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!

ChickenS............................

for some reason, I'm doing the chicken blocks from Fatcat Patterns

 This free block of the month began in January--so, you

guessed it--I've done five blocks already!  I'm a 

sucker for chickens--the blond headed daughter has

chickens--so I make these for her.

The other day when we were at the ranch,

I saw not one but Three chicken quilts I've made

for her--

She displays them across the sofa, tacked to the

wall or just draped over a chair--

Okay--enough of these chicken blocks!

The five blocks I've already made are going into a 

reversible table runner!!--oh, guess I need to do

one more to make the runner look right

Here chick chick--

that's enough for me..