Monday, November 25, 2013

Checking Off Another UFO


This is the stocking I made for an internet swap. I hope my swap partner likes it and the things I put inside!
It's also an item on my UFO list that I was able to check off! The stocking has been mailed and will soon bring surprises to a friend. The lace cuff at the top is upcycled from some vintage clothing. I think the pieces were the cuffs on a lady's blouse or dress. The yoyos are embellished with jingle bells on one side and a red button on the other.I'm glad my cat didn't locate the stocking. He would have loved the dangling jingle bells!

This month I've been the hostess of a GardenWeb swap. It's rather unusual because I made football the theme. Better still, the group seems to be enjoying the theme! There certainly is a lot of football discussion here in South Carolina. The Clemson-Carolina will be played on Saturday and both teams have done so well this year.

I have more Christmas stockings to complete and will try to finish them and add a picture soon!

Friday, November 22, 2013

Winter Sowing with the Master Gardeners




Yesterday I gave a talk on Winter Sowing to the Master Gardeners. Winter Sowing is one of my favorite things to do. One of the members brought this beautiful bouquet for the refreshment table and I got to take it home. Isn't it full of sunshine? The yellow flowers are cassia, which I think I should include in my yard when I do some more planting.

If you are interested in Winter Sowing, there is quite a bit of information online. Here are the web sites that I shared with them.



Winter Sowing Organization
Trudi Davidoff
WinterSown Educational Organization
An AgNIC Partner (Agriculture Network Information Collaborative)

            Free seed offer: http://www.wintersown.org/wseo1/Free_Seeds.html

Winter Sowing Forum on GardenWeb
Look under the FAQ section for seed recommendations for our planting zone

Winter Sowing Database
http://wintersown.org/wseo1/Seed_Lists.html

This is something you can do in January and February other than to just browse through the seed catalogs that arrive.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

First of the UFO Projects Completed

I explained in the previous post that my quilt guild is once again doing a year long project where we try to complete UFOs. ("Unfinished Objects") Here's the first one on my list that I completed:


These are my own design for flannel burp cloths. I cut the blocks at 4 1/2 inches and then sew 5 rows with 4 blocks in each row, alternating the fabrics between solid and print. They are double sided with the same thing on both sides. They are so soft and some baby (or baby's parents) will love them.

I also noticed that I had some roses in bloom yesterday. I think they are trying to show off for the last time this year. I suspect soon it will be too cold for them and I won't see more roses until Spring. I hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Trying to Get Myself Back on Track

It has been a long summer and start of fall with my illness and surgery, but I'm beginning to get myself back on track. My quilt guild is helping. We had to turn in a list of the UFO's we expect to complete from this month through Oct. 2014. As usual, my list is long! Somehow having that list makes me do more than I would without having it. I'll try to remember to post things here as I complete them so you can see my progress. Today I am working on my Scrappy Trip Around the World blocks and a set of flannel burp cloths. Once the fabric comes in I need to work on a quilt for my new granddaughter who will make her appearance early next year and I need to make 6 Christmas Stocking for this Christmas, too.

My UFO's

Quilt for New Granddaughter
Swartz Creek Quilt
Monastery Windows Quilt (from Birthday Blocks)
Coffee Theme Birthday Block Quilt (Birthday Blocks)
GardenWeb Round Robin Quilt
Pink and Brown Irish Chain Tablerunner 
Pineapple Blossom Quilt (also from Birthday Blocks)
USC – Gamecock Quilt (Birthday Blocks)
4 Patch Swirl
Patriotic Quilt
Mystery Quilt from Class at White Oak
Chocolate Ripple Quilt
Dutch Puzzle Quilt

Now the list is much longer than that and can you tell I've gotten behind on completing Birthday Block quilts? Yes, I only have one birthday a year!


The other part to me trying to get back on track is that when I bought my horse in January I had said I would be the one to take care of her - morning and evening feeding, cleaning her stall, keeping fresh water in her bathtub (not for bathing, for her it's for drinking.) All of that got sidetracked while I was sick and my husband had to be the fill in. I am just starting back with horse care, so I hope I don't get sidetracked again. I'm returning to it just in time for early darkness and cold temperatures. I am not too fashion minded when I head to the barn. My husband keeps threatening to take a picture of me, but he wouldn't dare.

