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Post by choney2 on Nov 6, 2023 10:51:22 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, playing a musical instrument,reading craft emails, thinking about crafting, organizing crafting supplies, going into craft stores or the craft aisle in a store ,researching a new quilt shop, 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. And one of us is never going to buy a fat quarter bundle again! 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 Nov 6, 2023 10:59:56 GMT
CJ and Ruth, hope you both slept well! I cannot say I slept great but I got enough sleep. Last night Jane and I were texting about the new quilt shop, it’s a bit of a drive for us but we are figuring out how to make that journey work for us.
Nice to see the sun starting to peek out…and yes, my bird feeder is already out for this morning.
See ya later
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Post by cj59 on Nov 6, 2023 23:30:00 GMT
Hello We had another nice day here, and I think tomorrow it will be in the 70s. Ginny - I hope you and Jane can work something out to go to the new quilt shop Thanks for sharing that idea about writing down problems, I think that would work well depending on the situation. Ruth - Hope you are feeling better and the doctor was able to get the medication for you. I went out this morning for some shopping and errands. I bought two new irons, just have a backup - one is the same as my old Black and Decker and the other is a Sunbeam. When I got home I starched/pressed fabric using the new Sunbeam iron and it worked well. I also cut all the pieces for 8 more of those blocks using the Christmas fabric, so I'll work on that as a I can. Several monthly block patterns came out today and they'll be another one, plus the weekly blocks coming out this week, so that will keep me busy. Hope you get to do some crafting too. Take care
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Post by choney2 on Nov 7, 2023 13:30:18 GMT
CJ- glad you were able to get new irons…lots of times I fall back on my ancient black and decker (or is it a sunbeam??) and let the pricey rowenta sit in the closet. Glad your Sunbeam worked well and got you back in business. Congrats on getting the shopping and errands done. Looking at the calendar it’s going to be more challenging getting that done peacefully, as Thanksgiving is not too far off. Bet it felt good to get all the cutting done for more of the pretty Christmas blocks.
Got a few quick errands to run this am…and my crafting will be making spider donuts with DGS.
Ruth, hope you are feeling better. G
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Post by choney2 on Nov 7, 2023 19:14:26 GMT
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Post by choney2 on Nov 7, 2023 19:15:53 GMT
My grandsons wanted spider donuts….so that might be my crafting for the day. A whole lot cheaper to make our own than get them at the Dunkin. Could not locate brown or black frosting for the legs but he did not seem to mind our spiders having red legs….yes the missing donut is in his tummy
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Post by cj59 on Nov 7, 2023 23:10:33 GMT
Hello - We had nice weather here again today. A bit cloudy, but in the low 70s. Ginny - Those donuts are so cute!! I bet your DGS love them I think the red and block look great together with the white eyes. Ruth - I hope you are feeling well and getting to do some crocheting. Please check in when you can I made the monthly block for A Quilting Life's quilt along and also finished the sashing strips. I was glad she gave out those instructions since it will be less to do next month when we get the last block pattern and put the quilt together. www.aquiltinglife.com/quilt-block-of-the-month-november-2023/Here patterns are always easy to follow, and since I limited my fabric choices, it's been fun to participate this year. The Pat Sloan and Moda Blockheads patterns come out tomorrow, and the basket pattern came out yesterday, so I hope to work on a few of them over the next few days. Take care
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Post by Ruth on Nov 8, 2023 0:12:59 GMT
CJ, I especially like the Christmas ornaments that are at the bottom of the page the link leads too. The blocks are very pretty also. I read the comments and see that most people admit they haven't kept up with the blocks for the months.So you are undoubtedly one of the few that actually does keep up and even work ahead.
Ginny, those spider donuts are so cute. I may have to make those with the younger grandchildren whenever I make it back to Indiana.I'll have more of an idea of when that will be after we see the neurosurgeon on the 29th and find out when dh's surgery will be. Anyway I bet your grandchildren had a great time making and eating the spiders.I'm sorry your sleeping hasn't been much better.Lack of good sleep is not fun
I have been crocheting and this pattern I'm working on now is supposed to be fast but it's not really fast to me.
Oh and CJ, I hope the Sunbeam iron continues to work well for you. Sunbeam used to be a very good brand but in the past few years I've found that the quality of their appliances is lacking. I do have a cheapy Sunbeam microwave that's lasted for at least19 years. It hasn't even been used a lot. We bought it for our "fishing shack" back in 2004 and now use it in our "winterquarters" when we want to warm something. In our new microwave that I just started using a month ago the light bulb has already burned out. It's not a sunbeam but I can't remember what brand it is.
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Post by choney2 on Nov 8, 2023 15:14:26 GMT
Good morning, Well the service tech is enroute, hoping I can post before I lose internet while he executes the repair.
Ruth, wow that stinks that the light bulb is already burned out in your new microwave. Think what we are seeing is the planned obsolescence of appliances - stuff that used to last 20 years is now made to only last 5. My first mixer was a sunbeam….and I agree it used to be a great brand. With any luck the new microwave will continue to work even though the bulb has burned out. One thing that you did not mention was how you are feeling. Have you been able to contact your doctor for a prescription. The spider donuts were great to make. The candy eyes, red (or if in stock brown or black) coloring and donuts ($4 for 6 donuts much cheaper than the dunkin!) were all sourced from walmart. I had Oreos here- did not need to buy those. A fun and super easy project.
CJ- thanks for providing the link for the November block from a quilting life. She might have saved the prettiest block for last. It’s great how she gave some directions in the text, providing how few cutting templates were needed and the ease of assembly its really tempting for me to consider making some of those blocks. Thanks for your personal heads up on how easy her patterns are to follow, Lord knows we have had many discussions here regarding how some people simply cannot write clear and concise directions. Sounds like you will be busy in the next few days with new blocks coming out.
Yesterday when I got home I made a batch of WW pumpkin mousse. It’s been years since I made it and I had forgotten how good a recipe it is. It’s easy too… the only ingredients are canned pumpkin, fat free cool whip, instant vanilla pudding and skim milk (which I use powdered milk reconstituted). If my son makes it home for dinner, I think he used to enjoy it also. I had a half a can of pumpkin left from the pumpkin bread I made this weekend. That is about as much pumpkin flavored stuff as I like….I make a pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, which everyone says is great but I myself do not care for.
The cable guy is here…he swears this will fix the problem. I can only hope.
It’s pleasant here, but cool. I got a short walk in this am and did work on some leaves…which will be finally done in about a week, I hope.
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Post by Ruth on Nov 8, 2023 20:30:14 GMT
Ginny, did you say you got the baby quilt done? I thought I saw that somewhere but don't see it today. Anyway if you did then congratulations on completing another project. What's on your agenda for your next project? I sure hope the repairman can get your internet working properly. It's such a pain having to have them come to your home or even to talk to them on the telephone
CJ, yes you are a busy woman with all those quilts going. YOu have a knack for being able to work on more than one at a time. I finally am able to work on an afghan during the day and hat in the evening. It used to be that I would not be paying close attention and would make stitches from one project in the next one.
I still have spasms and minor pain but it's much improved from what it was.Thank you for all your support...both of you.
I'm going to wash dishes soon after this minor aching goes away and then I'll crochet. I have two cakes of Mandala yarn used so far in this afghan and am trying to decide if I need to use another. I'm pretty sure I'd like to make it larger so probably so.
The hat I started is in the round thermal stitch hat. I've seen some before but this woman uses a whole different method and I like it. I didn't get much of it done because I started it late so hopefully I'll finish it this evening and even make another.Besides donation I'm trying to use up some of the yarn that I have only one skein of and that doesn't work well with any of the other colors I have in my stash. I did have to buy yarn last week because Yarnspirations had curated boxes of 18 full skeins of Caron simply soft (which I don't often use) in coordinating colors for only $18. $125 dollars worth of yarn for $18...who could pass that up. They only had one color group left or I would have bought more.
Have a great day
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Post by cj59 on Nov 8, 2023 20:41:46 GMT
Hello - Hope you are both having nice weather today. It's cooler in the 60s here, but sunny - very nice Fall weather. Ruth - You were posting when I was, so I'm glad to hear you are doing alright. That was a good deal on the yarn, glad you were able to get it. It doesn't surprise me about the new microwave having problems already. I've heard, like Ginny, that they aren't making new appliances to last long anymore. I wonder how those businesses think people can afford to keep replacing things every 5-10 years? I have a microwave that I've had for awhile and the light went out several years ago. I still use it and every once in a while they light comes back on again and it's just something that is a happy surprise for me. Ginny - I'm sorry to hear you are having cable problems again! I sure hope they fix that for you today. The pumpkin mousse sounds good. I like pumpkin pie and used to always make one using Libby's Pumpkin Pie Mix (you just add eggs and evaporated milk). This is what my mother always used, so it's a happy memory for me. I haven't made it for a few years since it's just me eating it and also I tend to like a LOT of cool whip on mine I do recommend the patterns for A Quilting Life, so hopefully you can download them while they are free, and try some out when you can. I'm attaching a picture of this month's block, next month is the last block with the final layout. I had a nice surprise this morning. The Moda Blockheads block for this week - the last one for the first group - is another Foundation Paper Piecing, so I won't be doing it. Instead I remade one of the first block (the floral one) from a 6 inch to a 12 inch. Now I have 9 blocks for each of my colorways (see pictures below). Next week they will give out a layout, so I'll wait to see what it is, but I've already seen other pretty 9 block layouts, so I should be able to pick a layout for these three quilts. I don't think I'll continue these into next year when part two starts. modafabrics.com/inspiration-resources/bh5-block-9-sarah-thomasI also made the Pat Sloan block, and it looks easy, but you really have to be careful with the flip and stitch fabric positions. But I'm happy with how my two came out. Next week is the last block, so then those will ready to put together. www.ilovetomakequilts.com/2023/11/dutchess-featherweight-update-and-blockwed.htmlTake care I think I'm going to remake the first block below and put a purple strip of fabric in the middle between the two blue strips, to have purple in each block: I tried to fussy cut some of the gnomes and things like pumpkins, trucks, apple baskets, in the center pieces:
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Post by choney2 on Nov 8, 2023 23:34:00 GMT
CJ- pretty pictures!!! Hey are you giving me a heads up that the quilting life patterns will not be free anymore? Guess I will have to download those I like - tomorrow or Friday. Boy sure looks like you were productive, thanks for sharing the pictures of your work.
Ruth, sounds like you are improving, which I am very thankful to hear. That is some awesome deal you got on yarn, and I am glad you were able to take advantage of that.
No crafting today…not yet. Think it’s time to embroider.
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Post by cj59 on Nov 9, 2023 18:39:08 GMT
Hello - Hope you are both doing well today and having nice weather. It's up into the 70s here and sunny. Ruth - I saw that you posted in the other thread yesterday - I'm so happy that you were able to get the medication and that it's already helping you. I was really happy with that Christmas block too and look forward to making more blocks. Ginny - Hope you were able to do some embroidery. I checked at the "A Quilting Life" blog just to make sure and she does say at the end of the year, the free patterns are removed and placed together into a PDF that you have to buy. This morning I was able to cut all the pieces for this month's basket block quilt along (I'm making 2). These take a lot of concentration since many cuts are at the 7/8ths instead of a full or half inch. Also a lot of the pieces are bisected. I'll be glad to get the last two done next month. I am happy with all my basket blocks though. I'm also clearing out some areas in the bottom of several china cabinets. I thought I'd done a good clear out several years ago, but I still found a lot of light bulbs and extension cords, almost to the point that it's a hoarder problem Hope you get to do some crafting today too and that you have a good day
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Post by Ruth on Nov 9, 2023 23:50:05 GMT
CJ, you are a woman after my own heart. I need LOTS of cool whip on my pumpkin pie also. The more the better! Also I wish I could take some of the light bulbs off your hands. They must be the incandescent ones and that's what we've been using to keep out pipes from freezing and we don't know what we'll do when the ones we're using now burn out because we have no more and of course they don't sell them anymore. And, my goodness, you've been really busy. On those pictures you posted my favorite ones are the green at the top and the two bottom ones. I still have to go and check out those links.
Ginny, I hope you can get to your embroidery. Sounds like you must have had a busy day too.
Dh and I made some creative soup and it's on simmering now.I did some crocheting before that and am about to start crocheting again.Right now though I'm going to those link.
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Post by choney2 on Nov 10, 2023 12:21:42 GMT
Ruth, were you able to get some medication to help you get over the spasms? Just glad to hear that you seem to be doing better and that you and Dh made some creative soup. Hope that it tasted great and made the house smell incredible. Are you still working on the thermal stitch hat? The Yarninspirations box, was that something you ordered online, guess I am wondering if that awesome box of yarn is in your hands so that you can create with it!
CJ, thanks for the heads up on the creative life PDF’s. Guess my next step is to download them so I have them for when I want to find a nice star pattern. Think I would go wonky with a 7/8th inch cut….glad you are able to handle it, but not me!! Your blocks are always so pretty, so I am sure you are able to handle it well. Didn’t you know that those light bulbs and extension cords multiply in the cabinet while you sleep?😆 think we all have areas that are like that= places that need to be cleared out and stuff eliminated. Good luck in your pursuit of emptying out the cabinet!!
Yesterday I worked and then had to return the cable boxes to the cable company, which is, a bit of a ride. Also went on a hunt to find the small can of crushed pineapple for a pineapple coconut pie that I have been requested to make for thanksgiving. I did locate it…not sure why finding a small can of canned pineapple is such a big deal No babysitting or work today. I do hope to get some quilting in this am.
Hope that both of you are able to get some crafting in!
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