“Rip It, Rip It”

I wish I could say I never produce work that needs to be ripped out.  I can’t.  This past week my friend Hollie added a bead tail to the needles she uses when she is removing stitches and working too close to her machine needle for comfort.  After seeing a picture of them, I just had to make myself a couple of them.  The added bling makes keeping track of their whereabouts so much simpler.  Needles used to rip out seams are affectionately referred to as “froggin’ needles”…”rip-it, rip-it”.  🙂

Speaking of Hollie, I received the block she made in our quilt block sampler swap in the Art 4 Mail group.  The first block is a simple four-patch.  Her fabrics are gorgeous.  I’m a big fan of paisley from way back.  Our first theme color was blue with a complimentary fabric.

Tomorrow I will mail the ones I made out to the ladies in my group. Did I mention I am a big fan of paisley?  I guess I should have repressed my block before taking a picture.  It was already folded neatly in quarters, ready for the envelope.

This is how I’ve spent all my sitting time this afternoon.  It look like I’ll be cutting tiny stitches for a while.  This was a collar I picked up at a thrift store for a dollar a while back.  It’s high time I remove the beautiful lace and start using it in CQ projects.  I’ll use the muslin, too…

That’s a wrap for this time.

Until next time…

And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  (1 John 2:1)

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Green Is The Word (March CQJP 2013) And Some Vintage Finds

Night before last I made the final stitches in the round robin blocks in my possession.  Last night I had NOTHING ready to work on.  I felt like a fish out of water.  All month I’ve tried to get my March CQJP block constructed.  My fabrics were selected and prewashed and  laying in a wrinkled pile on top of my work space.  On the first day of  March I designed the layout of this month’s block and traced it on my muslin.  Today I finally took the time to press my fabrics and stitch my block.  Yea me!  Tonight the embellishing will begin.  This block is the third of a monochromatic theme.  It is shades of green, and all the materials used to embellish will also be green. 

Here is a picture of the naked block…

Yesterday my husband and I ran errands.  While we were out we stopped by one of my favorite thrift stores.   I found a few framed vintage handwork pieces, a pretty little tea bag holder, and a choker necklace that will be taken apart and used for embellishing crazy quilt blocks. 

Framed tatting (I think this is tatting.  I cannot tell the difference between tatting and fine, cotton crochet)  The shadows on the matting are in the photo only.  The piece is pristine, and I love it!  It is hanging near the chair where I sit and stitch and is a sweet inspiration…

 

I grew up in Virginia and have visited historic Williamsburg several times.  Finding the next two pieces was almost like going home.  The cross stitch samplers are circa 1950’s.  I don’t know where I will hang them, but I couldn’t resist bringing them home.  A lot of care and time went into both pieces, and I always feel a strange connection with the unknown person who spent her time working on them.  I feel a sadness that no one who loved her wanted to hang on to the pieces.

The Raleigh Tavern…

Brutan Parish Church…

I assume this pretty little piece is a tea bag holder (I am drawn to blue glassware and china.  I don’t know if this is a replica or vintage.  It’s pretty, and I will use it.  It’s hand decorated in the USA (a BIG plus in my book) by CC Fine China…Morgana Collection.  I found nothing about it online, but that matters not, because I like it. 🙂

Robert Rose Faux Pearl Choker (I can’t imagine wearing anything like this around my neck, but the parts will be perfect for embellishing CQ blocks…too bad there are no green pieces!)

That’s my thrifty finds from yesterday…thank you for stopping by.  I welcome your comments. 

Until next time…

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally. . . . But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  James 1:5-6

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Sunday Dinner At Jutamas

Jutamas is a fine dining, Thai Restaurant in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. After worship service this morning my sweetheart and I joined our pastor and his sweet wife at Jutamas for a wonderful lunch and fellowship. My friend Rosy lives in Singapore, and because of the wonders of the internet she and I are able to talk about food often. Since she was not able to be at Jutamas with us…this post is for her.

We started our meal with a couple of appetizers. Fresh Rolls were brought to our table first. They were fresh spring rolls filled with cooked chicken, shrimp, egg noodles, avocado, tofu and vegetables and wrapped with rice pastry. Crushed peanuts are sprinkled on top, and they are served with peanut sauce.

Next up was Toong Tong. These tasty appetizers are crispy fried pastries stuffed with a mixture of pork, shrimp, and crab meat. They were served with sweet and sour sauce. Our waitress did not understand the order, and we were only brought a serving for two. Our pastor insisted Allen and I eat them. What a blessing, because they were delicious.

After our appetizers each of us were served a bowl of soup…I’m sorry, but I don’t know the name of the soup. It was delicious and enjoyed by all. It was made of chicken broth, tofu, basil leaves and bean sprouts.

This cute little lemon critter topped our pastor’s glass of unsweetened tea. My sweetie ordered sweet tea…he didn’t get a cute little lemon critter. :<

Our pastor ordered Phad Khing…This dish was sliced chicken, stir-fried fresh ginger, onions, bell peppers, carrots, baby corn and mushrooms in brown sauce.

Brenda, our pastor’s wife, ordered Shrimp Asparagus. It was asparagus with stir-fried shrimp with onion, carrots and bell peppers in brown sauce.

