Sunday, October 4, 2015

Slow Sunday Stitching

Today I am binding a Quilt of Valor that has been in the works for MONTHS.   This has been a group project...piecing done by myself and a local friend here in Sallisaw,  quilting was done by another friend from Weleetka.  I am doing the binding.



This pattern is "Star-Spangled Beauty" from the Fons and Porter magazine Patriotic Quilts, issued in Fall 2013.  

 

Tools of the trade.  I found these Mini Binder Clips at WalMart...100 for under $5.  They work great, even with arthritic hands, AND stay on throughout my many adjustments of the quilt in my lap.  The small dish of STUFF is a magnetic parts dish from Harbor Freight.  This has been a great find...no more dropped clips, needles, thinbles or pins.  

 Now, to keep motivated for a Slow Sunday, when I have on today's "to do list" ... church, take a beautiful fall walk, spar varnish a front porch rocker, complete one Christmas gift  and finish reading American Ghost by Hannah Nordhaus.  Good thing I got up at 5:30 this morning.   At 57 degrees right now, cozying up under my binding project sounds great.  So, time for another cup of Irish Breakfast Tea and stitching.






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Monday, September 21, 2015

Freedom Day

Since the touted leisure time of retirement is very illusive here at Lakeshore House, we have designated one day per week as "Freedom Day".  That means freedom from the demands of family members, freedom from the demands of house and gardens.  We are free to indulge in hobbies, books, movies, touring....whatever catches our fancy.  This fun day was instituted as a New Year's Day Resolution and since then, we have only managed about one day per month.  We have lost our free days by driving a son to Dallas to catch a plane to Cambodia, moving a granddaughter to a new apartment, caring for my mother who has broken her leg twice in the past eight months, awarded a Quilt of Valor to a WWII veteran in Arkansas, etc, etc.  Life happens, doesn't it? 

So, just to be on the safe side, we started our Freedom Day yesterday and are continuing it today.  Yesterday was a lovely, cool, though wet day in Fort Smith, Arkansas and with our track record of losing our free time in mind, we set out for the Fort Smith Little Theater for a matinee performance, in spite of the rain. 

A humorous British comedy that would have been even more enjoyable if the theater air conditioning had not been set at FRIGID. 

Food is fuel, right?  Fuel means warmth, right?   Next stop : Paizis Gyros and Baklava.





And today...Freedom Day, the man is in his Man Cave doing man stuff and this will be how I spend the rest of today.
 
 

Binding a Quilt of Valor for another WWII veteran.    
Working up the courage to do free motion quilting on this with my 1946 Featherweight 221.   I took a class recently from Betty Kent New at the Blackgum Harvestime Quilt Show (love that name) in Vian, Oklahoma.  I was a total failure!


This is a counted cross stitch wolf from the Endangered Species from Cross My Heart.  It IS a wolf but it has become my "Albatross".  I began this for my grandson when he was eight.....he is now 24.  It is on 22 pt canvas and my eyesight has degenerated to 12 pt.   The pattern page has yellowed and become so brittle I had to make fresh copies.  I will continue to plod through this project and hope to finish it before I become a great-grandmother.  On a brighter note...great-looking stitchery bag given to me by my cousin, Marlene. 
Time to get busy or I will lose the rest of Freedom Day.







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Thursday, April 16, 2015

Antique Store Saved My Latte

Hmmm...Latte?   I don't even know what a latte tastes like...or looks like.  My mother, husband, siblings, children and grandchildren are great fans of all coffees.  I, on the other hand, do not like anything coffee or coffee-flavored.  I crave chocolate and have been tempted by mocha desserts, but can't get past the coffee taste.  What a waste of chocolate!

So, I really was having trouble coming up with ideas.  I wasn't thrilled with the fabric line or the colors.  Couldn't figure out how to use the fabric in my house...needed to find someone to gift.  My mother just moved into a new apartment and it is very stark right now.  She loves coffee; she needs apartment decorating; her new furniture has the major colors of this fabric.  Perfect.

While waiting for the fabric to arrive...and still no plan, I was aimlessly wandering through a local antique/collectibles store and found these for $2 each.


Now, I have direction.  (Too bad I don't know how to adjust the time and  date on my camera).

A reversible table runner.  The good side.


And, the not so good side...don't ask.



Next was a set of snack size placemats.  Notice that one is for a left-hander...me.


Now, we need something for the wall above her table.


Close-up of stitchery to give more texture and dimension...


Okay, I still dislike coffee, but love this fabric.  This picture was taken on day 4 of rain, rain and more rain.  But the sun decided to peak out just long enough to leave a shadow across my handiwork.


The remaining antique store placemats will become chair pads with coffee cup ruffle.


Thanks to Joan at Moostash Quilting for leading us through this hop and to Madame Samm for the idea.

 Please visit the other creative people on today's schedule.  

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Sunday, April 12, 2015

Have a Latte Blog Hop Begins

Visit our creative and fun bloggers 13-23 April!

Here's our schedule.



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Friday, March 20, 2015

Tree Birds Blog Hop Schedule

I have missed a few days of visiting my fellow bloggers due to family requirements.  Hopefully we have my mother settled and on the way to a speedy recovery.  I will make every effort to go back to all of you I have missed and send along my comments.

Please visit these bloggers.  They love your interest.

Friday, March 20
Freemotion By The River
Sew Incredibly Crazy
Tea Time Creations
Baa's Amazing Adventures!
Selina Quilts
Ramblings of a Quilter
Busy Bee Quilts
Quilted Delights
Grandmamas Stories

Monday, March 23
Debbie Kratovil Quilts
how arT you?
Hill Valley Quilting
Pink Doxies. Blogspot.com
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
Fabric Bias
Lovelli Quilts
In The Boon Docks
Bacon Then Eggs
Sew We Quilt

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