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Post by gramma15 on Feb 20, 2019 21:48:36 GMT
Betty, welcome to the crafting thread. We do all kinds of crafts as Ginny mentions in the intro. I do mostly crocheting but can knit and do a little sewing. I took one series of quilting classes one time back in 2004 for quilt tops. It's so good to see you here
Phyl, thanks for telling Betty about us. Sorry you have so much snow. We don't have any new snow today but it's really cold. It was 15 when I finally ventured upstairs but it was sunny so I sat at my window and crocheted. Have a good time in your playpen decided what to take with you for the weekend retreat. I hope the weather cooperates.
Sue I know you said you were going out today...at least I think I remember you saying that. Please do be careful
CJ, because of your inspiration I did clean out one large drawer of all my way too large pj's and nighties. Most still have tags.
While sitting in the sun this morning I got another dishcloth done and another started so once I finish that one and the one that's still sitting down here that I started last night it will be 4 of them done so I think that will be enough for now. Ddil can use them as dishcloths or washcloths. They will go with her kitchen and have a nice spring feel to the colors.She makes soap so these will also go nicely with her hand made soaps. So after these are done I'll start the bookmarks then back to whatever I'm going to make next for dgd. Right now I'm sitting here waiting for doctor's office to call back. This is the first time I ever got an automated message when I called asking me to leave a number and they will call me back. it's strange. I have so many appointments for the month of March. I hate being so busy but it will entail a lot of sitting and waiting time so I should be able to get a lot of crocheting done at least, just not at home.It may even be more app'ts than I think depending on what the doctor orders as far as tests go and also dh's eye doctor appt may lead to him seeing an actual ophthalmologist. We have only one in town so you see him only of the optometrist finds a need for more specialized care. I'm sure dh has cataracts and may even have glaucoma or eye conditon related to his diabetes.
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Post by cj59 on Feb 20, 2019 22:12:02 GMT
Hello Crafters - Hope you are all doing well today
Betty - Welcome to the thread. I haven't had much time to do any quilting or other crafting recently, but I still have time to check out blogs and I love to read what our posters are working on.
Ginny - Hope your weather isn't too bad. We had snow this morning and then some sleet on top of it. I'm hoping for some plain old rain tonight to melt it.
Ruth - Those dishcloths sound pretty and Spring-y, I'm sure your DDIL will enjoy them. Sorry to hear about all the appointments in March, hope they all go well and you do get some crocheting done.
I'm glad to inspire you to clear out a drawer I finally finished going through the last drawer in my bedroom chest. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, I could tell I'd done a clearing out a few years bag. I did get a bit of trash out, pulled things out that need to go elsewhere and then organized what was left.
Meg, Phyl and Sue - Hope you are getting in some crafting.
I'm figuring out what decluttering project to tackle next. I think it will be the closet with my father's clothes. He passed away almost 6 years ago and until the last year or so I just couldn't bring myself to go through his things, but I feel like I'm ready now. I do plan to keep some of the cotton shirts he wore and cut them up for a quilt project. I had already pulled out the flannel shirts and kept what I wanted of those. I still need to make the pillows I started working on.
I also scheduled a donation pickup date for next week. I'll be glad to get all the things I've packed up off the porch where I have them stored. I know it will be a good feeling to see that all taken out of the house.
Take care everyone!
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Post by phyl on Feb 20, 2019 23:39:47 GMT
welcome to the crafting thread betty ,glad to have you join us.
betty and I became online friends. then one day we met in rochester,mn. the rest is history,.
she has move since then, this summer will be our turn to go see them.
I sure would love to take betty to my favorite quilt shop 60 miles from here.they would have to stay overnight.
that would probably be to long of a drive to come from the cities to go praire du chen and back home for them.
betty you know you and dave are welcome here. bring ozzie. ozzie is their yorkie.
I have spent most of the day in my playpen.worked on getting the snowflake table runner ready for the retreat, anything I am taking will not get finished.phyl
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Post by gramma15 on Feb 21, 2019 18:10:52 GMT
Good morning crafting friends. It's a cold dreary day here no sun at all and it looks like there was a dusting of snow during the night. I'm not in a good mood. Plus no one ever called me back from the doctor office. I called just now and no appointments available until April 2nd. I think it's time for a change in doctors. I did leave a message that I would at least like to have labs ordered so we could get those done. I did make dh an appointment for an eye exam. Now I'm going to sit and crochet and relax. I do need to do some cooking but I need to decide what to cook.
