lining up my stitches

2012-02-05T08:35:00.000-08:00

My friend Lori has an important birthday coming and she is planning a special quilt. I celebrated that birthday a number of years ago but I am going to join her in making a jubilee quilt this year too. I bought this pattern in Sisters last summer (my first face to face meeting with Lori). Yesterday I went to a wonderful quilt shop with some friends and at the last minute I grabbed the pattern. I was so happy that I did that because this shop is so full of fabrics that I love and I was having trouble figuring out what I would take home. We had these wonderful coupons ($40 of fabric for $20) so I began to pull grey fabrics. I was thinking this would be a good retreat quilt but that isn't until June. (right now my quilting friends are laughing - I am not known for my patience!) Then I thought of Lori and her birthday and decided this would be my jubilee quilt. I made 6 blocks in no time at all this morning. I am hoping to make enough for a queen size quilt.

storm work

2012-01-24T07:02:00.000-08:00

Here is some of the work I got done last week - thanks to our January storm and snow days.

The first is another Jan Patek Bible Block. This brings me to 5 out of 12 completed with hopes of finishing this one by the end of 2012

And the second one is a Kim Diehl quilt. I only finished the applique on the upper left block last week. The rest of the quilt has been done for - hmmm, years? Now I can sew the center together and get to work on the borders. This is the block I was hunting for when I made that big mess :)

resurfacing

2012-01-22T14:35:00.000-08:00

What a week! We did lose power on Thursday and finally got it back late Friday night. We just go our Internet back a bit ago so I feel a bit like I am resurfacing. I also feel a bit shell shocked. We stopped at Starbucks for a cup of coffee and people were so antsy and cranky. I was so happy to be out and about - no complaints here!
I found that I can knit by candlelight but the quilt blocks needed to wait until I could turn on my Ott light. I worked a bit last night on one and have set myself a goal to finish that one and one other before the next weekend. So stay tuned for a quilt progress update and if snow is coming your way - I hope you enjoy it :)

day 5 - you really have to just laugh at this point

2012-01-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

As the afternoon turned to evening, I began to wonder about a few quilt projects that are pretty close to completion. I thought it might be a good way to use my time and to get a few finishes in for 2012.
It started when I pulled out a box marked "Applique Projects." Inside were all the blocks but one for a little wall quilt and all the fabric to complete the border. The only thing missing was that last block which I remember taking to retreat last June.
I began digging through other boxes, pulling out bags, and making a huge mess. In the end, I did find the block. I also found two more projects that are just a block or two away from being done. I pulled all those blocks together and took them downstairs, thinking I would work on them after dinner.
And then the power went out! The snow has stopped but we are in an ice storm situation now. The trees are heavy with ice and snow and they are coming down on the power lines. We have power this morning but it has been flickering so I will head back upstairs and try to finish up with this mess, just in case.
I am taking all of this in stride. We have plenty of food and a gas stove top to heat water and cook. I have lots of books to read and I can quilt or knit by the light from outside. And to be honest, this is the best vacation I have had in a very long time!

when life gives you a snow day . . .

2012-01-17T11:26:00.000-08:00

make Pink Lemonade!

I had my center blocks done but wasn't sure when I would get a chance to sew again this month but guess what? We are having another storm and school is cancelled again so I headed up to my sewing room and just a few hours later - I have a quilt top!

This was fun. It is not the kind of piecing I would do on my own so I am grateful to Lori for putting this quilt along on her blog.

I am sure I have some fabric for backing and I know there is batting up there somewhere so, after lunch . . .

I thought we shoveled that driveway

2012-01-15T16:28:00.000-08:00

When we left this morning, that driveway was cleared - I know because I helped to shovel.

In just a few short hours, all our work was covered up.

Back to the sewing room.

on a snowy day

2012-01-14T11:56:00.000-08:00

I know it is a small pictue but you get the idea. I have one panel done on the Birdsong quilt now.
I was planning to baste the second panel tonight but, mother nature snuck up on us while I was out running errands and our world is now very white and cold. So, I have more of the day to play and sew and maybe take a nap.

arrived!

2012-01-09T20:20:00.000-08:00

Good news - the final installment for the Bible quilt arrived today!
So I guess that means I need to get going on this one and make it my 2012 BOM project :)

Pink Lemonade and more

2012-01-08T07:23:00.000-08:00

I finished step one of this quilt along. I love it when you can use what you have. I have four cheddar pieces pulled that I think will work for the setting squares and I am trying to be patient as I wait for step two.

I also went through my Bible block of the month packets and found I never received December so I will figure that one out. I only got four blocks into that BOM in 2011 but it will be a good 2012 project. And I stitched the last set of borders for the Sue Spargo BOM while we watched TV last night.
The other project that I found when playing in my stash yesterday was a Birdsong quilt pattern gifted to me last year. I have all the panel pieces cut and one row finished and the fabric pulled for the applique so it is just a matter of getting the pieces cut and basted.

I'm sewing!

2012-01-06T20:02:00.000-08:00

Happy weekend!

I spent part of the evening pulling and cutting fabrics, making a big mess, and starting this lovely little quilt along, Pink Lemonade.

Gotta love this woman. First she got me running longer distances and now she has me back at my sewing machine.

Inspired

2011-12-26T05:08:00.001-08:00

I saw this tree wrapped in knitting earlier this month. It was beautiful in the fading light of day. I have been inspired to knit and have made 3 hats for the men's shelter this month.

This morning I saw a quilt on this blog that I want to make. The simplicity of it takes my breath away. I am inspired to pull out some soft fabric and make 9 patch blocks.

It is almost time to pick a new one little word. I am inspired to pull out my paper and glue and make art.

This is my week. I have time to sew and clean and make a mess again. I love this after Christmas time.

What is inspiring you at the end of this year?

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T07:40:00.000-08:00

secret santa

2011-12-10T07:16:00.000-08:00

I joined a secret santa swap this year and I was paired with someone who said she liked snowmen so I made this little wall hanging for her. It was a pattern in a Quiltmania magazine from a few years ago. I was happy to be able to use some of my wool and the little embroidered snowflakes on the body of this snowman were really fun to do.
I am happy to say we have not seen any snow yet. One more week of school before break - keeping my fingers crossed that we will get through the week snow-free.

