Best-Laid Plans...and all that...

You see, I was planning on finishing my Curio quilt top and backing on these 4 days I've had off.  But it just ain't gonna happen.  Too many distractions and interruptions and new projects and several other excuses reasons.  Criminey!

It's okay, though...it will get done very soon.  I actually sat down to sew today but it is very cold and windy outside and this apartment is drafty...I can feel the draft through the window...and Naomi Janome is cold and my scissors are cold...doesn't really help my cold hands at all.  So.  I will stay out of my cold bedroom.  I actually had the quilt top done on Saturday, and then several hours later, I noticed that one row was totally messed up.  Block A is supposed to alternate with Block B...not be next to another Block A!!!    So, I reverse sewed it and put it back together the correct way.  

Here's a photo of the layout...

Remember (in my previous post), I wrote that knitting is my therapy?  Well, I took some time to knit a doll sweater yesterday!  My dear blogging friend, Cathy, sent me some patterns, so I sat down and tried one out.  I made this sweet little sweater for my Waldorf-inspired doll, made and given to me by Cathy.  It was a very simple pattern...and fun to knit all in one piece.  

Here it is on Aubrey (and Aubrey was her name)...perfect fit!

I may knit more of these and try to sell them.  Win/win!  (therapy/$$)

When I am nearing completion (well, sometimes way before that) of my current project, I start giving serious thought to the next one.  Will it be something new or something I have on my list?  ohboy.  Does this happen to you?  It happened to me on Saturday...one of my many distractions.  ~grin~  I have had this fabric for over a year...Echo by Lotta Jansdotter...and am really excited about working with it.

 
It is my next project...and I know what I am going to do with it...YAY!  No thinking involved with this one...a simple patchwork quilt!  

Hope you're having a good Monday!




"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

Sewing vs Quilting...and Knitting.

I used to love sewing...any kind of sewing...just sitting down at my sewing machine and spending time creating.  I used to sew anything for anyone.  Now, not so much into anything.  Or, for anyone, for that matter.  I do enjoy - to a limited extent - sewing pillows, curtains, aprons, , kleenex cozies, totes and zippered pouches.  I guess the best way to say it is this...if it's my idea to sew something for someone...or something that I want for myself, then I am happy to sew it.  ~grin~

And, might I add...I always had a decent sewing machine, but not anything as wonderful as my Naomi Janome.  She makes anything I do that much more pleasurable.

Okay...on with the discussion.  Quilting.  That's an entirely different thing.  To me, taking pieces of fabric and putting them together to make a quilt is pure joy.  Though I have been a sewist all of my life, I've been quilting for just 4 years.  Seems strange that I was never attracted to quilting before...who knows how things affect someone, hey?  But, you know what?  I think I will never tire of it.  Perhaps it is my passion.  It's good to be passionate about something like that.  

Right?   
            

In the above photo...I have all of my Curio blocks pieced and sort of laid out the way I want them.  I need a bigger surface to lay them all out on to get a better look.  36 blocks...I am loving these colors!  (Good pick, Lindy!)  Before I go to bed tonight, the top will be finished.  I'll be doing the happy dance, for sure!

So.  Knitting.  As I mentioned before, I learned to knit when very young and have knit a few things in my life...but hadn't knitted for many years.  I started again last year because I wanted to knit socks.  But, never one to overvalue my skills, I quickly realized that knitting socks was not for me...it seems that I have a mental block where 'turning the heel' and 'gusset' are concerned.  I know if someone showed me I would get it, but in the meantime, I moved on.  ~sigh~  Last spring, I started knitting what I call face cloths.  Or, call them wash cloths.  But, never dish cloths. ~grin~

Cotton.  Soft.  Fun and easy.  Since I started, I think I have probably knitted 3 dozen.  I use a few basic patterns, and some have had designs that I found here...football, birthday cake, Christmas tree ornament, and sun...just to name a few.  I love having them as an extra gift...and gave all the women in my family at least one for Christmas.  I have found that knitting is very relaxing for me (as long as it is not a sock I'm working on).  I knit every morning for at least 20 minutes before I leave for work.  I sometimes knit in the evening or on the weekends...but really...mostly in the mornings before work.  I may expand my horizons and start knitting other things.  Ya never know!   

All of that leads to this...I have come to the conclusion that Quilting is my Passion...but Knitting is my Therapy.

How about you...what do you feel passionate about?  What do you consider your therapy?




"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

A Slight Delay with Curio...

I have gone as far as I am able to with my Curio quilt...for now.  I need more background fabric.  In my last post, I showed a photo with half the blocks done.  For the second half of the blocks, I have 9 A blocks and 1 B block done, as well as parts of the remaining 8 B blocks.   

