Catching Up

***Sorry for some strange reason the photo part of Blogger is not working for me. Hopefully now you will see photos as I did some 'internet magic'***

It has been a week since I posted - mostly because I didn't have much to post. I did some stabilizing stitches on my November challenge quilt. (Yikes it is already November and I am not ready!) But that is not something that is exciting to show since it is "in the ditch" quilting - and I am not ready to show the quilt top.

One thing that I also do is weaving. And as this week has been spent more with Mom and medical appointments, I am using this 15 inch Schacht rigid heddle loom as it travels well.

This loom comes with a stick shuttle that you wind by hand. But I prefer to use a boat shuttle that has bobbins that you can wind on a bobbin winder - or  for portability,  a cordless drill.

Stick shuttle

Boat shuttle and Bobbins

For bulkier yarns, I do use the stick shuttle. But for this project I am using thread-like yarns that come on cones.

Yarn Cones on Left

I am doing one of my favorite techniques that is called clasped weft or "two color interlock."  We made a video on this technique that you can find here .

I love to unroll the cloth beam and look at my work.

Blogger is being quirky today and not allowing me to upload the photos in the usual way, so if this post looks a bit "odd" I apologise, but I am not in control of it.

I must tell you that until Mom is back to normal,  my posts may be sporadic. Feel free to email me 

photo to deter spammers. 

I must tell you about an upcoming blog hop!  The Island Batik Ambassadors who were not in the earlier blog hop this year are getting their turn in November.
So I am going to send you to the Island Batik Blog for full details AND a giveaway.
Island Batik Blog Post
The prize is this precut bundle of the new Little Sir Little Miss line

There are many delightful prints in this Batik line from Island Batik

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Called Out on the Serger - and an update

Geez, I can't sneak anything past you people can I?  In the last post I mentioned, oh so casually that I did some serger projects.   WHAM Tango commented with Musta missed the post on you getting a serger? 
and Barb commented did I miss a post where you got a serger? If so, how do you like it?


So the post I didn't make a few weeks ago must be made.  I decided to get a serger.  I looked at them for a long time.  I couldn't see a real reason to get one.  Then I saw a show where a lady made several items in a flash with her serger.  "I need one of those!"  I thought.  
A few weeks went by, I shopped eBay and the internet.  I saw sergers for thousands of dollars.  I read horror stories of impossible to thread machines.  I read praises of the serger.   I got my income tax refund and made a decision.  Amazon had the best price on an inexpensive serger that got mostly good review on the internet. 

So this little puppy came to my house all shiny and new.  It came with four spools of thread...each a different color. Why on earth?    Wait a minute..look at the dials.  Yellow, Red, Green, Blue - just like the threads.  it makes figuring out the threading a bit easier. See under the dials?  I added labels with the name of where each path goes and the threading order.  I believe in making things easy. 


















I have re-threaded it several times. Mostly I don't cuss when I do it..but sometimes the blue words fall from my lips (sorry, but it is true-- hey it happens) 
 The serger finishes edges nicely. 

It trims the edges as it goes for a very clean finish, plus the edge is covered so you don't get ravels.  




























but this is one of my favorite things: 

This is a rolled edge.  Think of a washcloth or a napkin or a nice scarf...yeah, that kind of edge.   I did a picture where I did it with a metallic thread, but I couldn't get a good picture for you. Trust me it is coool!


You can use decorative threads in the loopers and get some interesting finished edges. 


I haven't tried the flatlock stitch yet.  It is a decorative stitch that has possibilities.  (it looks like  a ladder - you could thread a ribbon thru it to pretty up something.) 


UPDATE:  The Follow Nick giveaway is still  in progress.   You still have time to enter.  I am thinking the cut off date will be May 19th...but I have to consult with the Carver.   The prizes are pretty cool.  FABRIC (and I know you all  love fabric!) a cast version of a GolfBall Critter, (a great piece of art even if you don't play golf!) and some of my Art Printed Notecards.    ( you can see the fabrics HERE )

Second Post Today

I want to step out of the usual mode and tell you of one of my all time favorite books. As a child, I discovered a wonderful series of books that led me on a journey beyond the stars. The series is called "The Time Quartet" with the first book being "A Wrinkle in Time" Somehow this author, Madeleine L'Engle knew me. She understood the parts of me that even my parents didn't quite get. I grew up reading her fantasy fiction.
The first hardcover book I purchased was the fourth book in The Time Quartet, Many Waters. I am very happy that I have a near pristine first edition.

However, later, as an adult, I discovered that she also wrote non-fiction. This link will take you to Amazon -if you care to delve deeper. The book is about art and faith. From it I learned more about myself. I once wrote to the author and received a lovely letter in return from one of her nieces. Sadly, (or perhaps not) Madeleine left this worldly existence in September of 2007. I consider her a saint. Today is All Saints Day and I choose to honor her memory on this day.

Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art (

For those of you with different beliefs, I beg your pardon for the interruption, I will return to my normal mode in the next paragraph!



Fabricartist21
is having a giveaway and promoting her Etsy Store Go and look at some of the adorable items she has. You are sure to find something you love!

Win a Magazine

Over at Molly's place she is giving away a subscription to McCall's Quilting.

Go over there and enter. Tell her "Gene sent me"

Another giveaway - 2 Quilts!

Over at Trends and Traditions, Heather is having a wonderful giveaway in celebration of her blogiversary.
She has three prize and two of them are quilts! You know you gotta go enter. hey if you don't want the prize, send it to me. my birthday is in September!

Wooly Wonder

Hey y'all there is a giveaway over at Pumpkin Patch Primitives.

You could win this kit.

Be sure and tell her that I sent you, cause it will get me an extra entry.

Always something - And a giveaway too

Seems like I am always busy and things slip up on me. Does that happen to you? If not you are truly blessed.

Today I started to do laundry. My bottle of laundry detergent was empty. Not a problem. I just went to get the big gallon jug and refill it. YIKES, the gallon was empty too. Now you probably don't know this but I make my own laundry detergent. It is easy and saves money. Another big plus is the lack of dyes or artificial fragrances - well mostly. One of the ingredients is a bar of laundry soap. Actually with the big bar I buy, a third is enough. I got a nice bar in Mexico last year. Since I already had an open bar at the time, this bar was still there. I kinda looked at the ingredients and there is some fragrance in there. Oh well.

Instead of sewing a lot, I made detergent. It won't be ready till tomorrow. BUT I had a jug of bought detergent so I just used that this time. The laundry got done anyway.

But about the making detergent; there are instructions on the internet lots of places. Here is a link to one recipe. Now, I stress that I use a bar of LAUNDRY SOAP for mine. I got the Zote in Sav-A-Lot discount grocery. If you have a little Mexican grocery, you may find it there. (or one of the other brands.) Personally I would not use bath soap, although some people do.

So anyway, I didn't take any pictures but my laundry detergent should be ready to use tomorrow....although all my laundry is clean right now!


What? Oh, I did mention a giveaway didn't I?

Quilt Qua is having a tell a friend giveaway. There I told all my quilty friends. Go enter for yourself. The prize is a Frosted Memories Fat Quarter Bundle by Holly Taylor for Moda Fabrics !

Post 190 - A giveaway At Tonya's

Hi y'all, there is a giveaway at Tonya's Sewing Room

Tonya is looking for Followers to her blog. But you can get an entry just by commenting. Still, why wouldn't you follow? Tonya does some fun posts. This is her 100 post giveaway. Oh yeah, tell her that Gene sent you!

Me? This is my post 190 ---hey getting closer to 200 huh?