Yarn time

2011-12-05T16:36:00.000-08:00

The weather has turned cold and I have been doing some knitting. I think my secret project has reached it's destination so I will post photos of that later this week. For now, take a look at this:

Look at that cute little snail! My daughter knit him. He is in the finals for a creative contest so if you are so inclined, you can go to the link below and vote for him to be a winner :)

http://mochimochiland.com/2011/12/mochimochi-photo-contest-11-the-big-vote/

warning: temptation ahead

2011-11-29T06:54:00.000-08:00

antique quilt from the Victoria and Albert Museum via Temecula Quilt Co. blog

Last December, I saw this quilt on the Temecula Quilt Co. blog. There were patterns shared which I dutifully printed. But I never got around to making this quilt. Today, I see that they are going to be revisiting the 12 days of Christmas on their blog. So, if you are up for some temptation, go check it out! Just know that I will not be held responsible for any rash decisions you make about creating such a lovely quilt of your own!

reflections on a block of the month

2011-11-23T17:08:00.000-08:00

I love working with wool

Circles are still my favorite shape

I need to stretch my color choices - I would not have chosen these combinations but they are wonderful

Ribbon is a great choice for stems

I am not crazy about velvet applique

Finishing up block # 8 - Block # 9 should be ready to go this weekend and then I can work on the first set of borders

stitching progress

2011-11-19T08:25:00.000-08:00

Good news - some progress has been made!
I have 3 more Sue Spargo blocks to the embellishment stage and one more that is almost there. I am almost done with some secret sewing that will need to be mailed by the end of next week so that is very good indeed!
I finished the body of my sweater and now I need to figure out how to get the sleeves on my needles - that will be work that cannot be done while watching TV.
I am reading a very good book - Incendiary by Chris Cleve.
While I haven't completely learned to play Lift Me Up, I have had some fun breakthroughs in my drum lessons.
One week until our race and the running has been great.
Next week is conference week at school so a good time for me to play catch up in my office and at home. Butternut squash for soup is cooking in the oven, my needle is threaded and ready to do some stitching, my shoes and tights are ready for a run in a few hours, looks to be a good day ahead.

gone running

2011-11-02T17:25:00.000-07:00

happy November
I did just okay on my October 10 - what mostly got pushed aside was the sewing
I have a couple of secret stitching projects going on but most of all I am spending more time on the trail or at my cross fit training so I am not in this space much.

enJOY this beautiful month

Rainy saturday

2011-10-22T07:54:00.001-07:00

As the rain comes down, I am playing with fabric and I think I might make this dress today. It says One Hour - hmmmm.

10 for 10 update

2011-10-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

I am still on the green level but closing in on blue. As of this morning, I am number 5 in the October running challenge (right behind my inspiration). I have 15 miles to get to blue and with 10 days left in the month, I should be able to get there.
I had to un-knit a few inches of my cardigan but have made progress - one inch until the armhole section.
I have stalled on my block of the months - just haven't had the energy to stitch at night.
Hooray for Fridays and weekends and hopeful thoughts of fabric and thread.
enJOY!

pumpkin time

2011-10-13T18:42:00.000-07:00

I went to the pumpkin patch with some of our preschool classes today. It was a great day - a bit of fog in the morning, sun in the afternoon, and lots and lots of pumpkins and puddles!
Tonight I have pulled out my autumn box - more pumpkins. These are of the fabric variety. I love this little piece - I will have to find the pattern so I can credit the source.
I also found Garlic Jim's Gluten Free Pizza in the freezer section of our grocery store! Amazing!

Tomorrow is Friday - time to start dreaming of creative adventures for the weekend.

Stitching

2011-10-11T20:23:00.001-07:00

My sweater is coming along - only 4 more inches until I can begin the armholes!

this shouldn't matter but . . .

2011-10-08T13:48:00.000-07:00

at least for today - I am number 2 in the challenge and I put in 20 miles this week! What is it about external motivation that kicks me into high gear? If only there was a challenge board for finishing quilt projects!

wool, lovely wool

2011-10-07T20:02:00.000-07:00

I headed North for an education conference this week. I have been looking forward to this trip because it meant I would be able to visit Folktales, a lovely little shop just outside Lynden, Washington.
There is some road construction on the way to the shop but the detour signs were great. We had just enough time to wander around, feed our creative hearts, and pick up a few goodies. I got a lovely piece of orange wool, two pieces of brown and orange fabric, and some orange floss. I am hoping to make a seasonal table topper.

This is my third trip to this shop and I always find something to bring home. Well worth the extra time and detours.

paper and photos

2011-10-07T09:19:00.000-07:00

In September, I signed up for an online class with Shimelle. I love her online classes. Her prompts are good for getting my pen going and my camera snapping those bits and pieces of every day life.
This time I used a small notebook to record the prompt every day and write down some thoughts. I used Instagram to snap a moment each day. I got stuck on the format and put too much time into a format that ended up feeling overwhelming. Then I found a small 4x6 album in my stash. I wasn't crazy about the cover but I found with a bit of tugging, it came away from the photo sleeves. Today I made a canvas cover and stitched it to the first and last pages of what used to be the inside of the album. Then I stitched one of the first page cards I had made to the front of the canvas cover and I am ready to go. Now each day will be on a 4x6 piece of card stock. I am going to add a small piece of the prompt to each page and for some days I will have a journaling card that I can slip behind the photo page. I printed my photos this morning and have all the card stock cut and ready to go. Should be a fun weekend project.

October 10 check in

2011-10-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

Jan Patek Bible quilt

A few of my friends are joining me in the October 10 challenge. I am off to a good beginning.
I began the Sue Spargo block
I found the 5th Bible block and I am further along than I realized (I also photographed the first four I have completed)
I have played pretty much through my song - lots of fine tuning to do
I am half way through one of my books
Taking lots of picture, packed up my summer clothes (made easy by the change in weather to cold and wet), and so far I have run 11 of my 67 miles
I have not gone to FitClub this week and won't get there because I am off to a conference for a few days but all in all - this is shaping up to be a good month.
Love to hear how you are doing - be sure to leave me a link to your blog or make sure your email is active so I can respond.

Monday, monday

2011-10-03T17:15:00.000-07:00

orignal art by Tappa

When the sky gets dark and the rain comes down,
it is time for indoor activities.
Today that includes practicing my drums and a bit of reading. I picked up a $1 copy of The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. I read this book many years ago and re-reading is not something I often do, but I have such fond memories of this story and it isn't the kind of reading that will take much out of me.
And best of all - we ended up eating leftovers last night so I already have my butternut squash soup ready for dinner tonight.
Mondays are not so bad.

