2009 In Review

I am excited to say that my BOMs are current. The right 2 blocks on the bottom row are for December. The blue and cream Connecticut block is from Carol Doak's 50 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Stars and the peach and pink is called Dorothy's Star from Quilter's Cache. I am really liking this quilt.

For my small online group, we have a UFO challenge and I needed to get my list of 12 in before the 1st when the number for the month will be called. Then I will work on that UFO and hopefully finish it before the next number is called. This proves to be very motivating for me. Last year I completed 7 of the 11 and the others are at the need quilting stage. When I finished my UFO early, I had someone in the family pick a number for the next project and I set myself a goal to finish that one before the next number was called. It really doesn't take much to entertain me.!

While I was creating my UFO list, I noted a few other things. My main focus was going to be not to start anything new. Well that lasted about 5 minutes and then Bonnie of Quiltville posted a mystery and I had to do it. So, I started 17 new projects that I blogged about. Of those, 8 are completely finished, others need quilted. My last year's UFO list had 29 projects on it. I finished 13 of those. My new UFO list has 33 projects on it. I'm sure there are others I didn't write down. I have 2 WIPs that I am not writing down.

My personal life was full of exciting things. I had a new puppy to deal with and I'm still dealing with him. I was grounded from sewing with an injury to my knee and my foot so I learned to sew left footed. I got lots of knitting done during elevation and icing. In March we welcomed our great granddaughter Jaelynn into the family.

In May I became a chicken farmer. The garden was planted and I spent a lot of time playing outside. Then the canning started and I spent a whole lot of time inside. But it was worth every minute.

In September we adopted another dog, Louie. And in October, we welcomed grandson Leland into the family. We truly have an fabulous family.

This is sounding like the Christmas letter so it's time for me to go. Maybe I'll go knock off one of those UFOs........nah, that will mess up my list for 2010!

Final 2009 Design Wall Monday

I have had fun with Design Wall Monday. Judy L. started this 30! weeks ago. I think I have posted every week but I'm not sure. I do know that it has motivated me to work on my projects. Or sometimes not work on them. ;-)

I have all my drunkard path blocks finished for the center of this quilt. I have the sashing strips cut but need to buy fabric for cornerstones and borders. I have a plan.....stay tuned.

The blocks on the left are BOMs for my small online group. We are taking turns picking the BOM. My turn was December and I picked the block with the orange star points called Country Farm. I think mine will be the only orange one. I am doing all of my blocks with 2 different white on white backgrounds and brights from my scrap bins. I even know how I want to set these blocks when the time comes and have the instructions with the blocks. I'm usually not this organized.

After I took this picture, I took all the blocks down and put up my other BOM. It is black background with bright stars. Each month is one pieced star and one paper pieced star. Again, I picked for December but my paper piece star is almost finished and ready to put on the wall. Maybe this morning while I quilt for an hour or so.......

Get yourself a cup of something and go over to Judy L's and see what others have on their wall. Thanks Judy, I'm looking forward to 2010 Design Wall posts.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Every year I say I am going to be ready for Christmas at least 2 weeks ahead of time and every year I'm not. Today I am doing the last of the wrapping and bagging of gifts. It's not too bad. I'm not stressed at all. Most things are ready to go. Not like some years when I was still shopping or sewing like a maniac!

In the morning I will put the cheesy potatoes in the crockpot and get the veggies cleaned and cut up. And then we will relax until it's time to leave. We are gathering at Crystal's house this year. I love spending time with my family and watching everyone interact with each other. I have a fabulous family.

Remember the reason for the season. I hope your day is special. Merry Christmas.

Design Wall Monday On Sunday

I love Sunday mornings when hubby wants to sleep in, 3 dogs want to sleep in and I want to sew. I got to spend a couple hours in my sewing room this morning and was very productive.

I've been trying hard to spend at least an hour a day just sewing but I missed Saturday. We went shopping, visiting and came home in time to play on the computer, fix dinner and then knit and watch tv.

I have 3 more blocks to make for my Drunkard's Path Sampler. I don't have enough of anything left in my bin to make complete blocks so I will pick 3 more fat quarters and do the last 3 blocks. I'm not too sure about that in your face green block but that is how the picture shows it, that's the fabric I picked and maybe it will go on the back! I do know that all the leftover bits will be pieced and used on the back or made into a pillow top. I want that bin empty and ready for something else!

