Just 3 Things | #43

Come on fall! It is September. I am tired of hot weather. I am ready for some cooler temperatures! Everything outside is dry, dusty, and crunchy around here. The Mister cuts the grass with a mask on and still comes in looking like he has been wandering in the dust bowl. Plus, it has just been excessively HOT. I know that I get this way at the turn of the season each year but this one really does seem to have been a really hot summer.

- What I've Been Working On -

I've been stitching and embroidering this week. I am focusing on crafting Christmas gifts for our family. The bandana totes will make a good gift and will serve as ready-made wrapping, I think. I got a tote bag finished this week and I did a boxy pouch that I've been wanting to try for a while. Then, today I worked on a little coin purse. I ordered some shorter zippers and some magnetic closure snaps. So, I wanted to try those out. I've saved several ideas and tutorials. So, following my philosophy for the week of just diving right in, I picked one and went to work. 

One side has a monogram and the other side has a pocket with the magnetic closure. It zips at the top to keep coins, cards, cash, or any number of small items secure. I put a D ring on one side so that it could be clipped to a key ring and I made a little wrist key fob out of a scrap of fabric. 

I like the little outside pocket but I'm not sure how secure things will be in it with that magnetic closure. I stitched the magnets into the tab that folds over the top and into the outside pocket lining. So, the magnet holds but not super-securely. Since I had been working on one granddaughter's tote, I made this little coin purse out of the same coordinating fabrics I used for the tote bag - brown T bandana and pink with boots, hats, and horse shoes. This granddaughter loves her boots and is a fan of pink. So, this will suit her well. 

- What I've Been Reading -

Besides reading and watching several tutorials and blog posts to build my confidence for stitching up a couple of different types of pouches, I have also done a bit of reading on the book I started last week. The Letter by Kathryn Hughes. I don't take as much time for reading when I am enthusiastic about my stitching projects! This is a good book, however, and I am about half-way through it. 

- What I've Been Loving -

The Mister wanted a deli sandwich the other night. So, we ordered a delivery. I wanted something lighter than a sandwich and didn't really want pasta that the local restaurant offers either. So, I gave one of their featured salads a try. It was fabulous! The greens were fresh and light like I wanted. It also had blue cheese crumbles, caramelized walnuts, cherry tomatoes, green apple slices, and grilled chicken on it. I loved the flavor blend so much that I created my own from ingredients in our fridge a couple of times since. One night I added some mandarin orange slices and the other night I added some dried cranberries to the mix. The Mister turned up his nose when I added the apple slices to the one I was mixing and raised his eyebrows when I added pecans. The nutty, crunchy, tartness added to the sweetness of the fruit and the heartiness of the chicken and blue cheese really hit the spot. It was quite tasty and I highly recommend tossing it all together like that!

We have really been focused on counting our blessings and lifting others up this week. Our family lost my great aunt and my mother's sister last week. Then, this week a cousin's husband passed. All three folks had been suffering with different types of dementia but it is still hard to lose a loved one. Then, a dear friend of ours who we grew up with and went to school with as youngsters let us know that her husband had a second stroke this past week. I called and chatted with our friend today and she voiced what we all feel at times like these saying, "I just wasn't prepared for all of this. We watch others in such situations and wonder what we would do but nothing can really prepare us for the reality of it." We will continue to be lifting these folks up in the coming days and will also continue pondering different ways to help our friend. 

Today I noticed...Sometimes it is easier than it might look!

I have been reading and watching tutorials. I have made note of the different ways folks go about making a square Dopp Kit type bag. You know, the kind that is sort of square-ish. They have a zipper across the center of the top and usually have a handle or loops or something near the ends of the zipper. It is a pretty typical bag for a guy.

I have seen all sorts of sizes and all sorts of methods for putting one together. Today, I finally took the leap and gave it a try. I used some scraps left from a project completed earlier this week. I wanted it to be pretty simple, yet, still be personalized. 

I had noticed several zip pouches and bags that had the busiest part of the pattern on one end and I wanted to try for that look. I had just the right scraps from a couple of bandanas left from the tote I finished yesterday. So, I dove in and used those. I lined it with the same bandana fabric that I had used for the tote as well. It is a pink background with boots and hats and horse shoes on it in browns and hot-pinks. 

