Late Summer Stitching

 

Swap blocks for September Guild Meeting

and, no I didn't win a set of these blocks - but, I did win some goodies

from OK Quiltworks later in the meeting - sweet !

 

As requested, I also stitched up two banners for our Guild Quilt Show in October - -  

 

 

then made 5 more this past weekend.  So cute, quick and addictive.

I will be making more of these real soon.

 

 

 

  

 Also, for the Guild Quilt Show - quilted pillow stitched with scraps from

the Michael Miller Challenge.

 

Note:  Sea Glass is finished and I love it.  More later

 

Sea Glass

I have a basket on my sewing table, filled with fabrics and patterns - projects all sorted and ready to for me to begin stitching.  There are more than enough 'to do'  projects to keep me busy.

But, flipping through a new quilting magazine last weekend, I saw that pillow up there on the left.  Its name is Sea Glass.  Those lovely colors of Kona Cotton were purchased, washed/dried and pressed - I"m ready to stitch (this weekend I hope).

My sincere apologizes to all those other projects, waiting in my basket.  They just will have to wait a little longer.  Sea Glass is calling my name.

Snapshots: Summer Stitching

 . . . .   staying inside and stitching is my favorite Summer activity.

Mother's Day Eve - country roads, family and catfish

May 10th - Highway 76 - between Lindsay and Ratliff City, Oklahoma.  I've driven this road so many times, in so many seasons and Spring is my 2nd favorite (Autumn is my very favorite).  Spring in Oklahoma is a mixed blessing - beautiful shades of green, blue skies, flowers blooming and the sound of bird song in the air. And, spring also brings fast and furious storms that can bloom and blow across the state - some bringing much needed rain and others leaving a path of destruction along it's path.  It's the price we pay for living on the Southern Plains and the reason we keep a watchful eye on the skies (and pay attention to our local weather wizards).  But this day, was breezy and mild for a day trip to see my Mom.

Lunch out with Mama and my oldest sister, Sue (or Sue-Sue as Joe and Laney call her) in Wilson, Oklahoma.  Catfish, coleslaw, red beans and hush puppies all washed down with large glasses of iced tea with lemon.  Dessert was a large serving of peach cobbler, topped with ice cream and served with three spoons - yum!  As you can see, we were warned about parking in the wrong spot - thankfully, we all are catfish lovers from way back so we were in good shape (and not fried !)  

Just down the road from the catfish place is a local nursery - and, they were having a sale! Something we three couldn't pass up.  That's my Mom below checking out the plants and helping me pick out a few plants to take home with me and for her garden too.  Sweet potato vine and portulaca in yellow and dark pink are now growing and blooming in pots on my porch and patio.  

A pretty drive south, a good visit with family, a catfish lunch and a trunk full of pretty plants -- I'll say that was a very good day.

Projects: 'low volume' and 'gypsy prints'



My 'low volume / shabby chic' quilt is finished. 

I love it but also feel a little bit guilty for keeping it, 

For so many years, every quilt I made was for someone else.   

A new baby our large extended family,

(or a friend from church, or co-worker's first grandchild),

one (or all) of our 6 grandchildren, a friend facing weeks of chemo - - -

the list for quilt was always long. 

 

But, my mind was eased by my husband. 

After seeing the quilt all bound and finished, he took one look and said 'it looks like you'.  

And, so - with no more guilt - I've accepted that pretty quilt belongs to me.

 

Of course, there were no doubts about the 'Six Fat Quarter Bag'  --

stitched up at our last Guild Sew Day. Yes, that big, loud,  gypsy print bag -

just right for toting quilts (and other large projects) -- is mine !!

 

PS - No header picture today. My new computer and Blogger are currently not communicating very well. I'm hoping they can find some common ground and come to a more productive working relationship soon.  4/17/14  Willie Jay (my personal computer wizard) has convinced my new computer to play nicely with Blogger. We shall see if the truce will hold.

Snapshot: on my window sill

Pink David Austin rose (Eglantyne),

rescued from the cold frost,

keeping my almost-blooming violet company.

 

 

Autumn Construction

The leaves beginning to turn, the mornings are cool, 

the night skies are filled with stars -- my favorite time of the year. 

And, also time for the annual 'scarecrow' to make an appearance on our front porch.

Scarecrow construction with Papa Bill & three 'helpers'

 

After the stuffing there was a head in need of a face - artistic opinions varied greatly

In all his glory, sitting in a rocker on our front porch --

our Monkees present 'Billy Bob Joe Sparkle'

I'm sure you can guess which name was chosen by a 5 year old?!

Small Bag Swap - (v.v.happy)

First bag: cute with that pink elephant but, it's very small and has many mistakes.  But, it's already been spoken for by my youngest grand-daughter - she loves it and that makes me happy.