My sweetheart ordered Phad med Ma Moung. This dish was sliced chicken, stir fried with cashew nuts, onions, mushrooms, carrots and bell peppers in brown sauce.

And finally…I ordered Gang Keaw Wam. It is classic green curry, blended with coconut milk, green beans, carrots, eggplant, bamboo shoots, bell peppers and sweet basil. It was superb but way more than I could eat in one sitting. The dishes were so pretty…I would have loved to have taken them home with me. ~sigh~

Rosy, I hope this was almost as good as being with us. Even if we don’t ever share a meal on planet earth we can look forward to a grand banquet in heaven. Maybe we can sit close to one another there. 🙂 I think we would have a grand time.

Until next time…

This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck. 1 Timothy 1:18-19

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A Little Thrifting, A Block, A Yummy Scone and A Final Giveaway Reminder

Like it or not, I had to leave the comfort of my air-conditioned home and brave 90 + degree temperatures and pay our water bill.  Since I had to go out anyway, I made the trip really worth sweating and visited my new favorite thrift store.  It was a good day to thrift.  Here are some of my finds…

A Pfaltzgraff Yorktown Bean Pot

A Light Blue Fiestaware Teapot…

Silk pants to cut up for crazy quilting, A tin made in England, and Vintage Soap Dish

Fondue Set for my granddaughter…a blast from the past…

My latest work in progress…

A yummy cherry scone…more about scones in another post…

My giveaway ends tomorrow…If you have not entered  take a minute and check it out. It’s for an amazing gallon of premium coconut oil. You really don’t want to miss the chance to win this wonderful gift. You can find it here…A Gallon Of Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil Giveaway…O Yeah!

Until next time…

Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.  Psalm 102:25-27

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Hearts, Silk Ties and A Red Block Update

This past week I made and sent two crazy quilt hearts to two “crazy” friends…

One loves pink…This was a one on one swap.

and the other loves orange. This is a “just because you’re loved heart”.

The next two hearts are part of heart swap through one of the crazy quilt groups I belong to. I sent two and will get two in return. Who will receive mine and whose I will receive is yet unknown.

Swap send 1:

Swap send 2…

Yesterday my sweetie and I stopped at a local thrift store while we were out running errands. They had a boat load of beautiful silk ties priced 3 for $1.00. It was pointless to even try resisting buying a pile of them. Because the ties were in an outside bin, and it was a sweltering hot day, I only bought $9.00’s worth. As soon as I got them home I threw them in the washing machine. Tonight they will be carefully seam-ripped for later use in crazy blocks. I only bought a few of what the thrift store had…the colors are beautiful…so I’ll buy more later if they are still there on my next visit.

Finally here’s a picture of the red block I’ve been working on for over a month. Since the last update, I’ve added an embroidered bird to the top right corner. I removed the small, golden flower beads from the center of the crocheted Irish rose and replaced them with a beautiful, German-made metal button. I added a cluster of buttons on the red lace. On one of the buttons I tried out a tutorial one of the crazy quilt crazy ladies shared on her blog for embellishing buttons with a bullion rose. It was easy to follow, and I’m sure I will use the technique many times in the days to come. Check out the tutorial here: Shawkl: Button Rose Bullion Tutorial…thank you, Kathy. Your technique added a sweet flair to my plain button. 🙂 I still have a way to go before this block is complete. I also tried using waste canvas to cross stitch a motif on this block for the first time. I was inspired by Quayceetatter’s Cross Stitch Rose Tutorial. I’m pretty sure I will remove the red chain stitch on the seam at the upper right. It just doesn’t fit…we’ll see.

Button Cluster with bullion rose button…not perfect, but practice, practice, practice will make perfect.

Close up of little blue heart…

 That’s about it for this time, but if you have not entered my latest coconut oil giveaway, be sure to check it out. It’s for an amazing gallon of premium coconut oil. You really don’t want to miss the chance to win this wonderful gift. You can find it here…A Gallon Of Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil Giveaway…O Yeah!

Until next time…

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. Psalm 5:11

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Naked and Green

Just a short post to share my newest naked block…

Earlier in the week I spent a couple of hours thrifting and found a lime green silk skirt.  It had “crazy quilt” written all over it.  I brought it home and cut it into pieces the same day.  This afternoon pieces of both the skirt and lining were sewn into my next block.  It’s a seven-inch block constructed of silk, cotton, the “wrong side” of a piece of brocade, and even a piece of polyester (one of my least favorite fabrics, but even it has a place in crazy quilting). As soon as I put the finishing touches on the purple block I was working on before the class I started five or so weeks ago, it is next in line for embellishing.

Putting this block together was less frustrating than any I’ve made so far.  Maybe that means I’m getting the hang of it.  Not feeling encumbered and overwhelmed while constructing a block definitely makes it more fun.  Ooorah.

Here is my naked, green block in all its glory.  I can hardly wait to start dolling it up.

Until next time…

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Galatians 1:11-12

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My Samurai And An Eggstra Large Pincushion

This morning I made a trip to the post office to mail my share in an Easter pincushion swap.  Its forever home is across the big pond in Australia.   The pincushion is made of felted wool and is five inches in diameter.  It’ll hold a lot of pins!

Side view:

It was a beautiful day…perfect for a little thrifting.  My find of the day was a pre-WWII silk kimono.  My good-natured, sweetheart modeled it for me so I could take pictures of it.  All he needs now is a sword.  🙂

Back view:

Lining view: 

Pattern closeup:

Unless I change my mind, I’ll take a pair of scissors to this lovely kimono and cut it into pieces for use in crazy quilt blocks.  At this point I’m feeling a bit conflicted with that idea…but it doesn’t fit me (I wish), and I can’t imagine my sweetie putting it on again.  I will give it some thought before I start cutting, but of this I am sure…If I do it will make many beautiful additions to a crazy quilt blocks.

Until next time…

A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.  Ecclesiastes 7:1

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A Thrifting I Did Go…

For the first time in a very long time the urge to swing into the thrift store on my way to town got the best of me yesterday afternoon.  I’m sure it was the heat overpowering my sense of resolve.  I’ve fought thrifting valiantly for months, giving in only once about a month ago.  Instead of dragging stuff home I need to be ousting a truckload of “abundance” out of my house.  Using all the resistance I could muster I rejected item after item…but there were a few I carried to checkout counter and made them my own.

I’m sure it’s the 60’s child that is still alive and well within me that claimed the mushroom ceramic canister (arnel’s circa 70’s)…now to make room on a countertop for it.  The two ceramic shoes will eventually become pincushions.

All these odds and ends are sewing or crafting materials.  There’s a package of small seed beads and tiny jingle bells and a zipper.  The printed embroidery is a dresser scarf, and the lace is for embellishing collars or necklines, but I will likely use it for embellingshing just about anything but…The dresser scarf will give me one more thing to do when I watch movies in the evening.  I couldn’t resist either…they were simply too reasonably priced.  Last week I shortened a pair of black dress slacks for my sister-in-law.  I painstakingly removed the hem tape, because I had none to replace it.  Now I do just in case I ever need it.  I guess the little pink plastic thing is a protractor.  It will come in handy for drawing the pincushion pattern I have running around in my brain.

This big, red tray will come in handy…It looks retro, but it’s in such good shape I imagine it is a reproduction.  It will probably end up on my kitchen island with other things sitting on it.

I spotted the old watering can and thought of a bloggy friend in Virginia with a caravan of antiquated watering cans along the wall of her porch.  This one looked so lonely, and I petitioned a spot for it in her impressive collection.

This little griddle has been on my wish list for a while…I was thrilled to find it.  It’s a LODGE USA.

Here’s one last picture…an overall view of most of the stuff I bought.  I did forget to put the ball jar mugs (3) in the grouping.  They were in the dishwasher.  I also forgot to add the Rawlings T-ball bat and ball.  It is brand new…still in the package…and will be given to our three-year old grandson the next time we see him if I can find it.  He should be just the right size for it.

All these things cost less than a new LODGE griddle pan would cost so resisting the urge to thrift will be a lot more difficult for a while.

Until next time…

We can tell our values by looking at our checkbook stubs.   –Gloria Steinem

 

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Product Review For CSN Stores

CSN Stores have given me an opportunity to review one of their products and share that review with you.  Sometime in the near future I will receive one of their many products to use in my home.  CSN Stores stock brand named items we all know and trust like Le Creuset (the cookware we all wish we had).  Their product inventory ranges from housewares to furniture…home decor to outdoor living needs…toys for the entire family…and baby items to items for our beloved pets, and more.  Prices range from high-end to very affordable.  CSN Stores literally has something for everyone.

Because I am very health conscious I’ve chosen to try and review the Emril reversible grill.  That should take my grilling up a notch!  “Bam, bam, bam!”   Don’t you think?

I hope you will stay tuned for my review.  It’s coming soon.  In the meantime, check out the CSN Stores on the web.  CSN Stores is an international company with over 200 stores to serve us, and they make shopping for almost everything as easy as a click of the mouse.

Until next time…

A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!

~ King Solomon ~

oxo

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More Felting Fun – Slippers

Little did I know when I accepted Carla’s  Recycled Sweater Challenge on Feathered Fibers that I would enjoy it so much.  I’ve got ideas for using my felted wool dancing in my head.  It won’t be long before I have to go thrifting for more cast off wool.

My husband had a pair of slippers with holes in the soles that I cut apart and used to make a pattern.  Yesterday I made one slipper from a felted wool sweater.  Today I finished the pair. I think the pattern would be easy to adjust size, and I’ll give it a try later on.  I’d love to have a pair for myself.

I’ve still neglected to change the date on my camera.

After a little more thought on the slippers, I decided they would be a better fit and of more comfort with the sole seam on the exterior.  I used my trusty seam ripper to remove the sole seam and revised the slipper.  It is an improvement.

I also used some small pieces to make  a case for my camera.

I shouldn’t be having so much fun alone.  Why not join in on Carla’s challenge and share what you make?

Until next time…

It’s no use going to a goat’s house to look for wool.  ~ Irish saying ~

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