Going, Going, Gone...

 

How I hate to see October Go -- Barry Manlow
It's actually a very pretty song:  HERE

Progress has been made on Miss Molly.  

What else did I accomplish in October?  Thank you for asking.

I LOVE daffodils.  Early bloomers.  One of the first signs of Spring.They are the flower for March, my birthday month.

 

 

 

 

All-in-all I'm happy with the month, I feel like I'm ready for November.  Especially because the weather has turned and now it is TRULY stay-in-the-house-and-sew weather. 
It's the perfect weather for a pot of soup!

From the kitchen of " My 'Ol Kentucky Duplex":  Butternut Squash Soup...it was sooooo good!!! 
(Be careful with the amount of ginger you add, though.)  HERE

It's A Thing

 

 ...or, at least it's getting to be A THING....running downtown on Saturday afternoon to pick up a few things from Muppin's. **

This week I went down to buy applique scissors.  Working on the Miss Molly wall hanging and
I need to trim around some pretty tight corners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Muppin's has these by Karen Buckley: 
(I have the larger pair that I really like. They're nice and sharp.)

 

 

Of course while I was there, I could not resist some other treasures!

 

Tweezers:  I have two sizes, already.....really, really big--for pulling thread, etc. from deep within the bowels of my sewing machine, AND really, really small -- for plucking eyebrows.  I think these will come in handy.

Beeswax thread conditioner:  Did you know?  I thought you used thread conditioner to keep your hand sewing thread from tangling...turns out that is secondary.  The main purpose is to keep your thread strong as it passes
in-and-out of the layers of fabric over-and-over as you sew.  Keeps the fraying to a minimum.  

I've been using one that is synthetic.  Miss Muppin explained it all to me.   (And, because it is pure beeswax, it can double as lip balm!  Win, Win!)

Halloween Fabric Plus Fat Quarters....who can resist? 

I am not a Halloween fan....I prefer to think if that day as Reformation Day. 
(If you don't know about Reformation Day click HERE.)

While I'm not a Halloween fan, I do like Halloween fabrics. 
I think it must be the combination of colors????  So, who could resist this FQ Pack?....Not I...

This is Spooky & Witchy by AFG Studio.

 

 

 

And, still, even though I'm not a fan of Halloween, I will be at my sister's house handing out candy to her little neighborhood trick-or-treaters. 
I try not to be a wet blanket ALL the time.

I am handing out packets of Milkweed seeds from the Save Our Monarchs Foundation along with Joy's candy....to help save the butterflies and feed the everyone's sweet tooth.

You can be a part of saving the Monarch Butterflies....one milkweed at a time....too.  Click HERE

And there you have it...another very pleasant Saturday afternoon. On my way home I stopped for my favorite Saturday-afternoon treat, a small bag of fries from
Just Hamburgers....They have the BEST....yum....

** All these items (not the Milkweed seeds) are available by mail from Muppin's Sewing Emporium.
Tell Miss Muppin "Charlotte sent me."  You  won't get a discount or anything, but you will make a new, Creative Friend.

Sister Wife

The Back Story:  

Many years ago, in a land far far away.... (37 years ago in Portland, Oregon.)  Lived a single mom with two small children.  
The children, a boy and a girl, were dark haired, dark eyed cuties.

Also in this place, at this time was an Italian couple with four children....also dark haired, dark eyed cuties.

These two families would often take fun excursions together...to the park, the airshow, hiking...
six children who looked enough alike to be siblings, the two moms and the one dad (with the patience of Job.) 
As you might imagine, we got more than a few second glances over the years.

 

To this day Marcia Rigamonti and I call each other "Sister Wife." 

Fast forward almost 40 years and Marcia's oldest grandson is off to university.  Marcia decided to make him a quilt to take with him.  A Warm Hug every night from his Nonna.  

Marica has never quilted before.  Don't get me wrong, she is a very talented lady,
i.e., she crochets, she is building a Victorian doll house.  She cooks and bakes, has fun tea parties with her daughters and granddaughters. And is a loving, Godly wife, mom and Nonna.* Which isn't that easy in these difficult days.

Here is Marcia's crocheted dresser scarf.  (I tried to crochet once.  I was going to make slippers for my new, first grandson....he's 17 now and the slippers are still not finished.)

 

 

 

Back to the quilt.  Marcia chose
Storm At Sea as her first quilt project. 
 

I've made this quilt...for my son's birthday in 2021.  It's not the easiest pattern.  I thought it was an ambitious choice, to say the least.

BUT, not only did she complete it before Jackson's send-off, but I think you'll agree,  she did a FANTASTIC job!!

Miss Marcia and grandson, Jackson

A great big KUDOS to my Sister Wife and to welcome her into the quilter's club, here is a banner to hang in her studio.

 She Believed she could and by-cracky, she sure-enough did!!!

*I know many talented ladies, here is one post featuring a few of them from 2017.  HERE

On A Roll

Priming the pump seems to be working....I'm sewing again and even enjoying the process!  There's nothing like experiencing a finished project to get a quilter all excited.   (Granted, it was an easy project...but still...it counts....)

There is a story to tell about this wall hanging, but not today.

 

 

 

Completion number 2:  The small quilt guild I joined, The Material Girls, meet the Second Tuesday of each month.

These pillow cases (started a couple months back) are for their annual Pillow Case Donation for a local charity. 
All finished, pressed and ready for Tuesday night.

I used Jenny Doan's method for sewing pillow cases.... burrito style.  HERE

 Next Up....the Molly Memorial.  Miss Molly passed last month HERE

I purchased this little pattern at the Paducah Quilt show back in April, preparing for the inevitable.

It comes with everything you need, but the face will need to be changed as Molly had a lot of white on her face and longer ears.

 

Check out Whimes website...lots of pretty patterns and kits.

And so...October is off to a good start.

Prime the Pump

The Covid symptoms are finally going away (with only my crackly ears left to deal with...Dr. appt. this week.) 
FINALLY it feels like I still have enough energy at the end of the day to actually DO something, besides wait out the clock to 8:00 pm and go to bed.

About a year ago, I introduced you-all to Cheryl Sleboda and Muppin's Sewing Emporium.  HERE

 

She has a live podcast every Friday Night.  You can catch her live on Facebook or watch the play back on YouTube. 
Cheryl talks about all things sewing...very fun to watch.
(And if for no other reason, tune in to see what color her hair is this week...)

 

 

This past Friday I tuned into her show and she introduced the cutest panel!  WITH corresponding fabrics to compliment!

 I must say this was just what I needed to get inspired to fire up the 'ol Janome!  I rushed right down to the shop Saturday morning and bought the panel and the corresponding Fat Quarter Bundle. 

Throw in a nice long chat with Cheryl... solving all the world's problems, it was just what the doctor ordered!

I've already started on one of the sections to create a wall hanging for my Sister Wife as a Christmas surprise.
(I'll tell her story later.)

In anticipation of getting back in the saddle, The Studio got a good dusting and all my tools organized.
It feels good to actually accomplish something...it's been a while. 

There is a saying that if you get one area of your life in order, everything else follows. I believe there is some truth to that.  Pretty soon this will be my motto...(part of the panel.)

P.S.  You can purchase from Muppin's Sewing Emporium online:  HERE

 AND, order her hand-sewing needles....they are Wonderful!!

Happy Sewing, everyone!