Quilting Group Day....

YAY! I love this group.... I'll be working on Cara's sweatshirt jacket for a Christmas present today....Spent all day yesterday on it and am very pleased with how the front has turned out! I think it will suit her to a 'T'.... I'll try to take pixs this evening and post them....hopefully I'll be able to finish it today... I've got the materials to do one more...Then I need to get materials for another one after that... at least! Once the group is completed with this project, I think they're going to do a table runner that looked interesting... a bit like Cathedral Windows, so I may try that project too.... Well, gotta go get dishes in the wash and start loading the truck...

RAIN!

Yay! We got about 1 inch of rain today! I enjoyed sitting out under the patio working on my embroidery and listening to it rain most of today. The rest of the day was spent in the country with friends, eating and enjoying some time together. Fajitas...yum! Hopefully hubby got to rest enough to help him heal a bit from his stye...He's been pretty miserable and 'run down' feeling with it. maybe he'll get a good night's sleep and be rippin-n-roaring again tomorrow!

Another Busy Day

Today I get to go to Abilene...Have to get the oil changed at the dealership on the pickup and have the new bicycle checked out...I really love the bike (and the truck!) I've already put around 450 miles on 'Gracie' (as I call her) since we brought it home about 6 weeks ago. I know that's not many miles for some cyclist, but it's plenty for me to have gotten used to it. It pretty much fits like a glove... When I ride hubby's bike I always feel like it's skiddish...like it would love to get out from under me... but this new one feels like an old and trusted friend. Hubby & I rode 24.9 miles last night...up Horne Hill to Valera for supper at Big O's (yum!) then through what we call 'the Alps' north to the Winter's Hwy. and back home. I have to confess a huge weakness for riding to a destination for a diet soda, but it's even better when we can have a meal... something about going somewhere with a purpose in mind on the bikes makes it more enjoyable, I think. ;)

Today.....

Today Marvin & I will go (I hope!) to Brownwood to his eye doctor, finally! A few weeks ago he lost his glasses while on a bike ride to Valera, so he's been using cheap bifocals from the Dollar Store to get by until he could get to his appt.  The cheapie pair look fine, but I'm afraid it's strained his eyes---he has a stye coming up on one of his eyes now... Poor guy!
As usual, I'll take some embroidery to work on in the car and while waiting at the Dr.s office. Once he's finished there, we'll head to Wally World for groceries...but I'm going to check out material & sweatshirts... He's home!!! Gotta go!!!

Sunbonnet Sue!

Today was supposed to be mowing day...I did get the back yard mowed, but when I moved the mower to my shop next door to mow, I couldn't get it to start....yes, it had gas...yes, I pushed the little primer button...yes, I remembered to strap the starting wire to the handle before I pulled the rope... I don't know, but I just couldn't get it to start again...It's very old and cantankerous-- a little like me...Anywho---I decided to sew... and finally got 1 pillowcase completed!!!

Son's band chosen for Band of the Week!

Our son is a supporting band director at Big Spring...has been for 10 years...We're very proud of him and his family. This last week, his band was selected as Band of the Week by Newswest9 News. Check out this awesome video clip of the band playing! http://www.newswest9.com/Global/category.asp?c=112796
Sam is going to be the Band Director 'in charge' for this Friday night's game...Rocky Harris the  Head Director will be unable to be at the game and has trusted Sam to take charge for the night! Good luck Sam! Wish we could be there! On October 16th the band will be performing their half time show for UIL Marching Contest at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa. This is always an exciting time of year, and this year it's especially exciting since the band will be competing as a 3A school instead of a 4A school. The band has been extremely successful competing at the 4A level, so we're looking forward to great things to come. The competition won't be any easier, but they will be competing with different bands, which will be a new challenge.... one that I believe they're very ready for!....Did I mention that I LOVE BAND?  My paternal grandmother played the organ, my mother played the piano, I played the bass clarinet in high school and play piano, and now my son is more than carrying on the musical tradition...His greatgrandmother,  and grandma and Papaw would be proud....I know I am!

The Sweatshirt Jacket is finished!!!

Yay!!! I'm very pleased with how it came out! What do you think? (Don't look at the 'old lady' modeling it!lol) Anyway, thank you sweet Hubby for taking the pixs.... I think I'll have to make another one of these at least, maybe more. I really do think I know a cute curly haired young lady that could use one of these! She Loves Pink... but her school colors are orange & black....What to do...hmm...I'll have to think on that and get back to you... Maybe when I go to Abilene on Friday I'll get some inspiration....In the mean time it's back to work on quilts & pillowcases!

