Schnibbles Contest

McGuffey or Scratch? The only thing I know for sure is Rural Jordin fabric by Moda! Which one do you think I should do?

I Spy a Label

Ros made me a label for Tara and Tommy's Night and Day quilt...so today I prepped it to sew on the back on the ride to Wisconsin.

I also fussy cut quite a few more I Spy squares and added a few more rows to this little quilt. I see a few doubles that escaped me but that is alright. I also added to the piles of I Spy squares I have for later sewing. I did some other sewing, but post dating that for July!

State Fair Schnibbles is Quilted

And doesn't it look great? Ros did this one up in a hurry....This one will be for my mom for Christmas unless I can't stand it and give it to her for her birthday the end of August!

One of My Favorite Memories

The summer of 2003 (can that really be seven years ago already?) my kids wanted to sew a quilt for themselves. So my daughter Hannah, my psudeo daughter Rachel and my son Mackenzie went with me to the fabric store (in Osseo, Wisconsin) to pick out the pattern Iin the Easy Does It Quilts book) and fabric. We knew we wanted flannel and simple and so they each picked what they liked and we planned to do some trading. I wasn't blogging at the time but I did manage to take lots of pictures as we went. We worked on this a few different days.
I can't recall now, but I am sure I cut the strips and then the kids sewed them into long rows. They were all so proud of them and held them up for a photo! Then I cut them again and they traded a few rows so that they would have more variety in the quilt. It was a blast watching the three of them lay out these rows again and again to try to find just the perfect layout!

I only had two machines at the time (I now have four, lol) and they took turns sewing these rows together again.

They even had enough leftover rows left that we put one together for the oldest (Coleman) who wasn't there at the time we sewed these. He was thrilled to get one too. I must have sewn the edges to pillowcase each of them because we didn't have to bind them. Last we used dmc floss (they each picked a floss color so they could tell their quilts apart) to tie the quilts on the floor--each kid doing his or her own with my help. They all learned how to do the tying and now and again have helped me tie other quilts since they know how.

This was really fun to do with them and is one of my most cherished memories! Amy was posting pics of her oldest trying her hand at sewing and that jogged my memory so I wanted to share this with you! And I am also happy I figured out how to revert blogger to the old set up so that I can put things where I want them and how to postdate a post...yipee!

A Post Anyway

In a weak moment I went a little nuts on the Fat Quarter shop website and signed up for this Designer Block of the Month...so look what arrived recently....

They sent me a nice little package of the 12 Days of Christmas fabrics and a colorful pattern.  The blocks I have seen on other's blogs looked simple enough, but there are more pieces in this block than I expected...so I got them all cut out yesterday afternoon despite a migraine that had been bothering me for two days (gone today, YAY!).

And of course I have been on a knitting kick!  I have made quite a few dishcloths now and finally have this pattern down...they are shaping up better and only take a few hours to knit.  I usually do it while watching TV, or waiting around somewhere.  The colorful yarn makes me smile.  I will be taking knitting with my to Wisconsin for our road trip there in a few weeks.  I will be giving my daughter a few of my first efforts...lol, they will wash dishes and I hate to pull them out!
I should be sewing right now, but am just chilling out and getting things moved from the old laptop to the new laptap...so thrilled to be able to do things without all the problems and shut downs of the other laptop! 

I am also going to try to figure out how to make a post that will post in July while I am gone...I was working ahead on a July thing and I want to have some crafty posts while I am gone..so we shall see if I can figure that out!

Happy Father's Day to all you Dads and Some Crafting...

This last pic (is the first pic because blogger does not behave for this cursed user) but tonight while watching "Rabbit Proof  Fence" and several episodes of things on TIVO I organized my take in the car hand sewing bag and then sewed the four large stars on this tablerunner.  I can't decide if I want to add more small stars on the corner triangles, or near the larger stars, or if I am good...needs a colorful binding and may hand quilt this one but viola, I like it!

Kathy made this bench for Hannah...we will be driving back to Wisconsin and so it is easy enough to deliver it to her and she can't paint it however she wants.  You may remember these benches are in rememberence of my great grandpa Tony who made a zillion and gave them to all the family members.  The next photo is some more knitted dishcloths...I am getting better at knitting, but not at using this new blogger...so I can't get it to let me type near the picture as I want to, GRRR!

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there! This picture is my beloved dad, Lenny, who passed away last September. This picture is from about five years ago at my sister's wedding. I love how he is permantely waving a hey at me. I miss that man...and this next picture is of my stepfather (also called Dad) who is fortunately still with us...so my sister, half-brother and I went up to Prescott and spent the day with him.  It was a lot of fun, even though my mom is back in Wisconsin spending time with her dad this father's day.  (I still have three living grandparents, I am one lucky gal!)

