When Life Gives You Scraps...

Stash Report - week 6

2012-02-04T16:32:00.000-08:00

I didn't get a post written last week....
I've used 6 yards for a back... and made a few purchases over the last couple of weeks.

Used this Week:                 6 yards
Used year to Date:         12.5 yards
Added this Week:              25 yards
Added year to Date:     127.5 yards
Net used for 2012:    -115.00 yards

Thread spools at start of 2012:      294
Thread spools emptied this week:     0
Thread spools emptied year to date: 9
Thread spools remaining :           285

Weigh in Wednesday

2012-02-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

Another week gone by.... and considering it was my birthday last week, I feel like did pretty darn good! I really used the points for dinner on Saturday, but I brought 2/3 of my crab fettucini home from the restaurant and rather than stack those points on, decided to just let it go. The cheese/garlic focaccia bread was probably 10 points... but is sure was yummy.

I've just about rolled into a routine of getting veggies cut and bagged while fixing dinner so that I can just grab them for lunch and snacks... and my hunger? I'm really not hungry... at least not any more than before. I still have that horrible witching hour between about 3:30 and dinner where I'm looking for something, but so far I've been behaving myself.

Weight loss for the week was 1.2 pounds for a total of 5.8 pounds this month! YEAH!

Weigh in Wednesday

2012-01-26T00:21:00.000-08:00

     Well, it's been a long day, but here on the Pacific coast... I still have 4 minutes before Wednesday is over.
     I went to WW yesterday after work, and had a successful week! My total weight loss in 2 weeks was 4.6 pounds.   Yeah!   and the best part, is that I haven't felt hungry between meals...
     One of my strategies is to pack my lunch bag full of ziplock bags with healthy snacks in portiaon sizes, with the points marked on the outside of the bag with a sharpie marker.
     I've tried a couple of recipes that I've enjoyed. One being a tofu noodle that I read about on  Hungry_Girl.com . She has a recipe  that uses the light version of Laughing Cow cheese. I added some broccoli and mushrooms and baked it. A very tasty version of Fettuccini Alfredo for less than 5 points! Now I'm not a huge tofu fan... so this was a huge risk for me... DH would have a fit if he knew I actually had tofu in our fridge... so I'm not telling! I bought a package of the angel hair version as well and will try it one day next week.
     She says it's one point, but with the broccoli and mushrooms, I used 3 wedges of the Laughing Cow, and the grated italian cheese blend I had on hand was not the reduced fat variety.

Stash Update - week 4

2012-01-22T10:15:00.000-08:00

Week 4 has come and gone....

I did do some sewing this week... but it doesn't amount to much coming from my stash.... in fact if I figure the bag of scraps i brought home that were gifted to me..... (maybe I should figure them out in poundage)..... 2 bags full of strings to add to my string bins. Any help in how to figure that out in yardage... let me know.

I pieced a back for a charity quilt, that goes in the mail this week..... and I stitched a few exchange blocks that took another very small dent.....
Here are my totals to date:

Used this Week:                        4 yards
Used year to Date:                  6.5 yards
Added this Week:                       0 yards
Added year to Date:            102.5 yards
Net used for 2012:             -96.00 yards

Thread spools at start of 2012:             294
Thread spools emptied this week:            0
Thread spools emptied year to date:      9
Thread spools remaining :                    285

Weigh in Wednesday

2012-01-18T08:40:00.000-08:00

I feel like I did pretty good this last week! But, when I went for weigh-in yesterday, our meeting place was locked up tighter than a drum.... snow closure, and I hadn't thought to think about it..... Today is another snow day in our district, so I can't go to the Wed. meeting either.

My unofficial weigh in at home lets me think that I lost between 3 and 4 pounds. I had 10 exercise points and 10 points plus left over for the week.

My biggest hurdles are going to be weekend breakfasts with hubby, and those Friday night glasses of wine.... I have my work cut out for me to find a happy medium.

Stash report - week 3

2012-01-15T13:00:00.000-08:00

Not a tremendous amount of sewing this week, but I did get a few more swap items and blocks for charity quilts done and crossed off the list.

I had hoped to get a quilt pinbasted yesterday, but it didn't happen..... so hopefully this next week.

Here are my totals to date:

Used this Week:                          1 yards
Used year to Date:                   2.5 yards
Added this Week:                        0 yards
Added year to Date:               102.5 yards
Net used for 2012:               -100.00 yards

Thread spools at start of 2012:           294
Thread spools emptied this week:           2
Thread spools emptied year to date:       9
Thread spools remaining :                   285

Weigh in Wednesdays

2012-01-12T23:31:00.000-08:00

I have officially started Weight watchers!    It is free with our insurance package at work, so it's pretty hard to argue with that... and I must do something to keep the scales from climbing.

My first weigh in was yesterday, and while I wasn't trying to keep one foot off the scale... I did wear my shoes for the first weigh in....

I threatened to put a few D cell batteries in my pockets... but decided against it.

My starting weight?   182.2..... with clothes... when I got home and used my home scale... it said I was 178 with the same clothes.... so I have a 4 pound scale discrepency... guess I need to figure out how to adjust the digital at home..... somehow....

I'm going to try post my progress here on a regular basis.....

My goal weight?   I'm thinking about 150 would feel great..... if I could get there and keep it off.

I'm off to try to find one of those tracker gidget gadget things.....

Stash report week 2

2012-01-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

ok.... I fell off the wagon for sure this week... but as I mentioned last week, I can't resist a good deal.....
A local craft store is having their annual flat fold sale this month.....
How does a girl resist fabrics at $3.99 a yard.... or $3.00 a yard... or even $2.00 a yard?
I can't... I know that.... I tried... believe me... I really did try....

The sale wasn't supposed to start until Wednesday. But on my way to get groceries, I decided to stop in to see what they had.... and they had started the sale early... no one was in the store... I had access to 2 wonderful clerks to cut my fabric for me.... and I went way overboard.....

Believe it or not... this is 102.5 yards of fabric... all stacked up on the counter so I can pay for it.....
My bill totalled $317.44 !!!!   So I really did stick to fabrics that were a bargain...

These are name brands... PB textiles, Red Rooster, Hoffman, Robert Kaufman, Timeless Treasures, SouthSea Imports, Michael Miller, etc.

I got all 10 yards of that yellow with the lime green, turquoise, and brown dots.... It will make great backing and borders.     There are 3 yards in that piece with the wild peace signs... it will be great for a teen or youth quilt... borders... I'm thinking.

See the multi-colored dots in the center stack... about 2/3 from the top??? There are 8 yards of that between the 2 pieces.... should work for backing on several little quilts.

I did manage to come home with some tone on tones and blenders....

Now... the sale runs all month.. and they'll get several shipments of new fabrics.. so I may have to go back.... but meanwhile... I need to get these washed and worked into the fabric wall in my stash room.... maybe I'll make a list of colors I could use more of before I go back.... LOL .

Used this Week: 1.5 yards
Used year to Date: 1.5 yards
Added this Week: 102.5
Added year to Date: 102.5
Net used for 2012: -101.00

Thread spools at start of 2012-           294
Thread spools emptied year to date:       7
Thread spools remaining -                   287

.

Design Wall Monday

2012-01-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

I'm going to try to stay on top of this in 2012.... I usually think about it on Thursday.... part of the problem is that my design wall often gets put away, so it's out of sight.... out of mind...

I'm been working on this for about 2 months now....(like I said... it got put away... out of sight, out of mind...) it will be for a nephew who is about ready for high school, and his baby quilt I made him is looking well loved.

I purchased this panel and the companion print while on vacation a couple of years ago.... after I cut the panel parts I wanted, all the rest of that piece got cut up into squares to use for the setting 4 patches...

2012 UFO Challenge

2012-01-01T09:46:00.000-08:00

Well, the year is off to a big start! Judy has randomly chosen #5 for the January 2012 UFO....

for me... this means that I'll work to complete "Annie's Fortune"

This was an internet mystery quilt that I started in Oct. 2010 by Jessica Smith at the Quilt & Needle. I got the top assembled during the 2011 UFO challenge... but didn't get this one quilted or bound. I did get the backing purchased.... and pre-washed, so I'm getting there..... I think this measures about 84 x 84. It was made entirely from stash fabrics. All it needs is to be sandwiched, pin basted and quilted. I think I should be able to handle this.... LOL Wish me luck....

Are you participating in the UFO challenge? Go to the tabs at the top of my blog to see the 12 quilts I have chosen to finish this year.....

Happy New Year... and Stash Report Checkin

2012-01-01T09:28:00.000-08:00

My stash goal for 2012:

Use more from the existing stash, than I purchase new....

Since my stash is huge, you would think that this would be an easy goal.... but I have to admit that, well, I just LOVE fabric! And... I have severe impulse control when I find a great sale. Ok, I've admitted it publicly.....

I really need to contain my stash to the area I've allotted for it... and I've crammed about as much organizational help into this room as I can.... so it is what it is... In order to maintain some sense of control in my life, it must remain behind the partially closed door of my stash room... I must be able to walk through to find what I need to get at... it must remain somewhat organized.... and I have to share the space with my other obsession of cardmaking and scrapbooking supplies. (It's a good thing that my third obsession is an outdoor activity, and that I don't have to store my gardening supplies or plants in this room, and with an acre and a quarter I still have lots of room to plant and dig.)

It feels good to start the year off with a clean slate. With the 1st of the year starting on a Sunday, I'll start with a zero all the way down the board...

Stash Report: Week #1 - January 1, 2012

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 0 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Net Used for 2012: 0 yards

I'll report:

Tops as completed
Backing as used when a quilt is pin basted (pretty much committed at this point, dont you think? )
Binding when finished
Purchases as they come home

How are you going to do with your stash in 2012? Come join us as we participate in Judy Laquidara's Weekly Stash Report at Patchworktimes.com.

TWO QUILTS IN ONE! FINISHED!!!!!

2011-12-26T15:52:00.000-08:00

After more than one setback.... this is DONE!    This is a reversible Duvet cover that I made for our king size log bed..... (oops.. don't mind the wastebasket in the background.... I was on my way out to the garbage, when I decided to take pics.... ) This side is made up of 4 different "panel" pieces, all by different manufacturers.... and two other outdoorsy prints... married together with scrappy flying geese.   It is HUGE.... 104 x 114".....

This is the back side..... a mystery quilt I started last December over at the Quilt and Needle.   I added the extra side border of deep red/rust to bring it to the same size as the panel top.

Originally, I had this..... which I did not like.... I had to substitute the cream fabric for the leaf fabric i ran out of while cutting.   I just didn't like the way the cream popped....

so... I decided to make more blocks with a rust instead.... much better...

Now we're on the right track.... I got sidetracked when it came time to add 2 invisible zippers so I could stuff it with the comforter..... and then I needed more of the animal print on the other top.... which I had to find and order on line..... This puppy was so large, that I had to move all my family room furniture out of the way to work on it!

Since my original plan was a duvet cover.... I was concerned with the seams of either top fraying as the comforter moved around inside. My remedy was to use a muslin backing on each of the tops... which I spray basted and stitched together..... I now know I will most likely NEVER quilt a king size with a batting inside on my domestic home machine..... I love my Janome... but even the two layers of fabric w/o batting were difficult to maneuver around. The spray basting saved my bacon... I'm sure that pins alone would have been a nightmare.... So... all together there are 4 layers of fabric in the cover alone....

When I turned it right side out, and put the comforter that has been on our bed inside, it was incredibly heavy! I had originally thought that I would use the comforter during the winter months, and then use it as a "summer topper" w/o the comforter during warm weather... but as of half way through the night last night, it will be a summer topper all year through.... I have removed the comforter today. It was so heavy, I couldn't roll over under it....

