WIP Feb 24, 2016.. nothing spectacular...

This has been a busy busy week!!

With little to show for it :-)

I did finish a birthday gift quilt.... which I can't share just yet - though I'm pretty sure the recipient doesn't read this blog :-) It's a jelly roll race quilt but I can share more about it later!

I quilted a bit on one of my old pieced tops.  I tried a modern quilting method and it looks awful :-(  On top of AWFUL for the old work....  I'm not happy at all but am hoping that looking at it with fresh eyes in a week or so will give me the chutzpah to quilt some MORE and perhaps rescue it :-)  It's name used to be Snowball but now it's more like Disaster.... yep, I need a change in attitude before I touch it again!

Let's see.... made up 3 of the burpcloths - 2 for gifting.. I still need to pull together a few more for my daughter.

Kind of maintenance mode here... I basted together 2 wallhangings &  a doll quilt so they are ready for quilting.

I've worked more on the Shenandoah blocks getting the pieces fused on the background blocks.... and I have fused half the flowers on an old quilt.  I seem to be preparing quite a few blocks for a run at machine applique :-) 

I have a second machine - an old Singer - that belonged to my mother-in-law.  I bought some new bobbins for it and am going to see if I can use that one for applique.  I need to play with it a bit before I invest in the proper quilting feet for it so this might be my thing to do it with :-)  I will have to do regular sewing - not piecing or quilting - on it to test it.

hmm..... a little bit of hexie handwork and finished up some of the lap robes for the VA hospital.  I am up to 4 of those.  I don't feel like I've made a dent in my yarn yet - but I will keep plugging away!

I'll have more next week because I will want to catch up on piecing the 365 Challenge Blocks.... and it's month end so I will need to FINISH up some stuff!  I guess I need to pull out my handwork basket and see what needs a stitch or two to wind up!

ps I DID do 2 of the 3-inch 365 blocks but I do need to catch up!

WIP Wednesday Feb 3, 2016

How did another week go by?

Time surely does move faster as I get older....  I am going to spend a few days with my daughter and new grandson... so the last few days have been about wrap-up and a little preparation...

I finished up the extra blocks I needed for the 2 churn dash quilts.... [if you remember, I assembled one last month and didn't have enough blocks.... I've located enough fabric for one more lengthwise row.. and will add to the one - and I plan to assemble the second this month]

I have purchased and prepped [washed and pressed] fabric for a quilt they will be teaching at the shop.  I envisioned it in 2 different colorways and will play with that in the weeks ahead.  I am going to change the measurements too - so I want to pull together my versions before the class to give the instructor some options.

Oh - purchased and prepped the backing for my Spooky jelly roll gift.... so I can sandwich and quilt as soon as I get back home...

The set of blocks for Week 2 of the Droid Quilt- Along are done.. and I have cut the fabric for the Week 3 blocks.  They will fit in with the next set of piecing I do..

Also did one of the blocks from the McCall's Irish Sampler I started last year..  I stopped because it was too hard.  I've learned enough this year to keep moving... so here I go...

I found patterns to use some of the charm packs I've been buying from Missouri Star.  I don't know if you are familiar with them but they have a daily deal that I check religiously.  They often have charm packs for $2 or under and with $5 flat shipping, that is still a deal.  I've been purchasing for a while.... kind of playing.  If I can make a purchase for under $10 total, I do it.  Kind of my version of splurging on  a fancy coffee a couple of times a week.  Sometimes their daily deal is a different, more expensive product but I rarely get those.  $10 or under.

Anyway - at this point I have a collection of charm squares that I need to start using!  I found patterns that will use 3 packs and some solid white yardage... so yay for me!  Valentine Notes and a blue pinwheel (that if my daughter likes it will become a baby quilt for her son.. and if she doesn't.. it's still a quilt I want to make that I will find a home for)  Those are ready to add to the piecing line-up when I come home.

I decided that I will use fusible for the applique on the Shenandoah quilt along.... so ordered a bolt from Joann Fabrics during one of their online sales... and started work on the first set of blocks.  Somewhere in the next month or so, I will have enough fusible applique projects under construction that I will have a day or so that I can devote to the stitching only!

Let's see...... I dove into the handwork basket and finished up a hanging sleeve on a wall hanging.. and also pulled out a couple of the quilts to be mended (from my mother-in-law).  Two will have to be completely reassembled... she made them later in life and hand-tied them.  The fabric has ripped around the ties and they are really a mess inside.  I am thinking about removing the top from the back.... adding new batting and doing a stitch in the ditch - probably by machine.  But I will take them in to the quilt shop first and get advice.

