Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from March, 2016 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:12 am on March 1, 2016 Permalink
  Tags: Dennis ( 40 ), Kevin ( 8 )   

  Tidy Up 

  After a sewing project or two the threads are everywhere.  As many wastebaskets that I have in various locations in the sewing studio, some are still bound to take flight.  Dennis cleaned the vacuum filter after I was finished and he was wondering if I sat in a corner making small bits of thread.

  

  The bright colors were fun to work with even if some had to be spliced to be able to be used.

  Yesterday after folding up the large turquoise and coral quilt with the embroidery motifs, I had not planned on starting anything new.  I thought I was burned out.  Not!  I was in the process of making tidy the work area when I could not help myself from thumbing through the scrap box.  At the very bottom was a half yard of a printed panel.  It was a panel of the alphabets, three letters to a block.  Before I knew it, I had some scraps for this and a few scraps for that and the challenge was on for making a crib sized quilt.  Not all projects need to be queen or king sized.

  I knew I had supper in the bag.  From roasting out a large turkey from Kersten and Kevin, we had several bags of roasted chopped turkey in the freezer.  I planned on using some cream of chicken soup to add to the turkey for hot sandwiches.  The sandwiches coupled with a lettuce salad and the menu was planned, giving me ample time to sew a few seams.  I did call it quits when I realized I had sewn the last seam placing the right side of the quilt to the wrong side of the border, rather than the two right sides facing each other.

  It wasn’t much fun knowing that the first job of the day was taking the seam ripper out and taking out that last seam.  It did give me time to consider what sort of backing to put on a crib quilt.  When all was said and done, I had taken everything out of each tote to find just the right yardage.  I am not going to mention just how many totes that entailed.  When I saw the Crayon print yard goods, I knew it would be the right fit.  It may have been a good find, but I shot myself in the foot.  As I went through the totes, I weeded out bits of scraps that had been folded into the larger pieces.  I had been working very hard to use up scraps and now my scrap box is again just as full as before all the pot holders and placemats have been cranked out.  This puts a whole new slant on job security.  Care must be given when one is doing a tidy up.

   
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  Noreen 3:51 am on February 26, 2016 Permalink  

  Dennis went down into the basement to fetch a roll of paper towels from the pantry. He could not believe how tidy and clean the sewing studio was. After a large project, it feels good to put extra supplies away, use the Swiffer to pick up many threads that managed to flutter at will while I was pinning, sewing, and trimming, and begin the next project with everything being tidy. The sewing studio will stay tidy until the creative juices begin flowing again. Being creative is a messy business.

  Kevin knows all about making a mess while working at having fun. At one time Kevin had a Dremmal table saw in his bedroom. Corrugated cardboard cannot help but make a mess when there is not another medium available to push through to the saw blade. From small on, there was a curiosity on how things could be made and what went into the making of something he was observing. The curiosity and creativity still dwells within Kevin and I hope it never leaves. Life will always be exciting for him.

  Grandma Schafer also knew that if the toddler, Kevin, was too quiet and out of site, she had better take a look see. Though she lived in a small home right on the main business district street in Hector, it was too much square footage to stay focused on Kevin. On one occasion, Orlin was able to do a bit of electrical work for his mom, Esther, as Kevin was curious what was behind the plate of the electric outlet in her bedroom. No one really knew what Kevin poked into the protected area, but it did leave quite an impression on the wee one as the arc of electricity made for sore fingers and a very black soot mark on the area around the outlet.

  What made me think of Kevin and a few memories today was cleaning my sewing area and putting up my small sewing tools into a cup that Kevin made for me while in his first grades of school. It is amazing how seeing a bit of artwork on a plastic cup can begin the memories to unravel. It makes for a very rewarding day that could otherwise be just another gray, cloudy, gloomy day. As quickly as memories come to me, I will never ever be bored in life and my creative curiosity will keep pace with Kevin’s.

   
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  Noreen 3:20 am on February 25, 2016 Permalink  

  The Winter’s Quilt Top is Finished 

  This is going to be a collection of photos as this winter’s quilt top project is ready to become a quilt in time to come.

  

   
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  Noreen 3:52 am on February 24, 2016 Permalink  

  Art Does Imitate Life 

  

  Sometimes my will is stronger than my physical strength. As much as I have enjoyed working on this artistic quilt, I just could no longer herd this huge amount of fabric around to get the last border on the quilt. My titanium shoulders allowed me to know that I would feel more than just weary if I insisted on continuing. Just as in life, sometimes you just have to know when to stop and let things lay for a time, or there is going to be irrevocable repercussions. Art does imitate life.

   
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  Noreen 5:29 am on February 23, 2016 Permalink  

  I just spent three very satisfying and fulfilling hours. I have a very enthusiastic beginner quilter that came seeking help and advice. It is gratifying to see someone becoming invested into piecing fabric to make art. Dennis’ nephew, Brett, is 52 and owns his own concrete business. Somewhere the winter hours beckoned him to put many of the same calculating skills that it takes to read blueprints and put bids together for concrete projects into a winter pass time of quilting.

  Starting out with his sisters old sewing machine, he did invest in an economical new machine with comments that it made a lot of difference in the basic stitching.

  Brett has watched many YouTube videos on techniques of quilting. He is now at a point where his first quilt fashioned from the pattern “Attic Windows” is ready to be put on a quilt frame. When I found out that he built stands from which the quilt frame will hang, I had to admit, he was quite serious. Today he picked out embroidery floss with which to tie the quilt and got a few pointers on what will take place after the tying is done. I think he has my phone number on speed dial. Brett knew he wanted a hobby before he got much older and this seemed to fit him. I will say his alignment of pieces of fabric to build the quilt is spot on considering the size of his hands and fingers.

  Amazing and delightful to see the light bulb go on when things fall into place.

   
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  Noreen 2:18 am on February 21, 2016 Permalink
  Tags: Carrie ( 12 ), Dennis ( 40 ), Kevin ( 8 ), Orlin ( 4 )   

  Fresh Air Can’t Hurt 

  Dennis has gone to see his friend recovering from a bad fall on the ice.  I have taken the opportunity to open up both ends of the house for some fresh air.  Fresh air can’t hurt after a spell of cold temps, and it sure can’t hurt keeping me on the straight and narrow with my scrappy projects in my sewing studio.

  I have been in the habit of making gifts for people for decades.  I find it relaxing and allowing myself to think about each person who will be on the receiving end of the gift.  That is how I had so many scraps that ended up being finished one inch squares to put together in various patterns.

  Having a sewing studio is not foreign to me.  When Carrie was just a year old, my Dad and my Mom staked Orlin and me to a 160 acre farm not far from where my parents lived.  I was very familiar with the farm and the home, as I had spent many hours in that home and on the dooryard playing with my District 34 classmate, Marith Kurth, whose parents owned the farm.  It was a lovely story and a quarter, three bedroom home with a dry, usable basement.

  We did enjoy and make use of every square inch of that home.  It is the first home that Kevin ever knew.  It didn’t take much prodding from Carrie to teach Kevin how to navigate the steps either going up or down or out.  Without the basement, that we did finish out for a playroom and a television room, some would have said it was a small home.  Marith and her brother’s family found it suitable long past the time that grandchildren visited.

  One of the basement storage areas, Orlin converted into a sewing room.  There was a handy closet on the west end that was partitioned off for a canning cellar on the south end and a sewing storage area on north end.  It was handy as all get-out. The kids were close by, the laundry was close by and the half bathroom didn’t hurt either.  In time, the sewing room had enough room in it for a 4-harness rug loom to be added.  Sewing studios have been a part of me for over fifty years.

  Back to the one inch squares.  In today’s world, I would not have made anything from which these scraps evolved.  I am onto larger pieces of fabric.  Fifteen or sixteen years ago, I did make gifts for the gals who worked for me in the courthouse.  Once I got into the swing of all things being an inch, my sister-in-laws each received one, as well as my mom, my daughter, and a niece, Erin.  Wouldn’t you know it?  I had scraps left.

  Today, with the fresh air wafting through the home, it was time to get serious and put scraps to use once and for all.  I never throw very much away if I can envision something coming out of the depths of a storage box. Several years ago, when granddaughter Megan was going to receive her first American Girl Doll, daddy Jeremy emailed me.  He was handcrafting a doll bed and wanted to know if I could make the bedding, complete with a quilt for it.  No problem.  At that time, out came the one inch square happy scraps.  Now today, the batting and backing has been determined as well as the bindings being cut.  Dennis already had marveled over the potholders that were whipped out earlier from quilt squares that had not made the cut. He knew I would not back down until this group of projects would be finished.  It is fun to have an item here or there for an unsuspecting visitor to our home.  Happy scrapper quilter sucking in fresh air: happy home.

   
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  Noreen 3:19 am on February 16, 2016 Permalink  

  It May be About Passion 

  Last week I went to pick up a few items in Shopko, and I ran into a gal that I had worked with in the courthouse.  LuAnn mentioned she had five more years to go before she could retire.  Her first question of me in the conversation was in regard to how I was managing with the long winter?  It took me a bit before I realized the time span from fall to now, in February, hadn’t been a concern for me.  LuAnn went on to say she had better begin thinking of a hobby, as the last time the roads were bad and she had to spend the weekend at home and it was not easy for her.

  I don’t think I ever thought of my love of threads and fabric as a hobby.  It came about as second nature as my mom, Lena, had us girls using the treadle sewing machine as soon as we could reach the treadle.  There was hemming and seaming and the all important carpet rags that needed to be done.  Feed sacks were turned into pajamas and aprons.  The better feed sacks were saved in multiples for Mom’s house dresses.  I think Dad made it quite clear that he was in favor of the blue chambray work shirts with all the necessary pockets

  As Carrie and Kevin came along, there was no shortage of clothing that could be sewn with little expenditure.  I think I may have overdone it when I did do a shirt and pants combo for Kevin and embroidered on the shirt and pants.  Of all the things that Kevin has taken home from my attic, that set of clothing still remains here.  Hmm.  For Carrie, all the ruffles and pleats that we could muster were welcomed.  Now the cost of a paper pattern is over $10.00 per pattern.  The real kicker is that the knit and stretch in all clothing is not all that easy to sew.  The seams need to be serged, meaning a final treatment to the edge of the seam to control fraying and unraveling.

