Friday, June 26, 2015

SUMMERTIME FUN AND ACTIVITES


I am going to put a quick post up and try and get busy with this day.  This week has just flown by for some reason.  I have not had one that has flown for me for a while, but this one sure did.  How can it be that July is almost upon us I can't be sure.  But it's coming....

I spent the day yesterday with Jeffie and Cody.  Hands down one of my favorite things to do.  Their mama asked me if I might take them for hair cuts at the start of our day and I was happy to oblige.  It had been quite a while for both of them, and a good summer cut seemed the thing to do.  When my boys were young the first day of summer usually meant a "buzz" cut, lol.  I honestly wish it was stylish for a woman to do as I would have been the first in line.  Just makes everything easier.  Cool as your going to get, no worries about swimming and messed up hair, and really very little need to shampoo constantly, and the best part....your hair is ALWAYS ready to go, lol.  There was NO convincing Jeffie that this was the style for him however, so we went with a straight boys cut, and for Cody somewhat of a compromise.  Buzzed all around except for on top that got spiked up.  This is probably my own personal favorite for a boys hair do, and he looked just adorable in this grandma's humble opinion.

MY CUTIES

HE WANTED A PIC BY HIMSELF SO WE COULD SEND IT TO HIS MAMA AT WORK AND SHE COULD SEE HIS HAIR LOOKED LIKE GRASS, LOL   HE WAS SOO GOOD ON THE DAY!
 After that we had lunch and then hit up an afternoon matinee.  The boys have quite a list of movies they'd like to see this summer, and they know grandma enjoys this too so we will no doubt be going to a few more before summers end.  They snacked on popcorn and icee drinks at the movies, so afterwards I took them home for a little swimming.  I headed for home around 4 oclock and was glad I was going the opposite way of traffic as I zipped right along in no time.

I think I already mentioned I was out for most of Tuesday as well as I got my hair done, had lunch out and ran a few errands.  The rest of the week I spent doing some quick sewing.  I have NOT gotten my machine back yet, but my old one has been pretty much a dream to use.  Looking back, I think what I should have done was to have kept my old machine for all my sewing and quilting purposes, and bought just a separate embroidery machine.  It wouldn't have cost me nearly as much, and I think it might just have been better all around.  But on the other hand, that's NOT what I did, so there is not much point in going there now is there? lol.  When I bought my old machine a bajillion years ago it was Bernina's top of the line and came with a walking foot.  Now at the time I had NO idea what a walking foot was even used for, and supposed it was mainly for quilters, so I had stored it away in the carrying case and had NEVER used it.  Meanwhile my new machine also came with a walking foot, and I did attempt once or twice to use when the occasion called for it, but truthfully I had NO idea how to even get it on my machine and couldn't seem to accomplish it, and was always going to ask someone when I went into the shop but then always forgot.  So bottom line?  I had NEVER used a walking foot.  I imagine you other sewers and quilters are wondering how on earth that could ever be, but it was just the case nonetheless.  Sooo you had to know all of this so I could tell you the following story.  The one thing I really knew would be sooo much easier with a walking foot would be when using the "slicker" type fabrics when making baby blankets, etc., along of course with any quilting I might do on my own etc. By slicker type fabric I mean like the super super comfy type fabric that is soo soft you can hardly stand it, but slides all over the place when sewing which then makes me avoid it like the plague.  Same thing such as silks and satin or minky.  Well, the other day when I was at Joannes, I came across the cutest, super soft comfy fabric I may have ever seen at Joannes, [they seem to be carrying lots of new things ladies for those of you who might be interested] and I had a sixty percent off coupon to use.  That is NOT a common thing for Joannes as of course that's quite a bit off.  Anyway, not only did I have a sixty percent off coupon, but I had a 15 percent off your total purchase coupon that works IN ADDITION to the sixty!  Again, not always the case as usually is it 15 percent off non sale and non coupon items only.  But if you watch [as this hawk eye does, lol] they sometimes offer this.  All of this was important, as in my opinion those comfy soft fabrics are VERY pricey.  It goes terribly against my grain to spend that much for fabric.  This was regularly sixteen ninety nine a yard, and I needed a yard and 1/4 to make the blanket I had in mind.  Soo I bought it and was looking forward to attempting to actually use my walking foot I bought some 30 odd years ago.  Better late then never right?  Soo after reading my owners manual [which I miraculously still have!] about walking feet, and watching a small tutorial as well, I was ready!  It worked perfectly! And easily! And wonderously!  And I wonder now how I ever managed to sew with these fabrics in the past without it?  Lots of pinning [which I hate to do!] for one thing,  and lots of grumbling, lots of having to rip out, and lots of frustration for some others.  But mainly I guess, I just avoided those kinds of fabric.  Well, no more let me tell you, it was a dream.  I also used it to put together some more burp cloths for Brooke this time, and left it on to do the decorative embroidery stitches to finish them up.  It was just SOO easy with this attachment foot on.  And then....I told you that in her busy confused state Melody had bought fabric online so I could make some new rompers for Claire and meant to have it shipped to my house and shipped it to her own by mistake.  Soo I was waiting for it to arrive so I could have them made before she arrives here on the ninth of July. It finally arrived on Tues night, so I have gotten started on that as well.  We are just making the same romper patterns as before [just the next size up] as Melody LOVES the patterns, but we are adding snaps in the crotch this time as they are really soo necessary when changing a baby a million times a day it seems.  Soo, let me show this weeks work....

