Prepping Challenge-Day 4

After sending Ernie off to work with a lunch box full of fried egg sandwich, apple, zuke bread, and the other stuff I can't remember, I fixed myself a smoothie for breakfast and loaded up the car to head to retreat.

After a lunch of home made soup and sandwich, I came home to check my chickens and let the dogs run for a while.  Son in law Mike arrived with a bucket of bees that had swarmed from his hives. (That's not Mike or the swarm in the picture, that's Ernie with our bees from last year.) So we-mostly he-set up a new hive and got the bees in and was off again.  And so was I!  Back up to retreat-it's only 3 miles away-and sewing and laughing up a storm.  We are hoping to have a successful bee season so we can start stockpiling honey. Maybe one of these days we might have enough to sell or barter with if needed.

There was a little talk of food stockpiling for "just in case" and it was interesting to hear other people talk about it. No one talked about a zombie apocalypse but of power outages and storms and illnesses and the real "what ifs".

So I'm headed back up bright and early.  I know for this challenge that I don't have a problem with feeding my family with what I have on hand for the short term. I do need to stockpile more water and animal food. The little dog and the cat have a good amount but for the big dogs and the chickens, I need to be at least one shopping trip ahead of them.  I do have the space to store an extra bag or 2 away from critters. I just need to do it and stay ahead of them.

I'm adding this to the day 4 link list at Patchwork Times.

May Prepping Challenge-Day 3

Hello Beautiful Wednesday! The clothesline is full today! I just love the solar powered dryer.

My Prepper story-I always thought Preppers were the extreme Preppers like the ones on that tv show. I never thought of myself as a Prepper, being prepared is just something we do.  I grew up on a farm-dad worked in the logging industry and worked the farm, mom took care of 6 kids. We had a garden every summer, canned fruits and vegetables, animals butchered and processed for the freezer, a trip to the Prairie Market to buy a car full of groceries for the month or longer. When it was time to fix a meal, everything was pulled from the supply at home. You didn't run to the store for something. You used what you had. We also had a milk cow and if we didn't, there was a local farm that we bought from.

When I got married, I did the same thing. We bought a freezer from Ernie's mom-oh that thing was a beast! and we filled it up-he grew up the same way I did so this was normal. I shopped at Prairie Market and stocked up on things. I helped mom can and had a small pantry.  After a couple years we moved here and I grew a garden. Each year it got bigger and bigger and my pantry shelves were full for the winter. I seldom make a trip to the store just to get something special. Even when I went to work and stopped canning so much, the pantry and freezers were always full.

We never worried about being without power for several days or being snow bound. We had plenty to eat, a wood stove for heat and cooking. As soon as the weather would start to get nasty, I filled everything I could with water. If we needed more water for the toilet, we have a creek to dip out of. This is all true still today only I just go out to the hot tub and fill the bucket.

We survived all the snow and ice storms, we survived the ash from Mt. St. Helen's erupting and the several ash storms after. We survive because it's what we have always done.  I am not worried about being house bound for any length of time, we will not go hungry.

Still today, I stock up with each grocery trip. If there is a sale and it's something we eat, I buy as much as I can get. Each time I go to Costco, I buy tp-I refuse to run out of that stuff! I buy canning lids every time I buy groceries so I have them when I need them. It took me a long time to get my stash/stockpile to a comfortable level. Slow and steady. A little here, a lot there. Whatever I can afford at the time I buy, but always, always jar lids and tp. LOL

Today Ernie's lunch box is full with a ham sandwich, everyday apple, more venison jerky-no, he isn't tired of it yet!, zucchini bread and energy bites. I get up each morning and make his lunch. I honestly don't know how he does it, everyday it's pretty much the same things in his lunch. I keep asking him if he wants something more or different or what but no, he'll tell me when he's tired of something or if I've forgotten something that is normally there.  Crazy! I need variety.

For my breakfast, I had a smoothie. I juice berries when they are in season (I can't have the seeds) and freeze them flat in quart Ziploc bags, then when I want a smoothie, I break off a chunk. So I had mixed berries, a banana (also from the freezer), some ground oatmeal (I use the blender to grind it up and keep it in a jar in the cupboard), some ground chai seeds, a spoon full of almond butter and water.  It makes a nice size smoothie and keeps me full most of the morning. For lunch I had leftover turkey soup.

