Magdalena Gets a Quilt

Spring has made it's way, grudgingly, into central Iowa. Days have ranged from OK to lovely, but the nights are still nippy, so Magdalena and I made a quilt for her to snuggle under. I'll tell you how we did it.  I had in mind that, being the short-cut-taker that I am, I would buy one of those little packs of precut 2 1/2" fabric squares at the quilt shop. It would contain a collection of Civil War era reproduction prints, and they would sew up quickly into a darling small quilt. So ran my fantasy as I drove into town. The basket of tiny precuts was right where I remembered it would be, but there were no Civil War era packs. I did buy a Christmas one to be used later for my little friend. Back to square (get it?!) one.  I went through my drawerful of Civil War prints, picked out a nice variety of darks and lights, and tore -yes, tore- a bunch of 2 5/8" squares. Magdalena helped me sort  We matched up a dark with each light, and placed every pair right sides together. I drew a light line diagonally across each top square, and stitched a scant 1/4" on each side of the drawn line. I've shown a square with dark dots, just so you can see it. Then I cut along that center line.  Now I had a bunch of scraggly, sloppy half square triangle blocks. But not to worry.  I trimmed them into nice , even 2"  squares. Magdalena and I laid them out in a pleasing pattern, with all the darks pointed up, and I sewed these little square blocks together, row by row. I cut a generous piece of reproduction fabric for the backing, and sandwiched backing, thin batting, and top together. After safety pinning the layers in place, I hand quilted the tiny quilt, which I actually found quite relaxing. The hand quilting gives it old fashioned appeal. I decided to make the binding by folding the edges of the backing to the front, fooling it under, and hand stitching it in place. I did this, rather than sewing on a separate binding, for two reasons. One: it cuts back on bulk, which is important Ina very small project like this; and two: the aforementioned shortcut-taking. I pulled the edges of the backing out of the way, and trimmed the batting even with the quilt top. Then I trimmed the back to 1/2" beyond the top and backing, cutting the corners so that I could, again, reduce bulk and get nice, sharp mitered corners.  I folded under 1/4", folding over each corner 1/4" as well, then brought this folded edges over the front of the quilt, and pinned.  I slip stitched the edges all around, and Magdalena's cozy quilt was complete!  It measures 8" x 8."

The Gluin' of the Green, In Which Magdalena's Trunk is Readied for Use

Today being St. Patrick's Day, and me having some pretty green scrapbook paper to line Magdelina's trunk, I thought it only fitting that lining her trunk with paper would be today's project.  This past Christmas, my friend Deanna gave me the gift of a beautiful small wooden trunk. When I began "the Magdelena project," I knew this trunk would be perfect to hold all her things, as well as Magdalena herself, should she need to travel. Doll trunk are very traditional this way.  I wanted to line the trunk with paper because it was done back in the day, it looks pretty, and the paper will protect Magdalena and her clothes from the stain in the wood. Antique doll trunks often have a tray in the top to hold small things, but I was not willing to go that far.  I used my glass top stove as my work surface. It's nice and smooth, and any residual glue wipes off easily.  After assembling glue, measuring tape, paper, and trunk, I started measuring each side, and cutting a paper piece to match. I taped waxed paper onto the stove top, and used a disposable foam brush to coat the back of each piece with glue. For each new piece, I slapped another piece of waxed paper over the last, to get a clean surface. Some places required patching, since the trunk is 13" long, and the paper measures 12" x 12."  Honestly, it doesn't show. I left the rib in the top of the trunk uncovered, since it looks cool, and I did not cover the half-circle ends of the trunk top. None of that will come in contact with the items inside.  It is finished, and drying, and I've eaten a muffin to celebrate.  Wherever you go, Whatever you do, May the Luck of the Irish, Be there with you!

Meet Magdalena

Magdelena is my little china doll. She stands 10" tall. When I first met her at a doll show, she was only a broken off head, and so adorable and sweet-looking, that I had to buy her. She is pink tint China, with a jolly round face and a sweet smile. Her hair is in what is called a covered wagon style, but it has a little extra oomph to it. Above her curls, it fluffs out (if China can be said to fluff out) instead of being plastered to her head, like most covered wagon styles are. I brought her home to my medium house on the prairie, and set to work. Using Dixie Remond's free Izannah Walker body pattern, I made her a stuffed torso, then filled in a new neck and shoulder plate using epoxy glue, spread over the stuffed fabric body underneath.  I painted them to match her face. china arms and legs from an antique body completed her little self, and she has lived with me ever since. She's such a nice small size, so easy to dress and find accessories for, and hence the title: "Things for Magdalena."  I hope you will follow the two of us, as we fill her trunk with clothes and notions, and as we tour around Iowa and the Midwest on our little adventures.