labelling

You guys? 

(sigh)

I dunno. 

For me?  Making this sort of thing is just so much fun it really oughta be illegal.  Seriously. 

The actual size of this house?  A diminutive and so-gosh-darn-cute 1-5/8" x 1-1/2".

I've made many cross-stitch quilt labels over the years.  Here's the only one I could find in my linen closet to show you ... seems the children have absconded with most of my other quilts for "fort duty". 

Ironically, this is the only other log cabin quilt I've made (that year is 1999, NOT 1966, by the way).

But this embroidered block label?!  By far my all-time favourite.

I found a cute font online, and then I don't even know how the idea popped into my head, but I thought wouldn't it be fun to stitch up a little log house ... you know, to keep with the theme of the log cabin(ish) blocks.  So I made a very basic house with lines for the logs, rounded the sides to make them look more "loggy", and then on a whim added some knots to fashion a little garden.

Simple simple.  A smattering of green knots for the shrubbery and a few pink ones for the blossoms and voila!  My house went from drab to fab in about 5 minutes.

Honestly, the hardest part was deciding what colours to use where.  In the end, I went with my daughter's suggestion to stitch the words in pink and to use the other dominant quilt colour - aqua - for the house.  I don't think anyone would object to an aquamarine log cabin. 

Choosing pink for the flowers, however, was a total no-brainer.

But I mostly love the illuminated windows. 

If you're familiar with the story behind the log cabin quilt block, you'll know that the centre square is traditionally made with red or yellow fabric to represent the fire buring in the hearth at the center of the home.  And the block is typically half dark/half light to depict the light and shadow cast by the fire. 

So I had it in my head that the windows of my cabin needed to be lit.  I tried a few different stitches to fill the windows, but the best one turned out to be (my least favourite) satin stitch.  I didn't sweat making the stitches perfect and have determined that a "rustic finish" is quite acceptable for this application. 

You see how good I am at justifying my imperfections?

Hmm, now all of a sudden I'm wondering how Wolverine would look wearing an aqua suit with a hot pink tie ... ;)

Comments

[Lisa McGriff]

ADORABLE! Love your creativity!

[Tina in Nevada]

Cute, Cute, Cute!!!! You are amazing! I just love it!!!!!

[Jane @ Handiworking]

That is just plain cute and so beautifully done! My daughter just requested a pair of knee socks with her initials monogrammed on the top so it shows over the top edge of her boots (as seen on etsy). I'm going to do them this weekend. Got my fingers crossed that they turn out anything like the picture she sent me. ;-)

[Mel]

Oh that is too adorable. Now I want one for my future log cabin quilt. Any way you could offer just the little cabin as a PDF so that we can make our own label?

[Wendy]

So cute. I didn't know the story of the log cabin block and now that I do I really want to make one. Maybe I will pilfer your idea of a log cabin on a log cabin quilt too. Adorable, inspiring and informative - what more could you ask for from a blog x

[Joan]

Love it! You are so creative. Now I'll have to add a log cabin quilt to my list. Thanks for the inspiration.

[A Little Blue Dragonfly]

KRISTYNE!!! Sorry for yelling your name at you, but OH.MY.GOODNESS!!! Is it possible that this is my absolute all-time ever favorite thing you've posted? Yes. Yes, it is. My new-to-me log-sided home needs a log cabin quilt with a log cabin embroidered signature block. Oh, yes she does. :)

[Lun]

Oh that's beautiful. Makes me feel like going back to relabel all my quilts...only then I'd have to put them the wrong way round tonshow off the labels...

[Hildy]

Love just love!!! I really need to label my quilts with embroidery:-)
Have a wonderful weekend, Hildy

[marilyn holley-stupka]

He would be HOT, HOT,HOT!! And your block is absolutely the cutest ever. Another inspiration and I have several labels that I need to make. You are always inspiring me with something. Why don't you live in Atlanta?

[Cristina]

You have the best taste in colors, embroidery and men!

[kim]

I'd take Wolverine in anything!!!! That's the fun of stitchery, we can create our own pretty little world !! Your world is so VERY pretty!

[MNakata45]

Whether I would try to make embroidery label is a question, I love the idea and I love the log cabin label!!

[Archiethewonderdog]

I love it!!!

[Liz]

I'm pretty sure someone is going to explode one day because your blog is too too cute. And wolverine. I'm having to have a cup of tea and a lie down because I feel all faint.

