Antique Quilted Ball

I found this quilted ball in an antique store. I was so intrigued by it. Its strips of quilted material hand stitched by what appear to be old, tattered materials, possible clothing no longer being worn and other worn household materials? Maybe from a time where nothing was wasted, when everything was put to use? I wonder about the stories behind each piece. And when the quilt was too worn to be used as a quilt, why was it then made into a ball? Was its new life to be a play thing? Answers I may never know. It sits on my sewing desk as a reminder of times past and beckons me to be thrifty and creative, to be diligent and resourceful and to work with my hands. If you know the history or stories behind such quilted balls, please share.

PARTING SHOT: The kids are growing watermelon! The Jubilee is so cute, and the Sugar Baby is just about ready. This is our first year to garden. We got a late start and the watermelon kind of took over; so we don't have much to show for our efforts. But we did have a large basil plant that we've harvested and stored. And we will be planting lettuce, spinach, onions and cabbage soon. 

How to Stay Connected with Google Reader Going Away?

Hello, Everyone. It's been so long since I've posted, but I wanted to pop in and just say hello and let you know I'm still thinking about you and popping in on your blogs. Samantha will be two in August. She is doing great, still not crawling; but she can say many words. We are so amazed about that. She is the sweetest little thing and has the funnest and cutest personality. I am a grandmother now to a little boy, 2 and a half months old. He's so very precious. We are enjoying him very much. He is a very easy and happy baby. My husband and I are going by Mimi and Poppy. I just got my computer back after it crashed several months ago; so hopefully I can start posting pictures again.

I've been reading about Google Reader going away. So I'm wondering: Where is everyone going? How do we follow one another? Is it Blog Lovin'? Please share so I can get connected so that when I start to post more regularly again, I'll be ready. I keep getting the urge to sew something. I just need to sit down and do it. So if you still want to follow me and keep up with what's going on in my life or know when I create something, then please put me on your blog roll or list of blogs you are following.

Let me know if I still have any readers?

Turning Lemons Into Lemonade With a Fresh Start

Thank you to all who have left comments and sent emails trying to help me figure out what has happened to my blog pictures. We finally have it figured out. Blogspot stores everyone's photos on Picasa. When they made the switch to Google Plus, somehow they lost thousands of pictures in the process. Unfortunately, mine were among the ones lost. I still have those pictures on my home computer so I can replace them as I have the time. I have already replaced some, my header, profile picture and a few from recent posts. It will be too time consuming to replace all; so I will choose my most popular posts and just replace those. Because I am a very busy momma to six children, including a newborn and a very active 3 year old, it will take awhile. I'll just do what I can when I can.

I seriously thought about calling it quits. I have been blogging for 2 1/2 years and all of that time spent loading pictures are just gone. I thought, "I'll just go back to my life and leave blogging behind. Is it that important anyway?" I began to think about what life would be like without blogging. I would no longer have contact with my blogging friends. Would I be okay with that? When I sew something up, who would I share it with? I thought about the sense of community and support I have experienced through blogging and how you all have always been there to encourage me, offer your opinion and advice and pray for me when I need it. Your creative pursuits are an inspiration to me and it challenges me to do more and make time for my craft. And I have made some real friendships. I've even gotten together with a few of you. So even though I was discouraged and tempted to walk away, I couldn't do it. It will be difficult to fix my blog; but I am going to give it a try, bit by bit.

Another thing that has just happened that is even sadder to me is Blogspot has deleted my 11 year old daughter's sewing blog, Emily Callan of Super Stitches, that she has had since she was 8 because they have a new rule that you have to be 13 to have a blog. There was no warning. She had a gorgeous blog that she had worked so hard on. She had 157 followers, and she would hold Sew Mama Sew giveaways. She was very active in the sewing blogging community. She is heartbroken. I had to break the news to her today. It was so hard to see her cry. She could use lots of virtual hugs. I know many of you know her and followed her. I thought she would want to give up and walk away and never blog again, but she wants to start again if possible. Once again I need to ask for your advice. We are exploring her options. Where should she go? I am not very computer literate. I only know Blogspot. Should she go with Typepad, Wordpress or somewhere else? Do they have age limits? Which one is easier to use? Also, do you know where they store their pictures? After having my pictures lost, I am little nervous about all of this blogging wondering if it will happen again. And do you think I should move my blog somewhere else, too, or just stay here on Blogspot? Any advice you have would be much appreciated.

Help!! Feedback Needed!

Anonymous said...

Ms Trudy Callan, please stop begging for attention all over people's blogs? It is getting really old, and it is annoying enough on your own blog to be honest. Don't mean to be mean, but someone had to say it.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010 10:23 AM 

To my faithful readers out there, someone has comented very negatively about me being annoying and begging for attention all over people's blogs. I really want to know how you feel. Be honest!

Evidently it was annoying enough to this person that they felt compelled enough to tell me although they did not want to be identifiied. I certainly don't want to be annoying my blog world frioends out there so feel free to leave your feedback. but please don't do it anonymously. If you make it anonymous, I won't know if you're really sincere or just somebody who's prone to being negative. I'm always open for kindly help with my blogging. Even though this person wasn't kind, I would like to get realistic feeback from those of you who like me. 

One of the reasons we blog is that we are hoping people will read it and enjoy it. So I try to get word about my blog out there -- "...you have not because you ask not..." -- but let me know what you think. Am I just this annoying pest begging for attention? Are you all out there gettting really tired of hearing from Sewing With Trudy all over everyone's blogs. 

And back to self-promotion. On Monday, I am posting about a fashion shoot I did wearing a retro Vogue dress. See you then. ;)

Prioritizing

I saw this posted over at View From the Hamster Wheel. I think it will be a big help to me when I'm trying to decide what really needs to be done that day and in which order should it be done.

The Mayonnaise Jar and the Coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar... and the coffee... 

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. 

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a infamous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. 
The golf balls are the important things. Your family, your children, your faith, your health, your friends, and your favourite passions. Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. 
The pebbles are the other things that matter. Your job, your house, and your car. 

The sand is everything else. The small stuff. 

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. 

The same goes for life. 

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

You are Special

I would like to remind you all just how special you are to God. Your worth is not based on your accomplishments or mistakes you may have made. God loves you just the way you are. He wants a relationship with you, just because He made you and you are His. Think about how you feel about your own children. You love them no matter what. Your love for them is not based on their performance, and you are always ready to forgive them. I think we judge ourselves too harshly, and we can't forgive ourselves. I think that hurts God because He wants so much for you to know how much you mean to Him. So I encourage you to gather up all of your hurts and past regrets and put them in a bag and give them over to God and never take the bag back again. It is a burden you were not meant to carry. Let God carry that burden for you. That is one of the reasons Jesus went through what He did on that cross, to release you from all burden and sin, to take that upon Himself. And He would have done it if you were the only one on this earth. Now that's powerful. Be free and soar. Be who you were meant to be.


“What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them.  And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.  Luke 12:6-7

Do Not Read This Post!! Trust Me. You Won't Like It.

Hey! I told you not to read this. Are you sure you don't want to visit someone else today? Okay. Okay. If you must continue on, be very, very careful. You may leave inspired to create something, and then people would come see you instead of me. I guess that's the risk I have taken when I did this post. I hope I will have future visitors after this.

I have been tagged by The Sew Convert in a game of eight questions. Here are my answers:

1) Which is your favorite piece of creation so far? Who was it for?

I made this dress from a 1940s pattern. I love vintage clothing. You can see more pictures and details of this dress by clicking here.

I also made a dress from a 1974 pattern. I call it Lady in Lavender. You can see more of that one by going here.

And besides the vintage garments I've made, my most favorite thing I've made is a little suit for my daughter Emily, who by the way has her own sewing and crafting blog. You can see more pictures of what I am calling the Faux Channel Suit by going here.

2) Which is the most memorable place you have travelled to and why?

Actually two, the Virgin Islands and Cancun & Cozumel. The latter was mine and my husband's honeymoon. I love hanging out at the beach. I just have so many wonderful memories of my time there: the blue waters, white beaches, beautiful shells, snorkeling and seeing the amazing coral and colorful fish, scuba diving, long walks on the beach hand in hand with the love of my life. 

3) What’s your favourite accessory?

I don't wear a lot of accessories. I always wearing a pair of earrings and sometimes a hat. The one thing I always wear are my sunglasses when outdoors.

4) Which is your must watch tv programme?

My must watch tv programme is Scooby Doo. "Ruh Roh." Just kidding. I don't watch much TV. When I do take the time to sit down and watch something, though, I much prefer shows that are along the lines of Pride and Prejudice. I also love old movies like My Fair Lady and Sound of Music.

