A Walk Through the Pasture

It's always a pleasure to go into the country, which we have been doing often

as we assist our daughter on her ranch.  She has a slipped disc and there are many

days she can't lift or bend--we are there to feed the animals and enjoy the

country air.

This day I took a walk through the pasture and found many wildflowers--

thank goodness, she hasn't been able to mow either--so everything is still

growing--wildly, she says!

Her chickens are happy as they wander through the grass and flowers--

take a walk with me as I enjoy the spring time as nature intended! 

And The Fun Continues...........................

Home Sweet Home!  designed by 

You can find the tutorial HERE  I took a workshop with Laura

at one of the Colorado Quilters Events--lots of fun--

best part is the colorful fabrics you use.

And HERE is where you find the supply list

This begins TODAY!  

Another project to add to my list from Pam Buda--

Sweet!!  Little runner!!

"Her scrappy little runner, Safe Keeping, will begin this coming Friday 4/17.  I'll post each of the four blocks in four consecutive weeks with the 'big 'reveal the fifth week. "

WIP--Or Off The Needles

I can call this one FINISHED!  Done!  well, not complete--needs to be quilted--

so glad to have this one off my project list!  This was a difficult pattern--many

mistakes written or drawn--I took lots of liberties with this.

Off the needles--FLG (Fingerless Gloves) for March--

Cloudburst pattern by Ariene Grey--fun to knit--

Moving along with this hat--easy to knit; just get bored with it so move on to something else--

not a good idea! 

This is April's set of blocks from Kathleen Tracy's small quilt group on Facebook--these may look 

like 12" or 6" blocks--But they are not!  Next month we'll set them together!

Naked As A.............................................................

Do you have a Naked TeaPot??

I do--in fact, many naked ones--

and I love teapots! and teacups!

During my younger days, I collected teapots and cups--such fun and then..............I ran out of room

This isn't all my pots by far--several more sit in my kitchen waiting for that special pot of tea to be made and poured!

I am ready for this mystery knit along so my teapots won't be naked anymore!

Here! is where you can sign up--begins April 13th-

Further info here and it's free if you join now and collect the clues before end of May!

Memories...............................

NOw we are on 'lock down', we are cleaning closets, cabinets, storage bins--anything to keep ourselves sane and busy--we have no routine anymore--don't know what day it is--everything blurs into another.  While sorting through my big file cabinet--I came across these old Warp and Weft booklets, published by Robin and Russ back in the day!  Oh, what joy to see them again!  to turn the pages, remember when!

It's a sad time too--remembering! 

Each month (except July and August) you were guaranteed a new Warp and Weft with a Sample too! 

Of course, they wanted to sell their yarn and they did have good prices on their yarn.

So missed!  But, I have these to read and re-read--maybe, throw on a warp. 

Finally Did It!

Yes, I finally did it!  Cut off that Laurel tree (Bay)!  It had grown so

unruly and so tall--I wanted to keep it as a bush but it got 

away from me.  Besides, there are lots of 'suckers' coming up

around the base of the trunk.

Now, I have a TON of bay leaves to sort through and dry--

I usually give them to my friends as they use them in their

kitchen/bath room cabinets to keep away bugs--

Naturally letting them dry--stuff into bags and will have a gift

for each friend that would like.

Since I had all these leaves, why not try to use them in dyeing?

I had some silk scarves (that I found when stash diving!)

laid them out with an assortment of leaves

I don't think I know what I'm doing--just wingin' it!  and success is not forthcoming.

Doesn't mean I'll not do anymore only I'll do more research!

Things on My List..........................

This is not a completed project yet--but one in progress

"Stay Strong KAL 2020" designed by Julie Kubitsk

This is a free pattern that will use up those stash fibers

First clue, using 3 ply Panda yarn(Merino, Bamboo, 

Nylon—Lily Pond—knitting on the patio with wine 

At hand and virtual musicians—

Bonnie Hunter has a sew along during this home period

Mondays are the days to download her directions

First clue of this medallion quilt!  Wow!  

She keeps you on your toes with this step! 

If you are a spinner--why not begin to spin the oldest fiber in your stash?

Well, in my case--I don't know which one is the oldest--probably brown cotton--

And We Are Treadling................

Wish to say I was treadling on the loom--Nope, I'm treadling away on my spinning wheel..

Not much of this fiber to spin, but it's a nice merino wool and the colors are soft and pleasing--

suitable for Easter theme 

Plied and ready for the needles!  What will it be?  Thinking April Hat or FLG (Fingerless Gloves)

How About This?

You can find any of these fibers at several online fiber suppliers

Looks lovely, doesn't it? This is a new cellulose fiber on the market--

It's called Mint Fiber!  Yes, a fiber that is infused with peppermint leaf

powder extract!!

This very soft and lustrous biodegradable cellulose fiber is infused with peppermint leaf powder extract which imparts natural antibacterial and cooling properties.  Similar in color and texture to Muga silk top.

