Playing hookey with fabric

They are paving the state route at the end of our little road. And the grindings were available for a extremely reasonable price...like about 1/3 of the cost of limestone per ton. So a few weeks ago we had 9 dump truck loads of grindings delivered for our driveway. Which meant that I got to stay home from work and play hookey...

I did do some work, but....I did lots of playing too!

One of the projects I got that much closer to completion was this quilt top:

I started it.....who knows when. 2 or 3 years ago at least.

The blocks were all made I just had to put it together. And of course, I used some of the white fabric to make who knows what since then. So I had to improvise but you know what?

I'm fine with that....and it's that much closer to being DONE

Of course, I took these photos before deciding how to use that wild stripe print. Originally I had thought to use that for one of the borders and the binding. But now, it's all used up in a couple of borders on this quilt.

And yes, it does look pretty good in Jessie's room doesn't it? But she's not getting it.....way too much white in it for her:)

If you are looking for a cost-effective way to do your driveway, check with a company that is repaving roads near you....this stuff packs down HARD (we had them tailgate it on 5-7" deep and it's almost like asphalt. Todd did borrow a roller and roll the driveway, but after the last couple days of 80 degree weather, it's all starting to melt together and look like we spent the money to asphalt the driveway, which we didn't:)

Wait until you see my new laundry room.......

Table runners and cowls

We had an incredibly busy weekend, but I still managed to get some sewing and knitting in!

First, I made this table runner for Jessie's dresser: I started on it Friday evening and finished it up Saturday evening sewing the binding on by hand.


I couldn't follow the pattern exactly - it is supposed to be a 6x2 layout of the blocks, but....her dresser isn't that big! So we improvised a little. I must say I do like it, and have enough blocks, backing and binding to do another smaller one (using only 3 blocks) for her other dresser and I will have 4 blocks leftover for a mini quilt/wallhanging for in her room.


Jessie did finish quilting this for me (I just stitched in the ditch around the blocks and on the insides of the blocks) and sewed the binding on for me. She liked doing this well enough she now wants to take the quilting 4-H project and make a table topper.


My Mom has been saying for a while she wants to learn how to knit cables. And my brother's girlfriend Ashley and her friend Danielle also wanted to learn how to knit cables. So on Sunday we had us a little party. The 3 of them came to our house and we knit simple cowls:

Pattern: Awbrey
Needles: 10 1/2 16 inch circulars
Yarn: ? I'll have to check the tag when I get home.

We had fun, everyone realized that cable knitting (at its simplest form) is not really all that difficult, and I now have a new cowl. It only took about 3-4 hours, with lots of getting up by me to go get sweaters for my Mom to try on that I have knit.

Last week before everyone came over, I tried it out to a) make sure it wasn't going to take forever to knit and b) make sure there were no surprises in the pattern.

Pattern: Awbrey

Needles: 10 1/2 16 inch circulars

Yarn: Reynolds Lopi

So I actually have 2 cowls now.

And all that snow in the first two photos? Is now rushing down our driveway. Torrential rains/thunderstorms last night mean lots of flooded roads around here and flooded basements. I didn't check our basment this morning (I really should have and am even now debating if I should run home to check) but our driveway is underwater (still passable with my Durango and Todd's truck but barely) and the basement at the office where I work is about 8 inches deep. And Todd's been out on emergency calls since 5:30 this morning for stranded motorists who tried to drive through high water. And a gas line leak at a local business.

Stay dry everyone!
Kris

More quilty goodness...

I think I'm on a role here....

Due to a horrendous winter storm that sent me home from work at 9:45 this morning, (which I then managed to get stuck in our driveway half way up it), I had LOTS of time this afternoon to sew.

So I sewed....and sewed....

This table runner I've had the top together for who knows how long (2 years? 3 years?). It should have 2 more triangular pieces on the side, but I cannot find them for the life of me. I know they are made, they are just burried somewhere in my sewing room. Oh well. It fits our kitchen island pretty good just like this:

Yes, it still needs the binding, but...I don't know where it is:)

I also quilted this potholder. I've had it together for a couple years, just needed to finish it up!

And I got a dust ruffle done for my newest nephew:

And I started on a table runner for in Jessie's room, but I don't have any pictures of that one yet. It's a pattern and fabric from Anka's Treasurers, and let me tell you - the book is great on directions. And the fabric is gorgeous.

Hopefully tomorrow I can finish up the table runner for Jessie's room, in between basketball and chores.

Have a great weekend!
Kris

Finally....a quilting blog with quilty content:)

I did promise something quilty, didn't I?




