Showing posts with label Embroidery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Embroidery. Show all posts

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Firsts...

First Robin pic by JLynn (DIL)


Two days ago Peach and Toodles and their mama sited the First Robin here on the ranch in the trees next to their house.  I put on my boots and went with Peach to see it with my own eyes.  She was anxious to show him to me!  Today I spied the First Meadowlark while I was out feeding sheep.  I didn't have a camera so everyone had to trust my eyes for the report of "First Meadowlark" that was announced on the 2-way radio.  The meadowlark picture is not mine.  My picture would have snow, a little mud, and gray skies mixed in it.  Not as colorful as this pic.

We are expecting another snow this weekend.  Somewhere between 6-8" of snow on top of what we have.  The old snow is sinking slowly as the sun gets a little stronger each day.  Still, we have quite a bit.  There are now about 65 new calvies on the ground so the men have been working to make sure there are good places for them to be during the snow storm.




I've been stitching a little bit here and there.  One embroidery is for a baby's room and the Scottie Dog for a friend of a friend to tuck into a birthday gift.  In case you need a Scottie Dog stuffie of your own, the pattern is here at AllSorts.   It's almost spring!  Can you feel it in the air?  Yet?

Sunday, January 14, 2018

Whole30 recipes...


 This dish began as a crock pot pork loin which was delicious, 
and then the leftovers turned into 
Pork, Green Bean and Potato Hash.

Osso Buco and Cauliflower "Rice" & Mushrooms

My "Take A Stitch Tuesday" for last week.
Running stitch, round and round my hoop.

Hello Everybody!
Hubby and I have knocked out over 10 days of Whole30 and we're feeling GOOD!  I've been working at collecting a group of tasty recipes that will conform to the rules of Whole30 so we can have some good things in our dining rotation.  I must say that we've been eating like Kings!  I want our foods to be tasty and mostly easy to make, and I think the recipes that I'm sharing here are all of that.  

Starting at the top:  The Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin.  There was a recipe I found online, but the only part I kept from it included the loin and the cooking time.  Otherwise, I did this:  Salt & Pepper a small pork loin and sear it on all sides in a skillet with a little olive oil.  Cut an onion into chunks and put it on the bottom of the crock pot along with chunks of  carrots, celery, and a couple cloves of smashed garlic.  Roll the seared pork loin into a mixture of course salt & pepper, garlic powder, and rosemary.  Lay the coated loin over the veggies.  Add about 1 cup of water down the side, put the lid on, and let it cook on LOW for 4-5 hours.  I served it with green beans sauteed with onions, water chestnuts, garlic and slivered almonds.

The next day I made a hash with the left-over pork starting with olive oil in my cast iron skillet, the pork pieces, onion, some left-over potatoes,  green beans and a clove of minced garlic.  Add salt & pepper and some smoked paprika at the end to your taste.

The Lime Chili Shrimp Fajita recipe was a hit too.  We both gobbled down an entire pan of this.  Since we are land-locked prairie savages, we don't have access to fresh shrimp, but I do buy frozen, raw shrimp from the local stores and it's just fine.  (What do we know anyway?)  The seasoning in this recipe is really great and I think you could make it with chicken, pork, or beef.  Even though it's a fajita recipe, we did not use tortillas because that's against the rules.  But you can use tortillas if you want.

Osso Buco is SO good.  We are cattle ranchers so we are blessed to have our own home-raised beef.  I know that "real" osso buco is made with veal shanks, but we don't butcher veal so instead, I subbed in beef shanks.  The servings are much larger than veal shanks, and I would venture to guess, every bit as tender.  This is an Ann Burrell recipe, so you know it's good.  The only things I did not follow  in the recipe was the fennel and the tomato paste amount.  I did not have fennel so omitted it and I probably only used 2 -3 tablespoons of tomato paste in my recipe.  

OnlyDaughter gave me a cauliflower "rice" recipe and we made that to eat alongside the Osso Buco.  It was delicious.  I can't find the link to the recipe, but I'll tell you how it went.  I didn't fuss as much as the recipe said (as is my way).

Cauliflower "Rice" & Mushrooms

1 - 12 oz package of frozen riced cauliflower (4 c.)
half of a medium onion, chopped
1 container of mushrooms of choice, sliced
olive oil or coconut oil for sauteing, about 2 T.
2 T. cashew butter
1 small clove garlic, minced (or powdered garlic)
Grated Parmesan cheese (if not restricting dairy)

First saute the onions in oil until beginning to brown.  Add mushrooms and brown them along with onions.  Remove from skillet.  Add a little more oil to skillet and then add riced cauliflower.  Saute a few minutes until tender.  Add cashew butter and minced garlic.  Stir in well and then add mushrooms and onions back in.  Stir  and heat through.  Add salt & pepper to taste.  If you want to, add a few shakes (or grates) of Parmesan cheese.    It's pretty darn good good and seems a lot like rice.

I hope these recipes might be helpful to you if you are working at eating healthier.  Even if you aren't trying to eat less carbs, these recipes are so delicious and well worth trying out.  I hope you do.

Today I'm starting the 2nd stitch for TAST.  It's the buttonhole stitch.  I think I'll do some buttonhole flowers.  We shall see what I come up with.

 

It's snowing today -- a very wet snow.  Heidi the German Shepherd and I went out walking this morning and got quite wet, but it was so warm it didn't matter to us a bit.  We were dressed for it.  I think we reached 34 degrees today, but it's going to fall as the day progresses and we will be back to single digits for a high temp tomorrow.  Bummer.  How's the weather where you are?

Tuesday, March 07, 2017

For baby...

Picking posies
Red rosies
But leaving a few
For bees to sip and chew 
So they can make honey
For our Baby Bunny.
.................................
 
A first doll softie
for our newest babygrandgirl -- Bunny.



Thursday, February 25, 2016

Beginning butterflies and lambs...

 

I've begun my new online class on Craftsy and it's been fun!  I'm taking "Embroidering Texture and Dimension by Hand" by Sue Spargo.  Sue is a wonderful teacher.  I love to listen to her speak in her South African accent, and I love to watch her hands handle the materials and threads as a true artist.  I'll be making several of these butterflies, using felted wool scraps, embroidery floss, ribbons, beads,  and who knows what else I might come up with.  I'm learning some new stitches along the way which is always fun.  Thanks to my dear friend for her lovely gift of the class!


On another note, we're drawing near to the end of our lambing season.  We docked our first bunch of lambs today.  Here they are!  They're growing so quickly, and they are so healthy due to the beautiful weather we've had.  February is usually a very cold, nasty month for us, but this year it's been mild and unseasonably warm -- windy, but warm.  I'm thankful for it.    Our losses have been very small.  We've had a few bum lambs, but very few of them.  All in all, it's been a good, bountiful lamb season.

Tally:
37 Ewes
29 Ewe Lambs
36 Wether Lambs
------------------------
65 Lambs Total
(176% lamb crop on this bunch)

Saturday, January 02, 2016

Gradient chicken wire?


I was so thrilled to receive a beautifully embroidered tea towel from my DIL, JLynn, for Christmas.
What did I immediately think of when I saw it?  Chicken wire!  Yes.  That was the first thought that popped into my mind.  In fact, I thought she may have laid a piece of chicken wire down on the tea towel to trace, but she said, "No, they're hexagons."  Right!  Hexagons!  I was gifted the red, orange, yellow towel -- the warm colors.


I was so fascinated with the gradient chicken wire hexagons that I wanted to try it for myself.  I laid a ruler down on the towel first to give myself a straight line and then proceeded to trace around 1.5" hexagons straight across the entire width of my tea towel, and let me tell you, these are some wide tea towels -- 32".  I made five rows, stacked on top of each other, and then numbered them all so I wouldn't get mixed up.  I went around each hexagon with a color and the one next to that row got a part-round of the neighboring color, and so on, to all the other rows.  This way it looks gradient.

I'm working on more chicken wire tea towels but they will have some missing hexagons here and there.  They might look something like bee hives, but again, a gradient color choice.  I'm using a multi-colored green floss on the new towel over all.  It's turning out nicely, I think.  The green towel you see here was a gift to JLynn.


I've been using my time before lambing to work on my embroidery, and I'm really enjoying it.  I also hope to finish my string baby quilt which is waiting to be quilted and bound.   That'll be another fun project to complete.  Do you have any fun projects you are tackling just now?

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Bear plays bass...


 Bear plays bass
Owl snares the drum
Three little bunnies each play some
Tambourine rattles
Accordion squeeze
Clarinet tweets joyfully!

A sweet li'l baby has arrived,
his parents sing for joy!
He's a December gift,
a bouncing baby boy!

(a patchwork pillow for a friend's baby boy)
pattern ideas here

Wednesday, December 02, 2015

Little Christmas things...



 

I've been playing with needle and thread and also using the hot glue gun for one project.  
Since we have two 2015 babies in the family, 
I took up my needle and thread and started on a couple
tree ornaments for them, marking their birth.
Then two Christmas stockings!
And lastly, I turned some old ornaments and light reflectors
 into a shiny wreath.
The tree is up and some twinkle lights are strung.
The candles are placed and ready to light at sundown.
I like lighting candles on these dark December nights.

Friday, November 06, 2015

Wild birds -- in felt

 Black-capped Chickadee, Lazuli Bunting (blue), Downy Woodpecker


American Robin

Guess what?  I found DownEastThunderFarm!  And you know what Susan does there?  She makes patterns for wild birds -- made of felt.  Lots of them.  And you know what else?  She lets you print her patterns for FREE.  The only stipulation is that you don't sell them for profit.  I am so excited because each of my eight beautiful grandchildren are going to have a wild bird ornament clinging to their Christmas tree this December.  So far, I have these three made and another black-capped chickadee ready for its wire feet.  I've got an American Robin, Meadowlark, Burrowing Owl, Wren, and Red-winged Blackbird printed, and there are so many more to choose from.  Susan's patterns are clear and easy to understand.  I think the birds look very life-like, and as a bird-watcher, this thrills me.

If you're not into birds, there are also a few patterns for wild animals.  I'm especially smitten with the Whitetail Fawn, and the Christmas Moose is really sweet too.  I hope you might find your favorite bird at DownEast Thunder Farm.  Even if you don't intend to stitch up any birds, take a look around the farm anyway.  I think you'll appreciate the beautiful birds Susan has created.
 ..........................................................

Bread and milk for breakfast,
  And woolen frocks to wear,
And a crumb for robin readbreast
  On the cold days of the year.

~Christina Rosetti

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Dishes and sugar skulls...



Thank God for dirty dishes;
They have a tale to tell.
While others may go hungry,
We're eating very well
With home, health, and happiness,
I shouldn't want to fuss;
By the stack of evidence,
God's been very good to us.
~Anon
My grandma had a little plaque on her wall with this poem. 
I taught it to my own children. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you were growing up, did you cover up the clean dishes with a tea towel when you were done?  Or did you wipe your dishes dry with a tea towel?
I think we did a little of both.
Either way, I'm happy with my newest tea towel featuring sugar skulls
from here and here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

It's football season and that means I spend a few hours each Sunday
watching the Broncos and
EMBROIDERING!
Love it!

Sunday, August 02, 2015

For the benefit...


Today there's a benefit-auction and supper planned for our postmistress who has been receiving cancer treatment this past month.  Our community is small, but it is broad, encompassing about a 50 mile radius, and the folks that live here have big hearts as wide-open as the prairie we live on.  The community of folks and the nearby small towns where we buy our feed and groceries, tires and boots  are all supporting the effort too.  It'll be a big gathering at our community hall with all the ladies bringing their best pot luck dishes and most will bring an item or two to donate to the silent auction and the live auction.  There will be handshakes and hugs, talk of making hay and grazing livestock, while we eat lots of good homemade food and spread lots of good will.  My little contribution will be a set of embroidered tea towels, just perfect for the cowgirl or ranchwife, or for anyone who has a little inner-cowgirl spirit. 

I found these vintage cowgirls on Pinterest and then traced them with my Sulky iron-on transfer pen.  Now I'm getting lots of ideas about embroidering pictures or photos in black and white, and I'm also thinking about tinting some.  For now, these black & white, retro ranch-hands are sporting red lipstick to give them a little spunk. 

Prayers and thoughts for Rita today and in the days to come.

"God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble." ~Psalm 46:1

Monday, July 13, 2015

Whoopi Ti Yi Yo...




I've been working on a little whoopi ti yi yo stitching and it's fun!
Almost as fun as riding horseback across the prairie in July, but much cooler.
And how about some theme music for your listening pleasure? 
..................................................

The pony is a pillowcase I stitched for my granddaughter, Peach, who turned 7 years old on the 11th.  She's a boot-wearing, tractor-fixin', cow-feedin' cowgirl ya know.  I found the horse pattern here but I changed the flower out for a western rose. The tea towels are stitched on two corners with some vintage western designs that I love.  The patterns are from the Wild Wild West collection of Stitcher's Revolution.   The Bakery, my local fabric store, carries them.  I have many of the iron-on SR patterns and really like using them.  I made this set of tea towels for a local cowgirl who will soon be a bride.  The towels will be tucked into a little gift for her bridal shower.

The barrel of moss roses have nothing to do with whoopi ti yi yo except that they flourish on the patio at my ranch house.  They make me smile every time I walk by their bold, rootin' tootin' blooms.  They love the hot prairie sunshine so I think there's a little bit o' wild west in them somewhere!  Can I get a  "YeeHaw!" ?


Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Pair of pups...

Two little Scotties
Naughty little Scotties
Playing ball in Mommy's flowies
Spanks and owies.
 ............................

Two tea towels for friend's friend
who loves Scottie Dogs.

Thursday, June 04, 2015

Softies....

for the babies.
 
One for Lil.

One for Chief.

Patterns here and here.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014


A little embroidery for a little boy's first Christmas.
(Can you tell his parents are Broncos fans?)

Find some really adorable Christmas children to embroider

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

More mending with little details...

 This time I patched a pair of girl jeans on the outside.  I embroidered the patches first and then machine sewed them on.  Only the knees are my embroidery.  The other was factory stitched.  
(I love the factory stitching.  Cute!)

 Patched a major rip on Hubs' jeans.  The patch is underneath the rip and then sewed over with denim colored thread so it doesn't show much.  I stitched the Xs around the rip for fun.

I put total fronts on Hubby's jeans, patching over the top. They look almost like chaps covering the legs. The jeans will be extra-warm when the weather turns cold. These two small embellishments are  in fairly obscure spots -- tiny signs that I was the mender of the Man's jeans.
We'll see if he notices.


Thursday, October 23, 2014

More groovy jeans patches...




I feel like a 7th grader again, 
drawing on jeans and embroidering them
 to my heart's desire!

Monday, September 29, 2014

Mending li'l jeans...

 I am having too much fun!
Seriously.

 I love denim.
And I have always been a mender of jeans.
Lots of jeans.
Living with five kids and working
on a ranch
 along with a husband who works hard, 
jeans ripped 
and tore
and wore out.
I have mended innumerable jeans
(meaning I have never numbered them and wish I had).

 When I was in seventh grade,
 I started embroidering...
on my jeans. 
I drew on my jeans with a ballpoint pen during class
and went home and embroidered them at night.
I wish I still had those jeans.

 Now I feel like I'm re-living seventh grade.
OnlyDaughter brought me four pair of li'l girl jeans
to mend.
And this is what I have been doing in my spare time.
Love it!

 Soon I will go next door and grab the other little jeans
that belong to more of my little people
and stitch on them too.


Won't that be fun?
Yes, it will!

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