I had the zipper work done and decided at the last minute that I would personalize it with one of the granddaughter's name. I used pink thread for the embroidery to match the zipper and the bag lining. I set it a bit off-center as well to continue onward with that decor on one end concept. I sort of wish I had just centered it on the bag but I still like it that way as well. 

One thing I would definitely do differently for the next attempt is that I would make the loops on each end lots shorter. I didn't have the perfect piece of ribbon to stitch on as a zipper pull. So, I stitched some chocolate brown rick rack onto a piece of pink twill tape and attached that as the pull  It really set the zipper off and finished it well.

Just like my finishing up a tote bag yesterday, completing this cute boxy rectangular bag really encouraged me to want to give another one of them a try. I have ideas about how I will adapt the steps with different measurements and create different sizes of this type bag.

Sometimes when I am uncertain about how to do something, I drag my feet and overthink things. I think that is what I did with this design. I'm glad I finally just dove in and gave it a try. It was far easier than it looked!

Today I noticed...A finished product really encourages me to try something else.

I've been playing with my new sewing machine and learning to make different items. It is such fun to create something from a few pieces of fabric. Then, having the opportunity to personalize what I create and really make it one of a kind is also rewarding. 

I just finished my third bandana tote bag. I saw an advertisement for one and then saw a blog post tutorial and decided that I wanted to make one for myself. 

My First Bandana Tote Bag

I'm really partial to a red purse. So, the traditional red bandana seemed to call my name. I lined it with a navy bandana. I also added a handy zip pocket and a recessed zip top closure. I'm probably going to remove the closure because I'm finding that I rarely want to close it up and that sort of gets in the way. All in all, though, I am really happy with my tote bag.

I decided that creating personalized bags would make good gifts. So, I've started down the path of making the girls in our family a tote bag. I've done a bit of tweaking on my method and I'm still not perfectly satisfied with how I want it. The bag below has traditional red bandanas as the lining.

My Second Bandana Tote Bag

Yesterday I finished another gift tote bag. It really made me smile in spite of the fact that I had to pick out the stitching for the lining because I had made a mistake putting it together and the fact that the bandanas I used were a little off-square and I had to wrangle with them a bit to make it work. 

My Third Bandana Tote Bag

The finished tote bag is just so cute and eye-catching. The brown one above is lined with bandanas that have boots and hats intermingled with the paisley print and has a pink background.

I love how the different prints coordinate and really do make each bag unique. At this point I have completed the three using slightly different techniques for each one. I think I am honing in on exactly what steps and methods work best to create just the bag I like! 

Even though I had a couple of hurdles to jump with this particular bag that I finished up today, when I hung it up on the closet door, I really felt encouraged to make another one. It is exciting to see how each one turns out and anticipate how the recipient might enjoy it. I don't know if I will start another bag tomorrow or will delve into a smaller project. One thing is certain, I'm looking forward to giving some sort of stitching project a try!

More Wreath Sash Gifts

I've said before that wreath sashes are my Go-To and that really is true. When I want to try out a new design, I almost always go to a wreath sash. They are perfect for a three-inch embroidery design. They are easy to assemble with long straight seams. They don't require lots of extras like zippers or snaps or buttons or tabs or anything. They make good gifts.

Side one of an H wreath sash - patriotic and monogrammed

Side two of the H wreath sash - floral and monogrammed

I've been seeing that people are easing into fall already even though the temperatures are still in the hot summer ranges of the nineties around here. I had bookmarked and added things to my shopping cart and all the things one does these days when scrolling and thinking and gathering ideas. So, I pulled the trigger on a few new designs and decided to stitch them out.

Side one of a B wreath - patriotic and monogrammed

Side two of a B wreath - fall pumpkin and monogrammed.

I used a few pieces of leftover and found fabrics to make them. I'm not sure where I got the yellow gingham but it was a nice squared-off piece that still had selvage edges. So, I just ripped widths from selvage to selvage. I remembered that the last time I had made a sash out of the light yellow gingham the fabric on the back side sort of peeked through. So, I used and iron-on interfacing and backed it to try to prevent the color peeking through. That also helped to make the fabric have more heft. However, with a design that is pretty dense with stitching, like the pumpkin, there still was some puckering. Most people who are the recipients of my gifts don't notice or care but it frets me somewhat. However, in the big scheme of things, the product is still beautiful, personal, and one-of-a-kind. Isn't that sort of the definition of a good gift?

