Stormy's Beginnings

I have a new knitting project. Which I'm calling Stormy. No it's nothing inspirational just the name of the wonderful yarn that I'm using. This thick yarn has sucked in all of my knit stitches so both the front and the back look like rows and rows of pearl stitches. I think it's rather pretty, what do you think? This scarf will be headed off to Shelly, so I'll be updating here as I work on it for all to see.

The Back for the Apple Quilt is done. I'm so glad. It was touch and go with this one for a while. It's a bit more "folk art" than I usually like. The entire Apple Quilt was a self challenge for me to put colors together that I wouldn't have selected to work with under other circumstances. This quilt started out life as a Jelly Roll. My first one in fact. To have come so far on just one Jelly Roll must be some sort of testament.

Shelly has generously offered to quilt this one on her Lizzie, so I left plenty of extra fabric all around.  I've never had anything longarmed before, so I'm a little nervous!  Here's hoping she wont curse me to much while this one is with her!

Does anyone have any thoughts why all my photos today have lines running through them?  I even used different settings.  Maybe the batteries are getting low?

Autumn Has Arrived!

Here is the quilt back I'm working on for the apple quilt.  It's a bit bigger than I need it to be, so the gray and plaid borders will need a bit of adjusting in size.  I started with the Apple Tree and hope to move on to the pirate ship this afternoon.

This year for Halloween I envisioned my family working together for the good of the family pumpkin.  Oddly that didn't happen and my attempts to get the three of us together to work on it fell flat.  Kudos to those of you with older children and bigger families, I don't know how you do it.  So last night I hauled the pumpkin out of where it had been banished and started working on it after Jessica went to bed.  Before to long my husband pitched in which was good.

We don't carve our pumpkins as you can see.  This year I'm hoping to gut it and turn it into pumpkin pie right after Halloween.  My cousin swears it can be done with a normal pumpin so we shall see.  Because of the way we made the Princess Pumpkin's hair we were able to have a two faced pumpkin this year, which hubby really enjoyed creating.

 

That's all folks hope you have a great fun filled day!

He's the man

Father's day was nice and peaceful. Jessica really looked forward to it this year. Yes those are her real hand prints. I took the paper and hung it on the wall after it was done being the wrapping paper. As Rob walked past it, he made a comment about how much her hands have grown. And he's exactly right. Children grow up so fast. These have taken me a while to post as as first Jessica was sick. Then I lost the hub to download photos with, and now I'm sick. The fun just keeps on coming. Sunny has not been sleeping well since Kitty's passing, and I've worried about that. Here he is dozing on the 2" ledge above the ac in our bedroom. Rob took the hint and made him a nice shelf, so he might perch there more easily (and perhaps even allow himself to sleep a bit more). Both Sunny and Tiny have a vet check lined up for next week. Hopefully our yearly visit will come back just fine.

Sickin' Allergies

Yesterday Jessica was running a fever, so we had a "mommy hold me" afternoon on the couch. She can be so cuddly sometimes. Of course today she is off to the races again, picking flowers and playing dress up with a pair of "pretend" glasses that she has.

I thought I was coming down with it to, runny itchy nose, etc. So this afternoon when I cleaned up the kitchen a bit (you know how all that can fall by the wayside when you don't feel 100%) I found a glass of chocolate milk. Yep warm. EEWWWW. There is nothing I am more allergic to than milk gone bad. As a child I couldn't even have pizza or ice cream, but as an adult the allergy has settled into an extreme sensitivity to all "turning" and spoiled milk products. The smell alone will chase me down like a pack of wild lions. So turns out I wasn't sick at all. Just as soon as I'd finished cleaning up the kitchen I was right as rain again.

Father's day was good. Jessica was so excited this year. I used a sponge brush to brush tempera paint on her hands which she patted all over the paper we wrapped the quilt in. In my dreams my husband is a man of many words, in reality not so much. So he said what he always says about my quilts "looks good".

In complete contrast, the other week my cousin was shown all around my sewing area by my DH when I wasn't home. Later she told me how proud he is of all that I do and all that I create.

