Not Quite Finished...

Here are a few things I have been working on.  

My 'swoon' quilt...the top, anyway.  I was going to make 9 blocks (remember, each block measures 24.5 inches), but decided that I didn't really need (or want) to make a quilt that was 84 inches square (with sashing & borders).  So, I took 4 of my fave blocks and made this nice lap-sized quilt top.  Right now, it measures 57 inches square.  I think I'll probably use the other 3 blocks for large pillows...or I could add borders and make a few nice baby quilts.  OR, I could make one more block and have 4 of them for another lap-sized quilt!  A plethora of ideas!  {grin}  At any rate...I am loving this orange and aqua color combo.     

This is the small quilt I started with Cheri Payne's quiltalong.  But then I veered off in another direction.  No special reason.  Just cuz.  I am ready to quilt it, but have yet to decide how I want to do that.  Ohman, the decisions I am having to make!  {grin}

I finished knitting both heelless (tube?) socks...am now learning how to sew them together.  It'll be a bit before I finish that.  Mostly because I am not concentrating on finishing them.  I do love these summer colors. 

Been working with my hand-pieced quilt...putting the sashing and cornerstones on.  I should be ready to start hand-quilting on this very soon.  Once I decide how I want to do it, that is!  (I told you, didn't I?...decisions!!!)

American Idol is on tonight!

I'm okay with DWTS's elimination last night...how about you?



 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."   Jeremiah 29:11

Official!

Yes, it is.  I was pretty sure this was what was going on.  Now, after a visit to my doctor, it's been confirmed.  I have tinnitus.  What's that?  A constant ringing in my ears.  Cause?  Probably age.  There's been no ear infection, no continual exposure to loud noises or machinery...nothing new.  So far, this constant noise is not keeping me awake or causing me to lose sleep.  It's good when I have some music going on around me to distract me from it.  Else, it could drive me crazy.  Literally.

Go here if you'd like to learn more.  And, if you're interested in hearing what I hear, try the little players toward the bottom of this page.  The one labelled 'ear ringing sound' is the closest to what I hear.  Not quite so high-pitched and not usually that loud.  But, like that.  All of the time.  Day in and day out.  Nighttime.  Daytime.  All.  Of.  The.  Time.  It doesn't go away.  Fun, hey?

I have some hearing loss as well, so will be having a  hearing test in the near future.

Isn't that great news?  Actually, I'm looking at it with the 'glass is half full' attitude...there are many more things I could have that would be much more serious and life-changing.     

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Productivity.  With my poppy quilt, I've been making more Rubik blocks.  I trimmed the ones I had already finished to make 12.5 inch blocks.  The blocks are all variations of this one...

Until I had an idea.  How would it look if I made a Rubik block out of a single fabric?  So.  I took a piece of fabric with the large poppy and cut it into 9 squares and put them together with the sashing...and this is how it looks.  

I still need to add the solid borders.  It turned out better than I thought it would...and I really like it.  I think I'll put a few more together this way.  With the other fabrics.

As for the swoon/orange & aqua quilt...I completed block 6!  I sure like these big 24.5 inch blocks.  Still am unsure of how many I'll make, though.  The original plan was to make 9.  I may have decided that I don't want to make such a large quilt.  Time will tell.

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I posted 4 packages today.  I apologize for taking so long to send them on their way.  Madge, Ann, Jody and Jill...let me know when they arrive, please.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."   Jeremiah 29:11

Still Swooning...

It's the weekend...YAY!

What's especially exciting about this one is that

Princess Kaylynn is coming for a visit!

We had a bunch of snow yesterday,

but the roads should be drivable by now.

I have some errands to run

and then I think we'll bake cookies.

I haven't been doing too much

sewing this past week, 

but I did finish Block 4.

I am really liking these.

In fact, they make me...

swoon.

{grin}

 Question...

When piecing your quilt blocks,

do you press your seams to the side

or do you open them up?

I have always pressed to the side

(the dark side...{grin})

but with this block, pressing

the seams open seemed a better way.

It sure helped to reduce the bulk.

But, I gotta say, it does take longer!

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Stay tuned for a giveaway coming

this way very soon! 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

Not So Manic Monday...

Today is a state holiday, making this a 3 day weekend for state workers.  I'm not doing much...feeling kinda lazy, I guess.

But, I finished my 3rd swoon block early this morning.

I am loving these orange/aqua blocks.  Did I tell you that there are 81 pieces to each block?  Yikes!  With 3 blocks done, I am 1/3rd of the way done with this quilt top.  Doing one block a week is seeming to work out really well...no stress. 

I think I'll read for awhile. 

Are you working today?

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."Jeremiah 29:11

SWOON...

My car is at the garage today.

Ball joints and tires and,

oh, what the heck...

why not have the oil changed.

So, I took the day off.

Gotta love the beginning of the year

with all the available hours of vacation!  

I used my day off wisely.

Yes, of course I did.

I did some reading.

I did some rotary cutting.

I did some sewing.

I watched Anderson Cooper.

(cuz I do enjoy his show).

Here is what I was sewing on.

Block 2 of the SWOON orange and aqua quilt... 

I love how these big blocks look! 

Remember, they are 24.5 inches square.

There are many pieces to this block

and they do take a while to complete.

However, I find myself 

'swooning' over them.

7 more to do.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."Jeremiah 29:11

Getting Things Done...

I've been busy working on some projects.

I'm very happy about that.

What I'm not happy about is that I 

neglected to take photos of everything

before I got them packaged up to mail.

It's not important enough to

open the packages and then

repackage the items.

It's just that I won't be

able to count (read show)

them in my year's work.

{sigh}

{grin}

Anyway.

Here are a few of the things I 

did remember to take photos of.

Baby sister Jill asked for 2 dozen kleenex cozies.

Here they are...

She must have a lot of friends

with runny noses.  Just sayin'.

Okay.  So now that it's after Christmas,

a new project is in the works.

(oh.  really?  you ask)  

Erin of why not sew? 
and I are having our
own little quiltalong.

We are each going to make an

aqua and orange quilt.

What a yummy color combination!

Speaking of orange...

did you hear that Pantone's 

color pick for 2012 is 

Tangerine Tango?

Yes, indeedy!

But, I digress.

Erin and I are using the 'Swoon' pattern, 

by Camille Roskelley.

We LOVE this pattern.

Gotta tell ya, though...

it is definitely not

for the faint of heart.

It is both labor and time-intensive.

But, oh so beautiful.

Each block measures 24.5 inches. 

Here's my first block...

Did I say that I love this block?

I do.  

Did I say I am happy that I 

need to make only 8 more blocks?

I am.

I have a few more things

that need to be worked on.

Things with deadlines.

Things that I cannot show, yet.

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It's been very nice to have 2 

three-day weekends in a row.

Back to work tomorrow.

But only for 4 days.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."Jeremiah 29:11