Finally Caught Up

 

This is one of my corner pieces 3 more to put together.

 

This is one of my large triangles 11 more to put together. It took me awhile, but this is the first mystery quilt I have been ready to finish without being behind. I really like these colors.

Easy Street Part 3

It's that time once again to link up for Easy Street Mystery. I haven't completed all of part three yet, but they are all cut so I can sew when I get a few minutes.  For some reason my flying geese didn't post last week so here they are again.

So far I am liking these colors. Looking forward to see what we are going to be doing with the greens.

Easy Street Part 2

Finally I have managed to get started on my Flying Geese for the Easy Street Mystery. 9 down 121 to do before tomorrow.

Easy Street Mystery Step 1

Not only is it the holiday season, but most importantly it is Mystery Quilt A Long at Quiltville.com. So once again with good intentions I have started the mystery and these are my 4 patches so far. Forty five more and I will be ready for step 2 on Friday.

Really?

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/nov/15/museum-needles-taxpayers-free-press/

This is the link for an article published in the Chattanooga News today. Quilts are a part of American History and continue to be part of that history today.  I would refer anyone who would like to know another side of quilting  and  quilters to this survey released on May 20, 2010.

http://www.quilts.com/announcements/y2010/QIA2010_OneSheet.pdf
 

The following is the opening paragraph of the (to me) offensive article.

A quilt museum may seem like an ideal summer vacation destination for the Waltons, Aunt Bee or Ma Ingalls, but quilting fails to hold the interest of most Americans today. Since department stores carry a wide selection of affordable bedding, and special memories can be recorded by photographs and videos rather than by laboring over scraps of cloth, quilts have become largely irrelevant in modern culture.

The author doesn't appear to really know much about quilters or the quilting community. Maybe they don't have a quilter in their family and have never been given a quilt that says I cared enough about you to make something special just for you.

So I'm wondering does anyone besides me feels insulted by this article.

Missouri Star Quilt Company

Missouri Star Quilt Company is having a Birthday Celebration with a Giveaway. Like them on Facebook and share and you are entered. If you haven't been to their website you should check them out. They have lots of tutorials and fabrics. They also have fast service when you order something. Did I mention LOTS of fabric.

Snowflakes and Pumpkin Bread

Yesterday my new crochet book showed up so last night I tried out a couple of the patterns. The whole  book is crocheted snowflakes. They are easy to do and don't take to long and a good way to use up odds and ends of crochet thread.

Today I tried out a recipe I haven't made before for Pumpkin Bread. I added some cranberry and pecans and they will go to a couple of neighbors. It sure smelled good while it was baking so I will be making it again so I can try it.  I also mixed up the ingredients to Chicken Pot Pie which we will be serving the Saturday after Thanksgiving. DH is having some of his guitar friends over to make some music so I am providing the Pot Pies and a Pineapple Upside Down Cake. I'll try to remember to take some pictures before they disappear.

 

 

Well, since I didn't advertise my spur of the moment giveaway I only had one person leave a comment so they are the winner of the Knitting Book I was giving away. Congratulations to Gail.

Fall is Here

As you may have noticed on my header Fall is officially here in the Magic Valley. We had a small amount of wet snow last night but it has already melted. Over the weekend we may see some more. The mountains have a coating and are looking like winter, but  I'll have to wait a couple of days to show you a picture of them as they are covered in clouds right now.

Last night was the meeting of our This and That Crafters group. I finally had some finished show and tell. I purchased the yarn and the free pattern came with it for the hat. The yarn is Jeannee, 51% cotton- 49% Acrylic. It's very soft and knits up beautifully.  There are three sizes on the pattern these are the large and the medium.

On another note: Since I removed the letters and numbers you have to enter to have your comment published on the blog I have been getting span email that isn't showing up on the blog posts as far as I can see, but it is becoming annoying in my inbox. If it keeps up I'll have to put the filter back. I don't like them anymore than you do, but I don't like the spam emails. If they go back up please bear with me and know I didn't feel like I had much choice.

