Let’s Sew!

 So let’s sew!! Some opportunities popped up for the summer!  Sew, on these hot humid days, pull out each clue, gather fabrics (of course, I’m using from the scrap bin) get the clues and sew!!   

Mystery books are my summer read (will post a list at a later date) as well as my mystery sewing projects! 

Halloween is sponsored by Fat Quarter Shoppe

This Sew along began June 6==there is plenty of time to catch up 

Finish this and have an interesting piece of Halloween art!

Twilight begins June 15 sponsored by Primitive Gathering 

Don't know why I'm drawn to this quilt along--such small pieces!

I've not even finished one for 2022!

Evergreen QAL begins July 4--what a way to begin Christmas in July!  Each Tuesday a new

clue will be revealed--sew for Christmas in July!!

Another fun mystery short project for the summer table!

Fort Worth Fabric Studio mystery begins June 26 and run for 4 weeks.  I’m just finishing the patriotic table runner 

Scrumble This!

 Scrumble!  What exactly is a scrumble??  Prudence Mapstone designs 'freeform" scrumbles--using knitting and crocheting techniques; mostly small pieces that create a larger scene.  We 'met' Prudence through a couple of UK gals who attended our annual January Spin-in several years ago.  They had enjoyed a workshop with Prudence and her Scrumbles earlier that year.  We were fascinated by this form of using small amounts of "leftover" yarns!  

I worked a few scrumbls to fill the tip of my houseshoes.  The scrumbles are stitched onto mesh form.  

Here are a few of my odd scrumbles that I intended for  purse; even had the purse form but alas, this is as far as I could make it.  Sad!  These scrumbles just languishes in a small bag--who knows maybe someday (!)  these will become an art piece

I do have a couple of Prudence's books--just in case I want to take up Scrumbles again

She has several other books available!  Visit her website, on Instagram, and other social media sites

What prompted me to think of those long forgotten Scrumbles?  The fiber exhibit at Kerr Arts and Cultural Center  Yes!  Some of the pieces reminded me of how useful Scrumbles can be, although the pieces might not have used the idea of scrumbles.

"Firewheel Meadow" Suzann Thompson

Embellished with crocheted flowers, Leaves and Buttons

An outstanding example of Scrumbles

"Afternoon" Suzann Thompson

Knitted quilt, once again embellished with crochet flowers and leaves, buttons, seeds, netting. embroidery and vintage crochet

"Winterling"  Suzann Thompson

More scrumbling involved--although, the artist probably did think about that technique when she created her pieces.

Rasberry Chocolate Roses

Suzann Thompson

Fiber Exhibit

 During the Kerr County Arts & Crafts Gourd exhibits, textile pieces were scattered throughout.  The combination of the two brought a new feeling to the gallery.  There was also another show in the front gallery entry way that offered visitors an opportunity to see the group called “Monday Artists”—paintings of various techniques. 

My eyes went immediately to the textiles!  A few of the artists are known to me from my association in variety of weaving guilds throughout the US.  

"Mama Jean" Vanessa A Garcia

deconstructed cotton night gowns

"After the Fire" Susie Monday

Close up

"Donna Has Always Immersed Herself in Wool"

Mary Macaulay

Needle felted figured bathed in fleece

"Woven Mobius" Patricia Day

6 shaft draft weave, 100% Silk. dyed yarn by Robin Pascal

"Origami Woven Dress" Patricia Day

6 shaft weave rayon and bamboo yarn

8 Shaft Crockle Draft 

Bamboo and Cotton/Rayon

Patricia Day

"Eye of the Beholder" by Karen Issenhower

"Joseph's Coat"  Karen Isenhower

"Winter Window"  Karen Isenhower

Christmas Snowflakes  Karen Isenhower

three panels of Winter snowflakes

Karen Isenhower

Light As Air

Karen Isenhower

Field of Poppies

Carolyn Hart Roup

This is a fine exhibit of handwoven and mixed media pieces and well worth the visit.  This museum does not charge a fee to attend. 

This!! Exhibit!!

 Recently, we attended an art exhibit at Kerr Arts and Craft Council.  It is one of my favorite exhibits on their yearly calendar—The Gourd Show.  This year it was combined with fiber!!  So excited to view lovely works from members.  The gourds are always unusual and interesting—

The above are just a few of the examples of craftsman’s handiwork. 

After we visit this exhibit, I always think—I’ll plant some gourd seeds in the fall— never happens! I’ll just admire these lovely creations at the yearly exhibit. 

