Some Like to Fish

I watched a couple of fellows fishing the other day.  An adult and a young male, maybe his son or grandson.  They seemed to be having a good time.

I understand there are eels and trout in that river.  It looks like the boy may have got a hit on his line.  I didn't see him pull in anything but then I wasn't watching every minute.

But signs of spring abound around here.  The wind has died down a little and with the warmer days, it doesn't chill one to the bone.  Still, when the sun shines its very nice to go walking.  The rains fall and the grass gets greener.  I think Maine is coming out of its Winter Season.

I hope better day are in store for all of you.  Have a nice day. 

I Believe They are Jonquls, Not Daffodils

I reported that our Daffodils are blossoming yesterday.  I think that was a mistake.
I cut one of the buds and it not only has a hollow stem, but it has a sweet subtle aroma that's not found in Daffodils.

Here's a close-up with a size comparison with a quarter.  Looks like a Jonquil to me after this closer inspection.

I also need a new project so I took this one out of my WIPs box.  Its a leaded rose design and the fabric I'm using is a tone on tone tan fabric to make the best use of the colors of the roses I will choose.  That has not yet been decided.  I have rose fabric to choose today or tomorrow.  Maybe they will be in reds, maybe in rose-colored pinks, maybe in yellows.  We shall see.

Have a good day.

I Think Spring Has Finally Sprung!

This is the 1st day I have seen the miniature Daffodils opening.  There are several little plots of them in our garden bringing bright color and relief from the longgggg winter.

Here is one group beside a set of birches.  They are not normal sized flowers, so I call them miniatures.

Here's a close-up of another group of daffodils.

Another group.  It seems they all wanted to open the same sunny and warmer day.  Until this morning they were closed up and covered with their green calyx.

The sky is so incredibly blue today and that little guy in the branches is, I think, a red-winged blackbird.  He was following Penny and I on our early evening walk and being a noisy little guy.

Yes, I think Spring may have come to Maine at last.  We are expecting temps in the high 50sF and low to mid-60s all this week.  It feels so good to walk in the sunshine when the wind is not blowing hard off the river.

Have a nice day.

'Car Under the Birches' Wall Hanging is Finished.

Its taken me a bit of time since I kept putting it off, but my Cat Under the Birches is finally finished today.

I adore Birch Trees and we have some in our back yard.  I also love all animals, cats included and miss my own that I've lost in the past few years.
This is a tortoiseshell kitty playing under the trees, trying to capture the elusive butterflies among the pretty flowers.
It measures 15 1/2 inches long by 17 1/2 inches wide.  A nice size to place on my front door.

Here is a closer view of the kitty and the butterflies.  It says "Spring" to me and that's what I'm hopng to see around here in Maine soon.

Have a good day.

Measurements For Small Big Pocket Tote

I already showed you how I made it, but here are the measurements I used in case you want them.

Here it is and the finished numbers are:
Tote Bag:
12 inches Wide
10 inches Long
3 inches Deep
Outside Pockets 10 inches Wide
by 8 inches Long

Note, the big pocket piece (honey bees) wraps around from front to back giving you a more solid bottom.

Finished Inside pockets made from doubled fabric are:
9 1/2" Wide
8" Long
This wraps across the bottom as well.

Note:   I cut all my pieces just a bit larger than the desired measures so I can layer them together and cut them all at the same time to get an even cut all around on all of them.
The first step is to layer them batting down first, backing fabric on top of batting right side up, and main fabric right side down and then cut them to the proper sizes given.

Alternate Fabric for the body of the Tote:
Cut 17" Wide by 25" long.  You have to layer your batting, the alternate fabric, and your backing together and cut them to this size.
You will need 2 pieces of fabric (Alternate fabric and Backing fabrics) and the batting.

Big Pocket Fabric in your Main fabric choice:
Cut 11" Wide by 20" Long
Repeat with the 3 layers once again as you did with the Alternate trio.

Inside Pocket fabric can be any choice you like, from a muslin to the main fabric to the alternate or anything in between.  It is, after all, inside the tote.
You need only two pieces the same cut since no batting is used in these inside pockets.
Cut 2 pcs. 10" Wide by 17" Long

Handle Fabric you need four strips (2 fabrics for each of the 2 handles) and 2 pieces of batting.
Cut 19" Long by 2 1/2" Wide
Note:  I cut them all a bit wider and longer and then cut them to the size I wanted.

