What I've Been Up To

My oldest and his family will be down in a couple of weeks and I don't have proper bedding for them so ... what's a quilter to do.  *grin*

I have some blocks (14) that I received in a swap I did about 10 years ago and couldn't figure out what to do with them.

I've decided to make a quilt with them.  It will be queen size so more blocks are required.  I was thinking of adding some blues and greens but find I prefer the autumn colors.

I decided to add some 'dark' maple leaf blocks -- need about 36

Right now the plan is to alternate the maple leaf blocks with either plain blocks or half square light/dark triangles to speed the process along.  Originally I thought log cabins would look nice set in rows and I still might do that. 

My work/sewing table with strips, sets and blocks ready to go.

Need to close so I can get working on the quilt... first a run to the bank (real life demands attention). 

Blessings to you and yours ~~

Non Quilting Project

Here is one of my latest projects. I have a difficult time just watching TV at night with hubby so I've decided to finally make this granny square afghan which replicates one he had years ago made by his grandmother.

Granny Square project

The plan is to finish this one for me and then make one for each of my sons.  It's a nice take-along project. 

Hope your day is going well and filled with creative endeavors.

Valentine's Dinner

I made lobster bisque with homemade lobster stock!  I am so happy with myself.  Valentine's Day Dinner also consisted of steak, roasted butternut squash, wine and strawberries for dessert... mine were chocolate covered.


I did manage to get fabric washed for my next quilt. 

Weekend Quilting

It was a nice weekend as I was able to FINALLY (yes I'm shouting because I'm so happy) finish the quilt top for Mel's quilt.  Now I'm playing around with label designs trying to decide what I'd like to do.  Any suggestions?

Colors seem to 'pop' more in person -- blue orange purple and green

Here is a close  up of the bottom corner

I also managed to read two novels.  Hubby likes to stay  up late on weekends so we tend to catch up on our reading if there's nothing else going on.  Being empty nesters, we tend to sleep in later in the mornings. 

I enjoyed reading these books and am now ready to pick up the third one in the series titled, "Knit the Season".  I hesitate to because when I pick up a book, it's hard to put it down.  Within the past two weeks I also finished Sue Grafton's latest -- "V is for Vengence" and now have to wait patiently for the next one in that series.  *sigh* 

At the moment, I'm in between jobs with a lot of time on my hands.  I could be getting my home organized, doing the 'housewifey' thing with laundry, ironing, etc. sometimes I just want to read or quilt...both tend to cause me to forget everything else. 

One of my next projects is crocheting.  I want to do a granny square afgan surrounding the squares below in black.  It seems my grandmother had one like this when I was growing up.  I'd like to make one for me and one for each of my sons. 

This is something I can in the evenings when I want to watch a program with hubby so it will probably take me a few years.

Craftsy Blocks

Things didn't work out the way we had hoped in Pennsylvania.  Thankfully our house in Ohio didn't sell so we had someplace to move back to.  I have my sewing room set up and completed the January and February blocks for the Craftsy website.  Here they are ... 

January -- Asterik and Wonky blocks

February -- Chunky Chevrom & Balken Puzzle (aka Windblown Stars)

I am looking forward to March's blocks.  I am slowly getting my sewing room set up.  Hubby is going to help me put my Little Gracie II quilt frame together so I can machine quilt (with my Janome sewing machine) my niece's quilt.