Just Rambling

Wow.  I just can't seem to get around to posting in my blog lately.  Been busy with veggie garden, canning and freezing for the winter to come.

Last weekend was my first show of the season at Steppin' Out in Blacksburg, VA.  It is a large show, but the rain came down we had major flooding in our tent and sales were not great.  I think I might rethink outdoor shows because of the fabric crafts that I have.  Everything has to be dried out after shows and I did suffer some damaged merchandise.  Just may not be worth it.

On a lighter note,  I have been doing some quilts and finishing up some unfinished projects.  Just posted a new crib quilt on Etsy.  Normally, I do my own piecing, but this little panel reached out to me on a recent shopping trip and I just had to quilt it.

Isn't it adorable!  I machine quilted this on my longarm in a swirl pattern.  It has Warm and Natural batting inside and there is a flannel backing that makes this a snuggly warm quilt.  If you are interested check it out here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/106629123/soft-flannel-puppy-dog-baby-crib-quilt

Hope you are all having a blessed and happy day!

Travel Tote

This tote is great for travel, crafters, quilters, teachers, professional workers, and makes a great diaper bag as well.  It has all the bells and whistles that a good sturdy handbag/tote should have.
Check it out in my Etsy shop: humblehrtdesigns aka rccharm.

I am currently readying myself for my first craft show of this year.  It's a big one: Steppin' Out in Blacksburg, Va. near the campus of Va. Tech.  The show runs on Fri., Aug. 3 , and Sat., Aug.4 from 10am.-10pm. each day.  If you can get there, don't miss it.  It's a great show with lots of vendors and activities.  I will be on Draper Road, beside the farmer's market.  My booth number is MSP3.  Please come visit and join in on the fun!  Mention my blog and you will get a free gift!

Happy Day to all!
Pat

Autumn Art Quilt

This is my newest listing on Etsy.  Getting a jump on the fall schedule and trying to list some of my crafts for the season.

You can check out the details here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/104699835/hand-quilted-autumn-fall-art-quilt-wall

This past weekend we hosted a family dinner for the Guilliams clan.  Family is so important.  Almost everyone attended and we entertained around 40 people.  Larry and I did the burgers and hot dogs and everyone brought a lovely dish for a pot luck event.  The children had a large yard to run and play and we only had a couple of bumps and one to fall into the pond.  No harm done.  She's a first grader and she said that the rock was wobbly.  hehe!
I waited to give my son his special graduation gift until the family could be here. Here is what he received.

It was a folded quilt with a note in the folds.

It was a note from a very special grandmother: Grandma Carrie~

And this is the quilt.  You see, Grandma Carrie hand pieced each one of her grandchildren a quilt for their high school graduations.  All the other grandchildren had graduated except for Eric.  In May of 2000, she boxed up this quilt and wrote the heartfelt note for Eric.  He was then 6 years old.  She passed away on Sept.  12, 2001.  I have kept it just the way she gave it to me since then.  And this Saturday I finally got to see him open the best graduation present ever.  Needless to say we were all overwhelmed with emotion.  Especially Eric.  That night he told me "Mom, that made me tear up!"
I hope your day is as blessed as ours.
Pat

God Provides!

God provides all our needs according to his riches in glory!
We have been blessed with the first fruits today.

By Saturday, we should have a bumper crop of green beans.  Better get the Mason jars ready!
We will be canning this weekend!


I had a little helper with the harvest this morning.

This is my 5 month old nephew.  He is the sweetest baby ever. (Except for my own 18 years ago)
Such a happy baby all the time.  A real pleasure to keep!


Hope you all are having a wonderful week.  Thanks for the visit!


Be Blessed!
Pat

Organizing and Storing my Fabric Stash!

I like to store my fabric on shelves.  My husband works at a cabinet shop in this area, and is a very talented carpenter. He installed 2 walls full of shelf cubbies with adjustable shelves for storing fabric.  I like to see at a glance the approximate yardage of each cut.  And this is the best way I have found to do this.

When I buy my fabric, it is cut from the bolt measuring 44-45 inches with the fold on one side and the selvages on the other. It looks something like this.

I like to fold it a second time longways so that it looks more like this.

Then I start folding from the right side in 9" sections something like this.

I then continue to fold the 9" sections all the way to the left side.  And I wind up with something like this.

I use a shape cut ruler a lot and this makes it convenient to use when I need to cut the fabric.  Like this.

It also makes it easy to check to see how much fabric is in each cut. Since each fold of the material is 9" (1/4 yard) you can then count the folds and  figure the yardage pretty close.  Just count folds from the middle--2 folds = 1 yard.  Easy!

And the stash looks great in the shelves.  Well anyways, it works for me!

Let me know what your thoughts are!

Blessings 

~Pat~

My Wordless Wednesday!

Blessings~Pat

Memorial Day, Sunday Walks, and Cookout!

I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!  I am so thankful for the service of our soldiers and the sacrifices made so that we all might enjoy freedom here in America.
My dad served in WWII in Italy and just 2 years ago arrived in Heaven after battling Alzheimer's for years.
One day before his mind started failing him, I called to check up on him as he was then living alone.  He answered the phone in Italian, which was a great shock to me.  I had never heard him even refer to that language before and it was a hoot!  He just giggled and I lost it!  I will never forget how much fun that was!

Saturday, we worked all day catching up on the gardening and some work on the house that had been put off for a while and needed to be done.  Tired ourselves out I think.  We are not quite as young as we used to be.
LB and I are not too sure how we like having to slow down!   On Sunday I took a stroll in the woods on the property and enjoying taking a few stills.  Hope you like them!

We tidied up the deck and did a little more gardening on Monday and then had a lovely cookout with the kids  that afternoon.  On Monday night I got a little more quilting done in the sewing studio.  I'll post pictures soon of the items I am working on.

Have a great Tuesday everyone!
Blessings,
Pat