quilts, knitting, and traveling

Almost done with block 3 of my travel quilt...
"My whimsical Garden"
from Piece O' Cake Designs
Yes, I am using the same colors
but different fabric prints than they used.
I love their color scheme so why take the time changing
something that didn't need changing.

I have also been knitting hats...
Along with my church women's group,
for the local Cancer treatment center.
I thought I'd share the pattern we are using;
as well as some of the things we have learned about
the needs of the patients.

Our group did some research into the needs...
actually we asked a mom who is part of our group what is actually needed and wanted in a Chemo Cap...
this is what she told us. (You may want to check with people in your own area)
-the hat needs to fit somewhat snugly and not need to have the brim rolled up.
-they do not want to be uncomfortable; and they do not want to feel like they are too warm and need to remove the hat indoors. They don't want to take them off in public.
-the yarn needs to be soft.
I've included 2 photo's the first one has several finished caps,
some a little smaller than others. and the second has several unfinished caps.
I wanted to display the variety of colors and stripes and just
fun things to do with the simple pattern.

Chemo Caps
Caron Simply Soft Yarns
Sz 8 needles (5.0mm)
To start, cast on 72 stitches. and begin a rib pattern for approx. 1 1/2".
We used the k2 p2 pattern.
(If you notice the pink hat in the first picture, I did a seed stitch pattern for the rib.)
Switch to the stockinette stitch for the remainder of the hat.
-k 1 row, p 1 row...repeat.
at 5 1/2" you begin the decrease rows.
Row 1: *k4, k2 tog, repeat from * across row (should now be 60 sts)
Row 2: p 1 row
Row 3: k 1 row
Row 4: p 1 row
Row 5: *k3, k2 tog, repeat from * across row (should now be 48 sts)
Row 6: p 1 row
Row 7: *k2 tog, repeat from * across row (should now be 24 sts)
Cut off about 18"-24" and thread a yarn/tapestry needle.
Pull through the remaining stitches on the needle, and remove from the needle.
Cinch tightly (use care not to break the yarn LOL, don't ask how I know this)
Sew from the top down using the same yarn piece.
Hide all ends. You have a Chemo Cap.
Remember to have fun, play with stripes... play with colors...
Use boy colors, as well as girl colors, think of the colors of the local colleges,
high schools, sports teams, etc.

now...
I've always thought it would be fun
to have an object I take with me on my travels
that I can include in the photo's...
I have purchased this Gnome
you can see in the photo to the left...
Here he's among the Tulips coming up in front of my home.
and in the next photo...
He's on the step in front of my home.
now, I'm not positive yet,
that this is what I want to use as my travel companion,
he is about a foot tall.
Won't be easy to take some places.
Maybe I should find something more like "Flat Stanley"
Or maybe I should find something less popular,
something unique for me...
Hmmmmmmm.
The jury is still out contemplating the verdict. But I will be doing a lot more traveling now, so I need to make up my mind soon. Until I do, I will be using the Gnome... Whom I have named George.

Odds and Ends

My daughter returned from her mission to St. Louis, MO. So we took off on a trip to visit with friends and family before she went back to school (BYU). Unfortunately we ran into some difficulties in Nelson, British Columbia (Canada). The car would not turn off and shut the motor down, so we had to have the ignition replaced. The car happens to be a Saturn which is no longer being made, so we had to wait about 2 weeks to get the part in and get it replaced. We ended up being in Nelson 2 weeks longer than we intended. So we left there and went to Utah instead of going to California... We had intended to go and visit my parents in California... We didn't get to because of the car problems. Now it's December and it just isn't possible to get over to California to see Mom and Dad. I'm quite dissapointed in that. After the new year (Jan 2) The girl will be back at school in Utah.

I did get the quilt done for my nephew... but things are being difficult here right now, so the picture will have to be uploaded later. I also started a quilt as a Christmas gift for one of my son's. It was inspired by the autumn leaves seen around town there in Nelson, B.C. I took a guide book on plants of the Rockies and selected 3 different leaf shapes, an Oak leaf, a maple leaf, and a leaf from a shrub (gooseberry)... drew them to fit the size of the blocks (10 1/2" unfinished). I went through fabrics and scraps of things I had laying around, with no 2 leaves being the same color. I then machine appliqued them on the background fabric. It was quite fun and a great way to use up scraps and things... It's sort of like a charm quilt in being that no two leaves are the same color. However, then I will put in some lattice work using fabrics I did use for a leaf, and there will be some borders, so the charm quilt ends there.

While I was in Utah, we stopped in the local "Michael's" and while browsing through some of the free project sheets posted around the store. My daughter picked up a project sheet for a knitted sock monkey. Which I decided to give a try as a gift for the new grand-baby we're expecting in our family (the same son who's getting the "Autumn Leaf" Quilt as a Christmas gift.) I didn't like some of the proportions shown on the little Free Project Sheet, so I did tweek the pattern just a wee bit. Also the project sheet said the finished monkey should be about 4 1/2" tall....LOL, there is no way that monkey would ever be that small... not possible with the directions given. I didn't bother with the swatch for knitting to fit the measurments... but I don't think anyone could have gotten that monkey that small. So with my tweeks for proportion, my monkey is about 8" tall. Which I think is just about perfect for a gift for a baby.

