Today my friend taught me how to use her pressure canner and I put up 6 quarts of green beans from the garden. I am so thrilled with that! For years, I have had a small picture cut out of a magazine showing a collection of mason jars filled with the harvest, looking so beautiful on a kitchen shelf. I have so wanted that for my kitchen; it just seemed so cozy and, well, homey and good.
I still do not have a full collection, but I do have lots of jam. And, six quarts of beans. It’s a start.
As the garden is winding down, I am finding myself considering handwork for the colder weather. I am not that great at anything in particular. I love the *idea* of knitting, but don’t know how to do anything other than scarves. How many scarves do I need? I do quilt, but nothing complicated (I only dream of making a wedding ring quilt). So I tend to dabble in this or that, hoping to stoke the fires of interest in my daughters so that they can surpass me in these things.
Here are some of the projects I am hoping to play with:
- Paper Piecing. I have done some of this, and am wanting to do more. I mean, after looking at the eye candy on this website, I was ready to start today! I picked up a bundle of this line of fabric to work with.
- Rag Rugs. I’ve been eyeing the book Rugs From Rags for a while and finally picked it up. The cashier smiled at me and said, “I have a gift for you!” I was boggled when she turned the corner and came out with……..a full sized FRAME! My mouth was agape! She said a woman gave it to her to freely give away, and seeing as how I bought the book, the prize was mine. Jesus just blesses my socks off sometimes!
- Wool felt applique. Last winter I took an applique class that was fabulous. This winter, I think I want to try this project with my daughters. Isn’t it adorable?
- Spinning. As in, using wool and fiber to make a knittable yarn of sorts. I don’t even know the vocabulary, but I’d like to take a class this winter. I do have an antique spinning wheel that I would love to figure out, so I am game!
I have other odd-n-end projects to finish up, such as a small quilt hanging and an applique project to finish. Do you have something to do with your hands this winter (other than the computer, I mean ;)? Here are some other ideas if you need a spark. And who knows, maybe I’ll even learn to knit a pair of socks to match one of those scarves!
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