Making my List and Checking it Twice

Is everything getting done?  Is the house ready for other people to live here?  Wow - my lists are long, but bit by bit things are getting checked off.  Everyday there are things to do, plus all the tasks that are calling my name.  But it's moving along. . . . . . . . . .

Tomorrow is QA.  Our speaker is Harriet Hargrave.   Her topic is machine quilting.  Hmmmmm.

We're outta Dodge on Tuesday.  Off to Iceland, as the first of our adventures begin.  Get ready Edda - here we come.

Old Dogs and New Tricks

I first "met" Bird Blocks stitcheries at the Sewing Expo in February in Puyallup.  I really adored several of their patterns and bought two.  I have since followed one of their suggested methods to get the design onto the fabric you are using - be it a dishtowel or a piece for framing or ?????.

This product is run through your ink-jet printer and the design is put onto the stabilizer.  You remove the backing and press-apply the design to the top of your fabric.  It is a bit sticky, but re-positionable when first applied.  So you get it all set up and then start to do the embroidery through the stabilizer.  It is fairly thin, but makes a perfect copy of the design.  It is so easy to follow and for me who tends to have shaky hands, I don't have to trace the design.

You finish sewing and soak the piece.  The stabilizer "melts" away and you have just the fabric with your design stitched on.  However, in my first two I had problems with little grey flecks on the background.  I tried to brush them away but without success.  I was really distressed.  After all the time required to sew I didn't want it ruined with spots.  So I spoke with the on-line chat person on Bird Brain's website.  Robin suggested a second, longer soak and if need be, use a soft toothbrush on the grey specks.  She suggested that what was being left behind was actually bits of ink that hadn't totally washed away. 

I followed her suggestions and now I have a lovely piece, without any flecks on it.  I don't have a big plan in mind, but will probably do a couple of red borders and frame this.  I am very pleased with it.

I did make a brief stop at the quilt store and bought some more perle cotton - turkey red, blue and black.  I have a piece I have prepared to take on the plane with me.  It's the four seasons - you saw Summer yesterday.  That one is finished as a gift exchange item.  I will do the four as a wall panel.

Have you noticed that I haven't been using my sewing machine?  It seems that my sewing room is being used as the storage room while we are away.  All the extras are stacked in there.  [chaos!!!!]  So to keep my hands amused, I'm doing all this embroidery.  But it's pleasant.

Needle and Thread

Yes, I know, we have been off RVing, but I have also been doing a bit of needle and thread "stuff" - so here are two pieces I've recently finished.  I'm finding this so relaxing and rather therapeutic.  Tonight the redwork angel will be with me in front of Masterpiece Theater (one of my favorite TV events) and I'm preparing a piece to take on the plane.  I'll show you later this week.

 

RVing Week-end

We had a GREAT time this week-end.  Saturday was a bit drippy and gray, but we had a marvelous week-end.  Sunday dawned sunny and bright - almost unheard of this spring, so we thoroughly enjoyed the day.  So, some photos:
Saturday morning bowling
Saturday evening pajama party, with special seating for those scoring the highest and for those scoring the lowest (that would be me!).  We watched the very fun Lucille Ball movie, "The Long, Long Trailer" (I think that's the name).   We enjoyed popcorn, red licorice and M & M's.  There was a competition for the most creative slippers made entirely with supplies from our rigs.  You can figure them out.  ;->

You do remember that this is an entirely women's group, thus the basic materials were perfectly comfortable with this group.  Did you figure them out? 

Oh so silly!

The Countdown continues (with lots of photos)

As many of you know, this is going to be one exciting summer for us.  One of my "bucket list" items has been to do a house swap in Europe - and this year it is happening.  A computer is coming along so Nana's wanderings and adventures, hopefully, will be chronicled with words and photos.  But that also means that we have a lot of "stuff" to get organized at this end.  One never really realizes just how much there is in our homes that we have put aside for something important - or is that only me?  [I doubt that!]

