Sew Wonderful

The Farm Girls made sweet little "pin keeps" tonight.  That's British for "pin cushions."  We did things the British way, because Jill led us in this simple and fun project, and Jill ain't from around here.  But she's a great teacher, and we had a wonderful evening.  (She's also a naturalized American citizen, in case you're wondering.  You go, Girl.)

 

Gathered all our sewing tools...

 

I sampled some of Leslie's lovely salad...

 

...and then Jill set us off on our tasks.

 

...cutting circles from fat quarters, and sewing around the edge to gather it up...

 

Snip, fold, stitch, concentrate...

 More snipping, more trimming, more breaking in the new scissors...

 

A little pressing, a little guessing, a little ooohing and awwwing...

 

...stuff it with fiberfill, top with a circle of felt, and voila!  Pin cushion!

 

Dina

 

Candi (who drove over from Arlington!)

 

Teacher Jill

 

Rita

 

Leslie

 

Gail

 

Moi

Now, we had some agenda items, but the best we could pull off was to decide that for next month at least, the second Friday will work (February 11).  After that, we may have to juggle dates because of the conflict with the Wildflower Fiber Retreat in March.

We decided that having another badge to work on might be a good idea, but didn't nail down just which one, or who would lead.  We'll do an e-mail poll and keep the discussion going.  We'd also like to go to the flea market in Quinlan, and to Lucky Layla Dairy.  

So much more to talk about, but the evening flew past before we knew it.  Stay tuned, Farm Girls, for news updates.  Come back soon, Hen Mother!  We missed you!

January meeting agenda

Hey Chicks!

Sounds like Chick Jill is going to be chairing the January meeting with a project that will get the whole brood two badges in one swoop! WOW! Sorry I'm not going to be there to join in on all the fun. But knowing Cindy, our cluck barn owner and resident pics taker I'm sure will be able to "show" me and others that won't be able to attend, just how to construct the sewing project, so we will ALL be able to "tell" the finished product at the February!!! So watch this blog for the results.

Speaking of the February meeting, I was thinking, and after talking with Cindy, we both thought it would be a good time to put together a monthly agenda for our year. This will consist of:


1) What is "our" year?
2) Do we want to have a "project/badge" program each meeting?
a) one person to organize
b) have everyone take one month..........I think this is such a great idea because there is
soooo much talent in this group. (my 2 cents worth without being at the meeting)
3) Make a list of "road trips" we want to take during "our year".

So. The agenda is only 3 things to decide on while your hands are busy creating beautiful boxes or bags!

Can't wait to see the pics and the lists! Cindy or myself will post the results.

Check this blog the week after the meeting.

Happy stitchin'
Hen Mother

We're On for Friday

Hi Farm Girls!

Now with the holidays behind us, it's time to hunker down in the barn and work on some badges!  This week, after our 6 PM potluck, we'll spend our meeting time working on a simple sewing project -- a pin keep -- that will earn us the "Sew Wonderful" badge.

Fellow Farmgirl Jill Arthur will facilitate the project, and recommends that we bring these items to complete it:

• Several different colors of thread (there's plenty of thread in the LRB if you need it)
• Buttons (if you bring 50 you can get the "Buttoned Up" beginner level badge)
• Scissors
• Needles
• Straight pins
• Safety pins
• A little box or bag to put it all in
• For the home made pin keep we each need a fat quarter of fabric and some cotton batting (which I have in the LRB, and Jill will bring some) and a small piece of felt..

Bring your notions and your imagination, and let's make something!  Let's also look at our calendars and talk about the kinds of things we'd like to plan for the coming year.

See you at 6 PM for dinner, and/or 7 PM for our meeting!

The Little Red Barn Farmgirls: Mary Jane Book on Sale

The Little Red Barn Farmgirls: Mary Jane Book on Sale: "News flash: as of Wednesday, there were five copies of Mary Jane's book 'The Stitching Room' for $5.99 at the 75% Off Bookstore in the..."

Next meeting November 12, 2010

Hi Chicks!