THIS PICTURE JUST DOESN'T DO YOU MUCH GOOD AS TO REALLY APPRECIATE THIS FABRIC YOU NEED TO TOUCH IT, LOL.  SUPER SUPER SOFT AND SLICK.  I LOVE IT!

I PAIRED IT UP WITH A COORDINATING FLANNEL

LOVED HOW IT CAME OUT

USED LEFT OVER GREY TERRY CLOTH FOR THIS, AND FLANNEL I ALREADY HAD ON HAND.  DOES THIS MAKE THIS ONE FREE?

LOVED THIS FABRIC WHICH I BOUGHT IN A FAT QUARTER FOR 2 BUCKS, AND LEFT OVER TERRY CLOTH AGAIN

AND THIS ONE IS WHITE FLANNEL I HAD ON HAND, AND LEFT OVER FLANNEL FROM THE BLANKET.  I INTEND TO MAKE BOTH BROOKE AND MEL A FEW MORE BURP CLOTHS, BUT I AM GOING TO APPLIQUE ON THEM, AND I NEED MY NEW MACHINE BACK FOR THAT!

LOVED THIS EYELET FABRIC SHE FOUND!  ADDED A LITTLE EMBELLISHMENT AS WELL FOR AN ADDED DIFFERENT LOOK.  I AM GOING TO MAKE A MATCHING HAIR TIE BAND AS WELL AND POSSIBLY A MATCHING HAT TOO IF I HAVE ENOUGH TIME!
SUPER CUTE FABRIC AS WELL....ONE MORE TO MAKE USING THIS PATTERN, AND THEN I WILL SWITCH TO ANOTHER PATTERN
I have had a few interruptions so this has taken a little longer as usual to get up then I intended, so I will leave you with some cute photos for my book.  Hope you are all enjoying your summers so far, and have plans for a nice, relaxing week-end.  Blessings to you all!  Debbie


JAMES AND HIS FAMILY ARE HAVING SUCH A GOOD TIME ON THEIR VACATION AND I HAVE BEEN GETTING SUCH GOOD PICTURES IT IS HARD TO CHOSE JUST A FEW, BUT I ESPECIALLY LOVE THIS ONE OF JAMES AND HIS OLDEST GIRL CAPRI

THE KIDS ARE HAVING SUCH A BALL WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND COUSINS

CAPRI SPORTING HER HAT AND BAG....SOO CUTE!

JD LOVING THE WATER PARK

LUKE AND SAM OUT TAKING A RIDE ON THEIR JOHN DEERE AND SPLITTING A COOL SIP OF LEMONADE  SOO CUTE!

AND THIS LITTLE CUTIE IN HER "COW" BLOOMERS, LOL

9 comments:

  1. Love the pictures as usual. You have such a cute family.

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  2. Glad that your original machine is doing such a good job. You must be thrilled that the walking foot worked so well. I hoped that my buttonhole foot would. It did. I didn't. LOL!

    The outfits and blankets and burp cloths you made all look lovely. It must also give you a lot of satisfaction to see your vacationers enjoying their beach accessories!

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    1. I love my walking foot. You will be using it a lot!! I am gonna tr to get out to Joann's in the morning to use my coupons. Love the pics. So cute! I backed my recent runner in cow fabric. I think I'll make some bloomers with left over!!
      XO Kris

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  3. I've never used my walking foot. I thought it was for machine quilting, which I don't do (I've thought about it but since I make bedsized quilts, I think wrestling with all that fabric would be more than I could handle ... I feel that way just when sewing on binding, so I can only imagine how much more cumbersome it would be trying to machine quilt a big honking quilt). I have to admit that one of the reasons why I just can't shop at Joann's is how looooong it take ... it always seems like there's 20 people ahead of me to get fabric cut and they're all ahead of me when it comes time to check out. :-(

    I love the pictures of your grands -so adorable!

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  4. Adorable photos of the grandchildren; too cute! And I love buzz cuts in the summer for boys. One of my little 3 year old campers came in with one. He came over to me to tell me that Miriam cut his hair and it was rough. He held my hand and told me to feel his head. It was the buzz cut and to him it felt 'rough'. Too cute. Happy summer.

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  5. Debbie, you should see me smiling as I read this, you are going to have the best books of your life for your family and you to enjoy!. I can imagine the grand boys reading of their day with grandma when they are teens! Love the haircuts, you have the cutest and sweetest looking grandkids, continue to enjoy them as time will pass so swiftly! Always a joy for me to visit,
    love,
    Sue

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  6. You constantly amaze me with all your sewing, finding fabrics and creating such beautiful items. Those boys had to have been a fun date for sure. They are just so cute! Always enjoy stopping by and sharing in your day!

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  7. So cute!! I love seeing what you have been up to. I love all of the pictures.
    Interesting about the walking foot. I know how it is to go back to that old machine, you know every single thing about them. I have such favorites like that. It is like greeting a old friend.
    I love all of the things you made this week.
    I hope this was a lovely weekend for you too.

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  8. I find myself always looking forward to seeing your latest projects when I visit here. I am so impressed with your sewing and creating skills! I also enjoy seeing all the precious family pictures that you share. The one of JD at the water park is so good! I can feel his enthusiasm. I hope you have a real good day and that you are made aware in some way, of what a blessing you are in the blogging world. Thank you!

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I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!