Playing Catch Up

A little of this and that to catch up with a few things.  Just a day late for On the Needles, but cameras and computers can be so unpredictable sometimes.  Seems they are both working now, so I'd better hurry.

Here's where I am on my socks....starting to turn the 2nd heel.  You would think that all I would want to do is knit because I'm already buying more yarn for more socks.  When things slow down some, I really am going to get serious about learning more about sock knitting- top down and bottom up along with different needles - circular vs. dpns.  This week I've had to share my spare time with quilting so I didn't make much progress on my sock.

Do you remember my "Snow Friends" HERE, well we got our final package, the borders.  Just look at the clever way we received our borders.  Isn't this the cutest ever!  The body is wrapped in white tissue with the head being the inner border and the body the wider outer border.  It's almost too cute to take apart.  She even put some twigs on each side for the arms.  Some people have a knack for thinking up fun presentations and this lady is an expert.  She also wrote a cute and appropriate poem too.  I hate to finish this quilt since it's been so much fun receiving the poems and packages. "Snow Friends" will be my favorite snuggle quilt because of the person who put this together and my other friend who shared the fun with me.  Thank You so much J.C. for including me in your fun project and for your friendship.  You are a very special friend.

Then, a few weeks back we had our big quilt show and we usually have a "white bag" raffle with the money going to a selected charity.  This year it was The Honor Flight Program.  They fly World War II veterans to Washington, DC to see the memorial.  Our guild raised $2,000.00 for them this year, which will pay for 3 veterans plus some left over.  

I bought tickets as I usually do and dropped them in several of the white bags for a chance to win something.  In the past I've never been lucky to win anything.  Well this year my luck changed and I got a fantastic prize.  It has a divided pocket on both sides on the outside and two pockets inside.  The buttons are ornamental and it is very nicely quilted. The lady that made it won first place Viewer's Choice with her handquilted, applique quilt.  She is a master at most handwork and everything she makes is beautifully done whether it be quilts. purses, or totes.  I was thrilled and a shout went out when my name was called.  Thank You Mary Lou.  It is just the perfect color and size and it's being used as my knitting bag now.   

Even though it's not Friday, I'm linking up with Judy at On The Needles.  Go by and see what everyone is working on this week.  

Stash Report and More, March 30, 2014

My numbers remain the same as last week. Nothing added and nothing used that I can count.
Fabric Added - 0
Fabric Used - 0

Fabric Added YTD - 2.25 yds

Fabric Used YTD - 9.28 yds

Net used for 2014  - 7.03 yds

However, I did make a little more progress on "Snow Friends". The final rows were added to the top and bottom of the center unit, but the snow people still need their eyes and mouths.  There will be a couple of borders added soon and then this top will be done.

Also, more blocks have been made for "Friendship Jewels".  This is what my graph looked like the first time I posted it

Look at it now!!   This represents 57 finished blocks out of 80.

I'm still digging through my scraps to find the right colors for the missing sections of the blocks.  It hasn't depleted my stash very much, but I'm having fun trying.  I can't wait to start putting the rows together.  I'm anxious to see how this design looks in "real life" fabrics instead of crayola on paper.

We had a QOV sewing day this week and we were treated to a surprise. A presentation of quilts was made to 7 veterans (6 men and 1 woman) representing service in World War II, The Korean War, VietNam and one had just completed his second tour in Afghanistan.

This was such a heart-warming event and a few tears were shed when one veteran spoke about what it meant to him to receive his quilt.  

To see what others have done this week, stop on by Patchwork Times.

On The Needles - March 21, 2014

I can hardly believe that it is Friday again so quickly. I had hoped to have my first sock completed, but the week was busy with a 3 day quilt show, two quilt meetings and a few other commitments to keep me from my goal. I am getting sooo close though.  I just had to try it on to see how it fits and to measure how much more I needed to go before starting the toe section.

I also worked on "Snow Friends" quilt this week.  The applique is all finished and the top and bottom sections are stitched together waiting to be added to the center panel.

To see what others have done this week, stop by Judy's Patchwork Times.

Snow Friends Progress

There's been some progress on my Snow Friends this week.  With the prediction of more snow on Sunday and Monday, it may soon been a finished top!! Our Snow Friend Party Planner (JC) thought it would be fun to work on this project each time it snows.  So that's what I'm trying to do.

The pieces have all been cut out, arranged on the background and some of the small pieces fused in place.  Now comes the fun of stitching around them in matching color threads. I've finished the trees, the little snow friends' arms, their cute little scarves plus the snow drifts.  I did a little stuffing (trapunto) behind the snow drifts so it will puff out a little more when it's quilted.

These pictures were taken before the snowmen were stitched down.  I still have a little bird with his legs and face and the faces of the snow people to do yet.  

This is the easiest applique I've done in a long time.  Mine usually involves hand sewing but this time we are using the sewing machine for our stitching around the applique pieces.  It's fun to take your time and enjoy the process and not be on a tight schedule for finishing something quickly, which is my usual speed.

Take a look at Kelly's  Needle and Thread Thursday to see more fun projects this week. 

Design Wall - February 24, 2014

My design wall is getting so crowded that I've moved some of my blocks to a tabletop.  My string blocks are starting to come in from some of my friends and they are looking great.  I love them!













These blocks are from Barb, Linda, Donna, Tommi and Faye.  Thank you so much ladies!  They look great!




Then there is a new project I started last week.  It was named  "Snow Friends" by a good friend who put together 3 kits for her special friends to make during the wintry, snowy months. Our instructions are to work on this whenever it snows.  That means this quilt should be finished by now since we've had a lot of snow this winter.  I'll show you more as I get it cut out and stitched down.  I love the fabrics she chose for the pieces of this quilt.  It's going to be so cute and we are having fun doing it together.

Beginnings of Snow Friends

The biggest project on my design wall is my Celtic Solstice.  It is still waiting for the first border. Maybe that will happen at a retreat real soon.  Or maybe not.  I can't decide what to take with so many UFO's all wanting to go!

If you have time, go on over to Patchwork Times and see what's on others have on their design walls.