mary lynn quilts and knits

ONE LAST THING

2009-10-22T19:31:00.004-04:00

I had just a couple last things I wanted to get done before I leave for Greece tomorrow.

I wanted to send in the 6x9 rectangles that our church ladies had knit.

And I wanted to drop off this quilt at the Project Linus pick up location (a Local yarn shop). I made it from blacks that were NOT the required 6x9. I think someone will enjoy it. If it's too big for Project Linus, the yarn shop is also involved with Warm Up America, so it should keep someone warm this winter.

Let's see, what else do I need to do? Bills paid, check; paper stopped, check; mail held, check; key to the house sitter, check; e-mail boarding passes printed, check. So what does that leave. Oh, yea, PACK. I'd better get scootin'. See you around Thanksgiving.

GETTIN' IT TOGETHER

2009-10-21T18:14:00.004-04:00

Oops, I almost forgot to take photos of the two baby quilts that are going to Greece with me for DH's great nephews. So here they are:

They both have chenille backing so I popped them in the dryer on fluff this afternoon to get any remaining fuzz off them.

I was hoping to assemble all the blocks form my block of the month quilt with the sashing before I leave, but that's just not going to happen. This is a photo, though, that a friend took last week at our quilt retreat of the blocks laid out, just so we could see how it will look. Yes, it's intended to have subtle color differences (except, of course, that Kaffe print at the top of the photo that will be one of the fabrics for the sashing.. Our bedroom is mostly in neutrals and this will be for our bed, so I didn't want there to be a lot of obvious pattern in the finished quilt.

One thing I was able to complete today, though, that will go in the mail tomorrow, are these PJs for a special little girl in Ohio. She will be spending lots of hospital time in the weeks to come, so I figured out how to leave the shoulder seams opened and put snap tape on the tops of the sleeves (extending from the opened shoulder seams) for IV access. A bit of a challenge, but worth it in the end, I hope!

I still have a charity afghan that I want to take by the local yarn shop tomorrow, but it's not quite completed, so I best get crackin' , I guess.

SURPRISE !

2009-10-16T11:43:00.004-04:00

Yes, I've been away for a few days. But that doesn't mean no quilting or knitting. It means a LOT of quilting and a little knitting for me. 16 of my quilting friend from around the USA (think CA to MA and FL) met at a wonderful little retreat center at the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. Our cabins were in this wonderful little setting.

Over the past few years, this group has become very close--you guessed it: through the internet. In our caring for one another we have made many quilts (one block made by several different members, sewn together by another, quilted and bound by another two, and then a label made by yet another). We have given the quilts to ladies who have lost family members, those dealing with difficult health issues, and to those who have gone "above and beyond" in doing special things for our little group.

Last year when I was one of those with some health issues, the ladies took turns sending me little "pick me up" gifts that I received weekly for several months. So I was certainly not expecting a quilt as well.

But SURPRISE, on our first evening at our little retreat when we all gathered back in our sewing room after dinner, they presented me with this package.

Inside the package was this wonderful tote that one of the ladies had made.

And inside that was this wonderful "Greek Cross" quilt (seen here on the bed of my cabin). Yes I did sleep under it while I was there, and again last night after I got home.

It is the loving work of the ladies mentioned on the quilt label.

Tearful thanks to all of you.

And if anyone thinks that the internet cannot begin friendships, they just don't know the Weight Watcher's Message Board Quilters' "Lizzie" group!

HERE IT IS !

2009-10-11T17:27:00.004-04:00

Back from babysitting for Anna Maria while she is at Quilt Market. (The other grandmother took over today.)

Here are Anna Maria's shelves that I was able to glean for fabric for grandchildren's Christmas PJs. (top right and 3rd from the bottom left are flannels. And such soft flannel it is--not to mention it's 42 inches instead of the usual 36 " flannel.

But I know that many of you are here to see the voile. So here it is, ready for the backing to make 28" floor pillows--in all three colors ways:

Now wasn't that worth waiting for?

WHAT WAS I THINKING ?

