Jeani's Eye Of The Needle or MY life in stitches.
My life in stitches. Here you will get to see some of my quilting, an art that my Granny taught me at a very young age. Natural fibers and nature's colours are a few things in life that makes me happy.
A Rip, Roaring Day!
I spent the day updating my HP laptop because it didn't run and hung up lots. I think there are a few updates left that I'll do later. This process takes hours to do which gets very frustrating.
The rip part of the day was just that. I'm in the process of ripping out parts of the quilt in the picture below, due to an edge issue a frilled boarder is not cool or pretty and impossible to quilt. It' must go and over half of the quilting that is done. The deep burgundy boarder was sewn on as an "after-thought." The dark separates and distinguishes the main part of the quilt from its boarders. Draws the eye to the center where the piecing is. The 1 inch boarder will be added after the quilting is done. I learn from my many mistakes and will not forget. The ripping out of seems is not a quilters favorite thing to do. It seems a waste of time but, having a rippled boarder would be much worse and make the quilt unusable to me.
The snow is pretty and cold "here-on-the-farm." The wind seems to be blowing ninety miles and hour. If we had gotten more accumulation Junior would have had to grade out drifts.
We've had a very good two days. Talked a lot. Went to "Sonic" last night and caught up on our day. Hope your days are good too and have gotten everything ready for Christmas.
The rip part of the day was just that. I'm in the process of ripping out parts of the quilt in the picture below, due to an edge issue a frilled boarder is not cool or pretty and impossible to quilt. It' must go and over half of the quilting that is done. The deep burgundy boarder was sewn on as an "after-thought." The dark separates and distinguishes the main part of the quilt from its boarders. Draws the eye to the center where the piecing is. The 1 inch boarder will be added after the quilting is done. I learn from my many mistakes and will not forget. The ripping out of seems is not a quilters favorite thing to do. It seems a waste of time but, having a rippled boarder would be much worse and make the quilt unusable to me.
The snow is pretty and cold "here-on-the-farm." The wind seems to be blowing ninety miles and hour. If we had gotten more accumulation Junior would have had to grade out drifts.
We've had a very good two days. Talked a lot. Went to "Sonic" last night and caught up on our day. Hope your days are good too and have gotten everything ready for Christmas.
Last Lizzie modification and hanging can shelf.
This is what I spent the day doing yesterday. I turned the straight handles on the "Lizzie" to curved. Now I'll tell you how it was done.
I spent about an hour and a half in one of my favorite hardware stores, Windsor's "Do It Best." A hardware store is a place where you can wander around and find so many usefully things to use in a "quilting/sewing room."
As I wandered I picked up some "rivets, swivels, different types of screw-in hooks, and perforated hanger iron" to attach tin cans to use for storage. The unit I build will hang from the ceiling over the iland used for cutting and ironing.
The handles for the Lizzie are made with two rigid pieces of hard plastic plumbing pipe. The size is exactly the same as the metal pipe used on the machine. Even though the pipe was curved it needed more of a bend. After discussing this with the 2 different salesmen, I put the pipe back.
Then I thought about it and got the pipes back .
If they were heated with a torch, oven or any other system with a flame the fumes would be dangerous. I asked if the pipe could be heated with hot water? The first salesman said yes if it's hot enough. I'm thinking OK how hot? Then I asked the question and neither one new how hot the water should be.
My purchases in hand I left the store and got in the car where Jaci waited, barking at passer byes.
The water just needs to boil a short time and as the pipes began to straighten out I picked them up with tongs and bent them to a "C" shape then tossed them into cold water. This stuff is so hard it won't bend again unless heated.
I measured everything again and again to see what would have to be made shorter....... or not. You can cut it off but, there is no way to put it back the pipe is cheap the handles are not. The pieces of pipe, Junior cut with a pipe cutter for "copper pipes." The metal I cut with my "Bosch" grinder. They are secured together with a plumbing pipe repair...............thingy! They don't move, the connection is tight and right...............Yahoo, I did it! The last modification on the machine and they work spectacularly.
I spent about an hour and a half in one of my favorite hardware stores, Windsor's "Do It Best." A hardware store is a place where you can wander around and find so many usefully things to use in a "quilting/sewing room."
As I wandered I picked up some "rivets, swivels, different types of screw-in hooks, and perforated hanger iron" to attach tin cans to use for storage. The unit I build will hang from the ceiling over the iland used for cutting and ironing.
