January Scrappy Challenge

Judy L at Patchwork Times is doing a Scrappy Challenge this year--you can read about it here. I have no problem being scrappy or using scraps so this will be fun for me. She first talked about it here.  When I read hot pads, I thought that would be a good idea for me. I need new ones. I need a  large one for the table.

Today I had planned to finish the borders on Celtic Solstice but I just wasn't in the border mood. I needed something quick and easy. That's when I spotted my print out of the block for January. Perfect! All of the sudden, I had my scraps cut and ready to sew!

A new 12 inch hot pad was born. Chopped off points and all!  I love the vintage green and yellow fabrics. I might be a little sad when they are all gone. I quilted it with a squiggle stitch-it's fun to play with the stitches on the machine. Then I narrowed the stitch and used it to stitch down the binding. Not fancy just fun and functional.

Design Wall Monday

 Very little time has been spent in the sewing room this week. Instead I have either been working on these hexies or knitting. I am so close to getting everything ready to lay into rows.  The half hexies on the right side need greens on the bottom. There are 2 of these. The left half hexies are done.

 I layed these out this morning to see how many more greens I needed on the whole right side flowers. I'll just pick 3 more flowers and finish them off. Then we can be ready to do the final lay out. When this is all sewn together, I will decide what to do with the edges. I just don't see myself binding all those little angles. What I do see is a nice border.....maybe pink. Something more to think about.

When I did sit down at the machine this week, I worked on my Chevron border for Celtic Solstice. My goal for the week is to get this top finished and get the backing made. The other day Jo shared a link to a really cool way to make a backing. I've already pulled some hunks of blue to use and I'll make the center a star block and use it for my label. My back will be more scrappy than the instructions since most of my pieces are less than a yard. 

See other fabulous design walls around Blogland at Patchwork Times.

I've also linked up at sarah did it!: HeLp for Hexie-aholics.

On The Needles

Off the needles this week are the fronts for the Rivel Cardigan! 

WhooHoo!!

This proves what a slow knitter I am.

I thought it would take just a little bit to get these finished,

it took 2 evenings of about 2 hours each night.

The cables take me so long.

I am done with cables for a while.

Wednesday night I cast on for the sleeves,

knit a few rows then went to bed.

Last night I started the body of the sleeve.

With these being short sleeves, 

I'm hoping to show you the front band progress next week.

Again, wish me luck.

I spent the weekend with 4 Grandkiddos 

and needed to take something to work on.

I wanted to mark the second skein with where I started on the first,

I pulled and pulled and pulled and still have not found this section.

I guess if I don't find it soon (before I forget what it is),

I'll just unwind it and start at the beginning and have fun, unmatched socks.

The coloring reminds me of Easter eggs.

See other great On The Needles projects at Patchwork Times.

I love Judy L's sweater!

Design Wall Monday

(another old pic)

I spent the weekend with 4 Grandkiddos. I took along my hexie box  to work on the last 2 hexagon flowers for Mae's Grandmother's Flower Garden. I had white and green hexies to glue baste so I worked on those for a while then I wanted to stitch while they watched a movie.  I hadn't been stitching long when Mae came to sit by me and talk about her quilt. She is quite excited about laying it out this week.

Then she wanted to play with the basted hexies. So I gave her the last baggie kit for the half flower and told her to make it just like the one I had with me. Pretty soon she was adding whites and then I gave her the printed hexies I was working with. She made up her own designs and was having lots of fun. I asked if she wanted sew a little but she passed on that. Maybe next time. I was to hurry and get this done! Because she is so excited to look at it!

So hopefully some time during the week, we will get this all layed out and the rows will start being sewn together. I have one row already sewn so that should speed things along. :)

See other fabulous design walls at Patchwork Times.

On The Needles

 My first knitting finish of 2014! Celebrate!!  I started these socks in June to take to my Wednesday group. They were knit on here and there but mostly not. When Ernie had his surgery in November and I grabbed these to work on while I waited. Then I put them away again. The other day I pulled out the Rivel Cardigan to focus on and absolutely could not concentrate on it. So out come the socks.

This yarn is Patons Kroy Sock--color is Fern Rose Jacquard.

Last week, one of the On The Needles posts was from Dora Quilts. She mentioned Norwegian Purl. I had never heard of that so I Googled it and spent some time Friday learning how to do it. It come in handy on the socks. You really can teach an old dog........

Now I need to cast on another pair of socks. My To Go bag is empty.  Which yarn will I pick???