I just noticed that I have done 208 posts. Since my area code is 208 and Veterans Day is the 11th I think I will have a spur of the moment Give-Away.

This time it is knitting related and this is what will be given away. I happen to have a second copy of this book so someone can add it to their library if they get lucky.
1. You need to have a blog to enter and post on your blog about my give away
2. If you are a follower on my blog you get an extra entry.
3. Leave me a comment about your favorite Thanksgiving and/or Christmas memory. I look forward to hearing from you all. I will draw a winner and post their name by noon on Wednesday the 14th of November my time. Good Luck.

It's Been Way to Long Since I Last Posted

It's been to long since I sat down to visit. This is the shed that DH built so I would have some place to put the things I need to go through. Now I will start filling it up and then i can organize the quilt room and have a guest room.

Other happenings were the little bit of canning around here. DH canned lots of green tomatoe relish, and green tomatoes so he can make fried green tomatoes when he gets the urge. He has enough of both to last him for awhile. While he was canning I managed to finish 3 small quilts and get them mailed. They came out nice and I put flannel on the back of all of them.


Now that the weather is cooling off I should be able to be more timely in my posting.


Birthday Celebration

Today www. KnitFreedom a knitting site I recently joined is turning 2 and having a 50% off sale for subscribers. Liat's videos are very well done and her tutorials and ebooks are excellent. If you've wanted to improve your knitting this is the site for you. Go over and check her our or better yet join and become a Knitting Superstar.

Something Other Than Quilting

I'm not a health food nut, but as I age and have become not so pleasingly plump I find myself looking for ways I can do something that is good for me and I might lose a little weight in the process. For years I have owned a Vitamix and love using it. Today I found a new website that is having a giveaway the month of September for a Vitamix 750 which I would love to own. If you are interested I have added the site to my blog list or you can get there by using this link:  here .  When you sign up for the newsletter you are automatically entered to win.

The reason I am interested in this website is recently one of my friends used a a green smoothie as a cleasing fast and lost weight and stayed healthy while doing so  after she watched the movie called Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. So I watched the movie and ordered a book called :

 

Hard as it is to believe some of these drinks sound really good and tasty and I am going to give this a try. Since I am diabetic I won't be doing a fast, but if I use it before meals and for snacks I should be much better off. So when I start I'll let you know and what progress if any I make. I have no connection to any of these products other than I own them and use them and just wanted to share. 

 

Just wanted to leave you with this picture from the Healthy Blenders Recipes website. I thought it was an interesting use of food. It must be the new cantaloupe owl. LOL

 

Sunday Music in the Country

This last sunday Dh had a couple of friends over to play music with. He set up in the backyard and they commenced to having a good time singing songs, telling lies and tall tales while grilling some brauts and hot dogs. All the sudden the sky became dark and the wind picked up and rain came down.  All summer we have been having thunder storms with no rain but lots of lightening which has started numerous fires. So everyone covererd things with tarps and ran for the house until it passed over.

In spite of the rain we all had a good time. I made a blackberry and blueberry cobbler and a coconut pecan pie and Gail brought a cake so we had plenty of desserts and good food. The ladies played Phase 10 Masters while listening to the music. Needless to say I didn't win.

It's a good thing I took a picture of the peaches on our tree this year. The morning I was going to pick them to make some jelly someone had come in the middle of the night and picked everyone of them. So no peach jelly for us this year. Hopefully, this time next year I'll have a fence around the back yard and a dog. Maybe I can train the dog to take a bite out of crime.



Another Year Already

Why is it that when we are young a year seems to take forever to come around and the older we get the faster it seems to go by? Yesterday was my 66th birthday. Most days I don't feel that old and most of the time I don't act that old so even though I know it's true I still have a hard time believing the number.
Today the knitting and fiber group is having their meeting here and DH kindly made Famous BBQ so we should have a good time. For dessert there is Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Also as you can see on the game board  that I won the game. DH will tell you it's because yesterday was my birthday so he is taking it easy on me. He also gave me a Kindle Fire for my birthday which should be here in the next day or two.

