Designless Monday

This is the time of year

when there are not nearly enough

Hours in the Day

for me.

I am usually good around the holidays,

but spring time.....

My anniversary trip put me way behind in the

yard work, but the trip was so worth it!

Like a lot of us,

my creating with fabric has suffered

while I create with Mother Nature,

or clean up what Mother Nature left after the winter.

In addition...

I am working on a project for my

History of Quilting group

and can't yet share it.

Here is a sneak peak...

(and you will wonder what THIS fabric

has to do with the History of Quilting!)

Years ago (2005) I received this fabric from a friend of my husband's.

I had no idea what I would use it for and have kept

it all of these years.

Soon you will see what I am doing with these wild ladies!

Last night, since I was too sore to do much else,

I "deboned" a pile of men's shirts I had gotten

at one of the local thrift stores last week.

I hit pay dirt with the shirts this time!

I need to make two Boy baby quilts quickly

and will use some of these shirts

for at least one of them.

The plaids and stripes are just so much fun!

Please visit Judy at Patchwork Times to see what others are creating.

Happy Quilting!!

Lots of Socks!

Whenever we are going away,

one of the first things my husband asks me is

"What projects are you taking with you?"

I'm sure a lot of us are like that.

I start thinking about the projects LONG before

I think about the clothes I'm going to pack!

Well, on this Panama Canal cruise I took 

Yarn, Needles, one pattern and my "Knit Kit."

(My husband gave this Knit Kit to me for

Christmas a couple of years ago and it

is perfect for traveling!!)

Knitting projects are much easier to pack then

quilting projects.... especially SOCKS!!

Well.... on this trip I had some time to knit!

In fact we had a number of days at sea and I

sat and knitted and watched the water a LOT!

(In between the walks, mini golf, reading, etc.!!)

I finished this pair, using "On Your Toes" yarn,

purchased at "Tuesday Morning" a long time ago.

These are just plain vanilla socks with the

short row heels.

This pair was finished, knitted with

Supersocke yarn in "New York" colorway.

These socks were knitted using this pattern from 

Ann at Stray Threads.

Next, I started this pair of socks for a child.

Once again, I have lost the label for the yarn.

(I need to start putting the ball of yarn and the label in a baggie

so they stay together!)

 This yarn is fun to knit with all of the different colors.

And last but not least....

.... this pair is being knitted with

Ambiente  yarn.... so so soft!

These socks look like fall to me.

I have been knitting the short row heel and like these,

mainly because I don't have to have the pattern to knit them.

Hopefully these heels wear well.

When we got home, I was itching to get into my 

"Hidey Hole" and sew something!

 I signed up for another "Tuffet" class

and had the fabric for this next Tuffet,

so this is what I put together.

This one will be for my daughter...

The HUGE VCU fan!!

Please visit Patchwork Times to see what others are working on this week.

Happy Friday!

Back to Reality

We are back home

after an unbelievable

Panama Canal Cruise.

This trip had been on our bucket list for a long time

and it didn't disappoint!

Going through the Canal was quite an experience...

one I'll never forget.

We had each read the book

Path Between the Seas

before going through the Canal,

and seeing it after reading what building the Canal took

or required made it all the more fascinating.

The laundry is done,

the mail is sorted,

food is back in the house,

but I haven't done much in the quilting department.

However...

I have some pieces to share that I bought in Panama.

This gorgeous work is called "Mola"
and is reverse applique with embroidery added.

The stitches are so tiny and beautiful.
And, of course, I LOVE the bright colors!

The pieces are unfinished
so will need to be put into something.

 Aren't the colors gorgeous?
They are a bit wonky,
but I love them!

I think I will  make pillows with a couple of these beauties.

I could have brought back a suitcase full of these!

It's off to find fabric to coordinate for pillows and wall hangings!
(Well... maybe not today!)


Hopefully I'll have some quiltiness to share soon!

Visit Patchwork Times to see what others are creating!

Happy Monday!!

Creating Memories

"I soon realized that no journey carries 

one far unless, 

as it extends into the world around us, 

it goes an equal distance into the world within.”

- Lillian Smith 

Image found on line

New Places...

"The purpose of life is to live it, 

to taste it, 

to experience to the utmost, 

to reach out eagerly and 

without fear for newer 

and richer experience.”

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Image found on line

Amazing Feats...

"Far better it is to dare mighty things, 

to win glorious triumphs, 

even though checkered by failure, 

than to take rank with those poor spirits 

who neither enjoy much nor suffer much,

 because they live in the gray twilight 

that knows not victory or defeat."