Perfect for spinning and blending with cotton, silk, wool or flax.  Does it smell like Peppermint when you spin it??  Will need to try ..............

How about this fiber?  soft and lustrous biodegradable cellulose fiber is made from rose bushes.  Similar in feel and appearance to that of bamboo top.

And then there is soft and lustrous biodegradable cellulose fiber is infused with pearl powder containing natural amino acids and other trace elements.  The pearl powder imparts a natural UVA protection in addition to a wonderful hand and drape.  It’s excellent moisture absorbing capabilities make it wonderful to dye.  

OR Biodegradable cellulosic fiber harvested from pineapple plants.  Cool to the touch, an ideal fiber for next to the skin fabrics.     

For my spinning pleasure--I'll stick to wool, silk or cotton!  All good natural fiber!                                                          

Is It April Fools???

We are all doing a big April's Fool joke?

Although April Fools’ Day, also called All Fools’ Day, has been celebrated for several centuries by different cultures, its exact origins remain a mystery.

Some historians speculate that April Fools’ Day dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, as called for by the Council of Trent in 1563.

People who were slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the new year had moved to January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 became the butt of jokes and hoaxes.

These pranks included having paper fish placed on their backs and being referred to as “poisson d’avril” (April fish), said to symbolize a young, easily caught fish and a gullible person.

Historians have also linked April Fools’ Day to festivals such as Hilaria, which was celebrated in ancient Rome at the end of March and involved people dressing up in disguises.

There’s also speculation that April Fools’ Day was tied to the vernal equinox, or first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, when Mother Nature fooled people with changing, unpredictable weather.

April Fools’ Day spread throughout Britain during the 18th century. In Scotland, the tradition became a two-day event, starting with “hunting the gowk,” in which people were sent on phony errands (gowk is a word for cuckoo bird, a symbol for fool) and followed by Tailie Day, which involved pranks played on people’s derrieres, such as pinning fake tails or “kick me” signs on them.

In modern times, people have gone to great lengths to create elaborate April Fools’ Day hoaxes. Newspapers, radio and TV stations and Web sites have participated in the April 1 tradition of reporting outrageous fictional claims that have fooled their audiences.

In 1957, the BBC reported that Swiss farmers were experiencing a record spaghetti crop and showed footage of people harvesting noodles from trees; numerous viewers were fooled. In 1985, Sports Illustrated tricked many of its readers when it ran a made-up article about a rookie pitcher named Sidd Finch who could throw a fastball over 168 miles per hour.

In 1996, Taco Bell, the fast-food restaurant chain, duped people when it announced it had agreed to purchase Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell and intended to rename it the Taco Liberty Bell. In 1998, after Burger King advertised a “Left-Handed Whopper,” scores of clueless customers requested the fake sandwich.

And March Rolls Out.......................

Last day of March--it might have come in as a Lion but is it going out like a Lamb--“In like a lion, out like a lamb” has always seemed a straightforward enough proverb: when March starts, it's still winter, and by the end of the month spring has begun.

well, this March has been totally different for many of us............................incarcerate, my son calls it!  Not quite but it seems like it at times--and he works from home ALL the time--

So, what have you been doing during this "Stay Home" and Social Distancing sessions?

Me, I find anything to keep from doing housework or cooking-- I dug through another bin of stash items, looking for silk scarves (which my brain said I've got)--  What I found--was a whole big bin of hand dyed cloth!!  Pulled each piece out and thought "I remember when I did this piece" or I remember that workshop!

Found several shibori pieces that I did a million years ago with indigo

 Look!  Other pieces of natural dyed fabrics--a lot of the indigo was done when I demoed indigo dyeing at the plantation

Ohh, this is just the tip of the bin--I dug deep and found those silk scarves--which is doing some eco dyeing with--hopefully, I'll share those pieces soon. 

Now For Your Amusement, Education or Whatever!

I find this totally awesome!  Notice that the yarn is hanging behind them and they use a sharp knife to cut as they weave...................just unbelievable!  They are making our next Silk/wool rug.
and if you thought your job was hard!

Winter, 2021

Either I'm early or I'm really late--but, I'll be ready for Winter 2021 with

these finished pieces

I worked on this Valentine Quilt top blocks when the pattern was released--

It was a free download from Fort Worth Fabric Studio

When I was working on the X blocks, I couldn't decide which half square triangle 

should be the major X--so I laid out two ways, took photos and then

decided that the bright red would be the best to show 

I didn't order the kit for this one--look for a Spring QAL to begin April 1--

as usual, the steps are free but you have the option to purchase their fabric kit.

Another winter project has been these awesome socks--

haven't done socks in awhile--this pattern from

Knitter's Brewing Company for their mosaic Mystery Sock

XII:  Let It Snow--I did order the sock kit from them for these

socks as if I didn't have yarn in my stash --ha ha!

I finished my socks!  So much fun to see the pattern develop with each stitch!

Place April 1 on your calendar as the begin date for this 2020 Christmas Carols

Sew Along