2011Goals and Such

Happy January!

2012-01-18T11:03:00.002-05:00

January is more than half gone already! Wow! We've had a bit of snow.... a lot of warm 50's weather...and a kickass hail storm the other nite! I love Indiana! lol

So far for this year I've made the Island Chain quilt...... it's halfway quilted right now and I hope to be able to finish it and get the binding on this weekend....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewwunderful/6663114483/in/photostream

I also made a Trip Around the World Throw with some fabrics I received for christmas...that one is quilted and on the WOB pile

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewwunderful/6704755287/in/photostream

Two UFO's have been completed... a set of Pine tree placemats and a set of Criss Cross Coasters........
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewwunderful/6704694295/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewwunderful/6663114625/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewwunderful/6663114419/in/photostream

Samples made for Classes this quarter......... another Flip Pillow for a March Class... a Petite Quilters Wallet for a February class and 2 Shooting Star table mats for a class this saturday..... The wallet needs it's binding stitched down...as does the tablemats... they'll be done tonite and the wallet finished this weekend also......

I also made small friendship bag tote and teeny key chain totes for the goals for January for 25Weeks til Christmas group

All the goodies except the wallet can be seen on the flickr site....
www.flickr.com/sewwunderful

So far I've been sticking to the finish all new starts and do up the UFO's resolution I made this year....... the toughest thing is the completions... I love starting new stuff ( which is obvious by my UFO box) and I hate the finishing details ( also obvious by the UFO box) but I'm determined to stick to it as best I can!

More updates to come.... so stay tuned!!

Happy New Year ( almost)

2011-12-29T13:38:00.003-05:00

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

Merry Christmas!!!

2011-12-16T06:41:00.003-05:00

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!

Another month shot to heck!!!

2011-10-30T16:06:00.002-05:00

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

Flip Flap Pillows

2011-10-18T12:22:00.003-05:00

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

Apples

2011-10-09T17:26:00.002-05:00

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

Pumpkins

2011-10-06T13:24:00.002-05:00

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

NO! I'm not dead!!

2011-09-29T13:08:00.003-05:00

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

End of July?

2011-07-26T05:54:00.002-05:00

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

Moving Right along

2011-07-18T07:39:00.003-05:00

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

The MO and the JO have reunited!

2011-07-09T07:43:00.003-05:00

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

I really am here!!

2011-06-30T12:31:00.002-05:00

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

SCORE!!!!!!!!

2011-06-12T17:27:00.002-05:00

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

goals and stuff update

2011-06-04T15:54:00.002-05:00

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

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

2011-05-22T16:10:00.004-05:00

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!!!

May???? Seriously????

2011-05-02T09:42:00.002-05:00

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

Early Post this week

2011-04-15T07:26:00.002-05:00

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!!

Well NUTZ!!

2011-04-10T16:32:00.002-05:00

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

Hmmmmmmm missed one1

2011-03-28T06:36:00.003-05:00

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

It's a Scrappy Give Away

2011-03-15T07:07:00.002-05:00

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??

11-12 and 13 and so it grows!!

2011-03-14T06:31:00.002-05:00

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

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

2011-03-08T13:38:00.003-05:00

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

Read the Caution Labels!!!!!!

2011-02-28T10:22:00.003-05:00

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

Catch up and Complete Week

2011-02-21T12:18:00.005-05:00

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

New and Old

2011-02-15T07:16:00.002-05:00

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

One thing nice about snow days during the week

2011-02-07T15:28:00.003-05:00

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.........

Snow!

2011-02-03T11:16:00.003-05:00

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)

A good week

2011-01-23T16:13:00.003-05:00

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!

Half Way Thru January

2011-01-17T09:02:00.002-05:00

Time sure flies by sometimes, doesn't it?? We're thru the second week of January already but I'm making progress on my lists and goals.

I have 5 1/2 dishcloths knitted already this year........... most of them are the simple grandmothers favorite... dont' have to think about that one and they make up really fact... the one on the needles has a nice pattern to it and it should be finished up tonite.......... I'll take a pic of the stack at the end of the month before I put them in the gift box.

I've been doing the Civil War Block of the week at civilwarquilts.blogspot.com this is week 3 and it's appliqued stars.... have I ever mentioned how much I dislike applique? I'll get it done by the end of the week... I just need to get psyched up a bit over it.......

I've been alternating between working on my february swap blocks ( january is done and mailed!) and cleaning up and organizing my sewing pit........ I see a bit of progress...there is a spot open now on the floor! lol It's going to be a long process but I'm determined to get rid of the stuff that I don't use and know that I won't use........keeping it just because is no longer and acceptable excuse! Good will is gonna love me!

I have a huge amount of scraps again.........I'll be making scrap blocks....travel cases (from p3designs)wonder wallets and adorables ( by LazyGirlDesigns) and other small projects... like tissue packet and tissue box covers. So far this year I've not had to dip into the stash for anything.... I've been able to use up scraps for my blocks ( paper pieced mostly). Last year it took me almost the entire year to use up my huge ziplock XXX size bag of scraps... this years pile is a bit bigger but I plan to use it up first instead of waiting til the end....... I also have a large bag of scrap pieces of batting and insulbright that will become potholders and placemats...... seee... I have a plan... I just need to work it now!

I added a cute little flickr app to the bottom of the blog... if you hover over it it should start to move and show the most recent pics that have been posted. It's cute! it tells you where to get if you are interested and I think it works on any RSS feed........

Ok... I'm heading back to the sewing pit... I'm off today and there's blocks to be sewn and cloths to be knitted and trash to be well... trashed!

Have an awesome day

Lish

January 2011

2011-01-02T10:13:00.004-05:00

It's the beginning of the new year and the beginning of new goals. Many of mine were met last year... and some weren't.... some were carried over to this year... some weren't lol

My main goals for this year are to be productive.... be organized ( in my own way)...be healthy!

I hope to work on my UFO's and complete each new project so it doesn't become a UFO

I hope to use up my scrap stash in stash buster blocks and turn them into useful quilts and table mats and table runners

I hope to knit another 24 dishclothes .... they go over great as christmas gifties

and I hope to find the floor, counter tops and table tops in my sewing pit! lol

ok... so that's what I hope to accomplish ( among other things) in 2011

as soon as I make a list of my UFO's I'll get them on here and then I can cross them off as I go.......

The day after christmas my female pileated woodie showed up on my feeder.... the male was flitting in the big trees in the yard... she sat still long enough for me to take her picture....... she's soooooooooo beautiful!!! I wish the male wasn't so shy... I'd love to have his picture too!

Once again the 25weeks of christmas project has been started... I have 150 wonderful Weekers who join me in the fun and frolic and fudge covered mounties throughout the year.... the scrap buster blocks are one of our projects this year... as is the UFO contest...and of course our monthly goals to make christmas 2011 a stressfree season!!

There are some new pics out on the flickr site...and hopefully more goodies later this week....... I've been off quite a bit over the holiday and hubby and I spent a lot of time together... which meant the sewing pit and projects took a back seat... tomorrow it's back to work and hopefully back to a more normal ( whatever that is) schedule

Have a warm New Years

OMG it's DECEMBER!!!

2010-12-01T11:30:00.002-05:00

I've been lax in posting in november and now all of a sudden it's DECEMBER!!! wow!

I have been busy though. all of my presents and gifties that needed to go on vacation with me did so..... I have 2 pair of loungers and 2 ties to make and I'm done!

I have some little trinket stuff to do... catnip toys, etc........ but for the most part I am ready for the Jolly Guy to come visit me!!!

And it's really a good thing that I start early and follow the 25 Weeks of Christmas program.... last week I was gone for a week....... gone this weekend to an out of town party and gone next weekend to Chicago for our anniversay....... don't get much done now during the week when I get home........

The 25 weeks of Christmas is my yahoo group... we have goals and a plan and by this time of year we are wrapped ... tagged... bagged and ready to enjoy a stress free Holiday season...
We are accepting new members for 2011 so come and join us!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/25weeks ( I think that's the direct link)

We do require you to post often and participate in the monthly goals....... and we will boot you out if you don't! lol No slackers or lurkers allowed........ we are a very helpful, chatty, productive bunch and we've turned many folks into stressfree holiday folks!

I don't know if I'll post again before the end of the year... probably should one more time...... need to go over my goals and see what made it and what didn't....

I know that the dear jane didn't........and I know that the 24 dishcloths did... I took the last one off the needles on my trip last week....... I reduced my stash but not by as much as I had hoped.......and I have lots of scrap blocks that haven't yet made it into quilt form....... but there's always next year!!!

Whatever the Reason for your Season..... be safe and be happy

Lish

New Lazy Girl Project!

2010-10-24T15:15:00.002-05:00

I'm really excited to be a tester for Joan Hawleys Lazy Girl products.... her newest project is really fun and quick to do!

It's a portable pocket to transfer your goodies from one bag to another quickly and comes in two sizes.... I'll post some pics of the smaller size below and you can go to www.lazygirldesigns.com/blog for more pics and pattern preorder info. The pattern is due out in November.

I finished up the mini quilt project also! All done and quilted and they are just too cool! I"m sure baby sis is gonna love it... if not... I'll bet her daughter does! lol

I'm moving right along and I'm actually just a bit ahead of schedule for my projects. I'll head home over thanksgiving so the bulk of my christmas making needs to be done by then......

It was a very busy weekend in the sewing pit for sure... and there are lots of pics up on flickr. I have napkins cut out to go with the table topper but they aren't sewn yet... maybe later tonite or tomorrow nite for sure...... my goal this week is to get the napkins done and the table topper quilted and ready for binding...... also need to make 3 mug mats........ I want to be all done and packed up by November 16th...

I've also been knitting little stockings...they are small and hold a tube of lip balm quite nicely... I have 12 done and need 8 more........ those are my trinket gifts for this year......

also on this weeks list is block 38 of the block of the week barns.... I'm two down after that one.........and to start my house bitty blocks for my november swap... they need to be done and gone by the 15th of november........

It's turned to fall in indiana....... most of the leaves are off the trees already... the wind took care of that and we've had just a sprinkling of rain... not enough to get rid of the burn ban at all!

Ok... enough for now...... a few pics below.... more on flickr and I'll try to do a midweek update this week...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the SewWunderful sewing pit!! lol

Sewing Retreat

2010-10-17T18:25:00.003-05:00

I went to a sewing retreat this weekend.... it was so much fun! The creativity was endless and I got a few projects completed........ the photos are posted on the flickr site.

The weather has been cool and more fall like....... but that hasn't stopped the Asian ladybugs from divebombing my deck door..... the bright sunshine really attracts them and they just love working their way into the house (sigh)

I have just 3 mini quilt panels left to do and then I can complete them.... I waited to do the final sewing and quilting as I haven't decided how to match them up yet.... do I put them in calendar order? or just grab and sew? It really doesn't matter i guess since you only display one at a time!... I threw in a party mini so now I'll need to make one more.... maybe a tree for xmas........that will give 14 choices and I think all the holidays and seasons are covered! wooohooo!!!

Christmas will be here before you know it!!! Most of mine need to be done before thanksgiving so I can take them back east with me......... but not too worry! I'm in pretty good shape and should be done in plenty of time!

Not much else this week......... go check out the pics....

Lish

Indian Summer

2010-10-10T16:39:00.002-05:00

The beginning of this week we had frost.... real frost... not just cold... yesterday is was 86 ...today 90...WTH???

I spent most of today sewing....and some of yesterday also.... I now have the easter, april, june and july mini quilts done.... quilted and bound a table topper and made some napkins for a birthday present... put together one set of swap blocks into a nice quilt top.......cheated and jumped ahead a bit and made the 12th block of the 30's BOM...that block isn't due til december... but it was easy to figure out and I'm getting excited to get it finished! lol

Now it's time to make some supper... settle in with my knitting and watch some TV

Hopefully this coming week will be a productive one also. I'm behind on my Barn of the Week... I'm 4 back now... and I have to put together the final barn of the Golden Thimble hanging.... maybe I'll make those a goal for this week.......they will be done by the end of October.... but i'll push for this week.

