I LIKE Thursday! 11-30-23

I Like Thursday! 

Prompt:

Do you send Christmas cards? or holiday cards?

I still send some. When I was a young wife and mom, I’d gather my cards, my address book, some Christmas postage stamps, put an Elvis Christmas album on my turntable and write and address cards. 

Do you send a few or a lot of cards? Are they unique like a photo from this year, or say, hallmark boxed ones (I do the boxed ones but love  a photo card)

Nowadays, I send very few. Mostly to older members of my immediate family. Postage has gotten expensive and will go up again soon. That reminds me I need to get stamps before the 21st of January, 2024! And I try to reciprocate if someone sends one to us! I send boxed cards, but I love getting photo cards. Hopefully with the names of the children. Kids grow so fast! 

 Do you include newsletter and when will you aim to send them out? Do you get cards? how do you display them? 

I don’t do newsletters every year now, but I love getting them. I know some people don’t like them, but I do! 🎄❤️. If something new has happened, like a wedding or a new baby, I might do a short newsletter. Not always though. Cards that we receive are usually placed in a sweet wooden holder that I have had for years. This year we are staying home for the holidays, but I won’t drag the totes out of the attic over the garage, so I will display any cards, on a ribbon in our living room. Guess I’d better go looking for plaid ribbon in that still messy, unorganized sewing space! 😊

I’m joining Lee Anna and friends at Not Afraid of Color to share our responses to Lee Anna’s prompts. Please forgive the changes in font size. Blogger was not playing nice this morning! 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

ABC Table Scraps Challenge for November 2023

I considered just leaving this post blank! I’m sad! This is the first time since Joy began the Table Scraps Challenge that I haven’t had an entry!  My month was busy, stressful and very unproductive. A month filled with medical appointments that had us fearing a cancer diagnosis. There was a wonderful outcome from that, no throat or mouth cancer for Mr. Busy. ❤️

During all this we had all the carpet and linoleum taken out of our basement level and replaced with vinyl plank waterproof flooring. We love it. But the area included my sewing room and it was a huge undertaking to move my stuff! Thank goodness for our granddaughter and her partners. They did all the carpet removal. I am slowly moving my stash and paraphernalia back into my room. Trying to sort and downsize as I go. Also trying a new arrangement of cutting table and machine. And  there is cleaning and dusting happening too! 😀

I am sad I didn’t get ANY sewing done, but pleased and joyful for the result of the medical issues and the home improvement that happened. 

To quote Arnold….”I’ll be back!”

I’ll link this post with The Joyful Quilter and her Table Scraps Challenge post.

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

 

OMG

Below is my original link up post! I did not end up attending he mini retreat, due to several medical appointments for Mr. Busy. Those continued and then a flooring project happened. My sewing room still isn’t back to normal and my machine hasn’t seen the light of day since the DIY project began. 

Next week, Tuesday through Thursday one of my sewing groups is having a mini retreat. We will sew at our Library, but go home every evening! Lots of us like this arrangement. Some have partner, or grandchildren or pet responsibilities. 

I have had this kit in my stash for over a year. I decided that I needed a new, not UFO project. My sewing mojo has been lacking in the recent weeks. Maybe this will kickstart my creativity again. 

My goal is to cut, and piece this top. It’s only 28”x28”, so it is doable. And the kit included fabric for backing and binding! A real plus!  

I've started some of the cutting, but I didn't start til yesterday, 11-2-23. So I'm sure it still counts for November OMG. 

I'm linking up with Anne-Marie at Stories from the Sewing Room.

So I did not complete this OMG.  I’m linking up with Anne Marie at Stories from the Sewing Room with my head down in shame! LOL

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful! 

Slow Sunday Stitching November. 19

Only Slow Stitching done this week and not much of that. I found this “old” Debbie Mumm kit in a zippered bag when we moved everything in my sewing room. It’s dated 1996. 

