Valentine Pillowcases

An easy bedroom change-up is new pillowcases.  I like to do seasonal ones, but you can do a more decorative look just to update your room, or your kids rooms in about an hour.  It takes one yard for each pillow case.

When using one fabric fold 4 1/2" inches across the width of the fabric at one end.  Then open out the fold you just pressed out and fold again along the fabric's folded edge, only right sides together.  Then stitch across the opposite end from the creased fold and along the side.

Then on the remaining open end with the fold line......fold the fabric along the creased fold line to make the pillowcase hem.  Stitch the hem, sewing close to the hem edge.  Turn the pillowcase right side out and press.

Check out the link below for my complete tutorial on making pillowcases with a lot more details and photos. It tells how to add a contrasting band to your pillowcase.

http://4andfifteen.blogspot.com/2011/03/pillowcase-tutorial.html

Civil War Commemoration Quilt

I belong to several quilt lists and one of them is a group that enjoys Kathleen Tracy and her small doll quilt designs.

  smallquilttalk@yahoogroups.com  

But from that also comes other websites, projects, etc. that come around and peek our interest......such was the 12 Days of Christmas Challenge by Temecula Quilt Co.

http://temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com/  If you scroll down you will see the whole project.  There is also a kit available.  

I told myself, I was not going to get sucked into a new project......pathetically weak....what can I say.  But I saw the premise of it.....which was Day 1....1 piece, Day 2.....2 pieces, Day 3.....3 pieces etc.  Kinda clever and simple enough, then it dawned on me, I had some great civil war commemorative fabric with images.  I had bought yardage of several of these.....I would love to make my hubby a special piece at some point.  But this piece was so small, I thought I could raid some of it without ruining my chance to do a bigger piece for him later.  At least I hope so.

Can you imagine going off to war with your husband and children?  There was more of that than you might imagine.

I had been asked a while back about a quilt I had done with vintage blocks in the style of a soldier's cot quilt.  If it could be used at the upcoming Civil War Quilt Exhibit at the Grout Museum.  So as I am looking at these blocks and fabrics.....I am thinking my friend, Robin might want this piece too.  And the directions would be available for anyone to make using their blog at Temecula Quilt Co......which would be kinda cool.

I look at this young sailor and see my grandson, who is 15, many of them went off to war at this age and younger, so heart wrenching.

So last week, when I had 11 of the blocks done, I took my other quilt to her and showed her the blocks and she loved them and wanted this piece for the exhibit too......so that meant I had to get it finished this week.  Hence....my fingers are sore and not much extra happened around here.

A famous picture of Abraham Lincoln at Antietam.  We spent a day walking this battlefield where unbelievably, thousands of men lost their lives for this struggle and what they believed in.

You can see all the different patches I fussy cut.....that really make the piece. IMHO  I also hand quilted this piece, which I haven't done in quite awhile, but felt I needed to finish it in this way.

Little Round Top at Gettysburg, which is a gripping story that features one of my favorite characters from that day, Joshua Chamberlain.  The Silver Fox and I spent a fair amount of time on this rocky hill in August 2011.

If you are not familiar with the story of Little Round Top and Joshua Chamberlain, it would be worth a read!!!

http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/gettysburg/gettysburg-history-articles/defense-of-little-round-top.html

You can go and count all the pieces in each block to find each one.....No. 1-12.

The blocks are finished at 3", so they are quite small.

My plan was to use a contrasting fabric as cornerstones between all the sashing strips.  I am going to place my pins from all the civil war sites we have visited in those cornerstones.  And when I laid them out, several of them covered that area, so I decided not to bother with that.  Then as per my usual, I forgot to put the pins on it as the final step and I already took the quilt to the museum, so will have to remedy that the next time I go to town.

Here is the information regarding this exhibit at the Grout Museum in Waterloo, Iowa.  FYI  If your spouse has an interest in the military.  The Iowan Veterans Museum is also a part of it and I would highly recommend a "come, look, see."   It is a beautiful and quality museum and worth your time if you are in this area.

http://www.groutmuseumdistrict.org/

The Year of the Little Black Dress

I am not that big on New Year's resolutions per say.....but in years past I have been known to start massive stitchery\sewing projects in the week between Christmas and New Year's that I have completed during that coming year.  I need to do that with my Dear Jane Quilt.  I have over half of the top completed.....but there is a lot of work left to do on it.  Since we are coming up on all these 150 anniversary celebrations for the Civil War and the many battles in the coming couple years....I would really like to complete this quilt during these years and be able to commemorate this really dramatic time in American history.  So I am seriously thinking this should be my main project for the year.  But I digress again....you'll hear more about this later I am sure.

