Yikes - I Opened a Bible!!

Confession - I didn't grow up going to church a lot since neither of my parents did.  I have been going since I got married 46 years ago and the last 20 years just about every week.  And I enjoy going, especially to the church we joined about 5 years ago.  But I have to admit that I have never read the Bible!  I don't know why, but it was not something I ever wanted to do.  And I have never been to a Bible study group or class and most likely never will.  I do go to our church's sewing group and love that and the people - but we sew, not study.  Phew - got that confession out of the way!

Two weeks ago at my church a new Bible Journaling group was advertised for anyone who liked crafts and Pinterest.  Well, now we're talking - right up my alley!  The class follows our weekly Wednesday night dinners which we always attend.  Five minutes before leaving for dinner I grabbed my writing and drawing implements and decided to get brave and go.

There were about 12 ladies there - some I knew from church and some I didn't.  When you attend Saturday night services you are limited as to how many people you meet.  I had a great time!  Practice papers were handed out and supplies shared.  Drawing is not one of my crafty talents but we had papers to trace which helped.  This was my first attempt.  We used water colors, markers and gel pens.  Not great but enough to peak my interest.

What I did learn was that I did not have the supplies to do a good job of this.  So of course I got on Amazon and ordered a journaling Bible, paints and markers.  That was a good start but after my second class I decided a trip to Michaels and Hobby Lobby was in order for even more.    If I don't have enough supplies now I have a problem!  Here is my second practice page.

Here are the supplies I deemed necessary for this new hobby:

Journaling Bible - Just because I never read a bible didn't mean I didn't have one or 2 or 3.  I actually have my first Bible from the 1950's and I certainly wasn't going to paint and color it that!  They make special Bibles for this purpose with a little thicker paper and wide margins.  Good eyesight or glasses are required as the print is very tiny but still readable.

Water Colors -  I had some tube water colors I had never used but the pots are much easier to use.  I got the big set from Michaels and the smaller pearlescent paints from Hobby Lobby.

Water Color Pencils - As if the paints were not enough, I learned about colored pencils that you draw with then go over with a wet brush to achieve a water color effect.  Cool!  Hobby Lobby.

Paint Brushes - I worked for Michaels for 18 years.  I have at least 100 really good expensive paint brushes.  But no, what we used you filled with water alleviating the need for messy cups.  And the paint color does not transfer from one paint pot to another when using them (I have no idea why not, but, these would have been great for the grand kids).  So I found a set with different sizes on Amazon.

Gel Markers - I have some really good Prisma paint markers but our Pastor shared her fabulous gel markers with us and I knew I really wanted them too.  Amazon.

Something to hold my markers - About 2 years ago I took a class at church on Zentangle drawing. Basically it is drawing those popular coloring book pages.  I made myself this little portfolio to hold my pens and drawing pad.

After the second class it was quite evident that this was not going to hack it.  We had a lot more people and not much room to spread out.  Plus I had other markers and pencils that did not fit in this case and were in another bag.  So this week I made myself a new portfolio that also stands up like an easel.  It actually has some empty spaces just in case I need something else.

So, after years of getting rid of almost all of my non-sewing related craft supplies, here I am with a new collection.  My hope is maybe this will help me get into actually reading what is in this book.  It is difficult to know what to draw on and where it is in the Bible when you know nothing about it. Technology nerd that I am, I downloaded a Bible app to my phone and iPad where I can enter a subject and it will give me a list of bible verses to read.  I also find a lot of inspiration and ideas on Pinterest.  Maybe some day I will be able to carry on a Bible conversation somewhat intelligently.

Another Quilt

Well I am on a roll - I just finished my third quilt this year!  This was made with scraps again, and again there seems to be no dent made in my stash.  I am not sure how that happens.

Quilt Front

Quilt Back

 I started this one with backing, batting then half of a layer cake piece (10" square).  I then cut scraps into 2-1/2" pieces and used the string quilt method.  That is done by sewing one strip face down then flipping it, sewing another strip on top of it face down and flipping that one.  You keep going until the desired size.

When you have your desired size (a 10" square) use a 10" ruler and rotary cutter to trim the square.  All squares were made the same way.  I made 20 for this quilt - 4 wide x 5 tall.

My next step was to quilt the solid portion of each block.  A couple of years ago I learned how to draw Zentangles and that relates well to quilting.  I used a Frixion pen to free-hand draw a different design on each half square.  I then sticthed each one using free motion techniques.  If you are not familiar with that it is when you drop your feed dogs and you move the fabric around instead of it being fed by the machine.  After the designs were stitched came my favorite part - heat the drawn design with a hot iron and the pen marks completely disappear leaving all your beautiful stitching.  There is something rewarding in watching that process.  Here are my hand-drawn designs:

Once everything is stitched you have to decide how to put your pieces together.  I don't have a design wall so I just laid them all out on a bed until I liked the look.  This is when I decided I needed to make more!  Be sure to number and mark your rows and pieces however is best for you to keep them in the same order when sewing them together.

There are a number of ways on line to put a quilt together using the "Quilt as You Go" method.  I have tried a few of them but had better luck making up my own method.  I am sure any really good quilter would cringe at the way I do this but it works for me!

Working one row across at a time I butted one square against the second and did a zig zag stitch to hold them together.  I repeated until I had 5 across.  I did all six rows the same way.  Using the sashing fabric I cut 2" strips.  I folded each side into the center and ironed well.  On the backside of the quilted row I pinned one strip face up over the zigzagged seam.  Then I stitched each side down with a top stitch.  When the back side is done, flip it over and repeat on the top side.  Once each row is done, stitch one row to row two, and cover the seams with the skinny strips.  Repeat until the quilt is completed.  Keep in mind that on the back side the strips will have two rows of top stitching on each side.  That doesn't bother me but if it bothers you, you might want to use a different method.

Here is what the stitching looks like on my blocks.  I really had a lot of fun making this one.  It will most likely be a donation quilt but I will probably just look at it for a while before I give it away.  

Creating a Picture Quilt

Since Rich and I retired one of our favorite things to do is travel and on those travels, take pictures.  One day I decided to turn one of my favorite pictures into a quilt.  I did it by just looking at the picture and cutting out pieces of fabric that looked like they would come out looking like my picture. Here is that first project from a picture I took on Kauai in Hawaii.

Here are some of my other projects.  Each is made using a collection of landscape fabrics and fabric scraps cut into big pieces for the background and smaller pieces for the details.

Following are the steps I use to create these pictures.  Keep in mind I have made this up myself, I am not a pro and have not been trained. I have read a few books and looked at some videos for ideas and techniques.

The first step is to find a picture you have taken or really like.  This picture I took in Vancouver following an Alaska trip.   The second, and most important step, is to gather your fabrics.  There are a number of wonderful actual landscape fabrics on the market and I have quite a few.  I fill in with other fabric scraps from my stash.

Next you need to cut your backing fabric and batting.  I used a 10" square for this example and Warm and Natural for the batting.  This will be the base for your project.  Then start with the background fabrics.  I always start with the sky and work my way down.  I use Frixion markers if I need to draw out my pattern since they disappear easily.  Once you have your background fabrics then you can sew them to the backing using a blanket stitch in matching colors.  If you choose this is when you would do any decorative stitching on the background that you want to use.  I quilted the clouds using clear thread.

Then for me this is where the real fun begins.  Now you will fussy cut your detail fabrics and begin layering them onto the background.  I use a glue stick to hold them down and stitch them on using free motion techniques.  I keep cutting, layering and stitching until I get the desired effect.  

The next step is TOTALLY OPTIONAL will probably scare a lot of people.  I like to do a little extra shading with fabric paint to give my picture a little more dimension.  I do water down the paint because I don't want definite dark lines.  But as I said, this step is not necessary, just something I like to do.

