One Creative Family

Since this is the last Friday of January I looked back to see if I have reached my goals.

Quilting goals….yes all previous projects completed and New projects either started or ideas written down to be able to follow thru.

Personal goals…not totally. More exercise check, weight goals not there, but still working. Healthier me… check.  Off blood pressure meds.

All in all January has been a good month.  Now for the new projects.  I am making a new Dragonfly Dance  quilt and an Old Glory wall hanging.  Here is a photo of the Old Glory wall hangingI am excited for these new projects.

Dragonfly Dance (1st one finished)

Isn’t it such a wonderful feeling to finish a project and then start a new one?  Happy Sewing today. Do something fun today and smile a lot.

 

 

Well after doing both Bunka and Needlepunch this week, (I have never done either) the only difference is the thread.  The Bunka is very scrunchy apposed to regular embroidery thread and pearl cotton.  I love working with this and once I get the rhythm and tension it went fast.  These are pictures of my first few attempts.  Not bad.

On a different note Thursday night Hubby surprised me with a trip to Hancock of Paducah.  6  1/2 hours there, shopping for 3 hours and 6  1/2 hours home.  Was fantastic.

Now to start using some of this wonderful fabrics.

 

So far there are only a few differences between the two.  I am learning a lot and this is a fun process.  I decided instead of having 2 punches going at the same time I would work on the same design with both techniques.  Differences so far….

1.  Threads. The Bunka thread is a stretchy thread that is woven together and you have to gently pull to untwist the thread.  Regular Embroidery floss you divide into 3 groups and use 2 ply.
2. Thread again, you don’t cut the thread off the spool or card into lengths as regular embroidery.
3.  The hooping.  Bunka is used on a wooden frame that the design is tacked to while Needlepunch is in a hoop.  As I don’t have a frame it will be a hoop.  This is the design I will be working with.  Till tomorrow.

Has anyone heard of Bunka Embroidery?  It is a close sister to Needle Punch Embroidery. My mother in law had a wonderful way with needle crafts.  If she could do it by hand she did it.  She taught my girls how to crochet and knit.  She kept her crafts going until her death at the age of 89.  I plan on following suite.  I have her Bunka Embroidery stock of needles and threads.  I plan on spending today researching directions  on doing this.  I have done Needle Punch, but not really sure about this.  The threads are more of a nylon twisted thread that seems to untwist as you work it.  Has anyone done any of this?  The directions she has are in Japanese.  She took some classes on this in the mid to late 70’s.

Here are a few of her projects she did.

I think I will be starting with pearl cotton and smaller, lot smaller design.   I know I can order some supplies on line still (I checked), but I also want to know if I can use the supplies that are more available and get the same quality.  Within the next week or so I will be comparing the two different threads and needles.  This will be interesting.

Does anyone do this type needle work?  Any suggestions?  I am more very interested.

Right now is the highest that it will get for the next 3-4 days.  A big 14*.  I will spend the rest of the day doing some hand sewing, curled up in a blanket and cup of hot cocoa.   How do you spend your cold days?  When bored with the hand sewing I will do some sewing with the machine.

The other day I got a wonderful gift in the mail.  It was a fellow quilting friend from Australia.  Sky, I can’t tell you how much I love this.

This has gotten me to thinking…..I am going to put some goodie bags together and set aside adding to them as I find special items for those special friends for just thinking of you gifts.  This is going to be fun.

How do you say “Hi, just thinking of you and saying Thanks for being there for me thru my ups and downs?”

 

Once I got it in my brain how to make a diamond from 60 degree triangles this was easy and fun.  Woke up early this morning to rain and a winter storm watch so decided to spend the day sewing.  Like I really need a reason.  This is what my brain felt like at 4:30am.

 I have been quilting a quilt top for a while now and decided I needed a break.  What better thing to do than go thru you list of want to do and have put off.  This is what I came up with.  You got it….a table runner.  I love this pattern and now am thinking of doing more.  Right now back to the quilting….Maybe I can get the quilt finished today.  Let’s hope.  How do you spend your days when you are stuck in the house?

I have put things off  so much since Thanksgiving that now with life and the idea of a Quilt show looming over me is making me start to panic.  I am still quilting my illusion quilt and will hopefully finish it this week and then that will be done.  Now I am starting some items for my Granddaughters’ Project Graduation Auction.  With ideas running thru the head I made a great discovery last night at Quilt Guild.  I shouldn’t have gone, One Block Wonders  by Liz Granberg.  She used panels to make a quilt.  Take 1 panel for the focal point of the quilt. Then cut 6 other panels into “hexies” .  Here is a photo of Liz and one of her quilts.  I purchased her pattern to try.  I think I will try on a smaller level.  These are similar to the “Whack and Stack”.

What is new in your world for 2018?

It will be a wonderful 2018 with great things happening.

Hello and welcome to my world.  I am starting this post off with an important question.  I have been asked by my daughter to make and donate to Project Grad’s silent auction.  Project Grad is a safe night long of activities for graduating High School Seniors.  They usually go to UCM (University of Central Missouri) by bus for the night.  The kids love this. One of the car dealerships donate a car for 1 Senior from the 3 High Schools to win.  There are other activities and prizes thru the night.  The money raised goes for transportation, rental of the venue, food, and etc.

Now here is my question….What would be a good item for a silent auction?  A wall hanging?  A lap quilt? Kitchen set(tea towels, place mats, napkins, hot pads all to match?  This is the first time for me to make something for this type auction.

If I make a wall hanging I was thinking of something along these lines…Both are fun, now the round one I use on my dinning table as it is round when closed up and is most of the time.

Any suggestions?

Thank you so much for your input.

I have started with my list for Craft fairs and trying to decide on what I will make next.  So many ideas running around in my head. I have had to sit down and make a list.  That list will change tomorrow or the next day.  How often does your mind change?

I am excited my Middle child, Mary will be joining One Creative Family with her knowledge of Essential Oils.  She is making soaps, scrubs, fizzy bath bombs.   I will be posting more on these items along with Alicia’s crocheting.  I have been designated keeper of the Blog because I am home all day and love talking.

For Christmas Alicia gave us a diffuser with Lavender and peppermint.  Hubby has COPD and Mary had me get Eucalyptus and mix that and the peppermint for his breathing.  It has broken the congestion he got with a cold and the peppermint is like a cleanser for the lungs.  Now I use the diffuser daily.

My knowledge of essential oils, so I will be happy to pass those questions to Mary. Crocheting questions will be passed to Alicia. I play with fabric.

While I was making my lists I came across a book of Luna Lapkin that was given to me.  I had planned on making one and didn’t.  Now I have and she has a permanent spot in my sewing room,Please welcome Luna Lapkin to the family.

Do you work from lists?  How do you keep all your ideas straight in your head?

Made a few pillows and have gotten several more cut out.  I have an embroidery machine, so I purchased some designs from Urban Thread and I love these worked up.  I put them on a few pillows and need to finish up the set.  I have a few more that are Christmas designs and one more of the Animals.  Those will be made this weekend.  I also made a set of Frankenstien pillows for Halloween a yr ago, my youngest granddaughter took the pillows as hers.  I would like introduce Frankie and Stiena.

Here is something Alicia has made and I think they are so cute.  Here is wishing everyone a Happy New Year.