great and grand

Erin enjoying the gift of instruction from her mama's mama's mama, a.k.a. Granny.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.  Titus 2:3-5

Blessings, Debbie

quilted heart ornaments

A trip to the thrift in late summer turned up this quilt.  One of the things that really upsets me is how this particular store defaces merchandise by writing prices on everything with black marker.  They are convinced that everything they sell is treasure and people will either want to steal it or pull off stickers so they can lie about the price.  I've frequented this local shop for over a decade now and it's always been this way... the people that work there too, for the most part, treat customers like probable felons.  If it weren't for the fact that I turn up the occasional overlooked true treasure, I wouldn't grace them with my money. Hmmph.

This may not be a true treasure, but I was delighted to find this cutter quilt.  There is a bin where blankets of little value are tossed.  This was peeking out the top, properly defaced of course.  Seeing as I'm just using it for crafting, I'm o.k. with it.

So, I whipped out some ornaments tonight and used only a corner of the quilt!  Did I mention that I'm really enjoying the season?  I am.  I really am.


Joining Creative Friday
Blessings, Debbie  

county fair

This evening I'm looking at fair pictures and taking a stroll down memory lane.  We have participated in our county fair for the last 16 years.  I remember that Hillary was 5 when she won her first ribbons and now she is 22!  

We've entered photographs, drawings, paintings, collages, mosaics, Lego creations, collections, table settings, dolls, cards, origami, decoupage, knit garments and toys, aprons, skirts, quilts, breads, cakes, cookies, muffins, rolls, jams, cut flowers, flower arrangements...

We've come home with ribbons for first place, second place, third place, judges choice, peoples choice...
and we've had tears of disappointment. 

We've made enough money on premiums each year to pay for our family admission and sometimes for carnival armbands.  Yes, the county fair is good!

This year we didn't enter as much as usual.  We knew that we would be gone during the pre-week, and I would be responsible for getting the entries in alone.  A huge job!  So, we kept it light.  Erin came home with 5 firsts, 3 seconds, and 1 third.  Audrey scored a blue ribbon.  She only entered 3 things this year.  I even had fun, but we won't go there.

I took the camera the first night and had trouble getting a decent picture, but wanted to immortalize at least a bit of our 2011 county fair!

*I posted this late last night and I was tired.  When I checked it this morning I realized that the pictures of the girls entries I had posted were all close ups with their name and address glaring in each one.  I wasn't comfortable with that so here you have just a couple of sad pictures from afar.  I'm not going to delete the post.  So please humor me today.

Blessings, Debbie   

the 'girlie' part of our day

A lovely resting spot in the middle of town.

Yesterday we did things that my husband enjoyed too.  I'm just sharing the best part because I think you'd rather see it. For the past 3 years Larry and I have spent our anniversary in a cute little town about 45 minutes from here. It's become a tourist destination since I first met it about 30 years ago.  It has an old west facade and is known for its antiques, fiber arts, and homemade ice cream.  Definitely a fine, fine town.

Every year, the second weekend in July this town becomes a mecca for quilters.  Literally thousands of people crowd the streets for a huge open air quilt show.  Last year that happened to be the weekend that we chose for our daughter's wedding.  Monte lived on the other side of the Cascade mountain range, therefore, so did a good many of our guests.  There are 2 routes to central Oregon, one being through the little town of Sisters.  Those who chose to come this way had a huge stress on their time.  It's a fabulous affair, so long as you are wanting to be a part of the festivities, not get through them!

The Stitchin' Post is where it all began.  I used to visit this store when it was in an old house in downtown Bend and I was 15, before it moved to Sisters.  I loved to go in and look at all of the beautiful fabrics and creative projects that were displayed among the antiques.  It was my earliest inspiration.

My sweet husband also really enjoys this trip.  The Stitchin' Post has guy stuff too.  Like the really cool hand forged door handle that he gets to use when he opens the door for me.  He loves that.  And then there is the manly trout bench out on the porch that he can sit on while he's waiting for me to finish inside.  He loves that too.

Yes we had a lovely time.  I'll be sure to share with you the purchases I made this fine day.  Some of it will pop up in my kitchen, and some will be jumping onto my wheel and my needles!  That's all I'm sayin... for now.

Blessings, Debbie

groovy pincushion

A couple of months ago the girls were given a hand-me-down shirt that neither of them were interested in wearing.  The print is fun so I decided to keep it for the fabric.  It has a geometric design that lent itself well to this pincushion idea I had seen.  I didn't have a pattern but it was simple enough to figure out.

First I cut two circles using a drinking glass as a template.  I made sure to center the pattern.  Next I stitched them right sides together on my sewing machine using a shallow zig zag so the fabric wouldn't fray.  I left about a 3/4" opening for stuffing.  Using an unsharpened pencil I turned it right side out.