It had the bow and thread and even a needle. I’ve done a Fall one. 

But long ago. I’d forgotten about sorting all the floss by just looking at it and counting strands. Then I started at the wrong place to place the motifs exactly as the cove photo. It probably wouldn’t have mattered if the mittens had been on the right side loop and the birdhouse was on the left, but I have a problem sometimes with not following directions exactly! 😛

So I got this far yesterday while the flooring installers were here.

They are back today to finish up. I’m loving it so far!

Linking up with Kathy at Slow Sunday Stitching! 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

Mid Week Makers

Some slow stitching spilled over into Wednesday. My sewing room has been emptied and packed up into Mr. Busy’s “build room”! This in preparation for new flooring in most of our downstairs. 

What’s a girl to do? She does counted cross stitch! This design is from Melisa at Pinker n Punkin Quilting.  This link will take you to a post with a list of all ( well maybe not all, but many) of Melisa’s Fall and Turkey themed charts!

It’s not a FFO , but it is an FO! 😉. My plan is to finish it much like Melisa did hers.

I’m linking this post to Quiltfabrication’s Midweek Makers! 

Also sharing with Alycia's Finished or Not Finished Friday. 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

Slow Sunday Stitching November’s First Sunday!

Some slow stitching may happen today. Kathy’s Quilts: Slow Sunday Stitching is the place to stop by and visit others stitching today! 

I’m still working in small chunks of time on this cute wool pumpkin. 

October x it looked like this.  Today, there has been some progress. The fusible I used, was too heavy. It’s difficult pushing the needle through the 3 layers of wool that make up the windows. But they are almost done. 

Today: 

And I’ve hit a snag on my Equality Sampler. The called for fabric I’d 36 count linen. Stitched 1 over 2. I did want to purchase new fabric, I have a stash. So I coffee/tea dyed a piece of ivory 18 count Aida. It worked well, until it came to the lettering. It’s stitched 1 over 1! On linen, doable! On Aida, not so much. I haven’t kept track of my time, but it’s been lots of hours! So do I stop, purchase some linen and begin again? Or go forward and try to figure out a different way to stitch the lettering? I’m undecided! 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

Stashbusters. October!

Stash busters for October 

October was not productive in the sewing venue, but I did donate to our local quilt show Boutique.

IN:  purchased 1 yd of gold and 1/2 yd of oatmeal cross stitch fabric

OUT: 5 sets of Halloween napkins that use 1/2 yd each= 2.5 yds

      

           2 yds of unwanted fabric donated to NEW Boutique +

            A Fleece kit, a Christmas Quilt kit, And a floral quilt kit + 3 ziplock bags if asst selvages = total 24.4 yds donated

October Fabric IN = 1.5 yd
October Fabric OUT = -26.9
October Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = -25.4
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -58.2 yds

Next time I’ll try to remember to take photos! 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

November Scrap Happy Saturday

Because I turned the RSC upside down this year, by finishing UFO’s , I guess I’ll spend the “ Finishing Months” starting something new.  Actually it’s a kit from my stash so I guess it’s actually a ufo also. 😀

The kit was given to me and it’s all fallish! 

There are pumpkins and sunflowers, leaves and a wild floral!  

The pattern photo showed a plaid pumpkin. I’m a plaid lover! But no plaid fabric was included in this particular kit. So I went to my brown+ fall basket, and voilà! I found a plaid that will be perfect. 

It will certainly be colorful!

In reading the pattern, I think I found an error. I logged on to the website but the kit is no longer available. I did not contact the shop. I’ll just start putting it together, step by step and see what happens. The error is definitely fixable. The pattern says make 4 stems for the leaves. I count 8 leaves, so 8 stems. No big deal. The only problem is it needs a bias tape maker for the stems and I don’t own one. I’ll put out the word, I’m sure someone in my group has one I can borrow. Or I’ll hit JoAnns. 

