My Threads

Not a typical morning

It was so exciting to wake up to rain, sprinkles, a few drops of moisture this morning.  In Arizona, we typically get afternoon, or evening dust storms, followed by thunderstorms, followed by rain, but it's very fast and doesn't last more than an hour or so.  This summer, we've had very little of the normal "monsoon" season.  But, last night, a terrific storm blew in, rained all night, and was still a little active this morning.  I have been waiting for months for this to happen on a weekend, so I could go out a take a few wet desert pictures.  Andy was sweet enough to drive us (Ruby and I) over to the White Tanks Mountains, which is about 15 miles west of where we live.  It's a little elevated from the rest of the "Valley of the Sun", which should be a perfect opportunity to get some good photos. 

Downtown Phoenix is on the horizon, almost directly above the curved arrow sign.  Wow, rain clouds in the sky.  Ruby was just itching to get out and run around, but, it was not to be. 

This is not your friend.  It is also not Ruby's friend.  This is a cholla cactus.  Growing up, we always called them "jumping cactus".  Why?  It seems as if it jumps on you if you get within a foot of it.  I have vivid memories of spending hours following a family picnic, pulling hundreds of cactus needles out of my foot.  Not fun.  And these things are everywhere out in our deserts.  So where was Ruby?

Riding shotgun.

(We did stop and let her run when we got away from the desert. She was happy.) 

Something else most people don't expect to find in Arizona...

Rose fields.  They've been growing them here for many decades.  I think they grow them for the rose oil for fragrances for various companies.  They are not like the ones you find in flower shops, but it's fun to see the fields of them, right next to the desert. 

So all in all, it was a nice morning drive.  Just a prelude to our road trip that starts next Saturday.  Our first long road trip (to Seattle) with Ruby.  Possibly, our last.

A little project

As I start to do a little planning for my upcoming trip to France, the biggest thing on my mind is to travel light.  I'll be by myself, and I don't want to be juggling a lot of bags and luggage.  No laptops this time, and ideally, I'll just have my carryon.  (Right.)  The last thing I need is a big old purse to haul around.  In the past, I've used the "fanny pack", but I really don't want to go there this time.  Last week, when I was at Beth's working on my quilt, she was showing me a travel "bag" she was making.  I thought it would be perfect for my trip.  The pattern is called BB Bags from Brookshier Design Studios.  I like it because it has a shoulder strap, so my hands are free.  While Beth's bag was a pretty blue version, I decided to do this one very neutral.  I don't want to draw attention to it while traveling.  It has five pockets in it, two zippered areas, and I added a magnetic snap and some velcro for added security.

  

 

This one is the largest version on the pattern, which I'll use while in flight and in the process of actually getting there.  I'm thinking of doing the "traveler" size to use while I'm actually there (in a little bit more colorful version).

Week 3 Weigh-in

4 ounces.  Yes, I actually lost 4 ounces this week.  Andy says at least it's better than gaining anything....

The Chair

Back in the 70's, my parents bought my grandma Anna Mae a LazyBoy chair for her birthday.  It was perfect for her house, which is up in the country - actually a small ranch that she and my grandpa had.  The decor in the house was typical early American/country/hand-me-down.  (Grandma made nearly everything in her home, so this was a real treat - a store bought new piece of furniture.)  Grandma got many years out of that chair, which is a rocker/recliner combo.  Fast forward 30 years....

Grandma passed away a few years ago, and prior to her passing, she made a list of who got what.  The list wasn't terribly long, because for the previous many years, she would use Christmas to distribute some of her special belongings.  (Remember my dress post).  I guess she decided that since my parents gave her the chair, I should get it after she died.  (My brother got the fabulous antique secretary that her parents brought to Az from Kentucky or Tennessee or somewhere).  I was okay with that - the chair was comfy, and I would have fond memories of Grandma in it.  Although I don't remember Grandma sitting too much.  That is, until my brother delivered it to my house. 

 

So, I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with it.  (Actually, I was horrified that I was going to have to deal with it, because I really didn't want to get rid of it.)  Andy was so sweet.  He kept his mouth shut.  So after much deliberation (about a second) I decided it could be re-upholstered, and I would find a home, in my home for it.  Somewhere.  So off to the upholsterer it went, with instructions to paint the wood (gasp!), and cover it with my very impractical choice of fabrics.  The upholsterer called me twice to make sure I really meant for him to do what I asked.  No kidding!

Here is the chair now.

 

I now love this chair.  It lives in the tiniest room in our house (other than the powder room).  I will show and tell the room in my next post.

Week One Weigh-in

3.8 pounds lost! Now the honeymoon is over, and I have to face eating the same way for weeks on end (uh-oh).  Actually, I've been pleasantly surprised about the food.  It's not bad.

I can't do anymore

I have officially finished (stopped) my Christmas sewing.  I have to come up for some air!  I have been working everyday, trying to get several gifts completed, and I've accomplished everything I set out to do (yea me!), except one.  I was going to make myself a cute jacket to wear to my husbands company Christmas party - tomorrow night - but, I'll just wear some old thing.  The only thing I can post right now is the gift I made my mother-in-law.  Once again, I dipped into the remaining pieces of my "Fresh sqeezed" jelly roll. I used the little log cabin blocks to make some placemats, and kitchen things.   