Dinner was not something I fixed at home. Ernie had physical therapy late this afternoon and said he wanted teriyaki from our favorite place, so he is picking that up. But if we were eating at home, it would have been steak and salad.  So he can have that tomorrow for his dinner because I'm headed out in the morning for retreat!

I'm anxious to read how everyone else is doing today.  Check out the links today at Patchwork Times.

May Prepping Challenge-Day 2

Last summer I raised 4 turkeys. Last Friday I cooked one of them and today I made turkey stock. I had planned to can the stock but the day was so nice, I decided to freeze it in quart bags and I'll can it on a rainy day. It's been so rainy here that I wanted to take advantage of being outside in the sunshine today.

This morning, in Ernie's lunch I put a turkey sandwich (Tonight he asked if he could have something different tomorrow. LOL), venison jerky, apple, potato salad and 3 energy bites. For breakfast I had a couple of energy bites--recipe below, lunch was baked beans (seriously I could eat them every day and not get tired of them), later I had an apple and for dinner we had turkey noodle soup with enough leftover for my lunch for the next 2 days.  Just now I went to the freezer to get out some ham for tomorrow's lunch and found the last loaf of zucchini bread. I see a snack in my future.

I can't wait to see who has linked up with today's post at Patchwork Times.

 Energy Bites

1 cup oatmeal-not instant-I've used quick cook or old fashioned
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
Next add the goodies you like--I use
1/2 cup toasted coconut
1/2 cup mini choc chips
1/2 cup Craisins or raisins.

Then mix it all up and make walnut size balls.  It helps if you wet your hands a bit. I put mine on a waxed paper on a cookie sheet and put in the fridge. When they are set firm, I put them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge.  2 or 3 with some fruit make a great breakfast or a couple for an afternoon snack.  I wouldn't eat any after dinner.  They really are energy bits. :)

Judy L's Prepping Challenge

(This is hamburger soup I canned a while back.)

Judy L is having a Prepping Challenge. You can read about it here.  This week's challenge is to eat all of our meals using what we have at home. This isn't hard for me at all.  I detest grocery shopping so when I go, I stock up. I usually only grocery shop once a month unless I stop to stock up on sale stuff. I have 2 freezers stocked, a pantry stocked with my canned goods and store bought goods.  We don't drink milk, have eggs from our hens.

We could eat from home for a long time without leaving the house for supplies.  In the past, I have challenged myself to make dinner all week only using meat that is in my kitchen freezer and veggies from the fridge. It really is kind of fun. Once in a while I have to get veggies from the pantry but most of the time, I can clean out my freezer and fridge with no problems. Of course I'm only feeding Ernie and myself.   But even if we have company for dinner, I'll be fine with what I have.

Today was a pretty easy day for me. I had leftover baked beans for breakfast--I know--and Ernie, not being a breakfast eater, usually will eat whatever looks good when he opens his lunch box. Today's lunch box had a turkey sandwich, an apple, cookies and venison jerky (I think, that was at 6am.)  I had some macaroni salad and an apple.  Dinner for me will be whatever leftovers look good when I open the fridge. Ernie had a dinner meeting that was already planned so I won't force him to eat at home and watch all the other guys eat. LOL

We are going to link up daily at Patchwork Times to learn and support each other. See how we all did here.

Design Wall Monday

Today we revisit the Pieced Hexies and 9 Patch quilt, It is layed out and ready to pin into rows to be sew up this week at retreat!  WooHoo! Sometimes I don't realize how much I need the retreat until it's time to get things ready to go. And right now, I need to surround myself with a bunch of fabulous quilter friends.

I think with this quilt, the only thing I have to watch out for is not having any of the same fabrics in the 4 patches. I used such a good variety that it shouldn't be any trouble at all. (She says before it's all sewn together.)

Check out all the fabulous design walls today at Patchwork Times.

On The Needles

Off the needles are the Plain Jane socks that will go to Granddaughter Taylor. She is so excited to have her first pair of hand knit socks. I was hoping she would catch the knitting bug but it hasn't bitten her hard enough yet. She sure loves the knitted items though.  Maybe one day.