I have some knit stocking to do... little mini one's... just big enough for a roll of lifesavers or some lipbalm.... that's what I'll be working on tonite....

The pictures will be up on flickr in a little while... gonna do supper first...

have a great week everyone!!!

Lish

Busy Week

2010-10-03T17:55:00.003-05:00

It's been a busy week........finishing up odds and ends here and there.... made a couple of house blocks for a special project that someone is doing...also made some tree blocks too.

I made my 10th 30's BOM block...and i spent today cutting the sashing and border bricks. I put the 9 blocks that are done together and added the top border. I'll sash the 10th block and have it ready for the november block.... the last row will go fast come december and I'll have the border bricks all ready to be added. I'll be tying this quilt to keep the 30's feel....... it'll be a nice throw size quilt about 52 x 70

I'm also working on my sisters xmas pressent.... I can talk about it here cuz she never comes here to see what's going on... lol I have a mini quilt stand...and I'm doing small panels... with a block for each month. They are reversible so there are 6 panels. The blocks are at opposite ends so when I quilt one block, I'm also doing the plain panel from the block on the reverse side. I have the 4 panels that I've done so far up on flickr... I'll get them batted and quilted hopefully this week.... only 8 more blocks to go! lol

I've also gathered up my bee blocks that somehow never got made into anything.... I have 3 sets ready to be made into quilt tops...and 2 sets of scrap blocks ready to be put together. 2011 will be the year of the UFO ... all these gorgeous flimsies I have will become real quilts!!! I'm also going to make a full hearted attempt to finish each quilt I start and not let the ufo's pile up! we'll see how that goes.. lol

I also made two more puzzel balls... one pink and one yellow...these will go in the gift box until they are needed.

All of the little ones gifts are done for xmas............whoooohoooo!!! I even have their bags done......... I'm track quite nicely and with any luck nothing will derail my train! I'm hoping for a productive week this week also.......

I have 3 barn blocks of the week to do and the last Golden Thimble barn.... I think they will be this weeks goal..

Guess that's it for now........ fall has come to Indiana to stay I think.... it's been cold at nite and chilly during the day... with bright sun.......perfect fall weather....... in fact.... it's so fall like.. I made a big pot of veggie soup and homemade bread yesterday!

a couple pics below... the rest are on flickr

later

Lish

I was confused!!

2010-09-26T14:46:00.002-05:00

One day this week I was sitting at the kitchen table drinking some coffee and watching the leaves fall from the trees. Lots of leaves on the ground... some turning colors... so I thought to myself...what a beautiful fall day.... then I went outside and it was 93!!! what the heck!!! then I remembered I live in Indiana.... confusion solved......

I've been busy the last two weeks finishing up odds and ends and working on xmas presents. I did a soft grabby ball... like the amish puzzle balls.... it was a bit fiddly but it turned out great! I have a yellow one and a pink one cut out now and in the works.. they'll go in the baby box.......

I also finished up my October 30's bitty blocks.. I'll post a pic here... since I can't post on flickr til october 1st....... I also have my mug rug swap packed up and ready for mailing... and my advent blocks done and ready for mailing and my bee obsessed blocks packed and ready to mail...... I'll hit the post office one day this week.

I made a couple of bibs to go with the ball and a soft book that has a regular golden book to go with it... kinda cute......

This week will be samples for novembers Paper piecing class as well as starting on the mini quilts for the mini quilt rack.... should be kinda cute... I hope!

Have a great week and hopefully I'll more goodies to show you next week.....

Lish

All caught up for September

2010-09-12T17:29:00.002-05:00

I came down with a cold the beginning of the week and it's really cramped my sewing time this week...... I managed to get some shapes traced onto fusible......and do some yoyo's during the week and between yesterday and today got my september stuff all caught up and started my October swap stuff........

BeeObsessed blocks for October are done....... scrappy mug rug for October is done except for it's binding... I'll stitch that down this week....... block #36 in the Wisconsin barn block of the week is done and the August and September Barns BOM from TheGoldenthimble.com are also done...........My halloween and circus bitty blocks went out in the mail and I'm ready to start bitty's for October....... whew!!

I also got the new Quilting Arts Magazine and wow!! lots of projects in there that Ireally want to do......... but have to stay on track with Christmas.... I need to have a set amount of things done by the end of september for the christmas box... so when those are complete... then I'll play with the magazine!

The barn block of the week is posted below and the rest are on flickr...

have a great week!!

Lish

It's national sewing month

2010-09-06T15:21:00.002-05:00

It's also september! Where did the summer go?? It's been a busy summer for sure... lots of day trips and weekend trips but now it's time to buckle down and get my list of gotta do's under control.

I managed quite a bit this long first weekend of National Sewing month.... in fact I have 3 sets of gifts for xmas all done... just about... I have to put ties in the drawstring bags........and fill two eye spy bags.... and make a bunch of yoyo's for the tic tac toe boards. That takes care of the older kids... ages 2..3..and 5 and leaves a 6 month old yet to do..........

I also got all of my barn blocks of the week caught up.... I'll be posting pics of blocks 31-32-33 and 34!! I also have the september 30's block of the month complete and all of my halloween and circus bitty blocks are ready to mail in the morning.

The Round Robin is now complete also! I finished the binding last nite and labeled it this morning and it's all ready to hit the postoffice tomorrow too... as I said... it was a busy productive long weekend........

I'll be posting a lot of pics over on flickr also.... I have a few pics from the columbus zoo and some pics of the Tall Ships from Chicago... I also have a couple pics of the chicago lighthouse and the chicago skyline that I took from the Tall Ship we sailed on.... it was an astounding trip!!! The morning was bright and beautiful... breezy and the lake was just perfect!!! I'd definitely take that sail again!

I hope to finish up a few more gifts during this week........ or at least parts of gifts....and have another great marathon next weekend....

For now I guess that's it........... have a great week and a wonderful national sewing month!

Lish

Ms Lily

2010-08-22T18:26:00.002-05:00

Here she is..... the newest girl in the lazy girl family..... her pattern is available for pre order and should be released in a couple weeks........

stuff..... and stuff I've learned

2010-08-22T18:08:00.002-05:00

I've been busy over the last two weeks but not much to show... been working on bindings and quiltings and stuff............hopefully in another week or so I'll have new stuff to show... did a skinny runner and a snowman hanging that need to be quilted and bound... also been working on yoyo's for my mini quilts for xmas.........

Now anyone who knows me knows I'm somewhat of a ruler whore...........I love rulers.... regular rulers... specialty rulers.... etc...... I found a new ruler up in Lollys in Shipshewanna last week... it's called a double diamond and its pretty cool... Like any specialty ruler it has limitations but i think it can produce some fun gifts.... I'll post a pic below.......

Now I've also learned that when you use goo gone to remove sticky tape from your ruler.. it will also eat the paint on the numbers! One of my NEW 12"
QID rulers is now missing a few lines in the center but I can redraw them and it'll be fine.... I just added that to the Never armor-all your steering wheel note!

I did make an new lazy girl bag this week.... a new runaround bag. Hubby and I are heading to the tall ships next weekend and this fabric was perfect...and speaking of Lazy girl.... a NEW bag is coming out and I got to test it!!! Her name is Lily and she's beautiful... she's round and curvy and soft and pleated and just the right size for trips to the zoo and the museum....... my pics of her can be seen on LG's facebook page and when I get back to my other computer I'll post them here and on flickr.... she's just a wonderful lil girl!!

I'm behind on barn blocks and on my golden thimblebarn... I'm still hoping to be all caught up by the end of august.... so we'll see lol I need another marathon weekend!!!

Have a great week!!

mini marathon

2010-08-08T16:21:00.002-05:00

I had a mini marathon sewing weekend.... I made two christmas table mats from Atkinson designs... they are small mats and one medium mat from the same pattern for halloween...the medium is about 32" across. I have to back and batt them and then work on quilting and binding this week. I also completed 2 wonky house blocks for the august bee obsessed quilt block swap and 3 many blocks for the september bee obsessed quilt block swap ( I love being a head of the game) I also completed 24 bitty blocks for the september bitty block swap... those themes are circus/carnival and halloween.... can't post pics of those yet... not til september comes but at least I'm ready!

I finished quilting and binding the coastal door/party banner and that will go out in wednesdays mail.....

it was a good weekend for sure! but something was missing........... my wisconsin barn block for this week... jen of cre8tive quilter is having laptop issues....and that's not good! hopefully she'll be back in business next week and whatever is wrong is just minor!

all the pics are posted on the flickr site www.flickr.com/sewwunderful

take a peek when you get a chance. I have some hand sewing to work on tonite...and yes... I found my yoyo makers so I can get started on yoyo's for a few projects

til next week... take care and stay cool

Lish

It's been a busy week!

2010-08-01T15:13:00.004-05:00

Actually it's been a busy two weeks...... last week I made some napkins and coasters for a birthday gift... one set with ducks and one with fishies... its a long story... don't ask.... I also did block 29 of the Wisconsin BOW and cut out several table toppers. I got one of the table toppers made up... just needs to be quilted. It's from the Happy Camper line and will go with my napkins placemats and pot mats that I'm already using........ it's basic bricks and it's made from just one charm pack. I'm planning on making the little ones tic tac toe boards for christmas... they'll be soft and quilty and I'm going to make yoyo's for the x's and o's......... soon as I find my yoyo makers...... I have fabric ready and I'll use this as a fill in project while riding with hubby or when I need something to do that I don't want to have to think about....... I also ran across a pattern for some yoyo pot mats so I might make some for that also... those have a circle of batting in them so I'll have to see if the yoyo maker will work with those or if I need to do them the old fashioned way lol

I made a set of 6 placemats with reversible napkins and coasters this week for a small dinner party hubby and I went to this past saturday. I finally finished up all of the binding friday nite.... I even worked on them during lunch at work! This weekend I managed to make a coastal door banner for my niece who lives on the bay in north carolina and is just returning from Bahrain. She'll be getting married the end of august..... the banner is for her open house/shower thingy that my sister ( her mom ) is having for her in about 2 weeks. The quilting needs done but that'll be this weeks project!

I also completed the august 30's BOM...and the weekly Wisconsin barn block 30. I also joined in an extra 3.5" mini swap for august... it was a pretty easy swap for those of us who had the regular swap completed and mailed out. There were 12 of us. The theme was traditional blocks as opposed to novelty type blocks and the colors were primary red, yellow and blue. I cut my blocks yesterday and sewed them today. Friday will be mail day this week as I have a few other things to get ready to mail.

I completed most of my landscape mini swap this weekend also... just have to stitch the binding and that will hopefully get done tonite while I watch food network challenge.... I just love that show!

I'm runnng behind on my knitting again......... still have to finish the scarf and the two dish cloths I have started...... also have to work on my socks! It's been really hot so that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! lol

I'll post the Barn Blocks 29 and 30 below and the rest are on the flickr site.

I have one more BOM for August to do... that's the Golden Thimble Barn Block... haven't downloaded that one yet... I'll check in a bit to see if it's been posted.

The sentimental journey BOM is done as far as I'm concerned... I have 6 blocks... and last time I check the july block hadn't even been posted yet... I plan to make 4 of the blocks into a table mat.... and the other 2 into placemats. I've already started making napkins and coasters from the remaining fabric.

Guess that's it for now........ off to flickr to post some pics

Catch you all soon

Lish

All caught up!!

2010-07-18T18:28:00.002-05:00

I'm all caught up on my Block of the Week Barn Blocks.... and all caught up on my Golden Thimble Barn blocks..... I decided to do two more of the Sentimental Journey blocks and then make it into a table topper and napkins from the rest of the fabric....
I have several things backed and batted now and ready to be quilted... couple table runners... a sample wall hanging for a class and my bitty blocks summer fun wall hanging. The Bitty Block Committee does 3.5" squares.. in a theme... and we swap them... The June theme was picnic/bbq and it's just tooo cute! I have it backed batted and pinned... just need to quilt it...... July/August theme is beach/underwater... I've received a few of those so far and they are just too cute to be believed!!
It's been hot here and lots of nasty storms.... last nites storms caused power failures and flickers and lots of tree limbs down....... when I looked out side it reminded me of a hurricane the way the trees were bending...... didn't cool it off any though............still hot and hazy...