 

Second bag:  used strips from my scrap basket for the body and fabric ends on the zipper making the installation much easier.  Like it a lot - and it will most likely go into my 'gift drawer' for one of my grand-daughters.  The stripes and bold colors make me happy -- but, still not quite what I'm looking for . . . . .

 



 

Fourth bag:  Fold Over Clutch - completely off track and happy that it was a quick/easy project  -  but again, not what I'm wanting  . . . . .

 

 



Ta Da !  

 

Fifth Bag:  using pattern for 1st bag, adjusting the height and using fabric ends for the zipper installation - this bag was ready for my Quilting Guild Small Bag Swap.  I was sitting next the to member who drew my bag and she was delighted with it -- color me 'very happy'

 

 



 

O my !   The bag that came home with me -- seriously cute and it will come in very handy in my knitting project bag.  Very very happy indeed !!!!

 

 



Hex-ed !!

I've always loved the look of quilts made using the English Paper Piecing method -- especially the Grandmother's Garden quilts.  Those quilts were loved and admired from afar by me -- too many little pieces and then there's that fiddly paper thingy that you stitch fabric around -- so not my 'cup of tea'.

 

A few months ago, I started seeing projects on Pinterest ( why yes, I do know it's a total 'time suck' - but, I'm addicted and don't care who knows it! ):  so many projects for sweet little hexagons to be stitched into tote bags and pillows and table runners.

 

And, then at our Guild 'sew night' last month  -- there at the table right next to me --  was a woman stitching large hexagons in pretty quilting cotton.  Perfect hexagons that she just kept stitching and stitching.  I walked over and after talking to her for just a few minutes, I was a 'hex-ed'. 

 

Hexagon templates were purchased and the cutting/stitching began. Behold, my new lunch-hour stitching project --and my after dinner/watching tv stitching -- and my watching the morning news stitching too. 

 

What am I going to make with all the hexies I'm stitching ?

I'm still 'researching'  -- and, stitching hexies !



Snapshot . . . . green

It's late July in Oklahoma and we still have green in our landscapes
We are confused -- normally the color of the month is brown (and crunchy)

 

I for one, could  get used to this very easily !

Snapshots

 

This little house might need a bit of work

 (the painters need a bit more experience - but, I love their flare with color)

Despite of all its flaws - - it's now home to a feathered family.

Who knew birds would actually nest in a 'bird house' !!

A beautiful box, tied with a spring green ribbon --

filled with just ripe pears & apples

Such a sweet way to celebrate Mother's Day 

 

 

A cool spring morning

Brown paper bags and a list

Walking trails winding around a pond

Skipping children

Memories made.

 

Snapshots . . . . . long weekend

After the all the 'shake rattle and roll' weather last week - 

I think everyone in Oklahoma was ready for a very quiet long holiday weekend. 

I did remember to fly my little flags for all those who serve their country.

WWII, Korean, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan - where ever or when ever they served.  

 -- they were honored with a little bit of red, white & blue blowing in the Oklahoma wind. 

I did a bit of tidying up in my little sewing corner  (it was way past due)

A bit of sewing happened: 3 pairs of sleep shorts and one twirly skirt.

Those bright flowers remind me of the 60's -- and make me smile!

Discovered the series 'Longmire' on our streaming Netflix -

and watched 5 episodes from the first season back-to-back.  

How did I miss this show last year ?

Good storylines and I'm getting very attached to these characters already. 

Need to watch 4 more episodes before the new season begins next week. 

It was just the weekend I needed

Another page . . . .

. . . . in my 'memory book'
Nothing sweeter in this world than a sleeping child

Sooner Tradition - it's 'Elementary' !

Oklahoma Land Run - April 19, 1892

For more information check out this website

http://www.library.cornell.edu/Reps/DOCS/landrush.htm

Oklahoma Land Run Re-Enactment 

April 26, 2013

Northwood Elementary

Piedmont, Oklahoma

Their wagon might not have been the biggest --

but, they made up for that with good old Sooner enthusiasm --

running the length of the field to stake their claim! 

Saturday thru Wednesday

Saturday:  Easter Egg Hunt at our church with two of the grandbabes.  We all sang songs, heard the Easter Story and then it was outside in the sunshine.  Laney was best pleased with her haul -- she found a 'gy-nor-mous' (her description) egg loaded with chocolates!

          
Her big brother, Joe, may not have found the 'gy-nor-mous' egg - but, he made up for it with quantity!  They both left with baskets/buckets loaded with candy/Easter trinkets and their tummys filled with cookies and punch provided by the 'church ladies'.

