Strings & Stars and other stuff

The front

(70 x 70)

The back

 I did "dwirling" on it. I did about half of it on New Year's day and then finished it today.  I used it as a break from all the culling, sorting, filing and shredding that somehow started this morning with me looking for one simple document and sort of snowballed into a massive file clean out which is a good thing but not what I had planned on.   

******

I'm working on hooking the grey background on Skinny Santa. I set the timer for 20 minutes this morning.  

I still have hopes of finishing this in January but twenty minutes a day is not going to cut it.

******

 We went up into the attic on Monday.

The stink bugs were every where. But they're hibernating or whatever it is they do so at least they weren't stinky! 

 I was concerned about all the children's books that I packed away and all my cross stitch pieces. 

Whatever possessed me to store them up there!?-who knows.

Oh wait!

 I live in a tiny house with no storage and I probably just lost my mind and did it 

and then something happened (life)

and I forgot I even did it.... 

..yep I think that was it, 

outa sight outa mind.

So I'm happy to report that although, we shouldn't have waited until a FREEZING, SNOWY day to do this (better than in the heat of summer, I know)

 the books were fine. 

not even the tip of the book hoarders iceberg-he he

2 books from MY childhood...oh the memories

My cross stitch pieces were fine too, I had wrapped them carefully-some are coming out of their frames-I framed them all myself so that's to be expected. The masking tape I used to hold them to the mats lost their stickiness-no biggie.

not even 1/2 of them

 Those four little dolls in embroidery hoops-the lace around them has yellowed. 

I completely forgot I had even made them.

dated 1990

I was ruthless in my culling of all the other boxs of treasures crap we brought down.  Amazing how ten years will change treasure to trash!  I carted all the good stuff I no longer need to hold onto down to the local St Vincent de Paul store.  Yeah.

*******


I've been very strong in not starting any new projects this year and we're already FOUR days into 2012.
Whew!
I know I'm a pillar of self control.


It's going to end soon...
I can feel it...

sigh.  

Design Wall Monday

My 3rd One Block Wonder quilt and my 1st UFO for 2012.  You can read more about it in this post if you're curious.

I've had a nice week between Christmas and New Year's, not a lot of sewing or quilting.  But the break has been good.  Paul goes back to work tomorrow and Meg back to school.  

I'm kinda looking forward to the 'ole routine again.  

In case your wondering we had a crazy, wild New Year's eve.  I was so out of control Annie and Otis had to physically restrain me.

(12:05 am 1/1/12  -5 more minutes and we'll all be asleep)

The temperature on New Year's Day was in the 50's here.  So we bundled up and went on a little "polar bear run" of our own!  A nice 40 minute ride. 

I'm going to link up to Judy's for the first design wall Monday of the new year!

fun times, fun times!

Life is Good.

A Scarf

Yeah!  

It's really soft and warm...I'm wearing it right now 

and yes I am still in my jammies

 and yes it clashes.

I'm crazy like that.  

OBWonder #3

Here's the original fabric for the One Block Wonder.  

Thanks for the input on playing with the hexi's~

Here is my design wall.  The first row is already sewn together and I am not un-stitching that so they will stay as is.  I'm going to look at this for a day or 2 but I think it might be OK the way it is.  It might be cool to move just one of the very dark hexi's near the left side over into the peach or blues in the lower-ish center/right. Just to have something pop out at you.  Perhaps that one brown one that looks like a starfish 2nd row center.  Nah, I don't think it will pop enough...but I will try it and see, most likely one of the others.

here is the stitchery I posted about this morning.  It needs something, an angel a star or two. Or maybe I will completely re-think and it will remain a UFO for a bit longer. What's another year or two when it's been waiting for about 8 already?

maybe 10x12 ...9x11 

Here is my finished FFF stitchery.  I LOVE the top and bottom border with  "Believe" on it.

