WIP Wednesday 6.19.13

For some reason......

I seem to have gotten distracted this week and really haven't gotten much accomplished on my projects.

The alphabet blocks still need some stitching to doubly hold down the letters I fused on the block.

I dumped the idea of blanket stitching around all the letters, mainly because Texter was demanding a quicker finish.  So I am experimenting with all the special stitches my machines does.  Only problem is that I now see them decorating little sundresses for Lady K.

I also added to my projects by signing up for a "Bag Lady" class at Pam's Knit and Stitch in Great Falls.  It is an entralac bag and I picked my five colors needed based on the colors used for Spicy Spiral - neon green, yellow, black, white and grey.  I have to cast on 144 stitches and knit an inch by next Tuesday, which is very doable, as long as I get out of this seeming nonproductive phase.

Mid-month Checkin

So far I have been pretty much on track completing the things I want to do for the month, including the things that Texter has thrown at me.  My exception is the Marcelle Medallion.   That is on the back burner for now until I feel up to tackling y-seams.

But my Tula Pink QAL is on track.  I have finished a total of 10 squares, 5 a week.  Here are a couple of the blocks. 

My only change on the block is I strip pieced the small red and black blocks.  I didn't see the need to cut out 1.5 inch squares and sew them together.  So I sewed two long jelly roll strips together and cut and rotated them for the blocks.  Since I used the same colors on 2 blocks and they both called for the same type of pieces, I killed two birds with one strip.

I completed the floor pillow Texter wanted me to do and have a good start on the alphabet blocks.  She got a little impatient with the whole idea of a blanket stitch around the letters, so I decided to experiment with some of the different stitches on my sewing machine.

Texter helped by tracing out the letters and fusing them to the fusible interfacing.  I cut out 36 squares of 6 different flannels and the two of us ironed them onto the squares.  I have a few more letters and numbers to stitch on the blocks.  They are fused, but I wanted to be sure they don't come off while being played with.  The coming week will be putting the blocks together and stuffing them.  Texter, Gibbs and Lady K head off into 10 days for a week of camping with other Marine families, so we have this week to get them together before she heads off. 

So things are on track and I am pleased with my progress over the past two weeks.  Looks like I will be well on track for getting things accomplished this month. 

Finish It Friday 6/13/13

Have a lot of projects in the works and a couple that I finished this week.  I am working on hexes as a handwork project to carry upstairs to work on in the evening.  The same thing with an alphabet I am doing a blanket stitch around for blocks for Lady K.

My finished works is my "Spicy Spiral".  I love these colors and I consider the top being done 'finished'.  I have to decide if I am going to keep it as a table runner or appliqué it on a quilt top.

I love these colors so much I think I am going to use them on an entralac bag I will be starting the end of the month at my LYS.

The second thing, which is completely finished, is the floor pillow for Lady K.

Before filling with polyfil and then with Lady K enjoying the cushy 'ride'.  I made it out of flannel, so it is really soft and great to lay on.

Now onto my blanket stitching!

June In The "Art Room"

All my traveling to/from North Carolina and Arizona is finished!  I only have to set up shipping my stuff from North Carolina, but all all the work is done.  Or it is until my things come from North Carolina and I have to put it up.

In the meantime, I have turned my attention to the 'art room'.  I still have some books and a couple of bags of fabric and patterns to add to the shelves, but this is what it looked like as we were unpacking and I was just setting things in the room.

So, with my return from North Carolina with some things in the car, I now have 2 sewing machines to use.  Both are Singers and not all that fancy, but I have my machine and then a really basic Singer as a back up.

With the shelves fairly organized, I have selected some projects for June to try and complete.  Actually, I have so many projects that I needed to narrow down what I was going to work on.













I am starting the Marcelle Medallion Quilt from Liberty Love.  This is what I pulled from my stash for the center medallion.  If you haven't seen the finished quilt, it is a wonderful complex and bright design.  I am pulling from my stash for the fabrics.  I am not tuned into buying complete lines of fabric (yet) to use for a quilt.  So right now I am pulling for what seems to fit from my current stash.

I am also participating in the Tula Pink 100 Modern Quilt Blocks QAL.  My goal for June is to do 5 blocks a week or 20 for the month.  And once again, I am pulling from my current stash for the blocks. What I did notice however when pulling for the blocks is that I don't have very many solids.

I also have a BOM from Wish Upon a Quilt in Raleigh which I signed up for before I knew I was moving.  They are kind enough to let me continue and are mailing me the blocks every month.  I had gotten behind with the move and managed to 'catch up' the end of May.  It will be a bright and colorful quilt when finished.

Those are a couple of the blocks.

So for June my list of 'to-do's' is as follows:

• Marcelle Medallion Quilt - finish center block
• Blocks 1-20 of the Tula Pink blocks
• finish up 'monkey hat' (knitted) for Lady K
• BOM from Wish Upon a Quilt
• blocks for block swap on Facebook

Of course, Texter has her agenda.  I found a pattern for fabric blocks and she wants to work on those.  I want do to them in flannel and blanket stitch the letters on the blocks.  This will give me a handwork project.  Also, I have a couple of quilts for her with a Batman theme we have the fabric for and the fabric for some 'animal' throws and a pillow.  We will see if I get those fit in too.

