Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Pictures Galore!!
I finally figured out that I could take pictures (not the best quality) with my little tablet, download them into the blog and then get on my computer and type. I didn't get in there and edit the pictures so you get to see all the wonderful junk around the edges of the pictures. I hate typing on that small little keyboard of my tablet. I taught typing for three years so I would rather type on a full size keyboard. So, needless to say, I have quite a few pictures to share with you since I still can't find my camera. (frustrating!!) The first one is my word for the year. SOCIAL. Basically I am an introverted homebody that would rather stay at home than be out on the town. I know that that is totally foreign to most of you. So, this year, I am trying to make an extra effort to be more social. I have already made several specific efforts to be more social this year, so I guess it is working. (A couple of those times I had to really fight with myself to say, "yes, I will go to lunch with the group." when my first instinct was to say, "no, thank you.") This little quilt is part of the challenge given to the group by Victoria over at 15 minute play.
this next one is a quilt in progress. It was in a magazine and I just need to add the prairie points and outer border for this little wallhanging. I have actually made two of these and have only gotten this far. The prairie points are made and ready to go, but I keep finding other things to do. I tried making this larger because I thought it would be a great quilt, but I didn't like it much. Way too much white background.
I found this wonderful Alexander Henry fabric right before Christmas and bought it to make me some new pillowcases. This is YUMMY!!! I now have two great pillowcases I whipped up over the weekend to help ensure delicious Holiday dreams all year long.
Part of cleaning out and cleaning up over the holidays means that I ran across these wonderful little six inch beauties in a box of older fabrics. Then I pulled some 2 1/2" border that is already sewn together from a previous project. I think I will put them together on point like I have shown here to create a wonderful baby quilt. There are a couple of the blocks that I am going to replace or throw out because they stand out too much or they totally disappear. With these I found some extra fabric and have already made a few extra blocks. Stay tuned to this one, it may evolve and become a grown up, full size quilt one day.
These two blocks were made from the January Scrappy project over at Patchwork Times with Judy. Her goal this year is to try to make scrappy blocks and quilts. I don't have that problem, but I am going to make two blocks, at least, from her patterns each month to make a really scrappy quilt by the end of the year. (or two)
This last, but not least quilt is one of my patterns and I taught this class last year at the Ogallala quilt festival in Dimmitt, Texas. I had previously made a top - still not quilted, nor does it have it's final border. Anyway, since I was teaching the class, I needed to have samples of the blocks and how to put it together and decided to make a three fabric quilt from my stash. In this picture I am auditioning the white fabric for the outer border. I really like it and am going to add that on this week sometime. (Normally I wouldn't put the lighter fabric on the outside border, but it works here.)
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Question of the Night
Don't you just love how you put something away where it will be "safe" and then you can't find where you put it? I know my big camera is around here somewhere, but I still haven't found it. However, I will admit, I haven't been searching 100%. I have only looked (basically in the same places over and over again) when I think I need to take a picture of something. Then I get frustrated when it is not in those same spots and quit looking. On the plus side, I have found my challenge fabrics that I need to use in an upcoming challenge quilt. If I decide to make it. I am still up in the air on this one. Not driven to create like last years fabrics made me feel. This years fabrics are gray and blah and dull. That is how they make me feel and I am having a really hard time being inspired to create anything as amazing as my last two years quilts. I do have something in mind and that idea morphs and swirls in my head, but just hasn't come together in a way that says, "YES!! I want to make that quilt". Hopefully it will do that soon, or I will not be participating in the challenge this year. Speaking of which, I need to find out when I need to send in a picture of the "finished" quilt if I do plan on entering. Hmmm. I hope I have a little more time before I need to do that.
