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Friday, November 30, 2012

batiks

Batiks are my favorite fabrics!

Just before Daisy got in the shot



There is no doubt in my mind that Daisy thinks I have the camera out to take her picture.  When I spread out the quilt, she is paying close attention to what I am doing.  As soon as I'm ready to snap the first picture she runs over to get in the shot.  At least she is considerate enough to just sit on the corner.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

crocheted coat hanger cover

I really hate it when my clothes fall off the hanger and really don't like those little loops they sew into the shoulder seam to loop over the top of the hanger to keep them from falling off.  I decided to try crocheting over a few of my metal hangers to use up some of my leftover yarns.  I found a video of a method of crocheting something that looked like this one.  It was not easy, but I made it around.  I couldn't figure out how to finish the top. I just ended it.  It looks sloppy and unfinished.  I also twisted it as I crocheted just to see if it would look better.  It doesn't.
I guess a hanger doesn't need to be pretty!



This one was made from a yarn ball left over from the socks in my post "to darn or not to darn".        It was much easier than my first hanger.  I made up a pattern as I went along.  I used 2 metal hangers for this one.  It started with a chain that measured the length around the hanger and joined the ends to form a circle. (not including the length of the top hook)  I then single crocheted three rows.   Careful to keep the circle straight!  Starting at the base of the hook, I wrapped the width of the piece around the 2 hangers (one hanger on top of the other) and began crocheting around until I got back to the base of the hanger.  I was going to quit at this point, but had just enough yarn left over to begin a chain that measured the length of the hook.  I single crocheted back and forth 3 times, widening out with a double crochet on the last 5 stitches to give more to wrap around the twisted part of the metal on the base of the hook.  Since this is still joined to the wrapped part on the bottom, I just wrapped it around the hook and crocheted around to the top.  This not only looked better, but it took less than half the time it took to make the twisted grey one.  I hope these directions are not too confusing.  After hiding the yarn tail, I had used up all of this yarn!

Easy Street 4-patches

This grey is very light, but I have had it forever and jumped at the chance to use it up!  Thank you Bonnie for the opportunity!!!  What it lacks in contrast value is surpassed by the excitement of getting it out of the stash!  Who knows... after the mystery is solved, I may decide it was the perfect choice!!!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!



Happy Thanksgiving everyone!                 I have so much to be thankful for and I hope that you do too!

Now this picture is to get you in the mood for what is to follow.  If I make a list of everything I would like to do before Christmas is here, I wouldn't have time to write the list!  Just kidding.... or am I?  Anyway it suffices to say that I have a lot to do.  I just couldn't even live long enough to finish all the things that I would like to do in one lifetime.  I guess I better go get a newspaper so that I can find out if I need to brave the crowds for black friday!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

watercolor quilts

I found this picture on facebook and just wanted to share it.  Isn't it beautiful?  I love watercolor quilts!

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Grinch tree for Josh



This little quilt started with almost 250 pins in it.  It was totally ready for my friend to machine quilt on her regular domestic sewing machine.  Even though Phyllis had physical challenges, she did amazing things.  I wish she was still here to finish her Grinch quilt, but since she can't I am glad that I can do it.  It was made for Josh.  He will surely treasure it.


Her daughter Theresa would pin to perfection so that her mom could finish them.  Phyllis was an inspiration!  She would cut her binding and wind it on a piece of cardboard, then label it with the name of the quilt that it was intended for. 

 
Once when I mentioned how organized she was by doing her binding and keeping everything in a kit until it was finished.  She informed me that if she didn't do it that way she would end up using the fabric for some other quilt.  If this happens, you can be sure that you'll never find the same fabric in the quantity you need!  Since Theresa often took her on shop-hops as far away as all of the surrounding States,  she probably wouldn't even remember where she bought it!!!

 I think it turned out really cute!

To darn or not to darn?

So I had a small ball of yarn left over from the socks.


I knit these slipper socks a couple of winters ago.  I love them.  I am a blue loving person and they made great house-socks.  Monday I threw them in the garbage in my laundry room.  Two days later I got them out.  As you can see, they have been darned, but new holes appeared the next time I wore them.  Today I will throw them in the garbage again where they hopefully will remain.  It isn't worth it to darn again... or is it?  They would be gone if I was a burner like Lyn.  I will update this post next week and we shall see what their fate may be.




Into the garbage and there they they stayed.  RIP  socks.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Anita is having a give-away!!!

Anita is giving a knitting book away on her blog next Wednesday!  Hurry to her blog and enter to win!  Go to http://anitas-bedofroses.blogspot.com/

If you enjoy looking at pictures of beautiful quilts, then you must check out an old post on my blog.  I posted all the new photos on an old post from back when I had no clue what I was doing with this new blog stuff.  The title is pictures from a quilt show and it was posted in September.  The pictures are actually from 2 or 3 years ago.  Check it out if you have a minute and I don't think you'll be disappointed!

crochet snowflake from Jo-Ann


Like if you love this crocheted snowflake :)

PDF directions: http://bit.ly/Rp8qMD
Pin it: http://bit.ly/TMWJhh
Instagram: http://instagram.com/p/RFxIfyp67A/

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

2 more quilts finished!

STILL ON THE FRAME

KIND OF A BAD PICTURE, BUT MY CAMERA IS SET FOR EMAIL SO THAT IT'S EASY TO POST

THIS ONE IS EASIER TO SEE THE DESIGN ON THE BACK OF THE QUILT

PAPER DOLL QUILT MADE BY PHYLLIS

CLOSE UP OF THE QUILTING ON THE FRONT

STAR QUILT BY PHYLLIS

BACK OF THE STAR QUILT AND DAISY HAD TO GET IN ON THE PHOTO SHOOT


A Beautiful Fall Sunset


a view facing Pat and Christines house

a view facing south toward Albion from the front yard




Here is a view of the garden after it is harvested, tilled & ready for winter.  You can still see my PINK shovel parked next to the roto-tiller.


trick or treaters





We actually had 4 trick or treaters this year!  Of course they were all family.  It's fun to dress up.  I dressed as a nerd and it wasn't a difficult costume!  It even seemed like a natural choice for me.  When you live out here it's way too far between houses for Halloweeners.