Rose's Beehive- $10 Patterns

A couple years ago, I came up with 'Rose's Bee-hive.' It was slightly different than this- different colored flowers and a date on top rather than a heart. Other than that, the same pattern. I really like the colors of this one I just did. I plan on taking this with me to a fiber event that I will be attending in October.

I used to offer my patterns on paper and I have seven paper patterns available - I would be happy to sell them for $10 each. This pattern measures 22" x 15" Please contact me at yvonne@vintageheartprimitives.com if you are interested! :)

A Catalog and A Corset

My best friend, Louise, is the youngest of a large family-nine children- five of them daughters. I am the oldest of fourteen! So, the two of us compare our lives as oldest and youngest. We laugh at how 'careful' our mothers were with the older ones and how as the years passed and our mothers energies faded away, the younger children's upbringing was so much more....lax. Ha!Ha!

I know Louise's mother- a woman in her eighties, Delores. Recently, Louise shared with me how Delores would talk to her daughters on their wedding days. The wedding dress would lay on the bed and Delores would want to have a talk about being a wife. As Louise told me the story, I could hear Delores sweet, endearing voice in my mind and see her twinkling eyes. It was like I was right there. She would say to the bride-to-be, "A lady is to be pure and gentle always."

This is what this design  represents to me- to me, creating brings out my 'inner-girl'- that girl that once was busy with her crayons ans scissors, coloring sheets and stencils is busy once more with her hook....and this time, lace and buttons. Little girls are, by nature, pure of heart and gentle! that, in my opinion, is what keeps our child like wonder and spirit alive.

I am busy at my computer piecing together a catalog. I want it to be so much more than a catalog- I want it to be something fun and looked at leisurely. This little dress will be found in the catalog along with pictures and instructions on how to make your own- what I mean to say is- the pattern is part of the catalog itself- for you to enjoy from me! Be watching my web-site and Etsy store for it to be available! I think you like it. 

~Yvonne

Character, Mind and Spirit!

"So her needlework expresses what she is, more clearly than her handwriting does. It expresses everything that makes her an individual unlike any other person- her character, her mind and her spirit, her experience in living. It expresses, too, her country's history and culture, the traditions, the philosophy, the way of living that she takes for granted."

~Rose Wilder Lane

This past weekend my family traveled to Seattle, Washington for my son's wedding. As long as we were that close, we decided to stay a couple days on the Oregon Coast. It was marvelous. The highlight of the trip (for me) was being buried knee high in sand by my three teenage girls as they raced against the racing waves. Soon a wave enveloped me as we laughed so hard and I loved every minute of it as I hoped to be creating a memory for my darling girls someday.

The photo above is of a rug I picked up at a thrift store along the sea. It measures nine feet long and three feet wide- a runner. It is completely handmade- probably punched and it is beautiful and mine for $5! I cannot imagine the hours that were spent on this rug- I imagine years really.

Whatever the case, I appreciate that this beauty was made with the fingers and the heart of a lovely lady and expresses who she is or was 'more than even her handwriting' as Rose Wilder Lane wrote.

I also want to share a picture that came through my Facebook feed this week. It is my 'Joseph' design being hooked by Doris of Ohio. I cannot express in words how this touches my heart. When I make something I always hope that it will bless someone, bring a smile to a worn heart or a pattern would give some hours of leisure and contentment to someone I will probably never meet. When I see this-it's like I get a smile back and my heart is so....oh...gratified. So, thank you, Doris! Thank you!

'A Cat Named Peony'

If there was a rug of mine that reaches back in time for me, it would be this one. I loved cats growing up. We never had them, but I sure liked them. I briefly had two in the sixth grade. I had to keep them outside and I did not have them very long and my mother felt uncomfortable with their presence. But in the few weeks that I did have them, I looked forward to being with them everyday. I read cat stories- my favorite being Beverly Cleary's 'Socks.' I checked stacks of books out of the library about cats- cat breeds, cat grooming, cats around the world.
When I was kindergarten age, my grandmother would walk me to school every morning and we played the game of counting cats- sort of a version she made up of 'Eye Spy.' I loved it. Those cats seemed so mysterious and sweet.
At my grandmother's house was a large pine tree under the kitchen window that I would watch robins playing under. I would stand and just watch them from that window as my grandmother talked to me about everything.
I have this pattern now listed in my Etsy store. It will come with a book that I put together of photographs and color suggestions- a recipe and fun for you.

The Pumpkin Patch Is Ready

All through fair June the tasseled corn waved forth

In shining green arrayed;

The warm,sweet air that bloweth from the south

It's verdue richer made,

Till now it's ripened husks are gathered all

The granary within;

And harvesters are met this Autumn night

To fill the waiting bin.- 1893

I love how this came out! The colors are great and the design so cheery! This pattern is now available in my Etsy shop along with a book of instruction, colors, and more.

'The Pumpkin Patch'

Just this morning, in a personal e-mail, I was explaining to a friend of mine that with a creative mind comes a lot of disorganization. So many ideas flying through my mind and I 'zig-zag' through them. I start on something and think of another as I work- I frustrate myself. And when something just jells in my mind, it's ready to just 'become'- no matter what else I may be working on!  So, for quite some time, I have thought about doing another version of my 'Miss Pumpkin.' Miss Pumpkin was so fun to play 'dress up' on- and I have heard that from customers as well. So, I drew up 'Patch' and decided she needed a husband. He will be holding a little sign that reads, 'Hay Rides.'

I ran into a problem as I worked on the background. I ran out of the blue I was using and needed a creative way to make it stretch. Originally I had wondered about adding a hay-bundle, but then decided against it. Well, as my blue came to a screaming halt, the idea of the hay bundle came to be very practical. Then my husband suggested a couple blowing leaves- perfect!

Right now I am trying to decide what color to whip-stitch my edge with.

My favorite part of this is the background blues- I used a Double M Sheep and Wool color, 'Clementine' and an unidentified (LOL) matching gray/blue. I just love how the colors create a brisk, blustery day.

Now onto a little kitty in a bed of Peonies........

Patch and Jack Pumpkin

A couple years ago, I designed and hooked my 'Miss Pumpkin.' I have her hanging in my work-room and I love her to pieces- I do not know why that she makes my heart smile like she does- but, she does. I have heard many ladies say they have enjoyed hooking Miss Pumpkin because she is fun to dress. And since I have a real fondness of Pumpkin head dolls, I have known I wanted to do another.

So I have Miss Patch this time and she has her husband, Jack by her side. They are enjoying a pumpkin patch and Jack will be holding a little sign reading, 'Hay-Rides.' I am thinking of making a small paper pattern of a 'Baby Pumpkin' to go with this pattern- an idea my sister, who is also a Pumpkin Head fan, is encouraging me to do.

I have heard from many ladies that they would like to see some of my patterns made into punch-needle patterns. That is one of my very next things I will be working on. I have my Cameo needle and we have a long road trip ahead- my son's wedding in Seattle. I will be taking it along to work on as we drive. Wish me luck!

I hope you are having a good summer- I can never get enough of summer- I savor every bit of it!