I'll posting a few pics here of the barn blocks and the bitty hanging.. even thought it's not done yet...... So you'll see blocks 25-26-27-28 and a mini block... block 1.

Have a great week!

Lish

July update

2010-07-12T06:03:00.002-05:00

It's hot! lol but it's summer so I guess that's to be expected! I finally got some stuff posted on flickr today.... I'm sure I have more pics but they must be on the other camera so when I find that camera...I'll post those.

I spent most of this weekend getting caught up on things... I did two purses for birthday gifts.....got all of my packets and handouts ready for next weeks paperpiecing class... we'll make a coaster, a pincushion and a needle book while learning to paper piece... got my goldenthimble barn blocks for June and July done... now I need to work on my barn block of the week from cre8tivequilter...

I got my astrick mini quilt...2 placemats...and my red/white/blue star topper backed and batted and ready for quilting... I gathered up a bunch of orphan blocks that will be turned into two throw quilts for daughters of a friend..........worked on a pink/grey lacey dishcloth and quilted and added binding to my QuiltersWashline paper pieced wall hanging........

It was a very productive weekend for sure!! Hopefully this coming week will be just as good and I'll be allllll caught up again.

I need to take a look at my goals and see where I am on those also.... I know Dear Jane hasn't even been started........the scarf still isn't finished.... it's hard to work with wool in 98 degree temps! lol

Pics have been posted on the flickr site and hopefully there will be another update this week.......

oh ...and only 24 more weeks til christmas!!

Lish

Yup I'm behind

2010-06-30T06:16:00.003-05:00

Ok... so I'm now officially 3 barn blocks behind... although since this is a weekly thing that's less than a month behind... but nevertheless... behind

Life happens... things need doing...and there are just soooooooooooo many projects that I want to do! lol

This saturday... July 3rd starts the 25 weeks til christmas program.... time to get working on those christmas goodies.... I'll be done by thanksgiving again this year which means I get to spend the last few weeks before christmas baking and relaxing! wooohooo

I've been working on a few things.... I have a small astrick quilt topper in the works as well as my swaps... I got hooked on these cute little 3.5" blocks and there's just no stopping the fun! I've got picnic ones coming in now and in July/August it will be beach and underwater. I can't wait to make cute little mini's out of these blocks!

I'll be all caught up on the barn blocks in a week or so... they are near the top of my list now and all I need is some time........ anyone got an extra hour or two I could use?

I've got a few selvedge projects planned also... mostly pincushions... small ones and another one or two over the armchair type... they'll make fun gifties!

Ok.. I'm off to work now and I'll be back this weekend with pictures!

til then

happy stitching!

My Hubby Rocks!!!

2010-06-13T18:23:00.003-05:00

Last weekend hubster and I went to the Brookfield Zoo.. we hadn't been there for a while... before we left to come home, he gave me a list of cities that we would be traveling thru and told me to find some quilt shops in those towns and we'd stop at them on the way back... what a guy!!! I had my own mini Illinois shop hop!! We stopped at 5 or 6 of them and they were great.... one in Batavia was fantastic and so was the one in Morris!! the others were great too but these two rocked!! I did get some fat quarters and some patterns....... and a really nice bar of lotion.. it's shaped like a bar of soap but it's lotion and it's really nice...... a soy blend I think

This past week I didnt' seem to get much time to work on things........ but I got my pincushion swap done... don't need to mail that til july... finished the binding on my sisters july table runner..that gets mailed this week... made 3 other pincushions.. one over the arm chair kind with pockets... and two pineapple variations... the selvedge pockets were my very first project using selvedges... not sure if I like the process.......lots of fiddly little pieces but I'll try a few more small squares and see if it gets better... the pics of all this stuff are on the flickr site as well as some bejeweled key fobs that went directly into the christmas box......

Below are the barn blocks for 22 and 23. Block 22 has a mini block however, but 23 doesn't and probably wont... this block was a bugger to do... a lot of Y seams...and I can't imagine doing it in a 3 inch size! Perhaps when I'm totally bored one day I'll give it a shot..........

We've had a lot of rain and thunderstorms this week also....... waaaay too much rain for sure... but I hesitate to complain since droughts aren't fun either! lol

I'm hoping to finish up a lot of stuff over the next couple weeks and get ready for the start of my 25 weeks til christmas program... I have lots of fun ideas for the kids, plus I need to check my goals and see where I'm at... can you believe 2010 is almost half way gone?

Pics of the barn blocks below and the rest on flickr...

Lish

It's not a mistake... its' a feature!

2010-05-31T14:33:00.002-05:00

Well it may have started off as a mistake but now it's a feature. I printed off the Block 20 Hens and Chicks from Wisconsin Barn Blocks and set off to complete it.... I was thinking to myself that this one was somehow different but it's tested so it must be ok......... I finished the block and it measured 3 1/2 inches..... now what the heck........ I went back to my download and the PDF was fine....ut oh... then I remembered that I had been scaling some blocks for a swap and didn't set the printer back... I reprinted and remade the block.... now I have this cute little block..... I took it along to the normal monday show and tell and someone suggested that I should redo all of the blocks in the small size and make a small hanging to go with the larger one........ hmmmmmm nice idea........ another suggestion was to use the small blocks as a border around the wall hanging when it's completed.... oh yes!!!! It will be a wonderful feature for my wall hanging So block 20 and 21 have small blocks and I've gone back and printed off a few of the blocks in the smaller size... as I move forward I'll do the new blocks in both sizes and each week do one or two of the previous blocks...well at least most of the previous blocks... there were two that I really hated doing so I don't know if those will be repeated or not... we'll see

The last two weeks have been busy... and sort of productive... I now have 10 dishcloths towards my goal of 24 for the year.... two more this month will put me on track again.... a few more rows were added to the scarf and I believe that is now at the half way point....... I kitted up a few projects so they are ready to go when I have the time and the second bag of scraps is ready to be used...... the original goal was to use up 1/2 the scraps... I've done that ( whoohooo) so now I'll continue on and try to get rid of the second huge bag.... since i'll be working on christmas presents now and I have a few small projects to make I'm sure I can make a serious dent in it!

Since most of you know I'm some what of a ruler whore... I mean connissiour (sp).. I got the new eleanor burns flying goose ruler... it's a jumbo... makes geese that are 5x 10 and 2 1/2 x 5.... she also has a new single pattern that uses this ruler... the Fox and Geese table topper can be seen on the flickr site........ I'll be making some placemats and napkins to go with this from the left over fabrics.

Below are the barn block pics....... the rest are on the flickr site...

Lish

It's here It's here!!!

2010-05-17T16:54:00.002-05:00

My fabric came today... already!!! I'm so excited... I wasn't expecting it til the end of the week! It's beautiful and yummy and luscious and MY colors too!!!!

The camera just doesn't do it justice....

I won!!!!!

2010-05-16T16:33:00.002-05:00

yup.... I won!!! It was a simple challenge on Carol Doaks yahoo group site.... make a block with her newest pattern... hearts and flowers.... make it springy and upload a photo... the block is really cool and can be seen here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewwunderful/4531691381/in/set-72157623769330232/

I was notified on saturday that my name was picked in a random drawing and I won!!!! What did I win you ask??? I won 10 yards of fabric from Carol's studio!!! Oh yeah!!! I was ready to pee myself!!! I'm so excited! I'll be jumping the mail man daily til it arrives... it's coming from New Hampshire ( I think) so it'll take til the end of the week at least to arrive....... I'm pumped!!!

Now there was a time when paperpiecing caused me fits and shivers.... I absolutely hated it... then one day I had to had to had to learn it.... I was facilitating a group and that weeks project was paperpieced....... so off I go to my friends quilt shop... I threw my stuff on the table and said.. ok... make it work!!!! Fifteen minutes later I was kicking myself cuz this was sooooooooooooo easy!!! I don't know what the issue was... but I've been a paper piecing fool ever since! lol I have several of carols books and foundation factory and I wouldn't part with them for the world!

Other than that... this week was pretty quiet..... another dishcloth complete.... an eyeglass/remote holder done.... this weeks Wisconson Barn block done.... and potholders for the hubster... he requested some new ones... and his wish is my command... lol

I also made a weekender bag... I was hoping it would work as a laptop bag but it's waaaay too big... plus it's quite floppy...and I'm not sure I like it even...... I plan to cover some 1/4" foam and secure it to the bottom and top and see it that stabilizes it.... it also calls for two separating sports zippers... what a waste that was!! The zippers don't need to separate.. in fact you make bar tacks so they don't separate.... and they are impossible to sew over so all that had to be done by hand...... next one ( if there is a next one) will be done with regular zippers...... much cheaper than the 3.00 a piece I spent on these.....

tonite will be a bit of knitting.......and maybe finish the binding on my sisters next table runner...... I'll be watching Chef vs City so we'll see how much I get done lol

ok... pictures posted below......and on flickr...... I'll take pics when the fabric arrives.......(did I mention how excited I am about this) kinda undoes the stashbusting I've been doing so far this year... but it's OK!!!!! lol

Til next week

Lish

Is it really May?

2010-05-09T18:29:00.002-05:00

If it's may.... why is it 36 degrees?? I just don't understand the weather these days.....it looks bright and sunny and gorgeous and yet it's 36 degrees... hmmmmmmm
Two weeks ago the high was 80.... today the high was 56 and again overnite it will be in the 30's..... I'm tired of it now and I want it to stop! lol

Ok...another rant....if you don't want to listen...then scroll down...... I've decided to drop one of my monthly BOM's.... nothing irritates me more than someone not doing what they say they will...over and over again...... this BOM still isn't up for may... tomorrow is the 10th!! No notice on the website... no nothing... this is consistantly late and seems to get later and later all the time... so I'm going to take the 4 blocks that I've done and make a table mat for my kitchen table....I'll use the rest of the fabric for matching napkins and maybe even some placemats! I'm very greatful to those who do keep on time with their monthly and weekly blocks and I appreciate it very much... ok rant over

So...... did you like the pictures of my beautiful woodie? She's a big bird and she's just so pretty... the male is even bigger and brighter.....maybe some day he'll sit still for a photo session too!

This week was block week... Barn Block 18 is complete... Golden Thimble Barn #4 is complete.. all of my swap blocks for may are complete and going out in the mail tomorrow and my June block is also complete and going out..... I made some progress on the scarf this week...and kitted up a few things.... I have my list ready for this week too!

Hubby tilled the garden today so if it warms up this week I'll get some seedlings in for my veggies...... the herbs will go in the front boxes again this year but probably not til memorial day... should be warm enough for them by then.....

My plans for this week include putting together one of the scrapdiddly quilt tops... I have enough blocks for two throw size quilts so far........I also hope to work on my weekender bag which might just become my new laptop case and some handwork is also on the agenda. I finished up readying Shutter Island this past week... wow! nice!! and started on a local book called Murder and Mayhem in Lafayette. It's actually a history type book beginning in the 1800's with stories of who killed who and who was hung on the courthouse steps and where it happened... since I'm not originally from here it's really fun to read and get an idea of the history of the area....even if it is a little gross at times......

I'm posting pics of the Wisconsin Barn Block and the Golden Thimble Barn below... if you wanna see the cute fish waterbottle holder I did this week you'll need to go to the flickr site...

Have a great week all

Lish

FINALLY!!!!!! I GOT HER!!!!! WOOOOHOOOO!

2010-05-04T13:34:00.002-05:00

ok sorry..... but I finally got pictures of my female pileated woodpecker.... it's as though she decided to sit and look pretty just so I could take her picture! finally!!

I had to take it thru the dining room window....... I was afraid to move to close and make the slightest sound... she' quite skittish...... but she's beautiful....

I'd love to have pics of her companion....but I have her now and I'm content (sigh)

she's below...........

Lish

It's back!

2010-05-02T15:49:00.003-05:00

I'll bet you didn't even notice it was gone..... but I did....... my mojo... my motivation...my creativity....it just up and left me about two weeks ago.... I'm thinking the new meds from the doc might be the culprit but it doesn't matter now... cuz it's back!!!

