• Blog

    Strength in 2021

    December 31, 2021 - By 

    It’s that time once again to reflect on the year. How did I do with my Word of the year?

    One thing is for certain…strength played a huge part in 2021.

    Somehow I mustered the strength to return to the classroom while most every fiber of my being was telling me not to.

    I had strength in my resolve to get vaccinated as soon as I was eligible.

    I used my physical strength to grow more food in our garden and amend the soil so I am ready to plant again in the spring. My physical strength also got me out walking and participating with coworkers on weekly step challenges.

    I had strength to let my baby girl go off to college. The strength to let go.

    I was really hoping I could somehow find a way that strength played a role in my art but I’m drawing a blank.

     

  • Blog

    T Tuesday: November in review edition

    November 29, 2021 - By 

    Since it’s been a hot minute since I last posted, I thought it would be most efficient to do a month in review.

    Work has been tiring of course but when I have had the energy or inspiration; I’ve been mostly obsessed with my sewing machine. Whether its fabric or paper or a combination of the two…I’m running it through my machine with reckless abandon.

    I’ve started work on a few new journal covers. This one has me stepping outside my comfort zone with the bold floral print as well as bright colors. Definitely not my usual but perhaps the shake up will act as inspiration or a challenge. I created two more but evidently forgot to snap a picture.

    Making cards is always a relaxing activity for me. I had punched a ton of circles one day sitting in front of the TV watching who knows what. I like to have my hands busy so I don’t find myself snacking. But I digress… I sat down at my sewing machine with a couple different piles of scraps. Fabric and paper as well as the afore mentioned circles. I have mentioned lately how much I love circles!! I do, trust me.

    Now I have a large stack of cards ready to go when an occasion arises. Just add a sentiment or even just a note on the inside.

    The kids came home from college for Thanksgiving break. It was great to see them in person again. Just a couple more weeks and they’ll be home for a month between semesters. Marvin was very excites when Mini-me came through the door. He thought it was me coming home from work but it was his girl. She said that he yelled excitedly. Of course that never lasts too long…the comfort of napping on the “grandma blanket” always wins out.

    Mini-me sent me this one day. The thrill of seeing your own work (or your offspring’s) never gets old.

    Mini-me helped me make our first batch of lefse of the season. We were definitely a bit out of practice…it had been almost two years since I made any. We made a small batch…just enough for Mini-me to bring some back to share with her friends at college and of course, for us to have a few.

    Lastly I’ve been continuing to sew my random scraps together. I decided on 9.5 inch blocks. I just keep stitching and ironing and stitching and ironing…until I have a big enough piece to cut my square. I decided on 9.5 inches mostly because I have a square quilting ruler that size.

    I don’t have a plan in particular for these blocks. I assume I’ll put sashing between the blocks to give the eye a place to rest. But for now I’m just creating a very colorful stack of blocks.

    T stands for Tuesday

    I’m certainly not promising that I will be posting more often but it does feel good to get my words on the page.

    Happy T day everyone!

  • Blog - Crafts - Creativity

    Panda pillowcases

    November 1, 2021 - By 

    When I spotted some panda fabric at local quilting store I just had to grab it. Mini-me loves pandas. I thought I’d make her a cute accessory for her dorm room.

    My neighbor has been making beautiful custom pillowcases for family and friends over the summer. I’ve been admiring her handiwork. I happened to be with her at this particular quilt shop and guided me on how much I needed to purchase for a set of pillowcases.

    After giving me a brief verbal tutorial, she passed along the YouTube video tutorial she followed to create very professional results with French seams.

    I tried to snap some photos along the way but honestly without the video, my photos may not make a whole lot of sense. Not being one to try to recreate the wheel…and really just wanting to get these made…I didn’t take enough photos to create a tutorial of any sort.

    Sausage rolled fabrics that had me questioning my sanity.

    I’m mainly sharing my images to of course show off the cute fabric, but also to show how crazy this process seems and how you may fear you are doing something wrong…but don’t worry…it all comes together in the end.

    Again, this had me questioning my sanity…closing the seams with right sides out and raw edges exposed. All I have to say is, patience…follow the process…it will turn out right in the end.

    I love this little detail. A small tab of contrasting fabric.

    And here you have them…perfect French seam pillowcases…no exposed seams or raw edges. It’s a kind of magic especially when you think about the fact that I only sewed three lines of stitching, Crazy!