Under the Lilacs

The title of today's post pretty much describes how I spent part of my weekend (thank you Louisa May Alcott for the lovely title as well). Spring seems to finally have come to Northern Illinois and the lilacs are in full bloom. While I don't have any planted near my house, there is a park in the suburbs where I can go and be in absolute lilac heaven.


The park has literally hundreds (if not thousands) of lilac bushes along winding paths. The number of varieties of lilacs are amazing as well. It's enough to make me wish I had a place where I could plant dozens of bushes. The scent is just heavenly. We could smell the fragrance a block and 1/2 away from the park entrance. Mmmmnnn.



The trip to the park for the day was my Mother's Day gift from my husband and daughter. (though my daughter also brought home a plaster of paris hand print she made at daycare -- I always wondered if the stuff I made for my Mom was appreciated. Being on the receiving end now -- oh yeah, it was. The darned thing had me tearing up) It's all I asked for and it was just perfect. Because of the weather forecast we went on Saturday and had a great time playing in the park and looking at the flowers.


As you can see from the photos, Lilacs are not the only attraction -- there are tons and tons of tulips as well. When I've gone in the past the tulips were pretty much gone before the lilacs were ready. This year? Oh my!


And the varieties of tulips were amazing as well. I mean, look at this one -- yes, it is a tulip. And in the patch you see above? With pinks and light pinks that all have those multiple petals? Amazing.


One of my favorites was this grouping. There has to be a quilt in this somehow. The orange with the white and deep purple against the spring green? Oh my, oh my.


One of the nicest parts of the park is the fact that they clearly label all of the varieties of lilacs and tulips. That orange tulip that I fell in love with? Imagine my surprise when I found out its name. I KNEW there was a reason I fell in love with it. It shares a name with one of my favorite quilt blogs. (Hi Clare!) And if any of you think I've been googling tulip bulb suppliers and dreaming of planting some of these beauties in the fall? Umm...you would be absolutely correct.


All in all it was a perfect way for me to spend my Mother's Day celebration. Add in the fact that I got a wonderful package in the mail last week with my Spring Four Seasons quilt in it? Oh yeah, what more could I ask for? Gwen of Scrappy Angel Quilts was my partner and I LOVE my spring baskets. I can't wait to hang it up in my office.


In addition to the wonderful quilt, she also sent some yummy sock yarns for me to play with. This should be some serious inspiration to actually FINISH the purple socks that have been languishing around here (yes, they are still in the same state as they are in that post -- ugh). I know what pattern I want to try next and now I have the yarn to play with. I just have to decide on whether to use the green or the purple/blue/yellow/green combo. Decisions, decisions. Either way THANK YOU GWEN!!!!


And speaking of knitting...I did manage to get something finished this weekend! The sweater I started for my daughter way back in February, the one I confidently claimed would be ready for Easter? Yeah...um, I finally got around to finishing it this weekend. Finally. And it fits!


Mostly. It seems in the 2+ months since I started this one my little one has gotten taller. Not any heavier, but taller. The sleeves fit perfectly. It fits around her waist with room to spare. But, um the length?!? Yeah, it's a bolero sweater. This is fine -- it's for spring so it's cool. I'm thinking she may need a little empire waist dress to go under it though. At the time I started this (and finished knitting the front and back sections) the measurements worked with a bit of room to spare. Now?? Yeah. Oh well -- such is life when making things for children. :0). And since I stole took the yarn from my Mom's stash with permission, you can't beat the price :0).

So, that's it from the cornfields for today. I'm trying to finish up a few projects so hopefully I will have more to report soon!

It's ALIVE...

Or, rather, I am. Really. I seriously can't believe it's been over a month since I posted to my blog, but I am still alive and kicking. As for what's been keeping me away from my blog (and most of the blogs I regularly read too -- we won't even go into how many posts bloglines says I haven't read) take your pick from the following:

• Sick husband


• Sick child


• Child deciding to learn how to slide head first into home plate but using a steel door frame as her target


• The blahs (probably the biggest reason folks -- I was having a major tail end of winter funk that just would not go away)


• Getting some substitute teaching jobs (love the money, teaching, etc. but you usually don't find out whether or not you are working the next day until sometime between 6 and 9 pm)


• Scratching an eye because of something getting in my contact lens which made light painful and meant I had to wear my soooo out of date glasses for two weeks (um, yeah, I actually had to try and thread a quilting between during that period -- luckily Tink was asleep or she would have had way too many new words to add to her vocabulary. This was also another major reason for not posting -- when it hurts to look at a computer screen, um, yeah.)

