Recovery...

I just didn't get any sewing done, yesterday. Now, ain't that sad? I was still beat from gadding about on Tuesday, I think. I did pick out fabric for the Ashes and Soot blocks and then I got busy cleaning house. Took a nap with Abe. I figure it won't be long before he is too big for naps with his Mama. I love watching him sleep. Plus it was a rainy, dreary day.

Isn't that a pretty journal? Darcy gave me one a few years ago with a composition notebook in it. I have used it so much, I must have switched the notebook out several times. This one is filled with sketch paper. Kathy made it- right down to the artwork on the cover. She's a retired art teacher. And one of the most skilled seamstresses you will ever meet. She sews almost all of her own clothes and I am thinking I will buy some batik fabic on sale and have her sew me up a tunic. She's very generous that way. I have been blessed with having some of the sweetest people in my life.

Whadda day!

• Man, am I beat! Up early. Had a Dr. appointment. I don't know why I always schedule them so early! Guess I just want to get them over with. I do get nervous about them. Shouldn't, but I do. Everything went great.

• Had lunch with the Wayward Fabric Club- which was yummy and so much fun. But then we needed to help Tanya organize her shop for the big "Going Out Of Business" sale. We just tried to stay upbeat and promised not to make Tanya cry. But it is a sad thing when the local quilt shop has to close. The quilt guild(of which I am no part) has been less than supportive and the economy stinks so... I picked out a bit of fabric at 50% off and plan on helping her out over the next few weeks as she tries to sell as much as possible. The Quilter's Toy Box looks great, and if you're in the area...

• Ran by JoAnn's and used a 50% off coupon to replenish my batting supply. Tanya carries Dream cotton and I might pick up a few of those, but I really like Warm and Natural batting. It doesn't stretch and is cooler than poly batting. I might set out a few backings for myself, as well. She has some really lovely ones.

• Now, I came home late. Bekah wants me to put that in. I think she is holding a grudge. I will have to make it up to her tomorrow. Tonight, I am thinking to put my aching feet up and watch a movie. Don't I sound ambitious?

Happy Birthday Abe!

He had a birthday, last week, and we are celebrating, today. Sweet William's day off. Abraham is so excited- as only a 7 year old can be. He said he is going to have a fruit theme. Pineapple, pears, grapes, oranges. Then, there's the poppyseed chicken- which I suspect his brothers put him up to. Followed by a candybar cake. We'll be taking the kids to the apple orchard just down the road, later, today. Full of fun.

Non-Triangle therapy...

The top quilt is just a weekend project. I still need to join the blocks and make the checkerboard borders. The pattern called for plaids but since I don't have any... thought batiks would do. I used up a lot of my 2" strips. Makes one realize just how much stash one has! Might need to make another one to use up the rest of the my 2" batik strips. Sub-cut to 5". Cut some more 5" blocks to go with and the blocks are pretty much done. I started this as something to do between making flying geese blocks. I need 360 of them and well, it's rather tedious. Sandy said I was doing it all wrong- should have worked a little while on each project, just to keep it more interesting and give me a break from the flying geese. I have trouble setting aside a project once I pick it up. Oh well, maybe I'll get more flying geese done, today. In between birthday clebrations.

Magic Doilies...

I'm Hooked!

I know most of you need another hobby like you need another hole in your head. But this is one that I just enjoy so much. I thought I'd be selfish not to share. Most of you know I crochet doilies. Lots of doilies.

Funny thing, I can't follow a standard pattern to save my life. All the symbols and abbreviations just wear me out. But this Magic Crochet... that, I can do. Sandy introduced this to me a couple years ago and, as long as it is round, I can crochet it. I showed my Mom and she has shared it with neices and nephews of mine. All of them have picked it up with no trouble.

First, there is the graph. It is just a pie sliced version of the doily that you will be crocheting. It has numbers for the rows and sometimes they have numbers for the chains. But the coolest thing about the graphs are the symbols. Each symbol represents a different kind of stitch. And these are mostly self-explanatory, but there is also a key in the front of the magazines to help you keep it all straight. They are just your standard crochet stitches- chain, single, double, triple. Nothing mysterious. You just repeat the symbols of each row until you are finished with that row.

