Today

photo credit

    Today we pause to remember

live lost

heroes found

images seen

devastation beyond belief. 

Let us never forget.

Are We Quilting or Piecing?

   I want to learn to quilt... this comment is heard and used by many once they realize you are a quilter, but it is often misused. I myself wanted to learn to quilt..and learn I did, but I didn't realize until years later there is a difference between quilting and piecing.

Grab a cup of tea and join me in the sewing room  for a chat. 

Let's stitch something wonderful!

What's In My Sewing Room...

   Dreary grey rain kept me tucked inside today, venturing out only when necessary (seems my animals like to eat). The day found me in the sewing room working and cutting. As you can see two prairie dolls are eagerly waiting their pretty dresses, which are pressed and cut. On the bottom of this stack is a 'practice sandwich' I am using in my online free motion quilting class. Today..'wiggly lines'..or, better known as 'stippling'. Tension and speed are my focus right now..keeping my foot and hands moving in coordination- challenging.

   The first prairie tot has come together with a few kinks and glitches, but she came together none the less. I have some notes and adjustments to set in place for the next one.. already waiting for my attention. Seems a good idea to work the problems out if the little girl design before tackling the little boy tot, although I can't wait to see him sporting his hat and broad fall pants.

   Way back on the table sets three Dresden blocks I am playing with. They were started a few years back when all my kids were heavily invested in 4H..thus the white clovers on green fabric. I can not remember the original idea in my mind, therefore the blocks sit there for me to rearrange and mull over. In reality, I like the layout above..possibly using it for my free motion class section on quilting a running clover design.

  Here the blocks are spread out a bit more..not my favorite. To me, it seems the 'buds' should be closer to the full 'flower'. No hurry, there is plenty of time to run it around my mind some more.

   The crumb quilt is still on the frame and moving right along...those Baptist fans are time consuming, but working. While not my favorite quilt, it is growing on me..and my Jen; she seems to have a heart for this scrappy little ditty. We'll see how it goes..she may sneak this one into her hope chest.

   Oh, how my heart desires to go spend some more time stitching and creating...I had better not. Classes are in session again tomorrow so some reading preparation would be a real good idea. Thanks for visiting the sewing room with me..now, what's on your project table?

New and Busy Start

   Deary wet and cold..that is how this first day of the new year started for us..just a bunch of nasty not niceness. Topping off the list of not niceness- two sick kids.. Justin and June. My farm boy is still fighting a feverish congestion and my little goat is just not thriving. Slippery trips between the barn and the living room to care for my charges..that was one busy start to this new year.

    Another busy start to the year is a new quilt on the frame and a new design to go on it. It's no secret I love traditional quilts..their style and design connect me to the past and my wild prairie home. To start my year with my prairie close to my heart a pretty crumb sampler style quilt was pulled from the unfinished bin and set in the frame. To continue the connection to my past a motif was chosen to link my two heritages together. My father's family held in it a Baptist pastor..therefore the Baptist fan motif will grace the yards of my churn dashers and flying geese. Already a challenge, row one is done..now to manage a second.

   For one more crazy start to this year..new thimbles. I have used the same worn out plastic thimble since as far as I can remember..but my hands have been killing me so I ventured into new territory with a whole new set of thimbles. Deeply dimpled and custom fit to my small hands and nubby fingers, the Thimble Lady thimbles arrived under my tree and quickly made their way to my fingers. Can you believe I am learning to quilt with my thumb as well? Ever so helpful in this particular pattern.

     Finally, one more busy start to the new year..changes and revisions to our shop. Jen and I have been busy at work with fresh new photos and spiffed up write-ups..even a few new items to be seen. We have designed business cards and flyers, redesigned the banners and are still working on the custom price listing. For me, the absolute hardest thing about the shop is putting a price to my work. On one hand it seems so odd to value my work, and on an other it seems invaluable..I don't know how other people do it.
      I will lay my head down tonight with colors and motifs dancing in the darkness. Sounds of coughing and little goat cries will keep my ears attentive..and the collision of my family past will great me anew in the form of a waiting quilt. It has been a wet and new and busy start, but oh what a good start it is.

Welcome Fall: Fragrant Pine Cones

   It came and went without the faintest hint of cooler weather; the first day of fall. Despite the lack of lower temps, the beauty of the season is evident all around us: leaves transforming from summer greens to golden hues, the herd munches heartily on every green thing, night falls a bit sooner each day.

  With the change of season comes the shift in crafty goodness. In the place of bright flowers and greenery comes deep golden brown leaves and the many warm colors of gourds and acorns. Pine cones start to fall from the trees and make their way to the craft counter..so versatile and beautiful.
  
   In honor of fall with it's many hearty scents and textures, scented pine cones take center stage. Soothing cinnamon or clove, calming sandalwood, invigorating pine and cleansing sage are easily preserved in the many layers of the pine cone.

 

   Using essential oils (or the cooking oils found in the spice isle at your grocery store), drop several drops of oil- scent of your choice- onto the pine cone focusing on crevices, place the scented cones in a resealable bag and let them cure one week. Now add them to your display or decor. These make great gifts and may be used in the fireplace for a burst of scent. My girls tie a ribbon on the end and hang on in their closet..mint is their favorite scent. The farm boy prefers the warmth of cinnamon and cloves..placing it on the shoe shelf of his closet. 

   For a twist on the scented cones, melt beeswax or paraffin (adding color or scent desired), dip your pine cones in- I tie a string around them to prevent us from burning our hands, let them dry on wax paper and package them neatly with some spiced cider, popcorn and a good book or movie for a cute gift basket.

   This week we focus our sights of the hope of cooler weather; of winter gardens and rustling leaves. Our senses will tingle with tantalizing aromas, spicy flavors, and the beauty of warm color. Yes, it is time to gather the garlands and welcome fall. 

 

 

Sewing Room Saturday: Early Handwork

   Beginning stitches are often uneven and, if it shows, it can be very frustrating for the one stitching. In an attempt to keep projects progressive with their skills, I used blank canvas, tapestry needles and yarn. Tapestry needles are larger and easier to hold while the canvas provides stability and a guide for stitch length and direction.
   As comfort was attained with small blank canvas pieces (sometimes cut in cute shapes, i.e. heart, cross, star), a simple design was added. To a small square canvas a heart outline, or such, was drawn with permanent marker giving the beginner the challenge of following a design.
   Advancing on, we progressed to cross stitch cloth in a hoop. Early designs were simple shapes and sometimes their own early art work. Samplers developed from these beginning lessons..and gifts were given to grandmothers to show their heritage being passed along.

   Hankies and hand towels, small pillows and bookmarks proudly came from these days of early handwork. I still have many of my children's beginning stitches, such as this playful kitten pillow. They stir fond memories of family and fireplace, of triumphs and trials, of success and starting overs..those wonderful days of early handwork.

Sewing Room Saturday: Early Instruction

   In the beginning of my children's sewing instruction the use of a sewing machine was a rather daunting thing. Speed and fabric control are skills even a seasoned adult can admit to struggling with- I do. When tackling this lesson with my kiddos, we placed a piece of lined tablet paper in the machine with an old (or dull) needle. This gave a plain pattern to follow while they focused on controlling the speed of the machine.

   After comfort was gained with straight lines, curvy, wavy and zigzag lines were drawn on paper with a dark marker for continued practice in maneuvering the paper under the needle while maintaining control of the speed. These early days of practice and patience gave way to confidence for the task of cutting and piecing those early projects.   
 

Why I Garden

   I must admit, whenever the question is asked 'why I garden' it stumps me. Gardening has been a part of my life for so many years, it seems I just never gave much thought as to why I do it. My grandmothers gardened, my great-grandmothers, my dad worked a garden. Gardening, for me, has just always been.
   As I ponder it, many reasons to garden come to mind. First and foremost, healthy, natural produce is provided for my family by the kitchen garden. Stewardship over the blessing of land, time and knowledge God has graciously seen fit to provide me is another. I do believe if you have it you should use it and use it wisely. My husband enjoys the satisfaction of fresh foods from the fields when he sits down at his table. Yet, there is more.
   Entering the garden gate, my heart connects to my heritage; the women of years past who toiled the soil before me. My mind carries back over the  years to green bean picking and weed pulling from days on the prairie; wind whipping my hair, bare feet wiggling in the soil. Gardens my father raised- raw turnips straight from the ground snacked on from the row's end. It is a link to my past and a road to my future. Even so, there is a deeper reason.
   Life began in a garden, and for me, life is sustained in a garden. Not simply by the harvest of food, but the oneness with the Lord- a oneness I have found no where else. The mere unfurling leaves from the lifeless form a of a seed reveals the majesty and grace of a creative and amazing God. His intricate attention to detail found it the leaves and petals of every plant- the cycle of life, the flurry of activity as bees pollinate and worms turn soil. Every brush of wind is like the gently touch of His hand. The garden holds a spiritual tie to the author and finisher of life in this world..it sustains me.
   As my children have grown, gardening has become part of their lives; a heritage passed on. There stories are told of their grandparents and I working together; of their first garden experiences when they were small. Green beans are munched right from the bush as wiggle worms are marveled over. Baskets full of food bring satisfaction to their hearts when carried back to the farmhouse table. Quiet moments are shared as birds sing and bees buzz; our hearts sense His presence as the breeze brushes our faces.
   I garden because it is part of me; it always has been; it always will be. It is my heritage, my heart, and my soul...my quiet moments with my Lord. I garden, because I can.