One Creative Family

Woke up to a beautiful view off our balcony at our hotel..After sitting out and watching the boat head out to he Gulf for some serious fishing and shrimping we went for a site seeing drive, walked the beach, visited with my brother and another sister for a while.  Helped decorate for a dance on Wed nite.  Stopped for a shrimp dinner then back to the motel.  Add a salad to this and that was dinner.  We could not finish this and left very stuffed.

We did find time to go to a quilt shop here in town.  I purchased MORE scissors(I left mine at home), some fabric and spent time touching the patterns and books.  Tomorrow will bring another day of shopping then serious family time.

My sister and her family live on a working ranch.  They have cattle and work them don horseback.  I do think my nephew was born about 1-200 years too late.  Here are a few photos from their working cattle and honoring the Wounded soldiers as they come into town for 2 days of fishing with the locals to say thank you for all you gave for us.

I hope you enjoyed this. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

We made it to Houston and saw a sister for a while then on down to Port Lavaca.  We checked into the hotel in time for a “Blue Northerner” blew in.  Lots of wind and cool air.  Dropped temps from 70’s to 50’s and wind sounded like it would blow our room away.   We are staying in a fishing community and so our hotel is above boat docks and an inlet for fishing boats.  Hopefully tomorrow brings a nicer day and I can get some good photos.  Visited with other family and did some site seeing.  So many changes and I am excited to see old friends.   So far no quilt shops as they are closed today and yesterday was spent with my sister so tomorrow here I come.

There are 2 things that I see and KNOW I am in Texas.  #1 is WHATABURGER.  Best hamburgers anywhere.  Love them.  We did have one the first day.  the 2nd is Buckee”s.  Buckee’s is a large gas station that sells fresh meat, fresh made food, pasteries, candy, gifts and anything you want.  Here are a few photos.  Houston Skyline

Buckees.

Be safe all and take care of yourselves..

We are spending Thanksgiving with my sibling in Texas.  I am looking forward to an old fashioned week of good times.  I have my list of quilt shops to stop at, and see the goodies they have that jump into my car.  The trip down will take us to Houston the first stop then over to San Antonio (maybe) then on to Port Lavaca.  Our Thanksgiving starts on Wed. with poka and jitterbug dance lessons for the ones who don’t know how and then dancing.  Thursday will be dominoes and poker for the men and the women wine and gossip.  Friday, a bonfire and ghost stories for the younger kids, and during the day horseback riding, fishing, and hunting.

I decided that I needed to finish up unfinished projects.  So here is a quick look at the last week in a flash.

Have my hand work going and now Hubby is ready to go.  Will post more as the week progresses.  Be save and enjoy each other.

I decided the best way to handle the things I don’t have control over is to pray and sew.  That is what I have been doing quite a bit lately and with this getting a lot accomplished.

Finish Dragonfly quilt      done

Random access quilt          1/2 done

tea towels                              1/4 done

Sewing room cleaned        done

Finish Illusion quilt           done

Butter horns made with Granddaughter done

Had to vacuum the chair when finished.

Finished baby quilt for new Great niece who arrived Nov. 3rd.  And a bed pillow for someone who is stuck in the hospital for a while.

Now I will spend a day with youngest granddaughter and then pack for a trip to Texas for Thanksgiving.

Today I think we will have a little fire in the fire pit and watch the flames dance around.  No smores.  She doesn’t like chocolate.  CRAZY right?!!!!!!!!  Doesn’t take after me.  Enjoy your Tuesday.

Spent 3 hours in the yard raking leaves and bagging them.  Glad it was hubby and myself raking because I would still be out there now if he didn’t.  Getting things ready for our Thanksgiving week in Texas.  Finished a baby quilt for a new little Great niece.

Mom is from Canada and Dad is from United States.  She was born in Texas.   Working on a bed pillow for one of my sisters and will have that one finished tonight.    2 things on my list completed and just  2 more to finish.

What are you plans for Thanksgiving?  Usually we have the kids and grandkids over. Every 2 years or so I go to Texas to see family.  This is the year to travel.  We will be stopping in Houston then down to a very small town called Port Lavaca.    It will be a long 15-18 hour drive, but so worth it.

When we get home we will be putting the Christmas tree up and decorating the house.  On the inside, can’t attach anything to the new siding.  I love this time of the year, the leaves, the smell of the fall crisp air and wood burning.  Then all the Christmas decorations going up and everyone is so happy.

Have a wonderful weekend.

 

Today was a great day to spend with  31 quilters all working on Random Access quilt blocks.  This was so much fun.  The block pattern (a star) was given and we had to cut the pieces and put each set in a bag numbered 1-7.  You reach in a bag take a piece or set of pieces out and built blocks this way.  When I started I thought, “Oh NO, this is butt hurt ugly.”  I was ready to pitch it and say this isn’t for me.  The instructor, Nancy Austin Swanwick, kept saying wait, just wait.  She was right.  I loved it.   There will be 32 12 inch blocks in this quilt and they will all be different.  It really is great.

