Playing Sock Puppets Under the Bed?

DH was doing something in the bedroom and turned and noticed this! It looks like someone is playing sock puppets with my slipper socks... so I thought that I would take a picture and share! I know.... I could find better things to do with my time.... but then... what would make you laugh today? Believe me, no one was playing sock puppets... unless.... maybe...... Jamie!!! What have you been doing with my slippers while we are gone? You never know about her. She is a pretty clever dog.

A New Model Hits The Runway!

I started to get my act together and then... well I fell back into a slump again! Such is life sometimes.

#1

I had to make a pattern for a pioneer bonnet.... o.k. well, I didn't really "have" to make a pattern. But, I decided that after seeing the one that I had access to was going to be a bit too hard for the girls/ladies making them (90 % not knowing how to sew and all) I thought maybe I could come up with a pattern that might be easier for the masses as they say!

So, 1st pic' is of it sewn together and then you tie the ribbon/yarn that shows at the bottom of the picture, and you get;

#2.....

#3 on my shy model....

picture #4..... I bribed her..... 2 treats!!! Isn't she cute! LoL.... she wasn't very happy with me.... until of course the treats came out! Edit: The bonnet was also made of on hand materials! Yeah!

Now, we have a Valentine's table runner I'm still working on... about a week b/4 Valentine's I thought.... ohhhh I have some scraps from this cute V. print.... it would make a great runner... so awayyyy I went.... working away... doing fine.... and then yep! I got called away to do something else..... (hmmmm I wonder if it was babysitting???) Don't look too closely... this is of course the front... I used some scraps from the scrap basket and a lot of them were from DD#3's quilt from her wedding.
(I know, I know.... the other two DD's keep telling me how spoiled #3 is...)

They got quilts but not pieced! What can I say.... I had a bit more time with the last child home!

The back, I used scraps from the scrap basket... I think we have a theme going here.... red, red, white, and some black.

If you want you can click and enlarge... I've started to quilt it some.... I may be ripping it all out and starting again... I'm not all that happy with my work here! Once it's done then I will bind it with... you've got it.... scraps from the basket! Nothing like using what you have! This is made of nothing but things I already had in the sewing room.

Karma and I started to work on some wall hangings.... they are from a book about The Underground Railroads Quilts. Sorry can't recall the exact name at this time. She started this project with her dear and bestest friend Marjory years ago. Unfortunately her friend passed away several years ago and she didn't feel up to working on this by herself. They had cut out most of the fabric and we finished up with all but the background pieces last week. We spent about all day working on me cutting and she putting them into groups and marking them off the "list". We had to make a "list" because we were not sure where else to start otherwise! So, a "list" it was. Now those of you that know me... ahem, know that I'm not crazy about lists. Mostly because I have a tendency to stray from lists.... quite often. But, in this case I was actually the one that recommended this method. Otherwise, between the two of us.... we might not remember what went where when with all the whositts! I will try to give you some pic's as we work on these.... they are of all things 6 inch squares.... and there are 15 blocks plus one that is an information blog that tells all about where the project came from and the history of the Underground RailRoad.... or at least a tad bit about it. Karma doesn't see all that fantastically and I do alright most times.... but then again I will be happy when all the cutting it done! Talk about your cross-eyedness! Little numbers, and little pieces.... for example.... we have one piece that is for a Churn Dash block..... the skinny cross pieces are 7/8 inches x 24 b/4 you cut the length you need..... aughhhhh! Karma mentioned maybe we could paper piece all these blocks. But the patterns pieces were not available in a manner we could do that. So... no go! We shall over comeeeeee..... someday?

The bank branch that one of my DD's used to work at is going to be knocked down.... the building is really really old and in sad shape! So, they are moving the staff and the works to another bank building (one that went out of business a while back) temporarily until they can get the new one built. I went into the basement of the old branch with DD to pick up some old doors that she wanted.... a couple of 6 panel doors and one that is a bead board door. Really cool.... anyway we were told we could look around and see if there was anything else we wanted. I found some neat old safety deposit boxes..... all metal of course and brought them home... I'm a bit of a pack rat! I'm sure that I can find something to use them for. They really are neat. Several different sizes. I'll be right back! I need to take some pictures......