I have also started another knitting project as a Christmas gift for my Mother. The pattern comes from the magazine "Knit 'n Style" December 2011 issue. The project on page 84, project number 35 Woven Square Wrap. It's a knitting method I've been wanting to try, and I thought this would be a fun way to try it out. I'm using "Heather Blue" fuzzy yarn from Lion Brand, that came in a 12 oz size... The label says "1, 2, or 3 Kids in a Jiffy". I found 3 large balls of this yarn at a thrift shop for for 1.50$ each ball. I think this project will use just a little more than one ball.

I do love to browse thrift shops and yard sales... I consider the finds there as recycling-rescuing, things some one else would have thrown out. I quite often pick up fabric, and yarn, notions, and more stuff to use.

Welllllllll, for some reason I was unable to load pictures up this afternoon, so I'll add them as soon as possible. I do want to show off all the things I've been up to. I haven't gotten the Winter mini quilt done for my Calander holder yet, but we have an idea waiting drawn by my grand-daughter. I plan to have it done before the 1rst day of winter. Hopefully I can get the photo's of everything I've mentioned uploaded soon. Look for part 2 of this post. It will be the photo's.

summer continued

soooo, I chose to do this blog in two parts,
this one is the quilty crafty one.
With photo's of what I've been doing.....

This first photo is of the book "Speed-Cut Quilts,"
by Donna Poster.
The book says there are 1200 blocks
but there are actually only 400 in 3 different sizes for the 1200.
I kind of wish it had actually said that instead
(you almost feel cheated out of 800 blocks)
It was published by Chilton in 1989.
I do not know if it is possible to find this book in print anymore.
My husband picked it up for me at a yard sale.
So, I really cannot complain about anything in the book.

Meanwhile,
My nephew was getting married and I needed ideas for a quilt
for him and his new bride.
Their favorite colors were blue and green.
So I poored over my books for ideas and I quite liked
the one I found in the book mentioned above.
In the colored photo section of the book
I found the one pictured below...
originally made by Teresa Kline in Aqua tones at 86 X 103...

The blocks were diagramed out on page 76 of the book...

as shown in the next photo...

it seemed to be a quite simple quilt,

and yet very stunning in it's layout...

And since the sample in the book was already done in the blues...

I could very easily picture it in the blue and green colors for

the nephew and his bride to be...

I went through my stash to find several blues and greens

to use for the project,

I decided to go with the 12" sized blocks,

The center squares are 4 1/2" cut (4" when sewn)

the strips around the outside are 2 1/2" cut (2" when sewn)

the next picture shows the squares in progress...

and that is actually where I'm at as I am blogging today.

I bought a box full of stuff to work on the quilt

while I am here in British Columbia...

I did not have to transport my sewing machine,

because my daughter left her's here in storage while

she's been at University and serving her mission.

So I've been using hers for the sewing.

She has a basic entry level
Viking 325 Daisy.

It's not computerized like mine back home...

but it works great.

I probably should have reversed the last image above,

and the next one below...

But oh well.

The image below is showing the fabrics I chose

for the quilt I am making...

I went with 4 different blues and greens,

pairing them together with the white,

for continuity.

The larger piece of fabric across the top of the

selection,

I am planning for the main larger border

around the outside of the quilt

to tie everything together.

My only problem is this,

I need at least one smaller border

between the blocks and the larger outer border,

and I am struggling with what to use for that one.

I have a gorgeous dark dark blue I'm thinking about,

it's darker than the one in the photo above...

I most likely would look almost black in a photo...

But I am not convinced yet.

I recently saw a quilt show on television

discussing the Amish quilts...

(I think it was a guest on "sewing with Nancy")
The Amish use plain and not printed fabrics...

with beautiful colors -just no yellows.

but then they use a color not used anywhere else in their quilts

as the first border surrounding the squares.

So I am playing with that idea in my head.

What if I did something like that,

and used maybe a purple or red.

Well,

the wedding was in July...

I am behind on the quilt already.

I am going over to California in October.

and plan to have this done so I can give it to them then.

LOL

I think I'll get the blocks done, and sewn together...

then I can audition some of the different color choices

for the borders.

I will try to remember to post them to show the thought

process I went through for the finished project
Hopefully my next blog in September will have that

as a finished project.

I also have planned to do when I get back to Idaho...

1. the neighbors quilt -she'd asked if I could finish it up for her,

that just involves puting the borders on

-it had been a mystery quilt class she'd signed up for.

2. finish the wedding project I mentioned above.

3. the autumn/fall block for my wall calendar cover.

whew, I think that's enough...

We shall go from there and see what happens.

I am still working on my travel

applique hand work quilt.

Though I haven't done anything on it this trip.

Thus no updates on the progress of that one.

I am thinking about the "Farmers Wife" quilt I want to do...

(Or was it -Farmer's Daugher?) I'll have to look it up later.

I have begun gathering fabrics for that one

as I go through my stash.

I want to use 30's & 40's reproduction fabrics for that one.

Then my goal is to begin those blocks as a block of the month kind of thing.

Doing at least one maybe two blocks per month.

I will be blogging about that when I get that going.

I think I am aiming to start it with the new year 2012...

and finish it out by the end of the year.

It will be my new years resolution for 2012.

Plus I need to finish out the seasons of my Calender cover

with a winter block...

I have fabric set aside for another quilt

with a pattern called "Pushing up plaidsies"

I have a few other tops to finish and get quilted.