June is bustin' out all over!

Looking Back....

My trip to North Carolina to pack up my house was very bittersweet.  I moved to North Carolina 25 years ago because I had gotten off the plane and it felt like home.  I moved from Dallas to Raleigh, while the others on the trip decided not to move.  I wasn't even planning on it.  Now, here I am 2400 miles away from the world I grew up in and know well.  It is exciting to start a 'new life'...retirement, new home, new grand baby.

So a couple of pictures from my trip to North Carolina.  I did do a quick detour by Mount Rushmore on my way there.  After all, Kayden saw it at two days old.

What can you say, Mount Rushmore is Mount Rushmore.  Impressive to be sure.

Then on my way into North Carolina, the Smokey Mountains put on a fine display for me, showing me how they earned their name.

North Carolina and Montana both have mountains, but they are completely different.  You can feel the age and settledness in the Smokies.  The ones here in Montana seem raw and energized.  I can't wait to explore them more. 

One More Thing......

and then it's all over.  Moving Texter, Gibbs and Lady K from North Carolina to Montana (and then switching houses).  Closing up my home in North Carolina and putting things in storage in preparation to having them shipped to Montana.  Driving Savvy from North Carolina to Montana to see her new niece and pick up her dog.  Now, in a couple of days, I will drive Savvy and Noel to Arizona, throw them out of the car and drive back.  Then I'm finished!!!!!

Although we thought we were 'settled' in Great Falls, Gibbs really needed to be in Helena, where his office is.  However, we couldn't find a house which would allow us dogs, especially non-toy dogs.  Then out of the blue, someone who has several rental properties in Helena offered him a house to rent, dogs and all.  Not only was it only about 5 minutes from his office rather than a little over an hour, but the space is about 3 times what we had for a minimal amount more each month.

If you are interested in the 'retro' look, this house has it in spades.  The person who had it built apparently loved white peg board, tons of storage, and pocket doors.  While the bedrooms are small, we will be labeling drawers and cabinets so we can remember where we put what.

This is the 'dining' area next to the kitchen.  Behind me is a built in bench.  So now we will have to get a table and a couple of chairs for a proper dining area.

And a nice size living room on the main floor.  It has double sliding doors and looks out onto the backyard.  We will put a TV in here and I think it will be my exercise area to do yoga in once we get everything set up.

My favorite view, can you blame me?  The flower beds in the back need a lot of attention.  However, there is an irrigation system the landlord says I can tap into for drip irrigation in the beds.  If you look out at the flower tree (cherry or crab apple, don't know which) there is a bench under the tree.  The slope of the lawn makes it hidden from the house almost.

There are 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms upstairs.  Downstairs, the basement is completely finished (which the other house wasn't).  This is going to be the 'living area' of the house.  There is also another large room which can be an office or guest room and another full bathroom downstairs.

This is just half of the basement.  To the right, on the wall, are two, large drop down tables.  It seems the owner had been a model train fan and had two tables to set up trains on.  Can you say 'cutting tables'?  We have the TV entertainment unit on the rock wall and two couches set up for viewing and gaming.  My computer is on the desk (Gibbs and Texter use laptops on the couch).

But my favorite room has to be this one....

Off the TV area is an 'art' room.  Plenty of cabinets and shelving and a long desk area for my sewing machine.  There is also an area I can put a design wall up for quilting.  This is even inspiring Texter to think about learning to sew.  I do have two machines, so I will be starting her off learning to sew shortly.

I am really loving this house, even though we are basically still moving in.  Now to decide which projects to work on first once I get everything sorted out onto the shelves.

Happy Mother's Day

It's been just a few days over a year since my mother passed.  And I think of her a thousand times, especially now that there is a new addition to the family.  But today is to honor mothers and not mourn, so I rejoice in that my baby has her own baby now and is beginning to experience the ups (and downs) of motherhood.

I also celebrate the joy my daughters have brought to my life.   I could make some statement about how they are my 'light', but actually I wanted to show off my Mother's Day present.

 This little Moroccan lantern is one that I had wish listed on Amazon.com.  I had seen similar ones and was really enchanted by them.  So Savvy had one sent to me for Mother's Day.  And it is every bit as pretty as I thought it would be.  Now I want more, in all different colors and shapes. 

I apologize for the slight blurriness of the picture taken with the lights out.  But Texter and I were in my room last night, pouring over patterns and I didn't take the time to get out the tripod to take the picture.  My mother taught me to sew and now Texter is taking an interest in sewing.  She wants to make things for Lady K.  Fortunately, or unfortunately, Texter has caught the fabric bug from me.  I don't think it is curable.  

So to all the mothers out there, past and present....thank you for the job you do and the light you bring to our lives.