Handmade Journal Handy..

Back in 2006 I decided to try my hand at making my own book.  I have since learned that this is not the "exact" way to do it, but I love my little book just the same.

 As I was gathering things to take to the Ingram Art Show I came across this little book and decided to take it with me.  What a wonderful thing that turned out to be!

It occurred to me that several of my relatives that I had not seen in a while were there and this was the perfect time to have them write in my book.

 Signing the poems that they wrote.. ;)  The bird is taken from a photo of Squirt that Aunt Edna sent me..  Didn't quite get it, but the gist is there...lol
 (You may have noticed that the poem is scrambled.  This is to protect their intellectual property.. )

 When I put this book together I wanted to put things that were special to me into it... like this poem written by my Aunt Betty.  I thought I wanted things to be perfect and then somehow they didn't come out as perfect as I thought I wanted them to be.  Now as I look back thru the pages, they are exactly as I wanted them to be.  I would encourage everyone to make their own little book and put in it whatever they find special to themselves in it..

Now I realize it doesn't have to be perfect or perfectly thought out... it just has to be you.  Mine is just a collection of little ditties that I thought were good.  There's a notation that my first great grand daughter was expected.. another for the day that she was born.  Now there will be another notation about my first great grandson that will be born in May.  Another about my oldest son making the Dean's Honor Roll in college.  So many things...

And the opportunity to have my family write in my book was just too good to be true. 

Another good thing from the Ingram Arts and Crafts Show... ;)

Have a wonderful day....

Hello again...

It's Tuesday morning here in North Texas.  A little cool, but not bad.  Supposed to up in the 50s and 60s today so I'll take that happily.. ;)  

To catch up a little bit on the news... The Ingram Art Show in Tupelo, OK  was a big success.  I was really surprised by the turnout.  Here are a few.. a very few... of the photos I took.  It would take a book to show all the wonderful talent that was there.

Left and right in the photo are my Aunt Sue and Aunt Betty.  In the center is my dad's first cousin Lorene.  What a fun time!  Aunt Sue is a professional long arm quilter and does beautiful work.. and as you can see, she also crochets and makes adorable baby things.   Aunt Betty does all the lovely paintings in the background.   Like this one:

I love this watercolor.  It makes me feel that peace inside that only the earth, trees and birds can give.  The Texas bricks are collector's items that she paints.  The Texas bricks are no longer made so the ones that are in existence now are the only ones that will ever be...

This is my Uncle Bobby.  He and Aunt Betty are twins.  And they both have enough talent individually for 4 people, so together they could open their own shop.. ;)   Bobby is a "whittler"... All of the planes, guns  jewelry boxes, portraits that you see here were whittled by Uncle Bobby.  Most are to scale.  He has been written about in newspapers and journals.  He is amazing.  And I'm not prejudiced... ;)

This is my cousin Deanna.  Not only does she play the violin and guitar, she is also an artist. 

It was a wonderful day.  There is so much more I could say and show, but then this post would take a week to load.. ;)  More later.. ;)

Have a good day.. 
Hugs...

Pinky Has A Brain...Free Recipe for Home Made Starch

I'm trying to finish up all the projects and get everything packed up for the Show tomorrow.  In the process of gathering up the doilies I found that some needed some quick work.  I tried the sugar syrup thing a few days ago and Boy! What. A. Mess. I. Made!  Will try that again when I have more time..;o)

I remember going with my grandmother to the laundromat when I was a little girl and the lady there would ask her if she needed starch...which of course she always did..  That lady would mix up some mystery concoction on the stove at the back of the laundry..(wringer washers..;o)  .. and voila'.. starch. 

Today I thought about that and did a quick google search... Here is what I found..  A wonderful, easy recipe for home made starch.. Can be made a quickly as boiling water.  Pinkyhasabrain.com  ... wonderful site for all the old home made recipes used for cleaning..and etc..

Have a great day!

1st Annual Ingram Arts and Crafts

I have mentioned the 1st Annual Ingram Arts and Crafts Show to be held in Tupelo, OK on September 22, 2012 on my other blog Fabric Follies Two.  I'm a little late getting it up over here and I apologize for that.  It's been a busy month.