Today I am going to finish up my Christmas sewing and finally put up the tree. I have not been feeling Christmasy until Thursday evening when we drove into town for hubby's company Christmas dinner. The lights were so pretty and my mood lifted. Especially after shopping yesterday and picking my own gifts......after this many years, sometimes it's nice to give him a break. He got me more 1950's hens and a rooster for my collection. I think now his gift shopping will a little easier. Just go to an antique store and buy me old stuff!

Go over to Judy L's and see what others have on their design wall or read about their stashbusting or try one of Judy's recipes or make one of her fabulous quilts or order her new book or any of the other fabulous things she writes about. Get yourself something to drink, you will be there for a while. Thanks Judy for Design Wall Monday--thanks Judy for your excellent blog.

*Monday morning edit: I didn't get one stitch sewn after posting this yesterday. Taylor came to spend the night while SantaMom finished some things. What I did get done was my Christmas decorating. The tree is up and pretty, the Santa, Mrs. Santa and Rudolf are sitting pretty in their spot and Mr Snowman is gracing the kitchen window. Taylor decorated the little tree for the play room and it looks quite festive in there. Not sure what we will do today but for a while this morning I am going to sew while she sleeps.

Merry Christmas everyone.............

Quilt For An Hour

Inspired by Judy L and her Quilt For An Hour Projects, I have decided I am going to take 1 hour in the mornings and go into my sewing room and sew/quilt. So far, sew successful!

Yesterday I sorted and pressed my drunkard's path pieces and made one block for my sampler. Today I made 2 more blocks. I used my little "design wall" to arrange my block, putting in the extra pieces that need to be made. I even have the next 2 blocks ready to sew. I could very easily go back in there and put all of today's plans on hold. But I can't. I have other things planned for today.

I think some of these blocks look a little funky but I'm going to continue on and make this quilt. It has been on my list for quite a while. I must have really wanted to make it because I have now found 2 of the pictures that I tore out of the catalog. I think this one may have turned into my newest obsession.

Design Wall Monday

I can't believe this is my 28th post for Judy L's Design Wall Monday. I've had weeks when nothing has changed, I've had a day when I've taken down what was on the wall and put it away because nothing was inspiring me.

I've been working a little at a time to get my sewing room organized. This week I found a zip bag with the contents of photo 1. A bunch of 3" drunkard's path blocks. Then I found the bin in photo 2 with sewn blocks and cut blocks for a kabillion more. I wonder when I started working on these. I did my drunkard's path quilt in 2005 so these have been floating around since then!

Originally I was going to make a pillow cover, then I found that bin and I think there is enough in there for a lap quilt. I love using the Curve Master Foot. It is one of those "must have" tools I saw demo'd at a quilting expo. I didn't buy it then but I came home and stewed about it and ordered it. I wished I had it when I pieced my first dp quilt.

The last photo has 16 blocks in it, it will be a 12" block! This is going to take a while. I wonder how many times I'll change that block around. Oh wait, I have a picture I tore out of a Keepsake Quilting catalog of a dp sampler......I know right where that picture is! Yes, this is how my mind works! Now that I have the picture in front of me, I am ready to get stitchin'.

I did a search and found a webshots photo that momparde posted. She has some beautiful quilts! Ohhh, I'm excited!!! I need to go in and sew! Go to Patchwork Times and check out what everyone else is working on

It's Done-Almost

After my whining post (thanks dear friends for the sympathy) I decided to go in and finish the quilt. I went back through my blog and see that I wrote about this October 2008 (picture of mine here) after seeing it on Quilter Going Bananas blog header. I'll go back into the quilting room and make a scrappy binding out of some 2 1/2" strips and sew it on and then hand stitch it down tonight while watching tv.

This quilt has already been gifted to my cousin Julie. She posted on my Facebook page one day that she would love to own one of my quilts so I wrote her back and told her to send me her address. Things didn't work out to mail it to her so we will meet up when she gets "home" for her Christmas break. She is a nursing student in Nebraska. Her mom was my sewing mentor. I still use the basics today that Aunt Sharon instilled in me. I sure miss you Aunt Sharon.

So now I am going to go in and make binding while hubby naps and then I am going to put something up on my design wall that I am excited about. Because what's there now isn't exciting to me anymore. It will get put in the UFO box to be worked on later or never, whichever comes first!!!

