Design Wall Monday

I've become obsessed with my hexi wall hanging. The green section was from a long abandoned project that became an idea for a wall hanging back in September. That last row of blue is going to be added today. Then the borders have to be figured out.

I was so excited when I received my book,  Pieced Hexies by Mickey Depre. After flipping through just a few pages, I spotted the perfect hexi that would become my sun. Honestly, I cannot wait to get started on a project from this book. 

It's the embellishing that I am super excited about now and since I know myself so well, I know the borders have to go on first. Even though I do have a few of the flowers ready, they have to wait.

I spent some time this weekend making Taylor's little bag  from our quilt show purchases. This pattern had me wanting to pull out my hair. I like straight forward instructions. Tell me to cut this many this of piece A, then this many of piece B, don't make me read your mind. It's an easy bag to sew once you figure every thing out. These instructions have been Judyfied for next time. I'm sure there will be a next time!  

Check out other great design walls at Patchwork Times today.

We're Goin' Green

The Rainbow Scrap Challenge color of the month is green.

My Row Quilt Block for the month is Monkey Wrench.

I think this is my favorite quilt block.

10 Monkey Wrench blocks were kitted up for leaders/enders.

The Dresden Plate parts are all cut and ready.

For added green cuteness and

because I can't resist,

Cousins Corbin and Estella.

Check out other great greet goodies

at SoScrappy.

On The Needles

I'm not having much success with the pooling of my sock yarns.  Prince Henry-on the left-is showing just a teeny tiny bit of pooling, Sweet Georgia, not so much.  I wonder what kind of results I would have if I weren't wanting the yarn to pool.

There was a bit of a mishap with Sweet Georgia. Someone forgot to turn the heel before she started the gusset.  (Shakes head and sighs!) So that brought about some needle pulling and picking up of stitches.  Now someone needs to get her book out and read up on heel turning before she goes any farther.  She will probably do that today.v

What's on your needles?  See other fabulous needle projects at Patchwork Times.

And just for the fun of it, here is Mae modeling her sweater.

Good News Thursday

Today's good news is I got to spend a wonderful day with my granddaughter. I picked up Miss Taylor and we went to the local quilt show.  These gals put on a wonderful show.  I came away so inspired.  The venders got a nice little chunk of change.  We spotted this bag pattern and had to have it.  Then we saw the fabric. Tay picked the green and black and she loved the purple, I had to have the pink. We bought ourselves some new Goat's Milk lotion.

I was on a mission to find some sky fabric for my wall hanging.  I'm so excited to finally be at the sky section and have very little light blue. We found these 2 fat quarters to add to the mix.

Then we went out to lunch and did some zipper and inner facing shopping at JoAnn's.  Now I am going to sit and stitch some hexies while I watch some tv for a while.

Today was a much needed feel good day. See some other good news posts here at Judy L's.

Orange Scrappy Blocks

March is over and so is my love of orange. 

Not really, I'm just done sewing orange blocks.

Or maybe I'm not,

I could make a couple stars, 

a few 4 patches.

No pressure.

Check out fabulous orange projects at SoScrappy.  

Design Wall Monday

I haven't spent much time in the sewing room this week so nothing is on my wall. I was pretty busy finishing up this sweater so my sweet Mae could "wear it tomorrow". That's what she said whenever she saw it. How could I not hurry and get it ready for tomorrow.

I got this little wall hanging from the free box at a retreat a few years ago. I kept picking it up and thought about starting it. Then one day, I decided to work on the embroidery at my Wednesday group.  That was finished and then it was set aside again.  I found the bag while looking for something else and told myself to sit down and get busy.

One episode of Wild at Heart on Netflix, I had all the preprinted fabrics bonded with wonder under stuff and  the shapes cut out.  So why not start another episode and iron them on to the button fabric.  Everything was preprinted so that part went really fast.  Next thing I knew, I had started a 3rd episode and was playing with machine stitches.  All I have left to do is stitch around the outside and decide which of my shirt plaids I'll use to bind it with. I didn't care for the way they say to finish the edge.  I'll add some button establishments too. Soon it will hang on my wall.

Getting It Done Challenge

March's Getting It Done List

• Continue to try keeping up with Block of the Month and/or Week, Midget Blocks, Rainbow Scrap Challenge and Judy L's Mystery.
• Buy the fabrics needed for the hunting club quilt.
• Get the long arm ready to use.
• Use the long arm.  Quilt 2 quilts this month.  

