Thursday, December 29, 2011

Happy New Year ( almost)

Just a few more days and the new year will be here... bringing new goals... new ideas...and new creativity.

I've decided that my Goals for 2012 will be:

Finish up ALL the UFO's that are laying around.... this includes quilted...sewn.. knitted..crocheted and embroidered........

Organize the sewing pit........ so maybe it won't resemble a pit so much

And for the first 6 months of the year.... concentrate on ME! I have ideas for several throws I want to make for ME........a new shower curtain for MY bathroom....knit slippers for MY feet..... you get the idea.......

Dear Jane and Farmers Wife Samplers will get a few more blocks added to them.... The Hobo Quilt will get a few blocks made and I'll do a couple more Civil War blocks....

I will shop my stash before I shop the stores......and the scraps that have once again accumulated will be reduced to crumbs!

If you figure that there are 1,584 square inches to a yard of fabric.... and that fabric costs anywhere from 6 to 12 dollars a yard... one square in of fabric equals a penny....... now that doesn't sound like much.... BUT..... a 2 1/2" square equates to about 6 cents....... a 3 x 5 scrap is worth 15 cents... a fat 1/8th is about 1.89.... so using up those scraps is a definite money saver!! Lots of projects can be made from these precious little bundles.... now personally, I don't save anything under a 2 1/2" square.... small crumbs and bits go into a 12 x 12 muslin bag along with snips and trims and when full... it gets sewn shut and sent to the animal shelter to be used as a comfort pillow for the strays.......

So there you have it....... last year I completed 13 ufo's........ we'll see what's in the box to be finished up this year.........

Progress will be posted........weekly.... perhaps..... maybe every other week.... pictures will be taken and put here and on flickr....... ideas will be gathered...and creativity will blossom!!!!

All in all it will be a good year!

Be safe... be warm... be healthy... be happy.... have a wonderful 2012

Friday, December 16, 2011

Merry Christmas!!!

Happy New Year too!!

I have a few gifts to wrap for the hubster...but other than that I am done!!!!

Goals have been completed.... some partially done.... some completely done ....some only a little bit done.... but I learned to knit socks!! Made 3 beautiful pair.... I completed 13 UFO's.... I used up a lot of stash but not as much as I had hoped........halfway on the Farmers Wife Sampler.........nowhere on the dear jane sampler......... I'll recycle the goals that weren't fully completed and revamp those that never got off the ground....... but that's for January... for the rest of December I'm gonna sit back... relax and enjoy!

To all......

Merry Christmas.... Happy Holiday.... Joyous New Year.... whatever your reason for the season... may it be healthy... happy....safe....and stressfree!

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Another month shot to heck!!!

October is basically over! One more day left and then on to November.... 2011 is flying by rather quickly. The only good thing.... next weekend at this time I will have my hour back!! It's been missing since March and I'll be soooooooo glad when it returns.

I've been very busy working on my 25 Weeks of Christmas units.... I made 4 placemat and napkin sets.....( just need to stitch the bindings down) several mini quilt panels... a whole bunch more of the ever addictive microwave bowl potholders.... bitty blocks for november and the bitty calendar block swap.... a fabric scrabble board and carry bags for the letters and the game itself.... this was made from a fabric panel... it's a full size board. i found the letters and the letter holders on ebay for 5 bucks...And A spikey soft ball made from 60 3" triangles of fabric scraps.

photos of everything are on flickr.........

I pulled some fabrics for another placemat set and 2 pillowcases.......... those should get done this week.....i also have fabric pulled for sock sack sets.... I'll need 4 sets... in a knitting related theme.... maybe be done with those next week too! I need to make some drawstring bags to hold the goodies for the little ones yet also. I think I need 5 of those...........

I've used up quite a bit of stash and a lot of scraps.... still a long way to go though.... I won't meet my yarn stash goal but I have used up quite a bit.... I only managed to complete 13 ufo's this year. I don't know if I'll get time to complete any more before the end of the year... but maybe.... I have some placemats and small table mats that might be completed.......... the main thing is I've not added a ton of stuff to the UFO box!!!

Anyone watch that new show Once Upon A Time?? I kinda like it!!

Ok... I guess that's it til next time!

October is gone and December will be here before you know it!! 56 days til the jolly man comes!!

Lish

heres a few pics to hold you til you get over to flickr



Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Flip Flap Pillows

ok... so now there's another addiction in my sewing pit........ flip flap pillows. I made two 12" pillows so far.... here's how they work.... the back of the pillow is a solid piece of fabric... the front of the pillow is made from 4 different squares of fabric.... now there are two flaps 6" wide.... one at the top and one at the bottom.... the flaps have 2 6" squares of fabric on one side and two 1/2 square triange blocks on the other side.......... each thing on this pillow is a different fabric so you are looking at about 17 different pieces..... great for the scrap basket as for the small pillow the blocks are cut 6 1/2" or 6 7/8" and a 12" square for the back....

now you join this all together... front to back with a flap at the top and bottom.... then you take a big button..... and sorta tuft the pillow.... you need a big button on each side.... now the fun begins........ you can have the pillow front with the flaps down.... or the flaps folded on a diagonal up or diagonal down or some up and some down .... they tuck just under the button and that holds them in place.... then you can flip it over and play with the flaps on the back of the pillow... tooooooooooooooooo cool!!!!

there are pictures on flickr........ I have two 16" pillow forms so I think that I'll make two more large ones.... one for me and one as a sample for a future class maybe......... the smaller ones will go to my sister and niece at christmas

A few more microwave bowl potholders were made this weekend..... progress on some secret things were done also. The sock is finished and posted out on flickr also.

I'm still having some issues with my back and leg so sitting still isn't great... but it's getting better.... hopefully this weekend will be a productive one and I can then take stock of what I have and what I need before thanksgiving.........

