Toddler's afghan finished, Yay!

STILL weaving in and trimming loose ends on the tween's afghan.

Hats all done, except for a few rows on the mid-kids - his looks a little like a bucket, but otherwise, I like the effect of using two strands of yarn together.

Squares

I spent much of the day cutting out 3" squares for the pre-teen's quilt. I had a parent-teacher conference for the mid-kid this morning, then an orthopedist appointment for the pre-teen this afternoon. She's now in a cast - camouflage!

After the doc, we went by the fabric store for more black Kona cotton - I used it for the Halloween bags, so I didn't have enough for the black squares or black chess pieces for the mid-kid's quilt. Now it needs washed.

Long break, huh...

I spent a lot of time on Halloween costumes - easy for the boys, not so easy for the girl. She wanted to be a "kitty angel" so I made wings and a tulle skirt. I also made halloween bags, which turned out really well - I'm bummed that I only had enough fabric for the 3 I made.

I'm about halfway done with the toddler's afghan. Not much more progress on his quilt, OR on the other kids' quilts, OR on the challenge quilt. Oh, well. It will happen.

not so much crafting

We've had to spend lots of time on the yard after a nasty-gram from the county. We spend all of Thursday chipping [nearly] all of the sticks and piles of brush in the yard. We have some weeds to bag up, but then we're done.

I did start an afghan for the toddler - not sure if I posted that before. Medium blue and dark blue so far; it needs a light color I haven't picked out yet. Not beige...maybe a cream or an even lighter blue.

I have about 4 squares to finish for the toddler's quilt before I get to put the top together. I found DH's quilt that his great-aunt made that needs repairs in the boys' closet, so hopefully I can work on that as well.

I also got the invite to Ravelry, but haven't had time to do much with it. Looks like I'll need to set up a Flickr account, to start.

Done!

The mid-kid's afghan is done:


and closer:


I got the block of the month made for this month's quilt guild meeting:


I'm seeing this in green...

I need to make some bags...

We went to Trader Joe's tonight after the spaghetti dinner and I bought one of their canvas shopping bags. A very nice bag, but $2.99!!! Since I use them more for WIPs than for shopping, I have a little more leeway in what type of fabric I can use.

I went to the Bethesda Quilters' show on Friday. A small show, but some very nice quilts. No vendors at the show, but a super white elephant sale. Big ziplocs of fabric scraps for $1.00 (I got two). Small cuts of fabric for $1.00 each (I got two approx half-yard cuts). One is a cream with white design that just makes my heart go pitter-patter.

I also bought a floor-standing oval hoop for $10.00. Now I just need to shovel the junk off the living room floor so I can use it.

The ugly quilt is almost finished. I have two more hearts to quilt, then about a foot on each end to decide what to do with, finishing the edge, and I'm done. The mid-kid's afghan is almost done, too. Just some edging left. No evil ends to weave in on this one - I'm just crocheting over the ends to finish.

Ravelry

Getting closer...

From Ravelry:

Found you!

• You signed up on July 23, 2007
• You are #19915 on the list.
• 4844 people are ahead of you in line.
• 14350 people are behind you in line.
• 43% of the list has been invited so far

Wahoo!!

A wonderful, wonderful weekend

First the Shaker Forest Festival (info on my food blog).

Most of today we had to spend outside - the little dictator decided that it must be so. It was the best idea anyone could have had. I pulled some weeds, killing my left arm with scratches from the bindweed.

At any rate, the crafty progress consisted of:

1. Getting all of the fabric washed. This was
--the planet fabric for the toddler's quilt
--the fabric for the quilt guild challenge quilt
--pumpkin placemat fabric

2. Buying beeswax at the festival. REALLY helps with thread breakage.

3. Finishing quilting the center motif on the ugly quilt, and starting the edges.
--top:


--back (that's my ancient sewing box on top):


--quilt with Cookie:


--felt heart template (thanks to a tip heart at the quilt guild):


--quilting shows up better on the back:


4. Drawing templates from leaves for a fall table runner:


5. Helping TMOTH refinish our dining room table. (OK, all I did was help carry it outside, but that counts.):
--Sanding:


--In progress:


--TMOTH:


6. Inspiration- not sure what chewed up these walnut leaves, but they sure look pretty that way:

Afghan milestones

The hexagons are all together and the border is done! Now all I have to do is finish tucking and trimming all of the little ends from joining the hexagons. Why the heck I didn't do that as I was joining them I will never know.

