Friday, November 13, 2015

Christmas Adornments


The Christmas holiday season is  a wonderful time to decorate the entire house with special adornments!  If you enjoy quilting and sewing the pattern book "Folk Art Flannel" has Christmas projects to create unique stockings and ornaments 
using flannel fabric there are also ideas for special gifts to make. These designs were created by Cindy Taylor Oates in 1995. The sixteen page book has designs for a variety of projects, that include :

Bird with Cherries Quilt, Bird on a Vine Wreath Quilt, Denim Flannel Quilt, Denim Pillow, Folk Art Bird Quilt, Log Cabin Quilt, Black and Jewel Tone Quilt, Black and White Plaid Vest, Tan Vest with Red Hearts, Black Velveteen Vest with Red Bird, Black Flannel Vest with Bird Applique, Heart Ornament, Christmas Stocking Ornament, Christmas Stockings 3 styles, Bird, Green Stocking with Buttons and Heart Stocking.


This vintage quilt book is in new condition offered by Hobbyhawk Hobbies for $9.00 it includes the factory folded set of uncut full size patterns. 
Offered by Hobbyhawk Hobbies Free Shipping in the USA 
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Vintage Christmas Bath MatsThe Vintage Santa and Mrs Claus Christmas bath decor is a new collection that includes wonderful items to create a fun bathroom theme for the holidays. 
               Vintage Christmas Bath Mats by ChristmasbyHawk


The design is created by Hobbyhawk from a thirty year old photograph of my grandmother's Christmas decorations Mr and Mrs Claus around their ceramic tree that were in  her kitchen each year. 


Vintage Santa Christmas
The Vintage Christmas bath accessories includes a soap dispenser and toothbrush holder.


Christmas Vintage Scene



The Merry Christmas shower curtain is a great addition  to this fun theme!



The Vintage Santa and Mrs Claus night light and towel are also great items for the kitchen!






These wonderful Christmas adornment items are created for Hobbyhawk by Zazzle, it is a print on demand company that creates unique home decor items that are made in the USA.


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Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Sunflowers Then and Now



Sunflowers have been an important part of cultures around the world for centuries, these beautiful large yellow flowers are not always harvested only for their beauty. 

The scientific name of the sunflower is Helianthus Annuus, a member of the aster family, it is a native plant of North America. The flower turns as it follows the movement of the sun each day. It became the state flower of Kansas in 1903, however it is not only exclusive to that state as large crops of sunflowers are grown in many states.
Native Americans were the first to discover the many uses of the sunflower centuries ago. It was considered the 4th sister when planting their traditional crops of corn, beans and squash, as it was planted on the north side of the garden. Buffalobird-women of the Hidatsa Indian Tribe told about the sunflower  and how she planted it each year in her garden in Minnesota during the late 1800's. The sunflower seeds were the first thing planted each spring in early April during the Sunflower planting moon, and they were the last to be harvested in the fall. She would take the large sunflower heads and lay them face down on the roof to dry.



 The seeds were then roasted, parched and then pounded creating an oily textured meal to make  a dish that included four vegetables called  do'patsa-makihi'kĕ. 

The large leaves of the sunflower plant were used as a lid to cover squash as it cooked. The sunflower meal was also used to make sunflower seed balls that warriors carried with them. A few bites would refresh and give them energy. The whole sunflower seeds were stored in cache pits with the other vegetables for use during the winter months. Native Americans were the first culture aware of the value and many uses of the sunflower. The stalks were used in basket weaving, the yellow flower as a dye and along with using it as a food source, they used the oil harvested from pounding for their hair and other uses. 

It was during the 16th century that Spanish explores returned to Europe with the sunflower, where it became known as a popular ornate flower. A new use for Sunflowers was discovered in 1716 when the English created a process to squeeze the oil from the seeds. 


The sunflowers eventually found their way to Russia, where they are credited with developing them into a food crop. In the 18th century sunflowers in Russia were harvested for their oil, and by the 19th century they had become the major exporter of Sunflower oil in the world.
Today there are three types of sunflower oil manufactured NuSun, linoleic and high oleic, each one has it own unique benefits. Sunflower oil and seeds are consumed in a variety of foods by people in many counties.  There are many nutritional benefits from the seeds and the oils. The oils are rich in vitamin E as are the seeds. Sunflower seeds are also a great source of folate and other vitamins and minerals. They provide quick energy along with protein and fiber. 


In the United States, farmers began to raise sunflowers as a feed crop in 1880, yet it remained a just a minor crop until the 1970's when the hybrid was created. The sunflower then grew in popularity as a food source for humans. It also became a favorite summer flower to plant in home and commercial gardens.


There are many different colors and sizes of sunflower plants available today for a variety of uses. Beautiful large bloom sunflowers are grown for flower arrangements. Some plants produce the best sunflower seeds for birds and human consumption, while other seeds produce a large amount of oil. 
During the past one hundred years the sunflower has been incorporated into home and farm decor. Sunflowers are also used to decorate personal fashions 
and accessories.


 

Wild Seed FarmsVelvet-Queen Sunflower 
Sunflower art in Kansas ~ aerial photo of a field planted with sunflowers
Vintage Sunflowers Collection
  
Advice from a Sunflower - item # 996 t shirt 
 Vintage Sunflowers Collectionby Hobbyhawkgifts


















Sunflowers, 1881 by Monet. Canvas Print
The large sunflower is a favorite for artists as they have re-create the bright colorful blooms using a variety of mediums for years. Drawings and paints of sunflowers create wonderful pictures for home decor and gifts. Artists also have used clay, metal,wood and paper to create beautiful sunflower forms.









The sunflower has been a favorite design to stitch into many needle crafts items through the years. 

 It is a popular design to crochet and knit. The flower has been stitched into a variety of embroidery items over the years.
Unidentified Artist, Sunflowers and Hearts,
1860-1880, cotton, American Folk Art Museum, New York



Today there are many fabrics designs made with sunflowers to create wonderful items.
                     Sunflowers Fabric Collectionby Hobbyhawkgifts
Sunflowers Fabric Collection








Sunflowers shapes 
are a favorite design pattern to create art quilts.























Show Off Sunflower



Here are a few more sunflower items made from fabric a pincushion and a fabric bowel.








Sunflower Theme Weddings 


Sunflowers have become a favorite flower for summer and fall wedding themes. The large yellow flower provides a beautiful accent for the wedding decor and fashions for the bride and attendants. 








Buffalo Bird Womens Garden

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