A Little Knitting.....

My daughter, Stacy, commented she would like to learn to knit.  I haven't knitted much since eighth grade--so many years ago--but told her I would help her with the basics...... We did some searches for patterns, checked out the yarns and needles and she was on her way. She also depended a lot on youtube when I wasn't around---we do live an hour apart.

She has finished her second project and wants to keep this on hand as a "TV" project. So for Christmas I made her a "knitting bag" and filled it up with assorted needles and yarns. Also made a notebook with an assortment of patterns in it......

the bag:

outside of bag

inside of bag

needle holder-inside

needle holder-closed

accessory bag closed

accessory bag-open

Now, maybe I should finish my 1st project?????


Irene

Error on MY "Easy Street"

I was cruising along Easy Street last night and enjoying the time bonding with machine and fabric. Had to cut more 2" squares, as apparently I couldn't count!!

Pulled more purples and cut--but wait, something doesn't "look" right!!! OH NO! I have 68 blocks half-done and these cuts aren't matching up with the others.... (last corners added aren't trimmed in the back yet, so the are reuseable)

I had cut the purples at 2.5 inches instead of 2 inches. So today, when I need to take breaks, I will sit and remove the corners and resize them in hopes I can still use some of them. I don't have a lot of purples left I had "pulled" for this quilt and really don't want to introduce new ones now.  Recutting all the turquoise squares won't be a problem--just really upset with myself!!!!

Corrected blocks:

*Note to self: reread instructions AGAIN before cutting, especially if cutting for more than one project at the same time!!



Irene

Another week on "Easy Street"

And I am caught up..until Friday that is!  This week we made more flying geese using our purples and turquoise then added them to our purple/black-on-white geese.  I even managed to get them all squared up and trimmed!  I also cut 140+ lime green squares.  Now, waiting (impatiently!!) for Friday when another step is posted.

In the meantime, I will continue to work on Christmas gifts and all the Holiday baking!  Shopping is almost complete so need to start the wrapping too.  But first, will this flu bug just PLEASE go away???????

Still Strolling Down Easy Street

Doing my best to keep up with Bonnie Hunter's "Easy Street" Mystery.  Step 3 was posted on Friday and I actually found time to cut the fabric on Friday!  Worked 5 hours Saturday, then sewed since Hubby was gone. Progress has been made and as soon as I trim these blocks, I'll be ready for Step 4 this Friday--YEAH ME!!!!!!
The block pieces:

The blocks: (untrimmed)

Can't wait until Friday to see the next step!!!!

Easy Street-week 2

I got all of my 4-patches made last week. So on to week 2 I go.....

Flying Geese are on the schedule for this week using the "purples" and "black on whites."

I have them all cut:

   

Not sure which days I will be able to get them sewn, but they will be done before week 3!!! :)

Join in the fun: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-2.html

"Jared Takes A Wife"

@ Bonnie Hunter workshop

In June I was privalaged to attend three workshops taught by Bonnie Hunter. What a fantastic but intense three days!! And, yes, three more UFO's were born!!! 

This quilt is now completed and keeping Ms. Rylee warm when she is at her Daddy's house.  

Strolling Down

"Easy Street" with Bonnie Hunter!

Another new Mystery Quilt has begun....Oh, how I am hoping I can keep up this year!! I have been going through my "stash" and have selected my fabrics. They are sitting in a basket just waiting on their turn to finally become a quilt!!


Won't you join in the fun????
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/11/easy-street-monday-link-up-1.html

Fabrics:

I decided to use only one grey and have replaced it with a darker one hoping to make the black-on-white "pop" more.

I have cut my 2 inch strips of black-on-white and my grey. I have 120 of the 192 4-patches made. I will get the rest made when I get home from my "mini vacation."

Finally got the rest cut now to get them sewn. It's been 'one of those weeks,' Love when we only have a four day week, but it sure throws me off schedule!



Irene

Back.....

It's been a long summer full of "stuff!"

A lot of time was spent with different family members in the hospital, during surgeries/recovery/etc.  Not sure where all the time went!