I love to weave.  Whether it's with my own hand spun or not, there's just something soothing about the rhythm and the immediate gratification that comes with something that comes together so beautifully and quickly.  This is the beginning of an envelope purse that I put together a couple of weeks ago.

This is how it turned out.. ;o)

These beaded stilettos are an exceptional tool when doing hand sewing.  It was very useful when making the coin purse below.

This fabric for this coin purse was at one time a sheet on our bed.. ;o)  I tore the 1/2 inch strips and then wove them onto a pocket weaving board (see photo in header), embroidered the ribbon rose grouping, sewed the back onto it and then cut and mounted it into the coin purse frame.

 These are hand spun embroidery threads.. most of them hand dyed using kool aid as the dye agent.

 Hand spun yarns, hand felted fabric.  All hand dyed or natural fiber.

 This needle book is made using hand spun.. on a spindle.. yarn, hand woven, hand spun and dyed embroidery yarn, hand felted fabric inside.  The only part not hand made is the cotton lining and sewing machine thread used to sew it in.

 Yarn, yarn and more yarn.. ;o)

These hand spun yarns were Rit dyed.  This was my first foray into the acid dyes.

There will be much more at the Show..  My Uncle Bobby is the most amazing "whittler" you have ever seen... He will be showing his planes and guns..  My Aunt Betty is a wonderful artist.  There will be other art projects shown also.. If you are near .. we would love to have you!

Free Clipart .. Stars of Angels

I've suddenly developed an interest in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow...
Hope you enjoy this.. ;o)

Vegetable Stand

We found a Vegetable Stand here in town and decided to go see what was up with it.  Drove across town and found packing crates strung around fruits and veggies.  The fruits and veggies had been freighted in just like any of the stores.  But they did have some peaches that looked fair, some overripe strawberries and some .. ta da...banana peppers!  I seldom find banana peppers in our stores.

I looked online for recipes, but they all called for sugar or for making large batches of pickled peppers.  So, I made my own recipe.  I used:  1 cup water, 1 cup vinegar, 1tsp salt, 2 tsp pickling spice, and 1 clove garlic.  In a couple of weeks we'll see if I like them or not.  ;o)

 

 The peaches are in a freezer bag and freezing.  The strawberries were not good enough to eat fresh, so they were cooked down in a medium syrup for about 30 minutes then poured through a sieve.  The strawberries have been wonderful on toast and the syrup is waiting for me to find something to put it on..lol  But I did taste it with a spoon and it is seriously wonderful ...

Now... with all that being said.. my SDH and I have begun using Atkins Shakes and have seriously started dieting.  So... ;o( ... no more strawberry syrup...

Anyway, this is late July and August is just around the corner.  Let me tell you the joys of Iced Coffee!... ;o)

Have a wonderful day...

Today in My Life ... Sunday, June 24, 2012

Today is:  Sunday, June 24, 2012

I got up this morning:  at 5:45.  Awake as if the sleep had been really good.  Pushed the button on the coffee pot, opened the blinds, turned on the computers, run my hand across the counters thinking how fortunate I am...

I look out my window:  and realize that I really need to dead head my roses and get my mint and lemon verbena planted!  As in .. TODAY!  

I am thinking:  that the bandages in my groin from the cardiac cath and the tape burns will have to come off today or they'll drive me nuts... ;o)  I'm allergic to the tape they used and it left a huge seeping burn area.. ;o(   However... it's dry now and time for the bandage to come off.....!!  ;o)

I am thankful for:  the fact that the cardiac cath shows only a 30% blockage of the stent.  Very happy result!  ;o)

Plans for the rest of the week:  include finishing several of the project I've started and put aside.  I am determined to NOT start anything new until these are finished... (hmmm... wonder if that will hold true..lol)  But I will try...

The third CESI injection will be Friday.  That will be the last for this series.  I just wish I had known about these earlier in my life....

Creatively:  there hasn't been much happening.  I have been doing some mindless knitting in the evening and come up with some cute hand towels for my bathroom.  I love them.  They feel much better on my face than the terry cloth towels. 

