Learning Everyday - Even Old Dogs Can

Well I entered all the giveaways from the nine designers sites late last night. I got to learn all kinds of "how to's" for linking things from my site. Granted, I've done a lot with computers and programs in my past work life, so it wasn't too awful hard to figure out especially with the tools available. I've also thought about actually going back to college in the winter semester to learn how to set up websites....retirement isn't what I dreamed it would be in this economy.

It sure would be nice if I could figure out how to "create" and sell my creations. Problem is I like to do way too many things. I'd have to concentrate on one or two things instead of 27. I'd also have to figure out which thing other people are interested in right now and would be willing to buy. There are sooooo many quilt patterns out there these days I definitely don't want to go that way. I like making clothing, but there's a limited number of people who do that because they need to have patterns fitted to them. I did that for awhile (taught pattern fitting) but that's not the fun, creative part of sewing.

I really enjoy making pincushions and needlebooks and they can be so creative. It seems that's something everyone needs. And of course that can be extended to purses. Maybe that's the area I want to go towards. I also really enjoy making teddy bears so I'd somehow have to figure out how to fit that into the scheme of things.

Or, I could go back to school and learn how to develop websites. I suppose that could be a creative endeavor too. So many choices...so little time.

NINE New Giveaways From Our Australian Neighbors

I don't know what it is that draws me to Australian sites and blogs, but I love the stitchery and use of color I see from our Aussie neighbors. I recently came upon a new to me site that is having a wonderful give away at the end of September and it involves NINE different talented ladies.

Among the Gum Trees has 9 talented Australian designers sharing a few of their original and varied designs freely everyones personal use! It is the brainchild of Jenny of ELEFANTZ, who brought together nine established and emerging designers, who offer their own original designs to download free of charge! WOW!!

The Designers are: Cheryl of Willowberry Designs , Dawn of Dawn Hay Designs ,Fiona of Mothers Cupboard , Jenny of ELEFANTZ , Joy of Joypatch , Judith of Creative Studio, Paula of Sew Little Fabric, Vicki of Tozz's Corner, and Vikki of Sew Useful Designs.

Check out their blogs to find out how to get entered in their give-aways and check out their free downloads. They also have wonderful patterns and designs you can purchase from their Etsy shops.

Jenny of ELEFANTZ has a lovely download for some rosebud coasters, but I can see the design used on the top of a pincushion! Another design to add to my long list of things to do! Thank you Jenny!

Where Did the Time Go?

Time flies when life happens. Children live at home then move out, then move back, then move out, then move back, then .... oh it's just a never ending cycle but we never turn them away, do we. The good news is they both started college classes full time a few weeks ago and found day care for little Mia so Gramma Fluff has time to herself most days.

That means she's been doing more sewing and painting these days. I've been making lots of pincushions and finishing quilts I started years ago. The painting, well, not so much, but I have been finishing lots of things.


Here's a few of the pincushions I've finished lately. The first is one from a pincushion of the month kit I purchased from Quilt Fabric Delights in Australia. Their PC kit of the month program is done now, but they had the greatest kits. They still have the patterns. This pattern also had a wrist pincushion and needlekeep, which I also made. I especially liked the fabric which was in the kit.


I played around with some crazy quilting for pincushions and got a little carried away. The first one was designed with a baby theme with a picture of a baby being carried by a stork as the center block. I did the crazy quilt embroidery by hand on that one. It took a few evenings of sitting in front of the TV to complete, but it looked pretty nice, I thought.



The next ones I crazy quilted were designed around a Victorian Lady center block. The crazy quilt embroidery was done by machine on the majority of the block and some hand embroidery was added to complete them. I learned a little more each time I made another one. I have several more printed designs I want to work up into blocks, but I have so many more ideas for pincushions I don't want to get stuck on doing just one type of pincushion.

I also have been working with friends on a handpainted quilt for a raffle for my Painting Group, Heart of Michigan Decorative Artists, HOMDA. Members of the group painted a square of fabric with a flower of their choice and several of us got together and put sashing around the blocks, along with the borders, which are all batiks. My friend, who has a longarm quilting machine, and I then spent about 20 plus hours quilting the designs on each block, based on how each block "spoke" to us. This was quite an experience for me. Then another member put the binding on this gorgeous quilt. It it very impressive now that it is complete! We are selling tickets for this quilt, 6 for $5.00 or $1.00 each. The quilt will be raffled off June 2010. Take a look at it here:

If anyone out there is interested in purchasing tickets, please drop me a comment and I will get back with you about how to purchase.

Last but not least, I've written directions for a flower pincushion that is sooo simple to make. I have to figure out how to add a pdf file to my blog and as soon as I do that I'll share the pictures and pattern for everyone.

I won't wait 6 months to write again either!

Dogs, Kids, Weddings, Pincushions

Such a long time since I've written and so much has happened. We had a wedding on April 25th. My son and his girlfriend got married after a two-week planned wedding. It was beautiful. They were beautiful. It went off without a hitch. Amazing what can be planned in two weeks.

Just before they decided to get married we were in Texas to see our new grandbaby, Lily Harper, born on March 8. What a beautiful baby she is! Mom and Dad are so proud and so are Gramma Fluff and Grampa Todd. Of course, since March she's grown like a weed and daddy Mason says she's laughing and developing a wonderful personality! Hopefully we can go back down to Texas in September or October to see her again.

We've also become grandparents to a new puppy dog, named Shooter. DS and new DIL and granddaughter all live with us for now. They decided they needed a dog for when they move into their new home in early June. So to the Humane Society we went and found a beautiful lab/pit bull mix and she is now part of the family. She's four months old, fixed, has a chip, and is just about housebroken. She is soooo sweet.

And of course what is a new household without a new kitten? They also have a new little kitten named Trinity. She's so teeny, but so feisty. She's black and white tiger colored and she must have been the runt of the litter. She loves to lay under your chin and sleep. At night she likes to sleep on your head and beat on your face. And she's not afraid of the dog anymore. Once she's grown a bit larger, I'm sure she and Shooter will have a lot of fun together.

Last but not least, my favorite pasttime is making pincushions (and quilts and aprons, and anything that can be made on a sewing machine!) I recently spent a weekend with my friends on Platte Lake sewing on whatever we wanted to. We also visited many quilt shops in the northern part of Michigan. How wonderful! I finally got to visit Renee's House of Quilting. She has 300 plus bolts of Japanese fabrics (Kona Bay) and I bought a panel of Geisha Girls along with several coordinating fabrics to make a wall hanging. I can't wait to get started on it.

We also had a lovely Tea Party the night we arrived at the cabin and made some wonderful little "Tee" pin cushions. I spied a larger pincushion one of the gals had and she helped me make a duplicate copy using 3 different fat quarters. Isn't it pretty? So simple too!

One Year Old!

Mia, my granddaughter, turned 1 yesterday. Time flies so quickly. Just yesterday we were so excited she could turn over from front to back and now she walks and screams and tries to say words. She points and says "uhhhh" when she wants something she should or shouldn't have. Gramma tries to teach her the word and sometimes she tries to repeat what I'm saying but mostly she hasn't developed the ability to form those sounds yet...although she tries. She hates shoes! Put anything heavy on her feet and you'll hear the loudest shriek that could come out of such a tiny body.
So Gramma Fluff traced her foot the other day and made her some soft slippers out of red fleece. they turned out fairly well considering it was the first time I had tried my hand at making slippers. The pattern I used was for a 9 month old so it had to be enlarged. The end result was that they were a little on the big side, but she doesn't shriek when we put them on her and she actually leaves them on and walks around the house with them. Gramma was concerned that her little toes weren't warm enough when she went outside in this freezing cold weather we're having lately.
Now that the first pair turned out fairly well, it's time to start making some more. After all, a girl can never have too many shoes and it's never too early to start!