My sewing machine is okay, but of course the embroidery unit is awaiting a visit to the repair guy. Since today seemed like a cluster of bitter grapes I decided to put it off till tomorrow. After all maybe tomorrow will be a bed of roses.

Apples and Pirates Oh My!

The apple quilt top is done at last. I used my very first "store bought" Jelly roll for this one, and I used nearly every single bit of it in this quilt. I started with the long cabin blocks with the apple centers, and before I knew it I'd added DH's pirate hankercief (what else would make a man want an apple quilt?) Then came the rest of the apple fabric (which was a dream to work with). I added the black with the diagonal fabrics to set off the map (ran clean out of the black DH had just purchased earlier that day!). The braid is noticeable on all sides, those I made after the apple blocks and where my first braids. The 8 little blocks going in last, and you know how long those took me. You can sort of see them there near Jessica in the upper left and right corners (click the image for a bigger photo). Those where made using the last of the apple fabric as well as two maternity cotton shirts I'd worn when I was pregnant with Jessica.

Two blocks from the end I ran out of fabric and had to come up with something, or take a trip to the fabric store (Eeegads, jk!), well I figured it out and it all went together like a dream - eventually (except the two blocks I had to seam rip out because I put them in upside down!)

I had wanted to make this a nice heavy quilt for the winter months, but now that I see it spread on the bed I can't help but think how nice and "autumn" it looks. Perhaps a medium weight is the way to go.

This quilt was a challenge for me firstly because I don't much care for log cabins, log cabins give me fits for some dumb unknown reason, and secondly because of the colors. DH bought Moda's Portugal Jelly Roll for my birthday last September and I let the quilt spring from those. Fabric limitations, because I had never worked in this color scheme made this quilt be slow going. I started this quilt in February. Shortly after I pitched in to help Judy with her International Round Robin. Missi's center used just a bit of fabric from the roll and I thought it was high time I put it to use on something for me. Funny how something DH gave me I'm giving back to him. Here is the quilt as it hangs off the bed. The log cabin blocks diamond out from the center with the dark side of the block making the diamond.

This is the second time only that I've worked with Moda, the material flows through your fingers and it's a nice feeling. Almost spoiling, but I do love my scraps. In fact the blue demin embroidery blocks are from the very curtains that hang in my bedroom window. In a different house the curtains were for a sliding glass door. When I started quilting last year I eventually repurposed the curtains by cutting off the unrequired yardage, and there it is in a quilt. What a nice surprise they will match my curtains so well. Sure is a big belly on this guy, he must have just eaten a bug.
Yesterday I felt bad about all the posts with no photos. I looked out my window and saw this big guy and had to show him to you. My Papa aka my Grandfather would call this a Mr. Friendly, when Papa would talk about more than one he'd even call them Mr. Friendlys. My Papa is the epitome of quiet strength. I always keep things my Grandmother enjoyed close to me, I grow Orchids for example, because she loved them. Grandma's Orchids were always beautiful, but I know they were kept that way because my Papa took such good care of them, just like he took good care of her. While 17 years her elder, she was an established business person when they met. She was a seamstress and ran her own shop. They met at a bowling alley and it was love from then on. I have the photo of their silver wedding anniversary at the Kapok Tree hanging on my wall and I look there first when I need strength or guidance. To have known them, to have been loved by them in the most wonderful unconditional way is truly a wonderful thing.

Tip Toe Through the Apples

I have made nice progress on the Apple Quilt, just two more seams and the entire top will be done. Check back for those photos.

Yesterday I stopped by the Salvation Army as yet another coffee pot has found it's demise. I didn't find any coffee pots, but it was half off clothing Wednesdays so they were packed. I do accept hand-me-downs for Jessica. I was surprised to find some clothes of great quality and even Name Brands. I picked up three pairs of long pants (two beautifully embroidered), three Land's End shorts for school, with four matching tops. Oh and one purple sweatshirt that was to cute to pass up.