Today at the last minute I went over to Becky's house and worked on some handwork.  I had machine sewed the binding on this quilt and the baby quilt I got back from Ros yesterday and got the label and binding on this little Tagalong Schnibbles.  Also got the label on my Walk in the Park pup challenge quilt so it is officially done!  I also wrapped a ball of yarn and ate lots of yummy veges, some fruit and later on some curry chicken salad on pita and lettuce.  Becky is a great cook and always whips stuff up out of the air while we are sewing...and still manages to get a ton of sewing done.  Nancy from our guild also came over and it was great fun getting to know her!  She patiently taught me how to turn the corner while machine sewing binding on since I always struggle with that and my corners wind up not so crisp!  I think I have it down now and I have a little sample that I sewed to refer to if I can't remember how you fold the binding which is the part I struggle with. 

I also made a pot of my favorite vegetable soup, did laundry and cleaned the downstairs bathroom all late tonight.  I swear I accomplish more after 8 pm than some people do all day...just don't ask me to be too productive before noon!  I work tomorrow and have a freelance job and then am meeting Sarah for dinner (a friend and co-worker) so I better get to bed so I can get on all that tomorrow!  Night folks!

Night and Day is Done....

Night and Day is done (thank you Ros!) and it is stunning.  My cousin said she loves it...and I know she will love it even more once it is in her hot little hands!  I will be delievering it to Wisconsin in a few short weeks.  I can't wait..I am picking up my oldest son, Coleman, and he will finally be joining us here in Arizona.  He is high functioning autistic and has a high IQ...in other words there is no being one step ahead of him though I try.  He also has diabetes (diagnosed four years ago) which runs quite strong in my family.  Will be a challenge getting him some health insurance and hopefully finding him a part time job and such.  I can't wait to complain he is driving me nuts, it has been too long and I have missed him like a limb!                                                                                                                                                

Last night I met June for her birthday dinner at Applebee's.  It was crazy busy due to the final basketball game between the Celtics and Lakers...was a crazy atmosphere with people cheering and clapping for both sides the entire time we were there.  I gave her the new Schnibbles book (trying to entice her to sew some Schnibbles with me) and thse two dishcloths since I know it won't bother her they aren't perfect!  I am working on another one..these are knitted and I finally feel like I have the cast on and knit stitch down.  I borrowed a few DVD's from the library and am watching them and catching on to more.  I like that I can drag knitting with me and work with all the yummy colors of yarn!

Carolina Crossroads Clue Two Done!

I am not at all happy with the changes in blogger...I can't figure out how to do anything with any kind of speed...It took me five minutes to get the pictures in here one at a time, what the heck is the deal with that?  I am not yet old, and refuse to let technology pass me by to the point that my future grandkids will be programming the (insert technical something here) the way that I had to program the VCR and explain call waiting to my still happily alive 82 year old grandfather!  Anyway I got up bright and early today to sew on Carolina Crossroads...clue one is above and took a tiny bit of time compared to clue two below!

First I had to make a zillion little parts of nine patches...and I made a few mistakes, color wise, along the way so I started a whoopie pile...guessing I will be able to make a matching baby quilt with those by the time I am done, HAHA!                                                                                                                         

I then sewed them into the cutest little nine patches with one red corner and cut out some blue and light squares to use later on.  All told, I needed 100 and have 101 done.                                                         

Of course I looked ahead at the next clue and imagine my shock to discover I next need to make 80 nine patches from the blues and the lights...so that is up next time I really want to go full tilt sewing.  For now my shoulder is killing me from sitting so long and sewing...I estimate it took more than six hours to sew and iron all 100 of these nine patches!  All the work is worth it though, I do love me a quiltville quilt!    I also just finished listening to "The Virgin's Lover" by Phillipa Gregory...it finished within seconds of me finishing this clue...made me smile to have it work out so.  The book was okay, nice to be reading while sewing...makes me feel I have accomplished so much!                                                                 

Sneak Peak at Night and Day Quilting

Long story, but here is the backing for Tara and Tommy's Night and Day quilt.  Thanks Ros!

And even better...here is a sneak peak at how Ros is quilting this beauty!  No stitching in the ditch from her, isn't it exquisite?  Won't be long and you can see the whole thing done!

Off to work and then to Nimble Thimbles for the guild meeting (after meeting Becky for a quick bite to eat).  Have actually remembered my name tag and my knitting to keep me busy during the meeting!  Will wonders never cease?  Not liking the changes to Blogger...don't have time for the learning curve!

Carolina Crossroads Clue One Done!

Just couldn't resist posting this picture of Mackenzie, Hannah and her bf, Jeremy all dressed up...Mac was measured for that suit and everything! We may get his senior pictures taken in that outfit, well one of them. Good looking group!

