How tall????

How tall is the stack of dishcloths for my mother-in-law????

30 dishcloths= 9 inches
With a large number and a variety of colors she should have something for everyone on here senior center Christmas list :) I must be the "good" daughter-in-law. (Nah, the secret is she love us equally well.....and she is the only mother each of us have now.)

Have a great day
Kz

packaging for a coffee lover

What better way to package a gift for a coffee lover than in a coffee box.

Well, since I am cleaning the house I decided that it was time to recycle the packaging that my fellow TreadleOn member sent my "Think Pink Tote" in. Don't you just love it???? She was above and beyond with receiver specific packaging :) Way to go Sibyl !!!! Kz

Finally awake

Quality Control Dept,... can't trust um

Well, you just can't trust the Quality Control Dept.
After leaving the quilt under the needle during the process of attaching the binding, I came back from a 24 hour break to find the QCD soundly testing the attributes of Syrita's quilt. Evidently it is passing because Boogie didn't even wink when I took the picture. Now that must be a warm comfy quilt... k

Barbie #3 is bound

Out of all those Fat Quarter bundles given by the Fabric Outlet in MN we now have three finished Barbie quilts for the shelter. This is the smallest of the grouping. Some time in the past I purchased some purple fabric of varying colors plus clusters of eyelash like threads. In searching the stash for binding fabrics this one jumped out crying to be used. So take a closer look at the fuzzy binding around this quilt.... it will truly make some little girl giggle!!!!

It's raining dishcloths

Last year a few weeks before Christmas my mother-in-law asked if I'd make up a little something for her friends at the senior center... "like what do you have in mind?" Her response was "Oh, something simple; maybe dishcloths." Truly a simple task if I'd not been rushed to get 20 done for the senior party. This year I've decided to get wiser with old age... I found an easy round dishcloth pattern that has only garter stitch, you can get at least one done during your average TV movie, and get two out of a small ball of cotton yarn. What a deal!!! As of this morning I have 26 ready for this year's Christmas giving :) She'll be thrilled. If I keep up my pace I might actually have some to give away as well. kz

Binding-Binding-Binding

It's been a binding experience for the last twenty four hours... Yes, three in one day. A pink Barbie charity quilt done by the Loving Hands Quilt Group got bound this morning after midnight.

The two quilts for the Lee family were bound this afternoon. I still can't count them as done since the labels are still waiting for details from mom :) It's okay.... means I get to enjoy them a little longer.

No utterance comes close to what I feel

If you are a quilter or hang out with them you know that the Singer Featherweight sewing machine from days past is coveted and lusted after by these avid sewers. A group of quilters can be like a pack of crazed Piranha with the news of a Featherweight sighting. With the knowledge that the searchers are many, the supply few and the cost so great I'd convenced myself that one was not expected to join my herd of sewing machines, and if truth be known the majority of my babies are not modern enough to require an electrical outlet. It is commonly known the greater part of the multitude are treadles... So you see why I am still in the glow of shock and surprise over the loving gift of Sarah the Featherweight. Yes, GIFT.

This magnanimous gift of sewing history was made by Jerry and Sonja (Stringplay). The gift was a discovery made during the downsizing of Jerry's mom's house. Even though they could have sold it for big bucks it lovingly came to me for appreciation and preservation.

Because none of us knew how long it had been since it's last usage Sarah was taken to Ashby Sewing Machine Co where Marc could give it "a tune up, oil change, and tire rotation" our expression for putting it through its paces. Sarah was declared a "pretty darlin": ready for service. She came home to an appreciative fan club earlier in the week.

Ain't she just beautiful.
Aren't loving and thoughtful friends just the best gifts of life. Kz

A Big WOW from Sibyl!!!

As you might remember I was particiapting in the TreadleOn Think Pink Tote Bag Exchange for October's Breast Cancer Awareness month activity. Even with all the odd and unusual things that I did while making mine I got it done and mailed to my exchange pal in TX. Miss Sibyl's arrived today. All I can say is WOW!!! The tote is expertly made and the use of her (sh......) e- machine for embellishing the tote was outstanding!!! She knew some keys things about me, boy did she hit the mark. Purple fabric accented in rich black. The purple embroidery is crisp with a sharp contrast. She included a couple of accessories, a tissue holder and key ring. The label is the topping on the cake.......... a sheep. Don't you just love it... She is soo adorable.... thank Miss Sibyl. Kz

What does therapy look like???

I guess you might first ask, What type of therapy is this? Physical, speech, medical... what? Years ago my husband (GH) decided that it would cheaper to buy some acreage then to pay for "therapy". Finding junk land in a close proximity to the metro area was easier then locating a good psychiatrist. After a frustrating day in the corporate world there is nothing as cleansing as plowing a few acres of dirt. We affectionately call the land The Dirt. This is a picture of mental health therapy at it's best.

Applique'd Utility Quilt

The Applique'd Utility Quilt has been delivered.
Over the past many months I've had the opportunity to do some repairs to this quilt made from 1910 to 1930's fabrics. The process was a pleasure in that I got to touch and work with these old fabrics but also got to share a little information with the family regarding the quilt. This little baby could be nearly 100 yrs old, what fun. There are no such treasures in my family.

Think Pink Tote Arrives in Texas

The much restitched Amy Butler Birdie Sling I made for TreadleOn's Think Pink Tote Exchange has arrived safely in Houston TX. Despite all the problems in class while making this bag, I will make more :) In getting to know Miss Sibyl I found out that coke is her drink of choice... so the lining is done in coke fabric. The charm safety pin also sports a coke bottle charm among the five attached. These charms were found in June while out with Sonja on a day outing celebrating my retirement. We'd gone to a yarn/bead shop in Crabapple GA and to lunch. The charms came one in a small zip bag, my intentions had been to tape it to the side of my bookshelf in the sewing room before going to MN for several weeks. However, I didn't realized I'd forgotten to do that till I was at the cabin and my husband was at home. They stayed on the kitchen counter right where I left them so neither of us would be the responsible party for losing them. A very good plan. This was a much enjoyed project and exchange. Kz

Quality Control Dept

Slug Central has a new efficient "quality control dept". (Lately I've been calling my sewing room Slug Central because I am great at procrastination, there by being as slow as a slug in finishing projects.) I've found that good quality control is necessary when making over 50 quilt blocks. As you can tell from the photo Boogie (named after my husband's Auntie Boogie), has taken this employee position seriously. She's proclaimed these quilt blocks not only DONE but more importantly comfortable :)

They are done and ready for the mail along with a surprise gift for the TreadleOn block hostess.... thank you, Kelly. Kz

Edwina's pillowcases

Done!!!

As promised two pillowcases to accompany the appliqued butterfly quilt.

Labor Day Creativity

How to spend a wonderful Labor Day????
Laboring I guess....

With Gustav reporting in the background I dove into purging my sewing and computing room of all remnants of "school". I shredded enough papers to fill two kitchen trash bags and a yard leaf bag. How many reams is that???? Gone are office memos, out dated manuals, and junk papers from as far back as 1996. It sure was a cleansing experience. It is also amazing the things one finds when you scratch all the way down to the wood of your desk top. The most pitiful item found was a letter to a cousin that I wrote February 24th... Guess I best dash another one off and include the "history" letter as well. I am awful!!!

Since I didn't get my project finished that I'd set as a goal.... they are on today's list... along with a cousin letter :) I sure hope housework doesn't distract me... :) Kz