That line is from Dr. Suess, and it captures the delight of meeting new people. It's all the more true when the people you meet are quilters and stitchers! I find that quilters are not only the nicest people, but also impressive because of the wide-ranging talent they possess The photos I’m sharing in this post are the work of a modest stitcher named Ida. She is an embroiderer extraordinaire, but humbly unaware of how lovely her work is. The smaller the work, the more Ida likes it. Just look at the intricate swirl flowers she stitched on this fabric.
For this section, Ida replicated a tiny tomato pincushion in floss. You can see the threaded silver needles and the glass-headed pins pushed into the pincushion. Would it surprise you to learn that Ida doesn’t watch much tv? She’s the kind of crafter who needs something at hand nearly all the time. So she spends her time beading, making tiny yo yo embellishments, and embroidering other stitchery projects.
She’ll sit quietly at work at one of our small craft group gatherings, with conversations swirling around the table and everyone working on their own projects. Her materials are kept orderly and neatly at hand in a good-sized container that kind of hides what she’s doing. And then suddenly I’ll look and see this intensive stitching and beading in her work which just delights everyone who sees it! She's a constant surprise.
I asked Ida about this colorful beaded design, and she replied that she calls it “Sweetgum”. It may well be her original, "signature" design as I’ve never seen it before on any of the Crazy Quilts I’ve come across. The Sweetgum tree is found mostly in the South, and the long-stemmed, spiny fruit do resemble the image she’s stitched.
Here’s another pretty beaded flower in a stitch-dense section of her work. It just occurred to me to suggest that Ida sign her work, because I don’t think she does and she needs to! I could sit and look at her work for a long time, and often will when she brings her Crazy Quilt blocks to work on. Such a delightful and amazing woman- I might never have met her if it wasn’t for sewing, and that would have been my loss.
4 comments:
Goodness, Nancy, Ida is a very good seamstress. Her work is wonderful, and I was truly impressed with the sweet gum. Our sweet gum trees don't flower, but have the fruit which holds the seeds. I have them all over my yard because I have a neighbor who has one of those trees in their front yard. However, Ida's art (flowers) is far lovelier than the fruit I'm so used to. She does magnificent work and I am SO glad you shared her wonderful stitches with us.
OH MY! Textiles are one of my very favorite things in the world ... and crazy quilts have always fascinated me! Does Ida work 'free hand'? Beading the beautiful designs from her mind as she works? Truly a treasure, and yes! she must sign her work. It's historical. Beautiful post, Nancy. I am privileged to have seen her work, even from a distance. xo
Well, you know what a fan of hand work I am...so Ida's work is so very impressive to me!! Is she in the Ocala quilt guild? Wonderful work!! So glad you shared her work on your blog. Now we all "know" Ida just a little!
Ohhhh My!! What fabulous stitching she does! I bought Sue Spargo's book on stitches a while back but I've not stopped long enough to try any out. I don't think I could ever match up to her stitching talent though!
Lovely to look at!
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