Tonight is Wednesday night and this is my own self-designated night for quilting. It is the one night of the week that I really, really try to make it into the studio and work on a project or something. Some weeks, I may make it to the studio every night, but there are other weeks that I only make it in there on Wednesday night. I don't know why I started or even when I began making Wednesday my quilt night, but there it is: "WEDNESDAY - QUILT NIGHT". Some Wednesdays it is staring me in the face waiting to see if I will even stick my pinky toe in the room and I can feel the pressure to sew something, anything, just sew! Other times, I don't even think about it, it just comes naturally and I can sew all night long. Well, tonight, LOL, was neither of those nights. It was in between. It just was. I sewed together two blocks from a scrappy challenge by Judy over at Patchwork Times. I think, if I remember this correctly, she will be posting a block a month and we are to use said block and make a couple of really scrappy blocks. I think (okay, I read the posting a couple of weeks ago and I have been sick since then and done a million other things so I don't remember why she is doing this. I really need to get back over there and find out, but . . . million of other things. . . plus I really don't care why, I just liked the block and I love making scrappy so I am totally happy with the plan the way I have it in my head) Anyway, I made two blocks using my scraps from my box of blocks. I put them up on my design wall and I really like the way they look. Sorry you can't see them right now - hidden camera problem. I also finished quilting my word of the year quilt and am in the process of hand stitching the binding on. I know, it goes really fast if you do it by machine, but I like hand stitching it (after I sew it on by machine to the front, then I hand stitch it on the back) I just like the look and sometimes even enjoy doing the handwork. I will tell you what my word is, once I find my camera and can take a picture to post. Here again, it all goes back to the top and the question of the night, Don't you just love how you put something away where it will be "safe" and then you can't find where you put it?
Tonight is Wednesday night and this is my own self-designated night for quilting. It is the one night of the week that I really, really try to make it into the studio and work on a project or something. Some weeks, I may make it to the studio every night, but there are other weeks that I only make it in there on Wednesday night. I don't know why I started or even when I began making Wednesday my quilt night, but there it is: "WEDNESDAY - QUILT NIGHT". Some Wednesdays it is staring me in the face waiting to see if I will even stick my pinky toe in the room and I can feel the pressure to sew something, anything, just sew! Other times, I don't even think about it, it just comes naturally and I can sew all night long. Well, tonight, LOL, was neither of those nights. It was in between. It just was. I sewed together two blocks from a scrappy challenge by Judy over at Patchwork Times. I think, if I remember this correctly, she will be posting a block a month and we are to use said block and make a couple of really scrappy blocks. I think (okay, I read the posting a couple of weeks ago and I have been sick since then and done a million other things so I don't remember why she is doing this. I really need to get back over there and find out, but . . . million of other things. . . plus I really don't care why, I just liked the block and I love making scrappy so I am totally happy with the plan the way I have it in my head) Anyway, I made two blocks using my scraps from my box of blocks. I put them up on my design wall and I really like the way they look. Sorry you can't see them right now - hidden camera problem. I also finished quilting my word of the year quilt and am in the process of hand stitching the binding on. I know, it goes really fast if you do it by machine, but I like hand stitching it (after I sew it on by machine to the front, then I hand stitch it on the back) I just like the look and sometimes even enjoy doing the handwork. I will tell you what my word is, once I find my camera and can take a picture to post. Here again, it all goes back to the top and the question of the night, Don't you just love how you put something away where it will be "safe" and then you can't find where you put it?
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Mug Rugs - January's Stocking Swap
As soon as I can remember where I put my camera (to keep it safe, LOL) I will take some new pictures of some mugs and their rugs that I have recently made. However, to get you started, please enjoy the following pictures of my previously made (and some even given away) mugs and their rugs.
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| Penguin mug |
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| penguin mug rug |
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| I decided that the rug didn't really go with this mug and have since made another one. that is what I get for making the rug without having the mug right there with me and trying to remember what colors to use. LOL |
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| Tic Tac Dough - you can actually play on the mug! |
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| closer up of the rug |
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| These mugs were on clearance after Christmas one year. the rug has a pocket to tuck a napkin or other goody inside. |
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| these rugs go much better! |
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| Chalkboard mugs that you can actually write on needed a chalkboard rug - too bad I didn't have any chalkboard fabric. Just black Kona.
