Sunday, March 29, 2015

a little game of quilt back chicken

So you may or may not be familiar with the term "yarn chicken"? Well, this weekend I played a little game of fabric chicken!  With almost every tutorial, book, pattern, etc, for quilt instructions they will say to make the backing and batting about 3-4 inches bigger than the quilt top.  So I've done that with every other quilt I've made....and ended up with odd shaped scraps that I don't do anything with.  On this quilt I thought I'd try a closer back dimension to my front.  Yeah.  Don't do that!  

It was superbly frustrating to baste/pin this quilt!  I'd get it lined up and then the front would hang over on an edge....just to have to adjust again.  I use basting spray adhesive before I pin so this was super annoying!  Uggg, never again!  I will listen to the instructions.  So in the pictures below you can see how close the front is to the batting and the backing.  We're talking like not even 1/2 inch difference!
Here you can see the difference pretty well.

I'm putting this picture up for a couple reason.  One being that I love this backing fabric!  And the binding is super cute.  Aaaaand to show that nothing is perfect, see that little pucker?  yep, not perfect but I don't even care!  It will barely be noticeable once washed.    When I first started quilting I was very intimidated by other bloggers who churned out one perfect quilt after another.  My quilt backs were full of huge puckers and it has slowly improved but I've been quilting for like 5 years now....point being don't be discouraged!  It takes practice and really no one notices the flaws.

Here's another fabric chicken example - that's the selvedge in the corner there!  Ha.  But the binding is cute, yeah?
Here's a full frontal pic, lol!  I like it.  It's very cheery I think.
And the back.  I was going to just do the pink completely.  But then just couldn't!!!  I'm very pleased with the back so I'm glad I went with my gut.  The tan color is the cutest umbrella print!  I bought that and the pink at the quilt store last weekend.  I bought enough of each to do the back because I couldn't decide. If that umbrella print was yellow or blue it would have been perfect!  I know I'll use it in something else though and I'll be glad I have it :)
So there you go!  Rainy Day quilt finally finished!  Started February 2014 and finished today 3-19-15. yeah!  I love that I started this on a rainy day and finished on a beautiful sunny day :)

Thursday, March 26, 2015

doldrums

I just wrote out a whole post and deleted it.  Because really, it doesn't matter.  The whole thing boiled down to this;

My heart is in the doldrums.

Being widowed sucks.  I hate being alone.  I hate that he is gone.

Next week marks 2 years.  Yesterday was one month since Joey died.  My heart is heavy.


Saturday, March 21, 2015

fabric gorge


We all know how it goes when we got to a certain store and set a budget in our minds....could be "I'm just going in for milk" or just this one little thing.  And then we leave with triple what we meant to buy!  That's what happened to me today!  The quilt fabric store in Merrill has one sale a year (one!) and it's today.  Everything in the store is on sale.  With my current WIP in mind, the Rainy Day quilt, I went in the store looking for backing fabric.  I did my preliminary lap around the store.  Then went into the room with the 60% off fabrics.  Ran into my friend Connie and chatted a bit.  Then it happened.  I just started grabbing bolts, 1 yard of this, 3 of that, 5 yards of that please.....and I ended up with this stack below.
 It may not look like much but it's super fun!  And I last minute grabbed this Mollie Makes book because I've been stalking Jo-ann's, hoping they'd get it in for it for over a year!  Aaaaaand since I spent over a certain amount I got to spin their prize wheel and won 5 spools of Gutterman thread.  Yahoo!
Right now I'm thinking the pink at the bottom of the stack will be the backing for the rainy day quilt.  I bought 5 yards of that so it should be enough.  

In other news, remember the accident I was in at the beginning of February? Well I finally heard from the other guy's insurance yesterday and they are going to accept liability!  What a relief.  I knew God would look out for me though, and He has.

Friday, March 20, 2015

{this moment}

{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo* - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Saturday, March 14, 2015

sewing up stuff

 Yesterday, I had accumulated enough hours for the week at the office that I got to leave early!  What a treat!  I have had such Spring fever and being "let loose" about 3.5 hours early was perfect.  I'm so close to finishing the squares for my Rainy Day quilt, and it was overcast yesterday so I worked on that.  I only have 5 more squares!!!! So close.
I also just had to make a little dress for my knitted fox.  Had to.  So I made one dress yesterday that didn't quite fit right, this morning made one that is close to perfect.  I made a little muslin apron to go over top.  I put one button on and then took pictures.  As I was looking at the pictures I thought, why didn't I put on two blue buttons?  I don't know but I rather like just one so I'm going to keep it asymmetrical.  I really love the dress fabric, it's one I've had in my stash forever that reminds me of a Liberty London print.  Mine is vintage though, which is why I've hesitated to use it.

I've said all along since I started making dolls that they have a personality that makes itself known as you make them.  This little fox is the perfect example of that because it started out as a boy but for some reason I was having trouble making the little sweater that came in the pattern.  And now I know why, the fox is a girl.  Named Fernie Foxtail, and now she feels complete.  I may add a bow yet.  Hmmmm.

It's another gloomy overcast day.....which sort of suits me today.  I think later I'll go to the movies and see the new Cinderella :) and not feel guilty about it like I might on a sunny afternoon.  