Soup time

2011-10-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

Maybe I have too much time on my hands this morning - but I am putting that time to good use. I have prepped the squash and onions for our dinner tonight - Butternut soup with turkey sausage.

I have been trying to do more menu planning and prepping meals this last month - sure does save on that chaotic feeling at 5 pm when I am trying to figure out what to have for dinner.

Frees up a bit of time for stitching and reading too - always looking for the silver lining.

Saturday stitching

2011-10-01T19:43:00.001-07:00

Starting on # 2
While watching Dr. Who

ten for October

2011-10-01T07:48:00.000-07:00

picture from Google images

October first - first day of the tenth month
Fall is in the air - in the form of rain and fog and falling leaves
I am pretty sure soup is on the menu for dinner but also a time for planning
Ten things I am hoping for this month

Finishing the body of my new sweater
Finishing my April Sue Spargo block
Finishing my May Jan Patek Bible block
Putting away my summer clothes
Trashing those shoes that are so worn out they hurt my feet
Running 67 miles (which will get me to the next level at Nike+)
Going to FitClub at least twice a week
Learning to play Lift Me Up on my drums
Finishing at least two books
Taking at least one photo per day

April block

2011-09-25T17:41:00.000-07:00

April block - Sue Spargo Imperial Blooms BOM

So, a funny thing happened. Just moments after arriving home, the power went out! My sewing room is on the dark side of the house so I grabbed all my envelopes and headed to a room with some light. I opened all the Sue Spargo blocks and found that I have only worked on 3 of the 8 kits - yikes! So I pulled out my freezer paper and started tracing the pieces for the April block.
Then I took a break to practice my drums since I couldn't iron down the pieces, hoping the power would not be off all night.
A few hours later, the lights snapped on and I returned to my sewing room, pattern pieces in hand. So, now I have the main pieces for the April block ready to go.
The other envelopes are the Jan Patek Bible quilt.
Now, a bit of dinner and perhaps some applique!

for a rainy day?

2011-09-25T08:56:00.000-07:00

I anticipated this would happen.
Two BOM kits was really over reaching but . . .

I now have 6 envelopes (3 months @ 2 envelopes per month) that I haven't even opened! Save it for a rainy day? Guess what? Today it is raining :)

So, after church, I think I might take inventory and see where I stand.

Wish me luck!

2011-09-24T21:34:00.001-07:00

A fiber project is bubbling up!

2011-09-21T19:01:00.000-07:00

Just stopping by to say we are having a lovely summer extension and I am spending lots of time running on the trail or going to a new Cross-Fit class that is part of the wellness program at work. Not much sewing or knitting but plenty of playing with paper and a bit of writing and just enjoying life.

Shorter, darker days are coming - I am sure to be back in my fabric stash at some point.

**that is a picture my daughter took of me trying to take a picture of a silly chicken we see on the trail and the quote has been popping up all over the place recently**

Chasing a cure for alzheimer's

2011-08-30T06:44:00.000-07:00

I received an email this week from Ami Simms asking for help to spread the word about a new opportunity to raise money for Alzheimer's research.

From November 1 to 10, twelve celebrity quilters will strap on their skates and go head-to-head in an online quilt auction benefiting the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI). To the winners go the spoils: bragging rights for the team and the individual who raise the most money for the AAQI.

Read more: http://www.alzquilts.org/stanley.html#ixzz1WNVkrpV9

Threads

2011-08-29T16:35:00.001-07:00

Just trying out a post from my phone. I found some great threads at the quilt show this weekend - looking forward to some embroidery stitching this week.

it smelled like blackberry pie

2011-08-28T16:14:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer:

This post has very little to do with quilting.

This morning I went out for a long run - 6 miles to be exact although my Nike+ only credited me for 5.5. I have not had a good running month because I was away and then fighting jet lag, so I was playing a bit of catch up, trying to get in 50 miles before the sun goes down on August. It was a beautiful morning and I needed a good run. I was disappointed with a quilt show that I went to on Saturday and frustrated by the fact that I am still waking up too early. The run out was very good. When I got to the turn around point I was pleased that I wasn't feeling the need to slow down or walk. There were a lot of people on the trail and they seemed very friendly today. As I neared the one mile to go point I caught a whiff of a familiar scent. What was that? It smelled great. I wasn't near the wineries or the brewery or even a restaurant. I slowed a bit and looked around. Then I saw them. The blackberries are beginning to ripen. The sun was just warm enough to release the scent - the whole trail smelled like blackberry pie! Soon I will have to take a large ziploc bag on my runs and collect some of those lovely berries. Just one more reason to go running on the trail.

making the most of it

2011-08-26T17:38:00.000-07:00

After a few nights of good sleep, I had another early morning so I thought I would make the most of it and get some stitching done while I listened to an audio book. I finished the last stitches on this block and will do the embroidery words tonight. Then I will only be 4 blocks behind for this block of the month :)

knittng and instagram

2011-08-25T19:52:00.000-07:00

# 23 - an instagram photo

I finished another hat last night - one that I began on my trip. It was a fun hat to knit, using up some leftover yarns. I am hoping to do another with some small balls of blue, purple and grey. I have been making some gains on jet lag this week but not enough to feel very productive. Each day I have been taking a picture with a fun photo ap on my phone - instagram. Once you take the picture, you can alter it with a variety of frames and color tones. Hopefully by next week I will be back on Pacific time and spending a bit of time in my sewing room.

