Saturday's Smile!!

I Sure Could Use Your Opinion!!

A couple of years ago, I taught a young Mom how to quilt.  She made a queen-size quilt for her Sister's wedding present.  Here is the quilt she designed and made ~

You can read the entire post HERE.

Well, she ended up with extra blocks and somehow I have them.  I thought I would use them to make a quilt for her oldest daughter's bed - I guess that would be a single bed.  But I don't know what to do with them.  Here is what I have and I have quite a few of them but will need other fabrics to add to them to made a large enough quilt.

I would love some suggestions!!  And for your time I will send a charm pack to the gal who's suggestion I use.

Also, here is a look at my I-cord now that it is felted.  Next, I need to figure out how to make a bag out of that big felted blob I created!!

Have a wonderful Friday!!

A Couple of Finished Projects . . .

Well, I had enough of the yarn that I spun last week to make a little hat ~

Here is the yarn before it became a hat ~

Then yesterday at my little knitting group, this darling little lady taught me how to make an I-cord.  I had heard of the I-cord but had no idea what one would do with it or how to make one.  Yikes, it was so easy!!  And I was mesmerized as it kept growing and growing at a fast rate.  This piece is about 10 feet long and I made it in less than 3 hours!!  It is actually knit flat but because of the process, it turns out to be a circular piece, kinda like one of the little snakes out in my back yard!!

I will now felt this I-cord.  I used 100% wool so it will felt well.  Then, I am going to use it as the handle for a felted bag that I made years ago but never did anything with it.

Here is the felted bag before I finish it ~

It's quite large and not very pretty but I am hoping that once I get it finished it will be a useful bag for my knitting projects.

Well, off to the laundromat to felt my I-cord!!

Blessed, Honored Pioneers . . .

Pioneer Day is an official holiday celebrated on July 24 in the U.S. state of Utah with some celebrations in regions of surrounding states originally by Mormon pioneers. It commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, where the Latter-day Saints settled after being forced from Nauvoo, Illinois, and other locations in the eastern United States. 
Parades, fireworks, rodeos, and other festivities help commemorate the event.  Similar to July 4, most governmental offices and many businesses are closed on Pioneer Day.  
In addition to being an official holiday in Utah, Pioneer Day is considered a special occasion by many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).  On Pioneer Day, some Latter-day Saints walk portions of the Mormon Trail or reenact entering the Salt Lake Valley by handcart.  Latter-day Saints throughout the United States and around the world may celebrate July 24 in remembrance of the LDS Church's pioneer era, with songs, dances, potlucks, and pioneer related activities. 
While the holiday has strong links to the LDS Church, it is officially a celebration of everyone, regardless of faith and nationality, who emigrated to the Salt Lake Valley during the pioneer era, which is generally considered to have ended with the 1869 arrival of the transcontinental railroad. 
Notable non-LDS American pioneers from this period include Episcopal Bishop Daniel S. Tuttle, who was responsible for Utah's first non-Mormon schools (Rowland Hall-St. Mark's) and first public hospital (St. Mark's) in the late 1800s. The Intertribal Powwow at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City honors the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the area's Native Americans, helping Utahns to gain a deeper understanding of the region's history.
As a great, great, great grand daughter of Brigham Young, this is a very special day to me.  I am hoping that here on the Oregon coast I can honor the day as a modern-day pioneer boiling water to wash the dishes and my hair, going up to the state park to take showers and re-building my darling little house here a mile and half from the beach!!
To all my Mormon (LDS) friends and family -  HAPPY PIONEER DAY!! 

Saturday's Smile!!

What a Delightful Day . . .

Yesterday I went down to the little town of Langlois, Oregon to the Wild Rivers Wool Factory to take spinning lessons from Sandie, the owner.

It was all day long and I had a ball and learned soooooo much.  First, Sandie had me start out using a drop spindle and I used one that looked like this ~

Image from the Internet

  The big circle is at the bottom so that when I need to stop the spinning, I can just place the bottom on the floor.  This is as opposed to ~

This kind where the round thing is at the top.

I went into the lesson with a prejudice against spinning with a drop spindle because it just looked too hard.  Sandy said I needed to learn the drop spindle first so I could get the proper movement with my hands alone before moving onto the spinning wheel where both hands and feet were involved.

I must say, it was much more pleasant than I thought it would be and the nice thing about the drop spindle is that you can take it anywhere and spin fiber!!

BUT, then I got to work on the spinning wheel.  This is the actual wheel I learned on ~

And here is the skein of yarn I produced ~

Soooooo much fun!!  Sandy says I am now officially a spinner of fine threads!!  There is about 80 yards in this skein, just about enough for a hat!!  Just about!!

This is Sandie ~

And here she is with her "should I be cute" pose!!  She had me laughing all day!!

Thank you Sandie for a fun, fun day!!  Friday I am going down to learn to felt hand-crafted soap!!  I wonder if Janet O. over at Rogue Quilter would make me some lavender bars of soap to felt?  I am thinking for the up-coming quilt shows I will need about 50 bars - but not until August 3rd.  Hmmmmm, nah, I know she is busier than all get out these days!!

Come back on Friday and see my felted soaps!!

Come See What I am Up to at the Bandon Reno . . .

This is the door to the "Scary Bathroom!!"  Come see what is in store for me today HERE!!

Saturday's Smile!!

Thank you to Donna for posting this on Facebook - Snort!!

Anyone want a Used Rowena Iron?

When I first started quilting about 10 years ago, everyone said I just had to have a good, heavy expensive iron.  So, I got a Rowenta.  It was wonderful until it died a few years ago.  I got a second one and it leaks!!  Yikes!!

 

So when Sharon over at Vroomans Quilts got a new Black & Decker "The Classic" traditional steam iron with her piggy bank savings, I thought hmmmmm, maybe it is time.  So I checked into getting one and I was amazed!! It is less than one-third the price of a new Rowenta!!

And here it is ~

It is really nice and heavy - perfect for a good press and it has an auto turn off which I love because I am always walking away from my iron.

And the point is wonderful!!  It is very pointed, perfect for getting into wherever you need to get into!!

I am really excited about using it, which is exactly what I am going to do as soon I finish this post!!

Thanks Sharon for the heads up and I am serious, if anyone is interested in a used Rowenta that leaks if filled more than 1/4 full, let me know in a comment and I will put names in a basket and pick a new beneficiary of the Rowenta!!

Fun Gifts & a Little Sewing . . .

Before I left Logan, my cute friend Janet O. over at Rogue Quilter dropped by the house on moving day and brought me a present ~

I was thrilled!!  Janet made this darling pincushion using a mysterious template for the Dresden Plate (Janet's post is HERE) and some of her wonderful hand-crafted soap.

Then, when I got here to Bandon, my Realtor, Anne brought me a housewarming gift ~

Now I have a little angel to watch over my new home and keep us safe.

Then, this past week I was able to get some hand sewing done.  Three months of flowers for the Inchy Hexagon Swap I belong to.

And finally, the house is coming along ~

Click HERE to see what is going on

Saturday's Smile!!

From Harlow and Sage on Facebook

Week Two Progress on the Reno . . .

I have not gotten too much sewing done, except a couple of hex flowers so I set up a temporary area in my kitchen so I can sew when I can find time!!

CLICK HERE TO COME SEE WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS PAST WEEK ON THE HOUSE

Happy 4th of July!!

Saturday's Smile!!

Thank you to Donna over at Brynwood Needleworks for sharing this