I didn't do too great this month. I did more knitting and crocheting than sewing.  

• I did finish the BOM blocks but haven't put the top together yet.
• I'm caught up with Judy L's Mystery.
• I worked on the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.
• A quilt kit was donated for the hunting club quilt and that top is finished, ready to quilt.
• I didn't touch the long arm!

April's Getting It Done List

• The long arm!  Get it ready to use.
• Use it!!! 
• Sew the Carol Doak blocks into a quilt top.
• Continue to work on monthly challenges.

Mae's Sweater

This is my super model, Mae,

showing off her Flower Sweater.

Isn't she just adorable!

Big Dog, DJ had to be right there with her.

Pooling Sock Yarn Challenge-Yarn 2

While working on my Sweet Georgia socks last night for the Pooling Sock Yarn Challenge, I decided to get out another skein of yarn to see if I could get it to pool on the leg portion by playing with the stitch count.

I chose this Opal yarn from Simply Socks Yarn Company.  This is a yarn that was gifted to my by a dear, sweet friend and is no longer available--the yarn, not the friend. The color is called Prince Henry, so that is what I will call these socks. I'll use size 2 needles and start with 60 stitches. If I don't get some pooling started soon after the ribbing, I'll add 4 stitches to see what happens.

I'm only going to knit these 2 pair of socks for this challenge.  Anyhow, that's what I'm saying right now.

This is the photo I took last night before I started knitting. I couldn't decide which size needles to use, 1 or 2 and ended up choosing size 2.

Pooling Sock Yarn Challenge

This is sock 1 of Judy L's Pooling Sock Yarn Challenge.

I'm using Sweet Georgia, Tough Love Sock Yarn 

from The Loopy Ewe.

The color is called Darkshore.

I'm knitting 60 stitches using size 2 needles.

It isn't pooling the way I would like it to.

I don't really care.

I'm hoping after the heel turn, the pooling will happen.

If not, no biggie.

Click here to see how other knitters are doing 

with their pooling socks.

On The Needles

I was so excited to start my socks for Judy L's Pooling Sock Yarn Challenge.

I'm so disappointed.....

there is little to no pooling.

I LOVE this yarn though!

Maybe it will pool after the heel.

I should knit all day to find out for sure. 

I made myself sew the zipper in Ernie's vest.

He is happy he can wear it now. 

I'm happy is finished!

He teased about wearing it to work.

Silly Man! That's NOT gonna happen!

Now he wants one with sleeves!

Sweetie, we call that a sweater

and no, that's not gonna happen either.

Unless I can make him a sweater like this one. 

The Flower Sweater is sooooo close to being done.

All it needs is buttons.

I'm making a special trip to town today to shop for buttons.

She tried it on the other night and is trilled.

You'll have to wait to see the whole thing until she can model it for you.

It will be worth the wait. 

This sweater is so darn cute, it makes me giddy!

See other great on the needles projects at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday

This quilt top for the hunting club is so close to being done.

The final green border is cut and ready to sew on.

I love the way the outside quarter square triangles frame the top.

I'm positive this will raise lots of money for the club.

See other fabulous design walls at Patchwork Times.

Turkey Update

We've had the baby turkeys a little over 2 weeks now.  Sadly one didn't make it but the other 4 are doing great.  They aren't real friendly but are quite curious and look at us when we talk to them.  When I try to catch them, they run away so I leave them be, I don't want them to have a panic attack.

Saturday Doin's

I started the day in the sewing room.

I am using my orange basket blocks for my leader/enders.

I have 1 more basket block to sew before I work on something else,

like my Dresden block.

I am having a good time working on the deer quilt.

I have 12 quarter square triangles to square up for the last border row,

then the final border goes on and I can make the back.

I love my 6 1/2" ruler and the Brooklyn Revolver for trimming.

See those shelf liner hunks?
I use washable school glue to glue them onto my ruler to keep it from slipping.

When I' done, they peel right off and a damp cloth cleans the glue off the ruler.

Ernie spent the morning up in the woods with Doug and Jonah cutting firewood.

When he got home, I earned more good wife points by helping unload.

Funny thing about the first load of wood for the year, 

I found all those muscles in my sides and back.

This was a big old log.

Doug counted 117 rings before he lost his place. 