I have purchased several cute, cute mugs in after Christmas clearance sales and can't wait to make some rugs to go with them. these make awesome gifts with a little cocoa packet inside or even homemade treats. They are quick to make and nice to have several on hand for that last minute Oops I forgot about . . . gifts. What mugs are you creating rugs for this month?
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Saturday, January 4, 2014
Stocking Swap Update
Okay, slight change to the list for the Stocking Swap. It has been requested that I put a stocking back into the list. It was there the first time we did this, but I thought that people might not like having a single stocking. I was wrong. Apparently the stocking is wanted. So, it's back in. Below is the new list.
January - a mug and coordinating mug rug
February - Pillow cover for a 14" pillow form (just the cover, not the form)
March - 2 matching pillow cases (for a standard bed pillow)
April - a pin cushion and a package of your favorite pins
May - 4 place mats
June - a bag - any type and size
July - an ornament and Stocking (Christmas in July)
August - a travel sewing kit
September - a journal cover and a nice pen
October - Pot holder (be sure to use insulation)
November - a book - reading or quilting doesn't matter
December - candy and nuts (no stocking should be without these on Christmas morning)
As you can see, I have added it back to July along with the ornament. So, here's the dilemma. Some people made a stocking ornament for their stocking, which is still okay, however, to be fair, you will also need to make another ornament. I thought about putting "and/or", but decided to go with "and". SO, a stocking AND an ornament for July. Just so everyone gets the same amount. (remember you don't have to make anything for November and December!!)
January - a mug and coordinating mug rug
February - Pillow cover for a 14" pillow form (just the cover, not the form)
March - 2 matching pillow cases (for a standard bed pillow)
April - a pin cushion and a package of your favorite pins
May - 4 place mats
June - a bag - any type and size
July - an ornament and Stocking (Christmas in July)
August - a travel sewing kit
September - a journal cover and a nice pen
October - Pot holder (be sure to use insulation)
November - a book - reading or quilting doesn't matter
December - candy and nuts (no stocking should be without these on Christmas morning)
As you can see, I have added it back to July along with the ornament. So, here's the dilemma. Some people made a stocking ornament for their stocking, which is still okay, however, to be fair, you will also need to make another ornament. I thought about putting "and/or", but decided to go with "and". SO, a stocking AND an ornament for July. Just so everyone gets the same amount. (remember you don't have to make anything for November and December!!)
Stocking Swap Begins
Are you ready to begin on the 2014 Stocking Swap? What is it you ask? It is a swap where you have a designated item each month that you either make or purchase (November and December) and then exchange the entire years worth of gifts in December with another person for a wonderful stocking full of handmade gifts. It is also a way for you to begin and make those Christmas gifts throughout the year instead of waiting until the last minute, like so many of us do and end up not getting them finished.
The Stocking Swap
Each person makes and/or purchases the item designated for that month. In December I will ask for all participants to e-mail me their snail-mail address. I will randomly assign you a partner and you will send your "stocking" full of goodies to them. You, in turn, will receive a "stocking" full of goodies. All I ask is that you use good quality fabrics and do your best work. Since you don't know who you will be trading your stocking with, be mindful of the appropriateness of your items. (nothing too risque, etc.) You can choose to have a theme to your stocking (for example: Apples - then everything in your stocking has to do in some way with apples OR a color: blue - everything is a tint or shade of blue) That is your choice. You don't have to have a theme, but for some people, that may be an easy way to play this game.
Expand your skills and broaden your vision with this swap. If you try a new pattern, make a couple of different versions. Then select the one to give for this swap and keep the others to give as Christmas gifts. This swap could help us stay ahead of our Christmas gifting, if we make more than one of the same item each month.
It is a bit sewing heavy at the first of the year, but I know that we all get busier the closer to Christmas so I have allowed the last two months (really just November - we mail everything off early in December) for purchased items because I know how hectic it gets closer to the holidays.