I have been knitting hats...

I didn't have any photo's to publish here

which is why I'm only mentioning the knitting.

LOL

I will never run out of things to do.

Don't 'cha love the quilting crafty life.

thrift store find

First of all, an update on my travel work...
I did get square one totally done,
Having embroidered the black of the eye.

I have also completed square two...
and begun square three.

Both from the "My whimsical Garden"
Piece-O-Cake designs...

They are supposed to be pretty scrappy looking

when completed...
not all matchy-matchy in the prints...

At home my stack of things to do has been
piling up....
I have a bunch of things from my sister-in-law

shirts and pants to hem up...

It's what I get for letting the family know I can sew...

Ha ha ha ha ha...

I really don't mind most of the time...

I also accepted a request from my next door neighbor

to help her with a quilt she doesn't want to look at anymore...

She started taking some quilting classes...

I've helped her with a few of her questions before.

But she signed up for a mystery quilt class...

and she got most of the top done,

but not the borders...

She likes doing the hand quilting not the piecing.

She has requested that I help her finish the top...

And she will do the quilting and maybe the binding.

I also took the room apart again to get a bed set up for my daughter...

She's been serving a mission for the LDS church,

and will be returning in September...

too late to return to university

so she'll be staying here until January when the next semester

starts.

now,

as the tittle indicated

I have been to the thrift store...

actually I go quite often.

you never know what you'll find there.

but

recently I found a quilt top

that I just had to rescue and bring home...

it's approx. 62" square.

and some of the fabrics I think I actually have

in my stash...

Mostly from the 80's and 90's...

I think someone went to a lot

of trouble to sew a bunch of fabrics together

random shapes and colors...

then cut them out into the diamond shapes,

trimmed the diamond shapes with the red...

I think there may be a little bit of a problem

in the shapes not laying quite flat...

but I think with ironing and a lot of quilting it will be alright.

I'm excited to finish it...

I don't know who to give credit for the top piecing.

but

I feel good about rescuing it.

And

it was only 3$.

sooooooooooooo...

my pile of things to get done seems to be getting larger,

not smaller.

to do-

-hemming

-neighbors quilt

-thrift store quilt

-my travel project (My Whimsical Garden)

plus not mentioned today

-fix that shirt I made

-make a quilt for my nephew's wedding

-several other unfinished quilts

including my own mystery quilt

and I purchased a book a few months ago

which I really want to do...

"The Farmer's Wife"

which I have started gathering fabric for...

I also want to have it scrappy looking.

I have decided that I want to use

those reproduction fabrics

that look like they came from flour sacks

in the 30's and 40's.

I don't think I'll ever be caught up,

with projects...

there'll always be new ones on the back burner.

Musings from Utah

Lots of things on my mind today...
As you can see by the tittle I'm over here in Utah again.
I've been spending my time getting caught up on some podcasts I subscribe to.
Though I have a long way to go...
maybe I subscribe to too many?
Nawwwwwww.
I just need to keep still and listen;
it's the one complaint I have with my IPOD,
it will play continously through the song list,
but not the podcasts.
I have to tell it to start them each individually.
So I can't really listen to them while I drive,
can't take the time to change from the finished one to the next.
Apple and ITUNEs listen up...
We need to be able to play the podcsts on a continuous loop.
OK,
enough of that.
I have also discovered through the podcasts,
that I missed a whole lot of stuff going on here in Utah.
Annie Smith was here as were several others from the quilting community...
Oh well.
There is a quilt show going on out here in Eagle Mountain
in conjunction with the pioneer days celebrations going on this week.
I've been meaning to look up on the internet other events
in the Salt Lake City area
as well as here in the Utah county just south of Salt Lake City.
I came down here to spend some time with hubby...
He gave me tickets to the 360 tour with The Fray and U2.
That was a lot of fun.
I must admit that I'm a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll.
Actually more on the rock and roll side.
Loved U2...
The Fray aren't too bad either.

I did finish the first applique block
in my current traveling quilt project.
Actually, I do still need to embroider the center of the eye on the bird.
(pictured below)

It's from the pattern "My Whimsical Quilt Garden" by Becky Goldsmith & Linda Jenkins.
From Piece O' Cake designs.
Not the first quilt pattern I've purchased,
but,
The first one I've actually started working on.
It's the whole road thing.
I did buy it here in Utah. (Broadbent's in Lehi)
While I was at home in Idaho,
I also finished a shirt
(pictured below)
One of the projects I had on my New Years resolution list of unfinished things to do.
I had promised I'd finish 6 things this year.
This now makes 2 items I can check off.
It is from a Butterick Pattern (B5538).
Which was a multi sized pattern,
and was supposed to be easy to adjust to fit.
I did the 3/4 length sleeve for more versatility,
I think it turned out pretty cute.
But...................................................
It has reminded me of why I don't like to do fashion sewing anymore.
Maybe I didn't follow the instructions closely enough,
but the shirt doesn't fit me right.
It will need some altering before I will be comfortable wearing it.
The sleeves are too tight around the upper arms.
and too loose and baggy around the bust under arm area.
I need to take the side seam in and let out the arm seam.
So I won't be able to wear it until those alterations are made.

