Friday, August 31, 2012

Children's Delight

It is a wonderfully long holiday weekend and my family has nothing planned.  I am hoping this means I will have plenty of time to work on some projects that have been a bit neglected for a while and that I can get a couple of project bags repacked.  I always have at least one project bag in the car for those times when I end up waiting somewhere and for those unexpected longer trips that require hand stitching (I get car sick and cannot look out the windows).  Goodness knows I have plenty of things to fill at least a couple of bags.



I was not paying attention to the name of this block when I was choosing fabrics, but the kids playing is perfect for this one.  This was a very quick and easy block to make...and it would be interesting to see what patterns I could come up with if I had more blocks to work with.  This is block number 244 of 366 and it is a 10-inch block.  Today we are two-thirds of the way through the year...only 122 more blocks to complete.  I cannot believe there are so few left.  Don't get me wrong, 366 blocks are a lot of blocks, but at this point, 122 actually seem doable.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Hopscotch and 9-Patch Link Up

I played hopscotch all the time when I was little.  I would wait for the snow to melt and then would be out there with my rock and chalk ready to play.  I would get fancy with the top where I had to turn around and would make it domed.  Sometimes I would make the squares really big or really small. Of course I didn't have all the pretty colors there are of sidewalk chalk now, but I honestly believe the people who came up with those colors were outside drawing their hopscotch areas just like I was and they wanted to add a little color to it.


I love how the positives and negatives make this block shine.  It took me all of 22 minutes to finish this block tonight (I had to see for once how long it actually took me).  I so love half-square triangles, and this would be so fun to use for a quilt.  I could do each block with different colors, or do the whole quilt (gasp) in only two.  But one thing is for sure, there has to be some major contrast in the fabrics to get the full effect.  This is block number 243 of 366 and it is an 8-inch block.


Now for the 9-patches.  I had a pile of them the other night that I was pinning.  I kept working on them and I was really excited about how they were turning out.


And if there are 20 finished why not keep sewing right?  Imagine some fast paced music going here and it is really exciting as I'm sewing.  All kinds of finished blocks just ready for making into that huge quilt.


Did you hear the needle scratch across the album?  All sewing came to a screeching halt.  Well, it was fun while it lasted this week.  Link up your 9-patches if you have some to show, or if you have a special 9-patch quilt you've made that is already finished, feel free to show that too.  If sharing on Facebook is more your speed, share them there, we all love to see what you are working on!  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Spinning Tops

For many years when I would choose fabrics for a quilt I would go with what the designer did in the pattern.  I would use the same fabric line, and if a shop didn't have the exact fabric, I would hunt until I found the exact fabric I was missing.  It didn't take me long to figure out that if I didn't start substituting some of the fabrics I would never finish anything because that took time..and it was before the internet so I would sometimes call a lot of shops describing the fabrics in great detail.  I have also made a lot of two and three fabric quilts.  They are simple and easy and use a lot of background fabric.  Since starting this block a day project I have limited myself to one line of fabric and by doing that there have been times when I have had to compromise or just do color combinations that I normally would not.  I now have found that some of my favorite blocks are the ones that use the greater number of fabrics.


So far this week I've made an orange horse, a pink and white block (which I am going to make a pink and white quilt), and now this brightly colored block.  I don't know that I would make a whole quilt out of this design, but I would love a quilt using all of these colors.  This is block number 242 of 366 and it is a 10-inch block.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen
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** I don't know what happened, but this didn't publish last night when I hit publish...guess I need to watch that a bit more carefully.**

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

School Girl's Puzzle

I come up with a lot of ideas while I'm piecing these blocks each night.  I have posted some of them on here, and I can hardly wait to go through all 366 blocks in 2013 to see just which blocks I am going to make again.  I'm also going to have to try and remember what I was going to do with them.  Tonight I decided I am going to make a whole pink and white quilt.  I have always loved pink and white, and even if the general consensus around my house is against it, I am going to make one.


Yeah pink and white, and I already have my start.  This is block number 241 of 366 and it is a 10-inch block.  Now I'm going to go see which other pink and white blocks I've already finished this year.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Monday, August 27, 2012

Whirligig

Today was the first day of school which is always exciting and a bit sad at the same time.  Everyone gets up, hurries to try to remember everything, and then it is picture taking time.  This year I did some comparing of first day of school pictures from years past and I realized something...my son is growing up literally right before my eyes.  I also decided that it would be a good thing if I made my block while he is doing his homework, which worked great, and then I kept sewing because I was finished so early!


This is an 8-inch block and is number 240 of 366.  This block took literally 15 minutes to make from choosing fabrics to finishing the pressing.  I think it would make a great spring quilt or a baby quilt...or a really snugly quilt just for me.


I then started sewing together strips for some more 9-patches.  As you can see I completed the pinning and then it got late.  But that leaves something to work on tomorrow.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Rocking Horse

All day today I was just dreading making this block.  It wasn't that it was complicated to piece or that I don't like rocking horses, and it wasn't the 55 pieces in the block.  If you had asked me at 8 a.m. this morning what was wrong with the block I couldn't have told you.  After finishing it I know what it was.


I didn't care for the way the mane and tail embroidery was done.  I didn't draw my embroidery lines on mine the way it was shown in the calendar, I just kind of stitched where I thought they should be.  I also think if I would have had more time tonight I would have made a tail out of embroidery thread and then attached that.  After all is said and done I actually think I like it.  This is block number 239 of 366 and it is a 10-1/2 inch block.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Swing in the Corner

Well, this was an interesting block to make.  As a matter of fact it was so interesting that I made it twice, and the second time went much more smoothly than the first.


The first time around I had the wrong measurement for the points that line up with the inner square which then threw the whole block off and made it look pathetic.  Thankfully this second block is actually square.  :)  This is a 9-inch block and is number 238 of 366.  Wow, two posts in one day, I can hardly believe it, and it isn't even midnight yet.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Quilter's Blog Hop Party With Give-Aways

It's time again for another Quilter's Blog Hop Party with Quilting Gallery.  I hope you are ready to visit some great blogs and enter for some wonderful prizes.

Blog Hop Party with Give-Aways

Make sure you visit Quilter's Gallery between August 26 and September 3 for the list of all the blogs with giveaways.  Our theme for this blog hop is Back to School.  School starts bright and early Monday morning, and at my house we have spent plenty of time going through the school supply list and making sure the backpack is loaded full of new pens, pencils, notebooks, and folders.  


The notebooks were so fun this year I actually thought about purchasing a few for myself.  Of course I used to just wait for that school supply list to arrive.  I loved new pencils, crayons, art supplies, brand new notebooks and folders that by the end of the year would look like they had traveled 10,000 miles to and from school, which was never the case.


The new backpack or book bag as we called it back then was the highlight.  One year my best friend and I got matching book bags that could be worn as a messenger bag or a backpack.  We thought we were so cool, that is until we mixed them up on the bus and had to meet to exchange them.  After that our names were on them so we didn't have to drag our moms out to retrieve the right one.


Now for the giveaways.  I thought some rulers would be in keeping with the back to school theme.  I find I use the 6-inch square on a daily basis when making my blocks.  The two 1-inch rulers are great for squaring up edges of fabric, cutting squares in half, and they have 3/16 and 3/8 inch markings on them.


I do not think you can have rulers without fabric to think about cutting.  This is a 31 fat quarter pack from Robin Pandolph's Hope Cove fabric line.  There are three ways to enter to win...

1.  Leave a comment telling me what your favorite school supply was to purchase (i.e., a cool ink     
     colored pen, mechanical pencils, notebooks).
2.  Leave a comment letting me know you are already a follower or are becoming a new follower of     
     Meadowbrook.
3.  Leave a comment letting me know you have visited the Meadowbrook Facebook page and "liked" it.

Don't forget to check out the other blogs for their giveaways.  The drawing for the prizes here will be on September 4 bright and early in the morning, and I will ship anywhere in the world.  Thanks for stopping by and Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Friday, August 24, 2012

Clown

I think there must be something wrong with me because I am not seeing a clown in this block, although it may have something to do with the squished stars.  Clowns creeped me out as a kid so I'm going to call this the squishy star block.


Do you see the squished stars in the middle?  This 10-inch block has 58 pieces in it and was rather enjoyable to piece.  I keep wondering what I am going to do once I start using all these blocks and start making quilts.  I should have a never ending supply of idea blocks.  This is number 237 of 366.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Seesaw and Piles of 9-Patches

Today's block is similar to yesterday's.  I guess it is a good thing to do them close together as it makes for easier piecing.


One difference is this is an 8-inch block and it doesn't make an X.  This is block number 236 of 366.


I finished my block of the day early today so I started sewing some strips together for my 9-patches.  Once I finished 10 I figured I should sew just a few more because what is another 10?


