Well apparently times are a changing in my household because after a few flights and a week of holiday I am proud to report that for the first time ever, I am actually caught up on my Woodland Sampler.
Thursday 28 February 2013
From A - Caught Up
Well apparently times are a changing in my household because after a few flights and a week of holiday I am proud to report that for the first time ever, I am actually caught up on my Woodland Sampler.
Tuesday 26 February 2013
From K: Planning the Week Ahead
Friday 22 February 2013
From K: Llovely Llama Passport Wallet
On the outside of the case I went a little classic and understated - keeping in mind my hubs would also carry this at times, and may want a somewhat sophisticated pallet when going through international customs.
On the inside though is where the real whimsy starts!
We don't have a family of four, so this might seem ridiculously premature, but Mr. K and I both tend to hold on to ticket stubs, boarding passes and various paper trinkets as we travel, so I have no doubt the other pockets will be put to good use.
Linked to: Finish it up Friday, Link and Finish Friday, and Can I get a Whoop Whoop?.
Wednesday 20 February 2013
From K: Shearwater Kaftan
I love the finished product, especially the cuff detailing at the elbow. I know that I will definitely get a lot of use from this shirt and have already started planning to sew up a second one! I foresee a few more spring time wearables in my future.
Monday 18 February 2013
From A - Found Time
Kelsey came for a quick visit last week. We spent a fantastic weekend crafting and hanging out. While she was here, Kelsey decided that she wanted to knit some socks. We went to my local yarn shop to pick up some yarn and needles for her.
Apparently the yarn fumes got to me because before I knew it, I was bringing home yet another new skein of sock yarn. Moments after I arrived home I had a yarn cake wound and a set of needles ready to go.
I cast on immediately and then picked away at these last week during the "lost minutes" in my day: in the elevator, while in line, when walking to the corner store, waiting for a table, etc. Those lost minutes are adding up. So far I've managed to finish a cuff and most of a heel flap.
This sock is nice reminder of how much I can get done during those in between moments. Exactly what I needed to combat the effects of a stressful work week!
Friday 15 February 2013
From K - Finished: Moving Walkways
- Quilt Name: Moving Walkways Quilt
- Finished Size: lap size (54" x 66")
- Fabric: Black and white fabric scraps (largely from this quilt), Kona Water (background and sashing), and Fabricland B&W Flower print (binding)
- Pattern: modified version of Pow Wow by Cluck Cluck Sew
- Quilting: explained in detail above
I'm linking up to Finish it up Friday over at Crazy Mom Quilts.
Thursday 14 February 2013
From A - That Last 20%
This theory has been once again been proven true when it comes to my Smitten quilt. I finally got the blocks pieced together last weekend. That took only part of Saturday. For sure I was going to have a finished quilt top by the end of the weekend. FOR SURE. Then I cut and attached the first border from the background fabric. When that was finished I cut a yellow border and sewed that on and then came the green border.
You can see from the top photo that attaching the green border is stalled at the halfway point. I have attached the long sides but now need to finish up the top and bottom. The end seems so close but so far.
Once I pull myself together to finish the green border, I am then faced with the red border. After that I have to make a backing, baste and quilt this bad boy. Totally an 80/20 situation. So close but it is going to take a lot more effort to get there. Sew on.
Monday 11 February 2013
From A&K - Feeling Humbled
Amanda: I bought the fabric for my first quilt back in high school. I decided I was going to make a twin sized Around the World Quilt in shades of purple. Armed with some newspaper (for templates) and a dull pair of kitchen scissors, I began cutting squares. You can probably guess that I never actually finished that quilt but it is still sitting in my WIP pile so I might get to it eventually. My first finished quilt was back in 2008 when one of my close friends had her second baby. It was a simple whole cloth quilt. A yard of fabric on the front and a yard on the back, machine quilted in a diamond pattern. It was simple but cute.
3. Do you have any pets?
Amanda: I married into pet ownership. My husband had a sweety pie yellow lab named Bowser before I met him (actually Bowser was the reason we got together in the first place). He's such a sweet boy, charms everyone he meets!
4. What would your karaoke song be?
Amanda: I've been to some pretty awesome knitting events but nothing quilting related. Ask me again in a year, hopefully I'll have a different answer.
- Neither on of us has a sister, which has resulted in each of us upgrading the other from cousin status to sister status.
