Quilting We Go

Many hands and many hearts is sponsoring their annual block drive--if you like to use stash to build blocks for worthy causes, consider this one. The block is to be fall colors, titled 

Two Step tutorial 

The blocks will be assembled to make charity compassion quilts 

If this is something you're interested in, check out their website--Quilting is more fun than housework

I need to spend some time gathering my tops to quilt.  Since we don't have the use of long arm machines at our local quilt shop anymore, I"m learning new ways to accomplish quilting on my tops.  I did finish one quilt via domestic sewing machine; now, I have this one ready to hand quilt--I ordered a stencil for open areas.

  It's been years since I hand quilted--looking forward to that in my spare time.

I have several loose blocks that have no top idea so those I'm quilting by machine individually and decide how to arrange them once quilted. 

Once I've cut backing and batting, the blocks are layered and then the blocks are ready to be quilted by machine.  Using stitch in ditch method, it didn't take long to quilt the block.

I have a stack of 10" blocks.  sandwich as usual and stitch.  On these, I did stitch in the ditch for a few; then got bored and did an elongated zip zap stitch across the block--

coming up--how I sew them together.

 

Sorting

During the past month, I've been sorting--it has been slides!  !Old slides!  Ones that we have not looked at for many moons--who gets out their projector and bring the family together to have a showing?  Not us!  Besides I think family members wouldn't care to view these old things now--but, but, it could be a howling good time!  To see the old cars, old houses, old clothing, and tons of scenery!  I remember a couple of times, at viewings, I wanted to walk away in the dark.  Once, we had friends who toured New Zealand and wanted us to see their slides--oh Joy!  It was an agonizing two hours!

Another time, at a conference, one leader had a 'ton' of slides on baskets!  Gee whiz!  We begged for bathroom intermission and promptly slipped out of the building--! 

So, I will not torture family or friends!

We have some slides on carousel--many carousels!!  As I pulled out the boxes and boxes, I thought to myself, this is going to be a long tedious job.  Then, hubby says out of the blue--"I'm pretty sure I uploaded those to our cloud" !  Really??!!  Why did you keep all those boxes then?

he gave me a weird answer--thought you'd want them in the future!  Just mo!ve on!

When we moved mother out of her house into assisted living, she had boxes of these slides

She had a projector for her slide trays and we have projector for our carousels--what to do with them?

Then there were other boxes of slides

and sheets of slides

Do you have any idea how long it takes to figure out what we have. 

I did find that some of these sheets of slides are photos of my work that was submitted to galleries.

in those days, you need to submit several slides of your work--marking on the slides right side up with an arrow.  Description was to be written with your name, title of piece, method of medium.

That was fun for me to walk though those days of art works submittance and rejects.

slides of my work for commercial places and religious pieces donated to churches. 

The other day our granddaughter came to visit with our great grandson.  She saw the reminders of carousels and trays sitting on tables—“what are these?  What do you do with them?”  She had so many questions!  I realized that she never had anything in her life like slides.  Her parents had a movie camera to catalog her life.  I wanted to dig out the projectors right then; alas, we didn’t have time—we’ll need to set up a slide night—maybe, they won’t be too bored after all! She ask if she could take a sleeve of slides of her as a baby to show her hubby. 

Outter boxes for the inner boxes

I decided to donate the carousels and trays to charity organizations.  I have no idea if anyone uses these anymore--I'm trying to find a way to 'recycle some of the slides'  especially ones of the kids as they were small.  Maybe, they would like to see those--maybe, not.

Still sorting as I type--it seems to be an never ending job just as viewing was!

 

Oh Such a Heel

 Nope!  Haven’t gotten to the short socks yet.  Wanted finish this pair first.  So, I’m knitting along and it’s time to turn the Heel.  My brain thinks. “This could be a good time to try a different heel instead of the one I’ve always knitted.  Let’s investigate—or this could be my way of procrastination!!  