July UFO

Here is my July UFO. I managed to get the top finished. I didn't get it quilted my machine is having problems which I haven't been able to figure out yet. Squeaker just had to check it out up close and personal. This was a kit from Connecting Threads and went together quickly. Now to get started on the August quilt.

Anyone Else Running Behind?

It's hard for me to believe that it's already July. It has been a busy three weeks since my last post. DH started on my shed and got it almost done before he had to leave. This will give me a place to store overflow until I can get through it to determine how much I really need to keep and what should find a new home.

The hollyhocks are finally blooming and the grapes are growing. DH cut the grape vines way back this spring and then worried because it took them awhile to show signs of growth. They are loaded with tiny clusters of grapes. If all of them ripen we will be making grape jelly and possibly some wine with them.

When Dh returns from his trip my brother and his wife are coming to stay for a week and see the sights around the area. It will be nice to see them again. That being said I guess I'd best get started on my long list of things to do so I'll be ready for company.

It Just Looks so Country

Yesterday dh was working on building a storage shed so I can put all my unpacked yarn, material and other stuff in there, get the quilt room organized and the guest room put together while unpacking one box at a time. It will give me room to breath. While he was doing all that I hung some wash out on the line. It's been many years since I had a clothes line. Dh say it just looks so country to see the wash hanging on the line.

This week they mowed the hay field next to us, raked and baled and yesterday they picked up all the bales to take them and store them somewhere else. Last night as we were coming home fromTwin Falls you could see bright lights all over the fields around in various stages of haying. We've lived here almost 3 years and it is really interesting watching the seasons. One minute it is cold and the next gardens are going in and once water is applied everything seems to grow overnight.

On Wednesday this week I went to a quilt class. It was to make a quilt from the Circle of Nine Book by Jean Ann Wright and Janet Houts. Janet lives in our area (Magic Valley) and she was the one teaching the class. This is the quilt top I made. I am going to make it larger and a rectangle instead of a square by adding a border top and bottom and then a second border all around. This is a fun class so if you get a chance to take a class I would recommend it. Well, guess I'd better get back to work.

What I've Been Doing

I've been busy in the quilt room working on a couple of quilts and trying to get some knitting done. Squeak always thinks knitting is a group effort. He thinks his job is to chew the yarn in half and if I'm not using it he can play with the ball of yarn and whatever project is attached. The yarn used in these socks is called Frolicking Feet from Done Roving. I purchased it at A Good Yarn Shop in Port Orchard, WA when I was up there in May to visit my son. I really like the self striping yarns. One of my very favorite yarns is called Amazing Yarn from Lion Brand. It knits up really soft. Well, I know this is short, but I need to go get some work done in the quilt room. I am signed up for another Circle of Nine Workshop this coming Wednesday, the 13th of June. Have a good weekend.

Some Assembly Required

Yesterday we bought a patio swing. I brought it home while dh started off on his weekend. It took me 2.5 hours to put together. I was really looking forward to sitting out on the deck today in the swing and enjoying the peace and quiet. About midnight it started to rain and it is still raining. So maybe tomorrow afternoon I can sit in the swing if it is dried out by then. If not there is always Monday which is supposed to be very nice around here.

Today was spent in the quilt room putting Big Mama (my new Accuquilt Studio Cutter) together and testing her out and then getting the quilt in the machine quilted. I didn't get a picture before I packed the quilt  up to get it ready to mail.

Contrary To the Rumor

I know you thought I had dropped of the face of the earth, but that rumor is false. The weather warmed up in Idaho and spring has sprung. We have been making raised bed gardens around the trees, hauling dirt and gravel (mostly dh) and I have been working in the quilt room trying to get some of the small pieces turned into blocks so I have bigger things to lose. I have a couple of quilts to finish making for a customer, a couple of quilts  to quilt for other customers and I need to get back on track with my UFO 2012 challenge.

