A Friendship Quilt Revisited for Sunday Favorites & Quilt Festival - Fall 2009

It's time for Sunday Favorites with Chari @ Happy to Design. I'm sharing my very first post again and also linking this to Park City Girl's Quilt Festival - Fall 2009. Wow! There are over 400 quilts to visit. I can tell how I'm going to spend my Sunday!

Welcome to Metamorphosis Monday with our hostess, Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch, and a big "Thank you, Susan!" for all your help and encouragement. Today is my first post, so this in itself is a metamorphosis of sorts. I've been a follower of several blogs, and today I'm making the leap to write a post on my very own blog page, Hyacinths For The Soul. As a 30+ year veteran teacher of young children, I've witnessed many wonderful "metamorphosis moments" of first learning. I like the idea of sharing the transformations that weave in and out of one's life.

One person's trash is another's treasure... not many men would rescue boxes of fabric that were on their way to a dumpster, but fortunately for me I have a friend who knows of my appreciation of textiles and delivered these to my doorstep.

Swatches of the very finest Italian wool! My friend brought me boxes and boxes of sample books that a local men's custom clothing shop was discarding because they were the previous year's fabric collection. What a treasure trove!

Just look at these luscious textiles! They are as soft and smooth as butter on a warm day.

Wouldn't you adore a new outfit made of any of these? The choices are endless.

I need new winter slacks. I'll take three in these colors. What would be your choice?

I admit the boxes lingered among my fabric stash for some time before inspiration struck. I didn't have yards and yards of these luscious fabrics, and after all, patchwork garments hadn't been in vogue since the 1970s. You do remember the patchwork craze of the Hippie Era? And yes, I really did wear this skirt!

Eventually the swatches became the basis for a new collaborative project with my friend, Kay, who I met in the early 1980s when we were professional colleagues. We connected instantly and soon discovered that we shared an abundance of interests. We became soul mates! Today we live 2000 miles apart, but meet yearly either at her home, my home, or a vacation spot. Our yearly visits have spawned collaborations of numerous creative endeavors.

We'd earlier completed a pair of full size crazy quilts (topic for a future blog post), and wanted our next project to be a quilt for each of our husbands. The Italian wools would lend a masculine feel. To pay tribute to the original intent of the fabrics, we decided on the bow tie, a quilt block pattern from the late 1800s.

The metamorphosis didn't evolve quickly. The task to measure, cut, and piece a hundred of these 4" squares proved a daunting task. Then reality set in. Two hundred squares would only produce one lap quilt. We needed a pair! Ingenuity persevered. We would simply alternate solid squares with the bow ties.

After several cross country flights and hours of stitches made by two hearts and two pairs of loving hands . . .

A pair of "Friendship Bow Tie" quilts appeared! Friendship quilts because most of the work on the pair was completed by two friends working side by side during our annual visits.

Today, Kay (at right) and I each have one of these quilts in our homes. They keep our napping husbands warm and cozy on winter afternoons and reflect the creative spirit of two friends across the miles. This summer we will vacation together at the seashore, eager to plot our next shared endeavor.

Each "Friendship Bow Tie" is also a charm quilt, as no two identical fabrics are repeated within either quilt. . . and this one was made for my Prince Charming!

Thank you for stopping by. Please comment below, and please come back!

Thanks for stopping by for this Sunday Favorites and for my participation in the Quilt Festival - Fall 2009. Click here to go over to see a list of Sunday Favorites. Click here to visit all the other participants in Quilt Festival - Fall 2009. Hope to see you again soon.

Pink Toile Delight

Pink Toile Delight

a Haiku

by Hyacinth

Shimmering sparkles,

Graceful bauble of pink toile

Thoughts of sweet Jacque.

October, 2009

The above handmade ornament arrived in this pink box no less! Jacque @ Campagne Maison sent me the lovely pink toile ornament which she crafted along with a very special table topper that she pieced and quilted from beautiful fabric with both roosters and sunflowers. You can read about this gift here at my Tablescape Thursday post this week. I have to say, Jacque, is a talented and extremely thoughtful friend. I so appreciate her PIF gift that was made with such thought and care. Thank you, Jacque!