Next I decided to focus on the Rivel Cardigan and get busy! This is an overdue birthday present and I feel bad about that. Especially since she picked the pattern and the yarn!  I just need to sit down with some quiet and concentrate. In no time it all came back. The bust has been shaped and I'm now working toward the shoulder. I moved the lifeline up yesterday morning so I made some progress last night.  Cross your fingers and wish me luck. I'd love to be able to show you the sleeves next Friday or at least the progress on the sleeves.

See other great projects at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday

My blocks for the Quiltville mystery, Celtic Solstice, are finished. They are now in nice clipped together row stacks waiting for me to start sewing rows. The border pieces from clue 1 are all sewn together.

When we first found out about clue 2, I told my friends doing the mystery I thought these would be for the border. I was wrong. Not paying close enough attention, I made all left side parts. So I had to make enough right side parts to make my chevron blocks.  I put all the "extra" left side parts away thinking I might go ahead an use them for a border, depending on Bonnie's design.

Sunday I sat down and played in EQ7 to see what my quilt would like like with a few extra borders. Still not sure how to use the border section of EQ7, this is not accurate for the amount of pieces I need. I'll just to the math and figure that part out.  I like it so much that I am going to do it. Today is a good stay home and sew day.  That is after I cruise around Blogland for a while.

Today I'm linking up with Patchwork Times-Design Wall Monday and Quiltville's Mystery Monday Link-Up.

On The Needles

I have finished Hitchhiker!

(old photo) 

Finally.

It just needs blocking.

Next project to complete is the Rivel Cardigan.

These are my completed knitting projects for 2013.

Thanks Doodlebugs and Rosebuds Quilts for this idea.

My favorite project was Mae's colorful sweater.

My proudest accomplishment was Ernie's vest.

He wears it all the time.

See other great On The Needles projects at Patchwork Times.

Hello 2014

While everyone else is putting together their Celtic Solstice quilts, I focused on finishing up my Back To Square One Mystery. Isn't if fabulous! After our water woes of the last 4 days, I needed to celebrate (my word of the year) with sewing and laundry--sew until the dryer beeps, switch things around, fold, repeat.  And oh did I celebrate getting the water fixed. Happy New Year to us. New water pump and holding tank and some other parts.

Judy L designs the best quilts and she kept us guessing on this one. I need to get some backing for this and hope to quilt it soon.

Tell It To The Stars is her 2014 Mystery and I have my fabric for this already. I am not starting it quite yet. I have one more UFO to finish before I start anything new. It will be the final project I had for December's Getting It Done Challenge. And when that is finished, I will write my post with my January goals.

Now I have to put away a whole bunch of clean clothes.  And smile as I pet my pretty quilt top.

Design Wall Monday

I bet you thought I'm was going to tell you I did all 100 units like this one, but I'm not. I only did this one.  I made my Ultimate Scrap Quilt Like Julie's with just this block so making these was easy peasy. I had lots of practice and this little unit was deep into the chain piecing.

All little blocks are finished, only 30 have been pressed and trimmed of their dog ears. I'll get the rest finished sometime today.

I've been doing some scrap management instead of sewing. I have several bins of "scraps" and decided the real estate these bins were taking up was ridiculous and it's time to see what I have. On Monday I babysat the kiddos so I brought out a bin a, iron and ironing board and Go! to the kitchen table and started in. With willing help, we cut lots of 1 1/2" strips for my Scrappy Pineapple Quilt and there are 2" and 2 1/2" strips, a pile of shiny that will go into it's own bin, the bag on the left is for string and crumb blocks and the thin fabric in front of the bag will be foundation for the string blocks.  I have a pile of novelty 3" tumblers and 5" blocks for kid quilts, piano key border pieces left from the last string quilt and small block parts that will be fun to play with. There is also another 2 piles of pieces to big to cut up yet and a larger pile of pressed pieces that need to be cut. Scrap management is a never ending job but when I'm finished with this projects, I think it will be easier to keep up with.

I hope to have the remaining fabric from this bin cut today and all of it put away.  It's a fabric play day around here.  That is after I spend some time visiting around Blogland. I'm linking up with Patchwork Times and Quiltville.

**Note to self:  Must set the timer.

My Word For 2014

Celebrate!

This morning I started thinking about my word for 2014. I thought about Extravaganza because I will have my 60th birthday this year. Then I though no, that's not quite right. I want to make it more about happiness all year instead of just the month of May which will be my Extravaganza month! I do love my month long birthday celebration that I started doing during my 50th year. 