Go to Kathy's Fancy Stitching News and see her Advent Quilt Show. She is showing some amazing quilts and has her Barbed Wire Fence quilt like mine shown on December 7th.

Owie!!

As the end of the year approaches faster than a speeding bullet, I want to get just one more UFO finished. I was happily quilting along on Friday when all of the sudden----yikes, I quilted my finger. Nope, I didn't break the needle. I guess I know how it happened, I got my finger was too close to the needle. ;~)

I was stitching down the edge and should have slowed my speed down-no stitch regulator and too lazy to reach up and turn the knob. Other people have done this, I've never wanted to be in their club......but evidently it is open invitation.

There is another club I don't want to belong to...that's the "I cut myself with the rotary blade and had to get stitches" club. No thanks, I don't want to be one of them! And you know everything jumps out and hits the owie. Just like having a sore toe and kicking everything within 10 feet of where you are walking.

Lessons learned, turn down the speed when you need to, keep your finger away from the hopping foot, and that fancy ruler you bought--go ahead and use it!

Design Wall-Week 27

Look at the size of that egg! It weighs 3 ounces! The others weigh 1.75 and 2 ounces. Impressed? I was. The one in the middle isn't 2 toned, it's just wet. Wouldn't it be neat if it was that color?

I'm hoping to distract you from my design wall that has the exact same thing on as it did 2 weeks ago. I've been quilting for my friend and sewing on secret things. And knitting! Really I only want to knit but secret things must get finished.

I've come a little ways on my Tipsy sock-pattern from Sleepy Eyes Knitting. You need to go visit her blog, her book is out! Exciting......(more distractions!) I am going to buy myself a Christmas present!

Sometime today I have to decorate the Christmas tree. Then tonight I get to go with hubby to his hunting club meeting...I know, how lucky am I! The club secretary is out of town and the assistant secretary may not make it tonight and she sweet talked hubby into sweet talking me. She is such a little doll, I couldn't say no even though I really wanted to. Gosh, I haven't taken down minutes from a meeting forever! They may be in for a surprise........I'll take my knitting just in case Alice shows up!

Head over to Patchwork Times and see what everyone is up to.....Monday, my favorite blog day of the week. Don't forget to work on secret things today if you need to....yes, I'm talking to myself again.

Funny Girl

I finished Ian's hat yesterday and had to take it to my hat model to get a picture. I followed directions for a change and the hat turned out ginormous!!! I'm giving it to him anyway and if it's not going to work for him, I'll make him another one. (The hat model is Clella, almost 2--Ian is 9 1/2.)

I'm quite pleased with myself, I think I am getting over the cold and am ready to get back to my normal schedule--whatever that is!--but while I was down, I did finish the hat and the socks!

Last night I started another pair. I wanted to do 2 socks on 2 circular needles but my hands felt like elephant hands. So I am going to stick with what works for me. My double pointed needles. I love the way they feel in my hands and I don't get all mixed up with which one comes next. I am working a different pattern, this one is quite easy, called Tipsy Socks from Sleepy Eyes Knitting over on the right hand side of her page. This is the same gal that has the Amanda hat that I made for Amanda.

Today I would like everyone to jump over to Chickens in the Road and vote for Suzanne in the contest for a job. She writes a daily blog post about her life and is one of my daily must reads. I love all of her adventures, recipes (the best pizza rolls that were requested this morning), and of course her chickens and other pets. And as a bonus today she has added a link box for her readers to post their web pages/blogs. Look at all the new friends I can make!!!! I'm going to fill my coffee cup back up and head on ove there.

Thanks for helping out.........

Stuff I Have On My Mind

I don't feel good today. I have a nasty cold. It makes me whinie. I'll try not to whine... but I reserve the right.

I've been sitting in hubby's chair, watching last night's Biggest Loser, knitting on Ian's hat when I ran out of yarn. I went into my sewing room (that I have been trying to organize so I knew right where the bin was) to get the other skein of yarn (it's the blue with the tan label-Premier yarn, Deborah Norville collection, Serenity chunky weight, color Stormy) so I can go back to the chair, cover up with my quilt and knit while watching tv. Then I took the lid off the bin and thought hmmm, awesome blog photo! I grabbed my camera and here I am.

I have a list of knitting projects.....first is to finish my monkey socks and Ian's hat. Then there is the checkerboard slipper pattern I found and remembered when my sister made those and now I want a pair! And the other hats and the other socks........where can I find more time! I should be quilting on a quilt for my friend but I don't think now is a good time to work on someone elses quilt...maybe later today. Maybe tomorrow.