  I am at a point in my life that sewing is a passion and an outlet for creativity.  Nothing gets me going more than a challenge.  The larger project I have been working on is at a standstill for lack of several yards of fabric to coordinate the final finish.  With that being the case, I dug into my scrap box.  I am determined to lighten that load.  Kersten and Kevin took a huge amount of scraps off of my hands in the form of a king sized scrappy quilt.  I found some extra quilt blocks that were not needed in a previous quilt and I have decided that several potholders could be made out of them.  I would not ordinarily put that much work into a potholder, but I just am not one to throw items out without trying to re-purpose them first.  Actually, the background wallpaper of my blog is from the print of a quilt that these potholders will be springing from.

  I did go outside and push off the snow from the driveway to clear my head, and I am now prepared to get after this fill-in project.  Every once in awhile when Dennis wanders down into the sewing studio, he marvels at what I save in regard to a scrap.  Well . . . I have a pile that would make three inch blocks, another that would make five inch blocks, and also a pile that would work for the old time favorite: the postage stamp pattern.  Rightfully called that for . . . well, you get it.  The quest to fulfill a challenge is a passion.

  I do have time this afternoon to work a bit longer down here in the sewing studio, as there is a pork roast with carrots roasting away, filling the house with oh such wonderful aromas.  Dennis is getting caught up after a great weekend of the trade show and is looking forward to a good home cooked meal.

   
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  Noreen 4:43 am on February 9, 2016 Permalink  

  I did think our little home would blow away at times during the night. The wind howled and made noises and still is having its way 24 hours after it started. There was not very much drifted onto the drive, but Dennis took care of what there was. We happen to be protected from the north by our neighbor’s shrubs.

  I often wondered why some of my friends had more than one sewing machine on board. I now know why. While the Bernina is doing an embroidery design, I have again enlisted my 45-year-old Sears Kenmore for straight stitching. It’s a good thing.

  In the end, it all comes down to both Dennis and me having a satisfying day.

   
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  Noreen 5:52 am on February 7, 2016 Permalink  

  Super Ball Frenzy – Not! 

  It may be a frenzy for many, but not for us on Stauffer Avenue.  We have way too many important things going on to even realize what particular Super Ball teams are playing.  I do know that the fellow that does a catchy commercial, Payton Manning, may be on one of the teams, but I am not sure.

  We do have one very happy cat in the garage . . . Harriet.  I went to pay the ransom at the veterinary clinic this morning. We had used the smaller of the carriers thinking Fuzzy would be a patient as well.  The carrier was put on the counter and there was not a sound coming from within. Peeking in I could see Harriet crouched down in the farthermost corner.  I talked to Harriet all the way home telling her how brave she had been.  We have seen too many stray cats that are barely kittens themselves end up have litter after litter.  That is not for our girl cats.  We just want them to enjoy our porch and yard and bring us an occasional mouse.  More than likely a bird.  When we got home to the porch, I set the carrier on the floor and popped the top open.  Harriet just sat there as I talked to her and petted her.  It took a long time before she stepped out to quickly find a spot to hide.  Just watch your back Fuzzy, your time is still coming.

  Kersten and Kevin brought over a turkey at Christmas, and today the aroma of it roasting filled our home.  I knew I would have a window of four or five hours to settle into the sewing studio.  As portions of a larger quilt top is to come together, there a few seams that are bound to be ripped open for either a larger or smaller seam to be applied to allow corners of the four patches to meet and be pleasing.  It teaches patience if you want the end result to bring about a smile of accomplishment.

  There is another threat of sleet, mixed with snow and high winds coming our way.  All I need to know is that my people are safe and sound as they go about their travels and their days.  Getting that short message when destinations have been met safely is the peace that passes all understanding.  When my Mom was in her nineties she had said that that short phone calls from me when I had arrived home safe was better than all the money in the world.  Lena was a very smart lady.

   
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  Noreen 4:26 am on February 5, 2016 Permalink  

  A bit more fresh air today for me. I do believe Dennis overdid it yesterday. The new inch or two of snow today was light enough for me to push it off the drive and out into the street.

  That time spent outside actually gave me some time to rethink a sewing project. I just was not happy with a janky looking boarder on one of the sentiments that I am working into my four patch design. I had been brooding on it for several days, thus the darkness in the sewing studio.

  After fixing Dennis and me a hot egg and cheese sandwich in our sandwich maker for a noon lunch, I was set to come down here into my sewing studio and face it head on. All the lights were turned on overhead and I set to work with the seam ripper.

  It is now time to think about supper and I am pleased with the results of taking out seams and exercising the re-do. As with any pieced quilt top, there are always going to be plenty of “oops” to forgive, without one that could have just as well had a red light blinking over it, much like how K-Mart announced specials in their stores.

  The last several days, it was as if my Dad could be heard, “You don’t have time to do it right the first time, but you always have time to do it over.” Now the deed is done and it is the peace that surpasses all understanding.