17x19

PS.  The pillow from this morning is still coffee staining in a plastic bag as Wanda suggested in her comment. (thanks a bunch)

Coffee dying

As I write this I am coffee dying this little pillow that I stitched together yesterday. 

I made these years ago, I think around 2003.

I just stuck a piece of leftover batting behind them and did random lines of sewing to hold it together and then just sewed them together leaving an opening for stuffing.  

I have one more stitchery that I forgot to get a picture of that says "Light fades stars appear Evening Angels gather here" I think that's right.  

I need to either stitch a little angel to it or applique one on.... it needs something...

Yesterday I got a 2nd stitchery from Kaaren's FFF together and quilted.

(17 x 22)

I just need to sew those binding strips together and this one will be done as well.  I should get that finished today. The 2 side borders are flannel and they stretched and are pretty wavy after my dense quilting.  I'm probably going to have to block this and swear at it pretty good :) to get it to behave.

I've been watching You tube videos of beginning knitting tutorials.  They are a great time waster mesmerizing.  

I do think now I am ready to try again to teach myself to knit.  I tried a couple days ago, just following a little beginner booklet and I just couldn't understand what the hell the pictures were conveying.  Now I think I get it.  Oh man this is so dangerous to write "I think I get it"  and then I won't and it will be so embarrassing.

When I couldn't get the hang of casting on with REAL knitting needles, I got out my Knifty Knitter loom and started this

I love it, it's nice and soft and I can't wait to use it.

I'm trying to do this knitting and my rug hooking "10 minutes" at a time.  Well, that's what I'm trying for but I think 20 minutes at a time would be more productive since I'm slow I don't get much done in 10 minutes and I like to see results.

The pieced backing I was working on is finally big enough (80x80).  I ran down during the Pens game intermissions and sewed...sewed through most of the 2nd period too!

I didn't take a picture but it is now loaded on HQ and ready for quilting. 

Today I've been distracted by this computer, phone calls, the dogs--just one of those kinds of days.

Since my design wall is empty I've pulled out this project.

It will be my first UFO for 2012.  You may remember when I took the One Block Wonder class one of the students in that class ended up hating hers and after getting them in rows decided she wasn't going to finish them ever.  So I bought them and all her leftover fabric from her for $20.  

I was going to put them up and maybe rearrange which is why, I think, they've languished for so long.  I have this picture from the class where she's just starting her layout but nothing else.

I liked it then and still do. So my next decision is should I just sew them together as she has them, or should I put them up on the wall and maybe play around with them...

I do so like to play with blocks... 

I think that answers that question.

Well, I just checked my coffee dying and I'm not happy.  the muslin is a little darker but not like I want.  I want staining.  I must try again.  

fun times, fun times...Life is Good!

Let it Snow!

(14 x 17)

I made this cute little stitchery piece in 2010.  It was a FFF (First Friday Freebie) from Kaaren at The Painted Quilt.
I sewed the border on, did some quick quilting on my dsm and finished it-even remembered to put on a hanging sleeve.

Now to update my 2011 list-another finish to add that won't be on the 2012 list-, have lunch and then see what else I can get done this afternoon.  

2011 UFO's-the results!

I didn't really link up to Judy's during 2011 as I planned, having a list of  quilt tops I wanted done was a very good motivator for me. 

Here's my list w/pictures the highlighted ones are finishes. And also my other 2 lists that I kept this year.

I seriously think I need help....I may be quilt obsessed...

2011 QUILTING GOALS

WIPS

        Tree of Life (L/E) flimsy 4/17/11 named: My Apple Orchard – quilted 8/11

            Layer Cake Quilt along flimsy 4/2011named: Irene -quilted- 7/11

            Shannon’s Blog BOM flimsy 4/1/11 named: Jonquils & Stars still not done and I need a flimsy picture 

NEEDS QUILTED (flimsy)

           

                Calming Circles quilted 4/2011

            Aster Manor (Block-a-day) still not done and I need a picture of the flimsy!

