An Explanation and A Little Excitement

I had this post nearly ready when life happened.

Thank you all for your patience, prayers, and kindness 

while our family dealt with my dad being sent to another city 

where he underwent two major surgeries in 5 days.

He was in the hospital for 17 days (? I think)

and was allowed only 1 visit from my mom 1 day before his second surgery.

He had never spent the night in a hospital in his life.

He has been healthy all his life.

This was so difficult for all of us who should have been there with him.

He was scared and knew nobody or nothing around him

and wasn't even allowed to have his shaving kit.

I just got to go get him and bring him home today.  

One of the first things Mom did was take the clippers to him

so he can shave later.

We are so relieved to have him home.

Again thank you.

And now the real post.

As many of you are aware, 

we moved about a year and a half ago.

It doesn't seem like it's been that long.

I s'pose that means I'm getting old.

Source

About the time of our move, I put my Etsy shoppe on vacation mode.

A few months after moving, we had a huge yard sale.

We down-sized by about 40%.

I know I've shared that before,

but in doing so, I parted with a lot of vintage items.

I've spent a good part of my 29 years on this earth

(wink wink, gasp, cough - heehee)

attracting vintage items into my life.

Parting with some items has been difficult for me.

That probably sounds silly to some of you.

Anyways, we hope to one day downsize a little more.

Not quite as drastically as another 40%,

but continue to part with the excess.

Hubby and I each have our own areas of collectorism.

Yep, had to make up another word just for y'all.

It seems a little easier for me to part with things little by little.

Source

Also, I finally have my sewing all in one room

which makes knowing what I have and have to do a bit more manageable.

Oh the UFOs I have discovered!

(un-finished objects) 

Up the mountain, I had shelves in the house

and totes on big shelves out in the shop, 

so I was constantly looking for things.

I am working to decrease my stash and have made some progress.

It's slow, but moving in the right direction.

Source

(It's all up to God.)

And the last piece to all of this is: I have a goal.

And like so many lofty goals, it requires an investment.

I have recently begun a "Happy" fund.

It's really a savings.

I am saving to try to reach my goal - yay!

With that, I have decided to reopen my Etsy shoppe.

I am trying to figure out the best place for picture taking

at the new place and am not quite satisfied with the quality

(or lack there of) of photos I've taken.

As I get at least acceptable photos and appropriate packaging for mailing,

I am listing items both vintage and made by me.

I can't believe how the availability of normal mailing supplies

has been altered in recent months - nutty!

I've already made a couple sales - Wahoo!

And I have several listings in draft waiting for pictures

which haven't happened in the past 2 weeks.

Hopefully, things are calming down now

and I will be adding a couple quilts, bonnets, and vintage items

in the next few days.

If you would like to doddle on over and take a peek,

I am ever grateful.

If you have any questions about any of the items,

please feel free to contact me.

I don't mind questions at all and will do my best 

to answer them quickly and accurately.

So that's my "Little Excitement."

It's a fun outlet for me.

In the upcoming weeks, I am hoping to share

"A Big Excitement."

Well, at least for li'l ol' me.

And lastly, the photos above are of an old ghost town not far

from where I grew up.

Off & Running

In my last post,

I mentioned that one of my goals is to use my fabric stash.

Now, what I'm about to show you 
might not be for the weak of heart.

I'm actually showing you 
my stash.

Gasp! Cough! Choke!

Yes, I know.

And this is after 3 full car-loads of donations.

You see,

using the vast majority of my stash is only a "small" part of the "big" goal.

It's okay, I'll wait here and give you time

to pick yourself up off the floor after falling over with laughter.

They say laughter is good for the soul.

 I'm just helpin' ya out. :-)

(Flannel backed cozy throw.)

The real goal is to down-size even more.

I mentioned when we moved here that we down-sized by almost 40%.

I had lived up the mountain for 18 years.

My kids were 3 and 1 when we moved there.

There was a lot of "stuff" that's been sorted and relocated.

And as I mentioned in the last post,

that transition, though difficult at times, has been a very good one.

We have absolutely no desire to become minimalist~

just to make that clear.

I see extreme minimalism as reliant and unprepared

which is not something I aim to be.

 

Backed with
chamois flannel
for extra
cozieness.












But. . . 

Enoughism, I do aim for.

The computer is telling me that's not a word.

Well, it's a word in my book.

We want to keep a good supply of useful items

and things that would be useful in an emergency situation,

but the fabric stash is more than enough.

I don't want to have none,

but I have a small book shelf that 

I'm hoping will eventually house all my fabric.

That's a pretty lofty goal, 

especially considering I don't care for "quick and easy."

