PERFECT! PERFECT! PERFECT!

SOMEBODY SHOULD PATENT THIS!!!  I blogged for a year about how I love having my threads on rings like JMB but I wanted ALL at hand where ever I was stitching in the house.  Recent I blogged about how I converted a revolving shoe rack into a thread merry-go-round. (http://olderrose.blogspot.com/2014/09/could-i-be-more-hoop-happy.html BUT it was a little shorter than I liked... so back to the barn this morning.  With an old broom handle and a couple cotter pins, it is now a perfect height.  I also added some plastic to the bottom of the basket to store tools in use... and a ring at the top to move it about...  It is so wonderful that I'm doing a "happy hoop dance!"

Could I be more "hoop happy?"

 

Well maybe a little.  I have raved on and on how happy I am with my threads on hoops hanging on the door... But as I was stitching the other day I was thinking it would be even more perfect if they were all on a revolving rack at my side...  My first thought was a revolving tie rack I could mount on a stand but they were not large enough around to hold many rings. 

Since we worked booths at flower shows for years and years I have a small room in the barn filled with a variety of display fixtures and this is what I ended up with. 

I would like it a bit taller and the basket to have a bottom but it is workable.  I will see what I can do to tweet it to my needs.

Originally it was a shoe display rack and looked something like this, but only three baskets.  I had put bottoms in the baskets and used it to display small items.   I took off all the baskets except a large one. 

This is what would be absolutely perfect. It is a hankerchief or scarf rack.  The diameter is large and the height is adjustable...  But it is $60 plus $20 for shipping so I will (as usual) work with what I find in the barn for free and recycle and upcycle.  Plus I will keep an eye out when I am thrifting!

I'll be thinking on it while I'm winding down the garden and overseeing the "limbing up" of my forest to reduce fire danger.

Points to ponder

I have so missed being in round robins the last 18 months and this RR is a good example.. They always open me to new ideas and options.  Plus they make me stretch as a stitcher.

Teresa asked for rain forest colors and if I had been first I'd never chosen the palette that is on the blocks but they are perfect. 

I love being able to pull the thread rings and narrow in on the colors and I created a new ring just for this project.

Do I still love my ring system? ....YES!!!! I might add again my source for the rings... by far the cheapest....

http://www.black-bear-haversack.com/index.php/craft-rings/4-metal-craft-dreamcatcher-rings.html

When I say the colors are perfect, just
look at the palette next to this red-eyed tree frog who lives in the rainforest.  Look at the tree frog colors and the parrot upper right in one of the fans.  Being third in this rotation I will use only the colors already introduced and have drawn from both blocks... It is most important that what I do is in harmony with the stitchers before me.   But I will want to add my own touch and you can bet it is going to be a red-eyed tree frog...He is just too precious..

That brings me to another thing I have been mulling over.  Years ago when I had my cataracts removed I was amazed at the intensity of the colors around me and realized I was seeing something entirely different than everyone else.  Now that my sight continues to worsen and dim ,  I realize it is happening again.  I know it really doesn't matter that you don't see what I see when I create something but somehow it does because I know I'm missing something. So it does give me a sense of security to be able to match colors to what someone else has chosen.

A bird, a dress,and a rainbow

I'm making progress on my bluebirds and taking photos of the steps as I go along in case anyone is interested in the process.  I will post them as a tutorial  on block talk when   completed..

Got this vintage (VERY vintage) silk wedding dress at the thrift store last week.  It had a obvious stain on the front so I got it for $8.99.. and will gradually dismantle it. The fabric is lovely and there is a LOT of it even tho the body of the gown is fitteds (1970s style) the train is very long..

There will be about 7-8 yards of this fine quality cotton lace from this dress... Just perfect for my CQJP 2013 cottage project. I doubt I could even buy cotton lace of this quality now.  Not the least bit flimsy.....very structural and finely detailed.

I had my threads on rings on the BACK of a door to my little storage room where they were not casually seen.. Yesterday I put another hanger rack on the living room side and hung a rainbow of rings so I could enjoy them all the time.  There were getting to be too many rings on the back side of the door anyway...

Inspiration when you least expect it!

When I was looking at hanky panky CQ in Pinterest I saw  this  one that used a small fancy table cover as a backing... Now what a clever idea! I especially love the idea of repurposing this hardanger linen table cover which probably just was languishing in a drawer and not interesting enough  to hang by itself. A marriage made in heaven

 I have 3 (maybe 4) similar table covers about that size.. the largest about 45 and this one about 35.  The hand crocheted lace on all of them is in perfect condition  but the cotton or linen centers are either thin or disintegrating...  I now use them under my featherweight on its antique typing stand. This one (which need to be starched and ironed) would be perfect if I did the HPCQ in the interesting center shape.

I can hardly wait until my hanky stash arrives in the mail...  In the meantime I am back to the suffrage quilt tonight...

Putting the threads on hoops is the greatest "take-along" task and next week I will be somewhere every single day that I'm waiting on someone..  But I'm making progress slow but sure.

