On Thursday a group of bloggers link with LeeAnna of Not Afraid of Color to share lists of things that fill them with gratitude or bring them joy.
It’s always fun to read what others are sharing. my post is late because it was quilting day at my Guild.
It was an interesting day because we also had a work party scheduled to put everything back in to our old shed behind our Guild which we just had restored. We also did an inventory of the equipment as it was going back in to the shed.
This gave me a chance to take stock of the goods we are beginning to stockpile for our fundraiser next year. We are raising money to put new industrial flooring in our building. The last few years have pretty much worn out the flooring (hot plates for dyeing burns, acid spills from one craft or another, etc.). It already looks like the fundraiser will be a good one! 😉
Today while quilting I worked on my hexie project. It’s beginning to take shape quite nicely.
I also finished my first weaving project; a fun little rag rug. I’ve decided I love weaving so I need to find a few more projects to do on the small loom before I tackle one on the big LeClerc floor loom.
“LeeAnna provided us with a prompt to write about other crafts (beyond sewing/quilting) that we do or used to do.”
My weaving seems to tie in with this theme. I also enjoy knitting and crochet, and have made a variety of projects; socks, toques, baby hats (for our Guild’s Purple Hat project), slippers, and shawls. Now that our calendar says September it’s time to sort through my wool stash to see what I have that I’d like to work with. I will confess to having a wool stash as well as a fabric stash; neither of which is very large. They will both likely be used up before I pass away. 😁 I do know some of the grands need new socks and a BIL has requested some slippers. 😉
I also enjoy painting using oil and acrylic paint, but really prefer playing with watercolours. I like to use both watercolour pencils and paint when I do. I went looking to find some photos of some of my work, but none are available in digital form.
Over the years at my Guild I have tried spinning with a wheel and a drop spindle. I have taken classes in Pine basket making, felting, bookmaking, punch hooking, garment making, natural dyeing and am looking forward to seeing what we have offered this fall and winter.
I think my love of crafting began when I was young, making doll furniture out of cardboard boxes and toilet paper rolls. A couple of years (decades) ago I taught my daughter, granddaughter and then all the littles how to craft cardboard doll furniture. We had more fun as more supplies were readily available; peel and stick paper, glue guns, and Nana’s Scrap Bins .
I used to spend a lot of time gardening and canning my produce. With DH’s allergies and food dislikes, I’m still adjusting to a limited diet. We don’t have garden space here so I only get to indulge that passion when I am visiting family or friends.
Some of my favourite time with my son’s family is what was a fall trip (pre-pandemic) to the farm. Their garden is almost 2 acres so we would fire up the wood stove in the summer kitchen and spend days canning. Have you ever smelt or tasted garlic, roasted in a good olive oil in a wood stove oven? There is nothing better.
My DIL is allergic to tomatoes. We can lots for my son and granddaughters and make a faux tomato sauce with beets for my DIL. Both the tomato and faux tomato sauce is made with garden veggies; tomato’s (or beets), celery, peppers, onions and garlic. My secret ingredients for the sauce is a couple of finely chopped apples (sweetens the sauce and cuts the acidity) and grated carrots and zucchini. I started adding the extra veggies when my kids were young because my son (whose farm I now go to) was a very fussy eater and didn’t like veggies, but loved spaghetti with meatballs and or sauce.
I love this time of year with the cooler temperatures. Unfortunately we have a couple of rather large bears hanging around so I’m not able to get out much for walks. Soon though the snow will start falling and I’ll be able to walk to my Guild again.
