English Chick, read about John Mortimer

[country lady]

Jena, I am very impressed that you do all the crafts, especially knitting. Beautiful sweaters, etc. are done in your country. I don't knit. I've seen the log cabin quilt done with foundation piecing. I wish I had done that on my photo quilt. It took forever and sewing that 1/4" seam, ugh!

I wish I knew more about Wales, that is where you are living, isn't it? My mother's great-grandfather, Thomas Maddox, was born in Virginia in 1815, but we think her paternal family came from Wales. Some years ago a young friend of mine, a college student, backpacked all over Europe. Her name was also Maddox and she met up with a local young lady, named Maddox.

Good luck with your craft fair.

 

[Jena]

HI,

Maddox is a well known name here.

My qualification is as a historian, so I will see what I can find for you.

I have promised to do some research for someone else, so I will get some stuff together once I am back from my trip and have finished the Craft Fair.

I knit Arrans as I said, but my aunt used to knit Fairilse, it was beautiful. I have tried it but I am no expert, but it is lovely.

I really want to get some good quilting done soon, it looks so wonderful.

I am trying to set up my own business, and with the credit crunch and everything I really feel there is a spot for this kind of thing. Quality items, all handmade, and with that little bit extra care to the materials and how they are made. They say that Arrans tell a story with the stitches and that an Arran has love knitted into every stitch. lol.

I think it is time we started to appreciate the ethics of how things are produced, just like the chicken keeping. I have been pleasantly surprised at the response I have had from local people. They love my eggs and seem to be quite keen on my knitwear too. lol...

lol... to be honest I can not work any longer at my old job as I have severe pain in my shoulders and arms caused by arthritis, so I am trying to keep my hands mobile by knitting. But I have always spent any spare time while watching TV either knitting or crochetting simple blankets.

Would love to see any of your work.

All I need now is the wonderful scenery of Italy to look at while I work.... lol. Maybe tea with Musolini????

Have a lovely day,

Jena.

 

[country lady]

Jena, I agree that there seems to be a renaissance in handmade items. I received the Hancock's of Paducah's fabric catalog today and it is eye-popping. The famous fabric designers have increased the price of fabric but they have also increased the artistic level. I am going to look up the knitting that you mentioned. Ms. Prissy was kind enough to put photos of my quilts on the BYC site for me but I'm not sure where it is. I'll have to scan it.

I, too, have some arthritis in my right hand and arm. I also have a problem with rotator cuff tendinitis in my right shoulder. I think I injured it years ago gardening. I am unable to hand quilt until it mends. I've had a twin size Dresden Plate in my frame for more than six months. I have been making small wall quilts in the meantime.

I was able to find quite a bit of genealogy info on the computer last year. A distant relative researched the Maddox family, even went to the Mormon's Salt Lake City Library several times. Mom's ggfather, Thomas Crawley Maddox (1815-1901) is buried about 15 miles from me. His earlier ancestors were Michael, David, Wilson, and John, we think. The relative who researched this is deceased.

I noticed you have two sons. So do I. I spoke with both today. Neither care anything about quilts. I know I'm generalizing but I think daughters would be more inclined to value mom's quilts. I have one DIL who might someday. My older son works at a computer company and he is crazy about computers. I told him I should make him a wall quilt, put a Microsoft label on it and he would like it. lol

 

[English Chick]

Quote:
Ahhhh now Foyles War now your talking...I LOVED that series, never missed it....totally understand where your coming from re modern day movies, have never understood why they need to portray raunchy and foul language.....you can get the message across to an audience without all the "stuff" and I think most people are embarassed watching anyway and would prefer it not to be included....

Ohh the days of elegance and Gary Grant...... I love to watch old movies...my fav actress being Bette Davis.....I can sit and watch her for hours....also loved the dress style of those days...oh and Fred and Ginger...what a team.....wonderful.....

 

[Jena]

Hi Country Lady.

I know the problems with sons. I have always dreamed of having a little girl, but was not lucky.

I have been making a lot of things quite simple patterns so far, just to get fully into doing this again and to test my arms and see if it is going to cause any problems but so far I am fine, and in fact I feel better for the simple movements of knitting, and keeping my wrists and fingers moving.