Sunday: After church and a ham lunch - another Easter Egg Hunt at MoMo & Papa Bill's house -with their own decorated eggs and there might have been a few plastic eggs filled with money too.  MoMo & Papa Bill worked out a deal with the Easter Bunny for those special eggs.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday:  Rain, rain, and more rain.  Over 2 inches of much needed rain put a small dent in our drought here on the Southern Plains.  And, for that we are truly grateful.

Wonky, colorful and entertaining . . . .

Being the daughter of a 'Depression Baby' and living through a few Oil Busts here in Oklahoma has taught me a thing or two about 'making do' or 'upcycling'.  The thing is I have a hard time throwing away fabric scraps --

Which brings me to this project -  not bad for my first attempt with t-shirt yarn - I give it a 'C+' -- mainly because the knit t-shirt scraps were used and not pitched into the trash --  it was a fun/quick project  -- and it's actually being used -- although I may have misjudged the size needed for our very plump cat, Libby-Lou!

Libby's very colorful cat rug/bed was crocheted with  'Yarn'  made from  cotton t-shirt scraps   
using this tutorial:  http://mousechirpy-polkadotpineapple.blogspot.com/2008/03/tutorial-t-shirt-yarn.html 

The only change I made to the tutorial was using my rotary cutter and mat to make the first cuts, then using scissors for the diagonal cuts to create continous strips.  As I wound the strips into balls, I tugged on the strips until the edges rolled creating a nice 'yarn'.  Using a size K hook, I crocheted  an oval out of double-crochet stitches to the size I thought would work, then continued hooking (with a few decreases throw in) until I had a shallow 3-inch edge and called it 'done'. 

It's a bit wonky but I'm happy with it and Libby seems to like laying on it - which means less cat hair to vacuum off the carpet --and, the project kept me entertained on a cold and dreary Saturday! 

A bit of Spring

It started with this - - a bunch of daffodils rescued from the cold. 

Their color and scent made me long for Spring.

And, even though they did last for almost a week - they are gone now.

I found myself glancing at this little spot - missing those little blooms.

Perhaps those thoughts were on my mind while grocery shopping last weekend --

because this found it's way into my cart and came home with me.



Green leaves and tiny white blooms

A bit of Spring for this little corner of my world.

Making both Mr. Gnome and I very happy 

Sunday Afternoon

The house is quiet except for the hum of the washer/dryer.

Willy Jay and Libby are down for a nap.

A mushroom quiche is baking in the oven. 

I've read the paper, sipping a Sonic Diet Vanilla Coke.

Stitched a few 'grannys' - inspired by Lucy.

And, clicked my way through my favorite blogs

It is true that the little things in life can make you happy

Winter comes again . . . .

Earlier this month, with all the mild/warm weather,

we thought that Winter was winding down -

This week, we discovered we were wrong - - - 

Tuesday morning

7:15am - my driveway

Huge feathery snowflakes  

7:20am - North bound Sara Road  

(those tiny lights are I-40 -- which was one giant parking lot due to accidents)

7:25am - East bound Reno Avenue

Just the kind of snow I like - pretty on the grass and melting on the streets.

Very light traffic - perhaps they were all on I-40?

Tuesday evening

First daffodil blooms -

Rescued the night before the snow fell.

Making me (and my little Garden Gnome) smile.

Baking as therapy

Total stress buster - baking bread.  May be good relieving stress - but for my waistline - not so much !  So, as soon as these loaves were cool, they went directly into the freezer.  Now I'm ready for any 'refreshment emergency' that comes my way.

FYI:  vintage cookie cutters found at an antique store in Piedmont, OK. There will be sugar cookie bunnies and chickens for Easter this year - with sprinkles !



BB Bread (Basic Banana Bread)

3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed

1/3 cup melted butter (cool for 10 minutes)

1 cup sugar (can be reduced to 3/4 cup if desired)

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp baking soda

pinch of salt

1-1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour loaf pan.  With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl.  Mix in sugar, egg and vanilla.  Sprinkle baking soda & salt over the mixture; stir in flour mixture (and nuts) and mixm just until no more flour is visible.  Pour mixture into prepared pans and bake for 50-55 minutes.  Cool on rack for 15 minutes before removing from pan.  

Note:  If using smaller loaf pans, adjust baking times. I baked this bread in 3 of my small loaf pans and baking time was 35 minutes. 

Coconut Bread

2 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

2 tsp coconut extract

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup shredded coconut

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease and flour loaf pan.  Mix together flour, salt, baking powder & soda and set aside.  In a large pan, beat together sugar and oil.  Beat in eggs, coconut and vanilla extracts.  Stir flour mixture into egg mixture alternately with buttermilk & coconut.  Pour into prepared pans and bake for 45-505 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.  Cool on racks for 15 minutes before removing from pan. 

Note:  If using smaller loaf pans, adjust baking time.  I baked this bread in 2 of my medium loaf pans, baking time was 45 minutes.