Lacking in pictures

Today I'm sadly lacking in any photos to show you because it's been one of those weeks when I've been doing lots of lunches out and such and obviously haven't been home long enough to really create anything worth showing.  I have, however, accumulated several mumblings and will share those.

- If you have young people in your life and happen to be searching for something they can do in the summer holidays, perhaps THIS might be something you could have on hand for rainy days.

- And HERE is another little something that might be fun for the kids.  

- THIS falls under the 'well, I'll be darned' category.  I don't know about you but I didn't have a clue about any of what Super Mom No Cape has discovered about spool threads.  Go have a look!!

- There's a handy downloadable tool HERE for helping to make even hems in fabric.

- If you would like to add a lace insertion there's an easy tutorial HERE.

- Have a peek at the work THIS artist does - pretty amazing things.  And also have a look at the work found HERE.  Wow!  And THIS too!

- And the work found HERE is pretty incredible too.

- HERE are some more.  I can but dream of being able to do such things!

Tomorrow is Canada's 150th birthday - so - if you are Canadian, a happy (and safe!) holiday to you!!  


Today the quote is from an anonymous source..."There are 3 C's in life:  Choice, Chance, and Change.  You must make the Choice, to take the Chance, if you want anything in life to Change"

What's a girl to do??

Yes, what's a girl to do when there are several strikes against her

 and she's weak, oh so weak?

What is she to do when her husband suggests that

a trip to the fabric shop might be a nice thing

to do on a rainy day?

What's she to do when he reminds her that

there are four big boxes of donations

sitting on her side of the bedroom 

floor waiting to be taken to the thrift store

and that the fabric shop is on the way?

What, I ask you, is a girl to do 

when the afore-mentioned fabric shop

just happens to be having a huge

50% off sale??

What is that girl to do when

a beautiful piece of fabric

simply leaps off the shelf and 

into her arms, flatly refusing

to be put down?

What's that girl to do 

when several other pieces of fabric

do the very same thing?

What's a girl to do 

when there's 'No, No' on her lips,

but 'Yes, Yes' in her heart?

Well....

This is ONE piece of fabric - with lace already applied!!

- You have to go and look at the latest creations from the very talented Michele Palmer!!  They are absolutely beyond adorable.  Go HERE.

- THIS is one of those things I won't likely ever make but I said 'awwww' right out loud when I saw it.

- Further on the twiddle muffs for dementia patients....when I saw THIS I immediately thought that you could combine a lap quilt and the aspect of a twiddle muff by putting things inside the pocket.

- There's a whole bunch of free patterns HERE, including a really sweet little girls dress.

- THIS will take you to a pdf pattern for a really nice hot mat that will make excellent use of scraps.

- There's a really nice purse organizer pattern HERE.

Today your quote is from Anonymous...."The Dust Bunnies killed my cleaning fairy.  Please pardon the mess while I seek a replacement"

As promised

Today I have something just a little different to share.  As many of you might remember our #2 son and daughter-in-love have started a family photography business (miamusa.ca) and at the moment they're searching for appropriate 'props' to have on hand for their baby photo shoots.  I am currently working on creating a number of these little baby headbands that hopefully they'll be able to use.

The one on the upper left is knitted and the rest are all crocheted.  I did each of these designs (with the exception of the knitted one) in several different colours so they have an assortment to choose from.

- If you have lots of corrugated cardboard lying about, perhaps you'd like to try your hand at something like THESE?

- I would love one of THESE for my grandson(s) - but a little pricey don't you think?

- If you have little ones that love Lego in your life perhaps you might want to file THIS idea away for those days in the summer when they're bored.  Or if they're a little older maybe having THIS idea in your arsenal might be fun.

- And for some jaw-dropping embroidery skills have a look HERE (be sure to scroll down!)

It's raining again today - seems like we get some every day and we're beginning to wonder if maybe we're living in a rain forest.  Everything looks so lush and green but I know it's hard on the farmers who need sunlight and heat for many of their crops.  

Today I have another quote from Bob Marley...."Some people feel the rain, others just get wet"  

An entire post filled with ... you guessed it!!

There have been no pictures taken over the past couple of days and I've managed to accumulate quite a list of mumblings, so thought I'd give you a real treat (hee hee) and give 'em to you all at once.  Hopefully there might be pictures of something to show you tomorrow.

-  There are some really pretty patterns videos for crocheted trims HERE, HERE, and HERE.  

- THIS is one of those projects that just makes you say 'awwwww'.   And THIS one too!  And THIS.  

- If you happen to be a Dr. Who fan, have a look at THIS amazing quilt!!  She has included a link to the pattern source in her post.

- And how about THIS for the fans of Wonder Woman?  Or THIS?

- Sharon Boggon has begun the first block on her 2020 challenge project and you can see that HERE.  I would love to take part in this one, but I know myself well enough to know that I'd fall off the proverbial wagon long before I ever got it done.  Attention span of a gnat doesn't help!!

- There is an interesting series of articles giving lots of tips about how to enter your work in shows.  Part One is HERE,  and Part Two can be found HERE.  

- HERE you can find a great tutorial on making fabric postcards. 

- There's a really nice pattern HERE for a lacy scarf/shawl.  

- Mary Corbet has a really fun article on her blog about bead packaging - well worth reading and you can find it HERE.  She also has an interesting post about thread organization HERE.  

Today your quote is from Vic Patrice..."Don't let your loss today be the hindrance of your tomorrow"

A Finish!!!