I've made some good progress on my No Purl Monkey Socks.  Every time I sit down to knit on them, I'm trying to knit a color--or more. I am loving these socks.

I'm not so patiently waiting for the mail to get here today with my yarn order from JoAnns.  I saw the In Love With Color Throw . You know how when you see something and just know you have to have it???  That's how I am with this little afghan! I want it, I want it in those colors, with that yarn, all of it! Crazy. So I did what I do and went to JoAnn's website and ordered the yarn. I added a new crochet hook because I wanted free shipping. (I love the padded hooks-so much nicer than the all metal ones.) Then I got busy and finishing Taylor's socks and working on my socks so I won't feel guilty later today when I just crochet for hours and not think about knitting anything.

If you are interested, there is a series of really good videos here at the Not Just Yarn Blog for this free pattern.

I finished another dishcloth and started another but haven't made much progress on it--which means I haven't been watching anything on the computer. I had to add a different color to finish this one and now 2 more balls of yarn are out of the box. I was a big girl and pitched this little ball right into the garbage. I did think about putting it back in the bin for just in case..........but only for a second.

See Judy L's beautiful shawl and lots of other fabulous projects at On The Needles at Patchwork Times.

Productive Weekend

It's that time of year again when I put off start making the deer quilt for the Hunting Club. For this year, I found an elk panel, an elk print and this fabulous tree print. After many sketches, I decided something simple. I wish now I had framed the pieced border with brown but I didn't have enough so it is what it is. Ernie likes it so than means all the other guys will too.

I spent yesterday cutting fabric and making up my own kits for two Bonnie Hunter classes-I'm only in one class and on the waiting list for the second so I got ready for that one too. Even if I don't get in, I'll work on the quilt that day as I pout at home.

I'm going to a retreat this month and we always do a strip swap so I got those cut up too. I figured I cut close to 20 yards of fabric yesterday and paid for it all night long. My shoulder is telling my how crazy that was. But when I'm in the mood......

Now I have to go in and finish the quilt on the frame and get on to the next one. Or I could fix dinner.

On The Needles

Last week I showed you my 2 completed and 1 in progress dishcloth. I was on a dishcloth knitting frenzy with completed and gifted. This is number 5. I'm sure I'll use up this ball of yarn before this one is finished so I'll just add something else to it. There are plenty of little yarn balls in that bin and this makes me smile knowing the yarn is used up, making room for something else.  I really am trying to use up.

I worked a lot on my sock to get past the heel so I can put it back in the travel bag and work on something different at home. 

My new something different is another pair of socks. I love this Monkey pattern! I made one pair and every time I wear them, I tell myself to make another pair. I had read about a no purl pattern so I started looking around Ravelry and found all kinds of No Purl Monkey socks.  I love the Projects feature of Ravelry and quite often loose track of time whenever I use it.  I know you know what I mean. snicker~snicker

So here I am in the middle of the second repeat. I found myself being confused with the pattern so I printed up my own with a large font and use my clicker to keep me on track. The pattern is so easy and so fun. I'm sure I'll have these 2 skeins of yarn gone from the stash in no time.

While I was searching around, I found my next sock pattern. Jigsaw Socks--full of texture and fairly easy. Just my kind of pattern!  I think I'll knit for a while this morning.

See other fabulous projects today at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday

I started laying out my Split 9 Windmill on Tuesday. And this is where I left it~other than the blocks that fell off the wall already.  My flannel backed table cloth is no where near large enough to put this on the wall. I have to start over and lay it out on the bed, stack and label rows before bedtime. That's why it's still on the wall, I've been doing so many other things besides quilting. So every time I walk by, I check the floor and then admire the wall. I don't think I've turned my sewing machine on all week. I have worked with the long arm a bit but nothing is finished yet.

This is my Goodwill find this week. If you want, you can read about it here. I love this quilt!

See fabulous design walls shared today at Patchwork Times.

On The Needles

Lady Kina is off the needles!

I need to block her, bury the tails and sew on the button.

I worked a little on my Plain Jane Sock.

This is my in the passenger seat project but 

I think it's time to get these done 

so something new can be started.

