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

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!!!

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!!!!!

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?

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!

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!

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!

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