And -- just because I'm in the mood for lists here are some sure signs you haven't posted to your blog in much too long:

• You get wonderful emails from blog friends asking if you are ok. (thank you everyone who wrote -- I'm catching up on my email so if you haven't heard from me yet -- you will soon!)


• You get a call from one of your favorite quilt shop owners saying you haven't written on the blog lately and she and the staff are wondering if you are ok. (thank you for calling -- it means a whole lot to me -- I'll be in soon!)


• Every conversation with your mother includes a reminder that you need to post to your blog.

Soooo -- what have I been up to in the past month? Well...I did hold the drawing for my 1 year/100th + post giveaway. Tink decided when I asked her to "mix" the slips of paper that she absolutely needed to use a spoon to do it. Hey, who am I to argue? She also decided that "one" was not enough -- so she chose two names: Gwen of Scrappy Angel Quilts and Lisa of Upstatelisa. I DID notify the winners via email. Now to just get their packages in the mail (it isn't just the blog that I'm behind on folks...).

I also managed to finish a gift for a coworker of my mother's who retired in April. This is someone who has been a great help to my mother and who has been generous in her praise of my humble efforts at crafting. I just HAD to make her something. After seeing a book that had some wonderful Japanese designs I decided to use a sashiko/applique design of a cherry blossom (a sakura) but instead of the sashiko technique use western embroidery. I then turned it into a decorative pillow with some pretty spring colored fabrics. I LOVE how this piece turned out. It's hard to tell from the photo (click to make it bigger) but the embroidery is done in pale pinks that shade out to almost white. I think I'm going to have to try this one again -- maybe with one of the other traditional Japanese designs.

I also finished my Four Seasons Spring piece!!! Wooo Hoooo! I'm kind of conflicted about this one. One the one hand, I put a lot of myself into it. It represents a lot of hours and a lot of things I haven't experimented with before. It's the first piece I've ever hand quilted that had seams. (check another thing off of my new year's list). It's the first piece I've ever done that has incorporated both knitting and quilting. Yes, call me an over achiever -- but that lace edging is the one I was working on here.

And, yes, the base of this piece is the trip around the world I talked about here. I took some of the suggestions and added embroidery to try and make it pop a bit more. There's a bit in the upper right hand corner.

And a bigger section in the lower left. I also added in some knit flowers to add some dimension. So why the conflict? Well -- I love the individual elements, but, somehow, I'm just not sure about the finished piece. This one is also just, well, despite the fact that I designed most of it -- just so not ME. Maybe because of it, it was really hard to let this one go. I think I may have to repeat this one again. It is on its way to its new owner and I hope she enjoys it. I really did have fun making it, even if I am a bit unsure about how it turned out. Maybe it's just nerves.

Yikes -- I don't post for over a month and then I end up going on and on. I do have more to say (so since when is that a surprise) and show (you should see the lovely swap piece I received -- and you will, I promise!) but I think this one is getting a bit long! I'll post more soon. I won't promise tomorrow, but hopefully this weekend!

Quarterly Review

Here we are on April 1st (and nope, no April Fool's jokes here) and it seems like a good time to do a business style review of my progress this quarter. Based on my New Year's goals and projections -- let's see how my work has been progressing (or not -- which is much more to the point here).


Skills:


Hand quilting -- actually, I've been working on this one. I still have a bit more to do on my second mini-wholecloth but not bad. I figured it would take much longer to get to this one.


Applique -- still a total and complete wimp.


Embroidery -- I have at least two projects in progress and one that I've finished the embroidery part but I can't show yet (and need to finish the other part and get it in the mail -- eeek!). I also finished the embroidery on my Winter Four Season's Swap. So -- not too bad here. It would be better if I FINISHED a few more things -- but, I'm working on it. And just to prove that I am -- a hint about some of the work on my current Four Season's piece.