**Word of advice...if you buy fabric for a quilt that you know you won't be working on right away, be sure to purchase everything you think you'll need to complete the quilt.  This is especially important if you are working with a specific fabric collection.  Some fabrics are gone in a snap and there you'll be.**

I wasn't sure I was going to find more, but I was fortunate.  I asked Lindy (my almost-birthday-twin who gave me the fabric last February) to check with the quilt shop she purchased it from...and they had some of what I needed!  YAY!  It will be here in a few days...and then I will resume working on the quilt. 

 I haven't been doing too much.  Took a lot of naps last week.  Not sure why, as I wasn't sick...just seemed tired all of the time.  I did a little reading and knitting, and, of course, spent time sitting in my big easy chair with the brown boy.  Once in awhile, the cat deigns to join us...

Being a big fan of American Idol, I am looking forward to this week...the start of Season 12.  It will be interesting to see how the new judges do.  Wednesday...Be There or Be Square.

I like using my crockpot.  It seems I use it more on the weekend.  It has come to my attention that there are now crockpots that are programmable, and have temperature probes!  Wowzee!  Mine is several years old and works just fine.  Yesterday, I made chili...

Today, I have chicken breasts in the crockpot.  Alas, no photo.

Well, I think that's all I have for now.  

Have a good evening and a quick and easy work week!  






"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

Curio Progress...

I made some good progress yesterday

on my Curio quilt, and am very pleased

with how it is coming along. 

 

The finished quilt top will have 

6 rows of 6 blocks...

for now, I am putting them together

in rows of three.

These half-rows will more than likely

be moved around as I complete more of them.

At this point,

I have half the blocks done.

YAY!

I will probably do some more sewing today,

but I don't expect to finish another 18 blocks.

I would think, though,

that by the end of next weekend,

this quilt top will be completed.

There are 3 borders to add 

once I am done with the blocks.

I have the fabric for the backing...

if I remember correctly,

it will be (almost) a single fabric back.

I've been thinking about how I might

want to quilt this.

I'd like to try something new,

instead of my usual meandering stipple

(nothing wrong with it, just may

want to do something different).

Any and all suggestions are welcome!

This is not a difficult quilt to put together.

There are a lot of pieces...

and a lot of seams.

(which involves a lot of pressing!)

But, putting it together is just sewing.

 

What are you doing this weekend?

Whatever it is, I hope you are enjoying it!

"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

Pieces of Curio...

Here it is another weekend...YAY! 

Not much going on...

 will probably sew and read.

Big surprise, hey?

Here are the first few blocks

I put together with the Curio fabric.

I have 8 of the B blocks put together...

And, 1 A block done...

 with more ready to put together...

 I am lovin' these fabrics!

Lots of this going on...
sew, iron, sew, iron.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I need to update my blog one of these days.

Add a few things,

change a few things,

delete a few things.

One of these days.

Have a great weekend!

"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

Ready, Set, Cut!

I have cut all the pieces to make the blocks...

However, I need to order more background fabric...but that's okay.  I have more than enough to get started with.

 

And, yes...Pepsi is what keeps me going.  ~grin~

So, I'm off to do some piecing!

Meanwhile, these two have decided that it is time to start bothering me about supper.  It's about 2 hours too early.  Patience is an unknown virtue to them.

 

Happy Weekend!


"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

I Am Ready...

I believe I have everything needed to make this fabulous quilt.  

*pattern from Lindy 
*notes from Lindy 
*Kaleido-Ruler
*fabric - Curio...how I love this fabric collection made by basicgrey for Moda! In addition to what Lindy sent I was fortunate to purchase more at fab prices...for the blocks and backing! 

I am hesitating a bit...but I will be cutting into these fabrics before the night is over. This quilt is destined to be one of my best-loved! 

Hope your weekend is what you want/need it to be! It's a 4 day weekend for me...wish they were all that long . 

A Very White...and Handmade Christmas...

It's been over a week...I am falling down on the job, here!

My only excuse is that I have been trying to get all my Christmas gifts done and out the door to their recipients.  Almost made it...a few will be getting their gifts late.  I did my best...what's a girl to do?

Two of my grandkids have birthdays close to this time of year...Jasmine in early December and Conlan in early January.  I made separate gifts for the birthdays, too...YAY!!

Did you hear about the snow we got on Thursday?  Over 14 inches...I had two days off work...snow days.  Shoveling out my car so the plow could get the parking lot done was a challenge in and of itself.  But, with help from neighbors, it got done and all is good.  Except, I twisted my knee and have been hobbling around.  Good thing sewing doesn't take much but sitting.

