A Weekend Outing

There was a long list of necessary things –

New kitchen scrubbers for the inn, searching for some chair cushions for the wicker chairs at the side porch, cleaning products, paper products, cat care products (because, you know!)

And I thought I’d take the afternoon off and just go mosey and see what I could do without anyone in tow. (Because, if you usually have a spousal unit with you, then you also know!)

It’s just nice not to be in an out and out hurry and take some time to look at possibilities, not just grab necessities and hurry on back.

Which leads me to the story behind this basket!

I don’t know the age, but it’s old.

I have a couple of others that I’ve collected over the years, preferring hand-made and a bit on the wonky side. They speak to me.

This one is also known as a “Buttocks” “Butt” “Bum” basket because of the shape.

Why are they shaped this way? I don’t know!

Buttocks baskets, also known as egg, melon, or fanny baskets, were traditionally used in the 19th and early 20th centuries for gathering eggs, fruit, and small vegetables.

I try to think of what this maker went through – tracing her pieces with a pencil, cutting them out with scissors, hand stitching while leaving her points so precise. This maker knew what they were doing and did it with what they had on hand.

I’ve made this block before by paper piecing. (It’s a great one for paper piecing from scraps!) But I’d never attempt it by hand…Our sewing machines are fast. But these blocks likely took half of forever just to make the top, not including the hand quilting that holds everything together.

And then I started wondering – if I didn’t have a sewing machine, rotary cutter, rulers and all of the gadgets we have now – if all I could do was trace and cut out and hand stitch and hand quilt, how many quilts would I really finish in a lifetime?

Maybe quilters were lucky if they did one a year? If that?

I spent yesterday morning to early afternoon paper piecing, trimming, assembling this next round of Gretchen blocks.

I’ve still got another 20 or so to go, but how long would this have taken if I had to do everything by hand?

And if I could have that maker sit and visit while I made these – what would they think of the processes that we use now for our quilting – how many quilts we finish in a year, a lifetime?

What would they think about our colors, our fabrics, and how we get them. They never walked into a “Quilt Shop” They purchased the same yardage they would use for the clothing and other household linens. They worked with the scraps left from garment making, pulling things together in cohesive a manner as they could.

I think that is why scrap quilts have always been my favorite. The vintage scrap quilts tell the story of the fabrics that had come through that maker’s life while they were making other things.

Hazel’s Caturday pose –

And this surprised me last night while I was hexie stitching. Ivy on the ottoman, Tula sitting quietly by, just observing. They had a stare off for the longest while. Ivy’s airplane ears stating that she was not quite happy with someone new in her domain.
Tula remained curious, never made a sound, and eventually took herself back upstairs to her lair.
We are getting there.
Today something big begins! Well, it’s only a delivery, but back before the holidays we made the decision to replace the back entry door at the inn because it was warped and not air tight and you could feel the cold coming in through the cracks.
As much as I love the old doors with their vintage hardware, it is time to replace that –
So the new back entry door is arriving today (It’s been months since we ordered it!) with the install happening (supposedly!) tomorrow. It will be in place before our next group arrives on Wednesday.

Our weather week at a glance –
Of course – we have snow predicted overnight and into tomorrow with a high of 25 tomorrow! Because, OF COURSE!
Hopefully THIS WEEK is winter’s last hurrah and we can get on to the good stuff.
Because, you know, yes – I did find chair cushions that fit the wicker chairs and dang it, we want porch time!

And if you haven’t yet, please pop over to the Gift-Away post and get your entry in!

I’ll be drawing for 2 winners who will each receive a Brookgreen PDF pattern from me and:

Introductory Pricing: The PDF pattern for Brookgreen is currently 25% off in the Quiltville Store, no coupon needed! Price good through 3/31/26.

Simple shapes and easy piecing create a stunning repeat of pattern and secondary designs, inspired by photo taken of vintage tile floors white traveling.

Full color photos, Optional piecing methods, and directions to press for success!