Anyway,
While I was listening to the podcasts...
Annie Smith (Quilting Stash) in particular.
I was thinking about my own sewing experiences.
I'm referring to podcasts number 200 & 201.
In 200 she talked about her grandmother's and learning to sew,
and in 201 she was talking to Jenny Wilding Cardin (sp?)
about repurposing used things by sewing them into new things.
I don't know if my grandmother's sewed.
I'm sorry that I don't know more about them than I do.
I lived close to one, but not the other.
The one close by did beautiful crochet work,
don't know what the other one did.
I'm going to have to ask my mom about her.
I''ve often been a little bitter about the one who did the crochet work.
I did not ever get anything hand made from her,
there's a wall hanging in her church of "The Last Supper"
that she had crocheted.
My brother's ex-wife somehow got all of her crocheted items from the house
when she passed away.
They have all vanished from the face of the earth.
No one knows where they've gone.
This is what I'm a little upset about.
I would have cherished the items...
Now they're lost to the family.

I learned to sew from my mother,
I remember learning how to make doll clothes.
I also learned from her to keep all of the scraps of fabric from any project
to use someday in a quilt (or doll clothes, ha ha ha)
I did take sewing in school,
I did a lot of fashion sewing for myself as I grew up.
I made my own wedding dress.
Then the kids came along (6 of them)
and I did a lot of sewing for them.
I took a class when the first 2 were babies,
and the instructor showed us how to use old clothing and things
to remake into clothes for the small children.
(Annies podcast #201 -reminded me of that)
I had a lot of fun doing that.
A friend saw some of the things I had made,
and shipped me a big box full of old clothes they didn't use anymore.
Some of the things I sent on to the thrift store
I just couldn't see making clothes for little boys
out of dry clean only stuff.
But other than that I had well dressed boys.

I did make a few quilts when they were babies,
but they were the whole cloth kind that you lay out and tie with yarn.
There came a time several years ago,
can't tell you the exact date...
When sewing wasn't fun anymore.
It wasn't pushing any of my creative buttons.
I found quilting shows on TV,
and quilting magazines in the stores...
I took a quilting class.
And I discovered that I could fill that creative itch in me.
I've been quilting ever since.
One more thing I want to mention here...
From the time I was a small child.
I wanted to be an artist...
I took art classes all through school,
including a few in College...
I came to the conclusion that I would never be any good at art.
I am not good enough nor driven enough to be any good...
But I believe I've found a place in quilting
to pour out all my creativity
and claim the tittle of Artist.
Even if my family and friends are the only ones who ever see it.

Everything but quilting in Canada

Sorry to all,

I've been up at my house in Canada.

(The photo by the way- is baker street in Nelson, BC...)

I haven't done any quilting...

I did bring my applique project to work on.

But I've been spending my time

with friends,

and just chilaxing.

I did buy a ball of really yummy yarn

at the local shop here.

("That Craft Store")

The brand is NORO,

from Japan.

It's

50% Wool

30% Angora

20% Silk

color no 73 lot A

It is a multi color yarn

with pinks, greys, blues, & greens.

I only bought one skein because of the cost.

I decided it needed to be a hat.

(I'm going to have to start wearing hats)

I'm actually working out my own pattern.

Not the first one I've tried doing,

I have a pair of slippers I need to finish...

I wanted it to be as little bit slouchy,

but I didn't want it too big.

I have gotten about 1/2 way done with it.

I'll put up my pattern and a photo once it is done.

Also...

I have been wanting some new shirts/tops,

and I just cannot find stuff I like that fits me right.

So

I broke down and bought some patterns

and

I'm doing some fashion sewing.

I have that about 1/2 way done as well.

Again,

I'll post photo and pattern information

when that is done as well.

One of the things I do with friends here in Nelson,

is scrap booking.

They get together on the 3rd thursday of each month

and visit,

scrapbook,

share supplies.

Laugh,

catch up,

eat, etc.

I join them whenever I can be here on the right week.

Right now I'm working on my

scrapbook journal from my 2 years living in Italy.

Soooooooooooooooooo

like I said;

No quilting,

but other craft activities going on here in Canada.

this and that

Well,

as I'm out on the road again...
I may seem a bit flittery.

(I think I made up that word.)

I just hope it's not too odd.

I'm over in Utah,

and I did stop in at Broadbent's again.

Over in Lehi,

It's right between the place we stay

(Eagle Mountain- br0-in-laws house)

and my husbands place of employment

located in Lehi -over next door to Alpine.

I'll not name his employer

as I don't want to seem like I'm advertising for them.

I brought my travel project,

I'd pictured it before...

it's the applique project

using the pattern "my whimsical quilt garden"

by Becky Goldsmith & Linda Jenkins

I'm pleased to say that I'm a lot further along now.

I had stopped in at Broadbent's to pick up some fabric for the sashing,

and a few fat quarters to use for the applique's.

It's supposed to be scrappy looking.

Meaning that there are different combinations in each of the applique squares.

That was all I bought.

I am trying to not over buy right now.

I have a new photo of the square I'm working on,

and as the applique spills over into the sashing

I have also added the sashing piece to the one side.

(The photo has been added to the text part of the Blog -at the top of the page)

So you can see the fabric I purchased at Broadbent's.

I am laughing now,

I didn't want to mention my husbands employer...

But I've named the quilt shop several times.

They are not paying me.

I promise.

Anyhow,
The bird (which will be blue) is the part that will spill into the border.
Haven't quite gotten to that yet.

