Saturday, November 27, 2010

baby it's cold outside!

So how was your Thanksgiving???  Mine was good, ate too much but it was fabulous!  Last night it snowed some more, and this morning.  I have no idea officially how much snow but there were at least 4-5 inches on top of my car this morning.  The dogs are loving playing in it, Joey runs and bites at the snow.  It's funny to watch.  June pretty much would rather stay on the couch where it's warm.
Here's an icicle hanging from the back porch, it sort of melts during the day, but then re-freezes over night.  Today it's 35 degrees which is pretty warm compared to last week!
giant icicle
I took this picture at work, the snow started to melt off the roof, but then by the time the sun started to go down behind the mountain it refroze!  Doesn't it sort of look like a snow wave???
snow wave
So, since it's super cold and stuff, I have been sewing. What else is new? Like maybe a month or so ago Karlie gave me a giant stack of quilting magazines to look through. I picked out a few that had projects I'd like to try and took the rest to the library. In one of them there was a double wedding ring quilt instruction thing with a template. There's a pickledish quilt along going on over at Comfortstitching, which I thought about joining but haven't - didn't really want to do a whole quilt really. So, when I came across this article I thought - perfect! And, since it's almost Christmas I thought I'd make just one ring and possibly give it as a gift. So, the thing is that I really like it. BUT the corners are uber tricky so it doesn't really lay completely flat! I'm not sure how to remedy the situation and so I don't think I can give it to anyone, you know? Not that I ever make anything perfect, I just don't want to give something kind of sub-par.
Christmas ring
Back of Christmas ring
So, what I think I'll do is check out the quilt along and maybe just do one pickledish circle thing.  Maybe that will be better?

Sunday, November 21, 2010

because everyone wants a fairy tale, right?

Okay, not an official one, because I sure don't want to be eaten by a wolf or locked in a tower for prince charming to climb up my hair or anything!  But, maybe a little table runner type?  I think last year maybe at the rummage sale I snagged some books that had been discarded from a school that was shutting down here.  I love the illustrations in some of the old books.
The book that inpired the table runner
This one I originally thought I'd like fo use for embroidery, like I love the little flowery things on the title lettering.  But I haven't been doing much embroidery lately.  I bought a fat quarter of Heather Ross' Far Far Away II owl and pussycat in lilac and have been wanting to use it in something but also feeling extremely stingy with it because I just have a teensy bit. I picked up the book a couple weeks ago and the backround of this page caught my attention:
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I've loved the look of light/dark contrasting squares either in a log cabin or triangles. I started rummaging through my stash looking for jewel tones and picked out some of my faves.  What do you think?
Fairy Tale Table runner
table runner back
Fairy Tale Table Runner
That dark purple with the little blue flowers in the lefthand corner might be my favorite fabric right now.  The quilting is a little wonky, I think I was just kind of done and started hurrying through.  It's not terrible per se, just not perfect.

In other news, it is officially Winter here!  It has been snowing off and on all day, which is fine by me since I've been cleaning - ugg.  Unfortunately it must be done.  The good news is that I sorted through some more magazines to drop off at the library.  There is a table in the foyer where people dump off magazines or books to share with others.  I've often found some really great magazines to look at.

Friday, November 12, 2010

another runner...

So I mentioned last weekend that I made a Christmas table runner, and here it is:
Crhistmas runner front
back view:
Christmas runner back
folded up, so you can kind of see the quilting a little closer:
runner folded up
My machine was having major tension issues and the lighter green that I used on the border was thicker than usual so I don't think it was liking it very well.  Overall I think it turned out alright.  The fabric I used for the back I've literally had in my stash over 5 years.  I want to say I bought it when we first moved here which would've been at least 8 years ago!  I bought it with the intent of making a runner with it, before I started quilting I would have just sewn up a hem around the edges and called it good. 

So, in bible study we've been listening to CD's that Sherry has of So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore.  Of course, we all knew we have some insecurity to deal with, and in true Beth Moore style she nails it right on the head!!!  We've been listening to a couple of chapters at a time, and then discussing them.  It's interesting which insecurities we have in common and thinking about what my secret insecurities are that I would just never vocalize.  Not because they're creepy or gross but because sometimes I just don't want anyone to know everything about me.

It's definitely become crock pot weather here!  This past week it snowed again, has had frost every single morning and been under 30 degrees every night.  I know it's way colder but since I can't think of an exact number I'll just put it that way.  Keeping the chill in mind, I will be staying inside mostly this weekend.  5 things I'd like to do this weekend:

1. Finish the runner I started this week (big surprise!), it's in a theme of "fairy tales".  I buy older books sometimes at yard sales, thrifts and such and have this one book from the 70's that has the greatest illustrations that inspired this particular runner.
2. Make something yummy in the crock pot!  I was craving roast the other day, but today taco soup sounds yummy.  It doesn't matter what I make, it's always delish in the crock!
3. Find a new book to read!  I haven't wanted to read any of my books in my queue so I need to find something fun to read.
4. Scrapbook with Jan.  She invited me over Sunday afternoon to do a little cropping.  I have a project in the works so it will be perfect!
5. Start a Christmas wreath.  I had an idea that involves yarn and one of the vintage deer and possibly some flocking :)  Sounds good, yes?

Saturday, November 6, 2010

blustery day

It is a very blustery fall day here today! But, the sun is out and it is fairly warm so I'm enjoying it! Yesterday I finally sewed up my block for the Vintage Sheet Quilting Bee for October! Yikes, I'm a little late, huh? So, October was Jennifer's month and she asked for pretty, shabby chic blocks with pink centers. So, this is what I came up with: 


October block for Jenn
I really like the way it turned out.  The aqua was actually the edge of a pillowcase! 
Last night Kristin had some ladies over for game night, we all used to work together in a billing office.  It was super fun!  This group of ladies were the best ever to work with, so supportive of each other and so much fun to be around.  We all brought a snack to share and laughed a ton and played board games, it was great!
This morning (and yesterday, too, for that matter) I really fought the urge to sleep in till noon like I did last Friday!  Even right now I could probably take a nap!  I have been working on another runner (surprise!) and this time it really is a Christmas one.  Here's a sneak peek.  I was quilting it and had to take a little break because I realized I had sewn the corner of the back to the back!  So, had to seam rip it loose and was about to undo the quilting on the far right square and decided I might need to walk away from it for awhile.  Does that happen to anyone else???  I might need buy some of those clip things to keep it rolled up whilst quilting.
Christmas runner WIP
So, that's what I've been up to, what about you???