“I only stayed to put away my gun and powder-horn, and give some requisite directions to one of the farming-men, and then repaired to the vicarage, to solace my spirit and soothe my ruffled temper with the company and conversation of Eliza Millward.
I found her as usual, busy with some piece of soft embroidery (the mania for Berlin wools had not yet commenced), while her sister was seated at the chimney corner, with the cat on her knee, mending a heap of stockings.
‘Mary-Mary put them away!’ Eliza was hastily saying just as I entered the room.”
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
Anne Bronte
Quilts, wall-hangings, bears, and pillows! My little Mini-Cooper was full when I did my deliveries!
Happy New Year!
I hope you have had a wonderful, warm holiday season, and I hope for all the best for you in 2021. I am keenly aware that the ringing in of the new year does not change the current climate or situation, and I am not seeking a heap of change right now. I am determined to continue to improve on myself and my work by quiet, steady progress. The new year does feel shiny and new (even though, looking out of the window, I see a dreary, rainy day, which I do not mind!), and I am hopefully going to keep that hope kindled well into the coming months.
Today’s quotation comes from one of my current reads, and as you know, I love to find sewing references in my reading. Several things caught my eye in this quotation...the first being the nod to a female author, who would be interested and knowledgeable about current embroidery trends. This section of the book is narrated by a young man, so it is interesting that the narrator chooses to explain why Eliza is not using Berlin Wools! I did look up the Berlin Wools mania and I came across an article in Piecework Magazine which describes Berlin Wool work as something like needlepoint, but worked in Berlin Wools, which were famous for their “clear bright shades, pure whites, and delicate pastels. Vibrancy of color was imparted to the yarn by newly developed synthetic aniline dyes.”
I am also intrigued by the mention of not mending stockings in front of gentlemen guests!
Besides my reading, I have been very busy with the Christmas season and new projects after the Christmas projects were finished and delivered. The picture above says it all...bears, pillows, quilts...so many fun projects went to wonderful customers this holiday season, and I am pleased and honored to have made them all!
I also received so many wonderful notes and thanks from my great customers...one customer sent me a photo of her new grandbaby with a quilt I made for her daughter in law! Her son is holding the baby with the quilt all snuggled up around them both. Needless to say my day was made. I know I have said it before, but making beautiful quilts for people and seeing their joy is one of the things I truly love about my job.
Thank you to everyone who chose me to make special quilts, pillows, bears, and other sundries for them in the last five years, and I am so excited about the projects currently at work in the studio and the future projects yet to come.
I will try to get back to the regular blog schedule, too, as I tackle these new, exciting endeavors!
Happy New Year and Sending Quilting Love,
Ginger
Coming Next Week: New projects and an anniversary quilt update. (I know you don’t believe me, but I will try!)
I am Reading: Cræft: An Inquiry Into the Origins and True Meaning of Traditional Crafts by Alexander Langlands. I am slowly devouring The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte (And yes, I am still contemplating the other Bronte novels---I do love Wuthering Heights so much!), and I picked up Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman at the library. I am also reading The Yellow House by Martin Gayford.