2009-10-02T16:00:00.003-04:00

What was I thinking? I purchased all this fabric on Tuesday. Not that I don't have a huge stash already, or for that matter, lots of projects in the works as it is. There are a couple of gift baby quilts to finish, my block of the month that's been forgotten for at least two months. And, oh yes, the pajamas for my 12 grandchildren for Christmas. And I have nothing in mind for any of this fabric. But of course it was on sale. End of month/end of bolt sale. If there is 5 yards or less on a bolt and you buy it all, you get it at a 40% discount. Just can't refuse. And I do really love all the fabrics. They will be lovely for something.

And speaking of loving fabric: I can't wait to get my hands on daughter, Anna Maria's flannels for those Christmas PJs. I've been busy playing with some wonderful voile that's in her collection that will be debuting (along with the flannel and other new designs) at the Houston quilt market next week. She asked me to make patchwork from the 3 color ways of her voile so that she can make it in to a pillow to showcase the fabric. Now you may be thinking that voile is not appropriate for that home-dec use. Ah, but it is--if you put lightweight fusible fabric on the back. Anna Maria told me a really easy way to do it for this particular project. I cut the different fabrics in to 5" squares, then laid them on the sticky side of the Pelon, "butting" them closely against one another and ironed them in place. Then with right sides together, I folded the fabric on the line where the fabrics meet, and made a 1/2" seam. Then I cut the seams to press them open.

I then did the same thing with all the perpendicular "meetings". So easy as the perpendicular seams automatically are where they need to be--no pinning. Hooray.

And viola, a beautiful patchwork design of your favorite light weight fabrics that will stand up to some healthy home dec uses.

Oh, sorry I can't show you the front of the patches--that will have to come AFTER market.

In the meantime, enjoy dreaming of all the possible new fabrics that will be available to us soon--just as soon as our favorite fabric retailers get the fabrics they order next week!

OOPS, EYES CLOSED

2009-09-29T16:44:00.004-04:00

Oops, my eyes are closed, but at least you can see the sweater vest I finally finished.

I'm debating whether I should add buttons or not. I am going to add loops on the side for the belt (which I guess still needs some blocking to keep it from twisting).

Not a very good or flattering photo, but at least you can see the vest.

TIME OUT

2009-09-25T19:26:00.004-04:00

I took a little time out today from my usual quilting and knitting to make this little book bag and eyeglass case for my DGD's birthday. Actually it made me do a few hours of free motion quilting getting all those butterflies outlined--not very even or neat stitches, but at least I won't have any 4-H judges (ah, the memories) checking it out.

The baby bunny quilt is finished. (It's been folded, hence the creases.)

And I did make a decent label, for a change.

Gotta go wrap the quilt so I can give it this weekend when I see my goddaughter (baby's mama) at my grandson's baptism.

OPA !

2009-09-21T18:32:00.007-04:00

No knitting, sewing, or quilting for me over the past weekend.

Our church hosted their 30th annual Greek Fest, with lots of Greek folk dancing by our young people:

Greek cooking demonstrations:

lots of Greek pastries for sale (I cashiered the pastry line), a variety wonderful Greek food, and all kinds of things from Greece.

But for me, the best is our being able to share our centuries old Orthodox Christian faith with those who take the church tour. (Scroll down to the bottom of the church tour page for photos of the beautiful mosaic iconography.)

Oh, and yes, I am back to cutting for another baby quilt now.

BACK TO WORK

2009-09-15T11:04:00.006-04:00

Hooray, I'm back in the quilting and knitting mode.

I finished my grandson's vest the other night. And for me, I'm really ahead; his birthday isn't until October 30! Wow, how did that happen?

And as I am typing, the "glue basting" on the binding for my current baby quilt is drying. I'll be back in the sewing room to get that sewn on here in a jiffy.

And I must remember to thank my neighbors for wonderful flowers making for the lovely view I have as I sew.

THE HAPPY COUPLE

2009-09-10T19:26:00.003-04:00

And here's the happy couple!

Weddings Are So Wonderful . . .

2009-09-01T19:51:00.007-04:00

. . . and even more wonderful when you're involved in the preparations. Especially if you're the mother of the bride, live 300 miles away, and are still able to be a part of it all.