And I actually have almost 2 completed quilts!




This first one, I'm embarassed to admit, has been languishing in the bottom of a pile of quilt tops for .......several years. I first blogged about it here. The original intent was for it to go in Jessie's room as a wall hanging to match her batik flip flop quilt. She wanted it as a bed quilt, but I didn't have enough batik fabrics....

And it is now quilted and awaiting it's binding. Which i have to go BUY as I can't find the binding I picked out for this quilt when I first finished the top!

But she has been making noises about wanting her room repainted. Truthfully, she's been wanting her room repainted since Thanksgiving. I told her when your room is cleaned out, I'll repaint it. This past weekend she hauled 3 garbage bags out of her room, so I guess I'm painting over spring break...if she can keep it semi clean. So far it's stayed clean, and they've been off school for 5 days due to a teacher inservice day, the holiday, and a major snow storm yesterday:)






I'm hoping I can talk her into yellow walls with lime green and pink accents, and her furniture painted white. Right now she is lobbying for lime green walls and YELLOW furniture.....



Of course, along with the new paint, she wants a new chair (lime green) for in the corner so she can read, and a new quilt (look at the Diamond Diva kit - that's the pattern and fabric she picked out!) and dust ruffle. So while this little quilt won't be of use in her room, I figure it will be a good lap quilt on those chilly spring evenings!


I'm plugging along on another baby quilt for my nephew, along with a dust ruffle for his crib. I used the tutorial here for the dust ruffle, and talk about a piece of cake! I hope to get the binding sewn on tomorrow when I get home from work, and then it will just be stitch the binding down and deliver it. I'll show pictures of it once it's completed (hopefully tomorrow).





And finally? Jessie made a cake:





She's enjoying baking cakes, brownies and cookies lately. I'm just glad to have a little something sweet in the house every now and again:)

Crafty goodness

While I don't have a lot of 100% finishes, I'm very close on a few things.

First off.....I quilted....nothing big...but 2 table toppers and a runner:

The runner I have one little section of quilting to do and the binding, but I ran out of green thread so I had to go buy more.

The table topper - I actually made 2 of these. One went to my Mom for Christmas and I kept 1 for me.

I actually ordered the kits direct from Joel and Heather Peterson of Ankas Treasures - and talk about great service! I'm debating if I need to order 1 of her quilt kits in this fabric to make for next year - while I have LOTS of stash, I don't have this fabric in my stash and I love it for Christmas.

The Curacao Cowl for my Mom? Just about done....6 inches to go and the smocking..... the stars, gods and planets did not align while we were in Columbus for a steer show, but I only have a few more inches to go so hopefully this week it will be done.

My Christmas sweater from my Mom is coming. Slowly but surely. Not really a pattern to follow - sort of a combination of 2 patterns.

I'm trying to figure out now how long I want it and what sort of sleeves I want.

I'm thinking maybe hip length with a garter border the last 1 1/2".

And perhaps short sleeves? Elbow length sleeves?

So far I am loving the fit of this one. While it is rather plain and simple, I'm sure I will get lots of use out of it and it will go with everything.

I did finish all of the toast mitts I was making the kids' teachers for Christmas. If I never see a fingerless mitt til next fall I will be a happy camper. 5 pairs out of the same yarn was a little much - even for me.


Now that the steer shows are done until the middle of march, and we can take about 4-5 weeks off of the walk, rinse, dry routine, I have LOTS of crafting to catch myself up on!

Kris

Heartsick......

I've sent 3 quilt tops off to be quilted by a blog friend, with excellent results. Reasonably fast turnaround time, great job done, fairly priced.

I sent a quilt top to her the end of March, along with a check for the quilting, batting and the return shipping. I included in the package the quilt and backing. She cashed my check on March 31st, I talked to her the first week of April (and she assured me it would be done within the next 6 weeks) and I have not heard a word from her.

I am devastated. And yet, I am oh so thankful this didn't happen with the first quilt that she quilted for me, which is a 60+ year old heirloom.....or the seond quilt which is one that I pieced the entire top by hand......

I've sent letters, emails, left phone messages with no response. The quilt top was a gift from a friend and I just want it back. I've even go so far as to send 2 of her relatives messages on facebook - which I just managed to track them down this morning and send off messages. And yes, I see from a wall post from 1 of her relatives that she is still alive (or was still alive as of the beginning of August). Hopefully I'll hear something.

All I want is the quilt back - whether it's been quilted or not. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can get it back? Todd suggested that we take a couple days off work and he will DRIVE me down there (5 hours 1 way) to go to her house and pick it up. I'm not sure that I am that desperate.....yet.

