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Making Face Masks in 2022 Did you, like me, hope mask making would be a memory by 2022?Here we are...

 I started making these this summer

to hold my mask

when I need to take it off...

I always have lots of beads to work with.

I ordered the mini clasps HERE

Beaded Mask Holder Tutorial HERE

Don't want to make one...

You can order one HERE

We took a day off on Friday and enjoyed a three day weekend. My Guy was still pretty sore from his bicycle accident the weekend before, so the plan was to just take it easy and hang out at home.  He was feeling much better by the end of the weekend, though he still has some really colorful bruises. 

My goal was to get laundry done and then spend a lot time in the sewing room working on some finishes.  The easiest was to finish reworking some face masks.  

These were some of the first masks I made. The elastic ...

The Scientist in Training was home this weekend, she was very content to just hang out with Mom on Saturday. So I got in a fair amount of stitching time, but as we were talking and laughing, I didn't think to take a lot of in progress photos.  

Mask pattern from Laundry Basket Quilts

The heat continues, not surprising since it's August. Definitely wiser to stay in and stitch then go out and deal with the heat. I spent both weekend afternoons in the sewing room.  On the the to do list was to finish up a few more masks.  

Mask pattern from Laundry Basket Quilts

This was the ...

It's been a fast, but productive week.  Last week's To Do List was pretty short and simple, but it still feels good to check off each line.  

Cabins and Fans, self designed

We had a low key weekend.  Mostly stayed in to avoid the heat. It is a typical August in Oklahoma weather wise.  Staying in to stitch is just better for one's health when it's that hot outside.  

We are back to mandatory masking where we both work.  With infections continuing to increase, we'll be wearing masks for a few more months, at least till Halloween. I made a few new ones to replace the masks made with elastic, the t-shirt ear loops are much more comfortable.  

Mask pattern from Laundry Basket Quilts

The other sewing activity was ...

I'm definitely not ready for Monday, sometimes weekends just aren't long enough.  The Scientist in Training came home for the weekend. Classes start up tomorrow. She wanted to get in one more trip home before homework ramps up.  

In my last post, I showed off a very happy 2021 inauguration crochet scene, here. To recap the highlights, I made a whole lot of jubilant and competent people, diligently wearing masks (except when called upon to speak or sing.)

Plus a Capitol building:

When I showed it off on Facebook, friends asked me if I would do the insurrection next. No way, I thought. Crochet, almost by definition, makes sweet and adorable objects. How could you  crochet murderous cruelty and delusion?

But I couldn't let the idea go. In the late 70s/early 80s,, I lived in Washington ...

Inspired by the Bernie Sanders memes after the January presidential inauguration, I decided to crochet my own version. I didn't use a pattern - I just made him up as I went along, crocheting in spirals. He had a brief fling with the cat.

That was so much fun, I wound up making five of them, as gifts, plus one auctioned on ebay to benefit a food bank. Their clothing comes off, including, in most cases, the mittens.

The fifth one was my special edition Valentine's Day Bernie, showing off his chest like Putin (but with a tattoo, and ...

Another excellent day! It's so warm that I didn't even wear a jacket when I walked the girls in the morning. Summer is around the corner! But first -let's enjoy spring. And yes - I was out in the gazebo yesterday. I think I might need to install a hammock in there! A little bar fridge and well - I could live in that darn gazebo! It's my favorite place, to say the least. 

I had some computer work to do, so I wasn't totally slacking off while enjoying the sun. I had some research to do ...

Well, I had a moment of excitement yesterday. We had our machine embroidery class on the weekend, and we're talking about stabilizers because stabilizers are very important to machine embroidery. I suggested that we make samples, so I had dug out some rolls of stabilizers and made some samples for me!

Then I remembered in my drawer of stabilizers where I have many samples - perhaps some of those could be used rather than cutting into the rolls. Oh boy - be careful what you ask for! Look what I found. 

This stack is made up of SAMPLE packs that I ...

When Lynnleigh was born, eight short years ago, I was required to wear a mask for our first meeting. I had a bad cold at the time but that wasn't going to keep me from holding our new granddaughter; oh, no! Little did I know then that mask-wearing would ever become the norm! We were eager to recreate this iconic moment today. Happy birthday, Lynnleigh; you've made these past eight years a joy (

When Lynnleigh was born, eight short years ago, I was required to wear a mask for our first meeting. I had a bad cold at the time but that wasn't going to keep me from holding our new granddaughter; oh, no! Little did I know then that mask-wearing would ever become the norm! We were eager to recreate this iconic moment today. Happy birthday, Lynnleigh; you've made these past eight years a joy (

Here's just a sampling of quilts done this year. My guiding word for the year was "VISION". Vision to see clearly: to look at what I had on hand and how I could utilize my stash to make and finish up more quilts. In addition to these (above) I have a sizable queue of  "to be quilteds" ready to go when the much anticipated roll of batting (finally) arrives. Early in January I rolled out the die

Here's just a sampling of quilts done this year. My guiding word for the year was "VISION". Vision to see clearly: to look at what I had on hand and how I could utilize my stash to make and finish up more quilts. In addition to these (above) I have a sizable queue of  "to be quilteds" ready to go when the much anticipated roll of batting (finally) arrives. Early in January I rolled out the die

 Yep - today, Bear and M will be leaving. They have a mid-morning flight to catch. I'm sad to see them go - it's been great fun to have them here, even though Bear has totally thrown my routine off! He gets one more walk this morning before he has to be bundled up into his carrier - he's NOT going to be happy about that. 

M and Little Bear

Yum!!! Slurp!  Yum!!

He is so darn slow. No - that's not true exactly. He's unpredictable. One day, he runs the entire time we're out, and the next ...

 A look back at 2020...

January 2020

I needed a fresh start for 2020.

My sewing area went from this:

to this:

February 2020

Calving Season begins @ the Kessi Ranch

Playing with Rayon Threads

March 2020

The Turkey Vultures are BACK

Calving Season....continues:

Fertilizing the Hay Fields

Playing with Improv

April 2020

Improv Technique 2

Improv Technique 3

Improv Technique 4

Improv Technique 5

Improv Technique 6

Improv Technique 7

Improv Technique 8

Sunflower Quilt Finished

May 2020

Zipper Pulls

June 2020

Improv Quilt Top

Messy Painted Canvas

July 2020

Tassel Necklaces

Haying Season ...

As we look back over the past twelve months, we’re simply amazed! We were touched by the love from our followers, the support of our customers, the kind hearts of each and every one of our hardworking team members, and the selflessness within the quilting community. Despite this challenging year, we’ve been able to accomplish so much together.

Thanks to you, Missouri Star is celebrating yet another great year of quilting! It’s been filled with inspiring stories from quilters all around the world, brand new products created with you in mind, exciting tutorials that have inspired many ...