Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:43 pm on February 7, 2025 Permalink  

  Friday 

  A new twist.  I am accustomed to checking the weather and seeing what the temp currently is and then how much colder it feels.  Today the temp is 26 degrees and it feels like 31 degrees.  That is one for the books.

  I felt very brave today as me and my cup of coffee headed for the studio.  The tote bag will soon be slimmed down in the width to put a box bottom on it.  While everything was still lying flat, I wanted to get the hardware on the front of the cross-hatch with which to work with the strap handles.  I had exactly four pieces of hardware for the front and four pieces of the clamps that hold the four prongs each once they come through from the front.  My trusty needle-nose plier then bent them pointing away from each other.

  

  I admit the first piece of gold hardware was not my finest work.  Each of the four prongs needed a slit cut in the canvas, the quilt batting and the lining to poke through to attach the clamp.  I cut the slits crosswise.  After the first one there was no turning back.  The first was the worst as I had spent my jitters on the first one.  The remaining three I cut the slit lengthwise as there was more real estate to cover the slits.  Live and learn.

  Once all four were secure, I shut down the studio for the day.  I was tuckered and thankful that I had not screwed up to the point that this project would end up being a mattress pad in the kitty box.  I have been satisfied doing one step each trip to the studio.  I went up to the grocer’s to pick up a few items in case the dumping of heavy snow occurs.  Even if we don’t get much snow, I don’t want Dennis firing up the Ahrens walk-behind snow blower.  Our John Deere neighbors to the north of us are leaving tomorrow for an eight day cruse.  My wish for them is that they get to the airport on Saturday safely for the 2:30 boarding.  If need be grandson Ryan will be called to help his grandpa Dennis with the drive.  

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:14 pm on February 6, 2025 Permalink  

  Early Bird 

  It is Thursday with the wind again whipping the wind chime outside my bedroom porch, taunting the dusting of snow we had last night.  The bright sun has cleared the drive and we are back to no covering.

  I am an early bird with my blog today.  Yesterday had been a day off of doing a blog until I got the all clear from my administrator.

  This morning, I was hell bent on getting to the studio as I had pondered the next step to my soon to be tote bag.  All the lights were on. KNUJ was giving me the latest news and I was standing next to one of the church tables ready to go.  I put in a new blade in the rotary cutter and the steam iron was heating up.

  As I said, I was standing next to the table with everything in front of me, but I was not moving.  I chose to work with some fabric to finish off the top of the canvas cross-hatched that was dimensional.  The fabric had script printed across the length of the weft. I knew I wanted the script to read correctly as if I would be standing the canvas bag in front of me.  The script fabric being cut in one piece would also be the backing of the top band.  Getting my head wrapped around the correct way to sew this script fabric on correctly, just stymied me for a bit.  This was not going to be a day of ripping out seams.  It does help to fixate.  The adage: you don’t have time to do it right, but you always have time to do it over was blazing across my forehead.

  Finishing off the cup of coffee I had brought to the studio and finding the correct color of sewing thread for this next step in sewing, gave me enough time for a step-away.  I was able to go back to the fabric decision, use my wonder-clips to hold everything in place and get the seam sewn.  Whew.

  Dennis checked in at noon as he had had the little red pickup out for a spin around town.  

  I had prepared an oven meal for last night and that automatically gives me gratis for tonight’s supper.  I will spike it up a bit by adding some cranberries. 

  All is well with my soul . . . as well as everything else on Stauffer Avenue. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 5:00 pm on February 5, 2025 Permalink  

  Wed 

  yes

   
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  Noreen 3:33 pm on February 4, 2025 Permalink  

  A Chilly Tuesday 

  How temps can change.

  Dennis had a plan for the morning.  He raided his quarter jar as he was headed to the laundromat.  We don’t do heavy rugs from the entryways of the house in our stackable.  At the same time the kitties’ baskets get freshened.  The quarter jar always gives Dennis a chuckle when he visits it.  When Nicholas was a toddler, he always explored the quiet places when he came to visit.  Out of Dennis’ bedroom came this tiny voice, “Grandpa, you have tons of money.”  Nicholas was at the quarter jar, trying to heft it.  Memories too good to not cherish.

  When we were in Mankato yesterday, the only stop we made was Sam’s Club.  The gas is always cheaper than in St. James.  We were out of the frozen chicken tenderloins.  They come in a 6 lb. bag for $15 and some odd cents.  I also bought a 2 lb. bag of crab meat for $5.98.  One pound in our store for about the same price.  Both items needed to be paired down this morning.  Rather than wrestle the heavy bag out of the freezer each time, I like to put three tenderloins per bag for ease.  I also divided the crab meat into two bags.  Good eats always on hand at Stauffer Avenue.  That along with laundry was my kitchen duty this morning.  The laundry, I do not complain about.  Who taught Dennis about the joy of putting on freshly laundered clothing.