These are a few of the safety deposit boxes I got...... fun huh?



Not quite sure yet what to use them for.... if you have any idea's... let me know! Thanks....

As always....

Don't forget to turn the lights off before you leave the sewing room!

Always Something To Do!

The month has flown swiftly by... hard to believe it is almost the last week of the month! With our 34th anniversary.... the 1st week, Valentines Day and our DD's birthday the 2nd..... me getting a silly cold the end of last week and into this... it seems to have taken it's toll on the days. I have worked on some projects but did not complete the goal for January let alone finish up this month. I'm still trying to catch up.... always something else to find to do.
I went out to lunch with a friend last week... we went to a little place called The Little Bit of Britain. It's a fish and chips shopp. The food was good and we had an enjoyable time... just chatting and taking our time. They had all sorts of different foods from England... you know in a gift shopp attached to the shopp. Although, since it was fried it is not something I will be doing very often. I am trying to be good about what I eat. I need to get back on the wagon as far as exercising and all..... the holidays tend to call me and I follow.... So, now it's time to put things to right!
I saw the cutest thing on Sewing With Nancy on PBS TV last week. She and her guest were doing projects where they recycle different things. And one of the projects was to make grocery type bags.... of light weight bags to use for shopping out of old scarves. The ones everyone wore in the 80's! They used 30 inch square scarves for the most part. Really simple too. I will have to take some pictures... and maybe do a sort of tutorial on how to do it! Fast project and so light weight it would be simple to have one in your purse, pocket etc.... at all times... thus saving you from having paper/plastic bags! Every little bit counts!
I am working on sewing the binding of a quilt right now when not working on a belated birthday present for DD. She doesn't know what it is.... or even that it's coming her way... well, maybe she does now! Hope to have it done soon and will take a picture to post it after I give it too her! That and blog hopping and I finally also finished a book called "Lorna Doone". I found it at the D.I. for $1. Not bad.... it was a pretty good read. And yes, there are cookies called Lorna Doones... not mentioned in the book at all! It is a love story and a very good one too! With lots of action and adventure. I highly recommend it if you can find it! It seems to be an old book so good luck finding it! You might want to look on Amazon!
Well, I need to frost a cake to deliver for a funeral luncheon and then back to the binding... I may need to make a cake for us too though.... there it's calling my name again.... Jeannnnn, you want cake!!!! Now where are my Rice Cakes.... guess they will have to do!
Hope you all know that if you stick yourself with a pin/needle... and you bleed on a project your own saliva is the best way to get the blood out! Take care. Later....
Oh, I almost forgot! Since I posted a couple of pictures in December/January of DH and myself... I've been told that I need to put more pic's of me on the blogg.... I will try to do more of that! I won't promise when.... but I will try! Thanks for the comments

Advice From A 1949 Singer Sewing Manual

O.k. my niece Mica sent this to me.... I just had to print it up! It's just too funny to pass up!


Advice from a Singer Sewing Manual from 1949:Prepare yourself mentally for sewing. Think about what you are going to do. . . Never approach sewing with a sigh or lackadaisically. Good results are difficult when indifference predominates. Never try to sew with a sink full of dirty dishes or beds unmade. When there are urgent housekeeping chores, do these first so your mind is free to enjoy your sewing. . .When you sew, make yourself as attractive as possible. Put on a clean dress. Keep a little bag full of French chalk near your sewing machine to dust your fingers at intervals. Have your hair in order, powder and lipstick put on . . .[If] you are constantly fearful that a visitor will drop in or your husband will come home and you will not look neatly put together, you will not enjoy your sewing as you should. .

