One Creative Family

Before I started hand quilting this Illusion Quilt I wasn’t sure how to proceed.  I did some reading up on it and decided to do the “rocking” stitch.  My questions for those who hand quilt are

1.) What finger do you put your thimble on?

2.) How did you get used to using the thimble?

3.)How do you regulate your stitches?

I ask these for the obvious reasons I am not used to use a thimble.  I have always used the underneath of my finger nail on my index finger when needed to push a needle through.  Doing this now on quilting my finger is getting sore, but I don’t want to stop quilting.  Any of your suggestions are very helpful.

We have been getting ready for the next and last craft show of the year and that means 12 lbs of peanut brittle and 6lbs of pecan brittle.  Then the mini quilts, lap quilts, pillows, tea towels, potholders, etc.  We are finishing up the little things and then we will be ready to go.  THEN off on our trip East.  Very excited.

To my Floridian people, you are in my thoughts and prayers for minimal damage and all safe.

 

 

Smile it causes less wrinkles then frowning.

 

This week I have stepped outside my comfort zone.  I have been reading on hand quilting and decided to hand quilt my illusion quilt.  Thanks to my friends on Facebook Friends of Farmhouse Quilts and my own site, Facebook One Creative Family I finally decided on the color for the quilting.  This has been more fun than I thought,  I really like the blending threads and looking at the photo above I am seeing several mistakes in the darker blue triangle.  Now is the time to fix it before it is finished.  I did have to mark the fabric because my stitching was NOT very straight,  I think when we  go on vacation I will be taking this with me to do some quilting because I WILL NOT be finished in 3 weeks.

We will be going to the New England states for a few weeks and since hubby has the map out and plotting the way we are going to see all we want to see I will be plotting the most important places to stop.  Quilt shops and places to eat.  Any suggestions on what to see going from Missouri  thru up to the Canadian border and down to Washington DC if time is on our side.  I will be trying clam chowder for the first time.

Well till next time and hopefully I will have more to share.  Stay safe and be safe for the folks in Florida.

As I watch the weather get cooler and the trees starting to change colors I look forward to the fall.  This is one of the prettiest times of the year.  Soon we won’t be mowing they yard, but we will be raking leaves, then comes the snow.  With fall we see such beautiful oranges, red, gold, green and yes, even a few brown leaves.  I have been enjoying the squirrels running around getting ready for the winter months.  Walking thru the grass barefooted is usually fun, but there are so many acorns from the Oak tree in the front yard.

I will share a few of last years trees as I embroider some more tea towels.

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In only 3 weeks we have our Craft Fair and then after this is over we leave for the New England states for a vacation.  This is wonderful.

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.

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