Little of this and a little of that

The alphabet top is done. Now to get it quilted before KK's birthday, the 11th. I'm off tomorrow, Wednesday, so I'm trying to keep the day open for quilting. Taxes keep calling but they will have to wait until the weekend. This is much more important!   

I've been working on this pair of socks for a while now. I was not crazy about the yarn after I bought it but it has grown on me during the process.

 I am now working on knitting a sock within a sock. So far so good.

Little quilts

This is one of my favorite baby quilts to make. The free motion quilting was fun to do. 

These little blocks will be a birthday present for my favorite red headed preschooler. I colored the letters with her favorite color. I still have to find fabric to frame the squares. Looking at them in this picture has me thinking that I might play around with the way I arrange them. Maybe I'll give them all a little tilt? Might give the quilt more interest and motion. 

It's after 12:00 a.m. so I ought to shut it down and go to bed. I took a two hour nap when I got home from work. Until next time..

Shades of the past

I'm not sure how old this quilt top might be but we think it might be close to 100 years old. It's been patiently waiting in a box in a client's closet all these years. The backing fabric she brought me to use is a solid turquoise, the color of some of the tumblers.  This will be interesting. I like to use a print for my backs because they tend to hide a multitude of quilting sins, of which I have many. Lol. She also brought me a box full of hand pieced blocks. I haven't looked at them closely but I know I will work those in my QAYG (quilt as you go) technique. I am hoping that this quilt is going to be easier to handle under the sewing machine needle than the tshirst quilt was.  I had to enlist Jim's help in holding the weight of that quilt as I was nearing the end. It just got so heavy! I used muscles I forgot I had! LOL 

By the way, I am really enjoying the blogging experience once again! Please drop me a note if you've stopped by. I'd love to hear from my "old" friends! Good to hear from you, Linda and Deb!

Binding. And more binding..

I read somewhere that winding your binding around a thread spool would keep your yards of binding under control as you attached it to your quilt. It works! Just unroll the amount you want to work with. No muss, no fuss. 

Here you see said binding attached. I tacked down one side last night and just could not go on. I hope to get the rest of it done tonight. Hear that, Cissy? Tonight! Cannot wait for you to see it! Plus, I need to get started on a quilt for another client, make a few more makeup bags and finish up my swap projects to get in the mail. Not to mention that I need to put on a whole 'nother hat - that of tax prep. Yuck. 

Hope those of you having a holiday today are having an extra day of relaxation and rejuvenation. I'm watching my grands. Time to fix lunch. 

Sunday after Valentine's Day

I never know what day it is when I first open my eyes. I had an idea yesterday that I should fix seven note cards, each with a day of the week, and prop the appropriate card in front of my alarm clock each night. Just a thought. 

Friday, at work, I kept saying, "people call today Valentine's Day. My husband calls it Friday!" (I read that somewhere and thought it sounded like Jim 😊) No sooner had I said that for the twelfth time, and in walked a fella carrying a beautiful 6-roses arrangement. From Jim. 

I called to thank him and he said,"I just thought I'd blow your mind!" Lol. And, he did. Thank you, honey!  I had to tell him, though, that his son had beat him to it. I found the smaller  (but still beautiful) looking arrangement, on my desk. His card said something like, "Listen here, Jack! I mean, Mom!" Lol it was a Duck Dynasty inspired card and he proceeded to thank me for all I do and that he loves me. He's a sweet boy and I love helping them all I can. Thank you, Robert!

So, it is Sunday again. I hope to quilt on the tshirt quilt all day. I can't wait to put it into its owner's hands!

I have finished the mug rugs for my swap partner, Satu in Finland. I will post pictures here once I know she had received them. 

Saturday night, we went to Rib Crib. We had not had a chance to celebrate April's birthday (January 10) so we took time out for some family time. This is not a picture you see often. I LOVE it!

Here you have three generations. Robert, Kelton and Papaw Jim. 

A day's work

I am mostly happy with what I've done. Still need small borders on the very top. Why I didn't put them on before I sewed them together... Since the quilt "feels" too wide to me, I'm going to border the top and bottom with a 4" border, I think and 2" on either side just to bring it all together. That will give me room to do some feather quilting, maybe. 