Well, that was my break from sewing. Everyone have a good day!

Monday, November 4, 2013

Travel Like a Millionaire

You know sometimes Etsy teams are like potato chips - you can't have just one! After I opened my shop on Etsy I began joining teams. They are helpful and a nice place to get acquainted with one another. It's also a way of advertising. Many of us share our listings on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.

In May of this year I decided to form my own team and became an "Etsy Captain." You've probably read about that team - Celebration Times. In fact, that team has its own blog! Right from the start we've had friendly, active, and enthusiastic members. We focus on all kinds of celebrations: birthdays, weddings, new babies, holidays - and anything and everything for those occasions (cards, gifts, decorations, etc.) I created the team because in searching Etsy (and I believe there are over 8,000 teams right now), I couldn't find anything quite like it.

Now here's the potato chip part to this - I started a second team a few months later. It's Passport to the World and came about because I couldn't find another team that did what I wanted this team to do. It's for any Shop on Etsy that sells things reflecting other countries and cultures or items that would be useful for travelers... and it's even for shop owners or shoppers who simply love to travel or day dream about traveling. We get to experience travel through the games and treasuries created by the team. Our members are from around the world and have so many interesting and beautiful items. Here's a link to the team if you would like to check it out.

https://www.etsy.com/teams/18381/passport-to-the-world

Finally I am getting to the title of this post: Travel Like a Millionaire. We sometimes have a theme to the treasuries we make and this month I decided to list this topic.

What would it be like to travel if you were a millionaire?
What would you see?
Where would you go?
How would you get there?
What would you buy as a souvenir?

I'm sure some of this we might not be able to imagine. However, it's been fun to look at the luxurious side of travel and there are cetainly items on Etsy that might reflect that feel.The two treasuries I've made for that heading so far include a handmade crown, a collection of antique works by Rudyard Kipling from 1909, a Tiffany pillbox made of sterling silver, a patchwork quilt made with rich colors and metallic gold, and a journal encouraging you to "let out your inner princess."  There's so much fun there! As I say in my comments though, the most important thing about travel is getting to see those special places and it's even better if we get to see them with people who are dear to us!

I don't have any million dollar travel items in my shop, but I'll share these interesting operetta books called librettos that reflect another time and another place. I frequently get to do research when I go through boxes of treasures that have been stored away many years ago by my family and you'll see that here.


These are two Grand Opera Librettos: Aida by Verdi and Lucia di Lammermoor by Donizetti. Edwin F. Kalmus Orchestra Scores in New York published these. A libretto contains the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera. Grand Opera was a genre of the 19th-century, generally in four or five acts, characterized by large-scale casts and orchestras, and lavish and spectacular design and stage effects. Normally the plots were based on or around dramatic historical events.

These librettos come with the Italian text and the English translation. A summary of the story and the characters is at the beginning of each. Lucia di Lammermoor has a setting in Scotland in the 18th century. The libretto is 31 pages in length. Aida takes place in Egypt. The libretto is 42 pages in length. Some of the music from the opera is also included towards the back of the librettos.

Now I'll be in the mood to travel to some distant place. I would love to visit Egypt and Scotland. Maybe one day....Maybe I should make a quilt that envokes the feeling of Egypt or Scotland. Now, there's an idea!


Sunday, November 3, 2013

My Shop is Having a Sale

My Etsy shop is having a sale. One week only through to November 10th. Come by to check it out. I have everything from vintage to quilts and quilting supplies.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSandlapperShop

Fabric with Native Flowers of Australia 




Mid-State 1960's Harvest Design Trivets

Granny Square Hand Crocheted Stocking 


"The Sandlapper"

I also have two hand crocheted stockings made in the same pattern that have a camo design: perfect for the hunter, outdoorsman, military service member, or really anyone!
 
There is a coupon code to use when you are checking out in order to get the 10% off. 
Use Coupon Code THANKS10 when making your purchase.

I'm thankful for the Etsy folks who've made purchases from me since my shop opened last May and really enjoy all my Etsy supporters and friends.