A few more mini's

I have two more mini's finished that I'll be donating to my guild to send to the NQA Little Quilt Auction.  I made another version of Elizabeth Hartman's "Sparkle Punch" quilt.  I really like this pattern and maybe one day I'll make a larger version.

I also made another mini quilt using Lori Holt's "Quilty Barn" tutorial as inspiration for the Barn quilt.  

I also recently finished sock #1 for my DH.  I've never enjoyed knitting socks, my first pair took a year to knit.  For whatever reason, I'm actually enjoying it this time.  It could be because I'm knitting on two circular needles which I like way better than the double points.  Sock #1 only took me one week to knit and it actually fits! Now I just need to finish sock #2.

The next few weekends I really need to spend getting some quilts quilted.  The finished tops are piling up!  I just ordered a Grace Speed Control for the Juki that I have on my frame so hopefully that will arrive this weekend so I can spend the weekend quilting.

I now leave you with a photo of the boys sunbathing...

Quilting in a Cold Front

Finally!! A cold front in Florida!!!  Well, cold at least for South Florida.  It's 1pm and only 60'F outside - I love it!  Unfortunately it will only last for about a day and then we will be back to the high 70's/low 80's.

I spent the weekend straightening the sewing room and working on my blocks for the Simply Modern Bee I'm participating in.  January is my month and I choose the colors red and aqua.  I made my block today as well as the block for my fellow Queen Bee who also choose red and aqua.  While I was at it I decided to make the February blocks since I know this month will be a bit busy.  The February Queen's choose shades of purple and purple and green for their blocks.

I'm still playing in the sewing room today and hope to finish a few more blocks on my Spin Cycle quilt.  I only have 15 to go!  I'm trying to be good and finish that project before I start the next one.  I just added a bunch of neutrals to my stash and can't wait to start working with them.

On the knitting front, I finally finished my Derecho Shawl that I was doing as part of a KAL with my friends who went with me to SAFF.  I love the colors!

More bee blocks and a KAL

I finally had time to return to my sewing room for the first time in a few weeks.  I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family but it is so tiring.  I spent the weekend finishing up some bee blocks.  The first is for the South Florida Modern Quilt Guild Bee.  The December Queen requested a shoo fly block using a text fabric that she provided.  I really like this block.

I also made the December blocks for the Simply Modern Bee.  One lady requested a block using yellow and gray fabrics and the other lady choose blues.

I was able to finish piecing a quilt top today that I will be donating to Project Linus.  I made a carpenter star using HST's.  I need to find time now to get it quilted.

On the knitting front, my friend K-Ro has been trying to distract me from knitting on my Derecho shawl.  We are making it as part of a KAL with our friend Charity.  I just started section 6 and K-Ro keeps placing Jedi mind tricks on me to distract me from knitting.  See K-Ro!! It's working!!  Tonight, I'm updating my blog instead of knitting!!  BUT, football is on tonight so I'll get quite a bit done this evening.

Remember to stop back on December 9th for the Blog Hop Party - there will be a giveaway!!

 

I just have to share a picture of my little man dreaming in his sock monkey bed.

Cathedral Window QAL

Last night I finally finished piecing the top to my Cathedral Window QAL that I've been participating in for the last two months.  I really love the end result, now I just need to figure out how I'm going to quilt it.  Some of the blocks are very thick because of all the fabric used to make the windows.  The quilt is also very heavy!

I'm also participating in the Simply Modern Bee online and we are doing the Garden Fence block by Hyacinth Quilt Designs.  It's an easy block that I've done before as part of the South Florida Modern Quilt Guild Bee.  There are two Queen Bee's for the month of November, one requested a block with orange/light blue/aqua colors, the other request purple and olive green.  I'm going to try and get them in the mail tomorrow.

On the knitting front, I made a Helvellyn hood last week using Araucania Limari yarn from my stash.  I have no idea why I would need a bulky wool hood in South Florida, but it was a fun knit and will probably come in handy when we take the Chevelle out for a drive on a cold winter night.

I've also been working making another Noro Striped Scarf since I've given away the last two I've made.  I'm using Noro Taiyo and Malabrigo Worsted (from the stash!!).  I love the color combination.

I'm getting ready to start the Derecho shawl as part of a KAL with my friends that I went to SAFF with.  I'll be using the Miss Babs Yummy Superwash Sock yarn that I bought at SAFF.  I love the colors....coral, slate and sugar!  So pretty!

I've continued to practice my new skill, tatting, and I finished a bookmark pattern that I found online.  It is shuttle tatted using size 20 thread.

I'm still knitting...

I haven't given up on knitting.  I know lately I've been posting more about the quilts then the knits but I've had a few knitting projects that have taken awhile to finish.  My mom has accepted that knitting is one hobby too many for her, so she sent me her yarn.  I recently finished this sweater for her.

I also finished knitting a shawl for my mom that seemed to take forever.   Once it's blocked I'll post some pictures.  In the meantime I'm on a knitting deadline trying to finish a special project before I leave for SAFF (Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair) in North Carolina at the end of the month.

I'm looking forward to the trip as I'll be traveling with two friends from my knit group.  I also signed up for a beginning tatting course which should be fun.  Check back at the end of the month as I'll be sure to post photo's from the trip.

It's been awhile...

...since I last posted.  I guess things have been a little busy around here.  At the beginning of June I was feverishly crocheting a baby blanket for my mom that she needed in time for a baby shower.  It was so boring to crochet but I stuck with it and finished it, only I didn't get a picture of it.  I've also been busy making the blocks for the South Florida Modern Quilt Bee.  June was an interesting block using this tutorial.  I started making it using the measurements provide and just couldn't get the block correctly squared up, so I started over, made everything about an inch longer and it worked.  Here's a picture of the first block that didn't square off correctly, unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the second one that came out correctly.