Today we started to plan a trip to visit DH’s sister in law and her hubby in Idaho and DH says he thinks we should do the Pacific Coast Highway this fall as well. It is one of the bucket list items we have in common. The fall colour change is something I’ve always wanted to see. We both are realizing after this past year especially that it is time to do some of these things while we can. 😉
Here are some photos of firsts for some of my littles:
Thank you for stopping by my blog. 😉 Carol
Quilt Schmilt 
I would imagine taking a walk with bears may not be as relaxing – haha! My aunt wrote up a recipe for me as part of a shower gift, noting on the recipe that she always cut up the onion really small so her kids didn’t know it was in the recipe – haha! You have some lovely projects!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so right Wendy! I once was 3 feet away from a Grizzly and prefer not to meet a big black bear on the trails. Hiding veggies in the food works if it’s got enough herbs and spices 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yikes! That would be scary!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was! 😦
LikeLike
The possible bear encounters are definitely a walking deterrent. You do so many other fun crafts – I mostly sew, but some knitting and card making is new to my list (or collection is more accurate). Fun to see your first weaving projecct. I love the stories about canning all the good things – I have never done that – nothing my mother or grandmother ever did.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Kathleen. My mother was my canning teacher so it’s nice to pass it on to one daughter in law, granddaughters and my daughter. I’ve never really done card making but might need to look at trying it. Weaving could become an addiction but I need to consider my space limitations so projects might only happen at the Guild 😉
LikeLike
Hi Carol! Oh Ruby and her first dance class!! I love that picture. Her and Addi have that in common – I hope she loves it. Your Guild looks so inviting. What a great fundraiser idea. I hope you get a lot of traffic when the sale is held. Yikes about the bears! You don’t want to mess with them. Your weaving is wonderful. That is something I would like to get into and then make some rugs for my home. Take care, my friend. {{Hugs}} a bunch. ~smile~ Roseanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Roseanne. Apparently Ruby loved it as much as Addi does! Our fundraiser is usually very well attended and it usually is very successful financially. Weaving is definitely fun and something I would like to pursue. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I knew you were a talented lady – but wow! have you ever done a lot of different crafts!
You’ll have to let me know when your guild sale is … perhaps we could plan our trip to Alberta around it!
Enjoy the Pacific Coast hwy!! There isn’t a lot of colour (like on the east coast), but the beaches – especially in Oregon are wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Gail. It has been fun trying different crafts. Our sale is usually the last weekend in April and is so much fun with fabric, notions, wool, garden plants, equipment and a lovely tea room. It would be great to have you visit then.
I’ve travelled the PCH in spring and summer but always wanted to do the trip in the fall. I enjoy travelling more then than in the heat of summer. Oregon is such a pretty State. 😉
LikeLike
Carol I love your posts so much! That Guild building and setting is so pretty, and so exciting you can walk to it! Well, the bears don’t sound too exciting. Little Ruby on her tiptoes is so cute, and Grace and her landscaping – lol! Flynn looks quite grownup. Your little rug is tempting me to try weaving – I must get my squirrel blinders on. I have always put a little sugar in my spaghetti sauce, and that is how my family prefers it – I will try your apples instead! Putting in carrots and zucchini is a great idea. I’m so glad you get to make some pleasure trips!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Linda. I’m glad to hear you enjoy reading of my life and family on my blog. Weaving is fun and very addictive. Can’t you just imagine the fun of creating some linen placemats or a runner? 🐿️
Using the apples was a tip I learned from a wonderful Italian neighbour in Winnipeg back when my daughter was a baby. It helps the sauce to thicken as well as adding the hint of sweet and cutting the acidity. She also showed me how to use Italian sausage instead of ground beef in the sauce. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Magic beans. lol. So many great knitting projects. Those socks look really comfy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Sally. Coffee really is the nectar of the gods (with tea being a close second). The socks are comfy and warm, but I think I’m ordering my socks from Prairie Spirit Alpacas this year. 😉. Scarfs , knitted and then deleted slippers and toques will likely be on this years list for a few gifts for some people. Turned heels drive me crazy. 😜
LikeLike
I love your rag rug!!! I would love to learn how to do that. Do you own your own loom or is it in your guild’s awesome shed? Did you use old T-shirts? I’ve heard you can. You’ve got quite a lot of hobbies/crafts even if some have fallen by the wayside. We love “magic beans” in this house also! hahaha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sue. My Guild has a LeClerc floor loom and the smaller table loom which is what I used for my rug. Yes it is recycled T-shirts. We are at my DH’s sister in laws place right now and I’m enjoying some of those magic beans in a wonderful latte. Thank you for your comment 😉
LikeLike