12/2/12

'Tis the Season


Look for the November NewFO Linky Party and Giveaway right here.

'Tis the season for sugar fiends.  To say I've been counting the days until I could make some Divinity would be an understatement.  It seemed a little too soon in July.  This morning, my lack of willpower took over and I made up a batch.


You can find the recipe I used right here.  Is it any wonder this candy is called "Divinity"?  Of course, if you're not into sugar, you may disagree.  But I have never been ashamed to admit my sugar addiction.  There are certainly worse vices to have.  (Like Spiro Agnew, for instance.  Hahahahahaha.  Ahem.  Oh, and please tell me you're old enough to remember Spiro Agnew.)

So what else have I been up to?  Well, yesterday I finished up the stitchery for the November Vintage Miniature Sewing Machines BOM.  Lotsa stitching in this one.


This one fought me every step of the way.  First, I had to request a different pattern because the first one I received wasn't an embroidery transfer, and I was loathe to trace all those little details out by myself.  The second one transferred just fine, and I learned that I wasn't the only one who had trouble with it.  Something in the manufacturing process, I guess.  But then, some of the stitching that was shown clearly on the picture of the completed stitchery was just missing from the transfer, and so I had to draw some of it in myself.

For example, the picture showed four little rosebuds at the bottom of the machine.  These were missing from the transfer.  I tried drawing them in myself using a Frixion pen, but I couldn't make mine look any better than moles with hair growing out of them.  Seriously.  Thank goodness for that heat-sensitive disappearing ink.  Finally, I just drew one big one with some leaves, which had the added bonus of allowing me to use a little green floss where there was none before.

So I was all set to start on my next stitchery and trace out the designs to work on this morning.  My next stitchery is going to be for "A Gardener's Journal" quilt by Anni Downs:


Some of the stitcheries are fairly small for this quilt...like 2½ inches x 2½ inches.  I wanted to use my small embroidery hoop for these.  To make a long story short, I'll just say I searched high and low in my sewing room looking for that small embroidery hoop.  No point wasting time tracing out stitcheries when I can waste a whole lot more time--say, an hour or so--looking for my embroidery hoop.

I recall putting it somewhere and saying to myself, "There.  Now it will be obvious (snort) when I go looking for it next time."  And if you've ever said those words to yourself, you know that you have just placed said item into a sucking black hole of you-will-never-see-it-again-as-long-as-you-live.  In frustration, I gave up searching.  Looks like I have a trip to JoAnn in my future because I've looked all I'm going to look.  It's gone to the place of missing socks.  And the corollary to this story is that as soon as I purchase the new one, I'll walk into my sewing machine and the old one will be hanging from a string in the middle of my sewing room with a spotlight on it and arrows pointing in its direction in a sort of aura-like fashion.  And I'll say, "Of COURSE!!  THAT'S THE OBVIOUS PLACE I LEFT IT!!!"  (And I'll smack my head to my forehead in the gesture of I'm-such-a-dunce-sometimes.)



So that left me with nothing else to do but quilt my quilt...which I am getting very tired of doing.  But I will finish it up today, and then I'll be able to hand sew the binding.  Since I can't find my embroidery hoop, this seems like a reasonable substitution until I can get to JoAnn's.  Always thinking, that's my style.


There's only a little left to do on this, but it will still total up to a couple of hours of work.  Still, I'm glad to be finishing it, and taking one flimsy off the pile.

What's on your agenda for today?

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18 comments:

Winona said...

Your quilt is looking great. I cannot tell you how many times I have moved something, thinking I was moving it to a better spot, only to forget said spot. LOL Yep you will find it as soon as you buy a new one. I had some star shaped templates. Looked everywhere for them and could not find them. Then I bought some heart shaped templates to use instead. Well, I found the stars. Now I have misplaced the hearts. (big sigh) Have a great day.

Stray Stitches (Linda G) said...