It's cold and damp and dark and dreary here and I'd love nothing better than to be napping right now under my flannel quilt... ( my fav) with the cats snuggled up around my feet.... but alas....that's just NOT gonna happen!! lol so it's back to work and try to make myself at least look productive today........ which also aint gonna happen!!

head on over to flickr when you can and check out the latest pics.......

til then

Lish

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Apples

Ok... so last week was my pumpkin adventure and this week was applesauce. I made about 3 quarts of applesauce in the crockpot... no sugar added..... just cut up the apples... cored and peeled.... added 3/4 cup water with some lemon juice in it.... and in about 5 hours I had wonderful applesauce!!! Yum!!

It was a much more productive week then it has been......... lots of projects worked on.... 3 more microwave potholder bowls... couple of tater sacks... a bunch of bibs..burps and wipes and some pinwheel blocks for a special quilt for an ill swapper on flickr....... I also got all of my October swap stuff out in the mail and the burp of the month and potholder of the months have been mailed also!

I'm down to about 10 rows on the toe of my sock and that set will be complete!! that's my third pair!! Next I want to try a set of fingerless mitts.... something simple for work.... it gets really cold in there sometimes and my hands get realllly cold! There are sooooooooooo many out there to choose from!!

Christmas 2011 is moving right along and is on schedule for a thanksgiving finish....... progress was made today and a few things will be finished up this week and posted on flickr next weekend. I did post a few things out there today if you want to see........

The weather here has been fantastic! Cool in the mornings.... 80's in the afternoon... bright and sunny!!! Rain moving in on wednesday but it'll be ok.... we've been dry about 10 days now so it's time........

guess that's about it for now..........have a safe and productive week

Lish

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Pumpkins

so this week I learned to make pumpkin from pumpkins. there seems to be a shortage on canned pumpkin again this year so I decided to take the regular big ol' pumpkin that hubby brought home and turn it into pumpkin stuff for pies. Not too bad at all.

I had to get out my very old.... very long bladed knife from years ago to whack thru the pumpkin. My ginsu knives weren't long enough....... so once I got into the lil bugger I took out the seeds and stringy crap... I was going to save the seeds to toast but it was rather yukky trying to get the stringy stuff off of them so I just chucked them! lol

I lined my cookie sheets with foil... cut the pumpkin into big chunks and put them in the oven for about 90 minutes or so......... then it was just a matter of pulling off the rind.......throwing the pumpkin flesh into the food processor and pureeing it.... it then went into ziplock baggies .... 2 healthy cups in each one.... and into the freezer! voila!! I have 4 quarts of ready to use pumpkin. not bad at all and not much work involved really. I have another pumpkin that will fall to the same fate this weekend hubby likes to make pumpkin pies and rolls and stuff so he's a happy camper too! double score!!!

This weekend along with the pumpkin I plan on making some crockpot applesauce. We'll head to a local orchard tomorrow and get apples and saturday I'll cut... peel and core them... throw them in the crockpot and let time and heat make me some applesauce! lol depending on how much I make... some of the apple sauce will get stuff added to it and become a jar or two of applebutter... another thing that makes the hubster happy! I'll freeze some of the apple sauce the same way I did the pumpkins....... it'll be nice this winter to have some yummy applesauce... no sugar added....... just a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg........

I've been working on my binding pile... I just have one thing left on it now........the final sock is now at the toe stage........and I have about 10 more yoyo's for my tree wall hanging to do.... things are moving along..... I also did a few more of the microwave bowl potholders and plan to cut another dozen this weekend......

The weather has finally turned fallish......... cold in the mornings with a gorgeous sky filled with bright sparkly stars.... and bright sunny afternoons. But I know that soon it will be winter as I follow Mr Orion across the sky....... soon he'll be gone and I wont see him again til spring. but on the good side... November 6th we get our hour back!!! Daylight savings time will end and I get an extra hour to play! wooohoooo!!

My entire christmas list is planned and about 1/4 of it is completed...... 1/4 of it will be ready in december and the other half will be done for thanksgiving.... so that's on track and moving along......

I haven't worked on the Farmers Daughter Sampler for a few weeks.... I need to do up a few more blocks to keep on track with that....... and I have two more UFO's ready for quilting........

I'm putting pics on flickr ( www.flickr.com/sewwunderful ) as I do things and there are a few things I can't post yet......

I've got my October potholders... burps...bibs and bitty blocks all ready to be packaged up for mailing... that's on this weekends list.... I can't see how the postoffice is going broke.... I spend a small fortune each month in postage!! lol

ok... enough for now.... I'll let you know how the applesauce comes out

Lish

Thursday, September 29, 2011

NO! I'm not dead!!

Man... I can't believe how long it's been! I last noticed I skipped two weeks and all of a sudden I skipped two months! yikes!!

I promise I'll get back into the swing of things again and post on a more regular basis.

A lot of things came up... weekend jaunts with the hubster... wedding gifts to be made.... a sciatic issue.... school...bitty blocks.........my MO and JO separated for awhile... but they are back together sort of ...the usual stuff!

But fall has arrived in Indiana....and I'm ready to get back into my groove! There are some pics on flickr... a new Lazy Girl Purse is due to hit the shelves the first week of November... her name is Candice and she's wonderful! A bit bigger than Margo... she can be a purse or a tote.... she can have a zipper or not and has tall tech pockets to hold nooks and kindles and Ipads! oh my!!

there are new bitty blocks on the flickr site also.........and new christmas projects... have you seen the microwave bowl potholders??? OMG what a great invention! they are definitely gonna be on the stocking stuffer list this year........ you can see them on my flickr site.... I made 10 so far and have more cut out... they are a little bit work intensive... but well worth it!

I'm on my 3rd pair of Knit socks.... I have 20 rows of foot and then the toe and the third pair will be complete! the second pair is on flickr and the bootie socks will be up there soon.......... next on the knit list is a pair of fingerless gloves... I have some really nice and soft and luscious bamboo yarn that I want to use for those... I'll start them as soon as the final sock is done!

I've not made anymore progress on the UFOs... it's still holding at 13 but maybe I can make a dent in that this weekend....... I'm off friday so that gives me an extra day to play... maybe.... lol depends on the weather.

well I guess that's its for now.... I apologize for being missing for so long and I won't let it happen again!!