Knitting -- well, actually there is more to report here than anywhere else. I've made three and 1/2 pairs of mitts over the past three months, finished a scarf, started another scarf, almost finished a sweater for my daughter, almost finished a princess/fairy dress for my daughter, made three washcloths, a couple of bath scrubbies, and a really long piece of lace and some flowers for embellishments. Whew. That actually is a lot. If you would like to see photos of most of these -- you can check out my Flickr page. I'm still enjoying knitting so it's likely to continue -- though, I have an experiment that I tried over the weekend that is getting frogged when I have enough heart to do it. UGH. As for not adding to the stash -- um, yeah, we just aren't going to go there.


Projects (this is the category that is going to just KILL my stock values here):


PIBS -- (projects in bins) Yeah, haven't touched them. They're still there. They're still waiting for me. See above for some reasons why they haven't been touched.


UFOs -- still there. Still UFO's. Though -- I did finally buy a backing for one UFO (though if I'm kind I'll call it a WISP -- Work in Slow Progress though I haven't touched it since -- let's see -- um, LAST March) that needs to be a FO by June 1st for my daughter's birthday.


Bags -- not going there. Have plans for three or four, have two I need to make pronto. Yep. Not going there.


Stash:


Um, haven't been sewing much, haven't been using up what I have. Though, I will say -- I did find a use for this piece from my stash while Mom was here visiting. Yep -- another new project. There's a surprise.


And if I keep on giving in to lovely new fabrics that I just want to play with -- how I'm ever going to get to use what I have is beyond me. But, really, these? Can you blame me???


And well -- when kind friends decide they want to send you bits and bobs to help you have MORE fabric -- can you REALLY say no? And, let's be honest -- do you really WANT to say no? Especially when you have a little one with a shoe fetish? No -- I didn't think so. (but I will say thank you so much KATE!!!)

As for hoarding fabrics (a nasty little tendency) -- um, is it really hoarding if you haven't been using much fabric AT ALL?!?
Christmas:

It sounded like a good idea, get Christmas presents done throughout the year so that my November/December isn't totally crazy. Started well -- hasn't been working out all that great. The one present I had managed to make has already been given away. NEED to get on top of this one if I don't want a repeat of last year's sweat shop.

Life:

Trying. Best I can do some days.


So -- overall report. Um, yeah, not so great. I have a ton of projects started, in the works, plots and plans and not much action. Not to mention I've been neglecting my blog. I won't even mention the number of posts I have plotted out in my head and haven't gotten to yet. Not to mention how far behind I am in my blog reading (yeah -- when bloglines tells you there are over 1000 posts you haven't read -- time to do some serious reading and/or editing of your lists -- so I apologize if I haven't been commenting much lately).


As for my giveaway -- I've had a terrible work stoppage problem here at my house (Tink and Mr. Cornfields have been sick). The drawing that was supposed to happen while my Mom was here didn't -- so I will be drawing names TONIGHT and posting winners tomorrow. My helper is feeling better so -- time to get her back to work!

We Interrupt This Blog...

For an emergency trip to visit my mother. Mom tripped and fell over the weekend, and some minor surgery is in the works for tomorrow (no, nothing major -- she broke her nose). So, I'm heading out on a plane tonight to hang out with Mom and give some TLC. Lovely part is I get to spend Valentine's Day with one of my favorite people -- down side? I have to miss Valentine's day with my other two favorite people :0(.

Thanks to everyone who has responded to my little disaster -- just to let you know, the second wash didn't do much (a bit lighter) but also brought out another spot where bleeding was going to be a problem. I did try a bit of a seam treatment -- but, um, it didn't look great so I pulled it out. So, final decision? It's not THAT bad -- and it will be going to my partner as is. Hopefully today (if I can get my butt in gear and get packed, etc.). It may be packaged up today and left for my hubby to mail out tomorrow. I'll try and get a picture to share later.

Until then -- I have about 3 hours to pack, get some things done around the house, and get ready to make it to O'Hare. I'll be back next Sunday, so I'll have tons of catching up to do -- Later!

I Spoke Too Soon

In my last post (of all of, what an hour or two ago?) I said that my Four Season's Swap quilt didn't bleed. And when I took it out of the washing machine -- it hadn't.

But, well -- when I took it out of the dryer this is what I found. F*ck.

And this. Double F*ck.

