One Hour and Ten Minute Table Runner

The pattern for the ten minute table runner has been floating around for some time now, and the other day I made one.  Only exception is that I decided to do some applique and it turned out it took quite a while to do the three snowflakes.  They look so simple, but there are five little extensions on each arm of the flake so that was lots of stopping, turning and going again.  I did some of those on runners a couple of years ago and now remember that they were pretty tedious.  However, a simpler flake could be used.  Another thing I would change about this is the length and the width.  It's kind of short and stubby.  The fabric is to be cut width of fabric, but I wanted the rows to go up and down and I only had a yard of the striped.  Therefore, instead of being approximately 42 inches long, it was 36.  The main fabric (in this case the red with the appliques) was to be cut 10 to 12 inches wof.  I cut it 12.  Next one it will be 10.  The printed was cut 18 inches wide and I think I might cut that a bit smaller, also.   If I had not appliqued, it really would have been super fast!  (Click to enlarge)

Project for Christmas

Tucked away in the basement in a container were these little embroideries I did a couple of years ago with the intent of making wallhangings.  Good intentions should be carried out, but, alas, that is not always so.  I also had four kitchen towels I bought way back when that I was going to applique for Christmas, also.  Guess what - that didn't get done either.  The other day I got to thinking about ordering some more towels and doing them Christmasy (is that a word?).  I do a lot of ordering from http://www.ericas.com/ - they are fast and accommodating.  I had a lightbulb moment - why not border the little embroideries and either fuse or sew them to towels which would have nine of them done very quickly.

I have four towels that are white with a red trim and I am going to use four of the figures without the words, etc., on those.  There will be some towels left and I ought to be able to do some simple appliques on those.  So we shall see if I get this project finished or not.   Anymore, I am slower than molasses in January but as long as I keep going, I am content!

(Click to enlarge - this is a different format now so sometimes it doesn't do it, but you can give it a try!)

Visiting Africa

This is Jolly Boys Packpackers in Zambia where my two youngest granddaughters are now staying.  Molly had a long flight from Portland - she left Friday evening-and she arrived this morning for a two week stay in Africa with Hannah.  Hannah had gone to Zambia and was able to go on the bus from Jolly Boys to meet Molly's flight so the two sisters are now together for a two week adventure.  How great is that? 

 They will see Victoria Falls and I know they have made other plans for this wonderful experience.  The technology today is incredible - Sherry has talked to them already.   It will be exciting to hear what they do.  They will eventually make their way back to Hannah's site and meet her students and coworkers.  Then about the middle of  December, Hannah will be coming home for a visit over Christmas and her first visit with her new little nephew, Henry.  Exciting times.    

Friday, Already

This has been a quick week.  Two days I spent in a class with twelve other quilters doing a fused flower wall hanging.  The construction of the piece was quite time consuming and it also entailed fabric painting.  I did not get mine done and will probably not get back to it until after Christmas.  I intended to take my camera and forgot both days.  Some of the girls finished their pieces and they were lovely.  Sorry I don't have photos. 

This picture and the one at the beginning are my Christmas cactus blooming nicely.  Always in late October and early November.  The color is so bright it is almost neon.

Here are three of my favorite antiques all in one little group.  The spool cabinet is one that was an anniversary gift from my husband a long time ago.  He gave our daughter money and she found this at a wonderful antique store in Lawrence, Kansas, called Quantral's Flea Market.  I so love this piece.  It was probably used on a counter in a notions department at a department store years ago.  We added the legs which could be easily removed, but I love it as a side table.  I had enough of the old spools of thread to fill the fronts of the drawers.    On top sits my first ever antique purchase.  An old hotel in Ft. Madison, Iowa, sold out the furnishings and I got this old pitcher and bowl for $1.50.  I never had much to spend on things like that in the 50's so I was elated to have this neat old set.

This is the chamber pot that my dad got from the old lady who owned our house and had a summer cottage close by.  He took care of her place.  When we came over from Iowa to visit my parents and I saw this I flipped.  It came back home on the train with us. 

It's Getting Bigger

Coming right along with this one.  I think I may have used a hook that was too large but it certainly makes it go quickly.  I am inclined to crochet loosely, also.  It's to the point where it is really cozy having it on your lap while you crochet.

 Won't be adding any additional colors and will just continue mixing them up in between the strips of white.  I probably have almost half of this done and when it's done, it's done.  Love that!!   There was certainly not a big choice when I went shopping for yarn.  Most of this is Vanna's.  Maybe I will bite the bullet and go to Walmart where I never shop and see what they have next time I get the urge.  Walmart is soooooo big and not my favorite place.  Love Target but they don't carry good stuff like yarn.  (Click to enlarge)

Who Knew

And I thought ice cream was for lunch!  This neat old ad is from a blog I have listed on my sidebar - http://pzrservices.typepad.com/vintageadvertising/
If you are into vintage pictures, magazines, advertising, you will probably love looking around on this one.  There is a list on it's sidebar of all the different categories and also ads by the different decades.  A fun place for those of us who love the old stuff. 

Last evening when I went to my blog, the background was gone.  Could not even get to the blog where I found it.  So I did some looking around and found a new background at http://www.leeloublogs.blogspot.com/ and used a new picture in the header.   This morning, I went to the old website and it is back.  Think I will stay with this one for a spell as it's bright and cheery.  Later will search out another cute one for the holidays.  Lots and lots of cute backgrounds out there.   So much great stuff on the internet.   Here are some from the board I have for Buttons  on my Pinterest page. 

 How cool is this?

 I really love covered buttons. 

This would be very time consuming and you would need tons of buttons but it is just gorgeous.

(Click to enlarge)

Trick or Treater

One of the rewards of spending time in the pumpkin patch is getting to dress up in your cool costume and go trick or treating for Halloween!  Here is Henry as a happy hamburger - how humorous!!   No, from the entry on Facebook, Mommy did not make the outfit - it came from Old Navy.   What an adorable, laid back great grandson I have.  Thought I would share this with you.  (This one does not enlarge)