So I have been honored to get a few things ready before I head to my daughter's tomorrow to help out even a bit more for the wedding on Saturday.

The crowns that I had started last week took a bit of a turn. I was not pleased with the way the silk looked on the inside where it was stitched together, so at my husband's suggestion, I simply wrapped them with 5/8 inch ribbon. Then added a ribbon cross which is centered with a silk yo-yo. At least I got to use a little bit of that silk!

Perhaps the most fun, though, was putting it all together after I got the sacramental elements: candles with matching cross bows, the "common cup" and tray.

And then, of course, there are the obligatory (at least by Greek standards) Jordan almond favors for all who attend. Oh, and yes, there are boxes of powder sugar wedding cookies all ready and waiting to go in the car for my journey tomorrow.

Sorry, I cannot invite you all--family only. But maybe I'll have some photos next time around--in a couple weeks.

STILL AT IT

2009-08-26T18:24:00.007-04:00

Well, my bunny quilt is going to have to take a back seat to a few other things that need to get done.

For one thing, after we had some drenching rains, I decided it was a good time to do some much needed weeding in the "jungle" that is our hill by the river. My, oh, my: I guess I didn't know exactly what I was getting myself in to! I'm only doing it about 1 - 1 1/2 hours a day--mornings before it gets too hot, so I probably still have a couple more mornings left before I get it finished. And of course, I'm not always home first thing in the morning, so this project may be a very long lived one!

More fun, though, is getting ready for my daughter's wedding next weekend. For those of you not familiar with Orthodox Christian weddings, the couple is "crowned" during the sacrament. Identical crowns which are joined with a ribbon are used, signifying the couple as king and queen in their new home, joined by Christ. I am making the crowns. (Sorry, I'm not showing you the completed crowns until AFTER the wedding.!)

It was a bit more difficult than I had anticipated, covering the circle with silk fabric. I did use a silk yo-yo (I love those things), though, in the center of the ribbon crosses that will be at the back of the crowns where the they are joined by a long ribbon.

Although the quilting has gone a bit by the wayside, I am still knitting. Hmmmmm, I'm glad I took this photo to show you, otherwise I might not have realized that it looks as if I turned around in the middle of the row that one time that I laid it down before completing a row. So THAT's why NOT to stop mid row! Looks like I've got some frogging to do.

Since yesterday was the 25th, it was my Christmas project day, so I started this little winter scene dishcloth. The photo is a little difficult to make out, but it's a house with an evergreen tree.

I should be able to finish this tonight.

Then another wedding crown tomorrow, and who knows what will follow that?

A MINI TRAVELOGUE

2009-08-22T20:04:00.008-04:00

No, I haven't done any knitting or quilting the past few days, although I did do a bit of needlepoint on our little road trip. No needlecraft to show you today, but thought I'd share a bit of my trip with you.

Leaving the hills of East Tennessee,

through Kentucky Bluegrass horse country,

to the flatlands of my former home Hoosier state,

and on to Chicago where I spent my nursing school and early marriage years.

Then back to my sister's Indiana home where she hosted a wonderful get together with 6 of my high school classmates.

(Oh, I'm the one on the right on the back row.)

Thanks Teresa, Sheila, Cindy, Marcia, Nancy, and Lynne for taking time to come and visit me.

It was a delightful evening, to say the least.

Today's trip home was a great time reliving our lively conversation of yesterday evening and the memories that we shared. It was also a time to remember those classmates who I learned are now longer with us on this earth:

Allene, Doris, Jack, Jim, Jim, and Mike, may your memories be eternal.

And ending my day of remembrances, returning to where I now call home,

I know that all of those places and people I visited the past few days have made me who I am today.

I am forever grateful to them all.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

2009-08-18T18:39:00.002-04:00

So I'm off once again for a little summer jaunt. Last week I spent a few days with my daughter Anna Maria and her family.

This week, we're headed to Indiana to spend a couple days with my sister. She has contacted 6 of my high school classmates and we will be having a little get together one evening while I'm there.

Oops, I need to phone the house-sitter for last minute arrangements. Better do that right now before I forget.

