Binge Watching on YouTube

I think I am like most people, when you find videos that interest you, you binge watch. My latest obsession is Dr. Lori. She provides tips on antiques. youtube.com/@DrLoriV

The reason she appeals to me is (1) her great personality, (2) I want to learn more about china and glassware, and (3) she snorts when something amuses her. 

I am winnowing down again, removing books and CDs that have languished for years. I don't mind storing sewing patterns and small items but books and blankets are coming off the boards. 

Going through another fabric purge. All of the fabric was purchased secondhand so I have no qualms about thrifting it back. With my quilt output slowed to 2 per year, I am only keeping my project boxes and the cutest of my fabric. 

Since my interests have turned to fine art, I will be creating more original works in different types of medium. 

This is the actual final project. A scene of our choosing that utilizes some of the compositional techniques learned during the semester. This is On the Front Porch graphite on sketchpad.

Below are the Sharpie night scene revised and original sketch. 

Still hoping to register for an art class in the fall semester. 

May Day and Follow Up to the Fairy Quilt

Merry May Day! Give those you love fresh flowers 🥀

Quilting update:

When I first posted about the fairy quilt, the top was partially finished. Now the quilt top and backing have been sent to the longarmer. The first image shows the added MODA Grunge green/gray border fabric. 

The backing fabric. I added one more print not shown here. 

It will be quilted in a Garden Fairies design through Flint Hills Quilting or kshilltopranch on eBay where I purchase her service. 

Hmmm, let's talk about the fabric collections that I hoard have, in no particular order. 

Americana
Patriotic (RW&B)

Plaid wovens

Christmas
Dog/cat prints

Tiki/Hawaiian

African prints

These are not stored in tidy project organizers, noooo, they are entire TUBS of fabric. I need to narrow down my project ideas and complete the ones that are queued up. Next up on my to-do list is the National Park quilt. That one I will use wool batting and it destined for the living room. 

Popping in an eBay listing update - this yarn is so pretty, wish I knew how to work with it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/187184749942

College update: Nearly 2 weeks remain before I can sign up for my art class. One is given a priority registration time and date. Depending on which class remains open, it will be Design Fundamentals the shortened 8 week or full term.  

Posting my final sketch even though it hasn't been graded yet. Reference image below. 

The assignment was to only use a Sharpie pen on sketchbook pad. The task was to use 3-4 "marks" in the artwork. 
 

Ending the post with a Ted Talk on the importance of making art. 

Zest of Lemon

The last day of the April A to Z Challenge wraps up with the letter "Z." I am going with Zest of Lemon. It is some of that outer fruit skin that is scraped off for a lemony taste. 

Having said that, it is time to thank the hosts of this fun annual event. 

Founder Arlee Bird tossingitout
J Lenni Dorner jlennidorner
Zalka Csenge Virage multicoloreddiary
John Holton thesoundofonehandtyping
Jaden R. Vicente jrvincente.com adult content warning
Ronel ronelthemythmaker.com

Putting in a mention for a few new friends I discovered during this challenge. Link to my Friends post mentioning others from the challenge flowers-and-friends.

KarenMeg aglassatatime.ca

J-Dub's Grin and Bear it jilywily.wordpress.com

Lynne lynnelives.wordpress.com

wtfaioa.wordpress.com

Trophy to Me for Completing

the 2025 Challenge

Thank you to everyone that visited my blog for this April celebration. I can go back to my regular programming of thrift shop finds, eBay sales, and all of my other extracurricular activities. 

May we not only have zest of lemon in cooking, but also have a zest for living! 

Yarn and You Get One Free Pass

https://www.ebay.com/itm/187120103067

This is one way that I pose lots of yarn to sell on eBay. These skeins are from my latest listing session. 

Yarn always sells. If I find quality skeins with their bands still intact, I pick them up. I do not knit or crochet and never have. These are my bagged and photographed skeins ready for sale. This represents about 6 months of thrifting. 

Course, right when I get through a listing session, I find more yarn!

This Y day for the A to Z Challenge is a tough one, that is why I created You Get One Free Pass. I gathered a bunch of crochet images that need to go right here.  

Whoops, I think he is knitted. Creepy anyway

A to Z Challenge letter Z zips right along with Zest of Lemon.🍋

Xenodocheionology

I was going to draw a ghost sketch to lead-off this post but this image came up as one that I had saved. Fits right in here even though it is someone trying to sell something. 

Yes, I learned a new word for the X letter day on the A to Z Challenge. 

Xenodocheionology is the lores of hotels and inns. Along those lines is the YouTube channel Slapped Ham. Stay with me on this one, on that channel there are paranormal videos. Some of those videos show hotels and inns that deal with ghostly activity. It is my favorite YouTube channel.💖

I know it is stretch but what are you going to do with the letter X? 

A to Z Challenge letter Y is yearning for Yarn and You Get One Free Pass. 

Weird Wacky and White Trash Cooking

Wondering why at this ghastly Wreath at hospice thrift. 

A to Z Challenge Letter W. One of my favorite recurring themes for the A to Z Challenge - Weird and Wacky. I did a series of those posts in 2024. 

2024/01/weird-and-wacky

2024/02/weird-and-wacky

2024/03/weird-and-wacky

2024/04/weird-and-wacky

2024/05/weird-and-wacky

2024/06/weird-and-wacky

2024/07/weird-and-wacky

2024/09/weird-and-wacky

2024/10/weird-and-wacky

2024/12/weird-and-wacky

Presenting thrift shop weird and wacky for this month's challenge. What I usually find are paintings and attempts at fine art. 

I haven't continued the monthly series of weird and wacky into this year. I live in a deeply conservative rural area. There isn't as much weird and wacky as I found at thrift in Sacramento, California. 

Found this book at thrift recently, sho nuff fits with this letter day. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/187146211369

Water Lily Pie

3 eggs separated
1 cup sugar
1/4 lb. butter
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/8 tsp. cream of tartar

Beat yolks of three eggs until light, adding gradually 1/2 cup sugar. Cream butter, almond extract and vanilla. Stir this into egg mixture. 

Beat egg whites very stiff. Add slowly 1/2 cup sugar and cream of tartar. Spread whites over buttered and floured pie pan. Push toward edge, making depression in center. Pour filling into middle very carefully. Bake is a slow oven nearly an hour. 

"It should look just like a water lily - if it don't, you did something wrong."

I did find an A to Z Wine! 

Ending with one of my favorite commercials now seen in the states. 

A to Z Challenge letter X will be Xenodocheionology. 

Vintage Toys

A to Z challenge letter V vying for one of the last spots in this challenge. I just picked up this herd of Schleich cattle bagged $4.99 at thrift. 

I am buying back the toys of my childhood. These Schleich figurines were one of my favorites. I was allowed to buy one figurine at a time as a child when we went to the toy store. 

I do know that all of my childhood toys disappeared. I think my parents gave them away when I moved away from home. 

My bucket list of toys to find secondhand (I could be dreaming on this list)

Original 1959 Barbie
Kenner Blythe Doll

The original 9 Beanie Babies

Garbage Pail Kids Cards

I already collect the small G.I. Joe figurines and have a near battalion of them. Marbles are another item I pick up at thrift whenever I see them. 

I also like to sketch these toys and here is one of a mini-Bratz doll.  

A to Z challenge letter W day is Weird and Wacky items found at thrift.