All those seam treatment posts are at an end (at least until I start a new project!!) and here's is the big reveal.  I wonder how many of you guessed what it was going to be?

"A King Is Born"

measures approximately 19 x 30"

- There's a really cute monkey quilt pattern HERE.  

- There are links HERE for some really cute Barbie clothes.

- For those of you who enjoy rubber stamping, HERE is a solution for storing the clear stamps.

Today your quote is from Emily Griffin..."Often I feel that projects overwhelm us when we look at how many hours are involved until completion.  But just getting started is usually not that difficult"  

Maybe you should - sit down, that is!

Would you believe............that this is the last of the seam treatments (for now)!!!  I know - good thing I told you to sit down before I made THAT pronouncement!

Straight stitches (black, orange and green); cross stitches (blue);

French knots

This one is all straight stitches

Straight stitches (black and pink); crossed cross stitches (green)

and French knots

This one is all straight stitches with some 

crossed cross stitches (green).

More straight stitches, with cross stitches (red)

THE END 

(for now)

- THIS is one of those things that just makes you go 'awwwww'.    And THIS one is also adorable.  THIS one is plainer, but is very cute.  There's another one HERE.  

- If you like jeans as much as I do, how about making the wee one in your life a pair of THESE?

- There are tons of free crazy quilt block patterns HERE.  Some great images too.

Your quote today is from an anonymous source...."If your presence doesn't make an impact your absence won't make a difference"

Yet more - definitely heading towards the Land of Nod here

I know - boring, boring, bo-r-i-n-zzzzzzzzzzzz.

Straight stitches & French Knots

Cross and straight stitches

Straight stitches (black)...or you could use buttonhole

stitch if you wish;  straight stitches (red); Lady Daisies
(blue) and French Knots.

All straight stitches, although you could use

Fly Stitch for the blue stitches

Herringbone stitch (black); straight stitch (green)

cross stitch (orange)

- There's a cute pattern HERE for a hexxie pincushion.

- THIS isn't something I have the patience to create, but isn't he cute?  Or how about a flock of THESE?

Today your quote is, I think, rather fitting about what you experience when you visit my blog.  Definitely snoozeworthy here!

It's from Hal Elrod..."How we start our day determines how we create our life.  Are you snoozing through your morning, snoozing through your life, and snoozing through your unlimited potential?  Or are you committed to waking up each day with passion, purpose, and a plan so you can create the life you truly want and deserve?"

Well, you can definitely say what I do might be snoozeworthy, but at least I have passion about it!! 

More catch up

Today I'm going to give you a number of seam treatments in an effort to get caught up to where I am with my stitching.  Bear with me!

Blanket stitch (black); lazy daisies (pink); cretan stitch (green)

Straight stitches & cross stitches

Straight stitches, and crossed cross stitches

Straight stitches (black & red); cross stitches (green)

Straight stitches & French knots

All straight stitches

Three rows of Chevron stitches (black); straight stitches (blue)

and lazy daisies (red);  French knots

- There are tons of links HERE to all sorts of tote bags you can make!  And there are links HERE to a myriad of fun summer-y things to make.

It seems that every day the news gets worse and worse.  Today our thoughts go out once again to the people of London.

Today your quote is from Vic Patrice...."Don't let your loss today be the hindrance of your tomorrow" 

Playing catch up

I'm getting a lot done on my current black crazy quilt project and will try to play a little catch up with seam treatments, so bear with me while I do that.  I'm almost done the embroidery and then will start putting it together so the reveal is getting closer!

Another one made up entirely of straight stitches - and some French knots.

Straight stitches & lazy daisies.

And this one is yet more straight stitches and French knots.  

As you can see, sometimes the most effective seam treatments are made with simple stitches!

- THESE are really cute pillows you can create for a Star Wars fan.

- Pam Kellogg has a new book(let) available and you can find out more by seeing her post HERE.  Lots of eye candy in this one!

- THIS is another book I'm putting on my wish list!  There's a wonderful video showing some of the designs that are included.  

- Mary Corbet has written an interesting post about using the current rage for colouring for the basis for embroidery.  Go HERE for that.  

It's raining again today, but at least it's a lovely warm rain and my houseplants are all out on the balcony soaking it up.  Because of the rain, your quote today is from Bob Marley... "Some people feel the rain, others just get wet"  

I hope you always feel the rain.

A few more, and a little extra

Today I thought I'd show you the project that our CQTeers group did at our last meeting.  The door to my sewing room doesn't want to stay open so a doorstop was in order and why wouldn't I want to have a cute little fellow like this?....

Pattern is from Wee Folk Art

and can be found HERE.  

 This one is made up of all straight stitches.

Three rows of Herringbone stitch.

Another simple one made up entirely of straight stitches with some French knots.

-  Awhile ago I shared a link for making Twiddle Muffs for Alzheimer's and Dementia patients and I've just come across another great item that would be helpful.  Go HERE for that.  If you want to see some great ideas for things you could include, just Google 'Fidget Mats' or 'Alzheimer's Mats'.

- HERE's an easy fix alteration for waistbands in jeans that tend to gap at the back and there's another variation in the video found HERE.  And if you need to shorten a pair of jeans, there's a great tutorial HERE that allows you to keep the original hem.

- If you happen to have little boys in your life, perhaps you might find something you'd like to make them from THIS list.  AND - if you go HERE you can find a tutorial and a link to the free pattern to make your little one a great bucket hat for summer.  

It's finally turned summer here!  I'm happy, although I could rather do without the humidity.  So I thought this quote from Warren Buffett was appropriate..."Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago"