3 Projects and a Pet

Dear Family and Friends,
Well!  So much for writing more frequently!  I have a long way to go before I am a timely "blogger", but I will keep working on it!  I think I have come to terms with not getting all of my projects done like I thought I should.  I am making some progress, but have come to realize that a project a month isn't feasible for me, but maybe one every other month can be realistic.  I start too much and finish very little!  So rather than tell you what I have finished, here are a few things that I have started.
Noro Log Cabin Blanket: 
I saw a project that has me totally obsessed.  Using 20 different skeins of Noro Kureyon 100% wool, each skein is knit into a log cabin style block with garter stitch.  The long strand color variation makes a beautiful block.  I have 17 done and have 3 more to go.  Then I will knit the blocks together with dark brown wool for the sashing and borders.  I have to make it long enough for Jeff to use as well as me.  It should work out to be just long enough or I will add to the top and bottom borders to get the necessary length.  Above is a photo of the stack of blocks that are done so far and below are photos of 2 completed blocks.  They get a little addictive  . . .  I can't wait to see what the color will be and how each block will look.  Here is the link to the pattern.  This could be a great baby blanket (in a very washable yarn) or college graduation gift.

Sampler of Techniques: I have been working on my class samples for upcoming quilting retreats here at the inn.  They aren't finished yet, big surprise, but they are coming along!  For my April class I am working on a sampler from the book "Sew a Row Quilts", by Karin Hellaby.  One of my favorite techniques is the off-set flying geese and I can't wait to teach the ladies coming in April. I pulled some fabrics from my stash to do my sample.  Nice and easy, navy and white . . . a classic color combination!  This will be the 11th anniversary of my first quilter's retreat of April 2002.  I am looking forward to continuing this tradition! 

"Twinkle":  I also started the class sample for "Twinkle" that is now scheduled for the weekend of November 9-11.  I fell in love with Amy Butler's "Soul Blossom" fabric last year and had it set aside for this project.  The pattern is a modern variation of the Friendship Star block.  With the star in the center, the various "Soul Blossom" large-print fabrics surround it.  I am going to keep this one simple and not add a border.  It will probably end up on Alexis' bed after the class.  She wants almost everything I make!

Our "kitten":  Phin, our Ragdoll "kitten", is now 20 months old . . . we have all sorts of nick-names for him including 'Mr. Fluffy Pants' and 'The Fabulous Mr. Phin'.  He is a cutie, but a real stinker!  He seems to think he has to come visit us when we are working in the dining room or when he wants to go watch the birds.  Jeff has to go to the hardware store tomorrow and get a heavier closer for the door leading from the guest living room to the dining room . . . no cats allowed!
 
 I am going to sign off for the night.  I have to go "encourage" Alexis to go to bed!  We may go out and play in the snow tomorrow, so we'll need our rest.  We had over 12" of fresh snow between Wednesday night and Thursday night.  We need to enjoy it while it lasts!

I hope you are doing well with your own projects.  I hope, too, that all of your stitches are happy ones!  Send updates when you can; I love to see what you are working on!

All the best,
Kim
=^..^=

5 Years and 3 Months : - ) & Updates

My Roman Shade

Dear Family & Friends, well, so much with staying current on this blog!  I didn't realize it had been so long since I had written. I really WILL try to keep up with my blog again!   I have been working on a few projects since I last wrote though not as many as I wish I had!   

I finished a big UFO in March that was hanging over me for a long time . . . 5 years, I think . . . I bought a whole roll of Warm & Natural Window Quilting so I could make Roman shades for the windows in our own bedroom.  We have old windows in a 200-year old house and COLD winter "breezes" that chill our room!  I'd put the project off for as long as I could by hanging mini blinds on our windows.  When the blinds broke in December my delay tactics were done . . . big bummer!   In January, I started to work on the blinds.  It took me a few months to put them all together.  I should have had a drum roll after taking 5 years and 3 months to get the shades made . . . here is the final project, installed and everything!  Woo, Hoo!  I have more Warm & Natural Window Quilting on hand, but it could be another 5 years before I make any more of these!

A new lunch bag

I went on a quilting weekend with my friend, Ann in March.  We just needed a girl's weekend to escape.  I managed to finish a lunch bag for Alexis that I had started when her other one wore out (and got too smelly!).  This one is washable, lined with rip-stop nylon for durability and quilt batting for insulation, the exterior is made from denim jeans (more recycling) and PUL (a laminate fabric that is very washable).  It's a really cute lunch bag!  Best part:  Alexis likes it AND she actually uses it!  

My Blocks

April brought the annual quilter's retreat that I host here at the Inn, now in it's 11th year.  We worked on a quilted jacket and it wasn't for the faint of heart quilter! I only got the 1st sleeve done and I was getting a little crazed just getting that made in time for the class (procrastination is NOT a virtue!).  It's been added to my UFO pile and I may have to work on it over the winter.  We're all going to see who can get it done first . . . probably not me!  It will be a beauty when it is done, though.  I used fabrics from my stash that are Asian inspired . . . I have been collecting for years . . . I just have to get it done!

I'm going to "sign off" and try to get another update to you later this week.  Alexis went back to school last week and I am doing the "happy dance"!  It is SO nice to be able to work without the constant interruptions from our little darling! Hope all your stitches are happy ones!

All the best,

Kim

Opps!

     I am rusty on posting so I had trouble getting my final comments written after adding the photos!  This is where I wish I had a personal IT assistant!  I can't remember what all the "Loose Ends" were going to be in the posting, but I do have the soap recipe!
     I have been doing my best to reduce, reuse and recycle around here at the inn . . . just doing my part to reduce the garbage that goes in the land fills!  I thought I was doing so well in reducing our dependence on petroleum when I read that it is used to produce laundry soap . . . argh!  As it happens, someone in a knitting class began talking about home-made laundry soap and where to find the recipe online.  Since we do numerous loads of laundry each week for the inn not to mention our own laundry, I decided to start making it myself.  I tripled the recipe and made 6 gallons of laundry soap.  It lasted almost 2 months . . . I saved money (one of my favorite things) and reduced our use of a petroleum product (another of my favorite things!).  Here's the link for the recipe:  Laundry Soap Recipe

Let me know if you have any questions!

Clutter Queen, Loose Ends & Soap Recipe

     Dear Friends & Family,  well, this is a long over due post!  I have been making a lot of progress on my UFO's, but here's where I left off writing over two months ago.  I will get back on the "blog wagon" and stay more current!  Thanks for your patience!
 From way back in February:

      I decided the "quilter's block" was being caused by the clutter, piles and "stuff" that was accumulating around me again . . . my dear friend, Judi, spent the summer here with us and helped me clear out, declutter, organize and clean out my "stuff" that had gotten out of control over the past few years.  So some of the piles started to creep back in:  around my sewing table, the office and the kitchen table . . . flat surfaces are my Achilles heel!  So I have been "cleaning"  . . . yikes! . . . another 4-letter word for me (sorry Mom!) . . . I've had some productive days cleaning out more piles and feeling a sense of accomplishment . . . and the best part:  I didn't have to have Judi here to keep me on task . . . though she is always welcome to come back!

     I gave Little Lexi her knitted hat in January and it looked adorable on her.  I discovered, though, that it just fit her and I will have to knit another one for next year! 

The finished hat

     I actually have been doing a little sewing, too.  I bought a pattern for a book cover at the Vermont Quilt Festival several years ago and finally got motivated to make it.  I pulled out my huge container of scraps and had the cover done in about 4 hours with lots of other "requests for my time" (a.k.a. inn keeping work!) . . . now my dear friend Judi was probably appalled at the size of the scrap bin, but it came in handy to make the book cover . . . so here are some of the pictures of the process . . . I had to start with paper piecing the center star and then add strips of scraps to make the fabric large enough for the cover.  Here is how it went together: 

Mini blocks for star

Pieced star with border

All done and ready to use

Scrap fabric added makes book cover

"Quilter's Block"

Dear Friends and Family,  last week I was in a sewing "funk" . . . "quilter's block" I called it . . . similar to writer's block, I suppose.  I just couldn't bring myself to sit at the sewing machine and do anything . . . nothing was inspiring me . . . winter doldrums? who knows! 

      One evening I was sitting in my chair getting ready to listen to a web cast on something from Bernina.  I was staring at my pile of "stuff" near my sewing machine and thought I could just do some seam ripping while listening to the presentation.  I picked up a summer shirt of Jeff's that needed the collar turned . . . something I'd never done, but thought I should so he could still wear the shirt.  This would fall into the category of MENDING.  For those of you who know me really well, you may know that I don't do MENDING . . . I've convinced my hubby, Jeff, that MENDING, for me, is a 4-letter word and I just can't do it . . . my sewing machine is meant for a "higher" purpose . . . sewing buttons on, repairing hems, fixing this or that were things I couldn't bring myself to do . . . my hands would start shaking at the thought of it!  

     When we lived in PA and worked our "regular" jobs, we accumulated a pile of MENDING over the course of a year.  Then my parents would come visit and my mom would take pity on Jeff and do the MENDING (for her favorite SIL!).  God bless her!  I just didn't do MENDING.  One weekend my BIL, Scott came to visit.  He said he had a favor to ask me . . . would I do some MENDING for him . . .  ARGH!. . . he need a button sewn on or something . . . I thought "Hell must have frozen over; Jeff will have a fit if I do Scott's MENDING and not his own . . . this can't be good!"  Now seriously, this was a big dilemma for me . . . my stomach still gets queasy thinking about it!  I did the MENDING for Scott and swore him to not flaunt it to Jeff . . . I felt like a traitor . . . unbelievable!  When I met Jeff he would repair his pant hems with staples or Scotch tape . . . not the kind of thing a seamstress wants to have to admit.

