Category Archives: Holidays

Tomorrow Begins a New Year!

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What a busy time it’s been.  I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas.   The Christmas season was a busy one and it’s always a joy to have son John home for the holiday.  Today I will finish taking down all the Christmas things.  Tomorrow begins that frustrating thing of trying to remember to change the year as we write the checks.. ;o)

I must show you … I can hardly wait… My Sweet DH  found this online, picked it out himself and absolutely made me jump with joy when I opened  it on Christmas day!

A Viking Ship Golding Spindle… took my breath away!

That fiber I’m spinning is called Panda.. a blend of wool/silk/bamboo.  And does this spindle spin like a dream!

Now… that jacket that I said I would make… Well, I did make it that very day!  And here it is….

I love it… It’s just warm enough for all those “almost winter” days that we have here in North Texas.  I can wear this 90% of the time.  I love it!  Quite easy to make.  When I make another one… and I will make another one… I will do hand stitching around the inner edging since it’s difficult for me to “stitch in the ditch” and catch the bottom layer of fabric and make it look good… hmmm   Anyway.. I would definitely recommend this pattern for a quick and easy light jacket.. ;o)

After making this, the sewing machine bug grabbed hold of me, shook really hard and then refused to let go.   So I bought a pants pattern, some fabric and elastic and got with it!  Duh… phooey…bleehhhh…  Since I am truly pear-shaped and measured quite accurately…got the pattern that the measurements called for.. cut the pattern according to said measurements… I was truly disgusted when I found that the said pants looked like I had used Downey on a stovepipe and was trying to wear it… ;o(    So… not one to give up easily.. I cut up a pair of pants that I knew fit me well… drew the pieces off onto muslin with a pencil allowing for a 5/8″ hem and tried again..  Now this time was better but I was trying to use the same fabric from the previous pants… Let’s just say that it didn’t REALLY work…

I have given up… and ordered this book…  How to Make Sewing Patterns by Donald H. McGunn.  It should arrive sometime around the 6th of January.  I’ll let you know how this all turns out… ;o)

Would you like to do some small Block of the Month Quilts ?   I’m thinking this would be a good way for me to grow comfortable with some of the easier quilt block patterns.  What do you think?

Well.. must go.  I hope  your holidays have all been wonderful.  And that your endeavors throughout the coming New Year will all be successful!  ;o)

 

Spinning Again, Knitting Still and I’m Gonna Make Me a Jacket!

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I’ve been slowly working on a hat and some wristlets for a couple of weeks… Funny how other mundane things (like mopping and dinner.. ;o/ ) seem to intrude on the more important things in life.. (like knitting, sewing and spinning..;o)

Back in 2010, son Phil and my wonderful DIL Loretta traveled to Earth Guild in Asheville, NC.  They sent some wonderfully soft and fluffy merino wool that I immediately began to spin.  I knitted Phil a warm  hat to wear in the winter (and this one finally fit comfortably.. ;o) But the peach/orange has been spun, skeined, washed and finally wound into several center pull balls and have patiently waited until I could finally decide what to make from them. I took several pics of the hat when I finished it and I like that it can be worn a couple of different ways.  Just finished the wristlets last night.  If you’ve never used a pair of wristlets under your coat… you just don’t know what you are missing.  They keep the cold from worming it’s way up your coat sleeves.  I had never used them until my DDIL made me a pair.  I accepted them gracefully and thought… “I’ll never use these..hmmm”  And then we had an ice storm and had to go out in it.  Believe me, I seldom go out in the winter without them any more.

The Watch Cap is probably my favorite way to wear any cap.  That extra layer of warmth around the ears is like Christmas every day for me.. ;o)

It can also be worn as a small tam.  This would be good for a stylish college or high school day.  Since I personally look like The Creature From the Black Lagoon in almost any hat or cap, this would have to be for someone else to wear..lol

I have the pattern for the wristlets written down and will try to get them up as a free pattern in the next day or two… but don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t happen until after Christmas.. lol  I have wonderful intentions.. you do understand.. ;o)  Please bear in mind that the wristlets were just finished last night and have not been washed and blocked yet..