Home again

2011-08-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

I am home from Uganda and trying to get acclimated to this time zone as well as processing all that we did and saw and learned. I did not buy fabric but I bought these two pieces of art. They are painted on linen and are about 5x7 each. I am contemplating how I will frame them so I can hang them in my office.
I also have an idea for an African house quilt floating in and out of my mind.

it has been a busy summer

2011-08-07T19:42:00.000-07:00

More adventures lie ahead.
See you in a few weeks.

flowers

2011-08-04T17:43:00.000-07:00

I used to have a beautiful garden. Then there were some off years due to some health issues. Last summer I was sure I would get my garden back in shape and with the help of my daughter and son-in-law, I did get some beautiful beds made. But we had a very wet, cold summer so no harvest to speak of. This year - another wet start brought out the slugs so we had to replant everything. I think we will get some harvest but it will be a late harvest.
I have always like perennials - put them out and let them do their thing year after year. I had a lovely butterfly bush but it looked pretty spent earlier this spring. And there were some lilies that had not bloomed in a few years. So this little jar of flowers is a big deal to me. Love those purple butterfly bush flowers, the pink lamb's ear blooms, a few stems of lavender and even some oregano - pretty and good smelling too.

another Bible block

2011-08-03T17:36:00.000-07:00

I am working out of order now because there was a problem with the delivery of my kits but it really does make a difference to get these blocks cut and prepped. They make a great project for a summer evening. I hope to get one more finished before I leave next week.

a little bird

2011-08-02T08:49:00.000-07:00

I began this quilt a few years ago at our annual quilting retreat. Karol Ann had sent me some beautiful African fabrics and I wanted to do something special with them. When I saw this little bird in a magazine (sorry I cannot find the magazine to give them credit but let me know if you have a source) I knew he could be the center of a fun wall quilt. I still have some embroidery to finish and then was planning to add beads to the stems and do some stitching on the wonky blocks of the frame. Funny to think that when I made this quilt, I had no idea I would ever be going to Africa and here I am, just 6 days away from departure.

it has been quite a dance

2011-07-31T07:48:00.000-07:00

and there is plenty of music left to play

happy anniversary to us!

another Bible block

2011-07-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

Bible BOM from Jan Patek

finished this one this morning
I started with the stars as turned applique but I get so frustrated with those points that I decided to use wool - no turning under!
And the star on the pattern was just too intimidating so I went to one of my older Jan Patek books and found this sun - viola!

Always looking for ways to make things my own. I don't think Jan will mind :)

scrap basket squiggles

2011-07-28T08:06:00.000-07:00

This is another Clare inspired post :)
The other day, we were chatting about making word play blocks and I remembered that I still had three Joy blocks that I made awhile back (could be 2 years - could be 10!). Then she posted some fun squiggle blocks which also caught my attention.
So this morning, I pulled out my scrap basket and started playing with this squiggle idea. If you look here, you will see a tutorial. My blocks are 3x4 because those were the scraps in my basket but now I am thinking of larger blocks with more squiggles too.

wordless wednesday

2011-07-27T11:22:00.000-07:00

wordless wednesday inspired by Clare

Closing time

2011-07-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

I am sad to see you go. I have spent many hours with you. At first, I wasn’t sure I liked the two-story format for a bookstore but I learned where you put your books and took comfort in the fact that you didn’t keep moving things around. There was that winter when we lost power for 10 days at our house and you welcomed us in with warm coffee and power for our computers. And what about those days one August when it was over 100 degrees – unheard of in this part of the country. But inside we found a cool place to sit and sip our iced coffee as we waited for the sun to go down cool.

You have supplied me with books that nurtured my curiosity about quilting, drumming, knitting, and cooking. We planned most of our UK trip with books from your travel section, and it was a great trip. When the girls were away at college, we spent many hours in your companion store near their campus. Memories upon memories.
Today I took my battered Rewards and Educator’s cards out of my wallet. I won’t be needing them anymore. We won’t be stopping by on Sundays after church to check out the new magazines and see what books are on the Buy One – Get One Half off tables. I have my KOBO reader, purchased just a year ago, my way of saying you were my bookstore. I know I should visit you one more time and bring home a few more books or journals, but it is too hard to be there now.

I don’t know what went wrong, don’t understand the business world enough to understand why you are closing your doors. I only know I will find an independent bookstore to call home now.

It is closing time.

Friday Night sew-in

2011-07-23T08:21:00.000-07:00

In addition to finishing my bow ties and my second cheddar quilt from the previous post (guess I need to name these quilts), I was able to get one of the Bible blocks done at my Friday Night sew-in. This is a Jan Patek block of the month and a quilt I have wanted to make for a long time. This one is actually block number 2. Block number 1 is about half done and I hope to finish that one today. And maybe this next week I can get the other blocks cut and basted.
Looks like we will finally have a sunny weekend so it is time to go outside and enjoy it.

a collection of cheddar

2011-07-22T17:57:00.000-07:00

I finished up my bow ties and my second cheddar quilt this afternoon. As I was admiring them on the wall, I remembered two other small quilts that I had made this spring so I pulled them out and I am seeing that cheddar themes has been with me awhile. (Funny that I stopped eating cheese this spring in an effort to clean up my diet.)

Bow ties quilt is 18"x21" - (inspired by this quilt)
Cheddar checkerboard is 16"x20" (inspired by Antique Quilts Magazine)
The flower vase (from Fat Quarter Quilting by Lori Smith) is 16" x 20"
Midnight Stars - Humble Quilts - is 24"x24"

sometimes you have to clean up

2011-07-21T07:52:00.000-07:00

In my 9-5 life (or 7-3 most days) I am a school administrator. I get some down time in the summer without kids and teachers but only a few weeks of real time off - not checking work email or picking up messages. Next week is my last week for that so I am trying to make the most of this time. One of my tasks yesterday was to clean out my work bag. Deep inside, I found this little rock. Last spring I attended an author talk and at the end she handed around a little box filled with rocks that had words on them. "Don't look at the words" she said, "The rock you need will find you." Imagine my dismay when I pulled out the rock that said "Clean up." So I got quite a giggle when I pulled it out yesterday . I think it will sit in a place of honor on a shelf in my sewing room.
Sometimes you have to clean up.
Yesterday was one of those days.

I had scraps and cheddar fabric everywhere and I was beginning to lose focus. When that happens, I tend to avoid going into my sewing room. So, I made a list and started checking things off. It was a good day. Only two items left on the list at the end of the day and they will be done this morning.

That leaves me with a clean space for sewing and this morning I found that a group of quilters will be having a virtual Friday Night Sew-in tomorrow so I have joined up. I look forward to visiting theses quilters' blogs and seeing what everyone is doing. If you want to join in the fun, visit Heidi here.

if you give a quilter a magazine . . .