Another thing I thought of this week that I wanted to mention.
Is a quilt I made for a Christmas gift.
The one just past (Dec 2010).
I don't know why I'd forgotten to post a photo of it.

Last summer when I gave my grandson a quilt for his 2nd birthday...
My middle son, asked sort of jokingly
Why he never got a quilt from me.
I'd actually set aside some fabrics to make him one.
His favorite colors are red and black...
I'd purchased a few fabrics...
I'd raided my stash for other fabrics.
I had even started it before he'd asked me that question.
Any how,
Some of the fabrics had Canadian motif's on it.
Fabric's I'd purchased up north.
(We have a home in British Columbia as well as Idaho)
I'm afraid that his brothers-and his dad,
were a bit envious of the final product.
I had not intended the quilt to have a Canadian flair.
It just happened.

My husband is Canadian,
he's here with a permanent residency card.
Our kids are all blessed with dual citizenship.
I am an American with a Canadian residency card.

Anyhow,
his quilt has been added to the left hand photo column.
I will try to keep the works in progress within the text,
and the finished projects in the left hand margins.

Mystery Quilt

Saturday morning, 9am.
March 12
I went to my local quilt shop...
Bluebird Quilt Studio
in Nampa, Idaho.
Packed along my sewing machine,
and a few accessories I thought I might need.
Scissors, thread, that kind of stuff.

I had signed up the week before,
and chosen a colorway for the day...
I picked one that looked bright and cheerful,
one that I would have probably not chosen on my own.
I thought -why not be bold and go for something different.

I set up my machine and got my first clue.
I have to say it was pretty exciting...
I had never done a mystery quilt before.
I enjoyed the company of other excited quilters
also working their way through the clues.

It was arranged for us to have lunch next door
at a Viet Namese restaurant. Ummm, good food.
A chair massuese came
and offered massages at 10$ for 10 minutes.
Some of the women took advantage,
others didn't.

There were 9 clues in all,
and there were 4 different colorways that I could see.
It was pretty neat seeing everyone's projects coming together.
There were quilt fairies to help with pressing,
and unpicking mistakes.

I made the first mistake of the day that needed unpicking.
I somehow managed to get 2 greens stuck together and sewn to the white.
I think my making the first mistake eased the tension in the room.
I even made the anouncement that everyone could relax now that
I had made the first mistake. Ha ha ha ha ha.

At one point some one made the statement that we were not in a race,
we were supposed to be having fun...
I think I said I was pretty sure there must be some sort of race going on.
By the way, I was the first one done with all the clues.
Then we were given the diagram of the quilt top,
and how to put the borders on.
I have the first border on,
but I do have to admit there are two more to put on.
And...
I haven't got them on yet.

The pattern is called "Hopscotch"
by Rita Fishel *Mystery Quilts.

There was a drawing for some door prizes,
and I got the first one,
it was a tote bag.
I think I heard one woman say something
about it not being fair because I had been the first one done.
I think I said something like...
see, I told you it was a race.
It was all in fun of course.
We were all laughing.

And,
the shop owner told us if we signed up for the next one...
which I think it will be in September,
that we could choose our own colorway
out of any fabric in the shop.
I think everyone there (including myself)
signed up for the next Mystery Quilt challenge.

I stopped on the way out to buy 2/3 yard of the green
used in my mystery quilt, the amount called for -for binding it.
so I would have it when I got that far.
The quilt is twin sized and
I am quite pleased with it.
Not sure exactly what I will do with the finished product.
But I have some ideas I can't really share right now.
(I have a few quilts promised to a few people,
and it might work as one of those.)

Fun day, I would definately do a mystery quilt again.

podcasts and quilting

I haven't gotten much done quilty
while I've been here in Utah.
I brought stuff to work on
I talked about in the last podcast,
but haven't actually gotten to it.
I did finish stitching down the little leaves,
and cut out a brown branch to go with the leaves...
I didn't have brown thread with me.
I thought I'd stop somewhere and pick some up,
but I kept forgetting when I was out and about.
So,
Since I'm going back to Idaho tomorrow,
and I have brown thread at home,
it seems pointless to go and buy it now.

So I thought I talk about podcasts.
I love podcasts,
and I have about 30 that I listen to regularly.
I'll have to get the others down sometime.
But for now,
here are the quilt related podcasts that I follow
with a few comments about some of them.
I have them listed in alphabetical order,
'cause that's how they're listed on my ITunes page.
No other reason at all.

Annie Smith: Quilting Stash
this is actually the first quilt podcast I discovered, she is the one who told me about (in
her podcasts) Broadbent's in Lehi, Utah.

Jackie's Quilting Chronicles
-Jackie Kunkel

The Off Kilter Quilt
-Frances

Pioneer Quilter -Kelley
her husband interupts most podcasts with some odd remarks and trivia, I think it's fun
and makes me feel more like I'm listening to an old friend

Quilt Cababna Corner
Sandi Cowell

Quilted Cupcake
Jean (Gene?)

The Quilter's notebook
I've only been able to download 3 episodes, I don't know if there are any more, I think I
heard about this one from another podcast, but don't know which one it was (sorry.) It's a
great description of how she organizes herself, her home, & quilt stuff. If anyone's
interested in that type of thing.

Quilting For The Rest Of Us
Sandy Hasenauer, who claims she's not an expert. Love it!