Inside is always purl

Always knit heel flap—k1, s1 across

Then turn heel—

Neat huh? 

Here is where it gets messy.  How many heels are there??

According to Curls and Q 

This a short list!  Holy Moly!!

Cuff Down

1. French (aka Round Heel) – tutorial at KnitPicks
2. Dutch (aka Square Heel) – tutorial at KnitPicks
3. *Taffy/Welsh – In Finnish, includes other heels. Translate in Google.
4. Welsh Heel – In English
5. Band (aka German Strap Heel)
6. Handkerchief Heel (aka V Heel) –
7. Gusset Heel – For Dummies
8. Half Handkerchief
9. Fish Lips Kiss Heels – by SoxTherapist
10. Balbriggan – instructions at Liberty’s Yarn
11. Double-stitch Short Row – Tess Knits
12. Sherman Heel – Hipknitism
13. Fleegle Heel Video Link
14. Double Gusset Heel – Turtlegirl’s Bloggy Thing
15. Strong Heel – Aaron Clark’s Easier socks with the Strong Heel developed by Gerdine Crawford-Strong, pdf
16. OMG Heel – Megan Williams
17. German Short Row aka Boomerang Heel – Suzanne Bryan

Toe Up

1. French
2. Dutch
3. Round
4. Reverse Dutch
5. Heel Shaped common heel – part of the Vanilla Sock pattern
6. Eye of Partridge – part of the Vanilla Sock pattern
7. Gusset Heel – Toe Up – Maia Spins
8. Turkish Heel – Crystal Socklet Heel – Lynn DT Hershberger aka ColorJoy
9. Fish Lips Kiss Heels – by SoxTherapist
10. Fleegle Heel – also a cuff down version, Fleegle Heel video link
11. Seam Free Rounded Toe-up Sock – Lynn Ashton
12. Sherman – Cabezalana
13. Double Stitches Heel – No wrapping, Heidi Bears
14. OMG Heel – Megan Williams
15. Sling Heel – Staci Perry

How much time did I want to investigate different heels? Answer—NADA!  For this pair, I’m doing my style, which is called “French style”.  Next pair—maybe, I’ll try V style….back to knitting!

Ahh Summer!

Yes!  It is definitely June and officially Summer!  The calendar marks first day of summer as June 20–alas, summer is here now because it is HOT!!  

Spinning away!  In the cool!  Sometimes we take AC for granted —then we hit a hiccup— AC goes on the fritz, storm knocks out power, etc.  recently, our granddaughter’s area was hit by powerful winds, which took down many power lines.  When that happens you learn ways to keep your cool.  

For some of us remember the days of NO AC!  We didn’t know anything different—we used fans to bring in a breeze.  Life has changed and so have we. 

Ready to knit?  This pattern is 50% off—join in on this mystery. Christmas in July knitting!

Didn’t think I would jump on that band wagon—short socks!  Why knit short socks?  I haven’t the faintest idea.  I love knitting socks— regular length socks .  Then this trend of short socks kept popping up.  I'm thinking--

short socks wouldn't take so much time to complete 

Short socks wouldn't use as much yarn as regular pair 

So many cute patterns for these so called short socks

they could be worn with casual boots

But, wait a minute==I don't wear casual boots!  I like my sandals and you don't wear socks with sandals.  And we live in the South--I'd rather go barefoot than put on a sock in this hot weather!

Still 

I must investigate…..I even went as far as to purchase short circle needles!

I do love ChiaoGoo needles!! taking this needle out of packaging, I couldn't believe how small it was--will I be able to knit with this short needle to do short socks??  good question!

I continue on with investigation--I found two simple easy patterns for short socks 

One designed by Mara Catherine Bryner, Rose City Rollers

Cute, huh?

Another pattern designed by Larissa Gregorin, Short Heel Tab SockShort Heel Tab Sock

She even features some video tutorials to help with short rows

Short Sock pattern using German short row techique

I'll jump in on this and make at least ONE pair!  Just to satisfy my curiosity of short socks--stay tuned!

What else do I have to do this hot summer?

 

And Life Goes On...........

 We live, We die..........................................................

Recently, our mother slipped slowly away.  She was near 104 years of age.  Her last years were not her best.  She was fragile, non verbal, had dementia and was not happy.  We, the children, can now say we are orphans, even though she didn't have any more 'rising' to do with us.  Now, we are advancing to looking at our own upcoming death ages.  We live, we die.....................it's the in between that matters. 

 We try to make the most of each day and live accordingly.  Our mother lived by herself for 50+ years after our father died.  Then she had a fall and we decided she needed additional care--to her, that meant her independence was gone.  It's tough when the child becomes the parent--there are times when that reverse order of things are necessary.

In tribute to our parents, my brother wrote and recorded the above song.  It's a lovely view of her life in a small way.  Although, we had many old photos, those were taken from us by a swift fire.  That was the day before cloud storage--we lost all those printed memories--now, we just rely on our thoughts of what, when, and where things happen.  To see many of those memories in this video brought tears to my eyes.  There is nothing like photos to open those doors of your brain.

Live as perfectly as you can.............................Make memories!  

Fiber Stash Diving

 

Off to the fiber closet of hidden 'stuff'! to do some stash diving!  This is always fun--never

know what will be found in bins of lost fibers.  THis day I pulled out some indigo dyed wool 

that will NOT be spun--too many twisted lock tops--(I stirred too vigorously I guess)

it is a lovely color and I hate to throw this away--there must be something that could it can be used for--definitely felting for sure!

in the back of the closet sat a bin with a fresh wool fleece--most likely purchased at Taos or Estes Park wool market years ago.  It's in good shape and lovely--I just don't spin too much wool anymore.

Also found a small amount of processed merino wool roving.

  

and This!  Holy Moley!!  One of my favorite things to spin,  I checked and Treenay silks still sells this delightful blend--If I don't find any more of this fiber in the lost closet of fiber, I just might buy  more of this!  Such a dream to spin.

Here's what I'm doing with all that wool--making dryer balls!  I couldn't find long panty hose but these ankle length work just as well.  This is an evening pleasure--wrapping lovely locks of wool into a ball.  How many will I make?  Don't know--most likely till my attention span seeks another interest..

besides, there is the added bonus of lanolin on my hands and

the smell--oh yes!  that fresh wool smell is like perfume to my nose!

As The Garden Grows

 There a few things that give me pleasure--watching gardens grow is one of them!  Plant a seed, water that seed and watch the seed break ground to burst forth into a flowering plant. First thing in the morning, as my coffee is brewing, I take a walk into our small garden space to see what has developed overnight--as if that small seed was going to be four foot tall in just a few hours--

Each morning I find something exciting from that small seed. 

Producing summer crook neck squash is establishing a fruit from the tree.

I push aside the big sticky leaves to scare away bees that are polluting--

Zucchini flowers are forming fruit!  What a joy to see!

Oregano has been growing since last fall--we saved it from freezes so now its flowering 

Sage in foreground and upright rosemary

dill seeds--since swallow tail catterpillars ate all the dill leaves, I'm happy to see that some dill seeds remain.

Spearmint grows abundant--great for lemonade and iced tea

dill seeds are sprouting

our little herb garden is growing in gallon buckets--easy to take out and replace

Oregano is upper row to the left, then a volunteer tomato, sage

lower level is mint besides basil--I just scattered the seeds in hopes to have lots of basil

There are several pepper plants amongst the volunteer tomato plants

How exciting to watch things grow!

Many moons ago, I had a huge garden, one that had to be tilled--it was wonderful to have fresh green beans, okra, tomatoes, eggplant at your fingertips--but, alas, there is lots of work involved in growing those plants.  Always, a pleasure to see those seeds break the ground and flourish to produce fruit and feeds your needs.