I like items that are made well

which often means the old fashioned way - the slower way.

There were actually a couple more totes,

but I've made a little progress already.

I started with some of the simpler and bulkier projects.

That helped to get me started.

Now I'm trying to use up fabrics that 

I don't have an emotional attachment to.

If you need to roll around on the floor in laughter again

after that statement, 
I get it. :-)

(Cowboy quilt, original design, hand quilted, pieced back.)

There are fabrics that are so beautiful in my eyes

that I want the perfect project for them and don't want to just chop 

them up for any ol' quilt pattern.

So, I'm starting with the fabrics that are easier to part with.

I have a feeling it will be a bit like decluttering.

At first just part with the stuff that doesn't matter,

then it's okay to part with the things that we don't use,

then choose favorites among the duplicates, and so on.

A little about how I typically roll with my quilting.

Though I occasionally hand piece,

I usually machine piece the quilts on my 

1918 Singer I call Gracie.

I had over a dozen sewing machines at one time.

I've decluttered and down-sized that collection as well.

I'm down to half-dozen.

That might still sound like overkill to some folks,

but they are each different and they each get used.

Once the top is pieced, I layer it and put it in the hoop

or on the frame depending upon the size.

I prefer hand-quilted quilts to machine quilted.

Machines essentially knot each stitch, and

hand-quilting is a running stitch that from the side

would look like a wave going up and down through the layers.

This allows the materials some "slack."

It's why machine quilted quilts are stiffer and

hand-quilted quilts drape around you - give you a hug.

So, I try to hand-quilt my quilts.

I'm not a professional hand-quilter,

but each one I do gets a smidgeon better.

(Note - there is some beautiful machine-quilting out there.)

 (In real life, the greens really do match.)

 (Current project being pieced: Rob Peter to Pay Paul.  An old pattern that requires scissors to cut out as opposed to a rotary cutter - slower.)

I will need to keep at it and get a lot done 

if I am to attend a bazaar or two next fall.

I also hope to get some smaller quilted items done

so that there will be a variety.

The perk of all this will be as these totes empty,

I won't be refilling them.

They will leave and we will have that much more room.

It sure won't happen over night, but

I'm looking forward to that.

(Next on the frame.)

For now, I'll just keep stitching ~

Weeeell, we'll see what happens come canning season.
Hopefully, I can at least make a good dent in it.

Sister's Outdoor Quilt Show

This was a first for me.

The Sister's Outdoor Quilt Show.

My mom and S-I-L had both been before, but not me.

I knew it was a 'big deal,'

but had no idea.

We heard that they had a crew that could have all the quilts

down in 10 min. if the weather should turn.

I found that amazing.

There were so many along such a span of streets,

we could have walked all day and not seen them all.

It was a fun day.  
We left about lunch time and headed down to LaPine
to Homestead Quilts which was wonderful.
The other fun bit about this weekend was that I got to meet
a fellow blogger.
Anne over at Cottons and Wools stated that she would be
working at Sew Many Quilts in Bend.
We stopped in, and I was able to meet her.
She was a delight. 
They were busy of course so didn't really chat,
but that was the first person from Bloggerville
that I've met.
I'm sure there will be a lot online today about the show.
They bring in bus loads (yes really by the bus load) of people
to this show.
I'm not much of a large crowd kinda gal so
I'm glad I went, but I'm also okay if I don't go again for a while.
If crowds don't bother you, you will love it.

Until next time,
Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

Washing State Quilt Show

In the last post, I mentioned that 

we went to the Washington State Quilt Show

in Spokane ~ now a couple weeks ago.

Before we hop into details and pictures,

I have to say, "This was probably one of it not the

nicest quilt show I have attended."

There were quilt police

so that food and drink were kept completely out of the areas

where quilts and vendors were.

There were volunteers with cotton gloves to answer questions

and show the backs of quilts

if one desired to see them.

In all it was said that there were about 500 volunteers.

The quilts were displayed nicely and by category

which aided in viewers choice voting.  

That was just the quilts.

I haven't even made it to the vendors yet.

They were wonderful as well.

It took us the better part of a day just to make it 

around to see all of them.

I didn't get too out of control.

I did find a couple pieces of fabric 

to go with some I already had so I can

get going on a project.

My weakness is books~

These two in particular. 

"When the Cold Wind Blows" and "Autumn Splendor."

Both include lots of hand stitching of course.
And on that note, I will admit to being fully biased.
I prefer hand-stitching over machine-stitching.

This was my favorite in the whole show.

It wasn't a ribbon winner, but it had 'something.'

