May 2023

 Warning: Loads of photos!!

Hi everyone! Well, it's been a very long time since I've posted. Good grief, where did the time go?!

I've been quite busy doing all sort of things. I'll do a show and tell to show what's been going on in my life.

First, I'm sure you all have seen this quilt. I entered it in our local county fair. It won best of show and then went to the Houston Stock Show. And now it's on the way to the Houston Quilt Show this November. I couldn't believe it and am very humbled by the whole thing.

See all that smoke.....it from piles of old hay that had to be burned before Mr. Cowboy can disk up the field so that more grass grows.  I was in charge of watching that field to make sure that the fire didn't get out of hand.  How I got roped into that is beyond me.....sigh!!

March 23, 2023 came around so I made a "junk journal" for the occasion. Sorry I didn't take pictures of the inside. Maybe another time.

These lily types are what in my little flower garden this spring. The hummingbirds love them but they really love the sugar water......hehehehehehehehehehehehe!

Junk Journal time..... I've gotten hooked on making junk journals. What are junk journals, you may ask? Junk Journals are eclectic & unique handmade journals using recycled & found materials. To enhance your journal, you can add ephemera, which are that are enjoyed for only a brief period of time. The purpose of Junk Journals are for recording your travels, field notes, diaries, drawing/art or whatever one can think of and enjoy.

Whew! That was a mouth full. So here's a project I've been working on for a couple of months. I loving writing little stories and those old Penny Dreadfuls. I decided to incorporate a short clip along with my journal. 

"Monsters & Lace"

This is the front cover.

I made this dangle and attached it to the back spine. I love the sounds it produces when I handle it.

This is a fold out journal with many places to write or draw.

You can see some of the ephemera (things to take notes one or draw) in this photo.

More places to write.

I even added part of me.....heheheheheh

Here's a list of all the wonderful tutorials from YouTube:  I warn you, these tutorials are addictive. Watch at your own risk!!

Scrapbooking With Me Crafts
Melina Pylant
Made by Martha
Sevenplaza
PinkMonarchPaints
SparkBird Studios
The Paper Outpost
Treasure Books
Nik the Booksmith
Bohemian Crafting
Tonya Samuels
Paper Terrace
Cori Dahmen

 

Scrapbook Christmas Gift

 I did take a photo of the cover just in case my Secret Pal goes surfing my blog. This is what I've added in the last couple of days. I need to stop because the Junk Book is getting to fat....hehehehehe!

Most of my ideas so far have come from Pat at The Paper Outpost and Natasha at Treasure Books.

Joyce Carter sent me a link to fabric and memories. (Thanks sooooooo much Joyce...this from Mr. Cowboy.....cause I kind of threw you under the bus for giving me the link). I managed to save the link to my bookmark pages before Mr. Cowboy blew his top. I think he was really a bit hungry so I fixed him a quick snack.  Anyway, look at these cute tiny envelops. They are so cute & very simlpe to make.

These tags were fun and quick to make as well.

On this page I threw in a little pocketbook calendar for 2023.

And finally, I made a dangly thingy for the back spine. I'm going to call it quits......maybe.

Remember, for some reason your comments do not show up in my email......trust me I've tried everything. So I've gone to responding in my comments. And thanks you all for the warm comments. I read each one as often as I can.

Scrapbook Squirrel

 

Hi everyone!! First of all I want to give a big thank you to Pam from The Paper Outpost (she's on YouTube) for introducing me to "Junk Scrapbooking!"  Then there's Natasha from Treasure Books (also on YouTube) & Curio By B-Spoke Designs (sorry I've not caught his name & he's on YouTube as well).

Today I was working on 3 cover pages from Natasha.

Here are the 3 sets of items I pulled out to work on.  At one point Mr. Cowboy came in needing breakfast.....sign!!!!!!

    

And then here they are all glued down. I really love how they all turned out and the tutorial was easy to follow. I did pause and rewind many, many times though.  I may add more another day but at this point I've worn myself out!!

Squirrel Continued

 Let's get into it.......

