Sunday, November 28, 2010

Tweeking in Progress!

I picked a bad time to start a new blog, but I'll not be discouraged or whipped.With all the goings on around this place, on a regular day,it's hard to keep one's sanity.Now with Halloween and Thanksgiving over, and Christmas, right around the corner,and let's not forget the birthdays and anniversaries. Oh, how I wish I had a secretary. Oops!I made that mistake once before. Be careful what you wish for, or at least make it very clear, just exactly what you mean.I didn't mean one of those little black pocket type things that you must spend hours programing and setting up. That's what I got that year for Christmas, and it's sitting in a drawer somewhere. That was one gift, I wish I had not asked for,but it is a gift, and you should be thankful for gifts and deal with it.I just don't have time to give it all the attention it needs, to do it's job properly. It has boocoodles of bells and whistles to remind you of various things(if you take time to set it up.)Maybe I should have wished for Time(Most likely,I would have gotten a nice watch).
Well, since time is what I need,and that is definitely one thing no one can give you, I guess the next best thing is to tweek my schedule.(And post it everywhere possible,for all to see,)
On days when I am here alone, I can get so much done(if my biorhythm is on the upswing in the physical aspect of it).But it's the luck of the draw as to whether that will happen. I have days when my energy level is over the top, then days where it's crashed to the bottom with no hope of coercing it to any other level.

I got a little feed back from my sister over at Nails in My Pocket and she suggested I do a little tweeking to my directions. Specifically,on my post about using woolen fabric for the rolled fabric base in my pincushions.She's right, and I will get back to that, but let me tweek my time schedule a bit, and I promise,I will do better.

(Oh,Vicki,how I wish you could come for a few days or weeks, or maybe months.I sure could use your help.)

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

My Lap Table


As I sit with Pop some evenings, and watch a good western movie, I like to work on some type of craft. Tonight I had a little trouble deciding which craft it would be, I have so many in progress.I kept thinking,If only I had a lap table.Wah-lah!That's my project for tonight.
I had my hands on a board just this week, and I refused to cut it. I needed some small pieces to finish up my cup cupboard,but I felt I could better utilize that nice square piece of wood, better in another way.So I set it aside.
While sorting through some of my fabric stash, I found several large pieces of a corduroy type of fabric, and wondered what in the world I would ever do with that.It was just the thing I needed for my project.
First, I cut a bed pad up to where it fit the board perfectly, top and bottom.It is not necessary to leave any overhanging fabric on the underneath fabric. I glued it securely on both sides of the board.Then I proceeded to make a pillow case type covering for the board from the corduroy fabric. Once I had the pillow case of sorts fitted snugly onto the board, I sewed the opening up completely.I rummaged through my goodies drawers,which is about 6 drawers or so of ribbons,lace,buttons,etc., with the intention of finding an appropriate trim, and hot gluing it around the edges, or doing an embroidery stitch all around it. Instead, I opted to use fabric paint, and make the chicken scratch type stitches that way.I simply made X's all around the edges,since my embroidering is a bit rusty, and it suited me just fine.I used opposing color paint, which in this case was orange on the green fabric. It pleased me just fine, but the choice of colors, fabric and trim would be yours.

When you make your lap table,hot glue a small piece of flat metal(about the size of a quarter will do) on one corner,one on both sides would be better,then no matter which side you had facing up,you'd have a spot to stick you little pin cushion. (a strip of a metal tin can or lid will do)
Check it to be sure the magnet will stick to the metal before gluing it to the board.
They are making everything so much cheaper nowadays.



The whole time I was making the board, I was watching a Christmas program where the family members drew names, and made a handmade gift for the person they had drawn.Even before they spoke of drawing names, I was thinking,while working,Wouldn't it be wonderful to do something like that for Christmas. Like The Little House On the Prairie. No spend,spend,spending our hard earned money on things that would never be used.What I would give to turn back the clock and have that kind of Christmas back again.It would do the children,especially, a tremendous service if they could experience that type of Christmas for a change.

I feel my directions would be easy enough for a beginner to follow,which is my goal, but if I have not explained it clear enough, simply leave me a comment, and I will try my best to clarify and simplify them.Thanks for visiting and Happy crafting.

(After reading Brendie's comment, I edited a bit. She suggested putting a strip of Velcro on the lap board some where for her pin cushion.That is a great idea,but with my little pincushions with a magnet on the bottom,(you might have one like that) then you might consider putting the metal piece on your board.Which ever works for you.)

Hard Times

I'm not an advocater
Of women's liberation.

I'm just a simple housewife
Who's trying to fight inflation.

I've had to take a job
To supplement the income

For with the rising cost of living,
It takes my husband's check
And then some.

I've put aside my apron
And the cookbooks I've enjoyed
So I could take my name
From the list of unemployed.


