Yes, I am home

No, I haven't been at the beach all this time; don't I wish. It was a wonderful, though short trip. Some beautiful scenery (Check out my daughter's photos on her 7/21 posting.), and a wonderful time watching the 11 grandchildren enjoy the beach.

I have been doing a bit of knitting since we got home. I just put the sweater fronts on my blocking pad this afternoon and you can see the completed back and the sleeves-in-progress.


The quilting has sort of taken a back seat for now as I've been doing some other sewing. However, I'm hoping to get my Janome back on the kitchen table soon and work on my machine quilting project. Hmm, I thought I had a photo of that set up from a couple weeks ago, but can't seem to find it. I guess I'll just have to take you another one. Until then, keep on knittin' and quiltin'.

OFF TO THE BEACH

Hooray, we're off to the beach for a couple days.
I'm taking knitting with me, but not sure I'll have the sweater done for my granddaughter before we return home. I made a mistake in the pattern yesterday, didn't have it in me at the end of the day to figure it out, so the mistake is still on the needles! It is a long drive, though, so just maybe.
We shall see and I'll let you know. Meantime SC beach, here we come!

The best thing since . . .

sliced bread. I think that's the expression, anyway isn't it? Oh, and since I'm about to talk about "sandwiching", I guess the sliced bread reference fits!

Well, my daughter, Anna Maria, let me in on the secret a couple weeks ago about taping my quilt to the floor for sandwiching it, then basting it right there where it stays put and nice and taut. Wow, what a treat!


I used a curved needle to do the basting, but I have heard others recommend the very long (but straight) "doll" needles.


So it's all basted now and just waiting for me to have the nerve to try stitch in the ditch machine quilting on it. (It's 72 x 72.) I think I'll do that on a day when I can use my kitchen table instead of my little sewing machine cabinet. So, that's where I am in the quilting world.

As for my knitting world projects: yes, I'm still working on the pretty lavendar sweater for my granddaughter. No, I didn't get it done it time for her birthday, but she was here last weekend and tried on what I have finished and it FITS and SHE LIKES IT. Whew, that's awesome, considering she just hit the teen years.

And when I have her sweater done, I'm making something fun for ME.


My daughter got me this book

a couple years ago and I think it's about time that I have fun with it. (I'm sure hoping that referencing and giving the title info, etc., is keeping me from breaking any copyright laws.)
Hopefully if you don't hear from me for a few days, it's 'cause I'm busy knitting and quilting, or enjoying myself with all the children and grandchildren at the SC beach for a couple days.

Picnic butterflies

My picnic quilt top is finally assembled.


I was looking for a red and white checked fabric with black ants crawling around for the sashing, but alas, I looked to no avail. However, I found these lovely butterflies,

and I would consider butterflies invited guests at my picnic whereas the ants would have been uninvited.

So I guess it all works out, Huh?

After looking at photos of my "picnic" quilt several times right here, I wasn't really happy with the layout. Luckily last week both of my artist daughters were here and they helped me rearrange the blocks for my picnic quilt (that sadly I have not worked on since then). I think it's a lot better.


I intended for my husband to take a photo of me last week with both of the girls, but sadly neglected to do it. (Ask me about our trip to the Grand Canyon sometime--you guessed it, no photos!)
However I did get a photo yesterday with Anna Maria when we were in Nashville. Well, at least you get to see my new haircut!

IF ALL ELSE FAILS . . .

...check the trash can.

The "picnic" quilt that I've been working on was going along just fine. I really wanted a second block to have a wonderful teacup print fabric that a dear friend had sent be, but there just wasn't enough to cut all the pieces. Luckily, I hadn't emptied my sewing room trash can.
So I checked the trash can


and, voila, there was just enough for be to be able to piece a few scraps in to one rectangle


to complete the second block.


And here are all the blocks spaced out as they will be in the completed picnic quilt.


I think maybe I will quilt it using modified version of another friend's idea and make "place setting" shapes around the quilt. Not sure what I'll do in the middle. Stay tuned and I'll let you know.

IS IT PICNIC TIME YET ?

Oh, gee, it's Memorial Day weekend. Does that mean it's picnic time?

Ever since I received a couple "food themed" pieces of fabric from internet friends for my birthday in February, I have had in mind that I should make a "picnic quilt". Too bad that my Tennessee Star quilt isn't completed yet; when a gal had something in mind she's just got to get on with it right? So the fabrics are all purchased (unless I decide I need a couple more) and cut


and a few are even pieced. I've placed the ones I have done here so that you can see the blocks and how they will be arranged. (Of course they will be spaced further apart once I get the other blocks finished.)


The TN Star is patiently waiting for me to finish the quilting.


I'm even trying something a little different this time--some embroidery in the "non pattern" squares. Until I'm better at it, though, I'm sticking with tone on tone color, so it may be difficult to see that I am trying to mimic the surrounding print in the embroidery. (If you click on the photo, you can get an enlargement and will be able to see the embroidery.)




In the meantime, I'm also working on the sweater for a June birthday for a special young lady who will be entering her teens. The back is finished and is all blocked and ready to be sewn to the fronts and sleeves as soon as they are completed.


So with all these fun projects to complete, I guess I need to leave the keyboard and get busy!