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!!!

Pin Cushion Swap

Check out this blog for a cool pin cushion swap - http://creatingbythelake.blogspot.com/2009/05/pincushions-for-my-first-swap.html

I just signed on - I love making pin cushions and one can never have enough of them, I say!!!!

Coming soon - a post with more pix of felted wool goodies to tempt you into signing up for my woolie round robin!! I just KNOW you'll want to participate!!!

Now, it off to the field to help the husband plant some trees.......................

Look What I Found!!!

Yesterday, I finally got to it - I started cleaning the garage!!! The husband was doing "his" half and I dove into mine. We have a 3 car garage which will never have a car in it!!! Actually, none of our garages have EVER had cars in them!!! It is a standing joke with some of our friends!!!
This time, our garage is stacked with boxes from our move - almost 3 years ago!!!! I have boxes from my shop, my mom (who lives with us) my son (who does not live with us), my daughter, and household stuff still packed from that move.

I am proud to say, I made quite a dent on MY side of the garage!! The husband got lost in reminiscing, and then had to load the truck for the trip to the dump!!! I have a yard sale pile, which will later become a donate pile, and a dump pile!!

While going thru the boxes, I came across my quilts,( which can't be hung until we paint), and found some treasures, long forgotten, in other boxes!!

These wool penny rugs were made in 2001!!! They smell like Great-Aunt Taimi's moth balled cedar chest - but that protected them from getting holes!! I am airing them out as we speak!!

The floral basket was a round robin- our own Pat Sloan made the blue forget-me-not in the middle! Other participants were Joanne Sangrey,quilt designer Ann Weber,Sandi M,Linda, Maxine, and Dot Elliot. I'm glad I saved the card that accompanied the wool piece, but I wish some of the ladies had put their last names down!! Joanne, Pat and Ann were local, but the others were out of state, I believe. This group also did a spoolie exchange, and if I can find that box (!)- I will post pix of those!!!

My poor little basket of flowers needs a little careful steaming to get the wrinkles out, the edge needs finishing, and maybe some additional embellishments or embroidery.

The other wool piece is one I made to fit an antique coffee table that I no longer have!!! I will have to find another use for it - any suggestions??? I am not sure if this was part of an exchange or I did this myself- word of advise - save all paperwork with exchanges or round robins!!!!

If anyone out there in cyberspace is up for a 'woolie' exchange of some kind - I'm ready!! At a later date, I will post some other pix of ones I participated in - I have a wonderful needlecase that I use every day, and some multipurpose wool "envelopes" that are great for holding sewing supplies. I am just "itching" to get back in wool!!!!!

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Thought for today: Less clutter=clear head!!