A certain sweet Santa's helper left me a small note in my stocking to take a trip to Coldwater Creek. So we traveled to the closest location which is over an hour away....... so don't get there often...this is my go-to store at the moment.  Back to roaming and looking for a pair of black jeans, narrow leg, and most importantly Lycra...... my bestest friend.  The Silver Fox is walking around with me looking for thee pair of black jeans as I stop at various racks.....sidetracked again.   I run across this darling little black dress. 

I touch it.

I pet it.

I swoon.

I didn't try it on, but I wanted to.....I already have a little black dress......did I mention they had it in red too....I love a good red.

I mention to the Silver Fox....I think we should make this the year of the little black dress.  I can't think of the last time we have been somewhere...... where I would wear my little black dress.  So the conversation went something like this...... "we need to change our lives this year, really, so we actually go to places where I could wear my LBD and you (Silver Fox) could be all duded up in your suit."  

He looks very hot in his black suit BTW.....I am pretty sure he nodded back at me.....so that is going to be our New Year's Resolution for 2011.  

The Year of the Little Black Dress

http://www.coldwatercreek.com/product-detail/58816/65333/crinkled-v-neck-dress.aspx?colorid=030&refLink=dresses.aspx

Merry Christmas

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Matthew 1:21

This is one of my cherished Christmas decorations.  My Grandma T. made this for me many years ago.  The shed was made by my dad.  It is a beautiful set, always lighted and located in a place of honor in our home.

Merry Christmas to each one of you who taken time out of your busy lives to read 4 & Fifteen these past 9 months or so.  This has been a new adventure for me and I am still learning about the fascinating world of blogging.  May you find inspiration, encouragement and a spirit of sharing in these postings.  I am especially thankful for those who have taken the time to write to me.  Just know, I ALWAYS reply.  :)  

From our house to yours,

Merry Christmas  

Cabin Fever Christmas 2011

I spent a delightful evening with a special group of friends that has become one of my favorite gatherings and I think for all of us during the Christmas season.  Most of us have known each other for 20+ years through quilt classes, stitching guilds & quilting guilds.  Our members have evolved over the years with some leaving and others added, but the majority of us have bonded together through the good, the bad, the beautiful and some very difficult circumstances.....as time brings those things into our lives.

 For our Christmas party our hostess makes a wonderful wild rice soup and the rest of us bring either a treat or appetizer.

Back:  Robin, Helene, Anita, Mary, Pat

Middle:  Dee, Karan

Front:  Pam, Sheri

We were missing Tricia, and Chris for the pic.  Tricia came at the beginning, but went to her daughter's Christmas concert and then stopped back later and Chris unfortunately fell and is laid up with a cast....not fun!!!  Know that you were missed.

We used to have Secret Sisters for the whole year and unveil them in December.  But we quit doing that several years ago. And now we just do something fun and little for each other at Christmas.  So I thought you would enjoy seeing the loot I brought home from this evening of fun.  There is a potholder, crocheted dishcloth, tiny clip on flash light, Bunny mac & cheese, hand lotion, decorative jar with candy, M & M's, Rudolph scissors, candy coated popcorn, 2 pairs of holiday socks, snowflake lantern, photo frame ornament, Christmas dish towel, and a giant Christmas pen....that I thought no one should be without...hee hee.

We spent some time remembering all the really beautiful things that we have in our homes that came from the hands of these very creative women.  Each one is an amazing talent and I enjoy the company of everyone of you.

Merry Christmas, Girlfriends!!!

Christmas Books

Can one have too many books?  I think not.....although I am trying to restrain myself as my shelves are bulging.  I have an affinity for Christmas books, old and new.....quilt related books, civil war history, anything Susan Branch, just to name a few.  Susan recently wrote about some of the Christmas books she has collected over the years. http://www.susanbranch.com/archives/2602 

And I thought what a lovely collection to share this time of year.