—THEODORE ROOSEVELT

Images found on line
 

Calm and Serenity

“My soul is full of longing for the secrets of the sea, 

and the heart of the great ocean 

sends a thrilling pulse through me.”

 – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Image found on line

Oh the Places we will see...

"I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.”

- Susan Sontag

Happy Day!

Beautiful Day

"I could never stay long enough on the shore; 

the tang of the untainted, fresh, 

and free sea air was like a cool, 

quieting thought."

Helen Keller

 

Sunshine and Clear Blue Waters

"The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, 

too greedy, or too impatient. 

One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach – 

waiting for a gift from the sea." 

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Leaving on a Jet Plane...

I will be incommunicado for a while

as my husband and I take a trip to celebrate our

30th Wedding Anniversary!

I'm going to try to set up some posts to go out while I'm gone.

We'll see if it works.

:)

We start off here...my birthplace.

I moved when I was a year old and have not been back,

so I'm excited to see the beautiful city of

San Diego, CA

Of course I will be visiting a quilt shop while I am here...

In Ramona, CA.

How awesome is that??

Have a great weekend everyone!

Happy Quilting!

Friday Finishes

This was a good week for creating...

I have two finishes to share!

One quilting and one knitting.

I made this quilt top back in January,

but had not quilted it due to my shoulder issues.

This week was the week.

I decided to make myself quilt this with something other

then meandering. 

How else am I going to learn to FMQ other designs?

It is soooooo far from being good,

but with the quilt design and fabrics,

it's difficult to see the quilting.

:) :)

This is a Bonnie Hunter design,

but I can't remember the name of it.

(Wow!! I just looked at her website to find the name.

Hers is "Crab Apples" and I guess I really liked her design...

Mine is almost identical!)

Years ago I had made a couple of the watercolor quilts and

All of these little squares were cut for those.

They work great for the trees.

This quilt was made completely with stash fabrics!

Backing and all!!

WOOHOO!

"Family Tree" will be given to a niece

and already has the label on it, too!

I'm on a roll!!  :)

I have a knitting finish this week, too.

This is my first toe up pair of socks.

I'm not sure I'll make them like this again.

The cuff is a bit ruffly and I'm not thrilled with the toe,

but I learned something new.

This yarn is Saki Silk and was nice to knit.

These will go in my pile to give as gifts.

Please visit Patchwork Times and Whoop Whoop

to see what others are creating.

Happy Friday!

Happy Spring!

April Finish!

April has begun on a strong note!

My shoulder is 100% better

AND

that means I can quilt again!

I took it easy and finished this quilt with grid quilting.

Not that my quilting is fancy or even that good,

but there is little shoulder movement with grid quilting.

It felt great! 

And I have a finish!!

There is something soothing about quilts made with nine patch blocks,

even when they are bright and cheery.

 This looks like summer to me...

"Summer Sunshine!"

One of my niece's LOVES orange...

this one is for her.

This was such a fun, quick quilt to make.

I have worked on my snowman

and he is almost finished.

(I know.... I need to move onto spring/summer projects!)

I need to add his button eyes and maybe another

snowflake or two.

Then he will be stuffed with sand and fiberfill.

He will also get a hat and scarf.

This little cup is too cute!

I might have to make a couple of these guys for gifts.

Happy Monday and Happy Quilting!

Please visit Patchwork Times to see what others are creating.

Little Miss Muffet....

Now has a Tuffet!!

Remember back in February when I showed you

all of these beautiful fabrics,

cut into strips and ready for a project?

And then I showed you this after taking the first part of the class...

Well, due to circumstances beyond my control,

I wasn't able to take the second class until yesterday.

Now I can show you my finished

Tuffet!!!

 Isn't it Adorable!!

It was a bit of a challenge to put together,

but the instructor was excellent

and had all of the right tools!

This was a two person job for sure!

I fussy cut my fabric for the button.

This is such a bright and cheerful little thing!

 And the bottom is quite lovely, too!

I definitely see more of these in my future!

I won't make these on my own. Paying for the use of the 

instructors tools and to have her supply the predrilled wood and foam

is well worth the price.

Now onto knitting...

 I finished the socks made with the
Sausilito yarn.
This pattern is from the magazine called
"Hand Knit Socks" published by Threads.
This pattern is Easy Lace.

I started another pair and am not thrilled with the yarn color.
I think someone gave me this yarn, but am not sure.

This is the first pair I have knitted from the toe up

and like how these are coming along.

Please visit Patchwork Times to see what others are knitting.

Happy Friday!