I'm sorry to those of you offended by swearing but, there are times when such language is the only thing that will accurately describe the feelings. This is one of those times.

And, I was right. It is that &(&*%^(*# star fabric that was bleeding on my ironing board. Aren't I just so happy to be right?

So now what to do? Other than swear and want to cry? I'm going to try washing it again. More Retayne. Some Dreft stain remover (works on some really nasty stuff my daughter manages to get into -- can't hurt). And if it's still bleeding? What then? Any opinions? Advice? Please?

This is what the quilt looks like with the stains. If it were a quilt for me, I'd probably try washing it again and if that doesn't work say fecal matter occurs and hang it up anyway. I still love it. The stains don't bother me. But, it's not for me. It's for someone else. UGH!!!!! Any opinions?

And just so this post is nothing but me wanting to tear my hair out (because, no, I didn't pre-wash my fabrics and I know it's my own fault). I'll show some of the embroidery that I put in. 'Cause it turned out exactly as I wanted it to.

And the second panel.

And the full poem that is embroidered on the front as a label ready to be sewn to the back (there is another label as well with all the required info -- but, well, since this will be the first quilt I've ever actually labeled it's not so hot. And if you're about to have a heart attack about the not labeling quilts thing -- sorry :0( ).

Ok, off to try and get the stains out and keep more of it from bleeding.

Da*n, Da*n, Da*n.

I think I need chocolate. Maybe a drink.

Quick Blog Break

I haven't been blogging much the last week or so, or doing a whole lot of crafting. This whole getting sick thing has really knocked me for a loop. The antibiotics helped. I was able to eat again relatively quickly. But the energy levels? I'm still waiting for those to get back to something that resembles "normal". It doesn't help that mommy just doesn't get to be sick in quite the same way as daddy and/or little one (potty training still needs go on, laundry needs to get done, etc., etc., etc.). I think I'm finally getting back up to speed, but -- oy! So, while I'm waiting for my Four Seasons Swap to finish up in the dryer (it didn't bleed!!! Wooo Hooo AND I got out all the markings for the embroidery, double WOO HOO!) -- and thinking about how to apologize to my partner for how late it is -- I thought I 'd take a quick blog break and show what I HAVE been able to get done in the last two weeks.

I did manage to do my part for the economy lately (go and read Kim's blog about this one -- really, you'll be laughing yourself silly). I mean, shopping doesn't take that much energy right? (we'll ignore the fact that when I got home from the shop that day I needed a nap.) And hey -- when you can find some lovely new fabrics? Oh yeah. I finally broke down and bought my very first jelly roll. It's the new Moda Simplicity line by 3 Sisters. Yummy, yummy spring time colors in pinks, blues, yellows, a scrumptious green, and white. Oh my. Not my usual palate at all -- but, oh, how I need some spring. I already have plans for these goodies, just need to get a few more things off my plate. (oh, and I think I'm kind of lucky to have these. I just checked out the Fat Quarter Shop and looks like these haven't gotten in yet...)

I also got some great mail. I won a blog contest over at The Late Bloomer (Thank you Compton) and my goodies arrived over the weekend. Two fantastic patterns and kits to make the cone and heart valentines. Just in time! I think I may be playing with these over the weekend. As for the Altar Steps pattern...oh my, that I may need to go play in the stash for. Much too cute! Thanks so much Elizabeth -- your package made my day.

So, new projects added to the pile, but, how about some things actually done??? There are a couple. I've mostly been finishing up things (note, 4seasons quilt still in the dryer -- LATE). First up on my finally finished list is this cutie. And yes, this is Yet. Another. Apron. I think this is about my 10th apron made from this pattern. Am I tired of it? Um...no, not really. I can make them pretty quickly now -- and hey, they turn out so darned cute. Now, having said that, do I want to do another one soon? Um...well, we'll see. This one is a shop sample. More Cherry Baby fabrics from Lakehouse -- with the panel letters used for the word and a fun cupcake applique added. Sorry, that cupcake needs a closeup of its own here. I actually started this one before I got sick folks -- (so much for I can make them quickly) and it took me way too much time to get it done -- but it's done, delivered and last I saw was hanging on a manequin in the shop.