I’m linking up with Angela and others at So Scrappy for Scrap Happy Saturday.  Come on over!

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

September stashbuster report

Stashbuster Report for September

Forward from August: 

August Fabric IN = +8 yds bought at Fabric Junction, Sturgis, SD
August Fabric OUT = – 0
August Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = +8 yds
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -6.5 yds (rounded)

September Fabric IN = 8 fat quarters from local shop hop 9-29-23!  2 yds

September Fabric OUT: Winter 2019 design sent to Alycia Quilts for use for QOV 9 yds

One Happy Girl donation : 8.2 yds

August ABC Table Scraps: (finished 9-4-23) 9”x9”= 7/8 yd

Sept ABC Table Scraps: Dresser topper = 2.5 yd

Rainbow Neighbourhood : 7.75 yds

September Fabric OUT= 28.325

September Net Total (+In, or -Out) = -26 1/3 yds. Rounded for easier math

Year to Date (net total for year, +In, or - Out) = -32.8 yds

I had this all in a draft and just realized I did not post it to Carole’s blog post

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

November OMG Link Up post

Next week, Tuesday through Thursday one of my sewing groups is having a mini retreat. We will sew at our Library, but go home every evening! Lots of us like this arrangement. Some have partner, or grandchildren or pet responsibilities. 

I have had this kit in my stash for over a year. I decided that I needed a new, not UFO project. My sewing mojo has been lacking in the recent weeks. Maybe this will kickstart my creativity again. 

My goal is to cut, and piece this top. It’s only 28”x28”, so it is doable. And the kit included fabric for backing and binding! A real plus!  

I've started some of the cutting, but I didn't start til yesterday, 11-2-23. So I'm sure it still counts for November OMG. 

I'm linking up with Anne-Marie at Stories from the Sewing Room.

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

I LIKE Thursday ~ 11-2

I’m joining LeeAnna and friends for I LIKE Thursday at Not Afraid of Color.

for November 2 2023: 

1. Would you rather go on a hayride or visit a corn maze?

   Because, just thinking about sitting in a wagon filled with hay makes me sneeze, and because I’ve never done a corn maze, I think I’d chose corn maze.

have you ever done either one? do you have stories to tell? 

We used to go on hayrides a lot with my church youth group. MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship)was a big part of my life as a teen. I don’t remember any specific stories about a particular hayride, but we always had fun and I always felt accepted.

Just a few additional LIKES today. 

My holiday cactus is blooming it’s heart out. I’m afraid it will be all done by the time Thanksgiving gets here. But it is pretty and it makes me smile. 

I finally gathered all the ingredients to try these cookies. Diann at Little Penguin Quilts shared the recipe. I can’t find it again in her posts, but they sounded good to me. And they are! 

The print out gives credit for the recipe to Bernice Williams from Illinois. She calls them Bundles! 

Diann tells me she doesn’t think she sent me this recipe. So if you did, please let me know! I am obviously a forgetful old lady!

Today we try doing the MRI again for Mr. Busy. He will be under anesthesia, so his claustrophobia won’t kick in. Fingers crossed for a good report. 

I’ll leave you with the other half of my Boo Crew from Halloween night in Arizona. 

Our granddaughter, her partner and their youngest, as Gomez, Morticia and Wednesday from the Addams Family. 

 

And Wednesday again, with Cousin Itt, her older brother. ⤵️

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

Starting November- Midweek Makers #001!

Though some of you have seen my recent makes……this is just a recap for me..

My October OMG was to get this too-Long-in-the-UFO-closet to a flimsy. And therefore on the road to a finish. 

Depending on who I hire to do the quilting, I will need either a backing that is 8” more than the front or 12” bigger than the front. I have to decide. 

Then I made this little mug mat for my chair side table. It’s just the right size for a coffee mug and a cookie!

I’m sharing for the very first time with Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication. I’ve long admires Susan’s designs and tutorials.

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!