And... last but not least... I finished up an afghan (one of maybe FOUR where I did the blocks and never put them together....  One is DONE!

The pattern is from the Crochet Crowd and is called Stitch-cation 2014.  I had a lot of fun doing the blocks and am pretty psyched to have the afghan finished......

So... what kind of crafty things did YOU do this week?

WIP Jan 6, 2016

Since I had promised myself not to start anything until after the new year began....  I'm still using up cotton yarn in dishcloths....

I think I've made about 45 and given away 30 or so in my Christmas wanderings...  but I still have a couple of cones of thread.  I can envision myself getting bored with one color soon :-)

and the littlest leftover bits have gone into makeup pads

I've quilted some on my sandcastle quilt (should be done in a week or so... my first 'finish' of the year)

I've done some cutting and pinning on several things
- on the rainbow scrap blocks I started last year
-  on an easy strip quilt that will use a jelly roll I already have and some green 2.5 strips (new project)
- on collecting 2.5 WOF strips (from my stash) for a quilt for a March birthday
- on my Advanced Virginia sampler class (there are 2 blocks I haven't done yet)
- on the Aurifil mini blocks from last year (I'm on July)
- on assembling completed blocks from one of my churn dash quilts
- on locating and preparing the border pieces from my El's Kitchen quilt (2013 class)
- starting work on one of 3-4 applique kits in my possession.
- prepping fabric to make hanging sleeves on the wall hanging quilts I am working on
- and a birthday pillowcase

and I've allowed myself to work on the Shenandoah album project.  This is a reproduction of a vintage quilt offered as a fundraiser for the Virginia quilt museum.  I had planned on doing more handwork this year.. and this is already a challenge!  It's a quilt-along and I am joining in on the 4th block pattern.  I have had to enlarge the blocks... which meant that I had to cut and tape sheets from my printer to get the proper size...  and I am tracing the pattern onto freezer paper to help me with my applique shapes.   More details later as I move along (or ask me questions and I will share now!).  I am under no illusion that I will catch up or keep up on this project!

Oh  and I also did a little stitching on my hexie flowers...

I love doing this WIP post.. because I often feel like I don't get much done.... but I guess I did!

WIP Wednesday Oct 28, 2015

I was at the beach last week and I took along my handwork (binding and embroidery) and my sewing machine (quilting).  And I got quite a lot finished.


I finished a gift

I particularly love the backing fabric... it has been in my stash for a while while I wondered what to do with it

Now I need to hook up with the recipient... Can't wait to see her face!



You've seen these before but I finished the binding on this one - still needs the label and I an add it to my growing collection of "quilt stories" to be published here next year :-)

and this one - I finally finished the embellishments on it - embroidery and a few buttons....

I finished the machine quilting on my jelly roll quilt and trimmed it up.

 I still need to bind it but I've put the fabric in a safe place and will have to discover that place before I can finish!  I am sure you know how that works!

I spotted a problem while machine quilting that I will hide with an applique later  (what is applique but fancy patching anyway, right>)

Had a bit of an epiphany while walking in a garden and somehow saw this little sight... and dreamed up a quilt block.  2016 is for starting, right?  I have the idea sketched out and will probably start before then BUT am continuing on my current path of working on and finishing current projects PLUS gifts for now....

So.... I already know I will be doing a little personal designing in 2016 - woo-hoo!  Didn't see that coming :-)



More binding to wind up some of the porch series (from Elanor Burns book Quilts Through the Seasons )

Spring  Porch throw

and wall hanging

and one of the Winter Porch wall hangings

2 more lovies to add to my stack - I think I am at 29 of 31 now and almost done, thank goodness!

and a hexie to add to my growing collection....


 I did a bit more machine quilting... and have lined up more quilts to be basted next weekend when I have a window of time for it.  I think I have 4 more basted and ready to machine quilt....  3 tops ready to sandwich..... 2 tops (the grandboys) that need me to piece the backings....  2 tops and backs that need more love to grow them bigger :-).. and more that I'm not thinking about yet :-)

In the meantime, cleaning out some of the handwork and finishing things up feels GOOD!

I visited a couple of quilt stores while at the beach and found fabric to finish the grandboys' quilts and work on the grandgirls.... and more to play with, of course!

So there is my week!  What's on YOUR craft to do list?

WIP Wednesday - Oct 21, 2015

This last week was all about getting ready to go to my home away from home, the BEACH at Nags Head, NC!

