Here's Your Fall Palette!

Pantone has the color selection for your fall accessories, clothing or anything else

that colors your world. 

Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute™,explains “the desire for tranquility, strength, and optimism have inspired a Fall 2016 color palette that is led by the Blue family. Along with anchoring earth tones, exuberant pops of vibrant colors also appear throughout the collections. Transcending gender, these unexpectedly vivacious colors in our Fall 2016 palette act as playful but structured departures from your more typical fall shades.”

Check out Design Sponge's blog report on the first three colors of the scheme.

How do you feel about these colors?  Will they color your world this fall?

Fiber Through The Fingers...............

Last fall when we had a natural dyeing day, I took some of my handspun two ply silk

and wound them into small butterflies for the dye pots.  It's a good way to have samples

of the colors you got from each dye pot

The two on either side of the lavender one (I know it doesn't look lavender, but it is!)

are dyed with indigo.  My little butterflies waiting to be wound into balls 

I have a variety of colors from each dye pot--Now, they are ready to be used in 

my embroidery.  Many moons ago, I did this and gave the samples as a gift to

a friend, who used them in late 1700 's samplers--I felt so honored that she would use

them in that regard.   I love the feel of the silk fibers running through my fingers.

Aprons!

I love aprons!  I posted several months ago about an apron exhibit several of us participated in through the internet and we were fortunate enough to have a nice exhibition at International Quilt Festival.  Today on one of my blog reviews I found an apron tutorial--all free!

This apron is perfect for any time wear while in the kitchen or I could see it being worn while working in the yard or maybe even while weaving or sewing--big pockets are a major feature in

my book!

Patchwork Posse blog has many apron tutorials--an apron for any use or purpose.

A Friend That Enables!

Do you have a friend who enables you?!  I do!  Plus I can be an enabler too!  This morning my Florida friend called and we talked and talked, then she sent me a link....................................
she enabled me!  and I enabled her--giving her ways she could and would use all these tiny looms.

Tottie Talks Crafts is the link--now, I'm looking at this woven shawl and

thinking if only..............................

I could use those tiny looms for many purposes and as I told my friend this

morning, the tiny looms could be stored easily because they are TINY!

Both know of someone in our group that has the larger loom we could

BORROW!

ok, enabler friend, the brain is whirling!

A Sweet Treat For Sunday Lunch

We are making a sweet treat for Sunday lunch--

we have fresh pineapple that we have cored and

cut into slices-grilled for short while to get some smoky flavor,

then put in food processor to make smaller chunks

Whipped up some heavy cream--little sweetener and vanilla for added taste,

Mixed in the crushed pineapple chunks

An angel food cake--made from a mix, but it could be purchased already made--hubby

said that would have been cheaper as I couldn't find my angel food cake pan and

he spent $10 on one!

Slice the cake into three layers and spread each layer heavily

with whipped cream/pineapple mixture

Stack each layer

Added last of the whipped cream/pineapple mixture to the top--

if you have extra cream spread around the sides.

Refrigerator till ready to eat--slice and enjoy!

Everyone enjoyed this delightful summer time dessert--easy to make, but

delish to eat!!

The Making Of A Sweater!

Over the years, I've made a sweater or two--not successful, I must say!  I always have trouble with the seaming, fitting correctly and the buttonholes.  Now, I have the perfect chance to do a sweater and do it right!

 

Here we have the making of a sweater with the assistance of Fringe Association website!

A tutorial that will take me from the neck down, body to the sleeves!

I think this might get me a sweater that I'll wear!

Dinner And A Movie!

In most movie theaters now, you can reserve your seat, pay in advance and be prepared to enter the movie without long lines and the worry of not getting a ticket for sold out show.  In our area, we have many movie theaters, some that provide a dining experience too, so there is a choice but when the choice comes to attend a QUOTE ALONG!  movie that's the best!!

MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL QUOTE-ALONG

We are so there but just by a margin--almost didn't get seats for this one time event!  I think we might have a good evening, singing and quoting along with the actors on screen!  The one time you CAN talk and sing during a movie!!

Squares, Stripes,Rectangles--Oh My!

This quilt popped up on my blog watch the other day--how fun this is!  Such colorful fabrics--great stash smasher too!  This pattern is designed by  Allison Harris, who has written couple of quilting books.  I'm thinking this could be a quick children's quilt.

Here is the other quilt she made 4.5 years ago and she even has tutorial just for our use!

Wednesday.........................Yarn Round-up!

I keep moving them from one place to another hoping little gremlins will come

in during the night and do the work I have been putting off!

It's time!  I can't move them anymore.............

These socks need to have the toes closed with Kitchener stitch!  I have my needle at the ready

and the directions--let's get started!

One pair down!  Yay!  another pair to go!

And we are finished!  I don't know why I dread doing this last finishing touch--

I just need to keep saying "purl, purl, knit, knit" and it works out beautifully!

I'm anxious to try Susan B Anderson's  Smooth Operator Sock pattern--

she has developed a way to close the toes without the Kitchener Stitch--how can that be?!!

YARN--The Movie!