This is a picture of the leaf side showing on the bed... it is so pretty! I'm going to have a hard time deciding which side to have up every day....

Here are some other close-ups... one of the quilting... I used up 5 spools of that green thread I posted about a couple of weeks ago.....

Center of the top...

See the picture above the bed? Matches pretty good, eh?

Boy, it feels good to get this one out of the UFO pile...... anyone need my old king size comforter? LOL

UFOs... Progress and Plans

2011-12-20T20:26:00.000-08:00

It's time to pick my choices for the 2012 UFO Challenge over at Judy Laquidara's site .

I have a huge pile of UFOs that need to be completed.... so I've made my list for 2012.

You can read my list here.

This is just one pile of projects that need finishing... These are mostly tops waiting to be sandwiched and quilted... I see one i there that's been there for at least 5 years.... it's the green and red one above the salmon colored backing that belongs to it... this was a mystery quilt... Quilt till you wilt... from several years ago... The quilt shop where we did this has been out of business for at least 5 years.... Where does time go?

I did get a bunch done in 2011. Since I give them away as fast as i can finish them... I don't have a pile of quilts to photograph.

I only started 3 new quilts that are not yet completed....

I finished up 6 old UFOs that were on my List for 2011....

I won blocks to be pieced in 5 different block lottery / exchanges in 2011 ..

I actually started 4 quilts in 2011 that got finished and delivered... to people I know....

On the giving front...

I pieced and quilted 3 tops from my stash to go to others in need

I pieced 3 tops from blocks that were group contributions or donated in some way

I quilted 6 tops that for donation or group presentation of some kind... (these did not go to anyone I know personally).

When I actually type the list out... I realize I really did accomplish something besides therapy while sitting at my machine this year....

If It's Organized... Is it Still Considered Hoarding ? ? ? ?

2011-12-11T14:03:00.001-08:00

Ok... I'm obsessive.... I'll admit... but there are times when I even question myself...

I started straightening up from about 6 months worth of projects from around my machine area. This means that I take all the little scraps and bits... and begin sorting into Bonnie's scrap user system. Bonnie Hunter's Scrap Users System Tutorial I've been trying to do this now for about a year.... but all the pieces were in ziplock baggies in a drawer. (not very easy to get to.... for either sorting or using).... As I was cutting squares and bricks the other night, I decided I really needed another way of doing this if I was ever going to use it.

Later that night, it dawned on me, that I had a couple of those drawer sets that you get at the hardware store for sorting nuts and bolts. I've had these forever.... it was what I used for thread storage.... (we'll get to that just a little later).....

So... yesterday morning, while working on my second cup of coffee.... I decided to go empty the thread bins... so I could dust them out and start putting my pre-cut squares away......

The bins turned out to be just the right size! And they are clear on the front.... so I can sort of see what's in them....

Drawer set #1

Drawer Set #2

Here is a picture of one of the drawers

Drawer of 2 1/2" squares

I even stacked some twosies together so I can just grab a stack and stitch when I want to make four patch units....

twosies... ready to stitch!

These two little units sit perfectly ontop of a shelf that holds some of my papercrafting supplies... (*Believe me.... that is an entirely different post.... ) Just to the left... are my larger scrap drawers that hold pieces that are about a FQ or smaller....

Scrap drawers

I have a drawer for everything....

I tried plastic shoe boxes several years ago... but I found it hard to get into them..... I pick up these drawer units when they are on sale..... I've figured out how to take them apart and stack them together in taller units..... (Don't even start in on how much I've invested.... my DH might be reading my blog secretly... LOL) But remember... I did say I ALWAYS buy them on SALE!

And where would I be without IKEA shelves?

It's sort of sorted by color..... and overflowing..... and I shouldn't have to buy fabric for a very long time!

Now.... back to the thread story.....

If one has 293 spools of thread, is it too many? As I was unloadin the thread out of those cute drawers... the word "HOARDER" crept through my mind....

I have some spools that I can pinpoint exactly when and where I purchased them.... It was 1980, in Bend, Oregon... at the sewing machine shop where I purchased my first new sewing machine.... There were no quilt shops then.... in fact... I can't remember if Bend even had a fabric store other than the few bolts that were in the sewing machine store.... If I remember right... I had to drive to Portland to buy fabric.... Maybe there was a House of Fabrics? or the fabric section at the Ben Franklin Drug store.... I sewed all my own clothes then... so you would think I would remember.... but alas... it doesn't come to mind clearly. Any how.... these spools of Molynyke thread were from there.....

I have a serger... and so I've accumulated several sets of thread on cones for that.... I must have purchased 4 of every color..... because I have this...

Serger cones

And just how much white hand quilting thread does a machine quilter need? I found this batch at a yard sale one time, and thought I needed it.... but really... 36 spools? I got an even better deal than the price listed on the spool ends.... I think I paid $5.00 for the entire lot!

Now.... just how much dark green thread should one girl have? I ask sarcastically? Maybe I just wasn't organized enough and couldn't find the green I already had? Maybe I thought I needed that specifically different shade of dark green? I can explain why I have three spools..... One for for my Viking machine.... and two were for the serger..... so that I could stitch a seam and then serge with the same color of thread..... (Did I mention that I can be obsessive? LOL)... that does not explain why I have the two serger cones as well though....

The spools in this picture have never even been started..... still factory sealed....

And just in case someone thinks I've been wasteful.... here are some spools to prove that I never throw anything away !!!!

I found this thread holder at a garage sale this last summer.... thought it might come in handy.... It's two sided... and has a carry handle on the top... It will hold 120 spools of thread

So today... I gathered up all the thread I could find in the house.... and sorted.... I put all the serger cones together... all the hand quilting thread together.... all the rayon and variegated thread together.... Then... I sorted by color groups.... red, brown, blue, gray.... etc.

Small spools went onto the thread rack... and the larger spools went into this little shelf on my wall.

All in all... it's now organized.... and my goal is to use it up! I make enough quilts for charity purposes, that I should be able to use up some of these dips and dabs..... when piecing..... I know... some is poly... some poly-cotton... some all cotton.... but as long as it doesn't snap when I tug on it... it should work just fine!

After all.... I don't see myself needing 6+ spools of rose pink for a project anytime soon

Have a great week everyone!

And a Bonus Quilt!

2011-12-04T21:42:00.001-08:00

Using some of the extra component pieces I had cut way back last November when I first started RRCB, I was able to piece this bonus top! I had to cut and stitch another ten blocks.... I reversed the pink and brown from the original blocks and left the red/neutral HST blocks off. I did however use the green corner stone blocks for the centers of the 10 extra I made...so I used all those up!

I still have some of the border components... but I'm thinking of cutting some green/pink/green strips and making some cute 4" 9 patch blocks.... not sure where they'll get used yet.. but I'm sure they'll get more use than the leftovers I have now....

The piece of shell pink I used for the alternate blocks has been hanging around for awhile.... and I used most of the piece I had.... This measures about 53 x 65". A great youth size, or even a nice sized baby quilt. I'll have this one waiting in the wings for someone special. It has more piecing in it than most of the charity type baby quilts I do.

I can't believe how labor intensive those pieced borders are....

My Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll Mystery top by Bonnie Hunter

2011-12-03T10:07:00.001-08:00

Roll Roll Cotton Boll mystery quilt

Well, this mystery started a year ago! I know I work slowly sometimes... but I had actually made excellent progress on the steps as they were posted last December, but I put it aside sometime in early spring to work on something else... and didnt get back to it.   (I had been sloppy in either cutting, sewing or both, when it came to all those red and neutral 1/2 square triangles).

I've decided that I don't need another queen size quilt.... and since the majority of quilts that I gift to people are larger lap throws to snuggle under, I've decided to use fewer blocks... and not add the pieced border that is pictured at the very top of the photo.   This is beautiful and busy, just as it sits... so I'll sandwich it... quilt it... and put a binding on it.... no border at all! This will most likely go to one of my nieces..... sure hope she likes pink, green and brown!

The remaining units that are cut, stitched, etc?   I have an internet buddy who wants a King size... and she dislikes the string piecing process... so I'll ship my strings to her this next week..... then I'll use the remaining pieced blocks and border pieces and some neutral fabric to create another top.   Since I miscut several of those half square triangles... I won't border the churn dash blocks with them... rather I'll use the ones that are the correct size in another way.... or possibly set them aside for a different project later.   (I already have a baggie full of HST to cut down to 1 1/2"  rather than the 2" they were supposed to be.)   Lesson learned... cut carefully... stitch carefully... watch that scant 1/4"!

I do love the way this has turned out!   Bonnie has started a new mystery for 2011 on her blog which is now in step 3. I'm saving the steps for later... because as you see by my side bar... I have tons of projects in process that I am determined to get off the shelf and into someone's arms.

Quilts for others....

2011-12-01T21:11:00.001-08:00

I've been working on several quilts that will go or which have already gone to others, who I don't personally know, in the hopes that they will find warmth and hope around them.

This little quilt went to a young lady who's dad was killed in a surfing accident this fall. The Windy Hill Quilters out in Corbett give to those in their community who are in need. Each of three siblings received a quilt. I worked on this one..... thinking that a 12 year old girl would enjoy the bright panel prints and sort of funky floral fabric.

Teen Girl Panel Quilt

This butterfly quilt is a group project at thequiltandneedle.com . We have several group projects going... Quilts of Valor, Charity projects for Pine Ridge Reservation, and a children's center for children who have been through abuse. We also make Quilt Auntie quilts for the wee ones in the lives of our members. This quilt will go to a little baby granddaughter of one of our members in Arkansas. I was the quilter for this project, but it is good to know that it is on it's way to it's proper owner.

Where is my Blog mojo?

2011-12-01T20:35:00.001-08:00

I always have good intentions of stopping by and giving updates..... but this has been a stressful last couple of months for me...

Excuse #1 - my dear husband was diagnosed with prostrate cancer in September.   After consultation with his doctors, we opted for surgical removal. His surgery was a the week before Thanksgiving and he is now home healing and recouperating.   Pathology reports will be back any day now... and we'll know if there was anything detected in the lymph nodes that they removed. If it's an "all clear", then he won't need any radiation or chemo.

Excuse #2 - the program that I teach for, moved locations over the summer. This has created some changes in the types of activities we do with our students and the locations that those activities occur in.   We also have a new administrator this year, so things are stressful there as well.

Excuse #3 - when I feel like I actually have some "extra me time".... I try to fill it with doing something creative.

Excuse #4 - my mom always told me that if I couldn't say anything nice, not to say anything at all. I try to live this daily.. and try to carry it a step further... and feel that if I can't be positive then I should probably not share my thoughts..... instead, I try to reach deep within and find the strength to keep moving on... to recharge myself.....to look for solutions to problems and figure out how to turn lemons into lemonade.

So... why do I sit here and type excuses on a blog? Mostly to let those of you out there in blog land, know why I haven't posted in several months.....   In the next few days... I hope to give you all an update of what's been happening postive in my life the last few months....

Twin Star Tutorial

2011-08-25T22:46:00.000-07:00

This is a tutorial for making one 18 1/2" Twin Star Block.