I also found one pair of size 8 (aka 5mm) bamboo knitting needles (50 cents). I was out the door with all my purchases for $10 and change. I washed it and Jessica helped me fold it and put it away. She's thrilled with the things I purchased so who could ask for anything more?

As with all second hand purchases, remember to check for holes, stains, and that all the zippers and buttons are attached and functioning. My own mother, who I love dearly that I very doubt has ever bought any clothes that weren't for "working in the field", even commented that some of the items I'd purchased looked nice enough for to be "first day of school" clothes.

I know, I know normally I'd have photos of everything, but my leg still hasn't recovered from the stress the past couple of weeks.

The Call of the Quilt

What do you have up your sleeve for Father's Day? I'm not wearing sleeves today so I suppose it's a good thing my DH has gone off to work.

I have been hearing call of my sewing machine. It's something between a song and a screaming wail "time to do more sewing". There has to be a perk that something we love and enjoy, yet oddly sometimes stay away from calls us back so loudly.

I have the perfect project to take care of both needs. The Apple Quilt was always intended for my husband and the top is nearly done. By clicking on the link there you can see photos of it in progress. I'm down to just 4 more blocks. Okay three and a half. For some reason this quilt has really dragged on. It is my longest "in progress quilt top", so it will be a joy to give the completed top to my dh.

I have huge sheets of 24"x36" paper, that I think I will have Jessica color or paint, and we'll wrap up the quilt in that.

Today I blog.

In color! Today has been a good day. I started out my morning with my daughter telling me that her "clothes had grown up" because she had a growth spurt this Winter and has shot up out of the 12-24 month outfits she was wearing. While she's whining about it I hurry her off to her room.

Me: Do you want to go shopping in your room?
DD: (Whining badly) I don't want to go shopping in my room.
Me: Come on let's go shopping in your room.
DD: (near laughter from my silly behavior but still whining) I don't want to go shopping in my room.

Once in her room I start going though her dresser. As that's where I stash all of the "when she grows clothes". Poor me, she hasn't done much growing so it had been a while since I'd been digging in there. Then it happened, my fingers touched the bag.

DD: (in awe) What's in the PRINCESS BAG mommy?!?!?!?! (packing something away in a Disney Princess bag is a sure fire win no matter what is in it!)
Me: (Dumping it out on our laps) I don't know, let's see! (I buy what is cute and whatever hand-me-downs that aren't so ugly that I climb the walls (there was one dress... Hounds tooth... oh it was awful but that is another story) Most of the time what I have put up and away is as much of a surprise for me as it is for her. After going through (and passing over a beautiful purple hoodie with flowers for "later" she settled on this mock tank and dress. Not what I'd have picked for her, but she added a necklace and I'm here to tell you I spent the rest of the day thinking how pretty she is. I know I'm biased, but I only get one child so I'm allowed.

Then she wanted to work in her dearly beloved "workbook". My child loves working in her workbook. She makes sure we do one page a day, but sometimes demands a second one in the afternoon. We've been working out of her preschool book for about a month now, and I am really surprised at her progress. Today we started the "Get Ready to Write" chapter (I skip around depending on where she is at, and what looks good at the time). This chapter begins with those dashed lines and progresses to curves, ect. all for tracing. When we started it was a war trying to convey what "to trace" even meant. Today she buzzed through it like the wonderfully smart child I know her to be.

Then my sister and I tried to run an errand and failed, but still had a great lunch with an AMAZING waitress, at one of our local haunts. A mom and pop place called "Gringo's" where the food is yummy, the service comes and goes, and doesn't cost much.