Celebrate! I will celebrate my accomplishments. I love simple pleasures. Silly little things that make me smile, small accomplishments, big accomplishments, feel good moments. So I will celebrate them, whatever they are. 

Do you have a word for your year? 

Slow Stitching Sunday

I am sooooo close to being finished with the hexi flowers! I have 1 more full flower and 2 more half flowers. Then the real fun begins! I'm going to have Mae come over and we will decide on a lay out. And then I will explain how these all have to be sewn together. And I will explain that it will still take a long time.

Remember this sweet child wants this before she turns 7 because that is a long time to wait for a quilt. She turned 6 twelve days ago.  I started this quilt in August and right after was ordered to rest my knee for 6-8 weeks. I spent some quality time with the needle, thread, fabric, ice bag and recliner. I became obsessed with these hexies. I still am.

My wish for 2014 is to see Mae's Flower Garden wrapped around Mae before she turns 7. I can do it!

I am linking up to Kathy's Quilts: Last Slow Sunday Stitching for 2013. I am so looking forward to Slow Stitching 2014!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

We love a good chuckle around here and when I suggested we put the deer antlers on top of the Christmas tree like the Kilcher Family did with the moose antlers on the TV show Alaska: The Last Frontier, Ernie jumped at the chance to show them off. 

I think my favorite part of the tree is the zip tie.......my husband loves his zip ties! He said he'd cut it off if it bothered me but it doesn't, it makes me smile.

Today we will spend the day with family. I sure miss the ones that won't be here. Merry Christmas.

Design Wall Monday on Sunday

After finishing all the Christmas gifts and finishing Clue 4 of Celtic Solstice, I dove into a new project. I wasn't going to do it, honest. I was going to wait until I had a couple other things wrapped up but darn it, the book has been right there in plain sight all month long!  

Mickey Depre showed her pineapple blocks here so I did a search to find Gyleen X Fitzgerald's book and ruler and ordered it that day! In just a few days it was in the mailbox.  Then last week, Mickey showed her progress. Since then the book has taunted me......you know that feeling, right?!?!  

So this morning I decided to make 2 blocks. I got out my 1 1/2" strip bin and started to play.  

I don't like all the waste and knew that I had read a size chart. So after I trimmed both block, I found the chart and now I will sort pieces so I don't have so much waste.

I have now put everything away and will wait until after the holidays are over and I can dive in without guilt.

Until then, I will reread the book and make myself a cutting chart. I have a bunch of scrap fabrics that need to be cut into strips and then maybe do some prep work so that when the time is right, nothing will stop me.

Monday I will link up with Patchwork Times-Design Wall Monday.  Until then, I have company coming in a few days and I have some things get done and none of them include starting a new quilt.

Celtic Solstice Part 4

My goal is to stay current with the Quiltville Mystery Celtic Solstice. I'm glad Bonnie gave us the mighty 4 patch for this weeks clue.

I love making scrappy 4 patches and in no time at all I had 137 scrappy, happy blocks. It's easy to get carried away.

It's time to find a bigger container for my parts. This one is full.

Now that these are finished, I probably should get to making my house ready for Christmas.

On The Needles

Getting little boys to be hat models is a tough job!  I made Elliot's Bun Hat using Bernet Softee Chunky yarn. Look how nice it covers his neck. I bought this same yarn in green to make this hat for Ernie-he likes how it covers the neck. And then I probably won't ever make another one using this pattern.  4 is enough for me.

 

I bought 2 skeins of this yarn and needed to use part of the second one for Elliot's hat which is the smaller size on the pattern.  With the remaining yarn, I down sized the pattern to make another hat for Corbin. It fits and will probably only fit this winter.  

I'm working on an Easy Lacy Headband in pink for sister Mae. I need to sit down and get that finished. She will model it proudly for me.

See other fabulous On The Needles projects at Patchwork Times.  

Pieced Hexies Progress

This morning I was cruising around Blogland and came upon sarah did it: HeLP for Hexie-aholics. Of course I had to visit immediately!  As soon as I read a few of her posts, I quickly added her to my Bloglovin list so I don't miss anything. Then I hurried into the sewing room to grab my Pieced Hexi box.

It's been a while since I've stitched any Pieced Hexies together. I have 3 more to finish--see them in their kits?--and then these will be appliqued to a yet to be determined background.  Alternate blocks will be a very scrappy batik 9-patch.  I think they need a black background to make the Fairy Frost sparkle!

