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Post by choney2 on Dec 14, 2020 11:19:55 GMT
Good morning and Happy Monday!
All crafters are welcome here as we discuss crafting, life and our weight loss journey. Crafting includes actual hands on crafting, such as crochetting, knitting, sewing, quilting, needlepoint, painting, jewelry making, etc.....plus reading craft catalogs, craft blogs, watching craft you tubes or other crafting videos, chatting here about crafting,chatting with another person about crafting, reading craft emails, thinking about crafting, organizing crafting supplies, going into craft stores or the craft aisle in a store , attending craft fairs,or any other activity that inspires or directs your mind toward a crafting activity- even visiting us here to join in our posts!! There are plenty of days in which the closest we get to crafting is a visit here, so even if you have no time to craft, we would love to hear from you.
We welcome newcomers to our friendly discussion! So glad you are here!! Please feel free to stop in and say hello!!
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Post by choney2 on Dec 14, 2020 12:03:07 GMT
Hey Ruth, Yes high winds can be a problem with fireplaces and wood burners....(I had trouble with downdraft the other day when I built a fire in the wood burner). Its such a nice cozy heat....albeit a lot of work. You never mention wood (assume you are burning wood, but it could also be pellets). If so- does Dh cut wood....or do you have it delivered? A lot of work, for sure, but such a comforting way to heat a home. My Dd#1 just had a wood burner fireplace insert installed in her home....she has always wanted one. It took some convincing her Dh to spend the money on one, but now that they have it, they love it. Dd grew up with one....so she knew how much she would love it. Congrats on getting to the end of the last pocket shawl. Just curious, what would you crochet “for fun”?. Sounds like you will have some time to do just that soon.....at least a few weeks. The shawls you mentioned just finishing, are they staying close to home to go to Dd and her family?
The yarn I am using is Lionbrand Basic. So far, nice to work with- similar weight and feel as POL. Yes, I am making a shrug for me- super easy pattern I got from Lionbrand’s web site. Could have used it last night, so I put my robe on instead. As far as Dd#2’s baby- well Dd#2 has always been the quilt maker for Dd#1 children...and I would make an afghan. I asked Dd#2 if she wanted a quilt or afghan- she said she would not make either and leave that judgment to me. As my tendonitis can be a factor (and I just finished that scarf), I think I will make a quilt for the little one. Its remote, but perhaps dd#1 (who does crochet but has 4 kids and might not have time) might want to crochet. So the short answer is I will probably make a quilt and will do so when I find out if its a boy or girl.
CJ- I am super sure you are well prepared....looks like we have some interesting weather coming our way this week.
Sue, miss seeing you here!!!
Phyl, hope you are feeling well and able to get to some quilting.
I misplaced my Christmas cards...hope I can find them today as I would like to start writing them out.
Better get to do something productive this am.
Ginny
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Post by phyl on Dec 14, 2020 12:50:43 GMT
GOOD MORNING, I have pt this am, should be last one.all depends on what Zack says,he could extend it or let me decide.
Thursday we had the basement carpet cleaned looks great. we have the furniture arranged so we can put up the tree. I still have some small things to put back into my sewing room.why is it easier to tear things apart then to put back.also seems like putting back I much more stuff then tearing apart.lol
yesterday Jeana came over and we are hooked up to zoom,now if I can remember what I was told on how to do things.Nancy tried Saturday and we could not get it to work.
Jeana also showed me how to send pictures to friends . doing something worng could not get them to send.this tablet is a little different then my old one.
Samsung got rid of my favorite guy at Best Buy.sounds like they cut a lot of employees out.Ryan was not old ,hews the most popular guy to help customers. they had him only working weekends. can't do that when you have a family.they say because of the virus.sometimes I wonder if some companies are using the virus as a excuse,maybe not.
have not done any quilting, just been reading.
