Happiness is.....................................

What makes you happy?  A good book?  A nice meal?  Time well spent?

My happiness begins when I see my friends and their quilts!

To Me Happiness is 

Feeling the warmth grandmother Camilla has for her

senior grandson

who is going to Texas Tech this fall.

Happiness is 

Sandy and her bubbly laugh!

Happiness is  

being with Linda as she stitches on her Christmas window panel

Happiness is 

giving of Judy's time and expertise for those

in need as she creates and shares

Happiness is 

Karen as she trims away excess from her small blocks,

much as we have shed our outside selves for the

short time we gather to encourage each other

in our daily struggles and successes.

Happiness is

the soft English accented voice of Annette as she

works on her English Paper Piecing.

Happiness is 

being a Texan

Happiness is

the freedom to sew what we want when we want!

Happiness is a state of mind and on this day I will fill

my life with lots of happiness as I surround myself

with positive reinforcement from my friends.

Islamorada Shawl For YOur Knitting Pleasure

Islamorada Shawl is such a lovely piece of work--love the colors!  There are several other free patterns on their website.  Be prepared to knit your summer away!



The name Islamorada (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈizla moˈɾaða]), "The Purple Isle," came from early Spanish explorers in the area. Its pronunciation has been anglicized to /ˈaɪləmoʊˈrɑːdə/.

Fisher Girls/Herring Lassies

History is a wonderful thing!  There are so many stories out there about life of common folks who endeavored to survive.

"The Fisher girls travelled to the fishing ports each season. “There was the fishing at Yarmouth, and the summer fishing when we went to Lerwick. We went to Ireland between the summer fishing and Yarmouth.” -

A fascinating look at life girls employed as fish gutters, following the fishing fleet from Shetland to Yarmouth and Lowestoft as the herring season progressed. 

What a Job!

The Herring Girls as they were referred to, traveled every winter and summer season along Scottish and English coast.  Each girl packed all her possession, including clothes, oilskins, rubber boots and bedding etc. into a wooden chest or ‘kist’, which also at times served as a wardrobe, a seat and even at times a table in the unfurnished wooden huts that were the girls accommodation at some of the fishing ports.

There are some great pins on Pinterest showing the girls with their knitting during off hours from work.

I found this interesting video of the herring harvest in 1920 with the Herring girls as they worked.

All this history came to life for me when I saw this exhibit piece by Anita Bruce, who

has knitted Gansey herring and offered her pattern free for a small donation.  You can find

the pattern on Ravelry and through her Facebook page.

Below is her statement regarding her project............

The ‘Gansey Herrings’ celebrate the herring industry in Great Yarmouth and the fisher girls who gutted and knitted their way along the coast following the fish. Each has a unique pattern, adapted from either a traditional fisherman’s gansey design or a pattern created to reference the collections in the museum and surrounding area. Inspiration for these new patterns ranges from the nets, ropes and baskets used in the fishing industry to a butterfly bomb and off-shore wind farm.
Although free, if you enjoy this pattern, please consider making a donation to the Marine Conservation Society in celebration of the silver darling that is the herring on my Just Giving page

Want A Lap App?

Guess my age is showing!  I had no idea what a lap app was--thought it was an 'app' for something to do with your lap!  Then I began working in wool and found out the real definition of Lap App!
Lap App gives an idea of how this little table came to be.

paper pieces has a good explanation-- and then below is the Youtube video giving you further knowledge of this piece of equipment.  there is even a Facebook group!

Now, I'm trying to decide if I NEED a lap app!  What do you think?  Do you need a lap app?

Bay Leaves............................

Years ago, I purchased a small bay laurel plant.  It was unusual 

to find this at a nursery--well, fast forward to now and my

little plant has become this.........

A MONSTER!  I made the mistake of planting it in the ground--

oops!  should have kept it in a small container--

now, where it's planted, it's trying to reach sun.

All my friends are delighted to receive dried bay leaves

when I prune.  I fill so many containers with these wonder

leaves.

I'm thinking of cutting it down--dry the leaves,

and start over with a smaller cutting--which I will

keep in a container!!

Anyway, there are many health benefits to bay leaves--

here is a listing of just a few..

Pinterest even has some pins on bay leaves!

Now, for something completely different how my friends use the bay leaves:

Bay leaves have been used in entomology as the active ingredient in killing jars. The crushed, fresh, young leaves are put into the jar under a layer of paper. The vapors they release kill insects slowly but effectively, and keep the specimens relaxed and easy to mount. The leaves discourage the growth of molds. They are not effective for killing large beetles and similar specimens, but insects that have been killed in a cyanide killing jar can be transferred to a laurel jar to await mounting.^[8] There is confusion in the literature about whether Laurus nobilis is a source of cyanide to any practical extent, but there is no evidence that cyanide is relevant to its value in killing jars. It certainly is rich in various essential oil components that could incapacitate insects in high concentrations; such compounds include 1,8-cineole, alpha-terpinyl acetate, and methyl eugenol.^[9] It also is unclear to what extent the alleged effect of cyanide released by the crushed leaves has been mis-attributed to Laurus nobilis in confusion with the unrelated Prunus laurocerasus, the so-called cherry laurel, which certainly does contain dangerous concentrations of cyanogenic glycocides^[10] together with the enzymes to generate the hydrogen cyanide from the glycocides if the leaf is physically damaged.^[11]

When we cleaned out my mother's house, I found bay leaves in every dresser and kitchen drawer.
Today I use bay leaves not only for cooking for insect repellent.

Bucket List

Do you make lists?  I do!  There was always a notebook stuck to the refrigerator and a pencil was nearby--need something at the grocery, jot it on the list!  In today's world, I'm using an electronic reminder--Alexa or Echo!

It was a gift from #1 Son-- here is how I use it--when something is needed--I say, "Alexa, add to list".  She replies, "what shall I add?" I'll say "peanut butter".  She says "peanut butter has been added to your list!"  Isn't that the coolest thing in the world!  I know that other creatures like this are out there--what a way to make a list.

Another list, I'm making is a bucket list for the summer--do you do that?

Stitchfix has their own list of what they want to do this summer!

I could jot a few of those on my list too.

Daring to Live Fully has a HUGE list!!

It would take me longer than 3 months to accomplish 

even 1/4 of these things!

Iowa Girl Eats has a printable list for you to use--

it's much shorter list of fun things!

Seventeen for teens has a list too--so if you have a teenager, this one is for you!  I still
feel like a teen at times, so maybe some on this list is for ME!!

Hope you have fun coming up with your summer bucket list!

Working Thru B/W.........................

I pulled out another black and white quilt that I did several years ago.

In fact, this one is hand sewn--take a circle, applique it to whole

cloth and then cut into fours--re-assemble-- 

I like the addition of red!  at least, the eye doesn't get lazy!

Finished block #20 from Pat Sloan's Solstice challenge

Another finish block #18

I had this one all ready to sew--it needed more contrast

in the medium value--I was getting lost when assembling!

what to do but cut more fabrics..........