Fall 2026 Update

 I think I've finally gotten over the full retirement sadness/blahs.  I'm shocked I even had it, as I've always been so into projects  and things to keep me busy, but I did.  I missed the work terribly, and even introverts like me really NEED some outside peopling.  I decided to take my thoughts captive as the good word says to do.  I have so much to be thankful for and nothing to be sad about.  I voiced positive thoughts daily for a few days until I was no longer thinking of what I missed and only about the excitement for what each day brings.  

I've been listening to Dr. Lee Warren, who is a podcaster/instagrammer.  He is a Christian, brain surgeon, served in Iraq, experienced his own tremendous grief, yet has learned so much about how our thoughts create new pathways in our brains and this can help us and hurt us.  Like the bible says we should take ALL our thoughts captive and think of what is good, pure, noble, etc. (Philippians 4:8).  God has always been telling us how to heal our minds!  It really works!

So, I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish and started working on it, and finding other fun and interesting things to do along the way.  Here are some, but first, I did the big chop on my hair. Been growing it out for almost 5 years, and have loved it, but it was time.  It has taken me about a month to get used to it but now I'm happy and it is so easy to care for. It does its own thing, though. So curly, I have no control, but that's ok too.  Thankful for my curls.  From long to short....(oops pic is backwards!)

Picked a ton of muscadines this season.  Picked two times at my friends backyard vines, then went to Tsali Notch Vineyard to pick.  I think I made five rounds of jam, and you can see some lighter than the last batch which were so dark and ripe.  Also made a little juice.  Yum!

This was a bit of a big project.  I made this great rolling cutting/art table.  I used two shelving boards for the top ($70), and two Better Homes and Gardens cube shelving units ($70/ea), put back to back on their sides, mounted to a piece of plywood ($39), with casters on the bottom ($25).  It works great to store all kinds of things.  Tall for cutting and painting.

Had this idea to use an orphan quilt block and some thrifted jeans belt loops to upcycle an old sweatshirt

Also, I took some of our Music Minister's mother's fabric and made him and his wife a fall table runner.  They were happy with it, as I was.  Turned out great.

Next up are some upcycled jeans projects.

Had some fun playing with bleach, lace, and denim! I found some old lace doilies that my mother had made years ago.

Then me and Emma, my granddaughter, collaborated on a pair for her.  I love that I thrifted the American Eagle jeans for $3.  We used some other denim to widen the legs, and bleached and stenciled on the panels.  She thought they turned out great.

Found a great little digital pattern online for Sully's Upcycled Oversized Hoodie.  It was pretty easy to sew with great instructions and a video.  I made two in one day.  The first one was made from a thrifted bedspread/quilt. It isn't a real quilt but was a printed, but quilted, spread originally sold by Kohls. Granddaughter claimed this one. Notice the from kangaroo pocket.  It took me two tries but I finally got it to match the pattern.

I found a Lucky Brand throw to make the green and white one.  It is so cozy, and hot!  I'm not sure I'll be able to wear it until it gets really cold outside.  But it is as cute as can be.  Emma didn't like it, but I do.  I love that we can wear about the same size now. She loves to shop my closet. :)

And lastly I'll show a neat wood project I made for Haddon, my grandson.  It is a rolling lego tray.  He loved it.  I made it from leftover plywood from my sewing table project.  It uses 1" rolling castor wheels on the bottom and the side are made from simple lattice slats.  He already wants another one to use at his house.  So that's what is up next.....

Big changes coming and some reminiscing

 First the reminiscing......the hubby and I took a road trip today to the tiny little town where both my parents grew up.  Below is the home of my grandparents. It was purchased by a nice young man around 2000 when my grandmother passed away.  He has remodeled it all, so it really looks nothing like what it did when I was a kid visiting there about monthly with my parents and siblings.

Across the street is where my father grew up, and the old home place there was torn down, probably in the late 80's, or early 90's.  I remember my dad telling me that his father made him quit school at 14 years old to help build the house.  That would have been in 1932.

We had a nice day, visiting the Tellico Junction Cafe for a bite to eat, which is a local family owned eatery in the little town.  Then to the Amish Farm Market close by.

  On the way home, there was a lady selling bouquets of her homegrown flowers.  So pretty. Hubs said, "stop, and I'll buy you some flowers!"  So I did.

The big changes are that my son and family are moving back to this area!  We are so excited.  They will be living on "the farm," his dad's place, and Grumps can't wait for a couple of young, strong farm hands, to help him with the chores.  :)  Their mailbox is up, and see the little tiny house in the next
picture?  That will be my son's home office, sitting out behind their home.

It is such a beautiful place to live, and only about 12 miles from us.  That sure beats a 10 hour drive!

I've been trying to improve my painting skills lately....not sure why I love to draw eyes, but I do.

