layout

Well as you can see we have decided on a four patch.

Now all that is left is to just assemble and be done. The real cool thing about yo-yo quilts is that if you decide later you want them bigger it is so easy to do. I think this will be a little small for the girls table but we can keep making yo-yos and adding till we get it there.

wip

Family WIP Friday.

The girls and I are in a yo-yo swap that ends tomorrow. We where in charge of it, so we already have ours. We have made way more than the 56 each that was needed for the swap. We were to make 218 between all 4 of us, which we did and then some more for fun. More like 300 - 500 for fun.


Some we made because a few people had circumstances that came up and they couldn't complete blocks, so one set I did half of for the lady; two dropped out completely, so we made those two sets as well. So out of 14 people we did 6 1/2 people's yo-yos and had great fun, too. I would gladly do it again; we had so much fun I hope everyone likes theirs. One lady was real kind and made extra yo-yos to give to the girls, then decided to just give us her whole allotment. Makes us real close, I think, to having enough for this project. Not really, but I will look at it that way. We are a lot closer than we would have been.

The girls want to make a table cloth out of them for their drawing/craft area. I think they will get over that idea quick and it will end up on some other table or sea trunk in the house. But I am good with it if they think they can handle a bumpy drawing surface.

So we spent a few hours today sorting colors, matching colors, stringing yo-yos so they stay matched ,and then made one block so we could see the lay-out (more so they could).

One asked is this family night. I guess it sort of was family night. We normally do that on Monday but this was just as good; we were all together having fun.

We haven't decided if it will have two rows of petals of not. Think we are just going to make all the block centers first, then play with the layout (the centers equal the first two rows of the flower) . Then we will see if all the flowers will touch or have a boarder or add one more row of petals.

This is where we stand at the moment -- one block made. Not the normal assembly, but I think it will be stronger this way, for little kids to use.

We may change the whole thing and make it into a four patch, much faster sewing.

P.S.

If you get a chance, go here to watch a real funny short; it is so hilarious we watched it over and over again today. I can relate to the person in the clip way too much for sanity. After you click on the above "here" you will be on a new page. You will have to scroll up in the new page on Heather's site. Then just click on the arrow in the middle of the picture to watch. It is so funny! Please come back after watching and post here to let me know what you think. I am laughing just thinking about it.

Update Sept. 30 All the yo-yos are in the mail

2 cloths

Just finished repairing two church cloths. Yeah!!!!

Wisteria

Sometimes God gives you little gifts that you don't expect.

I planted two wisteria plants three years ago. They are supposed to bloom in the spring and had never done that to this point.

I assumed they were getting acclimated to the ground and all. Just a few days ago I noticed that they have their first bloom on them. Nothing like a confused plant it thinks Fall is Spring.

But I am so glad it did because I was starting to think I had purchased the wrong plants and that it was a plant that would never bloom. Just goes to show you, God knows all and does all in His own time. Thinking about the plant didn't make it grow; God did and not when I thought it would. It is interesting how we always assume things should be done when we want them to be done; that doesn't always happen. I never gave up on the plant. I watered it and pruned it and weaved it to make it grow where I wanted it to. I was rewarded with a single bloom, but that is all it took to make me smile. Thank you, God, for a last little smile before winter sets in and makes everything white.

drawn thread work table cloth

I was a bad girl. Saturday night I was taking some stuff to the local thrift store as a donation.

Then, I decided I just had to go in for a quick look (I always look for vintage crochet thread, old embroidered pillow cases, and things like that).

When I found this drawn thread work table cloth, I figured it had to have tons of holes or why would any one chuck it? Upon inspection, I discovered it had one tiny one and I didn't see damage to the embroidery.

Then I figured it has to be expensive; but I saw the $2.00 price tag. Oh, that was so going to be mine! It always amazes me how some people just don't think much of hand work, and others would pay hundreds of dollars for this same item on eBay.
You never know. Well, this hasn't decided where it is living in my house yet. It still needs a cleaning (even thought it looks real clean). Then I will decide. No matter where it goes, it will be lovely.

This little cloth is the size of a card table type of cloth; just a lovely little size. It is amazing how much work was put into this one little cloth; a true family heirloom that someone tossed. As the saying goes, "One woman's trash is another woman's treasure." OK, I changed -- it artistic license. But you get my meaning all the same.

paisley fabric

I just got a surprise package in the mail from Red Hen at MJF.
We are in a yo-yo swap together and I mentioned that I really liked the paisley fabric she used when she sent her yo-yos. She was so kind as to send me some so I could make stuff with it. Is it not some of the prettiest fabric you have ever seen? I just love paisleys. I don't think she knew this, but my dream house is a big old red barn that has been turned into a house. So the card is just perfect. Thank you.

scarfs in trade for fabric

Scarves for Candismom.
Thank you for the fabric these will be mailed Monday or Tuesday.