5) Do you have another creative outlet besides sewing?

Yes, I do. I am so glad you asked. Two things: I am also an artist. I have an art blog as well, Artistic Creations With Trudy.

And I am passionate about hooping. I'm fairly new at it, but I'm picking it up quickly. It's a great way to get in shape.  It strengthens your core, is a good cardio workout and tones the entire body. Hooping works your upper and lower abdominal muscles, obliques, lower and mid back, gluteus (butt), upper thighs, as well as your heart and lungs because it is a great cardiovascular workout. It basically tones your entire body, as well as strengthening the back. Hooping is also low impact with no stress to the joints; so it is safe for everyone. It burns 2 to 400 calories per half hour. A half hour goes by very quickly because you are having so much fun. Another benefit is it is not possible to be unhappy inside a hoop. So if you feel down or depressed, pick up a hoop. The main thing I love about it is it is something that the whole family can do together. I don't have to sneak away from my kids to workout. I have tried many different workouts, but this is something I know I can stick with for life because I'm really playing not working out. I do not enjoy exercise at all. Exercise should be fun; as a matter of fact, getting in shape shouldn't require what we call exercise. It should be something that comes natural to us; for example, swimming, running around with our children and grandchildren, & hooping. Afterawhile walking another mile on the treadmill or sticking another aerobic dvd can get pretty boring. This I can do. If you would like to learn more about it, I recommend Googling Hoopnotica, Hoop Girl and Hooping with Safire on You Tube. Hooping.org is also another great resource. Also keep in mind that hooping is excellent for seniors. Hooping is spreading like fire across the nation, and many seniors are hopping on board. Here is a great article on the subject. Another thing to keep in mind is the kid hoops at Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us, etc.,  will not work all because you are now bigger. You will need an adult-sized hoop, the larger the better. They are bigger around and heavier. My husband had to get one as high as his sternum before he was able to hoop. He is 6 foot. Mine goes up to my navel. I am 5' 7". My husband and I make our own handcrafted professional quality hoops. Email me if you have any questions how to get or make a hoop or about hooping in general. You can go to my about me page for my email. We are trying to spread the word because we would like to promote family fitness and the family having fun together. We will probably start a hooping group at some point. There are other groups, but one of the requirements of being a member of our group will be modest dress, clean language and non-sensual moves. I don't believe those things are necessary to enjoy this sport. I would like to provide a wholesome, family friendly environment while hooping without all of the inappropriate distractions.

Another thing I would like to do at some point in the future is learn how to play guitar. I love to sing, and I would love to enjoy both simultaneously.

6) What’s your favourite colour?

Purple.

7) Who or what inspires you to create?

I find my inspiration from the many blogs I visit. You guys are amazing.

8 ) Besides the sewing machine, your most important tool is…. and why?

A good pair of scissors; for without them, I would never get started on my projects. I also love to use a bodkin to pull elastic through the casing instead of a safety pin. Much easier. And I love my Fasturn for turning tubes. It takes two seconds. No struggling.

Well, that's enough about me. Now I will tag eight people I've recently met on blogsphere, well, actually six because Emily wants to be tagged. How can I not tag my sweet, precious little daughter? And I also thought I would tag my 17 year old daughter Kimberly of What to Wear's fashion blog as well. It's my duty to promote my kids' blogs. Right? All of these ladies are amazing. I find so much inspiration when I visit their blogs. Enjoy!

Here they are:

1. Emily of Super Stitches

2. What to Wear

3. Sassy Lassies Vintage Life 

4. Casey's Elegant Musings

5. Sing Me the Old Songs

6. Molly's Sewing and Garage Sale Adventures

7. Welcome to the Good Life

8, Kim's Kouture

Your eight questions are:

1. Why do you sew?

2. Do you have a favorite sewing technique that you could share with us which would help us improve our sewing?

3. What are your favorite things you have sewn?

4. What are your five most absolute favorite sewing blogs?

5. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

6. What is something you would like us to know about you that you have never shared on your blog?

7. What is your favorite memory from childhood?

8. Can you share with us any secrets you have learned to successful living or your motto?

I guess that wasn't so bad. Thanks, Everyone. Come back soon!

SIDENOTE: I would also like to add that I was also tagged by Carolyn of Handmade by Carolyn. I love her blog and read it every day. She posts every single day. I highly recommend you pay her a visit and look around. I was too busy to answer a second set of questions, but would still love to give her a mention since she was so kind to include me in the game of tag. Thank you so much, Carolyn.

Being a Mom is a Pretty Cool Job - National Honesty Month

I hope I didn't give you a negative view of having children in my post on searching for balance. Having children is one of the best things you could ever do for yourself. It is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do for yourself. Also, when you get old, you won't find yourself alone in the world; you'll have family there for you. When you're a parent, you find out so many things about yourself that you didn't know; you grow in so many ways as a person; it stretches you; you expand your horizons and learn new things.

Having a family takes you from being a self-focused, self-centered person and gets you outside of yourself and you become other centered. Your life becomes bigger and with more purpose, and it's not just about you anymore. You want to do more and be more for them. It is so amazing because you get to play a part in the shaping of a person, a character. Through this little person, you can affect and change the world. You can make the world a better place with this one life. You will send them out like arrows; and they and their offspring will make a difference in the lives of thousands, good or bad, depending on what you poured into them. So when you are home with them, every diaper changed in love, every drink of water you pour, every meal you serve, every nose you wipe, every story you read, every walk you take, you are not a slave, these are not just menial little never-ending, boring, drudgery-type tasks, you are making a difference. You may not see it now. You are not some insignificant person. You are doing more for the world than the woman out in the work force. You are doing the behind-the-scenes work that no one ever sees. You are rewarded when they wrap their chubby little arms around you, when they give you a fist full of weed flowers, and when they go out into the world and you see who they have become because of you.

Children take a lot of time and can be very exhausting and exasperating at times, but they can also be very inspiring and bring so much joy. They are so cute, and it's amazing to watch them grow and discover the world around them. And fortunately, they usually come one at a time to get us used to the idea.

If you do not have children already, do not be afraid and do not deny yourself the great gift the world, God, could give - A Child! You will be changed for the better and you will be so blessed and you will rise to the occasion. You can do it!

Below is such cool song about moms. It's called The Mom Song by the Fish Boys. As mom's we do so much. We are tireless. Our job is round the clock. We wear so many hats. We are doctors, cooks, teachers, mediators, and the list goes on. We work all day without pay. Going to work would seem like a vacation. But there is no other job in the world where we can make such a difference. You will love this song. Share this with all of the moms you know.

No doubt that being a mom is hard work, but it's also heart work. We want to reach their hearts. We want to mold them from the inside out, to shape their characters in the direction we think they should go and ensure that they do not rebel. If you have any wonderful tips and advice for parenting and shaping these little ones, I would love to hear it.

Searching for Balance -National Honesty Month

I am going to be honest and open up to you and share with you some of the secret parts of my life and my struggles as part of October's National Honesty Month, instituted by Gretchen of Gertie's Blog for Better Sewing.



Help! I'm drowning in a sea of never-ending housework and clutter. It is closing in on me. How did it get this way? I so desperately need to find a balance with all of the things in my life I am trying to juggle. How does one balance it all? I must find a way. I'm not talking perfection here. I am not aiming for a perfectly clean home. That's impossible with five children, with one of them being an 18 month old tornado; and we are home all day. So when I am in one part of the house doing something, my sweet little tornado is in another part of the house pulling everything out and throwing it all around. I know this stage will quickly pass.

My list of things I am juggling are: Being a wife to my patient husband and looking for time together; a mother who actually plays with her children; a home educator; the home which includes cleaning bathrooms; kitchen with the sink piled high with dishes each day; mounds of laundry every week, general straightening, etc.; nutritious and maybe even yummy meals sometimes; exercise (What's that? Gotta find a way to fit it in before everything turns to jelly); time in prayer and meditating on scripture; sewing and blogging. Whew! I just don't know. I'm trying out different things trying to find a good routine that will work for me. I think if I can get on a routine, that will help. I don't expect that I'll get everything done every day, but maybe close?

