Oops, Embarrassment

So I'm standing in the local library, right?  Right in the middle.  About ten feet away from the librarian, and looking around in puzzlement because they just rearranged everything. Again. 

Because our library isn't that strict about noise level, instead of walking over and whispering, I just sang out my question-- "Hey!  Where's the shelf for the adult videos?"

Wait! No, no, no!  Not that. I meant, you know, the not-juvenile ones!  The regular section!  The DVDs!

FEATURE FILMS, was the term I was looking for.

The American History of Feedsacks

I’ve been reading some articles on the history of using cotton feed sacks for everyday cloth.  Pretty interesting aspect of our domestic history.

Initially these bags were plain unbleached cotton with product brands printed on them. In order for women to use these bags they first had to remove the label….
In spite of their efforts the entire brand label didn’t always get removed and sometimes it didn’t seem worth the bother especially for making undergarments.  As a result there are some amusing stories regarding feedsack underwear.  “One young girl was out walking with her beau when she tripped and fell. Oh, how embarrassed she was when her betrothed noticed her underdrawers imprinted with ‘southern best’! Another story was about a woman who made her husband’s drawers from a flour sack and left the words ‘self rising’ on the cloth.”

http://www.womenfolk.com/quilting_history/feedsacks.htm
Here’s one with better pictures of the fabric designs!  Some are really beautiful!

http://www.quilthistory.com/feedsacks.htm
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/rugs-and-textiles/feedsack-fabric
http://www.rickrack.com/wordpress/?s=feed+sack&paged=2
More samples of the lovely patterns.  

http://fuzzylizzie.com/feedsack.html
This page has more about the history, and shows a pattern book full of ideas for sewing things using the cotton bags! 

Image of a feed sack dress from the Smithsonian: 

It's All So Much Cuter in Stereo!!

French Braid quilt pattern

I was walking by as a lady was making this design, and she explained it to me.
Basically, a center square, then a strip the same width sewn to one side of it, then another strip with a little square, and repeat as long as you want.  It's okay that the sections have jagged edges, they'll be trimmed.
Isn't this a fun idea? 

A Few Capitol Lake Pics Nov 2010

Click for wallpaper size  :-) 

idea for Mike's quilt

Dave made a quilt so Mike's got to have one too.  He asks me about it quite often, overlooking the important detail that Dave (more or less!!) made his own. Mike's not inclined to sewing, but is waiting for his quilt because Mom DID say he could have one too.

I think I'll do an actual pattern for his! I've got to to add some interest, because I hate the fabrics he picked!  But the pattern's got to be about as simple as it can get.

I'm gonna do the center patches 2", and see how large those squares come out, then cut the plain fabric squares the same size. Adding sashing between makes it fancier and easier. I can do this :-)

Very rough approximation of the tone of the fabrics chosen by Mikey, which, as I said, are NOT exactly inspirational to me. I don't like any of 'em very much, but I don't mind the sleigh one at top left because I like the whole snowy woods theme, or the lower right because it's got a little bit of a Germanic vibe to it. But I sure don't like 'em all together!

The Finished Stairs

Doesn't it look like church stairs?  I don't know of any businesses who cover their stairs with berber and definitely no other homes!  So for the first few days, every time I walked up these stairs it felt like going up church stairs.  I guess that’s a good thought!  As close to church as I'm able to get right now. 

The berber isn't nearly as ugly as I thought it would be.  It actually came out quite elegant-looking. 

And it's very soft and thick, which is the whole point.  I hate carpeting and wouldn't have it anywhere else in my house, the stuff's NASTY!  Only on the stairs, for the cushioning of little noggins when they tumble down.  I got the thickest berber and heaviest carpet padding available.  On such a small job there's not much difference in the price of materials   🙂