Updates

Update #1: JudyL's Labor Day Challenge

Here are 16 of the 20 blocks complete. I didn't have enough of the animal focus fabric to have a 5x6 block layout so 4x5 block layout it is. I was going to use this polka dot fabric as the border with a few of the animals as cornerstones...but now I'm thinking that I need a black calming inner border and some of the framing fabric as cornerstones? I.m trying harder to be free-er and wonky-er with this project :) This quilt should measure about 45 x 54 when complete. A good size for my good friend Paula's ASAP (Aid to School Age Parents) Quilt Drive. She is collecting quilts to be given to ASAP for Christmas for children birth to 2 years old. I first read about it on JoAnne's blog, this post. The ASAP Christmas party is usually held the last week of November.

Update #2: the Washer

Seems I broke posts that are in the long plastic piece that holds the shaft and knob in place.

• Solution #1: buy a new washer ($$$)
• Solution number #2: buy a new plastic panel (approximately $125.00) and most likely will break it again.
• Solution #3: Cobble it together with duck tape (new roll $4.00)
  

I voted to cobble it together while we decided what plan of action to take.

More News:

Remember this post of Pam's?

It seems we have our very own yellow jacket infestation here in SE Wisconsin. Both DH and I feel bad killing off the bees, after all there is a world wide declining population of bees! But, we don't want them living on our deck, beneath our pot next to the slider door!

sorry for the fuzzy picture of the hive...I'm allergic....enough said!

More News:

DS decided he was done with the hot pink paint in his room. Made the decision to paint over this weekend. So DH and DS went off to the Hardware Store and got some paint, cream and a kinda mossy green. While DS is at work today, two painters have been busy :)

Me? See those 14 blocks I got done? I was in the sewing room :)

Stash Busting Report Week #35

This past week was pretty mellow for me, not a whole lot was happening in the sewing room. My report follows:

• fabric received in: +6.5 yards
• fabric used: -5 yards
• fabric net for the week: +1.5 yards (added)

Fabric net for the year: -51.5 yards (used)

What I accomplished this week:

• completed 'Red Hat' quilted tote

Goals for next week:

• quilt and bind Lake Country Mystery
• piece JudyL Wonky Labor Day Challenge to a flimsy
  

Only today and tomorrow left of summer vacation here at Bell Creek Quilts. No more sleeping in and lunches out! Tuesday starts the school schedule...early to bed and early to rise! You can bet that napping will be added to our school schedule while our bodies adjust back to 'school time'.

A sad (?) thing happened to me yesterday. As I was dialing down the amount of water for the next load of DS's laundry, the knob gave way and was free spinning! uh-oh! Not even two years old and I broke the washer! at least the water level was on high, not exactly conserving water but at least, the load was able to wash last night. DH promised to look at it today...hope he can fix it and I don't need to call a repairman!

JudyL's Labor Day Challenge

JudyL is sharing a pattern for her Labor Day Challenge. Like Stephanie at Scraps, I am finding it challenging! Although my house may be messy and my sewing room cluttered, I like to cut and sew with straight lines! The wonky-ness is confusing my brain (I don't do well with paper piecing and that whole backward-flip-of-fabric-and-have-it be-the-right-size-thing either!) But I am going to try!

Here is the animal fabric I'm using that was gifted to me by my MIL and a few go-width's that I pulled from the cupboard. I had about 22 inches to begin with, so I will have less blocks in the finished quilt. Perhaps this is a good thing?!

Ta-da! My first two blocks with no frogging! yea!

Another Summer Finish

My 'Red Hat' quilt tote is another summer finish and all from stash! Well...I did need to buy the dowel handles and DH cut them to size. Thanks DH :) I decided in the spirit of the Fungly Challenge around blogland, I would pull out my 'Red Hat' coins and make a quilted tote. The pattern is Quilt Carrier from Nancy J. Martin's Quilters on the Go. I had brought a copy of the Quilt Carrier pattern while in Michigan during the July visit.
After quilting, here is the front.


Sorry for the blurry pictures but the camera battery was dying and I didn't realize it.

Here is the back.







After cutting and piecing, here is side 1.







Here is side 2 (notice my model Daisy didn't even move at all!).







And one of the best things about this 'Red Hat' tote is now I have any empty bin just waiting for the next project to fill it!

