Showing posts with label quilting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quilting. Show all posts

Monday, August 12, 2013

Never enough time!

I am trying something new this week with the blog. Instead of writing it all in one sitting, I am writing a little at a time. This way after about an hour I don't feel like working on it any more I can save it and work on it later. Other wise I end up rushing to finish it.




There are so many different things I want to try or learn how to do in the world. Today I think I told Kyle that I want to refurbish old furniture, start wire wrapping, perfect my embroidery, and try my hand at graphic design. But there isn't enough time in the day to work on projects that I have already started. Oh yes, I need to add pine needle basket weaving and graphic design to my  list of "want to do".



I like personalizing my social media sites. Or rather I like the idea of personalized sites. I don't know very much about graphic design so I have decided to do what I have always done and teach myself. I download the trial to Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 (a.k.a. APE11) and after watching the brief tutorial I jump in feet first. There are three different ways you can edit. Quick, guided, or expert. I tried the guided, hoping I could familiarize myself with the program. But after about an hour of frustration of the program not letting me experiment the way I wanted, tried the expert. I still have no idea what I am doing, but I could manage the program better when I had the freedom I was looking for. If you want to try the program HERE IS THE LINK . I tried posting a pic of what I had been working on this morning, but either the trial version isn't going to allow me save it as a file that blogger accepts or I haven't figured it out yet. Maybe I'll find some videos on YouTube that will help me.

I almost finished the hat I started. I want to add little crocheted flowers to make it more girly for Eli. unfortunately Any crochet yarns I  would have in my stash are either still packed away or were left behind. It was very sad to have to leave so much stuff behind. We just didn't have any more room in any of the vehicles for a few things. I think I may try just using yarn instead or I'll hit up the thrift store.      





My Grandmother (Yaya in Greek) was always creating something. Whether it was in the kitchen, the garden, or one of many different mediums one uses when creating art. She introduced me to canning and baking in the fall. And even though I am not the most proficient gardener, I give it my all and try to remember to water. But she unknowingly taught me that art isn't just paint on a canvas, it is in anything we create with our hands that give a person a strong positive emotion. She allowed me to be creative every time I came to her house and encouraged me to try new things. Here is a picture of a small piece she made during her pottery phase. She is going to be 92 this year and my family and I have moved in with her so I can make sure she lives the rest of her life in comfort. On evenings she is feeling up to it, she has her great grand children climb in bed with her and they watch old movies together.





My sister and I attended Placerville's annual Craft Fair. I think I may rent a spot next year. The turn out was really nice and there were places for more booths. It was really nice watching our girls hold hands and sit together.


After seeing all of the different things that people had made a feel more confident that what I make will do just as well. ( I really need to learn how to take more pics lol)



I had shown my mother a pair of finger less I had made and now she has requested a pair. muhahaha guinea pig! This basket is about 2 1/2 feet tall and about a foot at the widest part and I have filled it to the brim with small roll lags. Now all I need is a quiet afternoon to spin what I want to use for her gloves. My mother wears a lot of pinks, so I am thinking painting the fiber in shades of pink and maybe embroidering it with vines or maybe some simple daisies. I can't wait to see what they look like finished and on her hands.




Friday, January 18, 2013

Catching up

Well, Happy New Year......I haven't started any official "resolutions" thus far, but I am sure it will contain the usual; Eat better, drink more water, spend less money and exercise. I also want to complete more projects, finish old projects, learn how to spin on a wheel, and start a container garden.

I have been knitting like a mad woman. I took my yarn off of etsy, I want to make a patchwork blanket out of all the colors I dye. I also started a pair of socks for the Sock it to me KAL. Each month we knit up another pair of socks. I wish I had used a different color...I have yet to fall in love with mine. or complete the second one for that matter.

My father came up from California late last summer for a visit and brought up a few bags and boxes I had left tucked away in a closet at my parents house. One of the bags held many strips of green and blue strips of cloth...the very first log cabin quilt had ever started. It was originally for my brother, but I think it is too girly for him....looking at it now i can see what he meant. Fresh out of the basic training and his sister is trying to make him a quilt with dragon flies and swirlies. But Issac likes it so I am making it for him. I am not a quilting genius or anything. I can honestly say I have a lot more started quilts than finished ones. I decided to give hand piecing a try while at work. Then yesterday i pulled out my sewing machine
and realized just how "first time" this quilt really is. my strips were not cut strait, math all wrong, and when i did get a block done there was no way it was going to be squared off properly. So I'm making do with the best of it and calling it rustic.








I also wanted to share with you the bulk section at Winco. I love the muffin mix. I have been making these blueberry muffins at night for my family to have for breakfasts on the days i work. muffin papers, a muffin tin, mix water and 15 min in the oven is all you really need. I make the small ones and let the kids have 2 in the morning.


Friday, October 12, 2012

Every one loves free stuff...

I love the free section of Criagslist. I have managed to find some great throw-away furniture, planters, plants, and even more wool than I know what to do with. So it's there I went when my friend Jackie posted a picture of her crafting area in her house. When I went for a visit, I was so impressed that I when I got home I announced I was taking over half the living room. Kyle and I do most of our T.V. watching in the bed room and the T.V. in the front room doesn't work. So I hit craigslist for a free desk. I ended up picking up two so Kyle didn't have to use my sewing table any more for his computer. The fold down seats in the back of my Focus makes having a monthly car payment worth it. Its not as impressive as my friend's area, but its a start.







So I managed to get some canning done this week. My first time doing it with out my mother or grandmother.I was 9 the last time I canned with my grandmother, but even after so long it felt like something I have always known how to do. I started to pumpkin butter from fresh pumpkins and then read that it should be refrigerated even if canned. So I added apple cider vinegar instead of apple juice hoping that it will help. I still keep all the jars in the fridge though. I don't think I will make pumpkin butter again.