SOMETHING NEW...RATHER, SOMETHING OLD

 

Many, MANY years ago...when I was a child...my dad would paint a yearly picture on our big living room mirror.  Every year my mom would search diligently until she found just the "perfect" Christmas card for my dad to copy.  A few years into this tradition, my mom handed my dad a smaller card and requested a painting for the powder room mirror.  Dad complied, year after year.  One year, however, dad asked if I would like to learn to draw and paint.

It took me almost as long for me to paint this tiny guitarist as it took dad to paint the big picture!  But, I had not only DRAWN something, but I had painted it, to boot!  This continued a few years longer, until we moved.  I was in college, working, and really too busy to tackle our new powder room.  Any thoughts of EVER drawing or painting again went the way of the dodo bird!!

Then, at the end of last month I got the itch to draw again.  I really don't want to count how many years it has been since my powder room painting days, LOL.  The above is the result of my first try.  My dad, and many of my paternal relatives, are a whole lot better than me, but I had FUN picking up his colored pencils and drawing something simple...straight out of my head.  I framed it to remind me of Dad's teaching so many moons ago.  

I started watching a few YouTube videos to learn some technique.  One suggested that I draw something sitting right in front of me.  The Prevagen bottle was sitting on my desk.  See, I'm showing my age, LOL.  

Next, I looked around my sewing room to find something colorful to draw.  My eyes fell on a brown reed basket filled with balls of yarn.  You would not believe my excitement when my grandson saw me drawing and said, "Nice, balls of yarn".  He recognized it from my beginner attempts!

So I am back into drawing, quilting, weaving, sewing,  and a million other things!  There are lots of things happening in my life right now that I can't quite share...but I will keep you posted!  Have a great day and stay creative!!

Toodles...

What Am I Waiting For?...

 

Many years ago, before I had even met my husband, I had begun my "hope chest".  I was a bridesmaid in my cousin's wedding and spent hours pouring over bridal magazines.  I happened upon a beautiful china pattern and an Oneida flatware set that I loved.  I was twenty years old and single, but I figured that at some point I would have a home, whether I remained single or married some day.  I loved them both and I was getting them!!!!  I opened a charge card at a nearby department store and joined their "china club".  Every month I received a place setting or serving piece in my beloved china pattern.  I subsequently joined the Oneida club and began building my flatware.  By the time my husband and I met and eventually got engaged my "good stuff" was completely bought and paid for.  

It stayed in boxes for the next 8 years until we purchased dining room furniture.  And THERE it has sat for almost 28 years!!!  Recently our everyday flatware has begun to show wear.  It probably has many more years left in it...but an idea began to niggle at the back of my brain, "What Am I Waiting For?!?!?"

I pulled all of my everyday flatware out of the drawer and donated it to someone in need.  I am now using my "good" flatware every day!  Isn't it pretty?  I'm sure I won't be using my good china every day, but when my husband and I downsize to just the two of us I plan to use it for holiday dinners, and maybe even Sunday brunches!  At 60 years old I have finally realized that today, tomorrow and every day after that ARE the special days of my life!  

What have I been waiting for?

Toodles...

Within...The week of 3/21/21

WITHIN 

Most people pick their "word of the year" in January.  But, as usual, I'm not most people.  After a LOT of thought I have finally come up with my word...my theme.  WITHIN.  For the past year we have all been stuck inside the house, thanks to Covid.  I have been stuck inside, but have I really lived within?    No...I haven't.  I've bounced from room to room, activity to activity...but I have never actually embraced the within of my house...my HOME.  It's time.  Time to slow down and look at everything within those walls and gauge it's place within my home.  As in the KonMari Method, I need to measure each item and each activity (with a bit of my own twist).  Does it show the love I feel for my family, does it contribute to our health, peace and contentment, and does it bring us real happiness within?   

*****

On Sunday my son and I went through the remainder of G's clothing.  I never realized she had so much, lol.  However, in going through her things I was forced to really LOOK at each item, being mindful of how it could best be used in her honor.  Was it something that I thought her son may want some day?  Was it something I could use to make her son a remembrance?  Was it something that J would want to keep because of the memory held within?  Was it something I could wear, feeling wrapped in her arms in the process?  She was a hugger, just like me.  Was it something I could use in my crafting?  Was it something that I thought her mother would want?  Was it something I thought could be donated?  With each piece I was forced to look WITHIN the physical confines of the item and pull out the realm of possibility that lay within.  