When we arrived home Jessica wanted to play outside and it was so beautiful outside I couldn't resist her. I took care of my roses and had Sunny out on the leash. There is nothing funnier than watching a 12 pound - nearly five year (OMG!) old Maine Coon Cat with one eye PLAY. He looks like a kitten trapped in a huge furry cat body. After a while daddy came out and joined us, doing a bit of "housekeeping" around the yard. When he found a volunteer tomato plant from last year. It might look scrawny now, but with a bit of love and care I'm certain I'll me photographing it's tomatoes for you this summer. I even picked up a little sun while we were outside. On the craft front, I read that when a knitter is very poor they can go to Good Will and look at the sweaters. Picking carefully they can find a yarn that they like and take the sweater apart for the yarn. Well I found a maternity sweater that I just loved (super nice cotton) with a stain, and started attempting to take it apart. I didn't have much luck, so before to long DH took it from me. Once he found out that I had started taking it apart from the wrong end (FYI start at the top) he made short work of my beloved sweater, and it became 14 oz of yarn! Since DH has taken all of my Christmas yarn to make a mat for the cat water bowl, it's nice to have a bit of yarn for myself to work with. Since it's white yarn I wasn't quite sure what to do with it at first and have settled on another scarf for Soldier's Angels. I will make it as white and then dye it later into a nice co-gender color. Most likely green as I have a pair of curtains in the front bedroom that used to be Sage green and have "sunned" to a strange peach. There is just the right nip in the air. My shorts fit and aren't riding up, my $5 Sam's Club organic (I know! Who knew you could buy organic cotton for $5?!?!?!) tank top makes me look cute, and it's an all around nice day.

Tomorrow is Valentine's, and DH will be working. I don't have any plans, shoot I don't even think I have any chocolate in the house. I did not get the top of DH's surprise apple quilt done. In fact it's so far from done as to still be mostly pieces. I tried working on the last blocks the other day, and I'm finding it quite hard to get motivated. Perhaps I'll just email him the photo and say "Happy Valentine's Day" I know, I'm such a shlub!

While the quilts aren't talking to me the wheelchair bag I'm making is coming along swimmingly. This bag is made up of three canvas bags that I have taken apart and sewn back together - once again on my reusing mission. One was a Disney Trademark bag so it will have the Disney date emblazoned on it. I'm even planning on making it with a little something special so it will be able to hold shopping bags. A nice feature I'm sure I'll be glad I included in years to come. I'll post that when it's completed.

So get out there and have a great Valentine's Weekend!

Your morning Cuppa Joe

I recieved a blog award! Thanks Heather.

So this morning, I'm popping in for a moment before I race off to do a bit of seam ripping. I couldn't stop thinking about the Apple quilt last night, so it seems that it's back on the front burner again. Silly quilt I wish it would make up it's mind to simmer or boil!

Jessica has been asking me for about a week at odd interverals "What time is it?" I tell her and she says "okay" or something simliar and goes on with her day. She's asking a couple of times a day now. If she knew more of her numbers I'd be happy to show/teach her, but I don't think she's quite ready.

Snap...Click, does it look better in a photo?

That was the question I asked myself as I took a photo of this quilt. I have been hard at work over the past 24 hours working on the Carpenter's Wheel I told you about in my last post. This is a purple Quilt for Charity. My darling daughter just loves purple. When she saw part of it earlier she said "Who are you making that quilt for?". I explained it was for a child who doesn't have one. To which she said "okay, purple is my favorite color" and walked away. Later when it was unfurled for the photo, she did something similar and commented again that her favorite color is purple. Well ladies and gentlemen this quilt will just about wipe out my entire stash of purple fabric, so of course I will have to buy more. Yardage this time, not just fat quarters, and I plan to pick out something nice, so that dd of my can have a purple quilt perhaps for her birthday. There's plenty of time to plan for it. Perhaps even work on it under the cover of her sleeping so she wont know.

The apple quilt has slid firmly into a father's day gift. No matter, I already knew what I was doing for Valentine's before the apple quilt inspiration. I've had food poisoning over the past weekend, so in spite of what it looks like with the purple Charity Quilt, I haven't really felt up to working on something as big as the apple quilt.