Only got to do a little traveling between the "Mom/Nurse" duties....will try to catch up on all that later!

School is back in full swing and for the first time in twenty-some years, I wasn't preparing "someone" to go back to school---felt odd! Well, I was going back but not as a student! Have to keep those wheels rolling on my "Yellow Beast!"

All is well in our little corner of the world and I will attempt to get posts/pictures up over the next few days/weeks!!

---stay tuned!


Irene

Wahoo!!!!!! Studio Time!!

 Friday I got to play in the studio!!!!!

Got a quilt top made for Ms. Rylee--needed some "retail therapy" for the backing--that has been accomplished, so am hoping I can get the back made this week. (no picture at this time tho as camera's aren't working)

Got the binding on some quilts too:
Disappearing 9-Patch was gifted to Ms. Rae as a thank you/college graduation gift for allowing Michelle "hang-out" in her dorm between classes, etc. this past year.

Don't remember the name of this pattern. Pieced the quilt a few years ago, but just got it finished:

Gifted to Ms. Sarah as a college graduation gift.

GULP!!!!!

Oh where oh where has the time gone?????  Been super busy  the last while!

** Michelle graduated college--YEAH! No more tuition bills!! And she landed a full-time job 2 weeks later in her "field!" So happy for her!

**Attended a quilting retreat hosted by Debi and Dennis over at www.somewheresewing.com between bus routes---not sure what I accomplished besides visiting and eating!! But we had fun!

** My Dad was hospitalized the first week of May for 2 days....and then again the la\t week of May. Not sure how much more he can handle....congenial heart failure is the pits!!! Spent a lot of time with him and Mom, took a few days off of work to be there during his last surgery.

** Stress level was high so took my "personal" day and atteneded a weekend retreat with some friends in Southern Ohio--again, had a blast, not accomplishing much but destressing!

**School is now out for the year....the buses I had to clean are cleaned....so I am hoping to get back into the studio again.  Have some consignments to get going and a few "wanna do's" and quite a few quilts to bind....

So it's off I go to at least find the sewing table and machine under the piles!

Spring Break Retreat top #3

Not the best picture---couldn't find the pattern---can't remember the name---NOT my preference--but it's a top!!! This is/was one of Stacy's starts I found in a bin. Decided to "top" it and we will go from there...........

Tumblers

A few weeks ago, Pat came to visit a few days....we used her Accu-Cut and cut over 900 tumblers from Civil War fabrics. We divided them between us. This week I finished sewing them into a quilt top-----randomly reaching into a bag and pulling out a tumbler and adding to the row--ACK!!! That was very hard for this gal to do as I am not usually into total scrappy!! Give me CONTROLLED scrappy...but I did it!!!!!!!!

QATW BOM Top

All the blocks have been made and all the the top is ready for the quilter's.

March BOM (Craftsy.com)

So the March BOM block patterns have been posted and I needed to unwind from a whirlwind week so I pulled out the "oriental" bin.....

Using strings this month--oh, so I DON'T have oriental strings!!!!!! Can I force myself to actually cut some from these pieces of fabric??? Guess I have to try--OUCH that first cut hurt!!! I managed to get an assortment without shedding a river of tears!

Broken Spider Web :

String Block:

Now, the long wait until April first-----

ACK!!!

I have accomplished almost NOTHING here at home since retreat! BAD ME!!!!! Schedules have been wild--seems all I get done is work, quick sleeps, laundry. more work!!!

Since it was to cold and windy to wash some "big yellow's" this morning, I decided it was time to get caught up on the BOM's.....

One more block to go and then we get the layout design suggestions.....

BOM continues~

Block 11 is now joining the others~

Yankee's Puzzle:

Jelly Roll Races

At retreat we had a Jelly Roll Race on Sunday morning.....yeah, after only about 4 hours of sleep and LOTS of coffee, I decided to "do" the race. I had thought of making a Jelly Roll quilt so was prepared, just hadn't thought of competing! Sure glad I did cause I WON!!!!! Saturday they had us "prep" our rolls into one long strip so that made it easier for the race.....

