First down!

First in Ten oops, I meant Four.    Switched the wrong nomenclature here, was thinking about football again.  We've been to quite a few football games so far this season since PGS#2 is playing on JV team for the local school.    He only has about 4 games left so the fall is going by very quickly.

My finish is a baby quilt that I shelved away a stack of four  last year.  You heard me right, FOUR!  While Mom was here, she wanted to "help me" clean out some of my projects from my room.  You really do have to see and just imagine towers of project boxes hovering all around you as you enter the sewing room.  They are stacked safely though I have to say but if ever we have any earthquakes or tremors, I am running out of my room, that's for SURE! 
Anyway, Mom and I were able to assemble 4 baby quilt tops together last summer out of 2 kits I purchased with some additional yardage for the backings.  Of course there was this sale... I just wish I could remember where I got them from, my minds eye sees their logo but the name is escaping me.  (coming back to add that I think it was the Fat Quarter Shop.)   Perhaps you remember them from this post.   Well, they were safely shelved since last year so  I listed them as some of the projects I wanted to get totally done in 2012.  

One is done!   Yippee!!!!

 

 

This alphabetical grid is how I stitched in the ditch without starts and stops for a 4x4 alternating block layout of pinwheel blocks with the only section stitched over twice which is the segment from X to the RW dots. 

I stitched it in alphabetical order. 

















It seemed like the easiest way for retrieval of that information  if I placed it here and that way I'd share it with my cyber friends in case they had need of it.  Most times  it's a good thing my head is attached though  I blame the Rx's  I'm on for the deterioration of my mental aptitudes of course it couldn't be my age.  lol!    You can click on any photos for a better look.  Sorry my photography skills are still so lacking.



I just love these alligator cyclists!



 

Alphabetical fllece for the backing was used, very A propro don't you think?

For the borders I did an easy in the ditch straight stitch. 
Then for the binding that blue and green stripe was perfect.  Seems like I'm in a blue/green mode lately.  It was finished by sewing the binding onto the back  then turned it was over the edge  and  top stitched by machine.    EASY!


I am feeling very smug  satisfied that one is down and  now only three to go.   Whoot * whoot!

A smilin',

Jane

Coming back three days later   to add that recently while blog hopping, I noticed many bloggers have lists of items and intentions of what  to accomplish in the next week.  While shopping I found this little gem and started using it.  How easy and just the tiny reminder I need.  Since I bought it, I have found time to get in my studio every day! That's a new record for me.   I'll let you know how long  that lasts.   

Here's my list recently.  Notice all those blue check marks?  They are done! 

 

I also found time to connect with a friend for a wee time with a cup of tea and happened to see these little gems in her shop, Fibre Junction.  Aren't they lovely?     Of course they came home with me.  8~)

 

 

Since I was on a mission to get some black piping I needed for my current New FO and stop by Teavana to check out their new global teas,  I also proceeded on to Stitched in Vt. to get some more of that green tonal fabric in Malka Dubrawsky's line-"a stitch in Color" that I adore.  I'm using that in the current new FO. 

 

 

 

Can you guess what it'll be? Stay tuned, any day now.....

Jane

Shopping to Maryland and back

While away the shopping was fantastic. LL Bean and Coldwater Creek are 2 of my favorite stores. It is so nice to own a top and then have a catolog delivered to my home and viola, the shirt I fall in love with in the catalog is hanging in my closet already. Too cool! The LL Bean was an outlet store and the deals were wonderful. I am not a shopaholic, but seem to turn into one when the possibilities are present. It's probably a good thing that I live a rural life.
On the way to visit my sister and on the way back home, I stopped and shopped at several stores for my breaks from driving that distance and realign my back and spine. At The Stitching Post in Cantonville, Maryland my quest for linen for a CXS (Counted Cross Stitch) fabric that I needed for a pattern I bought several years ago was realized. Besides that, I acquired a couple more skeins of The thread gatherer silk threads for another project, Alpine Sesasons by Martina Weber aka Chatelaine Designs. I also purchased some other items and kits. Oh, I do wish that a needlework shop was closer to where I live. Of course I had googled some quilt shops for the ride and to have something to do for my frequent stops and I picked up a couple of items at those too. But really did keep the spending down at those sights. Since becoming a stashbuster, I do shop my stash first and this has really stopped my frivolous expense because a fabric caught my eye. Now I let the quilt stores store it for me. When I need something, I'll shop fabric then.

One thing I tried and found out that I love, love, love is the hand lotion called "Gloves in a Bottle". It's amazing how great my hands felt after a couple of applications. I guess I should have purchased some when I saw it but wasn't sure how it would work. This will be my next quest and perhaps I'll get a bottle for my Mom too. It's not greasy and will not soil your textiles supposedly but protects your skin, leaving it fresh as a baby's bum.

Well off to get the baby quilt done that is being given away tomorrow. Enjoy your day.

Jane

Getting Ready....and in a quandary

Some days the pain and discomfort I am in are just too much. I know I'll be living with this for the rest of my life and I just need to push on. AND that is exactly what I've been doing.

This is a picture of my D9P all together and showed it to my daughter, since it will be in her house and for her #1 son. The size now is 46" by 46". Checking with her preferences for what border colors she prefers in which ever order. She'd like it a little longer, could I do it. Yes, so back to do more D9P rows to make it so. Darn, I'll need to iron more fabric, sometimes I think that's the worst task, moving things around to make room for the ironing board! I'm not sure which border treatment though. Any recommendations?
Since I'm getting ready to go away on a retreat shortly, perhaps I'll bring that project to work on.

The project #5 for the UFO challenge through my Mom's guild still needs to get a pieced backing for the long lines table runner. I'll probably do that too while away. I don't think it will take too long, whenever I make up my mind of exactly what to do. It still is percolating in brain(pib).

While I was waiting to check with daughter, I did start a little doll blanket for PG#1. I'm using soiree charm pack pictured above and I got my pattern from the Moda Bake Shop. The top is pieced, now all I need to complete is to piece the back. Boy, that seems like my current trend. Need to break that record!

A-shopping I JUST went, got to love the internet. I just bought some minkee fabrics for the D9P backing and for another baby blanket I am taking to my retreat. The last one is from Thimble Blossoms called "Baby Mine", proceeds of that went to Quilt for a cause with Juvenile Diabetes. (A great-nephew of mine has had this since age 2. What a doll he is. Both he and his Mom are so good about doing all things necessary for this challenge. WHen discovered his Blood sugar was around 700. Yikes!) Anyways, ordered 2 yards of minkee in 2 different colors for the backings of both quilts. With S&H it comes to $53.00. Not bad and it's a legit buy from the no-buy challenge I'm participating with this year through the stashbuster group I belong too.

Blessings
Jane