Monday, September 30, 2019

1st Twin Quilt Houston Furniture Bank

Lots going on and instead of a report, how about looking at my 1st quilt for the Houston Furniture Bank? In 2020 I will be organizing sewers to help me give them twin quilts for their initiative No Kids on the Floor.  They give a twin bed to families (who qualify) so children aren't sleeping on a floor.

My goal is to downsize my fabrics; nothing new in (unless it is a donation).  I won't even be buying thrifted clothes to use (well, maybe).  I really am looking forward to sewing with abandon without any preconceived plans or strict rules.  My philosophy will be all fabrics go together; honoring the Mighty Scrap Quilt!  Pulling the vintage fabrics first.  Lots of them in this quilt but they seem to work well. 












Monday, September 16, 2019

Thrifting & The Crimson Vagabond Roadshow

One of my weekly meetings takes me in the general vicinity of a few thrift stores; one being the outlet bins.  I wouldn't drive from my house to the bins because when it is all said and done, there's no guarantee they will have any fleece blankets & it's far enough away to take both gas and time.  Right now fleece blankets are top of my thrifting list.

Which is why I came home with this!

It's a sweet vintage cross stitch circa 1980s.  I might have paid about 75¢ for it.  Definitely worth rescuing!  It's a nice addition to my vintage needlework collection. 

As much as I hate to admit it, I might be well stocked at the moment for fleece blankets!  The last big group I bought for $1.50/each and for a large fleece blanket that's a great price.  So, ya know, that keeps the hunt going.  Plus, I will use all of them for the charity quilts.





No photo description available. 
Here's a little improv triangle quilting I stitched on the last quilt.  It marks #46 Finished!  Woot!! 

I'll be spending the majority of the week in my studio sewing.  My schedule looks clear & it's still too hot outside to do much of anything else.

I had an excellent weekend jammin' at The Crimson Vagabond Roadshow.  This is Laura's 7th year producing the Roadshow.  She works all year to make the weekend happen. This year was by far the Best!  So many thoughtful and well executed dance numbers, the club was intimate and appealing & the audience interacted joyfully!  It was just great on so many levels.  I'm really proud of Laura for working her vision!  

Image may contain: 2 people, including Brent Hurter, people smiling, people standing and hat


Image may contain: Debra Dixon and Brent Hurter, people smiling, hat and closeup

My favorite Jam Boss, Mr. B. 
His drum workshops filled immediately.  As part of Hands of Fatima band they really brought down the house for the closing act.  Live music with belly dancers is very invigorating!  Fun!  
One of my friends came with me and she jumped right on the stage and danced  when the audience is asked to join on stage! 

No photo description available.

Please Join the Conversation! 
💬💬💬

Have a Creative Day, Y'All! 


Saturday, September 7, 2019

Pillows for Kids

One of my friends in the church sewing group was chatting with me.  She told me one of our church members had gone down to the border recently.  Apparently people are able to work with immigrants who are finished with their paperwork and are leaving for their next US destination. Most if not all the families leave via bus lines.  There is a very busy bus station near the processing center.  This member felt there was a need for the young children to have a small pillow to take on their trip of a lifetime.  Others agreed and before long a small grass roots movement has evolved.

I told my friend I could sew some pillow covers on my longarm if someone else would trim and stuff them.  She agreed.  So last week I pulled some leftover quilt pieces & fabric scraps for pillow fronts.  I also had some pillow shams I repurposed.

As I was sewing one of the pillow shams I began to think about the journey that sham has taken.
It was one of the patchwork pillow shams popular in the 1990s (I guess).  They were generally hand quilted and so was this one.
If you unstitch the flange, then you can turn the back to the front and sew a new shape.  These pillows are 12 x 16 inches so I was able to make 2 from the one sham.

No photo description available.

This pillow sham was sewn in China & I suspect one person sewed the patchwork and another stitched the hand quilting.  So possibly 2 people made a salary from its construction.
It arrived in the USA.  The importer likely made money on its sale.  The retail store paid someone to sell it.  
It was eventually donated to a thrift store.  When I bought it I helped pay the thrift store's mission and likely some of the salary for sales staff.  Now I've transformed it for 2 Latinx children who are traveling to parts unknown somewhere in the United States.  

Many people have touched this pillow sham sending it along its very useful journey.  All this from a humble pillow sham.  What a story!  I wonder how the Chinese women would feel knowing of its long purposeful journey! 

Image may contain: indoor

My friend was eager to trim and stuff a few of the pieces I gave her!  I'm so glad to see the little pillows come to life!  💗💗

When I use reclaimed clothes and linens for a 2nd purpose I am often pulled into my imagination to figure out their past lives!  

Please Join the Conversation!
💬💬💬

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Wearing a Few Different Hats Lately!

I belong to PEO, an international service organization empowering women through educational opportunities.  We own Cottey College in Missouri and we offer scholarships for advanced degrees to qualified candidates. 

It's time to organize one of our yearly fundraisers and I've been pedal to the metal to help get the background work finished.  We are selling bean soup jars and baskets.  Lots of assembly to be done!

I am new to the group so it's been fun to get to know the other members.  It turns out our President is a Physics professor at a local junior college.  She also is a huge thrifter!  She has a route on her way home from school that includes 7 thrift stores.  😀😀  She's been collecting baskets for us all year long.



One of my dear Oklahoma friends & her husband were in town and we had dinner together last night.  While her husband rested (he has cancer), she hit the local Goodwill and bought a bunch of baskets!  She's also in PEO and loved the idea of supporting another chapter's philanthropic goals. 


I celebrated this baby's 36th birthday this weekend.  Gracious!



Got this Baby street legal!  
Now I can enjoy it more.  
Turns out the tire that kept going flat had a screw lodged in it.  It didn't need to be replaced.  Phew! 


So proud my grass roots movement to give a quilt to a child through Angel Tree (and MDUMC's mission program) this Christmas has reached into a wonderful community of quilters!  I have 41 quilts finished and about 20 waiting to be finish.  Maybe about 15 more promised.  I'm hoping to add 3 to the finished pile today! 

It's truly amazing what a community can do to heal wounds.  I'm so happy to be connected.



Have a Creative Day, Y'All!  

Please Join the Conversation! 
💬💬💬