You need:

one square background 7 3/8"

four squares background 6 1/2"

one square for center 6 1/2"

two squares main star color 6 7/8"

one square accent color 7 3/8"

Now, we will cut the two 7 3/8" squares on both diagonals, creating 4 quarter square triangles of each color. (QST)

Take the two 6 7/8" squares of the main star color, and cut on one diagonal to create 4 half square triangles. (HST)

Match a background QST with an accent color QST right sides together. Orient as in the picture above, so that you will start stitching from the flat side of the triangle. Stitch with the background fabric on the top. (this will assure that all your resulting units will be the same)

Repeat to make 4 units. Press towards the darker fabric. Trim dog ears. (Take care, not to stretch the bias as you stitch and press)

The resulting triangles will look like this... with the background on the left side, when the triangle is pointing up like in the picture below.

Now, place a main color HST on top of this unit with right sides together, matching the 90 degree corner and the short sides. Using your ruler, double check to make sure that the short sides of the triangles measure an accurate 6 7/8".

(As you can see, my pieced triangle is a bit larger... I may not have cut very accurately)

I could just stitch this using the blue as a guide, but I'm a bit more compulsive than that, and I prefer to carefully cut this little extra off.

(Sometimes, it may be even larger than this, making it difficult to get a perfect scant 1/4" seam allowance.)

When you have the triangles corrected, you are ready to stitch. Congratulations if you didn't have to adjust any at all!

Stitch the units together on the long edge. This is on the bias, so be careful not to stretch it as you stitch.

Make 4

Press towards the large triangle.

Trim your dog ears, and square to 6 1/2".

All your units should now measure 6 1/2". Lay them out so that they look like the picture below.

Now we'll stitch it together like a ninepatch block. Too make sure that your star points will be nice and sharp, make sure that the outside edges of your blocks are all nice and even.

Stitch into 3 rows, press towards the background and center squares.

Stitch the rows together. Press. Your block should be a perfect 18 1/2" inches. trim and square if necessary.

July UFO finish!

2011-08-09T11:15:00.001-07:00

I actually got this finished in May..... Not a machine stitch in it anywhere! YEAH!

Time Flies

2011-08-09T09:32:00.000-07:00

Where does time go? My last post was in early May? I've been working in the garden.... and doing some stitching..... This little baby quilt will be for a great-great nephew that will join us sometime in September. The best news? That monkey fabric was on clearance for $1.50 a yard..... I purchased the banana fabric, but the others all came from my stash. I couldn't resist making a few applique monkey faces to fill in the yellow brick road's large squares.

My summer break is over 1/2 over now... and my "to do" list is still looming. The ground is now leveled for my greenhouse, the shop still needs major re-organization, and the lower bathroom still needs it's facelift.

I'm signing off for now... got things to do....

Tutorial for Planting Planters and Container Gardening in General….

2011-05-02T17:03:00.000-07:00

Middle of August and Still going strong!

I’ve always loved container gardening! You may have seen my tutorial about the exchange planters I am doing this year. I’ve had several people ask me in the past how my planters look so full and lush all season.

Here’s what I do. Click on the pictures for a larger view!

1. I exchange at least half of the soil in a container each year, with new potting soil. Where does the old half go? Well, usually some of it has washed out through numerous waterings all summer. Also, when I pull the old plants out, there is the soil that is clinging to the roots. The other part of the half that I pull out goes to a pile I like to call “Dirt Heaven”. It gets mixed in with the compost or to help lighten up clay soil around the yard. After all, it’s bark, vermiculite, perlite, and peat for the most part. So I usually dump the entire pot out into the wheelbarrow.

2. Think of it as “Soil lasagna”… when filling the pots, use equal parts of old soil, new soil in layers until the pot is about 2” from the top. Mix it well, so that you can’t tell where the two different soils are. (This does work best if the old soil is slightly moist. I always try to water my old pots a couple days before I’m going to work with them. If they are too wet, it’s a soggy mess.)

Remember to pull out those
old tangled root pieces!

My “Soil Lasagna”. This is half old potting soil, half new potting soil. It’s about 2” from the top of the pot.

(Don’t try to use regular garden soil for container plants. It just doesn’t drain right, and you’ll have a soggy, muddy mess. Please don’t ask me how I know this.)

3. Add moisture pellets and a good fertilizer. I personally like Osmocote 14-14-14 for this. It lasts for 4 months…. And fertizes every day.

You can buy potting mix by Miracle Grow ( and other companies )that already has these mixed in, but I like to do it myself. It is about half the price, and I have more control over what goes in. A little of the moisture crystals go a long way, and one jar has lasted me a couple of years or more.

This is just one brand of the moisture crystals.

Osmocote 14-14-14

A good, all purpose fertilizer

Follow the instructions on the package . Sprinkle both on the surface… Mix Well!

Find the plants you want to put into the planter.

Here is a little side tutorial for those not familiar with the moisture crystals.

These little guys will be a lifesaver in the heat of summer. They help hold moisture in the soil, and then slowly dry up, releasing the moisture as they do. (Just remember that if your pot goes totally dry… it will take a very good soaking to plump them back up.)

I put about ¼ teaspoon into this little container.

I added about ½ teaspoon of water

I waited about 30 minutes

See the little “cubes” of gel? That is what they turned into.

Some have asked me why I don’t add the moisture crystals to all the soil… I want my roots deeper than the top 1 or 2” of soil, so if the crystals are lower, it will “invite” better root growth. The other reason is… if you have the crystals in the top, they tend to “float”, and then it looks like “jellyfish” have invaded your planters.

4. Let’s get to planting! I like my pots very full! I never read the spacing requirements when doing pots. {If you have ever looked closely at those beautiful pots at the garden center that cost $50.00 or more, you will notice that they are packed tight!} I can buy a lot of plant starts for $50.00… in fact… I can usually plant 5-6 full planters for that price! It depends on how many premiums I put in, and if I got them all on sale or not.

This planter has a spot for tomatoes or other trailers to grow out of the bottom.

I am doing Early Girl tomatoes in this one, so the tomato goes in BEFORE I start my “soil lasagna”

This is what it looks like before building up my soil. See the tomato root ball sticking up in the center?

I usually start by laying my plants in the general layout I think I want.Taller plants in the back or center, depending on where the planter will sit.

Then I start by putting a 1" buffer of soil between the plant and the outside of the pot. (Remember that pots can get hot sitting in the sun.) I put all the outside plants in first, remembering the buffer zones along the outside.

Then I fill in the center plants.

I fill the soil up to the plant line as I go….

This means that for a large premium 4” plant that I dig a small hole for it.

I try to leave at least 1” between the top of the soil, and the rim of the planter to hold water

Gently pack the soil in around the plants to give them firm support.

Now, add a few more of the fertilizer beads to the top.

I tuck the pull tags of the plants I used, behind one of the plants at the edge. This way I can remember what's in there, and make notes about performance, etc in my gardening journal.

Sweep up the loose soil and plant parts BEFORE you water in your planterGive the planter a good drink of water. Check soil level, and if necessary, add more. Water again.

This planter has:

One midnight wave (I think it’s a scaeveola), One red geranium, one pink bacopa, a lime licorice vine, two white alyssum starts, two midnight blue lobelia starts, two red petunia starts, and 3 impatiens starts. And a 3" tomato start! The first four were all 4” plants and the starts were from tray packs. Cost of plants was less than $10.00

5. I start my planters about 3 weeks before I would put plants out into the actual soil. Usually between Easter and Mother’s Day. The planters with their fresh soil mix are warmer than the soil in the ground, and they have better drainage. Just remember that if you have frost -fragile plants, that you tuck the pots under cover if it’s going to get cold.

Oops! Frost damage to this little sweet potato vine.

It’s hard to protect from spring hailstorms though…. This begonia got caught out one afternoon last week.

6. Water on a regular basis. Try to keep the soil damp…. Not soggy, not dried out. If by chance a planter or hanging basket dries out, soak it in a tub of water if possible…. So that those little water crystals can re-hydrate. I usually soak mine for about 2 hours or so if needed.

7. Fertilize ! Fertilze ! Fertilize ! I know.... we used those fertilizer beads, but I always do a liquid water-soluble fertilizer (Miracle Grow, Schultz, Peters, etc.) about once a week when watering. This is where I can be planter specific. Do I want a bloom booster? {use one with a High middle number… i.e.. 15-30-15}. Do I want overall growth? {use one that is more evenly proportioned i.e.… 20-20-20.} They make those great hose end feeders, but I like to do it the old-fashioned way, and mix the powder into a watering can. This way, I get up close to the plants.

By the way… those fertilizer numbers…. Think…. “UP, DOWN, ALL AROUND” and that will make it easier.

First number is nitrogen - for top growth… green growth….

Second number is phosphorous - for roots and blooms…

Third number is potassium – for overall strength and vitality. If plants have been stressed, or have week stems, try to increase this number. Or go with an even proportion until the stress is over, and then return to the bloom booster.

8. Deadhead and Pinch. This is vital to a great looking pot. (or garden in general). I usually do this with my bare hands, but some like to use scissors. As blooms fade, pinch off the dead or wilted flower. If the lobelia gets a little brown, pinch it back or pull that part off. To keep the trailers going, pinch back about 1/4 to 1/3 of the foliage and blooms each week. (as your are fertilizing is a good time.) This way, you never have to really give the entire planter a full haircut, but it keeps generating new growth that looks good. Pinching back, especially early in the season, forces the plant to fill out more. I know, it’s hard to pick off that first petunia bloom, but believe me; it will give you a much better show later if you do.

{Did you know? The only job of an annual flower is to produce seeds for the next generation? In order to produce the seed, it has to flower first! So… if you pinch off the fading flower, BEFORE it goes to seed, then the plant needs to produce another flower! } Yes, you can trick a petunia to flower over and over, all season. But, if you let it go to seed, then it will retire and go to the seed ripening stage, and stop flowering for you.

This was taken last August….

So was this one… same planter, but you can see the tomato growing out the bottom!

I hope I haven’t bored you today with planting tutorials… just wanted to share my methods and ideas.

2011-05-02T14:24:00.000-07:00

Tutorial for Exchange Planters….

This is an idea I’ve been thinking about for several years. Back in the semi-dark ages when I managed a garden center, one of my regular customers did these for people as a side job. It sounded like a great idea at the time, but I’ve never put it to practice for myself. This is the year!

We have a solid surface deck, that does not drain water easily. The mixture of patio / deck pots I had last year, were always overflowing, even with saucers, and making a mess. Our deck is huge… and those small pots seemed lost and to just kind of sit there, like an afterthought.

The plan works like this:

You pick out pots that fit your décor. Then, using a liner pot, you plant your summer color in the liner. You are also going to plant a liner up for fall, one for winter interest, and one for early spring. When it’s time to switch from one season to the other, you pull the early spring bulbs liner out, and replace it with the summer color one. You can plant up your fall one, with mums, asters, autumn joy sedums, etc. The winter one could have small evergreens with trailing ivy. The spring one could be planted with bulbs, and have room to tuck in some primroses or pansies when they become available in Feb. The possibilities are endless.

Remember the customer I was telling you about earlier? He would plant an extra up for his clients, so that in case something happened to a single plant or to the pot, there was a replacement ready to go in it’s place. This would be an especially great idea if you were planning a garden wedding or special event. A little back-up plan.

How to:

Now, before you run out and buy just any pot for this project, you will want to do some homework first. You need to find some inserts. These could be inexpensive, large black plastic nursery pots (mine were free)…. Or they could be purchased plastic ones that are a little more decorative. I would try for pots that are at least 5 gallon in size or so, to make it worth the trouble of planting. You need these in multiples of 3 or 4 for each decorative planter you want. This is determined by how many seasons you want to plant for. Having them all consistent is size is best…because in the end, you’ll do a lot less fussing.

I got 12 of these #10 pots from a nursery in my area.

(Thanks Vicky!).