Now remember.... keep your French Chalk near by... we wouldn't want to loose our grip! Hmmmmmmm I'm thinking the person who wrote that already had! Too Funny! Enjoy your day! I know I will.... constantly thinking of this advice! At least they meant well! I mean they wanted us to enjoy the time sewing!

Checking Out How Outta Style I Really Am!

So my dear SIL and I went down to Salt Lake City (about a 30 minute or so drive) to go shopping at the Gateway Mall. It's a nice outdoor mall... with lovely shops close together and it has one of those fountains that water springs up out of the ground that the kids just love! Oh, and it has music playing while the kids run in and out trying not to get wet! Considering it was only in the 30's or low 40's that would be a good idea! The NOT getting wet idea!
We went into all sorts of places to just look and see what is happening in the fashion world! Not that I'm anywhere near fashionable at all! Which truly is o.k. with me... but I do try to see what is going on... and sometimes I add things to the wardrobe that actually fit in! One thing that we really noticed a lot of this year is "detail". I know your probably wondering what I'm talking about! What I mean is.... most all tops.... i.e. sweaters, blouses, shirts etc.... all have something added for detail! Some of them had fringe (there was a great sweater at Cold Water Creek that I really liked that had a fringe made of the same yarn as the sweater... but it wasn't just a loose yarn fringe.... it was doubled and then it was twisted upon itself! I thought it was a great touch! ) Some of them had flowers all up and over the collars/neckline. We saw a lot of collars that had ruffles on them also, not big fluffly ones.... but soft ones or two layers of thin lightweight type fabric ruffles. We saw scarfs that had little knots of something inside them.... not sure but I was thinking they were little puff balls of some sort. Some of the items had detail that were just extra fancy or pretty buttons. Of course, not everything out there appealed to us.... and that is just fine... if everyone liked everything out there it would be a pretty boring world!
One store we went into had really pale type tops (we supposed they were thinking Spring) but they were sooo pale, to me Spring has pizazz and ump! Not just lalalalala..... dull to me! Like a washed out something or other! Necklines were decorated with different fabrics... something that made the item "pop"! Some of the dresses (shifts as some call them, in the sleeveless variety) reminded me of the 60's styles. Which isn't too surprising because there was a lot of other 60's reminders too. Mostly Jackie Kennedy type stuff. We saw some great Spring light weight type jackets, or coats in lime greens and the color at one store was "orange"!!! So, I challenge you to go take a look at some of the stores near you to see what touches your fancy or not! And see if any of these "details" will be added to your sewing! I'm not yet sure how or what I will add.... we shall see!

Oh, no pic's but I have cut out all 3 Christmas stockings for my 2 little grands and my SIL... now to sew them and get them off the list of things to do b/4 the end of January! Also the project for a birthday to come is sitting and waiting too! Lots to do... DD#2 and I are going to start into water aerobics.... and maybe get DD#3 to get "on board"! I also mended/altered a few items... making more room in the sewing room and getting things off the sewing table! Oh, and watching Gilmore Girls DVD's in the process! Cute grandchild tidbit.... the other day when the family was over.... grandson was looking at the movies to see what he wanted to "rent" (borrow) from us and he grabbed a VHS movie and showed it to his mom.... mom said nope sorry bud, the VCR isn't working right now. He came back to me and told me mom says that the CTR isn't working! (for those of you who aren't members of the LDS church... CTR stands for Choose The Right; and it's the name of some of the primary (kids) classes, one of which grandson is a member) Cute! Always something to think about when the grands are around!

