The Splendid Sampler™

The Splendid Sampler™ Wednesday
(...skip this part if you're not new here...)

The Splendid Sampler™ is an internet sew-a-long created by Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson. It is an EPIC sew along...

• 83 fabric designers have created specific blocks that feature different quilting techniques. (paper piecing, fused applique, etc.).
• The blocks will be released each week, and are FREE to participants until March 2017. (at that time, they'll use the designs to publish a book).
• You can use whatever fabric you like.
• There will be pictures on their Facebook page, etc.

The new block designs come out twice a week....on Sunday morning and Thursday morning. I'm doing this with my TMBC...and, therefore, it is my pleasure to BLOG ABOUT IT every Wednesday. *******************

LP and Sandy did their Splendid Sampler blocks this week

Sandy had to leave, so Sharalan took her place for the picture.

Our North Carolina member, Jackie, sent some pictures of the sewing she's been doing.  LOVE THE NEW embroidered cover for your Featherweight, babe!!

Jackie is going back to revisit some earlier Splendid Sampler blocks.

LP shared a box of vintage Singer attachments...hummm..what is that gizmo on the left?  April Henry??

I shared another outfit for Fat Camp. 

The WAFFLE MAKER

My sister Deena is a BIG FAN of her vintage waffle maker. It makes a gigantic square 12" waffle that can be cut into four waffles...

Recently, she told me to be on the lookout for this style of wafflemaker, because she would be LOST if hers ever quit working. (and it is almost 50 years old).

Of course, the very next weekend -- I FOUND ONE...at an antique mall.  For $4.00.

Although it seemed in great condition, I washed it up and decided to give it a whirl...

It seemed like a great project for me and Warren.

He is SUCH A GOOD HELPER...!!

This first attempt, I poured in too much batter.

The second attempt, I didn't pour in enough batter...

Third try was PERFECT...

This is Warren, giving it "thumbs up"...

Do you see the problem?

Homemade waffles, butter and syrup?? 

So many wonderful things in my life revolve around delicious, fattening food.

Hey -- I KNOW -- I should go to Fat Camp.

Thanksgiving Week

Thanksgiving is looming. I hope this is a happy time for you and you are looking forward to being surrounded by your family and friends. I hope you love all the wonderful things that come with this grand American family holiday. Getting the extra beds ready for out of town company -- shopping for the groceries....baking your special pumpkin pies, your Grandma's stuffing or Aunt Glad's cranberry salad...

God knows there's PRESSURE to make the perfect turkey...

BUT -- there are people you know who may not be having a Norman Rockwell experience. Many people, through no fault of their own, are lonely during this time of year. They don't have warm, fuzzy families or giving, caring friends who include them. Today would be a good time to reflect on that -- and think about what you could do to include them in your holiday.

Which is why I love the whole concept of Tie One On Day. EllynAnne Geisel, author of The Apron Book, created this day and I LOVE IT. You should go to her website to read more about it: Apron Memories

In a nutshell -- on Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve, you use an apron to wrap a gift of food and deliver it to somebody who just might need a lift. Consider it a random act of kindness...paying it forward....

It was an honor for me to interview EllynAnne for Inspired To Sew magazine. Click on the link to read the story -- and then, I'm sure you'll want to TIE ONE ON next week!!

There are only two rules...you must personally deliver your apron/food/gift...and you must include a hand-written note. You can do it. I will, too.

*************

I'm off to FAT CAMP this week.  I've made so many new Fat Fashions, I'll have to start my own Etsy store.  (BECAUSE THEY'LL ALL BE TOO BIG FOR ME SOON...)

Fennimore, Part Two

Of course, Fennimore has a lot more to offer than just one great thrift store. During our morning coffee break, we noticed the BEAUTIFUL library sitting just across the street. I wanted to check it out to see if it was a Carnegie Library...(since he paid for 3500 libraries, there was a good chance.)

But -- NOT THIS TIME. A local banker named Dwight T. Parker funded this library.

It was built in 1923, and is registered as a Historic Building.

It was jam packed with books...and I bought several CD books from their ongoing sale rack.

And then -- the MAIN REASON for choosing Fennimore this year -- a new quilt shop neither one of us had ever been to...

Nancy Porter, a retired dairy farm wife, opened the Quilt Peddler in 2013...

It is a huge store -- with over 5,000 bolts of fabric....

John Deere prints (of course!)

The whole line of Singer fabrics!!

And some unusual novelty fabrics as well...lol...

LIKE THAT WASN'T ENOUGH EXCITEMENT!! There were two surprise elements to The Quilt Peddler...and that post is going to have to wait until next week... ************** P.S. Monday, I leave for Fat Camp. I've decided to take my laptop with me...just in case I have enough energy left to WRITE a blog post or two. But otherwise, I've pre-loaded some of my favorite blog posts...and I promise a COMPLETE REPORT WHEN I RETURN.