A Plan and Everything for the Plan

Happy February! Most everyone I know is happy to shake the dirt of Jan. and leave it behind them eagerly looking forward to a new month still bright with the possibilities. As for me I am looking forward to have a little spending money in my pocket, perhaps to buy a little fabric with, but for now I have some eye candy to share with all of you.
This is the current layout plan for the apple quilt. It will involve a bit of seam ripping, but I think the black on the diagonals will suit it just fine. That leaves me with four squares of apple fabric and four squares of embroidered apples. And a deficit of 8 blocks for the completion of this quilt. I'm not sure how it will work out. I'm hoping it will come to me as I purchase a bit more black and sew together a bit more of the layout. I have also added another block to my sampler. This was a nice looking block from a BOM so of course I couldn't help but go ahead with the pattern. Aside from planning a Dresden plate and or a Grandmother's fan, I will also be sewing a circle block into this Spring Sampler of mine. So be on the look out for those.
A couple of copyright issues have arisen on the Quilting Board, so I will be posting my personal creation, the April BOM (block of the month) right here first. Yes, that's correct a previously unpublished Elizabeth Rogers original will appear right here for my follow bloggers to see. Look for that sometime later this month.

I have also begun to process a concept for my Charity Quilt 2009. This one is destined for a suffering young child, as I have heard quilt lore that if an ill person sleeps under a quilt. The quilt having been made of love will heal the sleeper. This is to be a large Carpenters Wheel in Shades of Purple. I look forward to working on it.

Now before I depart I would like to offer my congrats to my Row Robin ladies. I have had confirmation from all but one that their rows were sent out by our Jan. 31st deadline. Kudos to all of you. As we embark on the second row look within yourself for the answers that lie within.

Quilty Pursuits

The Apple Quilt is calling me, but I'm ignoring it. Yep. I started working on the last 8 blocks (they are all started) with a pattern that I designed. My trouble now is that I started sewing before I finished the pattern. That's what happens when you create in your head instead of on paper. haha! So now while I'm almost certain what I need to do... There are two tiny triangles that will need attaching before I can wrap them up.

Rob will be working the next two days, so hopefully I will feel up to getting this quilt top all sewn together. The sooner the better I'd say as I'm ready to quilt it. I'm so tried of making blocks, counting and making more blocks. A personal challenge is one thing, even facing my own dread with the Log Cabin blocks was fine. But it seems like I've been working on it so long! Not really of course I only started it this month... My personal deadline is Feb. 14th, I'm not certain if I will make it, but if not it will come for father's day.

The Row Robin Project is coming along swimmingly. I only have two rows that haven't gone out in the mail yet, and I have had contact with both of those group members and I feel we're right on track. Everyone has been eagerly sending me messages about their second rows. It doesn't get better than that. Joann's is having their clearance fabrics half off starting this weekend, and I'd really like to go and dig through the racks. I'm in need of two greens to really make Mary Jane's Row. It will be another altered from original pattern, but hey I didn't do so bad with those candle sticks I made now did I?

I wish you all a safe and happy weekend. Enjoy the Superbowl, or the commercials your choice.

The Quilt that Needed More

With DH off at his new job (oh it is so good to know that he's working) the Apple Quilt is at the top of my get'er'done list. Interestingly enough, no matter how much I kick on my quilting hat, this quilt still needs more. I thought I had about two more hours on it. WRONG, 6 hours later I still need 12 more blocks. That's after I did the 8 embroidered hearts, thinking I'd be done with those. Nooooo... Naughty thing. My stash is wearing quite thin in regards to these colors, so hopefully not to much more..