These are 3 of the blocks I made.  This is one of her finished quilts.

The rest of these pictures are of other people’s blocks and the fun activities.

No to finish my quilt and decide if I want to start another.

Do you ever make more than one of the same quilt or is one enough?

Got up today with LOTS of energy, brain whirling with so many things on my mind.  The main question I keep asking myself is,”How did I make this years ago?”  How many things have you made over time and then wanting to make it again you are back trying to redesign it?  Do you write out your pattern and keep it then have a go to when wanting to remake it?  If so you are my superhero.  I haven’t now I am back to the drawing board.  Especially things from MANY years ago.  I have decided I need to write all these up and keep them handy.  How do you keep your patterns organized? On the computer?

Today I finished cutting my blocks and putting them in bags for the Random Access Quilt workshop by Nancy Austin Swanswick’s Friday, Sewing supplies organized for the workshop.  This week is starting out great.

We leave for Texas on Nov. 18th and will have a wonderful Texas Country Thanksgiving with a bonfire, fish fry, and enjoying everyone.  We will all be together, siblings, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews(Gads, I’m getting old)Aunts, Uncles, cousins, and childhood friends.  Can’t wait.  Being from a large family I forget how overwhelming it can be, and hubby is an only child of small families.  He is getting nervous and I think wondering what he has gotten into.

This afternoon I am starting to make Christmas decorations to hang randomly thru the house and will hold little gifts for people to find.  Stretches out the gift opening and laughter.

Again how do you organize your patterns?

 

I got hooked up on trying to dye my own fabric.  My first tries haven’t been too bad.  My quilt guild had a speaker(who is a member) do a meeting on dying fabric and she suggested 2 books so I went to the Library and checked them out.  One is “Fabric to Dye For” and the other is “Dyeing to Quilt”.  This is gonna be something I do more of.  I stocked up on a few supplies to see if I would like doing it and now to buy more.  It can get messy and so I do it in the basement in a corner.  The first picture is the log I have started keeping with a sample fabric swatch and the recipe for it.  The next are a few pieces I did.  This next picture is a few pieces.  The one with the zigzag design is a white on white fabric and it did turn out nicely.  Next time Jan does a workshop I will be the first to sign up.Have you ever tried dying your own fabric to make your projects?  Did you like it?  Any suggestions for a newbie?

This has been fun and gotten me doing something else and I like that.

We have been in Play Practice mode around here with 3 Granddaughters involved in the High School Production of “Music Man” and single mothers working Grandpa and I have been playing Taxi.  Last night we went to the “Opening Night” Performance and it was wonderful.  The girl on the floor in blue is Granddaughter, Emily, and the one in red next to her is Alexis, her cousin.  They did great.

Ending this week with a look outside my sewingroom window.  Fall is here.  Now to get ready to start raking leaves.  Have a wonderful weekend.

In anticipation for the little trick or treaters tonight I have gotten candy ready, house cleaned, laundry almost done and 2 quilt tops ALMOST quilted and what did I decide to do instead of quilting??????????????? Organize my fabric stash.  I am putting the smaller pieces according to size.  I don’t think I will be finished very soon and while doing this I came across an idea for a fun tutorial.  It is something wearable….AND kid friendly to do.  While working on this tutorial I will have a wonderful helper….2 yr old Destiny.  I may regret it, who knows.  We need some inside projects as she has a cold and the high outside is going to be 40 degrees and by trick or treat time it will drop and we could get a winter mix.  Not good for outside playing.

 

What do you do for Halloween?  We will hand candy.  I love watching the little ones come up.  I think next year I will make some treats for the little ones.  Felt finger puppets.  Destiny doesn’t like a lot of candy.  (How can she be my granddaughter?)  So I have yogurt for her.  I should have had this idea of finger puppets sooner.

Well everyone enjoy your “SPOOKY” day.

 

Here is a tutorial on making bowl, and cup cozies.  I make these in several sizes.  For this tutorial I will make a 6.5 inch cup cozy.  I will give the measurements for 4 sizes then the directions.

Size                                square                          dart width                  dart length           in inches

6.5                                    6.5                                  3/4                               1.5 down

8                                       8                                     1  1/2                            4

10                                   10                                     1 1/2                             5

12                                   12                                      1 3/4                            6

 

Cut 2 of fabric and 2 of cotton batting.  It was suggested I use zap batting, I use cotton for the square size you want.Now I place the fabric and batting together and stitch an x on the square to keep the batting from moving.  Do this for both sides.  Fold in 1/2 and measure and mark for the darts.

Do this for all 4 sides and trim darts.  Now put the 2 pieces together right sides together.

Stitch the two together around the edges leaving an opening for turning.  Turn and  hand stitch the opening closed.  Here is the finished product. Need one for a casserole dish?  Make one using the measurements of your casserole dish.  The possibilities are endless.