So, here we go. . . . THE 2014 STOCKING SWAP
January - a mug and coordinating mug rug
February - Pillow cover for a 14" pillow form (just the cover, not the form)
March - 2 matching pillow cases (for a standard bed pillow)
April - a pin cushion and a package of your favorite pins
May - 4 place mats
June - a bag - any type and size
July - an ornament (Christmas in July)
August - a travel sewing kit
September - a journal cover and a nice pen
October - Pot holder (be sure to use insulation)
November - a book - reading or quilting doesn't matter
December - candy and nuts (no stocking should be without these on Christmas morning)
There you have it. All the requirements for The Stocking Swap. Each month I will remind you here on the blog what to make along with some ideas. My next posting will be about January. Have fun with this project and if you have friends that you want to join in on the fun, send them my way. (If they don't read blogs or even Internet, doesn't mean they can't join in the fun - you can be their go between person) Enjoy!
You can join at any time - just go back and make those items you missed out on. If you know that your summer is going to be crazy busy with a lot of travel, make those items ahead of time. You just have to have everything ready to send off by the 5th of December. Get your friends to join in on the fun like I did last time. It's really exciting to see all the wonderful gifts everyone around the country made and how creative people can be. Just because I like to know, post a comment here or e-mail me and let me know if you are playing. Then, if you choose, post your items on your blog so everyone can see your progress. Or do like I did and make a lot of each of the items so no one knows what you are sending for the swap and what is Christmas gifts for other people.
The Stocking Swap
Each person makes and/or purchases the item designated for that month. In December I will ask for all participants to e-mail me their snail-mail address. I will randomly assign you a partner and you will send your "stocking" full of goodies to them. You, in turn, will receive a "stocking" full of goodies. All I ask is that you use good quality fabrics and do your best work. Since you don't know who you will be trading your stocking with, be mindful of the appropriateness of your items. (nothing too risque, etc.) You can choose to have a theme to your stocking (for example: Apples - then everything in your stocking has to do in some way with apples OR a color: blue - everything is a tint or shade of blue) That is your choice. You don't have to have a theme, but for some people, that may be an easy way to play this game.
Expand your skills and broaden your vision with this swap. If you try a new pattern, make a couple of different versions. Then select the one to give for this swap and keep the others to give as Christmas gifts. This swap could help us stay ahead of our Christmas gifting, if we make more than one of the same item each month.
It is a bit sewing heavy at the first of the year, but I know that we all get busier the closer to Christmas so I have allowed the last two months (really just November - we mail everything off early in December) for purchased items because I know how hectic it gets closer to the holidays.
So, here we go. . . . THE 2014 STOCKING SWAP
January - a mug and coordinating mug rug
February - Pillow cover for a 14" pillow form (just the cover, not the form)
March - 2 matching pillow cases (for a standard bed pillow)
April - a pin cushion and a package of your favorite pins
May - 4 place mats
June - a bag - any type and size
July - an ornament (Christmas in July)
August - a travel sewing kit
September - a journal cover and a nice pen
October - Pot holder (be sure to use insulation)
November - a book - reading or quilting doesn't matter
December - candy and nuts (no stocking should be without these on Christmas morning)
There you have it. All the requirements for The Stocking Swap. Each month I will remind you here on the blog what to make along with some ideas. My next posting will be about January. Have fun with this project and if you have friends that you want to join in on the fun, send them my way. (If they don't read blogs or even Internet, doesn't mean they can't join in the fun - you can be their go between person) Enjoy!
You can join at any time - just go back and make those items you missed out on. If you know that your summer is going to be crazy busy with a lot of travel, make those items ahead of time. You just have to have everything ready to send off by the 5th of December. Get your friends to join in on the fun like I did last time. It's really exciting to see all the wonderful gifts everyone around the country made and how creative people can be. Just because I like to know, post a comment here or e-mail me and let me know if you are playing. Then, if you choose, post your items on your blog so everyone can see your progress. Or do like I did and make a lot of each of the items so no one knows what you are sending for the swap and what is Christmas gifts for other people.
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