They were used, but in good shape. They are all the same. I need to get 4 more when they have some more to give away.

They measure 12” tall, and 18” across

I actually took one of my liners with me the day I shopped. I was looking for something that the liner would go down into, and be approximately the same size at the top. It’s ok, if the decorative pot is deeper, because you can always build a shelf inside with something to bring it to the right level. You do want to avoid having the liner be much more than ½ inch taller than your decorative pot, though.

So, off I went to find my new decorative pots! I purchased some High Density Resin planters that look like whiskey barrels. They are lightweight, durable, and don’t have drainage holes. (Although you could drill them if you want to). I didn’t want to spend another $25.00 just for a saucer to go under my large planter. I found mine at Lowes, but there are lots of these lightweight planters available, in either the resin, fiberglass, or even cork. If you haven’t been out pot shopping in awhile, you’re in for a treat! I was looking for a rustic type of look, so the whiskey barrel was my choice. (I’m thinking that I’ll go buy another one to use to fill with ice for summer beverages on the deck.)

My planters are 22” across at the top, and 12” high.

This is the label inside of the whiskey barrels.

In the picture above you can see how much room there is for my fingers.

From overhead, you can see that gap all the way around.

You also don’t want it to be more than a couple of inches wider at the mouth than your liner. A nice snug fit is best, but leave yourself enough room to pull it back out once it’s full of soil.

When set down inside of my decorative pot, my liner was ½” taller, and there was about 1” all the way around at the top. I could put my hand down inside. The shape of the whiskey barrel is flared at the top, and my #10s are straight up and down. I’ll show you my solution to that in a while.

I fill my pots pretty full. I want a lot of color impact going on. These will fill out in month or so, and by July it will be in full glory.

Now, about that gap….. Since I had an inch all the way around, I wanted to fill it in. I thought about moss, but since I will have to pull my planters out to drain water, I didn’t want the moss mess. (If you are using decorative pots with drainage, then decorative moss would be a nice touch.)

I filled the gap in with some of that flexible foam pipe insulation that comes in 4 foot lengths at the home improvement store. Mine was for ½” pipe, but they make other sizes.

Slip one end of the pipe wrap into the gap between the two pots. (Put the split side down)

Work your way around the planter, tucking the pipe wrap in.

When you get all the way around, trim it with a razor blade

This is the view of the side elevation. My liner is slightly taller than the outside pot, but the round pipe wrap fills the gap nicely

A top view….

Another side view….

I fill my pots pretty full. When doing planters,

I don’t read the spacing instructions.

This planter has:

One upright fuchsia, one midnight wave (I think it’s a scaeveola), a yellow leaved sweet potato vine, two white alyssum starts, two midnight blue lobelia starts, one petunia start, and a marigold start. The first three were all 4” plants and the starts were from tray packs.

In no time at all, these will all cascade over the edge, and I’m hoping that the foam filler won’t even be an issue.

Now, I just need to start planning what will be in the fall and winter planters, and get them started. I have lots of room for these to sit down by the shop. But if you are limited in space, you may want to just plant one season for now, and the next season approaching.

Remember…. Wherever you put your “next season planters”… make sure to water them!

A Week's Progress....

2011-05-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

My sister gave me this adorable planter! I can hardly wait
for the plants tostart cascading down the pots.

   I'm in better spirits than my last post. I was able to catch up on several little nagging projects this last week.

   The pile of black garbage bags is now in a trailer, ready to go to the dump. (Honest, I'd compost, but there are noxious weeds in those bags!) It took three trips in the golf cart with my little red trailer to get all those bags moved. First, I helped put the new floor in the trailer, so we didn't walk through the soft spots.

   I got the little piles of stuff that were scattered all over from taxes, and our tendency to come in the door and drop. We drop coats, backpacks, tote bags, hats, mail, keys, and little pieces of paper that I haven't a clue what "John 888-111-2222" means. Please, honey.... at least put down what you were going to call him about.... that way I'll be able to help you when you call me at work and ask..."have you seen a piece of paper with a phone number on it? [ the piece of paper could be a lottery form, a tail end of a napkin, the back of the envelope I just recycled, the back of the phone bill... etc. ]

   The fridge has been cleaned out... I'm almost caught up with laundry.... Although these two things seem to always need doing, but last week they were weighing heavily on my mind. Maybe the threat of opening up that underwear drawer and finding it totally empty was looming closer and closer.... LOL

   I was able to catch up on a large majority of my little sewing swap commitments last week. They have all been mailed to their new homes.

   And I spent two full days this weekend out in the yard. I got my deck planters planted.. and the garage planters done as well. (I'm working on a tutorial to show you how I did this)

Believe me... there really were other flowers in here last sumer!

I used the creeping charlie that had taken over the planters from last summer, and divided it up... and planted the exposed bank around our carport with creeping charlie plants. If it fills in as quickly there as it did in those pots... I'll be very happy!

The area it is in, is under some tall fir trees, no grass grows in the area below it. (the grass looks like the beard of a 16 year old.... pretty sparse). So even if the ground cover really takes hold, it will not bother me at all. The best part about the whole project is that I priced ground cover last summer when we poured that pad. It looked like it was going to cost me over $100 for ground cover starts. If I remember correctly, I bought six 4" starts of that stuff last spring. Divided each pot into 2-3 small sections and used it as a trailer in my planters... so my total investment was under $25. Not bad, if I say so myself.

The north side of this area... planting in progress

I use the length of my planter as a measuring tool

First the weeds! This is the East side before
I started planting.

This is a better look at the East side and the amount of
slope I was working with.

Catching Up.... or....Digging My Way Out....

2011-04-23T23:26:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure why, but it seems that every now and then, I find myself just buried! Buried in laundry, buried in misc housework, buried in paperwork at school, buried in outside committments, and then... spring hits... and I'm double buried in yardwork. Now, don't get me wrong... I usually bring most if this on myself.... a little slip here, a little slip there... and next thing you know... I'm just buried!

Last fall, we had a sudden turn in the weather.... from glorious sunny days, to outright downpours. The soil turned soggy and muddy before I could do my fall cleanup. I didn't pull the dahlias, didn't rake the leaves under the shedding wisterias... didn't get the late summer weeds pulled. Working full time, I really count on evenings and weekends to get the outside stuff done. Add a couple of great car shows that take up fall weekends, and here I am! BURIED! Our spring hasn't been very cooperative either.... We had rain EVERY day in March.... and the first half of April. I think we just turned the corner... we even broke 60 degrees yesterday.
Over the last couple of weeks, I've pulled weeds, raked leaves, stacked support cages, and baited for slugs. I've trimmed roses, hydrangeas, butterfly bushes, and lavender plants. Now.... I'm buried in black plastic bags and trimmings that need to be hauled away! I'm still not done pulling and raking, but I feel like I'm getting close to air.....

I have also slipped and fallen behind in my quilting exchange committments.... So the other night, I spent a few hours and got some catching up done. still not there completely, but hopefully my quilty friends around the world will bear with me and continue to let me play with them.
These are the April Happy Blocks from the ScrappyandHappy Yahoo Group.... formerly our Block Central group. Northern Deb chose the theme this month.... Fruits or Veggies in the center.... with borders that would remind us of summer table clothes. I found that Lettuce fabric and knew immediately that I needed a quarter yard.

We have a whole new batch of Quilt Auntie quilts to do at the QuiltandNeede.com I'm currently signed up for blocks for 4. I have two done.... both of them butterfly blocks for little girls.....

I was way behind the eight ball on the March "my favorite block" swap at the scrappyandhappy yahoo group. I should have mailed these blocks out the 7th of April... and they didn't go out until the 22. This block is called "Checkerpins". It's from Marcia Hohn's Quilter's Cache . If you haven't visited this site which is chock full of free quilt block patterns.... You are really missing a treat!
The theme for the month was bright, spring like prints, with white backgrounds. We make two blocks from one of our favorite block patterns .... and then there is a draw for two lucky winners. We do this swap every other month. I really need to get started on the one for the next draw... it's theme is batiks.

I also have the row robin to work on.... it's not due to be mailed until the 6th of May.

I'd like to think that I'll get caught up before my summer break starts... but that is not a guarantee.... but I'm sure I'd make better headway if I log off this computer... LOL

Quilt kits....

2011-04-20T16:17:00.000-07:00

Remember back about a week ago.... I mentioned making quilt kits from my own stash..... I used both of my crib quilt kits for the Japan quilts..... I still have a black/white/red yellow brick road..... a strawberry kit for I think it's One block wonder, and a one block wonder black/white red.... ready to stitch.

This is one of the crib quilt kits I had made ahead from my stash.

I use those clear bags that linens come in that have the zippers. These are great for this! I have friends who give me these bags in all sorts of sizes.

Here you can see the contents of my kit. I use simple sticky notes to label my various sizes before putting them in the bag. If there were lots of different triangles etc.... I would put them into separately marked baggies.

I usually make sure to put a copy of the pattern into the bag as well..... that way, I don't have to hunt for it when I get ready to start stitching.

I didn't have the pattern handy with me the day I posted about the Japan quilt #1. Since there is a rather famous pattern called "one block wonder" on the market besides this one.... I took a picture of the entire front envelope. I did do a google search and was able to find that this pattern is still available. I have found that it is so adaptable to scraps.... or to two or three fabrics.... what they use is two rectangles as the center of the block... but I fussy cut the polka dot square to take it's place in this one.....

One Block Wonder

So..... go ahead... next time you are cutting out a quilt that you know is simple to do.... look through your stash.... see if there is anything that you could cut a second one out of.... and bag it up, ready to take with you, or to have on hand, if you want to piece, and don't want to cut.....

Stash Report Week 16

2011-04-19T23:07:00.000-07:00

       I must confess, I fell off the perverbial wagon last week. I had been doing so well! I had to purchase 4 yards of flannel to back two quilts to go to Japan.... found it on sale, and spent less than $9.00. This was for such a great cause... and I don't keep flannel in my stash as a general rule.
          My UFO #4... was one I did not have backing fabric for... so I needed 7.5 yards for that if I'm going to get a start at finishing it. (with 10 days left this month.... I'm not feeling very confident).   I also got this on sale, and spent less than $25.
          then the trouble started.... LOL
         JoAnn fabrics had their clearance fabrics for 50% off.... this made most of them $1.50 a yard....and I lost all control.   I did get 55 yards of fabric for $85.00 Most of these were larger pieces that I can use for either backings or borders or both. oh, yeah... I picked up three pieces of fruit / veg fabric for an exchange....

This last week increase - 66 yards

Last two weeks used -11 yards

Year to date increase = 165.5 yards

Year to date used: - 30 yards

stash increased year to date --- 135.5 yards

A second quilt for Japan

2011-04-19T13:03:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow is the 20th... the deadline for getting quilts to our project coordinator... My sweet husband drove out to her house yesterday to deliver my contribution while I was at work.

I got a second quilt done as well. The basic fabrics are the same as the first one, but I placed the colors in a different places, and got totally different results!

Both are backed with flannel. one is all this little blue/white floral. The other one is pieced, 'cause I ran out of flannel after is shrank in the laundry when I pre-washed it! This next picture is the pieced back and and the label I made for both. I'm still playing with the fonts on my new Janome.... I wish I could make the letters smaller.

It felt really good to make the majority of these two quilts from my stash! All I bought was the 4 yards of flannel on sale, which totaled less than 9 dollars! one of them I used 3 pieces of batting scraps stitched together to get enough batting.

I hope these keep some little Japanese girl cozy for a long time!

A Quilt for Japan....