See you all soon, maybe with a photo from the "Class of '63"!

OH, NO !

2009-08-12T13:51:00.008-04:00

Oh, no! Perhaps there has been not A Very Hungry Caterpillar in my shawl box, but certainly there has been a slightly hungry moth. This is perhaps one of my favorite gift shawls. Unfortunately I discovered this when I tried it on with the a new dress that I will wear it with.

The yarn shop did not have a yarn that came close enough to mend it, so I decided to go with plain old thread.

I think it will be fine, since the patched spot will be covered when I fold the square into a triangle to wear as a shawl.

By the way, if any of you experienced needle workers out there know how this was done, let us know. It's not knit, perhaps some kind of crochet? I'm pretty sure she ( my sister-in-law) wrapped the yarn around a finger for the large loops. Next time I'm in Greece, I need to try to get a better history of the piece. My sister-in-law gave it to me, but it's possible that it was done by my mother-in-law.

At any rate, I'll be happy to wear it to a special family event next month--more on that later.

As for special events, the bunny quilt recipient arrived a few weeks early a week ago today. Mom and baby Claire Elizabeth are doing fine.

I mentioned yoyos for the tying. This is one of them in place.

So the backing would look neat, I used the same Cotton Perle (DMC) as the blanket stitch applique to tie the block "junctions", making an X on the backing,

and then stitched the yoyo in place with all the "knots" under the yoyo.

I have started knitting the vest for my grandson's October birthday, and I'll be taking the little blue sweater to his sister for her birthday. I'm going there tomorrow to spend a couple days. Hooray.

So that's about it on the quilting and knitting front here. See you when I get home.

The best laid plans . . .

2009-08-08T16:46:00.004-04:00

Oh, goodness, just when is it that I will remember that cotton fabric width is not 45", but rather 42 (and a scant 42 ", at that)?

The plan that I had all mapped out last week was wonderful. And I continued with an ingenious way to make certain that I sewed the blocks together as planned: I printed out the photo. Even better, I realized that I could use magnets on an appliance other that the fridge! Since my "sewing room" is really my laundry room, the dryer came in quite handy for just that purpose.

It wasn't until I had the blocks all sewn together that I realized the width of my backing fabric was not as wide as my planned (and now sewn) quilt top. Luckily I had plenty of the backing fabric so I could piece the backing just as I would for a bed larger than a crib.

So the plan continues and I'm about to forge onward. Once it's all laid out and basted together, instead of actually quilting this "blankie", I will tie it, using yoyos. I have almost enough made, just a few more from the binding fabric and I will have enough for each seam junction.

OK, no back to the laundry (er, sewing) room to get this sandwiched and basted together.

THE PLAN

2009-08-03T15:25:00.003-04:00

Thought I'd show you a close up of the fabrics that I added to my to my stash when I went to the AQS show in Knoxville last month. Those on the left were in a bin of fat quarters for $1.00; now who could pass that up?

Those on the right will be great for baby blankets. I've got to make a couple for babies in Greece--my husband's great niece or nephew--not sure which yet so I don't know if I'm going to be needing blue or pink; I should find out soon.

The fabric in the middle is a 1/2 yard cut. I thought it would work well with the baby quilt that I'm just starting, but the background is too white, so it will go in the stash closet.

I've never had a really systematic way of planning my quilts before, but this time I found a method. I figured about how big I want it to be (for a crib). From there I was able to decide on the number and size of blocks.

I ended up with 5 rows of 6 (8 1/2 inch) blocks. I am using 5 different fabrics. Perfect!

Then I got out a pad of paper, wrote A,B,C,D,E on the top line and arranged those letters (one for each fabric) how I thought might work. But since I'm not a trained artist that still didn't tell me quite how it would look.

So I assigned a color to each letter and colored each letter in to a sort of block shape:

Although it's nowhere near the colors I'm using (They were the only markers I had.) , at least it let me see the layout. Pretty pleased with that, so my next step was to cut the fabric in to appropriate size squares and lay them out.

