Design Wall-Week 25 & Some Babbling

Another non sewing week...I am not in a sewing mood, I want to knit. So knitting is what I have been doing. And going, I went somewhere almost every day last week and that isn't like me. And organizing......what a job!

As you can see, the Maple Leaf table topper is right where I left it last week. I don't know if it will be ready for Thanksgiving or not. If not, it will be ready next year. The Christmas tree blocks were won last year at a retreat. I think there are 20 some in the bag. I'm not sure what to do with them. I found the bag while organizing and pulled out three of the blocks to hang on the wall for something new to look at. Maybe these will be my quilting room decorations for the holidays. Oh that's a good one--use it if you want. Really, I think they will make nice wall hangings. I just need to get something for sashing and borders.


Picture #2 is what I've been working on all week. I finished the pink hat for GGD Jaelynn and started the gray hat for Taylor. The knitting is finished, I just need to take it to the store to find a fabulous button for it. I am 3 rows from turning the heel on my 2nd Monkey Sock. Oh it's hard not to start on different socks....but this is a challenge for myself. I don't want a bunch of knitting UFOs like I have quilts.

And a couple more dish clothes. We had a huge storm last night and the power went out at 3 Sunday morning--I know this because hubby woke me up to tell me--bless his little heart! He got up at 4:30 to go hunting and I stayed in bed until about 7 because it was very dark in my house. I finally rolled out, poured the left over coffee into a pan, set it on the woodstove to heat up--desperate times-desperate measures!!-and opened all the curtains to let in the day light. I couldn't get on line--laptop battery was dead! so I got out my Sock Sack with my dishcloth crocheting in it--very handy in my purse for waiting rooms, lines & stop lights!--and sat down, drank my warmed up coffee and finished one. Then went to work the second. I like using up bits of cotton yarn for my own dishclothes. And pretty dishclothes make me smile when I'm using them. So this is now back in my purse for when I need it.

The quilt on the longarm belongs to my friend Sharlene. Yummy flannel. I was happily crosshatching along when the first needle broke, then the second and then the 3rd. I decided to take a break from it today and I'll finish it tomorrow.

Head over to Patchwork Times and see what everyone else is up to. Design Wall Monday--my favorite day on the web. Thanks Judy L for keeping this going. (I say this on Sunday night, hoping it to be true on Monday morning. ;-)

Design Wall-Week 24

Not much new on the design wall. I did sew the leaf blocks together and put it back up on the wall to admire and yesterday I made a cute little Sock Sack to keep my sock project in. The Sock Sack is a freebie from Terry Atkinson. Very easy, very fast and very cute. I am going to make more of them. I think it took longer to make the bobble for the zipper and put the split ring on the pull than it did to make the bag. I ended up having hubby put the ring on.

See right there in the lower left corner of the picture? That is a bunch of batik blocks that need to go on the design wall and be made into a top. Wonder when that will happen!!

Last night while holding the couch down, I finally finished my first Monkey Sock and immediately cast on for the second sock and started the ribbing. I'm quite proud of myself for following the pattern and making the design. I know I made some mistakes but I'm not going to search the sock to find them. The picture makes the foot part look ginormous but it fits my fat foot just fine. The quilt under the sock is one of my favorite cuddle on the couch quilts. It was a free pattern from P & B Textiles that isn't listed anymore. :-( But they have lots of other really cool ones!

I have my next sock project already set aside with the instructions. I'm going to try 2 socks on 2 circular needles again. I need to hurry and finish Monkey Sock #2!

And I finished this dishcloth. It is a fun and fast pattern called A Practically Hyperbolic Dishcloth. I bought the pattern from Neatly Tangled Designs. I love using hand made dishclothes, they make me smile as I'm doing the dishes. This is one of my favorite dishclothes and makes a nice little giftie.

A ball of cotton yarn, my crochet hook and the directions will fit perfectly in a little Sock Sack to keep in my purse! I need to go in and find some cute fabric........

No School Fun

With today being Veteran's Day and no school, Taylor wanted to spend last night with us. So after a morning of lounging around, she wanted to play with the beads. I set her up at the table and she created herself a very pretty new necklace.