After 10 more were finished I was so excited to see my stack I figured I'd try for another 10...


But then I had to take my son to school for the open house and to fill his desk and locker with school supplies.  Once we finished that there was dinner to make and all at once it was late, so only five more were finished.  I think it was a pretty good day.  :)  If you have some 9-patches to link up, feel free to do so.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Jack in the Box

I know I did a block similar to this one at one point this year.  I'm going to have to dig through the enormous pile of blocks to see if I can find it.  The reason I remember doing something similar to this is because I did the same thing I did today.  I thought all day I had an easy block with nothing but half square triangles and that it would be a breeze.  It was not a hard block to make, I just had to rethink it a bit.  It is made with half square triangles and flying geese which means I couldn't attach the whole seam with the flying geese at one time.


The calendar had this one with a black pinwheel in the middle.  I realize that would have created more contrast, but I like how you can see the X better when only two colors are used.  This is block number 235 of 366 and it is a 10-inch block.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Cat's Cradle

A long time ago I made a quilt with a block similar to today's.  I used graph paper to design my quilt.  I'm pretty sure I made templates and then drew around them and cut them out with a scissors, sewed them all together, hand quilted the quilt, and then gave it to my grandparents for their 46th wedding anniversary.  One day while talking to my grandma I asked her if she enjoyed sleeping under the quilt.  She said they would never sleep under it because it was too pretty to use.  I was so upset that they wouldn't use it...I had worked so hard on it and then for it not to be used was just upsetting.  To my grandmother though she knew the hours I had put into it and she couldn't think of possibly ruining it, although she did assure me that it was always put back on the bed in the morning.



I think this picture was taken in 1991 before I gave the quilt to my grandparents.  Obviously my then boyfriend (now husband) and I were much younger...and thinner. :)  I can't believe I hand quilted all those heart wreaths.  If you click on the picture you can see the quilting.


Today's block is similar, but a little more complicated.  They are both 12-inch blocks, this one just has more pieces.  This is block 234 of 366.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Monday, August 20, 2012

Ferris Wheel

This was one of those blocks that as soon as I saw it I started trying to figure out which fabrics I was going to use.  If I was going to try to use the same fabrics as the calendar I was in trouble because I don't have a black in my collection and honestly black wouldn't work with these fabrics.  So I decided after much deliberation to start early and just see if I couldn't try to get the same values of the colors that were used and by the time I got to the corners hopefully I would have it figured out.


There are a lot of pieces in this block, and there are a lot of different cuts, but I have to say that once it was finished it quickly became one of my all time favorite blocks.  The four corners were supposed to be black, but I decided to use the red because it pulls your eye out from the center and it really works as the purple does tying it all together.  It would have been easier to have a few instructions when it came to piecing it, but for me this was more of a color lesson than a piecing one.  This is block number 233 of 366 and it is a 12-inch block.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Merry Go Round And Round And Round

I feel like I am on a merry go round every time one of these smaller blocks with 1000 pieces comes around.  I honestly think if I could figure out how to paper piece they would be much simpler.  If you look at it from far, far away, it looks fine, but then when you get close up...


So please, just push your chair back a little while you look at this one and kind of squint.  :)  It really does help a person see how it could look if all those points were perfect.  This is block number 232 of 366 and it is an 8-inch block with 76 pieces in it.

My son has been in a 3 on 3 basketball league all summer on Sunday evenings.  He didn't have a formed team so he was just put together with some other boys he had never met before to form their own team.  Most of the other kids have played together before, so my son's team struggled, although they did show so much improvement over the course of the summer.  Tonight was the final night and there were playoffs for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.  My son's team wasn't in the running, so they just had games against the other teams who weren't in the playoffs either.  Two of the four kids didn't show up so the teams my son played had to give us a player.  Do you know they had the best time tonight I think they have had all summer.  There was laughing and joking and some really good basketball played.  It was such a good lesson for the adults...maybe sometimes we just need to loosen up, have some fun, and really enjoy ourselves.  Another good lesson for me was that we can never give up, because just when we think we are never going to "get something," we make that half court shot (or get those 1-1/2" half-square triangles just right).  No, I'm not going to give up on these tiny pieces just yet.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Fireflies and FNSI Knitting

Today was such a gorgeous day my family and I spent the whole day outside, and I mean the whole day.  I think we were out the door by 10:30 a.m., and we came back inside at about 9:30 p.m.  We all decided that if everyday were like this we wouldn't spent much time inside unless we had to.