What fun to be reading someone else's blog and find you have some of the same things, I noticed right away that Susan also had The Fireside Book of Christmas Stories.  Mine came from my Grandma K.'s bookshelf...she gave it to me years ago.

Here is a collection of old and new titles that have come to live with me....some you might want to try to find for yourselves....how about The Christmas Stove, Lucy's Christmas and Alexander's Christmas  Eve....especially for someone named Lucy or Alex.  :)

Here are some more of the titles for you to peruse....of special note is the one with part of the binding missing.  That is a vintage Hallmark pop-up book of The Night Before Christmas.  We read that to our girls every Christmas Eve before they went to bed.....so it is well loved and worn.

The Jolly Christmas Postman is a very cute book full of envelopes and letters to tell the story....very fun.

I have a fairly complete collection of Joan Walsh Anglund books.  Her illustrations are just darling and would be a fun collection to look for.  I read this often to my girls when they were small.

Christmas Is Love is another title of Joan Walsh Anglund......one of her small books with a fun photo of my 3 oldest grandchildren back when we only had 3.....so that has been quite a few years ago.  We took them out that night to look at lights and go see Santa.  It seems a lifetime ago as the oldest in this pic is 15.  :0

Eloise Wilkin is another illustrator who just communicates sweetness.  As this book has been loved on by my girls as well as their own children.  I think I have read this book to all 15 of them.  Miss Kate Anne has pulled this off the shelf every week this month.  This would be another great collection to start for yourself or someone you love.

Under my tree I have it full of vintage toys, books, several nativity sets, Christmas catalogs, games and the like.  Here is a page from a vintage pop up book.

A wooden sleigh full of small vintage Christmas books a midst a few New Year's noise makers and other pieces of eye candy.

Now for a couple of adult selections....this is a collection of short stories from Bess Streeter Aldrich.  She has her roots in Cedar Falls, Iowa and Nebraska, where she wrote many of her works.  Her books are a wonderful slice of a time gone by.

  A Song of Years and A Lantern In Her Hand are my favorite of her books.  They are mainly about her grandparents who settled, lived and are buried in Cedar Falls in the 1800's. You would cherish these books if you enjoy period historical fiction.  http://www.bessstreeteraldrich.org/bio.html

And for the quilt lover's and even if you are not, what is not to like about Jennifer Chiaverini and her series based on Elm Creek Quilters.  A delightful set of books revolving around a quilt retreat estate in Pennsylvania and the women that are connected to it, both past and present.  These books are readily available and would be a welcome addition to your own bulging book shelves.  :)

Hope you enjoyed this little tour of my book shelves.

Little Christmas Quilts

Thought you might enjoy seeing a few of my Christmas quilts or the ones that lend themselves to the spirit of Christmas.

The spinning star quilt was a swap with my quilt group......Cabin Fever.  I have been with this group for over 20 years.  To say these women are really good friends is an understatement.  We know each other well.  We each made 12 blocks and then shared them with one another.  Each block is one red star, but when you put the blocks side by side, they make the green stars as a secondary design.....I love these kind of designs they look way more complicated than they are.

I found several small Christmas quilts the other day and decided to swap out my small quilt wall.  Funny thing, the pieces I changed were almost identical in size to swap with.  That would never happen again without  major planning.....I did leave the Bear's Paw at the top, but the rest of them have a Christmas theme or color to them.  A couple were gifts to me and the rest I have done over the years.

This little Santa was done by my friend Betty, who moved to GA over 20 years ago.  I have very fond memories of our families together when our kids were little.  It is a very sweet..... running-stitched primitive Santa. 

This little piece was stitched by my Cabin Fever friend, Pam.....I love these Santa's.....cross stitched and pieced into this little gem with bells on.  :)

A couple more Santa pieces.....the chubby guys are hand appliqued and the other one is a simple block that I have at  times hung with a mini-decorative hanger and tiny clothes pins to display.  Very cute and easy to change out.

This one I hand quilted with metallic thread and wrote out part of the story...... Twas' The Night Before Christmas in the green border.

An early piece of mine done for a quilt challenge probably in the early 1980's.