The excitement is building!  Once I get another gift done and finish packaging everything to go into the mail, I will be ready to work on a few major projects!  And, I'll have a 4 day weekend next weekend, so am hoping to get a good start on at least one of them.  I will be resuming work on 'snow days'...need to make the fabric blocks, finish the stitching that extends onto those blocks and get it all put together.  Still some months to go before it's done...hoping to finish getting it all put together by spring.  The other project is the one from my dear long-distance friend, Lindy, of The Gingerbread House...a gift for my birthday last February!  The fabric collection is Curio.  I will be making this quilt...

So.  A handmade Christmas.  I had fun but would have had more fun making everything had I started earlier.  Course, I blame that on my move.  All's well that ends well, though.  Hey?  So...here are photos of most of the gifts.  I neglected to take photos of everything...how did that happen?   

I made several more of these...cannot find the photos.

I made about a thousand of these washcloths (yes, I know...many call these dishcloths, but I use them - and give them - as face or wash cloths )in various colors and patterns.  Okay.  Perhaps I only made about 2 dozen of them.  Some were with a design...birthday cake, Christmas tree ornament, football helmet and sun.  Those were fun to do and so easy...these are the best thing to work on before I leave for work and while watching tv.  Free patterns found here...

And, then.  Yesterday, sister Jill complained that 2 of the kleenex cozies she got earlier this year were plain.  Huh?  So, I made 2 more for her.  I think she will not call these plain.  What do you think?  ~grin~

 

And, then...just for the heck of it, I put together this little pouch for her.  Different than the ones I made for others...just something for cell phone, mp3 player...whatever she wants.  She has no idea I did this...and since she never reads my blog (shame on you, sister!) I feel safe in showing it to you, my bloggy friends.

So, a very handmade Christmas...pillowcases, zippered pouches, face/washcloths, linen napkins (no photo) and a small quilt (no photo).

Oh...and I made a little dopp bag...well, it is actually called a boxy pouch.  Oh dear...I have no idea where I found the tutorial. 

I am sure that I neglected to mention/show something.  But, you get the general idea, right?  

Have I mentioned how much I love my Naomi Janome?  She is very dependable and does whatever I ask.

And, what, pray tell, was the brown boy doing while I was doing all of this sewing and knitting?  

This...

And this...

And more of that 'just laying around' thing.  What can one expect?  ~grin~  

I will be having a very quiet Christmas, but I am okay with that.  What are your plans?

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

 
"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

3 Day Weekend...

This is a 3 day weekend for me, so I'm hoping to accomplish a lot!

First things first.  I must tell you about a package I received in the mail this week...a late birthday package.  From my almost birthday twin, Lindy.  I met her on a rug hooking forum several years ago.  Lindy blogs here.  Her birthday is the day before mine. 

I was absolutely stunned by what she sent...

'Border Music' by the author of 'Bridges of Madison County', pink grapefruit body lotion (yummy!), and fabric.  Yes, FABRIC!  She sent enough of the Curio by basicgrey for Moda fabric for me to make a lap-sized quilt top.  And, the pattern for it...kaleidoscope.  Here's what it will look like...

Isn't that absolutely gorgeous?  Lindy knows me well...this fabric is so me.  I cannot wait to get started...it absolutely is the next quilt in line.

I didn't take a photo of the cookbooks she sent...several specialized recipe books...catfish, fast simple meals, chocolate and others.  Definitely some must-try recipes there.  See those pocket pie molds?  We're going to try those out real soon.  {grin}

I've not been idle this past week.  I've been working on my blocks for the Poppy quilt.  (note to self:  please come up with a better name for it!)  I have 13 of the 21 Rubik blocks finished.  I am so pleased with how they're looking!  Here's one of them... 

I am sure that you're wondering how (knowing how un-random I can be) I decided on the layout of those 9 squares.  Cuz, you know, each of the 21 Rubik blocks will be different.  I'll tell you my secret...I numbered my fabric squares, then used finished sudoku puzzles to number the spaces.  Clever, hey?  {grin}  Also, there are 9 squares per block, but I have only 7 prints.  I thought about adding in some Kona solids or some of the olive green colorway Poppy fabric, but decided against it.  Instead, I am trying to find different areas of the same fabric to use.  Twice.  For example, the first square in each of rows 2 & 3 are the same fabric.  Hard to tell with them, isn't it.  Course, not all of the repeats in all of the blocks are as different as those, but I wasn't going to be OCD about it. 

Also.  The Rubik blocks have 4 different layouts...1 centered and 3 off-centered.  It's a very fun quilt top to put together.  

We got 5" of heavy, wet snow yesterday.  Looks much like my header photo...which was taken a few years ago.  Course, the temp will be in the 50's this next week, so the snow will be gone very soon. 

Have a great weekend, and please do let me know what you're up to.

"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