Have you ever sewn 1600 inches of fabric strips into a quilt in 30 minutes?????

Dare you!!!!!!

You can find a tutorial here: http://quilting.craftgossip.com/tutorial-jelly-roll-1600-quilt/2011/12/09/

My top with borders added AFTER the race:

My Batik FQ Bouquet for being the first one done!

Irene

Ringo Star

that was started waaaay back in TN in ?????? in now finished!!! This was truly a lesson in paper-piecing!

Perfect?--nope
Happy with it? --yep!

Quick Trip Quilt Top

While attending a retreat last September, I was intrigued by a "Trip Around the World" quilt that was being made by an 80+ year old lady...I had never made one because I was afraid of all the square pieces and was just sure I couldn't get a decent top! I was introdeced to the book: "Quick Trip Quilts" by Eleanor Burns. Debi at "Somewhere Sewing" (http://www.somewheresewing.com/) got me the book and I started pulling baticks from my bins....I "kitted" this before retreat and it became one of my projects. Why was I so afraid of this pattern????? It totally rocks!

My top before borders...not sure what fabric(s) I am adding to make the borders? Maybe none??? I will let it hang here for awhile and see if it talks to me. If you have a suggestion--PLEASE post it!!

President's Day Weekend~~~~

I had a medical appointment Friday morning and didn't know how my body would react to the testings, so took the whole day off (good thing I did too, my tummy didn't like me for a while!) The "tech" didn't see anything amiss, but we have to wait on all the lab reports altho I'm not worried.

After my tummy had calmed down...I hit the road! I met with some friends for some shopping and food on the east side of Columbus before heading on west...FUN!! FUN!!FUN!! After quite a few breaks along the way, I arrived in Bellbrook, OH. Spent a few hours with Lesa then we headed over to help set up for the retreat..I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a retreat sponsored by the Miami Valley Quilt Guild (http://www.miamivalleyquiltersguild.org/) that was held Saturday-Monday. No school Monday, so this was a real treat for me!!Three days of NO cooking, NO cleaning, No laundry, NO "Mom!" awwwwww!

Can you imagine 110 ladies at a retreat just sewing and quilting?? What a blast! Lots of fun, fellowship, and food! Gained a lot of new ideas and made new friendships..lost A LOT of sleep but worth every minute of it!!! This is where the retreat was held: http://www.bergamocenter.org/. Would I go again--yep, in a heartbeat! A huge thanks to the retreat committee for all the wonderful work they put into the planing! really hated to have to leave Monday night and make the 3+ hr. drive home but.......

(will be continued...)

HELP!!!!!!! STOLEN QUILT

Please pass the word around..

details here: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/02/help-get-word-outanother-stolen-quilt.html

More BOM blocks

More blocks have been posted for us to do....so here we go:

Block 9:

Block 10:

POP POP FIZZ FIZZ

Oh what a relief it is!!!!

* Feel almost 100%!!

* Michelle's taxes are done!!

* Studio is 98% clean!!

* Caught up on all BOM's!!!

* Our taxes are done!!!

* Semi packed for upcoming retreat!!

--Now this week I have to:

--work

--finish cleaning up the house

--finish retreat packing

--get those tests done Friday morning

--travel
--meet friends for lunch

--retreat

Is it FRIDAY yet?????????

Irene

BOM Block 8

OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They have thrown in a Dresden Plate!! I love this block, but you are asking me to make one??????

ok...so maybe IF I take it slow and easy???

Accomplished it last night (I NEEDED to play with fabric!!), I am not thrilled with my center so will probably replace that later when I am feeling better.

Mr. Crud

is visiting our home and I wish someone would take him away! The Hubby was sick a few weeks ago and I escaped, or so I thought! Got up Saturday morning and went back to bed! I at least am feeling better, but oh the stuffy nose, achy bones feeling is still with me. An COLD!! I am never cold, but for the last few days, I've been freezing! This to shall pass, I'm sure.

