From David's Shop

 The hubster has been working in his shop some.  Here are the results of his efforts..........

Here is the little snowman family he made from some nuts.  I was in charge of the scarves.  It didn't really seem to take much from my stash.  Apparently it doesn't take much fabric to keep a snowman warm.  I had this on the dining room table with the tree he made several years ago.  My mom really, really liked them when they were here for Thanksgiving, so they went home with her.

And then, another metal bucket design..........

And a nativity from old railroad ties.  Yes, he walked the tracks to pick up enough for this project.  He's gifting this one, so I'm hoping he'll walk the tracks again and find enough to make one for me.

Oh deer!  What have we here?  I thought this was a pretty creative use of an old pump.

And my anniversary gift.............

This old milk can has been in the shed for years holding the dog food.  He cleaned it up and cut this design which I love.  Here is the back.

And the actual inscription on the can..........

And here is the hubster on Thanksgiving Day (also our anniversary this year) with Blackie, brother to Harry Potter.

You can see the resemblance, right?????  

Yea, they are both cats.............that's about all the resemblance I can get.

Christi

End of the Month Sewing Recap!

 I know it's been awhile.  Life has been busy.  Let's try to catch up, shall we?  

First, let me share a little JOY!

I made this JOY table runner for the gift exchange for the online group I'm in.  (yes, check that one off the list).  It was fun to do.  I used a holly twist quilting design in it.

And I also pulled out this kit I had picked up at the Quilted Cow in St. Peters.  It's 2 dish towels that snap to go over an oven handle or drawer handle.  It will join the table runner as part of the gift exchange gift.  It went in the mail last Monday, so we can definitely check that one off the list.

My block lotto blocks were also finished.  I loved these little houses and could easily have made several, but I refrained and kept my block total to 5 since we have established that is the number for me to make to win.  Hope I win again cuz I would love to have these blocks.

I also made 3 more zipper bags so that can be checked off the list.  I have so many bag ideas, but am refraining from doing any more of these until after Christmas.  It was obviously and exhausting experience for Harry Potter too.  

And I made some more blocks for Sarah's Christmas quilt.  

I also made a couple more Pawkings (NOT on the sewing room to do list) for Sarah to go with the last 2 stockings I had made.  Here they are hanging on her mantle with the 50 (for those of you who don't want to count them all) nutcrackers she has collected since second grade.

And the Kitties in the Christmas Tree wall hanging is totally finished and hanging at my cousins' house.  It was fun to make and I may have to do it again.

Another finish - at least the cross stitch part - and NOT on the list was this Quaker Christmas Cross Stitch.  I haven't decided how I want to fully finish it yet, so it's just pinned to the bulletin board right now.

And (big pat on the back here), the Saltwater Taffy Quilt is totally finished and has been delivered to it's home.  I did the entire hand binding last Sunday - while watching the Chiefs win in overtime, watching a movie and 2 episodes of a TV show.  It was definitely a recliner day.

And while the longarm was running, I chose to work on something else that wasn't on the list........

I got the Waverly quilt top sewn together and am now in the process of adding borders.

Sew let's just review the list............

1.  Quilt Salt Water Taffy DONE!

2.  Quilt Kitties in the Christmas Tree DONE!

3.  Make gift exchange gift (for an online quilting group I'm in) DONE!

4.  Fix Deb's bag (yes, forgot to mention that I did this and sent it back to her)  DONE!

5.  Make Block Lotto Blocks DONE!

6.  Work on Sarah's tree blocks (I did make a few, so DONE!)

7.  Unpack/measure/etc stuff from estate sale  (yes, forgot to mention I did this as well) DONE!

8.  Zipper bags  DONE!

Obviously, it's time for a new list.  I also have several more photos to share, so be prepared for some rapid fire blogging (I know the anticipation is just killing you, right?)

How about a cut kitty photo to end this post?!

TTFN from Harry, Mabel, and myself.

Christi

Finally, the List!

 It's just sad when it takes over a week to make a list.  I did finally make a list on Saturday.  Here goes:

1.  Quilt Salt Water Taffy

2.  Quilt Kitties in the Christmas Tree

3.  Make gift exchange gift (for an online quilting group I'm in)

4.  Fix Deb's bag

5.  Make Block Lotto Blocks

6.  Work on Sarah's tree blocks

7.  Unpack/measure/etc stuff from estate sale

8.  Zipper bags

The estate sale on Friday was fun.  I was glad though that I had more planned for the trip than just the estate sale.  We arrived 10 minutes after it was supposed to open (we're thinking they opened early) and found people already carrying out totes of stuff.  I did get a few things though.  

I also got to meet up with my dad and cousin, Melinda, and aunt Carol Ann, and I dragged cousins, Pam and Susie there with me.  We had a good time.  I made them stop for a photo after lunch at Cheddars.

This is the bag I need to fix for my sister.  I made it and she ripped out the strap.  I think she likes it, so asked if it could be fixed.  I have it ripped out and just need to sit down with some patience at the machine and sew everything back together.