 

Time is a’comin’!

 Just around the corner—one more month and it begins!  Tour de Fleece!!  TDF begins July 1 and runs through 23.  During June, I begin to prep my supplies and think of fiber to spin.  Do I need to wash, card, buy anything?  Nope—not me!  I have plenty of prepared fiber on hand for this gathering!  What must you consider during TDF?  Just what You want to achieve!  This is a personal challenge and goal!! Not a competition!  Spin when you can, what you want,  and decide how much time to apply to your goals and challenges! 

My first priority is to ply all this handspun brown cotton—then it will be ready for August for either the loom or knitting needles!

My handspun bin is overflowing with last year’s production. I love the variety of colors—some are dyed with indigo; most are natural colors cottons I’ve collected over the years. 

And here are some of the items I have knitted.  I do have weft on the shuttle ready to throw across the cotton warp; which has been sitting idle for weeks.

These will be lovely kitchen towels—when the warp is complete!  
The knitted cloth patterns are designed by Kitchen Sink Shop.  Garlene is on instagram—you can sign up for her free newsletter to receive free patterns. 

Sharing what you’ve produced during TDF is great satisfaction!  

Let's Eat! Leftovers!

 Usually, we'll have some 'leftovers' from a meal.  My Granny always called it "Mustgo"!  Since there is just two of us, always there are leftovers!  The story is always "what to have for dinner?'  An age old story for sure!  Sometimes, the leftover meal is good; other times, it's just so so!  One night last week, we had leftover salmon--and two fresh peaches!  What to make?  I always remember making salmon patties when the kids were home--but I'd used canned salmon (which wasn't too pricey)  and we were given a case of salmon from an Alaskan couple who fished for salmon every year and canned it.  That was a treat for us but......then there is only so much salmon one can eat!  Think that's why they gave us a case--just to get it out of their pantry into ours.

Step One:  prepare the peach salsa--yes, thought that would be a nice addition to top the salmon patties.  Look up recipe--wow!  recipes calls for 1.5 lb of peaches--I have only two!  We'll improvise--a little of this, a little of that--mix it up well and let set for several hours to marinade the flavors.

After all, it's peach season!  This is a perfect recipe!

Come close to dinner time--make the salmon patties:  

My recipe--mix flaked salmon with little chopped dill, lemon juics, chopped onion, add bread crumbs if you have them, mix in egg--shape into patties and air fry!  Got to use that air fryer that I received as a gift last Christmas!

And here is our complete meal!  Salad on bottom tossed with light vignette, add some steamed buttered asparagus--hubby even proclaimed it as a delicious!

Now, to use that leftover smoked pork tenderloin--quick and easy!  Yes, Pork tenderloin slices on sliders, topped with slaw--didn't have cabbage but did have broccoli so made a slaw with that. and there is still some tenderloin leftover (ha ha!!)  More recipes to use with that delicious little porkie!!  We buy the pork tenderloin when on sale--cut into two pieces; place on the smoker till it reaches temperature recommended.  

a few potato chips as a side dish--really nice meal as well as quick to prepare!

Nostalgia

My, how things have changed!  Look what Smart phones and Smart televisions have done to us—it is called progress!  I long for good ole days sometimes!  Years ago, I was gifted the most precious gift from brown headed daughter—an I-Pod!  It contained all my music from I-tunes—great to plug in my ear phones and listen away! No Wi-fi involved after downloading all the songs.

This little case included everything I needed as I traveled or walked or sewed or wove or slept.  I took it with me while in hospital couple of times.  It brought comfort!  I could scroll down to exactly what I needed to hear to soothe my soul. 

I even found an apparatus that can link the IPod to speakers—that was a bonus. 

The day came when my IPod rested for awhile.  Then I opened the case, turned it on and there was nothing!! Absolutely!! Nothing! It was dead as a door nail!  Charged it for hours—still nothing!  I was so sad—has my original IPod died—actually died??

What to do?  Charged for days! Nothing!  I checked to see if it could be repaired—hubby said cost too much—not to me—money was no object to get my little gem back in my ear!  Big sigh!  Searching--I could find one on websites for close to $300!! 

 The orange case laid on my desk for few more weeks—then I thought when all else fails—hit it!! I slammed it on the table and said “ why? Oh why?  I’ve had you for years”

Guess what??  

It came on!!! Yes!! My IPod was back from the dead!  

That goes to prove—hitting something that doesn’t work—does work!!

Now, I’m feeling happy again—I have all my music from ages gone by!