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.