The July block was a granny square using this tutorial.  The block on the top is the one I'm keeping for my sampler quilt and the bottom is the one I gave to the July Queen Bee.



I also completed the August block that used this tutorial.  But I'm only going to show the block I kept since I haven't give the block to K-Ro yet.  This was a fun block and I think I may make an entire quilt one day.



I've also been busy working on the $10 BOM blocks from StitchCraft.  The June block drove me crazy.



At least I really enjoyed making the July block (I'll have to post a picture later).

In the South Florida Modern Quilt Guild a round robin quilt has been going around.  I had it in June and added a cute little gnome and some hourglass blocks..

In July we had a swap that involved making something with a zipper.  I saw a cute project in a magazine for a hexagon zippered pouch.  I made one for the swap and made one for myself that has become my new bag for my knitting notions.



For August, we had a quick presentation on paper piecing and each of us is making a paper pieced chicken block.  I finished mine this weekend but may have messed up squaring it off.



Goodness, what else?  I really need to keep up to date on this blog and update it more often.  StitchCraft, my LQS, is having it's yearly challenge.  They give you a half yard of fabric that needs to be utilized in your project.  Here's this years fabric.  It's from the IOTA line by Robert Kaufman.



I finished piecing my item last weekend and just need to get it quilted.  I'll post pictures after the challenge is over.

I've also been working on a baby size quilt the past few weeks.  I'm not sure if the block pattern has a name, it's just something I sketched out on graph paper.  I'm using a really bright limey green solid for the background.  I saw it in the store and just fell in love.  I finished assembling the quilt top this weekend and pieced the backing fabric, now I just need to get it quilted.






 
I realized this weekend that I have about eight quilt tops that need to be quilted.  My current sewing table set up isn't the best for machine quilting so I'm currently on the hunt for a better solution.




On the knitting front, I'm finally getting close to finishing my Mom's sweater.



I also crocheted some squares that I'll have to post pictures of later and just started a scarf that is a gift.

Well, I think that is enough for now.  I'll have to be sure to update more often but as you can tell I've been a bit busy.  It also doesn't help that I got a NOOK for my birthday and have been doing quite a bit of reading lately too.

Can't forget the doggie pictures.  The boys get lots of sleep while I quilt.

Project Linus Quilts

Last Saturday my quilt guild had a special sewing day at the local library to make quilts for the Project Linus charity.  I managed to piece three quilt tops that day.  Since today was such a rainy day, I worked on finishing the quilting and binding on the quilts.  It gave me a chance to practice my free motion quilting.





And my favorite:



I completed the April block for the $10 quilt at StitchCraft.



And also finished the April block for the South Florida Modern Quilt Guild Bee.  Sue was the queen bee for April and wanted a block done in blues.  Her block is on the bottom and I made an extra block for me.



On the knitting front, I finished the Riverbank Road vest pattern by Amy Swenson.  I made the 34" size and used just one skein of sock yarn!!  I made this for my youngest niece and hopefully I'll have a picture of her wearing it.



I've also been working on the Gilet court d'été sweater.  I'm knitting from my stash and am using Wisdom Yarns Poem yarn.  I'm not too happy with the consistency of the color between the different balls, it's all the same dyelot but each ball has been a different intensity.  I cast on more stitches then called for to try and make it a little larger.  I think it worked.  I have about 10 more rows to go before I put the sleeve stitches on holders and begin the body.  This will be a nice little sweater for work when the A/C freezes us out.

Yellow Roadster

Today I finally finished the Ritenour hat for "Bubba" to wear on the cold nights when he's cruising in his roadster.  I told Bubba I'd make this hat for him about two years ago when we were at a fundraiser cruise in in Pompano Beach on an unusually cold January night.  Bubba is such a sweet southern gentleman that it was my pleasure to make this for him.  The hat was a fun and easy knit and hopefully my DH will like it so I can make him one.

The hat:



The roadster:

Geese, Geese, Geese

I've started to receive some of the blocks for the South Florida Quilt Guild Mod Bee.  Such a talented group of ladies.  I can't wait to get them all together and start planning the layout of the quilt.

Friday night I finally finished the first block of the $10 BOM at StitchCraft.  I picked the neutral colorway.

This weekend I also finished working on my "Pointless Snow White" quilt.  I had plans for it to be given as a gift to a friends new grand-baby this year but I was having such issues with the pattern.  It was an easy pattern but way too many small pieced squares and lots of seams.  I tried hard to keep a sharp point on my triangles but said "screw it" after awhile.  Overall I am pretty happy with it and will keep it for myself.  I even pieced the back this weekend too, so now I just need to quilt it (along with the six other quilts that need quilting).

Pointless Snow White Quilt

And if that wasn't enough to complete this weekend (guess I'm making up for no quilting last weekend) I also pieced together a tumbler block quilt using some die-cut tumbler pieces I bought a few years ago.  This is now the baby quilt to replace the Snow White quilt.  Now I have an excuse to go to the LQS tomorrow to buy an adorable backing fabric.

Tumbler Quilt

Even though there was no quilting last weekend, I did manage to finish my Wingspan.



And I finally found yarn to match this beautiful machine.  I told the owner, a wonderful southern gentleman nicknamed "Bubba", that I would make him a hat for those cold nights that he had to drive his roadster home.

The car:


The yarn: