Sunday, November 17, 2024

Fuzzy Poms and Sticks & Stones - Sew & Tell ~ November 18, 2024

Another day... Another week gone by!  The feet of snow we had received over three days has diminished greatly.  The sun has been out most of the week and temps were well above freezing, 45 degrees F one day and the rest of the week held in the 50s and low 60s.  The snow is melting down more each day and we now have mud.
  

As the snow melted away so did my cough.  YAY!  I improved with each day that went by... and then I had one small cough that caused a rib to go out.  Thankfully I was able to get assistance from my chiropractor the next morning and am back on the mend... still a little sore, but, again, getting better each day.

I have decided that I need to get back to doing some daily stretching and core muscle exercises.  I have been lax in that area since Shelby's health had started to decline.  Our daily walks went away since she was not able to make the distance anymore.  But it is time!  I know I will feel better both physically and mentally.

Of course, as I pondered this plan I was sitting and taking in Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons as I slow-stitched several blocks to get me closer to the finish of our Camping Journal Quilt.  I designed a ladybug block for one of the nights/days while in IL for the wedding.  I don't recall ever seeing so many ladybugs.  They were in camper... 3 or 4 at a time... even several days after leaving that campground.


All of the signs have been made.  They just need to be embroidered.  I have two patterns that need to be purchased from Fiona Sandwich to complete the top.  

If I can exercise some self-control, I will wait until her Black Friday sale.  In the meantime... I made a few adjustments in the spacing of the embroidered lettering, in hopes that I could get them done... To no avail.  Everything was still a mess.

While I figure out when I can get my sewing machine back to the repair shop, I turned my attention toward a couple different projects.

First up, remember those furs that I shared in March?  With Christmas on the horizon and approaching quickly, I decided that now as a good time to start with a small project of repurposing a muff to make pompoms for some stocking caps.  


I devised a plan and then thought it might be a good idea to seek some help from a "professional".  I attended high school with a guy that became a fashion designer, and we reconnected in recent years through social media.  What luck to find out that he had a full line of clothing that featured fur at one time!  They guy is fascinating to talk with and full of knowledge, skill and experience and is so kind in telling me that he looked up to me in school because I was "good at all of the skills required for the home economics classes."  Well, look at who has the big name now? ;)

Anyway, Mark was more than helpful and called me when he was free.  He confirmed my plans and then we briefly caught up on life and a few other classmates.  Here's what I ended up with!  It was a fun Saturday morning project. 




Even while making these hats my mind was back in the quilting studio dreaming of making a new Sticks & Stones quilt with a stack of fat quarters that I picked up in August.  The pattern calls for two sets of jellyrolls, but I'll cut my strips from these FQs for the sticks and use a medium-powder blue as the stones.

I think it will come together fairly quickly and hope that I have a finish to show off by Friday. 

Just as fast as the snow has been melting, it seems that the Pieces of My Life Quilt will be wrapping up.  I released block #22 ~ Jacob's Ladder ~ last week.  You'll find the whole story and the link for the pattern here.  There are two remaining blocks to finish up Section IV of the QAYG layout, both are 6" finished, and will be released by the end of the month.  

How are you doing with your quilty projects?
Have you started sewing any gifts for the holidays yet?

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you!

It is now time for the randomly selected Sew & Tell feature... Cheree over at The Morning Latte shared a WIP - Petite Lace.  It is a sweet looking thing!  I love the scrappy look and the delicate appearance as the primary and secondary patterns reveal themselves as your eyes move across it.  Well done, Cheree!  

She also shared an interesting recipe for gnocchi that is made with pumpkin. 

Be sure to stop by for a visit to learn about both of these featured items.  You will not be sorry. ;)

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

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11 comments:

  1. I enjoyed seeing the blocks you've made from the trip. I wonder which patterns you're going to buy. She has a lot of neat national parks designs. Now, I hope you're going to share how you made those pom poms. They are totally adorable!!!

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  2. Brrr. It looks downright cold. I am glad to hear that the weather is improving but so sorry to hear about your rib . I hope you are feeling better . I just love seeing your camping journal quilt-I know it is filled with so many wonderful warm memories. Enjoy your week, Melva

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  3. Your camping journal quilt blocks are always so fun to see! Such a great project! Love the hats with their furry pompoms, too. I've got my Jacob's Ladder block finished, just need to gather some photos and write up my post. Have a great week, Melva!

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  4. The pom pom hats are adorable, so is the quilt behind them. I remember when we lived north of Oklahoma City, we had several snows while we lived there and one Christmas Eve blizzard. There were "icebergs" on either side of roads for what seemed like weeks, then the mud. Fun to see but no fun afterward. ;)

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  5. Cute poms on those hats. Great fabrics for your next Sticks and Stones quilt, I have picked out a jelly and background to make one this winter!

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  6. Hi Melva, I love those pompoms using the repurposed fur. They look great! It's hard to believe that you had all of that snow - further up north here we've only had a few flakes that melted before they stacked up :-) Have a great week!

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  7. Glad your cough is better. I'd take that snow! Fun! Thanks for the feature! I've finally finished all the blocks (2640 pieces of them!)!!!

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  8. How lucky to have a pro help you out with your fur projects. Beautiful job.
    We might get a flying snowflake Thurs or Fri. I'm not looking forward to the real cold weather. Don't mind doing some handwork, but the hunkering down just lasts too long.
    Enjoying watching your "camping" quilt come together. Lot's of memories being recorded. Such a great idea.
    When Christmas starts arriving, my projects do stray from quilting. I've been caught up in some community sewing projects as well.
    Glad you are feeling better.

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  9. Melva your yard is definitely muddy now! I hope your rib is starting to feel better. Those furry pompom caps are lovely. Thank you for hosting us and for linking with To Do Tuesday. 😁 Carol

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  10. Love the hats with the fur trim!
    Don't forget to join us over at the Creatively Crafty Linky Party every Wednesday through Sunday
    https://creativelybeth.com/creative-crafts-linky-party-2/
    Pinned!
    Creatively, Beth

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  11. Aren't those stocking caps fun? Love your journal blocks. Hopefully you'll get them all embroidered soon. Thanks for sharing on my weekly show and tell, Wednesday Wait Loss.
    https://www.inquiringquilter.com/questions/2024/11/20/wednesday-wait-loss-407

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