Monday, May 7, 2012

Movie Monday 5/7/2012

I just checked: it has been a while since my last Movie Monday.

Oh dear.

Well, I am back today! This video is more cute than anything else.  There were also some neat ideas for small gifts that would probably be quick to make.

Enjoy!

Felt cuties

Saturday, April 28, 2012

A Quiz for You

Quick! What does this picture mean?DSC03154

No, it doesn’t mean Buddy is sad-he always looks like that. 

My quilt is done!  But I am not sure if I like it…

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The black strips look kind of strange.

Maybe it will look better hanging.

Buddy seems to like it!

I thought you might enjoy this last picture.  It shows how much thread I had when I finished the quilting:

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Just barely enough!

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Sewing-and Quilting-Again

Yes, it has been a while since I posted something about sewing.

Way back in February, I put this quilt on the frame and I have just started quilting it. I am using a pantograph, something I have not tried yet. Instead of working from the front you are standing behind the machine and looking at a pattern instead of the quilt. The stitches are a little wobbly, but getting better.  It also takes a little longer because I have to roll the quilt after each pass.  The pattern is about 3 1/2” wide.DSC03144DSC03145

The picture on the bottom is of the back of the quilt.

The next two pictures are of a sampler I am doing with charm squares:

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Yes, they are small-but really not that difficult.

I am working tomorrow but I hope to finish the quilting, Saturday.  More pictures then!

Sunday, April 22, 2012

You Will Love This!

This is so sweet!

Katie’s friend, Nicole, works at Wegman’s Grocery Store. Her boyfriend, Brandon, a distributor for Pepsi, decided to pop the question. 

Nicole had to work at 7:00 am this morning, so very early today, Brandon did this:

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She said yes!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Happy Birthday, Michael!

I cannot believe he is 11 years old!mbd

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By the way, Katie did NOT make the cake! (But it was sooo good!)

Friday, April 20, 2012

Finally… It Is Done!

And I am so happy! The afghan is done-including weaving in the ends and putting on an edging.

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As you can see. it is pretty big-it is on a queen size bed.  There are 20 colors in it-and white. It took me two winters to finish it (no summer crocheting!) and it is very heavy! I was very toasty while making it.

And now?

I am making a pair of socks.  Yes, Adrienne, I am making socks! Now don’t laugh at me.  The pattern calls for DK weight so I picked up an acrylic at the shop.  I know that it is baby yarn-but I wanted to work on something I like and I like this yarn!

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I am taking a class- I made my first swatch and learned a new cast on.  I hope to have both socks completed to the heel (aka- the hard part) by next month’s class.

If these work out I will tackle a pattern with some more pizzazz!

Monday, April 16, 2012

Movie Monday 4/16/2012

The return of the phantom quilter!

An explanation of what I have bee doing coming soon.

In the meantime here is today’s video.  I really have been trying to move more lately-the bike is here! If you want to add some movement into your day, consider stretching before sewing.

Enjoy - and move!!

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Welcome Spring!

I am getting a bike. After researching for a few days, I picked out this one.  Barb, at work calls it a Jessica Fletcher bike but the real name is a cruiser.  It is good for old ladies with big butts, just like me!

Katie wants to put her trailer on it so I can take Dylan.  I have not been on a bike in over 30 years.  Maybe I had better practice first…

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Show and Tell

I am getting ready for the Teacher’s Tea at the shop this Saturday.   I have some (LOTS) of leftovers from Katie’s quilt so I decided to teach the Log Cabin  this spring. I though it might be fun for new quilters (and old, I guess!).

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Katie’ quilt is coming along nicely.  She is planning to redo her bedroom so I have a little time.

I also made this the other day.  I don’t need a new purse but sometimes a pattern just calls out to you.  I added inside pockets.  I like it!

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I made a little change purse from my scraps.

I haven’t bought any fabric in over a month.  I have discovered that I still have enough fabric for whatever I want to make.

Who knew!