In all cases where there is batting involved in the piece, you layer them:
Batting down on the table first
Backing fabric right side up.
Main fabric or Alternate fabrics (for Big Pocket or Tote itself) right side down.
Pin them together and sew a quarter inch seam all around, leaving about a 4" opening along the sides for turning..
Turn right-side out thru the opening, and press.  Stitch the openings closed.
Note:  I do NOT cut the points off my corners before turning.  I find that for me my points are sharper when uncut.

Remember when you have all your pieces and layers sewn together and turned right side out, (as above) you need to quilt your  2 layered pieces (the tote bag and the big pockets pieces).

I do not quilt the handles. I just stay stitch all around about a quarter inch from the outsides to reinforce the handles and give them strength, being sure to sew over the open end on both handles.

Gussets:   Are what make the depth of the bag.  You can make them any width you prefer and they are sewn after you sew the side seams of the tote bag together.

I hope the instructions are clear and some of you can use them.  I did this one in 2 days.  I could have finished it in one in my younger days but I can't sit at my sewing machine for more than a few of hours a day.

Have a good day.

Finished My Small Big Pocket Tote

I just needed to get working on this once the idea was planted in my head.  So I did.

Here are all my pieces.  The blues, both of them, are layered with batting and backing and sewn right sides together, then turned.  The inner pockets are doubled tea pot blue and white fabric, (no batting) and sewn the same way.   The handles are layered with batting and turned like the other 3-layer pieces.

Here all the layered bits are quilted before I start putting them together.

The inner pockets are marked with pencil for registration marks so I know where to sew my center line to attach it in the right place inside my bag and where to sew my pocket seams after I decide which sizes I want, depending on their purpose.

I place the handles on the bag and sew them in place BEFORE I sew down the outside pocket (the honey bee fabric).

After the outside big pocket is sewn in place, its time to fold the bag right sides together so I can stitch the outside seams on the bag.

Then its time to determine what width you want your bag which means you make gussets on both bottom ends.  For mine I liked 3 inches.  I sew them twice.

The bottom looks like this when the gussets are sewn and the bag is turned right side out.

I filled my small tote with the necessities I take when I go shopping from water thermos to tissue to sunglasses, etc.  Whatever I need to bring, it can fit in this new tote.

Here is my finished tote with a paperback book tucked into one of the outside big pockets.  I even have some shopping totes folded in my bag.  I'm ready to shop tomorrow.

Have a good day.

"Cat Under the Birches" WH is Satin-Stitched at This Point

I am making inroads with this wall hanging.  
I designed a smaller quilted tote that will fit my needs when I go shopping on the senior bus, and was going to work on that.
Instead, I thought I should get back to the "Cat" and get this finished first.
When I think of a new project, I get so Gung Ho about it and start drawing, designing, planning and put other things aside.  That makes for too many UFOs, Unfinished Objects.  I want to lessen my pile.

I changed my method a little.  Instead of outlining the objects with black satin-stitching, I chose other colors in this one; light gray for the birches, green for the leaves on the tree.  I still outlined the cat and the butterflies in black so they would stand out more.
I may go this route with future projects as well.
Now its decision time on choosing the border for this wall hanging.

Have a nice day.

It Was a Lazy Day for Me Today

I did something to my left hip probably sitting wrong while sewing yesterday.  Anyway, it hurts.  Made walking a bit difficult today so dog and I had shorter walks and came indoors faster than usual.  Nice and sunny out today, in the low 40sF but those winds sure are gusty and cold.

I made myself some pepper steak sandwiches (with enough for another meal), and had defrosted pizza dough but didn't feel like bothering to make pizza so opted for pizzals (Italian fried dough) instead.

 I cut the pizza dough into 18 pretty even pieces after shaping the dough into a long narrow loaf and letting it rest for a half hour.  Pressed them down on my cutting board with my fingers and let them sit and rise for an hour.

After the hour they had risen a little but enough.

Dropped them gently into about an inch of hot veggie oil to cook.  They rose quite a bit more with the heat from the oil.   When they turned brown around the outside edges, I turned them over to cook on the other side.

Removed them to layers of paper towels to drain off the excess oil.

Sprinkled some with cinnamon sugar and others with granulated sugar.  Powdered sugar works well, also.  Shook off the excess granulated sugar to allow some on the reverse side.

These fried dough rolls are a lot lighter than those one gets at carnivals and county fairs.  They puff up light as a feather.   Mmmmm good!

Have a nice Day.

"Cat Under the Birches" New Name New Color Tacked Down

Decisions, Decisions are always tough for me but I finally made what I consider the right one.
I found some fabric that reads a bit like tortoiseshell for cats.