I hope she gets to keep it. I think her mom might try to take it and wear it. Maybe she'll share with mom. "Maybe she won't."

Wonder what we should do next~~~

Design Wall-Week 23

Here it is, another What's On Your Design Wall Monday (or Sunday). Judy L. at Patchwork Times keeps me on my toes sometimes, other times I feel like I'm falling on my nose. I try to have something going on my design wall but sometimes other things get in my way. Like this week was our 10th Annual Quilter's Retreat at Royal Ridges. I am so tired, all I want to do is sleep for 3 days but I have so much renewed energy, I just want to sew, sew, sew! 2 retreats in 2 weeks is a bit overwhelming but I'll do my best to carry on.

This week on my design wall are my 2 star BOM blocks for a very new Yahoo group. 2 blocks per month with one being paper pieced and by the end of the year, enough for a very nice sized quilt. I am using my stash of brights and Kona black. So far, I'm liking it. I did another 9" BOM for another group but I messed it up so bad that I am going to take it apart and remake it. The leaves were the winnings from a drawing at last year's retreat. I was hoping to have them turned into a table topper before retreat was here but that didn't happen. I got hung up on hat knitting! I'm hoping to have it finished this week so I can use it for a couple weeks before Christmas decorating gets here. I'm excited about putting up my wall hanging that I finished in July. But first, we must have Thansgiving.

I also completed 4 more blocks for another BOM that didn't last as long as I thought it was going to. I wanted to make 30 blocks total and I am almost there with 25 done. After spending time visiting and getting ideas for even more projects, I worked on a scrap project using some of my shorter 2 1/2" strips.

So head on over to Judy L's and see what everyone else is working on. Monday's are one of my favorite blog hopping days.....and then Tuesday, Wednesday........you get the picture!!!

Design Wall-Week 22

This has been a pretty exciting week. Not one stitch has been sewn, nothing is on the design wall. But I don't care because I have a new grandson! I may not have been sewing but I have been knitting. Hats, my grands need new hats. It all started when I made oldest granddaughter Ashlee (Happy 15th Birthday Ash) a new beret. I can't show you yet because she hasn't seen it.

This little princess is Miss Clella, Leland's sister. She has a new job besides being big sister. She is Gramma's hat model. And hat models do not like it when you try to take their picture when they are having cereal and milk. They also do not want to take off big brother's hat while having cereal and milk.

After making Ashlee's beret, I wanted more hat yarn. We went yarn shopping at Craft Warehouse but I didn't find the kind of yarn I was looking for to use on a different pattern. But I did find some James C. Brett Marble Chunky acrylic yarn. (Link is just to show you a picture) This is a really nice, soft, smooshy yarn and makes a very nice hat, as you can see on the model. I used a free pattern from Red Heart called Gotcha Covered. I have enough yarn left to make a hat for Jonah when it's his turn.

This cute pink hat is called Robin's Egg Blue and is a free free pattern from Rachel Iufer . I used smaller needles and made fewer rows. The yarn is called Sensations Angel Hair, an acrylic, wool, nylon blend and the color is posy. It is very soft and I think she likes it. I have enough left for Jaelynn a little hat.

I have Amanda's hat on the needles now. It's called The Amanda Hat (How could I resist that one!) and I found it on Ravelry which lead me to Sleepy Eyes Knitting for the pattern. Taylor's will be the same yarn as Amanda's and the same pattern as Clella's unless I find a pattern I like better.

Before buying any more hat yarn, I need to check with Ian, Ashton, Orien and Big Taylor--what if they don't want Gramma to make them hats. Oh, that will make me sad!!! That's OK, I know my girls like them. I better get knitting! I don't want my babes to have cold ears.......

Lots of other quilters do have things on their design wall. Go on over to Judy L's at Patchwork Times and see what's happening.

Welcome To The Family Leland

Leland Ernest joined our family October 29 at 10:31 am. He weighed in at 6 lbs. 12 oz. and is 19" tall. Isn't he gorgeous??? I think he is! His parents are Crystal and Mike and has a big brother Elliot and a big sister Clella. We think he is pretty special. His Poppy has already decided to call him Little Ernie......Poppy's name is Ernie, he is quite proud.