And a "Thanks, Pat!" goes out to my buddy for bringing me a huge plastic bag of this wonderful cotton yarn.  Plans are to use it on my rigid heddle loom and make some small blankets.. but if I don't hurry up and finish some things I have started, it will end up being knit up into small things I can make in the evenings... lol

Happy thought:  that will continue to make my happy all week.  Two of my sons called this weekend and I think I have not laughed so hard in months!  What a joy! 

My online friend Judy of Apron Strings and Other Ties That Bind   has been doing some really pretty embroidery for her crazy quilt squares.  Among other things.. ;o)  Take a look and say hello.  ;o)



 

Frugal Living... hmmm

I've been doing a lot of pinterest lately.  There are so many links up for frugal living and make your own things that I am overwhelmed with ideas.. ;o) 

One of the things I found was concerning eggs.  It said that eggs have a film on them that will allow the egg to remain good for weeks if it is not washed off.  The eggs we buy in the store are washed with a caustic soap so all of the film is removed... and as a result the eggs spoil much more quickly.

So... the article said that if you cover each egg with a thin film of mineral oil the eggs will last for months in the pantry or where ever without refrigeration.

I HAD TO TRY THIS... !  ;o)

So I took 3 eggs, smeared them with mineral oil and put them in the pantry for 3 weeks.  I really couldn't make myself wait any longer so I finally had to check and see what would happen when I broke the eggs... Here's what I found..

 

I was truly stunned that eggs were still good, usable eggs after 3 weeks!  How's that for re-learning what our grandparents always knew.. ;o)

Hope you have a wonderful day...  Having a cardiac cath tomorrow so will be back in a few days.. ;o) 

Lavender Ridge Farms

Pat and I went to Lavender Ridge Farm on Saturday.  We picked lavender, drank lavender iced tea and lavender iced lemonade and bought lavender plants... along with some others.. ;o)  What a wonderful day. 

Well, it's Monday one more time.  ;o)   Have sewing to do.  Will finally be able to get back to my patiently waiting (almost) purse... 

It will have a very large red button on the pocket.  I've been trying to make it have over the head straps... but I think that will not work.  ;o(    Anyway, we'll see.  More on this project later.. ;o)

I hope your Monday is the beginning of a week that you will look back on with fondness.. ;o)
Have a good day...

Today In My Life

Today is:  Tuesday, June 5, 2012

I got up this morning:  after dreaming about Michael Kitchen... Can't imagine how that would happen, especially with our penchant for watching every movie or television program we can find that has Michael Kitchen in it.. ;o)  We have just finished watching The Hanging Gale .  This is a BBC television special that is absolutely wonderful...about the Irish Potato Famine.  Tea at Trianon  speaks about this BBC special.  Michael Kitchen portrays the Land Agent.  It is a wonderful, gritty and heartbreaking movie...

As I look out the window:  the trees are waving at me.  There is a strong wind blowing in a storm that we are supposed to have this evening.  But the view through the screen on the back porch is still lovely... ;o)

 I have to say that seeing these lovely roses bloom over and over all year is such a pleasure. 

I am thinking:   that I should have remembered all those crocks that my grandmother had on her cabinet.  I can still see her taking her knives and gently running them over the tops of those crocks.  I guess I never really thought about the fact that she was sharpening her knives... until I came across a pinterest site that shows how you can do the same thing with you ceramic cups! 

By holding the knife at a 30° angle and gently running the blade over the unglazed part of the bottom of the cup... voila'.. sharp knife!  I do soooo with I had known about this long ago.  All those years of complaining about dull knives would have never happened...lol

Today I am thankful for: the sounds of the birds chirping away out the back door.  I have painted some small birdhouse and will be trying to get some wrens to come visit us.. ;o)

Plans for the rest of the week:  include Dr., Dr., Dr., ... but that is a relatively good thing... I hope.  I have been having surgical injections for pain in my back and am in the the third round now...  And are they wonderful! 

Creatively:   I have so many projects going that the pics will have to wait until tomorrow.  ;o) 

A happy thought:    Everyone needs a little fairy dust .. ;o)  Hope you have LOTS in your day!