Etsy Store

My Etsy store is finally up and running.  After putting it off ( I opened the account some time ago), I felt it was now or never, so here is the link.  There is also a button to the right that you can click to get there.

I used to sell on Ebay (my name there is Granmakitty), but never seemed to be able to sell more expensive items, like my quilts.  So we'll give Etsy a try.   

This is one of the four kimono quilts that I have on Etsy.

And this is one of the two fish quilts.

I'm still trying to catch up from the weekend tour.  Maybe by tomorrow I can get back in the studio and get some sewing done. 
Have a good day.

Artisans Guild Tour

A long weekend!  The tour was Friday, Saturday and Sunday and I feel like I stood up for the entire time.  Sales were good, but mostly for small items.  Most people were not willing to part with much more than twenty dollars, so I only sold one wall hanging and one baby quilt.  But I sold out on my tree ornaments and mug rugs.

I had made 50 of the mug rugs, just scrap fabric and batting, and sold all but 4!  Once before I had taken them to a show and not sold any.  The eyeglass cases sold pretty well and also the make-up bags (I'll do a tutorial for these on a later blog).
But my baby quilts, which usually sell quit well, were just not moving.  Also the wall hangings didn't sell either.  My display was not the best, but I had to work with the space.  I was in front of the photography booth (Dan put me there to protect it), so no place to hang anything.  The pottery on the photo background is Dan's.  We're hoping we both sold items at Sea Glass and Stories in Cape Charles where we display.

I was in the same room with a basket maker and a bird carver.  It was fun visiting with both of them.  Deb, the basket maker, is also a knitter and knit these cute vegetables for her display.  People kept wanting to buy them, but she didn't want to sell.

I am so glad the weekend is over.  Now I can get on to decorating and baking for Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving

We're having a very quite Thanksgiving this year, probably the quietest in a long time.  It's just Dan, Diana and me.  But we are still cooking a big meal in anticipation of eating left-overs all weekend.  Pictured below is Dan's smoker.  He loves to smoke the turkey instead of roasting or frying (we've never had a turkey fryer and I don't think I've ever eaten it fried).

Please note that Dan is wearing a RED shirt because of what I wrote about his clothes in my last post.
And here is a picture of the turkey, not done yet.  That's a pork roast next to it for later in the weekend.

Diana is peeling potatoes and Dan is making gravy.  I did all of my part earlier; sweet potato biscuits, stuffing, and apple pie. 
I'm feeling thankful for all of my family, here and around the country, and for this beautiful day. 

It will be a busy weekend with the Artisan's Guild Tour.  I'll post some pictures of my display sometime over the weekend and some pictures of the work on display.  If you go to this link you'll see the newspaper article that came out yesterday.  And they mentioned my blog!!!!

Have a Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!!

Christmas Sweaters: The Real News

This morning on the news was a story about Christmas sweaters.  The reporter stated that they are "back in style".  Who knew?  I mean who knew they were out of style.  Why don't my friends tell me these things?  Have I been cutting edge for years?    I'll admit I only have one that I have worn for the past year or two.  Its very conservative, from Coldwater Creek.  But I have a box full of the ones described as "ugly"  on the Daily Green.

When I first started working in a nursing home, I was an activity director.  I liked to wear clothes that reflected the holiday, so I had Halloween sweaters, Spring flower sweaters, as well as numerous Christmas sweaters.  The residents (at least the ladies) loved to comment on my clothes and it gave them something to talk about besides what was for lunch.  My skirt length was always a great conversation starter.  It was either too short or too long, I could never get it right.  I either wore too much make-up or not enough.  But the sweaters were always a winner.  I never had one resident who didn't like one of my sweaters.

Apparently it is now the fad for men to wear these "vintage" women's sweaters (go to the link above and look at the slideshow) and people have parties where you have to wear an old Christmas sweater.  I don't think I'll suggest this to Dan.  All of his clothes are beige or blue.  I'm not kidding.  My oldest daughter laughed her head off the first time she looked in his closet.  My mother gave him a red sweater about 10 years ago and he wore it once, to be polite.  The Christmas sweater would just not go over real big with him, so don't invite us to one of these sweater parties.

I'm thinking that between my mother and myself we might be able to make a fortune on ebay if I get started soon.

Quilts for Kids

Quilts for Kids is a non-profit organization who supplies quilts to hospitals for sick children.  Its a nationwide group, with local chapters, that serves as a clearing house for donated quilts.  Upon request, they will send you fabric and a pattern for making a quilt.  You need to provide the batting and agree to return the quilt within a few weeks.

The three quilts pictured above are some that I made from the kit that they sent me earlier this year.  I just got an email from the organization, asking for quilts for the holidays.  I started looking through my stash of fabric, especially holiday prints, and plan to ship a few quilts to them right after Thanksgiving. 

Follow this link quiltsforkids.org to request a kit or get guidelines for making quilts from your own fabric.

Lynda's Quilt , Punch Needle Progress, and 2-ingredient cakes

I have spent most of today finishing this quilt for my friend, Lynda.  Its a Christmas gift for her daughter.  I loved the way it turned out and especially loved quilting it.  Many of the fabrics she used were purchased in my quilt shop when it was open, so that brought back some memories. 