I think this fabric works well for a cat.  Sort of like a tortoiseshell coloring for my feline.  This way you can see the facial features clearer. I added small limbs and some leaves to the birches.  And butterflies the cat can check out.

Here's a closer view of the cat and the butterflies.

There's still lots of stitching to be done but this shows what the wall hanging will look like generally.

Now I'm aching from sitting at my sewing machine so I will take a break and watch the Red Sox game that I recorded today.  Last I checked, they were winning.

Its 46*F and sunny.  A nice day except for the winds that can get quite gusty.

Have a nice Day.

"Kitten Under the Birches" is Presenting Some Problems

I felt really good today so I sat at my sewing machine and worked on a wall hanging, one I really like.
Then the problem arrived.   The Kitten.

I liked the black fabric I chose but it doesn't seem to work for this subject  The more I look at it.....

.......the more it looks like a species of skunk, instead of cat.

I have three other choices I can use.  This is number one which is a gray on gray.

Number two is dark gray patches on light gray, though getting the dark patches in the right places may be too complicated.   The kitten isn't very large.    Mmmmmm.

Number three is black on black and I think would look good in this space.
The contrast of a dark cat would work better than a lighter one, as in white or yellow I think.

Decisions, Decisions have to be made before I continue this wall hanging.

While I ponder this decision, I think I'll read a bit and plan to watch the Red Sox.  They won again last night, their opening home game.  Hooray!

Have a nice day.

March Winds Blowing in April

March came in like a lion and remains a lion.  Its April yet the winds are still blowing.

Some of the plants are breaking thru with greenery.

Yet as you can see, the winds are still blowing the clothes on the line.

At our front entry way we still have winter berries and greens in the planters with snow on the ground and the rhododendrons still crinkled with cold.

I know they are having it worse in the western states, but enough is enough.  I want spring blooms, not snow covering the ground.

Have a nice day.

I Have Two Projects in The Works

I have to keep busy with sewing projects, and my mind works overtime thinking of things I can make.  At the moment I have two on the boards....

This is Stallion Thru a Barn Door which is basically a panel fabric with barn floor and barn door sides to frame it.  Its quite large but I have a special place for this one.  I have another idea or two percolating with this one so its been set aside for now.

The second one is Kitten Under the Birches but at this point, I only have fabric chosen.

Here is the drawing I made for it.

These are the background, foreground, and birch tree fabrics chosen thus far.

Today is a very rainy day.  We don't expect any relief for several hours.  Its shower after shower after shower with some stoppage in between.  A nice day to stay indoors and read.  With the day being so gray, working on my sewing projects isn't high on my list due to the lack of natural light I prefer when working on these projects.  I see reading as my main project for my day today.

Have a nice day.

In Honor of Daisy, a Wonderful Golden Retriever

I have known Daisy since she was eight weeks old and could fit into a Xmas stocking that long ago December in 2004.
Such a wonderful little darling Golden retriever.  Smart.  Loving.  Loyal.  Kind.
She was with us for 13 wonderful years but alas, she made her trip over the Rainbow Bridge last month after a long struggle with ill health.
I still miss her and get tears welling up thinking about her over the years.

She was the dog that broke trail for my short-legged corgi every winter.  She loved a good roll in the snow.

She was the one that protected my Penny from all the goblins and wild creatures that lurked out in the woods around our house.

Winter's cold and ice did not deter our Daisy with her thick winter coat.

I know your pal Penny misses you when those Arctic winds blow and the snow piles up higher than her hips.

We miss you Daisy!

I Made Steak Pizziola and Meatballs For Easter.

Its Easter Sunday and while most folks are making stuffed turkeys and chickens and ham, I cooked Italian.

For Steak Pizziola one browns steak a bit in a Dutch oven, then adds tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes or roasted tomatoes, as one desires,  with it complimentary spices, to simmer for about 2 to 3 hours.

 I cover the bottoms of baking pans with oil and a few crushed pieces of garlic and into the oven they go at 350*F while I am mixing my favorite meatball mixture.  When the balls are formed, I remove the partially cooked garlic from the pans and place my meatballs in them.  Back in the oven go the baking pans with meatballs turned at least once until they are browned and cooked.

The meatballs join the steak in the Dutch oven, the pot is covered once again, and it simmers away for another half to a full hour, depending on your taste.

The sauce, of course, is your favorite recipe.  This all goes well over a plate of al dente spaghetti with crusty Italian bread.

I hope everyone had a very fine and Happy Easter.