  We both met at noon for a snack.  At the laundromat, the cleaning gal came up to Dennis and commented to him that his deceased grandson, Jake, had been a good friend of her sons.  Sweet.  That does go to show that Dennis has not changed much in appearance in the fifteen plus years. 

  So our week goes.  Quiet is good.  

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:14 pm on February 3, 2025 Permalink  

  Home Sweet Home 

  Our trip to the big town, Mankato, went well.  

  Dennis’ surgeon was pleased with Dennis’ recovery after he took Dennis’ left leg and did multiple rotations for him to feel the ease that the left leg moved.  In three months, Dennis will go back.  Any situation that may crop up will be checked every three months until a full year has lapsed, he will then be released from Dr. Stuart’s care.

  We were only gone from home for four hours.  It still felt wonderful for the home sweet home rush as we drove into the drive.

  If we were to get some type of precipitation, it missed us.  We did note how many places on the road surface sand had been spread.  When we got to the clinic in Mankato, the car was a smear of gunk.  On the other hand, the wind whipped us into attention.  Brutal.

  No news is always good news for the older ones on Stauffer Avenue.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:42 pm on February 2, 2025 Permalink  

  Watching 

  Today was a great day to watch some YouTube videos.

  With spending a fair amount of time in the studio, I wanted to check out some ideas in using cork fabric.  It’s been some time since I worked with it.  I was first introduced to it when I had had my Bernina sewing machine checked over at Kelly and Amanda’s in Bird Island.  So . . . why not try a piece.

  Cork fabric is durable and easy to work with.  Not much in the way of having special needles on the sewing machine.  I made a purse for Carrie using some white.  I did quite a few check-book sized wallets with zippers for special people.  It was fun and quite the diversion. 

  Some time later, on another six month check-up for the Bernina, I noticed Amanda was carrying the Accu-View product line that would cut various sizes of quilt block pieces.  It was much like the Cricut machine I would use to cut paper.  The Accu-View had different dyes for different shapes.  As it cut fabric, the Bird Island shop began offering an assortment of yard goods.  Before I left the Bird Island shop, Amanda sent home with me all of the remaining cork fabric inventory she had left.  My oh my.  I did use quite a bit of it.

  When I took the sewing machine in for the fall of 2024 before the roads could be a challenge, I noticed Amanda was full on with the KimberBell line of goodies.  No more Accu-View.

  I give Amanda credit for feeling out the market of what will fly in the sewing and Cricut world.  Her profit and loss sheet might get a work-out. 

  What better way of getting ideas than YouTube.  Today, I watched, listened and learned.  I will try my hand with various ideas and uses of the cork fabric.  Diversity 101.

  I did get the straps done for my soon-to-be tote bag.  I dug around in my stash of hardware to make sure the straps were of the size to slide through the rings that will be on the tote.  One step closer.

  Tomorrow is the final visit with Dennis’ surgeon to check on the x-rays of his hip replacement that were taken here last Friday.  A trip to the big town of Mankato for the 11:30 appointment.  I have no other stops for anything that I would need in the studio.  The opposite is true . . . just keep checking out YouTube.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:14 pm on February 1, 2025 Permalink  

  A Roar 

  The winds are making a roar outside my bedroom porch.  I had been in the studio and had not noticed it this morning.  The little USA flag we have had on a steel rod off of our front deck didn’t make it.  I went outside and took it in, realizing the shredding would not let it fly again,  I do have a brand new flag, but will wait until such time when the wind is calmer.  That might well be when the Easter Bunny comes.

  With coffee in hand, I went to the studio.  All was ready to power up the sewing machine.  I will say yesterday I was so thankful for the Husky table from Lowe’s.  Initially I had sent Kevin photos of tables recommended with no vibration when doing the embroidery.  The tables ranged from expensive to more expensive.  Keven recommended the Husky as he had bought one for his shop.

  Dennis and his friend Lyle had gone to Mankato after that and came home with a 42″ Husky already assembled from Lowe’s.  If I remember correctly it was $198.00 or there abouts.  It became my sewing table as fast as it could be gotten down the studio steps.  Not an easy matter as the table was very heavy.

  Yesterday while I was getting everything set up for today, it was easy pezy to crank the table up to a height that I could easily see to attach the walking foot and the measuring bar to do the cross-hatch on the  prepared project.  After said attachment was on, I cranked the table back down to the 21″ that I could sit at the table with my shoulders relaxed.

  As of this afternoon the project has been sewn in the cross-hatch design at 2.5 ” apart.  It was a bit of a challenge to wheel the stiff canvas with the batting and backing.  I did not hurry or rush things.  The completed step is on one of the church tables.

  I am a process stitcher, not a project stitcher.  I am in no rush to do a project and rush on to whip out another project.  I enjoy the process of achieving something I may never have done before and may never do again.  Such a huge difference.