Sew-Stitch-Create
Brye Lynn

Stash Resolution
Sarah

Within a Quarter Inch
Allison Rosen

then there's one vidcast I subscribe to
(I think they take up too much space,
and I can't listen to it while I'm doiong other things...
You have to sit and watch a vidcast.
But I have learned so much from this one
that I don't miss an episode.
(I do delete most of them after I've watched
and just kept the one's that have something I really want to try.)

Bonnie's Creative Quilting
Bonnie McCaffrey (SP?)

The reason I like most of them,
is that they sit and chit chat about what they are doing,
and about their families and friends...
about sewing experiences, including mistakes...
I feel like I'm listening to a friend talking to me.

They motivate me want to go and get to work,
so I have something to talk about also
(I choose to blog rather than podcast).
They motivate and challenge me to try new techniques...
to finish things I'd put aside,
to gift handmade things,
and more.
Sooooooooooooo,
that's it for this post.
I'll update on new podcast's as they come along...
I also listen to a few on knitting,
and several LDS podcast's.
but I think that's for another time.

Utah

Don't really have much quilty stuff today. But I'm writting anyway. I promised myself I'd post at least once a week.

I'm over in Utah for a bit, I did bring a new applique project to work on while away from home. I found those projects travel the best while I'm on the road. And I actually sew on them. I've tried hand piecing, but I just dont have the patience for that type of work. I know I have a machine to do that type of thing quicker. The pattern I am using (yes, this one is an actual pattern and not one that I add as I go until I think it's done, like the "mouse house") is one I had purchased here in Lehi. There's a great quilt shop here called Broadbent's. I had actually heard about it on an early podcast by Annie Smith. "Annie's Quilting Stash." It was the first podcast I found about quilting. She mentioned the shop, and I was here in the area so had to look it up. It has become one of my favorite stops here in Lehi, Utah. I try to stop in there every visit I make to Utah. It's in an old store down town, and has been family owned continuously for many many years. They have fabric and things for quilting, as well as some clothing for sale and in the back there is a gift/candy shop. Fun fun fun place to stop in at.

The pattern is called "My Whimsical Quilt Garden" and it's from C & T publishing, by Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins at Piece O' Cake designs. It's bright and fun, with flowers and birds.
Don't know how long it will take me to get the actual quilt done, because I purchased it to be my travel work. So I haven't been working on it at home. I want to say I purchased it last time I was here at Thanksgiving, but I'm thinking it was the trip before that.

Meanwhile, on this trip I needed to go over to Provo, to take care of some business for my daughter. She's been a student at BYU-Provo, and is currently away serving a full time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-saints. She had filed a leave of absence to do so from the university. Anyhow, I needed to go in and extend that leave, because she's not geting back in time to get registered (sp?), find housing, and so forth. And, I should admit that I'm glad to have her to myself for a little while before she goes back to school.
But I divert here, I wanted to mention a little store in Provo that I finally was able to find and visit. I've probably spelled it wrong, but it's called "Hindselman's." It's a yarn/gift shop. Been there since 1907 -I think was the date on the sign. Another continuously owned family shop. It is on Center street in the historic down town area. A delightful little shop with the most helpful bunch of employees. Willing to go the extra mile to help out with your projects.

I just have to share this little story, that I overheard/saw while browsing the shop. (I like to watch people) There was a young couple in there, the wife obviously pregnant. They had brought in a couple of knitted projects, a pink baby blanket and a pink baby bonnet, to get help in finishing off the ends and sewing up the hat. Darling -well made items for a beginning knitter- from what I could see. What caught my attention though, was the person getting help in the finishing, was the young husband- he was the knitter. Isn't that just the sweetest thing.

I have a tiny little doll quilt stashed away somewhere, that I've had for most all of my life. It's about 10"x14." It is falling apart, which is why I have it put away for safe keeping. I just wish I knew where it was put away at. LOL. I hadn't known until a few years ago, that it had been made by my dad and not my mom. She had made a doll for me for a Christmas present, don't know -they didn't say- if it was my first Christmas or a second, etc. but I suspect it was my first. The little quilt is a simple pattern with rectangles about 1"x2" finished. All hand sewn. I can picture my dad sewing it at night, while listening to the radio. He's not done much other sewing, other than the odd button, or patch on His or my brother's scouting uniforms. The doll is long gone but I've managed to save the little quilt. I wish I'd been more respectful of it, and had realized what a treasure it really is. I thought of that dad knitting those items for his new baby girl, and remembered my own dad's work for me. I think I'm going to end here, I've gotten a little teary eyed thinking about my dad.

I guess I was wrong about not having much quilty stuff to say.

Woo Hoo,
I finished the "Mouse House" wall hanging.
I started calling it "mouse house" while working on it,
and I think the name will stick.
I have several people who want it -the wall hanging.
But I had intended it for myself. So I'm at a loss here.
I may decide to give it up later.

OK, so here's how it came to be.
I'd been looking at my quilting magazine's,
and there was a photo from a quilt show -of a beautiful
woodsy quilt with lots of details including a mushroom on a decaying log.
I'm pretty sure it was an Ausralian Quilting magazine...
(I am trying to be better now about these things-noting where they came from)
I am not that type of natural -realistic- artist; I'm simpler, more cartoonish.
(did you notice, I owned up to being an artist- big step for me.)
It reminded me of my youth, when I used to doodle,
and one of the things I used to routinely doodle was the little mushroom house.

