Tackling UFOS.............................

Recently, I read a blog about tackling your UFOs--

here is their advice--

gather your UFOs

Place each in a plain brown paper bag--staple or tie up tight

Number each

Take single pieces of EVEN cut paper and number

them--write 1 to 10 or higher if you have more UFOs bagged.

Before you begin a new project, pull a number from the

singles, and take the corresponding number of the UFO

that has been securely tied

Finish that UFO!

Sounds good, right??

Well, I could see some flaws with this technique--

1.  I'd remember which bag had which UFO--somehow,

my memory works on my UFO projects!

2.  Pull a number and pick corresponding UFO, open

the bag--nope!  I don't want to do that one--that's why it's

a UFO

3.  The new project I just began, became a UFO

4.  I see something interesting and put down the UFO

to begin that project.....that's when my will power and this method go out the window!

Nothing wrong with this way to conquer that pile of UFO's--

so I'll try.............to finish at least one..........

before I begin new project!

Well, here we are--all the blocks were completed and half

of the rows had been sewn together and it languished--why??

Who knows?  Not me!

It only took an hour to sew the rest of the blocks together

and finish up the rows

One UFO down--

Now, to find a NEW project to begin........

Off The Loom!!!!

After weeks, no--most likely months--I've cut off 7 yards of warp!

A warp and weft of all my handspun natural cottons (been stock piled for awhile)

It feels so good when you pull off the last bit and take the scissors

to finish off a project!

Done!  Ready to tie on another one--

what a view--a stack of towels.

This brings back memories of the indigo dyed handspun cotton 

piece of 10 yards I did many moons ago--That piece was

juried into several exhibits and was chosen to represent

the state of Louisiana at Convergence--Handweavers Guild

of America biannual conference in Toronto, Canada--the first

Convergence held outside of US. 

From the seven yard warp, here are the seven towels that

are finished with hems--just need to wash to complete

the project

Although the warp was the same--I varied the weft sections--

whatever yarn I had on the bobbin was thrown--this

section was alternated with white and brown cotton.

So Creative.............

Some people are so creative and think 'outside of the box'!  I remember many moons ago when
we learned from Mary Ellen Hopkins' book "It's Okay to Sit On My Quilt" that you could cut your sewing time in half by the use of corner sewing a block on top of another block--

That was a real eye opener for me--I still use this technique today in my work.

But, Eva Paige, above video, has established another method of

pulling half squares out of an accordion sewing block!  Just

blew my mind!

Watch the video and be amazed!  Why can't I be so creative?!

Leaf Lace knitting................

I've always wanted to weave my handspun silk to make pillowcases--it's a life long project and goal-- recently, I found just the right pattern to do the edging for these ongoing pillow cases--

Isn't this just elegant looking?  I think my handspun silk would look

lovely in this pattern--

The pattern is understandable and would be easy to knit--

you can find this interesting pattern and others at Stitch Maps--

want to join me as I begin my journey for those handwoven, handspun

pillowcases? 

Memories at My Fingertips..........

Memories--ah, memories!  Those treasured times, places, people, sight you can recall--
I have so many t-shirts that hold memories as well--places I've visited, workshops I've attended--

I decided to use those Tee-shirts to make my memory quilt!  As I cut each one into 12" pieces,
the memories flooded back--all my t-shirts are from weaving or spinning events.  I may not have
the item I produced in the workshop anymore, but I have the shirt--the shirt was proudly worn to
boast "I was here!"

One of my dear friends loves to make t-shirt quilts and she'll search and search for the perfect
fabric to use that makes the quilt pop--but, I was lazy--just get those squares together, get them
quilted, and sit back to enjoy the memories.

Here they are!  together and quilted with a cool sheep pattern--

which is hard to see 

Maybe, you attended some of these events

Spinning conferences--or wool conferences--

some had really neat shirts

This is my backing

Don't you just love the border?!! 

Here comes the memories............