2011-07-19T07:17:00.000-07:00

from Antique Quilts Magazine vol. 1

she is going to find a quilt she wants to make,

and as she begins that quilt, she will find a piece of fabric that reminds her of another project that she saw in yet another magazine and she will head off to find that picture,

and when she finds that picture, she will need to pull out her ruler and cutter and begin to piece that new block,

and as she pieces that block, she will have to take a picture to show her friends,
and that picture will need to go on her blog,
and someone will comment,
and she will follow that comment to another blog,
and there she will find a quilt that she must make,
and then she will go back to the sewing room and . . .

***inspired by Laura Joffe Numeroff

bow ties again

2011-07-18T08:32:00.000-07:00

You know that thing about music, you think of a song and start humming it and then you notice it is being played everywhere?
It seems that bow ties are singing themselves into my life these days.
As I was visiting blogs this morning, I saw a reference to an article in the April issue of American Patchwork magazine and there they were again, this time in red, white, and blue. So I went to find my copy and had to give you a photo update of my cheddar bow ties.
I know that Barbara and Nancy have made blocks. Anyone else?

bow ties begun

2011-07-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

Isn't it fun that that little bow tie quilt captured the interest of so many who visited the Sisters quilt show? I wonder if anyone bought the quilt?
I thought and thought about how to make my bow tie blocks. I tried machine piecing them with triangles and hand piecing with traced shapes. Then I wondered what would happen if I made a four patch and appliqued the center square. This would be the best of both worlds because I like to machine piece simple shapes (like squares) and I love to applique. So this is the method I have landed on. It gives me a bit of a raised effect for that center square which really reminds me of the bow ties my dad used to wear.
I have four done ( while listening to an audio book this morning) and 12 more ready to applique. My blocks are finished 3" and I am making just a small quilt for the wall.

Bonnie, Lori, and Randy are also making these blocks. Check Bonnie's post for a different technique.

Grey squares done and the question of thread

2011-07-14T13:22:00.000-07:00

Here it is - my finished grey squares quilt and a close up of the quilting and binding. 137 pins, 3 bobbins, and 245 inches of binding - all in one day!I was excited to find that I had enough of the grey stripe to do the binding. I know the quilt looks like a rectangle but it is 15 x15 and after quilting and washing, it measures at 58". My husband noted that I have more lights than darks which he found fitting since I am a glass half full kind of person :) I have already used it for a quick little nap too.

Now on to next projects. I have cleaned up the sewing room, ironed the fabrics for my bow ties, and played a bit with some charm squares that I received for my birthday.
I also spent some time winding new bobbins and organizing my threads. I found that I have multiple spools of a few colors. I am thinking of creating a spreadsheet that I can carry with me to the store so I will buy the colors I need without ending up with duplicates. I wonder if there is an ap for that?
Just wondering if anyone has a good way to store and organize threads?

cheddar, backing, and snacking

2011-07-13T05:59:00.000-07:00

I was going to title this post - Support Your Local Quilt Store. We had so much fun at the shops in Sisters and Bend. On the drive home, we talked (okay, complained) about the quilt shop situation in our area. There was a time when we had lots and lots of shops but the number has dwindled in recent years. And being a person who likes civil war and primitive fabrics, I have found it harder to get inspired in shops full of the new brights.
But when I began to think about the cheddar I wanted for my bow tie quilt, I decided I would give my local shops another try. Yesterday I went to the one down the hill (less than 3 miles) and picked up the 3 fabrics on top. Not a true cheddar but nice golds. Today I went to a shop just a bit north of here and found some wonderful blues and that beautiful solid cheddar! I bought 2 yards - probably much more than I need for my little quilt but I could not resist.

Now, the backing. I used the left over blocks from my grey quilt to jazz up my backing. I think I have some batting in the closet so I will get that out and get my grey quilt pin basted today.

And finally, I wanted to share a new snack fresh from my shopping trip to Trader Joe's Crunchy Curls - made with potato and lentil - gluten-free and vegan and really yummy. The best part is that they are not greasy so they make a fine snack when I am sewing.

Okay - time to get out those pins. Summer vacation won't last forever!

to border or not to border

2011-07-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

I know this picture is a bit blurry, sorry about that. We are having a very overcast day today but that got me into the sewing room early to finish this quilt top.
It is 60" square now and my plan is to back it, quilt it, and bind it. But it got me to thinking about my aversion to borders. Many times I think I will add borders because it will make the quilt larger but in the end, I don't really like borders. Sometimes I add the border and then take it off. I like pieced borders but not so much plain borders.

So, this morning I am just wondering what you all think?

making pictures with Janet Bolton

2011-07-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

my pile of fabrics and my book

I don't remember when I first came across Janet Bolton's work but I do remember an article in Quiltmania that sent me on the hunt for her books. I found a used copy Mrs. Noah's Patchwork Quilt on Amazon. A few years later I stumbled across a used copy of In a Patchwork Garden at my local used book store. And then I saw an advertisement for a new book put out by Quiltmania and put it on my wish list. My wonderful husband bought it for my birthday and before long I found out that it had sold out. I made the Noah quilt but wasn't really sure how to finish it. In the photos, the quilt looks like it is under glass and the edges are turned in a different way so I put it in a drawer and figured I would finish it "later".
I was so excited when my friend told me that Janet was coming to Sisters. I had not been to the show but had it on my someday list. Through a series of fortunate connections, were found out when registration was happening and after a flurry of phone calls one day, got ours sent in. That was in January.

This looks like a great place to sit and think.

Then we waited. It seemed like a long time before we found out that we had two spots in Janet's class.

Fast forward to July 7. We packed up the car and headed to Oregon. It seemed odd to take such a small amount of fabric. Neither of us were sure what to bring.
On the day of class, I dumped out my pile of fabric, pulled out my book to be signed, and sat back for a day of listening to Janet's story and her instructions on how to get started. I felt a bit of an advantage having done the Noah blocks.
As Janet talked, I remembered a picture that I had taken last month when I was on quilting retreat. A simple rocking chair on the patio at a local hotel had caught my eye. I pulled the photo up on my phone and had my inspiration.

my fabric strips building a frame

It took me a few hours to decided on the frame for my block (I loved the idea of using pieces of paper to focus on the fabric strips). As we broke for lunch, I wandered around and looked at the work my classmates were doing. Many of them were well on their way to a finished project but I was happy with my frame and figured it wouldn't take me too long once I got started on my chair. WRONG!

My blue chair

I spent about an hour trying to draw that chair before I gave in and made some adaptations. Instead of a rocker, I would go for the color, that blue/grey. And a round seated chair would be easier so I went with that. Now there was room for a small pot of flowers in my picture. Janet encouraged me to make one chair leg from a different fabric and we both agreed that the flowers should be orange.