The problem is that when I pour myself into something I don't want to stop. Instead of sewing for 30 minutes or an hour, which is all I really have time for, I want to continue on for two or three. Actually, I could sew all day if I didn't have other things I needed to be doing. Or when I'm reading, I want to keep reading. .....or playing with my children, organizing or whatever it might be. Once I get involved with something, I don't want to stop. I am trying to implement the discipline of time limits and schedules. I've never liked schedules, but I am realizing that it is very necessary for me to be successful in accomplishing a balance. I need to take care of myself. I need to spend time with my family and God. My home needs attention. And I have this driving need to sew! I don't even know where it came from? I sometimes wish it wasn't there because that would be one less thing for me to do, and I would have more time to focus on all the other things that I should be doing. But it is there, nonetheless. So it must be dealt with. It is something I do for me. I could wait till my children are grown to indulge in my hobby, but I'll be in my mid-60s before my children are grown. I really don't want to wait that long. I find so much enjoyment from sewing. It is very practical, too, because I can mend things, I can make something that we need if we can't find it in the stores, and it is something I can teach my children and pass on a skill; so I don't think it's totally self-indulgent. I can see that it is a help to my family as long as it is kept in its proper place and doesn't take up all of my time.

My laundry has gotten out of hand. I am really behind. I have several loads that need to go in the washer. Things have gotten piled up around the house and need to be organized, straightened, thrown out, etc. The kids have outgrown most of the clothes in the drawers; so we can't find the things that actually fit them. This happens about every four to six months. So what I am doing to get a handle on this big monster is I am taking a two-week break from sewing and just going room to room and getting each room in order. I am going through the kids' clothes and pulling out the things they have outgrown. I'm putting some in bags labeled "giveaway" and some in plastic tubs to be passed down to the next child for when they grow into them.

Then I am going to try to implement some of Fly Lady's suggestions on routines. There are certain things she has you do for your morning routine. You do one load of laundry each day. Shine your sink, etc. She sends email reminders of what to do and when if you want them. Anyway, I don't know if it will work for me, but I thought I would at least give it a try and maybe tweak it a little to fit my needs. I really, really hope this works.



One other thing that might help me get some great ideas is my friend, Shona, of An Artful Life, is writing a book called Artistic Mother - A Guide to Fitting Creativity Into Your Busy Life. It is coming out March of 2010 and is being published by North Light Books. Shona is an artist, a homeschool mom, and a beautiful person. We go to church together; so I know her very well. She does art every day. She writes articles for publications. Her work is featured in art magazines. She's incredible. She has found a way to fit art into her every day life along with her family and keeping the home. She shares in her book how others can do just that and keep it all balanced. She really believes in doing something artistic for yourself each day. This book will be so perfect for me. I encourage you to go to her blog, look through it, book mark it and put March on your calendar for the release of the book. You may find that this is just what you need as well. And please share her blog with your friends on your own blog, through emails, word of mouth, etc., and tell them about her upcoming book. It may be just what they are looking for.


If anyone has any neat little tips or advice they would like to share that you think might be helpful, please do. I am open to all ideas right now. What do you do to balance it all?

Thanks so much for listening to my ramblings. Below are some pictures of the messy living room with toys spread about, laundry waiting to be folded, bags of clothes labeled "giveaway" and tubs of clothes to be passed down to the next child. I've been cleaning now for about a week; so I have another week to go then I can do some sewing again. Yea!

Names for My Machines & Dress Form

I have decided to give my machines and dress form names. My mother has always named her cars. I only remember a few of the cars' names. There was Old Red, Po Po; and the one she is driving now is Betty Jo, after her mother.

So, without further ado, I will share with you their names. They are being named after my grandmothers; so now every time I sew, I will think of them. My Kenmore sewing machine's name is Betty Jo, my mom's mom. My White Serger is Opal Ruth, Betty Jo's mom. And my dress form is Mittie May, my mom's dad's mom. I wish I had one more thing that needed a name. If I did, I would name it Ada May after one of my great, great grandmothers, my mom's mom's dad's mother.

I just love those old names. I have three girls. I wish I had thought about naming them after their grandmothers. That's would have been so neat. My 16 year old daughter said she is going to name one of her girls Ada. I wish I knew more about these women in my family than I do.

I think it would be neat to make some dolls, maybe crocheted dolls, one to represent each of my grandmothers and name each one after each grandmother. Then I could use the name Ada May. Now that I'm thinking along these lines, I think I would even make another doll and name it after my mom, Jonel. She doesn't have a middle name. I could even name some after some of my aunts. Then I could sew some really pretty dresses for them to wear and put them on a shelf to look at. Do you think I'm carrying this name thing too far, or do you like the idea?

What about you? Have you named your machines or dress form?