Have a great week

Lish

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

End of July?

Time sure is flying by quickly! I can't believe we are at the end of another month! I'm hoping it will also end the horrendous heat waves we've been having here........ nasty stuff! We got rain on Sunday....... all I could think of was scenes from the old westerns where the rain finally fell on the parched earth and the people just stood in it laughing and crying..... I wanted to go stand in it! lol

The frogs are happy again.... they've been singing in my yard since the rain and there was one little peeper on my car monday morning... guess he wanted to hit the road with me... he didn't!

A couple more pics have been posted on flickr...and that will be the end of july projects....... leaving tomorrow for a mini vacay to see my family and hubbys family reunion........ we'll be back sunday nite.....

The second pair of socks is coming along really well....... the first sock is complete thru the gusset decreases and ready to start the foot... the second sock has the heel flap done and the gusset is up next...... this gusset looks much much better than my first one... lol.....pics will come soon.........I want to get some of the foot on them so they actually resemble socks...... lol

I'll be working on dishcloths on the drive also....... I've completed June.... and one July cloth and the second one is halfway complete...that one should get finished on the way out east and then another one started on the way back..... I have several of the large balls of cotton dishcloth yarn.... geeeze they make a lot of cloths! I finished up my 4th pink and grey cloth and still have enough left on the ball to make a small cloth or a couple of coasters........ I think it's gonna take longer than I anticipated to use up all this cotton yarn! hmmmmmm I wonder if I can make socks out of it?

I have a couple things I'm taking with me on the trip to hopefully work on as I find time.... I need 21 big yoyo's for a small wall hanging.....and a couple of large EPP hexies for some needle books.... with any luck I can get the hand work done in the hotel in the evenings..... I tried doing them once while driving and that didn't work too well... lol I'll keep the dishcloth knitting for the moving vehicle parts of the trip lol

I have a new great nephew too! Brayden David.... I've seen pics and he's a real cutie pie.... his quilt is done and will be going back east with me along with some burpers and some goodies for his brother..........hopefully I'll get to see him this trip... if not... i'll see him in December.....

I've been working on bitty blocks and bitty log cabins also this month.... can't post pics of the bitties yet... they are for august but I'll post them when I get back.......

I've got 98% of my golden eggs on angry birds and all of my bananas, melons, and papayas on angry birds rio....... I'm sure I'll get a lot more accomplished now that I'm done with that and waiting for the next installment of angry birds rio to land on my nook! lol

ok... guess for now that's it....... i'll try to update from the road...but internet connections are sometimes iffy too....otherwise I'll see you all when I get back!!

be safe
stay cool and productive

Lish

Monday, July 18, 2011

Moving Right along

This was another good sewing weekend!! Lots of pics posted on flickr and somethings done that can't be posted yet........ I made some toolcaddies that fit over a 5 x 7 acryic dollar store frame... they're nice but if the stuff is too heavy they fall over backwards... they'd be great for pens/ pencils/ notepads, etc .... like a little desk top stationary store... the pockets would even hold stamps.... I made some pillowcases for my son.... one for sweetdreams and one for spicy dreams lol.....I got all my commissioned embroidery work done and delivered......and now have the cuff and 3/4 of a leg done on my sock!! When I finish the leg part, I'll make the second sock up to the same point so I can do the heels at the same time and start the foot part........ that way they'll both get finished at the same time.... this is pair number 2! I tried making a footie sock out of some really thin sock yarn and size 1 needles but that didn't work too well lol.... so i'm back to size 3 needles with the sock yarn... it's self striping stuff and it's really looking pretty cool!

The weather has been warmish....and is now heading to HOT!! Yesterday was very humid and even the cat who loves her deck didn't want to go out... she sniffed the air... looked at me like it was my fault and went back to her nap pad to sleep.

I picked a zuchinni and 2 more cukes from the garden too!!

I was asked to do an Angel sewing machine cover for the Sewn Spaces Swap. Apparently someone flaked on their obligation... grrrrrrrr...... but the cover is done and it has a little matching pincushion. It'll go out in the mail this week. Also going out in the mail are the August potholders for my sister and nieces potholder of the month.... they are actually early!! I'm going back east next week for a short vacay.... but decided I'd mail them anyway.

I'm posting a pick of my one shape Rainbow swap mini.... I just love this!!! It's on it's way to my partner and I hope she likes it too!

I also completed the Color My Name challenge.... we picked paint chips to match our initials... then matched fabrics to those paint chips and made a project. I did a needlebook/ hexie/yoyo case. It will hold my stuff for hexies and yoyo's when I travel...

It's amazing how much I can get done when I stay away from Angry Birds! lol

A few pics below and more on flickr....

Have a great week

Lish





Saturday, July 9, 2011

The MO and the JO have reunited!

Things are much better!!! I'm back on track and getting things done and caught up.... the medical issues have been resolved........my sewing machine is humming and all is right with the world!

The current swaps include needle cases and one shape rainbows......... I had a lot of fun with these and decided I need to make many more needle cases!!! I don't understand why I don't have one.... but I don't... and I just stick my needles in a scrap of whatever I can find........that will change!!

My bitty blocks for july and done.... and I even made 24 3" bitty log cabins for another swap! am I nutz?? yep.........and I love it!

I have the paint chip challenge to try to complete..........and then it's on to august and september bitties...........and august postholders for the sister and niece and yep... it's that wonderful time of the year to start making Christmas Goodies.

25 weeks of christmas has begun!!! If you want to be ready for a stress free holiday season... come join us... groups.yahoo.com/25weeks. Be sure to tell us how you found out about us.... we don't let just anyone in.... The elves and I try to keep our Weekers safe from outside spam and evil as best we can.