I wonder what the next project should be?!

WIP Wednesday

Today I was able to sew the outer borders onto the 'Red Hat' coins. I made a backing out of the leftovers from the front, so I can say that very little of the 'Red Hat' fabric is left and that is in the scrap bin! I did need to get creative as it wasn't quite enough fabric for the backing, so into the closet I went looking for the 'ugly' in the correct color way :)

I loaded it all up and started quilting with the Plumage panto that was already on the table. Lilac thread already threaded in the machine and bobbin, too! Talk about using what's available! Here is a picture of the second row by the border. The lilac shows up in the green but blends nicely with the various 'Red Hat' coins. My plumes are very organic...meaning each one is a little different from the previous :)

The ORANGE birthday girl has decided on lime green as her accent. a very good choice I feel. A nice bright quilt for a soon-to-be 16 year old girl :)

Amy at Amy's Passions is having a give away to celebrate 100 posts. But hurry, the comments close at 11:00 pm tonight (Central time zone). As part of her game, she askes that you post a favorite quilt, either made by you or given to you.
Here is one of my favorites. It is called Fuzzy Navel Squared and I really stepped outside the comfort zone on this one with the yarn couched onto the squares. It was given to my niece as a graduation gift from Law School last year.

My Weekend in Michigan

The Birthday Girl liked her quilt!

Her test was to see if she could hide under it and be completely covered...it was big enough to succeed! As a matter of fact, her older sister liked it so much that she asked for a quilt for her birthday on January 4th! and get this, her new favorite color is ORANGE! looks like I'll be stepping out of the comfort zone once again :) Her older brother was telling me how comfy the rag quilt is and I told him that I wanted to make a floral rag quilt and yes, you guessed it! He said he would LOVE a floral rag quilt for his birthday on December 13th! I ought to make it and mail it to him and 'see' just how much he likes flowers :)

My Mom, DD and I stopped at JAF and I brought a few oranges as I know that is one color not in excess in the stash!


I also took my Mom and DD on what I thought was a wild goose chase looking for Jennifer's Quilt Shop in Pickney, Michigan. I had just given up, when I turned down a street I thought was the main drag out of town and what was there? Jennifer's Quilt Shop in this cute little building.

I found the perfect cow fabric, a charm table runner pattern and a package of cathedral windows notecards and a very cute bag to tote it all in. I was really happy that I found the shop :)

Thanks for all the sweet comments on the Tinkerbell purse and accessories and the trip to Michigan. When I find some more time, I'll stop by the blogs and catch up on my e-mails.

Stash Busting Report Week #34

Last week was a short week for me! Here is my report:

• fabric received in: 16 yards
• fabric used: - 2 yards
• net fabric for the week: + 14 yards (added)

Net fabric for the year: -53 yards (used)

What I accomplished this week:

• made purse and accessories for DD

Goals for next week:

• piece 'RedHat' coins to a flimsy
• quilt 'RedHat' coins

Hard to believe that summer is almost over here in Wisconsin! This is the last full week of summer vacation as the kids head back to school on September 2nd! Time 'to do' a those 'things' I thought I had all summer to do :)

The end of summer always sneaks up on me and I think, 'WOW! Where has summer gone?!' If you find my summer, please send it back this way :) Thank You! :)

DD's Purse and Accessories

All that is left to finish on DD's purse and accessories is to iron in the velcro closure! woo-hoo!

The purse pattern is from Mama Spark...Thank you Pam for posting the directions!

I quilted the Tinkerbell fabric with a new to me pantograph, Plumage.

One thing I did realize after a couple of sets of purses and accessories is that, if the motif is smaller then you have more of a chance of 'seeing it' in the final product. The Tinkerbells fell on the backside of the wonder wallet and the tissue cozy. I was able to figure out and cut the Tinkerbell fabric so Tink is on the front (and upside up!) of the zippered coin purse. DD is such a sweetie that she is excited to have it done and doesn't mind 'where you see Tinkerbell'!

With all the talk around blogland of the Olympics and many bloggers are either sewing back bindings or working on hand stitchery, I thought I would share my Olympic activity!

