Life Is Sew Sweet ...: September 2023

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Fall 2023 Quilt Retreat

Swaps and Games

I've gotten some notions together and made a few blocks in order to be able to participate in some of the swaps and games at the retreat.

Notions and a few fat quarters (in the bag) for the Quilto game and fat quarter swap.

*Note ... the lighing in my sewing room is horrible, excuse the lame photos.

I made these cute Christmas present blocks for a Swap at the retreat.

I'm so excited!

Friday, September 29, 2023

Fall 2023 Quilt Retreat

Fabric selections continue for the projects that I chosen to participate in at the retreat.

Tula Pink fabrics for the Fat Quarter Bag project.

These lovely fabrics were chosen for the Mystery Quilt Challenge

It is going to be a great week of quilting with my friend Sharon and other like minded quilty souls.

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Fall 2023 Quilt Retreat

I've spent the last two weeks getting ready for a quilting retreat. The retreat is taking place at the 4-H camp in my hometown.

I am beyond excited!

I've cleaned my sewing machine and gotten my bobbins wound.

I signed up for 4 of the offered projects, so I've spent time cutting choosing and cutting fabrics.

This cute little jelly roll, Spooky Darlings by Ruby Star Society will be the focus of one of those projects.

Step Ladder Quilt project is ready to sew!!!

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Fabric Shopping

I haven't done a lot of fabric shopping in the past few years, why?, you ask. Simply put, I have a very healthy stash of fabrics. A life time worth of fabrics if you will ...

But recently I did a bit of fabric shopping for a quilting retreat that I am particapting in next month and it was amazing! There are so many new fabric collections. So many new designs and the colors are amazing and magical.

I picked up a few Tula Pink fabrics along with a few cuts that just caught my eye.

Tula Pink Nightshade Deja Vu

Spooky Darlings ... this little jelly roll is for one of the retreat projects that I signed up for.

I love fabric!

I couldn't resist these little retro television prints

A little red/white low volume prints for my red/white quilting passion

This Alison Glass fabric will be binding for a quilt top that I made with Alison Glass' 100 Years fabrics collection.

My fabric stash has grown a bit.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Family

Grandpa Doc, Karen, me, Daddy, Cindy and Uncle Maurice. Probably 1968. Taken in front of Grandma and Grandpa's trailer that sat next door to us on Rock Quarry Road.

This post is taken from a text message my sister, Cindy, sent along with the picture above.

This photo sits on my vanity - a favorite, obviously - so I thought I would share. It gives you some perspective on the generations, I think.

I love the reminder of the joy of living a simple good life. Notice the rust on the trailer. And the folding lawn chairs. No fancy patio furniture- no patio!

What makes this photo special is the people and how we loved spending time together. I love spending time with you guys now just as much.

Treasure the best stuff, which isn't stuff at all.

Monday, September 25, 2023

Family

Joy and Eddie

Joyce Ann Gibson and Clyde Edward Gibson are the children of Doc and Dorothy Gibson. They were both born in Crawford, Tennessee in the 1930's. They moved to Dayton, Ohio as children. Aunt Joyce still lives in West Milton, outside of Dayton. My parents, Eddie and Jean, moved back to Tennessee in the early 1960's when my dad got a job at General Processing.

They had a brother, Thomas Carroll, who died a couple of weeks after he was born.

Joyce and Eddie each had 3 children. Aunt Joyce and Uncle Maurice had Steve, Cheryl and Karen. Our family is my sister Cindy, my brother Pat and me.

My dad died in 1969 at the age of 33 from Hodgkin cancer. He had been a paraplegic for the last 5 years of his life due to a skydiving/parakiting accident.

Aunt Joyce is now 89 and lives with Cheryl in West Milton in the house they bought in the late 1950's.

Clyde Edward Gibson (my dad), Dorothy Minnie Duncan Gibson (my Grandma), Joyce Ann Carpenter (my Aunt)

Joy (Aunt Joyce) and Eddie (my dad)

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Sourdough Bread Starter FAIL

Okay ... my first attempt at making my own sourdough bread starter was a fail but I'm ready to begin again.

I've purchased organic all purpose floor, a recommended mineral salt, and I continue to watch YouTube tutorials on making one's own starter.

I have decided to wait until the weather turns and becomes cooler ... and I switch over to heating my house as opposed to cooling my house.

Stay Tuned ...

I'm determined to figure this out!

My daughter keeps telling me that there is this new phase young people are talking about, it's call "Grandma Phase". She tells me that people her age are wishing they were taught the skills their Grandmother's have/had. Skills such as making their own bread starter and breads, cooking, quilting, knitting, sewing, crocheting ... and so on. When she first told me about it I wasn't sure whether I should be offended or proud that I'm in my "Grandma Phase", as she tells me. I have decided to be proud.

😃😃😃

Side Note: I have no grandchildren ... I do have two grandkitties - Maybelline and Jasper ... and two grandpups - Bella and Beau

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Sock It To Me

Lately it has been all about the sock knitting for me ...

I've even gotten my DPNs (double pointed needles) out. I had forgotten how much I enjoy cuff down sock knitting on double pointed needles.

Friday, September 22, 2023

5 Years

5 years of journaling my quilting passion

Actually, I have been journaling my quilting passion for many many years but about 5 years ago I found this journal online which focuses on quilting.

The Quilter's Planner

You can check them out HERE

Side Note: I also began this blog 5 years ago. September 30, 2018 was my first post.

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Crockpot Season

It's official ... crockpot season has begun ...

15 Bean & Ham Soup

It is a bit saltier than I would like ... but delicious all the same.

I plan to serve the remain soup over rice, which will cut down on the saltiness. It would be really good over mashed potatoes too!

Freezer Friendly and what I will be eating for lunch this week.

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Cake Decorating 101 - Butter Cream

This past weekend I spent a wonderful afternoon trying my hand at butter cream frosting cake decorating ... a.k.a piping

Wilton Butter Cream Frosting recipe

I enjoyed learning what the different piping tips produce. It is much harder than it appears to be. There is definitely a technic and skill involved.

Needless to say, I need a lot of practice!

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Family

Doc Thomas Gibson and Dorothy Minnie Duncan Gibson

Grandma Dorothy and Grandpa Doc. Grandpa Doc was born in 1911 and Grandma Dorothy was born in 1914. They married when she was 14 or 15, approximately 1928. The lived with Granny and Pa when they first married and had 3 children.

My aunt, Joyce Carpenter, my dad, Clyde Edward Gibson, and their first child a son, Thomas Carroll Gibson was born on November 25 1932 and died on December 14, 1932.