I am a Gardener. I Love Gardening!

Tomato plants
My tomato plants are started.

Growing My Food, Herbs and Flowers is Important!

I know that every year in January, I look forward to when the seed catalogues arrive in the mail. I get excited. I can spend hours reading the seed types in the tomato section alone, making my list, choosing plant seed, going back and whittling the list down until I have a useful selection. Continue reading “I am a Gardener. I Love Gardening!”

Begin to Crochet!

crocheted afghan for a wedding
A crocheted wedding gift of wool and mohair.

I love to crochet afghans. I made quite a few since I was about 19 years old after my mother-in-law taught me. I’m not an expert, but I enjoy it occasionally and make a few items that I proudly gift.

Crochet is an old craft however not as old as knitting. Crochet derives from the French word ‘crochet’ and means “hook.” How appropriate! There are two main types of crochet. One is ordinary or regular crochet, and the other is Tunisian or Afghan crochet.

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Begin knitting!

Fair-Isle-Vest-front-small-
My next knitting challenge! Steeks and stranding. I love fair isle.

We are not sure when knitting began. Knitting has a history of articles dating A.D. 200. The date is uncertain. However, most are in agreement that the location it started is in Arabia.  As with most types of needlework it has been passed on from person to person and from country to country.

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I want to quilt! What next?

2015-10-29 16.04.12

Quilting is one of my favorite activities. Quilting is incredibly creative. The word “quilt”  derives from the Latin word “culcita” which means a sack stuffed with feathers, wool or hair used as a covering for warmth. Quilting was used as a means of survival for either blocking out the rays of the sun In Egypt during the time of the Pharaohs or for blocking out the cold and retaining body heat in China, India and Greece. Crusaders were quilting undergarments in the eleventh century. Survival quilting surfaced in the thirteenth and fourteenth century in Europe. It is well documented in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in North America, and we carry on today, both for functional and decorative purposes.

So what do I need to get started?

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What Do I Need To Start To Sew?

Tools for sewing.
Tools for sewing.

“I bought a new sewing machine, but I am not sure what else I need to begin to sew?” say many.

Well, you will need some tools and supplies. Some are necessary, but others are optional, and you can add to the basics later on according to the job you are doing. Continue reading “What Do I Need To Start To Sew?”

What do I need to know before I buy a new sewing machine?

Singer 20U
My Singer 20U workhorse

Unless you are hand sewing, you need a sewing machine to sew. I have been asked several times what kind of a sewing machine to buy. What is important to consider? Many think that price is the only consideration, but that is far from what is paramount. Obviously, if you only have a limited amount of money to spend then you need to consider dollars. But, if there is flexibility there are several issues to consider. Even with a limited budget sometimes you can purchase what you need as a second-hand machine.

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Hexies From the 1800’s to Today and Why I love to Receive Mail

For well over a century mostly women, but some men as well, have been English paper piecing fabric scraps onto hexagon shaped paper creating petals and then hand sewing these to each other to create flowers. These flowers are pieced together in a design with a pathway that meanders between the flowers. Some of you may have heard of this quilt pattern. It is called Grandmother’s Flower Garden.

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My Vision for Success and How I’m Going To Move Foreward To Make It A reality

I have dissatisfaction. I have a new vision for the future. Now, I have developed the first steps toward my successful blog, books, and website.

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