But...I have 3 heirloom antique quilts that were Todd's grandmother's that I would LOVE to have quilted. But I'm not sure I could send her another quilt - even if she were to call me today with a perfectly good excuse as to why I've had no contact from her. How hard is it to drop a postcard in the mail.....or send me a message on facebook....or an email? Anyone have a long arm quilting machine that would take execellent care of these quilts and get them done for me?

Leave me a message in the comments and I'll contact you.......


In the meantime, if you are reading this and you have my quilt - please send it back ASAP. I don't care if it is quilted or not......I just want my quilt back!!!!

Patience is really not my strong suit, but oh am I learning it right now......after the fair Todd and I just might have to take a drive.................and I am just sick over this whole mess.....

11 days

was all the time I had to make this duvet cover for my brother's girlfriend. From start to finish.

What guidelines was I given? "yellow tulips in the center, with purple and green." For a double size bed.

I came up with a design in EQ5 on Wednesday and ordered the center panel off of ebay. Had it on Friday. Went fabric shopping on Saturday. Cut the borders on Sunday. Sewed it all up on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Including backing. Re-did the backing on Saturday as I was having a very hard time coming up with a way to keep the stupid thing closed.

Delivered it Sunday morning (Valentine's Day) bright and early.

I really hope she loves it!
Kris

Driving MYSELF crazy

I do it to myself - I see something I like and want to make it instantly. Unfortunately, most knits that I like are sweaters and if I am making a quilt, it has to be at least a twin size. Both of which are NOT instant gratification. So I tend to start LOTS of projects:)

This vest I am making for my Mom. Because she didn't want to do the one teeny tiny cable down the front. Of course, since I can do the cable, that means I also learned (I hope) how to do the provisional cast on and how to join the back neckband (which I finished up at 11:30 last night thankyouverymuch - do I get a prize for getting it right on only the second try and being up so late? lol). I still have about 5 inches of knitting on the body and this one will be done.

Mondo cable vest from Chic Knits.

Then I saw this in one of my knitting books and HAD to have it. Of course, the yarn I am using is seconds so there is no tag, but I do know it is Brown Sheep Top of the Lamb (I knew it was Brown Sheep and figured out from their website which yarn it was based on the weight and color). I do like seconds from this yarn store - $3.49 a skein. Again, another one that needs maybe 5-6 inches on the body and it will be done. It would have been done last night but I have to wind another skien of yarn into a ball. And I didn't feel like doing that!

BoHo blouse from Glam Knits

Of course, I do have something quilty to show. I made this top last winter - all it needs is quilting. I'm going to attempt that on my newly fixed sewing machine (which has been in the shop 3 times so far this summer. Fortunately nothing major each time, just annoying). Todd and I decided that I would send all my future quilts out for quilting as my machine is getting up there in years, but this one? I have maybe a 1/4" extra of backing all around, so I'll be doing it myself.

Another knit for me - and I have been working on it for quite a while. I love the Pimlico Shrugs, however, I wasn't sure I could do the lace pattern, so I did a seed stitch. Talk about boring and time consuming. The body needs to be at least 25" long (the pattern says 35" but I'm seeing where everyone else went shorter). I'm at about 12". This one may take a while.

But of course, I have something waiting for Jessie for a Christmas present - the Central Park Hoodie in this lovely periwinkle Cascade 220 Superwash yarn. Of course, with her being just about 10 and the pattern only going to an extra small (32") I will be sort of flying on a wing and a prayer. Smaller needles, smaller yarn and hopefully it will work! I'll have to learn how to read charts with this one, but I went and specifically brought more yarn (to put with some leftovers from another sweater) for this sweater from my LYS so that if I get to confused (which may very well happen) I can go in there and they can straighten me out!

And I have something else for me - which the yarn just arrived for yesterday. The Skating Sweater from Twinkle Knits in Rowan Big Wool. I found 5 skiens on ebay for dirt cheap (about 1/4 of the normal price) because they are two different dye lots.

So now you all know what I will be doing this weekend, in between washing Punxs and Roscoe daily and cleaning the house. Have a great weekend everyone!
Kris

Make it your own

I FINALLY got some fun sewing time in last night. Never mind the kids were on a tear while I was sewing but.....by that point in time they were Todd's problem, not mine.

And wouldn't you believe - I should pay attention to the directions better. I cut my center squares the wrong size, which made the outer squares not fit right when I went to put them together.