At the end of the day, I had most of my picture stitched. Janet has suggested using some black threads to create contrast. I am thinking of cutting the chair back to create slates and I think I may add a few buttons.

It was so wonderful to watch Janet demonstrate the techniques she uses to stitch the edge of the picture and to learn how she mounts her work. I am so happy with the work I did in this class and now I know just how to finish my Noah quilt.

dreaming of cheddar

2011-07-10T07:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks to some good advice, we didn't run into problems with traffic or parking to begin our days at the Sisters Quilt Show. We wandered and looked and snapped photos for about 3 hours. Then a woman walked past us and stopped to say "There are some beautiful antique quilts just across the street." And that is where I saw this little beauty. It was not on exhibit but it was for sale with a price tag out of my range. So I snapped a photo. On the drive home we talked about what quilts we wanted to make this summer and I kept thinking about this little bow tie quilt. By the time we were just outside Centralia, we had agreed that it might be tough to find a good cheddar solid but that I could probably use a printed cheddar as long as the print was pretty small. So now I am dreaming of cheddar fabric.
So, what do you think?
If you want to see some great slide shows from Sisters, click here.

wish you were here

2011-07-09T06:39:00.000-07:00

This is my first year at Sisters and it really is a wonderful thing. I took a great class with Janet Bolton, got to see some wonderful quilt stores (and do a bit of shopping), met some lovely people, and most fun of all, I got to hang out with Lori a bit. She is as nice in person as she is on her blog!
We will be off soon to see the quilts before heading home but we talked a lot last night about coming back next year.
Enjoy the view.

patchwork pictures

2011-07-05T16:31:00.000-07:00

Spent a bit of time gathering materials to take with me for my class in Oregon. I am excited to learn from Janet Bolton about making patchwork pictures. I am a bit stumped on the "inspiration" piece but I think I have enough ideas to get started.

I have wanted to go to Sisters for the quilt show for years. This is going to fun!

Hello July

2011-07-01T06:53:00.000-07:00

Retreat was great fun and even though I had to leave early, I got a lot done.
I got the sleeve sewn on my Alzheimer's Quilt, made two more Little Dresses for Africa and two pillowcases, finished hand quilting a small quilt, basted a wall quilt, got about 2/3 of my grey squares sewn, and created a new piece that will be applique. And my quilting buddies helped make the pillowcase pile grow. Looks like I will need to get to the post office soon.

packing up

2011-06-20T12:22:00.000-07:00

Spent some time packing up projects for my annual quilt retreat. I am looking forward to getting away with my quilt friends and working on a few of my WIPs.

And, hopeful that summer will actually arrive - I am packing up my blog for a time too.

So, until later - enjoy your summer and . . .

do something creative today!

stalled

2011-06-10T07:10:00.000-07:00

my creative energy is stalled
lots of fun projects but nothing shaking me out of the doldrums enough to work on anything

hopefully I can find that charge before I go on my quilt retreat in a few weeks - although I know just being with my quilting friends will be the perfect re-charge

a preschooler was under the table at school the other day and when I asked him what was going on he said, "It feels like I just need a break" - I am with him!

patching a moon

2011-05-29T14:21:00.000-07:00

Okay - I think I am done bleaching moons for now. Here is the fruit of my labors. Not sure how I will use these pieces but they will go on retreat with me in June and we will see. I have a few ideas but with the end of the school year coming, this needs to be put on hold.

Maybe I should have been making sun pieces - anything that would help the sky clear up and the warmth shine through!

2011-05-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

I have a challenge for you all. Could you go 3 weeks without using a paper coffee cup? I have about 4 travel cups but too often leave them at home. I am taking this challenge - May 22-June 11.

Go here to read more and to sign the pledge.

sun or sunflower?

2011-05-21T17:07:00.000-07:00

I have been stitching on this little piece all week, thinking it would be a sun. But when I finished it and laid it out on my stitched prayer cloth, I wondered if it might not be a sunflower? I have this next row ready to stitch down this week. I am enjoying the slow pace of this project.

moon gazing

2011-05-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

I am hooked on this idea of bleaching a moon. The sliver on the left was done on a batik. In the center is a piece of blue linen with the large and small bleached moons and the little pink moon in the upper right. The two pieces on the far right are to be appliqued. On the lower left is a piece of loosely woven fabric that had a lightly embossed star stitched into the fabric so when I bleached the circle, some of the star stitching resisted the bleach making for a very cool effect. And finally, the other pink moon from my first attempt. As we speak, I have three more pieces setting up. I am experimenting with what happens when I let the gel dry completely.

processing

2011-05-08T09:17:00.000-07:00

Had a bit of time before we need to leave so of course, I had to do something with fabric. I tried out a bleaching process I learned in Jude's class called bleaching a moon. You use gel bleach - I know - who would think to get bleach near your fabric? She talks about the difference between fabrics and dyes and that some blue and black fabrics are dyed on another color - I guess I have evidence of that. But these little squares were in my scrap basket - good for experimenting. Later I need to go through my fabrics because I am pretty sure I have some blue or black linen somewhere.
For now, I have pink moons :)

Thanks

2011-05-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much to Lynn - a fun online friend. Every time I visit her blog I want to go out and climb a mountain! But Montana has always made me think of the great outdoors.
7 things about me:

I grew up in a family of 7 - all our names begin with the letter J
I love the number 7
I also love the letter J
Finishing is not my strength
I am very good at starting things (quilts, books, groups, projects)
When I was a girl, I hated vegetables - now, I can't prepare a meal without veggies
If I had a day all to myself, I would go to a bookstore, get a latte, and browse

I am supposed to name a bunch of bloggers and send this award to them but I need to get going or my precious Saturday will be lost so if you are reading this and want to share 7 fun things - let me know and I will come and visit your blog.
Happy Saturday.

2011-05-06T06:58:00.000-07:00

I got a bit of fabric for my birthday. These little squares and pattern are sitting on my sewing table, pleading with me to come and play. Alas, I must head off to work but they are a reminder that spring is trying very hard to happen around here.

My stitched squares are evolving. I also signed up for an online workshop of sorts and I have pulled out some interesting blue fabrics to begin creating a background. I am excited to try some new ideas.

Happy Friday!

starting

2011-05-04T06:45:00.000-07:00

I have started - four patches stitched with gold and green threads. Inside each patch, a small piece of muslin with the name of someone on my heart. I am really liking this idea.

Then I found this lovely quote from Mother Teresa:

"see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence . . . we need silence to be able to touch souls."

I got some lovely fabrics and sewing goodies for my birthday. I am wanting more time to stitch but it is a busy week at school. But the weekend is not to far away.

inspiration

2011-05-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

I have been inspired lately by some lovely stitches that I have seen

here

and here

and here

spring wheels

2011-04-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

I am always so inspired by the colors and textures on this blog. After reading her post this morning, I got to thinking about a quilt that I was working on three years ago. I even started hand quilting but then, as with too many things, it was set aside.
I think I need to pull this one out and bring it downstairs for some evening hand quilting time.
Might be time for a lighter spring blog header too.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-23T19:26:00.000-07:00

Easter rarely falls this late in April but today, with the sun shining and the temps finally getting up to 60 degrees, it felt like Easter and spring are finally here. Amazing how that sunshine can fill your heart with hope.
No stitching for me this weekend. Today we went to a percussion festival (so many lovely drums and drummers) and then headed to the trail. Tomorrow we have a family gathering tomorrow after church that will include some lovely cup of jelly beans - oh yes, and lunch of course!

Happy Easter!

Nine patching

2011-04-16T13:33:00.000-07:00

I signed up for a 9patch challenge a few months ago but haven't been good about making anything with 9patch blocks but yesterday, I pulled out a stack of blocks and a piece of blue fabric that I bought last year and put together this little quilt. It is 42" square. I still have another 15 blocks so maybe I will make it a bit larger and then I need to get to the fabric store and buy some more batting and then I can get this one machine quilted.

I am thinking of picking up some muslin and making 9patch blocks with red - inspired by the beautiful red and white quilts from the show in New York a few weeks ago. That would be a great retreat project.

all trimmed up

2011-04-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

I have trimmed up about 260 squares, more than I will need to make the quilt. Seems such a small pile of trimmings.

I have them on the wall with all the dark on one half and the light on the other - rather like a giant half square triangle. This one will brew for awhile before the stitching begins.

The other stitching I will do this week is applique prep. I am now officially behind on my BOM patterns but if I could get those blocks prepped, I might have a chance to keep from falling too far behind.

And then there is a hint of sun today so I must get out before the rains return.

design play

2011-04-09T09:24:00.000-07:00

I have been playing around with Electric Quilt this morning and came up with a few ideas for setting my grey squares. I have 90 of the darker grey and 150 of the lighter grey.
One idea was to do rows ranging from darkest to lightest.
Another was to start in the upper left and fade from darkest to lightest.
This one puts the dark squares in the center.

I am not planning to piece this one for awhile but it is fun to play with the design process.

scrappy doesn't mean simple

2011-04-07T06:55:00.000-07:00

I have 215 blocks that will work in my grey quilt. I made some with darker colors that don't have enough contrast. This morning I sorted them into piles based on the grey fabrics. I think I need to make at least 50 more blocks and I already have 54 grey squares cut so that will be my task next week during my spring break.
I am always amazed at how much goes into a scrappy quilt. It is as simple as pulling fabric and stitching it up. But I am looking forward to deciding how to set these blocks. I have an idea. After I get more blocks squared up, I will see how it looks.

from someday to now

2011-03-23T07:11:00.000-07:00

I couldn't wait to get home and put these on the wall. What a great way to welcome in spring. I haven't counted all my squares but we must each have close to 200! And what a simple way to get lots of fabrics into a quilt. We each made our own stack of HSTs and then divided them up. They all need to be trimmed and I imagine it will still be awhile before I actually get to stitching them together but it is going to be a fun quilt.

Someday quilts

2011-03-19T20:02:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I am going to sew with a friend. We are going to be making half square triangles for a quilt that has captured our attention (one that I put on my someday list). Last weekend, this very generous friend, cut into her grey fabric stash and gave me more than enough for to make my squares. I had a charm pack which I have supplemented from my stash and tomorrow we will sit and sew half square triangles. We each need around 180 half square triangles to make the quilt so we will see how far we get.

And, this is just serendipity, but I see that it is National Quilting day! I believe it is time for the couch and some applique.

applique marking tools

2011-03-12T08:32:00.000-08:00

Started marking the shapes for another 2011 project - Jan Patek's Bible quilt. I am using these marking pencils that were given to me by another quilter but I guess I need to look online if I am going to purchase more because I have not found them in my shops.

Just wondering - what is your favorite marking tool?

applique prep

2011-03-10T17:13:00.000-08:00

I had planned to go for a run this afternoon but the wind was blowing the rain sideways so I decided to head home and do some applique prep.

First up, my first Birdsong panel. I am going to do a slightly different color plan for this one since I found that great striped fabric with the light teal.

I also cut all the pieces for my second Imperial Blooms block.

Of course there is hat #17 on the needles to distract me too.

Looking forward to the weekend and hoping the weather settles down a bit.

spring is coming

2011-03-07T07:23:00.000-08:00

I know it is because people are sneezing and yesterday I found yellow pollen on my running tights when I got home. We are supposed to have sunshine today and then lots of rain. And daylight saving begins next weekend. So we lose an hour but it will get dark later. All of this to say, now is the time to think about getting up and getting moving. I am a person who needs external motivation so I am inviting you to visit me occasionally in a new space as I work at moving more and eating well.
So, don't just sit there but have a great Monday!

Imperial Blooms block #1

2011-03-06T06:30:00.000-08:00

Almost done - there will be some bouillon crosses on the large flower but the instructions are in month # 2 so I will add those later. The kit for block number two arrived about 10 days ago so I hope to get that one cut and prepped this evening.
From the Sue Spargo 2011 Block of the Month.

Word has it the sun will make an appearance this afternoon so I hope to get in a long run. Our friend Lori is contemplating a spring health challenge.
Stop by and visit her if you are interested in some external accountability!

more someday quilts

2011-03-04T16:50:00.000-08:00

I received this wonderful pattern from a generous quilter-friend. This is a quilt I have looked at for years and I watched with interest as she shared her progress online. I know I have plenty of fabric to make this one. It would be a good one to kit up - especially since she gave me her freezer paper templates too!