This past week has been a great week! A purse.....4 table runners... one of which is quilted and has the binding on it....finished up two dishcloths...started two more... put about 10 more rows on the scarf in progress... barn block 17... 3o's block... victory block... all completed... plus I put a few kits together for this coming week.. whew!!! It feels fantastic!!

The purse is all black and it just won't take a good picture so that's not on the flickr site... but the dishcloths and table runners and blocks are... or will be as soon as I finish up here..... I also found some time to read! Did I mention this was an incredible week?? I missed my mojo soooooooo very much!

The Scrap/stash buster totals for this month are as follows:
1 yard of scraps....15.9 yards of fabric and fat quarters...2 charm packs...1/2 yard of vinyl...2 yards of batting...8 zippers... 1/2 yard of fusible fleece..1 yard fusible interfacing....

This week I hope to take stock of my goals for this year and see where I am... I know for sure that I'm behind on dishcloths... but one scrap bag is now totally empty!! Large pieces have been used up and smaller ones have been sorted by color into containers.... so that's 1/2 the scrapbuster goal completed and most of the scrap organization completed.... I have another bag now that I will start scrapping from.... I have scrap blocks completed for two scrap quilts... they need to be put together into a top...and then another one needs to be started.... hmmmmm guess I'm more on track than I thought I was.... I need to take a good look at the ufo's however.... they scare me! lol

I'll post the usual barn block below... as well as the 30's block for this month... the rest can be found on the flickr site....

have a wonderfully fantastic week!!

Lish

The victory block is by Eleanor Burns in honor of my niece who is on her second *visit* to bahrain

Last week of April is upon us!

2010-04-25T18:09:00.003-05:00

Can it really be? Is april almost gone? this whole year is flying by quite rapidly and I'm not near where I should be on my goals for 2010... I think I need to reevaluate and get a move on!!!

It's been raining now for two days.... nice soft gentle ground soaking rain.... but it's been cold too....... I sure hope these april showers bring beautiful may flowers.

do you know what happens when you push a little too hard while you are sewing?? Yup... that's correct... needles break and pieces fly..... ok... I know this.... but did that stop me? oh nooooooooooooooo.... I pushed just a bit to get over a bump where 4 seams met and the darn machine pushed right back.... needle broke.... but the pieces didn't fly.... nope... 1/4" of the needle went right into my finger!! Just a bit was sticking out so I was able to grab the forceps and pull it out... to my surprise it was a full 1/4" piece of needle in there.... once the throbbing stopped I took a picture ( of course) of my finger with the needle in and the piece of needle I pulled out... I'm going to post them below this weeks barn block.... so if you don't want to see it.... stop reading when you see the barn block! lol

I did some embroidery this week... hadn't done that in quite awhile... I did two small wallhangings for my wall at work.... one for the summer.... it's a picnic scene and one for august when the kids come back... those pics are over on flickr....
I also finished up some odds and ends that needed doing so I could be free to play this week.

I also got the new Quilt in a Day BarnBook and also her new Jumbo Flying Goose Ruler... wow... this thing makes massive flying geese and I just love it! I plan on playing with that this week also.......

Also on this weeks list is to finish up the house dishcloth that's on the needles and work on the white scarf...that needs to get done so I can move on to the other scarf on the needles........ those will be this weeks knitting projects

ok... that's it for now.... finger booboo is angry at this typing....... so remember...stop at the barn block if you are the least bit squemish! lol

Lish

OK STOP HERE IF YOU ARE SQUEEMISH..... CONTINUE ON IF YOU AREN'T! LOL

Another Week has whizzed on by!

2010-04-18T14:56:00.002-05:00

Well actually... two weeks have flown by....... not quite sure where the time goes these days. Last weekend I was in Columbus at the zoo... wow! what a fun place.... I'm working on the bazillion pictures that I took and hope to get them posted soon.... I finshed a dishcloth and started another.......I have all my april swap blocks done and mailed out and even have one of my May blocks ready to go tomorrow. Our 3rd RR is about to start and that block is also done and ready to mail in the morning.... hubby has a new doorag...... it's planting season and he forgets to wear his hat sometimes so maybe this will keep his head from burning......

This weekend I taught a class on the Wedding Ring block and tested a pattern for a new purse for a fantastic designer.... that new pattern should be out in May and I'll tell you about it and show you mine when I've been given permission to do so

The female Pileated Woodpecker has been spending a lot of time on the feeder... I'm taking that as a really good sign that she'll be staying here for the season instead of migrating on...... I'd love to have baby woodies in my trees! She still won't sit still for me to take a picture and she just seems to know when I have the camera in my pocket.... she flys off just as the camera clicks..... oh well... maybe one day

We're back to more seasonal temps here also.... high 30's over nite and 60's during the day.....lots of blue sky and bright sunshine!!

I'll post the last two barn blocks here and some of the other goodies are over on the flickr site....... the red/white block isn't quite right so it'll be redone... I forgot the borders! sheeesh!

Oh.... one of the super giant zip locks full of scraps is finally empty!!!!!! Ahead of schedule too! I had planned on having that one done by June.......and the second one done by thanksgiving.........so this is a really GOOD thing!! I've been looking for more patterns that I can use up scraps with....and I actually thought I saw a little dent in the fat quarter cabinet!!! wow!! I think this week I'll work on some table runners.... sister pat has requested a few in various seasons and holidays..... now to find some fun patterns!

Guess that's it till next week......

Lish

What a week!

2010-04-04T15:54:00.002-05:00

Well it's been a busy week here!! We switched from cable to directTV so that installer was here the same time the guys were installing the new furnace.... on Thursday... a semi intoxicated older teen with a suspended drivers license and no insurance blew the intersection and ended up in my yard........ took out part of my corner grass and yucca garden and stopped about 12inches short of the big fat old tree! His small truck ended up sunk into the soft dirt there........ the gardening folks will be out next week to give an estimate... but we have a $1000 deductible on our policy and if the driver has no insurance...well.... you understand........

I did get a lot of sewing done this week..... I made some placemats and hot pot mats using up a jelly roll I had in my stash... it's the Happy Camper line....... I plan to make some potholders and a table mat yet ....... I also completed all of my swap blocks for April and they are going out in tomorrows mail.... the april BOMs for the 30's quilt... the sentimental journey quilt and the golden thimble barn quilt are done as well as the block of the week this week for the Wisconsin Barn quilt..... whew!!!

I have a few projects I want to work on this month so I needed to get these out of the way.....

A female hairy woodpecker was on the feeder on friday... she flew off just a nanosecond before I took her picture and returned right after... guess she's just camera shy!

A few more rows were added to both the dishcloth and the white scarf and a fancy scarf was started this week....... I also went thru another huge pile of scraps and pressed and sorted them into the color boxes.....which are now full! gotta get another set of boxes!

The tally for March for stash and scrap usage is
3.5 yards of scraps
9.5 yards of fat quarters and yardage
3 1/2 yards of batting
1 Jelly Roll
6 skeins of embroidery floss
3/4 yard fusible interfacing
assorted purse hardware
velcro
6 zippers
1.5 yards of twill tape
11 yards of ribbon...

all in all another good month of scrap and stash busting.

I've made a list of things I want to do for April from the scraps and stash.... I hope I can keep this up for awhile.... I thought I saw a little dent in the stash but I was mistaken lol

Have a great week!!! Pictures are below and the rest is on the flickr site

Where did spring go??

2010-03-28T14:06:00.002-05:00

I missed posting last week ( hanging head in shame) I got a new laptop and a sinus infection! I spent most of the weekend last week setting up the laptop and trying to make friends with windows7.... I think we are almost there!! W7 likes to hide things and make you go on a scavenger hunt to find them.... lol As far as the sinus infection goes.... I still have it.... it still hurts....but hopefully when the warm weather comes back this week it will be gone!!!

It's been rainy and cold and windy and generally ca-ca here! I was just getting used to the nice warm weather and BAM!!! winter returned! I guess that's all part of living in Indiana where the weather changes about every 22 minutes!!

I did get some things done over the last two weeks...... The baby quilt is done... in it's bag and on it's way to PA to be taken to the baby shower next week....... All of my March swap blocks and BOM's are complete......I did up 8 foldup easterbaskets to take to work tomorrow and a set of 6 tater bakers for another person at work... all of this is in my wheelie cart ready to go with me in the morning.....

Block 11 and 12 for the Wisconsin BOW are posted below and you can see the other stuff on the flickr site....... I think I'll start a new set of placemats and potmats for ME before I start on Aprils blocks.... I have the fabric for the 30's BOM but I think I'll wait a bit before I start it........

I also made myself a new purse and wallet for spring..........and finally!!!! my first giant bag of scraps is down to about 3 handfuls left that need to be pressed and sorted!!! I'm amazed for sure!!! That's one almost down and one more to go!!I'm really enjoying using up scraps for various projects.....and I don't miss ( well not too much) adding to the stash.......

Guess that's it for this week........ have a warm and wunderful week

Lish

Signs of Spring

2010-03-14T18:55:00.002-05:00

I look for three things to signal spring in Indiana... the first is the robins... but I can't use that this year cuz the little buggers never left! They were out and about in January!! The second thing is my pileated woodpeckers... I have a pair that swing by every spring... hang around for a few weeks then move on... they come back again the fall... I saw the male on my woodie feeder on Friday!!! I heard the female out in the trees calling ... I'm so excited! I just love these birds... they are very large and absolutely gorgeous! The third sign is the warm rains that soften the earth...well we had major rains this past week... and saturday the earthworms were out and about!! That means the ground is soft and warm... wooo hooo!!!!

I spent this week working on this and that and the other thing mostly... I have a baby quilt for a shower gift sandwiched and 1/2 way tied... I added a number of rows to the scarf and found a cute pattern for fingertip washcloths... I knitted 3 of these this week... they only took about 2 hours and they are quite cute! I think they would be great for little ones as their whole hand would fit inside... maybe I'll make some in primary colors and add some soap sticks for their christmas stockings!

I finished up my blocks for this month... sentimental journey is done... the barn block is done and the wisconsin block of the week is done..... I also ventured into the world of triad interlocks...wow... I made a table topper using batiks!! It came out quite nice...even though I hate working with batiks.. they feel funny! lol

I also have 3/4 of a spring purse done.. trying a pattern from a company I haven't used before for bags.... it's looking pretty nice and the instructions are very well written....... Lazy Girl Designs is due out with a new bag in April so I'm sure I'll make that one to go with it...I always carry a bag and a tote for work.....

I hope this week to finish up the bag and the baby quilt...... I have some strata left from the table topper that might work out well for a wonder wallet or two... might take a bit of tweaking and twisting but I think I can make it work.....

Guess that's it for now

See you next time
Lish

Spring is in the air!!

2010-03-08T16:06:00.002-05:00

It's almost spring in Indiana... of course that's subject to change every 20 minutes or so here but for now it's bright and sunny and temps close to 60! That's incredible! Hubster and I went to the zoo over the weekend and it was a gorgeous day!!! A sweatshirt was plenty to keep the chill away. The animals looked happy lying in the bright sun too!

This week was a productive week, but not a finish week. A lot of things were done... strips sewn together... baby quilt top cut and sewn....some kits made for future sewing days... patterns and fabric gathered for assorted projects.... but nothing completed except for the GoldenThimble Barn Block and the Barn Quilts of Wisconsin BOW.... that little thing gave me fits this month! I reversed the colors on the center pinwheel and that threw my colors off all over the block......so it's done and it's nice but it's nothing like it should be!... it's staying the way it is! lol Yet to go is the block central sentimental journey March block..then the blocks for this month will be done....... I have several block swaps that are finished for March also......and just one of those left to do.......

I have a long list made up of things that need to be complete by the end of March... with any luck they will be.

On the UFO front... the baby boy quilt binding has been started.... a few more rows were added to the christmas scarf and I found where I put the sack with the dishcloth in it...... now maybe it will get some knit time of it's own. I found a cute pattern for a knit mini wash mitt that is just begging me to be done..... perhaps one more started project won't matter....provided it's finished by the end of March! lol

I'll post the barn blocks at the bottom as usual...and you can visit the photo site to see the swap blocks. Hopefully this week will be even more productive

Have a wonderful springy day

Lish

The Olympics are Over and so is February!