It's quilting day!

I just love to go to quilting group once a week... They're the best bunch of ladies to be around, for one thing, but they also encourage me to 'stretch' my abilities and give me inspiration. Last week we made the front for our current project and I posted a pix of it. During the week, I completed the back and am posting it's pix here for you... Today we should learn more about assembly, which I must confess, seems a bit of a mystery to me now....Some how we're supposed to use the bottom ribbing of the sweatshirt that we started with, for the neck binding... I'll post a pix when it's done...
My quilts for Christmas gifts are coming along fine and I've actually started cutting the strips and putting them together in a simple 9 patch alternated with a plain patch to make the pillowcases to match the quilts from... I'll try to get pictures up once I get a bit further along on the project... Showcased in the quilts will be squares of hand embroidered designs, and they are almost all completed now.

Guess I'd better go and get myself together for quilting group now...Hope everyone has a great day!

She Did It!

Me,"I'm not worried....I'm not worried!"
Rachel, "I DID IT!"

Yep, She did it! And here's the proof! How much fun can a girl have? From these pictures, it looks like a lot!
We also got to eat at Underwood's BBQ in Brownwood...Yummy stuff...now I think I'd better go ride my bike!!! LOL

Sewing!

I spent all afternoon and evening sewing! Am trying to figure out how to make pillowcases to match the quilts for the grandkids...boy, has it been a long time since I've pieced quilt blocks....anyway, it's looking good...just need zillions more done.... Oh, I did ride 19.7 miles this morning by myself...to Santa Anna - then toward San Angelo to the Shields Hwy. and back to Coleman on it.... Very good ride...no wind...not too hot... couldn't have asked for better conditions for a bike ride....Maybe Marvin & I will get to ride tomorrow -- We'll be in Brownwood to meet Rachel at the airport unless there's too much wind & clouds for her to fly... We'll see. Maybe I'll get some pictures of the plane she's flying...

Well, that was fun... Not!

The dentist trip went as expected...if I'm lucky, I'll get to keep the tooth for a few years...If not, I'll be short one more tooth....ugh! Enough gloom....I did get to work on the back of my sweatshirt jacket yesterday afternoon... still need to add one more strip of fabric and embroidery on the red strip...Can't decide what to embroider on it.... would LUV a cowboy hat, or boots... but don't happen to have either one in my selection... may have to embroider another word.... maybe 'Amaw Ben Cara Jason'---has a nice ring to it I think... hmmm...
I want to go ride this morning, but can't decide which ride to take.... If I think long enough, there won't be time before lunch to do it..
I ordered some books through the Interlibrary loan system at our local library...can't wait for them to come in... All on Stumpwork embroidery...which is 3 demensional embroidery of anything...flowers, animals, whatever...Since I love 3 demensional hand applique, I'm thinking this might be a logical next step for my embroidery too....Sounds like fun anyway.
Think I'll go ride now....

It's been a LONG TIME!

Sorry it's been so long since I've written...Since I last wrote, things have changed for me...I've quit my job...too stressful... and had the best garden Marvin & I have ever had! Also, I've canned literally hundreds of jars of everything I could get my hands on... pickles, beans, jellies, jams, relishes, blackeyed peas, even squash. I'm also working on several Christmas Craft projects now that the garden slowed down. Embroidery, quilting, etc. Day before yesterday I went to a class here in town with my quilter's group. I'll try to take pictures so you can follow what I'm doing... It's a sweatshirt made into a jacket. I didn't like the red broadcloth that I included on it very much because it was too plain...so I had to add some machine embroidery-- a yellow rose of Texas on one side and the word 'Texas' on the other. I hope to work on the back this afternoon, once I get back from the dentist- yuck. A filling fell out last week while we were at Homestead Heritage just north of Waco, Tx. They were having their Sorghum Festival--oh wow- was that ever fun! (The Festival that is--not losing the filling!LOL) They do everything there!!! Weaving, spinning, pottery, woodwork, blacksmithing...etc. I'm hoping to go there for Thanksgiving weekend...they're having a huge setup showing all kinds of handcrafts then... For me, that's Heaven! Well, (music to the Death March inserted here!) guess it's time for me to get ready for, Gulp, the CHAIR! - Dentist chair that is....whine, snivel, moan, cry, bawl outloud!!!)

It's in the 70's!

