Tuesday, February 15, 2011

New and Old

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

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

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

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

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

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

have a warm and wonderful week!

Lish




Monday, February 7, 2011

One thing nice about snow days during the week

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

stay warm
stay safe

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

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

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Snow!

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

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

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

IT WAS GOOD

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

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

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

Lish

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





Sunday, January 23, 2011

A good week

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

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

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

Have a wonderful week!





Monday, January 17, 2011

Half Way Thru January

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

Sunday, January 2, 2011

January 2011

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

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

OMG it's DECEMBER!!!

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