2010-02-28T19:39:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is March 1st.... wow........ I know february is a short month but it sure flew by quickly!!

I didn't accomplish as much as I had hoped to this month... but I still got a lot done..

I managed to complete one of the UFO's...the pink baby quilt..... it's all bound and stored in the box now awaiting the next baby girl to come along. The blue boy quilt is now in the process of having it's binding stitched down...... so hopefully that will be a finish for March

No progress on the dishcloth goal...the sock goal or the scarf... just couldn't seem to find the time to do any knitting this week.....

I did get some kits made up......which is good........ I cut a quilt called Up the Lazy River... it's all cut and bagged and ready to sew... .I also cut 12 wonder wallets and have them bagged and ready for pressing top stitching and sewing......

I made a few table runners this month also....... those pics are on the flickr site and I've completed my 30's repro BOM...and my block 8 of the Barn Quilts of Wisconsin...

My stash/scrap totals for this month are.........17 3/4 yards of stash and 5 3/4 yards of scraps... 1 1/2 yards of batting... a few buttons and some ribbon........ I think this was a productive month!!!

I'll post the BOM's below and the other photos are all on flicker.....

I also want to mention that Jen of Cre8tivequilter has started a flickr group for the Wisconsin Barn Quilt Blocks... right now it's just hers and mine but hopefully the others will join in too! http://www.flickr.com/groups/barnquilting/

I think March is coming in like a lamb.... so the rocky weather isn't quite done yet.... but I know spring is close by.... I can almost smell it!!

til next week

Scrap busting Olympics

2010-02-21T16:38:00.002-05:00

This week was not much of a sewing week........ it was, however, a Scrap Busting Olympics! For some reason my scrap bag #1 just got the best of me and I spent most of the week watching the olympics and cutting and organizing scraps....... I made 32 more scrap diddly blocks...that gives me a total of 65 scrap blocks now....that's enough for TWO throw size scrap quilts!! That's 2/3rds of my scrap quilt goal for the year!! I may have to increase that but for now... this is GOOD!! My XXXL zip lock bag is now down to about 1/4 full...... my scraps that were not used for the scrap blocks are organized by color in shoebox size plastic containers...... all of the containers at this point are pretty well full.... these will be used for paper piecing projects and small quilt blocks.......the scraps that are left from these scraps will go in a bag and then make their way to the local animal shelter where they will be used in pillows and mats for the animals that reside there... this is a no kill shelter so some of the residents are there for quite awhile before they are adopted. I recently sent 4 big bags of scraps down to them.

I did make 2 burpers and 6 pee pee tee pee's for the box..... I have several babies coming and dont' know if they are boys or girls.....so I'll be making a few sets of tee pees and a number of burpers to bust the flannel stash. One of the UFO baby quilts is 2/3 done with it's binding.... about an hour or so and it will be completed! The boy quilt has it's binding on and is next on the wob list. so bring on the babies!! I'll be ready!

I also embroidered and made a table runner...... this will be a club project for March so this runner is my sample... it will then become part of my personal table runner collection... I love placemats and table runners of all sorts!!

Block 6 ( I think) of Crea8tive Quilters Barn Quilts of Wisconsin has been completed also. That pic will be posted below as well as the burps and teepee's...... the rest can be seen on the flickr site......

I've been knitting a few rows each nite on the scarf while watching the olympics so that's coming along also.... about 8" long at the moment.... so quite a ways to go.

Thats it for this week...... Happy Sewing

Lish

February is 1/2 way gone already!

2010-02-14T16:14:00.003-05:00

Can you believe it? Tomorrow is the middle of february already...sheeesh!!
Ok... I have a UFO update.... two baby quilts are now tied and have the binding on... just ready for handstitching now...... I'm excited about that!! Dishcloth and sock status are the same... nuthing new on either of those....... I'm slowly making progress on the scarf I started so that's good .......

I've posted some pics on flickr..... some samples for a paper piecing class..... the swap blocks for my March swap........and my Barn Block...... I'll post the barn block at the end of this post....... I really like these... they go quickly and they are going to make a really fun quilt/wallhanging/something... not sure yet what i'll do with them... or how many I'll do. Guess that depends on what I want to do with them... lol

I have 1 1/2 sides to finish binding on a baby quilt for the end of february... that will get done during the olympics tonite..... in fact... I think a lot of knitting might get done during the olympics over the next two weeks......

So far theres no sign of spring coming anytime soon either..... more snow is expected this week and it's COLD!!!! We didn't get as much as they expected... but enough to be annoying! and did I mention... it's COLD!!!

I've also posted pictures of some origami Jolly bags that I made.... they are from the same place that I got the origami pockets from... RomanianQuiltStudio... these are really fun and can be made easily from any size square.. the itty bitty ones have potential to become christmas magnets or ornaments...

ok... that's it for this week........back to the olympics!!

Lish

Super Bowl Sunday

2010-02-07T16:53:00.002-05:00

I got up early today so I could get things finished before game time....... I plan to knit and root for the Colts!

I finished Block 2 of the sentimental journey BOM....... block 5 of the Barn Quilts of Wisconsin BOW....Barn Quilt by Golden Thimble block 1....a bunch of origami pockets which are too cool and so much fun to make.......I sandwiched and tied the notre dame baby quilt... also got the binding ready for it and cut a pillow case to put the quilt in when it's finished! I'll post a few pics here but the rest are on the photo site...

We had about 6 inches of snow friday and saturday and they are calling for another 6-8 possible monday nite and tuesday... this is officially starting to suck! I want spring... I want flowers and most of all I want WARMTH! lol Of course binding quilts is nice cuz it's very warm under there.......

Not much got accomplished in the UFO department except to gather all the UFO's I could find and put them all together in one spot....... I have a lot of work ahead of me this year! The sock stayed at the same level but I did start a scarf for next years xmas... it's a new very simple pattern and if it works out there will be a lot of these in the christmas box......the dishcloth is also at the same level....Once I get the baby quilt done I can move on to more stuff but the shower is the end of february and this has to get done!

ok... here's a few pictures.... check the photo site for more goodies and stay warm...

Lish

Tools Down Hands UP January is DONE!!!

2010-01-31T19:17:00.002-05:00

Not too bad a month really.... as far as goals go I have 3 UFO baby quilts sandwiched and ready for the quilting..... 1/2 of one sock is done...... I'm starting the instep part....... still just 1/2 of one dishcloth......all of my BOM's for January are complete....all of my swaps for January are complete..... my BOW Barn Quilt Blocks of Wisconsin is almost up to date... I need to do block 4... that was on todays list but I ran out of time...... several gifts have been added to the Christmas 2010 box and my stash has been reduced.....

19 yards of fabric/fat quarters
3 5/8 yards of scraps
5 1/2 yards of batting used up
8 zippers... hand full of buttons...couple of D rings.. 1/2 yard of insulbright...2 kitchen towels and 2 adult bibs..... all used up in January.... not bad at all~

Pictures have been posted on the Flickr site and I'll post Block 3 of Jen's Barn Quilts of Wisconsin Block here..... yep.... January was a good month! We'll see how February goes~

The end of January?

2010-01-26T08:51:00.002-05:00

How can that be? Where did January go? I spent this week working on my sock.... I have the cuff done...the heel flap done....and the heel turned.... now to start picking up stitches and working on the instep........ I just might get a whole pair done by summer! lol

I also quilted my round robin quilt. I'm in a round robin with 3 of the most talented ladies I know! Their work is impeccable and there creativity knows no bounds... I'm hoping it will rub off on me! I'll post a picture of my quilt that I received back later this week when I get the rest of the pictures off the camera.

I also finished up block 3 of Jen's block of the week barn quilts.... I'm ready for block 4!!

One thing about the end of January... it means that the february blocks of the month will be here soon!!! yippee........

I hope to have a scrap/stash usage total for the month soon also........ I'm still working on this and that so it will probably be the weekend before I tally it up...

This weeks goal is to do the binding on the Round Robin quilt and make a label........start the instep on my sock..........and do the BOW........ anything else accomplished this week will be gravy!

I guess that's it for now............pictures coming later this week

Lish

January update

2010-01-18T17:43:00.005-05:00

I've been busy!! I've added 4 pillowcases to the Christmas2010 box.... did some customer work.... completed blocks one and two of the Cre8tive Quilters BOW... made a set of sock sacks... for ME!... one to hold my socks and one to hold my dishcloth... the magic loop socks seems to be working ok for me.... I need about 3 more inches on the ribbed cuff and then I'll start the heel....... I've been working on swap blocks this week as well as getting some baby quilts ready to be quilted.... one.. maybe two will be tied and one will be quilted on the machine.......

I've also been working here and there trying to finish cleaning up the sewing pit.....I got about 1/4 of one of the scrap bags sorted by color... man o man there's a lot of scraps here... but I've been using them on some of the swap blocks.... so far for January I've used 13 yards of fabric and fat quarters... 2 1/2 yards of scraps..4 yards of batting plus some kitchen towels, zippers, and buttons from the stash...... this is a good start!

I'll post some of the pics of blocks below....and you can see everything for january so far on the flickr site... have a great week!!

January 2010

2010-01-10T11:13:00.002-05:00

Well the first full week of January is now over..... I worked on the Clean the Sewing Room goal...seems the more I try to organize the worse it gets... lol... I do have one spot now that is nice and organized so that's a start!!

I found 2 3 drawer cabinet things on wheels at Menards yesterday... they were on sale for 8.99 each! These will be used for sorting the scraps... by color probably with one drawer for novelty/holiday/etc. so that goal is started!

I managed to knit 2 whole rows on double pointed needles... hmmmmmmm this will take some getting used to... but in the mean time I started a sock using the magic loop method.... I think I can handle this method better than the dpns's but I still plan on learning to use those lil things!!

I used up some stash and some scraps over the last nine days.... I cut 4 pillowcases... made 4 sock sacks...3 pincushions....12 tissue packet covers...January BOM from block central...this is made from stash... completed a second BOM for January for a 1930's repro quilt from the local quilt shop and there will be a third BOM... called Barns...that will use stash. I completed all of my January swaps and used 2 large kitchen towels from the stash to make a childs apron and potholder for a nephews birthday present. It will get a small wooden spoon and a package of chocolate chip muffin mix added to it.

I did make a purchase at Joann's yesterday... I bought two rolls of batting for the UFO baby quilts that will get sandwiched today and quilted up during this week...... hopefully I'll be at the binding stage by next weekend on all three. that total purchase was 26.00.

I;ve posted pictures of the goodies for this year on flickr www.flickr.com/sewwunderful .

I have bread rising right now and I plan on getting those baby quilts sandwiched up before evening.........

Tonites project will be to work on that ML sock and maybe put a few rows on the first dishcloth of 2010 too!

For right now... I think that's it!!! I'm ready for the snow to melt and the warm to come so I can sew on the deck!

Take care

Lish

Happy HollyDaze

2009-12-07T08:33:00.003-05:00

I've not had much time to blog these past few weeks.....finishing up the last of Christmas... Thanksgiving vacation... etc.........

I have 26 scrapdiddly blocks completed now and a partial list of what I'd like to accomplish in 2010.

I doubt I'll get much posted between now and New Years but I'll try... I want to get my 2010 goals posted so I can be accountable..... that definitely helps me stay focused.

I wish all of you a Happy and Joyous Season.... whatever you celebrate.........and a safe and prosperous New Year......

Lish

November Stuff

2009-11-14T16:32:00.002-05:00

I skipped last week...... hadn't planned on it but I did........ I've not worked on Scrap Diddly now for a few weeks.... I do have some squares that need to be put together for centers but that's about it right now... but I've been BUSY!

I finished both of my scrap quilts...they are quilted and bound!! I also finished up THREE UFO's! My pinwheel veggie table topper.... my turning twenty quilt and my snowman table runner....... wow! They are all quilted and bound! Some were quilt in the ditch but the beach house and the turning twenty were both freemotion.... I even did some stars and my name on the turning twenty!