This is for the quilt with bunnies, so I placed them where I thought they would look best. I did rearrange those little critters a few times before I was happy. And I had (in my stash, of course) a great little bright pink Chocolate Lollipop fabric for the binding. VIOLA, THE PLAN!

Oh, and I will be getting back to some knitting again soon too and this will be what's up next. I'll be making a vest for one of my grandson's 11th birthday.

And the needles (quilting and knitting) keep moving!

BUSY, BUSY

2009-07-29T12:15:00.005-04:00

Looks like I'm going to busy for a little while working on some applique on my daughter's quilt. I'm not showing much here as it will be part of her next book. But I did want to show you the wonderful little tweezer like scissors (lower middle part of the photo). I found them at quilt market the other day and they are so much better than those pink handled ones in the photo for precision work. Thanks to my quilting friends, I did know to use tiny pins for the applique and a thread that one friend described as "just melting into the fabric". Thanks, ladies for your suggestions. It's making this process lots easier.

There's another photo of those little scissors (in their package) among all the other goodies that I got at the show. Some things for machine and hand embroidery as well as quilting. Woo-Hoo, am I going to have fun!

And on the knitting front: I have completed the sweater (her choice of pattern and sleeve length) for my granddaughter whose birthday is next month. What, I'm a few weeks early? Now that's a surprise.

And believe it or not, (Talk about a stash!) the purchase of these two yarns now completes the yarn supply for an October birthday this year, and ALL the 6 birthdays that I will cover next year--not to mention a few other yarns that I have no definite plans for.

Hmmmmm, I guess you'll all just have to yell at me if I say anything else about another yarn sale!

MY VERY FIRST QUILT SHOW

2009-07-24T17:32:00.004-04:00

Where can I begin? One of the early things that I saw was a real surprise: my daughter's Garden Party fabric as the focus fabric for a contest. How great is that?

There were several quilts using the fabrid, but this was one of my favorites, maybe because I can picture her as that little girl some 30 years ago.

I got to meet up with a couple of my on-line quilting friends. Just saw one of them momentarily and was never able to catch up with her again, but I was able to sit a while with another (first time we've actually met) and have coffee as she and her granddaughters had their lunch.

I took a couple other photos, one of a quilt that I may want to try one day.

And another for all of you yo yo lovers out there. Yep, that is all yo yos!

Oh, and I did, of course, help to stimulate the economy a bit. More about that at a later date, perhaps.

SORRY I'M MISSING

2009-07-23T19:35:00.003-04:00

Oops, not much time to spend on the computer lately.

Just got this used Sea Doo yesterday and my husband and I have had entirely too much fun with it today.

AND tomorrow I'm going to BIG QUILT SHOW in Knoxville--only about 25 miles from me.

Catch up with you soon.

BUNNIES, BUNNIES, EVERYWHERE !

2009-07-19T18:03:00.002-04:00

OK, I know I was just here yesterday, but I just had to share a bit from this afternoon's baby shower.

I have ALL of these bunnies now--should make quite a few fuzzy appliques for a tactile baby quilt, don't you think?

As planned, they were part of our table decorations, serving as "doilies" for cupcakes.

And there were even enough to add to the skirt of the gift table. Do you recognize the little guy on top of the pink package? (He's the one I "redressed" the other day.)

And here I am, with my precious goddaughter--our mom to be! (You can't see it in this photo, but there's even a little white bunny in her corsage.

A sneaky way to show you my short hair-do, don't you think?

FUZZIES & WARM FUZZIES

2009-07-18T18:55:00.004-04:00

My goodness, I'm surprised that I don't have blisters on my cutting hand.

All of this new stash came from discontinued upholstery/drapery samples from my daughter Eleni.

I've had the "books" for several months, but have just now gotten around to cutting the fabric out of the book.

Truth be told: the books were on the floor in front of a closet drawer that I wanted to get into, so I decided enough's enough and I'm going to take care of this. So here you have it, all cut and place in piles according to fabric. (and--even if you can't tell it--of course, the fabrics are each sorted by ROY G BIV!

