Pins, Anyone?

My new friend and I are still debating clothing options, but in the meantime, my hands have not been idle!

These are pincushions I’ve made for my quilt guild’s sale next month.  They are all made from “orphan” blocks.  That is, quilt blocks that were left over from another project . . . or the ones that did not turn out right . . . or the ones where I misread the directions.  LOL!

But the cool thing about these pincushions?  They are made with used CDs.  Back before removable drives and cloud technology, etc., I backed up my computer files onto CD.  And I have a LOT of them!  (I use a needle to scratch the surface, so the data is no longer recoverable.)

So, two CDs, two circles of fabric, some plastic pellets, some fiberfil stuffing, and a collection of trims – and you’ve got a pincushion!

I have one I’ve been using for years at my worktable and I couldn’t craft without it!  The pellets (or sand, or walnuts, or whatever) give it some weight so it stays put and it’s large enough to hold a lot of needles and pins.  The weight and solid base means I can load it up with looooong doll needles without any tipping.  I LOVE that!

Wow!  I make them sound very impressive, don’t I?  Maybe I should make some more!

You Know It’s Time To Clean . . .

. . . when the cutting table is too cluttered to cut on!

Ah – that’s better! 

I didn’t really mean to go AWOL for so long.  I just got really busy – as you could probably tell from the first picture!  There are numerous projects in various stages of incompleteness.  But no pictures for some reason! 

I really need to take a few pictures so you can see what I’ve been up to.  Hmmm.  Maybe I should charge the camera battery first!

How Rude!

That’s what it is.  To disappear like that without warning or explanation is just plain rude!  The worst part is there really is no explanation.  I suppose I could make up a story . . .

 

. . . like, I was captured by gypsies and spent the last two weeks escaping from a Rumanian castle (wait, gypsies don’t live in castles!) . . .

 

or . . . I came down with an exotic, lethal disease and had to fly to Switzerland for a miracle cure . . .

 

or (how about this one) . . . I received a special request to meet with Queen Elizabeth for a secret assignment (yeah, right!)

 

 

I’m seeing a trend here – apparently I need to get “away.”  There have been a few projects I can’t share yet, and there has been a (strictly routine) medical event, but really nothing more than a feeling there’s been nothing to say.

Oh, I’ve taken pictures – the Sunday flowers and What’s on the Worktable photos, but they’ve languished on the camera for the most part.  Not very exciting anyway.

I guess what I’m leading up to is I’ve decided to suspend Wednesday WOW and Serendipity Sunday.  For the time being, anyway.  I will still be posting so you can see some of my creations, but following a schedule just isn’t working right now.  Hopefully I will have something worked out by the time the New Year rolls around.

And those pictures?  They have finally been rescued from digital camera limbo.  Here are a few for your enjoyment (?).

I’m sorry I was rude.  Forgive me?

First Harvest

We picked our first apples the other day.

Nice.  Apple pie, anyone?

 

 

 

 

 

Well, maybe not . . .

they are actually crabapples. 

I may need to preserve these for my dolls.  They are such perfect shapes!

If It’s Not One Thing . . .

It is definitely something else! 

I suppose someone (anyone?) has noticed I’ve been really quiet this week – blog-wise, anyway.  You see, there have been camera issues.

I have a little Olympus Stylus 810 that I love.  It’s accurate, small, and (most important!) I’ve spent a fair amount of time learning to use its features.  We get along fine, my Olympus and I.  Except . . .

I’ve noticed lately that the battery was not holding a charge for very long.  And then I started having trouble with the focus.  In fact, it was turning out terrible pictures!  So we decided it was time to order new batteries.

In the meantime, I started using Sarge’s Sony Cybershot.  It is bigger and (most important!) I have not had the time/opportunity to learn how to use it properly.  So the photos I’ve taken over the last couple of weeks have been – well – less than stellar.

I found that it is amazing at long distance shots:

and does a really nice zoom as well:

But when it comes to indoors and close up – not so good:

And of course there are the hazards of juggling the larger camera while trying to hold onto purse, water bottle, tickets, etc:

Definitely operator error (sigh!).

