'Family-Made' Category
Embroidered Pillow on Printed Fabric
Last year when I was preparing for a trip with my sisters, I asked my sister, Sally, if she would like me to bring along an embroidery project for her. She thought that was a good idea, so I headed to the quilt shop to look for a nice print that would go with her [...]
Farmhouse Doll Bed and Quilt
Gordon just finished making the doll bed to go with Marjorie’s quilt — a Christmas gift. The bed was designed by Ana White and is available as a free download on her site. The directions are great — I only changed the length of the legs to make the bed a little higher off the [...]
Wedding — Mosaic Cookie Table
Emily and Aaron decided to serve Molly Moon’s ice cream for dessert instead of a cake or cupcakes. The ice cream turned out to be a good choice, since it was a very warm day. Fortunately, the Georgetown Ballroom is conveniently set up for food vendor trucks since they can just drive right into the [...]
The History of Martha Dellasega – Volume III
I love all three volumes of my History, but I think this may be my favorite. The History of Martha Dellasega, Volume III Written & Illustrated by Mary Dellasega, 1967-68
The History of Martha Dellasega – Volume II
Several of you asked about my younger sister, Mary, who grew up to be a college professor teaching mostly English and Speech. She received a PhD in her favorite field, theater, and she also works at a Seattle theater. Mary doesn’t draw much anymore, but she is still a wonderful and witty writer. I want [...]
The History of Martha Dellasega – Volume 1
I love these books so much, and they make me laugh every time I read them. This is the first volume of a three-part series written by my little sister, Mary. Mary was about 14 when she wrote this volume. The History of Martha Dellasega, Volume I Written and Illustrated by Mary Dellasega, 1964-66
Mosaic Flower Pots
My niece, Jennifer, volunteers at her sons’ school helping the students create art projects, and her latest idea was decorating clay pots. Her son, Maxwell, made this cute pot and gave it to me for my birthday. Originally, there was a sweet Gerbera daisy in the pot, which I transplanted outside. Now I use the [...]
My Favorite Christmas Ornaments
My mother made these ornaments for us when Elliott and Emily were in elementary school. It was a happy coincidence that they match our Christmas stockings which were made years earlier. My mother was obviously attracted to these Charles Ross designs, just as I was. Mother was self taught in all kinds of needlework, and [...]
Just a Few More Days…
The tree is decorated. The houses are lit up. The stockings are hung. Presents are bought and made, but not wrapped yet. Emily and I are spending the whole day baking cookies. Life is Good.
Hand Knit Sweaters by Marjorie Dellasega, 1983 & 1985
My friends, Jan and Becky, recently wrote posts about their mother, who was an accomplished seamstress. They reminded me of my mother who was also a wonderful seamstress, and loved to knit, cross stitch and needlepoint. She made these two little sweaters for Elliott and Emily shortly after they were born. I have no idea [...]
Stamped Cross Stitch Sampler
When I was a teenager in the early 60′s, I talked my mother into buying this sampler kit. I’m pretty sure it was offered in one of the tons of magazines we used to get. Because daddy worked in the advertising department at Phillips Petroleum, we received just about every magazine you could think of [...]
Vintage Shoofly Quilt
My husband’s aunt, Margaret Elizabeth “Betty” Gray, died in June of last year at the age of 88. Her husband, Connor, was the older brother of Gordon’s father, Gordon, Sr. Betty and Connor built a waterfront home on Mercer Island in the 50′s and lived there until their deaths. Gordon’s parents and grandparents also built [...]
Hummingbird Photos
We are so fortunate to have my nephew, Chris, as our family photographer. He takes all the photos at our get-togethers, but he also loves to take nature pictures. This weekend he took several photos of hummingbirds on his deck and I think they’re just beautiful. We were wondering whether these are rufous or anna’s [...]
Alice in Wonderland — Ink & Watercolor Pictures
My younger sister, Mary, completed these fabulous ink and watercolor pictures in the 1970′s and gave them to my sister, Sally, and me. I have all four of them now and I hope Sally doesn’t ever ask for hers back. Mary used the illustrations by Sir John Tenniel from the original 1865 Alice’s Adventures in [...]
Terrace at Sainte Adresse
My husband, Gordon, stitched this Monet painting in 1983 from a pattern by Pat Wilkie Keene. When we were first married, he taught himself to embroider because he wanted a monogram on the pockets of his dress shirts — he stitched a little “GHG” with a tiny satin stitch. He also cross-stitched Christmas stockings for [...]
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