I had to borrow this picture from his parents...I'll be taking a few of my own today when I go to their home to help out. I think I will tackle the job of baby holding. Or block stacking. Or snack making. Or just being there to hug....which is a tough job in itself. Yip, I have a hard life!

Quilting? Not today--I'm needed other places today.

Design Wall-Week 22 and Retreat Report

Today my design wall holds the completed center of the Rectangle String Quilt from Mary Quilts. I spent 4 days at a local quilt retreat. I love going there and sewing for hours at a time and never having to worry about anything other that what I am doing.

My goal for the weekend was to do my BOMs first and then get busy trying to empty my string bin. I finished the Rectangle quilt and the gray centered quilt. I posted photos to my small online group last night and was offered border fabric from a dear friend that wants to help with the charity quilts. How fabulous is that??? I accepted her offer and she will bring me fabric in a couple weeks. Until then, I think I am going to use something I have for these quilts and then at the next retreat--pretty spoiled aren't I??--I am going to continue to work on emptying out that string bin and will use her fabric for those quilts.

These blocks are for a new BOM group. The theme for the year is stars, one traditionally pieced and one paper pieced. I am using black background and only stash fabric for the stars. I think it will be very striking when it's finished.

This is my view of the sewing room. This wonderful lady is Barbara. My table mate was working on a One Block Wonder. I haven't been too interested in making one of those until I sat there and watched as she worked on hers. OMG! I am going to find some fabric for my own. 3 other gals brought theirs, one was complete, one ready for borders and one still in progress. They were each amazing and to watch as Sonya made progress on hers---ohhhhh, I need to have one too. I am such a follower!

Today I am going to try to create some kind of order in my sewing room. I don't think I have to go anywhere today.......I sure hope not. I am still recouping from the weekend.

If you have a bin full of strings and strips and you need some inspiration to use them, go to the HeartStrings Quilt Project and inspiration will overtake you. If you don't want to make a string quilt, think about giving your strings to someone that will use them. You can contact the HeartStrings group through their website or contact your local quilt guild and ask if they would like your string quilts. Quilts are needed everywhere.

Go on over to Patchwork Times and take a peek at Judy's design wall and then check on everyone else. I love Monday!

Design Wall-Week 21

Design Wall Monday is here again. I thought I was only going to have my 6 Sister's Choice blocks on the wall. This morning though, I decided I need to figure out what I want to take to retreat this weekend! It is fast approaching.

I've spent quite a bit of time this week emptying out my scrap baskets. (I can't say I don't know how they get so full so fast because I d0 know how it happens...I procrastinate!) My string box is overflowing and so is my bag. I decided I would make a couple string quilts while retreating. I have some cheap-o thin fabric that makes great foundation so I got that out and cut the size I need to make Mary's Rectangle Strings quilt. After I cut my center strips, I had to make a couple (that turned into 8) sample blocks. When it was time to trim them to size, I struggled with my square ruler. After trimming one block, I told myself I needed a 6 1/2" x 9 1/2" ruler.....didn't have one that exact size so I created a template, layed my 6 1/2" wide ruler on it and marked my lines on that one. Much easier for me to use.

Fast forward a few hours...Hubby comes home from hunting and we have dinner. I bake him some chocolate chip cookies while he reads the paper. He goes to bed, I am getting ready to go to bed. I went into the sewing room to make sure the I turned off the iron...I did so I turned it back on. I sat down and made 6 more blocks! At this rate, I will have to have more foundations to take to the retreat because this quilt will be done!

Go on over to Patchwork Times and check what everyone else is working on. Check back here in a day or so and see my completed top. LOL Because you know I'm going to keep working on it!!!

Floral Freeze Frame

My Freeze Frame Top is finished!! This is the latest Quilt For An Hour project from Judy L at Patchwork Times. Today she posted a Mr. Linky Box post for us to upload our completed top photos.