I was away from home, and bored, so I went to a fabric store and picked up
a few pieces of fabric... just small pieces, and started by appliqueing the mushroom house.
Then, it need more things, so I just kept adding until I thought it was enough.
First came the blades of grass and the first poppy on the right hand side of the house.
Then I just had to add the clothesline with some clothes hanging. It's a piece of string, and I picked up some real miniature clothespins at a little craft store. I didn't like how the whole clothespins looked, so I took them apart, and used the groves to stitch them down. I liked the half clothepins better. Then I needed an occupant for the house, so the mouse came to be.
Then I thought the left side of the house needed more, so I added more grass, and a couple more flowers. When I thought there was enough, I added embroidery, and a couple of beeds. I am quite pleased with the look; but I don't know if I could ever replicate it. Also, because it was a piece I worked on while away from home, it kept getting put aside and it took me about a year and a half to finish it.

I've posted a photo of it here. Along with photo's of the projects from the "Art Quilt Workbook" that I have completed. Project #1 is the goldfish... lesson #1 wanted us to pick a theme, and for some reason, the theme I chose to work on is water... lesson #2 (I could be wrong on the lesson numbers -I should probably call them project numbers) project #2 is shading, lights and darks, and using a pattern from the book we were to do a pear. If any one else is familiar with the book and projects, you might notice that I forgot to reverse everything, so my pear and shadow is backwards from the book's. Oh Well, it doesn't look wrong unless you put it next to the book. And then of course, I can't leave anything alone, so I used some iron on appliqued butterflies. I just hope they don't look too much like fruit flies.

The next project is to use a photograph for inspiration and make our own pattern with lights and darks. The book used a photo of a person, and for some reason I thought I had to use a person, on looking back and reading the lesson material again I could have used any photo that inspired me. I do have the photo selected, and the pattern ready to go. I need to gather the appropriate fabrics to do the project. (I did use a photo of my daughter -when she was about 14). I hope she won't be too mad at me when she see's the final product. I'll post it here when I finally get it put together.

FYI; The mouse house is 18" high by 28" wide. and the projects from the "Art Quilt Workbook" are both 9" wide by 12" long.

time really flies

Wow,
I'm astounded at how long it's been since I last posted.
Oh well.
I have a few new goals for the year.
they are as follows...
1) Clean and organize my sewing room
-so I can actually sew in it.
2) finish 6 things I'd started before this year
-quilting, sewing, knitting, etc.
3) participate in a challenge -from the pod cast "Quilting for the rest of us"
-involves using fabrics from the stash.
4) work on the "Art Quilts Workbook"
-by Jane Davila & Elin Waterston

I have a few other goals for the year,
that involve healthier living.

I choose 1 thing and work on it until I feel I have it mastered,

and then I will choose another thing.

The first thing I chose to work on is Soda.

I am trying to no longer drink Soda.

I have to admit that since I've set that goal,

I have drank 3 soda's (not all at once)

and so I feel I'm still working on that one.

Meanwhile,

I was tossing out a magazine...

and my grandson found a picture of a pillow in it

that he wanted me to make as a gift for his sister.

It was "First for women" 2/8/2010

I have a photo of the finished pillow if I can remember how to post it.

I have also been working on finishing a wall hanging

I'd begun nearly 2 years ago.

It's an applique project I'm calling "mouse house" for now.

I'm in the quilting stage -doing hand quilting for a change.

Then of course will finish it off with the binding.

So- thus far this year,

I've made that pillow -a new project using mostly stash fabrics.

I'm getting close to finishing that wall hanging -a project I'd started before this year.

I'll post that one and talk about it when I've got it done.

this week

sorry this is a short blog this week,
I just wanted to post some pictures.

I did work on a few things this week,
but they are items I have already mentioned in previous blogs.
I did finish the knitted scarf using the Debbie Mumm yarn.
And I did start a pair of socks using a lace pattern
from the book "Knit Socks" by Betsy Lee McCarthy
I have only tried a lace pattern once before
in a knitted dish cloth.
By the way,
Dish cloths are a good way to try out new knit patterns...
They're small, fast, and it doesn't matter if they're not perfect.
But if it matters to you-
well, they're small and quick.

I found some older quilts I had made and wanted to post them.
I also took a photo of the quilt my grand-daughter is making.

She'll be 8 in december...
She chose the colors and placement,
She sewed all of the blocks together,
and she sewd the borders on the quilt.
As I mentioned before-
She did the blocks in a four-patch style,
then layed out the four-patch blocks till
she was happy with the look.
I really didn't do a whole lot other than
give her pointers on how to do the sewing.
At almost 8, one is pretty fearless with trying new things.
At least this one is,
but then she's one who wants to go on all the big
roller coasters at the amusement park,
and laughs in the caverns when they turn out all the lights.
(And her cousins are screaming to turn them back on)
I am leaving out her name and photo
for privacy reasons...
(Can you tell that I'm a very proud grandma.)

that's about it this week-
the photo's are labeled with what they are.