By Sue Nugent 1966

Young Love

This is a poem I wrote, when I was 17. I had never been on a date, and had just met this guy through his cousin, who attended my school. He was in the service, and she had asked me to write to him,so I did. When he got out of the service,which he was in the process of doing, at that time, he came by my house. He was a very handsome fellow,clean shaven,clean hair cut,a really neat and clean fellow overall. I guess a stretch in the service will do that for anyone. Lots of boys I knew at that time,did not go through the trouble to be so polished and clean.Nevertheless, I fell in love immediately. Looking back now, I think I was in love with "Having someone of my own, and in love with Love itself",if that makes sense.I tell you this because the marriage only lasted twelve years.But the poem is still fresh in my mind, and this is it.I may have left out a word or two, but it's been so long, I doubt I could ever find a copy of it. If I remember any other lines, I will insert them later. I chose to recite this for a grade in my Public Speaking class in High School, instead of the Preamble or the Gettysburg Address. We had a choice. I got an A on the poem and my presentation.


Girls, did you ever meet a boy
That you liked real well,
And you think about him all the time?
So you sit right down,
With a pencil in your hand
And you write 'till you make it rhyme?

Well, this I've done, as you can see,
And if it sounds corny,
Blame only me.
I've called it "Ronnie"
'Cause that's his name
And when I'm happy,
Then he's to blame.


RONNIE


On the tenth of December
I'll never forget
A night to remember
A boy I met.

He's six feet tall,
With eyes of blue.
When he smiles,they sparkle
Like drops of dew.

His hair is blonde
In a flat top style
I'll tell you more
But it'll take awhile

He drives a car
that really goes.
It's long and white,
A 59 Olds

He came to my house
On a Saturday night
I'll tell you now
I was filled with fright

I invited him in
And we got acquainted
He asked me out
And I nearly fainted.

I thought to myself
My Dad will say
"Oh, not tonight.
Maybe some other day."

But when he said
He didn't care,
I thought to myself
"Dad can be fair."

So we hopped in his car
At just about seven
And didn't return
Until nearly eleven.

We went to his home
Where I met his folks
And ,Oh, his Dad
He was full of jokes.

He has 3 sisters
And a brother,too.
He lives in a house
All big and new.

Well, Butterflies are pretty
And fun to touch
But when they get in your stomach,
Well,that's too much.


written by Sue Nugent 1965

The Squirrel Inspired Me Today....

A little squirrel,outside my kitchen window, inspired me today, to write this little poem.If only I had snapped a picture of him.

The Squirrel in the Tree.

Hurry! Hurry! Come and see.
A little squirrel, playing in the tree.

But wait a minute!
He's coming down.

I think he sees something
Down below,on the ground.

No! He's headed for the shed.
Could it be, he's found a piece of bread?

Nellie Mae has left some corn.
Maybe that is what he's after?
Or maybe an acorn or a hickory nut,
That was dropped there,by my little crafter?

Let's be still and watch him play.
Oh No! Bear has come to chase him away.

Bear is our guard dog.
And she does a good job,as you can tell,

But I only wish she'd sleep a little longer,
So I can watch the squirrel at play.Oh well!


Written by Sue Nugent 11 24 10

Monday, November 22, 2010

Pincushions from wool fabric



Although there may still be some folks left who are using woolen fabric, I find I have some that never seems to find a purpose. Well, now it has a purpose for me,at least. I fell heir to a huge amount of a brown checked woolen fabric from an older lady I once worked with.She once made some of her clothing from wool.One being she is older, and two being she was a librarian. I'll bet you can just picture her in your mind.She's a delightful little lady. She wears lots of jewelry, and the flashier, the better. She jingled and jangled when she walked. Make no mistake, you knew it was her,coming down the hall.

I finally came up with this idea one day while making pincushions.I had been using various materials to stuff them, and found that certain ones did not let the needles and pins slide in and out so readily.There's nothing worse than a pincushion that won't let you stick the pin in. I made a few like that before I started experimenting with various other materials. I have bought batting,for stuffing, on occasion, but if I can find another material,that I have on hand, that works as well for the stuffing, I will use it instead. I have even used fragments of materials and threads, left over from my quilting projects. Some materials worked fine,some didn't.Dryer sheets definitely did not work.Felt works really well, but I usually save it for other projects.

Never the less, I cut the fabric into long narrow strips.About 1 inch wide.Depending on the size needed for the specific pincushion, I roll it up like a jelly roll, then proceed with the pincushion.If I want a taller pincushion, I roll up cardboard which has been cut and rolled in the same way,hot glue it to the wool roll,flat side to flat side, then proceed to cover it in whatever manner I choose for that particular pincushion.Some I crochet over, some I use different colored pretty fabric.I match up and glue whatever I have on hand to the side for an added touch.The coverings for the pincushions are endless, especially for someone who loves mixing and matching fabric and trim as I do.I will be showing more of my pincushions as I go along.

I thought of one helpful hint, after I posted this piece. You can use hot glue to seal your cardboard roll and to fasten your two rolls together, but don't use it to secure the wool fabric roll. The needle or pin will surely hit that spot of glue, and will not penetrate the cushion.It's probably best to tack the wool roll together with thread. Then Proceed to cover it with your choice of coverings.I love to experiment with that part.

Thanks for checking out my new blog.Please continue stopping by,on occasion,for other show and tell projects.