This coming week will be getting things ready for thanksgiving vacation so I doubt much else will be done... I'm leaving a week from tuesday....... I have odds and ends to finish up....and things to pack.... and hair to be cut....etc etc etc......

I hope to do some scrap centers in between all that... but we'll see

I don't have a deadline set for this scrap quilt...and I plan to make 2010 the year of the scrap! I want to use up scraps and finish up ufo's.... I have a few laying around here yet lol....... I'll post some pictures of the finish's here.....

have a great week

Lish

Sock Sack Addiction

2009-10-25T15:32:00.002-05:00

I didn't get any scrap diddly parts done this week but I was able to get some other stuff done.... some humbug bags, roly nesters... my backpack FINALLY... pictures of this and more are over on the flickr site.

Now there's the sock sacks... the pattern was a free on this summer by Terry Atkinson of Atkinson Quilt Designs... she made it for her knitting friends to hold their sock yarn and needles... it has a cute zipper pocket on the front... well let me tell you... these babies are extremely addicting. I made a couple from my scrap bag this summer.... and then a few more and then a few more and now I've resized it so there's a set of four!!! If you make this... be aware..... there should definitley be a surgeon generals warning on them! I'll put a picture of the 4 sizes here and you can see them all over on the flickr site.......

It's been a weird week weatherwise in Indiana... temps up in the 70's... asian ladybugs everywhere covering everything... rain and now cold.... darn I just love it here.... if you don't like the weather just wait a bit... it'll change... lol

I've vaccummed the ladybugs off the door and windows several times this weekend... I no sooner get it done and the little darlings are back!! Just one or two days of really cold weather should shut them down... but just one or two days... then I want the sunshine and warm back!!!

My christmas presents are almost totally done.... I have 2 things to make before thanks giving and then 2 more that I don't need til xmas eve and that's it!!! Well... almost it... I have to make the cats new toys and a new nip pad......

ok... here's the sock sacks pic....

have a great week

Lish

Oh Wow!!!! Spooky Give Away!!

2009-10-21T11:47:00.001-05:00

Ok everyone....and I mean EVERYONE!!!! head over to http://pumpkinpatchprimitivequiltshoppe.blogspot.com/2009/10/its-happy-halloween-giveaway.html and check out the fantastic giveaway! Plus...... for each of you that go visit.... I get an extra entry............ and I'd reallllllllly like to win!

Even if you dont' quilt..... at least go look! This is a really fun site!!

Lish

Ufo's Scrap Bag and Sick

2009-10-18T12:05:00.003-05:00

I was down with some sort of cold/sinus crap for over a week.... one of the reasons why there was no post last week.....

This week I've been working on completing some projects.... a purse and back pack. The purse is done.. but the back pack is really going slow... for an easy pattern it sure is taking me a long time!

I haven't added any scrap diddly blocks or centers these past two weeks....... need to get a handle on that also......

I have one of my scrap quilts backed and batted and is now ready for quilting.... I also have 3 more ufo's that need to be done soon.... I've now commited to finishing these so I need to hop to it!!! The beachhouse scrap quilt also needs to be done. I'm hoping to get all of these quilted and ready to be bound by the middle of november.... I'd like them to be totally finished by then... but I'll settle for up to the binding stage......

I'm adding a few links I'd like you to visit. The fiberobsessive site is my friend Viki's first blog.... and she's doing great.... she doens't do computers well but she's finally getting the hang of it and her blog is coming along nicely.

patchesandpieces.blogspot.com and splittingstitches.blogspot.com are the other two. Please stop by and check'em out!

And if you happen to do farmville.... I could use another neighbor or two! lol

Have a warm week!

Lish

It's cold!!!!!

2009-10-04T17:06:00.002-05:00

It's been cold and rainy most of this week..... could be why my sinus' are acting up and why I feel like I'm getting a cold (sigh) .... I'm due for a flu shot next week so I reallllly don't want to be sick!

I made up 12 scrap diddly block centers this week. I just did centers cuz I've found that if I try to do the whole block... I want to color coordinate them and they they aren't random scrappy...... so I'm trying it this way... we'll see.

I also made my first doll this week. She's not from scraps but she's really cute! I'm not a face drawer by any means but I think her new mommy will like her anyway!

Pictures below...... have a great week!

Lish

Fall is just around the corner

2009-09-27T15:05:00.003-05:00

The nites are very cool....the days are warm and breezy and the leaves are falling.... sure signs that fall will be here soon with Winter to follow (sigh)

I've started my Fall Scrap Bag project. It's a block called Scrap diddly. It goes together pretty quickly and I did up 7 blocks this week. I don't know how many I need cuz I haven't decided on a size for this one.... so I'll just make blocks.......

I haven't quilted the summer ones yet.... I'm hoping to get to those within the next week or so... have to finish removing the paper from the beach house quilt first... then I'll get them both ready to go at the same time.

Pictures of the new block are below.......

Have a great week

Lish

Finally!

2009-09-20T15:39:00.003-05:00

The final piece of the summer scrap bag project is finished. I finished up the Crazy Bird Wall Hanging this week and it's now with the other waiting to be quilted and bound. I'm hoping to have them done by the end of October.

I still have an enormous amount of scraps......... the three quilts only used up about 1/2 of one of the bags ..... so as I sit here, watching the leaves falling from the trees outside my window...I've decided to keep up this project as the Winter Scrap Bag Project.

My hope is to go thru the bags and separate the large pieces from the smaller ones.... and separate them by color also.... but then I think.... that's really time I could be using to make blocks.... so I doubt it will happen unless I do it as I go along........

I'm looking for one or two more scrap block patterns to use for the next two quilts... they will be the throw size, that I like to make. I really enjoy snuggling up in the chair or on the sofa with a quilt.

I'm posting the picture of the crazy bird below. It turned into a wall hanging because there was no more of the dark background in the scrap bag........ I used up every sliver that I had in there of browns and blacks........... I think it will look just fine!

Have a great week!!

Lish

Two down one to go

2009-09-13T14:09:00.002-05:00

I finished up TWO of my scrap quilt projects this week!!. I put the wonky star together yesterday and the beach house quilt today.... they look great! I hope to get them quilted and bound by the end of October...that's my goal anyway.

Still have one more scrap quilt to go.... that's the Crazy Bird.... I need to get working on my blocks for that one.... it's also paper pieced. I need to take a count of my bird and grass blocks and see where I am............

I've used just over 1/2 of one of my scrap bags.... I'll be going thru it and pulling scraps the for bird quilt and then whatever remains will go into bag two. That bag will start another round of scrap quilts... just don't know what kind yet........

Below are this weeks pictures!

Long Weekend

2009-09-08T08:26:00.002-05:00

It was a long weekend ......... Labor day........but I didn't get a lot accomplished. Hubby and I went here and there and everywhere this weekend.

I did manage to add 9 more stars to the box for the Wonky Star Quilt...and I finished up a Halloween Label from leftover bits of halloween fabric. It'll be a sample for a class in October.

I hope to get a few more birds and grass done as well as a few more stars so I can concentrate on putting all of the quilts together...... I'd rather do them all at once than one at a time.....

I'm also working on a wedding ring table runner for a sample for class...this is made from scraps from some 30's reproduction fabrics that were left over from some blocks I did a year or so ago........ seems everywhere I look I find more scraps! lol

Below are the pictures of this weeks stars and quilt label

Have a great week

Lish

August is gone!

2009-08-30T16:07:00.003-05:00

Wow! The summer sure did fly by quickly! The kids are back at school and it's been rather cold here in the evenings...... I sure hope that doesn't mean winter will come early!!!

I didn't get a lot done this week on the scrap project.... I did 4 star blocks for the star quilt...... decided to do a few more birds and a few less grass blocks for the crazy bird quilt.......and decided that the beach house quilt is gonna look weird with assorted skys here and there... but I'm makin' it anyway! lol

I did two paper pieced quilt labels from scraps left over from a table topper and a wallhanging I made this week..... they can be seen on my flickr site and the labels are posted below. I'll be teaching a paper piecing class in october on these lables... so for now they are samples....and after the class they will be added to the table topper and wallhanging which should be quilted and bound by then.....

Hubby and I were gone all day saturday again.... up to chicago to the Field Museum so I didn't get anything done yesterday....... next weekend... weather permitting we'll be gone to Indianapolis to the zoo....... so I'll need to get busy during the week to get more things accomplished...

Oh.... and if you look at the calendar you'll see that Christmas is quickly approaching.... will you be ready??

Lish

Parts is Parts

2009-08-23T15:12:00.003-05:00

Had a bout with some stomach flu this week so I really didn't get as much accomplished as I would have liked.......but I did do more **parts** for the scrap quilts.

I did the last bird ( I think) and the last 3 egg blocks for the crazy bird quilt... now I need to concentrate on grass blocks... I think I need to lay it out to see exactly what I need to do yet... I might do more birds and less grass depending how it looks...... I also have a frog that will go in there somewhere... just because.......

I added 10 more wonky stars to the star quilt......... I'm at almost 1/2 way on those blocks... I'll cut more squares this week... I have two more pieces of lights that I can use for the corner blocks and there's another piece or two of whites that I can use for the star blocks and there is an abundance of stuff to use for the star points and centers......

Pictures posted below..... have a great week and hopefully next week will be more productive........

Lish

Wotta Week!!

2009-08-16T18:47:00.003-05:00

Last Sunday my computer crashed....... apparently just because it felt like it...... I spent several days getting it up and running and getting the bare bones programs on it... It was quite frustrating....and I've decided that I'm only going to put on what I actually use! Fortunatley I had just done a back up on July 15th so there was very little lost and I've been able to redownload most of that..... I lost a lot of emails and that upsets me... but it is what it is!

On to fun stuff... this week I did a bunch of scrappy projects. In fact, everything I did this week came from the scrap bag! I finished the surf blocks for the Beach Cottage Quilt so all of those blocks are done now... just a matter of putting it together. I realize now that I probably should have put the rows together as I went along.... there is sky strips between the house and cabanas but I used up all the sky stuff....so the strips between the houses will be a different color blue sky.... no worries... it's a scrappy quilt...and it's for me.....so it'll be fine!

I did a few more grass blocks for the Crazy bird quilt... I need one more bird block, 3 more egg blocks and 14 more grass blocks....... hmmmmmmm that's a lot of grass! I might have to recount on that........

I also started a wonky star quilt..... I'll need 36 wonky stars for a lap size quilt... I have 4 completed... I really enjoy these and they'll make a nice lap quilt... once again... for ME!!!

I'm finally starting to see a dent in the scrap bag! I also made 5 lazy girl pouches and 5 mini electronics cases from the scrap bag! Both of these projects use small pieces and the way they are made allows for using different fabrics inside and out.... Pictures of all are below

Hopefully this week will be better ... have a great week

Lish

Finally it's hot!

2009-08-09T14:09:00.003-05:00

Yesterday and today are the first days in the 90's that we've had since May!! It's been a amazingly cool summer.... nites in the 50's even! Along with the heat comes the humidity too! This weekend is the first that I've had to turn on the air conditioning....... mainly to get the humidity out..... but my sewing room is nice and cool.......it's in the basement... and there's a big fan......and it's wonderful!

This week I finished up the last two beach houses for the beach cottage scrap quilt. I made the 3 sun blocks also...... this week I'll work on the water and waves... I need 7 of them......then I can start cutting the rest of the pieces and getting my rows in order. I plan to do some embroidery on some of the houses... maybe put a name on the bank....and the Chocklit shop.... a flower or two here and there.... just some ideas floating around at the moment......

I also made my first scrappy wonky stars! I'm in a stash busting swap and this months swapee wanted wonky stars........ so off I went to quiltville.com to check them out.... I made two in a matter of minutes.......and then I took the fabric she sent... and began making stars... she sent 4 5"charms so I cut them into 4 pieces and used them for the centers of the stars... I'll be sending her 16 6 1/2" stars for her swap quilt! All but the centers on these came from the scrap bag! I think I'm beginning to see a small dent in the bag finally!! This scrap bag reminds me of a box of chinese food... I keep taking stuff out.. but it just nevers seems to be getting less! lol

Below are this weeks pictures........havea great week!!

