Purple Flowers

Block 11

One more block to go!

Birdhouse and Leaves

Block 9 Birdhouse

Block 10 Leaves

I only have two more large blocks. The remaining blocks are flowers and have several pieces. You can see the beginning of block 11 peeking out from under the lightest color leaf.

Watering can

I love the way this block turned out. This smaller block seemed so quick to stitch after the fence.
The next block is a bird house. I am having trouble choosing the fabrics for it. I think I will add some purples to the quilt.

Another Unfinished project returns.

This Fence block is month seven of a BOM I started last year.
I decided to make my fence brown, rather than white. The fence looks a little weathered with its warped boards. I like it. That is my story and I am sticking to it.
I have the next block cut and ready to start stitching. It is a Blue water can.

Unfortunately the Blog that was hosting this BOM no longer is there. I did save all the blocks, so I will be able to finish it.

A Finished Quilt!

The alien pattern for this block was taken from a pumpkin carving pattern found on the web. (I don't remember the exact site.) I was trying for an Andy Warhol look. I really like how the black thread used in the quilting turned out. The picture does not really capture the texture well.
The completed wall hanging is just under 27" square. I attached a Hanging Sleeve to the back. This was the first time I had added a sleeve to the back of one of my quilts.

Quilting by hand

I have been working steadily since Sunday to get this wall hanging quilted. I chose black thread to quilt with. I really like the way it is standing out in this project. I was lucky to find a border fabric that I really like. The same fabric is the used for the backing.

Noah is home with a high temperature today so we are watching Television (PBS). He is feeling better this afternoon, but his temperature got high enough that he will have to stay home again tomorrow. He had a stomach ache but no other symptoms, so I think it was just a minor virus of some sort.

Back to quilting.

Yesterday my youngest turned 6! Where does time go?

Four Blocks ready for eyes.

My fingers have been itching to get back into quilting. Over the weekend I picked up one of my unfinished projects and started stitching. Last year at this time I started a alien themed wall hanging, and Over the last few days I was able to finish applique on the main shape of the alien. Now I need to add the eyes.

Below is my Mothers Alien wall hanging.

Stars

This is another of my unfinished quilt projects. I had all of the pieces cut out and group into blocks and had maybe six blocks sewn before the project stalled.that was fourteen years ago. *sigh*
I have not been sewing in my cold basement. This is another project that my Mother generously finished up for me. It is not yet quilted but the top is all finished.
Thanks Mom!

Fingerless mitts for me.

Buttoned Mitts

I wanted a less bulky mitt to use while typing. I only made minor changes to the pattern. Switching to smaller needles, sock yarn, adding an additional 12 stitches to the cast on and working five cables instead of three. (This also results in a 7 stitch garter stitch edge instead of 5 stitch.) Also I decided to wear them upside down with the wider garter stitch edge next to fingers and the smaller edge as the cuff. The picture does not do justice to the finished mitts. Great pattern! I would make another pair in the original worsted weight for wearing outdoors.
I could have made these in a weekend but took a longer break form the project then I intended after reaching the garter stitch section on the second mitt.

Hats!

It is too cold in the basement to sew. I miss my Dear Jane Quilt. I have been sitting upstairs watching old movies and knitting (and playing computer games).
Last month it was hats, hats and hats.

Knockoff (Ravelry Link)

Capucine

There was a fourth hat too, but no picture. It was just like the lower two photos in a pink and blue pastel yarn.

Last and First

The Final Project of 2009: One-seam Teddy Bear (Ravelry)
or here.
This was fun and quick to knit. I made it for a last minute Birthday gift. All yarns use were worsted weight cotton.

The First Project of 2010 was a pair of gloves.

Cleckheaton Country Silk Fingerless Gloves or here.

They were supposed to be done by Christmas but...
I know my husband likes them. He has wore them all day every day since I finished them.

Frog

Before Felting
And
After

You Kiss a Hundred Frogs Purse
Pattern from Interweave Knits Gifts Holiday 2009

Thrifted green yarn? and Lion brand wool (pink).

Baby Doll

(McCall's 5515)

This is one of my favorite doll patterns.
I made this with fabric left over from this Baby Quilt.

Avon Glassware

I found these while out at the thrift store yesterday. I am going to use the lidded one for a sugar bowl.
I am doing crafty stuff, but most of it is Christmas related and I don't want to ruin the surprise.

Angel

From another issue of Craft magazine. (Aug 1995)

Cute.
She is supposed to have a jingle bell in her hands.
I followed the instructions, except for the whit ruffle on her dress. it looked a little too stiff so I changed the second round to loops. It probably would have been fine if I had used the called for hook and not one one size smaller (it was already out.)

Turkey

I did not follow the instructions at all. But I think he looks okay.
I used the pattern pieces provided in the November 1987 Crafts magazine. I did not stuff each section of tail feathers, as if they were pillows. I used a double layer of batting instead.
I added the buttons holding the wings on and made the little hat. The original had a little store bought straw hat.