Do you have trouble making Divinity if the weather is storming?
Your little sewing machine stitchery is adorable - so much work!
Have fun with the Gardener's Journal when you get your new hoop. I had a lot of fun making mine.
Your quilt is beautiful even if you are getting tired of quilting it.

Winona said...

Ok, Barbara, I am hoping that I have fixed this silly 'no reply blogger' thing. I don't think I will attempt to change anything again. Thanks for all your help. Please let me know if this works right. :)

Kate said...

How do you make devinity is such a humid climate? My mom has tried for years and hers often turns out with the consistency of white tar.

The tree is up and ready for DT to decorate. I'm hoping to get some stitching in today. As well as make some plans for the 2013 NewFO.

Lee said...

I confess, I'm old enough to remember Spiro Agnew. Yum, can't remember when I last had divinity...maybe high school home-ec, back when they still had such a thing. Yes, of course the hoop will reappear as soon as you buy a new one...ask me how I know, lol. Another good one is to be looking for something only to realize later you really did get rid of it. uh huh.

Betty said...

I am prepping more black on white fabrics for Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt.
It drives me nuts when I misplace something and I seem to be doing it more often lately. I usually find things when I am looking for some other thing I've lost.

gpc said...

My sister and I used to make divinity -- we had to stop because we were eating more than we gave away, lol! Delicious! The quilt is beautiful.

Junebug613 said...

I always say that when I have put something in a "safe" place, that it's so safe, it's safe from me too! LOL I will tell you one of my few organizing tips for my embroidery hoops. I have taken a small velcro strap and bundled them all together. I love those velcro straps for keeping cords in order and many other little wayward items. I think they sell them at Joanns too. :0) And it is inevitable when you buy a replacement item, the original will jump out with a sunbeam shining down upon it and the "ahhh ahhhh ahhhhh" music playing. LOL

Teresa in Music City said...

It's simply amazing to me how things just disappear! I'm still looking for a list of passwords I put in "a safe place" 3 years ago LOL!!! Good thing I'm not very adventurous with my passwords :*) You sure meant it when you said lotsa stitching in that little stitchery! But it looks great and well worth the effort. And your quilt is really looking good! Why is it that I drool over every quilt you make? I love the bold colors and movement in the design of this quilt - it's marvelous!!! =^..^=

Lynette said...

Oh! Look at how marvelous this one turned out. Your replacement rose looks so good there at the bottom. I can't imagine 4 buds fitting in there nicely.

Vickie said...

Your projects are beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Judy1522 said...

I haven't had divinity in years and have never made it. Yours looks good. I know exactly what you mean about not being able to find things. Some days I start to think I must be crazy when I just used something and then can't find it the next time I need it.

Angel, Kirby and Max said...

You do beautiful hand work. love the 'snowball' quilt!

SJSM said...

This Christmas will be a little different. Our newly wed daughter is going to the in laws. DH and I will just have to start a new tradition. Perhaps dance around the tree.

SJSM said...

I have been a follower for 1 year. It is a joy seeing you in my mailbox and reading the adventures at 3 Cat Ranch since then. Your witty reparte and sharing what you love keeps me coming back each day.

Is it my turn to win the fat quarters? I have a space cleared out awaiting their arrival.

Thanks for sharing.

Marei said...

Barbara, Barbara, I was laughing out loud at this post. Of course I remember Spiro...you know that. And SUGAR...well that's my middle name, and last name, and sometimes my first name. As for the sucking black hole in your sewing room...I really think it's a worm hole and it is, somehow, linked to my sewing room. And because of that I, too, need to make a run to JoAnn's for something that I put "RIGHT THERE" so I could find it.....NOT!!

Denise :) said...

Oh gosh, I love divinity. I do NOT make it. It's detrimental to my waistline if I do. LOL! Yours looks marvelous! As does your pretty little sewing machine stitchery! :)

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Divinity was my daddy's favorite. I've never tried to make it. Brings back old memories, seeing the picture.