It is interesting how some days the block fits perfectly with the day.  When we were heading inside we saw a lot of fireflies twinkling in the darkness.  This is an 8-inch block and is number 231 of 366.


I did get quite a few inches added to my knitting last night.  I even spent a little time in the swing this evening working on it too.  As it is becoming a bit chilly, I think I will be glad to see this finished soon.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Friday, August 17, 2012

Building Blocks and Some Knitting

I woke up today and I just knew it was going to be a better day.  First off, it was 49 degrees this morning...fall is in the air and it is my favorite time of year.  The first thing I did this morning was make my block and enjoy the morning sun (obviously it doesn't take much to make me happy).


This is block number 230 of 366 and it is a 10-inch block.  Oh the things you can do with a 2-1/2 inch square.


I took a nap today (see what a great day it was) and then decided I should work on this knit blanket.  I think it looks like candy or a yummy cake.  It is FNSI tonight and seeing as how I took a nap and there are Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn movies on tonight, I'm set.  I am making this as a lap blanket, not too big, not too small, just right for using in the car or on the couch when I'm stitching this fall/winter.  I just started with two balls of yarn and do two rows of knit stitch with each color and then switch.  Easy to do and hopefully will go quickly so I have something to show tomorrow.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Shoo Fly and 9-Patch Link Up

Making today's block reminds me that I have a lot of shoo fly blocks to finish putting together for the Vignette Mystery Quilt...


Pretty bright aren't they?  I've been thinking a lot about that quilt lately.  I have so much embroidery to do on it, and soon soccer will be starting again.  I will not be coaching this season which means I am going to have a lot of waiting time, and that is the perfect time to work on embroidery or some other form of handwork (knitting). 


Here is today's Shoo Fly.  It is a 9-inch block and is number 229 of 366.


Now that I am at 106 blocks I guess I should be deciding how big I am making this quilt and just how many more 9-patch blocks I need to make.  Tonight has been one of those nights where it just doesn't stop.  I tried to take photos, the memory card was full.  I deleted photos, took one more, and the battery was low.  While I waited for the battery to recharge Blogger decided to not want to upload, download, or load anything for that matter.  You know when you just being to wonder what you were thinking...I'm there.  Link up your 9-patches if you have some to show.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen


Thursday, August 16, 2012

Path Through the Woods

Now that I look at this block it does look like a path through the woods.  While I was piecing this block it looked a lot like all the other blocks from last week that were a bit of a pain to make.  This one was not bad though.  Course it did not help that I have a migraine today either.


This is block number 228 of 366 and it is a 10-inch block.  I'm going to keep it short and sweet tonight as I'm having problems with the light and this headache.  We've had another change in the weather going from cooler days to a hot and humid evening.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Overall Bill and Timothy Green

These little people are great for using up the tiniest of scraps...you know, those scraps you question if you should even keep because they are just so small.  I was a bit concerned about them, but they really aren't that difficult at all.


I used the invisible thread, although with my lighting you can see it in the photo.  I'm thinking Overall Bill and Sunbonnet Sue would be cute with a barn, a house, and some animals...guess I should start looking for some of those to make too. This is block number 227 of 366 and it is a 4-inch block.

I won some tickets for an early showing of "The Odd Life of Timothy Green" so we spent our evening at the theater.  Now it has been 18 years since my husband and I have gone to a movie in a theater.  The last movie we went to was "The Lion King" which we took my 8-year-old brother to and just happened to also be a Disney Movie.  We usually just wait until movies are on TV so we can watch them at home.  It was fun to go, although being that the tickets were free the theater was full..and we sat in the second row so we had a bit of a stiff neck when we got home, but the movie was wonderful.  I think the best part was there was no foul language, no violence, and no other ick going on.  There were some laugh out loud moments and some tears (I don't want to wreck it for anyone, but there wasn't a dry eye in the place at the end).  If you get a chance, see it.  I'm also participating in a blog hop, just click the picture and see what others are working on.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Monday, August 13, 2012

Sunbonnet Sue and Willow on My Design Wall

I have always loved Sunbonnet Sue blocks and quilts, but I have never made one because I didn't like them being so big...and frankly, I didn't want to applique them all by hand.  I know, I love applique, but I wasn't so interested in doing a whole quilt of them...until now.


This is a 4-inch finished block and it is so cute I can hardly stand it.  How fun would it be to make a little pincushion out of this, or even a tiny quilt?  You can use the tiniest of scraps to make her, and I got a chance to practice my raw edge machine applique.  It is just fun that this block came up today, and I will explain in a minute.  This is block number 226 of 366 and it is a 4-inch block.


