Sewing Machine Quilt! Trailer Applique! The Blanket Stitch! Pizza Warmer! Crochet Necklace! Rag Dolls! Fabric Ornaments! PLUS . . . Recipes, Jokes, Art, Design & Memories! (2024)

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A young blonde woman is distraught because she fears her husband is having an affair, so she goes to a gun shop and buys a handgun. The next day she comes home to find her husband in bed with a beautiful redhead. She grabs the gun and holds it to her own head. The husband jumps out of bed, begging and pleading with her not to shoot herself. Hysterically the blonde responds to the husband, ”Shut up…you’re next!”

Artists or art that turns me on and feeds my muse! Like it or dislike it, what about this art inspires your own art or creativity? Pin up art painted by Gil Elvgren.

Look around you. Design is everywhere! How can you incorporate the beauty that surrounds you into your art or craft? Nature. (via500px / Kestrel/ Torenvalk by Johan van Gool)

I am the least likely to like anything framed with an embroidery hoop. What’s the point? It’s a dust catcher and I can’t think of on application where it would look good. With that said, you have got to love this design for appliqué and embroidery. This amazing lil piece would be perfect as quilt blocks, on the back of jean jackets, and in other fiber or mixed media projects. Skip the hoop and just go for the gold. Here’s how:

http://www.flamingotoes.com/2014/05/retro-camper-embroidery-hoop-art/

Did you know you could crochet these little balls for jewelry making or embellishment purposes? I love the look of this project (although a short strand of big orbs, if not careful, could have you looking like Wilma Flintstone). With the cooler fall weather coming up on us in less than 60 days, it might be time to start thinking about your autumnal wardrobe, color palette and picking up your crochet hook. Here’s the pattern and tutorial:

http://www.craftpassion.com/2010/11/crochet-bead-necklace-pattern-tutorial.html

You might never have made a rag doll before. Youmay not have anybodyto give this cutie to.Doesn’t matter. made a rag doll any. Just once. It’s fun (and can be addicting). Once you get a hang of the concept and pattern, you can begin nipping and tucking until you find ways to personalize your rag dolls in unique and creative ways. Here’s how you make them (go on, make just one . . . )

http://www.quaint-and-quirky.com/2010/12/rag-doll-tutorial-body.html

THE HUNGRY CAT’S TOMATO AND WATERMELON SALAD

Total time: 40 minutes | Serves 4

Note: Adapted from the Hungry Cat in Hollywood. To make a watermelon reduction, juice all or part of a watermelon (using a juicer, a blender or food processor and straining), then simmer until the juice is reduced by half.

WATERMELON VINAIGRETTE

1/2 shallot, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
1/4 to 1/3 cup watermelon reduction
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper

In a medium bowl, whisk together the shallot, garlic, mustard and vinegar. Slowly whisk in the watermelon reduction, then whisk in the oil until fully incorporated. Season to taste with salt and pepper. This makes about 1 1/3 cups vinaigrette, more than is needed for the remainder of the recipe; the vinaigrette will keep, covered and refrigerated, up to 1 week.

TOMATO AND WATERMELON SALAD

4 tomatoes
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided, more to taste
3/4 teaspoon pepper, divided, more to taste
4 cups diced seedless watermelon
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup crumbled feta cheese, preferably French feta
8 to 10 basil leaves, torn (preferably opal basil)
8 to 10 mint leaves, torn (preferably Persian mint)
4 cups loosely packed arugula
1/3 cup watermelon vinaigrette, or to taste

1. Cut the tomatoes into wedges and spread them out on a sheet pan. Season with one-half teaspoon each salt and pepper and set aside for 15 minutes.

2. In a large bowl, toss together the tomatoes, watermelon, onion, feta, basil, mint and arugula. Gently toss in the vinaigrette. Taste and season with one-fourth teaspoon each salt and pepper, or to taste. Add additional vinaigrette to taste as desired before serving.

SOURCE: http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-edr-easy-dinner-recipes-refreshing-summer-melon-ideas-in-40-minutes-or-less-20140721-story.html

Only 153 days until christmas, so why not make some of your ornaments now? This ornie design is perfect for the fiber artist and is easy and portable enough that, by December 24, it’s more than possible to makea tree-full of colorful, homemade decorations just by shopping your stash. Don’t just think ‘tree’ here, either. Howzabout, a fabric ornament wreath, or garland…. Here’s how you make them:

http://theornamentgirl.com/blog/being-crafty/twelve-days-of-christmas-ornaments-day-4/

Now you can sew what you sew on – whip up a sewing machine block, put a bunch together with pieced washings and a boarder and you’ll have a cute quilt. Remember all of those times you wished you had had a wild and whacky sewing machine? Now’s your chance. Try it out here:

http://www.sewcanshe.com/blog/free-sewing-machine-qpplique-design

IRON ON KNEE PATCHES FOR ‘BLUE JEANS’

The Blanket Stitchis one of my favorites and I’m thrilled to be able to have found variations ofthis stitch for both decorative finishing and for an hand-appliqué shizzazzle! Check out this link for a tutorial for each stitch variation pictured:

http://www.coletterie.com/tutorials-tips-tricks/tutorial-5-simple-blanket-stitch-variations

Add some magic to a Tooth Fairy visit with this adorable little door. Your child will cherish this memory for life. The door is sold as ‘locked’ as only the Tooth Fairy has the key to visit. The door is fixed to the wall using double sided tape.

http://www.hollyanna.co.uk/#!product/zoomapr/1068709721/tooth-fairy-door

This portable garage organization tower might work OK for tools, but my heat skipped a beat when I fought about using peg-board hooks to hang my acrylic rulers, templates and all of my other quilting and sewing notions this way! Here’s how you make one:

http://www.mom4real.com/2014/04/portable-garage-organization-storage.html

Sand art on San Francisco’s beaches . . .

To see morehttp://brightsideof.com/sand-art-on-the-beaches-of-san-francisco-1192/

Artist Gwen Murphy turns old shoes into works of art.

No more cold Pizza the next time you order for pick up! Here’s a quick way to sew up your own pizza warming bag! Neat right? You may never actually cook again— and who can blame you? Here’s how you make one:

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=430373.0#axzz38Ln5XUBA

On Friday and Saturday, August 1 & 2

I’ll be visiting Fabric Affair in Troy, Michigan!

On Friday evening I’ll be giving mywild talk (the fun one)!

All day on Saturday, I’ll be teaching my Lemon Cathedral Workshop!

Sign Up for the Workshop TODAY!

THE SLOW STITCHING MOVEMENT WEBSITE?

The new Slow Stitching Movement blog has been posted. This blog is about “Creating and Participating in a Slow Stitching Salon.” I’d love for you to take a look at it and give me any feedback. Thanks! xooxm

Just CLICK on the SLOW STITCHING BLOG box on the Slow Stitching Movement website:http://www.slowstitching.com/ (please subscribe while you’re there)