I can't believe it! November is just flying through our fingers! So much has happened since my last post, I'm not sure where to start.

First I apologize for the late post. I'm a good week behind after catching that icky stomach flu.

So. Now then. This next meeting is on Friday.  Rita will be chairing it since I and a few others are going to be at Kid and Ewe in Boerne, TX. This is a great fiber fest and one so many of us look forward to each year.   Farmgirls?  This just might be something you will want to get in on next year. I'm sure you too would have a blast!

Back to the meeting.
1) Let's make sure we all are signed up so we can get stitchn' on our membership badge. Let's make it a goal to have them completed for the Dec meeting (Dec. 10th)

2) The Dec meeting will be our Christmas meeting. An idea was to have a cookie exchange. Add more ideas to this and we will make a discussion sometime after Thanksgiving via this site.

3) Our badge study chicks Debbie and Jill are working on their badge (lots of reading on this one) and I'm sure they will be reporting as soon as they are finished. Can't wait! In the mean time, talk came up about a TOTAL group badge idea so we would all have a badge come the first of the year. I took this and ran with it and decided we should do an easy one for all of us, the KNITTING BADGE!! Could I get a volunteer to look up and review what we need to get started for this badge. That way all of us will have everything with us on the 10th so we can start the badge together at the meeting.

4) I'm going to get the patterns to the LRB so you Debbie will be able to code them for checking out and in.  Hopefully Gail will have a class date for us sometime in Jan.

5) Leslie? How are you doing on chapter chat with the MJ forum board?

6) Would someone take a few notes on all of this and by all means if all of you have something to add, GO FOR IT!!! I know I do and I'm sure you all do too, want to keep this group going. Already I've made new friends! That's part of what it's all about.

That should be enough for Friday and still give you time to eat, drink, talk and even knit a little!

Thanks Rita in advance for taking my place.

Would someone please take the trash and clean up a bit. Cindy is going to be at Kid and Ewe too.

Turn off the lights and have a safe drive home!!

Lovingly

Hen Mother

Reminders from HenMother

The first Friday of the month is here again! If you are coming for dinner the time is 6:00. We had so much food last time we could have stayed at the barn for a week! So a small dish (serves 4) of something will be perfect!

Recap from last meeting .. Rita thought she could bring a microwave for the barn, Debra agreed to put together a check-in/checkout system for the apron patterns, and Leslie was going to look into what we need to do to develop our "chapter thread".

I haven't heard just when Gail is going to be having an apron class, but I would think just like most of us, everything is being put off till after the 16th!! Well, that has been my answer to everything.

I have heard that there are a few "over achievers" that are working on their first badge!! How about that! Maybe she will bring the finished goods so we can sign her off for her/our badge. OOOOOHHHH our first. What a joy!!!

Signing off till tomorrow night

HM

Farmgirl 101

Our first Chapter meeting and potluck went off without a hitch tonight.  Not only did we share some great dishes (one was from a Mary Jane recipe), but the ladies came out to the pasture to help with our nightly chicken round up.  Armed with rakes and a great sense of humor, we formed a human wall to guide (most of) the chickens into the Chick Inn for the night.  Debbie took pictures.  I hope they don't show up on those magazines by the check-out line.  Leslie did not wear proper shoes for chicken wrangling, and will take some, um, souvenirs home on her feet.

Debbie also brought a friend, Robin, who was quite captivated by the alpacas.  And the alpacas were captivated back, allowing her to stroke them on the neck a time or two.

We'll have details on Gail's apron class soon.  It's looking like a Saturday morning suits most people interested in taking the class.  Start collecting fun stuff to embellish your apron, and keep it here for dates and times.

Other Chapter ideas for workshops keep coming: furniture refinishing (great for those junk shop finds that need a bit of TLC), journal cover making, twining, paper making, etc.  How about some cooking or food storage tips?  Recycling or community service projects?

 
Our next meeting will be October 8th.  Watch for interim news and ideas here on the blog...

Farm on, ladies!