I was also able to get a skein of black yarn 40% off at Jo-Ann's today. That should be enough to finish the mid-kid's afghan. It's about half-done now. I managed to make it out of there under $20; surely a minor miracle. I got a yard of cream for the background for our guild challenge quilt, some orange for pumpkin placemats, a couple of clearance remnants, and some big safety pins. Everything on sale! Everything I needed! (Well, except for the $0.34 remnant that will likely turn into a bag.)

The ugly quilt is progressing. I should finish quilting at least the center motif this weekend, even with the busy schedule. Shaker Forest Festival this weekend! WOO HOO!!!

Progress on many fronts-

- Only about 8 motifs and 4 half-motifs until I can start edging the pre-teen's afghan.
- The mid-kid's afghan is about half done.
- I got a couple of new animal prints for the toddler's quilt and finished another block. I bought some cool space fabric to finish it with a couple of weeks ago with a 40% off coupon.
- I almost finished the back for the ugly quilt this weekend - I ran out of light and thread (now I know that it IS possible to run out of white Dual Duty Plus!
- I bought more thread and a bulb for the sewing machine!!!
- I bought a pattern and fabric to make pants. One of my few remaining work pants busted out the zipper last night.
- I bound off the knitting for TMOTH's Christmas hat.

The rotary cutter

is a wonderful tool. I faced my fears yesterday and cut some strips to finish the back of the ugly quilt. I still have respect, though. It's clearly sharp as the devil, and I'm appropriately compulsive about keeping it away from the kids. So far, I've only used it in the bedroom when they didn't even know it existed, and will probably keep it that way.

Ever closer....

Since the pre-teen is having a sleepover tonight, I got some more work done on her afghan. It will be lovely when done.

I stopped into the quilt shop this afternoon and picked up two more animal prints for the rocket ship quilt. Now I just need to work on it!

I made this pincushion out of a thrifted teacup last week.
A generous freecycler (Thanks, Diana!) gave me the piece of green velvet to try out the idea, and I really like how it turned out. This will be a gift for my secret sister in the quilt guild.



Pictures of the "other" quilt parts:


The star with the sashing added (Cookie is not happy about being pushed aside for mere fabric) and a close-up of the purple. So happy!The dotty green I got to use to make a ruffled binding. If I'm going to go girly, I might as well go all the way! I also plan on a pieced backing, using a large-ish piece of the red flower fabric for the center.

Close to done

The pre-teen's afghan is almost finished. All of the lavender motifs are done, and all but two are attached to the body of the afghan. The mid-kids is about half-way done. I still need to decide on colors for the toddler's, AND work some more on his quilt, AND work on quilts (eventually) for the other two kids.

I got a piece of velvet off Freecycle to make a pincushion for my Secret Sister in the quilt guild. I hope I like it; otherwise I'll have to come up with something else to do for September.

A few inches at a time

Is how the mid-kid's afghan is coming. I can work on it when the pre-teen's around, but not on hers.

I fiddled around with some of the fabrics for the quilt back today.

The problem is that I have this super-duper new rotary cutter, since it's just straight strips that I need. I'm afraid of the rotary cutter. I think I just need to try it, even once, and I'll get over it. But so far - nope. Sigh. I'm such a wimp.

More thrifting success

Seems as if I've gotten more books than actually gotten stuff done lately, although the afhans are both progressing.

I found a "new" (to me, anyway) a couple of weeks ago, run by Life4Animals. Last week I found:
1. Cross-stitch patterns in color (29 cents)
2. an issue of Classic Cross-Stitch (29 cents)
3. size 6 circular knitting needles (99 cents)
4. Cross-Stitch Bazaar (25 cents)
5. American Quilts and How to Make Them (99 Cents)

and yesterday: Illustrated Guide to Crochet (99 cents)

I really need to just get some scrap fabric and figure out how to use the rotary cutter so I can finish the star quilt.

Playroom progress

Really it's the sewing/craft/computer/playroom - but since it's all playing, it's the playroom.

Embroidery stuff started going into one bag.
One bin from the basement airing out - may need some Lysol.
More thread and bobbins in the thread box.
Presser feet from the thrift box fit my machine!!!
Buttons on cards in another bag; loose buttons in a button jar.

Not much other crafting - I re-read the sixth Harry Potter to get ready for the new one.

Thrifty goodness

I stopped by the Goodwill store nearer our house on Tuesday afternoon and they had a WHOLE BOX of sewing and crafty stuff marked at $7.00. I snatched it and bought it, only looking at the first layer or two. A whole bunch of quilty fabric, some printed panels with cats, some with horses, most of a skein of red yarn, a couple of presser feet (which I haven't checked on my machine yet) and more more more!!!

I think an employee at the Goodwill near work snatches up all of the sewing stuff and squirrels it away for herself - I often see things behind the counter, but not out for purchase.