Monday, March 26, 2012

Movie Monday 3/26/2012

Now that I am almost finished with this:

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I have been thinking about doing something with my left-over yarn,  Each skein of color gave me enough yarn for two repeats but not quite enough for three.  And truthfully I am not sure that I had the heart to do another set of repeats.  Each row is about 72” wide and takes me about 30-45 minutes.  I want to be done!

Anyway, looking around different sites, I found this pattern:

This first video is just an intro-calculating yardage (do people do that?) etc., but she has several videos on how to finish a neat looking scrappy afghan.  I am thinking of doing one in a rainbow (ROY G BIV) stripe.

Her channel has lots of crochet videos for those interested- including a granny ripple that looks very pretty.

Thank you Mom and Grandma for teaching this lefty how to do all these great crafts. Miss you and love you!

Monday, March 19, 2012

Movie Monday 3/19/2012

Here is a confession:  I sometimes use my blog to remind me of projects or techniques I want to try.  Today’s video is an example.

This video show a great technique that is super simple.  Adding more strips or maybe making the center square a four patch or nine patch would add even more excitement to the block. 

Enjoy!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Two Completed Projects!

Yes, you read that correctly- I finished two projects this week.

I quilted and put the binding on a bow tie sample for the shop. I hope to teach the technique this spring. 

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This block is a great way to use up scraps.

My second completed project is an idea I came up with last night. Can you guess what it is?

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It is a case for my circular knitting needles!  The plastic bags and the pockets are on both sides of the inside.

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If I were to make it again, there would be some changes: I did not do a great job on the binding and I would add the elastic before I put on the binding (I forgot to put it in!), but overall, I like the way it looks.

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Please let me know if you would like a tutorial.  I can always make another one! (Would you like one Adrienne?)

Don’t Forget to Quilt Today!

Variations of this theme are all over the internet (nurses, teachers, etc.)  Here is one for quilters.  Enjoy!

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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Why I Wasn’t Sewing

I was working on this:

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By the way, it is a scarf.

Not quite sure why.  It seemed like a good idea at the time.  Actually it was fun to do.

Mary, at the shop said that it took her two hours to make hers.  Mine took…longer.

Back to sewing! I may even finish something!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Picture Day at School!

Dylan

He is wearing his “work pants”. (Note tab for holding hammer)

Monday, March 12, 2012

Movie Monday 3/12/2012

The information-and junk- out there just boggles my mind!

Today’s movie shows how creative some people can be.  A pineapple block created from triangles. We have this book in the shop-now I will have to check it out!

I have the templates to rotary cut these triangles…

Friday, March 9, 2012

A Quilter’s Brain

Found on Pinterest

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Thursday, March 8, 2012

Almost Done!

That is, with the blocks.  I am on the last set and they are taking me forever!DSC03090

Katie has decided that she likes the fabrics so I will make it for her.

This is my leftover (and my big mistake) pile.  I had cut out the butterflies in anticipation of using it for my second round and then I changed my mind.

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I am planning to teach the log cabin this spring at the shop so I am going to try to use the scraps to put together a sample.

Below is my latest bowtie top. It is small: I am using the scraps from the owl quilt.

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I am trying –with great difficulty- to not buy fabric.  If I can save enough money, I plan to buy new dishes. (I want the Botanic Garden pattern from Portmerion).

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I have a few pieces but I would like a service for 4 for every day.

Oh! I hope this makes you smile!

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Leonard is just too too cute!

Monday, March 5, 2012

Movie Monday 3/5/2012

Like I need something else to try.

Are you a Harry Potter fan? I have read the books several times and I have all the movies.  Right now I am rereading book six and Voldemort’s horcruxes have become very important.  A horcrux is a spell that can split your soul; Voldemort has split his soul seven times.

So what does all this have to do with quilting? Sometimes I feel like my time for creativity is constantly being split. I love to try new things! But each time I try something new, I am unable to work on other started projects. 

And here is something new… BTW, I know that Quilting is misspelled.  I have not tried this yet but it does look intriguing!

Have a great day!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

I Decided On…

…this one!

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By the way, how do you plan quilts? Do you have one of those fancy notebooks? Do you keep a journal?  Or do you do this?

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I have pieces of paper like this all over the place!

P.S. Buddy says hi!

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