   

   

I made a couple with patriotic designs on one side and floral on the other and a couple with the fall pumpkin on one side and patriotic on the other.. They will go to different folks and I really like the look of both options. I'm guessing the patriotic design could be used in the summer for Flag Day or Independence Day or for most any patriotic holiday such as Memorial Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, etc. Then, the simple fall pumpkin design could be used from late September all the way through till Thanksgiving. The floral monogrammed sides could be used most anytime no matter what season. I feel like that is a nice gift for some of my women friends and family members and offers some versatility.

Side one of an O wreath - fall pumpkin and monogrammed

Side two of an O wreath - turkey and monogrammed with a swag of greenery

I had seen some monogrammed wreath bows. So, I gave one of them a try. It really takes a very long strip of fabric to make one of those. I'm not sure how the bow will stand up to wind and rain either and we all know that most doors are going to have a bit of weather exposure. I do like the look but I think I like the shorter one that is just looped and knotted better.

Side one of an H wreath sash - greenery with bow and monogrammed

Side two of an H wreath - pumpkin and monogrammed

I think one of the fun things about creating wreath sashes is how each and every one can be different. Even though I used the same fabrics on all of these wreaths, each looks completely different. They could all be hanging on doors in the same hallway and each would have an individual and unique appearance. The stitched designs vary or the font can vary or the monogram is different for different people or the colors can be mixed and matched. Sometimes simplicity really provides a whole lot of variety.

Wreath sashes lined up on a bed

I catch myself walking by the bedroom where I have the finished products laid out flat to prevent wrinkles and smiling a little smile of satisfaction. I hope the recipients enjoy them half as much as I have enjoyed creating them!

Just 3 Things | #42

I wish I could be more like Dolly. Don't we all? I think we are all mourning the loss of her and her goodness. Here in Tennessee we sort of feel like we lost one of the best parts of our entire state. She was a ray of sunshine, a philanthropist on another level, and a talented storyteller and performer. May she rest in peace.

- What I've Been Working On -

After catching up on some housekeeping chores, I've been working on stitching up gifts again this week. When I purchase an embroidery design, I try to consider different ways I might use it. I look at so many things but one of them is the number of different sizes that are available with the purchase. I'm always thinking that I might use a larger size but haven't really had a need to thus far. Then, this week I tried out one of the designs that came in a larger size. Again, I learned so much. The number one thing I learned is that a solid design like this really takes a LOT of time.

The design I stitched in a couple of sizes is a simple pumpkin with a leaf. I stitched the smallest size onto a thin gingham fabric with an iron-on stabilizer added as well as a couple of layers of tear away stabilizer. It stitched up nicely. There were a couple of thread problems when stitching the leaf veining, though. I guess it was just the heavy duty stitch concentration that caused the thread issue. The smaller one will eventually become a wreath sash with the pumpkin on one end and a monogram on the other. Then, I stitched the largest version onto a heavier weight upholstery fabric with a couple of layers of cut away stabilizer behind it. This version will eventually become a table runner with the pumpkin stitched on either end. Again, on one end the leaf veining caused some thread issues and I had to rethread my machine. Again, the design stitched up nicely. Neither is perfect, however. On the smaller version, the outline of the pumpkin on the right hand side is a bit off. On the larger version, the outline of one of the pumpkin sections is just a wee bit off. Both are still beautiful in my eyes and I am excited to give each as a gift!

- What I've Been Watching -

We haven't really been watching much this week. I started a series from Amazon Prime called Heart Guy. I think what I'm enjoying about the show is the people dynamics. The main character's dynamics with his quirky family and the dynamics with his coworkers. 

I really like watching something where there is representation of what people are really like. Oh, there is some rather exaggerated quirkiness and that just seems to add to the humor of the situations depicted. 

I also watched an episode of Reacher recently. I forget how violent this show is. I'm sure that some of that violence is a reality in this world but I'm so thankful it is not in mine. It is always rewarding when a program shows the good guy winning and I think that is what is the attraction in this program for me. Plus, I like the main character and how he breaks down things in life to their most simplistic base. This is a program that I do nothing other than watch when it is on because I would miss so many clues and vital pieces that make up the story. He is a noticer and I am always impressed by that in people. 

