lace flower cart finished - CQJP2013

Remember me....BUT

It is common knowledge among all our friends that my funeral will be a huge potluck with everyone bringing food so DH can have enough in the freezer to last him until all the widows line up at the gate or until he learns how to use the stove....  I'm betting on the widows.

So last Sunday our newspaper ran a feature about the programs at funerals and how they're changing... Instead of the standard scripture verses or hymns, often they contain lyrics to popular music, poems by family members or friends and even humorous verses written by the deceased... They invited readers to send in contributions of their own..

Since I've already mention I have a box of all the things I'm taking with me when I go, writing a verse for the program was just my cup of tea!!!

Remember my forest, 

remember my dolls,

but remember to feed my husband 

when I’m gone

Remember my needlework, 

remember my buttons,

but remember to bake sour cream rolls 

for my husband when I’m gone.

Remember my corgis,

remember my sheep,  

but remember home-cooked food for 

my husband when I’m gone.

Remember my smile,

remember my friends,

but remember to leave your phone number 

with hot dishes when I’m gone.

He’s a great guy,  give him a hug.

He has a warm heart, make him smile.

But most of all remember to feed my husband

now that I’m gone

 p.s. recipe for sour creams rolls on back of the program..

Chatelaine - phase one

I'm going to a CQ workshop in July and had wanted to make a new chatelaine.. This old photo makes mine look pretty good but believe me, it is now old, well traveled, quite shabby, and the fact I spilled a cup of coffee on it didn't help.  And since my new group of CQers want to make one I'll try to make a tutorial out of it...

Phase one - Planning... Make a list of everything you absolutely need to stitch  ...whether you're on a plane or on a cruise or on a mountain top..  You can't go look for a tool, you have to have it with you!

The first chatelaine I made had a lot of beautiful (but not really necessary) vintage tools and it was too cumbersome.. This one had just what I thought I needed and has served me well... except I have now grown used to having my tiny (3+") hemostats handy since my fingers don't work as well as they used to.

I used to have a needle case for the long doll needles which I no longer need  and I need to drill a small hole and add a chain to  my vintage awl because sometimes it falls out when I pack the chatelaine.

I 'll have to find a place for the hemostats.. .probably upper right and move the awl and needle case to the left... Maybe it can go where the pincushion is and I'll move the pincushion up.... I'll pin them to my old chatelaine and see what works best. The basic shape for the chatelaine is very simple but  the planning stage is crucial because it's difficult to add  openings and pockets after it is assembled.... And keep in mind whether you are right or left-handed. For me the scissors HAVE to be on my right side.

I can guarantee once you've used one on the go you'll appreciate the convenience of it... It was especially helpful in classes and workshops where each person is allotted a very small section of the work space.  This time I'm thinking I'll make a elegant coordinated traveling case for
mine... It deserves it.

Remember my wish?..It's now official!

Last winter when I was able to start teaching CQ at the new thread store, it was my wish to gather enough stitchers to start a CQ group... and yesterday was the very first meeting of the "Stitchin' Crazy" needlework group...  There were 9 of us including me and 6 were students from my classes..  3 other ladies expressed an interest but were unable to attend the first meeting... 2 are from Idaho and the rest are from in and around Spokane..

Of course we started the day with a stash dash in my barn.. Since most are new to crazy quilting they had no stash at all... The invitation read "It's a party....bring scissors" and they all did.

Then we had lunch and finished the day with a show and tell with projects done previously or work from our classes.  They all were so enthusiastic and had a long list of things they wanted to learn.  But first off it was unanimous that our first group project should be a chatelaine like mine... So by next month's meeting I'll have a pattern prepared and a stash of lace and trims for them to chose from..  Morris loved it and was always trying to be the center of attention (see center right).  He voted for everything...especially dessert.

ssssssssssssh...not a word! and GREAT LIGHT

Well the day of the door is coming much sooner than I thought.  I was thinking DH was leaving town toward the end of June but in fact he will  be going to Canada on the 9th until the 14th... So I best start getting everything in order next week.  The door is very heavy so I've decided I'll need his help removing it and I'll tell him I'm going to paint it.....I just won't mention that I'm going to paint it 9 different colors..






As you know I am always stitching on the go and with my eyes I seldom find adequate light.. I have a portable Ott light but it is too bulky just to throw in my sewing bag... but this light from Amazon is fantastic and only about $20.  It's design to clip on a music stand and besides working on batteries, it has an AC adapter.  It has 4 separate LED bulbs (2 in each head)  and clips right on my hoop or anything close.  I can definitely see it clipped to the tray on an airplane..  The arms are about 12" long.  It weighs practically nothing and rolls up to fit right into my sewing bag...

I can use it to stitch even when mom is sleeping in the  room.  Only one little problem.. It's easy to depress the light button when it's in the sewing  bag so I always slip one battery out... no big deal and GREAT LIGHT!!!



 
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AH83UG/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1