Finally decided to try my hand back at the spinning wheel.  Since the discovery of the labrum tear in my right hip (and the light bulb understanding of why it hurt to spin..duhhh)  I have been reluctant to spin very much since I have a single treadle wheel and use my right foot to spin.  Finally, following the several times given advice from my buddy Pat, I went to Serenity Day Spa and had Brian do his magic massage on my right shoulder and hip.  Amazing is the only way I can describe it.  Release from pain is a wonderful thing.  The labrum tear of the hip and the bursitis of the shoulder are still there, but the pain is so far diminished that it truly is like magic!  And it’s wonderful to be able to spin again.

Now.. I’m gonna make me a jacket.. today.  Pat and I spent some time yesterday at JoAnn’s and I found this pattern, this plush for the jacket and this print for the edging… I can’t wait to see it finished…

I’m really anxious to get my sewing machines out.  I guess that crafting cycle calling for sewing has hit once again…lol  We’ll see how long this one lasts.. ;o)

Must go now and get something done around here or none of my hobby’s will get done.. ;o)  So… if I’m not back on here before the Holidays…

I hope all of you have the Merriest of Christmases and the Happiest of New Years…. and may the Joy of the Season last all year for you!

Busy week… Great Refrigerator Cookie Recipe

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It rained yesterday evening.  A good, solid downpour for about 30 minutes and then a steady, softer rain until after I went to bed.   I do love the rain.

I’m still working on how to get my book covers to work with the cds.. ;o/  I’ve made several now and love the way all my cds are bound, but I really need a more solid binding.  Been looking into that and will deal with it a little more later.

Decided to do a little  cooking..  About a week ago the cranberries were calling my name.  And an orange.  And a cinnamon stick…  Cranberry sauce for the holidays!

Yesterday I decided to make some grape jelly.    I’ve made jelly many times over the last 45 years and it always came out wonderful.  I mean..really.. who could mess it up if you just follow the directions.. Well.. it never pays to think you will never forget..;o/ It seems that it’s been a bit longer than I thought..  I did almost everything wrong and I have no idea if it will really set up… but then I will not complain about having grape syrup for pancakes either.. ;o)

And then there’s the recipe for cookie dough that will keep in the fridge for 2 weeks.. This recipe came from Judy over at   Apron Strings and Other Ties That Bind.   I love it.  I’ve made cookies 3 times over the last 8 days and still have cookie dough left!   This recipe will be a definite keeper in my recipe book.  Thank you, Judy!

I’m sure there’s more and I could go on and on, but since I’m posting at 3:30 in the morning, I think I’ll go sink back in my chair beside the fire and see if I can get a little more sleep.. ;o)  This is one of those things with me.   If I ever wake up, then I’m up for the rest of the night.. ;o)   Then again, there’s a lot to be said for sitting beside the fire and listening to a Kindle audio.. ;o)

Hope you have a great day…

One Million Hits.. How Can I Ever Thank You? !

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A SALUTE TO YOU!

Sometime this evening or late tonight, this blog will have its ONE MILLIONth hit.  I have to say that I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all of you who have visited over the nearly 5 years I have been blogging here.  You have made all of the early morning, bleary eyed typing worth every minute.. ;o)

December 16, 2006 was the very first post on Fabric Follies Two.  Make Your Own Miniature Trees … This post was the first one carried over from my original blog Fabric Follies .  That one   was also a delight for me.  At the time of the change, I was very close to the limit for pictures that WordPress allowed, hence the new Fabric Follies Two.

How to say “Thank You!”..??