And so here are a couple of little things that I found in Nana's stash.  This is the original Nana (my mother) and these were hers.  Aren't they just so cute.  I have them, but have no idea how to showcase them well.

 

Part of the thimble/sewing notions collection

Pewter thimble from Iona, Scotland

 

Friend Judy from Stashbusters knows that I really like finding interesting men's shirts to use as neutrals in quilts.  She brought me this one, which I have cut up.  I like it!

That's a lot of fabric from one short-sleeved shirt.  I'm a happy girl.

And here is the Bird Brain designs angel I'm working on.  A perfect in-front-of-the-TV projects (as I don't want to start anything really big.  I'm trying to clean up!)

Sorry about the wrinkles.  But isn't she sweet.  Now I do have one challenge and would really appreciate your suggestion.  This uses #8 Perle cotton for the stitching with a #4 needle.  However, I find it difficult to thread without a threader.  How about you?  Do you use some sort of tool or what?

Busy days. 

 

Rainy Monday (again)

Some days (or should I say some years) it is really hard to be patient as the weather sorts itself out.  We have had more than 3 inches of rain above the norm, so far this year.  And so while there are flowers about, they are late or beaten down by the deluge.  It is discouraging.

My sweet D-I-L is on spring break this week (a 7th grade teacher) and so she and I had a day outing.  First we managing to get to the kitchen store to get her some bakingware - a left-over gift from Christmas. [alright, alright - it's late I know, but neither of us could find a good time.  She is excited to have a couple of days to play with her new dishes, now.]  Then we went to Pacific Fabrics to find some fabric to make drapes for her bedroom.  That will wait until after our trip for completion.  But nice, nonetheless.

So what's been happening at Casa Nana?  Not much as I haven't been here much.  Last week was consumed with getting my daughter and kids ready to and then actually to effect a move.  They are (un)settled in their new little house which is much closer and Nana likes that part a lot.  The other night with very little traffic, it took exactly 18 minutes from her driveway to mine.  Yeah!  No more long ferrylines and waits, not to mention the expense.  They are cleaning the old house this week and then will continue the slow process of weeding out what needs to be kept and what can find another home.  It might have been nice if that had all happened before the move, but with her out-of-town trip, etc. it just didn't.  So now it all begins in earnest.

When I have been home and able to stay awake, I have been doing more of my needlework.  Just silly dish towels, but I needed some new ones and so I may as well try to make them look pretty.

I am excited to try my hand at some marvelous stitcheries from birdbraindesigns.net  
Check out their website as they have some of the cutest designs.  I first saw them (that was me, not the company) at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in February.  More of that to come.

Nana hosted the Easter gathering with DD and family and ex-hubby and his wife.  (yes, we all do get along)

Don't those Peeps just make you laugh?

Happy last week in April (can you believe it?)

I forgot to show you

Last week (no, it was the week before) while DD was out of town and I was doing my Nana duties I did have a chance to visit the Kingston Quilt Shop.  While I did get a couple of yards of fabric (I know, I know - not stashbusting - but wait until you see it!) I also found a pattern and 2 books that are great.

Isn't that terrific?  This picture is a bit blurry but they have the actual quilt in the shop and it is stunning.  And two new books,

And the fabric - for a couple of pillowcases

Do you love it?  I know that some do.  However, on a much more mundane note, I did find a pattern and fabrics at the church Superfluity sale, that did call my name,

And my MAJOR Superfluity find, was this

It is Le Creuset.  3+ quart enameled cast iron.  I have had to work hard - lots of elbow grease - to clean the grease off of it.  But it sure paid off, when you consider that it came to live at Nana's house for $1.
I really want to try the no-knead bread that you make in this sort of a pan.  Have you tried that?  And what about the knob on the lid?  What has been your experience?  I have wanted one of these for some time, but they always are just too doggone expensive.  I'm excited!