Chili for a Crowd

 Homemade Chili 🌶️

Crystal Abel's Family Recipe - Chili for a Crowd . 

Do you have a favorite go to recipe for Crock-Pot Chilli? 

Sewing for Walmart

Sewing for Walmart Displays
Est. 1987-1988 

Once upon a time, I did some sewing for Walmart in the Toccoa, Georgia store. The patterns were mostly McCall's and Simplicity. It was a great learning experience for me.  I felt my skills were poor in comparison to my mother. She was a talented seamstress and quilter. I enjoyed sewing various women's and children's dresses. I even made a wedding and prom dress. 

After they finished with the displays, I got to keep the garments. I made many for my two oldest daughters and myself. 

I have not sewn clothes in years. The patterns and materials are so expensive now. 

#walmart #sewing #cloth #crafter 

Mom Quilting

 Quilting 

Mom quilting prior to 1980

I took this photo with my first camera that was purchased from Western Auto(If I am not mistaken.) I was around twelve to thirteen years old. It must have been a Christmas gift because she wasn't into gifts at birthdays. 

My mom began sewing in her youth at around thirteen years old. She said she would sneak to sew on her mother's sewing machine. I guess it was off limits. She has been quilting and sewing for over six decades. 

I am not sure what star pattern it is in the photo. Her quilting frame hangs in her living room but on this occasion, the quilting frame was outside under the carport of our Jim Walter home. I guess but was cooler outside. 

She occasionally allowed my cousin Connie and I to help snip the quilt pieces as she ran them through her sewing machine. I did get to see a few stitches at least once. 

Mom wasn't a teacher of sewing and quilting. I often wished she would have taught my sister and I the craft. 

She was a very crafty person. She dabbled in gardening but sometimes painted and crocheted doilies. She even built a playhouse that was turned into a chicken coup. I don't ever remember playing inside it.