I need to find time today or tomorrow to weed the garden.... I'm hoping I'll find some yummy stuff out there too... I might even have a radish or two that is ready to pick and I could really go for a nice cool cucumber salad... yummmmmmmmmmmm .... I might make time to go do that NOW! lol

Pics are posted on the flickr site.............. and hopefully this week I'll get the lighthouse pics posted too. Hubby and I did a mini lighthouse tour last weekend up the Michigan shore line.... wow!!! We went all the way up to White Fish Point at the top of the upper peninsula to the shipwreck museum... definitely worth the drive and we stopped at 6 ( I think) Lighthouses along the way.......... beautiful weather...outstanding scenery.........and a lot of history!

Ok.... til the next time.... safe travels... happy crafting...and wonderful whateveryoudo!

Lish

Thursday, June 30, 2011

I really am here!!

It's been a busy...and somewhat stressful 2 weeks........ some family medical issues had my mind all boggled and not focused... but that's working itself out and the brain is coming back to the fold! lol

I have done a few things.... some new Happy Holidays Mats.... I love this mat... it's an Atkinson Design and comes in three sizes and can easily be made into a tree skirt!

My bitty blocks for July are done.... the ones for August are started...and my swap is ready for mailing!! Of course I have 2 new swaps starting this weekend... lol

I haven't done much knitting or other sewing over the last two weeks, so I have a LOT to get caught up on. Going on a mini vacay this weekend with the hubster... going to do a Lake Michigan Lighthouse Tour.......and then starting monday it'll be back to my normal sewing schedule and time to start on Christmas Goodies.... there's just over 26 weeks left til Christmas... so make a note and get started!!

I'll post pics when I get back on monday and thru next week as I complete the many started projects that are laying all over my sewing room... I hate it when I can't stay focused... I do believe that's how UFO's are born! So I need to get them all completed...including the UFO I started but didn't finish ( that'll be #14 for the year) I'm behind on my dishcloths now too.... just one... but July is almost here to techinically I'll be down 3. Perhaps while riding in the truck this weekend I can get at least the second June cloth done..........

I just wanted to check in......first part of getting refocused!

Have a safe and Happy Holiday!!!

Lish

Sunday, June 12, 2011

SCORE!!!!!!!!

A completed goal!!! I have successfully knit my first pair of wearable socks!!! woooohooooo ( toss the confetti and set off the sparklers) I'm so excited! I even did them on double pointed needles!! wow! I have another sock cast on the needles now... it's a tennis type sock and it's a thinner yarn...so we'll see how that goes!

I don't have a lot of completions this past two weeks.... been weeding the garden... the morning I planted some carrots beets and radishes...........been knitting on my sock and reading........... I did make a couple more sock sacks... 4 jumbo ones... I made a lanyard for myself from 8 paper pieced tiny blocks to hold my row counter, scissors and mini crochet hook while I knit.... and a couple of blocks for a quilt that's being donated to a wonderful lady.......

I hope now I can get back on track!!! Below is a series of pics of my socks... the feet are not mine........ my toes aren't that nice! lol






Saturday, June 4, 2011

goals and stuff update

June is the month that i look over those goals i made in january and see how it's going.... (excuse me while I lmao and pimp) ok.... lets see

using the stash is going well........ I've done quite a bit from my stash cabinets and a lot from my huge scrap box!! that project is doing just fine.......

i'm on track with my dishcloths.... I have 2 for each month so far and I've started the first one for june......... these might slow at bit thru the summer..........

the garden is planted and the rain and extreme heat we've had is really making it grow! the weeds are growing quite nicely also! lol I plan to get some packets of seeds for the areas that don't have plants in them.... maybe some carrots and some beets.........they are pretty forgiving veggies

ok.. back to the goals........... I've done 13 ufo's so far this year.... that's more than I had expected to get done so I'm on track with that goal.... there are a number of UFO's left in the box but i think it just might be possible that 90% of them at least will be done by the end of the year....

I have 3 quilts that I had hoped to have done by now but are still on the waiting pile... the giant postage stamp quilt.... the 30's quilt and the buzz blocks quilt... there's still time to get them backed and batted and probably tied if I can stay motivated......

Learning to knit socks and making a wearable pair is now a reality!! woooo hooooo!!!
I have one sock done up to the toe......... that's what our next class will be ...toe shaping.... the second sock is currently on the leg part... I would like to have that sock at least up to the heel before class on tuesday....not sure I remember exactly how it goes.... but I'll try it....and if not... then i'll get a refresher on tuesday.... it's a nice pair of wool boot socks....... they will be great for the winter. I also plan to make a couple pair of sneaker socks and a couple of fingerless gloves by the end of summer......

so that's how the goals are going....... i didn't do much sewing this week.... a couple more sock sacks but i did get all of my june mail to the postoffice.

all of my bitty blocks for july are done and I have my plan for august...........
the july and august mug rugs have been planned also.......... my mini swap is in the planning stage and my alphabitty blocks for august are in sample planning mode so I'm good!!

i think tonite I'll work on my sock and then tomorrow hit the sewing room....i'll take some sock pics later tonite and also pics of the newest sock sacks...

so til then

stay safe stay dry stay cool

Lish

Sunday, May 22, 2011

ok.... so I wasn't here but I have been busy!

Well it seems the month of May is flying right on by. The race is next week already!! I've been busy and a bit selfish the past two weeks...... I've been working on my fat quarter cabinet... trying to get them organized and sorted ... I won't say how many of the little buggers I have... but I could easily do 25 Turning Twenty Quilts with some to spare! So now the goal is to use these up.... I always figured that if I used them... I wouldn't have them and suppose i needed them?? Well I think I'm over that... sitting in the dark cabinet aging isn't doing them any good...they need to be in the bright lite... wrapped around a small child ( or a large one) or carried as a bag.... so for the rest of the year there will be a fat quarter frenzy in my sewing pit! lol
I've also been on the hunt for my little flying geese rulers....... these baby's are small and I just can't seem to find them.... probably buried under a fat quarter somewhere! lol

I got myself a Nook....... oh goodness! i forgot how much i enjoy reading! and playing angry birds........but mostly reading........... I finished the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and I"m halfway thru Water for elephants. The Henrietta Lacks book is the Common Reading book for the incoming freshman this fall... I always read it and display the book... it's an icebreaker for the new kids...most of whom are scared to death of being there! There are so many free books on line.... I downloaded the periodic table of elements... just because I could! lol but I was working a crossword puzzel and I actually needed to use it!