  The next step in the process will be to sew straps to attach to the tote bag I am working on.  Those straps will be sewn into and onto a 4″ wide border that will be sewn onto the top of this rectangle of cross-hatched material before it will resemble a bag.  I am still kicking around what the border will be.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:28 pm on January 31, 2025 Permalink  

  The Aromas 

  The aromas from the little kitchen on Stauffer Avenue would have been hard pressed to have been any better in a 5 star eatery.

  The last time I was at our grocer’s they were running a special on a lb. of bacon.  The kicker was that it was honey jalapeno flavored wide sliced bacon.  I thought what the heck.  It was too good of a price to let it go.  I used a cookie sheet covered with tin foil and lined the slices up.   I didn’t let them bake to crispness.  When we have eggs and bacon for supper, I will top them out in the microwave. 

  The second cookie sheet, I covered with parchment paper and put the frozen cinnamon rolls onto it.  I knew that with the Pam sprayed onto the cling free sheet over them, the heat from the yeast would have them ready for the oven in three hours.

  It was a continuation of good aromas in the kitchen.  Dennis sampled a piece of bacon on his way out to the medical clinic.  It passed mustard.  Both projects were easy clean up.  The coverings of both cookie sheets hit the trash can.

  The studio was visited in between.  I have the walking foot on the sewing machine and it is threaded to match the canvas of my soon to be tote.  I do use a basting spray with which to hold the canvas, the top, to the batting and the backing.  I have always had good success with it holding everything in place when it goes under the needle.  The best part about the spray I use, is that it doesn’t gum up the needle as it sews.  It sure beats a multitude of stick pins jabbing me in the fingers as the project is manipulated under the needle while everything is held in place.  It also takes away from sewing over a pin and having it jammed somewhere under the hood.  The machine is capable enough as Megan found out when she was doing a quilt for Nicholas.  The needle of the machine went straight through the thickest portion of a safety pin.  The needle didn’t break but it took some doing to get the needle out of the machine while leaving it in the safety pin.  No harm was done.  A new needle was put in and all was good.   

  The studio got a short visit as operating the nozzle of the spray can did a number on the index finger as well as my right hand.  Way back when . . . who knew the index finger of either hand would be handicapped.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:25 pm on January 30, 2025 Permalink  

  Ready 

  My studio is ready to take on come what may.

  I do have a large selection of the Isacord thread colors.  I keep up with the master printed chart that has a color swab with the color number on it.  When I am in the process of deciding on a stitch out, I reference the number on the actual design chart to compare to my master print out.  It doesn’t take long for me to know if I can pull that spool of thread or if I need to find one that is in close color comparingly.

  I keep my threads in plastic cases, each hinged case holding 36 spools and filed by smallest to largest number.  That range is then written on a slip of paper lying on top of the spools.  At a quick glance my quest can be found.  The cases are not near sunlight.  The threads are an investment that should not be bleached by the sun or capturing dust that may be in the air.

  Today the 24 spools I had used yesterday were filed back where they belong for the next embroidered project. Years ago, I knew it would only be one brand of thread that I would have for embroidery.  For straight stitching, I have a collection of various brands.

  

  My project of yesterday had more attention today, as I pulled out some quilt batting as well as a fabric to line the tote bag I am planning.  That is all for another day.  I needed to turn my attention to my sewing machine.  I have oil that is in a syringe looking pen.  A new needle was at hand as well as various tweezers if I found a stray thread.  The sewing machine will thread the needle so that little ditty needed cleaning.  The sewing machine will cut the threads as I go on with the stitching.  That also called for attention to be given.  The threading of the needle and the cutting option were huge in deciding on this sewing machine.  It saves the arthritic hands and shoulders more than what can be imagined.

  After several hours in the studio, I was ready to attend to the first floor and check in with Dennis.  The sun is bright with little wind.

  Again, the county’s highway department is hauling trimmed trees to our tree dump north of us.  I am sure with no snow, or mud to contend with, this is hitting those projects that they have on a tick list.

  Checking the traffic from my bedroom porch while enjoying a cup of breakfast coffee, will wind down my afternoon until supper needs to be looked after.

  With that I will be taking my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:32 pm on January 29, 2025 Permalink  

  Record Breaking 

  We are in the midst of record breaking temperatures these last days.  Living a dream but not going to leave February out of what could be a nightmare.

  Without any delay, I got myself into the studio today.  I had had too many days where it wasn’t in the plans.  This design pattern is over 90,000 stitches.  There are 24 different colors used over 34 times.  It is a challenge for me that I have wanted to do for several years.  My hope is to have a beautiful sewing tote.

  As usual Dennis came in at noon and asked if I was going to come up for air.  No.  I am going to see this through and all systems have been working smoothly.  I had the filled bobbins to swap out.  It is 2:45 and I have two hours remaining.  My machine is set at a modest speed.  I don’t have the heart or the courage to run it wide open as Amanda from Bird Island does.  I have no tech to fix it on the spot as she does.

  This day has been in the planning for some time and I am enjoying the fact that one eye is on the embroidery hoop and the other is cutting out some quilt blocks.

  I have no idea what has gone on anywhere else on our homestead.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