July is gone!!!

2009-08-02T15:33:00.002-05:00

Can you believe it?? July is gone! I'm not sure where it went either. This summer has been very cool.... very few days in the 90's. School starts here in about 2 weeks and in 3 weeks the kids will be back at the college......before you know it.... it'll be christmas and we'll be complaining about the cold...... or lack thereof if the winter is like summer has been.....

I added 2 more beach houses to the beach house scrap quilt... just 2 more houses to go.... then the next row is the sun and sky....... and then the water and waves...... I'm excited!! I'm hoping to complete the other two houses this week and maybe start the sun row. I need to work more on the crazy bird quilt.... maybe next week :-)

I completed a few xmas projects this week..... two knitting needle cases.... a set of bunny bowling....and a scrappy 4 patch. It's an adaptation of Eleanor Burns Rudolphs 4 patch. I didn't use as many different fabrics as she did in the original but it looks really nice. It's now on the ready for quilting/binding pile. That stuff gets worked on later in fall....... all the quilting is done at one time and then all the binding will be done at one time....... easier for me to do it that way.

I'm attaching the pictures of the beach houses and the ornaments..... I'm planing on several more ornaments from the scrap bag...and I picked up a pattern today for a scrappy patchwork backpack.... might have to do one of those for me!!

Have a great week!

A wonderfully scrappy week

2009-07-26T16:44:00.004-05:00

The hubster was gone all week. Now that should mean that I got lots and lots of stuff done...uh huh........well I had errands to run and things to do and places to go ....so I got some stuff done... but not as much as I would have hoped......

On the scrap front I did two more palm tree blocks... I think that's all of those that I need....... I did 4 more beach houses.... a bank, a sewing shop, a candy shop and a balloon store...... I have quite an eclectic scrap bag! I also did 3 Snap Happy Bags......

I also used mostly scraps for the Bad Sue Mini for my swap....... all but the back and borders were from the scrap bag....

I have a new perspective on these scraps.........I'm simply amazed at what I can do with these small pieces of fabric....... I'm pretty sure that once I'm done with the crazy bird quilt and the beach quilt that I'll have enough in the bag for at least two more tops...... Ive been putting the tiny scraps that are left over into bags.... now I"m not one of those people who does the crumb quilts.....so when I get thru this bag of scraps... I'll donate the bags of itty bitty scraps to someone who does do them.......

I'll have pictures of this weeks other projects up on flickr in a litte bit..... I did 2 mug aprons from full fat quarters this week......you'll find the Bad Sue mini over there as well

Have a wonderful week

Lish

A little bit more scrappy this week

2009-07-19T15:44:00.003-05:00

Another week of summer has gone by.... but this week didn't seem very summery at all. The highs were in the low to middle 70's... little or no humidity and a a beautiful breeze... it was a very wonderfully weird weather week! Today it's been raining off and on and a bit dreary but the temp is still only 71 at 5 in the afternoon......

I worked on quite a few things this week...... I did a backup and cleanup on the computer... gathered files and burned them to a DVD.... cleaned out the temp files and basically dejunked everything.......

I worked on the borders for a Round Robin that I'm doing ( you can see that on my flickr site). I have one more border to make and then it will be ready to send off to the next participant in the group and I drew up my plans for my Bad Sue mini due the end of the month. We're doing sunbonnet sue... but she has to be doing something bad... lol this is going to be a lot of fun!

On the scrap front I did 3 crazy bird blocks and 3 grass blocks for the bird quilt and I also got several sock sacks done. Two from scraps and a pretty blue one from some fat quarters I found in the back of the stash and two more that were from scrap pieces but weren't in the scrap bag... not sure how to count that!.....

It was a pretty productive week. I also did another 25" charm pack star...this one was from the crazy 8 charm pack. I did the snowman wall hanging last week from the same pack... it came out pretty nice...... it will become a christmas table mat... not sure yet for who.... ( I gotta say that cuz the intended recipient sometimes reads the blog)

I also bought a new cutting mat... mine had grooves in from cutting in the same area over and over.... I couldn't turn it cuz there weren't any inch numbers across the other end......so I went to joann's armed with a 50% off coupon.... they had 3 kinds of mats... fiskars... the standard green one and the standard blue one... all three were the same price.... I wanted the 24 x 36 size mat.....

Well the fiskars was by far the winner...... it had inch numbers along the top and bottom and both sides so if one end got grooved... you could spin it and you'd have basically a new mat.... that's 2 for 1.... great deal.... but there's more! This mat also has another complete gridded and numbered mat on the other side too! So now that's like getting 4 mats in one!! One side is a lite florescent green and the other is a lite florescent yellow.... very easy on the eyes!! So I got the equivalent of 4 mats for 24.00.... I also found a 5" charm ruler! it has a center mark for doing fussy cut charms as well as lines for 2 1/2" rectangles and squares... there are pics of these on the flickr site.... It was a wonderful week!!!

Below are this weeks scrappy pictures...... have a great week and enjoy the summer

Lish

This weeks scrappy projects

2009-07-12T14:46:00.003-05:00

I had time this week to work on several scrappy projects. Even with all these new projects, that bag just doesn't seem to want to go down...... I think it's gonna be a long summer with lots and lots of scrap projects and quilts...

I added two more crazy bird blocks to that quilt box.... I made two travel cases from scraps and had to piece two of the pockets to make it work...I made two placemats from the feng shui practice blocks that we made from scraps last weekend.... I made a wallet ( another one in my never ending quest for the perfect wallet)...even the vinyl was a scrap....I had a baggie of 3" scrap blocks that was gifted to me in a 4 patch swap some time ago. I made a doll quilt for my great niece for christmas... the front and the back are made from the scraps... it's together and quilted and just needs binding and i"m sure I'll find some in the scrap bag.......I pulled some of the larger scraps to a pile as I was hunting bird scraps and I can probably make a few wonder wallets from them...with a little creative piecing.... I'm getting good a piecing and hiding the seam on the inside of the pocket....... a few of the pieces are destined to become small humbug bags and I found a cute scrappy journal cover that might work also... it will definitely be scrappy!

Pictures posted below and also on my flickr photo. Other non scrap projects made this past week are out there also.

Have a wonderfully scrappy week!

Lish

July Away at I'm Just a Guy who Quilts

2009-07-09T09:42:00.003-05:00

Ryan is the second Guy quilter that I know. QuiltDad is the other.... They do wonderful work and I enjoy both of their blogs.

Ryan ( I'm Just A Guy who quilts) is having a birthday this month.... and he's also having a birthday giveaway!!

Hop on over to http://imjustaguywhoquilts.blogspot.com and wish him a happy birthday and get in on his giveaway.... you have until July 17th.

I'm hoping to win the charm pack or the 30's prints.... but I'll happily take any of the wonderful gifties!!

Lish

A New Look

2009-07-05T09:59:00.004-05:00

Happy Scrappy Summer

It's July.......... midway thru summer and I'm finally getting around to posting and updating........ where does the time go??

I'm starting ( actually I started in June) a summer scrap project. I have two immense bags of scraps....... big scraps, medium scraps and itty bitty scraps.... My goal is to empty at least one of these bags of scraps by the end of summer and both bags by the end of November.

I currently have two projects in process. Both are paper pieced... One is the Crazy Bird and the other is a beach house quilt. Three blocks have been completed on the Bird quilt and 2 rows on the beach house quilt. This project is worked on inbetween other projects for birthdays, holidays and Christmas.

I have several ideas for scrap quilts and when these two are done... I'll start two of the others. I like working on two ( and sometimes 3) things at a time... keeps me from being bored and at the end I have several projects finished up instead of just one!!
Below are pictures of what I've done so far on the first two quilts. There will be more pictures and updates on my scrappy summer projects.

May

2009-04-28T08:04:00.002-05:00

Ok... I'm not sure how it happened.....but it's MAY!! Well, almost anyway. I'm not exactly sure what happened to March and April.......but I am sure that I reallllly need to keep up with the blog a little better. I probably won't remember to post weekly, but at least twice a month for sure!

There's lots of new projects on the photo site... and OkiedokieDuckie has lots of fun new stuff too! If you watch dancing with the stars... you can watch videos of Giles dancing... she's really hot for him! lol

Woodpecker Update... Both the male and female Pileated Woodies have been at the feeder recently... the male still won't let me take a picture and I swear he knows when I take the camera out of my pocket....... I saw the female at a hole in one of our trees so maybe there are little peckers in there.... I'll be watching that tree intently!!

This week I've been working on some table toppers for the summer... one is fruits and veggies.......and the other is batiks....... now normally I cringe when I say batiks...cuz I hate the feel of batik fabric... but I'm trying to broaden my horizens and use up stuff in my stash.... I had a batik jellyroll I got last year at WoodenBridge in Pennsylvania and I decided to finally do something with it.... I probably could have been a little more picky with the block layout... but it's for me and it'll be fine!

The Weekers are getting ready to flip into high gear. Another month and we'll be getting ready for our program kickoff....... it'll be fun for sure! Christmas will be here before we know it!!

I guess that's it for now........I'll be posting more photos this weekend and I'll even attempt to post some here.......

Have a wonderful week

Lish

Blogs by Annie: Machine Applique and a Valentine's Day Giveaway!

2009-02-14T08:44:00.000-05:00

Blogs by Annie: Machine Applique and a Valentine's Day Giveaway!

Happy Valentines Day

2009-02-14T08:23:00.002-05:00

Today is Valentines Day! Hug your sweetie and give him (her) a big smooch and let them know that they are special.

If you quilt or sew, you'll want to check out www.byannie.blogspot.com She's having a giveaway for 2 really cute quilt kits and they are just to cute!! Her website will be added to my links list and there will also be a direct link to her blog.

I gotta tell ya... I've used a couple of her patterns and they are wonderful! I've made a lot of her cell phone cases and mini wallets for gift and I use the cell phone carrier for my camera and another one for my Ipod....

Visit her blog today and then check out her website.

Also.... I want to mention that this weekend there are many fundraisers going on for Breast Cancer research......the Women's Big Ten Basketball teams are all going pink this week...with their uniforms being auctioned off and the proceeds going to our local Susan G Komen chapter...

Soooooo ladies...... make that appointment and get those Mammies grammed!!! Tell a loved one too! Maybe we can see this horrific disease wiped out in our lifetime.

Have a wonderful day.... and don't forget to visit annie!

Darned Groundhog!

2009-02-03T09:27:00.004-05:00

Well Punxatawney Phil says 6 more weeks of this crap! The Indiana groundhog... Chuckie Wheezer agreed.......(sigh)and to top it off...it's snowing again! The spring equinox is ummmmm let's see....... 6 weeks away! So I guess that about does it... 6 more weeks of crap!

My pileated woodpecker is still coming and going but the male just won't let me get his picture! Just like a man.... playing hard to get! lolololol

I have dozens of cardinals and bluejays and squirrels hitting up the corn pile that hubby puts out for them.....

I've been sewing and crafting and even made a quilt for ME!!! The top is finished and it needs to be batted, backed and quilted... that will be this coming weekend's project.... there are pictures on the photo site

There just isnt' much else going on in Indiana right now.... cold...snow...and crap!

I added a Moon calendar to the fun stuff on the sidebar. Just something that I thought might be fun to look at and there are many times that for one reason or another I need to know what the moon is doing..........now I can just come here and look! And I hope you will to!

Til next time

Lish

My Hubster is the greatest!!!

2009-01-24T11:17:00.003-05:00

He has a lot of patience.... and he waited and he waited and got pictures of the female pileated woodpecker. We have a pair... both of them were on the feeder but flew off before he could get the picture of both of them... they are very skittish and the slightest sound or quick movement sends them off into the trees.......The females have a smaller crown and don't have the red stripe on their faces..

They seem to show up on cloudy days....never when there's nice sunshine to get a really good picture... lol We also got a picture of one of the small downy woodpeckers too....

Soooooooo I proudly present my gorgeous female pileated woodpecker!!