I have lots of dish cloth yarn so I've created

an At My Desk (watching You Tube) Project.

Yes, I've been watching LOTS You Tube. 

Quilting with Bonnie Hunter

Canning, Dehydrating, Stockpiling, Gardening, Prepping with

imstillworkin

BexarPrepper

Linda's Panty

I plan to finish my dishcloth this morning,

right after I visit Patchwork Times and

see what others have on their needles

My Goodwill Find

Today was grocery shopping day. On the way home, I was going to drop of box of stuff off at Goodwill only I forgot it at home. So I went inside just to look around-I always have a Goodwill list. I found nothing that needed to come home with me until the very last isle and there it was.

This fabulous old scrappy quilt. It's been well loved and it shows. To me that makes it more special. I'm always sad when I see handmade quilts at Goodwill. Please people, call me, I'll come and get them!

I took it off the hanger to search for the price tag.... $60! (Our Goodwill is quite high priced.)  BUT it had a red tag on it and red tags are half price today! Score for me.  I didn't even unfold it all the way until I got home and ready to take a picture.

I was so excited by this quilt that I didn't even look at the other 2 that were there. Maybe they came from the same person. Regret!

Just look at that scrappiness. 

It is completely hand sewn. 

Are these fabric flour sacks?

Or are they yardage scraps?

I love the scrappy border.

The binding is wrapped around from the back.

The purple and white fabric are patches.

It's quite fragile.

The back is very yellow.....is it from age or were the bags yellow?

They are inside out.

This says ECONOMY

25 LBS NET.

Enlarge the photo and you can see the seaming and quilting.

Oh yeah, I also found a vintage sewing machine but 

didn't buy it because it didn't have a bobbin case. 

Still thinking about that too.

My cherry tree blooms aren't going to last much longer.

We have had some pounding rain the last couple days.

It sure is pretty.

Design Wall Monday

You all know what happens when you make plans. (That's a statement, not a question.) That's what happened to me this past week. I made plans to quilt and quilt and quilt. Then I got sidetracked with some spring cleaning, some shopping, some knitting, a day with grand-kiddos and a long Saturday away from home.  Some progress was made on my Oldest UFO Sampler (Isn't it odd how the names stick with the project? I wonder if I will always call it that.) and I've planned quilting for today. I told Ernie that I think we are back on our normal routine-him going to work, me trying to do what's on my list-quilting is on my list. We'll see how long that works.

Only 3 more blocks to sew before the Split 9 Patch blocks can go up on the wall. I sure love these little design boards. I lay out the block, complete with 4 new leader and ender 2 patches that are needed to complete each block and stack up 5 boards. Sew them all, repeat.  After the blocks are on the wall, moved around a bunch of times and finally in their proper spot, I'll stack the rows and work on it at the upcoming retreat.

See other design walls at Patchwork Times. I plan to visit around Blogland for a little while this morning. I need to write that on my list. ;-)

On The Needles

Pardon the washed out picture of Lady Kina . I think this is the last week I will be showing her progress. Next week I hope to show her being worn by her owner.  One more inch of stockinette stitch and then the final garter stitch rows.

I'm pretty excited about this cardigan. I need to decide what big project I want to work on next. I think it will be something for me.

What's on your needles? See great projects at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday

My friend Julie made a comment on Facebook yesterday stating that she had quilted 27 of her tops since August. She said most of them were throw size but to me that doesn't matter. What matters is that she is finishing her quilts. Way to go Julie!!!

I want to finish my quilts. I was so inspired by her statement that I went in and loaded my oldest UFO onto the frame and started quilting. I haven't quilted anything for so long that I want to do some practice. So I started right out with feathers in the outer border!--You can't get better without practice!! Then it's small loops in the inner border and ribbon candy in the sashing with curves in the cornerstones. I put flannel on the back because this is will be my new cuddle quilt.

The blocks in this quilt are from an internet swap years ago. My color choice was blue. There were lots of beginners in the group so lots of the blocks are simple but I don't care, I love them all. Then the top was made and put away. This has been a UFO for far too long!

My sewing time this week has been dedicated to finishing up my Split 9 Patch blocks and making backings and bindings. See, I did plan to get quilting.  I have 4 tops pressed, backings ready, bindings ready and battings are cut.  Bobbins are even wound for 3 of them--I was at a good part in my book and didn't want to stop listening.