Agatha June Mystery

Another Poirot mystery- Sheila Webb, a Stenographer,

is instructed to let herself into 19 Wilbraham Crescent and finds

the body of a dead man sprawled on the living room floor.

Poirot on the case finding time was a factor--Sheila remembers

hearing a cuckoo clock strike three O'clock--

the other four clocks in the living room 

show the time as 4:13 and only one of these

clocks belonged to the owner!

Mystery indeed!  And another mystery--what to knit for

this interesting tale?

When I typed in "Clocks" to Ravelry pattern section,

five pages of patterns appeared--that didn't help with

the decision--

patterns for socks, potholders, shawls, mitts, actual clocks,

scarves, and the list goes on and on--just like a clock--

I finally settled on a hat--

The Time Thief Watch Hat designed by

 Antoinette Buchanan

This pattern reminded me of the hats I've done in the past

using up all my small bits of yarn--

it's a go! 

I had the yarn left overs from various projects--one was the FLG

I posted about few days ago.  The hat has been begun--I knitted

along as I watched the story unfold on Acorn--I know I cheated--

I didn't read the book--sure do enjoy watching though as I knit!

Don't Freak Out.............!

Please don't freak out on me!  This post is meant to be

educational and debunk any myths you might have

about rattlesnakes....

Recently, we were fortunate to hear from professional

rattlesnake wranglers from Sweetwater, Texas--

the home of the rattlesnake round-up every year.

They brought along their 'snake pit' and the floor was

covered with 25 or so rattlers--these are Western variety.  The guys

in the pit were walking amongst the snakes without any strikes on

their boots--of course, they were wearing heavy leather

boots!  

A rattler can live up to 25 years or longer in captivity--in the

wild not so long as they are prey to predators--

Rattlers will not warn you by their shaking their rattlers --strike first

and then rattle!  Each rattle on the tail is developed after they

have eaten a big prey (mouse, rat, rabbit, etc.) They shed their

skin and add a rattle

There are 8 different species in Texas.  This one is diamond back

western.  The snakes can climb trees, hide and swim ponds.

There are over 150 snakes that are not venomous.

Snakes are sexed by the number of rings on their tail.

Snakes are born live--not from eggs--and up to 25 or

more babies can be born.  The younger the snake

the more venomous they are. And they will strike

more often than an older snake.

The fangs are 3/4 to 1 inch long.  The fang will break

off when they get an animal but the fang will grown back within

a few hours.

The venom is 'milked' from the fangs and used for

anti-venom vaccine.  If you do not receive treatment

within a few hours of a bite, you could face death!

Acadian Brown Cotton

Cotonjaune from Sharon Gordon Donnan on Vimeo.

June 2015 on this blog there was other information regarding Acadian Brown Cotton--

Recently, this video was shared on Gist Yarn podcast--oh, so many fond memories!  Love these ladies and their heritage--My Acadian friends were sharing from their hearts and  hands--I learned many techniques--how to gin brown cotton by hand, how to card to make a rolag, spinning off the point, plying and most important--how they used this fine delicate short staple cotton.

If you interested and want more information, look for their educational video on Acadian Brown Cotton website.  I enjoy viewing the video over and over as I watch many of my Friends share their heritage with the fiber world.

"Happy Little Things"

Jacquelynn Stevens  is offering

"Happy Little Things" FREE block of the month

Sew Along!

If it's based on Stars I'm so in--I know I said no more quilt tops--

but this is lending to maybe a small wall hanging or

table runner.  Looks like fun stitching.  

The above sample shows applique, that is optional--

why not do embroidery or just piecing--

Visit her website to sign up for this Block of the month,

which runs from August through December--I know!  it

seems early, but by signing up, the information comes to you

in an email--I've signed up already so I won't forget when

August rolls around!

The Hands Have It!

I've been knitting on these FLG (fingerless gloves)

for weeks--I started out with brown yarn and finished one

glove--ugh!  hated it!  Couldn't see the pattern and it looked

just plain dull--so I picked up this yarn to begin again!