And, first I get to report that I did indeed finish my grandson's quilt... in time to wash, dry and deliver before I left town!

Front

Back with autographed squares

Not fancy but my own... designed and stitched by me :-)  It feels absurdly cool to say that!

My second goal was to work on a class I am taking - Advanced Virginia sampler.  All blocks having to do with my home state - and a higher skill level so I can improve.  In other words... stuff that is HARD and I don't want to put the time into it.  <sigh>     But here is one of them....

Colonial Pavement block

But I know I need to take the more advanced classes in order to improve.  So there ya go...  I managed to finish 6 of 9 in the days before the trip...even with the more difficult cutting techniques.... that left me with little triangles.  Have I ever mentioned that I don't like to store triangles in my scrap bin?

When I am doing several projects at one time (which is my usual method of working), I usually have a scrap project that I piece in between so I don't get confused.  In this case, I am stitching the triangles together

stitching triangles between quilt blocks

pressed and ready to square up for the scrap collection.

I finished the tops for both grandboys' Christmas quilts.. and the girls' are measured and being thought about.  I will need more ideas and fabric for theirs!

I packed several quilts to finish both binding and quilting so I should have some finished products for next week..... packed some of the bagged hexies left over from Hawaii.... and cut more pieces for the grandboys' Roads quilts

I will take these so I can trace the templates and cut out pieces so they will be ready to work on later.  I had run out of the 4-inch squares and 5.5-inch squares

AND..... ta da....

3 more lovies..... 27 of 31 DONE!  With a little more persistence, I will be finished soon.  Am taking some yarn with me to the beach so we will see!



What have you accomplished this week? 

WIP Wednesday ..10/13/2015

It's been a busy week - where I feel like I am meeting myself coming and going....  I am going away for a week on Saturday so I am in a flurry of deciding what to take with me to work on... what to finish up now.... and what to have ready to tackle when I get back!

Our beach weeks are in a condo - sort of a home away from home and I almost always take my machine with me.  And this year I have basted projects to quilt so I will take one or two of them.  Or I will take some boxes of scraps to cut up and get in order.... and of course, some handwork.... hexies, binding, and the Hawaiian applique projects.    Decisions, decisions....


But for this week, I've been trying to hurry up and get my grandson Nico's quilt finished.  It's really cute and I'm tickled with the way it turned out.  BUT, in my haste, I messed up the binding and have had to rip out the stitches.... re-stitch and am working on hand sewing it down,  With any luck at all, I will finish today in time to wash and dry and drop it by my daughter's tomorrow. 

Otherwise I will either have to make an extra trip into town or wait til I get back from the beach.  And I'd kind of like to have it checked off my list!  I will share a photo of the finished quilt before I give it.

I have made progress however....  I have moved along in the 4 grand Christmas quilts....  one for my 3 year old BIG MACHINE guy....

This one needs one more ble border strip - then basting and quilting

the second side for my grand girls' Princess & Pea quilts

This is the reverse side.  The front is done with bright colors in a block pattern and goes with a book called Gabby Quilts for Friends.

This side of the quilt will go with my favorite version of The Princess and the Pea.  The one with the tiger illustrated by Janet Stevens.  When I started this project, one girl liked pink and one liked blue.  They've both changed a bit in the last year - so all the colors will be in both quilts!

and the math for the 2nd grandboy's quilt.... who is only 2 so mom chose something elegant :-)  I like the quilt but will probably make something more boyish next time (the Roads quilts I've shared before!)   I'll post a pic of this pretty top soon... all I did for it this week was math and cutting.

Oh - and the boys will be getting books too, of course - a collection of Virginia Lee Burton's that includes Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and Katy and the Big Snow.


I've made progress on the crocheted lovies I need to finish.  I thought I would have them done this week too but that confounded quilt binding is taking up my brain space and time.  I have to admit that I succumbed to retail demons and did buy a little more yarn for that project.  I actually needed a couple of random variegated skeins to use up my solids AND keep my brain occupied.  So I've lost count of what I've used up - but I just added 3 skeins to the mix that will continue to use up those brights!.

I do have 24 of 31 complete though.... 2 half done.... and one started.  Still on the way and close to finished!
Next crochet project will be dishcloths for some personal requests... and then probably lap robes for the VA hospital that will help use up some of my more adult colors!


And then - just for fun..... 2 more projects I worked on

Project #1 from the Precut Primer.... by Me and My Sister Designs.  I started with the First Grade project using mini charms... I cut my own though using the same fabric.  Sorry for the bad photo - I added a close up so you can see how cute the fabric really is.