BUT everywhere I look there are bags, drawers, and even a box full of thread. This does not even include the perles on spools or the krieniks. I did not buy all this thread.  The bulk of it was from thrift stores, gifted to me by someone trying to find a home for it or from 60+ years of stitching.

You can believe that all the thread neatly wrapped on cards in that tidy box was a gift...NEVER would I sit and wrap all those little cards and label them by color.................... FOTFLOL.....

I am using many more colors just because they are accessible and it will be so nice to grab a few rings when I'm off to teach a class.

Thread Ring Options

I mentioned my thread ring yesterday and I still had them hanging on the back of the door on a cup rack....but it was a really cheap cup rack and quite flimsy so I looked around a bit for a sturdier one or a better option.

One of these cast iron models would be great.  It has 5 folding  arms with a total of  15 hooks and they all fold back against the wall... but alas they are very pricy. If money were no object this would be my choice.



Other things I found include an under the shelf model which pulls out....great for someone using a closet for storage.  Another also goes under a shelf and swivels around... And there were many that you got only hooks but a shelf as a bonus...

I have a lot of vintage coat hooks in the barn and could have done something like this without too much effort..

But in the end it was the usual make-do with what I got.  One of my problems was the center of the door was recessed and the rack wasn't stable which added to the flimsiness. So I added a brace (arrow) to the back which not only fill the recess gap, it stabilized the whole rack.  The wooden pieces to hang the cups on were attached with nails  and I replaced the nails with screws which also helped greatly.  So this now my permanent home for my thread rings.  Now I just have to get the rest of the thread  on the rings...no small job in itself.

Had a bunch of green cherry tomatoes left and made green tomato chutney this morning.

Happy Dance, New Class and Necklace Upcycle!!!

I do a little happy dance every time I'm choosing threads.  I couldn't be happier since I now keep my thread on the large rings.  It is such a joy to lay the ring of threads right across the block to make my choices....

And remember in September when I told you I had a new workshop coming up at a quilt shop  using a new format.... an introduction rather that a series of classes.?  It's only a one-day workshop and I asked for only 7 people.  Well 9 have signed up and we've added another date in Dec. and that has filled up and now there is a waiting list for after the first of the year...  Mine you they are not really learning anything ....just seeing if they think they would like doing something with no directions, time consuming and addictive... If they like it, I can have sit & stitch at the shop or they can come to the house.  We meet here the last Saturday of the month and a couple Wednesdays during the month.. It's informal with everyone working at their own pace.   It works best here at the house as I HAVE STASH.... Wish me luck...  Here is how the workshop was advertised.

 Sunday Nov. 3 - 12-4

   "Introductory Workshop  to Crazy Quilting"

by Gerry Krueger

Crazy quilting is free-form and embraces all aspects of various needlework skills. 

Each piece is one-of-a-kind.

The afternoon  will begin with a slide show on crazy quilt history and various styles of crazy quilts..     Lots of samples of crazy quilting will be available to fondle and discuss.  Time will be spent on how to build multiple-layered seams, the hallmark of crazy quilting. Finally the construction of a block for a first project and a guide to the steps for success in crazy quilting. Lots of eye candy, freebies, and handouts. 

Although the jazzy red necklace upcycle was not on any to-do list , I just had to drop everything and do it...  It's been a long time since I've done any jewelry and I noticed I had a bunch of brooches waiting to be upcycled... Maybe this winter.  I lost touch with my beading buddy so I'll have to track her down.... I can hardly wait to wear this...

I used old beads, an old brooch, parts of another necklace and various beads and findings...plus the necklace I bought and disassembled...of course.

I'm pleased to introduce..............

 Miss Emma Stitchen.  Last week I received this absolutely OOAK pincushion from one of my blog readers, Ann Sweet of "Sweet Stuffins"

She is about 7" tall (with ears) and loaded with so many charms and so much detail that it takes a goodly amount of time to see it all.

Tucked in her arms are Morris and Molly and all around her are images from my blog including Morris's book and my boho bag.

But what really tickled me is that she is wearing a chatelaine.  You can see part of it here with   pockets for scissors and thimble.

Don't you just love the mini featherweight.  The details are incredible but I especially love the coffee and cookie with a doggie treat on the plate as well.

Thank you Ann for this most personalized gift.  I shall treasure it.

I am slowly starting to get my threads on rings a few at a time.  The good news is that I won't need a wall as the back of a door will work as well.  I love all the colors hanging...it is such a visual treat and I love fondling them also.

I have started getting my threads gathered
for the long UFO suffrage quilt.  Aren't they gorgeous?  This project is officially on my list now.  This week I also have to get images of the last 4 cottages for CQJP and get them going as well.

Somehow it is the end of August and I haven't painted a single button..  I'm sure my paints are drying up.  But with my helper we have done lots and lots of pruning and weeding.  The deer fence behind this pile is 8' tall so that give you a feel for how big it is.  It took DH two big pickup loads to haul it to "clean green".. That is our county recycling center and they grind clean green and turn it into mulch and sell it to landscapers... Pretty neat huh?