Yes... It is Valentines Table Runners

My Christmas table runner (I have a post on that) was fun to make (a pattern from The Pattern Basket called Slice of Cake Table Runner)   For that one I used a layer cake as the pattern called for.  My brain came up to Valentines and I took out all of my stash that would make a good runner.  I had so much of course that I had used for other projects and from last year when I made pillow chases for all the grands.  The pattern calls for 1.5 inch strips from 10" down to 4.5".  I started cutting from the stash.

Strips set up to sew together by block

Stash ready to cu

A block laid out ready to sew

Block sewn and ready to cut to size

 

Laid out

Ready to trim and then trimmed.  Will post later what the trimmed points became.

All of the 4 are done.  It is time to get them mailed to the Valentines.  HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

MQG Riley Blake Challenge

My Modern Quilt Guild participated in the Riley Blake fabric challenge and I took a packet...

The rules were you could add solids and it had to be at least 15" square quilted and finished.  I decided to use a pattern I had from the internet.  Circle of Squares  I chose solids and made the 6 blocks.  I wanted to make something other than just a quilt.  I quilted each block using different decorative stitches and putting the color name in the center.

 After seeing them completed I decided to make a cube for a fun thing and just not the usual.  I have made so many soft blocks for baby showers and I love the ease of them and the reactions of people that are amazed at how they are made.

 It was a fun challenge and I love the pattern and will use it again for sure.  My quilt guild had a great time and lots of creative finishes....

Fort Worth Modern Quilt Guild  January 2014
Riley Blake Challenge Participants 

YES - Honey Cowl Around My Neck

Very warm 

Yes, the first completed knitting project for 2014. It has been cold and I love a neck warmer (cowl).  If my neck is warm I seem to be warm too.  I used yard that I got from Maryland Sheep and Wool a couple of years ago from The Plymouth Yarn Co. www.plymouthyarn.com   The yarn is Plymouth Earth ranch...Yarns from Nature ...Natural Fiber Natural Color and is 100%Alpaca in a grey and white. (no longer available, I bought it at closeout)  I used two skeins.  The Honey Cowl by Madelinetosh is now around my neck.  This pattern is a free download on Ravelry.  I was warm and cozy.

A simple slip stisch pattern creates a dense waffle-like fabric. 

Yes, it was fun to knit and I will certainly use this pattern again.

Yes, New Year ~~~ Yes is the New Word

The word for 2013 was Enter and I did enter a lot of new places and times in my life.  It was a perfect word for me and I will miss it; but, I like to focus each year differently.  2013 went out with 15 family member gathering for New Year's Eve's traditional lobster and Dom dinner.  Tables were set

 The dinner was fun and as usual all had a great time.   Poppers were set off  and dining room chandelier was again decorated to bring in the new year.  Everyone read their "fortune" for the year, toasted in the new year and celebrated all the blessing of the last year.

And so I have chosen for the year 2014 the word:  YES
as in Yes Virginia there is a Santa Clause...Yes, that is a good idea; Yes, let's do that; yes, I like that ; yes, you are perfect just the way you are.  Yes, 2014 will be another great year.!

A good time was had by all.  The light of the night will shine for the year with all our fun hanging out on it.  

Enter Christmas

Fort Worth, Texas December 2013
picture by Brian Luenser

Waiting for midnight Christmas eve service. 

 Advent is all about waiting but the time will come soon and Christmas will ENTER with light for the world.  Blessings to all this eve.  Piecing of Quilts give you peace and 

Peace of the Lord be with each of YOU. 

Jean Bag for Holiday Exchange

Old hubby jeans...cut straight just below crotch , sew across the bottom, add straps made from leg of jean, line with cute fabric, add closure (be creative) and get it wrapped up to give away. Love these kind of bags that have lots of pockets from the jean front pockets and the jean back pockets with pockets inside, the special hiding place is when you unzip the zipper and you can put things between the bag and liner, easy to make and fun to do.  The hardest part for me is deciding what cute fabric to use for the lining.  Since these were men's jeans it makes a roomy project bag.

