Happenings 'round here

That title makes it sound like there are happenings. They aren't that many, believe me. 

I had promised my sister that I'd make some bed pads to keep at her house. The short version is that another sister suffers from dementia and is living where the pads are going. You get the picture, I'm sure. I got a reminder text this morning and started working on the pads at noon. I chose ugly, heavy fabrics that I'm sure I wouldn't want for a quilt. 

It's not a difficult chore; there are only four pads. I sewed all the fabrics together much like a pieced backing and loaded the longarm just like a regular quilt. I decided to use the opportunity to practice some motifs and that slowed me down. When finished, I cut it into four pads and finished the edges with the lock-stitch machine.

The other thing slowing me down is Marley. She came by for a sewing lesson and made a pair of shorts. Since it's her first pair, she needed guidance. She's getting really good and will soon be able to complete small projects on her own. 

One other thing happening is that I've been painting again. I'm working on two magnolia paintings and will have something to show you in a day or so. Meanwhile, have a fabulous Friday and weekend!

Quick Finish

That's me. Testing the finished product.

Thanks to Sweet Red Poppy I've finally found a scrub cap that fits and I like. And, this pattern is free! 

In one of those rare incidents, I did not change a thing. Nope, not one thing. I printed, taped, cut, and sewed exactly as instructed. Whew! Not an easy concept for me. But it's a winner.  

How do you find this freebie, you ask? Go to Sweet Red Poppy, click on Free Patterns in the navigation bar at the top. The very first one is the scrub cap. Voila! 
(Shh, listen, there are many other useful freebies.)

A couple of adjustments and we're happy.

This cap is already in Jenny's hands. She's going back to work as a dental hygienist in just a few short days. She's a germaphobe, in the worst way. Hates all the ickies!

It's a conundrum. I get to play hero for a moment. She loves me, what can I say?

Have a fabulous week. I hope it starts out with your being a sewing hero to someone. It's a sweet feeling.

Pin It Weekly #312

I fell UP a rabbit hole. :) It happens much too often. Open Pinterest and click on one pin (okay, several pins) and suddenly I'm unable to get out of Pinterest. It's as if my brain freezes, you know? Of course it happened again. Don't ask me how I got from writing this post 20 minutes ago to having renamed and organized the board now titled 
"summit tower spire pinnacle apex peak." Can you tell that I love, no, LOVE words? I do. I've been slowly changing the titles. Go check it out here as soon as you get through reading.

After all that chatter, you may have forgotten that first sentence. UP a rabbit hole. That's because I worked on the the summit... board and everything points up. Geeky, I know. But it's me with all I've got for funny quips. 

Remember: social distancing and hand washing may keep you and love ones alive!

Pin It Weekly #311

Happy Weekly! I have a special announcement tomorrow. Here's betting you can't guess, but it would be fun if you tried. :)
Today, though, it's time to meet a few new folks who have joined the Pinterest party.  Let's start with Rebecca Cameron who just followed all of my boards today! She has a "fan quilts" board that is rather unique. 

Say hello to Suzi Chankhio. I could not resist the hydrangeas on her flower board.

And finally we have Dana Å ubrtová who has a board called "soupravy pončo a čepičky" which means ponchos and cap sets. Know how I know? I used Google translate. Hey, do what you have to do, am I right? After all, there's not much sweeter than these little pieces.

Have a great weekend and stay safe from CoVid-19.

Another of Mrs. Mary Lee's quilts ~~ finished

I am happily reading Boris Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago. It's slow going—I'm on page 113 of 560—but the story is getting more interesting as I advance. Pasternak won, but declined, the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1958 for this volume about Russian life beginning with the Bolshevik Revolution moving through World War I to 1930. One reason that the novel is a struggle is that I have to stop and research events, people, terminology, and so on, quite often. It's a big undertaking, to say the least. Why am I doing it? That's another post. 

I've been working on a few small projects. One project seems to be ongoing—that's some little shorts and pants for Miss Milly. She is potty-training and occasionally has an accident. Keeping her in clean clothes is easy. If there are extra clothes!

I decided that it's easy enough and cheap enough to make shorts. Plus, I don't have to go shopping—the best reason, I think. The fabrics were in my nursery stash. Two pieces were too small to make pants, so shorts they are. 


The weather predictors in our area keep promising that it's going to turn cool any day now. Finally we can feel a little dip in the temperatures, from high 90s down to mid/low 90s. Eventually we'll need some pants, so I've made a couple pair of those and a couple capris, as well. These two are ready for hems and elastic and two were worn home before I could get pics. 

The other project under my needle has another of Mrs. Mary Lee's quilts. The blocks in this one are especially pretty and difficult. Every block has four Y seams! Who would want to make this many Y seams? I guess if you've already made well over 100 quilts by hand, a few Y seams aren't too much to take on. 

I liked the square motif so much that I decided to stick with it. I call this "squarish" but, while I thought it up on my own, I've seen it on Pinterest since. I guess I'm not the only one with good ideas. 
It reminds me of 1960s Formica counter tops. 

I'll leave you with a few pictures of Mrs. Mary Lee's very pretty quilt. It's 70" x 86" in size and it will go home to Anna, who will trim it and add binding before giving it to a family member.

   

A Vase of Flowers ~~ another Richard finish

It seems that I'm reporting on Richard's great work rather than my own work. This finish is too pretty to not report. 

So Richard decided to make a vase to put flowers on his dad's grave. He used some of the cypress wood that he recently acquired. It's beautiful, even without the flowers.

Each side is just a little different because of the wood grain, but every one also has a perfect little cross. 

According to the guys the cypress wood won't deteriorate for many years, even though it's exposed to the elements while sitting on a grave.  

I haven't yet, but I'm thinking of asking him to build another for my grandmother's grave. What do you think?

Pin It Weekly #282

With over five thousand followers, I have plenty to choose from. Here are a few of the more recent ones. 
Florence Unwin has several interesting boards, but the one titled "dress" I must share! 

I can't resist a board of fidget quilts, so I had to share this one from Terri Freyermuth. Don't these have you wanting to make a few for the nearest nursing home? I'm truly impressed!

 

Rachel Gossett-Mateu has a sweet board "dating my husband" that I just couldn't resist. Here's why:

   

Ann Horton has a "Fibre Art" board that you will definitely want to see. 

Thanks for stopping by. Before you go, please leave a comment telling the rest of us which is your favorite way to display fiber art:

• needle books
• wall hangings
• purses/bags
• baskets/boxes
• clothing items
• pincushions
• book/journal covers

Can you think of any others?