*****

By the end of the day I had an enormous number of bags for her mother to go through.  Obviously, she would keep anything she desired, but she would donate the remaining items of clothing to a charity that gave to the needy in the local community "free of charge".  J was adamant that he wanted to "pay forward" the generosity shown to us, by so many, at the time of our loss.  These bags held much more than clothing within!

*****

Over the past week I have broken down several of G's jeans into useable, fairly compact bundles.  I also pulled out jeans that had belonged to me, my dad (now passed), J, K, and my husband.  I will request old jeans from my aunt and G's mother.  I know somewhere I had stashed away several pairs from my mom when she passed in 2017.  They will all be broken down into useable squares of denim to make a quilt for my dear sweet grandson.  I want him to feel the love within, every night.  

*****

I now have mounds of clothing from his Mommy, poppop, great grandmothers and great grandfathers stacked throughout my sewing room.  All of these will be broken down into useable fabric and will find their way into quilts, pillows, bags, etc.  The multitude of family members he has lost over the past 18 months will not be forgotten and  I will do my best to keep alive the memories and love they felt for the little boy who has stolen all of our hearts.  

*****

Thus started MY mission and motivation.  I have broken down dress shirts from my husband and my dad for use in quilts.  There are still a LOT of shirts to go through.  I guess G wasn't the only clothes hound, LOL.  

*****

I have gone through my closet and pulled out a number of t-shirts that don't fit quite right.

*****

After cutting off the bottom edge to make fabric ties (see them used on the bundles of dress shirt fabric a few photos back), I've made "tarn" from the large middle section of each tee.  I plan to use this tarn in my weaving such items as placemats, drying mats, rugs, handbags, etc.  The possibilities within are infinite.  In the process of cutting down these shirts, I've pulled off any buttons and beads, cannibalizing the useful parts within each shirt. 

As a quilter, weaver and crafter it is unlikely that I will ever pare down my supplies to a minimalistic amount.  However, I am determined to purge away all that is extraneous, leaving behind only the possibilities within.   

I have come to realize that this purge is needed not only within my sewing room, but throughout my entire home!  I need to hold each and every item within these walls to determine if they are best serving my family.  But that is not all!  I need to look within myself and purge any lingering feelings of discontent, anger or pain.  They are definitely NOT serving my psyche. Only by digging deeply can I find the kernel of truth, usefulness, and happiness that has been obscured by the trappings of a life lived merely gliding along the surface, piling on more and more in an effort to finally reach that pinnacle of happiness.  But it has never been a pinnacle, has it?  It is in the depths within that we truly begin to live.    

Table Runner and Placemats

 I finally finished my 3rd weaving project, a table runner and 5 placemats.  I was really hoping for at minimum 6 placemats (preferably 8) but when my finished cloth was only 9' long I knew I would be short Oh well, next time I will just make my warp longer.  I do have a bit of yarn left so I may be able to weave three more placemats.  In any case, I had a blast making these and couldn't be happier with the project.

I do have one question for fellow weavers:  If you look at my placemats you can see there is a bit of a "patterned lines" across them.  Does anyone know what causes this, how I can stop it, or possibly make it more uniform?

Thanks for looking.

Toodles...

MY THIRD WEAVING PROJECT...

 This is my third weaving project.  So far I have only found one mistake...and I MISSED IT...too far along to unweave now.   I'm still loving it, though, so I will keep on going!  I LOVE WEAVING!!!

MY SECOND WEAVING PROJECT...

With the start of 2021 I wanted to try something new on my loom.  I am determined to spend more time crafting.  Losing myself in creating things that are both useful and, hopefully, beautiful calms me and provides me with a sense of accomplishment. 

The smaller multicolored piece was intended to be a dish towel.  I knew it would shrink a bit with washing, but the 100% cotton shrunk way more than expected.  A dear friend suggested I use it in a bread basket.  It will be perfect for that use!  

I used the remainder of the warp thread (vertical string) on my loom to make a table topper.  Because I used solid white weft thread (horizontal string) the piece came out much lighter in color than the bread basket piece.  It is really amazing how using variations of weft (horizontal) thread can change the look of the woven project!