I also got a hair cut......... realllllly cut..... reallllly short...and I got that new gel polish stuff on my nails.... supposed to last two weeks and be chip resistant and all that.... ummmmmmmmm I don't think so!! I've got a couple of chips and we are only at day 10! lol

I made myself a new tote bag...... it's really nice.... lots of pockets... the front button pocket is actually a clutch bag that gets sewn to the front of the bag....

I finished up all of my bitty blocks for June... 12 civil war blocks and 12 wonky star blocks....and I have the July blocks planned.I did the May mugs mats for my sister and niece and got them mailed out and I have the June mats done and the july ones planned!

I finally got pics taken of 3 other mug mats that I did also......... I think the tutorial is from Quiltdad........ gotta check on that.......

I can also tell you now about the new Lazy Girl Stuff that's coming out soon. These are 6 quilts made using the LG Lazy Angle ruler.... there are three large ones and three smaller ones. I got to test the pattern for the smaller ones and they are great! It takes a charm pack and a yard of fabric to make a crib size quilt. I'll be posting the pics of the Lollipop Twist here today. It's the perfect size to be a table mat or a picnic mat also! Very simple and quick and Lazy to make. The ruler has been around for a long time......but it's now part of the Creative Grids line of rulers... I love rulers and I love creative grids! If you don't have the ruler...that's ok too... there are two templates in the patterns for making the blocks. You can read all about the new quilt line at www.lazygirldesigns.com/blog

I also got the garden started.... 4 different kinds of tomatoes.... 3 colors of sweet peppers... zuchinni, squash, cucumbers, celery and catnip in the back garden and a dozen assorted herbs in the front garden. Still room for a few other things.... I may work on that this week....... I'd like to plant some brussel sprouts and cauliflower.... just to see.......

So I think that about sums up the last two weeks......... some pics to follow and the rest are on the flickr site.

Have a wonderful week!!!








Monday, May 2, 2011

May???? Seriously????

I think there is a mistake in my calendar and not all of the days are in each month! How can we be in the 5th month of the New Year?? I was just New Years eve last week!! I'm sure of it!

Perhaps time really does fly when you are having fun.........lol

I've been working on bitty blocks....and the sewing machine cover swap.........and the mug rug swap.......... back to doing hand work.......like EPP hexies for my mug rug swap......and itty bitty yoyo's for my May Bitty Baskets...... I also have a pair of pillowcases ready for some hand embroidery........ crossstitch... kittens....

The binding pile is once again empty........

I've been working on my Kona Solids Quilt Along..... started a second Colts SuperBowl 2012 Scarf... let's hope things get settled and we aren't superbowling in May......

Lots of new pics have been posted to the flickr site and there are somethings I've been working on that I can't post pics yet...... next week.......maybe......

The weather is getting a bit better... still raining but not as long, as hard or as much...... I've been trying to get outside on the days when the sun does shine thru and get what I can done....... still haven't been able to get the garden plot tilled up... but it's on the list........

in the evenings I've been knitting and planning new projects..... sooooooooooo many things I want to do and when I surf the net I find soooooooooooo many more!! I pulled out 4 small ufo's to work on this week.... they are all wall hanging size so they might go quick once I get moving on them..........

I'm working on dishcloths and I'm still on track.... I completed two for April.... but need to get two started for May... if this month goes as fast as the other months did it'll be over before it gets started! lol

I did make myself a new Lazy Girl Margo Purse......... and a new Lazy Girl Lily Purse........ so those were my ME projects.........I have a small crib size quilt done and need to get it backed and batted....... won't take long to quilt that one... just a matter of finding the time.......

The hubby is gone right now... he's off delivering plot seed and hopefully starting to get some of his trial plots planted..... so we now begin what is known as.... "I'm leaving now and I'll see you when I see you" time of the year...... we do this again at harvest too! lol

Ok.... I guess for now that's it.... hopefully I can gather some pictures together and get a few posted for you to see.... or you can head on over to www.flickr.com/sewwunderful and see the wondrous goodies there

Have a great week......and with any luck I'll see you again before the end of the month!

Lish

Friday, April 15, 2011

Early Post this week

Just so I don't forget... I'm posting early this week. Hubby and I are going away for the weekend and won't be back til late Sunday. So here's this weeks updates......

The chip scarf is done!! The first 3 blocks of the Kona Solids quiltalong are done!

3/4 of the second dishcloth for April is done!! My sewing machine cover swap is done!!

All in all a good week....... Monday I went to a Sewing Day and made a Charm Pack Challenge Block... it's a 25" block made from just one single charm pack... careful cutting is definitely required and there are just a few slivers of fabric left over.

I also made a small wallet.... it needs a button yet. It's very small and kinda cute... create for sticking in a pocket.......... it has 2 card slots, 2 pockets for cash or cards and a coin pocket with a flap that actually keeps the coins in!

Pics are posted on flickr. Can't post the sewing machine cover just yet.... I might post a small teaser next week... before I mail it........ but not the whole thing... I want to make a pinnie and add a few goodies to the package before I pop it in the mail...

Also made two springy placemats from one charm pack..... it has a really cool braid strip down the middle... which I think I'll use for other stuff too

Also have 4 of my new shower curtain blocks done. Using a layer cake and a charm pack of Dragonfly Summer for the blocks.... I'm using this block http://moosequilts.blogspot.com/2011/02/block-nine-with-jovita-goldschmidt.html
There are 4 variations from one set of block pieces..........

I also started using the Foundation by the Yard from Benartex... it's quite nice... I think it will work out just fine. I'm doing a Hunters Star which has 16 blocks and is crib size.... I may make a table runner and placemats from it........ I have 8 blocks together right now and it makes a really nice table mat...I think 4 blocks together would make a nice size place mat also... we'll see when the other blocks get done.