     Anyway, here I was, after all these years of avoiding MENDING, actually thinking of sitting and doing it  . . . my mother would be so proud!  I started the web cast and sat ripping out the seam of the collar so I could flip it over, re-insert it and sew it back on.  Once I had the collar pinned in place, I paused the web cast and went to my sewing machine to finish the task.  I sewed it in place and was getting ready to button the collar down, but one button was broken and had to be replaced . . . imagine me, sewing on a button!  I did it, buttoned the collar and showed Jeff.  He said "Wow, that looks like a professional did it!" . . . I was tickled pink!  I told him the shirt had special meaning to me . . . it was his favorite summer shirt and he'd worn it on our first date . . . he got the biggest smile on his face and it made me realize that MENDING isn't a 4-letter word . . . sometimes, MENDING can be an effort from the heart.

     Here's hoping all of your stitches, whether for quilting, sewing or MENDING, are happy ones!

All the best,

Kim

Happy New Year

Dear Friends and Family, I hope you had a lovely Christmas and a wonderful New Year's celebration.  We had LOTS of house guests for the week and we served dinner most nights.  We offered lobster for dinner on New Year's Eve and that was a blast . . . with Jimmy Buffett music in the background and a casual theme at the dining room tables, everyone enjoyed the feast!

Vintage Knits for Modern Babies

     It's the new year and my mission "Operation Finish-It" is officially kicking off.  I just finished a sweet little hat for our great-niece, Lexi  . . . she's "Little Lexi" and 4 months old; Alexis is called "Big Lexi" to keep from us all being confused!.  I couldn't resist starting something  around Christmas (I had the yarn on hand) and it was a quick project.  From the book, Vintage Knits for Modern Babies, the hat is knit in simple stockinette and a band with a button for securing under Little Lexi's chin.  Below is a picture of the yarn 'cause I can't find the hat!  I have until the end of January to find it when Little Lexi comes to visit! 

Extra Soft Merino in Lavender

     We were lucky enough to have a snow storm on Wednesday (12" of new powder, yes!) and I got quality time with my sewing machine! I pulled out the flannel fabric and pattern for pj pants that I planned to make for Alexis for Christmas (opps, missed THAT deadline).  Even with interruptions I actually got them cut out and sewn in the same day (unheard of for me).  I had to have Alexis try them on to measure the hem and check how much elastic was needed at the waist . . . she was a total giggle box every time I checked the waist band . . . what a noodle head!  She got to wear them that night, though, and she was delighted!  Cute flannel with girlie stuff on it for my girlie-girl!  So that's 2 finished projects so far . . . can I keep a running tally somewhere on this blog?  Hmm, I'll have to look for that feature! 
     Here's my helpful 411 for the day . . . Gingher scissors are the industry standard for quilting and sewing.  Forged from high carbon cutlery steel, the scissors are finished with hand tuning to ensure the precision cutting and high performance we are all accustomed to having.  And, though they are a bit pricey, they are well worth the investment  . . . I've had mine for over 15 years.  But, I keep dropping them (usually on the concrete floor in the basement) and they just don't work so well after that!  I've sent them to Gingher for sharpening and repair several times now.  It's a bargain at $7.50 per pair (which includes return shipping) and it is a whole lot better than buying a new pair of scissors!  Here's the link for the address and the details: Gingher sharpening and repair.  The link also includes some helpful info on general maintenance to keep your scissors in top working order.  Mine "take a lickin' and keep on tickin'" . . . or cutting actually!
      And one last word about scissors . . . keep your fabric cutting scissors AWAY from the paper  . . . it's really true . . . cutting paper with your good fabric cutting scissors will dull the blades . . . get a separate pair for cutting paper and keep the Ginghers out of reach of your children, husband and visiting friends/relatives who might not know that it matters!

Phin attacks the yarn! ^..^

     Hope you are having luck finishing your own projects.  Hope, too, that all your stitches are happy ones!
     All the best,
     Kim                           
p.s. Phin likes yarn . . . who knew!

Wrapping Helper

Dear Friends, I just had to add some pictures of our kitten, Phin.  He has been REALLY helpful with the Christmas wrapping and has already learned how to unwrap presents.  Isn't he clever!  Today I was wrapping the last of the presents and Phin decided I needed company.  Here are the photo ops. 

Enjoy!  All the best, Kim

"What's in here anyway?" 

"For me . . . from Santa?"

"Wow, it's bigger than me!"

"I need a break!"