Rather than start over, I added a border in the center. Who knows how far off the pattern I will have to go to get all my pieces to line up.

Looking at it now, the light fabric was probably not the best choice for the border but.....it's on and I am not ripping it apart.

And yes that is just a sneak peak of it. I'll show more after tonight if I get the top entirely done. It's raining cats and dogs here, so that should not be a problem.

Have a great day

Kris

Farmyard Babies

Tyler's preschool teacher (Ranita) is having a baby. And the baby shower is Thursday during class. Yes, I know, that is tomorrow....

After my encounter with the mother's in his class, I didn't feel comfortable just handing them the $30 they wanted from each student to buy her a gift. And Tyler wanted the baby to have a quilt from him.

So....last Friday, I got busy, and made this quilt:

It's smaller than my normal baby quilt (I somehow end up making all quilts huge), but.....I think I'm in love with it. I know Tyler is in love with it. You can't see it in these pictures, and it is too dark to get a really good picture, but I quilted "love Tyler" into the quilting design (which I will try and get another picture of tomorrow). Which he was thrilled with. I should have done the bias binding, but....seeing as how I quilted it after I got home from work today, went to soccer practice with BOTH kids, came home and did chores, and machine stitched the binding down, bias binding was the last thing on my mind! Right now it is in the washer. I'll stay up to put it in the dryer and then I am off to bed!

Ranita's mother saw the quilt today while I was at work (we all go to the same church denomination and she is involved with the district and is in and out of the district office where I work) - she wants me to make a bumper pad and dust ruffle to match. She thinks Ranita will love it.

I certainly am hopeful that she will.

A Quick Finish

Yesterday I cleaned out the barn. At least it is a little more organized now and it's swept. I need Todd to help me move some of the heavy stuff (well, really I don't, but I'll make him feel important. And.....if I show that I can move the heavy stuff, I'll be doing it all the time, right?).

I had to pick Jessie up from school - she was complaining that she had a stomach ache. I'm pretty sure it's the medication she is on - upset stomach and headache is one of the side effects along with decreased appetite - and she did tell me she didn't eat much for lunch as it didn't sound good. So I made her favorite for dinner last night (grilled chicken sandwiches, cole slaw and potatoe wedges cooked on the grill with sour cream and shredded cheese) and sent her to school with some healthy snacks for her to munch on at snack time and on the bus ride home.

So I was out in the barn by myself. Tyler says he got stung by a bee on the hand. But I couldn't see a mark, and by the time Todd got home 2 hours later, he was stung by a bee, a honey bee, a wasp, a yellow jacket and a hornet - all at the same time. So I let him put ice on them and sit outside.

After we watched "24" last night (that is pretty much the only show I will sit down and watch) I put together a baby quilt for Tyler's teacher. I don't know why it is rotated but....you get the idea. She's doing the baby's room in baby farm animals, and I found the farm animal fabric on ebay. This is just 1 corner of it- there are 4 rows of farm animal fabric and 3 rows of 4 patch squares. At least it's going quick - the baby shower is Thursday. I'll quilt it tonight (something simple - maybe circles or a meander) and put the binding on it tomorrow night. Nothing like waiting til the last minute, I know but.....when it's 88 degrees outside, who wants to be inside???

Have a great day everyone!
Kris

Teacher Quilts

A number of you seemed to be in awe of the amount of quilts I'm doing for the kids' teachers this year - here's my "explanation" and a little bit of a rant!

When Jessie was in 1st grade, she had 2 teachers who job shared. The other room mom and I got the fantastic idea to make both teachers a quilt - we had the kids draw on white muslin a design for each teacher. I then put the borders on it and sewed around it and turned it right side out (envelope edge) and Janet quilted around each block. We would have done traditional quilting, but we thought of this idea the 1st of May....and the party was the end of May. We had 4 sets of fabric markers, and sent a set of markers home with 4 kids - when they sent their fabric and markers back, we sent out another round.

Same room Mom and I are room moms again this year (her son and Jessie have been in the same class together since kindergarten, and we've been room moms together every year). This year, we sent the fabric and markers to school, and had the art teacher organize the kids to make their blocks - note to self - MUCH better idea.

I have the fabric and blocks - I'll do the sashing, basting and quilting - Janet will sew the binding on.

Now for the rant!

2 weeks ago, Tyler calls me at work from the babysitters - all upset to no end. Seems there is a gift for the teachers being planned, and one of the mom's brought up the quilt I had done for Jessie's teacher (her daughter and Jessie are in the same class, her son and Tyler are in the same class). So they thought this was a fantastic idea.