I'll miss my sewing this weekend but it'll be nice to spend a couple days with the Hubster.......he's taking me on a mini quilt shop hop thru Illinois... we'll spend the nite outside of Chicago saturday nite and then make a few antique shop stops on the way home........

ok.... for now... that's it I think........ I'll post a couple pics here and you can see the rest over on flickr

Have a great weekend!!





Sunday, April 10, 2011

Well NUTZ!!

Seems I did it again! Missed posting last week......... no excuse except I've been busy.... i have a lot of projects started .....again.....and now need to concentrate on finishing them up...

i got some Foundation by the Yard by Benartex.... this stuff is pretty cool. The blocks are printed on muslin... you cut the blocks and then foundation piece them just like gramma did ..... one thing i don't like is that the printing shows thru light colors... I know it will wash out... but sometimes i don't want to wash the project... so I need to think about that when I do this. I'm working on a hunters star in a thimbleberries cherry fabric and muslin... its coming along nicely. there are 16 blocks on the panel along with pictures and instructions... I have 8 blocks done and put together and I'm thinking this would make a nice table mat.... the remaining 8 blocks could be made into large square placemats and the left over fabric could become napkins........ the 16 blocks together is about crib quilt size..........

i've also been working on my shower curtain blocks... I'm using a layer cake and charm pack of dragonfly summer. I found a block pattern on line that lets me do 4 variations using the same pieces.... I have 4 of those blocks completed and I think I have an idea for the window curtain....

I got a copy of 101 patchwork projects and there are some 9 patch blocks made into a nice cafe style curtain... I think that might work for the summer...........maybe a 9 patch valance also.......... I have quite a few fabrics now for the bathroom so I'll probably start making my pieces for in there.

I'm going on a sew day tomorrow and I've gathered up some kits that have been around for a long time now.... gonna see what I can get done of those and of course I'll be taking some paper piecing along too! I have my blocks planned for May's bitty block swap!

The temp the last 2 days has been wonderful! It's in the 80's right now and a bit on the dreary side... I think there is rain and maybe a storm or two on it's way....

I have a few things on the binding pile now.... 4 mug mats...and 2 sets of placemats that were done this week......... the chip scarf is on the downhill slide now.... we are at about 3/4 finished and that will be tonites tv project.....

I completed another Lazy Girl Lily Bag and there is a miranda and a mini miranda on deck next........ might even be two mirandas...........depends on my plan.......

I guess that's it for now.... there are some pics on flickr from last week but i haven't taken any off the camera yet for this week........ I'll get to that soon....

take care

Have a great week

Lish

Monday, March 28, 2011

Hmmmmmmm missed one1

I guess I missed posting last week........ I posted pics to flickr of a few things but I guess I forgot to come over here when I was done! I worked on a few things last week and the week before but really had a lot of other stuff ( work for $$$) that had to be done and I don't post that stuff.........

My bitty blocks for april are complete and i'll post those below...this month is Sweet Treats and Sewing Notions..........

There's a Kona Solids quilt a long starting on flickr next week so I'll be working on those blocks....... I'm behind on my Civil War Block of the Week...I'll get caught up but for some reason those blocks just aren't working out well.... sizing seems to be a weird thing on them......... no.......it's not just me! lol others have mentioned it too!

I've also been down with a cold....... not bad enough to keep me home from work ( rats!) but bad enough to screw with my weekly productivity! And of course winter has returned to Indiana.... it was gorgeous for a whole week and then BAM!!! winter comes roaring back in....... WTF! I want spring and I want it NOW!!! lol

The chip scarf is coming along.........it's about 1/2 way........ I'll be doing another Colts SuperBowl Scarf in the near future also........and dishcloths are back on the agenda!! I'm on track this year so far......but I need to get two done in april to stay that way........

I have a request for sock sacks also that I need to do this week.......and a few basket handles then I can get back to playing........ I did do a new wallet too that's pretty cool....so I'll post those pics also........The pic with the yellow flowers is a sample for a class I taught this past weekend.... Thimble-Art's 3D paper piecing.... we had a blast!!

Guess that's about it for now.......... more pics and more projects to come!

Have a great week........

Lish





Tuesday, March 15, 2011

It's a Scrappy Give Away

We all love scraps!!! I love scraps... you love scraps... so why not check out

http://wheretheorchidsgrow.blogspot.com/2011/03/give-away.html

and enter the contest!!! Drawing is on Monday March 21st and it's easy to enter... just a simple comment gets your name in the drawing........ post to your blog and get another one and join as a follower and get another one!!! Three chances and it'll only take 3 minutes!!

Now keep your fingers crossed ......... I'm in that drawing too.... three times!!!!

Did I mention I love scraps??

Monday, March 14, 2011

11-12 and 13 and so it grows!!

Another beautiful Weekend!! We took a trip to the Maple Sugar Festival in Medora Indiana this weekend.......it was great!!

I also managed to get 3 more UFO's completed ( that's UFO's 11-12 and 13) and onto the ever growing WOB pile.... PLUS.......... the Colts Scarf is complete!! The ends are woven in and the fringe has been added!! The UFO's are the very first Bitty Block Wall Hanging I did from June 2010.... The Astrick Block Table Topper from last fall and the Wedding Ring Table Runner from 2009. I think I see a dent in the pile!!

I did a bit of other sewing this weekend and also completed 2 potholders for the sister and niece... they went on and came right off the binding pile.... Now that the scarf is done I can concentrate on the handsewing in the evenings during TV time.

This week's plan is to make a 3D paper piecing mini for the class I'm teaching on the 26th and start on the April Bitty Blocks....the april themes are Sweet Treats and Sewing.......the perfect combination!!

Some pics are below and the rest are on flickr

Have a great week!

Lish





Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Spread the Word.... Theres a Challenge going on!

Hop on over to http://modalissa.blogspot.com/ and check out the 100 quilts in 100 days challenge.

They are in need of 1800 quilts of valor blocks to make this goal. I made 4 blocks last nite and it took me about 90 minutes.........each block takes 1 10" square of red or blue and a fat 1/8th of a cream background.

I'll be posting pics later on since I didn't get them taken yet! I plan on doing that tonite and mailing them out tomorrow.

You have until May to get your blocks done and mailed off.......... that's a LOT of time!!!

Take a moment and go to the website........ download the block pattern and make a couple blocks........

I love a challenge............ don't you??

My regular blog update will come later this week......... really not much to report...

Went to Indy for the weekend.... Big Ten Tourney... my team lost on FRiday.... went to the Indiana State Museum to look at the quilt exhibit.... wow! quite awesome!!!

Almost finished with the Colts Scarf... just one more color block to go!! woohoooooo!!

Pictures will come later.......

Lish

Monday, February 28, 2011

Read the Caution Labels!!!!!!

Ok... so when the package of the new titanium blade rotary cutter says Caution... blade is sharp.... BELIEVE IT!!!!

The first cut I made with my new rotary cutter was to my thumb! (sigh) not sure how it happened... but the darn thing just jumped right out of my hand and landed on my other thumb........... but I will say... it's a very nice, thin, even cut!

A couple bandaids later I was ready to get back to my projects! I made a variation of a turning twenty quilt... first it was a turning 12 cuz I used 12 fat quarters instead of 20... and I did a light/dark combo and did the twisted 20 ( 12). You sew your blocks a and b together and cut them apart to make blocks that are half dark and half light... they were laid out in a furrow type of pattern.... I think my darkest dark was too dark... probably shoulda used another blue ...but I think it'll be fine.... reduced the stash by 12 fat quarters and I'll have a nice summer throw for my TV chair....... my flannel star throw is needing some repairs so I'll replace it with the new one when I get it quilted.

Also finished another UFO.... that's #10 I think for the year so far.... it's a wedding ring table mat from a class I taught about 1 1/2 years ago....... the matching runner is backed and batted and ready for quilting so hopefully this week that will get done.

My WOB pile is growing by leaps and bounds!!

Oh....I did have a bit of a buying relapse this week.... My LQS got a cute little line in that's Party!! It's white and has hats and cupcakes and cute party stuff... so I added 6 fat quarters to the stash.... cuz I have no idea what i'll do with these yet...... maybe a table set.... mat and napkins for those special party days... that would be fun!! That was the first added to the stash this year...so I think that's pretty good.......and if I sew'em up soon.... it'll almost be like they were never there! lol

The Colts Super Scarf is getting down to the final inches.... about 15 more to go and I can wrap it up and get on with my other knitting.... I have 6 dishcloths done toward my goal so by the end of March I need to be doing those again....and I need to complete the white scarf which is now a UFO since it's been started for about a year or so now and been in the same state for about 8 months........

My March swaps are ready for mailing and those will go out the end of this week.... that will put me on a good track for more UFO's and maybe even a christmas project or two!

This weekend will be lost to the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tourney.... I'll be gone all weekend... or as long as my team wins....... maybe some binding can get done in the hotel room in the evenings.....

the pics are all posted out on flickr...theres a birthday bib out there too... the design was free from embroidery library and is still free for today yet if you like it and want it.......

Have a wonderful week!

Lish

Monday, February 21, 2011

Catch up and Complete Week

This week was a catchup and complete week.... I had several projects that needed to be done for some friends.... a new tote bag for one.... 2 blankies embroidered with names for another and a set of 8 beanbags for a third...........

Antoehr UFO bites the dust also... that's #8 for this year!!! My WOB pile is building.... snowman, placemats and now this table mat need their bindings yet... not bad... 5 done with 3 to go.......

I purchased another 16" pillow form...that will get used this week hopefully... found a pattern in my stash for a flip pillow and since I can't seem to find any 12" pillow forms anywhere I'll have to do the 16" one.........I also picked up a quilters dream batting to try it... I'm a warm and natural/white person myself but they tell me this stuff is thinner and warmer and easier to use........ we'll see

This is also 100% cotton so it might work for tater bakers too.... since I've found that the warm and natural/white isn't 100% cotton like they said it was.... and I'm not paying for ** special tater batting**....... hmmmmmm

I also finished up my Bitty Blocks for March ... aliens and teacups... I'll post a pic here... since I can't post them on Flickr til March 1st.... I really had fun with both of these........

I also got caught up on my embroidery club blocks... 9 embroidered coffee themed blocks... with a 12 fabric scrappy set of borders in browns, tans and a hint of blue... I think they came out kinda nice..... I'll start putting it together as soon as I figure out my layout and if I want a big mat or a smaller one and side mats... oooooooooooo decisions...decisions........... lol

Not much progress on the scarf this week... but 2 blue and 2 white color blocks done... gotta get that thing done and gone since my handwork is starting to pile up..

All in all it was a productive week and hoping to have a good week this week too! Have embroidery club tuesday nite and a beginner paper piecing class on saturday to teach so I need to spend some quality time with my machines during the week...

Have a wunderful one!!

Lish


Tuesday, February 15, 2011

New and Old

This past week I did some old and tried some new! For the old... I finished up another UFO.... this was a table mat from Happy Camper fabrics.... I have the placemats...napkins...potholders and mats already in use but the table mat just never got done... well now it has joined the others on my kitchen table!!

Next is to use up some fruit and veggie fabric to make placmats to go with the fruit/veggie pinwheel table mat that has been finished but not used cuz the placemats never got done........

For the new ... I made a cathedral window block........ hmmmmmmmm I love the look but I don't know if there are many ( or any) more of these in my future! They are quite a bit of work and if I make smaller ones it will involve a LOT of handsewing... gonna have to contemplate this one........... lol

I did two blocks from the Civil War Quilts BOW.... prepared another set of honeybun strips for a bag......worked on my itty bitty blocks for the March teacup swap. I also have my mini quilt with the Dots theme ready for binding and labeling and I have the fabrics and pattern gathered for the 3D mini also for march mailing........I also did 3 more pincushions so now I have 7 ready for the pincushion swap... hopefully my partner will choose one... if not... I know which one I'll be sending off.......and lastly I have another ufo table mat backed and batted and ready for quilting......... this one is burgundy navy and green and I reallly like this one.... won't be a kitchen table mat since I dont' have any fabric for napkins or placemats........I might turn it into a wall hanging....... we'll see... I even have the binding for this one!

