Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Feedsack Quilts

     In my last blog, I introduced myself, and let you all know who I am. This week I'd like to talk about feedsack quilts and the fabric. You will find these primarily in the South, but due to the popularity of the era they are popping up everywhere.
     I remember growing up and we had these delicious patterned quilts that were so heavy, but boy did they help keep us warm at night. I fell in love with all the different fabric patterns they had in them. Now they didn't neccessarily match well, but somehow they worked together. Some were hawaiin print, some were dogs and children, and some were just plaid..but they worked. I often wondered where did this fascinating fabric come from. My grandmother and mom told me that they were feedsack fabric. In fact my mom had clothes made from feedsack fabric, and had some favorites that she still remembers.     
     Feedsack fabric came from, you guessed it, feedsacks! Folks that did not have a lot of money would make clothing, and quilts from feedsacks. Flour, sugar, birdseed, amoung other items came in feedsacks.
     Feedsack quilts, or pieced quilts were constructed of one whole piece of sack cloth at the bottom as used for backing, then usually cotton, or wool was used for the batting, and then the quilt top. These quilts were primarily tied, and then the binding would be applied using various types of fabric. Yoyo quilts just had round circles cut, handhemmed under and pulled tight making it look like a yoyo. These were primarily used for summer quilts, but I have seen yoyos used for a multitude of items such as doileys and tablecloths.
     Feedsack fabric is known by many different names now as manufacturers are producing it by the scores as the popularity is growing. Every once in a while you can find a whole feedsack, but it can be pricey. Two companies that I like particularly well is Blue Hill, as shown in the orange, yellow, and pink photo. The fabric is pretty close as to what was used. The other company I like using is Aunt Grace's fabric line. These are usually the more juvenille prints such as the photo of the blue dogs I have been collecting feedsack fabric for years and always come across new and interesting pieces that I MUST have! Most of this fabric you can find online at www.etsy.com.
     The red gingham check quilt is one that I finished not too long ago and you can find it at my store at www.rosebudsoriginals.etsy.com









     I am in the process of working on a feedsack reproduction lap quilt as shown in the photo and it'll be ready to list soon, unless I fall in love with it too much, then....
I guess what they say is true, "What was old once, becomes new again". Happy fabric hunting, and may God Bless.

Rosebuds Originals
Rose Baker

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Home Art

Home Art 

   I am new to all of this. So, I'll start by introducing myself and who I am. My name is Rose Baker, and I am part of the millions of  people that found that they have a creative streck. I'm a kid from the 60's, way before computer was even a thought, and probably before Bill Gates had been born. How we spent our time as sewing, crafting and creating..yes we had chores to do, but for most women we sewed. We even had classes called Home Economics where if we didn't learn at home, we had someone to teach us, and grade us!

 About a year and half ago I lost my job due to the great downsizing of America, and was faced with    " What do I want to do with my life", and " Where do I want to start". I remember at one time, lifetimes ago, I loved to create things, taking something ordinary and turning them into works of art. My passion happens to be textile arts. I love to quilt. Now I grew up with quilts and crocheted items, but no one ever taught me. The closest that I had was a grandmother that taught me how to sew..that was it. I self-taught myself how to take it steps further thanks to some pretty wonderful folks at www.about.com/quilting, and by reading various magazines to get that tidbit of info that couldn't find elsewhere. I admit I'm a bit of a dinosaur, I don't long arm quilt as lots of others do like my idol Lynette Jensen of Thimbleberries. I still do mine the old fashioned way, by hand pricked fingers and all! I love feeling like I am literally part of the piece, and quilting the way they did years before my time.

 I love the history of quilts, and textile art, so in the weeks to come I will be blogging about quilts and other textile arts. So, if you love quilts and textile arts..well this blog maybe just a perfect fit for you.
Should you wish to see a bevy of gorgeous quilts, please visit etsy which is one of the largest ecommerce marketplace for textile arts.  www.etsy.com  www.etsy.com/shops/rosebudsoriginals