This pink box of joy was Jacque's Pay It Forward gift to me. You can click on the photo below to read the lovely note she included. It's even on pink paper!

As per Jacque's instructions for playing the Pay It Forward game, I'm to send a gift box to three who leave comments on my blog. The first two have already been selected form the Tablescape Thursday post this week, but I've saved the third for today's Pink Saturday post. So if you are the first one to leave a comment today....Tag, you're it! To play, you have to have a blog of your own so I can see what kind of things you like, though I can't promise that the gift will be a handmade item. Also, be sure to tell me if you want to participate.

I'm always thrilled to have you visit and very much appreciate your comments. I read each one and promise to respond to any questions. I've met so many nice people though the comments. Thank you for visiting!

Be certain to click here to go to Beverly's @ How Sweet the Sound for a list of other participating in Pink Saturday.

Happy Pink Saturday to All!

Crowing Roosters, Sunflowers, & PIF

Pewter Pitcher with Sunflowers, Seeded Eucalyptus, Hypericum Berries, & Milkweed

It's fall and the perfect time for roosters and sunflowers. Welcome to Tablescape Thursday with our hostess, Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch.

You must be wondering what this pink box could possibly have to do with a tablescape or for that matter, roosters and sunflowers . Well, it was a Pay It Forward gift from Jacque @ Campagne Maison. I've waited till this week to share its contents because I wanted to spotlight one of the gifts for Tablescape Thursday.

Jacque had received a Pay It Forward gift in late August from Deb @ Garage Sale Gal. Then she posted photos of her gift and left this message: "If you would like to participate in Pay It Forward, just leave a comment on this post. The first three people to leave a comment will be my next Pay It Forward recipients. You must have a blog so I can read your postings and learn a little about you. That way, I will know what to make just for your! Then, when you receive your package from me, you post pictures of what you received, just as I have done, then add the Pay It Forward button (which is above) to your post, and wait for three comments on your blog...and the game continues on. If there are any questions you can ask me anytime! It really is a whole lot of fun! Let's see how far this PAY IT FORWARD can continue."

I happened to be the first one to leave a comment on Jacque's post that day. So I was in the game! When Jacque visited my blog, she must have noticed that I'm a huge fan of roosters. So her crafty, talented hands made this for me.

Jacque pieced and quilted this topper with two beautiful 

coordinating fabrics. Can you hear the roosters crowing?

The reverse features a center with strips of alternating sunflower fabric and the rooster fabric. Either side of this beautiful table topper brings sunshine and joy to a room.

On this gray, cloudy day we could use a touch of sunshine. I decided this misty morning calls for a hot cup of tea with a soft boiled egg and hot blueberry muffin.

We have a small gate-leg table in our morning room off our kitchen. It's a cozy spot to enjoy a leisure breakfast and while away the morning reading in a comfy wingback chair. I've just started Kathryn Stockett's The Help which is set in Mississippi during the early 60s. I've been on a waiting list at the local library for a copy of this book since August, so I'm eager to read this book. What are you reading at the moment?

A morning breakfast of ...

a perfectly cooked 

soft boiled egg,

and a piping hot 

blueberry muffin.

The deep blue of the juice glass

 is perfect for my new table topper.

I'll have a cup of hot tea served in 

Wedgwood china in the Nantucket pattern.

Tea is Citrus Mint from Tea Forté. Not only is this tea delicious, the presentation in the silken tea infuser is so elegant.

I used a mix of my Wedgwood Nantucket, 

Italian pottery, and a glass figural egg cup.

The napkin is a vintage linen in sunny 

yellow with a pewter napkin ring.

The small tea pot was made by T Grove in Victoria, Canada. It was a souvenir from a visit to Butchart Gardens in the 1980s. I immediately fell for the denim like glaze.

The small dish for the muffin and 

the pitcher holding the flowers are both pewter.

The pitcher, an ebay purchase, 

caught my eye because of the sassy rooster.

So if you want to join in the fun of PAY IT FORWARD, leave a comment below. The first two that comment will receive a gift box from me, though I can't promise that it will be anything handmade like Jacque's gift. Remember you have to have a blog to participate so I can visit and see what kinds of things you like.