I've been watching and snacking on my own version of trail mix! Add a handful of cashews, handful of Golden Graham cereal, little more than a handful of raisins and a heaping handful of M&M's. Mix together, sit back and be WOW-ed by all the wonderful Olympic athletes that most likely don't sit on the couch and snack :)

One last note...the family is heading over to Michigan to participate in (different) family activities! DS will be with Grandpa cruising, DH will be waiting in the wings as the rescue team for the cruise and DD and I will be attending a birthday party!

Things will be quiet for a few days...talk to you when we get back :)

This could be bad...

I went to Patched Works Quilt Shop today and this is what jumped in my hands and begged to come home with me.

How could I refuse?! All but the violets were from the 20% off sale section!

The violets, ice cream and fortune cookies will be gifted to my bee friends when I visit next month (Shhh! JoAnne and Maureen...no spilling the beans! :) ) The bicycles will be for the back of Uncle M.'s Bicycle T Shirt quilt (construction hopefully will begin in January of '09). The maroons I just started collecting for a quilt for DH (his college colors are maroon and gold) and the charm pack is for The Box that I'm filling of stuff...both quilting and non-quilting. The Box is an idea from a fellow quilt friend/member that has a friend in a guild that her guild did this...find The Box and one person fills it with stuff (quilting and other things quilters might like), anyone in the guild can put her/his name in a drawing, the winner gets what is inside The Box. Next month, the previous month's winner will fill The Box and a new name gets drawn! I thought it sounded like fun so I thought I would buy The Box and fill it the first month. Hopefully, the guild members will like this little 'extra'

The bad...16 yards! 1 for DH's quilt, 6 for Uncle M.'s backing and 9 for the bee gifts plus the charm pack! I better get busy again in the sewing room :)

Stash Busting Report Week #33

Another easy week to report:

• fabric received in: 0.5 yards
• fabric used: - 6.5 yards (used)
• net fabric for the week: -6.0 yards (used)

Net fabric year to date: -67.0 yards (used)

What I accomplished this week:

• completely finished Kitty Framed!
  

Goals for next week:

• make purse and accessories for DD
• piece 'Red Hat' Chinese Coins to a flimsy

DD liked LindaJ's and my purse and accessories so much that she asked if I would make a set for her! My only stipulation was that the fabric had to come from the closet! I know, I'm a meanie! but I need to use that stash :)

This will be a short week for me as the family is heading back to Michigan on Wednesday August 20th. DS and Grandpa are participating in the Old 27 Car Cruise for a few days in Grandpa's 1962 Thunderbird. Grandpa has been busy polishing and waxing the car to show condition. The good news is that we will be able to attend Clare's Birthday party and see her reaction when she opens her gift!

This is the best picture I could find of the T-bird which was taken in the summer of 2007. I'll have to ask DS to take a better picture this week during the car cruise. Should be a fun driving the US 27 with all the vintage vehicles!

Suzanne's Party

Suzanne is having a party to celebrate her 600th post! Incredible!

She was wondering what you would bring to her party...since I'm a sweets girl...

I think I will bring a dessert! Like this strawberry truffle!

Scrabble for Quilters

I totally stole this from Mama Koch at Oklacookiemaker but I've seen it on other blogs, too. A fun play along if you wish...

Pholph's Scrabble Generator My Scrabble© Score is: 17. What is your score? Get it here.

Pholph's Scrabble Generator My Scrabble© Score is: 15. What is your score? Get it here.

My name was too long so I did it twice! My combined score is 32...ummm...

Kitty Framed!

I finished machine sewing the binding onto Kitty Framed! this morning.

In December 2007, I participated in my night guild Ugly Fabric Challenge. If you brought a 1/2 yard of 'ugly' fabric (in a plain brown bag, of course!) then you picked another bag.
In my bag I received this white fabric with black kitty/ doggie words/sayings.

I used two 6 1/2 inch squares as the focus blocks and used two 2.0 inch x WOF for framing pieces.

I quilted it using my new pantograph, Angel Wings.

I also incorporated a little bit into a label...that needs to be sewn down and written on! The due date for the finished challenge piece was originally set for June 2008 but it was pushed back to our guild picnic meeting which is next week, August 21st. Unfortunately, I will be out of town for the reveal!

One more observation....

How can I complete a lap size quilt and still have so many parts leftover?!

I'm also happy to report that all the fabric for Kitty Framed! is from the stash! Yea! Another August finish for Eileen's Summer Stash Challenge!