I finished KK's fingerless Valentine mittens and one of Kelton's. There's another one made, but it's getting "unknitted" because I was not happy with it. 

Time to sit and watch some of the Olympics. I was just in the kitchen putting a dessert in the oven. Did you know butter will explode while melting in the microwave? Yup. And, I broke an egg while taking it out of the fridge. I started thinking that maybe I shouldn't be making dessert since it doesn't look like I'll be fixing dinner! Lol After my kitchen mishaps, I think I'll leave the quilt for another day.

Moving right along..

Sewing these tshirts together is proving to be quite a challenge. All the ones I've worked before have been cut out to the same dimensions but these have way bigger logos and some smaller. So, I have some work cut out for me to determine the size of the connecting strips. It's a challenge and one I hope to tackle this weekend. In the meantime..

Knitted fingerless gloves for KK. I'm halfway finished with the second one in hopes that she can wear them on Valentines Day. As she found out yesterday, though, they're not to be worn while playing in the snow! Lol

One final piece included in this week's project lineup is a mug rug. I'm in a swap that requires two mug rugs made in honor of the Sochi Olympics. As much as I'd like to be sewing, though, I need to get ready for work. I bid you adios until Sunday, maybe. 

New friends, new ideas

Is it possible I have learned something new, again?! Of course! This time, thanks to my new quilting friend, Rebecca, my blogging may resume with some new-found skills. We will see how I do. For now, let me try posting my latest little creation. I've also included a pictorial tutorial on how I join my binding ends and you can't tell where the binding starts or stops. 

Here is how I join the ends of my binding.

Step one  - leave at least 5-6" of binding tail on either side.

Step 2 - lay right tail over left making sure you can see the end of the bottom tail. At this point, you want to make sure that the binding is laying flat along the edge of the quilt and I even pull lightly to give it the slightest (very slight) bit of tension.

I lay my 2.5" ruler on top of the binding lining it up with the edge of the bottom lining. This is the crucial point. You will mark to cut the top (right) binding strip with the measurement of the width of your binding. If your binding is 2.25" then you would measure 2.25" from the edge of the bottom strip.

Open the ends. 

Place the ends at a 90 degree angle, lining up the ends. Pin. Fold binding back as it should go and see how it fits. If you're satisfied...

Sew from corner to corner. 

Check once more to be sure it it lays nice and flat along the quilt edge.

Cut off the triangle. Finger press seam open, fold and finish sewing on the binding. 

Missing the blogsperience

2011. That was the year I last posted on this blog. With the introduction of Facebook, I've been too busy to take the time to journal. It's a shame, too. Just in the last few months, I've had occasion to reach back into this blog to find pictures and dates that might've otherwise been lost forever. I'd really like to get back to blog land but it seems I've forgotten how to navigate the site. I'm not sure anyone will read my entries but I think I need to document important dates, ideas, pictures, witty sayings by grand kids, etc. First, I need to learn my way around again.

September 2013

Now it's TWO YEARS later! Whaaaat??

I would bet that no one reads this post since they are too tired of checking in and finding that I have not posted a single word since August, 2011! Hop on over to my Facebook page, though, and you'll have more than enough to keep you busy. Lol I'm not even sure I remember how to work my blog!

Eight months later...

And I'm still here, lurking in blogland and in Facebook. I'm ashamed to say that my time has been monopolized by the ever-so-popular FB. Don't get me wrong..I enjoy reading all the posts on FB and occasionally pop in a few of my own, but I have missed my blog time. I also miss my laptop. I still have it, of course, but since I was lucky enough to become the owner of an iPad, my laptop has sat on the corner of my desk, patiently waiting for moments like these when I finally decide to leave my comfy stuffed wingback chair and come sit in my armless, rolling desk chair. You see, I'm not a big fan of the iPad typepad. I prefer the old-fashioned (giggle) keyboard setup. And so, without further ado, I shall let you see what pretties I have been working on. One more thing...I'm a new grandma! Baby boy Goff was born on August 8, 2011 and we are just ecstatic!
This collection of hats and socks was donated to the hospital nursery in honor of Baby Goff's arrival. In retrospect, I think some of the hats may be a bit big for newborns. But, I hope the families that receive one will enjoy it as their baby grows.




Look at this treasure! This baby quilt was made by a great-aunt who passed not too long ago. Her son gifted me with it since I had moaned and groaned that I had not ever had the chance to buy one of her handmade, handquilted pieces. How sweet was that! It's worn and torn in spots, but I will treasure it! Thanks, Sonny!

Maybe you've noticed that I'm spending my time knitting these days instead of quilting. I have made a baby quilt for a friend and the iPad case at the top of this page. I first made one for Judy and so I had to make one for myself :-). One final picture of my sweet KK. She's a big sister now, ya know!

Sweetie in one of her many moods. This is how I felt today after working on the following scenes. Jim helped me put up a new drapery rod (ok, Joe and Shannon and Megann stopped by and Joe helped him while I watched) then we hung the new curtains. I want to add larger red bows to them for the holidays.

The Christmas tree afghan on the glider is one I made many years ago. It has become one of my favorite Christmas decorations.
In addition to our stockings, I decided to hang the ones Judy and I made for Mom and Dad before they left us. The stockings are so pretty and I think they should be seen and admired by all of us. Plus, it makes me feel close to them.

The Nativity scene quilt is one I made a few years ago. I had it hanging at the shop last year but I decided to leave it at home. I have it hanging with push pins (I know, a no-no!) but I haven't added a sleeve. I have the perfect quilt rod that I want to hang in my "studio" and will be able to change quilts when I get the urge.

I've been working on a few Christmas gifts so I can't post pics of my projects yet. Must get back to my sewing machine....

Just chillin'

With Nani's iPad! Chillin' is right because it snowed yesterday. Nothing to write home about, but it sure was pretty while it was falling. Although, it must've just snowed at Rob and April's because Jim said it didn't snow a "flake" at our house! Just 5 minutes away and the weather can be so different.

iPad fun

I'm writing this from my new iPad. Still so much to learn! Sweetie has enjoyed playing "monkeys" and seems to think it's her new toy lol. I couldn't wait to show it to her.

It snowed earlier for a little bit. Was so pretty but I'm glad it has stopped. When I figure out how to upload pictures here I'll try it. Time for K's nap. Maybe for me, too!

A whole month later....

It's October and Jack O'lantern time! Jack has his little light shining at the shop. Although, today he has a new home since a friend decided he needed to go home with her. You can always call me for your own Jack!
This smiling Jackie is a fabric postcard, believe it or don't! I've been involved in a fabric postcard swap and the ones you see here are just a few of those that I mailed out this week. I hope their recipients enjoy them.




What would a blog post be without a picture or two of Sweetie? Here she is in front of some furry boas on display at Hobby Lobby. In the last picture, she is not in time out, I promise. Well, at least not this time. lol We were headed out the door and I couldn't resist catching her on camera.

A peaceful Sunday

Sweetie spent the night with us last night and she was a very good girl. She did cry a bit at bedtime but that's normal. She slept all by herself, like a big girl, in her own room. About 9:30 this morning I heard a soft little voice saying, "Nanneeee, Nanneee" over and over again. No urgency in her voice, just saying my name. It almost sounded as though she was saying it to herself.
I took these pictures of Sweetie last week when we were here for the day on Tuesday. I love her little fingers holding the "flower". She wasn't being punished in the picture where she's sitting. She looks like she's lost her last friend, though. The camera just happened to capture her expression at that exact moment. The very next second she probably threw up her hands and jumped up to run in the grass. She is non stop these days. Keeps her Papaw on the go.
One more little quilt for the day. A co-worker has a new great grandbaby girl and it's a perfect excuse to build another quilt! lol I can't wait to get this one quilted. It's such a soft, pastel color along with the white. It'll be perfect for a little girl.

Hope everyone had a perfect Sunday. Jim is watching the Cowboys. The season has begun!