I added borders to finish it off... It is apparently a bed runner size so I will add it to my collection of finished tops that need backing and batting.... (will that pile ever be gone?  Probably not).  I did like the project and am going to continue with each project in the book (12) to increase my skills.  Next up?  Grade 2 :-)



..and some scraps used up to make me happy!  ORANGE!

I LOVE this project from McCall's Quilting!  The name is That Cat!  and can be found here.   

This wall hanging just makes me smile... (and, OF COURSE, think of more variations on the theme..... I can just see other cats in front of other colors.... aaahhhh..... another day..)

Day 194 Summer Canning Adventures!

I do have to say that half the fun I am having with canning is researching new recipes.  Since I really started doing this more just last year, I don't have an arsenal of tried and true recipes (at least until pear season!  I DO have a plan for when they come in)  Somehow the challenge that comes with receiving more than I can eat of a given vegetable... turns on my creativity and sends me hunting for something that sounds interesting.

Again I will share my notes and links and I admit freely that while I am exact in my liquid measurements for safe canning... I have a free hand with my spices.  I use fresh when possible and store bought when it's at hand.... I also use a little more rather than less because for the most part I like things a little more flavorful than most.

First focus this week... carrots.   I like carrots... raw.  Sometimes cooked WITH something else.  Not a real fan of a main dish of carrots... though I may have to start looking in that direction soon with the abundance I have.

But for this week...Pickled Dilly Carrots.    I have NO dill product left from last summer and I made at least a case each of Dilly Beans and Giardiniera {mixed vegetable pickle).  So my plan (LOOSE PLAN :-) is to make at least 6 jars each of dill whatever this summer.  Just to try.

One batch got me 3 jars so I needed to make more!

Also because you really can't buy many dill vegetables in the store - like Dilly Beans or, in this case, Pickled Dilly Carrots.  Eleven big fat carrots got me 7 half pint jars of dilled carrot sticks.. and some ends and bits and pieces to toss in with some roasted veggies this week.  [8 more carrots came in my box this week.. so more hunting is on my agenda!]

BLUEBERRIES!  Okay I picked TWO GALLONS last week when I picked them so I really need to keep jamming!  Or something!  I packed 2 ziptop bags and tossed them in the freezer because I AM getting tired of making jam for now.  BUT I have MORE!  I found this recipe:  Blueberry Mojito Jam    And, since I have limes and a good crop of mint in my backyard, it seemed like a good pick.  And it IS yummy.... but only made 3 half-pints and a quarter-pint jar.  Plenty enough for me - but not enough for my Christmas gift closet.  I will make another batch somewhere in the week ahead on a day I am home.


So I made  Pickled Beets with Dill and Mustard   with the LAST baby beets (described in a previous post from 6/23).... until this past Saturday.  Turns out there's more beets..... so off I go to hunt down another recipe.

Most of my canning takes place early in the morning... first thing with that first cup of coffee.  And I am usually finished by 8am so I can start my day.  It's been a full week of running for me and I need a day at home to catch up!

That's it til next week!  Happy canning!

Day 193 Wednesday Works In Progress!

This has been a piecemeal kind of week.


I have been working on smaller projects this year in the hopes of completing some wall hangings.  Last week I showed you a Valentine quilt top that was written as a wall hanging.  I finished the top and put it in the closet with other pieces that need to be sandwiched (basted together with the back and batting in the middle).  While I was originally cutting it out however, I recognized that it was not at all what I envisioned on my wall.  It is too big!  It will be a great lap quilt or draped over the back of a chair but not for my wall.  So I made an extra pieced heart to work with in creating something smaller.  I've been working on that this week

Still a long way from completion, this is more the size I want for a seasonal wall hanging.

I started the actual quilting on the sandcastle top I completed last year.

The initial quilting stitches around the 5 printed panels went quickly!  I havent decided how to quilt the wave-looking blocks yet - or the inside of the printed panels - but will probably do that by hand.  Maybe.  Haven't decided, can you tell?  For now though, I need to finish the machine quilting and put on a binding so you will probably see it again on a WIP Wednesday

A special request for a rice neck pillow thing (?) came in from my pregnant daughter so I looked it up and made one.  Okay two - but the filling of rice is more challenging than I anticipated (and the cleaning up afterwards was entertaining!)

Once she okays it - or tells what she would like different, I will probably be back here making more.  Supposedly you heat it up in a microwave and use it as a heating/cooling pad.  When I get it right, I can see me making more for gifts!


