Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Gibby Girl Design


It is my hope to launch Gibby Girl Design
this weekend.

I will be posting a few of my quilts for sale here and on my Facebook and Instagram pages.

https://www.facebook.com/gibbygirldesign/

Quilt Sizes and Gibbygirldesign Pricing

        Crib/Toddler. 27″ x 36″ up to 36″ x 40″  - $65.00 / $85.00 + shipping
        Youth/Throw. 40″ x 40″ up to 50″ x 50″ - $100.00 / $150.00 + shipping
        Twin/Single. 60″ x 60″  - $200.00 + shipping
        Full/Double. 70″ x 80″  - $300.00 + shipping
        Queen. 90″ x 95″ - $350.00 + shipping
        King. 85″ x 100″ - $450.00 + shipping
        California King. 90″ x 110″ - $600.00 + shipping

Sizes (in inches) and Pricing may vary.

If you live in the Knoxville, Tennessee area I am willing to meet up for delivery.

Here is a sneak peak at a few of the quilts I will be offering
$300.00 plus shipping

SOLD

SOLD



Saturday, November 23, 2019

These Two ...

These Two ...
My fur babies ...

Booker and Jezebel

Both of my fur babies are Rescues. I have absolutely nothing against pure breed pets - cats or dogs, as long as they are loved and well taken care of.
That being said, I love my rescues kitties.
Both of them came to me via 

Booker in Jezebel's bed
Yes, he has a bed of his own ...

Jezebel hates to have her picture taken ...

This is what most of the pictures I have of Jezebel look like ...
moments before this picture was taken she was looking straight at me!

Booker on the other hand ... loves to have his picture taken ...
Booker

Booker

Booker

Hahaha! These two are precious to me.
They are funny and sweet and at times annoying, right under my feet ...
but I love them both so much. 
They are cuddly and comforting and they add so much to my life.





Friday, November 22, 2019

Handmade Gifts

Handmade Gifts

I have several goals in life that I try to take steps toward accomplishing daily.
One of those goals is to one day make all of the gifts that I give to my family and friends.
I'm not saying that I will not also be giving store bought gifts but I would like to at least be able to give handmade gifts when possible.

I suppose that some of it is because my ultimate goal is to have and sustain a little homestead right here on my little plot of dirt.

I want to learn how to make small batches of soaps, can jams and jellies, and to make jewelry. Along with the quilting, sewing, knitting, and crochet that I do now.

This year I am crocheting sets of coasters 
and I am presently looking for pet treat recipes as part of my "Handmade Christmas" goals.


Do you like handmade gifts?


These coasters are a simple crocheted circle and are perfect for any glass or mug on any table top.
Each set will contain 4 coasters


I will be making a few other gifts as well this year but I haven't reached my goal of being able to give handmade gifts to everyone on my list just yet.
Maybe next year but if not ...
One day for certain.





Thursday, November 21, 2019

Still Passionate ... Day 15 ... My Red/White Quilts

My Red/White Quilts

I've been a bit under the weather with a terrible head cold but last night I managed to get the remaining blocks finished for my Cat Faces quilt.


I needed 100 of the 6.5 inch blocks for this quilt ...

100

Ironically enough ... 100 doesn't sound like a lot ... until you start making them! hahaha!
I have had this pattern for a long time and I believe it was a free pattern from Elizabeth Hartman's blog. Back when her blog was called Oh Fransson! 


One thing about working to sew my stash is that, I'm not buying fabric, I'm using what I have in my sewing room. I have a lot of white, off white, and low volume white fabrics but not in large yardage pieces. The back ground fabric for these blocks is a generous mix of whatever "white" fabric I have. 
Which makes this red/white quilt, sort of, a scrap quilt as well.
I love that! 


There are 98 red cat faces and 2 black cat faces in this red/white quilt. In honor of my fur babies, Booker and Jezebel


Rows and rows of cute little cat faces

😻😻😻😻😻😻

I'm still working on piecing the rows of blocks and I have cut the sashing stripes and corner connecting blocks for the sashing rows. Hopefully, I will have this quilt top finished soon. I'm looking forward to seeing how this one will turn out.




Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Mending

Not only am I mending clothing but I am mending from 
a terrible cold.

Tis' the season I suppose.

A few days ago I decided to mend my favorite cardigan sweater instead of tossing it and searching for a new one. Why ... because I really love this comfy old sweater.


Somehow over time I ended up with holes in both of elbows.
I have never mended a sweater, truth be told I have probably never mended any clothing.


As this was my first mending attempt, I think it went pretty well.


I've learned a few things.
1. I should have used yarn the same size and weight as the yarn the sweater was originally made of.
2. I probably should have knitted a swatch and woven it in as a patch.


Instead, I chose a heavier weight of yarn in a contrasting color, I wanted to see my patches. I crocheted the patches as I went picking up the stitches at the edges of the holes to secure the patches to the sweater. On one elbow I crocheted a circular patch and on the other elbow I crocheted a larger square patch.

I love the results and I love that I have added new life to my favorite sweater. There is something very rewarding about mending an article of clothing and not just throwing it away.




Friday, November 15, 2019

Planning Ahead ...

Planning Ahead ...

Each year I crochet an Easter Basket for my daughter.
Last year I waited until the last possible moment and it was STRESSFUL!

So a few days ago, I got my colored pencils out and played around with a few 
ideas for the 2020 Easter basket.

2020 Easter Basket

It feels good to be crocheting again and I'm really glad to be getting a head start on my daughter's basket for Easter 2020.

It feels weird to say, 2020 ...

Here's a look back at all of the past Easter Baskets 💕💕









I've had a lot of fun over the years making these Easter Baskets for my daughter.
Lots of really good memories!

I don't have a pattern for any of my baskets, I just make them up as I go along.
There are tons of free crochet basket patterns and tutorials online if you are interested in crocheting an Easter Basket of your own.

Stay Tuned for the finished 2020 Easter Basket Reveal ...




Thursday, November 14, 2019

Who Knew ...

Who knew ...

Who knew that micro brews and independent local brewers would become such a big thing?
And, who knew that I would enjoy sampling these brews ...
Not I, that's for sure. I have never been much of a beer drinker but these brews are
so flavorful and interesting. 

Elst Milk Stout 5%ABV
ELST Brewing Company
Elstwhere Taproom

I'm sure that I'm late to the game here and that these micro batch breweries are all the rage everywhere these days but still happy that I have arrived.
Last night I enjoyed a milk stout that was just delicious. I'm always surprised 
1.) that I actually like a dark beer and 2.) how creamy and mellow and flavorful a beer can be.

I'm enjoying these new adventures in life and I am very blessed to
have family and friends to enjoy them with.

Cheers! 




Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Bowl-O-Rama!!!!

I joined a bowling league!
Yes, I did!
And, it is so much fun!


When I was younger I remember spending many evenings with my grand-parents and parents at the bowling alley. I remember them being on bowling leagues.
There was a group of us kids that ran around the bowling alley and game room like we owned the place. HAHAHA! It was the best of times.
They had cherry cokes and baby burgers at the food counter that were absolutely
THE BEST!!!
The cherry cokes were mixed - a magical mix of cherry syrup and fountain coke.


It is different now ... now I am on the bowling league.
They don't have cherry cokes or baby burgers but the cheese fries are to die for!
And, mostly I am enjoying myself and bowling so much. 
The league that I have joined is a social league, it is more about meeting 
people, making friends, and enjoying bowling again. 
I love it! It is fun and it is bringing back so many sweet memories.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

3 Generations

3 Generations of United States Service Members

My Father
United States Army

Me
United States Navy

My Oldest Son
United States Air Force
and
United States Army Guard

My Youngest Son
United States Air Force

I am a proud daughter, a proud mother, and a proud American
God Bless America




Monday, November 11, 2019

Sewing My Stash 7

Sewing My Stash 7

Sewing My Stash 7
60 x 70

This pattern is by Ashley of Film in the Fridge, you can find her tutorial HERE
The pattern is called 2 x 4, this pattern works well with all of the fabrics I pulled from my stash for this scrap quilt. I have a lot going on here ... fabric wise! HAHA!!!

Going forward I'm going to try and take a photo of the fabrics that I choose for these quilts.
That way you can see the fabrics as a whole before I chop them up and sew them back together.


This weekend I picked up this quilt project that has been in the WIP pile for a really really long time.
I'm hand quilting this quilt because I made it for myself.
This quilt pattern is called, Modern Maple Leaf. I finished the quilt top so long ago that I don't remember who wrote the pattern or where I got it.
All of the fabrics I used are the cat fabrics that I have collected over the years.
All of that being said ... I haven't hand quilted anything in a very long time. When I began quilting, I hand quilted all of my quilt projects, I had forgotten how much I enjoyed hand quilting.

😻😻😻

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Home

Happy Home Anniversary!
To me! 
💖

November 9th ... 1 year ago yesterday, I closed on my new home.
It has been a wonderful year full of blessings.

November 9, 2018
My Homecoming!

Quilts by various family members
the wooden quilt ladder was made by my 
extremely talented brother-in-law.
**he made me 3 of them**
💖

My brother-in-law made this beautiful kitchen window shelf ...

Authentic Mexican terra cotta tiles ...

My sister and brother-in-law created the beautiful backsplash ...

My nephew procured this sewing table for me ...
and he and his brother picked it up
and set it up in my sewing room for me!

My brother-in-law made this

My nephew made this ...

I love this place!
There truly is ... no place like Home!

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Sewing My Stash 6

Sewing My Stash 6

This one is presently a work in progress ...


I am loving all of these colors. Especially the mustard yellow (gold) and the deep royal blue I used for the centers of my log cabin blocks. There are a lot of florals in this quilt which really surprises me. I don't normally lean toward floral fabric prints. Or at least I didn't think that I did!!

Yes, it becomes more and more obvious that for years now ... I have been more of a fabric collector as opposed to a quilter. But these stash busting scrap quilts are changing all of that!

Sewing My Stash 6
78 x 78

Again, the lighting in my sewing room does not do justice to all of the beautiful fabrics in this quilt.


HE (Booker, my boy) supervises my sewing room activities.
Usually from the top of a small bookshelf in front of the only window in my sewing room.
HE is king of all that he surveys ...
SHE is the ironing board warmer ...

HE and SHE

💖💖