I laid out the cats on the bed, but for some reason the pre-teen doesn't like it. I need to investigate why - I don't MIND that she doesn't like it, but she has a pretty good sense of color, and if that's why, I'd like to know.

Lots of progress on the flower garden

I took it to work today and crocheted while watching a videocast conference. Best of both worlds.

It occurred to me that I really need to list the WIPs - and eventually to figure it out on the sidebar. Anyway...
1. Tween's flower garden afghan
2. Mid-kid's red and black afghan
3. MY quilt
4. Rocket ship quilt
5. Beach bag
6. Pencil pouch for tween
7. Pillow (OK, all really need to do is stuff this and seam up the opening.)
8. Knit (hat? scarf?)

Planned...
1. Finishing my mom's quilt
2. Afghan for the toddler
3. More hats for Christmas

Finished this weekend: Another hat! A mate to MIL's hat for FIL - the aran fleck yarn and a thrifted brown yarn in stripes. Maybe photos later after kids go to bed.

Top finished for "hideous" quilt

I was sewing on the edging fabric for the star quilt today when pre-teen's friend asked who it was for. "ME," I said, "since nobody else likes it."

"`Yeah, it's hideous," was the pre-teen's comment. (Friend politely said it WASN'T hideous, but she's polite.)

I then told pre-teen I had swirly dotty green fabric for a ruffle. Her response? "Oh, my lord." Hee hee - fun tweaking the kids. I think I'll piece the back (i.e. alternative front) with a pretty flower print as a center block.

lemons into lemonade

Yesterday I finished sewing the ribbon on a Target T-shirt. When I was rushing through Target on my way to work the other morning to buy underwear, I skimmed the sale rack and bought some basic t-shirts for about $2.50 each. What I didn't notice was that the navy one had some horizontal cuts, like it was on the top of the box and got ripped by the box cutter.

I could have returned it, but that would've meant another trip to Target. Instead, I sewed ribbon at the level of the rips. Love the ribbon, not sure about the flower, or where I put the flower. It may move.



Today I went by the Friends of the Library bookstore. Major scores:


The finishing issue is one TMOTH didn't have ($0.50!!), the Learn to Knit booklet was published the year I was born ($0.50!!), the patchwork book was $2.00, and the Good Housekeeping Needlecraft book was marked $2.00, but the cashier gave it to me for a dollar (!!!!) because it was "so old" (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). A very good day.

A tribute to Memaw and Grandma

In other words, a tribute to my grandmothers.

I literally cannot remember a time when I couldn't sew or crochet, because my grandmothers taught me.

Grandma D. took care of me when I was little when my mother went back to work. She moved about 30 miles away when I was about 3 or 4, but we still visited often and were left for weekends on a regular basis, and a few weeks in the summer. I only got to see Memaw at Christmas and during the summer when I was little, but she moved across the street when I was in middle school.

All of my love of working with fabric and yarn I got from then. I really need to take photos of some of the work they did and post it. Most of it was functional - they were both rural children of the depression and definitely knew how to make do. They're the reason I wash fabric before using. They're the reason I can't just throw out the ugly pieced star.

I miss both of them terribly.

What was I thinking?

I made this bit of a quilt sometime a long time ago - early 80s, maybe?



The diamonds that make up the star are an *interesting* (ahem) assortment of fabrics - but I still really like the green stripe. I've decided to go ahead and work it up into a twin-size cover/lap quilt. Fabrics are needed to finish - maybe a nice green floral?

Beach bag project

I saw this challenge on The Purse Project blog.

One of the UFOs in my stash of stuff is this unfinished baby quilt:


with a close-up of the fabrics here:


BUT, the backing fabric is this jaunty nautical stripe, it just whispers "beach" to me:


I'm currently ripping. I think the reason I never finished it as a baby quilt was that I'd done diagonal machine quilting and planned to fold over the striped fabric as a binding, and it just wasn't working well. Since there are no babies on the horizon, I'd rather re-work it into something I'll use.

Rocket Ship T-shirt

TMOTH had a great idea this weekend looking at the rocket ship quilt. He said, "I think you should put that on a T-shirt for him." And so:


And modeled by the happy recipient:


The photos are smudgy because there was yuck on the camera lens. Now cleaned off, but I'm not going to re-shoot these photos.

I learned to knit on the internet

Really. I decided I wanted to learn to knit and looked into classes. If a cheapie class had been available at Michael's or AC Moore, I'd have taken one, but all that were available were $65 classes at the fancy wool shops. So I looked online and Michael's has a video demo, plus there are diagrams on other sites as well. Right now I'm working on a neckwarmer.