Bridal Veil Falls

We spent the last two days and one night up at a resort in Park City.

On the way home it was such a lovely day I just had to take some photos of the canyon while driving. There is a man made lake / reservoir; it was so pretty with the mountains and clouds and the snow capped mountains in the background.

Then we stopped at Bridal Veil Falls, and I got to take some more photos.

There was this little tiny bush there with little berries on it that reminded me of pomegranates. I just had to take a photo of them. I had never seen a berry that looked like that. These are about the size of a tiny cherry. I have no idea if they are poisonous or not; just took a photo -- no tasting.

Bridal Veil Falls freezes in the winter time and a lot of people ice climb here, including my husband. One of these times I should go and watch him, but for some reason because of the size of the fall, it is scary to me, seeing a little person climbing on it. I don't mind if he climbs; I just haven't been able to bring myself to watch it yet.

That is a real shame, on my part, because it must be beautiful to see. The sheer size of the falls with a little person on it. I remember watching people climb Half Dome and El Capitan as a child, and that didn't scare me. I think it has something to do with knowing the person. He is very skilled and talented. I seriously need to break this idea. Next time he goes I will go in a separate car so I can watch for a little while and then go because he climbs all day long, and I don't think the kids could hang out that long and not complain of cold and the like.

If you look at the pictures closely, in one you will see people walking at the base of the falls for a reference for how big these are.

For any one who knows these places, I hope this feels a little like home. Isn't nature beautiful? God is the greatest artist there could ever be.

big box o'fabric

A package came in the mail today. It was from candismom at MJF.


It was 10 lbs of fabric; 60 different pieces of fabric! We are trading with each other. She will get some scarves mailed to her Monday or Tuesday, at the latest.

It was a good thing I had already straightened my fabric stash because it was easy to straighten just one more box since all the supplies were still set up for that. Quite a variety of color and patterns, too.

Thank you, Elisabeth!

fabric shelf done

Yeah, it is done!

Until the next box of fabric comes in the mail ,which should be any day now. It is from a swap on MJF.

basket o'yo-yos

My children and I have been in charge of a yo-yo swap at MJF that is almost to an end.
We are just waiting for the last 4 people to submit their yo-yo's so we can send them out to everyone in the swap.

The girls are real excited; we are adding all our yo-yo's together to make a tablecloth for the girls' art area. Of course, it will be covered with plastic so they will not destroy it after all the work . The girls are excited to get the last little bit so they can start laying out a pattern.

I just wanted to thank Bridge for the wonderful knob hanger that she sent me for coordinating the yo-yo swap. I think that was real sweet of her. She also sent a secret surprise to everyone else in the swap that is purposely not in the picture so people will not know what it is. Sorry I might spoil the color of the yo-yo's, but not the other things; plus some of these yo-yo's are not in the swap so you won't know what you are getting there, either.

My kids are still making yo-yo's so they just keep adding to the stash. As we sort through the fabric to straighten it out, we keep finding little pieces that we can use for yo-yo's and into that pile they go.

shelves of fabric

Do you ever get one of those ideas in your head that just keeps hitting you until you do it?

Well, I have had one of those; now I am in the middle of it. I am starting to see the light at the end of a tunnel -- I sure hope it isn't that train.

I have been wanting to straighten my fabric now for months but could not quite figure out the best way because I have little pieces and big pieces and everything in between. I decided on cutting card board and coraplast into 7 1/2 inch by 12 inch pieces for big yardage and 4 inch by 7 inch and 2 inch by 5 inch for small pieces.

I had fabric in about 6 places in my house; trying to organize this has been a nightmare, but I see it will be well worth it in the end. I think I have 2 more boxes to go through for normal fabric (ie. cotton, rayon, silk, linen and things like that). All the wool in the house will stay in its totes until it is made into rugs (20 totes of big heavy wool; I think that is the best bet for it).

Here are the results thus far.
There actually is some logic here, just not much. The bolts with a card board center that are large are fabric I purchased or received from my grandmother or my great aunt.

The ones on coraplast are from my husband's grandmother, so if I make something for a relative for sentimental purposes I know which stash to grab from.

I have some fabric from friends, as well, that I am working on currently. They will be stored in another spot to keep them organized; about 2/3 of this stash are from 1970 - 1920. I wasn't even alive during those years. I love inheriting fabric. None of this stash is polyester. I can't stand the stuff.

I am not done with this project yet; at the moment I am just getting everything on bolts. When I am done with that, then color coordination will kick in, so don't be surprised if you see a picture of this again all nice and sorted by color families.