I went in last week to visit with our Stake President's councilor (one of our local Church leaders) and I was asked if I would head a group to get patterns, idea's and all for the clothing that people are to wear for the Pioneer Trek that the youth are going on this Summer. The youth, 14 to age 18 or 19 go up to Wyoming to an area that was where several Pioneer groups that made their way into Utah from Missouri with hand carts and some wagons pulled by people and some oxen. They basically do an reenactment. But they have to pull the hand carts (two wheeled carts with all their gear in them) to various sites. Then they have speakers tell them about different events that happened. Real histories of people who were on these treks. Taken from diaries. A lot of people died on these treks... in the past. So many people had to bury their family members along the way.... of course these treks now are on for two or 3 days. The youth go on these to help them to understand and grow from the testimonies these people left behind.
So, they will be wearing bonnets, skirts or pioneer dresses, pantaloons and aprons if they want (girls that is) and then the guys will wear pants that are NOT jeans, like dockers... or some such and then straw type hats... bandanna's, and old time shirts.... the shirt my DH wore when we went (about 5 or so years back) was an old twill shirt with the upper collar removed and then the lower collar restitched... guys can also wear belts or suspenders. Anyway lots to do to get things ready so I best finish up here. Enjoy your week! DH has jury duty so he is busy too... although, I think he would rather be at work so as to not get behind there!
Take care..... don't forget to put all the pattern pieces back into the envelope! Nothing like opening up a pattern to find out you have lost a piece!

Christmas at Our House

The toy giraffe is great! It is a stationary thing with petals that the more you petal things like letters, numbers and pictures come up. All 3 of the kids wanted to try it out! Well, I mean grandkids that is... The rest of us "big kids" didn't have a chance!

Anyone for Chutes and Ladders?

Matching Mommy and Me Aprons! And no! I didn't make them... DGD got a kitchen set from her Aunts/Uncles and sewwww she and her mommy got matching aprons too!

As you can see, I took a few pic's of the grands... and terrible "mom" that I am.... I didn't really get any of the "kids".... sorry guys! I will try harder this next year!

This one is sorta for my mom and dad... remember when? Just thought you would appreciate this!

Out With The Old, In With The New

So, I've been trying to catch up a few things before I jump into others that have been waiting! I finished one UFO last night, it's a handy take along ironing pad that I mentioned a while back! It has a nice size pad and then connected to it is an area that has zippered pockets you can put smaller items, bits and pieces of projects etc.... into. I was taken by it... if someone were going to take a sewing/quilting class it would be fun to take because you would already have your pressing area! I still have one to finish for me... but the one for my friend is finished.... finally!
I did some mending and have more to complete! Sometimes that can be never ending. I still need to finish up the binding on the quilt for the Bishops storehouse I started to work on while taking care of the grands in November! Just couldn't quite get to it all.... isn't it funny how when your at someone else's house... it's hard to be motivated?!? Although I did get some of it done.... there is maybe 3/4 to go! Heavy sighhhhhhh!
Also since DD#2 has a birthday coming I have a project that I also want to get done soon.... and then there is the challenge that I set for myself.... I still have 3 Christmas stockings that I haven't done..... (seems that I never remember until Christmas Eve.) So, I have given myself a challenge to finish these b/4 the end of January! Wish me luck!
I've been trying to sort out things to go to the Desert Industries also.... since we are having a trailer available this Friday/Saturday to pick things up. I've found a few things.... guess I best look a little harder. Now is a good time to look into your closets and see what you may have that your not using! I was reading somewhere and it said that if you take hangers of clothing that your not sure that you wear and turn them backwards... (the hangers that is) and they are still hanging that way in say 6 months.... these are the clothes that you need to give to charity! So basically you turn the hangers around so they are harder to take off the rod, and if you haven't turned them around get rid of them! Sounds simple enough! I just need to do it! Since I got so many new to me clothes from my friends daughter's house... there are things that I just don't wear as much. O.K. I can see what I need to do!
I also have a cute couple of pieces of corduroy that I bought for granddaughter.... cute stuff that I need to get to... not quite sure yet what to make... but that is a project in the works!
Gotta go.... projects are calling my name and I still need to get busy and work out! I've been quite lax in this department for a while!
Don't for get to make sure you pick up all the pins off the floor.... our 4 legged friends and the 2 legged little ones would find them quite interesting! Later.....