Monday, July 6, 2009

Birthday Presents

Life had been busy around here. I finished my first summer class on Thursday in Educational Psychology and I now have a week off before I start my next two summer classes in Theater Appreciation and Journalism. During my Ed Psych class I also had a car show in Bowling Green to attend, kraut to make and can out, birthday presents to make, and my cousin's wedding with which to help. Needless to say June was a very busy month around the Crafton house so I haven't had time post anything.

My mother and my grandmother have birthdays which fall less than one week apart. This year I decided to embroider a present for each of them. For my mother, I made a piece she can hang in the bathroom which is decorated with lighthouses. I used a piece of loosely woven cotton in a natural color. I also used an iron-on transfer to stitch by. I am not a very good artist so I rely on other resources for some of my pieces.
After I finished stitching, I framed it in a simple wide black frame with a white and black matte. I wanted to used a white frame with a beach feel to it, however she already has some things framed in black in the bathroom.

The walls have recently been painted blue so the black frame and white matte go really well with the paint.

For my grandmother's gift I decided to embroider a large flour sack towel. I purchased the towel in a pack at Hobby Lobby. Once again I used an iron-on transfer for my design.

I also added a small flower in the top corner that will show if the towel is hung by the corner.

Here is another picture of it folded nicely on the kitchen counter.
I am also working on a knitted lace trim to put on the bottom. It is a Kilgorie edge in warm rose crochet cotton. I am using size 3 Lantern Moon rosewood needles (my fave) and size 3 thread (because that was the only size I could find in a coordinating color).

Here is a close up of the lace design.

I originally wanted to use a variegated pink and white crochet thread but all I could find was a size 70 tatting thread which was a little too thin for what I wanted. But I think the warm rose will work well with the towel and the colors of floss I used.

I will post some more pictures when I finish the lace and attach it to the towel.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Strawberry Day!

Every small southern town has some type of festival, Portland's just happens to be the Strawberry Festival. It has been going on for 69 years and some member of my family has been in attendance at just about every one of these events.

When I was little, I remember sitting at my Pa's service station watching the parade. We would move the two benches that were in front of the building to the road and watch. Many times my Dad would be driving the fire truck in the parade. From some reason I was scared to ride with him until I got older. But that never stopped my other cousins from riding!

Now that my Dad has a new building next to the old one my Pa worked in, we gather there every year to watch the parade. The gathering has grown by leaps and bounds. Last year we grilled out and had pork chops, hamburger, hot dogs, and all the fixings (baked beans, slaw, potato salad, etc). This year we decided to simplify: hot dogs, grilled bologna, chips, potato salad, and dessert. It was a big hit!

We had to clean up before the big day, so Thursday night two of my aunts and my Mom cleaned while my uncles and Dad sat in the back and relaxed!


The lift in the center of the garage is a perfect buffet! I think these are the perfect pictures of a red neck get-together.
When the parade started we moved to the street to watch. Derrick was so excited that he was out there waiting way before the parade even got close! Here are some of the floats from the parade.




After the parade it was time for everyone to take it easy and wait for traffic to clear up.


In fact Derrick took this a little too far . . .



Until Kelly decided he needed to take pictures of us. These were the best two. Trust me there were many, many more!


Everyone had a good time at the Strawberry Festival and left looking forward to next year!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Here you go Kelly!

Well, Kelly has been after me to start a blog for months, so here it is Kelly. Now I just have to figure out what to do with it. I figured after I finished my big paper for Am. Lit 2 I deserved the time to play on the internet. I promise more will come after finals are finished in 2 weeks!