I have just 9 more color blocks left to do on my scarf for the Colts Stadium SuperBowl 2012 project...that's about 27" or so I guess..........I'm shooting for the end of february to have it complete... I have other knitting waiting and plenty of handwork coming too!

flickr's been updated for this week......so I guess that's about it for now........

have a warm and wonderful week!

Lish




Monday, February 7, 2011

One thing nice about snow days during the week

Having two extra sewing days during the week gave me time on the weekend to work on some of my UFO's........ I pulled six of them from the box and got them completed... it's amazing...since none of them took more than an hour to finish up.... 3 of them still need to have the bindings stitched down but the other 3 are totally complete........

I grabbed two 20" blocks that I made back in 2009......... they became 20" pillows... one is a star pattern in red white and blue and the other is the Lady of the Lakes block in golds and browns.......... didn't take long at all to make up the pillows outsides... put the pillow form in ( I had two in my stash) and whip stitch the openings shut........ next came a skinny little snowman wall hanging... I added his face and hearts down his front.......... backed... batted and quilted and added the binding....... he needs to have his binding stitched down and then I can hang him since they are prediciting MORE snow....... grrrrrr

Then came two placemats............ back in 2009 my sister in law made a nice table runner for me from the PA Dutch fabric line... I don't remember the exact name of it.... but she gifted me some fat quarters of it also....they became placemats to match... except after the tops were done they kinda got moved onto a pile........ so out they came.... backed...batted and quilted...... they are waiting to have their bindings stitched down......

The came the small table mat that I started at a retreat back in October... I really like it... made from a charm pack of Blush by Basic Grey... just needed to be quilted and bound... which didn't take long since it was small.... about 22x18ish. Need to finish the binding on this one also.

Finally the long ( like 48") skinny ( like 6" wide) runner that I started last summer......... again... top was done......so I backed...batted and quilted it.... now I knew I had just seen the binding for it a few days ( ok maybe weeks) ago...but I just couldn't seem to locate it... but I did find some scraps that matched and made a nice binding..... that got stitched down last nite and it's ready to become part of my bathroom makeover.... probably over the toidy tank......... or else tacked above the shower.......... approximately 30 minutes after I finished this little gem... I went to the sewing pit to get another spool of white thread to take up to the tv room where I do my hand work...... I moved a small basket on my cutting table and there it was...... the original binding........ I put it in the leftover binding drawer where I'm sure it will become part of another project really soon!

The Colts Super Scarf is about 45" long at the moment.... I'm planning on going to about 80" ... longer if I can stand it........ I need to take an updated picture of it..... it's really looking nice and I'm gonna hate to give it up!

So all in all it was a good week........ lots of productivity........

I think tonite I might dig out one more UFO that I saw and had forgotton about.... it's a small table mat.......that matches the place mats and napkins and hot pot pads that I made the end of last summer........ i'm sure it won't take long to get it quilted.......just needs the backing and batting and I think I have extra fabric from that line yet that I can piece together a scrappy back and binding.........

Pics are out on Flickr ......... and maybe tomorrow I'll have an update on the table mat project........ finishing up these ufo's could become addicting I think.... and I have quite a few in the box... may of which I totally forgot about!!!

So til next time.........

stay warm
stay safe

Lish
(who is going to F some UFO's) lol

*********************************UPDATE********************
One more UFO complete.... I grabbed the table runner that matches a set of placemats and napkins and potmats that I made a realllllly long time ago and finished it last nite... complete! Backed and batted and quilted and bound and the binding is sewn down... all ready to hit the table after I take pics of it when I get home tonite! wooohoooo!!! UFO-ing is kinda fun..... but I swear..... no more UFO's!! When this entire pile is complete... each project will be completed before the next one is started......at least that's the plan.........

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Snow!

Ok.... so what else is there to say? Here... there and EVERYWHERE there is snow and ice and drifts the size of a small country! BUT..... there was good news in all of this......

I got two days off cuz of the snow! woooooohoooooooooo SNOW/SEW days!

I worked on quite a bit of stuff....got most of my swaps for february done and in the mail!!! Got my civil war BOW #5 done........... made a little sweet treat bag and a couple of scrap blocks!

IT WAS GOOD

Pictures are up on flickr and I'll post some below also.......

They want more snow this weekend/early next week.........so who knows! I might be able to get all my march stuff done too! lol

Be safe and Be warm..........

Lish

The towel below is for my sisters birthday... she was born on groundhogs day.... the sweet treat bag is made from a small honey bun ( strips 1 1/2" wide)





Sunday, January 23, 2011

A good week

I didn't think I got much accomplished this week....... but after writing it all down and taking some pics... I think I did pretty good!

This weeks projects include 4 more scrap blocks...block 3 and 4 of the Civil War BOW... sewed up the 3 travel cases that were cut last week.... finished the 5 remaining blocks for the 3x6 swap... started the scarf for the Colts 2012 Superbowl Project... doing a basket weave in alternating color blocks.... got about 10" done... only 90 more to go! lol I finished the last barn block from The Golden Thimble Barn Art BOM from 2010.... put all 9 blocks together and it's now on the pile to find borders and backing so it can be finished up......... I have a few more pieces cut for scrap blocks and sewed up 3 Jumbo Sock Sacks. There are 3 of us at work making scarves for the superbowl 2012 project and we needed something larger to put our yarn and scarfs in....... I'm sure I'm forgetting something but all in all it was a good week!!

Pictures of everything are up on flickr and I'll post a few pics here.... this coming week I plan to finish up the february bitty blocks for the february swap and make a few more scrap blocks... I also hope to get another 20" or so done on the scarf and do up the wonder wallets that I have cut out. We'll see how it goes....

Have a wonderful week!