I have never timed myself, but I figure that if I work on a doily, in my spare time- when I'm not quilting, an average-sized doily would only take me a week or two. The larger ones take longer, of course. Getting used to the tiny hook and thread is one of the hurdles to jump, and when I first started, I felt like a two year old trying hold a crayon and draw between the lines. It was kind of comical. But now I find the yarns and larger hooks quite clumsy to work with.

And doilies aren't just decorative. I love making small ones to use as coasters. Darcy gave me that beautiful variegated orange thread. It is a woven thread- so perfect for coasters. That just takes and hour or two. East peasy!

The Magic Crochet magazines are out of print, but you can still find them on the internet. Ebay, used books, you know. Hope you give it a try.

(Dear Joe, I'm sorry I didn't get any pictures of hearth and kin in this weekend post. That doesn't mean I don't love you, just means that the children probably looked like no one was tending them- think lots of mud pies. Quote of the week goes to Abe- "Light me!" Followed by lots of uproarious laughter. You have to figure out what they were up to as I am not telling. Only the boys... I'll try to do better next week. I love you son. Give my love to Laurie.)

Before...

After...

Nines' stash enhancement!

Had a great time at Sandy's on Tuesday. We organized her fabric and Sandy did a wonderful job at being decisive and choosing what she would keep and what she would get rid of. Took no time at all. Most of what she got rid of was added to my stash. I haven't had the time to sort through it but it got me to thinking about ways that I could better use my space and fabrics that I don't guess I'll ever get around to using. Fall organizing.

See, I had a serious allergy attack yesterday. No, nothing life threatening but I must have sneezed a 1,000 times! Wears a body out. Rebekah, who is 9, sent me to bed at 10am and I took a benadryl. Won't do that again as I slept the day away. What a waste, but I really couldn't function anyway. They are cutting the soy beans and you can see the plume of dust a mile away. It looks like rain, today, and I am joyfully anticipating it settling the dust down. As it is, I have shut the house back up and have the air conditioning running again. I am feeling better if a little stuffy headed and still dripping from time to time.

When I woke up from my drug induced sleep, I found that Bekah had cleaned my sewing table off and had also done some work on my counter in the quilting room. How sweet was that? Got me all inspired to sew- doesn't take much to do that! We did have a productive morning of school and canning salsa- black bean and corn. Might be the last of the summer. Today, I might just sit on the couch and crochet- a good rainy day project.

A story to tell...

That little quilt was my first little quilt. It was a challenge from Sandy and we cut them out together. I figured out that, for me, it was best to nibble on it. Just a bit at a time and then sew something else, come back and nibble some more. Before you knew it and it was done. I'm hooked and still enjoy making small quilts- as the walls in my dining room will attest. Bill has promised me that he will finish the dry wall so that I can paint before a big party here in November. Might even get the floor finished. All a big deal around here.

That peice of McCoy pottery on the chest of drawers sat on my Mom's dresser when I was a little girl and now it sets on mine. Not only do I love McCoy, but I love crockery of any kind. And this set has sentimental value as it reminds me of home. I'd be intersted in seeing others' sentimental pieces.

Off to sew- took the day off yesterday. Can't wait to get back to it!

A little bit of sewing...

Here's Jacob with his new pillow case. This one is from that pattern where you put all the parts together and then stuff the whole thing into the cuff, sew that down, pull it right side out and tada! A pillow case. Was that totally confusing? I have made quite a few of them, but it has been a while and thought I better get his done before I forgot how. But it all came back to me and I whipped it up in no time. And kids love new pillow cases. Jacob said this one was "pretty much awesome."

Of course, he isn't much of a kid anymore. He'll be 18 in the Spring. He works for a construction company a few days a week and seems to like it. He does all sorts of work- drywall, windows, ditchdigging, painting and cement work. He really is a good guy and he loves all things coffee. He would love to open his own coffee shop. He has even some really great expresso soap. He would make a good shop owner as he is very personable. More naturally outgoing than our two older sons. Used to drive me crazy how he would talk to everyone- he was that baby in the buggy at the grcoery store that would wave you down and always say, "Hi!" Took me hours to get done with my shopping as he charmed his way through the store. I rather like that quality in him now.

Well, I am off to help Sandy organize her fabric cupboards. I am really looking forward to seeing what she has in there. I made us a nice lunch of poppyseed chicken casserole. We plan on spending the day "working." I can hardly wait to get started. Have agreat day!