I have been looking for the Don't Look Now! patterns for a long time in the United States.  I finally found a few on Shabby Fabrics and quickly purchased them...and then I put them aside because honestly, there are a thousand and one pieces and it is all raw edge applique.  I even emailed Kellie this weekend and she assured me she never does hand applique.  So...I started cutting...


The leaves on this are tiny!  There are 97 of them in that pile.  I still have quite a few flowers to cut out and the birds and the bottom.  I decided if I am ever going to see one of these finished I just have to jump in with both feet.  I am taking a class with Kim Diehl in a few weeks (all about raw edge applique) so I figure at least I will have a head start on the class, or I will go there having messed this all up and will learn a lot.  At any rate I will never know unless I try.  I did finish a project today and I entered it in the State Fair, but I forgot to take a picture of it before we left...so I will have to do that after it comes home in about a month.  I should just keep that camera hanging around my neck.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Country Farm...ahhhhh

After the fiasco the last two nights I figured I should start a little early today.   Needless to say the Country Farm was much more pleasant to make.  Not to say that challenging one's self to a harder block isn't a good thing, it just isn't a good thing when you start it way too late and then are up half the night upset about it.  I have notes on all my blocks, and next year I will again attempt the ones that really gave me trouble.


This block is number 225 of 366 and it is a 9-inch block.  



Stash Report....

Used this week:  0
Used year to date:  10 yards
Added to this week:  2.5 yards
Added to year to date: 107.50 yards
Net used for 2012:  -97.00   

I "technically" didn't use anything this week, and "technically" I didn't add anything...well, I did add two wool kits but they don't count on this list. :)  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Our Village Green Is In Dire Straights

I can always be sure that there will be a time when I will be completely humbled and this block did it.  I had fully intended to redo last night's block today and then move on to today's block, and then I turned the calendar page.  Did you hear me let out a loud yelp as I looked in panic at today's block?  It is basically a smaller version of Friday's block.


I will say this for it...I feel like I solved the Rubik's cube for the first time without pulling out the corner square and rearranging all the cubes and then putting the corner back in (or taking off the stickers which was more work and never looked right again).  I would have redone this had it been earlier in the day, but it is late, and I've had more than enough. I'm going to hang this above my sewing machine to remind me how happy I was to figure out how to get it together and how disappointed I was to see a photo of it!  Needless to say I learned a BIG lesson, not every block is for everyone and it is okay to just TURN THE PAGE and move on.  This is block number 224 of 366 and it is a 10-inch block.  (Smile, I am).  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Market Square

As most of you know, every morning I turn the calendar page to see what I will be working on that day.  I must have missed something and I really didn't pay close attention, because this block was a whole lot more than I bargained for tonight.


I started cutting  and I really didn't think about it until I tried to put the four corners on the white middle block.  YIKES!  I worked and worked at it and this is where we are at for now.  It is 12:30 a.m. and I'm okay with it, but I will be taking it apart again and redoing it.  This is block number 223 of 366 and it is a 16-inch block.  This block will definitely have some embroidery or applique in the middle.

My machine quilting class last night was great, I really, really learned a lot.  It was fun to meet some new women too.  Their main love is machine embroidery, and after talking to them, I'm thinking it would be really fun to try that too!  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Paths and Stiles

I bet you are all wondering what in the world is going on...it isn't almost midnight and I'm posting?  I have a machine quilting class tonight and school registration so I figured I should get this done earlier than later.  I hope I learn a lot tonight as I'm hoping to use my newly learned skills this weekend.


I like this block.  It was in green on the calendar, but I thought red was more appropriate for today (I have no idea why, I was just in a red mood).  This is block number 222 of 366 and it is a 9-inch block.


Here are my 9-patches for this week.  I'm getting quite the stack.  I'm at 96 of them so far...amazing how they add up if you have a goal each week to do just a few.  I posted them on the Meadowbrook Facebook page early this morning so you may have already seen them.


Pets on Quilts


 Last, but not least, if you feel like voting for Benny in the Pets on Quilts Contest leave a comment here...Benny is number 43 (leave that in your comment, i.e., Dog #43).  The best part is, you can win prizes just for voting, so VOTE!  I have the linky here too if you finished some 9-patches, and as always, there are some beautiful blocks on the FB page.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen


Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Country Barn

This block is perfect for today because if my grandfather were still here it would have been his 94th birthday.  He was a sweet man who was very quiet, but very wise.  He had a very deep voice and he would say funny things so just the person sitting next to him could hear.  I remember him bringing in huge buckets of sweet corn from the field on the days corn was frozen.  He loved coffee, and it was always fun bringing lunch to him out in the field on hot summer days.  The best part was when he taught me how to drive a tractor and to dance to country music.


I'm going to see if I can't find some sort of quilt button to put on this block so I have a barn quilt on my barn quilt block. This is a 10-inch block and is number 221 of 366.  Happy Birthday Grandpa and Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Country Roads

Half way through today I got a call from my dentist's office...I could come in a day early to have some work done because someone canceled.  I figured I might as well go today because why put off something awful until tomorrow when you can suffer through it today? :)


I hate Novocaine, I really dislike having odd objects in my mouth, and I'm not fond of feeling like I have balloons for lips.  I made it through and I don't have to go back tomorrow!  Today's block went together easily which just amazed me because there have been previous blocks similar to this that I have struggled a bit with.  Maybe the Novocaine helps (although I really seriously doubt that).  This is block number 220  of 366 and it is a 10-1/2 inch block.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Monday, August 6, 2012

Churn Dash

You know how it goes when you go back to work after vacation...239 emails that need to be answered and a lot of catching up to do.  With two extra hours of work time today I was very happy to have a simple but happy little block to make.


This block is 7-1/2 inches and is number 219 of 366.  It was a good thing this was the block for today as it seems it might take me a while to get back into our routine.  I completely missed an appointment I had by phone tonight, and I'm thinking I'm not going to see all of the Olympic coverage.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Waterwheel

The weather forecast for today was right on and was it ever beautiful.  There was not a cloud in the sky, it was warm, but not hot, no humidity, and there was a gentle breeze.  A person could not ask for a more beautiful day.


Today's block was easy peasy.  I think it took me a total of 20 minutes to cut and piece it which means a small quilt could easily be made in a just a few hours.  I almost made two of them just to see what they would look like when you put them together, but then I decided not to overdo it.  The Minnesota State Shop Hop started this weekend and we took a drive to a shop that I love that is a little farther away.  I usually try to make it to the ones in my section, but I don't always get to all of them.  I decided this year I might just try to make it to the ones I rarely get to or the ones that are my favorites.  I'll let you know how far I actually get in the next three weeks.


Stash Report....

Used this week:  0
Used year to date:  10 yards
Added to this week:  2.5 yards
Added to year to date: 107.50 yards
Net used for 2012:  -97.00  


On the stash report, I purchased 2-1/2 yards today of a fabric I have been looking for for a very long time.  It is an orange Robert Kaufman Mixmasters Fizz.  If you know of a shop anywhere that carries that line of fabric, I would love to know.  I have quite a few of them to find and it has been near to impossible.  I'm back to work tomorrow after a lengthy vacation.  I'm rested, I didn't finish anything I had planned to, and I was just pretty lazy.  I did realize that sometimes rest is a good thing.  Our bodies will always let us know when it has been too much, and mine finally did.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen  

Prickly Pear

This is an interesting block.  I have a problem with blocks that don't quite look right and this is one of them.  I think it might have to do with a prickly pear being a cactus?


This is a 10-1/2 block and is number 217 of 366.  All of a sudden the days seem to be flying by faster than they usually do.  I'm probably trying to complete more things during the day as that first day of school looms overhead.  We had a bad storm last night too during which I actually watched a large tree fall on our neighbor's car.  That then meant I had to watch the tree be cleaned up entirely and the storm end before I could fall asleep.  You know it is late when the Olympic programming on television starts to repeat itself. :)  We are to wake up to 50 degrees tomorrow morning which will be a wonderful break from the horrible heat and humidity.  I think tomorrow will be a day spent completely outside (actually it is so late now tomorrow is today).  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Friday, August 3, 2012

Grape Basket

This evening the heat finally let up a little so I could spend a little time on the swing outside reading a few of my magazines.  I hope the weather gives us a few cooler days and we can spend some more time outside before the cold begins.  I'm excited to finish some projects, start a few new projects, and have a lot of projects on the "to do" list which is quite lengthy.


This block was an easier one.  It is 10 inches and is number 216 of 366.  Someday I hope to make a basket quilt.  There are so many basket squares and most of them aren't that difficult to piece (and this one had no applique like yesterday).  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen