Tell The Truth Now, Have You Ever Been A Klutz While Sewing?

This is going to take a bit of time to write, but you will understand why when I get this done. ( I must say now that typing with only my right hand and some of my fingers on my left hand makes this a really slow going thing!) This is not what I had planned to blog about, but you know how it is.... I don't want to be the only one! Now think, take your time, have you ever done anything so klutzy and embarrassing as to make yourself say..... I can't believe I did that.... and while sewing! I mean I know of people, (one of my SIL's to boot) that have sewn their fingers with the sewing machine and I've always thought, how can you do that? And just so you know.... that is "not" what I did! Nope.... I wasn't anywhere near the machine when I did what I did! ( Oh, and just in case your wondering... there will be no pictures!) Nope this took place in the pre-paring part b/4 any sewing was to take place. This is so embarrassing.... o.k. it's a story an well, you know how long winded I can be! Sit back.... just don't tell me when your laughing.... cause that will just make it worse!
Last night, DH had gone to bed, ( as per usual, trying to get his 6 hours sleep) and I was sitting in a chair in the living room watching Sherlock Holmes... and then I was going to watch "To The Manor Born".... (that ended up being a no-go!) and sitting with a pile of scraps of fabric on my lap.... (I was trimming them to 1 1/4 inch sizes to make string quilt block pieces) my first mistake! I had an ironing board (one that is around 14 x 20 inches or so also on my lap) and then a small rotary cutting board on my lap too! 2nd mistake! I had been trimming away doing just fine with ruler and rotary cuter...... when you guessed it! 3rd mistake! The cutter slipped, fortunately it only cut my finger! It cut the top of my left index finger.... (thus the typing problems... you try to type without your left index finger and see where it gets you!) honestly I won't go into the details here... don't want anyone fainting! I applied pressure right away... and went into the bathroom to rinse and see what the damage was. Yep... stitches! This of course means that I now had to wake sleeping beauty! Not a pretty thought! No... DH is a sweetie... he just wasn't ready to wake up yet.... after only1 1/2 hours sleep. I said you need to wake up... and then after he was a bit more awake... I told him you need to take me to get stitches! He said, let me see.... it probably just needs a good band aide..... I sorta laughed and said... no such luck... and besides... I will probably need a Tetanus shot! I showed him.... and poor guy is trying to focus his eyes on my finger.... are you sure you need stitches? I said yes... can you drive me while I keep pressure on it? O.K..... he got dressed.... we got into the truck... and I mentioned maybe we could go to Now Care.... but they were not open (I've never been, I had no idea where else to go besides the Emergency Room at the local hospital at the hour in question) so embarrassed, DH filed out the paper work and they asked me how the pain was on a scale from 1-10? I told them it was around a 3-4! Just goes to show.... I can take pain! (I've had 4 kids.... naturally.... no meds!) Nurse looked at the finger.... yep, stitches.... Dr. sat and talked about how he does Mountain Man Ron-devue and made his own leather pants etc... sewing them etc... (this after I told him how I cut myself) he said that he couldn't sew with a regular needle (to sew the leather pants) so he used one of the curved needles like in the E.R..... anyway 5 stitches later.... we won't talk about the shots!!! Yuck! I must say though, the dr. asked DH if he fishes... a big No! Well, he asked cause he wondered if we wanted the tools.... scissors, etc... he had just used on me... cause they throw them away! I said sure.... I'll take them... there are times it's hard to pull threads when tieing a quilt or even quilting... one nice thing out of the evening! So, the nurse wraps me up.... and I look like I'm pointing at something! 10 days.... b/4 they take the stitches out! Heavy Sighhhhhhh! I'm going back to bed! I'm tired and well..... I have an excuse.... I will do more craft/sewing room stuff later! Oh, and the Dr. gave me an excuse to "not" do dishes!!!! What more can I say? Fingers are tired now! Please be careful out there..... sewing can be hard on your fingers!

Starting The Underground Railroad Quilt Blocks

This will be on-running and I will do the best I can to show you what we have been up too. But first, my friend Karma has a nice sewing/quilting room and I thought I would share a few photo's: we are all up to see other sewing rooms, Right? Yep! Just as I thought! So here we go.

This is Karma, I just had her sit to take the picture, she did mention that it would have been better to at least have had something to sew

This is her cutting table that her son just made for her. She is enjoying all the added storage space underneath. Although, she did say it's a bit of a mess at the moment! This is what happens when you have a designated sewing space sometimes.... it gets full quickly.

One side of her closet....
The other side of the closet; plus her book shelf which is full of all sorts of quilting books. Karma and her daughter have taught the Quilt In A Day Series Quilts.

Amazing! You and a helper start out in the morning and by the evening you have a quilt ready to be quilted or tied. They usually do the Log Cabin Quilt.
This ironing board drops down (you probably already figured that one out....) and then inside the closet.... more stuff/fabric stash.... she asked me not to take a picture of this one cause she said it's a mess! Plus then off to the left of this closet is a bureau with 5-6 drawers full of fabric and other necessary notions.

On with the post about the First quilt block we did..... we have our quilt block fabric's all cut out.... not the blocks, just the fabric's. Each block is then separated into a baggie, with it's name on it. All the baggies are stapled together forming a sort of file. I picked up the file and asked Karma to close her eyes to pick one! For a little joke, I said I need to mix them up..... I picked them up and shook the baggies! (I did say it was a "little joke" ) She closed her eyes and picked the Drunkards path.... we have decided to call it the DUI block.... (for those of you not in the U.S. DUI... means Driving Under the Influence, of alcohol or drugs) When you see the last picture, then you will understand where the block gets it's name.
Picture #1 is of the circle and square.... I forgot until we had the circle/squares put together to take pictures. You put a circle of fabric and one of fusible interfacing and stitch around the circle. Then cut a slit into the interfacing and turn right sides out. Round it up some and place in the center of the square and press. Then either by hand or machine; do a blanket stitch around the circle. Oh, also you will see that there are green squares w/yellow circles and vise/versa. We should of stitched the green circles with yellow thread... but we were being somewhat lazy and didn't change thread.... our bad!

Then you have to cut them into quarters... I'm telling you... that hurts... you get them in good shape (don't look closely... I know, I know.... now your really looking close aren't you!?!) and then you cut them up! What's up with that?

You then have to separate them into groups and then start laying them out into the pattern.
We don't have them sewn together yet... but they will be eventually. And this last picture is what the block will look like when it is done! So where it gets it's name?
I will try to take my camera each time and show you the different steps. We are getting together once a week to work on these. And of course, we get lots of gabbing done! What's not to like? What do you think? I sure won't be going into a quilting business anytime soon... but it's fun and her DH ( he is 92!) comes in to see what we are up too now and then... sometime I will have to take a picture of him... he looks like Santa Clause! He used to play Santa at a lot of the malls in his younger days.... back when he was in his 80's. It's too much for him to have the kids sit on his lap now... wears him out! Karma used to dress up as Mrs. Clause. That's all for now.... make sure your needles are sharp and the bobbin has thread!

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!