Valentine’s Day in my February Kitchen

With the dreary weather we often get in February in southwestern Ohio, I’m happy to put up the cheery Valentine decorations that I’ve accumulated through the years.  The little red and white enamelware plate was from a set I had as a child over 70 years ago.

Most of the items were handmade by members of the family:  decorative painting on wooden pieces….

….some are quilted, appliquéd, crocheted.

Two pieces call to mind Valentine’s Day in the 1940s and my grade school parties.

The story of our Valentine’s Day celebrations at old Raschig School in the 1940s and a Valentine wall hanging are here…

County Fair Decorations

It’s county fair time again and that means getting out my handcrafted items.  The quilted silhouette hanging is on the front door to commemorate one of my favorite summertime activities.  My family has been involved in county and state fairs for generations, partly due to our interest in harness horses.  My father was a harness horse driver/trainer and many happy hours were spent at the fairgrounds, so  harness horses are a strong element in my county fair designs.

In the kitchen, I have a quilted wall hanging that won a blue ribbon at the Lebanon, Ohio, Warren County Fair. 

In the living room there is a quilted/appliqued pillow that was one of my first efforts.  It also took a blue ribbon at the Warren County Fair.

The real treasure among the handcrafted items, though, is an old battered suitcase that my father took with him on the fair and racing circuit.  My oldest daughter decoupaged countless bits of cloth, ephemera, photos, buttons, etc., to transform the tired old suitcase into a work of art and memory.

There are tags attached with photos and the exhibit history of each member of the family.

I use the suitcase to store old premium lists and memorabilia from our hometown Carthage/Hamilton County Fair (Cincinnati).

I enjoy displaying these reminders of all the years our family has participated in the fun of a county fair.

Quilter’s Hooded Jacket

 

Last summer, I was looking for a pattern for a hooded jacket that would be good to wear in the fall and spring.  I found just what I was looking for by A Little More Effect Pattern Company, 10736-124 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5M OH1.  It’s called A Quilter’s Hoodie #0351. 

I chose flannel fabric and a flannel lining to get the warmth I wanted for early spring/fall temperatures and liked the pockets and zipper opening.

I didn’t quilt the jacket at all but used the coordinating fabrics to good advantage and I liked the way it turned out.  It’s very comfortable.

I entered the jacket in the sewing division of the Warren County (Ohio) Fair and won a blue ribbon.

As I usually do when I make jackets, I used leftover fabric to make a small purse to carry in quilt shops, antique shows, etc., where I don’t want to haul around a heavy purse.