So here's my first doodle attempt....sorry I didn't take a better photo. It's an eye. I'm going to like this "Doodler" design program now that I understand and have practiced. The online facebook group is a fantastic resource when ironing out what to do.

The hankie folding is coming along. I just need to be more precise. The great thing about this process is if you mess up all you need to do is press out the folds and start over!!

Did I mention that I'm now into Junk Journaling?! Love it already but my head is spinning with so many ideas.  These make great stocking stuffers. 

I've had to use a timer so that I can work on the journaling then the hankies and the doodling.....LOL.

Oh yea, I need to get in some actual quilt block time too. So many projects...so little time.

Mr. Cowboy just walks by my sewing room and shakes his head.

What are some of your stocking stuffer favorites??

Two or Three Squirrels

 Hi everyone!!

Well, I don't know what has happened....oh yes I do.....youTube happened. I was stitching along on my be attitude blocks when suddenly late one night I saw this

Design Doodler! And of course they were doing a wonderful sale pitch and I fell for it hook, line & sinker......(I'm doing a happy dance here!)

I uploaded it on my iPad and laptop & have been s-l-o-w-l-y learning the process.  Hopefully coming soon.....something embroidered out.....fingers crossed.

The second squirrel was when I stumbled across handkerchief dress blocks. Now this is not a handkerchief, it's fabric and my attempt to fold as instructed. Sigh.....I'll get the hang of it because I've already orders some handies from Amazon!!!!

Finally, sorry about this hazy photo. This was attempt making a pound cake using butter milk. Mr. Cowboy loved it and so did some of my cousins. So I'm off to bake another for my seniors group.

What have you guys been up to lately?  Leave me a comment and I will respond in the comments as well.

FYI

Hi Everyone!  First let me tell you that I will try to respond to your comments via on the post comments. I have tried to respond via email but alas......it hasn't worked....sigh. So check back on occasion to view the comment area.

Now to the FYI 

These are the gloves I use when handling raw chicken, pork, fish, etc.  Why I did about using gloves before Covid.....well it's just one of those Duh moments. Any gloves will do but I like the thickness and less breaking at the fingernail area. Amazon carries these. 

Finally, one of my wacky sisters was sitting in this lounge-rocker at a retreat. Of course I saw it, sat in it and had to have one.  Amazon, again was the answer.  Love mine!!

Mr. Cowboy says I need to stay off the Amazon website but for some reason I can't seem to hear what he's saying......hehehehehehe!!

October 31, 2022 & Progress

 Hi everyone!!

I've managed to get some stuff done and I get to post!!!

First up....."Trunk or Treat"  We got together at your local community center last night. The children were running around all sugared up and having a blast.  This activity is a substitute for the door to door celebration which has become dangerous for children.

I wanted to show y'all this product because it is fantastic in the wash for "whites!"  Do not put it in hubby's work jeans or denims or.....well. there's no need for me to get into any further details!!!!!

I think you've already seen this quilt from years ago. I finally got it quilted and then FINALLY got the binding on.....whew!  It is going to be donated to my ladies community group.

I decided to do another Be Attitude from Art to Heart. At this point, I'm thinking it will take a bit of time.

October 20, 2022

 Good heavens.......I've not been posting so quite some time. Here's a bit of what I've been doing in not certain order.

My community group hosted a car show. It was so much fun. The white Chevy truck took first place.

I won Best in Show and Go Texan at our County Fair. My quilt will go to Houston sometime in 2023.

Our church did a picnic in the the cemetery which sounds weird but we all had a blast fellowshipping and having lunch.

Look at this beautiful bloom!!

I went out to my jeep one morning and looked at the back window and observed this image. A bird obviously had flown into the window and left a perfect in flight image of itself.  Priceless!!!

Texas morning weather back in August. That's fog.

Me & the wackies at retreat.  I know we look at bit crazed but we were laughing so hard I'm surprised the photo came out pretty good.

Finally, here are two blocks from my latest or should I say first endeavor in many, many months.