The good news my sister tells me she will help me baste it when I get it done, so once the end is reached the quilt will become a quilt in short order after that. Today I am sharing the center of the quilt. As well the heart embroidery blocks that I stitched out, which can be seen above. Sort of a shabby chic on the reclaimed denim (from my curtain project). Reduce, reuse! I have enough denim leftover to make 4 more blocks. That will bump me up to 12 leaving me with only 8 more instead of 12. I'm thinking the 4 denim blocks I'll add would look good having applique apples on them, so wish me luck there, I've never done that before. While I was putting DD down to nap it hit me, oh Cherry pie sounds good! So I set about making one. It took less than 30 minutes from taking out the ingredients to in the oven. I thought that was pretty good. Of course DH was disappointed he wont get any until he gets home, but I'm certain he will grab a piece then. I did receive the next Row for the Row Robin 2009. Adding the Second row is February's task, but I was so excited I started a little early (which is completely fine). These are two candles that I made one for each end of the row that I will create. The theme is Traditional Elegant Christmas, using cream, gold, red, and green. I do so hope she likes them. I found a paper pieced pattern (a couple of them in fact) but it seemed like complete overkill to me - so I reworked the pattern, thereby making my candle flame more realistic, as well as removing the paper element of my piecing. Because I used a border fabric to make the candle stick holder it has these pretty gold dots almost like fine filigree that just stick out at the top and the bottom. Okay it will stick out at the bottom once it's sewn in by the next person, until than, that extra black seam allowance will just have to be there. Trust me it's worth the effort. Last but never least, I caught DH, and I just had to have a photo. Last week DH expressed an interest in my casting on before starting to knit. Well it flew from there, and before I knew it I'd taught him how to knit! Two wash clothes later, his tension is more uniform than mine, and at my request he is now working on a mat for the cat water bowl.

Quilting Mania

Good Morning Good Morning. I woke up this morning to my daughter going through her new clothes. Did I buy them for her? Yes, I always try to buy ahead and these I purchased this past summer or perhaps earlier. I keep all the "grow into clothes" in the bottom of her dresser, and every once in a while she digs through them. Today she couldn't resist a tied pink floral spaghetti strap top with gentle ruffles. Is it warmer? Yes, but not warm enough for that top. Oh well she really wanted to wear it.

Last night I admitted my addiction. I am addicted to quilting. When I first joined the quilting board someone said welcome to the addiction. My mind thought, "addiction, no it's not an addiction, I just enjoy it". LOL! Well last night was the clincher. Rob was off to his new job (there I said it) for the evening not expected back till the wee of the morning. Jessica and I made the yummiest dinner (One Pot Pasta with Sun dried Tomatoes!) watched tv together, and then I STARTED to pick up the living room.

Of course I came upon fabric strips GALORE! I filled in to help out with a Row Robin, and I gave it a bit of strip therapy, so all of my strips where out, even my beloved Birthday Jelly Roll. As I began to clean my fingers touched the fabric. Whatever will I do with this fabric? Portugal from Moda... It feels so nice on my fingers. And then it hit me, wouldn't it be funny to give the strips DH gave me, back to him in the form of a quilt? Now what pattern? Log Cabin is at the top of my hate list, perhaps he will appreciate my efforts, why yes Log Cabin Blocks will be perfect. Now how to best utilize each and every strip of fabric, without waste? The math floods into my mind. More and more numbers cascade over me, and then I emerge with my scrap of paper. I have it! Yes that is just right. I begin making more specific notes, yes, yes... Nope... Okay change thing, that and here too. Now to sit back down with the fabric and begin sorting it into what might be pleasing patterns. At first none can be found but then they begin to appear. A study in patterns, yes, perfect.

Apples are red and my red border fabric will make great centers. I check to see that I have enough fabric ah yes, I will have two extra, perfect. Red stands for the home of the hearth in the log cabin blocks, and red apples are always ready for me to make pies for DH here in my hearth.

I look up. 8:30! Oh no! I'm late putting Jessica to bed. Hurry hurry. Her routine can take anywhere from an hour to two depending. I don't know how long it took last night. I did everything and doted on her in my happy mood.

Then off to the sewing machine... Nope not yet, first we have to cut those apple centers. The fabric cuts perfectly, it's like a dream. Of to the sewing machine. Sewing each block what a joy. I know now who and what I am, I am in control. Block begin coming out of my sewing machine. I sew until 11 pm, there is no one to stop me, no one to tell me to head for bed. It's marvelous. Afterwards I stash everything away. Pleased as a dung beetle with a ball of... The joy, the love. I watch Bewitched and then sleep claims me in a happy slumber. Dh comes in after the timer on the tv has gone off. I have no idea what he says to me, I'm to completely content to care. My mind processes that he is home and safe and that is enough for me.