2011-04-08T09:08:00.000-07:00

   Our guild is promoting the Quilt for Japan project being sponsored by Quilter's Newsletter. They have arranged for shipping of any quilt sent to them by April 31st.

   Here is a link to a request for baby quilts..... http://www.electricquilt.com/Users/News/current.asp
and here is the link to the Quilter's newsletter blog.... http://www.quiltersnewsletter.com/blogs/insideqn/2011/03/18/call-for-quilts-for-japan/

   Since I don't have to pay for any shipping at all if I can get a quilt to our chairperson by the 20th of April.... I decided I could help out.

   A couple of years ago, in an effort to move some fabric along from my stash, I cut some "kits" for charity type quilts.... a couple of baby quilts... and some large lap sizes. These were EZ patterns... a few "yellow brick roads".... and some "one block wonders"...

   Having these pre-cut kits means that if I'm heading out to a sewing day, or need a quick project, the cutting and planning part are already done. I can grab a packet and go! Plus, the patterns don't require a lot of fussy piecing. Both patterns are great for beginners, because the individual block components never have to meet another seam. Once all the blocks are squared to the same size, they hide a lot of errors.

   So, back to my quilt for Japan. I had a kit for a baby/toddler quilt still in the drawer. So last night after the dinner dishes were done, I started piecing. This is what I came up with in just a couple hours of piecing.

This cute little purple with yellow duck print has been hanging around at my house since my 15 year old granddaughter was a baby. I cut out a sundress and bonnet, and never got it made before she outgrew the pattern I had cut out .... so I re-purposed the fabric into 2.5 x 4.5 rectangles. This is the "one block wonder" pattern. I've also made larger blocks with 3.5 x 6.5 rectangles. Oh, and the yellow pin- dot fabric? I can't remember when I purchased that, but it is probably the same vintage as the ducks.

So, today I need to go buy some cuddly flannel backing. JoAnn's has their flannel on sale for 60% off. Since I have another identical kit in my drawer, I'll go ahead and buy enough backing for both. Who knows... maybe I'll get both finished before the April 20th deadline????

I plan on doing a very simple machine quilting design.... nothing too fussy. And a label is definite must!

April UFO challenge #4

2011-04-01T22:08:00.000-07:00

this is the quilt I need to finish for the April UFO challenge....

This is my quilt #4.... the number chosen by Judy today..... this is one of the quilts on my to finish list..... which I did not buy backing for this winter.... That will need to be the first task on my list.... or piece something from mutliple fabrics in my stash.... since I'm also doing the stash challnge... that makes the most sense.

March UFO is complete !!!

2011-03-29T22:27:00.000-07:00

I still have 24 hours..... and my March UFO is done!

I wonder what next month's number will be?

I am so glad to be finished with this group of fabrics.... I made 4 quilts with the same print in 3 colorways over the last 2 years..... down to crumbs of scraps and a couple of binding strips left.

2011 UFO challenge - March

2011-03-20T10:28:00.000-07:00

The UFO drawn for March is #1.....

How fortunate am I? that is the one at the top of my list...... I'm holding off presenting two other quilts on getting this one finished!

It's spring brek week, and this is on my "to do" list.

I need to get the quilting marked, pinbaste and do the quilting on this one... then bind and label....

Wish me luck! I have 8 days off work yet. and 11 days till the end of the month to meet my challenge.

Stash report week 12

2011-03-20T10:15:00.000-07:00

I haven't finished anything..... haven't sewn a stitch in 2 weeks.    But I did buy 1 fat quarter at our local quilt show last week.

I'm getting ready to make some mug rugs as gifts, and one of my co-workers loves chickens. I NEEDED some chicken fabric!

I wandered around our quilt show for 4 days.... and that FQ was my only purchase! I went to another local quilt show Friday... no purchases..... a trip to a local fabric store..... put 3 pieces in my cart, but ultimately put them back......

WTD stash used: 0 yards
YTD stash used: 19.145 yards

WTD stash increase:    .25 yards
YTD stash increase:    99.63 yards

stash busted: - 80.48

Sunday STash report Feb 20

2011-02-20T15:44:00.000-08:00

I'm new to the stash reporting stuff, but I decided to start a spreadsheet at the beginning of 2011 to see if I could use more than I puchased this year.

That didn't work out so well at the beginning...... A local craft store had flat folds of Red Rooster, Andover, Makower, etc for $3.00 a yard.!!! So much for my best laid plans.....

I did take an inventory of all my current UFO's and quilts in planning, and took advantage of the great pricing and purchased backing fabrics for everything in the pipeline. ( I think)....

WTD stash used: 3.5 yards
YTD stash used: 19.145 yards

WTD stash increase: 0 yards
YTD stash increase: 99.38 yards

stash busted: - 80.23

What have I been up to?

2011-02-20T11:23:00.000-08:00

     I can't believe it's been a month since I posted last.... I've been trying to stitch more..... and be on the computer less.... guess I've made progress on at least one of those goals....LOL .
     I've finished a quilt for my new nephew, Dylan.   I made his big brother, Carter, a quilt with sailboats in bright colors, so since the two are sharing a room, wanted bright colors for Dylan's quilt as well.
     I chose this darling little airplane from http://www.fatcatpatterns.com/.   Added some churn dash or monkey wrench blocks from my scrap stash and found this bright stripe for borders and backing.
     This is Dylan's "Friendly skies" quilt before I quilted it.

This is Carter's "Clear Sailing" quilt which I finished 2 years ago.

I have completed the quilting on this one, but haven't created the label or washed it yet. I've decided to enter the airplane quilt in our guild's quilt show this next month, so I need to attach a sleeve as well.

Rescued Quilts!

2011-01-17T20:56:00.000-08:00

My dear husband bought these quilts at a car swap meet yesterday..... and for $25.00! They came with two other quilts, made of poly double knits... tied with poly batting..... they will be used for protecting car fenders.... which sadly is probably where these two beauties were bound to go, if not spotted by one of the guys under a table.

"I could be Denise's hero if we got those quilts", he told Mike later at breakfast. "what quilts? he asked. "in the horse arena, there were quilts...."   so after breakfast, these four men traipse back to the swap meet, to find the guy with the basket of quilts. (oh, how I wish I could have been there to hear four men talking about the quilts under a table at the car swap meet....)

So I get a phone call, "hey, there are some quilts here, how much are they worth?"   I asked.."can you take a pic with your phone and send it to me?"   (Well, that didn't happen...) He did take the picture, but couldn't figure out how to send it via the droid.   He did manage to tell me in the phone conversation that the nice one, was a wedding ring quilt... and he thought it was hand quilted!

The double wedding ring was probably made in the 1980's, judging by the fabrics. The maker did a nice job with color placement, putting a lime green plaid fabric in the same place on each melon, creating a green wheel effect at each intersection.    She used tiny seams allowances though, so there is some mending to be done.... and it won't be the first round. I see where it has been mended before.   It is 80" square.   It has a polyester batting and is stain free.

This sweet baby quilt was in the bottom of the basket. It is also hand quilted, and has been lovingly used. In looking at it closely, the maker fussy cut the eyes out of a white with blue polka dot fabric, so that they are all looking in the same direction.

He is a keeper! He not only knew the pattern name, he noticed that it was hand quilted, and he went back to find them..... Maybe he is listening.....

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T22:33:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season... I've spent a majority of mine, sitting at my sewing machine....My new sewing machine..... Mike surprised me with the idea to buy a new machine..... (now really folks, when your spouse asks you in a sewing machine store if you want a new machine, he better be serious, right? LOL). Actually, buying a new machine was nowhere on my radar, so when he asked that question and the sales clerk started showing me the newest and latest, I was in shock. I took it for a test drive over sample after sample.... but before I actually took the plunge, we came home and I did some research, reading blogs, looking at the yahoo groups, just to make sure that I would be happy with the decision to get rid of my workhorse Juki 98 and my lower end Janome for the new Janome Horizon 7700.

Meet Ruby! She's beautiful, she's red, and she's a gem!

We've spent the better part of the last week, getting to know each other... where is that 'scant 1/4 inch'
on each foot? what do all these buttons and dials do? we did some piecing, actually lots of piecing as I worked on the 600 HST for Bonnie Hunters's mystery step 5... and then stiched them together into groups of 5 for step 6.

Yesterday, I put my piecing aside and decided it was time for Ruby and I to do some quilting. I have so many tops to get finished and out of here! She quilted like a dream! I love her three different FMQ feet.... the straight stitch automatic thing on the throat plate.... she is so smooth and quiet! I learned that she is finicky about either bobbins, or the way thread comes off a cone... We had to have a little "meeting of the minds". regarding some pink cone thread I was using for one section. I had used some other cone thread earlier w/o any issues, but I had also wound some bobbins on my sidewinder... so I haven't decided yet which was the bigger issue, but after going back to winding bobbins on the Janome, a fresh needle and then winding some of the pink cone thread onto bobbins and using them like sideway spools, she was happy again... (maybe it was just new machine colic?) We quilted happily along until 11 pm last night, when I ran out of the variegated thread I was using on the border, 1/2 way through the border! Don't you just hate that? The "target foot", allowed me to try echo quilting w/o doing any marking, I think I'm going to like this feature, once I get my sideways straight motion going straighter...

Today, she and I effortlessly quilted for 3 hours w/o a single broken top thread, bumpy bottom tension, or needle mishap! We'll put her through the binding test next. I hear that some have had isssues going over bumpy seam intersections, so we'll test that. I have the 1/4 " auto feed foot, got it as a bonus with my machine.....

Clue 5

2010-12-17T00:06:00.001-08:00

OMG!
      Just when I thought I had a handle on 60 string blocks.... (actually I have 47 totally done, pressed, de-papered (is that a word?), pressed again, and squared.) The last 13 blocks need fewer than 3 or 4 strips each, some are down to just a corner or single strip..... but my bobbins were empty when I stopped about 15 minutes ago.... the iron needed water again too, so it just seemed like a good stopping point for the night....
       I decided to check out Bonnie's blog for a peak at step 5. (now, keep in mind, I haven't started step 4 yet.... but I couldn't resist.....
       Now I know why Bonnie says... NO WHINING!!!!   600 yes, I said 600 HST!!!! these will finish at 1 1/2".... so I hope I have enough 2" strips.... I may end up having to cut some off of actual yardage in my stash.... I know I have that....
      This is also where I have to decide on my constant fabric choice.   Now Bonnie used a cute red that has a touch of green, pink, in it..   I don't have anything in my reds that looks like it will work....   I've thought about cheddar yellow... but I don't have a piece of that either....   She said that scrappy is ok if we stick with a single color, like all reds.... I have several pieces of blue reproduction indigos..... but I'm not too keen on the blue with the rest of the colors.... I may just have to go hunting for the perfect piece tomorrow.... I promise to look deeper into the stash before going out to buy something..... I only need about 2 yards.
   I need to take pics of some of my string blocks.....

more mysteries....

2010-12-16T19:49:00.000-08:00

Well, I started out my last post with the thought that I would share pics of some of the previous mysteries I've quilted up.... Many of them are Debbie Caffrey mysteries, so I will not call them by her name... only to protect the innocent....

     We did this Deb Caffrey mystery on a guild retreat.... I did purchase most of the fabric for this one, because I fell in love with the border fabric, but didn't have the right blues in my stash to pull it off.  This is one of the few mysteries that I have done that I haven't made changes to along the way.....
     I quilted it on my domestic Juki.... using a circular wedge design to help break up the squareness of the blocks.... I used a template that I quilted around, in an attempt to not have to mark. the whole quilt.  If I recall correctly, I started this quilt spring of 2007.... and completed it in 2009. (I'm always slow at getting the tops quilted.       I called it "Plenty of stars"....    It is a large lap, nearly twin size quilt.
      This quilt now resides with my little sister.....