So my design wall is empty. Taylor will help lay out her quilt blocks next time she is here. When I need to sit and sew, I will finish up my Split 9 Patches and then pull out some Pineapple Crazy blocks. Until then, let the quilting mojo stay strong!!! Mt. ToBeQuilted needs to be taken down a few notches.

See fabulous design walls at Patchwork Times.

Leaders & Enders for My Leaders & Enders

I am having a Quiltville Saturday! I am almost to the end of my Split 9 Patch leader and ender blocks. When I finally decided on a setting, I needed to make 30 more blocks. I am down to the final 20 so I am changing this over to my main project.

I lay out my blocks on mini design boards. (Learn about them here at Bee In My Bonnet-mine are not as fancy as Lori's.) I am using my new leader and ender project as I sew these blocks together. I lay out 5 blocks and sew them together, then lay out 5 more. It's nice to have them stacked right by the machine ready to pick up and sew.

Each 9 patch block needs 4 L/Es--2 patches from a bin full of 1 1/2" squares from one of Subee's swaps. As soon as I browsed Bonnie Hunter's new book, More Adventures with Leaders and Enders, I knew which quilt would be my new L/E project. I'm making Narragansett Blues only my quilt will be made with 1 1/2" squares and use up a whole bunch of 2 1/2" strips also from a Subee swap.

I love a good Saturday sew day!

On The Needles

Lady Kina is growing.

Last night I added another skein

and measured how long each skein knits now that the sleeves are finished.

Three inches.

I have 4 skeins left so no worries about running out.

I'll have Crystal try it on next time she is here.

She is going to love it!

I am having to put a whoa onto myself because

I have other things that have to be done instead of just knitting. 

Darn!!

I treated my self to this fabulous yarn. 

Denise is a Loopy Legend!

This links to her inspiration picture with a link to her yarn.

It is so gorgeous.

It will hang out with Judy L's Loopy Legend yarn 

while I decide what I want to make. 

See what my friends have On The Needles at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday

Taylor finally saw some of her blocks on the wall.

I wish I would have recorded her.

It was awesome!

All the blocks are finished.

Now it's time to lay it out.

Last week Gari asked what I meant when I said I had to cut the centers out.

This is what I meant.

I trimmed the fabric from behind the hexies to reduce bulk.

Major progress happened this week,

the first border is on Mae's Flower Garden.

Careful measuring, marking, pinning and blanket stitching happened.

Last night I cut the second border

and will get that on this week.

But the weather has turned nice and

there is so much work to be done outside before the rain comes back.

So sewing will be put on hold.

I'll be checking other design walls linked up at Patchwork Times

as soon as the linky is working. 

On The Needles

There hasn't been much knitting going on around here.

A couple more rows on Lady Kina

(one of these days it will look like a cardigan)

and a couple more rows on the sock.

That's it.

But...

Off the hook and gifted is Artfully Simple Infinity Scarf.

I forgot to take a picture of it finished and

have just sent a text begging for selfies with the 3 scarves.

Dee loved it and

Taylor said if mom can't find it, 

she has it on.

Made me feel pretty good! 

See other on the needle projects at Patchwork Times.

I am sooooo loving Judy L's sweaters.

Design Wall Monday On Sunday

Taylor's Pieced Hexi quilt is growing! All the hexies are appliqued to the black blocks but still need the centers cut out. All the Framed 9 Patches are done. All the corner units are done. Only 14 more triangle units to finish. They are all cut and clipped together, ready to lay out on the little design board for easy piecing.  

I have had so much fun making this quilt. I can't wait to spread it all out and move blocks around. What I really need is a big design wall instead of a design bed. One of these days......

Slow Stitching Sunday

It's official! The slow stitching has been completed on Mae's Flower Garden. We are both so excited! When she saw it folded up, she asked if it was done. Well part of it is, now I'm ready to start the next part.

"Will it be done tomorrow?"
Sadly, I said  "No but we it will be soon."
"The next day??? Cuz you know I am SO excited!!!!"
Hahaha

Well, Gramma messed up and has to buy some more white. That is on the top of my list for Monday. Since I didn't have any large pieces, I ordered the border/back/binding (and several other pieces!) from Thousands Of Bolts. So as soon as the borders are on, a quilting we will go. I will quilt this with an edge to edge pattern on the longarm. Will a 6 year old mind? No, she is to excited to have her new quilt that her Gramma made just for her.

Hopefully next week I will show you the completed quilt.

See other fabulous Slow Stitching projects here at Kathy's Quilts.

On The (Needles) Hook

  I am half finished with Artfully Simple Infinity Scarf. I love it and will  make one for myself only it will be longer and not as wide for my fluffy figure.
I'm using 2 skeins of Red Heart Boutique Midnight.  I like the way this pattern uses all the yarn. Crochet until you run out. That works for me.

The button look may have to be remade. I tried it out and it's pretty tight. I think it's turning out very pretty and youngest daughter loves it and really, that's all that counts.

See other great Needle/Hook projects at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday

I decided to spend some time with the Pieced Hexies quilt. I knew I wanted to do alternate blocks, I knew I didn't want to do any complicated piecing and I knew I wanted to use 2 1/2" strips from batik swaps.  Taking inspiration from Bonnie and Mickey's book, Ring Around The Hexies-order here or here-I decided on framed 9 patches.  So far I think it works.

The hexies them selves are a combination of machine and hand pieced, then I am machine appliqueing them  the block. There will be pieced setting triangles and a simple black border. I added 6 more hexie blocks last night. This top is taking shape.

Since last week, the Pineapple Crazy was put away, lots of time was spent on Mae's Flower Garden, the stuff piled on long arm table is almost all put away, the back for a quilt has been made. I have a feeling there might actually be quilting this week.

See what's on other design walls this week at Patchwork Times.

Slow Stitching Sunday

I can't believe how long it's been since I blogged about Mae's Grandmother's Flower Garden--way back in January when we laid it out on the floor. (I'm not counting when I admitted to my big whoopsie the other day. That has been fixed and forgotten about.)

Row 5 was sewn on last night and blocks for rows 6 and 7 are ready attention.  She asked me the other day if her flower quilt was ready for her to cuddle up in. I had to admit that I hadn't been working on it much. She tells me in her super sweet voice that I need to forget all this other stuff--imagine a cute little toe head waving her hand over my knitting and crochet projects--and only work on her flowers. She is in such a hurry for her quilt. It makes me smile every time I remember out conversation......I told that story here.

Since that conversation, this Gramma has been stitching away every evening. It takes one good evening to stitch the blocks into a row. Then a night or 2 to sew the row on.  So there has been a lot of Slow Stitching here at Gramma's Quilting (Living)Room.

Read Kathy's inspirational post today at Kathy's Quilts: Slow Stitching Sunday and then visit others as the Slow Stitch on Sunday.

Oh Boy!!!!

Oh Boy! I made a big Whoopsie! I am happily stitching away last night joining blocks to form row 5 for Mae's Grandmother's Flower Garden. I think I'll be attaching the row when I pick it up again.

This morning I wanted to measure the row to figure out how much backing to order...I picked up the row and see it's crooked!  I will be spending time with the Ott light that has a great magnifying glass attached to it and some super sharp pointy scissors. Those stitches are tiny and very hard to see.

On a brighter note, I am going to be ready to attach row 5 soon.  Only 2 more rows to stitch together and attach to the main quilt. Then it will be time to fill in the bottom and top edges (the newest plan), applique it to a narrow inner border then add the outer border. I think I'm on a good pace to have this finished before she is (gasp!!) 7 in December. If you remember, that is a very, very, VERY long time to wait.

Time to get picking!

On The Needles...and The Hook

I am about an inch longer on the Lady Kina Cardigan.

Every time I work on it, 

I tell myself I need one of these for me!

One day while cruising around somewhere,

I came across Artfully Simple Infinity Scarf.

The videos for this pattern are wonderful

and make the scarf super easy to crochet.

Daughter DeeDee is a scarf wearing woman!

Since tomorrow is her birthday,

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

This will be another scarf for her,

it might (meaning will) be late but 

she won't care.

The button is fabulous!

