders. I like a border on a doll quilt because it makes it look a true miniature instead of a block from a large quilt that has been trimmed down and bound.
So we have:

Repro (but vintage? selvedge says 1994) indigo (no)...

Repro 1994 red..(no)...

Cheddar #1 (maybe?)...no corner squares though.

Cheddar # 2: (too pale?)...

Turkey red print that I think is antique, I forget....(maybe?)

One fun thing about digital cameras and quilting: you can really step back and get a good look at try-outs and effects.



For the backing:

First I wanted to use a feedsack (logo type, not floral print), just for fun and to emphasize the make-do quality of my rendition of this quilt. I have one with a lighthouse and one with a turquoise elephant! (neither of which I can find right now, but...).
Or:
antique calico from an old quilt:

repro double pink (a yes unless I find the feedsacks)....

Let me know what you think? And please don't look too closely at my piecework! Boy, am I rusty!

And as a reward for sticking with me and encouraging my progress, here's a sprig of springtime! Just one of my forced bulbs is NOT paperwhites but an adorable baby daffodil.

enjoy!

love

          lizzy

new snowstorm coming up the coast...[sigh]



gone to the beach.....