2012 Wrap Up

I need to finish up 2012 before I can dive into the new year.

What Knots annual Christmas party/luncheon, hosted by Marian and her daughter Martha.

One of the party activities is that everyone brings a block, made to that year's theme.  It originally was Christmas until everyone that was in the group at the time won the blocks, since then we've been changing up the theme each year.    The above quilt is Georgi's, made from the blocks she won.  We always enjoy seeing these quilts each year and remembering all who made the blocks.

Here's is Ann's quilt.

Ann and I were the last 2 to get Christmas blocks (the same year) and here's what I've done with mine.  Yes, nothing, but everyone was very helpful with ideas of how to arrange them.

A number of friends received these owl pin cushions as gifts.

And here is Milo in a favorite spot under the Christmas tree.  I had my left hip replaced just before Thanksgiving so I had a great excuse for not doing too much holiday prep.  Dave really stepped up decorating the tree and doing the garlands around the windows.

I did get everything put away and am now ready to dive into the new year,  full of resolutions like more exercise, more creativity and just being a better person.

Snow Days

Before the snow melts I thought I should do a post. This picture of the fish swimming in the snow was taken on Saturday, they were completely buried a couple of days later.

These roof panels in the green house came out in a wind storm we had this fall (and we haven't fixed them yet) so the greenhouse is full of snow (view from the deck)

I have done a few projects. Simple valentine heart that I redid a number of times to get it right, 6" tall.

I made a case for the new GPS we got as Dave's 30 year anniversary with BP. I made this block as an experiment then had nothing to do with it, so I was thrilled when I thought to use it for the case.

Back side, opened out. Case size when closed is 4-1/2" x 6-1/2"

I've been wanting to make something with fabric selvages, I have a project in mind so I started some blocks, each one is 9".

And Milo, King of the quilts.

Fall Crafting

Felt coasters made from pattern from the Purl Bee (follow link for the directions). They give you a pattern for both the inner and outer leaf, but I found it much easier to cut the inner leaf to the pattern, then just rough cut the outer leaf. After I did all the embroidery, I trimmed the outer leaf following the lines of the inner one. This was much easier than trying the line up the 2 together.
I have the best spot for stagging photo shoots in the fall.

And some of my dahlia's are still blooming, this is Fire Magic, one of the late starters. Notice that the lilac bush in the background is already loosing it's leaves.

Christmas Crafts

 

I have the bug for Christmas crafting, every cute project I see I want to make. 

I’ve been cruising the local craft fairs and helping the economy.  At the first one I went to a woman was selling cute snowmen heads made from golf balls.  I thought Dave would appreciate one of them, but as I was just starting looking at a large show I figured I could come back and get one.  You guessed it, a few minutes later someone came and bought all she had, so I was left with making my own.

At this point I couldn’t tell you how close to the originals these are, but I like them.  Dave was so impressed with the idea, he wanted some to give to his golfing buddies so I made 10 of them.

These felt trees are pins, they are about 3” tall.  The original ones I saw on a blog weren’t decorated.  I love the plaid tree trunks, a friend gave me a bag of scraps and this wool was in it.

This is another pin, a crochet flower.  My original inspiration was pretty far removed for the outcome, I made this project my own.

The last 2 pictures are some of the ornaments I’ve been purchasing.  I need one for an ornament exchange, I’m not willing to give any of these up so I guess I’ll have to shop some more.

Fall Projects

 

On the blog of one of my local quilt shops, Two Thimbles, they’ve been posting pictures of fabric pumpkins that they’ve been making.  So I felt inclined to make a few too.

Joann’s has all their “Autumn Collection” decoration sat 70% off so I was able to snag the silk leaves for cheap.  I’ve just made these 3 so far, but I’m tempted to make more, they are simple and fun.

When I was on the quilt retreat and being very patient with my work, I took out the bad machine quilting I had done on this small quilt, re-quilted and finished it.  Looks lovely with this Smoke Tree, don’t you think?

This is a small quilt, 31” x 43”.  I’m sure I saw a similar design somewhere and wanted to try it out, but I can’t remember what inspired me now.  I’ll turn this in at the next Moonlight Quilters meeting as a Charity Quilt donation.

Silly picture from my morning photo shoot, the reason I included it is to show all the animals following me around.  You have to look closely, on the far left is Jessie dog, Milo is sitting on the rock and right behind him on the deck that white patch is Sophie.

Some Projects

I have started a lot of projects recently,  few have been completed.  Here are some that are done.

This baby sweater was a kit that I purchased a year ago from Knit Picks.  I don’t have any intended recipient, it will go into my “hope chest” for now.  It needs buttons to be completely finished.

 

I’ve had fun crocheting doilies for rocks.  This is the nicest one I have around now, I tend to give them away as they are completed.  They look neat if you have a bunch of them grouped together so I’d better get some more done.

And this is a new distraction and great way to use up fabric scraps.  The bowl was created by wrapping strips of fabric around a rope, coiling it, and sewing it together by machine with a zig-zag stitch.