That old log has lots of rotten sections in it. 

I think now I will put on my pjs and work on Mae's sweater for a while. 

Pooling Sock Yarn Challenge

Judy L has issued the Pooling Sock Yarn Challenge.

Per the requirements set, 

here's my photo of my fabulous yarn from The Loop Ewe,

the needles I'm using, size 2 dpns

and today's date.

My yarn is called Darkshore.

Sweet Georgia, Tough Love Sock Yarn.

the tag says 

sweetgeorgia

passionate + relentless + unapologetic colour

My note says they are so glad to have me there.

You know who is getting the blame for my first order from The Loopy Ewe.

It's just gorgeous!!!

Chocolate brown, deep purple and aquas.

I have until June 1, 2013 to get these finished.

On The Needles

Today's project is on just one needle/hook.  I'm crocheting 5 year old granddaughter Mae a special sweater. It's called Flower Sweater-probably because of the awesome flowers.  I had great plans to use the fingering yarn that the designer suggested but my local JoAnn's didn't have anything that made me happy so I went with Caron Simply Soft. It is so soft!  That means a larger crochet hook-size 5.00mm/G and pattern modifications.

The pattern is designed for a 3 year old and 5 year old.   I started out with the 3 year old numbers. After the 3rd start, I got my increases where they lined up like they are supposed to. I don't know if it was me or the pattern and really now it doesn't matter. This is a really fun sweater to make. And my little girl is thrilled.

I tried it on her yesterday after the 2nd green yoke stripe and it was a nice fit with a little grow room. I measured her and know how long to make the body and the sleeves. She asked if it would be done so she could wear it today. Sorry, Sweetie, it will be done soon if your Poppy doesn't mess with Gramma's plan of sitting and stitching all weekend.

Today is my Baby Girl's birthday and I finished her 3S Shawl just in time. I hope she likes it.  It was a super easy pattern and I'l like to make one for myself using bigger needles and worsted weight yarn.  I know I have enough Wool-Ease in my stash to do that!  This is finish number 6 for the Sticks 'n Strings Challenge 2013. 

What's on your needles? I'll be linking up with Judy L at Patchwork Times.  See her post on the Pooling Sock Yarn Challenge????  Oh yeah, I'll be starting that as soon as my box of fun gets here!!!

Design Wall Monday

I spent Saturday-International Quilting Day-working on the deer quilt for the hunting club.

It's fun to work on a project that goes together so easy.

When looking for this pattern online for a friend, 

I found it at Checker Distributors on the South Sea Imports page.

They have several free patterns for panels.

The free resources page has oodles of links for more free patterns.

It's a treasure trove of eye candy.

See Judy L's fabulous Road To Round Rock Quilt Along 

and other great Design Wall Monday Posts 

here at Patchwork Times.

International Quilting Day

How did you celebrate International Quilting Day?  I had an at home Quiltathon.  I took a few breaks but for the most part it was nose to the cutting mat and sewing machine.

I spent a couple hours cutting for this quilt.  And then got myself all confused when I went to cut the second set of quarter square triangles.  There was a piece of fabric missing. The gal that sent me the quilt said she thought it was short a piece of fabric and she was right. No worries, eBay to the rescue and the exact missing piece will be in my mailbox later in the week.

This quilt is called Big Sky Country but I call it the deer quilt.  I think hunting club is going to be thrilled when they see it.

What a great quilting day.  Now I am going to park in the recliner and knit for a while.

Baskets Full of Oranges

Yesterday I spent some fun, fun time with my sewing machine and my basket blocks for the Row Quilt.  I love how they are turning out. I started out using them for leader/enders but soon I was using the next block for the leader/ender. You know how that goes.

I'm sure there are going to be some fabulous oranges over at SoScrappy today.

Turkey Farmers

Today we became turkey farmers. After the grand kiddos were out of school, we went to the local farm store to buy four turkeys. There were five in the tub and we couldn't leave just one there so he came home with us too.  It was so fun to look at all the baby chicks, geese, ducks and turkeys.  I say these are the only birds we are getting this year.  Time will tell.  This reminds my of my friend last year with her chicks.  

We don't know if they are girls or boys, we'll find out soon enough. It doesn't really matter. These are being raised for meat. I'm glad I don't have to explain to the kiddos about this.  I think it's best to dump that chore on to the parents. They are so darn cute!