I hope you're all having a good day and accomplishing things that make you feel good.
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Post by cj59 on Feb 21, 2019 22:27:29 GMT
Hello Crafters - Hope you are all doing well today Phyl - I'm glad you were able to work on your table runner yesterday, that sounds like a good project for the retreat. Ruth - Dealing with medical professionals and appointments is frustrating. I'm sorry you're having problems and hope you can get a new doctor. Hope the crocheting helps you relax. Someone linked to the website below with a bread in a bag recipe that was interesting. I started looking through the rest of her recipes and she has a lot of soup ones and others you might enjoy looking at: www.yourhomebasedmom.com/recipe-index/I did some organizing in my sewing room today and it looks a lot better and makes me feel more motivated to work on a project. I can't stand it when it's messy, I have trouble being creative I pulled out a few small projects I'd like to work on soon. I also did some clearing off of the top of a buffet chest in my dining room. It's a catch-all for junk and just drives me crazy to look at it. I still have some things to go through on it. It was sunny and mild here today so all the snow and slush melted. It was great, I didn't have to shovel or clear off the cars Take care everyone!
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Post by gramma15 on Feb 21, 2019 23:50:20 GMT
CJ, good to see you. I was getting lonesome here all alone Thanks for the link to those recipes. i found several that interested me and that I might make while my sister is here visiting. I think I have all the main meal recipes I need for her trip now. I just need to get some desserts. I have to go back to that site and check on those. I saw that they have a gluten free lemon bar so I have to check that. Many gf recipes have a certain flour mix that the recipe writer mixes herself but I'm mainly looking for recipe that I can use for using up the premixed gf flour that I already have. I've still be eating those biscuits I made last week and they're still fantastic. I just stick one in the micro for a few second and put some of ddil's homemade orange marmalade on it. It's been the best part of my meals lately. It's so great to have a good bread product. Only thing is they are high in calories but then I think all biscuits are.
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Post by choney2 on Feb 21, 2019 23:56:04 GMT
Good Evening!
Hey, Betty- welcome to our happy little group!! My name is Ginny- I am a major blabbermouth....and I used to be a wanna be quilter. (I was where you seem to be now). Lots of fun ways to step into quilting....if you live near a Joann fabrics they have classes, and normally one intro to quilting project every few weeks. Or a local craft shop- and those also have basic quilting classes. Another great way to learn is to buy some precut fabrics (Missouri Star Quilt Companyhas some great specials) and follow one of their youtube videos. Or, even just teaching yourself- there are lots of videos out there for those who are just starting off. And of course our dear Phyl can help!! Anyway, you do live in the snow belt....I visited Dubuque Iowa once for business travel many years ago, and flew into Twin Cities. Hope you come visit us frequently....and its no big deal if you cannot or do not craft. (Check out the opening for the week for this thread, our definition of crafting is insanely liberal!). For years I was posting here and only marginally getting some crafting done. Noone threw me out. ha ha ha
Sue, it still sounds insanely cold where you live! WHen is that supposed to break? Hope Dh’s trip to the dentist was uneventful...
Phyl, thanks for introducing Betty to us!! I would love to hear the story of how you actually met face to face....most of us here will never get that opportunity. Hope that somehow you can arrange to meet her to get her to that LQS. Did you finally finish getting all the supplies you need for your retreat?
Ruth, hope that the rest of your day improved!! I am sorry that you are not in the best of moods......and believe me that STINKS that you cannot get an appointment with your doctor until April 2!! Hope that they do send you the scripts for blood work. THat is one thing that our doctor began doing several years ago- he wrote the script for the next round of blood work , even if it was a year away.....so that we would have it. Saves everyone time and a phone call. Were you able to get Dh and appointment for an eye exam?? SO glad you completed all those dishcloths/washcloths for DDIL. THey sound like a lovely spring like addition to her kitchen. Simply amazing how a bright dish towel or cloth can brighten things up!! Now as far as your mood goes (and I am smiling writing this) just hold tight and I will get in my car and drive the TWENTY EIGHT hours straight to visit and brighten up your day! Well , of course, I do wish we all lived closer so we could get together. So sit down with a cup of tea, and pretend that we are all there with you...and of course, feel free to vent.
