Getting It Done Challenge--August

This is what I wrote June 30th...my goals for July.

So what will I do for July?

• This month's mystery step and work on BOWs
• Quilt and bind Orca Bay
• Quilt and bind The Ultimate Scrap Quilt Like Julie's
•  Make 5 more Pineapple Crazy blocks

I'm trying to focus on the projects in the works and on getting some quilting done. These 2 quilts already have the backing and binding done and the batting is cut to size. The bobbins are even wound.  I'm really trying not to start any new projects.

How did I do?

• I completed the mystery step--bottom right in photo. I didn't touch the BOWs.
• Quilted Orca Bay-still needs binding--top right.
• I quilted The Ultimate Scrap Quilt Lke Julie's--bottom left.
• I made 15 Pineapple Crazy Blocks--top left.

I think I did pretty darn good.  Still need to set up the machine to do the binding. That's not going to happen today.  And that not starting anything new??? Failed that one. I started the Log Cabin-snicker snicker.

August Goals

• Judy L's mystery step for the month
• 5 more Pineapple Crazy blocks
• Bind Ocra Bay and TUSQLJ
• Quilt 1 UFO quilt
• Work on Reach For The Stars
• Work on Grandmother's Choice blocks

See how others are doing on their list at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday

I have nothing on my design wall,

But....

This weekend included some serious sewing time.

All 10 spool blocks for the Row Quilt are complete and put away.

The blades and center are ready for applique for the Dresden Plate block.

Piece #4 was added to 108 log cabin blocks.

This is too much chaos.

I need to control it.

When pressing piece #4, 

I pressed 10 blocks at a time

and pinned them together.

Now I am sewing and pressing in groups of 10.

I feel better and not overwhelmed.

I need to cut more pieces.

Time to dig into some more scrap bags.

So far I am doing good at emptying one bag a week.

See other fabulous design walls at Patchwork Times.

I love Monday in Blogland.

Scrappy Saturday

The last Saturday of July! That happened really fast!  I haven't been sewing much so I am quite behind on my Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects.

This morning Ernie left early to go to the Stream Up. I wanted to go but didn't think it was a good idea to walk around in a giant hay field full of holes with my knee buggered up like it is right now. So I am spending the day doing things I want to do.  I wanted to work on my log cabin blocks and sort and cut some scraps. Then I wanted to water the garden and do my chicken chores. Now that those things are done, I really want to work on my aqua spool blocks and my Dresden blocks.

I cut everything I needed to cut. I started sewing, then I remembered.........I need to ice my knee. So I took a quick picture, am writing a quick post and I'm headed in with my glass of ice water, a pbj and my ice pack to watch some mindless tv, eat lunch and knit for a while.  Then it's back to the sewing room for me!

See other great scrappy, happy projects at SoScrappy.

On The Needles

Sometimes my fingers just want to knit something new. That's what happened this week.  I was going to finish this scarf and put off starting Hitchhiker but I just couldn't do it. I was also going to start Wingspan first but that didn't happen either.

The other day Judy L wrote a post about kitting up her projects. A light bulb flashed in my head. I do this with my quilting but not my knitting.  I have several projects for the near future so I spent some time getting them into bags with the instructions. (That's how Hitchhiker got started!) I guess I should learn to use the Ravelry Queue. I'm sure it's easy to do, I just haven't done it yet. Yarn is on the way for Dreambird and Rival Cardigan. Leftie needs a contrast yarn, I'm not sure what I'll use yet, that's on the list for a shopping trip.

I worked on the afghan quite a bit. Instead of procrastinating any further, I convinced myself to work on it every day for at least 1/2 hour If I do that, it will be done by the end of the month. I only have 8 squares left to finish and know as soon as I start to join the squares, I will not stop until it's finished. I'm about out of the aqua yarn so my original design using it for the first border has changed. I am not buying any more of this yarn. I'll use what I have and call it perfect.

I can't wait to see what others are working on......(this is how most of these projects got started). I'm headed over to Patchwork Times to see what else I can add to my list.

Design Wall Monday

 Not a lot of sewing machine time this week so nothing is on my design wall.  I've been finishing things instead. I mended a pair of pants for Taylor, made her a big hair bow and sewed a little bit on my log cabin. A very little bit. Other than that, this fabulous sewing machine has been quiet.

What's really on my design space is this afghan I am going to finish. I'm working my way through the last of the squares.  I think I need 22 more.  Last night I did a count and sorted the last of the squares. I'm making 15 of each colorway.  It's nice to sit out on the deck and work on this.

I played in EQ7 a while back to give myself an idea of how this will look when completed, but I only used 4 blocks in the mock up. I'll be using 6 different squares in the afghan. I've only seen this on a tv show. I loved it, stopped the show to take a picture of it to make my own. It will finish to be about 70" x 76". A very nice sized bed throw.

See other fabulous design wall projects at Patchwork Times.

A Week Of Finishes

I finished these socks from yarn that Sue Hecker sent me 

when she was clearing out yarn from her stash.

Thanks again Sue, I love them.

I finished my UFO scarf.

Taylor and I finished quilting this quilt.

Next up out of the UFO knitting bag is this scarf and 

this crocheted afghan project that I started in October 2011.

It's been a pretty good week.

On The Needles

I have been working on some new dishcloths. 

Mine are needing to be replaced.

I have 2 favorite patterns that I laminated back to back.

They fit into my little grab and go bag.

This one is Grandmother's Favorite.

Easy, peasy but after not making any for a while,

I always forget how to do the decreases.

My other favorite is called DW Darrell Waltrip Dishcloth.

The page on Ravelry project page shows how fun using verigated yarns are.

And since you have to do the dishes, why not have a fun dishcloth!

I finished this scarf. 

I love the way it looks on Mr. Bear.

This one is now marked off the knitting UFO list.

I'm linking up to Judy L's On The Needles post at Patchwork Times.

The Ultimate Scrap Quilt Like Julie's

I am so excited to have The Ultimate Scrap Quilt Like Julie's quilted and ready for binding.  SO VERY EXCITED!  In June of 2011,  I saw Julie's quilt here  and fell in love with it! In October 2011, I started my quilt. By the end of the year it was a quilt top.  Then it got put on top of Mt. ToBeQuilted to age.

Fast forward to Judy L's Getting It Done Challenge, this quilt has been on my list every month.  I am thrilled it will never be there again.

Taylor wants to quilt her own quilt so I thought this is a great place for her to practice. It's not a show quilt, it's for me and now I will remember her first attempts at the long arm.  It was with pure pleasure that I watched her and guided her.  I have a couple more super scrappy quilts that I'm going to let her practice on before she quilts her own top. This is the quilt that I finished for her because she objected quite loud when I said I hated some of them and was going to toss them. I told her I'd make the top but she had to quilt it. 

The back for the Ultimate Scrap Quilt Like Julie's is made up of those preprinted panels. My friend Harriet gave me a huge bag full of those, knowing I would use them for something.  It's actually quite comical to me.
(Those dark lines you see, those are just shadows from the top of the gazebo that we haven't put the cover on yet.) Several bobbins were emptied from previous quilting projects so this truly is the Ultimate Scrap Quilt.

Now I have 2 quilts ready for binding. I better get set up for that and Get It Done before the end of the month so I can cross those things off my list.

Leader/Ender Love

Years ago, Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville taught me about leaders and enders. You can read about it here. Now I always have a leader/ender project going. The last couple years, Bonnie has had a group leader/ender projects, first was Bow Ties, then Spools and now the new project is Split 9 Patch.

Today is the Leader & Ender Spool Review and Link Up.  I started this project in October 2012. I wasn't completely faithful to the spools, I used a few other things for leader/enders. I now have 75 blocks finished, with 5 ready to sew. When they are done, they will be turned into a wall hanging.

When Bonnie posted about the new l/e project, I had to chuckle. I had been managing a bag of scraps--meaning I was cutting and organizing to get rid of the bags. (My goal is to do a bag a week until I have no more bags of scraps.)  I had a stack of 2 1/2" squares and a stack of 2 1/2" half square triangle parts.  Perfect.  I am now ready to sew half square triangles as l/e when the spools are finished.

I'm so excited to see everyone's Spoolin' Around projects.  See them here.  Thanks Bonnie!

Design Wall Monday

Have you noticed lately the Log Cabin quilts that are all over Blogland? I have and even though I was going to try hard not to start anything new, I started something new.  My 1 1/2" strip bin was over flowing, my neutral strip bin was over flowing. Perfect reason to start something new.

The first 16 blocks are on the wall, the next 20 will go on later today.  I want a 12 X 12 setting for my queen size bed and will use the barn raising design.  I can't wait to get a bunch more blocks made so I can start to rearrange them.

See fabulous design wall projects at Patchwork Times.  And isn't Judy L's quilt stunning!!!

Part 1 of this post was written before 5 am this morning.  Now I have Part 2 at 8:30something.  Knowing I wouldn't get a chance to just sit and sew later today, I did it first this morning.  Now I have my next round up on the wall, with one block needing a quick turn.  I have to get my hinny outside for a while before it gets too hot.  

See my log cabin road map over on the left?  I use big sticky notes to block out my center so I could sort of get the blocks turned the right direction.  

ScrappyHappy Saturday

The July color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is Aqua.

I don't have a lot of aqua in my stash or my scraps. 

I had to do a little stash enhancement the other day.

I added a few new aquas to my limited collection.

This month I am making the spool block for the Row Quilt.

I love this block in any size. 

Now that I have the new fabrics, 

I will kit up the remaining 8 blocks I need for this row

and use them for leader/enders.