Christmas Table Runner

Visitng my BFF this last week gave us an opportunity to take a class at her local quilt store.   in the Phoenix area.  We really just needed to be together and do something creative. The A Quilter's Oasis  http://www.aquiltersoasis.com/ using a pattern from The Pattern Basket called Slice of Cake Table Runner designed for a "Layer Cake" (10" squares).  I chose a Christmas pack to make for the holiday.  The class turned out to be only the two of us, so we dived into the pattern.  Several set backs slowed us down but not to worry they were all solved...the teacher cut some squares for us and well, she cut all "a" an we needed "b"but luckily had enough fabric to make the correct cuts; then my BFFs sewing machine started making thread nests on the back side we had to give up and go home.  We each got 7 of the 19 squares done but at least all the cutting done.  We went straight to the sewing machine shop and dropped off the machine.  All is well as the machine was back on Thursday (tension part broke) and we got mine completed and her runner well along.  It was an easy sew and we both like the finished runner a lot.

Two Year Socks...DONE and Delivered

These socks got started in Alaska two years ago for my BFF.  The yarn is a Liza Sousa Sock Merino color Bloojay bought 3/2/2011.  These socks have been though a lot...the yarn was very breaky and was also not continuous when I went to ball it so there was more breaks than I like.  Then my BFF spent the summer with us and her four doxies and one that is a puppy, got into the yarn and need I say more. Came in from shopping and she and I just looked at each other and started to moan and laugh all at the same time.  A few days later after unknotting and unwinding all the yarn to rewind it was back to getting on the knitting.  Oh and that unknotting and unwinding meant more breaks where there were chew through in the yarn.  The number of ends that would need to be woven in was about 10 in one sock with all the ends.  The toes on the socks were not done well, long story on why, but hey it is the toes.
Outcome....they are delivered as we share Thanksgiving with  my BFF and she likes them and they fit perfect.  Measurements of the foot at least works when knitting for someone.
All is good, gift delivered and I'm ready to knit more socks. ...now is the time to start a pair for me.

Happy Thanksgiving to all

Modern Quilt Guild BOM Quilt

For the last year my Modern Quilt Guild has been doing a block of the month.  It has been rocky at times as the directions were not well done, or the initial finish to be 12 inch block did not always work out with the ones chosen...but over all being an experienced quilter those hiccups were easily overcome.  The finished quilt will be shown at the December meeting, it has to be quilted.  I'm not sure I will get it done as I am currently on a two month RV trip w/darling husband

 to celebrate my retirement! 

I would have brought it with me and finished the quilting, but thought quality time with my husband more important than the quilt and I'm not sure I will be back for the meeting will play it by ear to see if it can get done.  The trip however is fab!...so is retirement.

Enter: Babylock Tiara

Here's the deal.  My last post said I was getting the Brother PQ1500S High Speed Quilting and Sewing Machine
and the organization I am retiring from was giving me a cash gift to purchase that special retirement gift.  So, Enter husband to go and look and purchase the machine I had told him was on my list. Enter Debbie the salesperson.  Husband tells her he was there to get the machine and wanted to see it.  He sees it and was not sure that was really what he thought I should have.  Enter Babylock Tiara mid arm quilter sitting right next to the Brother....

He asks Debbie, "What is this?"  Debbie explains she had just returned from Babylock Convention and this was the mid arm free motion quilting machine.  Husband indicates this seems more like what he had envisioned, not the other machine..."This Babylock seems like it will take my wife to a new place and the other one is where she already is."  He quickly figures what he would chip in and buys the Tiara...Really?  Yes, really.  So all this time I did not think my husband paid any attention to my hobby, he was very in tune with it.  

Oh my... and Wow, this will be so much fun!  (Four more days till retirement.)  
Lesson: Enter is not always through the door one thinks one will enter...ENTER RETIREMENT