CJ- well you are the organizing dynamo these days!! When I went through my mom’s clothes, I was ruthless (she had SO much clothing!) with the exception of her polyester blouses, which I eventually cut up to make rag quilts for our kids. I would think your dad’s flannel shirts would work great for rag quilts too, even if you had to add a small amount of fabric. I love your idea of the pillows too...and a coworker of mine did that with her dad’s flannel shirts. Each cousin got one.....and the family really enjoyed the pillows. I think making the pillows really helped my friend too....she knew that she was in a way keeping her dear Dad alive with those pillows. Glad you were able to get a donation date for next week. (I cannot here, but I think its because of winter weather).
Got a bit of a quandry here. Our Dd#2 is getting married in July....mom and dad are paying for the wedding. (Gulp). We just had our taxes done and well we owe this year. Got lots of reasons for that.....and I have already remedied things so that we will not owe next year....but I still have to write a check in April. (Yes we can afford it, and the wedding too). Think you might remember that my friends SIL passed about a month ago. The SIL was a quilter, and a member of one of the local guilds. Her husband is looking to get rid of her 2 machines, one is a new in box Baby lock embroidery machine....which I am not interested in. I would not be able to use the embroidery function enough....the other machine, which was used is an Elna (Janome) and its a nice sounding machine, valued at several thousand dollars new. Used they are selling for around a thousand....I wonder how low I could get this machine for. Its got a huge work area, which would be superb for my free motion quilting. This is not a time of year in which we are able to spend a ton of money....but this machine might be a really good deal. Dunny- will talk to Dh tommorrow. We are both tired from a day of babysitting.
Happy almost Friday! Ginny
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Post by choney2 on Feb 21, 2019 23:56:53 GMT
Hey Ruth, I was here, just spent a ton of time blabbering!
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Post by choney2 on Feb 21, 2019 23:58:20 GMT
And Ruth, glad you are able to enjoy those biscuits!! Sound like a winning recipe and a nice treat, even if a little high in calories. Sometimes its worth it.
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Post by gramma15 on Feb 22, 2019 2:30:23 GMT
I don't know what I did there but this time it was my fault that my post fly off into cyberspace. Betty, Ginny may say she's a blabbermouth but she has a long way to go to catch up with me. I'm am the biggest blabbermouth anywhere. I keep saying it's because as a child I was extremely shy and never spoke unless spoken to and even then said only what I needed to say. I usually come in here several times a day and blabber. So Betty, do you do any other crafts? As Ginny said, we have a very broad definition of crafting which also includes people coming here and reading our posts about crafting or just saying hello to us. Yes there are many options to learn to quilt. I'm planning on doing some basics and my own version of quilting as soon as I find the time. Ginny, I have to pay every year but at least I don't have to pay for a wedding. it would have been nice to have a nice return that would have paid a big chunk of wedding expenses but it's your last daughter to marry so at least after this one you are done with paying for weddings...well unless when your dgds are grown you decide to help them. Now that sewing machine, well I think you owe it to yourself to buy it. You're retired now and will be doing more quilting and you NEED that machine Oh and I'll have the teapot all warmed and ready to go and some nice freshly baked goodies to eat with the tea. Thank you for your support.
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Post by gramma15 on Feb 22, 2019 2:32:37 GMT
Ginny, yes I'm careful when I eat the biscuits to keep the carbs for the rest of the day lower to accomodate them and also the fat in them. They are worth it. I see so many gluten free recipes that claim to be good, light tender, etc but this is the first that has lived up to the claims. I'm so thankful to have found that recipe.
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Post by snowsaint on Feb 22, 2019 7:12:37 GMT
Ginny, how old is the sewing machine? Why do you want that particular sewing machine? What machines are available near you? Is is possible to get that particular machine repaired where you are?
What sewing machine features do you use most? Least?
What features do you think you want? Can you try out the machine before you make up your mind. You deserve to have a good sewing machine, but if you haven't looked at other machines or priced the model you're talking about, do a little more research.