The handles for the Lizzie are made with two rigid pieces of hard plastic plumbing pipe. The size is exactly the same as the metal pipe used on the machine. Even though the pipe was curved it needed more of a bend. After discussing this with the 2 different salesmen, I put the pipe back.
Then I thought about it and got the pipes back .
If they were heated with a torch, oven or any other system with a flame the fumes would be dangerous. I asked if the pipe could be heated with hot water? The first salesman said yes if it's hot enough. I'm thinking OK how hot? Then I asked the question and neither one new how hot the water should be.
My purchases in hand I left the store and got in the car where Jaci waited, barking at passer byes.
The water just needs to boil a short time and as the pipes began to straighten out I picked them up with tongs and bent them to a "C" shape then tossed them into cold water. This stuff is so hard it won't bend again unless heated.
I measured everything again and again to see what would have to be made shorter....... or not. You can cut it off but, there is no way to put it back the pipe is cheap the handles are not. The pieces of pipe, Junior cut with a pipe cutter for "copper pipes." The metal I cut with my "Bosch" grinder. They are secured together with a plumbing pipe repair...............thingy! They don't move, the connection is tight and right...............Yahoo, I did it! The last modification on the machine and they work spectacularly.
I could get used to having my own space, that is controllable.
I've only just begun
quilting!
quilting!
Celtic Knot wall hanging.
Pam's wall hanging. The only thing I'd change would be the.....yellow. The colour is too pale but it's the only fabric I had available at the time.
Some of my most Favorite works of Art
Some of the rocks around one of my gardens. I cut/carved the "Wind Star" and our name with my "Bosch" grinder. This was my first time carving stone and I learned a lot. It's always better to practice on my own things before doing it for others. This garden is named "Little Stonehenge."
Moss covered Stones/Rocks, Flowers and Wood Grains and Colours
Many beautiful things in nature that inspire me. to continue.
It is amazing to me how all of the colours fit in nature.
Colour combinations I wish that this human, could reproduce in stitches.
Cedar Wood Section
One of many rocks in my gardens that I love. They encourage dreams of the future. Can take me to another world here on Earth in stitches!
MOON-FLOWER AT NIGHT HERE ON THE FARM
The moon-flower is a plant I searched for years to have growing here on our farm. This was probably my mother's {Mary Jane Watson Kearns} favorite flowers.
Tiger Lilly, kissed by the Sun..........on the farm.
Memories of my childhood. My Granny grew these.. The farm of my grandparents was where my fondest memories were made. John Logan Watson and Maud Caroline Clark Watson. You are both missed. I wish you were here to talk with right now during these troubling times. Norma Jean
Finally to quilt again. Then I can relax.
My quilting and sewing studio re-do should be done in a couple of days, thank God I'm almost done and will start quilting again.
12/12/2012
My studio is done enough that I can now, sew! The sound of my machines is music to my ears. The radio blasts some of my favorite music as I sew along. This will be a very short day due to the pain in my hands............there has to be something out-there that can stop the agony and the frustration of not being able to use my hands for long periods. When pinning or gripping a tool and fine motor skills seem to evade me, the frustration and anger can be overwhelming!
While out and about this morning looking for fabric at an Amish store, I found a spray called "Wonder Spray III." I used it while looking around the store and my hands actually felt better the pain diminished.
Now, in my studio sewing the relief is very short lived. Since the spray can be used as frequently as needed I'm gong to see if I can get it to maybe build up in my system and work better and longer.........either that or here's hoping it just numbs me all over.
It will be a few days before I will post more pictures.
My studio is done enough that I can now, sew! The sound of my machines is music to my ears. The radio blasts some of my favorite music as I sew along. This will be a very short day due to the pain in my hands............there has to be something out-there that can stop the agony and the frustration of not being able to use my hands for long periods. When pinning or gripping a tool and fine motor skills seem to evade me, the frustration and anger can be overwhelming!
While out and about this morning looking for fabric at an Amish store, I found a spray called "Wonder Spray III." I used it while looking around the store and my hands actually felt better the pain diminished.
Now, in my studio sewing the relief is very short lived. Since the spray can be used as frequently as needed I'm gong to see if I can get it to maybe build up in my system and work better and longer.........either that or here's hoping it just numbs me all over.
It will be a few days before I will post more pictures.
Sunrise, here on the farm.
21 December 2006. You just can't improve on God's work!
"If you can't stand alone for what you believe in, then you shouldn't stand at all"
Norma Jean Kearns Kroos