I can’t wait to start my next project!

Toodles...

OUR NEW NORMAL...

 

Happier Times

Twenty-twenty has been hard for all of us, but the end of the year has been particularly devastating for our family.  Right before Thanksgiving our dear daughter-in-love passed away.  It was completely unexpected and fast!  Unfortunately that is the nature of brain bleeds.  We were all devastated and in total disbelief.  Twenty-eight is too young to leave this earth!  Gabby and Justin had just celebrated their second wedding anniversary!  Our poor grandson still needs his mommy!  

Fortunately, our grandson is surrounded by many, many people who love him and will do everything in their power to help him along.  He is extremely close to Justin (his bonus daddy) who he has lived with for over half of his life.  As they have lived with us since April of 2017, my husband and I are part of his daily  routine.  Because of Covid I had been overseeing his virtual schooling in the AM and Gabby would take over in the PM when she got home from work.  I now oversee the entire day, so his routine is still fairly consistent.  We are all holding on, together.  

So 2021 is bringing a “new normal” to our lives.  Justin is learning to juggle being a single parent, and is crushing it!  My husband and I are here to provide support.  He is also surrounded by a wonderful group of friends who have been available to help him through the emotions of losing Gabby, as well as his new single parent status...and their kids have been our grandson’s best friends for years!  Justin and our grandson have gotten together with them a few times since Gabby’s passing (observing Covid restrictions of course) and it has been wonderful to see K just being a kid.  

While I never thought I could find something “good” in Gabby’s passing, the outpouring of love from those around us has been amazing.  In fact, to be shown such love, caring and support from so many in this time of country-wide tumult has been truly miraculous.  Justin and I wholeheartedly believe that Gabby’s purpose in life and death was to bring out the best in people.  We will all try to continue this purpose in her honor.  She was a wonderful mother, Justin’s devoted soulmate and our loving “daughter”-in-law.  We have been truly blessed to have her in our lives.

My First REAL Weaving Project...

 

This is my first actual weaving project.  I'm in love!  Can't wait to make my second project!!!!!!

I GOT A NEW TOY!!!.....

 

...and I can't wait to learn to use it!!!!

GOOD TO THE LAST SCRAP...

You have already seen how I used scraps to make the thin border on my It's A Girl quilt.  What did I do with the remaining pieces?

I LOVE THESE COLORS and I did not want to let them go to waste.  So, I sewed the individual pieces onto a square of fabric.  Then I sewed vertical and horizontal lines to try to "catch" as many of the raw edges as I could.  Next came a coating of Mod Podge for Fabric to keep all of the raw edges from fraying.

I desperately needed a new "med bag" to hold all of my pills, insulin, glucose tabs, epipen, etc.  This bag is absolutely PERFECT!  It is plenty big enough to hold everything and the pretty fabric makes dealing with all of my medical issues at least a little less painful.  All in all....A WIN!!!

 

IT'S A GIRL...

Recently I completed a quilt for a dear friend who became a grandma for the first time.  I fell in love with the colors of a line called Paradisio (I think).  I had purchased three charm packs many moons ago.  The charm packs were perfect for cutting tumblers, but when the center of the quilt was done it needed something "more".  When desperate, you think outside of the box!

Grabbing all of the tiny leftovers from cutting, I measured out scraps that were 1" wide.  I didn't worry about how long the scraps were.  Alternating my scraps with 1" pieces of white I made a thin, scrappy border.  Okay, it was LOVE at first sight!

I did very minimal quilting on the interior so it would be super soft for the baby to lie on, but I wanted denser quilting around the outside so it would lie flat.  But again, I wanted more!  So before I began a dense stipple I made a stencil of the above flower, marked my quilt with the stencil, and began quilting...flowers first and eventually the stipple.  

But the top and bottom of the quilted needed... You guessed it...MORE.  So I made another stencil and added feathers to my flowers on the top and bottom.  Ah...happy.  Time to stipple!   Then it was just a matter of brushing off the pink chalk used with the stencils.  WHAT?!?!  It. Would. NOT. Come. Off!!! Time to think outside of the box again!  After about two days of thinking I decided to outline the flowers/feathers with pink pencil.  After all, I DID want them to be visible!  I outlined them with pink pencil, added a thin layer of textile extender and heat set.  The color is supposed to last through any washings.