And here is the haul from the estate sale............ This bag of pinks was only $3.  I'm not crazy about the panel, but my pink tub doth overflow now.  (It's not a big tub cuz pink really isn't my color so it didn't take much to make it overflow.)

This was my $5 bag.  It's mostly reproduction Civil War fabrics and my tub of those was already bulging, so not quite sure what possessed me, but it was a lot of fabric for $5.  There were a couple of yard pieces too.

And I gave $5 for this bag of St. Pats stuff.  It's already pieced so I just need to quilt it.  There is a wall hanging, table runner, and pillow.  There is even a yard of the black shamrock fabric to use as binding.  I have no St. Pats quilted stuff because I never seem to find fabric that I like.  This seemed like a very simple and inexpensive solution.  And it means I'm already working on creating next year's UFO list.

Well, I need to head to the sewing room to at least get a quilt loaded before piano lessons start.  Maybe if I stayed home I would get more done. 😕  Go figure.

Christi

I'm a Winner!!

 At our November quilt guild meeting Tuesday evening, we turned in our block lotto blocks, Scrap Jar Stars, and I WON the drawing!

23 blocks!  One of them is undersized, and one doesn't have the corner color placement correct, so I probably won't use those in a quilt, but the rest look good.  I have been contemplating how to put them together and whether I'll make a few more.  This will probably be a UFO on my list for 2026.  

I also showed my last UFO, the potato chip quilt.  You may remember it from a previous post.  So, my list is complete!

And, with the help of a couple of taller members, I was able to show my sister's big quilt and finally get a photo of it.  I also showed the rug, pillow, and bowl made from the scraps.

Last Friday I battled the lady bugs and went to a fellow guild member's auction.  It was mostly antiques, but there was some fabric.  She is down sizing and moving to a much smaller place.  I bought 2 boxes and here is the loot.............

That's some nice yardage and then some charm squares.  Below is a cute panel.  I already have ideas to make a Thanksgiving piano runner with part of the designs.

Some 10" squares.

Fat quarters and jelly rolls.......... (and a mysterious wooden tool which got disposed of)

A selvage scrap bag and some more fat quarters.

More charms and miscellaneous scraps..........

and a couple of little project kits.

A pretty good haul for what I paid and I was only there for 2 hours.  

We also went to visit Sarah this past weekend, so very little time has been spent in the sewing room, other than caressing the fabric, sorting and putting it away.  

Harry Potter has become a troubled teen, so has been spending more time outside much to his dismay.

Fortunately Willow hasn't disowned him yet.  We're hoping he can pass through this troubled teenage time quickly.

Well, piano lessons are full of Christmas music in preparation for a recital in December (which will be here before we know it).  We're also heading to our first basketball game tonight.  I am planning to go to a quilter's estate sale tomorrow and to visit some family members I haven't seen in awhile (yes, the visit is helping justify the shopping trip).  There is a turkey in the freezer I need to thaw out to cook.  I'm not hosting Thanksgiving, but need to cook the turkey so we can take some to St. Peters when we go for Black Friday shopping.  And I pulled all the black raspberries out to thaw yesterday, so syrup or jelly will happen today in between morning and afternoon piano.

It's gonna be a busy end of the week and weekend!

Christi

Harvest is OVER!

The hubster came in after dark last night and when I asked how things were going, he quietly said, "I'm done."  At first I almost didn't catch it, then I questioned him and realized he was finally finished.  There were still 3 trucks of beans to take to town and all the equipment to move home, but harvest was done.

He came in to find some supper waiting for him and all of these...........

That's 14 total stockings and pawkings!  The last four were made from scraps of an old quilt.  And I am out of usable jeans.  I have been eyeing some of David's jeans that are a little worse for wear.  After a trip to the Farm & Home Store to replace them, I'll probably have some more to work with.  And, I have another idea to try.

It's time to update the to do list...........

1.  Quilt ALL of Mom's quilts that I have hanging in the closet.  (DONE!)

2.  Make binding for the Taffy quilt, Kitties quilt, and pillow.  (DONE!)

3.  Cut batting for all of the above.  (DONE!)

4.  Figure out backings for the Kitties quilt and pillow.  (DONE!)

5.  STOCKINGS!  (DONE!)

6.  Try a Jellyroll basket.  (Done!  See below.)

7.  Finish binding Deb's quilt  (DONE!)

8.  Make a pillow (this got added late, but it's DONE!)

So, I'll need to make a new list tomorrow.

And here is my first fabric bowl.  Starting the bottom was way more difficult than I thought it would be.  I will do things a little bit differently on the next one.  This was made from scraps from the backing of Deb's quilt, so it will go to her.

I caught Willow in a rare moment of napping in the dog house this morning.

Mabel and Harry made it inside and have found a new favorite spot on the recliner in the basement.  They spent most of the day there until piano lessons started.

It's a tough life.

Christi

Let's not talk about Monday

 My morning started off like this yesterday..........