Other than that -- not too much to report. I've been working on finishing up things (weaving in ends of knitting -- mils mitts are done! Yeah!, need to finish sewing down the binding for "bella" -- almost done!, have a couple of things being blocked before I can do much more -- but hey, I'm blocking them...). Lots of things in the "almost done" category that I want to clear out so I can start some new projects. Speaking of which -- I think I just heard the dryer buzzing -- WOOO HOOO! Label to stitch on, photos to take, and a trip to the post office. (which, since I just looked at the time -- will happen tomorrow morning. UGH!) Oh well, almost done with one more! YEAH!

PS -- and STILL no spell check. Um, am I just cursed??!!??

WIP it good...

Yep, repeating myself with musical references, but I had such fun finding out who was actually a closet (0r not so closet) Devo fan the last time :0).


Not a whole lot to report this week. I did get the mitts I was working on while waiting for the doctor done. Mostly. They still need the ends woven in. The knitting equivalent of hand sewing down the binding. I may get to that tonight though -- so, close enough to show on the blog. And no, they don't match -- that's the nature of working with verigated Noro for something like this. I actually like the look -- let's just hope my mil does too. She chose the yarn though, so, she should.


I also did manage to get some of the embroidery done on the four seasons swap. Yes, I know it's the 31st. I know it's past the deadline for mailing it. I did get an ok for an extension due to illness. I should get it out in the mail on Saturday. I hope. No later than Monday. And no, not much of a peek here. I'm hoping to have a bit of a surprise for my partner (not that I think she reads my blog -- but you never know).


Oh, and a recent purchase that I didn't show -- a small bottle of Retayne. Because, one of the fabrics from my winter swap has been leaving some nasty blue marks on my ironing board.




I think this fabric is the little bugger culprit, but I'm not positive. Since most of the pieces were smaller than I would prewash anyway -- um, well, hey. Ya play, sometimes you might pay. Not an attitude I'm happy about having to take with a swap piece -- but there it is. And yes, I'm also going out to get some color catchers too.


The last piece I have anything to show on is this one. A new shop sample out of the Cherry Baby line from Lakehouse. I do like this fabric (though, since I've been playing with it since October, um, I might need a bit of a break soon). This one is way cute. I have to think about making one for my own daughter (nope, sorry -- Bella is not Tink's name -- I do believe this one will be going to this cutie, scroll down to see Bella, when it is done being a shop sample). Super, super simple and quick to put together (which is why this is almost done but the apron I'm also working on isn't) -- a charm square pack and a panel of the alphabet letters and you are good to go. The only thing I had to cut out were the letters. Woo Hoo. Simple quilting on this one, a quick binding and it should be done!


You know -- despite the fact that this week feels like it has been singularly unproductive, I may have actually gotten a few things done. Hmmm...now, if I had taken pictures of the other knit project I cast on while I was confined to the couch, I'd probably really feel that way. Cool.


And finally -- a question for you folks. I mentioned in my last post that I bought a book that I had "previewed" by checking it out of the library first. I've been doing a lot of that lately. Not buying books (not that I don't want to -- just, well, my budget hasn't actually had room for new craft books unless I'm absolutely positive I want to make something out of them), checking them out of the library to see whether or not I want to buy them. Or, in some cases, if I want to hunt them down since they are now out of print.

And well, since I don't seem to believe in moderation when it comes to checking books out of the library, I'm starting to lose track of what it is I like, or don't like, about some of the things I've checked out. See? This is the current stack. And well, since I took this picture BEFORE I went to the library to get the interloans that had come in while I was still contagious, the stack may be just a bit bigger than this. I did return a few of them -- I did, but, well, I kept most. So -- where does the question come in? Would anyone be interested in seeing a "review" post every now and then? I can't promise how often -- but, I'm thinking if I put my thoughts about the books up on my blog it might help me remember which ones are "buy it, now", "buy it someday", "buy it if you see it on sale", "check out again later", "nice to have seen but you don't need to see it again" or "what a waste of time". Let me know -- I may do it anyway, but, would be nice if other folks found it useful too :0).


That's it for now -- now off to see if I can figure out what has been piled on my sewing table (kitchen table, whatever) while I was sick and unable to do much policing. Ugh -- I have to clean to be able to sew -- what's up with that?


