Santa Is Coming

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Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season..The ever crafty Rhona gets us started... sharing this wall hanging she made to decorate with this year. This Santa will brighten any room..

Every year I say I am not going to wait till November to start making Christmas gifts....You got it...I am just starting...The Ol' Blogger

Designer Majestic Hoop

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There's nothing more exciting than starting a new project.. Sherry took a class at the Sewing Center..To learn how to use the Designer Majestic Hoop. Which is the largest hoop for her Designer Diamond. She embroider the rose design on the back of her sweat shirt...Of course she shared this work in progress...Looking forward to seeing her wearing this when finished.

The Ol' Blogger

Rusted Scarves

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Cathy has become quite the textile artist. Above are some of the silk scarves she has rusted. These are simple enchanting....

Cathy never has an idle day,
New ideas always come her way.
Not always sure what she will create,
But her imagination's great.

Sharing Our Heart

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We enjoy all our achievements and do look forward to our show-n-tell time. Not just the one with the completed item...but those looking on.. A favorite past time of our group...we love touching and exploring every detail....Not looking for imperfections because what someone makes with their hands is from the heart and that is something we cherish.

Cindy took the Flamingo a step farther and made the above jacket. Deconstructing a ready made jacket and redesigning with fabric,beads and applique' to create a one of a kind....One thing about Flamingos they do bring a smile. When she wears this treasure... smiles will be all around her.

I will be sharing our hearts through show-n-tell for the next few days...Please join me...

The Ol' Blogger

Thanksgiving

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Kathy made this darling Turkey wall hanging for Cindy. She gave it to her Friday at our "Monthly Fun Meter Fill Up" day...Giving is a typical trait of the group....SoTA SISTERS have so much to be thankful for.. First of all our husbands and families that encourage us in our passion to create and to achieve such satisfaction in what we do.

Friends that find the sweetest sense of happiness comes from simply being together.... Sharing of each others homes monthly for that reason. Health, eyesight, hands and working minds to create. We truly are blessed as a group. We are also grateful.. we didn't drink enough coffee..giggle....... Most of all...we thank God Almighty for blessing us with all this...

Love The Ol' Blogger

Smiles are Beautiful

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************************************************************************************* All smiles as they craft individual projects...Being together preforming the work we love does generate beaming faces and warm hearts...

Cindy stuffing pumpkins..The Elder adding finishing touches to Audrey's quilt...Sherry hand embroidering what will be another pillow..

Anyone notice the size of those scissors Cindy has in her hand..hmmmmm.. One can cut anything with those.... Truly a great picture of "The Elder"...Thank goodness I didn't have to crop her face...giggle giggle. Snowflake Sherry, I am sorry I was focusing on your project..so most of your face is cropped...

Please forgive me..I get caught up in the conversations and forget to get pictures of everyone for everything....But I will get all in as we go to show and tell. May be a little slow posting this week. It is a busy time.

Just in case I don't make it tomorrow night....HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM ALL THE SoTA SISTERS....The Ol' Blogger..

November Fun Meter Fill Up

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************************************************************************************** We begun our " Fun Meter Fill Up Monthly Meeting" greeted by the Turkey in front of the corn fodder shock. Taking time to look it over as one slowly strolls by.... You get the feeling today is going to be special....

As each arrive and ring the door bell, Cindy ushers us in.. The first thing that our eyes see is this enticing room..one could linger here for days. The Grand Piano, the glistening wood floor covered with just the right area rug... quilts and pillows, she has made, placed all around....Comfortable furniture for listening to Cindy play...which I have done...but not today....Today is sewing day...

By the way if you enlarge pictures the one with the piano has the glass pumpkin she created when she, Jody and Sherry when to Glassworks in Louisville Ky, on the table stand.
I will be sharing the fun we experienced and some other surprises in the next few days...Be sure and join me as we make our way to the Fun Filler Up Rooms ...The Ol' Blogger

Thanksgiving Memories and Gifts

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I have been searching for my genealogy papers...Surely I am akin to Sherry some how....Oh where, oh where, did I put those....:0)

All women family members who will be sharing Thanksgiving with Sherry are getting a gift box...Yes, in each box will be a set of place mats, set of mitten napkin holders (pictures of them under posting" Snowman Place Mats/Mitten Napkin Rings") and two of the potholders shown above..... Sherry has been very busy sewing and embroidering...Her work is stunning......Gee, I can't find those dang documents.....:<(

Every year her sisters come on Wednesday to spend the night and prepare their Thanksgiving dinner for the next day.....Imagine the laughter and teasing between the sisters as they cook. Smell of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet corn and other fall vegetables. Pumpkin Pie, Blackberry cobbler is taking the place of apple this year... How close in the blood line does one need to be to qualify as family???? giggle, giggle

When the foods all gone and the day is done...Each will have a gift box of love which will bring memories of Sweet Sherry for years to come.....

Why, didn't I listen when my Mother told me to put our family history in a safe place......:>)

The Ol' Blogger

Snowman Place Mats/ Mitten Napkin Ring

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The air is crisp and cold, but the hearth is warm and inviting...How true this will be at Sherry's Mother, Sisters and Nieces homes this year...They will be able to decorate their home with these superb place mats and mitten napkin rings.. There are a grand total of 12 sets or 46 place mats and 46 napkin rings.. Be sure to enlarge..Marvelous...

To Be Continue...Tomorrow Night...

Fun Meter Fill Up

We are having our November "Fun Meter Fill Up Gathering" at Cindy's on Friday....I should have pictures, and show-n-tell for Saturday....Be sure and check in then...The Ol' Blogger

Sixty Quilt

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Today is my birthday....two years ago on my 60th the SoTA Sisters presented me with this quilt and pillow they had made for me....They named them "NO ONE EVER LOVED ME ENOUGH TO MAKE ME A QUILT"and all signed the label.......I would whine ( I like whimper better)..."no one ever loved me enough to make me a quilt".... So the girls made me one... I am loved!!!!!!

We have made 4 sixty quilts so far....We have one due in 2014 and two in 2017.....Hope the older ones eyes are still working then..:0)

All I ask is if I should go to Heaven before then don't let the youngins take my quilt out of my coffin....hehehehehe The Ol' Blogger

Aunt Lulu's Quilt

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Rhona and I were at the Bloomington Quilt Show Saturday. This precious quilt stood out for me... This quilt was made and quilted by the man's Aunt Lulu when he was born.. The hand embroidery was magnificent. I am hoping when enlarge you can see the details in this quilt. Aunt Lulu must have dearly loved her nephew...

Used Needle Case

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Most tools originate from clever, creative individuals who saw a problem and took the time to fix it.. Husqvarna Education Creative Coordinator Marie, came up with this Needle Keeper...

With sewing machine needles being the most changeable part of our sewing machine and they can change how our machine forms stitches..... The problem was always changing needles what to do with them till needed again.. Putting them back in the case left you not knowing which were used and which were new....Thank you Marie.... Sherry and I put our embroidery machines to work and made the above fabric books for our used sewing machine needles. Sherry made a few changes....Each page has the name of the needles (ie: universal, stretch, etc. ) and all sizes related... 60/80 100/16 ...you get the idea...When you have used a needle for a short while one can place it on the page and in the size for that needle....When you need it once more there it is. All labeled and ready to go again.. Grandma would be so pleased with the tools we have today...

The Ol' Blogger

ATC Cards

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Kathy had another idea for our forks... make fork frames for our ATC cards.

Artist Trading Cards are 3.5" x 2.5" mini wonders of art! We started making these for each other in 2007. Our whole motivation for these tiny works of art is sharing our creation with one another. This would be our versions of collecting Base Ball or Pokemon Cards :<) Instead of keeping them in a box or collection book we now can have them exhibited in our studio's. Which is exceptionally inspiring being able to switch them monthly. We look forward to Chocolate Night to see what the new cards look like.

This is the last of my pictures for Chocolate Night.....Never fear I will be back tomorrow with something new.....The Ol' Blogger

Never To Old

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Yes, Kathy brought her own tin of crayons....We ARE NEVER TOO OLD FOR CRAYONS, not for the delicious smell of creative wax fresh out of the box, not for the visual bountiful tins of fresh colors (not to mention names - wild strawberry... periwinkle... spring green) and specially, not too old to loose our head over the feel as they slide across the fabric...

We are never too old to enjoy that childlike creativity within us. Never to old to stop learning new things. We are never too old to express those silly, spontaneous urges lurking inside us waiting to get out. Oh, we may hold back at work or in front of others who don't appreciate such things, but with the SoTA Sisters it's safe for us to let go and explore our creativity.

True creativity should be fun and uninhibited. It doesn't impose ridiculous restrictions such as staying ‘within the lines’ or producing perfect works of art. Creativity should be fun and exploratory; messy, and when necessary, left unfinished. The bottom line is... creativity should be enjoyed!

That is what Kathy is doing... the images are printed on by Thimbleberry, and she is coloring them with crayons....de-stress, inspire new ideas and simply have fun... goals of this wonderful group.

I think this picture is so peaceful....Thanks Kathy for make my heart lighter. The Ol' Blogger

Sisterhood/Chocolate Night/SoTA Sisters

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I am going to take us back a few years.... 2002 .....On a girls night out we saw a movie "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood"...A classic Southern tale of hilarity. The movie follows a group of lifelong friends who stage a rather unorthodox intervention to help a young playwright unravel the truth about her complicated, eccentric mother, find forgiveness and acceptance, and let go of her painful past. The girls had secret meetings and each wore what we called a Ya-Ya hat.

Jody had stay overs years before.....So we related to this movie...it was decided to use the stay overs with our version of Ya-Ya Sisterhoods... That first year each made Ya-Ya hats that were supposed to reflect our personalities and what we liked. Since then we have created new and improved ones (we do all have our originals).

Pictured above is Cindy this year in the hat she made and entered this into the Robert Kauffman Accessory Challenge. It won 3rd place $50. The hat is reversible but since getting it back and adding all the pins we have made over the years.... she now only wears one side.:<)

We also watched the movie Chocolat. Both movies inspired our Chocolate Night...

We started out with Ya-Ya Sisterhood to become SoTA Sisters. The Ol' Blogger

Food

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Let me point out we always have food. :<) Sherry with her cup of coffee and Rhona conversing while deciding what she wants. Breakfast at 6:00am..Cindy is pulling out a breakfast casserole... which we were auditioned for when we go to Brown County in January. Not that this was a true breakfast as we ate all night on and off. With breakfast being the first meal after a night of fasting...hehehehe The Ol' Blogger

Napping

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Napping is a proven way to clear out the cobwebs and pave the way for a more productive (in this case) morning... Jody observes as Kathy clears out the cobwebs....giggle, giggle..I don't believe she knew I took this... A small lag in our laughter and talking...I can tell you it didn't last long..

Kathy you are in good company for napping....When researching napping to do this post...Some of the most notable figures in history are known to have been consummate nap-takers, including Winston Churchill, Napoleon Bonaparte, Albert Einstein, Leonardo Da Vinci and John F. Kennedy. Is that why your brain is so astounding...napping???? Bet they never had a Chocolate Night Nap....A treat they missed out on....I am going to go work on my brain cells and sleep..The Ol' Blogger

This is not a Fairy Tale

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Even Cinderella never had a shoe this grand. Cindy and Rhona pay homage to " The Elder" with this shoe they created... There is no one more worthy than Jody.. She has brought us all together. Shared with gifts and her talents with each and everyone of us... Have a need and she is there.. She may sass with us but...her love for the SoTA Girls is that of a mother bear for her cubs...Cross even one and you will have to answer to her. :<) She is our Fairy Godmother and hero all wrapped up in one.

Cindy beaded the shoe and it is a must click on to see up close. Cinderella's Fairy Godmother's work wasn't as grandiose as Cindy's...defiantly a Wow Factor.. I can describe this shoe but a picture speaks a thousand words.....Let the pictures speak..... The Ol' Blogger

Aneeda Fork

Aneeda Fork, creation of Elaine.
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This is my version of the Forkin Doll. I did get permission from Kathy to do her differently.:0)
I wasn't ready to take on beading a whole face...I did do beading on the body and her hair. She has an apple embroidery tattoo on her back side.. Butterflies beads adds garden flair.
The Ol' Blogger

Devoted to MJ

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MJ couldn't join us this year for Chocolate Night, instead she sent a part of her.... gifts made by her darling hands for each one. Left to right top two rows of purses: Rhona's, Cindy's, Kathy's and Sherry's. Bottom row left to right: Jody shoes fabric purse and journal, Elaine chicken wall quilt and chicken purse. Last but not lease is Cindy P's purse...she wasn't able to be with us this year and we did miss her. Maybe next year...
The projects were tailor-made for each one. MJ's work is Blue-Ribbon quality. The ooo's and aah's as each gift was handed out were repeated anew. She had written us the most precious note..We are all so blessed to know this generous lady. Thank You Again and We All Love You MJ...The Ol' Blogger

Birth Announcement

** Meet Hoda Fork she is the creation of Cindy.

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Labor was long...as you can see from the first picture of Hoda on Chocolate Night. Cindy introduce her to us on Tues. Nov. 4. Hoda Fork is sister to Ima Fork and "Don't Fork With Mother Nature's" second born daughter...Kathy is sure racking up the Grand Forks.

By the way "The Elder" is just contemplating conceiving ...at her age she is not sure if rearing forking sibling would be of sound judgement... expecially in this late era of life...

I have a question for "The Wise Elder" Are you making forkin quilts for these kids????

Love Sherry....well really The Ol' Blogger

Pandas

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Sherry and I have had a fun afternoon....shshshs don't tell the others...:<) Really we made sashes for a friend's Panda Bears which we embroider names of her grandchildren. Sherry brought her machine over and with mine it didn't take us long...If you click on the pictures, hopefully you will be able to see them close up. Later tonight I will be announcing another Forkin sibling birth. The Ol' Blogger

Ima Fork

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First picture Sherry crafting her Forkin Doll .... I would like to introduce you to Sherry 's stunning doll..."Ima Fork" What a Doll!!!!!

Ima Fork is an off spring of Kathy's"Don't Fork with Mother Nature". This would be her first born daughter. So does this make Kathy a Grand Fork?

Will announce the arrival of each Forkin offspring as birthing transpires... The Ol' Blogger

Artgirlz

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Sherry had bought all of us a Artgirlz kit. Chocolate Night we had a pin making extravaganza. These dolls are creatures from a world of their own. Jody actively working away... Next, the one doll in Cindy's hand is the one Sherry made as an example. Finally Artgirlz dolls displayed. The Ol' Blogger