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Post by cj59 on Dec 14, 2020 21:53:50 GMT
Hello Crafters  Hope you are all doing well today and getting to do some crafting, or something enjoyable. We had a lot of rain here earlier today but it cleared out and we had a bit of sunshine at the end of the day. We might get some snow on Wednesday, but it looks like most of it will go north and west of here. That's fine with me. I worked a bit on that quilt yesterday but had one row (of 3) that is not straight so I need to rip it out and sew it again. I decided to go in a different direction with this and I'm not using the 9 patch blocks I had made. I'll use them for something different. The focus fabric in this quilt is carousel horses and the other fabrics I'm using are pink and white, so it will be a cute little girl's quilt. Take care everyone. |
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Post by Ruth on Dec 15, 2020 0:03:19 GMT
We have another fire in the woodstoves today so I'm making bread. I got the recipe online and it has a really great reviews so hopefully mine will turn out to be as good as theirs. It did take me more flour to get it so that it was not sticky. I love kneading bread dough but this time I was going to use my dough hook on my Kitchen aid but can't find the dough hook. The dough is rising now sitting beside the woodstove.I hope it turns out because I don't want to have to go to the store for a loaf of bread.
Ginny, if I were as talented as you and CJ are at making quilts I'd make a quilt too instead of crocheting...well maybe. Crocheting I can carry around but sewing not so much. It's great that your dd gave you the choice and maybe her sister will surprise her and crochet one for her.
CJ, sorry you hit a snag in making the quilt and have to do a line over. I'm sure the end result will be as beautiful as all your other quilts that I've seen. Carousel horses are so pretty and it sounds like that quilt will be outstanding.
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Post by phyl on Dec 15, 2020 17:15:57 GMT
hi crafters, I have been dismissed from pt. ZACK said to see how the pt exercise and Thursday's injection along with other exercising goes. at the end of JANUARY to let him know,this will Determine if I need to go back to pt or move on to something else.
I had Don get some boxes down from up above the pantry shelf. when we added onto the kitchen he used every space possible. this is where we keep the upstairs decorations.
I needed some stuff from the downstairs closet. guess what ? there is stuff we moved in front of the closet door for the carpet cleaning.to heavy for me to move. he is outside for a bike ride.
the day is going to fast for me to get done what I want to get done.
see ya later PHYL
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Post by choney2 on Dec 15, 2020 17:39:29 GMT
Hey Phyl- good to see you here!! Do you want the PT extended? Is it helping you much??? Bet that feels nice to have the carpet cleaned... I know the room smells so much sweeter with a freshly cleaned carpet. Zoom is not that tough. Open the zoom app and then click on the link for the zoom meeting....(you usually get an invitation of sorts, click on the link in the invitation.). Just make sure that your camera and microphone are turned on (there is a button on the screen to do that) and you should be fine. My bible study group met last night using Zoom.... it works well enough
CJ- that stinks that you have to rip some of that row out so that it is straight. The fabrics sound adorable, and as you said, perfect for a young girl.
Ruth, you could do this....really you could. As you have the patience to crochet, you could quilt, but it might not be something that interests you. Sorry the dough hook got misplaced. Funny I am making bread to go with dinner tonight (Dd#2 and DSIL#2 are coming over for dinner. Hope that your bread turns out perfectly. Nothing better than the smell of baking bread. Are you making a gluten free bread?
Went to the store this am in anticipation of the mad house that it will be tomorrow with a foot of snow predicted. Glad I got that over with. Will be cooking this afternoon and perhaps will iron the fabric for the baby quilt.
Ginny
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Post by gramma15 on Dec 15, 2020 23:31:54 GMT
Good evening all. I hope you all had a good day
Ginny, you're probably having dinner right now. Do you make the bread in a bread machine or do you do the kneading, mixing, and baking the old fashioned way like I do. My bread came out with the crust too hard. Some of it has softened since last evening . It was edible but was a chore to chew last night. I used to have a bread machine but never used it so gave it to my dd. Her husband loved making bread in it. No my dh doesn't cut wood. He'd never be able to now. But there aren't many trees around here so not much opportunity for cutting wood yourself anyway. We bought the wood we have now a long time ago from a man that sold by the pickup truck bedfull instead of by the cord. Well he delivered us a LOT of wood for the price so we had him bring another truckful and since we don't have fires all that often it's lasted. We do want to burn most of what we have left...which is still a lot....this winter to get it used up before termites get it.
