|
Post by choney2 on Nov 28, 2022 11:12:23 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!!
|
|
|
Post by choney2 on Nov 28, 2022 11:22:24 GMT
I must say it feels a bit off to be home on a Monday morning and not bing in a rush to get out of the house. Think I am going to charge my portable craft light, I actually picked it up for reading in bed and realized that it might be useful when I am doing embroidery. It worked out really well
Ruth, I had to laugh at your comment last week musing where you would put more yarn as your craft cave is full.
CJ , we missed you yesterday, you used to spend Sunday searching the blogs, sis you find anything interesting- a new project to take on?
Sue and Phyl, hope you are both well and able to quilt, crochet or whatever form of crafting you choose to take on.
Have a great day. Ginny
|
|
|
Post by gramma15 on Nov 28, 2022 18:00:53 GMT
Good morning Ginny and CJ and all the others that my stop in now and then and also those that just read here
Ginny, it's great that you get to start the week without having do all that's involved in getting ready to go out. I hope the rest of your day is just as pleasant.I hope too that all that are ill in your family recover fast. Yes it's kind of ridiculous that I have all this yarn. I can't crochet fast enough to use a lot of it up and I have to admit that I ordered a little more yesterday. I won't even go into detail on all the shelving etc that I have in that room to hold all my yarn. I also have some in the living room in a space that people can't easily see if they come into my house. And of course some in the bedroom. I did try to order some from Premier today. They're having a great sale and have a yarn in the exact colors I want but it turned out that the shipping added over $3 for EACH cake!!Over $12 for shipping of 4 little cakes of their Sweet Roll yarn. So I didn't order. Herrschners has it on sale too and free shipping but don't have the color I want.
Regarding your craft light...Years ago I bought a light that goes around your neck designed for reading books in bed so that you wouldn't disturb your spouse. I had always intended to send it to my ds but never did and just realized the other day that it would be great for me to use in crocheting so that I can see the darks yarns or if I'm making small stitches, to see them better. I haven't used it yet but was wishing I had it down in the "winter quarters" yesterday where I was making Christmas trees with a 3mm hook.
We're supposed to get 4 inches of snow today but it's snowing very lightly so I doubt it will end up being that much
CJ, missed you. I hope you're doing well and were enjoying your quilting
|
|
|
Post by cj59 on Nov 28, 2022 20:23:19 GMT
Hello Everyone - Hope you are all doing well today and having nice weather We had rain yesterday, but today it's partly cloudy/sunny and in the 50s. Ginny - I hope you were able to get another ornament made and that you can find a new portable light. Ruth - Sorry you couldn't order any of that yard, shipping is ridiculous these days. I just ordered one clothes item today and the shipping was $12 for just regular delivery! I hope you don't get much snow. Phyl and Sue - Hope you are getting to do some crafting. I didn't feel well yesterday (what I call a sick-headache), so I spent much of the afternoon and early evening lying down. I feel alright today. I'm wondering if it was weather related. I did finish both of the Christmas quilt tops and I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. I'll try to show some pictures this week. I would like to make one more Christmas quilt in December, just not sure what yet. I have some different prints I'd like to use so I'll have to look for a pattern for those. I'm kind of surprised at how little Christmas fabric I have. I guess I used it up over the last few years. This morning I sewed together all those 2 inch x 4.5 inch strips I have into sets of 2. Now I just need to trim them to 3.5 inches and press them open. I have 180 sets!!! I'm trying to figure out a layout or if I can use them all in one quilt top or maybe I need to make them into two quilt tops. After I finish that I'd like to go through what is left of my scraps and figure out what projects to use them for or use just make sure they are stored in a good way. Take care everyone!
|
|
|
Post by choney2 on Nov 28, 2022 21:42:11 GMT
Good afternoon!
CJ, well you sounds like you did a lot of work sewing together all those 2“ x 4 1/2“ strips into sets of two now to trim them down and press them open again more work 180 is a lot! Are they coordinating colors or are you just going scrappy with this look? I know you’re not a big fan of scrappy, but maybe with the right fabric it will work. Yeah I think it’s important to have a good way to use up scraps. It just occurred to me that I do have your email and that scrap buster challenge quilting site just sent me another email this morning so I can forward that to you. I don’t know if that’ll help you use up your scraps but she did have some cute ideas. It seems as though she sends out emails fairly frequently. I’m sorry to hear that you weren’t feeling well yesterday, I know there’s been a weather system that has been coming through heading up from the south and I wonder with the change in air pressure if that was responsible for your headache. I hope that you’re feeling better.
Ruth, OK so you didn’t need more yarn! But it sounds like you got some decent deals or at least got to look at some decent deals. That absolutely is absurd that someone would charge three dollars asking to ship yarn. Why would you do that one other companies are offering free shipping or $1.99 shipping for an entire order. Depending on what I’m doing, I do use that light that wraps around your neck. It’s really helpful reading in bed, and what I like about it is that as you all know sometimes I have trouble falling asleep so having something that wraps around my neck allows me to really read myself down till I’m almost asleep, and then I don’t even need to reach for the light switch I can just turn that little lamp off. I found it it’s a little less effective for my hand stitching.
Last night I got the white patch stitched onto the cat body along with the whiskers in the eyes and nose. Today I hit a huge snag trying to blanket stitch on the black tail onto a black body. I found that I really wasn’t able to see as well and started blaming it on everything I could possibly think of. I brought my ott light out I put my lamp that goes around my neck on and found it nothing really helped. So I went online to see about a magnifying crafting lamp, and found that someone made the comment about working with black thread on black fabric and how that’s a very challenging thing to do. Well that is exactly what I was having trouble with so I guess I’m not the only one. I think I might still investigate a magnifying lamp with a light, I’m not getting younger and I also know that I have a very small cataract. So my vision isn’t going to improve until I get the cataract repaired in about 10 years. Sounds like neither one of you have any experience with a light like that. And I realize that what I was doing today with a black thread on a black fabric was probably a worst case scenario I did not get all that far getting the tail on the ornament, most of it was because of the black on black problem. I think it will be easier when I’m attaching the back to the front even though that too will be black on black I’ll be dealing with the outer edge of the fabric.
|
|
|
Post by gramma15 on Nov 29, 2022 5:37:51 GMT
CJ,I'm sorry to hear you were not feeling well yesterday.I agree with Ginny that the weather system can certainly cause headaches and other issues.You sure got a lot done today. I'm looking forward to seeing the Christmas quilts when you feel up to posting those.
Ginny, yes the total cost for shipping was over $12 for just 4 rolls. I thinkI said that already though.I should have scrolled down to check.I keep forgetting we can do that until we go to a second page. Many people in the crochet groups including me complain about not being able to work with dark colors. I never use black unless I really have to which is rare. Navy,dark green,dark brown etc are almost as bad.It sounds like my around the neck light is not going to help with that. I'm sure that it's the same working with dark fabric.I need one of those lighted magnifiers too. I might look on Amazon since I just got a $100 gift card for applying for their credit card. you don't even have to use the card. They give you the $100 just for applying and they give it to you right then. I've often thought about an Ott light. They sell lighted crochet hooks but many people say they are pretty worthless and sometimes make the situation even worse.
Excuse the typos or what appear to be typos. On my keyboard some of the letters stick and sometimes the spacebar doesn't work. And then the computer it'self just moves the cursor back and I end up typing in a word above where I'm working
|
|
|
Post by choney2 on Nov 29, 2022 12:29:20 GMT
Good morning, Ruth, I have a keyboard which sticks sometimes, and I found so insanely frustrating that I chose to order another one. It seemed as though the one key I really wanted was the one that was sticking, and I am super uncomfortable using the on screen keyboard. Do not know how my kids manage to use the on screen keyboard with such speed. I do really well with this separate keyboard.
The Ott light is good, not great, but it does help. I read mixed reviews about the lit magnifiers and amazon has several. Got one other friend who quilts (and is older than I am, she has already had cataract surgery etc….). Just want to see what helps. This ornament I am making is a black cat, (with a white chest). The white chest was easy….the black tail attach was the issue. I will keep going and hope to finish the ornament today.
Because DGS #2 still has a sniffle (the last symptom of the horrible illness that ran through his house, attacking adults and kids) I am not at his house today. Do not think that DD#1 was too happy when I sort of turned down babysitting. Even the adults were sick for a few days, and really sick. I figure if DGS still has a sniffle he is still contagious. DD#2 is dropping off DGS#3 this am, she is putting in a half day and I will be home so its an easy day. Had DGS#2 not had the sniffle, I would have babysat the two little boys together.
Better get my day started. Ginny
|
|
|
Post by cj59 on Nov 29, 2022 20:50:46 GMT
Hello Everyone Ginny - Hope your day has gone well and I hope that all your family gets better soon. Ruth - Sorry to hear about your keyboard problems. I finished trimming the scrap pieces to 3.5 inches yesterday evening, and now I need to press them open and sort them out a bit. I think I have a lot of blue fabrics in the sets, so I'll put them all in one pile so I can kind of spread them out when I piece these sets together. I guess it will end up looking O.K. I hope to get back to it tomorrow. I went to the cemetery today with my DB and DSIL and we put out flowers for the family for Christmas. It was nice to get to do that and I really appreciate that my DB picks me up to go with them. It's hard to believe how long some of them have been gone. I miss them and I miss my DB who passed away last year Hope you are all getting to do some crafting today. Take care
|
|
|
Post by choney2 on Nov 29, 2022 21:45:05 GMT
CJ- its a lovely tradition that you have with your DB and DSIL to put flowers out who have gone before you. Time sure does pass quickly and sometimes its hard to think about all the events and family goings on that have taken place since a loved one is gone. And of course its even more poignant missing your DB, I remember how sudden his passing was and the challenge you had because he did not live close by. Hope that you and your brother and his wife were a comfort to each other as you remembered your missing loved ones. Take your time going through the scrap pieces, I only say that because you might see them in a different way,other fabric combinations that you were not thinking of.
Babysat DGS#3 today for a few hours, who was a bit irritable. We figure he must be getting another tooth. Thankfully it was only a few hours. I had a horrible time falling asleep last night, so I slept late this morning. Hope that tonight is a better night. I did cut some holly branches and hope to make a spray to put on Dh’s grave from holly and some evergreens we have here. Hope to stop back later on to see if Ruth stops in G
|
|
|
Post by gramma15 on Nov 29, 2022 22:02:02 GMT
CJ, I'm glad to hear that your db picked you up so that you could go with them to the cemetary to honor your family members.Years ago we used to go every year to a town in Pa where my baby brother and grandparents were buried but have't done that in years. I do think of them all very often as I'm sure you do with your family members.
Ginny, It was a very good idea to decline babysitting. Last thing you need is to get whatever they hadl. I hope you were able to get enough light to finish that ornament.Sorry the little fellow was irritable.Teething is not fun for the little ones.
I spent hours thismorning searching for my wallet which I was sure was in the living room.I finally gave up and came down to the bedroom (aka winter quarters) and it was in here.I'm really relieved because now I won't have to go get a new driver's license and can spend the rest of the day crocheting or whatever I want to do rather than more searching.
|
|
|
Post by cj59 on Nov 30, 2022 18:49:46 GMT
Hello Everyone - Hope you are all doing well and having nice weather. It's rainy and in the 50s here today, the wind later is supposed to bring in cold weather for tomorrow. Thanks for your kind comments about my family members that are gone, I know we all have those that we think about and miss I'm thankful I have my DB and DSIL to take me to the cemetery because I'm afraid to go there myself since located in an unsafe area. It was a nice place over 40 years ago when my family bought plots, but sadly crime is now very common there. Ginny - Hope the family is starting to feel better. A spray for your DH's grave sounds lovely. Ruth - I'm glad you found your wallet, and hope you enjoyed the rest of the day crocheting. I'm reading a series of books about a family whose grandmother crocheted Christmas ornaments for many years. She's passed away now but every Christmas the family sets up a large tree and all the family members, as well and friends, pick ornaments that mean something to them and hang them on the tree. The ornaments are in all kinds of shapes and designs. I know it's fiction but I would love to see that tree I got all the small strip pieces pressed today and sorted into piles of colors. I think when I star sewing the rows, I will just pick one from each group and make rows. I will have to add blues and reds into the same row since those are what I have the most of. Then I went in my storage tote where I'd been saving scraps and went through it just to get an idea what was in there. I have my 2.5 inch strips, my 5 inch squares (along with a tumbler quilt project), my bag of selvedges which I hope to make into quilt blocks, and some white and cream scrap fabrics. But to my dismay LOL, I found several ziplock bags with more scraps and a bunch of bonus half square triangles that I'd saved!! So I'm going to go through and make some blocks or small quilt pieces and get done with those. That will go on my December project list. I'm just determined to have all the scraps that are left organized by the end of the year. Take care everyone!
|
|
|
Post by choney2 on Nov 30, 2022 23:06:36 GMT
CJ- well my heart breaks for you, you had thought you were done with scraps, or had them under control, and found more. Hopefully this is the end of your scraps. Look at it this way, all those scraps represent really pretty quilts that you have made over the years. Handling them must bring back good memories of past projects.Its a great idea fo include some blue and red strip pieces in each row. I mentioned the other day how I had a favorite antique quilt, the one common factor to each block was the use of small corner squares of bright orange fabric which united the scrappy look.I hope that the blue and red fabrics work that way for you. Would you mind providing the title of the series of books you are reading? I used to enjoy the Jennifer Chiavarini quilting novels, but got turned off by her toward the end of the series because she started making political references. If I am going to read a novel, I usually am looking for escape, and these books you have read sound great.
Oddly enough I did go on the library’s web site today and ordered two books. One was the Janette Oke book, When Calls the Heart. Just curious what the book was that started a very nice television series.
Ruth, so glad you located your wallet! What a pain that would have been to have to get a new license and IDs. Where you able to get some crocheting time in?
Did not get any crafting done yet, but hope to get back to the ornament shortly. My weather turned cold and windy along with some rain. There is a chance of snow showers tomorrow. Dd called me, and she found out that the awful illness that she and her family had was the flu, DGS tested positive for it. Thankfully I got my flu shot a month ago, and my limited research shows that this years flu shot is reasonably effective against the strains that are being seen in patients. I will be back to babysitting little ones next week. This flu was awful, my daughters family was very sick for a week….just a gentle warning if you can, get a flu shot. Sorry, I just do not want to see anyone here getting the flu, especially when a vaccine is very safe and well tolerated by most people
Ginny
|
|
|
Post by cj59 on Dec 1, 2022 0:25:53 GMT
Ginny - Hope your weather isn't too bad tomorrow. I'm glad your family is starting to get better and hopefully you won't get sick since you have the flu shot. I'm really fighting with myself not to throw out those scraps I found I did already throw out some of them that were in weird shapes. There are a few others that I really just don't care for, so I'll have to see if I want to work with them or not. The series I'm reading is about a large family and the books are light romances and more strongly about the family members. This author is new to me, and I'm enjoying reading about this large family. I like that the characters are a bit older than in most romance books - they have been in their 30s and 40s. lizisaacson.com/books/shilohridgeranch/Have a good evening
|
|
|
Post by cj59 on Dec 1, 2022 0:30:37 GMT
|
|
|
Post by gramma15 on Dec 1, 2022 2:02:09 GMT
Yes looking in bins,etc can reveal a lot of surprises but when they are very small scraps of fabric that you don't even care for it's not a great surprise. Being that you are very creative and talented I'm sure that you will create something very nice with the ones you like. And thank you for posting the pictures.I wish I could yell because I'd yell real loud how much I love that Christmas quilt. I especially like the little Christmas trees.I like the other also but I think the Christmas one is my favorite so far. That church fabric on the other one is very similar to a fabric I have but not the same color.
Well Ginny,while I'm out tomorrow I may have to think about getting a flu shot. I'm surprised it took them this long to give your family the results of the test. I know they have a rapid test they use in the ER and didn't know they had one that took longer
I've read some of Jennifer Chiavarrini's books but maybe only two.I must not have read the ones with political references but I've read the books of other authors who do that same thing and one especially ,if she didn't have such a good story line, I wouldn't read hers again.
Well it's the last day of Nov and I didn't finish all the crochet projects I had on my list of goals so will have to carry them over to my Dec list. I keep getting off track and starting new ones instead of finishing the old
|
|