The new card arrived

but these actually wound up on the old card.

Completed (sort of) hat for MIL:

A beige acrylic with flecks.

It needs a little pin with felt acorns and oak leaves and a hat for FIL with stripes using the flecky yarn and a solid, probably denim blue.





The flower afghan quilt, individual unit :


The flower afghan quilt, motif put together:


And, last but not least, the rocket ship quilt. The more I work on this one, the more I really like it. I've never done applique before, and it's really a nice way to quilt and still hang out with the family.



I've ripped out and redone the flames in the first one I did (top) so now they're narrower (bottom). I love this quilt.

Been a while

And yet, much is going on in the crafting sphere.

I went to my second quilt guild meeting and had a blast; signed up for their Secret Sister program as well. It was the end of the year party, so had a nice time talking to some of the members. There was also a box of free fabric and notions, so I came away with a bunch of small scraps, including some that can be used for the rocket ship quilt.

The pre-teen and I went to the fabric store after school on Friday to pick out materials for her new pencil pouch. She saw one at the store and I told her I'd make her one she liked even better. We picked out fabric and she came up with a design drawing - I'll need to do a paper mock-up later to tweak it. Other than setting limits on the fabric weight, I let her choose whatever patterns she wanted; she has a really nice sense of design. Hancock's also had bags of bolt ends for sale, so we bought a couple of bags. There were a few nice pieces of quilting fabric, another nice upholstery cotton which will make a tote bag or pouch, some lining fabrics - even a skein of embroidery thread!


I made it to Michael's for their yarn sale on Friday as well. Red and black for the mid-kid's Christmas present afghan, plus some hat yarn. I finished off a hat for my MIL at the baseball game on Saturday. It's a little tall, but could be cuffed.

The flower garden afghan is proceeding as well. The more I work on it, the more I like it.

Pictures as soon as we get the new memory card for the camera!

A trip to the fabric store, oh my.

I went to the quilting guild meeting (Friendship Star Quilters) Monday evening. The talk was on small-scale quilting. It was fascinating, but not something I see myself doing in the near future.

I was early to pick up the pre-teen, so I stopped at Hancock's. I bought about a dozen half-yard pieces of quilting cotton; she approved of them, so I must be doing something right!

When I parked the car at Hancock's, it was next to a silver minivan. I turned to get out and was completely flabbergasted. It was filled to the bottom of the windows with crap. When I got out, I could SMELL the car. Now, I have my own organizational issues, and I try not to judge other people, but this really worries me. What, if anything, should be done? If it's someone's OWN health hazard, is it really any of my business? Sigh...

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

We had a blast. Not too much whining from the kids, even. Petting of sheep and ogling of llamas (for some reason a favorite animal of the kidlets).

We mostly bought food. Lamb for TMOTH and me, standard festival food for the kidlets. Plus maple syrup and Maryland honey. The only thing wool-related I bought were some bamboo crochet hooks, including a size P (!) for working on crocheted rag rugs. The wool is absolutely gorgeous, but I just find it too itchy and scratchy.

Grandmothers flower garden afghan

I started this for the pre-teen for either her birthday or Christmas. I'd gotten some lavender and plum yarns, but didn't have a design. I started playing around with the yarn and crocheted some hexagons and decided I really like how it looks. I then chose a pale yellow for the centers. I always liked the quilt pattern but didn't like the fiddly cutting out of the pieces. I'll try to post pics of the parts later.

Quilts

I went to the quilt show today...ummmmm. Lots of lovely lovely quilts for inspiration.

I went by Hancock's, but they didn't have any blue and white striped cotton to finish my mom's quilt. I'll keep looking - I managed to buy a lot of OTHER nice quilting fabrics on sale, though. Lots of ranges and pinks, not usually my favorites, but they just popped out at me.

Bracelet

I also made a bracelet from a tube of fabric gathered onto a plastic strip cut from a seltzer bottle. I like the idea, and how it looks, but the first version needs some work. I cut it shorter so it wouldn't overlap, but I think it will need to overlap to stay on decently.

Poncho

I finished the poncho! The pre-teen loves it and wants me to teach her how to make one for herself.


Modeling the finished project:









And then a close-up of the design-

One good thing about the ER

I worked on my crocheted poncho, skein #2 of yarn is kaput. The 3 skeins that came in the remainders bag will clearly be enough.

creativity lull

I've been working on getting the house somewhat in order, so haven't been doing anything fun. Maybe I'll get inspired once I get the craft corner organized...but it'll be a little while until I get to that room.

The Sock Monkey Project

All told, 5 monkeys: