Stuffing’s Stuffing… Right? Well, Not Exactly.

I’ve always used polyester fill, but within my inheritance stash were two bags of Quilter’s Dream Cotton Stuffing.

Hmmm ...okay, I tried it in my pin cushions along with those little plastic pellets. (You need a certain amount of weight so when you pull the pin out of the cushion you aren't lifting the entire tomato.)

Okay, I ran out of stuffing….

“What do you mean I say to the Joanne Fabric saleswomen, you don’t carry cotton batting? But I’m ready to buy, I need some tout suite and I have coupons”.. "Sorry" she says, "only polyester"….. Okay Michaels…. No luck there…. Okay the pet store. I’ve heard ground walnut shells are great fillers….nope, they had ground coconut husks once, but they were out of them.

Okay Time to punt. Hey, I have a big plastic bag of cotton batting snivels….Why did I keep them? Who knows, maybe because I heard my mom talk about neighbors killing sparrows for Sunday dinner during the depression…. So I got out my scissors, shredded up the batting and voila….along with the plastic pellets it was a match made in heaven.

Okay I must confess I had practiced facial expressions of "innocence" for when my husband asked how his new paper shredder jammed. Yes, I was considering using it to cut up the batting, but decided I need all my ammo for convincing him that I need another old sewing machine as a “conversation piece” so I shredded it myself my hand.

So four more gift tomatoes completed.

The other thing I discovered about myself this week..."Dang... I can't make a lemon meringue pie to save my soul. "

About the antique machine.... I put it on the back burner because a Thanksgiving conversation gave me a bright idea for an ideal gift and it's going to involve burning a ton of midnight oil. Who has the energy to argue about another machine?.... not me...

Bucket List 7 and 8/100

I should have posted this one closer to Halloween. Yes my research showed that Little Red Riding Hood was the costume preferred by little girls of Samantha's time. I told you I use to be anal about American Girl Dress making.

Even I Can't Believe How Many Purses I've Made

I've never been one to keep up with new trends, but years ago I started hearing the name Jinny Beyer from my friend Ann. When I inherited 1/3 of her stash I just had to make her a purse with some of the JB fabric she gave me. (and since Henry Ford has always been my hero... I always mass produce and made my self one too)

It's Our Pre Thanksgiving Weekend....

So I'll be making the rounds bearing gifts from my sewing garden.... Hope everyone likes their new tomato.

Janey You Only have Me Until Dec 1st

Dearest Jane,

I can only be obsessed with you until Dec 1st then I really do have to get back to Christmas sewing. Hmmm I didn't realize that you've had me for 7 blocks already.... Sneaky of you to creep back into my life like that.

It May be a While Before this One is Quilted.

The most exciting part of the quilting process for me is two fold; first the washing of it after completion so that the dryer does its magic, and scrunches it up to a beautiful evenness, and then the displaying. This one I hope to display on the stair wall. That’s going to mean finding a pulley system, and then hiring someone to come in with a scaffolding to hang it. I’m definitely too old for that kind of shenanigans. So I know there’s no rush for instant gratification because I need to do some research. Has anyone purchased a pulley system and had them installed? This quilt will be about 50” X 50” when completed.

Not Bad if I Do Say So My Self

Not bad for 12 days after a Bi-Lat. I’m actually hindered more by the new Bernina repair guy who just adjusted my machine, then from the surgery. Joe from Elgin Illinois where the heck are you? No one could adjust my 1976 Bernina like you could. Please come back somewhere.