Look At ME!

Look at me!  I'm doing a long arm quilting class!

Our local quilt shop offers these classes periodically--my friend

and I signed up--hoping it will be something we'd like to do

for our stack of unquilted tops! 

Yes!  I can do this!

Once you've taken this class you an rent the machines by the hour

to do your own top--

Handi Quilter is the machine and there are three different styles in

the work room.  This is the one I worked with.  It all sounds so

complicated to see this machine and think I can do this!

Make sure it's threaded right!  First Step!

Needle Up--power on!

Now to load this with your practice work!

Our informative instructor, Jessica, gave great

clear instructions

Oh look--a computer to keep you on track!

Something else to learn for my feeble mind!

We're on and ready to go-- begin--stitch and guide that

head across your field 

I like this panel--

look at all those quirky lines!  It was fun!  I was in the 'zone'!  

Gourd Art

Gourd art involves creating works of art using Lagenaria spp. hard-shell gourds as an art medium. Gourd surfaces may be carved, painted, sanded, burned, dyed, and polished. Typically, a harvested gourd is left to dry over a period of months before the woody surface is suitable for decorating. 

Every year we are fortunate to view one of the best Gourd Art Exhibits at Kerr Arts and Cultural Center in Kerrville, Texas.  If you can not visit in person, you can take a virtual to virtual here.

May 14 – July 3

Award Winners

Best of Show
Cliff Dwellings by Becky Klix

Southwestern Category:
First Place: Story Teller by David Cleaveland
Second Place: Beep! Beep! by Blanche Cavarretta
ThirdPlace: Three Dancers by Roy Cavarretta

Sculptural Category:
First Place: Strong Medicine by Roy Cavarretta
Second Place: Topsy Turvy Sunflowers by Marcy Holmes Wheeler

Fiber Art Category:
First Place: Blue with Pine Needles by Paul Butcher
Second Place: Goldstone by Sharon Harrison
Third Place: Green River Antler by Jill Robinson

Contemporary Category:First Place: Tropical Paradise by Sherry Nelson
Second Place: Septarian by Jill Robinson
Third Place: Green Pine by Jeanine Williams

Carving Category:First Place: Pomo Treasure Basket by Becky Klix
Second Place: Pueblo Homes by Lynda Smith
Third Place: The B-Tree by Marcy Holmes Wheeler

Mixed Media Category:First Place: Deer Country by Sherry Nelson
Second Place: The Villagers by Jeanine Williams
Third Place: Emergence by Crystal Ziemann

What We Need Now!

Elefantz gives us a stitching pattern--pray as you stitch

that ALL this storm will calm down and become sunny

skies again.

 Make a block or two to give as comfort for someone in need!

or just because. Or make it for Quilts of Valor

You can also request quilt of valor for someone who has been touched

by war here.

Somewhere I Got Lost

I got lost!  somewhere around row #5 near the double nupps--

but, I kept on knitting.  Of course, it will turn out alright, I said

as I still didn't have the correct stitch count on row # 7

"Throw in a lifeline" the notes declared!  who needs a lifeline??

not me, I said--I'll be perfectly fine--then when the stitch count

went really wracky!  I knew I was in trouble--only one thing to do--

rip, rip, rip!  and with NO lifeline to fall back on--

carefully, rip back--your work must not be moved

Now to pick up all those stitches without dropping any

and--of course, the stitches are picked up backwards--

best thing to do is knit into the back of the stitch and it will

correct itself--right facing knit stitch! yay!

All 65 stitches back on the needle--throw in a lifeline now???

would be smart--who said I was smart--not me!  

BAck on track!  and guess what--the reason I was lost--

it was an I D ten T error!  That meaning Me not reading

the pattern right!  

ok finished for June--waiting on July!  

Marled Yarn

Marled yarn hats 

Some of my marled yarn--years ago during a silk spinning workshop,

we learned how to marl yarn--we had several single thin yarns, and

our instructor suggested plying 3, 4, or 5 singles together and

guess what?  you get a marled yarn.

most of my single yarns become marled as I ply from a ball--

center pull and outside yarn.

YAY! Finished Stuff!!

So happy!  So Glad!  I finally got motivated to do some UFOs

There are sewing projects and knitting projects

Bonnie Hunter's latest adventure "Unity Quilt Along" Quiltville

Had step 8 last week--I didn't do that last step; just ready to end

with step #7 and call it quits-it's big enough for a queen size bed--

will think about adding borders otherwise, I like it as is!

Holy SMokes--this looks so good when photographed.

when I work on something for awhile, I don't know if it's going to turn

out like I want it too.  But, this did just find using fabric from my stash.

Fort Worth Fabric Studio hosted this ultimate picnic sew along.

There will be a summer one and an autumn one--always fun! 

and you can buy the kits too if you wish.

Finished this hat! from handspun--don't know the fiber content but it

feels like rayon (don't know why I would spin rayon--that goes to the

fact I haven't placed spinning content on my spun fiber--shame on me!

This pattern was Orange Smoothie and named "Proximity Hat"--

easy knit--guess that's why it took me so long to finish!

Tiny!

Can we say tiny??  I like working normal size, but sometimes there are those patterns that require some tiny pieces.  I came across this website  take a look and you'll think I"ll never work that tiny--

our friend, many moons ago, knit a jock strap with toothpicks!  It was super tiny--she made it for her daughter's Ken doll!  It was great fun!