Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Learning Crochet and Stumpwork

Back in April, I was watching lots of videos about junk journaling. I told one of my co-workers that I wanted to learn how to crochet. I wanted to be able to make little embellishments to add to the journals.  We have different schedules so we really don't have any time when she can teach me, but she gave me a ball of yarn and a crochet hook so I could practice.

During the past few months, I kept the yarn next to the computer and sometimes when I was watching a movie or show on the computer, I would pick up the yarn and make a little something to practice.


Result:  little bits of flawed practice pieces that might be scary to find in a journal.

Fast forward to this week, I saw Tanya's stumpwork, based on Queenie's tutorial.  I looked at one of my samples and thought it would make good hair for a stumpwork person.  I could use the corners of my muslin from the crazy quilt class and use that for a face, and of course I have plenty of fabric scraps and embroidery floss for the rest of it.


I haven't finished the eyes - have to find black and white threads, but otherwise, she's done! She was a lot of fun to make!

Linked to:
Let's Bee Social 
Moving it Forward Monday

Monday, May 28, 2018

Quilting Recap

It is Monday, so time for another recap of my quilting progress last week.  As you know, I have been trying to sew for 15 minutes every day, allowing myself the ability to catch up on missing days during the week.  Ever since I started that goal, it has (almost?) always been On Ringo Lake that took the stitching, and the two have always been intertwined. Talk about one, you are also talking about the other.



There was a break this week, since all of my time was spent reading the material for the crazy quilting class with Kathy Seaman Shaw, planning fabrics and embellishments and making the block.


I pulled these embellishments just to prove to Kathy that I had the material I needed for this class, but who are we kidding?  I could probably have supplied the whole class and still had leftovers.

On Ringo Lake was nowhere to be found this week. (Well technically the rows are draped on the ironing board which I can see every day, but beyond an apology or two, it didn't get any attention.)

So here are the final results of the week:

15 Minute sessions of stitching this week:  7 out of 7
15 Minute sessions of stitching this year:  133 out of 147 sessions
Success rate: 90%

I'm pretty sure I spent more than the minimum daily allowance, and therefore the success rate should have budged up, but no, it is time for humility and the rate stayed the same.

Linked to:
15 Minutes to Stitch


A rose must remain with the sun and the rain or its lovely promise won't come true.
Ray Evans

Saturday, May 26, 2018

Crazy Quilt Block


I expected to take one fifteen minute stitching session to make my block for my crazy quilting class with Kathy Shaw, but it took a long time to pick out more fabrics since my planned pieces were too small, cut out the templates, arrange and rearrange the fabric in my mind, cut out the fabrics and cut more to balance out the colors, find and clean the baby iron, sew the blocks, press, sew, press, sew, press, sew, press, sew, press, sew, press, look for the lost piece, and finally cut something else to fit.


I chose a very neutral palatte because I love the look, but I have a tendency to use bright colors.


Everytime I chose a particular set of pieces that would have a particular fabric, I found there was an overlap. I'm not 100% happy with this layout, but I've already spent my entire week's allotment of sewing time on one block.  I'm happy to spend the time to learn everything I need to learn, but at some point, I have to say it's good enough and move on.



"Rain is grace; rain is the sky descending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life."
John Updike

Linked to:
UFO Busting #21 - Yes I succumbed to a new shiny project.

Monday, May 21, 2018

Weekly Recap of 15 Minutes to Stitch

 

15 Minutes to Stitch

I had a busy week at work, and on the time I did have off, I chose to rest instead of quilt. I did not manage to get all seven sewing sessions last week. I did quilt some, so maybe about half of the sessions.

I am still sewing rows of On Ringo Lake blocks and sashing, and debating whether I want to make the quilt as big as I planned.  The quilt is queen sized, but my bed is a double bed. I thought a queen quilt would be more versatile and could just hang down more, but now I'm not so sure.
One of the advantages of making something is that it can be customized for your particular needs.  I will keep going from the outside in, and see how big I want to make it as I go along. I can always use the extra blocks to make a smaller quilt, a bed runner, wall hanging, etc.

I also signed up for a crazy quilt class with Kathy Shaw so one of the sessions was taken up collecting supplies and reading the initial material for that class.



I reenacted the design bed experience for you.

15 Minute sessions of stitching this week:  5 out of 7
15 Minute sessions of stitching this year:  126 out of 140 sessions
Success rate: 90%

 Linked to:
15 Minutes to Stitch
Let's Bee Social

Saturday, May 19, 2018

Pink Day

It is pink day over at So Scrappy, so I am scrambling to find pink things to show you. First up, this beautiful azalea I photographed last week, right after  I showed you the azalea from last month.  It doesn't look as good this week, so it is a good thing I took the pictures when I did.