See other great Scrappy (they don't look like scrap) projects

here at SoScrappy.

On The Needles

The other day I was digging through my big knitting project bag that is full of smaller knitting project bags and decided to finish this scarf.  I really like the gradation of the black to white but this probably wasn't the best yarn for this scarf or I didn't start in a good place in the colors. It has a long repeat and the white section is right smack in the middle of the scarf. It reminds me of a skunk.  But it won't bother me, I'll wear it anyway.

I'm using this yarn which is nubby so it gives good texture. I will NEVER buy this size skein again!  It is wound so tight that when you pull from the center, you get the big gobs.  Since this is such a huge skein, there will be enough leftover to make the Lacy Zig-Zag Shawl.  I do have another huge skein in a different color way--black and purple--that I might use instead.  Either way, when the shawl is finished, the remaining yarn of both skeins will be headed to a new home.

I'll be happy to put this one on my Sticks 'n Strings 2013 Challenge finished list. This will be UFO #5-Finish #11.  It's looking good for me to complete 13 projects this year.  I sure hope I didn't just jinx myself.

See other great needle projects at Patchwork Times.

She's Keeping Me Guessing!

Who is keeping me guessing?  Judy L is!  I completed this month's step for Back To Square One Mystery -log cabin blocks. When I went to play on the design wall, I can't figure out how these blocks will go. There are 24 blocks and clearly you need more than 6 per side.  Hmmm

I carefully folded the center back up and put it away but I had to play with the blocks a bit.  This is my favorite setting, barn raising.  You know the little wheels in my brain are turning super right now.

I can't wait to see the next step. I hope it solves this little mystery. Thanks for the great project Judy!

Design Wall Monday

Last Sunday I started working on 5 Pineapple Crazy blocks.  After finishing those on Tuesday, I grabbed 10 more papers and got busy.  These little buggers take some time to get done. Today I finished them and as I was cleaning up my big mess, I decided to lay all 47 blocks out to get the feel of the quilt.  I feel it and I love it!  Only 177 to go. 

These are now put away and it's time to work on something else.  This really is a long term project. The funny thing is my scrap basket did not go down at all.  I did separate a bunch of the scraps out into size piles so that made the piecing go faster. Just reach over and grab the next right size.  

Visit Patchwork Times to see what others are working on. 

On The Needles

I worked a bit on my purple and blue socks.

I didn't work on the bright stripes.

I worked on Wingspan.

I don't have enough yarn.

Whoopsie.

This will be un-knitted.

I will start again.

I have to go yarn shopping.

I want this shawl!

We celebrated our nation's birthday with family and friends.

It was an almost perfect day.

We missed the people that couldn't be there.

See other great needle projects at Patchwork Times.

Fun On The Farm

Crystal and Mike and the kiddos stopped this morning to see if I wanted to ride into town with them, go out to breakfast and shopping. Umm, no thank you but if anyone wants to stay here with me and play in the garden, they are more than welcome to stay.  After feeding 3 kiddos a pancake breakfast and watching some Sesame Street, we headed outside.

 First we moved the turkeys from their overnight pen out into the big pen to hang out with the chickens.

Next we had to ooh and aww over the baby chickens. We talked about Fred the Rooster and why is he being mean now.  He used to be a very nice rooster but now, not so much. He is a very protective daddy. It's so much fun to watch the baby chicks.

 The kids have giant pumpkin plants so they weeded them first while I worked on the wildflowers.  It's hard to tell the weeds from the flowers.

Tony Dog took a few dirt baths that cause quite the giggle fest.  He wasn't very much help pulling weeds but he sure provided some entertainment.

 After an hour, we decided we've had enough garden time and needed a snack. On the way up to the house, we explored the hydrangea bushes.  They are about to explode with color.

Now we are coloring and will have some lunch pretty soon.  We decided a peanut butter and jelly picnic is what we want today.  So much more fun than going to town.

Design Wall Monday

My design wall is blank except for those darn threads that won't go away.  I'm trying really hard not to start anything new for a while. I know that after today's Design Wall Monday links, there will be at least one project I want to start right now but I'm going to stand strong--maybe.

I pulled out the Pineapple Crazy bin and started 5 more blocks.  I've numbered them and see that I have number 54 showing but that's not where I am. I have 32 complete-I need 224. After going back on the blog to find that number, I see I haven't worked on these much since November.  I know this is a long term project but I think I want to bring it a bit more to the front of the line.

Yesterday after doing the outside chores, I hid from the heat in the sewing room and worked on these 5 blocks. It amazes me how long each block takes to make but I find it very relaxing. And more fun that cutting wood in 90 degree heat.  But I will appreciate the wood when it's freezing cold outside and toasty warm inside.  This morning I'm trying it get it freezing cold inside!

See what others are working on at Patchwork Times.