- In elementary school Kelsey's oldest brother, Scott, once conspired with Amanda to convince Kelsey that their parents had traded the girls as babies - because Scott and Amanda look way more alike. Kelsey believed them for longer that she'd like to admit.
- Neither of us care for cooking but fortunately we both married husbands who are extraordinarily chef-like in the kitchen. Baking is way better, and more delicious too!
- When dinner is not being provided by our spouses, we both agree that yoghurt, popcorn, and peanut butter on a spoon are acceptable substitutes.
- Collectively we've travelled to 23 different countries from various regions including, North and Central America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Within the next month that total will raise to 27 as we both have winter vacations lined up. We love to travel...a lot!
- Even though we only get to see each other once or twice a year if we're lucky, we have so many of the same mannerisms it's scary.
- We both live in big cities now, but spent our childhood in small communities. Though we listen to all types of music, we both have a soft spot for twangy country tunes - Garth, Shania, Tim? bring 'em on!
- We come from a long line of crafty women. At family functions, it is not unusual to see three generations working on their WIPs.
- Kelsey has always been into team sports: basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, while Amanda is more of a solo sport kind of gal: figure skating, riding, skiing, swimming.
- We both have perfectionist tendencies even when the time required to make it just right far outweighs the importance of it being just right.
- Kelsey's closet is organized by type of clothing in ROYGBIV colour order. Amanda's closet has more of a "choose your own adventure" approach to clothing organization.
Blogs We Love and Nominate!
- Elvy of Elvy Crafts
- Yzo of Chez Roo
- Alison of Little Bunny Quilts
- Kristan of Doodle Do Designs
- Carin of Shaped by Stitches
- Gina of Party of Eight: Our Story
- Alia of card table, inc.
- Heather of Winding Bobbins (this blog has slightly more than 200 followers but is worth bending the rules for)
- What style of fabric do you tend to gravitate most towards, and are they often fabric lines from the same designer?
- What was the first quilting blog that you remember stumbling upon?
- Have you ever kept a quilt for yourself or are they always gifts?
- What is the most sentimental quilt project you've ever worked on?
- Are there any colours that seem to find their way into every project you make?
- Do you have any other crafty talents besides quilting?
- Reading or watching TV/movies?
- Where will you spend your next vacation?
- What is one skill you wish you had?
- What is the best and worst gifts you have ever received?
- Camping or luxury hotel?
Thursday 7 February 2013
From K: Basting
You can read more on this Black and White Kites quilt top, here and here.
Wednesday 6 February 2013
From A - Ready for Takeoff
Every time I get on a plane, I try to pick that perfect project that will be easy to work on, fairly compact but that will last me for the whole trip. What won out this time? My Woodland Sampler cross stitch.
I registered for this monthly sign-up back in December but didn't actually do anything except print the charts, round out my floss collection and pick up some evenweave in an appropriate colour.
Before leaving it was just a pile of supplies but Saturday morning at about 4:00 a.m. I dug out the sewing machine, finished the edges of my fabric, gathered all of my floss, found a project bag and stuffed the whole thing in my suitcase.
Five hours later, when my plane hit touched down in Toronto, I was more than halfway through all of my frames. I'm hoping that once I get these finished that it will be easy to keep up with each monthly instalment (let's ignore the whole missing January thing).
I haven't had much crafting time at home lately and am definitely looking forward seeing what I can get done on my next trip. Anyone else have a travel project on the go?
Tuesday 5 February 2013
From K: Final Stitches
There's few things better than that moment when you realize that the days are getting longer. I'm loving the extra daylight hours, and my quilting is too!
Friday 1 February 2013
From K: 2013 Hit List
- Sew at least three garments (I'm thinking that a Washi dress, a Wiksten Tova and a Shearwater Kaftan are all spring must haves);
- Add a new homemade bag to my collection (possibly a Runaround Bag or some form of duffle bag);
- Whip up at least 6 baby/toddler gifts asap;
- Make more Travel Handmade items (this year I think that I would like to make baggage tags, a camera strap, an eyeglass case, a cosmetics bag, and a make-up brush roll);
- Make some beach essentials (a beach bag and bikini bag are in the works); and
- Knit a pair of socks (definitely out of my comfort zone with this one!).
1. Magic Wax Print Quilt (quilt top blogged here)
2. Moving Walkways Quilt (quilt top blogged here)