It's been awhile...

Ok, I enjoy reading other people's blog more than writing on my own.

August consisted of 3 quilt deadlines.    Two of those were met.  One is a top that still needs basting.

This is Annie & Randy's wedding quilt.  One of the 3 deadlines. It's reversible and all flannel.  It gets cold up here in Vermont.  She is further north than I am.

Here is my first barn quilt spotted in Vermont.  I didn't know there is a group doing this.  I have always enjoyed the ones posted that are out west.  My dd took this.  It's in Sheldon, VT.  She did a great job, it looks like a postcard.

While reading other blogs I found this Quilt Along.  Molly Sparkles is/was doing this.  I kept trying to use will power to not join but you can never have enough projects going on at once, right?  I caved....my stash is multiplying like rabbits.

These are the blocks that I have completed so far.

The center 4 blocks are already quilted and joined.  It would be nice if all the sashings would line up.  Oh, well.  This is planned to be king size when finished.  I found a nice tutorial for joining.  No hand sewing, all done by machine.  I really like it.

 I love halloween!!! Here is a kit that I picked up at Vermont Quilt Festival.  It's a Wooden Bear pattern and kitted by Traditions at the White Swan (favorite vender at festival).

This is the base of my punkin Jack.  It's going to be a twister quilt.  I forgot to take the picture before I started cutting the twister part.  That's what you see at the top.  My family couldn't believe how much smaller it is going to be when completed.

This is what I wake up to every morning.  The colors are starting to show.  This pic was taken back in July or August.  Colors are starting to show but you can't see them in the dark.  I have been having to work very early shifts lately.  I'll try to get so pretty foliage ones this week.  Hopefully I can remember to post.

I've got some more sewing to do, so till later.....Dona

Side tracked...

Surprising how time flies.  I hadn't realized a month has gone by since my last post.

I have gotten side tracked with family history.  I took advantage of the few nice sunny days a couple weeks ago and visited some of my families cemeteries for pictures.  Of course then I had to post them on the family tree which seemed to bring up one question or another...that lead to another task which lead to another, etc.  Why is it that no matter what task we choose there are always loose ends to be put off until another day?

My work schedule has also been crazy.  Road construction season has started, it's everywhere.  My commute is 1/2 hr. one way on a normal day.  Depending on what time of day the drive is another 1/2 gets added.  I'm beat or hungry when I get home.  No energy to set up to sew.  Cool, damp, rainy weather doesn't help.  On the up side, the mountains are beautiful in their different greens.  Early mornings watching the fog burn off with the cardinals signing is awesome.   I just want to take in this beauty (can't see it when I sew).

This is my organized box of scraps less than 2" after I saw this post:

http://temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com/2013/04/instagram-i-am-adding-another-form-of.html  

I love mini's!  I have been know to work with 3/4" strips.  ( have an awesome one going right now, more later)  Most of my mini's work with 1" to 1 1/4" strips.  The "to do" list is some string blocks at some point.

 I started going through my "basket" and came up with this to be used as leaders and enders.  Of course once I started one I couldn't stop.  Sound like the "Lay's Potatoe Chip" ad.

These blocks are 2 1/2" x 2 1/2".  I searched for different bowtie settings.  I found one laying the blocks out like the left side picture.  Of course there is more to be added to the 4 bowties to complete the block.  I'll post more on that when I get to that stage.  I need to see if I have more FQ's or yardage of some of these.  The completed block uses 4 of the same print.  I'm still not comfortable with the scrappies.

  

In looking for "extra" fabric for my bowties, I found these:

They became another leader ender project. So far it has become this: (over 100 pairs)

Here's just 20 pairs laid out randomly.  This is going to be a good size quilt when done.

There isn't one print duplicated.  I think I was collecting for a true charm quilt.  Some where there is an applecore baggie that I knew was to be a charm quilt. 

  Oh, oh, oh... the sun is making an appearance...gotta go play.

Have a great day!

Happy Mothers's Da!

Happy Mother's Day to all moms.

Rember the pile of leaves and sticks?  Here is Thursday's pic:

notice the stick is now sideways

this was Saturday morning's picture.  Where is the stick?

 I was worried about how we were going to give the lawn it's first haircut of the season without disturbing this.   I had to work yesterday afternoon and evening, so I didn't find out.  We live in a very nice mobile home park with lots big enough to put 2 homes on it if you needed to.  When I arrived home I wondered why the lawn wasn't completely done?  "Go check out your camera"  The following 2 pictures are what I saw!

Those are wild violets and a "new dandelion" in the front just to kinda give you some size reference.  It kept wanting to drizzle off and on all day. 

Here's a closer pic:

My daughter says it will fit in the palm of your hand and they think this is the only one.

I grew up in the country on a small farm.  I had discovered bunnies in their nest in the fields during the first mowing season the farmers do, usually the end of may.  I was so excited and curious when I discovered it in my own yard!

I will see if I can get better pictures today before mamma moves "shim".  (she + him)

Have a great day.....I will!