[Shelley]

NICE!!! I do have a question, I see the floss/thread is Cosmo...where do you purchase that type?? I buy the 6 strand floss at a nearby quilt shop, but have never seem the type you are using....

[jude jones]

Your embroidery work is seriously so perfection and your creativity is stunning. I love your blog and your cute sense of humor. Thanks for making some of my hard days more bearable. The log cabin is super terrific!!! Wolverine isn't bad either.

[jojo]

I'm sorry I forgot everything you said after the mention of Wolverine! :) The house is lovely.

[Michele Hebson]

Beyond cute. You amaze me every time I see something new you've come up with. From the sweetest details to the color choices. Always fabulous and always something to look forward to. Great job You!

[Shasta Anderson]

You know I was labeling my quilts with a permanent fabric pen on a patch on the back. After your post a while back about embroidered labels I decided that looked soooo much better and started doing that. NOW, I feel the need to add a picture! It looks lovely and I must say your stitching looks impeccable, wish mine looked that good!

[Donna]

Love your label - your color choices were great. So talented......

[Lori Hunstad]

Simply perfect! Love love love it!!

[Bonnie Nyquist]

This is just soooo sweet nd wonderful! I would never ever thought of putting that embroidery on a log cabin quilt!! I didi not know the whole story of the log cabin block either, your sweet little house,I will remember forever,and I never thought of using embroidery ont he label like you have, that is why you are the BOSS! One of your best posts ever!! And the little flowers...sweet..I am so jealous, I never would have thought of that.

[Lorinda Davis]

That is amazing.... I just love it! My favorite part is the little knot garden, but it's all cute! Well done.

[Debbie R.]

Great label! And who are you kidding? There's not even one smidge of imperfection. Tiny. Perfect.

[Bari Jo]

Could this be any cuter? You are a never ending pool of amazing. Beautiful! Love the block and the 'fix'. Another arm wrestler for your girls! ;o)

[Kathleen O'Grady]

I love, love, love your little cabin....it is awesome, just like the beautiful quilt it goes on. I so want to make a log cabin quilt now. You are so talented and your work is incredible. I hope you continue blogging for many years, you are such an inspiration. Have a great weekend :)

[Bari Jo]

Could this be any cuter? You are a never ending pool of amazing. Beautiful! Love the block and the 'fix'. Another arm wrestler for your girls! ;o) I sure do wish we were neighbors :O)

[Jen]

Absolutely adorable! Love that log cabin!

[Susan]

Good lord! Could this get any cuter? You are amazing! This is perfect and your log cabin quilt is amazing.

[Elaine]

I love justifications! And yours are superb! You know disappointments come out of unreal expectations! A rustic cabin is always full of charm (love that story) and personality! Well done- as usual!

[Jackie]

So sweet!

[Leanne]

That is beautiful! Much nicer than the hand written labels I usually use...I have terrible hand writing and I'm always worried the ink will fade over time, even though it is permanent and for fabric. You just never know. I think I need to brush up on my embroidery skills for my next label.

[Marja]

Wow, that's just lovely! You are so creative. I love the french knot flowers and grass in de front yard. :-)

[Joy]

Seriously! I smile every time I read your blog :)

[Jan]

So, so cute. I love the design and the colors.

[Toby]

Oh my......beyond lovely!!! I agree with previous posters that we need a PDF or pattern. I would make a gazillion!



Several months ago (maybe even a year), you had a post on hand quilting....or how you first started hand quilting. I love it if you did a post on the proper way to hand quilt :)

[Susan]

Could this be any cuter?? Love it! And it does out do the x-stitch one by far although, that is very nice too! Love your talent and thanks so much for sharing!!

[Mary Fioretti]

I had to order your book. I've been waiting forever to purchase it and couldn't wait a minute longer.
Mary Fioretti
PS. LOVE The little house and the label ideas.

[Debbie]

What a lovely idea - you've inspired me to do something creative for my quilt labels :o) By the way, I subscribe to your blog via feedly and thought I would let you know - although your posts show up there, they are only text - it never shows me pictures. Not sure why, but thought you might want to check it out.

[pam]

Love it. Everything you do is adorable

[Lori jones]

OMGosh!! I live the log cabin house! The colors are great. Question for you, what brand of thread do you use???? I like the look it gives to the block.
Oh and I agree with the lady that asked you if you might do a PDF for the cabin!!

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