Hussif, Hussif, Who's Got a HUSSIF....?????

                                        


                                    Does anyone know what a HUSSIF is?

                                           I may be in the minority, but I sure didn't!

This morning, I saw a FB post by famous doll maker extraordinaire, Patti Culea- about an intriguing "hussif" she created. Here is her link.

I love hers, having dabbled a teensy bit in doll making myself, years ago..........her creation is the best of both worlds- it's a doll, and it serves a purpose in sewing organization!

In researching what a "hussif" was,  I found this blog - a hussif  is, simply put, a needle case. Could be a roll up, could be fashioned in almost any shape to suit the sewer's needs for whatever  needs to be  stored and/or carried.

  You know how it goes - one link leads to another, then you find the wee hours have slipped away (literally- I was up at 3:50am today!) - all spent in the cyber space! This 2nd blog (link below) gave me the definition of the word HUSSIF.

Its origin is Olde English - meaning "housewife". A word that appears to be coming full circle, from the days of women's lib (when it was a bad word!) to the present, where alot of women (including myself) appear to be  embracing the back to basics and relearning the skills (and they are skills!) of housewifely "drudgery" combined with the arts of fine handiwork- sewing, knitting, spinning, weaving, etc..Altho', I must admit - I do NOT categorize washing dishes as an art!! That is still drudgery - unless I can escape to an imaginary world in my mind, while gazing out the window, and mindlessly scrubbing pots!!!LOL..... 

You can read about the definition of the word Hussif - here

Curiosity just got the best of me - I could see what it was that Patti Culea created - and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE  it- but did not know the origin of the word she used to describe it! Now, I do!

So, as always, GOOGLE to the rescue!!!!!

I also found photos - click here
 
                                                  Oh sooooo many photos!!!



I have made several needle cases over the years- and have swapped needlecases online. I have a ton of them - well, maybe not a TON- but I have alot!!! What I need to create now, is an artsy storage case of sorts, to hold all the needlecases in a semi organized way!!!

blogger decided it looked better this way! My own wool envelope- I love the teeny pewter basket pin cushion!Lined with  vintage feedsack.

(Obviously having another photo placement blogger issue again today.......sigh)

One hussif  that I do NOT have is a larger roll up style, similar to Patti's creation..

I do have several wool applique envelope styles - 2 or three of these inspired and created while in The Woolie Nuts group with Pat Sloan, Lennie, Judy, Ann Weber, Debbie, Joanne, Patty, when we did some round robins. I admit being only a sporadic member, as work and kids allowed! Now distance separates...

Woolie Nuts- late 1990's ?- from left, Judy Post , Lennie Stimpson, Pat Sloan,Ann Weber, Deb MacDougal Conway, and me (on the floor)photo probably taken by the ever elusive Patty!!!

 This is one of the needlecases - mine- from the Woolie Nuts Round robin. I think my base wool was one hand dyed by Patty.www.bitze.wordpress.com, back when she was into that sort of thing!! She created the best wool colors ever!!!

sideways pic - but you get the idea- each person in the round robin added another wool applique

back view

Others are small folder or book styles - created and swapped in an online group with Judy and several others.

this is the outside of Judy's- all recycled fabric - the outer is from her dad's old sweater, I believe - how sweet!

and the inside

a gorgeous burnt fabric method- needlecase by London artist Rosemarie McLavy for the online Art4Mail swap in 2011

After seeing Patti's wonder-full creation, I have a feeling I need to create a fantasy roll- up. Maybe borrowing the from the theme of  Pat Sloan's  recent workshop at my Mountain Meadows Quilters Retreat,  and use up the rest of my stash fabric to put together a new all encompassing hussif !

If you have made any hussifs - and I am SURE you all have - under a different name, perhaps ????- leave a comment - share a link with a picture of your creation!

                               I'd love to see them!! As would we all!!!! We can all become hussies!!!LOL

                                                   Inspiration comes from sharing!!!

Tea on Tuesday

One
                   more
                                                                 day,

                                                                     and

August is over - where HAS the summer gone.............I am not ready for summer and veggies from the garden to be over and done with!!!

For today's tea, I have pulled out my "August" Czech made mug, from the back of the cupboard. Maybe, that means I have too many mugs and teacups- since I forgot to use this mug any time during my birthday month!!!


                              But, the day before August is truly over, is better late, than NEVER!!

Whilst I sip my Lady Grey tea, I thought I would share with you some photos of recent swaps, gifts and finds.....

First, tho', I must INSIST that you all get up, and do
                                                                           THE 
                                                                          HAPPY
                                                                       DANCE!!!!!

 

(Blogger still not recognizing my corrected, rotated, sized and saved version-aaagh!) 

