White shoes decorated, now they are unique!

Bought these shoes at the Sketchers Outlet, supposed to be 30-70% off, actually 4% off, wont go back, too much trouble to drive the 25 miles in such unbelievable 192 traffic,  but did decorate them so that I can wear them. First set of paints were dried in their jars, so had to go off to buy more. I think they turned out well.

Family Antiques requiring lots and lots of work

David, my grandfather's cousin's son, called and asked if I would like to have the pieces that he still had that belonged to our shared Great-Great Grandfather. As my grandfather had been left completely out of the riches, and so couldn't pass anything down, I jumped at the chance.

These will take months and months of work, to bring them back to some semblance of looking good. My Great-Great Grandfather made the chest, from left over carpet from the hall and stairs. My Great Aunt Grace, who may have battled with her father, painted the painting. The secretary may have come from Massachusetts with my G-G Grandfather, perhaps coming from his parents home.

Set of Parlor Chairs	Painting by Grace Shepard 1880's	Slightly different angle of painting
Chest made by my G-G Grandfather	Inside of chest made by G-G Grdpa	Plant stand
Bowl of plant stand	Secretary, probably the oldest piece

Fixed My Hat

Added a terry band to my hat,
to catch the sweat before it enters my eyes.

All ready to go!

Next Quilt of Valor Begun

I have the pieces cut out, sitting here staring at me on my porch, or I wouldn't be starting this now. I am really getting tired of sewing, and I still have Holiday gifts to make. But, this is for a good cause, will make someone feel appreciated, and feel seen, so I will get it done.

 

Laying out the block	First block completed (though not ironed)	Blocks finished on to assembling
First of two tops only need borders	Two quilts are in halves	Quilt 20 Finished, on to the next one
Quilt 21 Finished, no more for awhile	Texted Borders

Birthday "Me Pillow" begun

Just printed out the fabric squares for my next memory pillow. The printer isn't really very friendly with these. I will leave them to dry for at least a week, before I start to layer on the starch and build the pillow.

 

Man-tailored shirt made for a woman

I haven't put the buttons on, or ironed this yet, but finished the sewing on it today. I am still considering button color, gold or clear. Luckily, there's lots of time before we get to long sleeve weather... The chambray blue and tiny gold doves makes a nice fabric for this.

 Unfortunately, I though the shoulders are right didn't measure everywhere before I made it, so it doesn't fit me. I will give it to someone who I hope will love it as much as I would have, should it have buttoned up...

 

Trains, Fish and Lion King Padded/quilted Mittens

I've also completed these several weeks ago, though haven't mailed (I'm waiting on some sizing information for some other items) 3 sets of mittens for a friend. Her grandson tends to scratch up his face, so the mittens help keep him 'unscratched'.

Mittens in various stages of completion

 

On to cutting strings and hand sewing on these Quilts Of Valor

Heart in Stars (more info in 'how to')

Hidden Patterns

Storm Chained (more info in 'How To')

 

Patriotic Snowman

Added Some Photo's to Ancestry.com

Took some time out from sewing to do a little research for a family member and put up 60 photos on the Ancestry.com media page for my account. So far, it's just for one side, but I will get the other's out there soon!

Added the photo's from my Shepard Side

 

Sewing Machine is Fixed

My sewing machine went completely on the fritz, would not sew at all, in fact it was pulling the fabric backward through the feed dogs! Went upstairs to an old cheap Kenmore standby, to find that the machine is no longer a standby, the presser foot wont lower and sew. So my good machine had to go to the shop, and now that it's back, I am on to finishing the binding on these 4 quilts and then getting them into the mail. Luckily for me, it was just an adjustment, probably caused by trying to clear lint from the machine, which is made to trap but in no way release the lint...

Back to Quilting Quilts of Valor

	Just like everyone else, Covid, all the hate and negative politics, including the destruction of life as we know it, life in general got to be a heavy load in late Feb/early march. I stopped sewing. I stopped a lot of things for a while. I guess I got to the point that I was thinking that just surviving life really wasn't enough, if living, if hope and joy are indeed gone, then why do any of us want to 'go on.' Sort of, 'what's the point,' I didn't answer the question, though I have moved past the conversation with myself - answerless.

A Plain White Pair of Sneakers

	Saw a video on dressing up white deck shoes, so I thought I would try it. Couldn't find deck shoes, so I'm making some changes. I've cut out and glued on the fabric, waiting for the glue to dry. When it's dry I will trim, tack the fabric down, and eh voila, a new pair of shoes, like no one else's! Did you ever think about the name/word 'sneakers', and why these type of shoes are called sneakers?

Figment Masks and Bag

Several weeks ago I stopped sewing, I stopped cold. It had little to nothing to do with the pandemic, more to do with immense sadness at the meanness and hate displayed by so many. 

My sister likes Figment. We found a shirt, some socks and some bags at Epcot. I deconstructed one of the bags, just a 12x17" square bag with a drawstring across the top, and created several multi-layered masks and a purse to carry when we visit the parks, which we do several times weekly.