- What I've Been Reading -

After finishing my last book authored by Kathryn Hughes, I decided to dive into The Secret, also by her. I guess I just wasn't ready to let go of the concept that past events and the back story of those contribute to the present day. I did really enjoy The Letter and the concept of how the letter really did seem to bring people together in the end. I'm just barely into this one, so I cannot say whether I love it or not or whether it is a good follow up after reading Hughes's first book. Maybe I can report more deeply about it next week. 

I got my hair cut a little differently last week and I'm still trying to decide if that was a wise choice or not. After wearing it in a fairly single layer for a while, I asked the hair dresser to add a bit of breeziness to it and add more layers as I showed her a photo that I liked. Usually when I get a new shearing, I immediately either really love it or really hate it. This is a first for me. I guess time will really tell. Of course, it seems that no matter how I have my hair cut and styled, it seems to sort of gravitate back toward the same look. I guess I just know one way to style my own hair and that is how it will be no matter what. Have a breezy, layered weekend!

County Livestock Show Fun

The county beef show was this past weekend. The grandchildren who live up on the hill next door had their parents take their cattle to the Ag Expo Park for the show. They got things settled in - bedded the space, set up fans, put out some hay, rinsed the cattle, and tied them in. Then, it was over to another barn and the 4-H project chicken sale to sell the chickens they'd raised for the boys and mama, Bonnie. Dad and Abby Lee were off to their softball scrimmage. The Mister, grandfather, was left to keep watch over the cattle.

Later, the Mister returned home and had a snack before we loaded into the truck and headed over for the cattle show. First, came the showmanship classes. Abby Lee participated in the Pee Wee class. She did a good job, thanks to the coaching of older brother, Levi, and a docile Hereford heifer named Kaitlyn.

Then, it was Levi's turn to show in the Junior showmanship class, followed by Easton's turn to show in the Explorer class. Then, it was time for the heifer classes. First, Levi showed the registered Angus heifer they had raised. 

She and Levi worked their way up to Reserve Champion Angus heifer. It is always rewarding to win an award with an animal that was born and raised on the family farm.

Levi and Kaitlyn returned to the ring for her class. Together, they earned Champion Hereford Heifer honors and Reserve Supreme Champion Heifer 

The steer show followed the heifer show. Easton and his steer, AJ, shined in their class. The steer was sort of a middle-weight calf. 

Levi and his heavyweight steer also caught the judge's eye for a little extra attention. All in all it was a wonderful experience for the kiddos and their family. Even dad was all smiles back in the barn.

We were all smiling big smiles as they loaded up the cattle and equipment to head back across the county toward home. It was loads of fun and quite rewarding for all of us. Let's hope that everyone is still smiling after the sale of the steers on Thursday!

Just 3 Things | #41

I'm trying to get back on track for a Friday post of J3T this week. When I started writing this sort of post, I was adapting an idea by Marian Parsons of Miss Mustard Seed fame. I knew that I had a hodge podge of ideas from time to time that I could just throw together as a post, none of which were really important enough to garner their own individual post but just ideas I wanted to capture. I liked Marian's categories and figured I could adapt to make them work for me if I kept it to a good old 1,2,3 format. Some weeks it is easy and some weeks I have to think about it. But, by and large, three things seems to work for me.

- What I've Been Working On-

This week I was a bit tired from galivanting round to watch the grandchildren exhibit their sheep and weathering through the unbelievably hot temperatures during the Tennessee State Fair. So, I didn't tackle a big project. I'd had a little bit of a hiccup last week when my sewing machine was bunching up the thread making a huge mess of a project that I was working on. So, I knew I was going to have to do some troubleshooting. I'd spent some time reading up to find out what might be causing the problem and I'd watched a few short tutorials and figured out that I might need to look for some sort of dust gathering in the machine and change out the needle again. I learned that some people change to a new needle with every single new project. I don't really believe that is necessary but maybe I could be wrong. I feel like I am alright to make three or four little zip pouches before changing out the needle. I did think it was time for a new needle and changed that out. 