I’m happy to report, however, that a new battery has been charged up and my Olympus is happily taking lovely pictures again.  So we are back to business as usual.

Well, almost.  Now I can’t find the cable to upload the pictures to the computer!  Aaaaargh!

Forgetful

This is starting to become a trend.  You would think that I would be able to remember to post twice a week, but once again I’ve forgotten!  Feeling pretty dumb about it too.  Sheesh!  I mean, sure – I’ve been a little distracted.  Anyone who has watched the news and/or national weather reports knows that Kansas has been pretty active this past week or so.

Nothing bad has happened in my neighborhood, but we’ve been watching each storm closely.  All the emergency supplies have been replenished.  An overnight bag is partially packed and ready to go if necessary.  So far so good.

Except it’s been raining.

A lot.

Before anyone gets too concerned, this river is about four miles from our place.  See that hill in the distance?  There are at least two of them before you get to my neighborhood.  So, we are good.

Just for those who would like to know – this is the Delaware River where it crosses Highway K-9.  Normally the water would be at least 25 feet below this bridge and only a few feet across.  Normally.  Because not only has it been raining here, but it’s coming down in buckets upstream from here.  Oh my.

No crop this year for this field!

So, yeah, I’ve been a little distracted.  I do have some craft projects to show you later on, and I really will try to get back into the schedule of posting – at least to remember WOW and Serendipity! 

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Baking Day

But not the kind done in the kitchen.  Good thing, since I’m pretty much a disaster in the kitchen!

I got all the pieces done and put together for these cute cupcake pincushions!  I think they will make great party favors, hostess gifts, or last-minute gift items.  For once, I’ll be going into the Giving Season with something ready!

I made several flavors:

Fresh Strawberry

Double Dutch Chocolate

Pistachio

Cinnamon Bun

Strawberry Cream, and Almond Jamocha!

I made all of these from a pattern called Pin Cuisine from Kids Quilts.  A simple, well written pattern that I recommend if you are interested in pincushions (one of my many fetishes!) or maybe you want to have a supply on hand for the holidays. 

Doesn’t help satisfy my sweet tooth, though. 

Wednesday WOW–October 17

This is a revolting development.  You see, we have a new computer.  At one time I was really good at computers – even had a Microsoft certification to prove it!  But that was a long time ago.  Things have changed. 

I’ve spent most of the past three days loading and tweaking software, trying to make everything that worked before do that. . . . work!  Thought I was doing pretty well, too.  Until tonight, that is.

My camera has eight – count ‘em, eight! – photos that I was all set to share with you today.  And while the computer recognizes there is a camera out there, it insists there are no files on it.  Sigh.

So, I will have to regroup.  Sit back and give this a bit more thought.  Don’t worry – I’m not giving up easily.  Those photos WILL show themselves and do my bidding!  Some day.

When that happens, I’ll be right back here to show you what I’ve been up to.  When I’m not cursing the computer, that is!

Why We Don’t Buy Pecans in the Shell

Or, at least we won’t be in the future!

See that?  Pecans, oh boy.  And by shelling and preparing/roasting them myself, I can be sure they are pretty healthy.  Please notice, however, that there are not many big pieces there in that little bowl.  Hmmm, roasting might not be the way to go.

Oh, and that tiny bowl?  (OK, not tiny, just feels that way!)  That is the result of one and a half hours of work!!  But that’s not all I got from my labors.

I also got a huge mess to clean up!  Notice the debris on the towel outside my plastic bag?  That is what the whole side of the kitchen looked like!  I even found stuff in my hair!

Plus, I got a bona fide injury!  Really.  See the spots of real blood on the towel?  Those shells are really sharp!

Before everyone sends me their favorite tip on shelling pecans, I also spent some time researching on line (after the fact,of course).  I learned that there are such things as paper pecans and that a lot of the more modern varieties are easier to shell.  There are fancy schmancy nutcrackers, too, that seem to be made for those slippery little hummers.  And some web sites recommend dipping the nuts in boiling water to loosen them up.  I also learned that there are lots of places that will shell your pecans for you!  Oh sure.  Now you tell me!

