All Dolled Up!

 I had a nice morning with some of my lady friends. We played Apples to Apples. It's enjoyable. It's good for a few laughs. It encourages conversation and getting to know each other a bit better, which is great for me as I am the new kid on the block.

The muffins and scones were yummy. I also had some fresh strawberries and a bowl of Kisses. 

After lunch I retreated to my sewing space. I am embroidering the names of fellow travelers on some of the journals. It probably takes more time to get the journal secured on the hoop than it does to embroider it. It will take me a few days to complete 21 of them.

I made templates for hand quilting my State challenge quilt. I'll take the quilt with me on our trip. I might have a lot of seat time where I can stitch the Baptist Fan design. 

After I washed the doll's clothes in Woolite the white pinafore and her slip were still very yellow. I found out that the Woolite will take out dirt, but not necessarily the yellow. It was suggested that I use OxyClean for that. I don't normally use that product and admit to standing in the aisle looking at all of the various OxyClean options! The instructions for that product said you might soak objects for up to 6 hours, and it took all of that to make the whites white again! 

The elastic in her panties is shot. They won't stay up! Don't you hate it when that happens?! 🤣 I've put them aside to redo the elastic. Until then she'll have to go commando! 😮

While I was perusing my email I found a link to "50's Forgotten Casseroles". What's uncanny is just last night I was thinking of the cheeseburger casserole I used to make for the kids using Bisquik. And ta da! Just like that...here are some of those old favorites...including a hamburger casserole! We are going to enjoy try the chicken-a-la-king casserole tonight. The jury is out on whether we will enjoy it or not. 

Gifted

I don't do a lot of garment sewing, but I have made a few jackets for the grand kids. 

In 2022 I gifted these jackets.

The kids wore them until the cuffs were almost at their elbows! 

Last year they sent me designs which I digitized and embroidered on sweatshirts I purchased: 

The back of each jacket also had their embroidered designs. 

The kids loved seeing their art work on jackets they could wear.

Almost a year ago I bought fleece to make jackets for the kids again.

Procrastination set in...well, we did move, and renovate a house, and...and...

My bff sent me a pattern for this cute cape - and I knew I wanted to make it 

for my granddaughter.

I haven't hemmed it, as I wasn't sure about the length she would prefer,

but she went off to school in it this morning! 

Kellan loved his 'jacket of many colors' (on the floor just behind Lex's feet)

but he had to get back to his Lego project and wouldn't wait for me to take a pic.

I was able to grab a picture when I walked him to school, 

as he wouldn't pose for a picture.

The back of the jacket has a sleeping dragon whose

tail goes over the shoulder to the front of the jacket.

I'm lucky. So far the kids have enjoyed the items I've made for them.

Some day that may not be the case!

 

It Started With a....

... bit of inspiration from embroidery software I purchased last year. I saw the designs and thought that they might be interesting to use.... some day!

Then.... I found the perfect fabric as a background

for the embroidered designs.

It looks kinda like rock.

It's bright.

The designs would "pop" on this.

Then.... I found another fabric.

It reminds me of the red rocks of Sedona,

and Bryce Canyon,

and Santa Fe....

Several of the designs I liked the most required machine embroidery

and applique.

This fabric would be awesome in an appliqué!

(Don't you think?!)

Then I went to a quilt guild sew day and I was introduced to

"Stack and Whack" quilts.

The finished results look somewhat like a kaleidoscope.

I found fabric in great colors for a "western" quilt,

and made some blocks using this technique.

Then I put it all together. 

I found some thread with the perfect colors for quilting,

and I dreamed up some Indian-like designs to quilt,

and I went to work!

Nope, they aren't perfect!

 But, considering that I've only been using the

longarm machine for a few months, 

I'm not dissatisfied!

And, 

finally....

Ta daaaaaa....

I completed the quilt, which I named "Navajo Nation",

(even though some of the designs are Hopi)

and I sent the quilt to my sister.

I sure did have fun on the whacky road to dreaming, designing and completing the quilt!