Here is an update on my punch needle project.  It doesn't take long to do, but its really labor-intensive and hard on the eyes.  I took the picture on a piece of fabric that is a vintage kimono sleeve (silk) that I bought years ago at a tag sale.  I'm thinking of adding some pink to the jelly fish and making the bag out of part of the sleeve. 

Here's a link to Big Red Kitchen  where you will find a recipe for a 2-ingredient cake.  All it takes is a can of pumpkin and a cake mix.  I've made it with yellow cake and spice cake and I like the spice cake better.  I baked them as muffins.  There is also a two ingredient lemon cake recipe that I found on Pinterest.   I've been looking for the link for a while and just can't find it again, but here is what it is.  Mix one box of Angel Food cake mix and a can of lemon pie filling.  That's it.  Bake it in a 9 X 13 pan for 25 to 30 min. in a 350 degree oven.  I made it a few weeks ago and I'm just about to go and pop another one in the oven.  Even Dan liked it, and he's not a fan of cake.  While searching for the link to the lemon cake, I found another 2 ingredient cake, made from a brownie mix and a can of Diet Coke.  I'm not sure about the making it with Diet Coke, but I might try it with regular Coke.  I don't drink soft drinks, so I'd have to make a trip to the store before I try this one.

If you have never visited Pinterest, you really should.  You can click on the link above or the one in the right column.  It's addictive. 

Punch Needle Embroidery

After finishing the little bag that I showed you earlier this week, I remembered these little bags that I made a couple of years ago. 

I call these "cruise bags" because they are perfect for a cruise, just large enough to hold your cruise card, lipstick, etc.  I've made a lot of these like the green one pictured below, and sold a number of them, but these are the only ones I've made with a punch needle decoration.

The bags range in size from 5" by 5" to 6" by 6".  I make the straps long enough to wear across the body.  It is basically a rectangle of quilted fabric folded in thirds.  In the green example, I bound the edges after sewing up the sides.  In the other two, I just sewed up the sides using a jeans needle. 

I decided to make another one with a jelly fish.  There is a tutorial for punch needle embroidery on this site
http://www.amherst-antiques-folkart.com/PunchNeedle_Howto.htm.  I'm sure there are others, but this one has the basics.  They recommend a Russian punch needle, and so do I.  Pictured below are my punch needles, a Russian one and one from Clover.

The one in the case is the Russian one and the green one is by Clover.  I just prefer the Russian one, its sharper, easier to hold and use.  It also costs a lot more.  The hoop is necessary to hold your fabric and needs to be one that really grips the fabric because you put a bit of pressure as you embroider.  The fabric should be a loose weave cotton or linen. 

Here is my hooped jelly fish.  I drew it on with a blue marker.  This doesn't have to be the kind that washes out, because its on the back of the fabric.  This is the trick with punch needle that I didn't get at first:  you work from the back and your actual embroidery is on the reverse side. 

I  keep you updated on my progress on this little embroidery.  I plan on starting it tonight.
Have a great weekend.

Art Quilts

Today I was looking for some inspiration and started reviewing photos of some of the quilts I have made.  I decided I would post some of the pictures here.  I no longer own most of these quilts, I have sold them or given them away.  It occurred to me as I was looking at them, that I don't spend a lot of time making art quilts.  What I do is make a lot of "crafty" things, clothing, etc. and while I am doing that, I think about making art quilts.  Maybe that's the way its supposed to be.  I did a drawing today for a new quilt, but I won't be able to start it until after Thanksgiving or maybe even after Christmas.  In the meantime, I'm busy doing the "crafty" stuff for the Artisan's Guild Thanksgiving Weekend Tour. 

Dan is critical of my use of the word "craft".  I know the difference between art and craft.  I also know that 95% of what I do is craft. 

This is painted with textile ink.  I began by "drawing" the poppies with my sewing machine, then painting them with the ink.  The centers are beaded.  Its about 25 by 30 inches.   The border was an Alexander Henry fabic.

This is currently hanging in my living room.  The background is pieced and the blue mason jars are appliqued on and then painted with textile inks and stitched.  The vines were made with clothesline and the leaves are individually stitched.  This was in the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show in 2009.

Finally, this quilt was sold about 6 years ago.  It is all applique, no painting.  The woman who bought it had it framed in a heavy white shadow box frame.  It's quite large, but I can't remember the exact measurements.

I hope these are inspiration for your creations.  Have a wonderful evening.

TA-DA

Here is what I made with the wrong side of the fabric I showed you yesterday.  First, let me say that I am not a photographer, and second, I did try to take this picture both inside and outside, but the one shown is the best of the lot.  Also thanks to Rhonda of Rhonda's Creative Life for this pattern.  As you will read when you go over to her blog, she gave away the pattern to anyone who wanted it for a limited time.  She is now selling the pattern on Etsy and you can find it HERE.