I should go to the PO to mail 3 packages...again maybe later today. I don't see myself going out for my walks today. Going out to check for eggs several times a day has become a habit and I try to take a 15 minute walk each time I'm outside but dang, it's cold outside today and you know I don't feel good!

Today is my son Doug's birthday. He is OMG 35!!! When did I get old enough to have children that old (and older)??? Happy Birthday Baby Boy. It seems like yesterday! (sniff, sniff)

I need to decorate for Christmas but I always wait until after Doug's birthday so maybe tomorrow I'll get some stuff out. Right now, I'm going to call my friend Marian and tell her I won't be coming today--I don't want to share my cold with anyone (I just want someone to take it!!) so I'll be sitting in the chair cuddling with my blankie and knitting. Good thing there's beef barley soup in the freezer so dinner will be ready when hubby walks in the door!

Finish # 20 and Quilts For Kids

Back on July 15, I wrote a post called Inspiration. I talked about "meeting" Debby at Quilty Pleasures. She had challenged herself to finish 50 quilts this year. So I counted my quilts that I've finished this year. July 15th I was working on finish #12. Tonight I finished # 20.

Oh I've done a whole lot more, I just haven't finished-quilting and binding- them all. winka winka Hopefully I will have a bigger number before the new year gets here.

This bright cute quilt is from a kit from Quilts For Kids. I signed up for a kit, they sent it to me, it took a couple hours to sew the top and I finished it tonight and right now it is in the washer with the purple disappearing 9 patch so I can mail both quilts to Quilts For Kids. All they ask is that you make the one they send you and make another one from your fabrics. Quilt, bind, wash and send both--or more--quilts to them.

If you are as blessed with your family as I am with mine, please take the time to make a couple quilts for Quilts for Kids. Just go to this website and click on Volunteer.

Design Wall-Week 26

26 Weeks of Design Wall Monday! That's awesome!! Thanks to Judy L. at Patchwork Times for starting this. It has kept me really motivated for the most part. This week, my design wall has the very same things on it as last week. But I've been busy, just not design wall busy.

I am finally in the mood to quit and had a goal for Saturday to quilt 3 baby quilts and at least load 1 big quilt. You all know how plans and goals work......goals are good, plans need to be realistic. I quilted the disappearing 9 patch first. Then I had to sit down and sew on the binding. May as well machine stitch that binding down and be finished with it. That wasn't in the original plan but I'm glad I did it.

Then I loaded on the another baby quilt. It has a bright orange back and bright lime, orange and yellow top. I had some orange thread so I decided I would just use it. Oh dear, it did not quilt nice at all! So I unloaded it and started to unquilt. I should have just loaded on quilt 3 and saved the unquilting for later but there was a movie starting.......you know the rest of the story. I got it unquilted and then I was finished for the day!

Bring about Sunday morning, I loaded up quilt 3 and started quilting. All of the sudden it was finished. I sewed the binding on and machine finished it. Today I am going to reload quilt 2, get it finished and quilt a big quilt. Then I have another big quilt to do and then another and another and another...

I started knitting a hat for Ian. I'm still working on my sock. It should be finished this week. Maybe!!!

Hat Models Part 2

What more can I say???
I have some pretty cute granddaughters!!!

Hat Models

Shopping on Black Friday?? No, not for me, especially not the day after Thanksgiving. No way, no how!!! Not going anywhere! I hope, if you did venture out for the bargains, you got what you went for without stress or fuss.

We had a great Thanksgiving with most of the family here. Lots of chatting, catching up and kids laughing and playing. I wish it would work out so everyone could be here but sometimes it just doesn't.

I finished knitting 2 more hats and had to have my special hat model pose with them. The girl does love the hats! The pink one is for great granddaughter Jaelynn and the gray/pink is for Taylor. (The button really goes on the side.) I'm waiting for pictures of the other hats on their owners. I hate it when I forget to take pictures of my projects!

I'm still knitting up my 2nd sock-working on the foot-just 2 more pattern repeats then on to the toe! I have my yarn ready to start the next pair. I have the next hat on the needles to work on when I want to pay attention to what's on tv.

Today I am doing laundry and getting ready to quilt 2 quilts. But first, I must continue working on organizing my sewing room. 2 bins and then I can quilt!!! Good plan Mike!

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.