I bundled them all up in a tote bag, and this will be one of her gifts.  I hope she likes them.  I made her a set of placemats about 20 years ago, and she still uses them, even though the color is completely washed out of them.  Time for a new set. 

My grandchildren are on their way over for a sleep-over, Christmas light drive and spaghetti.  The sewing room will be closed!

And the gift exhanges begin.....

I don't belong to many groups that have parties in December, but the one that I do enjoy the most is having their Christmas Party, gift exchange today.  It's a group I recently joined, that gets together twice a month - once to work on whatever you want, and the other time to get together for lunch.  Perfect.   The rule was to keep the gift under $15, but I did better than that!  By using stuff I had at home, this gift cost me nothing but time.  Since we are a group of talented people, I decided to make something that has a useful purpose.  A little portable sewing bag with a few accessories.  I used some of the "Fresh Cut" jelly roll fabric in this project.  (I'm using it for some other gifts, too.)

I used a free pattern from All People Quilt called the "mini messenger bag" with some modifications.  I added a pocket and scissors leash to the inside of the bag.  I also made this pin cushion.

 

I didn't use any particular pattern - just was inspired by many that I've seen.  I really love the self covered button!  I then put together a little needle book, and finger pin cushion.  I love these for small hand projects. I saw the finger pin cushion online somewhere, but I can't remember where.  Easy, easy, easy to make!

   

Sorry for the blurry photo :(   I glammed it up with a mini yo-yo and pearl button.  The needlebook is just out of my head - four felt pages, labeled by needle type.

I hope whoever gets this enjoys it! 

I've been busy

Even though we took off for Labor Day weekend, I've been spending the last few weeks trying to get several projects done.  I have an opportunity to teach some classes at a brand new quilt shop (web site isn't up yet) called The Quilted Cactus.  I need to get samples made, but, I also wanted to finish some other things. My September Bag Lady class resulted in more of a tote bag than a purse.  I had some fur (yes, real fur) trim that I've had for years that I decided to throw on this project.  Here is the result:

 

It's not really me, but it's unique.

I also finally finished the Hawaiian applique project.  That was a project that I considered my traveling project.  I started it before we left for Seattle, finished the applique, and then started hand quilting it.  I took it up camping, being very careful to keep it protected in route.  I turned the block into a pillow:

 

I put hours and hours of quilting in this - just because I had hours and hours while up in the mountains.  When I got home, I nearly had a fit.  I had packed this in one of those free totes that the department stores give out when you buy something, and there was goo in mine!  I don't know what kind of goo, but it's the kind that doesn't wash out.  I tried soaking in plain water, then soaking with Oxyclean, no go.  I think it's petroleum based, but here is the spot:

  

Nice, huh?

I also made this incredibly boring shirt:   

And finally, I did get the first of the quilt samples done that I will be teaching.  I was asked to teach a class on foundation piecing.  It's not my favorite method, but for accuracy it's good for some.  I added the curved element to give a little more to the students.

   

It's kind of bright - okay, glaringly bright. 

August Bag Lady

I finally got to attend the Bag Lady Club class at Bearly Stitchin this month.  The project for August was the "Rag Purse" pattern by Nifty's Notions.  The funny thing is, I had purchased this pattern a year or two ago, and never got around to making it.  While I was in Seattle earlier this summer, I picked up a fat quarter pack at one of the many shops I visited.  I loved the colors, and at the time, I had no idea what I was going to do with them.  When it was time to go for the class, I realized I was supposed to get the fabric ahead of time.  I knew I didn't have time to do that, so I went to my stash and the fat quarter pack was sitting on top of one of my boxes.  I'm sure I would have never chosen these colors to do a purse from, but what better way to use up these fat quarters?  Even though this isn't my favorite purse, it was fun to do.  I got to just sit and unravel the fringey parts while I was watching the Olympics on TV.  The great thing about this purse is all of the pockets on the inside.  There is a zippered pocket, a cell phone pocket, credit card slots, a pocket for sunglasses, and a few more.  (There are 6 separate panels to this purse, with a pocket or pouch on each one.)  I, most likely, wil use it to tote small projects around in. The strap weaves in and out of each panel through large buttonholes, and the little strap hanging down the front is actually a key fob with velcro to keep keys from getting lost.  I used a different fabric on each of the eight panels, and then the layers are all fringed to give the "rag" effect.  Fun!

Puppy Love

Friday afternoon, Andy and I drove to San Diego to meet the new member of our family.  She had a long journey, from somewhere in Wisconsin, to Minneapolis, then on to San Diego before we got to meet her.  This is Ruby, our 8 week old Irish Setter.  She was so much smaller than I anticipated! 

 

We went to San Diego because it was too hot to fly her to Phoenix.  The timing was perfect because my daughter, Cori, and her family were just finishing up their summer vacation at their beach house on Mission Bay.  Ruby was welcomed to San Diego by friends and family, inlcuding 6 very excited children.  She tolerated the whole ordeal quite well.  Saturday morning, before heading back to Phoenix, she got to spend some quality bonding time with Andy.