Recycled and reused

This was my grandmother's.  I have kept it for sentimental reasons but wasn't really liking the picture.  What to do, what to do?

I went looking for ideas and found these amongst the scraps and stash.  They kinda play nice.

The floral fabric is what I used as the curtains and the shower curtain in our bathroom.  I love the green and I'm very partial to teal, so I then made these:

I always find myself gravitating to making mini's.

Sorry it's a blurry picture but that is a dime.  Sew a few of these together and I have this:

It measures about 12 1/2" x 19 1/2".  I quilted it on the diagonal only in the green rows in both directions using 2 layers of felt.  Can you guess what I did next?

I wasn't so crazy about the teal but I figured I'd leave it.  I can live with it.  It's going in the bathroom and be the new home to my "stuff".  I don't put things on the back of doors.  It will dress up an empty wall.

When I finished this I enjoyed a bit of the beautiful weather we are having.  I had to check on a spot in the lawn that we have been watching.

Just as I snapped this picture the ground moved.  I'm gonna keep it a surprise as to what it is....no it's not snakes or mice!  I don't know how long it will be here though.  I'll try to keep posting about it.

Gotta go find another project to do.   Till later.....

Fruggly!

What's a Fruggly you ask?  Freeking Ugly!!!  (that's just MY opinion) My 17 year old disagrees with me.

These fabrics:

Very fuggly!

Became this:

Still kinda fuggly.

This is May's Vintage Schnibbles.  The center of the quilt is from my 5" scraps.  The purple in the borders was 1/2 a FQ (scrap bucket). 

I had two things in mind when I started this, well actually three.  I wanted to make my Schnibbles using up my scraps as part of my down-sizing (big time) my sewing items.  I succeeded in all.  It only made a teeny dent in the down sizing department.

This had the same goals in mind and was April's Scnibble "Hat Trick".  It was done in time but I forgot to figure out how to link and sign up.

 

Not so fuggly.



I'm gonna try and figure out how to link to Kim's Scrap Basket Sunday and sign up for Vintage Schnibbles.  I'm glad the girls decided to make it vintage this year.  I participated the first year, then life got turned upside down and I'm slowly getting back to my old self.  Sure feels good! 

I'm gonna enjoy the beautiful weather we are having right now.  Probaly be stitching something later.  It's my therapy! 

Till then...

Productive Weekend?

This is Hat Trick (Schibbles) and is being made with scraps.  It's this months Year of Schnibbles vintage quit and I'm using it for today's Scrap Basket Sunday.  I haven't signed in with either blog but will sometime this week.  I finally figured out how to load my pictures the old way.

This was tonight's beautiful sunset.  After sleet and hail and rain all day who would have thought we would be treated to this beauty!

This I discovered as I was reading one of my favorite blogs.  Good thing I didn't have any drink in my mouth.  I don't feel like cleaning a monitor.  After the week it's been, this is kinda how I feel.

It doesn't look like I had a very productive weekend but if I were to make a list it was.  Only one window still needing sheers made.  Three windows are now blindless!  Whoo-Hoo!  I despise those things.  They also found a new home before they were even down!  Did I get to touch the quilt I wanted to quilt?  Yup, moved it from Miss Lilly to the rocking chair.  Ashes thought it made a nice bed.

It's an early morning tomorrow.  Maybe I should get some Smarties to hand out to some co-workers if needed tomorrow.  Hope I don't need them.

Later....

Good Ole Vermont Weather!

Good Ole Vermont weather!  This morning began with ice on the windshield and raining pellets.  By the time I arrived at work it was like nothing had happened weather wise.  This afternoon was the call from school about no after school buses because of the weather.  What?  Because of the weather?  It was snowing when I left work and arrived home to find that the plows had been out.  The wind was howling and it sure was fun driving in it.  I'm home now and don't have to go back until Monday.  This weekend is suppose to be nice but cold.  I'll take that.  It sure is pretty on the mountains, just not on the roads.

On the quilting front, I took apart the progress I had made on the Schnibbles "Hat Trick".  I found that it had too much yellow.  We'll (dd & I) get it all to play nice.  I would also like to get the simple quilting done on my first really scrappy kinda Sister's Choice quilt.  I say kinda Sister's Choice because mine is sashed but Bonnie Hunter's isn't.  It's my first really scrappy because it's really scrappy for me.  I'm an organized scrappy at most.  I really like it.  I'm going to give it to my boss when it's finished.  We all have been going through a lot in the last month at work.  She deserves it.

DD will probably do some baking in the new stove.  We couldn't see putting as much money into something to fix when we could get a new for just a few more $$.  We decided to switch from gas to electric.  We had to run a new line to the kitchen for it but I feel much safer now.  I didn't mind the range part being gas but was very scared of the oven being gas.

How fast a year goes by.  It's starting to feel like home.  We still have lots of little things to do, but they require outdoors and if today was any indication it's going to be a while.  I wish I had taken before shots, too bad the camera had been packed away.

I hope to be back soon...now that I found my password!