Following the instructions from another source, I decided to really examine my machine and look for where dust might have gathered. I noticed a teeny tiny little bit of lint in my bobbin case.  I took a cotton swab with some machine oil on it and gathered up a teeny tiny little ball of lint that was about the size of a small piece of broken pencil lead. I had a hard time even finding that and had my reading glasses on as I was peering into the innards of my machine. That must have been the problem because I had no issues with the first item I stitched. I guess the mechanics that allows for clean, precise stitching also causes it to mis-stitch at times. I don't like having to troubleshoot but I do like the work the machine does. So, I'm trying not to get frustrated when each attempt I make doesn't turn out perfectly. In addition to completing and sending off some bag tags for one of the granddaughters, I worked on making some other gifts for holiday giving.

Embroidery for a Fall Wreath Sash

This week I have stitched up several gifts. I'm making wreath sashes for some of my relatives. I think the gals will appreciate them and it will be a different sort of gift than what they might get from anybody else. I tried out some new purchases - a new font, a new generic leaves and bow, a new turkey. I started with the closest match I could get to the colors described by the creator on the turkey. Then, I tweaked him a little bit. I didn't really like the green colors used in the fan and wings of the bird. So, I changed it up a little bit when I changed fabrics for the next gift. Then, I'll change it just a bit more for the next time. I don't think I will be making loads of things with this turkey, though because it takes quite a while to stitch out and uses lots of color changes. He does stitch out beautifully, though, in any color!

More Embroidery for a Fall Wreath Sash

One thing is for certain, I really like the new font I tried. It was part of a combination that I purchased from Blue Willow Embroidery. My next attempt at a wreath sash is definitely going to include the pumpkin that the font came alongside. I can see it looking pretty in several different colors as well. I look forward to having it on a wreath sash but I think it would be pretty on napkins, placemats, and more. 

In addition to the fall themed wreath sashes, I did a few with summer patriotic themes. I think a reversible wreath sash with a summer concept on one side and a fall or winter one would be a gift I'd really feel good about getting and that is the sort of gift I like to give.

- What I've Been Loving -

Thursday morning of this week we awoke to a thunderstorm. It was rattling the windows and we even had a lightning strike somewhere near enough to us to knock the power out briefly. In addition to the thunder rolling through and the downpour of rain, we also had some marble-sized hail bouncing around on the roof and the porch. It was quite the alarm clock. 

The best thing about the rain moving through - well, besides the fact that we got some moisture that was much-needed - is that the temperature cooled off. That meant it was not sweltering and for the second time this month the Mister has put chicken on the smoker to prepare us a delicious meal. 

Oh, we don't eat the entire chicken in a meal. We have leftovers and that is the best part. One day we have the chicken fresh off the grill and I add a few vegetables to the mix and it is a wonderful meat and three sort of meal. Then, the Mister will debone the chicken and we've enjoyed pulled chicken bar-b-que sandwiches. I've made a little batch of chicken salad. We've eaten some of the cut up chicken on a salad. It really is fabulous. I love that it is delicious, clean eating but I also love the fact that we have a good ingredient for another meal or two and that means less thinking and effort on my part. Win! Win! So, does that mean that this 'loving' section is sharing that I'm loving the Mister or that I'm loving the smoked chicken? Both! For sure!

- What I've Been Reading -

As I mentioned in my post about writing letters yesterday, I'm currently reading The Letter by Kathryn Hughes. I love the concept of this idea. A letter was written in one era but didn't get to the intended recipient. Instead it was opened and read by another person during a later era. I like that we get information about why and how and when the letter was originally written. I like that somebody else winds up reading the letter and it impacts their life. I guess I just like to think about how a letter really does make an impact even when it reaches the intended recipient. 

In the classroom, I often had students write letters as part of an assignment. Sometimes I would have them write to a character in a book or to the author. At other times I would have them write a letter to another student sharing information about a book they were reading. We would write letters at the beginning of the year where they were telling me things I needed to know about themselves so that I could be a better teacher for them. We would write letters to our future selves as a way to think about the future and make goals and plans for later in the year or for the next year. We would write letters later in the year to future students telling them what to expect in the class and I would share those letters at the beginning of the following year to new students. 

I guess I just like the idea of capturing ideas and thoughts and expressions and revisiting them and a letter is really a good way to do that. I'm enjoying this book and by reading it and some of the other things that relate to letter writing that I've stumbled across this week, I am inspired to write more letters!

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Summer is hanging on around here and we are not rushing it away. We wouldn't mind if the temperatures stay out of the ninety degree realm though. I guess that when it gets that hot, I'll just have to stay inside and do a bit of letter writing. What about you?