I absolutely love this book and cannot wait until the new book is released in January! You can see all the details here at Mickey Depre's website.  So many projects I want to do. I'm looking forward to the New Year and lots of stitching time.

I'm linking up to sarah did it! today and then I'm going visiting.

Design Wall Monday

Gramma's Quilting Room has become Gramma's Christmas Workshop. The doors on the Workshop are about to close as the work for this year is almost complete.  I'm having to take my time with Celtic Solstice Clue 3. I've been setting my timer to work on this clue so I don't get behind.  A half hour here, 15 minutes there. It always amazes me how much I can do in a few minutes.  I'm happy this is an easy step and that I haven't made any big blunders like I did on Clue 2.

I divided my HSTs into 2 groups when I cut them. Half went in one bin, the other half in another. That way I could have a somewhat even distribution.  I'll have this clue finished soon and all the Christmas sewing will be done too. And hopefully all the shopping and wrapping.

Today is another fun day in Blogland. I'm linking up with Patchwork Times and Quiltville.  Ohhh the pretties I will see this morning. I'd better fill my cup and set the timer.

On The Needles

On the needles is still the Rival Cardigan that has been put on hold while I work on hats.

These little socks were the ornaments I made for our ornament exchange last Saturday.

They were so much fun to make but 

even more fun was the reaction of my friends when they each received their very own hand made sock.

I thought about doing pairs but 

I think it's more fun to make single socks instead of trying to make matching ones.

This Bun Hat is for Leland.

I knew I had seen the pattern on someone's On The Needles post but couldn't remember who.

It was Howdy's post here!!!

I like the yarn she used and may just pick up a skein or 5 when I go shopping today 

for the other hats that were requested.

So much easier than joining new colors and making jogless stripes.

See other On the Needles projects at Patchwork Times.

When All Else Fails, Follow Directions

Part 2 of Celtic Solstice from Quiltville is Chevrons. 

Easy enough, follow directions, you'll do just fine.

Key words are follow directions.

I did not.

Instead of making the units on the left in the photo go up hill,

I made mine go down hill like the right side units. 

I didn't shed many tears,

instead I vented to my Facebook friends knowing I could save someone.

I was surprised others did the same as I.

Only most didn't make all 90 remaining units wrong like I did.

These are now set aside, 

waiting for me to make a decision on whether or not to complete the units for the back

or to create an additional border for this quilt (depending on what the final results are)

 or save them for something else. 

NO BIG DEAL!

I cut more units.

I carefully followed directions.

I started a new audio book to keep me company.

I use One Click Digital through my library

to listen to books for free.

My friend Pam B told me about this and I'm so glad she did.

Thanks Pam B. 

I used these units to constantly check myself.

Then it was time to sew them into pairs,

finger press the seam open,

give them a light press with the iron,

turn them over,

give them a shot of starch 

and press them flat.

WhooHoo, all 100 units are complete with a few extras,

just in case...

And some half units waiting for something to happen.

Ready for Clue 2

Design Wall Monday

I've been working on Celtic Solstice in between other things.

Other things being these cute little mug rugs I gave to my friends.

And a few other things that I can't talk about right now.

'Tis the season to keep a few secrets.

I did my 10 test blocks before continuing on with the down and dirty-not really-

task of chain piecing 90 units at a time.

(Pardon the upside down block-it is after all, 5 am!)

Here are the completed 90 units

with the other half at the machine with the neutral squares sewn on half.

I'm pretty sure these will be completed today or tomorrow.

Monday in Blogland will be a busy place today.

As will the grocery store since I have to go there!

Check out Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times 

and Celtic Solstice Link Up at Quiltville.

I'm going to need coffee.

Slow Stitching Sunday

Saturday was our Christmas Ornament Exchange Brunch. (I'll write up a post on that after I take pictures of the fabulous ornaments I received.)

I knitted a cute little sock for everyone and then decided this week to make these hexagon mug rugs to include with the ornament. Friday night I was still stitching down binding! There was no Slow Stitching at all. I was on a mission and I had a deadline!  I have 2 larger ones that need the binding stitched down on them so they will become my Slow Stitching project for later today.

See what everyone is stitching at Kathy's Quilts: Slow Stitching Sunday.

Celtic Solstice Part 2 Cutting

Celtic Solstice Part 2 was released yesterday.

Me, being the procrastinator that I am, 

had to finish up some things for today so I couldn't start cutting.

Last night at 10, I finished.

I know!

Why do today what you can put off until the last minute!!