Only problem - these people don't know their heads from holes in the ground.

They HONESTLY thought it would be just dandy to cut a used couch slipcover into squares and have the kids draw on the back with sharpie markers. And Tyler knows what a quilt is supposed to look like. And when he got the packet - he was a little disappointed. Add to the fact, the letter that came home with the packet said "Mrs. Bair has kindly agreed to quilt this quilt using the rest of the slipcover for the backing and a fleece blanekt for the batting."

WHAT THE %&#)%@&()?

No one mentioned a word to me......

I call this mom and ask her how she thinks this will work.....well, we wont have to buy fabric and I managed to get most of the squares so they don't show any stains.

In the end I lost my cool and told her I would not quilt this quilt (I am not running that mess through my Bernina), Tyler would not be contributing to it, etc...... After we go round and round, I volunteered to buy all the fabric and batting, put the top together, quilt it and bind it - and if parents want to give me a couple dollars for the materials, fine, if not, that is fine too. Tyler has had 2 awesome preschool teachers, I want them to have something wonderful to remember this class by....not a used, stain slipcover colored on with sharpie markers.

As I told Todd, I am NOT a professional quilter, I DO NOT do this for a living, I HAVE NO desire to quilt for a living, but......I do not want it said that I quilted something so inferior.....and I want to take NO CHANCE in breaking my 13 year old Bernina.......I don't want a new machine just yet:) He thought that was a fabulous idea (not wanting a new machine) after seeing the prices on new Berninas......

So my machine will be kicking it in high gear in the coming weeks, whether I am feeling motivated or not.

Think Spring

Here is my spring table runner. I just need to get a solid (blue, green or beige) to fill in between each square. I like it - not what I was envisioning but....sometimes that is for the best, right?

And I don't know why in the world the picture is rotated but....you get the idea

Also, a BIG THANK YOU to my bloggy friend Ana for nominating me for this award:

the rules are:

1. put the logo on your blog or post.

2. nominate blogs which show great attitude and/or gratitude.

3. link to your nominees within your post.

4. let them know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. share the love and link this post to the person from whom you received your award.

Here's how I'm doing this one....anyone who left a comment on either my last post or my RIP Abby post - take the award from me:) I'm too computer illiterate to write down everyone's blog addresses on a piece of paper, do the links and go from there. I know there's got to be an easier way to add links but....I only know what I know. I'll visit your blogs here shortly to let you know you've received the award....later tonight or tomorrow.....we've been working with the steers and heifers and BOTH kids had soccer...

Kris

PS - Happy April Fools Day everyone.

Lost and Found Again

I lost my MOJO.....for doing anything for the last few days. Chores were a chore, all I got done on Sunday (in the house) was 11 loads of laundry....but they still aren't folded. We are living out of laundry baskets....

But today...I found it... I think.

I got home from work and tied up all on my own.....all 5 calves. And Oreo (the black calf standing behind the red calf in the picture below) had lost his halter so I managed to put it on all by myself (which took considerable effort as he kept backing away from me). This is only the second time the heifers (pictured above) have been tied up since....January.....

I roasted a chicken for dinner from my local meat butcher store (well...to be honest....I cheated....the chicken was precooked, but I had to heat it up, cut it and serve it) which the kids LOVED. I really hope Todd isn't hungry for chicken when he gets home, as there ain't much left.

And I started on this while the kids did their homework and read:

Which hopefully will turn into a table topper for Easter when I get 2 more squares done....which will be tonight if I can keep things rolling along.

See ya,

Kris

FINALLY....progress

With it being 55 here at home Monday afternoon, I so wanted to be outside.





But instead, I forced myself to finish up the quilting on this quilt and sew the binding on to the fronts of 2 quilts:






So last night I worked on handsewing the binding down on the baby quilt while we watched 24. And while Jessie was at her first soccer practice for the spring season.

Then I washed the baby quilt for our friends (and was up until 12:15 waiting for it to come out of the washer. But I used the basting spray on it and it is red so I didn't want to send it off stinky and with a chance it could bleed when she washes it).

Tyler was not real thrilled that I was using "his" fabric - and that I didn't put the dalmation print on the back of his quilt. I think I'm going to go back and buy the rest of the bolt of dalmation print if it's still on sale - for the second firefighter twin size quilt I am making.


But it's done and it's on it's way - 2 more to go.

Tonight night Todd has fire practice again, so I am going to work on my Bears in the Farmhouse quilt. The deadline for this next step is next Monday - so I'd better get a move on it.

Here's to a 66 degree day that we are supposed to have today!

Kris