Go to Patchwork Times, look around, get to know Judy. She has awesome quilt patterns, fabulous recipes and stories that make you laugh and make you think. Her quilting is fabulous. I have coffee with Judy every morning!

A little note about my top. See the 2nd to the last border??? The instructions state to use the same background fabric used in the center--mine was a cream on cream floral print. I thought I had enough for the outer borders.......I didn't measure, I started cutting. Whoopsie, I was 2 pieces shy. So I cut my other background fabric and it looks great.

Now to complete the backing. I'm taking my leftover fat quarters and maybe some others to make my back. This should be finished in now time.

I'm Done, I Think

I think I might be done with the summer garden harvest! I spent all day yesterday processing this 49 pound pumpkin, the last of 3 from our garden. The chickens liked the others and after discovering this, I put a cage around this guy.

First thing to do was get hubby to set this thing on the counter, then I pushed it over the sink so I could give it a good scrubbing. I sure love my Moen faucet with the pullout. Makes pumpkin scrubbing easy.

Then I had to get out the big knife and hammer. I didn't have to use the hammer at all. It cut pretty easy, it was just cumbersome. After all was finished, I ended up with 17 2-cup packages and 3 1/2 quarts of juice from straining the pulp. Most went into the freezer. The scraps went to the chickens.....they sure do like pumpkin. They proved that by pecking 3 others. Next year, the pumpkin patch will have a fence around it!

Today I am going to bake cupcake/muffins and maybe custard. We'll see. After yesterday, I'd rather sew.

Design Wall-Week 20 and Other Things

What an exciting week! I had such good intentions and a couple of them actually happened.

My design wall this week looks almost the same as last week. Very little progress was made but any progress counts for me. I put 2 more borders on my Quilt For An Hour but here it is still waiting for the final 2 borders. Hopefully today they will get put on-that's the plan anyhow. Then I am going to take all the fat quarters I cut for this top and use them to make the back. My plan is to continue the Quilt For An Hour project so I can have this quilted and bound before my retreat next week. I did add another Sister's Choice block for my leader and ender project.

On Wednesday, son in law Mike came over and we finally put up the tile backsplash. He has me scheduled in for Thursday and next Tuesday for grout and finishing. (With his family, a full time job and his own business, my projects have to be scheduled in and I'm fine with that.) It took us a good share of the day to get both walls tiled and that included the mandatory trip to Home Depot. It sure took me a long time to get started and now I can't believe I allowed myself to live with no tile for so darn long!!!

So during the tile project, I hurt my feet. I'm not used to standing on my tippy toes and stretching for long periods of time and the tops of my feet rebelled. I don't blame them, there is a lot of me to be on those toes. If you've ever had shin splints, that's what it felt like on my feet. So I took most of Thursday with my feet elevated with ice. I had to have something productive to do so I got out my Monkey Sock project that I started in February (and promptly put away) and decided I was going to learn to do lace. It really is simple if I just follow directions and count out loud so I don't confuse myself. I am such a slow knitter, especially when I can't just knit round and round. So now, it's just a few rows at a time, I am anxious to get these socks done so I can start the next pair.

We had a fabulous Grandchild weekend. Friday was Party at Gramma and Poppy's. 3 Grands spent the night...what fun we had. The 2 little ones absolutely adore their cousin TayTay. She couldn't do anything that one of them isn't right there with her.

Sunday we went to blustery, cold Camas to watch #14, Ian, play football. Not being a football fan, I had a hard time concentrating on the game but Poppy loved it. I think I should probably get interested in it, as I think he is going to be playing for a while. I was paying attention when he scored a touchdown.......Go Jets!!!

After the game, we went to Jenny's house for some fabulous Taco Soup. I was so darn good and it warmed me all the way through!!! She made a pumpkin roll too and I had to have my piece before leaving her house. Her spoiled rotten dad filled up on soup so she gave him 2 slices to bring home--one for later and one for breakfast. The man had them both last night and there wasn't even a crumb left in the bag. Now he wants me to make another.........not today, there isn't room on my list for that.

Now head over to Judy L's Patchwork Times and see what everyone else has on their design wall. I love Design Wall Monday!!! Thanks Judy.