     This one is called "Friends and Fellows". It was a mystery at http://www.thequiltandneedle.com/ in 2008.   I have added borders to this one since this picture..... I made some changes, by making 8 more of those corner triangles and tipping them out into the large outer border, and then appliqued some simple motifs as well.
      This pattern is now for sale on Jess' website, so it is no longer a mystery. It is queen size.
      This is not yet quilted, nor do I have a plan for who it will belong to.... another UFO to complete... some day....

      Jess at the Quilt and needle has 3 mysteries a year,   This one is called "Phire's Radiance" named for her baby girl.   We did this one Jan 2010.   This pattern is also for sale on the sebsite above.
     This is still needing an outside border. It is 60x60. I'm trying to decide if I want the red for the outside border, or something more neutral..... decisions... decisions... decisions...   then it will get quilted to hang in my stairway.    This is a very interesting twist to a lone star type of look.

The fall mystery we did from the Quilt and Needle was this one called "Annie's Fortune"   It is not available for sale yet, but I'm sure it will be soon.    I totally used stash for this one.... and all I have left of two of the fabrics is crumbs..... I really do need to take a better picture..... this one is before I actually pieced all the elements together... and from the floor, just doens't do queen size quilts any justice.
I especially liked the way that the star blocks seem to roll in the hexagons..... And floating on point, the center medallion is striking. This one still needs to be quilted and bound as well..... again, I don't have anyone specific in mind to receive this one....   I have a nephew who is engaged, it may become a gift for the young couple.

This next quilt is also a Debbie Caffrey mystery.... Done as a "Quilt till you Wilt" evening at a now gone

local quilt shop. We miss you Tina! Tina at ScarboroughFlair would host about 2 of these each year.... lots of fun was had trying to guess what we were making as the night went along, and best of all, Tina did all our pressing for us! This one is also a large lap / twin size.... being the perverbial pattern switcher, I decided to do the quilt in scrappy mode rather than 4 fabrics as suggested. This was a bold move, not knowing where anything was going to fall. I call this one "Lilac Lattice". I quilted it with a winding rose and leaf type design that I free motioned rather than marking. I gave this to my step daughter, so it now lives in Helena, Montana. Lilacs are one of her favorite spring flowers. We started this mystery in probably 2006 or 2007. I got it quilted and bound in 2009.

I need to go dig into the hard drive storage for pics of the other mysteries... so will post them another time.... Hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane with me...

Diamonds in the sky....a lesson on color value....

2010-12-12T10:37:00.000-08:00

     I love doing mystery quilts....if I count up how many I have done over the years, it is at least a dozen!
      Last weekend, I participated in the Dec. Mystery celebrating the 3rd Anniversay of the Quilt and Needle.com   Jess Smith has once again found an interesting way to keep us in suspense while building components for a quilt in 3 size options. The pattern will soon be available on Jess' website store. Way to go Jess!   I have been a pattern tester for Jess on some of her mysteries... she asks a few people to pre-stitch the week prior to the actual weekend, to help troubleshoot any difficulties.
      During the actual mystery weekend, participants pay for the pattern, and she sends it to us via email in installments during the mystery. Pictures get posted, and we all share ideas and thoughts on color choices, stitching techniques etc. on a forum thread just for that purpose.
    I try to use as much of my stash as possible on mystery quilts....

I had a 5+ yard piece of 57" wide autumn leaves in my stash that has been raising it's hand to ge used in a quilt.... I thought I could make it work...... it was going to be close. ... here are my fabric choices before I started cutting.... (The cutting chart called for 7 yards of 40"... I did the calculations.... should work....

I had a tiny pile of the leaf fabric left after cutting.... (I'm making the 100 x 100 size). I'll have to add an additional border for our king size bed with deep 14" mattress). Yeah! I cut all the pieces!

Instructions for the first trial step arrive, and before I even started stitching, we found a cutting error.... I needed 4 more of a component.... and guess what... it was my focal fabric! EEK!!! Now this doesn't normally throw me too far, (I mean afterall, my name is scraphappydenise) But being a mystery, how do I go about it? Jess told me I could substitute by adding a 5th color... she even went into her EQ and did a color change in the area we were talking about....ooh, it opened up a new design option, and she is excited to see what a 5th color will add, so I chose a cream that was similar to the background in the focal fabric, and off I go... happily sewing along....

When we got to the part of laying the pieces out for the center medallion.... this is what I got..... I love the overall look, and the way the two golds overlap and play together... I love the little stars that appear around the green squares.... The general color scheme is beautiful.... BUT...I really do not like the cream! It seems to be sreaming at me. NOT the feeling I wanted. Another color would be great!

I work best sometimes at 11:00 pm, so with DH snoozing in his chair a few feet away... I went to my scrap bin looking for strips I could lay over the cream to do some testing.... after a dozen or so options, I think I like this one the best. I found a rust that I have enough of in my stash to fix this...

The little stars still show at the green squares... The rust highlights the flow around the design.... I think I am going to be happy with the results. When I chose my replacement fabric I SHOULD have stood back and looked at the overall value of my leaves, not simply chosen the background color..... Lesson learned..... This beauty is now on the back burner.... until I'm off work for the holidays.... I have enough of my two gold fabrics and the green to recut those 16 squares.... It will be easier than unstitching and replacing... there is bias in those blocks... and they laid nice and flat the first time, but I don't want to give them a reason to fight me later.... I'll simply use the original blocks in a charity quilt in the future.
I had originally intended to show you some of the previous mysteries I have done, but this post is long enough, so another time....

oh, no.... not again.....

2010-11-29T21:53:00.000-08:00

I said it wasn't going to happen, but I just can't stop myself..... I've started 3 new quilts this month..... I'm participating in a quilt along challenge at thequiltandneedle.com called "A touch of Vegas"..... scrappy black and white prints, with a focal color....

These are my 3" finished stars.... there are 3", 6", 9" and 12" stars in this project. It's all cut out, so I'm working on it in small segments..... as filler between other things.....

I am also testing for Jess' 3rd Anniversary Mystery at the quilt and needle. My fabrics are all cut, and I'm waiting on sewing instructions. I'll have to wait until after this weekend to post pics of that project....

I am also working on Bonnie Hunter's new mystery over at Quiltville.com It's called... "Roll, roll, cotton boll". lots of scrapiness in this quilt! pinks, greens, browns, and a constant I haven't picked out yet.... thinking seriously about a cheddar yellow, but Bonnie is using red, so I don't know. I am all caught up on this and awaiting step 3 this coming weekend.

My Favorite Block.... Dec 2010

2010-11-15T16:46:00.000-08:00

I have completed my blocks for the Dec. draw at Block Central. We do these every other month... and I have been lucky enough to win two times this year! The green blocks in Feb., the Red blocks in August, and this months are Red/ and Green! I wonder if my luck will continue?

These are Yankee Puzzle blocks..... Carol, one of the winners last month chose this theme of cream background, with red and green. A very fitting color combination for Dec., don't you think?

There will be two lucky winners of these blocks.... these are ready for the mail on Dec. 7. (I can't believe I'm actually ahead of schedule on something!!!! )

latest project...

2010-11-11T07:53:00.000-08:00

This is my latest finished top.... it was so easy... from cutting it out, to stitching on the outside border, this took me 3 1/2 hours.... while watching a college football game on tv last weekend.

I did cheat, however.... this was two panels that were meant to be table napkins..... they made excellent quilt blocks though, ifI might say so myself.....

The two fabrics I used have a touch of metallic in them, little leaf outlines that look like leaf skeletons. I'm not usually a metallic type person, but I had to use them for this! I actually purchased the gold piece this summer on a sale table, before I even found the panels..... then, after I had the panels, I went looking for something to use with them.... found the rust piece.... When I got home, I realized that the gold and rust were the same print! then, as I was cutting out, the panel was by the same fabric company.....(Timeless Treasures). I don't usually buy fabric that way, I usually try to mix it all up, (that's the scrappy side of me), but I do have to say that the results were great.

Been too long since my last post...

2010-11-09T21:22:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I haven't posted in a long while.... truth be told, I've been busy, and the few times I thought about keeping you all informed of my latest ventures, I couldn't.... because I had forgotten my password. I had it autosaved in my computer, and had my computer worked on, and lost it somehow.... Just ran across it in the bottom of my wallet the other day....

I have been getting some quilting done... actually more piecing than quilting, but I'll share some photos with you.....

These were the blocks I won from a block lottery/exchange at BlockCentral.com last February. The theme for the month was green and white. Each participating member made their favorite block in shades of green and white. We each make two blocks and there are two winners. We have a new theme and draw every other month.....

I chose the brown with green dots and swirls to help tie the different greens together, and my thin brown coping sashings around each block helped to make the blocks all the same size. I still need to quilt this, but it felt good to get them assembled into a top.

I worked on this while at the beach with girlfriends for a week of scrapbooking. (I quilted instead).

This is another quilt i worked on during that craft week at the beach...

I call it "Churn Dash Bears"

I've been collecting outdoor fabrics for awhile now.... and DH needs a new quilt for watching TV.

I fussy cut the bears for the center of the churn dash blocks.

This also needs to be quilted still.

My pile of tops to be finished is getting deeper and deeper....

I participated in the Round Robin over at
Thequiltandneedle.com forum.   My top came back to me in August.

I love the way it turned out! My only directions to my team were: Use homespun plaids.... think log cabin.... and follow my paint chips for color pallette.

I think they all did a fabulous job!

My friend NorthernDeb did the applique bears, and they are the perfect touch!   Thank you Deb.

I still need to add my final border to this and get it quilted.

We are getting ready to start a Row Robin for 2011.

Jess at the Quilt and Needle, has once again designed a fantastic mystery quilt....

This is the fall mystery.

I took this pic before I had the last 3 corners ready to put in place.

This is a double size.... 80" square. I used up stash fabric for this! in fact, i have two pieces about 3x6 of the blue piece left..... it was supposed to be in an outside border, so I will have to use something else there.    I'm thinking I'll probably use what ever I use to back and bind it with......
Oh, goody! I get to go shopping.....

I'll close this post, before I lose it, but i promise to be back with some more eye candy soon! I still have more to show you!

2010-11-09T20:48:00.001-08:00

Round Robin Ready to Mail

2010-05-25T22:31:00.000-07:00

I am part of a Round Robin project over at the Quilt and Needle. Seems like it took forever to get this one ready to send on. Deb, the medallion owner, is doing this for her husband, and wanted fabrics that felt western, or like leather..... I had two pieces in my stash that seemed perfect! I had seen this blended ninepatch idea and decided to use it to turn the medallion on point. these small nine patch blocks are finished at 2 1/4", and there are over 100 of them! It will feel so good to get it in the mail tomorrow to the next participant.

Blue Iris !!!!

2010-05-14T13:40:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful surprise! I have a clump of these delicious blue variegated bearded iris in my yard!!!!

It is so much fun to work my way through a first blooming cycle in our new home.....

I only wish there was enough of them to divide and share with my friend Dean, who has shared many wonderful plants with me already this season.

Now that i removed the black plastic out from under them, maybe I can coax them to multiply quicker..... I'm sure some good fertilizer will help tremendously.

I am also the lucky owner of several bunches of this very pristine, pure white bearded iris!

I finally figured out how to upload pics from my new phone to my photobucket site.....

There are lots more pictures there.... you can check out the link....
Scraphappydenise's photobucket site
hope you enjoy the show.....

Garden progress

2010-05-11T09:50:00.000-07:00

I feel like I'm actually making some progress in my garden! I'm still harvesting black plastic out from under the barkdust.... but I feel like that will be long term project. One section at a time...... I have to keep telling myself that it's a "work in progress" and probably will be for many years.....

I'm not making as much progress in the sewing area... seems like it's one or the other. If I can just keep up with my exchange projects until school lets out, I'll be happy!

This is a before view.... now if I can figure out howto get pics out of my new android camera.....

What a Rainbow!

2010-05-06T10:13:00.000-07:00

for the second week in a row, on Wednesday evening, we have had the most awesome rainbows! this is the one from last week. It ends, in my neighbor's pasture! last night, it was in almost the same exact spot!

There is nothing like looking out your kitchen window to something this spectacular! Last night, my camera was getting it's battery recharged.

I am so blessed.

I've been MIA again...

2010-04-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

Well, spring is trying to spring around here, and I'm desperately trying to stay ahead of the yard work.
(Not easy on a little over an acre, I'm discovering) It doesn't help that what was once beautiful beds have been neglected for at least 4 years......

The wisteria is beginning to bloom, the lilacs are about finished, our rhododendrons are starting to bloom.

I've been trying to keep ahead of the swap blocks and quilt auntie blocks I've committed myself to, as well as the Round Robin activities I'm signed up for.

Not a lot of personal sewing happening at my house right now.... but I am trying to sit at the machine each evening , if only for an hour or so.....

Heading to the ORegon Coast with some girlfriends for the weekend, an am taking some hand work with me.

where have I been?

2010-02-18T21:12:00.000-08:00

WOW! I can't believe it's been nearly 6 weeks since I blogged. I have been trying to catch up on some projects, stay afloat at work, and finish getting the old house ready to put on the market.

Good news.... the house is now officially for sale, and we actually had someone go through it the second day it was on RMLS.

been working on getting a few items ready for our quilt show next month.

We are having a wonderful winter weatherwise. It's like spring out there. This was our sunrise one day last week. Isn't it beautiful?

Happy New Year! The year of the diminishing UFOs.

2010-01-06T20:21:00.000-08:00

Well, the holidays have come and gone.... it's back to work.... and I still need to de-decorate my house. With the move and wanting to entertain several small groups of friends and family, we had guests for dinner this last Sunday, I decided to keep my trees and decorations out until this next weekend. Only a couple more nights of enjoying the lights on the trees. I'm off to buy some more plastic totes tomorrow to put it all away. (My old cardboard boxes won't do out in the shop, as they are not mouse proof). my plan for anything that can make nesting material, is to put in a tote, and seal shut with tape. In all the years we've been married, I've always had inside storage for these things..... so if anyone has any better ideas for me, please let me know.....

I have done a little sewing while on my break..... I'll have to get pics uploaded and posted of you all. Now, if I can just get these projects finished!

I'm on a mission to finish up UFO's.... and to work on using up some of this stash of fabric I just relocated. Charity quilt projects are on my horizon..... While it can be convenient to have a lot of fabric on hand, especially since I love scrappy quilts, it can also be overwhelming.... I just made a checkerboard sashing for a quilt top.... cut, and cut, and cut...... still have a stack of those same fabrics...... I think it multiplied like bunnies.....

New Sewing Area

2009-12-13T08:02:00.000-08:00

I finally got the sewing area organized and ready to sew last week. I was a tester for Jess' Mystery Quilt over at the Quilt and Needle Forum. It's going on this weekend, you should all go check it out. Jess has once again designed a unique pattern for us to stitch.

Anyhow.... here a a few photos of my area before I got it all messy.... LOL

I need to make a few minor adjustments, but it seems to be working well so far..... Now... If I could just finish organizing the craft storage room.....

December Already....

2009-12-04T09:37:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that December is already upon us. We have beautiful sunny skies, but cold temps for our region. It was only 27 degrees this morning when I came to work. There is so much to do to get ready for the holidays. Seems like weekends have already started filling up with activities. I do love this time of year, though....

more pics of new house...

2009-11-26T12:02:00.000-08:00

Well, here is a picture of Mt. Hood from the upper deck. Now, if we could just convince our neighbor to cut down the big tree on the left.... it's about an hour drive to get to the ski slopes, but neither of us ski anymore... the sunrises over that eastern ridge have been beautiful to watch.

This is the view we have from the dining room table and upper deck, looking south east towards our closest neighbor. Their house is just beyond these trees, completely hidden from our view. We can hardly wait for warm summer evenings to enjoy sitting on the deck.

We have furniture.... in the dining room.

And the living room.... That wooden Indian was actually in a hollywood movie! He got shot in the chest during gun shot scene and has a wound.

We found these cute western lamps at a liquidation store for $5 each. The lamp shades were more than the lamps! I have two more to make a floor lamp out of....

I can hardly wait to resurface that hearth and add a timber type mantel! River rock? Field stone? The really sad part is that I found a picture in a drawer while cleaning that showed the fireplace BEFORE they did this to it. I wanted to cry.... Remember the plans for an addition and actual front door entry way? It will eventually be where that window is.... it will wrap around the back side of the fireplace and extend 10 feet out. Room for a nice coat closet....

Still working on the bedroom... we want to switch to a king size bed, since the room is 12x 24. Mike didn't want to take pictures of the unpacked boxes on the floor.

Here is the family room... It also needs some facelifting done on the fireplace.... but since we can still see the fieldstone definitions, I'm going to try paint first.... What were they thinking? This is the view I'll have from my sewing machines.

This is the wall we redid, taking out a tiny 9'x9' room that was enclosed. You can see my machine peeking up over the half wall. Those are the boxes I still need to unpack. The weird, loose stuff that is harder to put away.... the french doors open to the garden and lower deck / patio area with our hot tub on it.

The birds have found the feeders I put up... I've trimmed back one of the wisterias, but still have the largest one to go.....

Lets go check out the craft room....

Well you can see I still have some work to do in here.... I need to put a ceiling light in... finish organizing the fabric stash... and find the center work table surface.... I will post more later, but need to accomplish something first. Can't do it sitting here blogging, that's for sure, so until next time.... here is hoping everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving day.

Our New Home...

2009-11-25T12:58:00.000-08:00

This is the inside of our new living room. I just love the warm wood ceilings. Need to do something about the white rock fireplace, but time will take care of that.
We are decorating with a "cabin" or "lodge" theme. DH and I are still discussing what goes into a lodge or cabin, but it seems to be working out ok so far. I'm more of an eclectic person.... He is more focused. He wants all log furniture.... I would like to stick with some of our antique furniture. Time will take care of that as well, I'm sure.

This is the south facing view.... reminds me of Smurfville.... lots of blue..... (now don't get me wrong.... I love blue..... but this doesn't shout "CABIN" or "LODGE" to me..... I envision rock foundation, wood and stone pillars, wrought iron railings, and brown wood tone siding. I won't mess with the blue roof.

We won't be making exterior changes until after our other house sells, and the weather improves next spring. That will give us time to think a little bit about our final plans.

From the corner of the upper deck, we have a sliver of a view of Mt. Hood, which right now is covered with new fall snow. I might have a pic of the view somewhere.... I'll take a look and see.

We are surrounded by trees. In fact... we can only see one house from the decks or from inside. A friend of ours that lives up the street from our previous home was out to visit, and he just couldn't get over the openness and no houses crowded nearby.

This is the driveway, and Mike's garage on the North side. See what I mean about the blue? We found plans in a closet for a 200 sq. ft. addition which would place an actual front door entryway where that one window is that you see. (This was the one window that was not updated to new vinyl windows when they did that project. )

I'll take pics of the house with our furnishings and post soon. (when I finally get the boxes totally out of the way, LOL)

It's been awhile since I've been here....

2009-11-25T11:11:00.000-08:00

Well, last time I was posting, we were getting ready for the big move. I am happy to report that it's nearing it's end. We still have the last hold-out spots to move, such as... under the basement stairs, the attic, (I'll need to do this to decorate for Christmas), the garden shed, the garage misc., and the back shed where camping and boating stuff are stored. The biggest hold up is we need to build more shelves down in Mike's big shop.

I am one spoiled girl !!! I packed and unpacked lots of craft and sewing supplies. The trick is getting it all organized into two separate spaces.... one for storage, and the other a work area that is supposed to be kept neat. Ha! I'll try my best..... Pics to come later..... We are still in process. I must say that I've unpacked all but a dozen boxes that have come into the house. And I wasn't allowed to stack any boxes in the garage or shop, so that has kept me on task.

We have already enjoyed watching the sunrise over the ridge on more than one occasion from our hot tub on the lower deck.... The cat seems to be adjusting..... The birds have found the feeders...

Life is good, and I am so thankful for all I have been blessed with.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Christmas Stocking exchange

2009-09-10T22:55:00.001-07:00

I'm participating in a block exchange over at BlockCentral.com. You should come over and check us out. What a great group of wonderful people! Here are the first 6 of 14 blocks I need to finish before Dec. This may be a true test, as I am getting ready to move, and need to pack up my sewing room. My September to do list is much shorter than August's... but since I'm back to work as well, it has really limited my time for sewing or quilting this month.

Curious Kittens tablerunner

2009-09-10T22:45:00.001-07:00

I made this tablerunner as a gift for a friend last week. I found this really cute fabric and added a little bit of black, grey and gold from my stash to set some of the cute critters. I had planned to put the pawprint as an outside border, but the size was getting away from me, so used it on the binding instead.

August's To Do List....

2009-08-30T07:49:00.000-07:00

I go back to work on Tuesday. That gives me just two days to finish my list of to dos for the month. It was a huge list, and there are only 3 things left to do. I actually finished up several extra projects and exchange blocks that were not on the original list. I feel good about my accomplishments.

We are seriously trying to find a new home and some acreage just out of town, and that means I'll have to move my fabric stash and my scrapbook stash. It didn't seem like very much when I hauled it into our basement one or two shopping bags at a time!

The two quilt tops pictured above are comfort quilts for the small community of Corbett, which sits in the Columbia Gorge, just 20 miles east of Portland. I quilt with a lovely group of ladies out there.

The one with houses is flannel. Those house squares were rescued from a donated piece that looked like swiss cheese. (someone had fussy cut out the houses they wanted and discarded the rest) it looked pretty hopeless at first, and one of the gals wanted to put it in the garbage. I saw some potential, spotted some more flannel pieces in another box, and remembered some flannel at home that would help.

The blue dresden plate is made of some pillow panels that were printed and sold in the 1980s. There were only 5 in the donation box. It took a group effort, but someone pieced the alternate blocks.... someone else did the four patch, another member added the wide blue print from her stash, and then I brought it home and added the piano keys. It's ready to be quilted by another member.

Applique Tutorial

2009-08-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

Well, I've signed up for another internet block swap.... this one is a Christmas Stocking Block Swap at blockcentral.com . I found an easy way to prep the stocking sections for applique, and wanted to share it with everyone. This will work with any simple shape applique you want to do, and can be adapted for both machine, and hand applique. Try it!

Step 1: print your pattern

Step 2: Using plastic template material, trace your pattern, add seam allowance and cut out.

Step 3: Using whatever method and pattern you decide, create your pieced fabric. Just make sure it's large enough to accommodate your template.

Step 4: Lay the template on your fabric, and trace around it

Step 5: Trace around the shape and cut it out.

Step 6. Lay the template on a lightweight non woven interfacing. I used some grid type pattern material, 'cause it was what I already had. Trace and cut out.

Step 7: Lay the interfacing on the top of the right side of the stocking....

Step 8: Stitch around the shape. All the way around. Do not leave any opening. The more complex the curves, the smaller you want the stitch for a smooth edge. I used a 2 on my stockings.

Step 9: Carefully cut a small hole in the center of the interfacing. clip up the middle and towards the corners. Just enough to be able to turn to the back.

Step 10: Using pinking shears, (mine are scallop shears) Trim the curved areas to make it easier to turn and to reduce fullness.

Step 11: Roll the interfacing to the back, finger pressing the seams so that the interfacing does not show from the front.

Step 12: Turn over and press the interfacing, so that the cut edges are close together. You do not have to stitch them together. Press lightly.

Step 13: Turn to the right side, and press well... making sure that the interfacing is all on the back side.

Step 14: Position on the background square. (If you will be machine stitching, I suggest that you use some starch on the background before pinning the stocking down. This will make it easier to stitch.)

Step 15: Add the top cuff. Then applique with your desired method.

I hope you enjoy using this method. It makes it so easy to get a nice clean edge, with no raw strings to deal with.

Boysenberry Jam

2009-08-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

I can't say I've been as industrious as some. There are many out there this time of year, making jam, jelly, relish, putting up veggies no matter how hot it gets in the kitchen.... My hats off to all of you.... I used to help my mom do alot of canning. For some reason, DH does not like home canned food. I made jam the first year we were together, and he never ate it. I'm not going to all that work if he would rather have it from the store shelves....

I made this quilt a year and a half ago. All the colors reminded me of good, boysenberry jam! This quilt went to our good friend Jane, who loves purple.

Disapearing Nine Patch Quilt

2009-08-17T20:52:00.000-07:00

I think the back of this quilt is as pretty as the front! This is a Disappearing Nine Patch. I made this quilt as a community comfort quilt for an outreach program in Corbett, Oregon. I quilt with some ladies who live in the community. I try to finish at least one quilt for their comfort quilts each year as part of being in the group. We were attempting to use up some donated scraps that were in the back room. I noticed as we were cutting strips, that were were several in this color combination and decided to take them. I finally got it done an quilted this last week! This is such a versatile block.... It's great for using up stash..... something I personally have a lot of. I'm a lucky girl!

Getting Things Accomplished

2009-08-17T20:36:00.001-07:00

Well, I had promised myself that I would clear the pile of projects that needed finishing. As you can see from my August to do list, I'm cruising right along.... it feels great to get some of these done.... I am part of a group that started some quilts for a local hospice house 2 years ago. One of our members purchased a whole lot of clearance fabrics, (bless her heart, she is not a quilter, and thought she was doing us a favor... I'm not sure how many hospice patients want a Christmas quilt..... but we're gonna find out! I did make doll quilts for another local charity out of many of the prints a couple of years ago. It just seemed more appropriate use of the novelty prints.) The pattern we used is called "One Block Wonder" I used this because it is very forgiving when non-quilters are helping out. No two seams match if you rotate every other block, and there are no star points to cut off. Even then, it was a challenge to quilt a couple of these, as they look pretty wavy when laid out. I have had to keep myself from undoing the work of others in the group.... Since I'm the one with the largest sewing machine, I'm the one that has done the majority of the quilting..... a couple of members have given it their best attempt. That was all we asked. these are two of those quilts.... We have more in the works...

I Have Yellow Finches!

2009-08-17T20:26:00.001-07:00

I love feeding the birds in my yard! I've lived here for 15 years, and have fed the birds since the day we moved in. I get lots of juncos, chicadees, sparrows, bushtits, red finches, etc. I even get the occassional scrub jay. I have tried for years, to attract goldfinches to my yard. I think the cat might have something to do with this... they can be flighty birds.... this characteristic makes it difficult to get pictures of them, especially with my small camera. but on two seperate occassions, I have been able to get pics. I have several feeders... one with a patio mix of sunflower seeds, peanuts,and a small amount of millet. The other has niger seed in it. They have such a pretty song. I got th picture of the three on the one feeder through my kitchen window screen the other day.

First quilts....

2009-08-02T22:10:00.000-07:00

Ok, so what was your first quilt? I started my first quilt in 1974. I was taking a quilt class with my sister in law. My older sister, Lynda, saw some of the blocks I was appliqueing, and said I could give it to her.... LOL . I decided to do just that. I managed to finish 25 blocks and set them with a then stylish coin gold sheet. (YUCK). I presented it to Lynda for Christmas, with the intention of finishing it. I was in college at the time, and didn't have the space, the time, or the knowledge to actually hand quilt this king size monster I had created.

Over the next several years, I would come across that top as I was moving, or doing some deep cleaning. At one time, my sis and I talked about resetting it in a blue floral.... that never happened either.

It wasn't until 1999, that I dug that gold monster out of the tote it was in. (now.... I had actually purchased some poly batting for this in the 70's. I had wrapped that batting in a piece of cotton ducking fabric, tied it with twine, and hung it from the ceiling joists in my Mom's basement. It looked like a striped blimp hanging in the corner.) I had since used that batting on some baby quilts after Mom insisted I get it out of her basement sometime during the mid 80's.

Don't get me wrong.... I love the color gold, and have plenty of it in my support stash.... but that coin gold sheet was UGLY as sin! I finally decided to tear it all apart. I then put the bright blocks in one pile, and the pastels in another. more brights than pastels.... I chose two different settings, and treated each pile differently. The pastels I set with alternate white blocks, and quilted by machine with my first attempt at feathers. The brights I set in attic windows with black sashing. With Christmas just around the corners, and it being the 25th anniversary of my first attempt to give the quilt to Lynda, I put them in the washer and dryer.

Argh! some of the fabrics I had picked in 1974 were not 100% cotton, were not tightly woven, and had frayed when I washed the bright quilt. My origial zig zag was not close enough together, nor wide enough to firmly hold the fabric. I also didn't quilt it quite close enough to support the pieces in the washing process.

Christmas day came, and I presented Lynda with both quilts, and then promptly took the one that needed repair away from her.... "I'll figure something out to fix it" I told her....

That quilt made it's way to the bottom of a pile, and then to the bottom of a tote in my sewing room, and became forgotten over time.... This spring, Lynda mentioned that the quilt she used all the time was in need of repair.... It was raveling like the darker one had in a couple of places....

I am now proud to say.... that I have mended both of those quilts.... re zigzaged all the flower petals, (through the batting), and added extra quilting on each petal to help keep them from lifting and shifting. I will be giving her these tomorrow. Both of these quilts are pictured here. They have been a true learning experience for me.

MAD for PLAIDS II

2009-07-12T23:12:00.000-07:00

I love working with plaids!!! I especially like the way that plaids work together in a quilt to give it a warm, worn, homey look. I have accumulated lots of plaids, and have a couple of ideas started for additional plaid quilts, but this is one I made for my younger brother. I worked off a sketch I drew up at a quilt show for the 9 patch settings. All those flying geese went together relatively quickly using Quilt in a Day flying geese ruler.

I do my own machine quilting on my Juki at home. Since marking the quilting takes so much time, I am trying to improve my techniques of quilting without spending hours marking quilts. This quilt I did by following the edge of my ruler, and doing stitch in the ditch.

I'm hoping that Alan enjoys it for many years.

Vacation fun

2009-07-05T14:10:00.000-07:00

We've been gone for 10 days now. Heading back towards home tomorrow. As much as I love to get out and see the sights, and visit with friends and family.... I'll be glad to get home.

We stayed at a quaint little campground, right on the lake, outside of Spokane Washington. This was the view from just outside out motorhome. Isn't it beautiful?

I've been able to stop at quilt stores and a scrapbooking store here in Helena. scored some great fabric at Walmart. (they've closed the fabric depts. at the Walmarts near home).

My latest project

2009-06-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

On a happier note.... I'll try not to bring so much emotion to most of my postings....

We will be traveling to Montana in the next week to see our grandchildren. Nathan, the oldest is on the varsity football team as a senior this coming year. With funding for athletics tight everywhere, they are trying to raise extra money for the team for traveling expenses. JoAnn asked me a while back, if I'd be willing to make a quilt for the team to raffle off this fall. I agreed.

The Capitol High Bruins, have team colors of brown and gold. In keeping with the bruin theme, I enlarged a bear paw from one of Nathan's t-shirts, to use for a center medallion. Then used a variation of the bear paw block, by setting the individual paws on points.

The writing on the small gold blocks was done with my cricut machine, and the marker stylus that is available. That was fun to play with!

I am working on the quilting now, hoping to finish sometime today or tomorrow. I want to have it finished to take with us, so I won't have to pay for shipping.

Go Bruins!

Wayne's Summer Cruizin' Quilt

2009-06-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

What a month and a half it's been! After a long year of suffering from complications of Parkinson's Disease and esophogus spasms, my Mom passed away on May 14, and just a short week later, my husband's best friend passed away much too soon from stage four cancer that had been diagnosed less than 2 months.... He was ready for the fight, was undergoing radiation, hoping to start chemo. I had decided to make him a quilt to have while undergoing his treatments.

Needless to say, Mom's illness had put several delays in my sewing. In the week I took off as bereavement leave, as some needed sewing therapy, I put my focus into working on Wayne's quilt, so that he would have it. Wayne and my husband shared a love of cars, hotrods, classics, and streetrods. They had spent many an hour in each other's garages, either working on a project or "bench racing" as they used to call it.

I was working on his quilt the moring that my husband called me from the hospital to say that they needed me to come witness some paperwork, Wayne was going on hospice, there was nothing more they could do, his disease was so agressive, and they could not get a handle on his blood clots, which meant they couldn't do chemo.

That was on Tuesday morning. I worked the rest of that day and most of the day Wednesday, piecing and quilting. I finished at 11 pm on Wed, with the binding. We went early on Thursday morning, around 8:30 to see how Wayne was doing and to deliver his quilt.

As we walked into their house, Wayne was laying on the couch, his oxyge mask laying on the floor next to him. He had decided just an hour sooner, that he didn't want to prolong his suffering any longer. His wife Sam, and another good fried were sitting next to him, watching him try to get into a comfortable position.

What a change in his condition in just a day. He was unresposive the entire two hours we stayed to visit, but Sammy just clutched that quilt in her arms ad said how much Wayne would love it.

We stopped by twice more on Thursday, it was at 5 am on Friday morning that we received the call that Wayne was no longer in pain, and had passed. He had at one point opened his eyes and talked to Sammy for just a minute or two, but he had been able to see his quilt for a brief time before he went.

Now, even 3 weeks later, it is difficult to type this. Wayne we miss you!

Spring Table Runner

2009-06-20T17:49:00.000-07:00

This is a table runner I made for my cyber friend Sandy, for a swap we had on Block Central. We exchanged names with one other participant, and then made runners for each other. This turned out so sweet, I had to cut one out for myself. I wonder how long it will take for me to finish mine?

Finally doing it!

2009-06-20T13:11:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been thinking about starting a blog to share my quilting and scrapping now for about a year. I plan on trying to keep this up to date, but knowing how I often start something with a bang, and taper off, we'll see. It's cloudy and rainy here in the pacific northwest today, cool and drizzly. I should be outside pulling weeds, but am still planted firmly in my chair, so I guess that's where my weeds are too.... still planted.... I'm working on a quilt for my grandson's football team raffle fund raiser. We will be traveling to Montana in about a week, and I'm hoping to have it finished to take with us. I need to get busy on that as soon as I log off the computer. I'll be posting a picture of the completed top sometime today, hopefully.