Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from January, 2026 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:53 pm on January 29, 2026 Permalink  

  Let the Sunshine In 

  “OH . . . Let the sunshine in, face it with a grin.  Frowners never win, smilers never loose.”

  So goes this day on Stauffer Avenue.  Enough challenge in my projects to keep me humble.  Two placemats in progress. The two-sided foam that I had used years ago making items for Carrie, Kersten and several others has been tucked away, safe from harm.  I decided to take a few scraps of which I have many and check out how hot the iron would need to be set at if using it.  There was zero cooperation.  I even went online to query the lifespan of said fusibility.  There was the answer.  The surface dissipates.

  Hell’s bells.  With not much to lose, out came more scraps.  I decided to use Best Press.  It is a light starch spray that I had on hand.  One piece of fabric down with a piece of foam down and then the topper of the fabric, much like the sandwich I would be using in making a placemat.  The moisture did activate the fusible to the topper fabric.  I made sure to let it dry.  I then turned it over and did like-wise with bottom fabric and the foam.  It seems as if I have a solution.  I put both objects, soon to be placemats, on the church tables to let them thoroughly dry.  When next I visit the studio, I will see if all stayed stuck together.

  I went on to work with two embroidered designs that will be small pillows.  They will be about 5-6 inches square . . . or smaller.  With stabilizer on the back of the embroidered designs and then sandwiching it to a backing and machine stitching around it, leaving an opening to turn it right-side out. It does make for a good workout with the fingers.  I managed to fill the projects with crushed walnut shells without making a mess . . . like in missing the target and getting them all over the church tables.  I have the openings pined, capturing the crushed walnut shells.  Tomorrow with a fine tipped needle I will hand-sew the opening shut.

  That was about all I could handle today.  The lights went out in the studio.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:22 pm on January 28, 2026 Permalink  

  Quiet 

  What’s not to like about a space that eludes quiet.  Dennis was out to his patio porch with his breakfast box in one hand, his thermos coffee cup stuck in his jacket pocket and the walking cane . . . ever forward!  I didn’t put the radio on in the studio this forenoon.  The quiet spoke to me.  The quiet allowed my thoughts to swirl at will.  You know how it goes, “peace on earth, goodwill to men.”

  As I turned on the lights that hang over the church tables, one glance told me the fabric choices and color-ways I had chosen yesterday were keepers.  Going forward, bright fabrics will be turned into several placemats with snowflake appliques onto the upper right-hand corners.  I went further and pulled out the lightweight foam to sandwich in between tops and bottoms.  Plans are in place . . . for another day.

  I have the latest hand stitched design blocked.  Several layers of the thick cardboard grided multi-folded design mats on the church tables allows for poster pins to hold down the design using the printed measurements for accuracy.  Kersten had found two such tools to add to the original mat that had been found at Good Will.  I have a previously used frame on top of the design to get a feel for it.  The color is a good fit.  The finished design is about an inch lacking on all four sides.  It will stay pinned down while I think through as to what my options might be.  An inch is not going to be the death of using this frame.

  With the extended cold that we have had, there is no grace of previous warm temps on the concrete in the studio of the walls or of the floor.  The cold has wormed its way through and through.  Staying in the studio for several hours at a stretch is all I am doing.  The small ceramic electric heater that I have in the studio does a good job . . . if I stay sitting in front of it or stay standing in front of it. No, several hours is enough to break up my days.  My bedroom porch offers the balance of my interests.  The powerful sun, streaming in from the south windows, doesn’t hurt either.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:10 pm on January 27, 2026 Permalink  

  A Day 

  The sun is bright and our small flag by the front door doesn’t get a break from being whipped by the north wind.

  I was in the studio by 10:30 this forenoon.  Dennis’ cousin Bruce was visiting in the patio porch.

  I have pulled together some fabric for a “maybe” type of project.  As I was in the studio, I would do a quick “look see” to nail down my choices.  A quick glance is all it takes to assure the sewist that the wisest possible choice has been made.  When I come into the studio tomorrow forenoon and see the choice on the church tables . . . that will be the rest of the story. 