Just a few Matryoshka

This years homemade Christmas Cards. Idea and template found Here.
I made it a little more complex by making the dolls different colors. I cut the paper strips to the correct size rectangle for each doll size. I glued the rectangles down to the plain white card stock. Two cards to a page (because I like to get every inch of use from my paper). I cut out the template and traced around it for each card. I drew faces in the circles of the template and scanned it back in and touched them up a bit. I printed them out 8 sets per sheet. Myra helped by gluing the faces on, after I cut them out. Myra then colored their hair and put blush on there cheeks. I then drew the knots for their kerchiefs.
Noah proudly rubber stamped the back of each large doll, to say "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas."

UFO Friday

70 Santa Head Christmas tree ornaments
I started these a few years ago. I don't think I will cut out so many if I ever mass produce anything else. These added to the ones I had finished makes at least 105.
Edited to add: Today I sewed on 70 jingle bells and the cord loops to hang them. They had been sitting waiting just for those two things to finish them up.

Poison mushrooms

Mitts

I am taking an applique break, to knit mitts.
One is finished, one to go.
The second mitt may have a different Mushroom.
Pictured is a Poison Mushroom. (Super Mario)

Apple Tree

Buttons!

Costumes!

Thomas is store bought with a few modifications to make him hold his shape. (stuffed with plastic bags and a piece of plastic canvas to hold the face out.)

Princess Jasmine with her magic lamp is homemade. We have (after the photo) added a long sleeve green t-shirt for warmth tonight.

Happy Halloween

198?

Strawberries

Month five complete.

Getting caught up

I am little (okay a lot) behind on this BOM.
The above butterflies are month four. Her web site moved so she released the last two blocks early.

The extra bit.

The pattern had this cute purse too!
It is supposed to be quilted, but I used fleece so... I just sewed some x-mas trim to the quilting lines. Sequined ribbon form the clearance bin and a scrap of cording from a grab bag for the handles. and those sew on gems came off a headband from the everything is a dollar store.
I also only decorated one side.

Pants!

I am finished with the costume! There were four overlays for each leg. The pattern called for almost 18 yards of metallic trim for the overlays. I cheated and bought a third of a yard of tulle with gold metallic thread woven in. I cut the tulle in quarter inch strips with the rotary cutter and had all the trim I needed to give just a little sparkle.
Hardest part: the Zipper!

Top in blue and green

It is so pretty! YOU can not tell from the photo, but the fabric under the sheer gathered area at the top is a dark blue with gold sparkly print. The embroidered ribbon was something I have had for some time and had never found a use for. The pearl beads are left over from a Flower girl basket project. I had to sew them on by hand. The gold trim is a spool of left over trim from a pirate hat project. The blue and green beaded trim is the one we were lucky to find in the clearance bin, in the perfect colors. The green fabric is a Prom dress project remnant.

I really love it when I dig through what is on hand a the finished project looks so great. Like I spent hours at the store matching all the trims and buttons up.

Now to get the pants sewn up. The dark blue and the sheer fabric will show up better in the pants.

Halloween sewing

I am working on Myra's Costume, Princess Jasmine. It is turning out to be more complex than I had thought but it is super cute. Finishing up the top half today and will start the pants.

It is a nice mix of blue and green fabrics. I would share a picture, but the batteries are dead in the camera. I got really lucky and found some beaded fringe in the Clearance bin 90% off. We are really digging through my collection scraps of trims and finding some nice complementary stuff.

I think it will turn out really fancy. ( and hopefully not tacky)

Yes, it is a rock

The crochet was the easy part. The challenge is finding a place "in the Wild" to place and see if anyone notices. Made for a Mini challenge from the Ravelry Silly String group.

Knitted Yoke Sweatshirt

This is the Ribbed version with a rolled edge collar.
Bulky yarn with size 10.5 needles for the yoke and size 7 needles for the collar.

Time to get back to being crafty.

This weekend I finally got back sewing and all things needle arts. I Quickly did a couple of clothing repairs and that jumped started me back to action. I sewed on a patch and mended a seam. Then moved on to turn one of Myra's favorite pairs of Jeans (with a ripped knee) into a tote/purse for her. I also sewed up a little zippered box bag for her to keep her lip gloss and such in.



I found some great pattern booklet finds at the thrift store that have my fingers itching to get back to my Dear Jane. And to start new projects. I will try to resist the new project urge.

I found and interesting leaflet for knitting a new yoke on a sweatshirt to dress it up a bit. I am going to give that a go, even though it is a "new" project.

Now I am off to make up a list of which Dear Jane blocks I need to work on to get back with the group. Lets hope I am not 40 blocks behind like I was last time I took an unplanned break.

Up for Swap this entire box of pre-cut "tumblers".
Various fabrics, some vintage and all fabric types including cotton, linen, and flannel.

Doing a spring clean at the end of summer.

I have been cleaning like mad. The basement really needed a good de-clutter. But I am starting to feel the craft need to return. I have a lots of UFO's. I need to decide where to start to finish them up. Or maybe find a new home for a few of those projects.

First Day of School

All the Kids will be in school this year. sigh.

UFO of another kind

Noah wanted a flying saucer for his gumball machine aliens.

The hinged dome is the bottom of a Peanut Butter jar, attached to the lid from a box of oatmeal.

The saucer is made from wool felt and the lid from a party size tub of ice cream, with scraps of batting inside.

The base is the lid from the Peanut Butter jar.
and the Lights are the lids from the gumball machine containers.

An action shot.