I was also browsing blogs today and found another quilt for my someday list.

Happy Friday!

learning

2011-02-27T06:55:00.000-08:00

Part of the reason I wanted to sign up for the Sue Spargo BOM was to learn some new embroidery techniques. I could do that without the monthly kits but would I? Probably not.

Last night I did some of the basic stitching to get my needle fingers back in gear. Tonight I am going to work on a more elaborate stitch while we watch the Oscars.

weekend stitching

2011-02-26T12:30:00.000-08:00

The snow is falling again so I did some stitching this morning. I finished the binding on this donation quilt that has been patiently waiting for too long.

Then I pulled some little blocks off my design wall and used up the rest of that lovely grey fabric. My inspiration came from Virginia's beautiful work as well as the pillow talk blog hop that I found on Jan Patek's blog. I was so excited to find that piece of red twill tape in my scrapbooking drawer - just the right extra touch. This pillow will sit on the red couch in my practice room.

snow day

2011-02-24T09:52:00.000-08:00

It snowed enough to cancel school so I took out one of those tidy boxes and did a quick sewing project this morning. This is my new journal and it needed a nice little cover. I thought the zing of orange was just right with the soft grey fabric. (Journal pattern idea can be found here)

I also finished hat number 15 last night. I really like this little pattern. It is a four row repeat to make the pattern and it was easy enough to keep my place. I think I will make an adult size in this pattern too. (Maple seed hat pattern can be found here)

chasing peace

2011-02-19T12:08:00.000-08:00

I spent the morning chasing some peace and open space in my sewing/craft room. I have packed up a bunch of projects that are in the works, sorted and packed up some yarns, fabrics, and papers that I am not going to work on in the near future, and created more calm in this room. I have never been one of those people who could work on just one thing at a time but lately, it has gotten out of control and instead of joy, I have found myself a bit anxious. So, today I finished decluttering and in the process, I have reclaimed space for my yoga mat and balance ball - very good things.
Now off to enjoy the sunshine.

playing around

2011-02-18T09:08:00.000-08:00

I am taking a mental health day today.
Pulled out a block I made a few months ago and a box of fabrics that I am going to rethink and started a new project this morning.

Off for a run next.

stay tuned . . .

long weekend ahead!

happy valentine's day

2011-02-13T07:49:00.000-08:00

I made this valentine card for my husband a few weekends ago. I had high hopes for weekend stitching but yesterday I spent quite a bit of the day cleaning and decluttering and today I am going to a cooking class with my daughters so I am hoping to have some fun new recipes to try tomorrow night too. The nice thing is that my sewing room is tidy, my design wall is ready for something new, and my yarn bag has been cleaned out so I can find what I need. I did get started on my first Sue Spargo BOM and uncovered another UFO that I am re-evaluating. Love the fabrics but the technique is a bit too fussy for me. Stay tuned.

I really can't

2011-02-11T18:38:00.000-08:00

Can I?

Look at that fun block. I don't have the pattern, don't really have the time, but I am bookmarking and will be watching their progress because this is a fun pattern.

Visit the Single Girl Quilt Along post and see if you can resist the temptation.

motivation to counteract all the sitting

2011-02-02T06:39:00.000-08:00

If you are going to sit and sew, you also need to find time to move. For Christmas, I received a Nike sensor and I immediately made a little pocket so I could put it on my running shoe (that is what the little black thing is in the photo). I love this thing. It syncs with my i-phone and records how far I run and then I send the information to the Nike site and it keeps track for me (and if you have a sensor and a Nike+ account, let me know and we can link up). Great motivation! My daughter and I have been running together - another motivator. And now, a friend has been diagnosed with diabetes so she is going to need some support - more motivation. And finally, Lori not only makes beautiful quilts but she posts about getting healthy - motivation. Visit her today!

goodbye weekend

2011-01-30T18:35:00.000-08:00

The kitchen is a mess
The floor of my sewing room is a mess
The laundry is waiting
The bed is unmade
But it was a good weekend!
This morning I finished the last step in Lori's quilt along. I had to punt because I did not have enough of either of the blue fabrics I was going to use and I was determined to make this from my fabric collection. I am going to put a 1.5" border of the blue with red flower fabric - this will bring the quilt to about 24" square. Then I will use red for the binding.
I also had a great time at Virginia's online retreat - watch her blog for the next opportunity to play.
Now, dinner, a new hat to begin, and an evening on the couch - oh yeah, that laundry and kitchen mess too.

tiny hearts

2011-01-30T07:08:00.000-08:00

A pattern is emerging in my craft room - small quilts, miniature blocks, little dresses, and now tiny hearts. My daughter and I are trying out the idea of prayer Valentines - little knitted hearts that we can give to those in our congregation who are unable to attend church. Yesterday I picked up some valentine-ish yarn and made these little hearts. I think I have it down now.

The weather forecast has that yucky word in it for later today - *s*n*o*w*! I do so hope they are wrong. I am focusing on those sunshine icons that I see starting on Tuesday and lasting through the week.

Happy Sunday - do something creative today.

fabric + paper = fun

2011-01-29T09:19:00.000-08:00

I love fabric and paper and yarn and glue and stamps - it is all fun. This morning I was working on a valentine card and I noticed this little block leftover from another project so I started to play around and ended up with this.

I finished the binding on a pink and red quilt from a few years back and got a bit of hand quilting done on my quilt from the last post. But now I must put these distractions aside because it isn't raining and I think I hear the trail calling my name.

Happy Saturday

welcome to the weekend

2011-01-28T17:17:00.000-08:00

Virginia at Galloping Pony is hosting a weekend cyber-retreat - great motivation to get some sewing done.
I have some dinner on the stove and will start my weekend stitching with this small quilt. I am going to hand quilt with pink thread.

Also on my list:

finish my small quilt from Lori's blog
cut out and begin working on my Sue Spargo BOM
finish the binding on a donation quilt

Happy weekend.

more hats

2011-01-25T06:46:00.000-08:00

I have made 10 hats in the first two months of my challenge so I am well on my way.

And, a very generous blogger sent me two skeins of yarn for hat knitting - thank you so much Lynn. I should be able to get at least four hats from those two skeins.

And that package of yarn was not alone in my mailbox. I also received confirmation for my space in Janet Bolton's class at Sisters and my first Sue Spargo BOM kit.

Not a bad way to begin the week.