Lol... old age does not come alone. I think all the lifting I did when nursing is telling on me now.

I have made a pledge to myself today to get into some sewing this afternoon. I have to go out and get travel tickets and then I am sitting dpwn and getting on with something new.... lol.... Maybe some Valentine pretties.... would be good for a fair on the 7th of Feb.

I will get some picks of the new things I have finished knitting, and send them on to you. I have to finish the sewing up and buttons and then all done. lol... i will search for your pics I am sure I must have seen them, I did see a lot on the quilting thread.

another thing about boys is that they do not tolerate the chaos of creative mothers either. Maybe girls would be different. lol...

Jena.

 

[country lady]

Ladies, enjoyed both your posts.

I don't think many of us could wear the elegant dresses of the 1930s. A theatre costumer told me that our bodies are structured differently today. For sure, some of us are packing a few extra pounds. I was laughing the other day about something my mother would say when I was young. When she saw a really skinny kid, usually a boy, she would say, "doesn't he look wormy?" At my age and living in the country, I don't go places to wear elegant clothing. Hanging out with a bunch of hens says it all!

Jena, I would love to see your work. I tried knitting once. An adult sweater would look like a doll's sweater--really tight stitches. My home email is: [email protected]. I can send pics from home to others.

I am not really computer literate and we do not have "works" so I was unable to post my photos on BYC. That's why Ms. Prissy posted for me. I get the usual bawling out from my older son--he wants me to learn the computer and he accepts no excuses. Yesterday I tried two: "I am too busy with my gardening, quilting, etc." and the one that really pushes his buttons (I love this one), "I don't want to tear my car engine down to learn it, I just want to get in and drive away." Hey, he pushed my buttons for decades!

Jena, I think you are right about lifting causing problems. I began working at 14 1/2 at a big fruit and veg. stand in Michigan. Did that for four years. Two of us would lift a bushel of potatoes, etc. weighing 40 or 50 pounds. As a result, I've always had a strong upper body but over the years I still do it with a wheelbarrow. I think at 14 years, barely over a 100 lbs. and 5'1" I'm paying the price now. I'm a tad over 5' 1" but weigh about 124, so it's still heavy. I love gardening.

Joan

 

[Jena]

Hi Joan,

I agree with you about shape thing and about carrying weights when you are too small.I am also short just 5'3" and now at 55 I am carrying a lot of extra weight, being so inactive in winter adds to the problem. I have stored your e-mail and I will send you pics as soon as they are all ready.

I am no expert with IT, or computers, I learn what I have to. My youngest son is brilliant with the computer, the eldest is a musician, so now he is also getting into technology. lol... I had to learn while studying formy degree but was already and older lady then....lol.

but there is life in the old dog yet.

I have always worn long skirts though and love tailored jackets, so I steal a little of the style of the 40s when I can. Some of it also flatters the wider hips. lol...

Jena.

 

[country lady]

Jena, what a lovely day we are having. It's hard to believe our temp at 5 a.m. was about 24. We went out to move the ladies at 9 a.m. and left all the pen uncovered. It had plastic covering it. I swear they are more animated with the sunshine--I know I am!

I would say there is life in all of us old dogs--agree with that! I have so many projects in my head but when spring gets here, I head outdoors. If you want to email your personal address, I will send several photos of my wall-quilts, especially the photo log cabin quilt. I can send photos with picaso, (sp). (My spelling is not what it was when I worked!) I get very frustrated trying to learn this computer. My office computer was a Mac and I loved it. I kept two sets of books and it was so easy.

On another subject. My dad's mother's grandfather was "Lesson" McBride, born 1846. Is "Lesson" a common name with McBrides? It may have been misspelled, too, because writing was not always clear. No one in the family knew about him. I found a lot of info on the web.

By the way, I love Border Collies. There are several around here on farms. My sister had one. They have a postage stamp size yard and it was so frustrated that I saw it gathering leaves--I thought how sad. I also saw a woman in your part of the world training herd dogs. Amazing!