Tie Dye

At Dave’s Company picnic each year, they have a Chili Cook-off that he participates in.  Each year there is a theme, this year it is “Purple Haze” so he wants his team member to all dress 60’s style.

I volunteered to make Tie-Dye T-shirts for the team.  I had some dye already mixed (I forgot to write down the measurements when I mixed it) so I just swirled the t-shirts and squirted on dye.  I did them in 3 separate batches, wanting to see my results before the next batch.

  

While he is cooking chili, I’ll be taking quilting classes.  I’m attending the Association of Pacific West Quilters (APWQ) Symposium at Evergreen College, in Olympia, WA, Thursday through Sunday.  It should be wonderful, a glorious setting for lots of fun and inspiration. 

It has been pretty cool lately, but the weather is suppose to change tomorrow with temps getting into the 80s, maybe warmer as the weekend progresses.  Evergreen is a “green” college, i.e. no air conditioning, so it could be interesting.  I’m packing a fan.

Rag Letters

Aren't these fun, letters made out of fabric. I found the idea on Jessica's blog Happy Together. She's got a tutorial and a pattern for both upper and lower case letters. I decided to make mine smaller than she did, hers are about 6" tall, mine are 3 1/2" tall.

The top picture has the letters before they were washed. I found out I'm not a big fan of the rag style, I spent a lot of time trimming the letters after they were washed. This is a great way to use up scraps of quilt batting.

As I was going through my stash, I tried to find appropriate fabric for the letters. The T fabric has turtles on it, U has umbrellas, D has rubber ducks. You can click on the pictures to see them bigger.

Of course my mind started whirling with the possibilities, wouldn't it be great to have a kit with fabric for each letter. I think I have a mission. If you want to be notified if/when I get it together just comment or e-mail. We're going on a trip in a couple of weeks and I know a great fabric store there to start my search.

This is what I had: Bees, Cats, Ducks, Frogs, Hats, Ice Cream, Kites, Lizards, Orange, Purple pigs, Red, Stars, Turtles, Umbrellas, Vegetables, Watermellon, Zebra skin.

Owl

Made from the pattern "Patchwork Owl Family" by Little Owl patterns. I made a few variations, on the pattern the wings are not loose (and should probably be a little smaller), also I added the button eyes.
He's about 8" tall and is now living with Kim, inspiring her with wisdom as she is now a legal adult. Happy Birthday sweetie!

Knitting Update

I feel like I've done a lot of knitting on the Pacific Grove Pullover, this is both the front and back, they are knit the same. The one on the right I've started adding the neckline squares to, will add them to the other half and do sleeves. I may have a yarn dilemma, but I'll face that when I get to it.
Here's my tomato crop! We have lots of green tomatoes but with cooler temps and shorter days we don't hold out for much ripening. This mini tomato plant was grown in a pot so I could try and keep it in the sunshine more. I'm contemplating bringing it inside and putting it under the grow lamp.
Silly shot of the tomato in the lettuce. We divided the tomato into thirds so each of us could have a taste.
Milo follows me around in the yard, I caught him in the flowers.
And here he is relaxing on some fabric, the purple looks nice with him, don't you think, complimentary colors.
I wasn't going to show this wallet I made, it did not turn out well. I know if I make another I'll do better, having learned from my mistakes. The original picture of it folded up didn't come out and it's not worth taking another, but I do love this fabric. Now the problem is what to do with it. Some of my quilter friends have been discussing projects that you no longer like, and the consensus was to find them another home, someone will love it. Don't think that works for this, I'll hold on to it to let Kim look at and if she doesn't like it it will probably get tossed.

Milo's tail really adds something to the picture.

Tuesday Tidbits

Not original, but it's Tuesday again and I have a bit of this and that.

This was one of those projects I was determined to finish, even if it didn't work as planned. The Caturday image is embroidered and then embellished with Shiva paintsticks. I do love the other fabrics I used.
This is the back of the pillow, it's a larger print, but same as the one on the front of the pillow.
Kim was home for the weekend, I was able to document this hair cut moment.
Earlier in the week I stopped by Bakerview Nursery for some more plant stakes and look what followed me home. The one on the left is an annual, but for $5 I figured I'd get my money's worth of enjoyment.
A little cat interaction in the sunshine.

Need to Share

You know how sometimes you are working on something and you are pleased with how it's coming together and you want to show someone? Well you guys are it, I could call Matt down from his computer and get a monosyllable comment but instead I'll waste time with pictures to show it here.

This is another pillow top for Kim. When I was going through blogs this morning Brenda showed this quilt that she made, I really like it and thought a small version would be a great pillow. This is 15" square, the blocks are 3" x 5".

I am still using the set of fabrics I purchased to "decorate" Kim's apartment.
Here's the other 2 pillows, the bird will cover a pillow she already has and now seeing them all together I think they are looking a bit too alike. Oh, well.

Now I'm trying to decide whether I should quilt this or just make it into a pillow as is.

The promised sun is starting to peak through so I'm off to do some yard work.