Phyl, I bet it feels good to have the carpets all newly cleaned.
CJ, I hope you're either enjoying some quilting or a favorite tv show or book
I think I'm finally done with the rows on this long scarf. Now to do the edging and make and sew on pockets. I still have to make pockets for one other pocket shawl then sew them on. 10 more days but I want to get all that done in the next couple days. I want to finish the pockets this evening and sew them on tomorrow. I also need to write letters to a friend and my grandchildren and well I guess I should do some cards.
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Post by choney2 on Dec 16, 2020 3:44:06 GMT
Close to right Ruth- we ate around 5:30 and I guess when you were posting we were visiting with Dd and DSIL. Yes, I am lazy and use the bread machine for the kneading...and then because I had the oven going for the rest of dinner, I transferred the dough to a traditional loaf pan- let it rise and and baked it in the oven. I used to make bread completely by hand- did so for the first years I was married. The homemade bread is amazing but a lot of work to do all the time. Speaking of a lot of work, so is burning wood. Work to cut the wood, work to bring it in and work to empty the ashes...but the heat is so steady and comforting and the smell is amazing. Like you, I have wood that has been here a few years, and should be burned. I will be bringing in some wood tomorrow during the day in anticipation of tomorrow nights storm. So good to hear that you are done with the rows on the long scarf. Sounds like you are making good progress and will have everything done in time for Christmas.
I finally located my Christmas cards and will be busy tomorrow trying to get them written. With the way this year has been, I doubt I will be writing many.
Good day, but I am a bit tired.
Ginny
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Post by cj59 on Dec 16, 2020 3:56:30 GMT
Hello Everyone Ruth - I'm glad you bread turned out alright. A lot of times the crust on my homemade bread is hard to chew, but the center still tastes good  I've trimmed off the crusts and then toasted the center part so it's a bit crunchy but still soft. I like kneading bread but I'm pretty lazy so I've found recipes that need less kneading time like this one (my favorite): www.mymundaneandmiraculouslife.com/foodie-fridays-easy-peesy-french-bread/And I've also made many of the no-knead bread recipes - there are a lot of them on the internet if you search that out. Ginny - Hope you can get your cards done tomorrow and that you don't get too much snow. It looks like it's going to be more rain than snow here for me. Phyl - I'm glad you've finished your PT for now, hope it has helped you. I finished ripping out the seam on that carousel quilt and pinned it back so it's ready to sew together again. I'd like to get this top done this week. I also spent some time on the hand quilting project and I'm almost finished. I think I'll only need about 6 more threaded needles to finish stitching it. Then I'll need to decide if I want to soak it to remove the pre-printed lines before I bind it or bind it first. I'm thinking I should probably bind it first but I'll look at the directions that came with the fabric. Take care. |
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Post by gramma15 on Dec 16, 2020 19:46:23 GMT
Ginny, I hope you're not getting too much snow. They're talking about the storm on tv a lot this morning. If you do have a bad storm I hope you still will have power so you can do the things you want to do. There's sure nothing wrong with using a bread machine. If I had kept mine I would use it for the mixing and risinng part and do what you did in baking it in the oven.
CJ, thank you for that link to the bread. That's what I made was french bread. This recipe that you provided is much easier so I may do that next time. Yes the inside of my bread was perfect except for the flavor. It seemed pretty bland so dh suggested just what the person that provided this recipe said which is to add garlic powder.I'm glad to hear that you were able to get the carousel quilt taken apart and pinned back together ready for resewing and also the hand quilting amost done. My dh thinks that I feel that ready and following directions is a novel idea to me. He always mentions that people say that men don't follow directions but in our home it's me that doesn't like reading them.Lately I've been reading directions a lot more.
I think that I have yet another pocket shawl that still needs pockets. I have to check that and see. I did get the letters to my friend and grandchildren written so just have to get them mailed. I don't know about Christmas cards. I don't receive nor mail many at all anymore but there are still two people that I worked with in Buffalo that I hear from each year so I want to keep in touch with them and also a third one that started writing to me after a mutal friend passed away.
Ok I'm going to decide what I need to get done the rest of today. See you all later
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Post by choney2 on Dec 16, 2020 21:45:03 GMT
CJ- thanks for the recipe for italian bread!!! I have long wanted a good recipe that was not an insane amount of work and this one sounds good. As I figure I am making lasagna in the next few days perhaps I will give that a try. Good for you getting done ripping out the seam that was problematic....its just a lot of work and you have to be so careful not to make a mess or damage your work while ripping. Good news that you are getting rain- yes I saw that this storm kind of goes around your region. I can take pictures of all the snow if you really need to see what a foot of snow looks like!!! Ha ha ha. I am curious to know what your directions are for the quilt- think it makes sense to bind it first and then wash.
Ruth, well this has to be close to the end of the pocket shawls needing pockets!! Hope so....its a nice feeling of accomplishment getting the cards and letters written. A nice and personal touch. Think this might be a good year to send cards....many are hurting from just what a challenging year this has been- and an encouraging card might brighten spirits. Be careful when adding garlic powder to a bread recipe. (Ok to sprinkle on the top) It can interfere with yeast action in making the bread rise. I read that somewhere.
So this am, at 7 I got a text from Dd#1 that DGD #2 HAD to see me immediately. Quickly I got my shower in...and they were here by 7:45. No special reason, she just wanted to see me. Such a sweet little girl. Then I did get some cards written (they were here for almost 3 hours) and got a walk in....got a zoom meeting with the library tonight- its a musical presentation. Just something different to view. So I will load the dishes and get ready for that- got a little kitchen cleanup to do.
We are still predicted to get over a foot of snow. Hope we keep our power.
G
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Post by cj59 on Dec 16, 2020 22:23:04 GMT
Just a tip on that bread recipe - the longer you knead and the longer you can let it proof/raise, the better it will be. And if you have the time one day to read the comments of people who have made it it's worth it. I picked up a lot of tips from them. Ruth - Hope you can get your letters mailed soon. Ginny - Hope you don't get too much snow. It has been mostly sleet and rain here. That was so sweet that your DGD just had to see you I got the row sewn back on that quilt and was ready to work on the side borders when I got a phone call - almost an hour later when it ended I didn't feel like sewing so I put everything away. Maybe I can get to that tomorrow. Take care everyone |
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Post by choney2 on Dec 16, 2020 23:57:25 GMT
Hey CJ!! Tomorrow is another day- and I hope that the phone conversation was a pleasant one. When it’s time to finish that quilt you will do so! Thanks for the heads up on the Italian bread recipe. I will check it out tomorrow. Do you have a good book or good show to watch this evening??
So they are saying I am supposed to get 20 inches of snow! Let’s see what happens....
Right now I am in a zoom presentation on music- it’s offered by the library. I have heard this speaker before- good enough speaker, wish he had changed his presentation a bit more. But simply amazing what we now do to replace programs we would attend in person.
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Post by gramma15 on Dec 17, 2020 4:11:48 GMT
CJ, I hope,too, that it was a pleasant phone call with someone you like to talk to. I thought maybe my crust was hard because I let it rise too long but I guess not. I've made so much bread over the years that I have a good feel for kneading time but maybe I'll try longer and see if there's a difference.
Ginny, how great that is to have your little grandaughter wanting to see you immediately. As you've said in the past, you really have a bond with her. I hope you don't get all that snow. 20 inches is a lot and where you are it's usually wet and heavy snow. Here it's often fairly dry so can be moved more easily. No I don't have cards done just the letters. I might not get to cards...well actually if I don't get to them tonight I might as well not do them at all because I probably won't get to the mailbox to mail them in time. Since I'm stopping at the mailbox tomorrow while going out to take care of an errand I probably won't be back to it till after Christmas.
I was happy to find that that third pocket shawl that I thought might need pockets already has pockets. I forgot that I did that one when I made it. so two more to sew pockets on then no more shawls till after Christmas or maybe I'll wait until after the new year starts and work on the relaxing things which will be some nice patterns for hats and earwarmers that I found recently and want to make
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I've trimmed off the crusts and then toasted the center part so it's a bit crunchy but still soft. I like kneading bread but I'm pretty lazy so I've found recipes that need less kneading time like this one (my favorite):