Better Late..........................Than Never!

"Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ''In five years, will this matter?"  Life Lessons According to Regina

Austin, Texas 2015

By Now, you have probably seen a zillion photos from QuiltCon 2015 held in Austin last weekend--well, brace yourself, here are more!  I'm just a little late to the game.  I should post from the site--maybe, that should be my next determination!

anyway, here is my badge--Love what they do with the Name tags.  And many of the vendors gave out buttons and there was a swapping frenzy with buttons--I'm on the lame side with my number!

The set-up to check in or add classes was a dream--computer terminals and assistance in the main lobby--wish all conferences ran like this. 

Fabric merchants with their bright line-up of newest trends were situated around the floor

Chances to test your knowledge of Kona Solids--I didn't even try!

And personal appearances by many--like Jenny from Missouri Star.  My friend Linda was happy to meet and greet Jenny, who was willing to autograph her latest Mod Block Book for Linda. 

Oh, yeah!  Nice addition to their Block Magazine--I'm ready to subscribe!  The price is right on!

Take a look at their awards! 

Special exhibits--this one features Gee's Bends

Two of the quilts from that collection.

I'll be back tomorrow with some dandy quilts I liked.

See you then..........

Gift for Julie!

"Burn the candles, use your nice sheets, wear your fancy lingerie.....Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special."  Life Lessons According to Regina

Remember the French Braid that we were squaring up for Expatchers?

We are finished!  This will be a gift for our dear friend, Julie, who is fighting a tough battle with cancer.  Julie, who lives in California, lived, worked, laughed. sewed with us while we were in Venezuela.  She was always one with a bright smile and a happy thought!

  The gals worked on the top with their own stash fabrics.  I'm sorry I wasn't there for most of the creating and sewing. 

Sandy did the embroidery--signing what we felt for Julie--Peace!

--Love!

And most of all our hearts!

I was there to help stitch down the binding and appreciate the beauty of friendship.

 

For the label, Judy M penned each of the givers' names in the loops of the heart.

Lovely piece of art for our dear friend Julie...............................we want for her comfort and this  token of our prayers to surround her.

 

 

 

FeatherWeight--

"No one is in charge of your happiness but you"  Life Lessons According to Regina

 

 

I read blog posts from Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville and she is in heaven with her sewing machines.  She is always writing about her search for Featherweight machines. 

One day it finally hit me!! I have a featherweight machine!  It was my Grandmother's and it's in the closet!  Of course, all sundry of boxes are parked on top of it, so over time I've just become used to not "Seeing" it!  If you know what I mean..............  But there is the case

and I open it up to see these goodies from my Granny. See that light blue folded paper on top?  That's the bill of sale! 

It looks in pretty good shape--haven't sewn with it yet.  I do remember that right after my Granny died, my mother gave me the machine--that has been over 30 years ago.  I really need to see if it still works.  There are plenty of places where you can get service these days.

Granny paid a total of $138 for this machine.

And she bought it in 1948--$138 was a lot of money in those days!  I'm so happy I remembered about this 'forgotten' machine!  and I'm thankful mother thought to give it to me! 

Another Set from QAL

"When it comes to going after what you love in life.....don't take no for an answer"  Life Lessons According to Regina

Okay, we have been working in our spare (!) time to build these quilt blocks!  The pattern calls for squares cut 3 7/8" and then cut across diagonal.  I always hate cutting anything at 7/8", so usually go up to the full inch, sew and then trim.

For these, the HSTs will finish at 3.5" so I found my paper HSTs to sew and away we go!

6.5" square; easy to square up

Here are my flying geese--3.5"x 6.5" rectangles.  We are through steps 3, 4 & 5.  The finish is near--just need to find more SPARE time to sew!

Am I Blue??!!

"Be eccentric now...Don't wait for old age to wear purple"  Life Lessons According to Regina

Am I Blue?!  Of course, NOT!

But, I'm seeing blue when at our last spinners gathering, Penny brought her lovely basket of yarns that she had recently dyed with indigo.

Can I say--I really really love these yarns!  Especially that one in the front with the variations!

Penny even dyed her t-shirt with indigo.  Go visit Penny at Sky Loom Weavers  She can dye you a indigo blue yarn or -t-shirt if you so desire!!

Eco-Dyeing

." Over prepare, then go with the flow"  Life Lessons According to Regina

Have you been following this 'new' trend in dyeing cloth?  Of course, there is nothing new when it comes to dyeing.  Eco-dyeing has been around for hundreds of years.  Take a look at these pins--Linda Mathews on Eco Dyeing

Rosemary had a good time doing her eco dyeing samples on wool felt.  She used a variety of plant materials

She is thinking of a jacket made from her squares.  Try your hand at this easy method of dyeing with natural materials.  Check out this Eco Dyeing Workshop

Downton Abbey QAL

"It's never too late to have a happy childhood.....But the second one is up to you and no one else"  Life Lessons According to Regina

Here is block 2 of Downton Abbey QAL--there are three or four choices but I choose medley so I have a sample of each block for the quilt. 

Here are two more blocks.

Points Do Matter................

"Get rid of anything that isn't useful , beautiful or joyful" Life Lessons According to Regina

 

 

 

Our Expatchers group is working on a French Braid Quilt as a gift.  It is a joint project with the members and sewing has been intense!  One section of the braid has been completed so it is time to trim off the points.

 

Brenda is lining up the ruler 1/4" away from the section--

She makes sure the ruler is lined up all long the length before she cuts

She has trimmed up the section

Now, to make sure it is 1/4" away from the main section--good trimming Brenda.  Points do matter.

The big reveal will come later.

1083 Stitches Later.......................

"Take a deep breath....It calms the mind"  Life Lessons According to Regina


Okay, I took the plunge--at first, I thought I would wait, but then again why wait??  Then again, I'm behind a month.. The thought just kept nagging at me--'do it!  Cast on 1083 stitches.  You can do it!'

Yes, I can!  It took several evenings but here is 1083 stitches--at least, I hope there are 1083.  I put a marker at 100 stitches to keep track and not count 1083!

This is well aged yarn that I got at Brown Sheep Factory Store.  I have three skeins--will only hope it will be enough to finish this mystery project.  If not, we'll come up with something else.  Not to worry now, we are going with 1083 stitches and February's knitting clue from Ravelry group--KOM Rivers Knitting Guild is associated with TKGA located in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Orphan Train

"Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry.... God never blinks" Life Lessons According to Regina

 

I recently completed this interesting book about the Orphan Train.  This was a part of American history from 1853-1930; more than 120,000 children between the ages of 6 and 18 were removed from slums and city streets--mostly, from New York City and taken to the Midwest. 

Very controversial program to say the least. 

I have the copy of the book if you want to read it--just let me know.

Happy Mardi Gras!

 

"Don't audit life....Show up and make the most of it now"  Life Lessons According to Regina

 

 

 

This is the BIG day of celebrations!  It is Fat Tuesday!  It comes once a year, but we party like no tomorrow!  All ends at midnight!  

Happy Mardi Gras!  

How will you celebrate before Lent?

Slow Progress

." If a relationship has to be a secret, then you shouldn't be in it"  Life Lessons According to Regina




It has definitely been a slow month for any progress on my projects!  There are so many things on the 'TO DO" list and I'm only able to check off one, which is the first block of Downton Abbey QAL by Love Bug Studios

It's a large block--20.5"x20.5"  I like working with this size--

Modern Quilt Con!

" Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about."  Life Lessons According to Regina


A group of Expatchers are heading to Quilt Con!  The conference begins February 19th and it is being held in Austin, TX.  Alas, this will be the last year QuiltCon will be held in Austin for awhile.

I know it's a good thing it is moving to West and East Coast.  But, I'm sad too!  I love being in Austin--now, I'll need another excuse to be there!

 

Sweet Valentines!

." When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile"  Life Lessons According to Regina

 

 

Sweethearts! Share time together with flowers, chocolates, dinner at a special place!  

Hope your day is filled with sweet treats!  

 

 

Here is another treat for you!

 

Cool hearts from Ms. Ellaneous Crafts a Life

Whose a scary cat?

"It's OK to let your children see you cry"  Life Lessons According to Regina

Friday the 13th, also known as Black Friday in some countries, is considered an unlucky day in Western superstition. It occurs when the 13th day of the month in the Gregorian calendar falls on a Friday. There is no written evidence for a "Friday the 13th" superstition before the 19th century, and the superstition only gained widespread distribution in the 20th century. The fear of the number 13 has been given a scientific name: triskadekaphobia; and on analogy to this the fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia, from the Greek words Paraskeví (Παρασκευή, meaning "Friday"), and dekatreís (δεκατρείς, meaning "thirteen)


Why?? Where did the origins of our fear of Friday 13th come from?  Good Luck today!!

Memories!

"Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present"  Life Lessons According to Regina

 

 

We are in the process of cleaning up my mother's home as she has moved to Assisted Living.  It's amazing what you find in a 94 year old possession.  I've uncovered many papers, lots of magazines, interesting old photos and on the kitchen cabinet--in a corner I found this!!

 

I jumped with joy!  This was my favorite recipe box back in early 1970's.  I had bought two--one for myself (which was lost in 1976 fire) and this one for mother.   Asphodel Plantation, built 1830, was the place to enjoy a good lunch.  Oh my goodness--I remember the many times we ventured to plantation area in East Feliciana parish - near Jackson and St Francisville.  Louisiana.  Now, I learn that Asphodel Plantation is Movie Studio--still has B&B and there is a small café--wonder if they include some of Marcelle "Nootsie" Couhig's recipe.

And there is the BEST recipe ever for fresh baked bread!  Quick bread!  there was nothing like Asphodel Bread!  Once again we'll enjoy this recipe!