Catching up

Thursday, April 30, 2015
A little catching up here.  Pat and Randy were visiting us and left Tuesday morning for Idaho.  We are going to MISS them!  Lots of laughter, shopping, and card playing during their visit.  I was worried it might still be chilly in Idaho and gifted Pat a quilt--


Safe travels Pat and Randy!

Pat and I did a little sewing one day.  We made bags--


Pat chose the pink flowers and I the loud paisley.  I used mine the next day when we were shopping.  There are six pockets on the outside of the bag.  We used this tutorial--

http://imnomartha.blogspot.com/2010/11/simple-6-pocket-bag.html?m=1

We made our bags 4 inches deeper and longer straps plus a little wider.  Its an easy pattern and I see more of these bags being made.  

Remember I said I had a full load when I went for grandma duty?  I took a picture of the back of the pickup before I left for home.  My recliner, bike,  and lamp aren't in there.  Ken brought the car and I packed that full also.  


Oh dear, I didn't pack my own toilet paper, that is some I bought to bring home!  
Tuesday was pretty depressing after Pat and Randy left and I moped around.  Took a nap.  Decided that was enough pity party and went to the sewing cave. What do I do when I need cheering up?  I played in the scraps!  Another Rainbow Scrappy purple block!  Then Ken wandered over and asked if I could please patch his favorite jeans, the ones that fit perfect and are comfortable?  I still felt like sewing after that and worked on cornerstones for my Two Lips quilt.  It may get done this year.  

Lots of online discussion on missing Mojos and the possible reasons WHY Mojo leaves.  We think its because Mojo loves "shiny new objects" and us without Mojo have been busy finishing UFOs.  (Hey, sounds reasonable to me!)  I have some new modern bag fabric and liberated some jelly rolls strips--I held them up doing a "Mojo calling dance", rather like calling hogs.  Ken is sure the neighbors were watching.  In my quest to locate those jelly rolls I also found--more 30's blocks!  83 Broken Dishes blocks!


I am study a different setting for them, I'll show you on my next post.  

New numbers for my stash report, I finished the Brown Pyramids--


and I've bought fabric.  Even punched buttons today, something I rarely do. 

The weather has warmed up and its time to pack the camper.  Ken has been doing farmer type things.  The fruit trees has blossoming and grass has greened up.  I love the smell of fresh turned earth.  Do you have a favorite spring smell?

Lori

Wednesday

Wednesday, April 22, 2015
6+ years ago I bought a small Acer Netbook PC.  I loved her!  But over the last year she's become slower and slower, until *zonk* even her screen quit.   I've muddled along using Ken's laptop.  I never mastered blogging from my tablet.  Last week an Asus netbook was on sale at Staples ($172) and it came home with me.  Completely new to me Windows 8.1 etc.  


Its going to take a while to get used to but I've missed a keyboard and mouse!   My tablet is handy but I prefer a keyboard/PC to blog surf and type comments. 

Do you prefer a PC, a tablet, or your phone??

Lori

Design Wall Monday, Stash Report and Weekly Goals

Monday, April 20, 2015
The Brown Pyramids quilt is almost done--

Brown Pyramids Bricks and Stepping Stones

This is still my favorite pattern for using scraps.  A Bonnie Hunter/Quiltville pattern.  Please see everyone's design wall posts at Patchwork Times.

Weekly Goals--

Finish Brown Pyramids
Quilt guild QOV
5" Charm Challenge
Pink and Yellow Disappearing Pinwheels

I was too lazy yesterday to do a Stash Report, I'll add it to this post.

Stash in this week--5 yards
Stash in YTD--113.5 yards
Stash out this week--20 yards
Stash out YTD--150.5 yards  


37 yards used--I'm ahead!

A few pictures--

Karsen   
Karsen is Lorri2Rs grandson, he came along to sew on Saturday.  He was busy putting together the Lego Model on the table behind him.  He also sewed a pillowcase to match his new quilt Lorri2Rs made him.


A quilt with Karsen's name and made in his school's colors!    LaVonne is Karsen's great grandmother and she is one of the Iowa Sweat Shop Ladies.


LaVonne
LaVonne was busy cleaning her machine.  

Vivian with her perfect points
Vivian had a new ruler/method for making perfect points with no Y seams.  Check them out!

And a Maxwell picture--

Maxwell

I will be heading home in a few days.  I am going to miss the boys!  

Lori

Rainbow Scrappy Saturday

Saturday, April 18, 2015
Another block with purple this week--


The first two rounds are purples.  Please see everyone's purple project at soscrappy.


I'm steadily working on my goals.  One side left to bind on the brown pyramids.  The pink disappearing pinwheels will be worked on while with the Sweat Shop Ladies this weekend.  Lorri2Rs is going to help me with my 8 pocket bag.  My time on grandma duty is almost over.  I miss my stash/sewing but I'm REALLY going to miss the grandsons!

Lori

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

Monday, April 13, 2015
Last night I finished binding the blue Jacob's Ladder--

Blue Jacob's Ladder 104x104"
Ken and Mason are hanging on for dear life, it was windy when I took the photo!  Definitely a stash buster, I'll guess 20 yards.  Please see everyone's design wall posts at Patchwork Times.

Weekly Goals--

Bind Brown Pyramids B&SS
8 pocket bag
Pink Disappearing Pinwheel
5" challenge

I'm not sure how much sewing I'll get done.  This week is guild QOV workday and the weekend is Iowa Sweat Shop Ladies.  


 

Sunday Stash Report

Sunday, April 12, 2015
New numbers--

Stash in this week--8.5 yards
Stash in YTD--108.5 yards
Stash out this week--20 yards
Stash out YTD--130.5 yards


I'm ahead 22 yards!

There are still 3 projects to bind.  Will I stay in the black all year??  Please see everyone's stash report at Patchwork Times.


Rainbow Scrappy Saturday

Saturday, April 11, 2015
This month's color is purple--

Definitely from my scrap basket.  The purple outer squares are leftovers from a backing I dyed.  The tan print is backing leftovers from Lorri2Rs quilt.  The center 4 print squares were a 5" charm.  The center square was a scrap--only 2 squares from it.   Album blocks are so scrap friendly! Please see everyone's purple fun at SoScrappy!

Thursday I finished a quilt for Asher.  Asher LOVES Olaf.  



The middle is a panel and Lorri2Rs added the borders and pieced parts.  She said I could have it!!  Thank you Lorri2Rs!!  I was home last weekend and quickly quilted it and made the binding.  Its 74x78".  I used 6 yards as backing/binding and a matching pillowcase.  Poor Olaf has been called many names.  Otto (nope, that wasn't right), Fido (dog name), Alpo (dog food!) and Lorri2Rs called him Olfa (can you tell we are quilters??!)  

The sun is shining and its windy.  


What's Happening Wednesday

Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Life keeps rolling along on grandma duty.   Yesterday I finished binding Cheddar Delight.  

Cheddar Delight and Maxwell
Its 74x88, I'm estimating 14 yards of fabric.  This is a Lynn Roddy Brown pattern.  I like her patterns, the directions are very well written.  It was perfect weather outside yesterday, Maxwell snuck into the picture.  No name for it yet, any suggestions??

To balance the finish I bought some fabric.  30's FQs!  I wanted a bit more variety for the quilts I'm working on.  


10 FQs of 30's
These colors/fabrics will round out my projects quite nicely.  So that will be 14 yards out and 2.5 yards in this week.  

Rain showers in the forecast for today.  A good thing, its dry and might settle the dust.  I'm going to press/starch my new fabric and CUT IT UP!!