Yes! It's warmer than it's been in two weeks!!!! So Hubby & I just had to go bike riding this afternoon...Only 14 or so miles, but great none the less, since it's been too cold for me to want to get out and ride....but today was awesome!!! A bit windy (12 mph from the SSW), but we rode into it to start with and it carried us back home. The last 6 miles were terrific!
Spent yesterday wrapping and labeling the large & small batches of soap I made Friday night--then taking the veggie peeler to some of the soap from the batch before these to make soap curls. Then I sewed up some calico sachet bags and filled them with the soap curls to go with a bar of soap for little gifts to give to the ladies at church this morning--They all seemed pleased...which pleased me.

Monday...

Back to work...and a cold front came in this morning while I was at work---BBRRRR! It's in the 30's out there now.
Took some of my soaps to work- I want to refill a basket in our Ladies Room each week with a different fragrance of soap for them to take if they like...This week is Apple, Cinnamon & Nutmeg fragrance....I like it.

Hubby is cooking supper...He's a good man....Can't decide what I want to do tonight...Sew, shell pecans, weave, or make more soap....hhhmm...I'll have to think on this...Anyway, here's a picture of my latest basket...I used a D handle...never done that before...It came out pretty cool... in it & in front of it are some of the soaps I made over the weekend; a picture of the coloring pouches I spoke of earlier... and a picture of a basket I made to go with a cassarole dish I bought to give as a Christmas gift....

Busy Saturday...

Whew! We were at Cracker Barrel in Abilene around 7:00 am this morning! YUM! On to Walmart for Christmas Shopping and groceries...then to get my nails done for the Holidays & even my eyebrows waxed--OUCH!!! Then to Hobby Lobby for more shopping...a candle stand & candles to go with the decorated Yule Log bought earlier this week for the Communion Table at Church...Then to Abuelos for lunch.YUM again!..then to Hastings...then home for a nap. Now I need to make a batch of soap & take some pictures...but all I want to do is sit!!! We'll see what wins! LOL!

Christmas Parade!

Check out the frozen snowperson & elf! LOL! We came seriously close to freezing, but it was a blast to ride in our small town Christmas Parade. Some of our cycling friends were the Grinch (with his sidekick Max), Martha Mae, and of course 'Elvis'...How fun! We actually won $10.00! Maybe Marvin will take me out to eat on the cheap with it---you know---Taco Bell! LUV those Bean Burritos!
Tonight I'm planning on sewing the girl's coloring pouch and maybe work on a basket...Tomorrow morning I have to shop a bit, then I'll be back home making soap...Before long, I hope to make a tutorial video on how to do it. The ingredients are few and fairly simple, but the product is a really nice hand & body soap.

It's a New Day!

It's beautiful & COLD out there this morning....Time to go to work! Have a great day!

Coloring pouches....

Just thought I'd stop long enough to jot down what we've been up to yesterday & today. Yesterday after work, I sewed up two of the boys Safari Coloring pouch kits I bought over the weekend. I took a picture....but it's on the memory card in the truck and it's about 34 degrees out there....Think I'll wait to put the picture up until I get the girls pink one sewn up & photo made so they can be on the same blog entry...
Tonight, we went to Brownwood to get a new phone for Marvin...He lost his somewhere?!?! Anyway, I've been looking to upgrade mine too, maybe before Christmas...Anyway, the company our plan is with doesn't carry Iphones- which is what I want...but, it does carry Nokia 5800 -which appears much like the Iphone...So guess I'll spend some time researching before I go to bed tonight.....Hope everyone has a good evening....

Latest Basket...

I finished! I can see mistakes and places where I let the braid get crossed wrong...but I still think it's cute as can be! It'll be cute to put small items in for a Christmas gift! If you're interested in learning to make your own baskets, check out Nancy's blog: http://basketmasterweavings.blogspot.com/ The lighting isn't the best, but maybe you can get the idea...It really is cute...

Back to Work....

Guess I needed to go back to work to rest from all the company over Thanksgiving...but yuck! Oh well, I checked out Nancy Jacob's Basket Master Blog and yay! She's finished the video for the last touches on the pretty Mini Muffin Basket....Guess I'll run next door to my shop and see if I can finish the top braid on mine tonight....If I can, I'll try to get a picture and put on here of it.

Those baskets are addictive! LOL! I really think the basket by itself would be a great gift! I'll try to put a picture of the last ones I completed on this entry...They have the cutest little bow on them...I've already given one of them away with soap in it....TOO CUTE!