Doesn't the back look pretty with the dense quilting along the outer border and light quilting inside?

The label was the final touch!  I used colors that matched the front of the quilt.  

I couldn't be happier with how it came out.  In fact, it is among my favorite quilts!!!  I brushed up on a lot of my skills...piecing, stenciling, FMQ and machine embroidery.  Speaking of stenciling, my son and daughter-in-law bought me a Cricut Maker for my 60th birthday in August.  OMG, it makes wonderful stencils for marking quilting!!!  I've made two so far and see MANY more in my future, LOL.  I did also make a vinyl label for my Cricut Info binder.  Next I want to learn to cut out my fabric on the Cricut.  So much to learn, so much fun to be had!!!!

 

THE SEARCH IS OVER...

...I have finally found my very FIRST sewing machine!!!  I can vividly remember at around age 7-8 having a toy sewing machine that really worked!  I can remember my mom giving me pieces of sheets that she had cut up into rags and I would sew little pouches to hold my jacks, bottle caps, marbles and baseball cards (I was a bit of a tomboy).  I remembered it was a Singer and had red on it.  I also had some conflicting memories...sewing at the kitchen table with it plugged in AND sewing on the driveway without a cord.  One of my memories had to be wrong!

Then yesterday I opened Facebook Marketplace and there it was!!  I had absolutely NO DOUBT that it was the machine of my childhood.  I bought it, wiped the case thoroughly with Clorox wipes and brought her home.  Only when I got home and went to clean the machine with Clorox wipes did I discover that my memories were not wrong!  She can be plugged in OR run with batteries! 

I don't know if she works or not, and it really doesn't matter as I don't intend to use her except for decoration...but seeing her on my hutch brings a HUGE smile to my face!!!  As I get older I find that treasured memories from my childhood mean so much and I really regret having tossed them all as I outgrew them.  There is only one more item left to find, a Shirley Temple doll given to me by a special great aunt shortly after my birth.  I had intended on keeping her but she, and an entire case of 45s, were stolen from the truck when we moved.  Some day I will find her (most likely when I least expect it), just like I found my FIRST sewing machine.

Toodles...

STAYING BUSY HERE AT HOME...

Corona virus has shut down most of our lives.  Period.  But that doesn't mean we have to stop living.  At first I was totally absorbed with adjusting to the loss of my dad (not from Corona)...dealing with my grief, my family's grief and all of the paperwork and phone calls that go along with a death.  But then my focus shifted to becoming "productive" while we shelter in place. 

My first concern was the safety of my family.  I made two masks each for myself, my husband and my grandson.  My son and daughter-in-law had purchased really good reusable masks back in October when they were helping to clean out her grandmother's house.  Since both of them have asthma they needed protection from dust.

Then I mixed up a new supply of hand soap.  We use this soap when using the bathroom and save the harsher, store bought "antibacterial" soap for washing our hands whenever we come back into the house.  After all, the store bought stuff is getting harder and harder to find; and while I know it is full of chemicals (and not necessarily best for my family) I fear Covid 19 more than chemicals!

The myriad changes in our lives have caused a flare of insomnia for my dear daughter-in-law.  I searched my essential oil books and found a "roll on" combination for her to try on the bottoms of her feet at bedtime. I am happy to say that it has helped ease her way to sleep.

Recently, a pillow on my grandson's bed has begun to shred.  Actually, the manufacturer should be ashamed of the poor quality fabric.  So, I did a quick and dirty stitch up and made him an envelope style pillow case.  I let him pick out the fabric and, naturally, it was trucks, LOL!

Almost 2 years ago my son and daughter-in-law were given this beautiful pillow cover.  However, it is not what I would call a "standard" size and they have been unable to find a pillow form to fit.  So...

After replenishing my supply of polyfil (this pillow used up a LOT of fill) I used muslin to make a custom form.  I think it came out great!  I like my pillows to be fairly full but still retain that "squishy" factor.   G is happy with the results!

Right before Easter I made a cute little table mat (for my foyer table) in happy spring colors.  We need some "happy" wherever we can find it these days!