  Last year when Sadie had brought over her huge pile of t-shirts for her quilt, I knew I needed to call in the cavalry.  I ordered the Worx Zip Snip electric scissors to hep cut up the shirts.  It has since had a center spot in the studio.  It comes in handy to cut apart or to open products that are sealed in heavy see-through plastic.  Fingers could be lost trying to get that plastic apart.  Cutting down carboard for recycling is a breeze.

  Late yesterday, I decided it was time to pull out a book to while away some time reading.  Both Carrie and Kevin know I cannot hold a book for the enjoyment of reading.  Both of the kids also know I found a solution for myself.  The hard cover “free books” from the retired bin in our library soon get their hard covers taken off.  Yup, the Zip Snip makes fast work of that.  I have a holder to prop up said book and I read one page at a time.  When that one page has been read, both sides, it is torn off and put in the recycling basket under my desk.  A solution for what I can handle.

  There is a new small stitching design on my desk here in the bedroom porch.  It will be done in monotone red.  It will be great to have it next to my laptop, joining my reading material.  Putting in some stitches while I have a YouTube or Hulu streaming in the evenings does a great job of winding me down for bedtime.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:23 pm on January 26, 2026 Permalink  

  Well, Well 

  What do you know!  The wind is from the south.  Our mail slot cover was honoring it by clapping all the way.  It’s still cold out make no mistake about that.

  I had the thrill of taking my stitching down to the studio today.  The pattern called Cirque des Cercles by Ink Circles — Tracy Horner is finished.  The pattern is 247 stitches by 185 stitches.  The stitching is now resting on the church tables.  I have my thumb tacks ready to begin blocking it.  I am in no hurry.  It’s an estimated 80 yards of floss.  Of course having to take out some stitches for mistakes would alter that.  I worked totally with Esther Schafer silk hank of the variegated.  Initially I had cut the hank in half.  There remains quite a bit of the half I was using.  Each length that I used contained six fibers.  I used two fibers over each stitch.

  I checked the cistern closet to see what frames I have that may work with the circle stitching.  The blocking will determine the actual size needed.  I do not want to have to make a purchase or to have it framed.  These stitched projects are to keep me busy and not for posterity.  I guess if I offered to hand-mend socks that have worn holes in them . . . that would surely keep me busy as well.

  I will miss having something in my bedroom porch to keep my hands busy.  I will contemplate that and check out what fabric would be available from the carry-0ver stash that Carrie and I squirreled away many years ago.

  While in the studio, I rummaged around in the flash-drives I have for embroidery.  The quilt top is done, my stitching is done.  It may be time to work with embroidery so as to not forget the steps for a good outcome.  I am thinking of doing some smalls that could be made up and donned in a basket.  The Christmas story pillows in the wicker basket worked great.  Easy to have out and easier yet to store.  Food for thought.

  We have had a good run of hot meals with side dishes.  I have kept a can of Dennis’ favorite chicken noodle soup in hiding.  Tonight may very well be the night.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:08 pm on January 22, 2026 Permalink  

  Tinkle, Tinkle 

  With the wind gusts, there is . . . here a tinkle, there a tinkle.  I am amazed that the chimes are still in the evergreen on the northwest corner of the home for as much as they have been whipped around.  The small flag at the end of the front sidewalk is also flying proudly, never missing a beat.

  This morning, I nestled under the covers a bit longer than I had intended to.  I knew what the day had been promised.  So . . . it was 8:30 when I hauled myself out of bed.  I will admit that with my bedroom porch having three exterior walls, eight windows and one front door . . . once the decision has been made to get up out of bed, I keep moving.  The first cup of coffee goes down quickly.  That cup comes out of the cabinets on the north wall of the kitchen.  It’s a good thing the coffee pot brews at a high temperature.  That first cup of coffee cools down to drinking temps quickly.

  After a bit, I left the washing machine doing its thing and I headed to the studio.  I said I would do a thorough cleaning of the sewing machine and I set about it.  One of the features that my hands enjoy is that whether I sew a flat stitch that is four feet in length or four inches, the sewing machine will cut the threads.  No scissors need to be handled.  There is also a feature to then clean the cutters.  Small thread lengths and fuzz can get caught up under the stitch plate that need removing.

  On Facebook, I belong to a group specifically geared to the 770 Bernina sewing machine.  I cannot believe the amount of posts that are about complaining of various problems with the machine.  Each machine came with a very detailed operator manual.  I can tell by the posts that most have not read the manual.  In the ten years I have had my machine, I cannot think of any issue with it that has not been explained to me either by reading or by YouTube.  When I clean the machine and oil it, I treat it with the utmost of gentle movements on my part so as to not bend anything or force anything.  As I mentioned, some must really like toting the 70 lb. plus machine into their dealer often as they have screwed up.

  I will admit I usually have my machine into Bird Island, aka: Kelly every year before winter sets in.  The early winter of 2025 messed me up.  Kelly takes it down to the bones for careful servicing.  This year, I plan on doing it by my birthday the end of March.  When Kelly does work on it, no one is allowed in his area to cause any static.  It is a computer and many things need to be honored as he works.

  The studio also got a few other perks done to it today.  I put labels on several totes.  Took a deep breath and then tossed some small scraps into the circular file.  Yup, it hurt.  I don’t plan on doing anything with scraps less than 2″ x 2″ . . . not anymore. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:32 pm on January 21, 2026 Permalink  

  Surprise 

  This morning I realized that there had been snow showers sometime.  The temp was 21 and it didn’t take me long to suit up and use the leaf blower from our back door to the garage service door.  Next was the front deck and sidewalk.

  With a cup of coffee, I headed to the studio.  First thing first . . . lots of lights turned on.  Let me tell you, I was surprised when I tuned in KNUJ and the first thing I heard was the vast number of school closings.  I had missed that.  I will let the weather do its own thing, I am on a mission.

  My mission for the day was to wrap up a sewing project that seems to have gone on forever.  Well, actually, it was started at Thanksgiving time.  Nothing more than a lot of straight seams to sew.  At 1:30, I shut off all the lights.  I was allowing a pressed quilt top that measures 56″ x 80″ to have the church tables all to itself.  Mission completion.  The attention to detail made this project a sweet one indeed.  Perhaps a little less detail going forward might very well be just as satisfying. 

  Tomorrow there will be plenty of time to clear off the remaining clutter of leftover scraps, stray pins and such.  From there I will move on to service the sewing machine. 

  The wind has punch when the gusts hit and bring on a white-out.  Just as quickly the sun settles everything down and it looks balmy. 

  We have no where to be, but safe and sound in our home.  My wish is also that for all the family members.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:28 pm on January 20, 2026 Permalink  

  Snow 

  Today is Tuesday the 20th of January.

  As I type there is very fine snow coming down.  Most likely that one inch that KNUJ was mentioning this forenoon.

  I had a great session in the studio.  For the quilt borders to be sewn onto the 54″ x 74″ beauty, I am using as much of the 2.5″ fabric as possible that was left over from the stitching.  The longer I work with this quilt top, I really like it. 

  

  Today, I had to use an older photo of the color-way as the photo option for loading photos since then has not been successful.  One more day and this project will be finished.  I have 108″ fabric that would work for the backing.  I really do not need to go beyond the quilt top.  No one in the family is in need or wanting a quilt right now.  I will add the beauty to the tote where other quilt tops in various hues are waiting in the wings.

  The longer I type the snow is beginning to flake.  A very peaceful scene.  

  I stepped out onto the front deck when I saw the mail person headed our way as I was expecting a delivery that I would take from her directly.  When I stepped back into the house, I left very muddy shoe impressions on the floor.  There was enough snirt on the decking to collect on the shoes.  Not surprising from the horrific winds we have had.  These new flakes will put a fresh white cover to it all.

  What had come in the mail was a pair of seatbelt extensions that the belt clasp can click into for our car.  The car’s hook-up seems to be a different feel for Dennis from his little red pickup.  Dennis took them right out to the garage and reported that it made a significant improvement.  Finding solutions is just a click away on the world wide web.

  We met the most important objective of the day and that was having the garbage bin out for pick-up.  Whew!

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:07 pm on January 2, 2026 Permalink  

  A Good Completion 

  Our days always have events.  Today my event was that I had a good completion in the studio.  Dennis had asked Carrie for a favor for Christmas.  Dennis was backing the purchase of clothing for me via Carrie.  Carrie had to seek and find a store in the metro that had what Dennis requested.  She did great.  Dennis did good. 

  My completion today was shortening of the sleeves.  I think it could be stated that shorter arms than the USA standards of clothing can be inherited.  Yup . . . that would be me.  I took my time in looking over the situation.  The jacket is fully lined.  Measure once, measure twice and put the scissors down.  Shut the lights off in the studio.  This morning, I was ready for action.  I had thought about this in my waking hours long enough.  The Christmas clothing that Dennis bought for me is now on a hanger ready to be worn.  Whew.

  When I am in a very intense process, I have to continually tell myself to relax my shoulders.  If I don’t, they are going to damn well hurt far beyond the time that I am working on the progress.  Oh my, let me tell you, Dennis is so proud.  He had been asking me how things were going every time I headed to the studio.   Well . . . the first such out-pouring from Dennis in over 2o years . . . this was huge!  Bless his heart.

  Dennis’ son from Arizona is here for several days.  There will be a lot of Curry’s goings-on over the entire weekend.  I am going to keep my head down and agree with everyone.  Part of it all, is that grandson Ryan has a surprise 40th birthday party that has been planned for him.  I kind of didn’t get what the big deal about being 40 was all about.  Just one big drinking party from New Years rolling right into the weekend.  I didn’t loose anything in the VFW, so I am keeping our home front open for anyone needing a break.

  With that will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:14 pm on December 29, 2025 Permalink  

  Sunshine 

  The sun shines bright on our ole Stauffer home………..

  After we woke it was amazing to see where the wind had made drifts.  This morning, Dennis squeezed out the back door and then could inch to the corner of the home and then catch bare concrete on the driveway to get to the garage door.  Our front deck had snow on it.  I ever so slowly pushed the front door open so I could get myself and the leaf blower out.  The deck and steps took some time with the blower, but I got it done.

  With the winds that blew all night long, it would be hard telling how much snow we actually had.  What had blown in had a hard crust on it.  Neighbor Randy did a great job of clearing the snow at our home.  Jan has often commented how much he loves playing with his tractor, blower and front load bucket.  

  I had not been in the studio very often during Christmas.  Today was the day!  I now have a plan as to what I will do in shortening the sleeves on the jacket I got from Dennis for Christmas.  Having a plan laid down is 99% of the project.  I even have the thread color in place.  Having that plan in place, I did sew a few stitches on the log cabin quilt blocks.  The 24 blocks are laid out for the finished design I am striving for.  It is best to sew several together at a time and put them back on the church tables so as not to screw it up.

  By two thirty, it was time to close down the studio.

  As I am sitting here in my bedroom porch, there are ice sickles forming as the snow is melting off of the awning.  KNUJ is forecasting temps in the thirties for tomorrow, Tuesday.  We have the battery for the leaf blower on the charger just in case we need to call it into service later on this week.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:41 pm on December 17, 2025 Permalink  

  It’s Dwindling 

  The sun has had a dramatic effect on the snow pack . . . and the ice.  Our drive is completely free for the time-being.  Dwindle away.

  I was in the studio sewing until two this afternoon.  It felt so good to be among “my stuff.”  What had spurred me on was a YouTube video that Jordon Fabrics of Oregon puts on each week.  They do nothing but mail order.  Their specialty is pre-cuts for the patterns that they create.  The video is usually about 45-50 minutes long.  I sit transfixed and take it all in.  To see the pallets of bolts of fabric that they work with is right up my viewing alley.

  Back to my reality.  I had mentioned that I had ordered Olfa blades for the rotary cutter.  Two sizes: 60 mm and 45 mm to match the two cutters I have.  The 60s came with a previous order.  I was wondering when the 45s would show up.  Today in a shoebox sized box was a whole lot of fill-in paper for a very small package of the 45s.  So be it.  Jordon Fabrics uses nothing but the Olfa blades.  I am in good company.  They have multiple stainless steel jigs with slits in them to run the rotary cutters down them.  One may have slits every two inches, another three inches, etc.  Each one more than covers the 44 inch fabric that is folded in half for the run.  I am just in awe of the behind the scenes that of course is my passion: threads and fuzz.

  We have had hot meals for a four evening run.  This evening it is the Ego thick waffles and sausage.

  The gray air of the 38 degree temps feels every bit like the 15 degrees that the info speaks of.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