Good Morning, Salinda!

I was up early this morning --- too early!

I hate it when nature calls at 5am ---and it’s too hard to get back to sleep because my mind starts playing over what needs to happen during the oncoming daylight hours.  There was no turning back the clock ---SO much on the to-do list.

Although, the family still sleeps soundly, and I don’t want to make a bunch of noise and disturb their peaceful slumber --- so what is a girl to do?

Some silent stitching of course!  Okay, maybe not-so-silent on the inside ---I had my earbuds in and was listening to the upbeat nostalgic sounds of Jackson Browne!

I finished sewing the binding on this quilt the other night with yet another episode of Hoarders.  What is with that show?  It’s like watching a train wreck!  And then when I get done I have to just get up and de-junk and clean something.  I sure feel for the people in these episodes, it’s just heart breaking all the way around.  And I wish they would do something like show how life is for them 6 months after they’ve come through and cleaned them all out.

But that’s another tangent!  It was just past 5 am and I was sitting in the recliner end of the couch with my feet up, ear buds in and stitching to complete the hanging sleeve and then stitch down the label.

I’ve done labels many ways ---and over time they have gotten more simple.  Sometimes, if the backing fabric is light enough to allow it, I’ll just sign my information right on the quilt back or sometimes the hanging sleeve.  But this has become the easiest way for backs that are too busy to view any writing ---take a square anywhere from 6.5” to 8” and fold it diagonally.  Baste it into the corner of the quilt before adding the binding.

I have  a stash of pre-cut label squares already pressed and folded in my drawer by the machine so they are always ready when I need one.  NO EXCUSES!

All you have to do is stitch the diagonal edge after the binding is applied.  I’ve been using up all my remaining scraps of white on whites for labels.  I think they are pretty this way.  And yes, this is my own hand writing on the label just off the top of my head, plain, simple and to the point.  I named my quilt Oh, Salinda.  It’s based on a quilt made by Salinda Rupp in Lancaster County, PA in 1870.  I signed my name.  I put the year I finished it.

As nice as embroidered or computer printed labels may look ----generations to come will value our visible penmanship made by our own hands with pen and ink far more than any digitized design.  So if you do print your labels or stitch them out on an embroidery machine, please leave room for your real signature!  It is the one last personal individual touch you can give your quilt.

It just fits this antique bed, doesn’t it?  The yellow is going to keep this room sunny through the winter months!

Today the plan is to go searching for flooring for the basement--- It’s the next big project on the house to-do list. 

I’ll be home alone tonight due to the Wake Forest football game ---anyone up for QuiltCam about 9pm Eastern tonight?  Look for me then!