There was another gift in the box. It is pink so I'm sharing it on Pink Saturday. If you come back on Saturday you can see what it is, and the first person to comment on that post will be my third PIF recipient.

So please leave your comments below and then head back to Susan's @ Between Naps on the Porch to visit this week's Tablescape Thursday participants.

A Favorite Heirloom for Sunday Favorites

Each week my friend, Chari @ Happy To Design hosts Sunday Favorites. With this weekly Meme, Chari gives bloggers the opportunity to share a favorite post from the past.

This week my mother will celebrate her 95th birthday, so in honor of her I'd like to "revisit" a previous Blue Monday post that was about one of my favorite treasures passed down form my mother.

Welcome to my Blue Willow Monday

It's Blue Monday over at Smiling Sally's, and I'm thrilled! Our home is filled with blue!

We have several rooms with blue walls,

wingback chairs in blue leather,

blue upholstered French bergere chairs,

dinner plates in Spode's Blue Room series, . . .

The list could go on and on.

Blue is one of those magical colors that compliments other colors. Think of the fresh feeling that combinations of blue and yellow provide.

Or the patriotic spirit of red, white, and blue.

Homes with collections of Blue Willow in blue and white always catch my attention and imagination. Though I don't personally have a collection of these age old charming ceramics, I can visit some mighty fine collections in homes of friends. The fresh, crisp feeling of blue and white never fails to fill my senses with joy.

What I do have is a very limited, but extremely sentimental grouping of a child's set in the Blue Willow pattern.

When my parents married in 1939, as a new bride, my mother dreamed of having her very own set of Blue Willow for her dining table. Placesettings of this fine china were far too expensive for the young couple's household budget, yet Mother must have longingly admired sets and continued to wish for a set of her own. As a surprise one day, my sweet and clever father brought home a set in miniature. It wasn't the table setting Mother desired, but she loved and appreciated the little set all the same. During our youth, my sister and I, along with our friends, hosted many a tea party with the treasured little set of Blue Willow. Unfortunately all that remains of Mother's set is this small group.

The Blue Willow pattern was first designed in the late 1700s by Thomas Minton. Over the years it has been produced by many different manufactures, and all these years later this classic pattern is beloved by many a collector.

The classic pattern portrays a Chinese legend of two young lovers. The elements within the design all have significance from the legend. The border of a zig-zag fence represents the father's efforts to separate the young lovers.

Weeping willow trees,

various fruit trees,

three figures on a bridge,

a boat,

and pagodas,

all have significance in the story of the young couple.

There are many variations of the legend, but all end with the young star crossed lovers being transformed into immortal love birds.

My Parents in 1939

Today, the few remaining pieces of this cherished child's set have a place of honor in the living room of our home. Not only do they bring me memories of happy childhood tea parties, but they also speak of the romantic days my parents shared as newlyweds. Years ago I offered to purchase a set of Blue Willow for my mother. She simply smiled and said, "I'm happy with the set your father gave me." I treasure these little dishes as heirlooms.

Who knows, perhaps this little chard of a long ago broken plate will become the topic of a future Metamorphosis Monday right here at Hyacinths For The Soul.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope to see you again real soon. It's always a treat to read your comments so please leave me a note below. Then click here to visit Chari @ Happy To Design for a list of more participants of Sunday Favorites.

Pink Teddy Saturday

The Best of Friends

by Jeannie Hand-Stuart

There's nothing as nice

As a new Teddy Bear.

To tickle and cuddle

And take everywhere

To share all your secrets,

Your laughter and tears

To keep by your side

Through seasons and years

There's nothing as nice

As a new Teddy Bear...

Except for an old one

With memories to share.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. These cuddly pink ribbon bears are being offered at my local grocery in exchange for a donation for breast cancer research . Let's all work together to spread awareness that early detection saves lives.

Thank you for stopping by to visit. Please leave a comment below so I know you were here.

If you don't know Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch, you are in for a real treat. Click here to see what she has for Pink Saturday this week.

Thank you to Beverly @ How Sweet the Sound for her weekly Pink Saturday. Beverly says, "Pink represents hope, joy, and love." and that, "After all, every girl needs a bit of pink in her life." So click here to see a list of Pink Saturday participants.