Another Passion: Quilting by Hand

I don't know what it is. I guess since second grade I've been proud of my accuracy in stitching. My art teacher even noticed how straight I could draw a line without a ruler. So when it comes time to do a little quilting, I prefer to use a needle and thread instead of a machine. I know it takes longer, but I am so much more satisfied with the result.

My latest project is a quilt that is made with two-sided squares which makes it immediately reversible and saves me from working with a bulky full sized top. I can carry the squares anywhere there's time to work on them, and the possibilities are endless. I just love it.

So Many Projects and More to Go

My mother, God rest her soul, had sent me boxes upon boxes of projects she never started out of the most exquisite yarns in some of the most delicious colors. This summer I spent most of my time to do the stash justice and completing some wonderful winterwear and a few garments for spring. It will be my pleasure to show them off in the near future.

In the process of making some neckwear. I'm also in the middle of making a requested pair of over-the-knee stockings for a family member. That, in itself, is a project and a half.

On another note, I'm glad the heat in this part of the country has subsided. So tired of 90's and 100 deg. heat indexes.

On a way out there note, I hope our president gets his proverbial crap together and make his argument more convincing. Real people know who the jerks are in congress and in the race for next year's election. Snide is out, Republican a******s! So is smug!

My Pomatomus Socks

I finished these quite a while ago, I just never thought about showing them. They've been on my feet for two winters, and hold up really well. The pattern was one of the most fun to make items for me. I love a challenge. So I decided to finally take a picture.

Birthdays..........wish they'd just go away!

For me, anyway, my birthday is always a drag.  I have everything I need, and I'm one of these people other people don't like because I just don't react well to presents.  I don't like getting......I like giving!  I think it's because when I was young, my family had to do without, a lot.  So, I got used to a good meal and maybe a cake and that seemed enough for me even then.  Just tell me "Happy Birthday", and I'll be just fine.  I'm a no-frills person because that's how I am, not because I'm a martyr, which is what they think.  I'm happy every day untill someone makes me miserable.  I've also found out the world doesn't like happy people.  To all of them I say it's their loss. 

So, my birthday came and went yesterday.  It was an interesting day spent with just my family, who will never understand me.  Good cake, MmmmmmmChocolate!

Summertime Blues, and Blacks, and Reds, and Purples, etc............

Despite the heat in the ninety's, I've been busy knitting for fall.  As much as I love my craft, the feel of anything fuzzy on a hot day gives me the willies.  I'm, therefore, trying as much as I can to stick to cotton yarns and acrylic for various projects. 

I promised my daughter a matching spa rug for her bathroom.  Made out of cotton, it suited me just fine.  I'm almost through with it, probably today.  Just need a few more rows and skid proof the back of it and it'll be done.  Whew, that's a lot of thumb tooling, and thank goodness for circular needles.

We had a quiet time (as opposed to firecrackers) over the Independence Day holiday weekend.  My husband does all he can on his to-do list regardless of holiday or not.  Workaholic is an understatement.  My stint is in the kitchen.  I made all sorts of things.  I should have taken pictures, since the food is gone now.  I made some excellent barbecue sauce for my chicken.  Thankfully I made a large batch, because it is going on my next barbecued chicken and pork.  Hot dogs and hamburgers were also made, and I put some fresh picked figs on the pit to enjoy hot.  We smoked some pork butt on Saturday to shred for sandwiches.  I love making sauces for pulled pork bbq.  I stock homemade N. Carolina, Memphis, Kansas City, and Louisiana sauces.  Personally I favor vinegar based sauces because it just tastes so good on pork.  But, to each his own, so I make them all for all tastes.  Crispy slaw and potato salad, green bean and tomato salad, deviled eggs, red white and blue sheet cake and plenty of iced tea and bottomless coffee rounded out a great day yesterday.  Happy Birthday America.

Plarn and Children

I realized the importance of plarn in crafts for kids.  What better for little hands could there be than something non-toxic, forgiving and best of all, free.  They could make themselves adornments for their hair, collars for their pets, pencil and crayon cases for their other arts, bracelets to exchange with friends, and probably hundreds of other crafty ideas that aren't too complicated. 

Best of all, inspiration. 

My 16 year old doggone beagle named Zillah watching my every move.

Plarn and Longevity

Yesterday I looked at my project bags and realized that I have had them for a very long time.  I made them myself out of what is now referred to as "plarn".  Little did I know that when I made them back in 1984 that they would outlast a lot of my handbags, canvas bags, and nylon bags. 

Initially my intent was to have handy shopping totes.  My first experience in a "big box" store was one of humiliation because all eyes were on my bags just in case I tried to steal something.  So I gave up on carrying them inside gocery stores.  That was then, now they have reusable bags that have to be purchased and have the stores name imprinted on the front.  (I've never seen one used, ever.)

I have made quite a few things out of plarn, including a cellphone case for an antiquated phone and numerous other bags that I gave as gifts to all my gal pals.  I'm still cutting up bags to make items for myself when the spirit moves me.  I rejoyce when I find an interesting color or multicolor plastic bag that I can use for this art form.  The good thing is that plastic stash can be stored anywhere, it is water resistent and nothing eats it. 

So, I've been doing this for 27 years not realizing that it would take off in the recycling world, and being proud to be part of it after reading all the eco-blogs and some of the current plarn sites and videos on youtube that explain how to deal with cutting the bags and make a few things.

Here are my project bags and a cellphone cover that survived all these years.