The Quest for the Pileated Woodpecker

2009-01-12T06:47:00.002-05:00

I have a lot of wildlife in my yard. I have deer and racoons and squirrels and a huge assortment of birds including several species of woodpeckers. I have cardnials and blujays and big huge crows, I have blackcapped chickadees, tufted tit mouse, nuthatches, robins, sparrows and an assortment of finches......but back to the woodpeckers.....

I have all of the Indiana species of woodpeckers.......I have the downy and the hairy and the redbelly and the redheaded and most recently the Pileated. Last spring I saw the male and the female on my feeders.......I have two woodpecker feeders on my back deck....... they were just passing thru apparently cuz I didn't see them again until recently.

Two weeks ago the female was on the feeder......she's gorgeous!! Of course the camera wasn't anywhere near where I was but I watched her for over 20minutes..on the feeder..then off to a tree then back to the feeder........the following weekend she was out there again......so I carefully went and grabbed the camera.... as soon as I put it up to take her picture she flew off the feeder. Ok.. no problem... she'll be back. I watched her in the trees for about 20 minutes... she'd fly by the deck and then head to another tree..... I finally gave up.

This past weekend I had the camera in my pocket. I went to the kitchen around the time I normally see her.... there she was... in the trees......... she wouldn't even land on the feeder!

But while waiting for her I did get to take pictures of two fawns wandering in my yard......

I will get her picture.......I will I will........but in the meantime.... maybe I'll just take pictures of the other birds........

It's still January!

2009-01-09T07:29:00.003-05:00

It's still January and it's still cold!!! I'll be soooooooo happy when spring finally gets here and things are warm again.

I've been working in my sewing pit....cleaning it up...organizing it a bit... and doing some odds and ends. I finished a backpack for my great nephews birthday... just gotta mail it this weekend... I did 2 tissuebox covers, a santa sack and a wonder wallet as well as cut out 4 blocks for my Block Lottery group. I'll get pictures posted this weekend on the photo site of all the new stuff.

I hope to finish up the Block Lottery Blocks and get those mailed this weekend also

We've added quite a few new members to the 25Weeks of Christmas Group.... We'll take a few more and then cut the membership off again til June so if you are interested... sign up soon.

Since the Colts are out of the superbowl... my next choice is the Steelers... we'll see Sunday how that goes... lol I don't care who they will play.... I just want to see them play! lol

Not much else is going on right now......so I'll see you in a few days

Lish

Holy Crap.... it's January!!!

2009-01-03T12:00:00.002-05:00

Well time just flies by when you are having fun... doesn't it!! One minute it's November and all of a sudden the new year is here and already 3 days old!!

No resolutions this year except the one I always make.... and thats that I resolve not to make any resolutions!

Last year my goals were to learn to knit a pair of socks and learn to paper piece. I can paper piece with the best of 'em!!!! I got 7/8th of one sock done........ that's definitely gonna need some practice...and I will again attempt to make a pair of wearable socks this year!

Most of my traveling is done now for awhile so I'll have time to concentrate on my sewing and crafting. I already have my list started for gifties this year and some pieces cut for a few projects that I plan to do this month.

I've opened the 25Weeks group to new members for a bit. I have a cut off number and when I reach that number I'll close the membership again til June. If you are interested in joining you'll find us at groups.yahoo.com/groups/25weeks We do have a few rules that need to be followed but for the most part we have a lot of fun getting ready for a stress free Christmas season. 25Weeks is geared toward those who sew but any craft will work into the plan.

This morning I went to Joann's sale.... wowza!!! I came out with a lot of goodies for very little money..... I got one bolt of muslin and no other fabrics..... I have plenty of fabric to use up this year!! I picked up some christmas garland, fimo clay, bells, pompoms, peg dolls, wooden balls, button tags... all on major sale! I got myself a new quilt book with some outstanding blocks in it and a couple of magazines...... I'm good for the rest of the month now! ( or till they have another 75% off sale)

The Christmas Countdown Clock will remain again this year......... only 355 days left! Wow! seems like only yesterday...............

I guess that's it for this first installment......... see you soon

Lish

November??? What the heck?

2008-11-13T14:17:00.002-05:00

OK... so I have no clue what happened to October....must have something to do with the time change issue.... maybe they take a month instead of just an hour?? I have no clue.

But it's november now and I have my missing hour (month) back and its time to be getting ready for my annual trek to Pennsylvania over Thanksgiving. It's about a 12 -13 hour drive if the weather is good.... two years ago the weather was NOT good and it turned into a 19 hour drive....

I visit with my family and get to see all the new great nephews and this year I have a new great niece! It's been a long time since I've sewn anything in pink! My youngest niece is 25.... so that's how long! She's in Bahrain this year and it will be her first christmas away from home....

I've been busy sewing and knitting and I have updated the flickr site with some pictures. I have a few more to load before I'll be caught up for this year.

There are a few gifties to make when I get back from my trip.... some lounge pants, ties and cat toys but everything else is all done! I plan to bake some cookies and make some candy topped pretzel sticks this year. Yummmmmmmmmmm

I also got some books called Mug'ems... apparently you make individual packets of stuff... put it in the mug for gifting and the recipient just adds water or an ingredient or two to the cup and has a treat.... I haven't checked them out yet .... I'll do that tonite ..... It sounds like a great gift to me!!

I don't have much to add right now.... I'll do better about keeping up on posting.....and will post again after thanksgiving.

There's a map now that's supposed to update itself to show who's been visiting... we'll see how that goes. If you are reading this and don't see a map...then you'll know it sucked and I got rid of it!

Have a great Turkey Day......

Lish

September

2008-09-06T20:15:00.002-05:00

Yep... it's September! Labor day picinics are over, kids are in school and it's time to get busy with Christmas goodies!

I've updated the photosite with new photos of things I've finished over the last 2 or 3 weeks. I've been down with the summer crud for a week so I've not been as productive as I would have liked to have been.

Just 109 days left!! Christmas will be here before you know it! Will you be ready??

September is National Sewing Month. Celebrate by sewing something for yourself or a loved one. Donate a finished project to a good cause or teach someone to sew.

Have a great week!

Lish

End of August Already??

2008-08-21T06:29:00.002-05:00

Can you believe it??? Only 125 days left til Christmas! Wow!

The summer is almost over... the kids are back ( or going back) to school.

Soon the leaves will turn colors and fall from the trees and winter will roll in . Time flies!!

I've been busy with stuff.........school has been very busy.... 5500 freshmen came back this past weekend and the remaining 35000 ( give or take) will be back this weekend... next week will be a busy busy stressful week........ but then it will settle and things will go back to sort of normal again.

I've been working on things here and there but haven't been able to focus much on anyone thing. I got some new paperpiecing books and therein lies the problem.... I wanna do new stuff and not the stuff on my list..... lol

I have one larger project to finish and then I can get back to my regular christmas sewing.

One thing I want to mention...
September is National Sewing Month. The Lazy Girl Blog and the 25 Weeks of Christmas groups are extending a challenge to all who sew.

You can share your love of sewing by going to www.lazygirldesigns.com and downloading Joan's free With Love tote pattern. This is a quick, easy and fun self lined tote bag that makes up in less than an hour and takes one yard of fabric.

Make two copies of Joan's pattern and two tote bags. Now.... fold each tote with a copy of the pattern inside and tie with a pretty ribbon.

The Weekers are doing this and then giving one of the tote/pattern combos to a non sewing friend with the promise that if they are interested in learning...they will teach them to make this bag. The other bag goes to a sewing friend who will do the same... Make 2 Give 2.

It's a great way to spread the joy of sewing and giving and use up some of our stash in the process.

You can find more info on Joans Lazy Blog. The link is off to the left.

Have a great rest of August and Celebrate National Sewing Month.

Lish

August already??

2008-08-02T07:59:00.003-05:00

It's August......wow! Time flies when you're having fun lol.... Soon fall will be upon us.....the leaves will fall from the trees....flocks of geese will fill the skies with their V formations.....the sounds of combines will fill the air........but for now... it's still heat indexes of 110 and humidity and mosquitos lol.

This week blogspot shut down my blog for 2 days.... seems their automatic spam find thought my dancing santa might be spam......but it's back now. I had visions of everything be gone and having to start from scratch but it came back just fine.

This weekends project is a last minute birthday quilt....due monday... I'm making a simple flannel fringe quilt.... dark blue stripes on one side and light blue stripes on the other.... I cut over a hundred squares of each stripe and the same amount of batting on friday evening..... I got them all sandwiched yesterday and have the X quilting done on 3 rows of blocks......I think I'll sew those three rows together when I get back to the machine.

Have company coming today for a small get together so when I get off here... I'll be cooking and vacumming and get ready to party a bit..... then tomorrow I hope to finish up the quilt. I have a present for this person already......but I thought a nice lap throw would be nice too.... he's very difficult to do things for!

This week I did a Frog Pillow. I used the frog from the baby quilt I did earlier......it came out quite cute!! I have a journal cover request also that I need to do soon... it's for a lady at work who's daughters family is getting an exchange student. We decided on a journal for her to chronicle her visit in the US. I also got several things prepared for sewing so this week will hopefully be a good sewing week. I'll only have one or two pictures for flickr this week... but I promise to make up for it in the next couple weeks........

Have a great week!!

Lish

4th Week of Christmas

2008-07-27T08:35:00.003-05:00

It's the 4th Week of Christmas! That means 16 weeks til Thanksgiving and 21 weeks til Christmas!

I got a playmat done for one of the greatnephews this week...... it has a city on one side and an airport on the other. I'll get a few fisherprice or playskool people, cars and planes for it. I have one more of these to make... but I think it will be a city/traindepot rather than an airport........we'll see.

I finished up the 40's table runner but have a dilemma... I'm not sure I like the fabric that's in the center... it's 40ish...but rather busy I think.... I have a second choice but still deciding which one I will finally use.

I also tried a new pattern. It's by Lazy Girl...but it's an apron pattern. Wow!! It has a piano key border, a fun pocket and a quilt block bib. It can be made with or without the border and with or without the bib.. it's very customizable and I'm going to use the left overs to make a couple potholders to add to it for xmas. What a fun project this was!!

It's been a busy week at work! Our new student system is in place and there are lots of questions from students and parents.... only a few more weeks and they'll all be back in person rather than on the phone.

I'll be starting on the next Giant Postage Stamp swap this week. That will give me 4 more blocks so I'll have a total of 8. I think I need like 24 to make a lap quilt from the blocks. I also one the Quilters Block Lottery this month...so I'll have a bunch more of those blocks to put together for another lap quilt.....

Theres not much to report this week.... so I'll stop babbling now and pick up again next time. The flickr site has been updated with a few of the newest pictures.....

Have a great week

Lish

Third Week of July

2008-07-20T18:36:00.002-05:00

Can you believe it? July is almost gone!! Christmas will be here before we know it! Just check the countdown counter if you don't believe me.

Those doing the 25 Weeks of Christmas should be doing a gift a week.

I posted a few pictures on Flickr...... a paper pieced Christmas Tree from the Book Hard Times Splendid Quilts.. these are blocks from the 30's that were published complete in the Kansas City Star... The book Quilts for Rosie are blocks from the 40's from the same newspaper. I decided to sash the block and it will become a small wallhanging for the holidays.

I also posted the August Quilters Dozen Block and a few of the blocks I'm doing for a TAble runner for moi!!

There are also some tissue boxes... the crab will go with the potholders for a birthday gift later this month.

One of the trees that came down is now totally done... it's chopped and split and stacked... the branches and small chips have been cleaned up and burned... thats one tree down and two to go!

It was pretty hot here today... very humid too... standing by a roaring fire was not exactly a pleasant thing either lol

Yesterday I got a new phone.....a BlackJack II It does email and internet and music and has my contact list and does power point and excel sheets and word docs and I can even talk on it! lol I'm still learning it.......and longing for the simpler days when all you did was pick it up and say hello! lol

Ok...thats it for this weeks installment........ I have plans this week to finish up the table runner... paper piece another block from one of the books and put two play mats together....... we'll see how that works out........ I also started knitting a baby sweater.... it's slow going for sure... I've never done this type of knitting before so we'll see how it turns out... I'll keep you posted on that too!

Til next week

Lish