And I have gotten back to an "oldie but goodie", my grandson's quilt.  I am loving every minute of making this quilt, though my body is loudly reminding me that I am old and sick, LOL.  I need to learn moderation.  It is so hard when you are doing something that you love!!!

To keep myself occupied when I am too weak to quilt, I have decided to learn to weave.  Oh My Goodness, the price of rigid heddle looms is WAY more than I would be willing to spend at this point.  What if I really hated it?  My search led to this weaving loom by Martha Stewart.  It was cheap enough that I wouldn't kick myself if I decided it just wasn't for me and the loss taken on reselling it I could live with.  Right now I am making myself a bookmark.  I seem to be having the same problem as a lot of beginners...my sides are curving in.  Oh well, practice makes perfect.  I see a lot of bookmarks being made for family and friends until I overcome this issue, LOL. 

I have also continued to purge through the house and list on Ebay anything that we no longer want or need.  I am happy to say that in spite of this pandemic my sales (especially of thread that my machine no longer likes) have been brisk.  Maybe it is because of the pandemic and the number of "makers" forced to stay indoors?  In any case I am thrilled to pad my bank account and send some of the stuff in this house packing!

In spite of the stay safe at home order I am continuing to be productive and LIVE each day to its fullest.  Now to clean up my sewing room!

Toodles...

A SIGN OF THE TIMES...

The past few weeks have seemed totally unreal to me.  Back on March 18th I lost my dad, the first man I ever loved.  He was a gentleman, fiercely loyal, kind, and funny and I miss him terribly.  Over the past month he had begun preparing me for his departure.  "I think I'm going to die soon".  Of course, this statement sent me in protective overdrive...what's wrong, what are you feeling, what hurts?"  Nothing.  He felt as fine as one could after a stroke 7 months earlier.  "When I die I don't want you to be upset."   Surprisingly, I laughed.  "Okay dad, where is the switch so I can turn it off?"  He laughed too.  "I know you are going to be upset, but remember I will be with your mom...where I want to be.  It's been long enough".  My mom passed away almost 3 years ago.  They had met in 4th grade and were true soulmates.  In 62 years there were only 5 days they were not together...and 4 of them were when my dad had pneumonia and could not visit mom in the nursing home.  He was talking about death, but he was basically "healthy" except for the residual effects of his stroke.

In late February/early March our son approached me, "Mom, I told you I would let you know when to panic.  It's time.  Fill all of the medications for you and dad, and check your food supplies.  This virus is bad!"  Within a short period of time there was talk of a "pandemic".  Then on March 11th the Skilled Nursing Facility where my dad lived shut down to outsiders.  I called my dad to tell him that we would not be able to visit (my aunt or I visited daily).  "How long?!"  I told him we had no idea.  Nobody did.

The very next day, March 12th, I got a phone call that my dad was running a low grade fever.  They were giving him Tylenol and testing for a cause.  I called him that evening and he couldn't hold the phone.  He was obviously not doing well, but there was no "illness" to be found.

On March 14th he took a turn for the worse.  I called his physician to discuss hospice.  He had gone down hill so quickly that the doctor questioned if dad would even be with us at the completion of the admission process.  We decided to move forward anyway.  The next day he was placed on hospice.

On March 18th my aunt and I were called to come to the home to say goodbye.  Only the two of us could go because of the Corona virus.  It seemed so "wrong" for his entire immediate family not to be there.  By lunch time dad was gone.

Call me crazy, but I believe the separation from his family (the only reason he had held on for 3 years without my mom) because of the Corona virus shutdown was the reason for his rapid decline and passing.  No "reason/illness" was found for him going down hill.  On the 11th he was beating my aunt at cards and on the 18th he was gone.

Limited funeral plans were made (again because of Corona) for March 24th.

On March 23rd, the day before dad's funeral, one of my aunts on my mom's side of the family passed away.  We offered our condolences, but her funeral, too, was limited to just the immediate family.

The on April 1st one of my dad's sister's passed away.  Again, condolences were sent. 

In 14 days I lost three members of my family, unexpectedly, and none directly related to the virus.  How many more could any of us lose because of the pandemic?  Today the governor of my state issued a recommendation/order? for everyone in my state to wear a mask if leaving the house.  My son and daughter-in-law have high quality masks bought when they were cleaning out her grandmother's house.  They both have asthma and needed protection.  For my husband, aunt and I there will be handmade masks.  N95 masks cannot be found, and even if they could...our first responders need them more.

