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November 15, 2009

Abandoned book "Death by Darjeeling" by Laura Childs ♦♦◊◊◊

In the midst of doing swap-sewing and shop sample sewing, I managed to carve out a day to work on my sadly neglected BOM list.

I think this is block #5 from Esther Aliu's Red Delicious BOM. Uh, all the blocks have been posted. The finishing instructions have been posted. (If you want to play and don't have any or all of the blocks, you can get them through Esther's Etsy Store) I'm just approaching the halfway mark... I told you my BOM list has been sadly neglected! (According to my photobucket album, the last BOM I finished was in July. Oy.)

I ran across a new-to-me blog this week, and wouldn'tcha know it, there's a giveaway! LeKaQuilt is a Norwegian quilter (Google translate does quite well, by the way) who had some pretty yummy looking show and tell on her blog.

The current yummy-ness is a giveaway of the latest Piece O'Cake book and the sweetest little purse. You really oughta click on this here button and go check it out!

So, what else is tasty these days? Oh! I'm going to make some bread today - I'll gladly use my favorite recipe from Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day... but I'm also going to try out Deb's suggested recipe for Light Brioche Burger Buns. No, I'm not making burgers tonight; if the buns are as good as I think they'll be, there's no use mucking them up with meat and condiments!

All this bread baking is ostensibly in honor of or preparation for Homemade Bread Day, which occurs on Tuesday. Of course, since I get to make up "Manager's Specials" at the shop, I've decided that all fabrics that are bread-colored (brown or tannish) are 20% off. *I kinda like being able to make up random "Manager's Specials". This month, especially, promises to have some pretty inventive ones! I know that one day this month is National Parfait Day. Isn't that a perfect time to put STRIPED fabrics on sale??

Huh. Speaking of BOM's (I was, you know, 'way back when), today's the 15th, when a number of talented and generous designers post the most recent blocks in their series. Before I start making bread, I should oughta download the latest. And officially be even farther behind than I was a few minutes ago...

Labels: babble, quilting

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A Littles Merry Christmas Wish

November 12, 2009

But he was gone. "Plum Spooky" by Janet Evanovich ♦♦♦♦◊

A while back I showed you the Christmas Littles stitcheries I did that were generously provided *free* by Cheryl at Willowberry Designs.

It's currently no less wrinkly, by the way.

I have also finished this little cutie, another free pattern - this time from designer extraordinaire Gail Pan (designer of yet another free Christmas project that's on my list of things to stitch).

Finishing at a little larger than 4x8", I used the same colors as in the Littles stitcheries.

Because I have A Plan.

Take one large-ish stitchery, add eight little stitcheries and five* fat quarters and hopefully you'll end up with a cute little(ish) wallhanging for the holiday season.

*Uh, yeah. Did you notice that there is no blue in the fat quarter bundle? Someone didn't think this all the way through. I see a bit o'piping or a flange in my future, I think.

So, there it is. My Littles Merry Christmas wish - to have this put together in time to actually display it at Christmastime.

Or send it to the family member who tells me that they want to hang it on THEIR wall at Christmastime (if any of my family still reads my blog!!).

Labels: holiday, stitchery

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News from the Ditch

November 10, 2009

"Guy must've blocked," Milo said. "A Cold Heart" by Jonathan Kellerman ♦♦♦♦◊

I've always wanted to make a Winding Ways quilt. When we decided to do a class at the shop, I frantically waved my hand in the air to make the sample - a pattern I've always wanted to try, colors that make me happy and precision pieces from the die-cut machine. Woot!

I gotta tell you, this wasn't too difficult. Of course, not having to cut all of those pieces by hand was a real boon. The biggest problems I had were mainly with the black fabric - Kona cotton. It frayed like the dickens, so when I got all Type A and tried to un-sew some of the little center sections, the black literally fell to pieces.

This isn't my first brush with this fabric (oh, how quickly we forget!). I at least knew not to hit it with much of a spray from the water bottle - water + iron makes this fabric all wander-y. The weave gets all wonky (wow, listen to all of those technical terms!) and it's impossible to get back to square AND on-grain.

How's that border fabric? Pretty perfect, methinks. I've had that stuff for YEARS - quite possibly for a DECADE. I guess that's an argument for not getting rid of fabric that you haven't yet found a use for, now isn't it??

The quilting is also a bit of a departure for me: DITCH quilting. ME. Can you believe it? Okay, there's a little bit of echoing in there, and a few extensions out into the border, but nothing fancy at all. I just couldn't consider that anything other than simple would benefit the quilt.

Though still unbound, the quilt's hanging at the shop as an enticement for more people to sign up for the class... but soon it will get to come home with me and be mine, mine, MINE!!

Labels: quilting

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Swappin' Fool

November 08, 2009

Abandoned book "The Yiddish Policemen's Union: A Novel" by Michael Chabon ♦♦◊◊◊

Oh, yes, there are MORE swap pictures to share with you!

I really have no idea what got into me. Apparently I didn't have enough to do, so I seem to have been pretty swap-happy in the past few months!

Up next is the Mug Hug & Mug Rug swap, again from the Quilter's Last Resort forum. I was really disappointed that I couldn't join the swap that was hosted by Jenny of Elephantz & Vicki of Tozz's Corner (I had to go on an Alaskan Cruise - oh, the nerve! :snort:), we did a little swap of our own in the forum.

The first Hug 'n Rug I received was from Golo. She and I teamed up for the apron challenge from Quilts and More back in June.

I used this when I'm at work, mostly. Though made to wrap around a tea or coffee cup, the hug fits perfectly around my water bottle. Both the hug and the rug helps with condensation management! I get lots of compliments on it - when my cutting table's cleaned off enough that quilters can see it!!

Isn't this fabric just a hoot?

I wonder why she said that when she found it she knew it was for me???

The second Hug & Rug I received was from Linda. I tend to think of this as my "fancy" set! This one doesn't go to work with me, but it sits on my dining room table to be used when I'm at my leisure.

Isn't it funny how some things just 'tell you' how they want to be used?

I managed to get Hugs & Rugs made for my forum friends (and only sent out one day late... but there's a story -surprise!). As soon as I figure out which Photobucket folder I 'filed' the pictures in, I'll share them with you!

Labels: sewing

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Mini Things to Share

November 06, 2009

"Where's my tea?" he said. "Twice Shy" by Dick Francis ♦♦♦♦◊

Long, long ago (in a galaxy...) I showed you pictures of a mini quilt I made for a swap on the Quilter's Last Resort forum. What I didn't show you was the quilt that I got from that swap.

This little jewel was made by Monika in Ontario. It's about 15" wide. I love how precise the piecing is - look at those sharp little points!!

It's in a wonderful, soft purple (I think it's a bit stronger than lilac) and a soft apple green. Have I mentioned how much I love the combination of green & purple?

And check out the incredible quilting! A little meander here, some ditchy-poo there... it's just perfect!

(I think the color's more accurate in this second picture).

I don't know if Monika visits my blog, but if you happen to know her (Deb), be sure to tell her that this little quilt makes me very happy and I want to share my joy with the rest of the world!!

Labels: quilting

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