Those little yoyos were about 1/4"-3/8".

These shaped yoyos were maybe 1/2".

The artistry of this one was fabulous.

An obvious ribbon winner.

 Sorry this is a little out of focus.
The quilt was up high for me as I am a bit vertically challenged.

Then a couple of old tops that I just liked.

I love the secondary 4-leaf clover that this pattern made.
Below, a true make-do top. 
Can you see where they pieced within the strips
to make them long enough?

If you are in the Pacific Northwest next October,
I would strongly suggest visiting this quilt show.

It's amazing how the standards and quality of a show
or event of any sort seems to resonate
and be both seen and felt throughout.

Until next time,
Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

Book Review: A People and Their Quilts

I really try to be one of those~

'If you don't have anything nice to say,

don't say anything at all." 

That being said, if I say I think this is good, I really do:)

I have read & used plenty of shallow, unorganized, 

or low quality books and patterns, but

try to keep them to myself unless asked or

guiding someone who is new to the art.

Nothing is more discouraging than trying something

for the first time and not having quality &/or complete instructions. 

I happened across this over-sized book.

And I know better than to judge a book by its cover,

buuuut....

I was so taken with the woman on the cover (Opal,)

I checked it out.

I did read the book summary:)

It features people from & living in the Appalachia Mountains

and their connection to quilts.

It is not a pattern book, but some of

the antique quilts featured - 

that had no pattern,

are absolutely amazing.

This book was published in 1983 so some of the clothes

 that people are wearing are a bit of a flash-back.

One lady interviewed was 100 years old at that time,

which means she was born in the 1880's.

Hearing their stories is something we have no way

of acquiring today.

It was not only a good read from a quilter's point of view,

but from a humanitarian and historian point of view.

I am truly thankful for all I have.

I am certain that a good majority of the people interviewed

and featured are gone now & their quilts

passed to another generation.

A book well worth the read.

The author is/was the founder of the

Museum of Appalachia

which is mentioned several times throughout the book.

The museum has become a success as well.

If you live in that area, you might plan a day trip.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

I Scored!

Yesterday, I had a little time to kill so mosied on into the local thrift store.  I found a couple pairs of work pants for Mr. LB as he goes through them pretty regularly.  Since I had time, I wandered up and down isles I wouldn't usually venture into.  Aaaaand, guess what I came upon.

Wrapped up in a little plastic bag with a sticker that said $2.99 were these two little darlings.  I snatched them up.  I didn't need to open the bag.  I knew what they were.  They are not super old, but they are sweet.  I refer to this era as 'The Bert & Ernie" era.

Hand stitched & I think I recognize some of those fabrics.  Wait, did I say that out loud?

And remember that pre-quilted polyester stuff?  Of course not - it hasn't been around in the last 29 years since we were all born:)  This one happens to be crazy quilted together so it has an appropriate home. 

Just had to share.  Have a beautiful Thursday.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers & Even Stitches



Boardman Quilt Show

Good day to everybody.  I hope you are all enjoying your weekend and loving autumn.  I was delighted to attend the Boardman Quilt Show for the first time.  I do believe this is their eighth show.  They began in a smaller facility and now have it at the River Front Center (or River View?)  It is a beautiful facility overlooking the Columbia River.  I dare say though, if it grows much more they might have to find a larger place yet:)  I wish them everything good.  This quilt above was a smaller quilt.  I thought it was just a hoot.  I think maybe from The Witches of Eastwick.  Wasn't that the name of that movie???  It had Bette Midler.  Anyways, it was just cute.

Looking at it from the quilters view as well as the entertainment view - that is some fun work.  Those leaves are placed on the quilt and the cats skinny little whiskers and tail!  Wow!

This one was a block of the month.  It was interesting in that it incorporated several techniques and was scrappy-ish (my own word:).  It had prairie points, applique, button embellishments, interesting quilting that enhanced the blocks, and it still looks cozy.

This quilt was fabulous.  My picture does not do it justice.  The one of the whole quilt turned out blurry:(  The maker is a machine quilter & uses different quilting designs and densities to create texture and depth to the quilt.  I love it.

 This was a fun quilt.  The quilting was superb.  The woman who quilts this (and did several at this show) is who quilts my moms quilts and does a fantastic job.  Look in the nosegay and the star.  She pays attention to detail and has 'an eye' for the artistic aspect of a piece.

This was a fun show.  And it was refreshing to see a small quilt show that was 'nice.'  It's like when you go to a restaurant and the service is above and beyond.  The ladies at this show were wonderful and kind. 

If you didn't make it this year, you should pencil in on your 2013 calender.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers & Even Stitches