A lot of the kids on my bus route have the same thing...some worse! I haven't had a "full" route in over a week! Am praying this all leaves soon and SPRING comes!! We are getting snow right now and cold weekend temps predicted--of course, a weekend when I have to work all day Saturday---

Been lazy, playing computer games and reading-----

Irene

Another BOM?????

Yep, started doing another BOM for this year.....I know, I'm supposed to be finishing projects! Well, I am!! I'm using up stash fabrics, right???

Some of the gals over at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OhioQuilters/ are taking the free BOM class at http://www.craftsy.com/ taught by Amy Gibson. I decided to join in and am using my Oriental fabrics. Yep, I actually cut into them and I think these will work out great! (crossing fingers!!)

Block 1: Block 2:

Block 3: Block 4:

Now, waiting--impatiently--for March 1st!!

Irene

BOM Blocks 6 and 7

are made and waiting on their "friends."

I haven't been sewing/quilting much this week---just needed some down-time. I've been working a 1000 piece puzzle that's been in the cupboard for awhile. It's ok, I'll get back to sewing again shortly!

BOM 5

is done and on the design wall with the others.

"At Home" Retreat

was held this past weekend for the "Ohio Quilters." I didn't know how much time I could spend in the studio since I was scheduled to work on Saturday. Well, due to the snow/ice, I got the day off on Friday and got rescheduled for Saturday, but..that also meant Hubby was home and...... (won't go there!!)

Friends, Pat and Becky, were in town so met up with them on Friday after the roads cleared. We headed to a neat quilt store, http://www.somewheresewing.com/. Didn't buy a lot--a backing, a spool of thread, and a WOW to add to the stash. Ann met us here too.

After lunch, we did a little local shopping and browsing...basically relaxed and enjoyed our time together. Dinner was a fun time with Debi and Dennis!!

I did manage to get the "Sand and Surf" top sewn together after making it home in another snow storm Friday evening~

Saturday I was so bummed after my trip was rescheduled--I couldn't contact the gals since my phone just wouldn't work....grrrrrrr (it did reset itself late Saturday afternoon, was it due to the weather?????)and meet up with them. So, I decided it was a good time to work on binding a quilt. I could easily do this while the laundry was being done:

Didn't accomplish all I had wanted to in the studio but I am pretty happy with this much done! It seems I never get much done during "home retreats!)"

Irene

BOM #4

is finished! I am rethinking the color placement on this one.....not sure I want the bright yellow in the center again? Think I will wait and see what the other 8 blocks are then if I want to change it I can......

Irene

Circles

of fabric the size of a computer disk.......100 of them!!! Now, what am I going to do with them????

One gal made this:

(but, I'm not going to applique!!!!!)

I have thought about cutting 7 inch background blocks and just sewing the circles on top and letting them ravel:

Need you thoughts and suggestions please.....

Irene

BOM Block #3

is now joining the others on the design wall. Finished it late last night when I couldn't sleep.

And here are blocks 1-3,

Ohio Star, Friend's Coming Together, Dutchman's Puzzle

I also got all those batik's cut and into "kits" to take to retreat with me! Now, I have to decide what I am going to work on??? Know Michelle would love it if I paper-pieced some more of the blocks for her quilt...huuummmmmm

Irene

Cutting~

Spending sometime doing cutting and prep work today. Have an on-line retreat coming up later this month and another "live" retreat in February. If I don't do some prep work now, I'll be rushing again at the last minute.

On the cutting table are batiks:

Am planning on these becoming quilt using a pattern by Debby Maddy, called"Star Gazing." http://webstore.quiltropolis.net/stores_app/Browse_Item_Details.asp?Shopper_id=2253191245102253&Store_id=529&page_id=23&Item_ID=1212

More batiks coming out of the bins:

The plans for this group of fabrics is to make a "Quick Trip" quilt using one of Eleanor Burns' patterns. http://www.quiltinaday.com/shoponline/books_display.asp?i=5137

Not sure what else I'll get into but am sure there is NO shortage of fabrics to use!!

Irene