Friday, April 8, 2011

FFF - Winnnings - Cable Stitch - Canned Air!

I know that today is not the 5th, but I was actually on the road coming home from a trip to the Northeast, to visit two of our daughters and their families, on the 5th.  I am just now getting myself back to some semblance of normalcy.  I did not keep a list of people I sent cards, notes, and letters to last month, but I did send lots.  I had lunch with 7 of my friends with whom I used to teach.  I sent them all notes telling them how much I enjoyed seeing them.  I have sent a couple of sympathy cards, get well cards, and thinking of you cards.  I sent cards to a couple of ladies who are in a nursing home.  I really do enjoy sending cards, notes, and letters.  I love receiving them, too, don't you?  I just saw a couple (he used to be the preacher at our church years and years ago).  They and my mother corresponded for over 30 years.  They never failed to send cards for New Years, Valentine's, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Birthdays, and maybe even other times, to each other.  My mother saved every card they ever sent her.  They had a running joke going about the preacher and his family being the X Family!!

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I am a WINNER!!!
 I won this adorable romper from Alida at I Make Stuff.   I feel very privileged to have won this cute, cute, cute little outfit.  It should just fit our Lil'E.  I just put it in the mail to her today!!!  When she outgrows it, Lil'B can wear it! 
This awesome hair decoration is from Bugaboo Mini Mr. and Me.  I decided to leave it with my three oldest granddaughters, Miss K, Miss J, and Miss R when I was visiting them last week.  The three of them can share it!  If you go to her blog, you will see that I have won another giveaway from her.  This time I've won a yarn wreath.  I can't wait to get it!!!!

And the third giveaway I've won recently is from Jerre at Fabric Artist.   This journal cover would be perfect for the little boys in my life, Big Little Man and Little Little Man.   Even though they are both too young for writing in a journal, Big Little Man could draw pictures in this for now.  When he gets a little bigger, we'll get him a new tablet to insert into the cover.  He will love it!

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I've been challenging myself to learn at least one new skill each month.  One thing I was determined to learn to do was the cable stitch in knitting.  I have learned how to do it.  This is my first attempt.  It looks nothing like the picture on the pattern.  I think I know what I've done wrong.  I've played with some scrap yarn.  This is to be a sweater vest for Big Little Man.  When I make LLM's I will try to do it correctly.  I kind of like how this looks, though, so I'm leaving it the way it is.  It's hard to see in this photo, partly because of this yarn with the various colors in it.  

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I took my sewing machine to be serviced while we were gone.  I went to pick it up yesterday.  The gentleman who serviced it thought that I had used canned air to clean it.  But, I never have.  I've thought about it, but I just never got around to buying any.  His wife said that I must use my machine next to a return vent, then.  I don't.  He said that the lint, etc... was packed, packed, packed in there and that if he hadn't cleaned it out, the motor would have burned up.  I usually take it every year to be serviced, but I never made it to the shop last year.  He said that's probably why it was so packed.  He said he could tell I use it LOTS! 
He and his wife did tell me NEVER EVER to use CANNED AIR on my machine, so I thought I'd pass that tip along!

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Julia, the fabrics are wonderful, tho I can't read the type because of the contrast background, with these bad eyes of mine. Sorry.

Have a beautiful weekend.
TTFN ~
Hugs,
Marydon

FUN GIVEAWAY ends 4/10

Julia said...

Marydon, I changed my background. I didn't realize how much was going on in the background behind the text. I hope this is better. Thanks for telling me. I will be more careful in the future. I just get bored with the same backgrounds all the time.

Beangirl said...

I didn't see the old background but this one with the borders sure is cute!

You are one lucky give-away gettin' lady. And thanks for the reminder about the canned air... I haven't ever done it but occasionally been tempted by the linty mess that is my sewing machine's insides (we don't keep it at home but they do use it a lot at work and it would be easy to borrow some).

Needled Mom said...

Just checking in after being the the Northwest for a week,

I know that my sewing repair guy tells us not to use the canned air unless you can blow it out the front. I should have taken mine in for cleaning while I was away, but didn't get around to it.

Love your cables. You will have fun with them in your knitting.

Congratulations on all of your wins.

Karen said...

Great advice about the caned air, Julia! With all the electronics in our machines nowadays, its even more important to keep the lint from these components and canned air will just force it up into the machine closer to that critical stuff.

I need to get my machine into the shop, too for a D&C (dusting and cleaning ;) Maybe I'll take it in today, you've inspired me.

Congrats on all your travel and winnings. What a lucky girl you are ;) Hugs....

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Hi Julia Sweetie...
What a wonderful treasure you have here. You have won several great prizes. I love the little outfit for your wee one. That romper is so darn cute. Love the print for sure.

Love those roses as well, and yes I am sure that the grands will all be fighting over who is going to wear it first. It is SO pretty.

Love that journal as well. Vibrant colors and so unique. I love those personal gifts.

Now you tickle me to see that you still send out cards. I do as well. Somethings are just still more personal when received in the mail. I love that.

I hope you have a glorious weekend sweet friend and thank you so MUCH for sharing with me today. I so enjoyed my visit. Many hugs and much love, Sherry

Donna said...

Wow Julia! What a great week for you winning such adorable prizes! I especially love the journal cover.

I'm so impressed that you send so many cards. I don't, but I WANT to. I always feel a little 'buried'.

Love the blog background!

xo
Donna @ Comin' Home

ps. I'd love to see your land! We let the neighbors six horses eat on ours to keep the grass down. But that's only the back pasture. They just about ruined it though and we had to get them off for a while. There's no easy way to let them on the front pasture..so we have to mow it. It's going back to forest, which is what we wanted.

Donna said...

PS..I've never used canned air..but was always concerned about that as a side effect. Glad to know my instincts were right. But it does seem so convenient. I've always wanted to try it. :o)

Kim said...

wow- what great things you have won!!! Thanks for the tip about the canned air too- I've never used it on my machine- but I would not have known not to either! Happy Spring Julia!!!

- said...

Just chuckling here since I just picked up some note cards yesterday. There are not many who use them much anymore with the internet and other technology but I still love them and love to give them.

Adorable romper you won...lucky you.

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