So...
I have been playing with my 4inch squares.
I cut them with leftover pieces-
that don't fit in with my measured stacks.
I keep my quilting stash in six measured groups...
a. one yard pieces
b. fat quarters
c. large pieces for backing/borders, etc.
d. pieces for children's quilts
e. 4inch squares
f. bits and pieces (pieces for string quilt, bits for applique)

I cut all the pieces that don't fit into the other categories,
into the 4inch squares.
Sometimes I come across a piece that is u-u-ugly...
A "What was I thinking" piece.
That I cut up,
sometimes they aren't that bad when put in small pieces with other things.
Then I lay them out on the table in rows by color ways
and I randomly choose 100 different squares-
and package them up.
Then sell them on ebay,
or gift them to another quilter.
Whatever...
It's a lot of work,
but kind of fun,
and a way to reduce the stash a bit.
I have way more than can ever be used.

The fabric with the children's prints,
I eventually plan to use for charity work,
Such as "Project Linus,"
or something similar.

Meanwhile this week...
My grand-daughter was allowed to pick out some of the 4inch squares,
and she has gotten them all sewn together.
We used matching squares to do some simple 4-patch blocks.
It will be a quilt for snuggling in front of the tv
or napping, or whatever.
It's not quite twin sized,
but larger than crib sized.
She's got the squares all sewn together,
and now we need to add borders
and put it together with a back and batting.
She wanted to learn to sew...
so she is learning to sew.
I will post a photo of the finished quilt.
Her deadline is dec 7...
It's her day for sharing at school.

I did get some more work on that batik strips quilt,
have more to do...
got side treacked by the grand-daughter.
But I can't think of a more delightful way to be sidetracked.
Don't we want to encourage another generation of quilters?

I did get some more knitting done on my scarf
using the Debbie Mum Yarn.
I can work on that while watching a movie in the evenings.

My trip back to Nampa, Idaho from Canada
was without incident (thank goodness)...
However, it was raining near our home by the lake
snowing when I got up near the turnoff for "White Water" Ski Area,
and there was snow untill I got across the US/Canada Border...
It finally turned to just rain when I grew close to Metaline Falls.
And... it rained most of the way home.
It was a wet trip.

I did something on my way down 95,
that I'd been wanting to do for quite a while.
I stopped at "Quilt Something" in Moscow, Idaho.
I liked this shop,
it was quite large,
and had a lot of fabrics and stuff in it.
I didn't have a lot of money to spend
(or I probably would have)
but I did pick up a couple of little things.
And... it was my lucky day
as they were having an anual fall cleanout sale.
I bought a pattern for a quilt hanging on the wall I just fell in love with.
The pattern was 8$, and they went in the back and printed it up for me
because they were out of the ones on the shelf.
It is called "Pushin' Up Plaidsies."
So cute with lots of plaid fabrics,
Kind of Masculine looking, with all the plaids,
but very Feminine with the "Plaidsies."
Oh and by the way the "Plaidsies" are flowers appliqued on the quilt.
I think it's one that would please both spouses.
The pattern didn't give a name for the designer,
But it was published by the shop I purchased it at.
The shop's email address is http://www.quiltsomething.com/
I also picked up what is called a charm pack
called "Look and Learn" by American Jane Patterns, Sandy Klop for Moda.
(Sorry, no pictures to post right now)

Since I've been back here in Nampa,
I've been busy with catching up on things I needed to get done here.
I did decide on how I would make my entries in that craft journal,
I mentioned in other blogs.
It will go as follows
type of project, ie., Quilting (knitting, etc.)
Materials used, (kit, yarns, fabrics, etc.)
Pattern and Author, or my own design
Purpose (for self, gift, charity, etc.)
Date Started
Date Finished

I think I'm pleased with this format,
I guess if there's something I decide to never finish,
I will have to put that in leiu of date finished, and maybe why I decided to not pursue it.
Trying to decide on photographs,
because it would add a lot of bulk...
And the book wouldn't close properly anymore.
But it would be nice to document the items I've got done.

I have nearly finished the book bag.
The main body of it is done, It's on Sz 8 (US) needles,
The Yarn color is actually called "Falling Leaves" From Red Heart.
I cast on 36 stitches, and knit it to 20" in length.
I will sew up the sides,
and line it with a fabric that will match it well,
Haven't picked that out yet.
It will probably be a cotton in one of the autumn colors from the yarn.
For the strap, I am using one of those plastic hollow tube things,
that has 4 nails sticking out of one end,
that you wrap the yarn around the nail posts, and
pull the bottom loop over the top loop, and continue going round and round
until you get it the length desired.
I think it's called an I-Chord?
It will be stitched up both sides of the bag
and be long enough to put the bag over your shoulder
to carry your book.
The bag works out to be about 8" in width and 10 inches in length (once doubled).
It's not supposed to be able to carry all your school books,
just one or two reading books you want to bring with you.
(depending on the size of books you read)

I was wanting to do some quilting,
so today I got out a roll of strips...
It wasn't calling itself a jelly roll,
but it was from "Quick Cut Stripz"
Some lovely Batik printed fabrics called "Sherbet."
I sewed two strips together, untill all of the strips had been sewn into pairs.
I still need to press them open, and Then I think I'll cut them into squares,
and sew them in a split rail fence style pattern.
Or I may put them together like a four patch,
and use something for lattuce inbetween the four square blocks?
I'll have to take a photo and post it when I have
the strips cut into squares and have at least begun sewing them back together.

Well, I'm anxious to get back to it...
So that's it for now.