I'm still working on the On Ringo Lake quilt mystery, sewing the rows of blocks and sashing together  I really like the way I can use the bed as a design floor, so now I have a design bed. Not so much bending, but I do have to go up and down the stairs to get from the sewing machine to the bed and back.


The flowers are so showy, they are hiding all the leaves.


Oh there's the leaves!


Besides the On Ringo Lake quilt, I have joined a crazy quilting class with Kathy Shaw. They are free and quarterly, but there is a limited sign up window and I missed it last quarter, so I've decided to give it a go now since I managed to be there at the right place and time.   I've gathered up my supplies.  I don't really like this combination of supplies, but I will adapt it with time. It is going to be mostly peach/pink and green. . Even though the photo doesn't show a lot of pink, it still fits the theme.



Speaking of pink/peach, Bonnie asked for melon/coral, but here is some pink from my On Ringo Lake quilt so I can properly register for Pink Day!

Linked with:

 So Scrappy! All the pink projects are so beautiful this week!

Monday, May 14, 2018

15 Minutes to Stitch Recap

I don't know if you have noticed, but I kept saying that I needed to press my rows of On Ringo Lake quilt. I expected it to take several 15 minute sessions.  And when I was ready to press them, the weather had taken a turn for the warmer.


But the weather wasn't too warm, and it didn't take nearly the amount of time I anticipated. I had stripped the bed, and just laid the rows so I could envision the quilt on the bed and make sure there weren't any awkward spots. I was trying to get a lot done so I didn't take photos for the blog. I probably should have because sometimes you see things in photos that you don't see in real life.

So the rows have been pressed, and most of the corner triangles have the light rectangles sewn on.  And some of the blue rectangles have been cut.  I will trim them to actual size, as Bonnie directed instead of properly measuring the trapezoids ahead of time. This does leave big waste triangles, but I'm sure I will be able to find a use for them somewhere.


15 Minutes to Stitch


I had a successful week and managed to adhere to the spirit of the challenge by actually working on the quilt most of the days this week.  And on the days I missed, I was able to make up for the time on other days. I managed to find more than the allotted time for the week, but alas, I can only claim a maximum of 7 sessions a week.

15 Minute sessions of stitching this week:  7 out of 7
15 Minute sessions of stitching this year:  121 out of 133 sessions
Success rate:  91%

 The success rate rounds up to 91 so I will take it!  It is incredible to me that my rate is so high this deep in the peak period at work.  Besides the fact that the numbers look so good, I think it is really helping me keep a calm perspective of work. Work hasn't been nearly as stressful as it has been in other years. I'm afraid to say that since another part of the project starts today which adds on to work we have been doing so far without taking any away.

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

On Ringo Lake Progress


All the rows have been sewn together and all but the center row of sashing have been joined together, ready to press.


I had to do some math and some trial and error to figure out the size to cut the pieces for the setting triangles, but I think I have figured it out now. I didn't press first and the quality of the photo isn't good, but this makes me very happy.

So now it is time to piece the rest of them before I can join the rows. Interspersed with some 15 minute sessions of pressing!


"For happiness one needs security, but joy can spring like a flower even from the cliffs of despair."   Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Sunday, May 6, 2018

15 Minutes to Stitch check

Another week, another spot-check to see how I did on stitching every day this week.


This week , I had some unexpected time off, so I managed to get two hours of quilting all in one day.  I didn't get as much chance to quilt as much as I would like the rest of the week, but two hours is definitely more than 7 sessions, so I am counting all 7 session!

15 Minute sessions of stitching this week:  7 out of 7
15 Minute sessions of stitching this year:  114 out of 126 sessions
Success rate:  90%

The success rate stays at 90%, as incrementally each day makes less and less difference to the overall total.

I did manage to sew the rows of 7 AND the rows of 9, so it is time to press the rows and make a final decision on the setting triangles.

Thursday, May 3, 2018

April Collage

I took a look at the March folder, and there were photos of recipes and quilts from books I returned to the library and quilts in progress which I already showed you in March.

Moving on to April, there were lots of photos of blossoming trees.  I made another collage to show them to you.


Wednesday, May 2, 2018

February Collage

While you are thinking warm thoughts of spring and flowers, I realized that I hadn't shown a photo update in a while. So long, in fact, that the last time I did it was in January.  So, better late than never, here is my collage for February. Hopefully March and April won't be too long behind in getting their showcase.

Here is where I choose my favorite photographs from the month and show them, either individually or a collage. As you can tell from the title, I chose to make a collage this month.


It is sponsored by the color white.  Mostly snow, but beautiful skies with wonderful white clouds, a white squirrel, and a blossom with a promise of spring.