When I was about half finished, I decided to save the fabric content strip glued to the back of one from each book, so I'd know what I'm dealing with. Unfortunately I didn't think about that until after I had already discarded the label from the print fabric in the center and all that velour in the big stack in the back. Oh, well.

But speaking of velour, that makes me think "fuzzy", so I just have to share this with you. This special young lady

sent me this "warm fuzzy".

I have not discussed my medical issues here very much as this blog really IS about quilting and knitting.

(As you can tell by little Lukie's (that's what I decided to call this guy) surroundings--a pillow my mom knit many years ago and a quilt I made from exchange fabric last year when I participated in a Weight Watcher message board quilters' group exchange. (Can you follow all those adjectives?)

Speaking of that message board, that's how I "met" the above young lady. I've "known" her since she was beginning college--at Smith and then Columbia University; she has now graduated and is back home in California. She has run at least two marathons for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. When she learned last summer that I had lymphoma, she dedicated her run this year to me! I was so honored. When I got her little Lukie in the mail yesterday, I could not help but tear up. You see, it's people like this young lady who give so much for nothing in return. What they have given me is help toward the remission that I now enjoy. Without donations that they help collect, so much research to find cures would never be done. It's these selfless people, and hundreds like them, that help make it all possible. I wish I could thank each and every volunteer out there. But I can't.

So here's to my special friend COLLEEN: THANK YOU!

FABRIC STASH CAN BE FOR MORE THAN QUILTS!

2009-07-16T17:57:00.007-04:00

Ah, babies are so much fun, even when they are not here yet!

I, and several other ladies from my church, are hosting on a baby shower for my goddaughter, who is expecting a little girl in September.

We are using cardboard baby blocks for the center pieces for the tables, but I wanted to do a little something more to go with her nursery theme.

She has chosen a bunny pattern for her nursery, so I went on line, found it and traced the bunny silhouette and cut out fleece from --of course-- my stash (leftovers from many receiving blankets and quilt backs).

So we will have rather unique "doilies" for the cup cake at each place setting for our buffet luncheon on Sunday.

I also took a bit of her soon-to-be quilt fabric to redress a cardboard bunny that I found at AC Moore the other day. The polka dot on Mr. Bunny is his new jacket.

And if we find a place for them, we might also scatter these little guys that I found in a sale Easter packet of foam goodies.

See, there are many good reasons a reason for wonderful and varied STASH!

OOPS, I've been missing

2009-07-10T16:59:00.003-04:00

I've been at the beach with our children and grandchildren!

Daughter Anna Maria has shared our fun more eloquently, but here is one of my photos:

I did do just a bit of needlepoint during travel time.

I also learned that the next birthday girl (3rd from the left--holding the baby) wants her sweater sleeves to be 3/4 length. Hmmmm, I think I need to take out the ribbing that I have done and restart. It might work as is, but if I'm bothering to take the time to do it, I'd rather have it be comfortable for her.

Until next time, I'll just bask in the memory of a fun time with these precious children . . . .

DEFINITION OF STASH ?

2009-07-02T16:25:00.005-04:00

Hmmmm. "Secret supply"; that was the clue to my newspaper crossword puzzle yesterday for "stash".

I'm not so sure that I'd say my supply is exactly secret. Although on my way in to the house after a shopping trip, I usually do try to get it to the sewing room as soon as I'm home, before my husband sees the packages. So perhaps it is an accurate definition.

At any rate, this is what I've added to my "supply" this week. Two trips to local quilt shops for the fabric. The pile on the left is for whatever comes along; then one on the right, however, will be for my goddaughter's expected baby girl later in the summer.

And, well, the yarn can't count as "secret" because it was mail ordered and my husband brought the package in the house when it was delivered.

Secret or not, it sure is nice to have a good stash. I managed to make a couple pretty cute (if I do say so myself) baby boy quilts last week.

One for a dear family friend,

And the other for new grandbaby Roman--not that his mother doesn't already have a wonderful supply.

But this one's from Nani, after all.

Actually as I was making the quilt for the family friend's baby, it was my dear husband who asked if I had made one for Roman yet. So--again--secret or not, it's good to have a stash. After all, how does he think I can whip one up in a couple days if I don't have a STASH ?