Next I stuffed it with bamboo fill and stitched the opening shut.  Usually I don't like the final steps of a project... the finish, but this one is great.  It takes just minutes.  Using crochet cotton thread (or embroidery thread) I stitched through the middle, around and back up through 6 times, tugging gently after each stitch to create a flower shape.  Now I sewed the button on and knotted at the back.  I could have been finished like this but decided to go down, then up through the button one more time, tying the long tails in a bow and double knotting so it wouldn't untie.

Voila!  This is a happy edition to my sewing box.  I cut out several so I hope somebodies aren't looking...


Joining Natural Suburbia's Creative Friday
Blessings, Debbie

cloth napkins

About 5 years ago I made cloth napkins.  It was November and we were going to have 9 guests for Thanksgiving.  There were 6 of us so I made 15 (hard to tell that math wasn't my best subject, huh?).  I bought just a few yards of inexpensive fabric, no real predetermined thought on size.  I chose several variations of a woven fabric, kind of homespun looking.  I cut them into large squares, turned the edges under 1/4 inch and ironed, turned them again and ironed. 

The girls and I kept that stack near us each evening as we watched holiday movies and stitched.  At that time Audrey was just 9, Erin 11, and Hillary 17.  We used a whip stitch in matching thread.  These have been used daily for the past 5 years.  The fact that we made so many for Thanksgiving means we always have clean ones.  

I love looking at the stitches and trying to determine who did what.  I think I might have an idea, but they really did do such a nice job that I'm not sure...

Blessings, Debbie

inspiration by default

What does a dreamy girl who always loved dolls do when she is 15 and still loves her dolls?

Last Wednesday we tore out of the house to drive the half hour to sewing class.  Not only were we having a hard time getting out of the house, but we still needed to pick up a friend who needed a ride out.  Upon starting the engine I was immediately frustrated to find that whoever drove my van last had left me in sorry shape for fuel.  The gas light was on!  Long story short, we were late.

Once there, Erin laid out her washed, ironed, and slightly damp (did I mention we were having a hard time that morning)  fabric.  Time to pin on the pattern pieces.  Pattern?  "Mom, did you grab my pattern"?  No.

She wasn't going to be able to cut out her skirt today.  We brought extra fabric so she decided to make a skirt for her doll.  Teacher said that she could show her how to do a wrap around skirt.  Great!  Scissors?  "Mom, do you have my scissors"?   no.

"That's O.K., she can use mine"...

We're still not done yet if you can imagine.  Cute doll skirt is all cut out.  There is actually going to be time to sew.  "Mom, did you grab the sewing machine pedal"?  no. 

The bright side to this story (there is a bright side) is that daughter came home with a cute addition to the doll's wardrobe.  And yesterday, her teacher brought in her doll with it's amazing handmade wardrobe for 'show and tell'.  So,  Erin came home, set up the machine and began designing.  Her first attempt since the years when she and her cousin wrapped fabric around the dolls sarong style and called them Indians.

It was almost midnight when I sent her to bed.  What kind of home school mom would halt this crazy creative passion?  Me?  No!  

Thanks for the inspiration Sarah, and the patience...

I am joining Natural Suburbia's Creative Friday

Blessings,  Debbie

When the cat's away...

I have a plan for today.  The girls leave at noon for a house sitting job.
But first they'll do a little learning.
Hubby will come home for lunch.  He'll do a little eating.  He'll head back to work by 1:00

a little playing

Then when they're all gone, I'll do a little of this!

I was inspired by the era depicted here on Tuesday.  I picked up this finished quilt top at my friends yard sale last summer.  She is an amazing woman who after raising 5 kids decided to go on a short term mission trip to Africa.  On that trip she saw so many children living on the streets.  She came home having 'established' an orphans home! This was not a plan, nor was it part of the mission she was on.  She now resides there permanently and recently sent a young girl home to Oregon ~ her first adoption.  Anyway, I digress...

So I paid $6.00 for the quilt top and after a bit of digging came up with this red vintage fabric for the backing for just $2.00!  When finished I will have paid $8.00 for this pristine little quilt...not bad in my book!

I have these great vintage glass buttons... There are 9 patchwork squares.  

No way ~ exactly 9 buttons?  

Must be providence.

maybe like this ~ only centered   : )

I'm thinking this would make a wonderful summer tablecloth for our backyard summer meals.  We'll see how brave I am after the assembly.

I'll be sure and share the finished product.  I wish I could invite you over for B.B.Q.  Then again, maybe we should wait until the snow melts!  : )

I am joining Natural Suburbia's Creative Friday

Blessings,  Debbie