Dh has spent the last couple of days getting his camper ready to take for his guitar playing weekend in Hammett, ID this weekend.  Once I get a breather in the quilt room I need to make him some new curtains for his windows. Thought I'd make them out of muslin ( unless I can find some chili pepper material) and embroider a guitar on the corner of each of them.

So I'll try to do better at the posting, and keeping things up to date.

At Last

This is Kora Rose. She is checking out her new surroundings. She and her Mom will be going home on Tuesday. Don't know when we will get to go visit, but I'm hoping sometime this year.

Quilts Stolen

Quilts Stolen on March 16 Can we interrupt your weekend for a minute? Internationally known quilt teacher, author and fabric designer, Karen Combs, has suffered a loss, her rental car was broken into and her teaching suitcase stolen.Be on the lookout for these pieces, especially if you are in the New Braunfels, Texas area. You can see the images and read what happened on Karen's blog at http://karencombs.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/quilts-stolen/Pass on the word. We quilters need to stick together. Thanks for listening.

It's Official

As of 4:05 am EDT I became a great grandmother for the first time. Kora Rose made her appearance weighing 8 lb 3 oz and according to her grandmother beautiful. As soon as Mom is feeling better I will probably be getting some pictures. The baby had turned out of position and wouldn't go back in so they had to do a C-section. Mom and baby are doing fine. Grandma and Grandpa however are worn out from being up all night. Greatgrandma is fine she slept all night because there was no phone call just an email to greet her this morning. I'll post pictures as soon as I have some. Off to celebrate by going to see the Lorax.

UFO for February

Well, I didn't quite get my February UFO done by the end of the month, but it will be done by tomorrow. It is in the machine partially quilted. I will finish the quilting in the morning and put the binding on during my knitting group tomorrow evening. I must admit that when my Accuquilt order arrived I was side tracked somewhat so next month I should be able to get done on time. I have to admit that I really like my GO it is quite addicting.

Knitting

I have been knitting a sweater for myself using the new Lion Brand Amazing yarn. I can tell you that it is amazing, soft, self-striping and a joy to knit with. I'm using the Glacier Bay colorway. My husband even likes it. The colors are soft and muted and I find myself wanting to keep knitting to see what comes next even when I have trouble keeping my eyes open. The picture is what I have done so far. The yarn is 53% wool, 47% acrylic with a 147 yds per skein. They suggest using a size 9 knitting needle, but I like how it felt with a size 8 which is what I'm using for the sweater. I've ordered 3 other colorways to make some shawls with and I may use the size 9 with them. Has anyone else used this yarn and how did you like it?

Spring Home & Garden Show

This weekend is the Home & Garden Show in Twin Falls. This planter was in a nice booth. Everything was made with cedar and very nicely done. We bought a planter box that I am planning on using for strawberries this year. This was a nice idea to be able to plant things without getting down on the ground. Dh says he can probably build me something that will work. I don't do well getting down on the ground anymore.
It was a cold and windy day here in Southern Idaho with touches of snow. Hopefully it will be gone by tomorrow and alittle warmer. I am ready for spring anytime. Well, guess I'll go knit for awhile and see how much I can get done.

Another Stolen Quilt

I just heard there has been another quilt go missing. Read all about it here http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/02/help-get-word-outanother-stolen-quilt.html. Pass this message on to your friends and quilt groups maybe this one will be found.

On a more cheerful note. Miss Emma is back home and acting much better. I think she is happy to be home, but not to sure how she feels about Squeak.

Well, the big news around here is that I am now an Authorized Accuquilt Dealer and my first order arrived this morning. I am doing a demo for two quilt groups with in the next month. So keeping fingers crossed someone likes the Go as much as I do. It would be a shame if the UPS guy got a hernia for no good reason. lol.

Miss Emma

I had to take Miss Emma to the vet yesterday. She has been having a reaction to something. She couldn't keep anything down and was spitting up every time she drank any water and hadn't eaten anything for about 3 days. The vet kept her overnight last night and will keep her again tonight. He has put her on an IV to get some fluids back into her and she didn't spit up last night so now he has to get her to eat and keep it down. Hopefully she will get to come home tomorrow. Funny how much you miss the cat when she isn't feeling well and is not home.

Squeak's on the Shelf

Spring must not be to far away. Squeak has been full of it for the last week. Every morning he gets out of the kennel, stretches, eats two or three pieces of food, stretches again and then does his "King of theJungle" strut into the living room to see who is available to play. When he is finished annoying everything breathing in sight he comes over to check and see if I'd like to be chewed on. Sometimes he climbs his stand and you can hear his very loud sigh kind of like poor me I'm so bored. He's discovered an empty shelf in a stand that holds various odds and ends and he loves to hide in there. He reminds me of a spider in the web just waiting for something to come along.

January UFO

This year I joined the UFO Challenge over at Patchwork Times and this was #5 on the list. A kit for a baby quilt from Connecting Threads which I quilted using the Circle Lord Clam Shells. It's a cheerful quilt and will be heading off to Colorado as a gift. If you want to see more finished UFO's for January you can find them here http://patchworktimes.com/ . So on to February and to finish #1 on my list.

DH the Woodturner

Dh has been wood turning again. He finally got his shop set up so he could get back into woodturning and he has been having a good time with it. He used some small scraps to make little bowls I can use to make pin cushions. He also had a chunk of walnut he got from a friend so he turned this bowl out of some of it to give to the friend who gave him the wood. It's one of the prettiest bowls he has done. I'm hoping that by the time the fair rolls around he will have a couple made to enter. He also makes pens and key chains.

The Snow Storm

Well, after all the build up from the weatherman we have about an inch of snow on the ground. It is now a rain snow mix and already starting to melt. Around here it is a relief not to have piles of snow. It would be ideal as far as I'm concerned if it only snowed on the grass and left the roads open. They got a lot more snow in WA than we did here in Rupert.

So today instead of quilting I have played Words With Friends with my sister on Facebook and now I'm knitting dishcloths. I may even get a binding on a quilt this evening while we watch tv. Stay warm I'll be back soon.

Winter is Arriving After All

According to the weatherman snow will finally be arriving here in the Magic Valley tomorrow morning. We should expect 3 to 8" of snow and then by Thursday morning we will see rain. I think I will sew or put more fabric away.

I have been working on the Cheddar Challenge from quiltville.com . These are the blocks I have done so far. I'm not sure how they will finally go together and I'm not sure how many I will get made. I'm also working to get things finished this year. We'll see what kind of a track record I create.

Well, it's time for Murder She Wrote so I'll sign off for now and keep you updated tomorrow on our winter.

2012 UFO Challenge

This year I have decided that I will join the UFO Challenge on Patchwork Times. I have enough projects for two years that I know of, but we'll just start with 12 for this year. So here is my list:
1. Connecting Threads kit After Hours Barn Raisning-needs made, quilted, and bound.
2. CT Barn Raising Log Cabin- needs made,quilted and bound.
3. CT Cottage Lane- needs made, quilted and bound.
4. CT Bradford Skies- needs made, quilted and bound.
5. CT Sweet Bee Baby Quilt- needs quilted and bound.
6. Log Cabin Christmas Quilt Top-needs quilted and bound.
7. Scrap flour sack top- needs quilted and bound.
8. R&W snowball quilt-needs binding
9. Flannel Christmas Lap Quilt-needs binding
10. Lone Star Quilt-needs to be made and quilted.
11. Finish RRCB-needs blocks finished, quilted and bound.
12. Batik Lasagna Quilt-needs quilting and binding.
Anyone else want to join in the fun? Keep your fingers crossed that I can get them all done while I finish unpacking and putting away the rest of the fabric still in boxes. Not to mention the other Connecting Threads kits I have hidden somewhere. With this move I have learned it is possible to have to much fabric. Never thought I would say that much less admit it in public.