Quilts and Thoughts…

margaret | September 18, 2011

Coming Soon!

Don’t Miss it!

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Tags: just for fun, Videos, YouTube

margaret | September 11, 2011

Keeping off the interstate and traveling the back roads of Texas reveals such fun things!

This is the best looking gate around!

According to Wikipedia, the parts of a spur include:

• The yoke, branch, or heel band, which wraps around the heel of the boot.
• The shank or neck, which extends from the back of the heel band and is the area that usually touches the horse
• The rowel, seen on some spurs, a small revolving wheel or disk with radiating points at the end attached to the shank.

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Tags: just for fun

margaret | July 10, 2011

Went to the Museum of the Americas and found a wonderful hidden treasure!
I say it’s hidden, but actually it’s in plain sight, yet easy to pass by
without even knowing it is there.

About a block off the square in Weatherford, Texas is where you will find the most
unexpected collection of artifacts, masks, ceramics, costumes and
jaw dropping cultural information about the Americas.

This Nanduti lace caught my eye. It is indigenous of Paraguay.
I had never seen it before and it is just beautiful. If you really
want a visual of the beauty of the lace, just Google images “nanduti”.
It means spider web.

You will be given a free tour by the owner of this most wonderful
private collection of artifacts. Each room is filled with eye opening exhibits.

As you can see, every piece has a description to help you envelope the culture.

The museum has permanent pieces and special exhibits throughout the year.

This mask caught my eye!

Plan to spend some time at the museum to absorb it all!

So much to see, and it is all free!

I just took a few photos, but you will want to visit the museum yourself!

Weatherford is just west of Fort Worth.

For information about their museum visit Museum of the Americas online.

Category: General | 2 Comments »
Tags: just for fun, museum, nanduti lace

margaret | June 18, 2011

Two things Brenham, Tx is noted for… got to experience both!

and

Thanks so much to the wonderful group of quilters in the
Friendship Quilt Guild for inviting me to present to your group!

Met a lady from Australia visiting friends in Brenham and the guild.
As a last minute thing, she was asked to tell a bit about her guild
and was very humorous in her presentation. We exchanged emails
and I plan to interview her for our newsletter.

Arrived in time to visit Blue Bell Creamery. You know, the ice cream you love!

Not allowed to take photos during the tour, but this is an outside shot.

Took the Quilter’s Travel Companion book and found a quilt shop
way out on a country road.

Lunch on the way home:

DH had brisket and sweet potato fries!

Can’t recall the name of mine, but it had fried chickpeas.

Turtle something?

Carrot cake to go!

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Tags: just for fun, quilting lecture

margaret | June 13, 2011

I found an old pair of jeans and wanted to make something from it other than a purse.

This is the tale of the blue jean vest.

I had a fun time making this vest, and even more fun when I wore it!
When passing people coming toward me I could see their eyes dart to the vest
and dart back,
trying to not let me see they wondered what they had just seen!
I made the vest so it fits just under the underarms,
so you can see why they would be wondering.
The jeans were not at my waist, but in the middle of my chest!

I used to wear it to the college (where I taught computer graphics/design)
when sharing with students about creativity
and how not to let others discourage them from their
creative brainstorming and stifle their creativity.
You see, my husband thought it was strange for me
to wear it and basically made fun of me for doing so.

My youngest daughter called me at work one day to let me know it
was grandparent’s day at the oldest grandson’s elementary school.
I told her I could get over to the school during
my lunch hour to participate, but that I was wearing the vest.
She giggled and told me
if I didn’t care if anyone laughed at me to go ahead and wear it.

I did wear it, and couldn’t believe all compliments from
teachers and other grandmothers!

I didn’t take photos of it as I was working through the process, but to make the vest:

• Find a pair of jeans with a waist that will fit around your trunk,
just below your underarms.

• Cut the jeans (all the way across) just below the crotch.

• Cut the legs to make the back and the shoulder straps.

• Use the buttons as a place to attach the overall hooks.

• Decorate (I painted some, used blanket stitch on the loops, doilies for pockets etc.)

• Left the zipper intact and hung a tassel

So there!

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Tags: just for fun