One of the lead stories on the news last night was about the log jam of container ships off the California ports. The cargo ships are full of furniture, electronics, shoes, toys, car parts and holiday items. The reporter ended his story with the advice to start Christmas shopping early this year due to shortagesContinue reading “The countdown has started!!”
Author Archives: Judith Oswald
Accessories for the Cook
I can’t remember my Grandma Vanslyke without an apron. She was a farm wife from the edge of the Ozarks that cooked on a wood stove, carried water from a well, raised chickens and gardened. If she spilled something on her apron she just turned it inside out! Her aprons were no-nonsense cover ups usuallyContinue reading “Accessories for the Cook”
Three “WINS”
The Quilts Etc. Sale and Auction is a WIN-WIN-WIN– Not two wins but three! The first WIN is the two great ministries of First United Methodist Church that receive all the proceeds from the sales and auction minus sales tax– the TV Ministry and the Religious Nurture Center. The money helps fund the broadcast ofContinue reading “Three “WINS””
Set the table..with placemats
I was told years ago the way to identify a home economics teacher was that her shoes and purse matched and her bound buttonholes were perfect! Not that I was ashamed of my chosen career, but I made an effort to never have my shoes and purse match..and I hated bound buttonholes. ( I retiredContinue reading “Set the table..with placemats”
The “Minor” Holidays
Recently I learned that the “minor” prophets in the Old Testament were not called minor because they were less important but because they were shorter writings than the big guys like Daniel. Thus, logically we have “minor” holidays–not less important than the big ones like Christmas and Halloween but shorter in duration! For some ofContinue reading “The “Minor” Holidays”
Less traditional? More contemporary?
I treasure my family quilts from past generations. I collect 30’s and 40’s reproduction fabrics. Log cabin or four or nine patch blocks are classics. But a craft needs to keep experimenting with new ideas, methods and designs to thrive. Quilters need to break a few “rules” to remain interesting and fresh. True, most ofContinue reading “Less traditional? More contemporary?”
When life gives you…
We all know the old adage “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” but I prefer this version “when life gives you lemons get creative”. That is exactly what the daytime quilters did with ten hand embroidered blocks gifted to them. The blocks were well done in a beautiful color combination but there were onlyContinue reading “When life gives you…”
Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer
I am happy to live in Kansas with the four distinct seasons. Each season has something special about it… fresh tomatoes in summer, the sound and smell of dry leaves in fall, the first snow, daffodil buds in spring . Some of my friends decorate for every season–heck, every month. (I could wake up fromContinue reading “Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer”
Mini-Barn Quilts
Barn quilts have been around since the colonization of Pennsylvania. They were brought to the new world by Mennonite farmers. Originally they were “hex” signs hung on their barns to bring good luck and protection. But since the late 1990’s these colorful symbols have evolved into painted quilt blocks. This art form spread to MinnesotaContinue reading “Mini-Barn Quilts”
“Ghosts and Goblins, Spooks galore–Scary witches at your door”
I really, really like Halloween. I allow myself to buy bags of candy–for the children who will come trick or treating, of course. And it is my “duty” to taste test every bag to be sure the candy mets my high standards for all those cute little witches and supermen that come to my door.Continue reading ““Ghosts and Goblins, Spooks galore–Scary witches at your door””
Quilts, Etc. 