It's still cold here. Going down to -6 tonight. Even the women at quilting were a little grumpy today!
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Post by phyl on Feb 22, 2019 14:59:52 GMT
good mroning, today is cleaning the basement, playpen areas.
trying to get through the the clinic to make an appointment for another hip injection.right hip is killing me when I first get up and causing me to limp.
Yesterday I worked on getting a flannel baby quilt to take with to next weekend's retreat.I want have it sandwich so I can quilt it there.
have two more I want to get ready.these are the baby quilts from the
charity girls. they have been sitting around here for about 2 years.
ginny call the janome stores and see what they say is the suggested machine would be for a used machine now days. sometimes the price can still be the same as a new machine.
sometimes it does not make a difference in how old the machine is.
how good it is built is the difference.
I talked to colleen at sit and sew tuesday.she works for the quilt shop and know the machines they sell. she said baby lock is good. how ever it is made of all plastic so it is lighter if you want to take it to class.
where the bernia's all are metal metal parts. that makes a difference in the weight of the machines ,has to do with how heavy the motor is.
we have some quilter's who bring the big baby lock computer/emboardiery machines to class.I HAD That EXPENSIVE MACHINE I sure would not be hauling it around.WE ARE TALKING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
I also found out baby lock and brother are made by the same company and are pretty much alike.nita told me that yesterday and then colleen said the same thing.
time to get off my duff and get busy. have a good friday. phyl
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Post by choney2 on Feb 22, 2019 16:40:40 GMT
Wow....thanks to each of you for your expertise and comments on my sewing machine dilemma. Just spoke to Dh- he helped me think out loud. Lots of questions regarding this machine, and yes if I were going to inquire about it further I would absolutely give it a test run. Each of you here gave me lots to think about and I decided I will not inquire further about the machine. First of all, if in the rare case that this machine is a lemon, I have no recourse but to deal with it and cannot go after the seller (because I am very good friends with his brother in law and his wife). Then there is the issue that this machine, while it seems like a great machine and gets very good reviews is a bit too much for me and what I need. I feel confident that I have a good idea what the price is new.....and what they are selling for used. If I were to attempt to get it used, I would offer $500- which is way under its worth- but again, I figure I would have to get is serviced immediately. Finally, my singer was a gift to me from Dd#1. I know its got plastic parts, and when I bought it 9 years ago, thought that singer was still considered a great machine. That being said, it runs well, and I will continue to use it until I cannot any longer; ie repair is out of the question. Again, thanks for all the help....I knew you would each offer your valuable and helpful opinions!!!
BTW, the Babylock, which is new and still in its box, is valued at $5000. Yikes. Out of my range for sure- but not a machine I am interested in.
Getting some cleaning done today.....and some bills. What fun. Oh and some laundry also.
Ruth, hold the tea....but I do hope you are in better spirits today.
Phyl, where is your retreat???Sounds like fun- are you bringing a lot of projects to work on? A flannel baby quilt is perfect for that!
Sue, how much longer does the cold last for you? Are your temps supposed to moderate soon? Ginny
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Post by phyl on Feb 22, 2019 18:00:04 GMT
hi again, ginny that was suppose to read suggested price for an older machine.I think you picked up on it.
about 2 years ago a quilter went home to the lord. she did not belong to our guild. the dh had a bernia, another machine and the cabinet for sale. the bernia was a small machine 11 years old with all the works.
I gave him some information on who to call to get a price. good lord the guy told this guy 600 dollars. that was what the machine cost when it was new.
I told him I can buy a new bernia or eversewn for that price.I love my little eversewn to take to class and work on project at home course I still use my big brother.
something happens to my big brother I would stick with the eversewn band I have the sparrow 30.
eversewn has come out with a embroidery machine for 750 dollars. maybe someday.I sure it won't do big patterns.
ginny do what I did years ago when I bought my pfaff and a few years ago when I bought my brother.
I took different fabrics with me,cotton,shear, denim etc. sewed on them all. that way you can tell how the machine feels and how comfortable it is to you.I went two different dealers.
you will know when it is time for a different machine.
I have an appointment thursday for my hip for a evalation.see where we go from there. phyl
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