And just because she is my precious, baby-girl, best little friend.......

enjoy this dopamine boost!

Happy Easter

 I love this time of year.  Our weather has been perfect the last few days.  Highs in the low 70's mostly, with a breeze.  I've been sleeping with a window open at night and I love the fresh cool air. I've had the windows and door in our great room open a lot lately.  Spring is definitely my favorite season.

The husband had surgery the end of February but is healing up nicely and was able to go fishing yesterday. He enjoyed the day and caught some good fish.  The grandkids are coming for a short visit this week and we are really looking forward to that.

On the home front, my long arm machine is waiting on a part. I'll be glad when it is repaired so I can quilt two baby quilts that are gifts. Also, I decided to make a big change. I'm ready to downsize and am going to sell my Bernina Long arm quilting machine.  It's a fantastic machine but I don't use it enough to make it worth having it. I am wanting to do more clothing/recycle sewing, more painting, and maybe learn some new crafts. The machine is under warranty and the issue isn't a major one. It will soon be back in perfect condition ready to make someone else happy and productive.

I did finish another pair of the panel jeans, and as I've said after each ones I've made, these may be my favorite!!   😊

Below is another recycled clothing piece I did recently.  Took a man's shirt (size small), cut a few inches off the bottom to use for a ruffle on the collar.  I put little pleats in the sleeves to make them a little more feminine.  Tried elastic but the sleeves ended up too short so I took it out.

Spring 2026

 Lots of activity going on around here.  So much going on in the world I am trying to count my blessings, stay busy, and just live for the Lord as best I can.  Recently I've recycled several pairs of jeans, by updating the skinny legs to panel jeans. Using other scrap jeans or quilt pieces leftover from my last few jackets/vests for the panels.  These are so fun!

I saw a pic on Instagram similar to the last ones with denim patches. The pic was my inspiration.

Also made a vest from the same quilt as the last jacket.  It might go to my granddaughter if she likes it.

Doing some other fun things like making homemade gummies.  This recipe is so easy. I used grass-fed bovine gelatin, which is basically pure protein made from collagen. It does have some other benefits such as amino acids and other things good for you. 1 cup fruit juice, 2 T. gelatin, 1-2 T honey. Warm juice, dissolve gelatin and honey and put in molds.  The molds I used were from Amazon in a simple round shape.  I thought I might also use them to make some homemade chocolates.

I'm thinking the grandkids will like them.  Need to experiment with some other flavors.

Working on getting a good sourdough loaf using fresh milled flour.  So far, I've not been able to do that.  All have been so very dense and just didn't taste good.  I'm now trying to do it without a recipe and "learn" the sourdough.  Fingers crossed this loaf might be a better.

Made a strawberry cobbler using fresh milled flour yesterday.  it was so delicious!  Just used a simple recipe of 1 stick of butter, 1 cup milk, 1 cup FMF (I used 1/3 Kamut, 1/3 soft white, 1/3 hard white), 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and about 4 cups of sliced berries. Baked about an hour at 350.

Guess that's all for this update!

February 2026

 It didn't take me too long to get used to retirement. I'm loving having the time to do all the things.  And I've been very busy. Built and installed some new narrow shelves in the pantry. Made two quilt of valor quilts for two local veterans. I've almost finished my second quilted jacket, made a quilted vest, made panel jeans with quilted panels, and have a baby quilt ready to quilt. Enjoy the pictures!

     The Before:

The After:

Quilts of Valor:

Quilted Jackets

This quilt had not been washed or used in ten years.  It did make the cover of a magazine but I'd rather have it as a jacket than to not use it.  It wasn't a great size for a twin bed and my granddaughter has..so..many...quilts....

Still working on this one.  Have inset pockets to make and I plan to replace the zipper with a reversible one to make the jacket reversible!  I had to do a lot to this jacket. The fit was too big, so I took it up on the side seams then the back stuck out, so I had to take it apart and adjust the side seams of the back piece also. I added a mandarin collar, which I love, and a zipper, neither was in the Tamarack Jacket Pattern.  But the seller had lots of videos to go with the pattern so that helped a lot.  I still have to put in the inset pocets, which I dread. I am waiting on some fabric that hopefully will match the polka dot lining.

Little quilted vest

Quilt Panel Jeans - these were made from some old thrifted skinny jeans.

I do think I want to make some more of these. I have old skinny jeans to use. I may even make some in barter for eggs from a friend who has chickens.  I love to barter skills.

I also did a little genius idea to hang art in the kitchen.

The art is one of my own I painted a few years ago.

And i finally got a baby quilt ready to quilt.  Need to make another. Two friends have new grandbabies. I'm really trying to use what I have in most of my projects these days.  I feel the need to downsize a bit. To me this quilt looks very vintage, although most of the fabrics are modern; I think it's because they are mostly pastels.