** Note -- I am still unable to use spell check so, see previous disclaimer. Spelling is not my strong suit -- this is why I spell check the heck out of my work and usually have a dictionary at hand. Where my dictionary went to, I have no clue -- oh honey?!?

Thank you Mr. Postman

Yep, some of the best things show up in the mail. And today's delivery was a doozy! I have a really tiny mailbox, so packages get left on the front step along with the doorbell ringing. And no, he doesn't ring twice (matter of fact, sometimes he doesn't ring at all -- ugh). Luckily this time, he did ring. I figured it was a birthday package of some sort. (hey, a girl can hope right?) I was wrong -- but oooh, I so don't mind!


Instead of birthday goodies, I got my Four Seasons Quilt Swap package from Janey at SewStylish. Already! (oh man do I need to finish mine this weekend) Just look at the beautiful quilt she sent. I LOVE the pattern and the fabrics. The picture doesn't show it but the white snowflakes and binding have a "sequin" shimmer in them that really looks like snow falling. I just love it! (so does Ms. Tinkerbell -- she decided it was for her and has been trying to cuddle up under it all night. The kid's got taste, but we need to have a talk about MOMMY'S stuff versus her stuff.)


And just look at the quilting in it -- the meandering in the mitten blocks includes, well, mittens. How freaking cute is that? This just proves that I have GOT to practice machine quilting. I wanna be able to do this. Heck, I'd be happy if I could do a decent meander -- but this? Way too cute!



And, as if the super cute quilt wasn't enough -- I also got spoiled with some other goodies. Two adorable fat quarters (I am seriously getting ideas about those fish -- especially since the bubble fabric that came with it would make really cool "fish bubbles" -- hmmn), a knitted bag, a set of quilt hangers, and some yummy looking chocolate and coffee candies. I may need to hide the candy from my husband though -- he does love coffee. Ah well, I've been spoiled enough that I can share. I guess. :0)


Thank you so much Janey -- I absolutely love everything you sent. And my quilt (once I can wrest it from the hands of my little one) will be going up on the wall as soon as possible! Wooo Hooo -- this is turning out to be a GREAT birthday week!


Now, it's off to bed for me. I've got my own quilt to finish as well as a couple of other projects in the works -- if I'm going to get anything done I had better get some rest!

Crack that WIP...

Sorry, couldn't resist the musical reference (and you get points if you can identify it! Points for what I don't know -- but points.) Anyhooo -- let me first say thank you for all the wonderful birthday wishes from everyone. They really did "make my day." As for a couple of requests to see the crafty birthday loot -- um, well, there really isn't much. Yet. I did get a quilt block a day calendar (I'll get a picture) but mostly I was given some birthday money. Now, you know me. Mad money. Added to some Christmas mad money. Um -- yeah, I'm already plotting a trip (or two) to a quilt shop (or two) and the LYS I love, I may even be doing some button pressing. Sooo -- photos as appropriate (which reminds me, I already took a trip to spend some of a quilt gift certificate the other day -- I need to get some photos).


On the spending the day sewing front -- I did get some work done on my Four Seasons swap. (speaking of which -- I really should get the button up on my sidebar -- yet another "housekeeping" chore I haven't done --hmnph). I have the top together -- now to just get the embroidery transferred into the large white areas and get that done. Since the quilting is going to be very simple (due to the skill level of the quilt maker -- and because while I toyed with hand quilting it, I didn't leave myself enough time) I should have time to get this in the mail for the deadline next Weds. Yeah!

I decided to go a bit scrappy on this one (though, since I had to buy most of the fabrics you see -- not sure how "scrappy" it is. My scraps and stash run to blues that are great if you are trying to make a Caribbean sea, not so much for winter snow. That's ok though -- I now have a nice selection of scraps to play with in the future). I also have been having fun doing some wonky piecing. (thank you Tonya and Joyce for your inspiration) A few snowflakes and some icicles. At least, I hope they look like icicles :0). I had forgotten how much fun it is to do these kinds of blocks -- something I'll have to think about playing with more. How soon? Anyone's guess, since I do have a long list of projects I need to get to before I'll have time to play with them again. I'm happy with it so far -- just hope my partner enjoys it as well!

Not much more to show -- we had a nice, relaxing evening last night and today the temps dropped back into the "please don't make me go outside in that stuff" range. So, hopefully more to show soon!