The Monkees

I just heard on the news that Davy Jones died from a heart attack.  He was 66.  Waaaaaaaaa!  I loved The Monkees  when I was a kid, and had a huge crush on Davy.  My sister and I used to fight over who was going to be his girlfriend (right).  Anyway I had their albums, watched their T.V.  show, and to this day if I hear Daydream Believer, Last Train to Clarksville, or I'm a Believer, I still swoon right back to when I was 10. RIP Davy.  You were awesome.  And Jill...he's mine.

Staying on track

I'm trying to be more disciplined about working my way through my projects.  HaHa. That's funny.  This weekend I was tempted with a new crochet bag ( I started it, but ripped it out because I didn't like the color.  I think it just has to be red), a new granny square, ( okay, so I made three and want to keep going) and an apron (cut out the material, but didn't sew it together yet).  So much for discipline.  But I managed to stay somewhat focused.   Therefore, beginning next week, I can sew together my quilt top.

Crochet another row on my Dottie Angel look alike blanket.

And of course continue on my ripple. However, I did finish a WIP from a long time ago.  I mean this thing actually had some dust on it.

It's a table topper pattern that was purchased as a kit from my LFS.  It measures about 23 inches across, and all it needed was a bit more quilting and the binding sewn on. What took me so dang long?  The tea set was a Christmas gift from my daughter a couple of years ago.  I guess I was waiting for the tea set to come along.

Here is the pattern in case you're interested.

Enjoy your week everyone!

Back porch ripple

I'm making pretty good progress on a ripple blanket.

I want to use it out on the back porch this spring, when the air is still cool in the morning, and I can sit out on the Adirondack chairs with my coffee, the blanket draped across my lap, feet up, like a lady of leisure.

The last few weeks have been nuts, and working on this blanket has kept me distracted.  I have been caught up in doctor visits, blood tests, biopsies, an ultra sound, and even a trip to the emergency room.

Crochet (and a prescription for Xanax, hahaha) is soothing and the colors make me happy!  It seems I'm not going to be able to sail through menopause like I had hoped.  Here comes too much information.   Since I've been bleeding off and on like someone sacrificed a small animal, and I'm waaaay to old for this, (53), I'm scheduled for a full abdominal hysterectomy next month.  Well pooh.

Good news is, I will be able to leave this bloody roller coaster behind me, and wake up from surgery with an estrogen patch slapped on my arse, never to hot flash, cramp, or bleed again. YES!!!  I already have an idea of what projects I can work on, because I'm looking at a six week recovery time, on the couch, surrounded by yarn and hook. (well, not the whole six weeks, but I will only be strong enough at first to hold a crochet hook. Poor me.)  Bring it on.

Hugs and Kisses

Yesterday I showed you my Sweethearts quilt.  The sun is out today so I'm throwing in a few more pictures.

  I tweaked the pattern layout and used more modern fabric for a second quilt. Here is Hugs and Kisses.

Two quilts, same pattern, different look.

Hope you are all enjoying your Valentines day!

Sweethearts

This weekend was a flurry of activity and excitement in the ol' sewing room.  It all started when I landed on this blog, and was delighted with her "Little Quilts".   I have the book shown on her post and immediately grabbed mine off the bookshelf, and the fabric started flying. 

I made a lot of Little Quilts when I first started quilting, they were fun and fast and scrappy!  The book came out in 1993, and I think it's popularity is on the rise again (check out Hen House for some of her scrappy small quilts).

Since Valentines day was coming up,  I went with the simple heart quilt pattern.  I used fusible web to attach the hearts, the sewed them down with machine button hole stitch.  It's made entirely from my stash and measures 18 x 21.5.

The soft colors and traditional layout feels sweet and cozy.  The rain and clouds we have today is cozy too, but my camera doesn't like the lack of sunlight.  The pictures are kind of hazy.  Let's call them "dreamy".

However, I decided to make another quilt in more modern fabrics.  Just to see.  So tomorrow I will introduce you to Sweethearts modern sister. . . . . . .

Have a great day!

A bit of this and that.

Finally getting caught up reading blog posts and soaking up all the great inspiration.  Wow, everyone has been so busy!  A special thank you to Beck to Vintage for the Versatile Blogger award.  What a nice surprise!  Thank you Beck!  I'm starting off my weekend with my favorite Ribolita soup, perfect for a chilly winter lunch or dinner.

And for breakfast check out these Muffins that taste like Donuts.  Never mind, don't wait for breakfast. Just the name of them made me bust out the mixing bowls.  I guarantee you have everything you need to make these, right now.

 After they come out of the oven, dip them in melted butter and then a cinnamon/sugar mixture.

Go make some right now!  And some tea!  Yummmy!

I'm so behind on Downton Abbey, that I stayed up late last night to finish season one.  I just love the colors and the costumes.  It's hard to crochet and watch at the same time.  But I finally finished the giant granny I started way back in October.

This is for my son, who has has been very patient while I started and finished a million other projects instead of concentrating on his blanket.  Please forgive me son.  I am easily distracted by pretty, crafty things.  Just have to weave in a few more ends.

And I really, really, wish Denyse Schmidt would just slow down for 5 minutes, because she keeps coming up with more great fabric, with which I am truly smitten, and then am forced to start a new quilt top in the middle of everything else. Whew!

I know.  My life is so rough  : )

Where are you winter?

We had a little rain.  Just enough to bring out the green stuff.

 There are lemons to be picked.

Last years roses to be pruned.

Now it seems, I will have to start weeding.

I look to the pear tree for the first signs.

What is going on?  Sixty-five degrees F today.  I'm not complaining.  But, really?

Winter?......Helllooooo?

A star is born

Finished my smaller Star block quilt this past weekend.  It measures 32x32.

I used 4 fat quarters of Heirloom by Joel Dewberry and Kona white.  The backing was from my stash.

My latest book selections are The Yellow House, set in Ireland around World War 1, and When We Were Strangers, another historical novel, this time in 19th century America about an Italian immigrant making a new life for herself as a seamstress.  I wish I could read and sew at the same time, but I would need two heads, four hands and four eyeballs.  Not cute.

WIPs, UFOs and BOMs

When I saw Cuckoo's post about her WIPs,  I though it was high time I at least made a list of what I've been working on.  I need to get this stuff out in the open.  Sometimes projects have a way of gathering in dark closets, under beds, and on top of shelves (Right.  Like they put themselves there).   Most of what I have are Works in Progress.  I am actually working on them (ahem). 

I made 2 quilt tops last week.  The big one measures 68x68, the mini me version is 32x32.  I used up my Heirloom by Joel Dewberry fat quarters.  The pattern is from In Color Order, and was honestly the quickest quilt top I've ever made.  The little one is currently getting some hand quilting, the big one is waiting for a backing fabric.

Here is a crochet project that went from blanket to cushion cover in 5.3 seconds.  I'm just not feeling it.

This will be South Bay shawlette in a gray Tahki cotton.  I saw one similar on Pinterest.   It's still in the early stages, and hasn't imprinted on me yet, so I wouldn't feel guilty about ripping it out and flinging the yarn back into the pile. 

More neutral crochet, this being something that is actually finished, but just needs a belt to complete the look.  I won't show you more than this, if it turns out ugly then you didn't see it here.  Just check out the inspiration over at Resurrection Fern. (scroll all the way to the bottom on this one until you find the bag.  It's a long post)

Here is an UnFinished Object, or UFO.  I've given up on my Swoon quilt for the moment, at least out of the fat quarter bundle I had planned on using.

The measurements for cutting are so tight when using a fat quarter, there is NO margin for error, which of course is why I'm talking about it.  I blew it on the first block.  If your fat quarters are cut wonky, you can't use them.  Better to make this with yardage.  Maybe I will have a go at this later.  I also have 2 crochet blanket UFOs not pictured here, and will probably wait until I actually finish them before posting a picture.

More crochet WIPs, this time using up a big pile of Stylecraft DK, that has been lurking in the back of my closet.  Very bright and colorful.  I'm almost thinking there should be a neutral or white in there somewhere for the eyes to rest. The hexagons are big, about 7.5 inches across, so the blanket comes together quickly.  The pattern is from the July/August edition of Crochet Today magazine.

Only two more things, I promise, then you can go.  I'm cross stitching a pillow cover on blue and white gingham.  The pattern is from Embroidery Companion by Alicia Paulson.  Gosh I love this book.

This is really fun, although I think I do neater work on linen or an even weave fabric.  My stitches are kind of all over the place, so we'll just call it charming and old fashioned.

Have you ever joined a BOM, or Block Of the Month?   I should never, ever be allowed to sign up for one of these again.  Ever.  I am really bad at this.  Last year I joined a Sue Spargo BOM, and I worked like gangbusters the first three months.  After that, whenever I received my new packet in the mail for that month, it went into a box.  I don't know what happened!  It was supposed to be finished up for Christmas.  Besides feeling guilty, this thing cost some $$$$'s.!!  Must. Finish. !!

  I really enjoy her web site. This pattern is done in wools, cottons, and velvet, with lots of little embellishments and embroidery.  Now that I've taken it out and looked it over, I want to work on it again!

O k, I'm done.  For now.  But there is this one other closet...........