I made a couple of changes to Rhonda's pattern because of the weight of the fabric.  As you can see from her's, its suppose to be a clam shell bag.  That meant you had to add the strap on the seam line.  I couldn't do it.  The fabric is just too heavy and thick.  So I put my strap in the middle of the sides.  It still works as a wristlet, but does not have the pretty shape that Rhonda's has.  I also beaded mine, I'll bead anything, I just love to sew on beads.  The lining is a turquoise silk that I've had forever and the contrast is very nice with the red/blue/green of the fabric.
Here's another shot showing a bit of the lining

I'm hoping to have somewhere to wear this during the holidays.  It really does have a festive look and looks much better in "real life" than in my photo.

Charity Quilts

One of the reasons I started this blog was to document and share the charity quilts that I make.  I try to spend at least 20 hours per month on charity sewing projects and belonging the ASG gives me a boost on this by giving me a date (i.e. monthly meeting) to have things completed.  Below are the three quilts that I will be donating for the month of November with comments on the construction.

This is approximately 40 by 40 inches.  The middle is made of 5 inch charm squares and along side are 2.5 inch strips, all left over from other projects.  I added the rainbow inter-border to tie it all together.

Another kids quilt.  Both of these will go the Coalition Against Domestic Violence.  This one was suppose to be a base for a sample for my pattern "Down by the Sea".  I can't remember now why I didn't finish it, but I found the center part in a box, so decided to add a few fish appliques and a border and make a charity quilt.

I made this one out of "layer cake" pack and a "jelly roll" pack from Connecting Threads.  I cut the 10 inch squares down to 8 inches.  The quilt is 42 by 55 inches and it will go the the local nursing home.

Now for a preview of tomorrow's blog.  I meant to finish it for today, but still have some hand work to do, so hopefully I'll get that done tonight.  Someone brought this fabric to one of our sewing groups.  They are fabric samples, each about 10 by 15 inches.  The "wrong" side was more attractive to me than the "right" side.  There are 5 of these pieces, but each is different.  I've had them for 2 or 3 years, not knowing how to use them, but knowing something would come along, and something did.  You'll see what I did tomorrow.
Forgive my photography, the "right" side is blurred, but I'd already cut it before I realized this.

          This is supposed to be the right side.                            

 

This is the other side.  Don't you like this better?

Lots of Socks

I love to knit socks.  This is a picture of all the socks I have knit for the past year not including a couple of pairs I gave away.  15 adult pairs, 1 child size pair and 2 baby size.

I have been using the same sock pattern for years with variations for the cuff.  Since I can knit a pair of socks without referring to a pattern, I wanted to make a child-size pair, using the same basic pattern, just reducing the number of stitches.  I knit one sock, using my new formula, and took it with me to Philadelphia to try on my granddaughter.  I was afraid it would be too big, but it fit and she loved it.  I just finished the second one and will send them on to her this afternoon.
Here are the three sizes, all using basically the same pattern.

I will have this pattern written in Word this weekend and if you would like it, please send  your email address to me at kitty@weirwoodstation.com
The yarn I used was by Deborah Norville and it is a little thinner than most of the sock yarn I use.  However, I was able to get both socks out of one ball of yarn.  Since I bought it on sale, 2 balls for $5.00, the pair of socks only cost me $2.50.  I plan to make a scarf out of the extra.

Don't forget to send me your address if you want the pattern.  Hope you have a good weekend, I will be sewing.

A Little Weather Adventure

I'm finally back from Philadelphia.  My intent had been to go up Saturday and come back on Halloween morning. 
I did leave on Saturday morning, a little earlier than planned because of the weather forecast.  By the time I got to the Delaware/Pennsylvania border, the snow started.  Normally that's about 45 minutes from my daughter's house, but it took me almost 2 hours to get there.  It really started to snow (heavy,wet snow) by the time I arrived.  She had planned on an outdoor Halloween party on Sunday, but the ground was still covered and it was just too cold for the kids to be out, so it was inside.  I dressed up like a gypsy and read palms.  I also made a ton of macaroni and cheese, they will be eating it all week.

Here is a picture of my cute (?) scary little granddaughter.
I decided to stay an extra night and go trick or treating. 

Also there was an old friend I wanted to visit and I called and to see if she was available for lunch and, luckily, she was.  I also spent the day going to the costume parade at my granddaughter's school and shopping.

I told you in my last post that there were no quilt fabrics at Jomar's. I lied.  They had a couple of really nice "basic" pieces and one print with a few flaws, for $1.00 per yard.  I also bought a piece of black and white tweed that is absolutely beautiful from their "designer" table for $3.99 per yard.

Note the wing chair in the background of the picture;  I made the slipcover about a year ago from fabric I got at Jomars for 3.99 per yard.  Disclaimer:  I own no stock in Jomars, I just like to find bargains. 

Now I am home and plan on staying here through the holidays.  

I'll have a child size sock pattern for you before the end of the week.  It's a modification of the adult sock pattern that I use all the time.  I had to take my first one with me and try it on my granddaughter to see if I got the size right.  Now to finish the second one.  I asked her if she'd like for me to make her a pair for Christmas and she told me she wanted red and white striped socks.  Not a chance.