Temari Ball

It is a grey sort of blustery day here.
I was wanting to look at something a little bright and cheery. I saw this sitting on our upright and thought "That works." I made this for my husband a few years back as a gift. It is call a temari ball, which is Japanese for hand thread ball. The design on this one is known as a complex 10, meaning the ball is divided into 10's in all directions. Then it is embroidered on.

Russian Needle punch

It has been Mommy-daughter art time a lot lately.

I have spent the last five days teaching my 7 year old how to do Russian needle punch. She designed the image herself and then picked the colors. For a first time at doing this, I think it is pretty good; it is the size of a square post-it note standard size. That is what she drew her image on and wanted it to stay that size. I think it is the perfect size for a starter project; not too small and not too big. I promised her that before the art show in December I will get it framed and hang it in our front room for all to see. That just made her day. Please, if you like it, leave positive comments so I can show her ;it will just make her day to know other people like it because she is massively shy.

Dr Pauls Family

Got the dad and the dog, now, and the oldest son again.
I had to re-do the oldest son because oil got on the paper after I glued it; very, very annoying! Oh well. Now they have one nice one and one almost nice one (you can't see the oil by looking or glancing at it, but it will turn brown in time, so best to fix it now I thought. We also decided to cut a silhouette of the family dog. My first attempt at that not too bad.

Dr Pauls Family

Some more silhouettes; I just cut these. It is almost an entire family; I am missing the father and family dog.
The dad is a very busy man; I'll get him later.


If you are interested in silhouettes of your family, please go to my store "Vintage Threads, Inc." link on left side of screen to place an order. (I ship only in the United States).

Rich Family

This is a little family we know. I cut these Silhouettes of them this morning.

I really like the way the toddler came out; she was pouting and screaming, so it's not half bad.

If you are interested in silhouettes of your family, please go to my store "Vintage Threads, Inc." link on left side of screen to place an order. (I ship only in the United States).

What's the difference

I received a question via e-mail. "What is the difference between your two stores, other than one has stuff and one doesn't?"

Well "Sunshine's" is for items made out of none-traditional materials, such as synthetics and things like that.

"Vintage Threads" is for items that I make that are out of traditional fibers such as wool, linen, silk, cotton, rayon.

I have focused on "Sunshine's" first, then I will focus on "Vintage Threads". I hope this clears up any questions on it.

Once both are set up, it will be easier to focus on both shops; because I am one person, I am just focusing on one at a time for set up.

Thank you for looking. I will announce here when I have Vintage Threads up and working.

Gift of Kudzo Jelly

Kudzu Jelly from Momof3.

I will have to make rolls in the next few days to see what jelly made from flowers tastes like. Should be lots of fun. She posted the receipt on MJF. So I think it is OK to show it here: It is written here exactly as she posted it there.

Here is the recipe for Kudzu Blossom Jelly. It is very easy and very delicious!! One of my favorites.

4 cups Kudzu blossoms (make sure you pick in an unsprayed patch!! If you are not sure, you can pretty much count on any county spraying anything near the road.)
4 cups boiling water
1 T fresh lemon juice
1 package powdered pectin
5 cups sugar

Wash blossoms in a sink of cold water. Place in a large, non-metallic bowl and pour boiling water over the top. Place a plate on top to submerge blossoms and refrigerate overnight.

Strain liquid into a large pot and discard spent blossoms.
Add to the liquid the lemon juice and pectin. Bring to full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Add sugar and return to a rolling boil, stirring constantly and boil 1 minute.
Remove from heat and skim off any foam that may have formed. Ladle into sterilized 1/2 pint jars. Clean edges and put on lids and rings. Process in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes.
Makes 6- 1/2 pint jars of jelly

PS- The liquid will be a grayish color until you add the lemon juice, then it turns a beautiful rosy color.

Good luck!!

Karin

I will never be able to make this because kudzu doesn't grow in Utah. So it is a little taste of the south.

Frannie's hats

In our new hats thank you Frannie.

Frannie's gift

Frannie from Texas sent me a package a few days ago; it came today.

When we traded, I had no idea the the acorns had real tops on them; I thought it was a fuzzy fabric. I wanted the acorns because they reminded me of my grandmother's house and will make lovely pin cushions. It is even more special that real acorn tops are used. I have never seen acorns that big WOW.

The round pincushion is lovely. (Sorry Frannie; you are right, the man did get a stain on it when he looked at it) I think it is lovely in spite of that; don't worry about sending something else, I am good with it.

The hats for my girls are precious; you didn't tell me they where reversible. I am not sure I sent you enough stuff in trade. Please let me know. Thank you, ever so much! I hope you had as much fun making them as I did getting them.

Frannie just started a blog; if you would like to go to it click here.