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Sunday, June 21, 2015

Selvages and Paper Dolls…



journal

A fiber arts group I belong to has a monthly challenge to make a small journal quilt (8 1/2” x 11” or so) designed around a theme. I like to participate and use the small project as an opportunity to try new techniques, or to incorporate small bits of things I’ve accumulated in the sewing room. This time our theme was “Memories”. I was a great fan of paper dolls when growing up, and have fond memories of cutting them out and playing with them for hours upon hours. So when I found some cute images of Dolly Dingle, a character designed by artist Grace Drayton in the 1930s, I wanted to include one in my journal quilt. The characters she designed became the iconic Campbell Soup Kids, but were also a series of paper dolls, and even a series of embroidery patterns for redwork blocks. I never had the Dolly Dingle paper dolls, but did make a few of the embroidered blocks. I printed this Dolly Dingle image on fabric and placed it on a background made from selvages. Isn’t it funny how we have memories of our fabrics? So often when looking at someones scrappy quilt, I’ll hear quilters say, “Oh I had that fabric!” Often I say it myself, and may even remember where I bought it! So these memorable selvages got included in the piece. I also added a vintage hankie- remember when your great-aunts had all those lovely hankies in their purses? I used to select hankies for “grandmother gifts” from beautiful stacks in department stores. One challenge for me was to practice “writing” with my sewing machine, and using the twisted fabric “rope”  (shown in my previous post) for the binding. A little button trim, and I called it done. We haven’t discussed what to do with all these journal quilts yet, but we’re  sure having fun making them. I think I’d like to bind mine into a book at the end of the year. Next up- July and “The Beach”. Ideas are percolating already.


5 comments:

sonja said...

Nancy, i love selvages showing the colorways and the numerals as well.i use them to story tell in small works especially pc'S, tho the drawing, painting of horses took priority .All the pretty little Horses!!
there was a
Katy Keane, teen age queen? paper doll i loved face profile of and draw her often.

Lynette said...

How fun, to have a collection of these tiny journal quilts when you're finished. :) The book idea is terrific.

Robbie said...

I didn't know the name "dolly Dingle" but remember the Campbell soup characters...your journal book is adorable! I never think to save the selvedge...guess I should then I can mail to you!!!

Createology said...

I LOVE your selvage and twisted fabric rope binding and of course Dolly Dingle on the vintage hanky journal. This is making me swoon for all the reasons you have indicated...memories! I still love paper dolls and am always giving special ones to my grown up sister who loves them too. Great project dear...

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I am in AWE of this memory quilt. I had no idea the little dots of color are called "colorways," but I save them, too. I explained to my non-sewer Sally they were all the colors found in that specific piece of fabric, so now I know what to call them.

I had no idea about the artist and Dolly Dingle, but I sure remember seeing the Campbell Soup Kids. Adding the printed fabric to a handkerchief was so ingenious. You come up with the most amazing techniques and quilts. I applaud you.