Now, this is what the back of your piece will look like.  I personally don't like the look, probably because I always use white bobbin thread.  But if you do,  at this point just add the binding of your choice.  I prefer to cut a piece of background/binding fabric bigger than my piece and use the self-binding technique.  That is definitely a matter of personal preference.  

I hope this has taken some of the mystery out of making a picture quilt.  This piece took less than two hours to create and that included taking all the pictures as I went along.

If you care to see more of my creations check out my crafting Facebook page My Grammy's House and items I have for sale at https://www.etsy.com/shop/lindy71.

Visiting Magnolia Silos in Waco, TX

Yesterday was a girls' day out with a trip to the Magnolia Silos in Waco, popularized on the HGTV show Fixer Upper.  We began the trip at 6:30 am for the 2-hour drive, knowing the earlier we arrived the smaller the crowds would be.  Success!  We parked in the only free parking lot next to the store, about the third car in the lot.  Our first trip was to the bakery where there were only 3 other people in the shop.  We selected our treats and took them outside to eat in what was a perfect day.  Breakfast was wonderful!  The shop opened at 9:00 and we were some of the first in.  It is a beautiful shop full of fabulous finds.  But then I wouldn't have expected anything different from Joanna.  It is spread out on 2 levels and full of the most friendly and helpful employees you will ever find.  We spent about an hour looking at everything and of course making a few purchases - no lines yet!  The grounds outside were just beautiful and geared toward families.  It was surrounded by food trucks (I imagine they are only open on the weekends).  Even the local police were very friendly and one took this wonderful picture of the three of us.

As you have probably guessed I am a big fan of this show - yes I've seen every episode (more than once).  I decided if I ever got to Waco I not only wanted to see the shop but at least some of the houses remodeled on the show.  Now, for obvious reasons, addresses of the homes are not made public.  But I have always prided myself on my internet research skills and created a spreadsheet of each season complete with people's names and address of all the homes.  I mapped out our route on a Waco map, pulled up GPS and off we went.




The first stop was Clint Harp's woodworking studio, featured on almost every episode.  It wasn't far from Magnolia and right next door to the home the Gaines' remodeled for them on one of the shows.  Unfortunately because Clint couldn't even walk from the house across the driveway to the shop without getting accosted by fans (I would never do that!) they have sold the house and it is now a AIRBNB.  The shop was adorable and he will be getting his own show on DIY network in a few months.

We saw a number of the houses.  In all the pictures the one on the left is from the show and the one on the right is the picture I took.  The trip was an eye opener.  Many of the houses still looked good but many have not been kept up, especially the landscaping.  Sadly, a number of people have turned their home into a B&B either to cash in on the fame or because of stalkers (I am NOT a stalker - I don't care what my husband says!).  If you are a fan you will surely recognize some or all of these.

This first one belongs to a wealthy doctor and it has a wonderful view of Lake Waco.  It has always been one of my favorites.

This one was purchased by a cute single guy.  What you never saw in the show were the massive power lines and towers just feet from the house.  You can see part of one in my picture.

The next five houses all look pretty good although the landscaping has changed some since the shows.

I don' remember the carport on this house and am pretty sure it is not something Chip and Joanna would have done.  It also had a "For Sale by Owner" sign in the yard.

This one looked really good until you saw the location.  Just to the right of the house is a main road with retail buildings and directly behind them was another main road and buildings.  You don't get to see that on the shows.

These next two didn't look bad but were in questionable neighborhoods.   The second house looks like the trim around the windows has been repainted since the show.

I wonder what Chip and Joanna think about the current condition of these homes.  Maybe someday they should do a show where they revisit the houses and people.  

We would have liked to have seen more homes but they are spread out.  We might have to make another trip.  We also did some of the local shops and had lunch.  On our way past Magnolia on our way home late in the afternoon we could see the line to the bakery was wrapped around the building, every parking lot was full and there were hundreds of people milling around.  Getting there early is the secret.