Sunday, March 8, 2015

Whovian bags

Have you ever been suddenly overtaken with the *need* to make something?  And not just like, oh at some point, some day, I'd like to make that something, but, like right then!?  Well that's what happened to me yesterday.  I went to zumba in the morning and afterwards was leisurely perusing facebook.  And that's when I saw on my news feed a Doctor Who knitting project bag at the Rose City Yarn Crawl in Portland, which is happening this weekend.  BAH!  Suddenly, I had to find Doctor Who fabric! And order some! and make a project bag! for my knitting!  I googled and found that my local Joann's store carries some Doctor fabric.  So, I immediately put Rocky in the car and zipped down and bought some.  Once I had safely acquired said fabric, Rocky and I went to Petco which is right next door.

I bought 3/4 yard of both prints they had and managed 3 project bags!!!   This first one s a drawstring bag, which I gave as a gift to a friend that I was meeting for dinner last night.  The lining is fun, it's a red backround with different London destinations in white.  The grosgrain ribbon are converse sneakers which is what Doctor Who wears.
 I made two lined zip-up bags today.  The one on the left will be mine, I had to add some of that ribbon around the panel of exploding tardis fabric.  The other I'm going to gift to another friend who also knits and is a Whovian.  As a bonus I finally remembered to add a little loop on the side to carry. 
As I mentioned I took Rocky with me to the store.  I've been trying to include him in outings more since Joey is gone, to help his loneliness.  He had never been to Petco before so I thought it might be fun!  I have to say it was so stinkin cute, it was almost too much!!  First off he didn't want to get out of the car into the parking lot, he knows that's a no-no.  Once I convinced him, he was a low crawler and a little shaky.  He was super nervous walking in the store, the farther back we had to go the lower to the ground he got.  
Thank goodness I found the Chuck-its that I went in for, I thought he was going to lay down completely like he does at the vet!  Once we turned around and headed for the register he was like, cool! and had his bouncy step back.  He even made a friend with a lady coming in the store.  It was so great.  Once we got home I threw the ball with the Chuck-it like twice and then he was pooped!


I feel like I'm making good progress on my socks.  This is how far I've gotten so far.  I really like how the yarn is striping.  I don't remember if I mentioned casting these on?  So, I have another pair of socks I'm also working on so I didn't think I was going to participate in the Bakery Bears Spring into Socks KAL because the socks had to be started on March 1st and the other pair I already had going.  March 1st I was sure I wasn't, March 2nd I had cast these on!  Baha, whoops!  Oh well.
So, a word about socks.  I have been knitting all my socks with US size 1.5 hiya hiya sharps.  I realllllly like the Hiya Hiya sharps.  But, my socks have been sort of too loose?  And I've had a tricky time getting a good fitting length.  So that's why I wanted to try out the two at a time so I can get same length socks.  For these new purply socks I am using US size 0 needles.  I was going to cast on my usual 64 stitches but chickened out and CO 68.  I'm just experimenting to get a good formula.

Friday, March 6, 2015

{this moment}

{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo* - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.


*or two

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

the Doctor

Ok fine.  I have a confession.  I started watching Doctor Who.  Reluctantly.  But, you know - I've been hearing little snippets for a couple years now that piqued my interest.  My friend Danielle started watching it and has been binge watching seasons.  And telling me things and going on about how much she loves it and I would love it too.  It's kind of nice when a friend is watching the same thing and you can discuss it.  So I thought, maybe.  The clincher was that the library had series 2 available to borrow!  And now I'm hooked, darnit.  I think it's a good thing.

So the last few days Rocky and I snuggle on the couch and I knit and we watch Doctor Who together. Yep, it's good.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

makin cards

Here's a snapshot of what I am doing this afternoon.  Making thank you cards and watching podcasts.  I was given lots of love in the form of flowers this week after Joey died, so I'm making some cards.  There is a bouquet in the picture above and another bouquet in the picture below.

 These are two of the bouquets that were on my desk at work, I brought home the daffodils which are SO big, bright, and cheery.  Not pictured is a potted flower that is also gorg.
 I picked up Joey's cremains yesterday from the vet's office.  I have to say that my vet's office is pretty much awesome.  The cremains were put in a nice wooden box with a pamphlet about losing a pet.  Also, a super sweet card that everyone in the office signed.  Joey loved, LOVED going to the vet's office so everyone there really loved him and took such good care of him.  When we'd go into the exam room Joey would jump right up into one of the chairs like a person and wait for the doctor. I found this picture of Joey that I snapped on my ipod that is not great quality but I love it.  This is his normal, happy face that I must have tricked out of him because normally when I'd try and get a picture he'd get super serious!  Love this face.

Anyway.  Nothing exciting happening here which is just fine by me, frankly.  I'm about a 1/2 inch away from the heels on my socks.  Oh!  I finished that book I started, The Scorch Trials.  I'm not sure if I really liked it?  I'm kind of feeling like what is the point?  The writing is fine but I'm not figuring the story out, which I think is the point.  I hope the next book has some sort of explanation for everything.  I'm going to start the last book tonight.

Hope you all have a great week!  I'm looking forward to a peaceful, uneventful week :)