So tomorrow I will be making a minimum of two more masks.  I may also make one for my grandson, although there is no way in Hades he is stepping foot out of this house!  I may make one for him anyway...just in case.

Last month my life changed completely and I wonder if there will ever be a time that we, or anyone else, will return to some semblance of normal.  Losing people I love has been hard, but grieving impacted by fear and restriction has left me in a state of limbo.  Each morning I wake up to this changed and restricted life and I wonder, "How could this all happen so fast and when will it all end?"  I can only hope and pray that this "new normal" ends as quickly as it began!

Stay safe my friends.

Toodles...

I THINK I'M BACK...

Last night my son worked to block a few vulnerabilities on my computer that allowed hackers in.  I THINK I am back and my blog is safe.  However, if you see anything illegal, lewd, or just plain horrible, PLEASE send me a comment so that I may take action.  I in NO WAY support any of these sites or activities and it is definitely not ME posting if you see that type of post.  Thank you.

Also, as an aside, for anyone who follows people on Bloglovin.  This is most likely the route used by the hackers to hack my accout.  My son did a search and Bloglovin has been associated with all kinds of filth from porn to trafficking.  I'm not saying that "Bloglovin" is responsible, per se, but they may have vulnerabilities that allow the hackers in.  In any case, my son has deleted my Bloglovin account and you will no longer be able to follow me through Bloglovin.  Be safe out there folks!

AN UNWANTED GOODBYE...

Life has been crazy and I have had little time to post.  So, imagine my surprise when I was suddenly getting more and more followers.  A bit of detective work revealed that someone had taken over my account and was promoting my account in an "adult" manner.  If my son can manage to salvage my account and this blog I will be thrilled.  However, I will not have my name/account used for such purposes and I may choose to "disconnect" myself from the internet completely.  It is sad when a few rotten apples spoil the bunch...

Did You Ever Have One Of THOSE Projects?????

If  you remember, back in September (ish) I made a bolster type pillow for my dear daughter-in-law using a pair of her old sweat pants.  The first night in bed J discovered that the pillow was PERFECT for keeping his neck and shoulder pain free while sleeping.  He has been using it nightly and poor G has pretty much lost custody!  As expected, J asked me for a similar pillow for Christmas (with G vigorously nodding her head in agreement!).  I didn't have enough of the fabric used in G's pillow, so I purchased some camo "sweat pant" material to make one for J and probably one for my grandson as well (if time allowed...it doesn't!).

Above was my FIRST attempt at his pillow.  I had used an inset type of zipper that is sewn into a seam and then the seam is opened to reveal the zipper.  It is the only type of zipper I know how to do, LOL.  Well, I cut the fabric with my seam ripper in two different places and since it would be a visible part of the pillow I ripped out the zipper and canned the first pillow!

With the next pillow I attempted to insert the zipper differently.  Apparently I did a rotten job as the zipper pull part fell off the first time I attempted to zip the form into the pillow case.  Since I only know how to do one type of zipper, there was NO WAY I was going to be able to fix or replace the broken zipper.  Second pillow canned!  Don't worry though, I used parts of the first and second pillows for portions of the third.

Third time's the charm!  While far from perfect  it is DONE!  They say out in the quilting world that "done" is better than "perfect".  I sure hope that translates over to pillows!!  In any case, the dimensions are the same as G's pillow...so J should be happy.  At least he had BETTER be, LOL.  Considering that I whipped out G's pillow in less than 30 minutes I couldn't believe the issues I had with this one.  I will put the blame mostly on the fabric.  It was horrible to unpick (and I used white thread specifically so I could see to unpick the seam).  It took me over an hour to unpick a 16" zipper seam!!!

Anyway, my last Christmas gift is made and I have gotten back my sew-jo (amazing considering all of the troubles with this project).  I have decided to use the remainder of the fabric to MAYBE make my grandson a bolster and to make a bunch more gift bags.  Since they will only be used inside our home and almost half of our family are camo lovers I see it as a great save for this problematic fabric.  Until next time...

Toodles...