Thank goodness we don’t have pecan trees (although we did have a couple years ago and I sent bags of “fresh” pecans to friends and family – for which I now apologize!).  What we have is Walnut trees. 

I won’t be cracking those either.

Thief!

Those who know me probably know that I am a serious Chocoholic.  That is why I was quite disturbed to find this in my cupboard.

Over the years there have been mice, gnats, ants, even scorpions (ugh!) that have invaded my living and/or working quarters.  I can generally cope fairly well (unless it’s a spider, of course!) and just move on.

But to go after my chocolate!  This is NOT acceptable!!!!!

Little mousie, your days are numbered.  This means war!

Santa's Been Good To Me

The men in my life played Santa this year - and it was a good year!

Sarge is usually tuned in to my feelings and what kind of things make me happy.  He gave me this stained glass dragon:

I'm a major fantasy fan and enjoy doodling with dragons of various types. 

I've wanted to put a dragon in my blog header for a long time and this guy was just what I needed to get that done.  I plan to have lots of fun playing with photos - and watching him "fly" in my studio.

But wait!  There's more!

A day or so after Christmas, a large box arrived from Number-One-Son.  We already got gift packages.  Whatever could that be?   I was surprised speechless when I opened the box!  And it takes a lot to make me speechless.  LOL!

A Singer Model 66 "Red Eye"!  Manufactured in 1914 and used until recently to sew quilts.  It has pressure feet, needles, and bobbins.  And it works!  Well, the motor runs.  I haven't threaded it to see how it stitches, but I've been told it does a fine job.

I can't get over how beautiful the painting and ornamentation is - and how well it has taken the years. 

Even the wheel is decorated! 

Thank you, Santa - Sarge - and Number-One-Son.  I raised him right.  Yes, I did!

That Was No Lady . . .

. . . she's a troll!  This is Oakra, from a pattern by Ute Vasina

I made Oakra way back when I was just learning to make cloth dolls.  I learned a lot of things while making her and I've learned a lot of things since then.  But I still think she is a favorite.

Normally, Oakra stands sweetly on a shelf in my studio.

Recently, we had some plumbing issues and Sarge and various workmen were in and out of the basement.  Oakra's shelf is right next to the sewer pipes.  I believe that might explain what I saw after the work was all finished. . .

Oh my!  Doesn't she look like it was a really hard day at the office?  My guess is that she got knocked off her shelf (those pipes I mentioned are the fuscia stripe you see in this picture) and a male someone put her back up.  It takes some finesse to get her to stand properly - something in short supply about then I'm thinking!

Well, it made me laugh!

Creative Clutter

Something we haven't seen much of around here lately.  Things seem to be looking up, though.  I hope to have more to share soon.

A Cautionary Tale . . .

A little while ago, I received an invitation to join Facebook. It was from a friend I had not heard from recently and I thought this would be a good way to catch up. How naïve this thought was I did not realize at first. 

I was intrigued to discover many people I know with Facebook accounts and happily added Friends and waited for my Wall to fill up! For a little while nothing much happened. I saw a few notices of treasures found and achievements awarded, but they did not make much sense at the time. In the ‘real’ world, however, I began to hear comments about games and other activities on FB. Sure, some of those contained words like “addictive” and “time-sink”, but like most innocents I didn’t think it could ever happen to me! 

Then one day, I clicked on one of the treasure notices and watched a brief tutorial. Little did I know that as soon as I thought “This is cool” my life would be changed forever!

 

Now, I’ve exchanged visiting Facebook once a week for checking on my islands daily – no – three or four times a day to keep my animals from dying of neglect and my crops from withering on the vine! My friends are being pestered with unwanted gifts and requests for food, obscure idols, and Energy! All the while, the ‘real’ world friends find their e-mails unanswered and the family pets wait vainly for attention. At least none of them are dying – yet!

If you have not already made the fatal “click”, take a lesson from me.  Save yourself!  Stay with your quilting, stitching, or crafting.  Heed my warnings! I would tell you more, but the evil forces are attacking  and I must muster my troops to defend!

 

P.S.  Lest you are worried that all crafts are being ignored, here is a progress shot of one of my current projects: