Whirlwind Week!

It’s been one of those roller coaster weeks we all have from time to time. The ups and downs of emotions that can overwhelm even the strongest willed.

But, it is what it is.

We move forward.

I must move forward.

I need to get back to my sewing room! It’s been over a month! The weather is getting a bit warmer so it shouldn’t take long to heat up the room.

I need to get the border on this 1080 pieces Veteran's quilt…

Then get it quilted! This will be my “February” quilt.

I WILL keep my promise!

Yard Art Plan

The yard art plan ~ every tree with a large enough branch will have a macramé project hanging, blowing in the wind. This is the first one out…

Several more are ready, including those I shared last week.

I have one in the window on the spring rod under construction! And, I have enough cording for one more. Then I will stop. I have to stop myself! This is so addictive!

I’m easily obsessed / entertained when it comes to learning something new!

I haven’t forgotten about the hand embroidery Chicken project! I started February before leaving Dallas and haven’t touched it since I’ve been home. That will change once the last macramé project is completed – which should be today!

Setting a 2018 goal of severely limiting my time on Facebook has been the best thing I could have ever done! I’m finding myself much more productive, and a lot less moody! Oh, and also, clicking that “unfollow” key on several folks has certainly helped as well!

Anyway, according to this morning’s 10-day forecast, it’s going to be a little longer before I will heat up the sewing room, or we start constructing the chicken coop. That’s okay. I’m keeping busy! 

How are you keeping busy?

Macramé Police

Last week I wrote about my Comfort Zone and how I planned on learning some new crafty type things. Well…

If there is such a thing as Macramé Police, they are going to be all over me for my first two project attempts! That’s okay. I’ll handle them, just like I’ve handled the “Quilting Police”!!!

The simple act of tying knots… who would have thought! This first one, I sort of followed along a video. Melissa at the “Crafty Ginger” channel makes it look so easy. She works her hands and fingers with such grace! I’ve found it mesmerizing to watch!  

 

I was all thumbs! Literally!

I used clothesline rope (I love the Dollar Store!) on a spring rod in my window. I quickly learned to adjust the height as I worked the project! Goodness! It will give a good workout to the shoulders! Lowering and raising, adjusting where I needed, worked beautifully!

Although Melissa’s video said “beginner” – I couldn’t get the knots going right. I’m thankful I also had also found Andy Newcom on the Hallmark channel. He SLOWLY shows the four basic knots. So helpful!

This second one, I did my own thing… focusing on balance. I need lots more practice to get the angle designed better aligned and balanced.  

Personally, I think they are lovely as is, but will be even more so after I embellish with beads and fabric scraps and feathers and buttons and whatever else I can think of adding! I will share final photos, when they are out in the yard… sending out Whispers in the Wind!

Over the past week I’ve done a couple of small weaving projects as well! Since the loom I’m currently working with is small, of course they will be small! 

Using the fabric strips I’ve saved over time while making quilts (I can’t toss out hardly anything), I created these cuties! 

I’m ready to get some cardboard and make a longer loom!

Perfect projects to do while it’s cold outside!

What are you doing this winter?

Back Home!

Back home and ready to get busy! What am I saying? I have been busy, just not sewing!

It will be a while before I get to the sewing room… it’s 32 degrees F in there! I do have an electric heater, but I’d rather do other things like I wrote about the other day in Comfort Zone!

Also, I need to make a supply list… for the Yolk Yard! And, read on my new book!

Just before leaving Dallas yesterday (after being there since December 21^st), I decided once I got back to the country, I would suspend activity on Facebook for a while. Although I enjoy keeping up with my friends, I’ve spent too much time and need to take a break from social media.

Receiving emails are wonderful.

Reading comments left here are fabulous!

Go ahead, make my day!

Comfort Zone

Sewing is my comfort zone. I love to sew. I love making quilts. I’m ready, however, to venture beyond the comfort zone!

It’s really a growing desire to explore different types of things to create, using different mediums. It’s exciting just thinking about it!

This is in addition to the monthly veteran’s quilt I promised myself I will create. I’m not forgetting my promise!

It is also a want to learn how to do more things well by utilizing the “stuff” I already have on hand. Over the years I’ve gone through phases, putting aside started projects and moving on, but never tossing it out.

I recently began (finally) the hand embroidery project, a pattern series bought about 15 years ago at the International Quilt Show in Houston. I came across it when organizing for the move into my dedicated sewing room! Because we plan the adventure of keeping chickens this spring, it’s perfect timing to get it done!  

Since it’s taken me about a week to accomplish “January” I’ll probably not pursue hand embroidery further once the next 11 pieces are completed! At least, not anytime soon! I remembered quickly how finger/thumb numbing holding the needle very long at a time can be! Changing it up, doing other things does help to get it done. But it’s not that pleasurable.

While currently having access to unlimited bandwidth, I have explored various creative sites on Youtube. I watched a few on knitting, and tried my hand ~ AGAIN ~ but got too frustrated ~ AGAIN!

I still can’t see the difference between a knit row and the purl row. As long as I don’t put it down, I can keep on switching back and forth – knit a row, purl a row. But once I stop at the end of a row, then pick it back up later – forget it! Something is just not clicking. At least, I have a small imperfect coaster now!

Oh, and while at Walmart last week, I bought myself a 10” weaving loom! Similar to this one I just found on Amazon.

NOTE: The included booklet is printed for a young person with good eyesight. I’ve tried several strengths of reading glass to no avail so I turned back to Youtube for help… success!

I quickly discovered I love to weave! I can hardly wait to do some fancy things with various types of yarn (even spinning my own roving!) and scraps of fabric I have in my stash! From the weaving projects I want to make Prayer Flags to catch the Whispers in the Wind.

Then I remembered “macramé”!

I briefly thought about teaching myself macramé during the rage in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, but it never really caught my interest.

I’m so thankful for today’s Youtube! Macramé banners will make perfect Prayer Flag projects to add an assortment of beads and items along the ropes and knots. A great purpose for that stash of mine!

In the wee early hours this morning, I stumbled across Shayda Campbell’s Youtube channel. A Canadian living in Iceland teaching us all who want to learn hand lettering, how to illustrate, paint with watercolors and pens, and draw, and so much else! I love her clean, crisp inspirational blog as well!

I’m excited!!!!

Will you be trying something new?

I Am Woman!

Happy New Year!

I’m so thankful 2018 is here! I am full of hope it will be a marvelous year! It is my wish for everyone reading this that you also will have a grand new year!

I have a feeling this year will bring major changes, but not focus. No matter what happens, I am strong. I will overcome any challenges that may come my way.

I have faith.

I have will power.

I Am Woman!

I’m spending this day preparing the 2018 to-do list I love to create! I could not function well at all without my lists. This is the way I stay focus on priorities.

Time gets away from me. I don’t want to waste a precious moment. Life is too short!

Hug someone today!

Cause someone to smile!

Be at peace!