Yes, everyone wanted some morning love.  When the day starts off in such a cute fashion, where did it go wrong?  Well, I was so ticked (using a nicer word here than what I really was) that I just couldn't share my thoughts in a blog post yesterday.  You know how when you can't say anything nice you just shouldn't say anything?  My thoughts were really not very positive.  It might have sounded something like this........

Let's check Life 360 and see what the hubs is up to............oh!  He's in the field checking to see if he can run!  a little later  Let's check again and see where he is.........oh!  He's in town........at (zoom screen in) JOHN DEERE!  sends text to hubs YOU BETTER NOT BE AT JOHN DEERE BUYING PARTS FOR NEW COMBINE!  response -  I was, but they don't have it, so I'm driving to Sedalia.  My response - What about the warranty?  hubs response - there is no warranty on combines.  Now here's where my mind goes...........wow!  how smart of John Deere!  Create a really expensive machine (the combine) that only gets used 2 months a year and constantly needs new parts and don't warranty it!  Warren Buffet has nothing on John Deere!  I'd be really impressed with the business savvy if I wasn't the FARMER'S WIFE!  And then I think about our local Ag Power John Deere dealership that just built an incredible new warehouse and shop a few years ago so that they could be a parts hub for all the other dealerships around..........is the warehouse just empty?  Can they not afford to stock it after they built the new facilities, or are all the combines just so faulty that they can't possibly keep that many parts in stock?

So I decided to try cleaning up my feelings.

I emptied the bottle and the house smelled really good, but it really didn't do much for my feelings.

So I tried eating my feelings...........

This might have helped had I not been interrupted by the massive lady bug awakening and home invasion.  I ate my feelings while running the vacuum and sucking up ladybugs.  It kinda ruined the beautiful Pine Sol smell I had going too.  I mixed up spray (fortunately we had a full bottle of the concentrate) and started spraying outside the house.  I finally gave up stripped my clothes off which were full of lady bugs and went inside.  Hubs came home (still too wet to combine, but apparently the combine was willing to run now) and said, "Can you believe all the lady bugs swarming around in the field and yard?"  response - "Well I hadn't noticed because I couldn't see through all the ones on the house windows."  It was pretty dark in our house with no sunlight coming through the lady bugs.  The spray started working and hubby sprayed some more.  We took the leaf blower and made big piles of bugs away from the sidewalk and deck so we didn't have to walk in them.  Then, we put plastic over the front door (like people do to their doors and windows to keep the cold draft out).  Our front door seems to be the place that lady bugs come in.  Without the plastic, I would just spend the day standing in front of it with the vacuum sucking them up as they come in.  

Well, after all that, I found about 30 minutes to run some fabric through the sewing machine, maybe sewing away my feelings would help.  I needed to do something to improve my mood before piano students showed up and I went to direct bell choir.  I changed into my Avada Kadavra shirt (the killing curse from Harry Potter) and the hubs asked who was on the hit list, John Deere or the lady bugs?  

Music improved things.  My students are working on Christmas music for our recital.  The twins have been playing Sleigh Ride and Let it Snow.  I told them they couldn't bring on snow until the beans were out.  They said they've been watching the weather and think it might be cold enough for snow next Monday!  

The hubs is tempting the fates with snow thoughts as well...........

Got home from bells, fixed supper and sat down to work on binding my sister's really big quilt with some emotional support............

And we got it finished!

Today promises to be a better day.  I have a few errands to do this morning including a very short Walmart list, but I gotta get some more Pine Sol!  The hubs has virtually guaranteed that he will be combining today.  But if things go badly again, I want to be prepared.  I'd hate to resort to online fabric shopping therapy.  I have declared 2026 to be the year of the scrap quilt, but it's not 2026 yet!

Christi

It's November!

 So, I need to update my To Do list.  Here goes..........

1.  Quilt ALL of Mom's quilts that I have hanging in the closet.  (finished the last one this morning!)

2.  Make binding for the Taffy quilt, Kitties quilt, and pillow.  (DONE!)

3.  Cut batting for all of the above.  (DONE!)

4.  Figure out backings for the Kitties quilt and pillow.  (DONE!)

5.  STOCKINGS!  (Working on it)

6.  Try a Jellyroll basket.

7.  Finish binding Deb's quilt  (One side left.)

It's really nice to have only my quilts hanging in the TBQ closet.  I plan on quilting the pillow next and then either the Kitties in the Tree or the Taffy quilt.  I ordered wide backing flannel for the taffy quilt and it's not here yet.  

This is my only photo for the day.  Isn't he handsome!  Harry Potter spent the morning on the window shelf in the sewing room this morning.  I did finish my mom's last quilt this morning (ok, I'm sure it's not her last, but it's the last one I had to quilt right now).  And I worked yesterday afternoon and this morning and have 9 more stockings and 2 "pawkings" to sew up.  They are all cut and have the heels and toes applied, so are ready for sewing.  

Well I'm off to Walmart to get a few groceries.

Christi