I loved knitting the pattern!  It was just so addictive--I

didn't want to quit--I finished the right hand glove and then

got side tracked for a few days--when I tried on the glove it

was too small for my hand--I used the wrong size needle

and didn't cast on enough stitches for my large hand--oh bummer!

This is the palm--isn't it cool looking?!  just love the 

design--"Phytomitts" by Michele Pelletier--you can

find it on Ravelry--it was FLG knit along a month or so ago.

close up of the palm--I didn't take a photo of the thumb--

but there is a leaf on the thumb tip too!

My friend, Sandy, has a small hand--so she was 

gifted the right hand glove .I didn't have the left

 finished that day but completed the pattern

And mailed the left glove to Sandy!  I hope she

enjoys wearing these.  Of course, the gloves are two

different colors--I like to do something different....

Sandy will have to live with it!!

Weavers' Exchange

Since it's summer and no regular meetings are scheduled for our

weavers' study group, periodically, there will be a gathering

at a local coffee shop.  If possible, members attend to

discuss their activities, weaving successes or failure

or just plans for weaving.

We met recently and I was happy that I was in town

and able to attend.  This was a chance to hear about

the state conference that was held at the end of May.

From the organization of the state conference, eight weavers

joined a exchange of handwoven napkins--the warp was the

same color and size 16/2--weft was the individual's color choice--

your pattern choice--just had to be twill.  The above napkins

are Marian C--and she brought them to share.

So glad she did too!  

There were eight different patterns with

Marian's color choice of blue--others chose

black, taupe, green, beige, etc

The idea is to weave your pattern with the other weft choices--

when finished you have a different napkin from each

member of the exchange in your color

These were all so charming!

Almost too pretty to use as napkins--

Everyone that attended the coffee had their favorite 

design--me, I liked them all

Looking at these towels, I could almost name the weaver who

did the design--so familiar is their work.

Years ago, our weavers' group was studying overshot and

we did the same type of exchange--using same warp--size and color,

we chose our color, drafted our design, and wove each other's

color in our design--by the time you are finished--there

was a nice set of eight placements.

Great study and exchange.

A Day With Friends

A super hot day!  cool inside though with friends who are sharing their

talents--we haven't met much lately and this day was our

last gathering till Sept--oh, there will be planned

retreats for some--lots of travel for others--then the

stories to share of our adventures when we gather again!

Super bright!  Love this top!  I'm partial to Orange, of course!

Linda created this bargello top in a workshop/class--

Smashing colors and quilting!

Linda's quilt of warmth for her granddaughter,

who loves to dance!

Judy is working on this pattern, very well aged by 10 years!

Once she saw this, she knew she had to make this quilt for

her dining room!

It is such an astounding work!  So impressed by the ability to

figure this out--Judy is taking it step at a time--

The pattern is from Buggy Barn, which sadly is no longer in

business--and this pattern is out of print. 

Each piece is hand appliqued with care and precision

This is how Judy is finishing up the piece to applique

She is using this product called 'whisperlite'--it is

certainly sheer and adds no weight to the piece like some

other stabilizers

Judy has finished the Christmas gnome top from

Fatcat Patterns--it was 2018 block of the month

Some of the blocks set your teeth on edge but she

handled the placement and stitching of this block perfectly

Here is her stitching on the Joy block

Sandy is tackling this awesome quilt pattern by

Bonnie Vanqool for Windham Fabrics

She has many grey fabrics--now, just needs to choose

her brights--this pattern is made with all half square

triangles

Annette has been working on her Grandmother's flower

garden quilt for many moons--it's all paper pieced--

she is sewing the top together by add each square

Several of the gals are working on 2019 block of the month

from Pat Sloan's Out of this World--Linda has chosen

red, white and blue fabrics for her theme.  

Judy's is on the display wall as he adds her blocks--

she has chosen sheep as her focal point.

Sorry to say, these gals put me to shame!

I've not got a focus fabric or any thought as

what to do with these blocks--

maybe, I'll dig through my stash to see what I

can use.

A good day spent with friends sewing is better than any

other day!