More Progress!

I know it is a terrible picture but we had to get things picked up and just took a very quick phone shot after dark.  This is all sewn together except for the long strip at the far left.  We still need to piece that in a more interesting fashion. 

This is a group quilt.  I started randomly piecing blocks and then put it away.  Spud one would get it out and ask for more progress.  Finally he got frustrated and started handing me pieces to sew together.  Then he wanted it to be queen size.  Then we didn't have enough fabric.  Then we put it away.  Then he decided it need to have the robot block.  Then we put it away.  Then he pulled it out and we had to argue over just sew it together versus make it look right.  We are somewhere in the middle on that. 

But it actually looks like it might be a quilt some day.

So... Quilt or tie? 

Overnight Tea Party

OK.  Not really.  Just some progress shots of my quilted overnight bag and my tea party quilt. 

This is the tea party quilt.  It is 36 inches square.  Just the right size for having tea with your dolly under the weeping willow tree.  Or inside on the living room floor as the weeping willow tree has about 10 inches of snow under it today.  It is made from orphan blocks.  The green fabric is a beautiful print from the Paris Flea Market line.  The pink is from the French Mill book design for a cause line.  They look great together but not so much with the rest of the quilt they were intended to join.  (That is the one I will be working on next.)

I put this one together as a practice piece.  I wanted to practice my free motion quilting.  No.  Don't get excited.  The teapot was done using my embroidery machine and a quilting motif from Urban Threads.  My humble efforts can just be seen on the left. 

I'll post better picture once the sun comes up and I can get around better.

 Next up is a quilted overnight bag.  I put it together using 4.5 inch squares of quilting cotton.  It was assembled and quilted on muslin.  The lining was made, with pockets!  I have made bags before but never put in pockets.  

 

Here you can see a bit of the elastic topped pockets on the left and a hint of the traditional pocket on the right.  I am not yet happy with the strap.  The hot pink webbing is a place holder until I figure out what I really want to do. 

Cold is as Cold Does GIVEAWAY!

Or some such thing.  So I am from 'up North' where we have 'real' winter.  I've been living 'down south'  (OK, St Louis ain't exactly South but it is more South than where I used to live.)  The winters here have been pretty mild for the past few years.  I think my blood has thinned. 

It was 7, SEVEN, degrees Fahrenheit when I took the spud to school this am.  No throwing a dress over the jammies and stepping into the flip flops today!  Fortunately, since I am from 'up North' and fortunately, since I am a pack rat, I have a stash of wool sweaters to wear.  I had to dig them out from under a pile of loosely knit cotton ones.  You know, the sort that let the breeze pass through.  Better yet, I found a thermal knit t-shirt during the hunt.  I am not toasty.  OK, I am toastier than I was.

To celebrate finding my treasure trove and to help reduce some of the clutter, I am going to give away a t-shirt scarf, similar to the one in the photo.  These are fun scarves to add some color to your outfit and can add some warmth if you choose to wrap them up a bit more. 

 Yours will be grey and yellow or red.  Just tell me which color you prefer.   Unfortunately it won't have a flower on it.  I'd take a picture of it but it is just too cold to get up and do that. All you have to do is leave me a comment below telling me which color you prefer.  I will pick a winner Sunday December 15 after 5 pm. 

Unfortunately, I can't ship this outside the US.  If you are an international reader, feel free to leave a comment anyway and if your number comes up, I will contact you about a treat I can ship overseas. 

Stay warm!

Making Progress

This quilt top was finished ages ago.  I am finally getting around to getting it quilted.  You can see a bit of the butterfly pattern if you look closely at the dark squares in the lower half.  It is pretty dull bt not quite as dull as the picture indicates.  I'll get some outside shots once the sun is shining. 

Button Button Who's got the Button?

<a href="http://waggonswest.etsy.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb155/waggonswest/8e50aeb1-b4d5-40ef-935a-3228c62e1b82.jpg"/></a>


I think that I have managed to make a button for my etsy shop.  

The Cost of Quilting

This article was posted on the Sew Mama Sew Facebook page today.  It is on the Mollie Sparkles Blog.  She meticulously costs out the labor materials, shipping and intellectual value of making a quilt top.  You have to go read the whole thing to get the total. 

It is a 72 x 72 inch quilt.  The real cost is staggering. The materials cost is high but certainly what it would be if we truly added it all up without some congressional grade accounting tricks like already in stash is free! 

What we truly under-value as quilters is our time and more importantly our creativity.  If you think about it, what does a consulting firm get for designing a new logo?  What about the cost of designing a webpage.  Creativity is not cheap. 

Quilters likely don't do the sort of statistical market research a logo consultant does.  However, we do survey market trends (read blogs, search on-line patterns, visit fabric stores, consult with the client or carefully consider the recipient).  How many times have you tried to use a piece from your stash only to decide it is out-of-date or doesn't fit the vibe?  How many times have you gone back for a different piece because the color doesn't play nicely or the contrast is too high or low?  It is all time.  Time well spent but seldom counted in the value of making a quilt. 

And like web-page design, making the design look good is just half the battle.  We need to do the back end construction to get all the parts to function properly.  A great design only goes so far.  The seams need to be solid and the project needs to be finished. 

The bottom line is that materials x 2 or even x 3 just doesn't cover it in terms of the real cost involved in making a quilt. 

I bring this up, because as I make more quilts I have more quilts I am ready to send on to a good home... for a price.  I've donated a fair share.  I've gifted plenty.  But I would like to sell some of them.  I want to get a fair price for them.  I tend to price them high.  (No where near where I should based on this calculation) but higher than seems seemly.  I always figure out a price at which I am willing to see them go.  Or as my husband says would you rather have the quilt in your closet or $ in your pocket.  Some of them have a price.  Some don't. 

So what do you think?  Do you sell quilts?  Make them on commission?  Do you only give/donate?  What are your quilts worth? 

Quiler's Blog Hop Give Away Giving Thanks Version

The Give Away is officially closed the Winner is EmilyC.  Thanks to everyone who stopped by during the blog hop!  


Yes.  It is that time again.  Misha is hosting the Quilter's Blog Hop Give Away over at Quilting Gallery.

I am going to be giving away a custom quilt label.  I have several different designs available in my etsy shop but I will work with you to get the colors, wording, size and style perfect for your project. 

Your label will be machine embroidered on quality white quilters cotton.  The thread is colorfast.  It will have a border large enough for you to turn and applique or to piece into your quilt.

All you have to do is answer this question in the comments.  What information do you put on your quilt label.

All the best!  Be sure to check out Quilt Gallery for many other amazing give aways!

The details:  The Give Away is open from November 21 until Sunday December 1 at 5 pm CST.  I will pick a winner using a random number generator and contact the winner by email.  Please be sure to leave an email address if you are a no reply blogger.  

You should seriously check out the patterns available at Quilting Gallery.  The Aiming For Accuracy one is stunning. 

Sad Shirt. Happy Bag.

The Mister's shirt was damaged and unwearable.  But he really liked it.  He also needed a tote bag.  A manly tote bag.  Thus... sad shirt to happy bag.  I love the buttons and pocket!  Should have given it a tie. 

And it has an awesome stone lining/reversible side courtesy of my friend Kelly. 

First Snow!

That means it is winter.  And I haven't updated anything since what seems like summer.  I'm just going to toss in some pictures of things I've been making rather than try to catch up individually. 

Quilt finish!  Only one in months for the Craftster Mini Art Quilt Swap. 

My partners theme was a story called "The Yellow Wallpaper".   It is a pretty dark Victorian tale about a woman who is confined and starts to see a woman in the wallpaper.  She tries to free her.

She tries to free her.  My partner is also an amazing and very  modern quilter.  She loves bright modern colors and wanted bright modern fabrics.  I did what I could to reconcile the two notions.  Probably not getting very far on either one.  But it was fun.  The yellow isn't very modern but it was pretty wallpaper-y.  I liked using the Madrona Road bits because of the implied story.

I couldn't bring myself to actually rip up the quilt.  I know it needed it.  Instead I left it intact and applied the shreds over the top.  My partner could remove them and finish off the binding if she preferred. 

It is hand quilted with teardrop shapes that mimic the face in the center.  The face is an Urban Threads design and is repeated in the top left, although I doubt anyone will ever find it.

This is the stunning quilt she made for me.  I love it!

OK.  That is enough for today.  Hope you all are doing well.  I'll be back with more as soon as I can.  

Ouch

I have done something bad to my knee.  It is definitely slowing me down.

Problem Solving. Or Avoiding What I am Supposed to be Doing

 I am supposed to be making things for a couple shows.  I am supposed to be cleaning my house.  I am supposed to be packing up some things.  Most of all I am supposed to be making a mini art quilt for the estimable Mare Mare of craftster.org.

Instead, I found it absolutely essential that I make a carrier bag for the hangers I drag around to shows.  I have a couple cardboard hanger boxes that I borrowed stole from my mom.  She used to get them from the local dry cleaner.  I can't find any dry cleaner that has them.  They are perfect for keeping the hangers organized and ready to grab. 

The boxes are old.  I was completely stressed out about them when I sent one with Spud 1 and his buddy, Mr T,  to the last show they did.  I just knew that it would rip or that some one would throw it out as trash.  I am quite sure that Mr T was convinced I am a lunatic for worrying about a dumb old box.  But then given Mr T's status as a complete lunatic (incredibly practical, efficient and organized but entirely goofy) I am not sure I will give his opinion all that much credibility. 

Looking ahead, I realized that the next show I am doing, I will be on my own.  No Spuds to Sherpa the goods.  The most awkward thing I have is the hanger box.  clearly the box needed to have shoulder straps and a supporting bag to keep it intact and recognizable as a valuable tool. 

So... I made the hanger box bag!  I drew around the bottom of the box.  Stitched on a strip for the sides.  It has a muslin lining.  I stitched the lining and outer together at the top and turned it through the hanger opening sides.  Those I folded under and topstitched around the whole thing.  I added the straps, one inch twill tape over the surface going all the way around the bag and under the bottom for some extra support.  The little ties on the front are some more twill tape to keep things all together. 

Fits over my shoulder.  Is comfortable to carry. Looks better than the beat up cardboard.  Winning all the way around.  Now, if only I could make some decisions about Mare's quilt.  She loves modern and bright.  Any suggestions for making it artsy? 

Pumpkins

Pumpkins. 

That is all. 

Rocket Girl

Boy blacksmith wanted me to make galaxy/nebula/space shirts.  I've been trying.

I'm getting mixed results.  I'm not too sure they look much like galaxies at a distance but there is some interesting depth in the close up view. 

Spud 3 says this one is just plain gross.  That is OK,  It is ripped and I was using it to experiment with overpainting. So I started adding some machine embroidery.  This one is a design from Embroidery Library. 

Rocket girl was one of my many reminders about why I don't typically use red/pink/orange paint as the dominant color.  The red pigment just doesn't move and so the prints are indistinct.  This one was leaves that barely showed.  I over painted with black and used lots of stars.  It is a cool print, but another one that may not translate well at a distance.

I found the rocket girl design over at Urban Threads and decided it would be perfect on this shirt.  Stitched out beautifully.  But that is what you expect from Urban Threads.  More importantly, it stitched out on the t-shirt material without a hitch.  Wonderful.  Thanks UT!

Since that worked, I have also tried embroidering over some of the other shirts that haven't printed well.

 This is a kokopeli print I tried to do in red and yellow.  Again, not such a good print. 

I added an embroidered Kokopeli.  Next one will be in turquoise.  You can see a bit of the printing just below the stitching.  This is also an EmbroideryLibrary design. 

Boots on the?

... Wherever you want with this little badge. 

Pardon me while I share my total cuteness overload.  I know that most of you would think that the kitties, bunnies and flowers are the cutest thing ever, but I just love this tiny little boot print.  I love it so much, I couldn't even wait for it to finish stitching to take a picture.

The other cool thing about this particular design is that I drew it electronically using paint.net.  Typically, I draw on paper, take a picture and then retouch using some sort of graphics program.  This one was a first.  It was digitized using stitch Era, which is sadly now unsupported.  I use a Babylock Ellegante 2 for my sewing and all my badges are made using upcycled denim. 

This particular badge is part of a group for a boys club.  The design will appear in the shop as soon as I finish up some other projects. 

Welcome Fall?

It is the first of October and I am enjoying a lovely Caprese Salad, thanks to my friends named Mike who garden and share. 

Well, That's Embarrassing.

I knew the dust bunnies were out of control but I had no idea they had their babies in my sewing machine. 

Tomato -they-ate-it-all-before-I-could-take-a-picture- Tart

No seriously.  They ate it all before I could get to the camera.  So all you get is the recipe.