Meet the artists who are redefining the tradition of knit and crochet, bringing yarn out of the house and into the world. Reinventing our relationship with this colorful tradition, YARN weaves together wool graffiti artists, circus performers, and structural designers into a visually-striking look at the women who are making a creative stance while building one of modern art's hottest trends.

I'm waiting for this film to come to the neighborhood closest to me!

International Quilt Fest..................................................

The other day while visiting with expatcher friends, the question of Quilt Festival came up.

Oh, My!  I hadn't given it a thought.  We live right here where this big event takes place!

Once home, I downloaded the class schedule and took my time looking over the classes--

sooooo many good workshops--two days, one day, half day, seminars, etc.

and the exhibits

already, my brain is on over load!

Quilt Festival Houston

November 3-6, 2016

Preview Night November 2

Classes begin October 31

George R. Brown Convention Center

1001 Avenida de las Americas

Houston, Texas, USA 77010

SHOW HOURS:

Preview Night: 7-10 p.m.
(5-10 p.m. for Class Enrollees and IQA Members)

Thursday, Nov 3-Saturday, Nov 5: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Sunday, Nov 6: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

DAILY ADMISSION:

$12/Adults/$9 Seniors & Students

Children 10 and Under Free

$10 ea. Groups 25+ (Call 713-781-6864 to make arrangements)

$12 Preview Night (Includes one additional day)

$42 Full Show Pass (Includes Preview Night)

Mustgo Omelet

It's Sunday and I prepare a dish that can keep all week for breakfast---maybe it will be egg muffins, BLTE sandwiches (for this one, fried bacon is on hand, just fry up an egg the morning you want to make the sandwich--oh, I guess I could hard fry the eggs and keep them in refrig--I'll have to try that next time) or today I'm making MUSTGO Omelet!

You see I'm a lazy cook at times--sometimes I like to cook--but most of the time--NOT!  I'm heading to the grocery later so must see what I need to add to my list--and clean out the frig at the same time.

Oh, look--here are the makings for my MUSTGO Omelet--few eggs, cottage cheese (oh yes, have that because I made Enola's shrimp enchiladas (her recipe calls for crawfish, but I like to use shrimp)

I bought this cookbook just for that one recipe--and it's a good one!

anyway, crack some eggs in a bowl, beat them good!!!  add cottage cheese and now, I've found some ricotta cheese hiding on the top shelf-what did I use that for??

Oh yeah, the ricotta lemon blueberry pancakes last Sunday-- oh, talk about delicious--yum, yum--this recipe is the greatest!!  I use Bobby Flay's recipe and kind of tink it some for my use.

Okay, we have eggs, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese in the dish all beaten up--oh, there is small piece of onion and red bell pepper (why? would I save such small pieces?)  doesn't matter--chop up and add to the egg mixture--found some fried bacon in the freezer--in it goes!  Anything else I can find?

oh, yelp there are a few small bags of shredded cheese--in it goes--

whisk whisk like crazy--anything else?

okay--there are few packages of crushed red peppers left over from pizza the other night--in it goes too.  

sometimes, I'll add broccoli or peas or carrots, even cooked potatoes--left in the frig, it's game for the MUSTGO Omelet!

I think it's ready for the greased pan (no crust--just all goodness!) --pour the mixture in, place in 350* oven and bake for 25-30 minutes and we have Breakfast. 

When it comes out the oven, it's so nice and fluffy!

But, now it's half gone and the other portion is cut into squares and ready for

a handy breakfast during the week--bet this will be gone by Wed AM!

There you have MUSTGO OMELET!  

Antique Quilt VS Modern

For years, I've had a love of antique quilts--just thinking about how pieces of fabric from various resources came into being a quilt is a fascinating study.  Thank goodness, many of these antique quilts live to tell their story.

Take this quilt from collection of Mingei International Museum

Just look at all those blocks of diversity!  Small to large pieces combine

to give us a visual interest into this quiltmakers life.

 t

Temecula Quilt Company is hosting their Olympic challenge during the 2016 Olympics

Their version of the pattern is on the website free of charge throughout the duration of

the games.  I'm going to see if I can recreate this antique quilt--how about you?

Are you up to the challenge?

Baby Time.............................

When a friend or family member is having a baby, I go to my favorite thing to give--

flannel receiving blankets!

It takes two pieces of flannel, each at least 1.25 yards in length, 45" wide

I always wash my flannel before sewing--

place two pieces right sides together--I mark to make rounded corners and 

stitch around, leaving a small opening to turn right sides out--

once turned, I press lightly, stitch the opening closed and

then comes the fun part---

I do button hole stitch around the outside of the blanket with perle cotton--

Ready, finished, wrap for the new baby--this one is a boy--

as if you didn't guess that already!

I usually buy a small gift if there is a brother or sister involved--

they won't feel left out.

Quilt Time With Friends!

It was time to visit with my expatcher friends!  Yeah, I hadn't been with these gals for some time

so I was anxious and excited to be with them again!

Linda brought these woven mats and ask "do you know what these are?"