Today I traced out another blue work block. I haven't worked on these blocks in a long, long time! I have several left to go and I thought it would be a good thing to take in the car for the road trip to Wisconsin the first of July. I have one partially done in the car and I have prepped some hand sewing as well.
I really was planning on starting the JudyL June mystery this weekend, but personal life interfered yesterday...not sure my relationship is going to stand the test of time anymore. We are working on things and it sucks. So today (after weeding the front yard so the HOA would get off my back) I thought I would get started on it and in trying to choose fabric I suddenly decided that I should just start the Carolina Crossroads mystery of Bonnie from Quiltville's that I have wanted to do for forever. I dug into my 1.5 inch strips and my leftover fabric of the right colors and made more strips and started sewing.
Clue one is now done with a few extra to boot. Unless of course I miscounted. Am now printing the next clue (I have the book this quilt is in, but I prefer the way Bonnie does her step by step mysteries so I am following that...not sure if you can still get it online, but I saved it all way back when it was new).
You may notice a few small strips on the back..if I didn't have enough to cut 3.5 inches then I went ahead and cut 1.5 inches assuming they will go in the nine patch blocks, and if not I will have my own little quilt when it is done. Waste not, want not.

I should confess with the stress in my life lately I got a little crazy yesterday and ordered fabric! I have some clearance Saggy Baggy Elephant fabric coming, the Good Fortune Schnibbles and a stack of fat quarters in Royal Jardin which I absolutely love (and already have some of here). It was a weak moment.

We are grilling out tonight and I just made some tea in my gorgeous teapot my daughter gave me for Christmas with the flowering tea blossom in it..this isn't my pot, but you get the idea of how relaxing it looks and tastes! Thanks Hannah!

Bar Harbor Charm Runner from Moda Bake Shop

This morning I took a photo of State Fair outside in the sunshine so I just have to post another picture of this one...sure hope Mom likes it.

Tried watching some movies after work, but the first one was awful and we gave up and the second one turned out to be one we had seen....so I took that as a sign that I should run up and sew. I have been thinking using the first little charm pack I got for Christmas to make this cool tablerunner that this gal blogged about.

http://carolscraftblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/american-charm.html

So since Carol inspired me I decided to give it a go. Here is the first block. Went together so nicely while I finished listening to "The Constant Princess" by Phillipa Greggory.

Well I couldn't stop at just one...so I kept on going. Here it is all laid out and looking festive.

Oh I should mention that Carol (and I) got the pattern from Moda Bake Shop in case you want it too.
http://www.modabakeshop.com/2010/05/garden-charm-table-runner.html
I think I will be sewing some stars on this one so you will see it again, but I love how it has come out! I was going to sign up for the Friday Night Sew-In but had trouble signing up earlier...so I did my own sew in...maybe next time!

State Fair Schnibbles

Tonight I thought I would get the blocks done for State Fair. Next thing you know I was trimming the blocks (mine are a half inch bigger than the pattern calls for, I couldn't bear to cut off and waste so much fabric!) and then I was putting the top together. I liked how it was shaping up so much after I got the white borders on it...I kept going...

And here is the result! And another Christmas gift made ahead of schedule (this one is for my mom) and it will be the first Schnibble I have done that I am parting with...hopefully anyway! I work a few hours tomorrow and then I hope to get wild and work on JudyL's June mystery...it is calling to me! (And Amy's blog about it makes me want to do it even more!)

And an Apron for Me!

After work tonight I whipped up an apron for me to keep. You can see the blue and white on one side (I bought this in Norway several years ago and have never used it or the matching red fabric) and a really cool Norway looking fabric I used on the front. When I saw it I knew I would finally be doing something with the Norway fabric. I think I will make a similar one for my daughter for Christmas...started cutting it out too. Oh, and I got a new iron today (Black and Decker) partly based on the Pickle Posse's suggestion for good irons...mine was leaking all over and didn't seem to be holding the press. I like the new iron so far.
Off to knit my dishcloth a bit.

An Evening of Sew Easy Reversible Aprons

A few weeks ago while sewing with friends, I started four aprons that I had cut out. Eventually I got around to ironing so I could topstitch and finish them. The pattern is by Indygo Junction and it went together well except for the last bit of putting on the band. It was just too thick with the lining to sew on my sewing machine. I broke three needles on the first apron and after that I hand sewed the the band closed.

Here are all four aprons completed! Two are birthday gifts (for August) and two are Christmas gifts...love getting ahead!

This one will be for my brother's girlfriend Tiffany. She picked out the fabric when she had my name for the Christmas exchange last year, so hoping she will like it. The back has some of that aqua coke fabric I can never seem to use up!

This cute little gnome apron is for my mother's birthday. She and I both love gnomes so I parted with this cute fabric I got last Christmas and it is backed in a paisley Christmas red and green on white I got on clearance a few weeks ago.

This one is for my sister's birthday. She is a western and horse nut so I used this fabric and backed it in the aqua coke fabric as well.

The last one I did was the lemon one which is for my nephew's mother, Suli. I love that lemon fabric and have a bit more...almost don't want to part with that one and it is backed in a cute yellow fabric too. I need to make myself, my daughter, and maybe Kathy's older nieces an apron too so there may be another set of four one of these days! I am really pleased to have been so productive on my day off!