• 1/2 package filo dough
• melted butter about 1/2 c
• dash garlic powder
• shredded Parmesan cheese
• shredded mozzarella cheese
• finely sliced onions (about 1/8 cup)
• thinly sliced Roma or other fresh tomatoes.
• sea salt
• cracked pepper
• thyme
• parchment paper  (I know it isn't an ingredient but check to see if you have some before you thaw the filo.  Don't bother asking why.)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Cover the largest cookie sheet that fits in your oven with parchment paper.  Spray the parchment paper with cooking spray.  If you have a normal oven you can use the giant cookie sheet and full size filo sheets.  If you have a miniature oven use what fits and plan to fold your filo in half. 

Melt some butter and add the garlic powder.  

Open your package of filo.   Unroll it onto a piece of plastic wrap.  Immediately cover it with a second piece of plastic wrap.  (You can cover that with a slightly damp cloth if you like.)

Quickly lift the plastic wrap, pull up one sheet of filo without ripping, tearing, folding or mutilating, place it on the parchment paper and recover the rest.  Do this all simultaneously.  No really.   Pull out your third hand to make sure that the filo doesn't dry out.  OK. so I'm joking.  You can get all stressed out about working with filo and never try it or you can just go for it.  Trust me.  Ripped filo tastes as good as perfectly un-ripped filo.  Furthermore, have you ever eaten anything made with filo?  How would you know if the sheets were torn?  The stuff crumbles and flakes all over the place.  So just get your filo mostly on the parchment and then recover the rest. 

Brush the filo with melted butter.  You want to make sure that you have the whole thing covered with butter.  Don't worry about ripping it.  It really will be fine either way.

Sprinkle about a Tablespoon of Parmesan cheese over the dough.

 Top with another sheet of filo.  Brush on the butter.  Sprinkle the Parmesan.  Rinse.  Repeat. 

Oh wait.  Don't rinse.  Just repeat.  You want at least 8 layers of filo but you can keep going until it is used up or you are bored.  If you are using a miniscule, costs more than full sized, oven (no, I'm not bitter about that, why do you ask?) you can use folded filo sheets.  Put half on the parchment. Brush with butter.  Fold second half over.  Brush with butter and sprinkle with Parmesan and proceed. More layers are fine.  I mean, really, what are you going to do with the second half of the package of file you just spent $4 on?  You know it will dry out before you can do anything with it....

Once you have built up enough layers of filo, or you are bored with it, you can move on. 

Brush the top layer with butter.  Sprinkle on Parmesan.  Sprinkle the thinly sliced onions over the top.  Add a light layer of mozzarella cheese.  Don't go too heavy.  We aren't making pizza here. 

Arrange the thinly sliced tomatoes in rows across the top.  Really.  I did that.  Neatly too.  It isn't that hard and makes all the difference in they way it looks and they way it cooks. 

Sprinkle a bit of thyme, sea salt and cracked pepper over the top. 

Bake at 375 until the edges of the filo are golden brown.  Slide onto a cutting board or serving tray.  Let rest for 5-10 minutes.  Slice and serve.  Works well at room temperature. 

I used fresh homegrown Roma and yellow tomatoes.  It was amazing!

So go ahead and try the filo.  It won't bite. It is relatively easy and makes a very impressive dish. 

Soap!

It ain't pretty but it's my first batch. 

I should add some details.  This was my first cold process soap making experiment.  I used olive, coconut and palm kernel oil.  (I will NEVER willingly use Palm Kernel oil again.)  I scented it with Bay.  It is pretty potent.  The top is very wrinkled.  I will have to ask more questions about how to keep that from happening.  Otherwise, it came out quite nicely.  Now it has to age for a bit before it can be used.

I'm going to try another batch soon.  Perhaps tomorrow.  But NO palm kernel oil.  

Poor Lonely Blog

I keep hoping to post some of the few projects I have been working on.  I keep running into real life.  Well, that and a lost camera...  I'll be back soon.  Really. 

Clear Skies

I remember a crystal clear morning.  Sharp blue sky.  Not even a wisp of a cloud.  And no planes.  Not one single plane crossed the sky from horizon to horizon.  It was a beautiful sky but it was not a beautiful day.  I remember the disbelief.  The slump against the wall.  The worry.  The images that linger.  The need to gather loved ones close.  The hushed tones.  The questions. Where is?  Do you know?  Who is responsible? How? Why?  The horrific loss. 

Even now, I cry.  Cry for the lost souls.  The brave souls who responded to the call.  The many who have followed in their footsteps.  All so that today, when I look up, I see planes.  Beautiful shiny planes.  Freely traveling the skies.  So I give thanks.  And I remember.  And write it all down again so that I will never forget. 

SewSweetness, SewKindness

I am working on a bag project.  Re-inventing the diaper bag (and not necessarily in a good way).  But I've started and now I need to finish. 

I was thrilled to see that Sara Lawson of SewSweetess  was sponsoring TalkNT yesterday.  It gave me the opportunity to pop in and ask some questions about things that plague me in bag making.  She was very generous in her answers and I believe I am ready to tackle the next step in my little project. 

Sara has some great bag patterns for sale.  I am intrigued by the aeroplane bag.   She also has a book coming out this Fall.  More importantly, and the real reason I am writing a post about her is that she generously allows people who purchase her patterns to sew and sell bags made using her designs. 

There is a lot of conversation and in some cases controversy over insuring that designers get credit and financial reward for their designs.  I've commented upon it here a few times.  Sara's blanket permission is at the polite and friendly end of the spectrum.  I appreciate that.  And I want to make note of it so that others can go, check out her designs, buy a pattern or two and help make it possible for her to continue that policy. 

Radio Silence...

Because I'm actually on the radio among other things this week.  This Saturday is the big day.  I'll be back on-line after it is all done.

Race for the Rivers  is:

• canoe and kayak races
• bike rides -- still time to sign up!
• festival
• music fest
• food and beer
• green vendors
• hands on activities for all ages
• Asian carp fish fry
• Stream tables
• opportunities to volunteer 
• FREE voyager class canoe rides on the Missouri River
• and the fundraiser for Greenway Network, Inc. 

Stop by the Greenway Booth if you are able to come out and ask for me.  If I'm not in the WaggonsWest booth, I'll be there or they will be able to find me.  I'd love to say hi.  

Did I mention the FREE voyager class canoe rides on the Missouri River? 

What it is all about

Photo credit M Garvey

Losing Track

...of time.  I've driven almost 6,000 miles since June.  Those slow sweet days at the lake seem like a long time ago but it has barely been two weeks.  I keep waiting for time to breathe but like the sign says, it won't be today and tomorrow isn't looking good either. 

How's your summer been? 

Sunshine On My

T-shirts leaves an impression.  I've been painting while the sun shines.  Squirreling away sunny shirts for the winter.  Gathering leaves before they fall.  Oh, whatever.  I've been making sunpainted shirts for days now. 

Oh, and sorry for the ear worm.  I figured fewer people would know this one than You are My Sunshine and besides, that whole skies are gray thing doesn't really work in this context.  Or maybe it does.  I think the paint is getting to me! 

Further Evidence That

a.  There is a dread disease carried on the outside of the mailbox that I know nothing about.
b.  There is a mailbox cleanliness fad sweeping the nation that I know nothing about.
c.  My neighbor has too much time on her hands.
d.  Yes, we are THAT family in the neighborhood.


My sweet little neighbor was out cleaning the bricks and mortar on her mailbox this morning.  It never occurred to me that my mailbox might need to be scrubbed.  Furthermore, I am sure that I would simply assume any moss or algae added to the rustic charm. 

A Wee Bit of a Rant

I had a birthday a while ago.  I received some birthday money.  I decided to spend some of it during the sales going on right now. 

I do most of my clothes shopping on-line.  I like the search functions that allow me to only look at things that I can afford and that will fit.  I shop at several national chains and greatly appreciate their service, quality, reliable sizing and pricing.  I'm not going to mention any names in this post because I really have no complaint against the company. 

One chain I shop at regularly has a great return policy.  I can either package it up and leave it on my porch for the mailman to pick up or I can take my purchase to the local store.  I typically go to the local store to avoid worrying about whether or not it will arrive at its destination. 

Now, I shop at this particular store a lot.  In 'flusher' years, I've even managed to become a preferred customer.  I'm in their computer.  The closest store for returns is a lovely place but it carries a very limited range of sizes.  It does not carry my size.  That is quite all right with me.  I understand they have done their research, (although I always wonder how they can say they don't sell particular sizes if they never reliably carry them.  But that is a question for another time).