My Fennimore Friendship Day

The other day, somebody told me I had a very "diverse life". HEY -- THAT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN!!

Being diverse is a very good thing. Right? I think it means I do a little bit of this and a little bit of that. I enjoy sewing, cooking, or getting messy with some DIY....I also love thrift store shopping, traveling, reading books, attending classes and learning new things. For me, being diverse also means I have friends in all walks of life -- from all stages of my life.

But -- again -- friends don't just happen. I have always valued my friendships with other women, and I treasure the time I spend with them.

Mary Mulari, one of my best friends, has introduced me to SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE.  (You know who you are!). Because of my friendship with Mary -- I met Deanna maybe 20 years ago. At the time, she was working for Nancy's Notions in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. And I was running my store, Rita's Sew Fun.

We used to run into each other often in a year's time. At Sew Expo in Puyallup, or Quilt Expo in Madison...at Quilt Market in Houston or BLT in St. Louis. We never had to make plans in advance or worry about the next time we'd get together....every couple of months, we'd be in the same place at the same time and we'd hang out. We'd visit over a quick lunch or have a big catch up during a leisurely dinner.

But, hey -- I don't do all that travel nowadays -- so we actually DO have to plan our get togethers. And I sooo look forward to these days. We live about 4 hours apart -- so we pick a day and meet halfway. Fortunately -- there are SO MANY wonderful little small towns in Wisconsin!!

This year, we chose Fennimore, Wisconsin.  Home of the Exchange Depot -- one of the best thrift stores in the state!!

My plan is always the same -- meet at a local thrift store. So, if one of us gets there early (usually me) -- she can do some entertaining shopping! Deanna was the first to arrive...and she already found this scarf..

The Depot Exchange is a huge, well organized thrift store, and I ALWAYS find good treasure there.

We bought this apron for Mary (it was Halloween, Mary!)...

After our first round of shopping, we enjoyed coffee at the quaint cafe down the street...(God, my arm is fat!!)

Deanna and I have shared some awesome adventures in cities all across America. The Hanson Sister's Linen Auction at Mary's house was a once in a lifetime experience (remember that, Marion?).

But here's the thing. Friends don't just happen. Friendship is like having a garden...once you plant the seed, you have to water it, watch over it, pull the weeds, keep the racoons out...it requires SOME EFFORT.

But the harvest makes it all worthwhile...

Rita's Fat Fitness Fashions

Honestly, I have decided I am going to SEW MY WAY TO FITNESS!!  I can't remember when I enjoyed a sewing project so much.

Just the THREAT of  Fat Camp is making me so much more aware of my bad choices and horrible habits.  I'm eating fresh fruit and walking on my treadmill every day.

AND I am wearing actual SHOES instead of flip flops.  (that's a whole other post).

I've lost track of my camera -- so there are no "in progress" photos -- but at TMBC yesterday morning, LP took some pictures of the final outfit.  At first -- she read the words "SEW IT, LIVE IT, LOVE IT, BE IT."  So now I have to change the first word...from SEE to SEW...and then it will be perfect.

The pants were a brand new pair of size 18 (which did NOT fit me)...but a great spandex knit.  I cut the bottom off...then opened the side seams...and added a new band of teal.  To go with my theme...

This is my next Franken-sewed project.  The teal yoke comes from a dressy top, the Brooklyn Bridge comes from a great graphic tee...and the striped side panels are a dress I'm about to cut up.  IT'S GONNA BE GREAT...

The Splendid Sampler™ Wednesday

The Splendid Sampler™ Wednesday
(...skip this part if you're not new here...)

The Splendid Sampler™ is an internet sew-a-long created by Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson. It is an EPIC sew along...

• 83 fabric designers have created specific blocks that feature different quilting techniques. (paper piecing, fused applique, etc.).
• The blocks will be released each week, and are FREE to participants until March 2017. (at that time, they'll use the designs to publish a book).
• You can use whatever fabric you like.
• There will be pictures on their Facebook page, etc.

The new block designs come out twice a week....on Sunday morning and Thursday morning. I'm doing this with my TMBC...and, therefore, it is my pleasure to BLOG ABOUT IT every Wednesday. *******************

Ever since Linda got her new Featherweight -- she has been a SEWING FOOL..!!

And then, she ordered fabric from Loralie Harris -- and these whimsical designs have been the inspiration she needed to go back and remake some of her earlier Splendid Sampler blocks.  GREAT JOB, BABE!!

LP did her usual DOUBLE TROUBLE set of embroidered blocks.

Four different blocks each and every week is quite a grueling schedule. But she never misses a beat!!

Sandy, too, NEVER MISSES A BLOCK.

And we are always excited to see what a difference the fabric choices make.

A close up shot.

Ten different blocks this week. From three different sewing stars...

And what was Rita sewing???

MORE FAT FASHIONS, of course!!

You are going to LOVE my newest workout outfit!!