This morning at 0 dark 30, I wake up bright eyed and ready to start.

Only problem--there is a man in my house that will not leave to go hunting.

Come on, it's going to be daylight soon (in a couple hours), she says.

Finally, he's out the door and the cutting begins.

Browns are up first.

I love brown.

I love using up what I have and only having slivers left over.

Guess these won't be going into the scrap basket.

I read a Facebook post yesterday about using the June Taylor strip cutter.

Duh! I have one of those,

quick and easy work of those browns that I cut into 3 1/2" strips,

then zip, zip, zip,

they were cut to size.

The browns are now stacked into 2 nice, neat piles of hopefully equal amounts.

I'm going to do one side of this block at a time.

After I do a test block or 10. 

Probably 10 since I bundle in units of 10.

Next up are the neutrals.

I have oodles of 2 1/2" strips but not many 2" strips.

My dilemma this morning was to cut the strips or cut yardage.

(Isn't it wonderful that this decision is my big dilemma of the day!!)

I cut yardage.

I'll use those 2 1/2" strips in something that calls for them 

and I have lots of neutral yardage.

There is always the neutral scrap box that I could get out and go through.

But gosh, yardage is so neat and tidy.

Later today will be my pinks...

I can't wait.

I love pink.

And brown.

And neutral.

And purple.

And blue.

I can't wait to do Celtic Solstice Part 2 sewing!!

But first I must party with quilting friends.

Have a fun day.

On The Needles

I apologize to the knitter that posted in her On The Needles post about the Bun Hat. I wanted to give her credit for sharing this quick, easy pattern, but I lost my note.  I knit this one up before Thanksgiving to try on the boys and to see if they would like it. Elliot liked it but it's green and not blue so I should give it to Jonah and make him a blue one.  I love that boy!!!  So I will. When I see Jonah, I will give him this hat. I will make Elliot a blue one and Leland wants one that is green with black and blue like his coat.  With them telling me the colors they want, I can't go wrong!

I'll have to do some size adjusting for Leland.  This one was made with 2 worsted weight yarns together on a size 10 needle. I followed the pattern for the small size. It fits Elliot who is 7 but covered 4 year old Leland's eyes.  Some adjusting will be done.

Still on the needles is the lovely Rival Cardigan. A few stitches here and there but not a whole lot of progress.

I'm fighting with myself to not start the Swing Cowl that Denise showed the other day. I am going to take my Dreambird apart and use that yarn for the Swing Cowl......I don't like it and there are too many mistakes that I can see. Maybe another time I will make it but not for a while.

See other great On The Needles projects at Patchwork Times.

Getting It Done-December Edition

Here it is the 5th of December and I wonder how the days zoom by. In a blink of an eye it will be 2014. Wow!

So here's the down and dirty of November's list:

November Getting It Done Challenge List

• Get caught up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge--I think this will be a great retreat project.
• 10 more Pineapple Crazy Blocks
• Work on Reach For The Stars
• Work on Hexi Wall hanging

The list seemed so doable....but too many other things happened. The only thing I worked on was this Hexi Wall Hanging. The quilting is mostly finished. I want to go back and stitch in the flowers toward the bottom. Then I will add the buttons and binding. So I'll add that to my new list. The rest of my things were not even thought about.

I'll try to do better this month.

December Getting It Done Challenge List

• Finish the Hexi Wallhanging
• Finish the Christmas gifts 
• Keep up with Celtic Solstice
• Finish the borders on Back To Square One Mystery

See how others are doing with their lists at Patchwork Times.  It's about time to be thinking of next year's goals....Oh My!

Design Wall Monday

Like oodles of quilters out there, I am working on Quiltville's newest mystery called Celtic Solstice.

Also like oodles of quilters out there, I am working on Christmas gifts.

That is why I only have 30 triangle in a square units complete.

Am I worried about that?

Goodness no.

Friday morning I had 4 littles here while their mom went shopping.

It was a good morning to cut while the olders watched a Cat In The Hat Christmas.

See the green bin in the background with the little cars?

That kept Little Mr. busy while I cut.

And it kept him away from my side of the table.

For a few minutes.

He's 2.

I wasn't sure if I'd like my substitute choices of Bonnie's colors.

I do.

I like them alot!

I'll have all of these sewn together before Friday rolls around.

Or maybe even Tuesday.

Today is a a busy day in Blogland.

I'm linking up with Patchwork Times and Quiltville.

I think I need another cup of coffee before I start to wander.