It changes colors depending what it's up against.

I have 2 finished scarves for her already,

this will be a bonus gift.

See what others are working on by visiting Patchwork Times.

Every time I see Judy L's cardigan, 

I have to control my urge to start it!

You know what I mean, I know you do.

Design Wall Monday

Last week's sewing time was spent making 8 more Pineapple Crazy blocks. When I was getting ready to put them in the bin, I decided to de-paper the 5 triangle blocks that were in there. That lead to pulling out new triangle block papers which lead to sewing one more triangle block which lead to starting 5 more. LOL  One of the 5 is finished, the others are waiting their turn.

I cleaned up all the scraps and crumbs and put all the Pineapple Crazy-ness away for a while.  With the 5 that were finished at the other day and these 8, I am up to 60 pineapple and 7 triangle blocks complete. I can actually say my bin that holds these scraps and crumbs is starting to shrink. I'm even thinking about mixing in some more scraps next time I work on these.

And I just realized I am over 1/4th done with the pineapple blocks. Yeah me!

Now it's time to concentrate on the quilt for hunting club and to get a couple quilt tops quilted.

See what everyone is working on at Patchwork Times.

On The Needles

This is Lady Kina.

It's a cute little cardigan-

even though it doesn't look like much right now.

Perfect for summer evenings or cool days.

I think I would like one too,

this one is for Daughter Crystal-

special request for this year's birthday gift.

It starts at the top, complete with one buttonhole.

I like that the ribbing is garter stitch instead of 

picking up stitches for ribbing.

It's so much less stressful!

What's on your needles?

See great things at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday

This week I've spent my sewing time making half square triangles out of 5" charms. I have a bin full of charms and Pat Speth is helping me use them. She is sharing her Deli Geese Project on her blog, Nickel Quilts. She is up to block 31. I have sewn 2. But I have a plan........

This is block #2-Rhett (since seeing this picture, I have redone the center-ugh!) . Each pair of blocks have cute names. I love scrappy so my blocks will be total scrapiness. I've made a few quilts using Pat's designs. I love them all.
My plan is to make a bunch of Geese units and then kit up the rest for a May retreat project.

I have been a member of Mr. B's Preview Pack Club for quite a while. Plus I have been in numerous swaps and 5" squares are part of my Scrap User's System, so I have a lot of charms. It's time they are used!  These blocks will make fun quilts.  I don't know how many blocks Pat is going to share, I just keep printing them for my notebook and now that I've started making them..............will they make it to retreat?

Check other Design Walls at Patchwork Times.

On The Needles

Greta is finished!

Except for the blocking,

which will happen today if all goes well.

The ends are even buried.

I also finished Lillian --shown here

but haven't taken a picture of it or blocked it yet.

On to the next big project.

By special request, it will be Lady Kina.

I'll use Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Superwash

in Indigo Heather.

I'm excited about it.

I also pulled out a skein of  purple Opal yarn 

to make Mock Croc Socks.

I saw a crochet cardigan in this week's Joann's flyer that I am excited about.

(Note to JA, when you show a knit or crochet project in your flyer, 

be considerate and at least tell us the name of it. 

But nice work on your part,

 I searched your free projects page for a long time before I found it.)

I'll finish up another already started project or 2 before I pull stash yarn for this one.

See other great On The Needles projects at Patchwork Times.

OMG those Duck Socks are Fabulous!!!

Design Wall Monday

Once in a while I get the urge to sew on my Pineapple Crazy blocks. My grand plan was to do at least 5 a month but that hasn't happened.  Since finishing 2 UFO tops last week, I needed something small to work on so I pulled out the Pineapple Crazy bin and got busy. These little buggers take a long time to sew. But I love digging through the crumbs and scraps and have no problem with anything goes. I'm in the mood now, I just might start 5 more.

The 5 blocks complete and de-papered. I also took the other 50 blocks and de-papered them. That in itself is a big job. It took 2 movies to get them finished and boy oh boy did I make a mess. Even though I tried to contain it, it still looked like it snowed all over the floor. This is one of those Why didn't I think of this sooner! moments. So now as the blocks are finished, they will be de-papered.

See lots of fabulous design walls at Patchwork Times--I love Judy L's star blocks!