One Creative Family

With our biggest craft fair closing in on us we have been busy making new items and some we have improved on. I have been showing you the pillows and aprons and misc. things I have made. Alicia has been working on sock dolls and they are so cute. This little thing was made with the left over sock from the striped baby. argyl-baby

We also have been making fall pumpkins.

Granddaughter, Cc, made necklaces. They are made out of little bottles filled with glitter. She calls these “Fairy Dust Necklaces.” These are made in memory of a story her mother told her and her sister, Emily. When the girls were little and couldn’t go to sleep, Alicia would pretend to sprinkle “Magic Sleep dust” over them and within minutes they would be asleep. She did nothing more than rub her fingers together over their eyes and pretend she was sprinkling something over them. Now the necklaces. I think the story sells the necklaces. Such a great family.

Tomorrow brings a trip to Hamilton, MO., the home of Missouri Star Quilts. My sister and her hubby are coming for the day so we will be taking a road trip. It will be fun looking at stores of fabric, sewing things, and even a few antique stores. Hopefully will have some pictures to share tomorrow.

While the Gulf Coast was devastated by Harvey, I sat glued to the tv and watched.  I still am as it continues it’s slow progress.  To keep the hands busy I did some machine embroidery.   These will all be pillows.  The designs are from Urban Threads.  I love their designs.  Then a set of Christmas Tea TowelsNow who wouldn’t like a set of these?  then hubby gave me some jeans to throw out….really???????????Throw out???????????? NO WAY!  Now aprons.The front of the jeans will be just like this one, probably a different color though.  Now think back to the Migrating Geese Gone Green lap quilt???????? Remember it?  Oh well. The parts of the geese you cut off made into a PILLOW. The above is both of them.  I still have little 1 1/2 inch ares I cut off the little geese so those will be put together while on the next road trip.

What is wild is the more I do the more I think of doing.  We will see what today brings.

What will you be doing today?  How do you manage your time?  What is your best time to do what you enjoy?  I will look forward to hearing from you.

 

I have been spending all my time the last few days glued to the Weather Channel as Hurricane Harvey attacks and is re-attacking the Texas Gulf Coast.  Out of 7 siblings 5 still live in Texas.  In Dallas, and between Houston and Corpus Christi.  My heart is so heavy seeing their struggles, and worrying over their safety.  Many of them are safe.

All the states sending help and people leaving the safety of their homes to come to the middle of all this disaster to help. Many of whom we will never know their names or be able to thank them enough for all their support.

What do you do when you are in a worried about serious things that you face?  I sat with the TV on weather channel, my Diet Coke, and sewed.  I did finish a lap quilt that I started years ago.  Then started on Christmas.  Tea towels, aprons to match.  Then cleaned.  And cooked.  Zucchini Bread……..and Pizza

Yes, we had to have a little taste.  YUMMMMMMMMMMMMmm

 

Please keep everyone on the Gulf Coast in your thoughts and prayers as Hurricane Harvey heads their way.  Where it is estimated to reach land fall is expecting water surges of 12-15 feet.  Then the expected approx. 30 inches of rain when it stalls.  Praying for minimum damage and no loss of live for the entire coast line.

Most of you have seen my remade umbrella and so here is how I made it.

First strip the umbrella from the fabric. You will then have this.Now I took one of the pieces from the umbrella fabric and use one as a pattern,  Now cut 8 of these out of your fabric.I then sewed the seams together with a skimp 1/4inch seam (I didn’t allow for a bigger seam.)

You will then have a large circle.  Then align the umbrella top to the works of the quilt and then hand stitch it down.  You will have your umbrella.  Now get a plastic or water proof spray and spray it and there you go.  Your own umbrella.   Just remember all umbrellas can be different sizes ( I found out and had to alter my second one).  Use the pattern pieces for each umbrella.WHAM!! Your own umbrella.  So much fun.

It seems like I can post my phone, but not my computer. It’s been going on for a while and I didn’t realize it. Been keeping busy with different things so here’s a quick overview. Umbrella re-made.

I took an old umbrella apart and used as a pattern. Was easier than I thought. Next made a pillow for my Migrating Geese Gone Green.

Got zucchini bread made and in the freezer.

And lastly I purchased an embroidery design and started stitching it out. This is design #1. The Wolf.

This is condensed for everyone and I couldn’t remember all I wrote for the last 3 weeks.

Having issues publishing anything.

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.  I am.  Today we are starting the day off with new roof, yard work completed, and oven cleaned..  Now I am free to enjoy some sewing.  First of all I have something to show off.  My daughter in law wanted to make something special for some of their friends who are coming into the state for a karate seminar.  She decided on pillows for them.  This is her design and she did the work. Represents their Karate Gi and black belt with their names embroidered on the belt. She did a great job and now my son needs one for himself.    I enjoy seeing someone create something special for someone..

I have 3 blocks completed on my quilt from our trip last year to the South West.  Coming Together quite nicely.  These are each 21×21  or 21×17.  Not sure if I want to make them individual mini quilts and hang them as a series or to put them together as a whole quilt.  I have 1 more set of 4 to finish.  I will have to figure it out.

Any thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions?

 

Today was a day of good things.  I was able to bring my sewing machine home while waiting for a part.  The zigzag motor is going out or something.  It makes a noise, but I can still use the machine and I am. Upon arriving home after picking the machine up I had a package on my porch.  What was it you ask?   My new cutting mat.  I won the giveaway from Rorabacks.  I love it. It is a self healing cutting mat and is heavier than the one I currently have.  Check her out on Facebook  www.facebook.com/Rorabacks  She is having a daily giveaway.  Great ideas also.

I had to try this out, right?  Couldn’t let it sit and although pretty, but it was sad because it wasn’t being used.  SO…..I decided to take all the picture blocks from the National Parks from our last year trip.  I am putting each set into one larger block then putting the block set together.

Since some of the pictures are different shapes and sizes the bigger block will be different sizes I think as fillers I will use 9 patch.  I have one set almost finished and here it is.

I had to put it away and get dinner.  We had the kids and grandkids over for Dinner tonight as they will be starting school soon.  Katelin leaves for 2nd year of college and the other 3 girls are in High School, then the baby is 2.  So tomorrow will bring more sewing.

Such a WONDERFUL day.

Good morning all.  Today’s post will be a little bit of information.  I have been lucky enough to win a new cutting mat.  Until a very few months did I know that so many people are starting their  own line of quilting products.  This is great.  The cutting mat I won is from a lady I met thru Facebook.  Yes, Facebook does have some good qualities.  Her name is Nancy Roraback.  https://gleam.io/fb/fBLRe   This is such a pretty purple and will brighten my sewing room.  When talking to Nancy about I asked her what made her decide to start designing quilting tools.  She replied, “I love quilting SO SO much…I’m a bookkeeper and tax preparer for my day job and I just really wanted to do something that maybe can take me from behind my desk to behind my sewing machine. Its been a huge challenge! The mats are my third product and I love them. .. the blades are really good but the cutter has flaws so I’m working on redesigning that. Its a competitive market and most days I think I was just crazy to try haha!”

Nancy is such a talented quilter also.  I can’t wait to see what else she comes up with.   Anytime you are on Facebook check out her Facebook Page….Rorabacks   

Have you found people who are working on developing new products?  I am in awe.   Have a wonderful day and get creative.