The Orphans of the world....

come in many forms, in needlework they are the unfinished, unwanted, unloved that quietly age into little piles of broken threads and dust. The orphan boarding our Orphan Train
today is the creation of Barb. Her blog is called Thinking Out Loud, and is located at http://xicanartista.blogspot.com/ Her posts are often thought provoking and enlightening. She has a marvelous post this week about tables. Something we don't give much thought to, isn't it? An excellent post!!
But back to the Orphan.....Barb, like many of us, frequents thrift stores in search of vintage and other treasures from years gone by. She has noticed a trend towards the abandonment of embroidery projects. Especially stamped cross stitch. I confess to having a weakness for those stitchery project (in abandon form) myself. I own quite a few, and have finished some. Please link to Barb's blog, and read HER words concerning what she thinks about as she buys these little treasure.
This quilt is built around the Holly Hobbie
stitchery piece she found. I think the quilt is quite wonderful, serviceable and charming. Simple but honest. I love the idea! I've thought about adding embroidery to quilts, but not in the sampler kit form.
Embroidery has been featured in quilts for years and years...all those embroidered penny blocks, the redwork blocks, the state flowers or the state birds. You name, it was embroidered and put into a quilt. I feel this is slightly different, due to the nature of the background fabric. I'm guessing it isn't aida cloth. Most of the ones I've picked up are on a rayon type linen...a fairly loose weave, not like a pillowcase or dresser scarf. I wonder if maybe one shouldn't use an interfacting to stablize the stitching piece if it's not a cotton?? I will be doing that with mine...*VBS* Yes, I want to try Barb's ideas...LOL.
I browsing blogs yesterday, I noticed that Vera, at http://kcquilter.blogspot.com/ has a dainty little doll quilt done in Aunt Gracies prints with embroidered blocks of 'ittsy-bitsy spider'. It's just adorable...check it out! I'll be back tomorrow with another completed for this challenge top(or quilt.....or two quilts) from Patti, one of our speed demons....*VBS* Watch out Bonnie, Patti's gaining on you......Happy July 1st everyone!