Maxam Made

In my last post I mentioned my joining the EGA and my first class; a Blackwork Pumpkin.  Today I am going to show you the results. Embroidery is a generic term for a great many styles/types of needle work - I love it all but I don't want to stitch it all.   This class has clarified in my embroidery portfolio, I will never be accomplished at doing counted work.  Math is not my best friend, I only like it in small necessary doses. Counted Work ( Blackwork being part of that) requires counting and compensation, recounting and more compensation and I am not even going to try to explain that here - I am just a total flop at it. I discovered with my pumpkin class once I got beyond the pumpkin out line I became totally lost in the counting and the compensation part.  I really have a new appreciation for my fellow stitchers who excel at this.  I love it, but not for me. This is the pattern I traced you can see the stitches - along with the tracing parts, there are details stitch instr

The Mohawk Valley Chapter of the EGA had it first meeting of the 2019-2020 year, I felt so privileged to be there as a member.  Joining a local EGA ( Embroiders Guild of America ) has been something I have wanted to do for decades.  Either there wasn't a local chapter or I did not have the time to join - Now there is a local and I can sandwich the meetings into my day.  I am very thankful for this time in my life that I can do these kinds of things - I used to say "Someday". Today is that someday and it is such a pleasure to go and find new friends with like interests.  Today I received gifts as a new member and was able to take a class. Enjoy coffee and listen to a short lecture. A sweet Newbie gift, I picked the yellow one. Take s class on a new to me style of needle work : it may look easy - it isn't! Pick up a few goodies at the "White Elephant Table" I midnight project to get my name tag made: We are commanded to love our neig

I've been working on a needle book swap for the last two months and have finally finished.  It's going in the mail to day.   I haven't been blogging much about this or anything else lately, I've had a wonderful summer of family and friends here and I'm learning to pace myself better. I'm learning at almost 60 to take better care of myself and I am relaxing (somehow) more.  I decided I was just one of the best at self induced stress.  Picking up the needle and hoop definitely slows me down, gets my feet up and helps me to enjoy the many, many blessings in my life.  Here is the book: This was supposed to be a crazy quilt needle book and somehow, it just developed a life of it's own and turned into surface embroidery  Here is a picture a little less blurry. A little thread painting and beading  Interior is 4 pages of Black Merino Wool felt that I like to keep on hand for projects of all types. For the interior support I used a cut to

Wow the summer is finally here! I've been busy with summer things and family visits and I wouldn't have it any other way.   Yesterday I able to spend a couple of hours working with my new Juki 8700.  I purchased this machine to sew and quilt my Mission Project  and to thread paint.  Ahh, I love thread painting and there is nothing better than doing it with a fast smooth machine.  Having a quiet servo motor and a large throat space, makes this machine perfect for the job.  I am making it sound simple - but initially it wasn't.  I had to find the right foot  - which I did for a reasonable price    this price is about $20.00 less than Amazon or Ebay.  This foot made the machine sing! For a first attempt I wanted to make a little gift for another Artsy friend.  These colors work for her space and style (I think!).  This became an exercise for me to become acquainted with my machine. The first step (after finding the right foot for my machine) was setting up my thread. 

In my last post I talked about  starting up with the 'Heartstrings' group again and making quilts for the homeless in Utica and sick children.  Since that post several weeks ago I have been super busy getting everything in place to start making.  I thought I would take you on a little tour of the start up. In anticipation of having others help me accomplish my goal, I have to organize and sort the ,material to make kits.  Each kit will make one quilt.  I found the last round this worked very well. After two weeks of cutting I have a start on the "strings" foundation blocks and center strings I sort by color family, this makes it very easy for me to create color coordinated kits Yesterday I picked up another 50 yards to cut into 2" strips know as Strings. Today I washed, tomorrow I cut. In several  generous donations of fabrics and blankets I have a stash of battings and backs.  The blankets will be used for batting.They get stored in lar

Spring is starting to peek its head out here in CNY,   and with the spring,  new projects.  I've put away the ink pads for awhile and pulled out my sewing equipment.  I love hand embroidering and many types of machine sewing.  My love for needle and thread was sparked by a local Craft Guild that meets x2 a month in the day time, making everything from quilts to cards. I was invited to make cards for troops and left thinking I must unpack my sewing things. So I did, I've spent two weeks reloading the craft room.  Picked up a few new (used machines) and I am ready to stitch and sew. While in the midst of setting up I felt like I would really like to do the Heartstring quilts for homeless and needy in the Utica area.  And as these things work out I mentioned it to one of my friends who lives in Utica and she said  "I have just the contact, He is very involved with the homeless in the area and I know he would love to receive the quilts to distribute". And so my Project

About a month ago I decided to add an Instapot to my kitchen arsenal.  I had been looking at alternatives to my Cuisinart electronic pressure cook and my little electric rice cooker.  The reason for the search - teflon.  Both of these appliances have teflon coated cooking pots.  It has been noted that teflon and such nonstick surfaces once they begin to break down, become a true health hazard! " According to the Environmental Working Group, teflon and PFOA (which is the chemical used to make teflon) are some of the most persistent chemicals in the world. Their toxic legacy will outlive every one of us, and the next 25 generations of our offspring. Ironically, it may shorten each generation’s lifespan, as well.  PFOA’s effects  include liver damage, immune dysfunction, thyroid dysfunction, and a decreased ability to fight infection"   If you would like to read the rest of this article, click here . I haven't rushed into this, I have had both pots for 4+ years and I hav

I love soups, all kinds, any weather any meal.  Some of my favorites are also what I call 'healing soups' .  These soups are not only packed full of flavor, they are packed full of nutrition. Most of my soups start with homemade Chicken Bone broth.  Bone broth is on a continual production cycle here, I use organic chickens and pure water.  If you have auto immune issues or any chronic health problems bone broth will help nourish and heal your body ( sorry I am not vegan or vegetarian- not yet anyways). I also keep veg broth in production for soups and cooking . Today's recipe is a wonderful antioxidant rich soup that will energize  you, and for a bonus I am going to share a favorite breakfast soup Most of my cooking is using what I have in my pantry, what I have found on sale and what is is season - during the growing season, The ingredients are listed but you can adapt this to your taste, this is a highly flavored soup!  Use organic if you can! 4 quarts Chicken B