On this particular day as I was making a return of a small portion of larger order the clerk started telling me about all of the sales and suggested I look around for an exchange.  Pretty typical fare.  Nothing I didn't expect.  I said, "No thank you.  You don't carry my size."  She then started to tell me about all the other sizes and particular styles that I could try on to see if they would work.  I told her that I didn't want to waste my time looking at things I that I could not buy today.  I really wasn't trying to criticize the store, I was just trying to state a fact.  I hate looking at things that I KNOW come in my size but aren't available for me to purchase.  It is annoying and I can find what I want and order online if I want to wait a week for delivery. 

I was set on relieving my wallet of some of my birthday money right then.  I didn't want to wait.  I didn't want to pay shipping or make another trip to the store.  I wanted an outfit to wear now.  It happens like that some days. 

So I completed my return with a rather huffy salesclerk and left the store.  I walked two doors down to the store that carries a full range of sizes.  The friendly clerk helped me find the right size and never once suggested I try things that clearly would not fit.  I spent a fair bit of my birthday money. 

As I was walking back past the original store with my rather full garment bag I wanted to go back in.  I wanted to say, "Look. I came out to spend money today.  If you carried the full range of sizes your company produces, I would have spent it here.  If you had suggested I could order from your catalog kiosk, I might have considered that as well.  You did neither, so the lovely Lisa two doors down, received a hefty commission instead."

I didn't because I am certain it would have been perceived as cranky criticism rather than an opportunity to learn from a loyal customer.  I really wanted them to know that I would be happy to spend money in their store, have done so in the past and would do so in the future if they would make it easy for me.   I really wanted to.  But I didn't. 

Well, I've shared it with you, so I feel a bit better.  Would you have said something? 

I Can See Clearly Now

When I first left the gray sun deprived upper-ish midwest (Hey SAD isn't a disease it is a CULTURE!)  I discovered that I needed sunglasses.  I also discovered that I had a sorry tendency to step on, sit on, misplace or otherwise render my sunglasses unusable.  As a poor grad student this was not consistent with purchasing good sunglasses. 

Besides

So for mmphty years I've stuck to my cheap sunglasses until this summer.  My MIL gave me a classy pair of grown up sunglasses.  What a difference! 

Independence

The July challenge for Project Quilting was to make a quilt inspired by Independence without making a red, white and blue quilt.

Thinking about it, I kept coming back to the notion of bunting that is so prevalent during the summer months.

I was intrigued by the notion of one of the pennants escaping, becoming independent if you will.

Thus, the Independence Bunting quilt.  I also liked the notion that the pennants were not traditional colors.  A little more rebellion suitable for the occasion.

The details.  This quilt is approximately 35x35 inches.  It is made of quilters cotton and muslin.  The backing is pieced and the binding is scrappy.  It is fused-machine applique and machine quilted.  The quilting is lines of bunting going across the quilt with a simple outline around the bunting.


Be sure to check out all of the other great quilts at Project Quilting.  And stop by Persimon Dreams to say hi to Kim and say thanks for inspiring so many cool quilts. 

Wee Quilts

I finally turned some of my Spring photography into wee quilts.

Images were printed on specialty quilt fabric.  (The blue in this picture and the one below is really purple.  Nothing I tried made it photograph purple.)

I was going to make one big wallhanging.

But the wee quilts appealed to me more.

 Plus they will each be going off to a special graduate soon. Shhh....  They might not read my blog but some of their mommies do. 

Indepdendence

The Project Quilting off-season challenge for the month of July is Independence.  But you can't make a red, white and blue quilt... so much for my blueberry and strawberry project.  This is my work in progress.  I actually have the quilting done and just need to hand stitch the binding.  I kind of liked the notion of the last pennant breaking free to fly on its own.  But then, I'm kind of strange that way. 

It is just about 40 inches square. 

Restored Kitchen

My sister is restoring her kitchen to the 1870's.  She has a few nods to modern conveniences: the cookstove is actually gas and the ice box is a real fridge.  But there aren't any counters or cabinets.  It is all furniture.  She is going to have some soapstone window seats.  They will need cushions.  Mom picked out the fabrics.  I have made some pillow covers and a the worlds most schizophrenic table runner you will ever find. 

Spud one and Bug the niece both HATE it.  One end is purple and mustard.  The other is green and mustard.  But the room is mustard and she wants purple dishes.   I figure she can always put a big bowl on the end that doesn't match today. 

Oh, the important thing.  These fabrics are a strong reference to William Morris, pretty much the dominant designer during the time her house was built.