I took a look at them and said--these are tapa, dyed with mud

several years ago I had taken a mud cloth workshop

and last summer, Denver Art Museum had an excellent exhibit on tapa

The reverse side is woven with split reeds--one on right is doubled in half

Linda was working on her doll quilt

She works with Dolly Mamas  

Annette brought her charity quilt that Judy M (right) will quilt

This is the back for the top

The quilt top on left is the disappearing nine patch pattern

Judy M has her strips cut and at the ready for the machine

She is using this pattern

From this book--I know I have this book in my stash!

On Judy's wall is this charity quilt--great looking

Judy always finds the best flannel combination.

I want to buy at this Wal-mart, but it's in another state--sigh!

Linda was stitching the binding for this lively small wall hanging.

She did this block of the month at her local quilt shop

Sandy did the quilting--love the bright neon green she used!

We have a good time together--laugh, swap stories and tales of our daily

lives--what a super group of friends!

Needle Time!

Oh Yeah--I'm finished knitting July's pattern for the 2016 lace scarf--okay, I know it's August, but I'm happy to have finished July pattern!

The pattern is called Wharves and Warehouse!  

designed by Elizabeth Ravenwood on Ravelry!  

I'm using my handspun wool/silk two ply.

I would have finished sooner IF I had read the pattern correctly!

you know, it really helps to read the pattern through

to make sure you know what's happening!

I wasted alot of time ripping out stitches to begin again!

Onto August pattern---reading carefully....................

There Is A Need..................................

For Hats, scarves and gloves--Can you help?  Do you like to knit or crochet?  Have some free time and spare yarn on hand?  This is the project for you!
I've already downloaded a few patterns that will work; and I'm digging through my yarn stash to see what I have to make these wearables.  I'm thinking I could use different techniques and learn new skills while helping someone in need.
The following is the information:  


SOLID black, gray, navy, brown, dark green, and red winter hats, scarves and pairs of gloves primarily for men but some can be in unisex patterns to accommodate women. 

All items must be suitable for people who are living outdoors in rain and snow. 

In total, we need enough hats, scarves and gloves for 1,200 adults.

These items will be equally divided between the three following organizations:

Homeless Bus https://www.facebook.com/homelessbusnyc

New York City Relief https://www.facebook.com/thereliefbus/

NJ Food & Clothing Rescue https://www.facebook.com/njfoodclothingrescue/

We need your donations by November 1st, 2016.

Have a question? Please inbox us privately.

Do not post questions here. We will probably not see them.

***NOTE: Be sure to include your e-mail address in all shipments in case we need to ask you a question.

Thank you.

Please send all hats, scarves, gloves to:
Emily's Hats For Hope Initiative
PO Box 2374
Morristown, NJ 07962-2374

Time To Cut The Losses......................

For the past few weeks I've been knitting on Gerda by Bethany Hait.

there were a few kinks at the beginning of the pattern, but it was 

soon worked out and I continued.

I left it lay for a time while I traveled and upon returning to the pattern

and the yarn

I just knew this wasn't going to work!  The yarn just wasn't the right

one for this pattern--it needs a soft plain color to show the pattern.

I had half a thought while I was knitting--so guess it's a good

think I let it lie for awhile--

the only RIGHT thing to do was

pull out the stitches, wind into a ball and let it 'age' a little longer.

It was time to cut my losses--even though there had been days of knitting and

pattern reading--it was time! 

This wasn't going to work!  So, the yarn lives on another day--

some day, yes, some day I will find the perfect pattern for this yarn.

happy sleeping little yarn ball!

S L O W K N I T T I N G !

I'm so pumped!  Slow knitting has come to Netflix!  Oh My!  What fun to

watch this program--Although it is in Norwegian, there are subtitles and from

the minute I clipped on the link and watched, I was hooked!

So much history in this slow knitting program--even a Harley Davidson

makes an appearance!

The patterns, the instructional videos, the fashion parade, the stitching--

ALL makes for exciting TV watching----

if you are a knitter.

But, wait--

there is also some spinning involved

and lots of 

knitting!

Go Watch--you'll be hooked too! 

Decisions By Committee!

There were five of us--only five, who met at the local coffee shop to just socialize.

But soon the conversation turned to study group business.

Since we were five of the members of this group, we could make some

'suggestions' about the upcoming year.

First, we had little show and tell from Karen I who pulled out this rag rug

section woven by a 7 yr old!  We were in awe that a 7 year old had this 

much know how to get some nice selvedges as well as lay the rags nicely

in the weft.

Gerry has a task at hand--she is preparing for an upcoming tapestry workshop

sponsored by the Guild.  The instructor sent out this photo that the participants

were to interpret in their tapestry

Gerry is using very fine wool/silk threads to create her sample

and do you see what she's using as her loom?  A snap together wooden photo

frame!  Inexpensive and easy to carry around--this is the way I began my 

weaving about 30+ years ago when I didn't have money.

Anyway, our 'committee' discussed what weave structure we would like

to study in the coming year.  It is also our guilds year to host the state conference in

2017--which means contributions to the goodie bag, luncheons and raffle basket.

We think, as committee, we have some good ideas!

Small committees DO did some things accomplished!