Anyway, when you buy something online from Target - they enclose these directions for a happy dance, upon receipt of your package!!LOL I must confess, I did it!!!

Anyway- this was a wonder-full purchase from an artist on discovered on Seth Apter's The Altered Page

I was so taken by her beautiful illustrations- and when I saw this little notebook available in her Etsy shop, I had to buy it!!! I just love the little badger (she has a notebook with a dog also!)

Gillian McMurray, self described artist and craftsperson - creates beautiful things!!!

She has a blog also - please be sure to check her out!

 

I told her, it's so pretty, I don't even want to use it - but she said to use it, and then just remove the pages and put new blank ones in- good idea!! It was made to be used!!! Has a tiny little pocket in the inside back cover - I slipped her cute little moo card inside.

An online group I belong to, Art4Mail, was hosting a rug mug swap. One of my swap partners was very on the ball, and already mailed one to me!! She said this was her first rug mug ever - can't believe it - it's beautiful!! The theme was autumn, since her country does not have autumn- she guessed- not a bad job - love the little pumpkins, and purple is one of my favorite colors!!!

Thank you , thank you!!

 

For the uninitiated (and I was one) a mug rug is a 7"  x10" quilt, used as a placemat for a mug of whatever and a snack . Still working on mine - good thing they are not due for another month!!!

Judy, from Apron Strings , and I, did a one on one needlecase swap. I posted about mine in an earlier post.

This is the lovely one I received from Judy!!

 

With a cross stitched insert that she did 20 years ago- in a quilt pattern, no less!!

                                              Cute little ball button, with a hair elastic loop.

 

The little pin cushion pillow was made from a piece of her dad's old sweater :>)

 

The eyelet pocket was stuffed with a needle threader, and a packet of Tazo tea. The wool needle catcher has a red embroidered darning needle/dragonfly.

I'm already using it- I love it - and will tuck her email describing how it was made into the pocket!!

Thank you, Judy!!!

Last, is a thrift store purchase - why I keep buying quilt blocks, (or anything for that matter,) I'll never know - I am so far behind in quilting stuff!!!

But, these were a must have!!

 30 Feed/flour sack hexagons- with a couple of "newer" fabrics mixed in.

Have to decide how to put these together -but I put them out on the floor for the pic.

 

Not bad for $2.75!!

So, please, join us every Tuesday for tea

You'll never know what the topic will be!

A different tea on every blog post

We love visitors and comments the most!

If you love tea, and want to partake-

Join us next Tuesday, for goodness sake!!!

Please stop by Kimmie and Patty for a list of other tea fanciers!!

Playing With Wool

Recently I joined an online group - Art4Mail- recommended by blogger friend Judy.

I have already mailed out a "spoolie" bird pin cushion- winging its way across the big pond!
I think I can safely post pics here - don't think my swap partner reads my blog!
I free hand cut a pattern using a coupon flyer from the Sunday paper - recycle, recyle!!!

Then, I dug out some of the hand dyed wool I have been hoarding (purchased from and created by Patty, years ago)
I had some wool strips left over from a rug hooking project,  knotted them together, and "wove" a bird's nest.

Then, took a vintage wooden spool, attached the bird in the nest (with some glue, and a wool strip attached to the nest and threaded thru the spool.)

The only thing I would have done differently, is to have sewn the bird closed on the bottom, instead of the top seam - brain wasn't fully operational at that exact point in time -for some reason!!
The little blue  bird has yellow wool wings, a cream colored breast, and vintage black snaps for eyes.

Now, how to ship the little twitter to arrive unscathed in England?

I just happened to have come upon a thrift store bird themed box - that was a perfect fit!!! That sturdy box, within another packing box should have made his trip comfy!!!

 

The other swap, was a one on one with Judy- a needle case.

She has already received hers, so I can post a pic!

Also made with some of Patty's hand dyed wool, and vintage thrift store cutter quilts, I fashioned this after one I have. 

Years ago, when I belonged to a wool group, called the Woolie Nuts(!) with Patty, Lennie, and Pat Sloan, we did several round robins.

One of them, was a wool needle case, which I LOVE, and use to this day!!!

Judy's is blanket stitched, with cotton batting sandwiched in between, a wool pocket, a quilt pocket, and a quilt pin cushion. There is a wool black eyed susan(one of my favorite flowers) inside and a red heart on the outside, with a strip of vintage tatting edging the cover. It folds wallet style.

 

Still having the issues, where blogger refuses to acknowledge that these pics were rotated, resized and saved. My new camera and blogger refuse to play nicely.. Oh, if only I were more computer literate.......

 

So, even tho they are upside down, you get the idea.

So, as summer winds down, sigh..........I'm dragging out the wool  to play again....