Speaking of my girl and her upcoming baby - I started planning the back of the baby quilt.  We got autographed squares at her baby shower and I am working with how to place them.  I am still waiting on one square and will be able to put the back - and the quilt together!

Have I shown you the FRONT?  If not, let me know and I'll include it in next week's WIP post :-)

And.... working on an ancient project.... squares unearthed from '08... I put the top together earlier this year.... and added the blue borders this week.  I don't think I'm quite happy with it yet though.... I am thinking up more borders to make it a little bigger.

A narrow black border next and then I need to add one more color border depending on what I find in the quilt shop when I pop in tomorrow!  I don't have what I need in my stash... poor me....

My handwork hexies... I am still having fun with them!  I really need to put them down and work on other handwork projects!

I finished ONE!  This is how they all will go until one day (in the far distant future) I will have a quilt top!

It sure is fun choosing that second round for each flower.  I am making sandwich bags for the flowers in the different stages... one bag for the center +6 petals... and then bags for the small flower + 12 of the second round color and then 12 each cream and green scraps for the last round.  Add the thread, needle and small scissors and the bags are portable craft projects- just exactly the kind I need!


I worked on the lap robe for the Vets while I worked at the library the other day.  (It's a project for the needlework club at the library so that's fair, don't you think?)

Coming along slowly but surely.  I haven't been doing much crocheting lately.



And then..... because I couldn't help myself..... this new fabric came into the shop and I needed to work with it!

I looked up the company online and am using their suggested pattern to make a quilt top.  I bought the fabrics that the shop had and improvised on the ones they didn't.  I don't want everything to match anyway... what else is new?

Can't wait to add this to my next week's lineup!  What are YOU up to?

Day 186 WIP Wednesday

I am in a crafting place where I don't have any specific new project going on that is capturing my interest... so am using the time to work on some of those UFOs... unfinished objects.. that are lying around.  And I have a TON of those!

I wanted to work on finishing up some machine quilting.. so this happy garden quilt by Debbie Mumm was first priority.

And... the machine work is complete!  Now this project moves on to the handwork basket for embroidery and embellishment!


Next is piecing something OLD....  a project started around 2008.... before I had any grandchildren.  I had a dream that this would be for my first one.  Ha!  Not so much :-)  Anyway..I did most of the blocks back then and set them aside.  Over the course of this past year - as I have been cleaning out, I located them and finished the blocks.

This past week I cut the sashing and put the top together.  Still a LONG way from finished... at least it can move from the "unassembled blocks" collection... to the "unfinished tops" collection :-)

As I worked on projects, I tend to group them by thread color.  Most of my piecing is done with either white or natural... and I am working in natural this week!  A newer project - started 2015 - is a valentine wall hanging.  Well - the pattern called it a wall hanging but my personal walls need something a good bit smaller!

But I am going to finish it anyway and perhaps drape it over the back of a couch or something.  But for now - the top is completed.  It still needs to be squared up and put in the same pile as the toybox quilt.  This pattern is a log cabin version and from an Eleanor Burns book.  I did make one extra heart so I can still craft a hanging of a size I prefer.  Maybe a thin border and binding from the chocolate if I have enough.  The photo doesn't do it justice.. the neutrals are really subtle and pretty.

Crochet this week is edging for receiving blankets... one of the things my pregnant daughter most enjoys.

I do not enjoy this first part.... putting the base edging on the little thread border of the blanket!  I will share the finished product with you when I finally get these done.

AND.... I ended up with a library shift during the craft club meeting this week so I brought a bag of balls someone gave me and a hook and decided to work on a lap robe for the veterans hospital.   I'd say I'm about halfway through at this point..

More handwork in front of the tv....  I've gotten hooked on hexie flowers!  I always thought they would be so very tedious.... but am finding that I really enjoy them.  And they are small enough I may be able to transport them when I travel.

I will take better pictures later... but here is one of the flowers that I am beginning for what looks to be another years long project!


And, as a finale for this week's crafting, new kitchen curtains!

As a part of the new kitchen reno.. I decided to make new curtains...  I still like the old ones, but they are faded and it is time for a new look!  I found some butterflies that made me smile and have been putting off the project for a month or so...

I only know how to make one kind of curtain... I need to expand my repertoire!  BUT.. be that as it may....  I did get them done this week and they are hanging in my kitchen!

 The old ones, as I said are faded but the fabric is still good.  I am fairly confident that they will end up in my scrap fabric collection and into a project and no one will ever know!  [except you,of course and you won't tell, will you?]

What are you creating this week?