I have decided to put the names of everyone who comments between now and Tuesday the 29th of November  into a hat, have my husband draw 3 names out and each will receive a Secret Surprise Gift… but just so it’s not too big a secret, I will post a picture or two in a few days.. ;o)

Thanksgiving is almost upon us.  And what a wonderful time to be thankful for the joy you have brought me.  Thank you.

From our house to your house, may your Thanksgiving be filled with warmth and comfort.

 

 

Christmas Coming… Free Stuff!

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I have no excuse.  Except one.  I found Facebook…. I have spent a huge…HUGE…amount of time on Facebook enjoying the family and extended family that has not been heard from in years…lol 

And suddenly here I am looking down the barrel of Christmas and  having to hurry myself up!

So I got online and looked at one of my new favorite sites and Wow!  Some really cool stuff!

Crafty This and That has some wonderful ideas and lots of printable tags and things….

Have a look… ;o)

Please Get Permission….

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I have put several free patterns that were created by me  up on this site.  They were uploaded with the thought in mind that others j0210200might like to use them.  If they are  used  for personal use… that’s great.  If they are  used  to sell the products ..well… I hope  millions are made,  all the kids are sent to college and that 4th house in Tuscany is available to be bought.  The fact is that those patterns were done easily by me.  I did not have to take a lot of notes, work out all the sizes and combinations that would work for everyone in the universe.  

I put links up to many free patterns.  I do this because I feel that if I enjoy these patterns then my readers will probably enjoy them also.  I have blogged about this before….. These patterns are put out there for our enjoyment.  Some of them are copyrighted.  Some may not be formally copyrighted, but there is such thing as Creative Commons.   If a person feels that they want to use a pattern for profit of any kind…. PLEASE BE SURE TO GET PERMISSION FROM THE CREATOR!   Just because there is  a link to a pattern or a site and the word “free” is used does not mean that it is free for commercial manufacture.  The owner of this site cannot give you permission to use the pattern for profit.  Only the creator can do that. 

It is too sad that the reason for this post is misuse of one of the most popular patterns that is linked to here on Fabric Follies Two.

Those Darn Socks! and Save Handmade!

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I finally finished those socks that I have remade a half dozen times… DH has socksworn them now a few times to sleep in and has pronounced them good, so I guess it was all worth it..lol   Now I will have to get busy and make another “too small” one to match the one that fits me…!

 

savehandmade

 

If you look over to the right in my blogroll you will find a new thing…Large teddy bear with the words “Save Handmade” (just like this one! ).  Both or either of them  will take you to Cool M0m Picks who has a page up regarding the new law Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act.  She has links to several other pages with information and places to write to see if we can do something about this.  Please pop over and have a look…

Flu? Illegal to sell hand made baby booties?

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I know it has been a while since I posted…life got a bit busy, then of all christmas2008things, DH came down with something like the flu… now I have it.   And have had it for 4 days or so…  I promise more posts soon, but will have to feel a bit like I may live before I get up the impetus to be able to think and type at the same time..lol

In the meantime…check out this article from the Tulsa, OK newspaper…  I hate to think that it will be illegal to sell our hand made baby booties in our Etsy shops or online stores….

http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?s=9583510

Let  me know what you think…

Pam Kellogg… New Inspirational Format

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For some time I have blogged about how much I love the embroidery patterns designed by Pam Kellogg.   Hers is one of the sites I check most often to see what’s up on my network of  “thread and yarn addicts”…lol…  I was a little worried as weeks on end went by and nothing was posted on her site!  Then one day there it was…ta da… a note that said that she was no longer designing professionally, but was re-formatting her site as an inspirational site. 

copyright © Pam Kellogg

copyright © Pam Kellogg

It’s now called Kitty and Me presents Illuminate .. I love it.  You should drop over and say hello and look at her wonderful work.  She still has the occasional free stitching pattern and the eye candy makes my mouth drool.   While you are there, click on her icon for her Etsy shop.  She has put many of her stitch designs for crazy quilt seams into a book that is available now in her shop. 

Have a look….