                                Morris (Block-a-day)quilted 9/11

            Serengeti Dance  2^nd One block Wonder w/cubes quilted 3/11

            Scrappy 9-Patch and Snowballs quilted 3/11

“Chloe” (block-a-day) not done and need a flimsy picture of this one too.

Batik Sampler (Block-a-Day) quilted 5/11

            9-Patch Challenge (summer 2010 Quilt Co) quilted 3/11

Snow Bound 2010 BOM quilted 2/11 

was not happy with quilting on this but haven't done anything about it...

            Merry Christmas Sampler (Block-a-Day) quilted 10/2011

            Crumb Quilt quilted 1/11

And my other 2 lists.

 I DO LOVE MAKING LISTS
*wink*

2010 Block-a-Day quilts and Projects (Made in 2011)

WOW! That’s Bright (50 x 50) finish January 2011

Churn Dash block table topper (12 x 12) finish-Jan 2011

Scotty Pillow (12 x 16) finish-February 2011

Oh Man-this is going to be bad! (37 x 44) finish March 2011

Goose Chase Pillow (14 x 14) finish March 2011

Watermelon fabric porch pillow (16 x 16) finish May 2011

Trip Around the World table mat (14 x 14) finish May 2011

Maple Leaf Pillow (14 x 14) finish May 2011

Stargazing -2010 Shop Hop (54 x 54) flimsy May 2011/finish June 2011

Medallion CW Sampler (94 x 94) finish June 2011

Evening Shadows (72 x 86) finish July 2011

51 New Quilts & Projects Made 2011

*Highlighted = NOT finished*

NICU quilt #1

NICU quilt #2

Quilts for Kids #1

Quilts for Kids #2

Baby Life Quilt#1

Baby Life Quilt #2

Pinwheel & 9-Patch doll quilt

 Little 4-Patch Doll quilt (17x18)

Whirligig table runner (10.5 x 28.5)

Little Pinwheels L/E (23x27)-gave to Annette

Cute Coins (17.5 x 22)

Slice of Summer (13.5 x 13.5)

1600 inches Jelly Roll

Quilts for Kids #3

Quilts for Kids #4

Lincoln (32 x 32)

9-Patch Doll Quilt (14 x 18)

LeMoyne Star (50x50)

Made new cushion covers for porch 2-seater

Juber’s Doll Quilt (16 x 20)

Charm Party Tote #1 (for Bunco)

Charm Party Tote #2

Apples for Sale (24 x 24)

Seppy (32.5 x 38)

Debby’s Beau (32 x 38)

Debby (18 x 18)

Madeline (28 x 28)

Winter White (34 x 34)

Strings, Stars & Bars (70 x 70)

“Making New Friends” panel wall quilt (32x42)-sold at QCO show

Mini jack-o-lantern #1 (9 x 12) –sold at QCE show

Mini jack-o-lantern #2 (9 x 12)-sold at QCE show

6 Halloween Pillowcases

Square in a square baby quilt (39x47)

The Witch is In door quilt (18 x36)

Quilts for Kids #5-10

Tossed Candy Corn Runner-sold at QCE show 11/11

Witchy-poo Pillow (16x16)

2^nd The Witch Is In door quilt (18 x 30)

Old St. Nick (60x84)

Blessings door banner (18x36)

 Be Thankful door banner (18x36)

(Newbie)Pieced star Christmas ornament/coaster (5 x 5)

Small Measures- Pink/brown flying geese mini quilt (23 x 36)

Scrap tote bag (newbie class)

Christmas Pinwheels & 9-patch wall quilt  (22 x23)

36 patch candle mat (12 x 12)

2 Christmas Pillowcases (Jade and River)

Let it Snow stitchery (14 x 17)

FFF Christmas Sampler Stitchery (17 x 19)

Scarf-pink/grey/blue angel hair yarn (knifty knitter)