Just finished a new afghan for the tv room. Here's a less than awesome pic of it all (that silly yellow yarn color kept blooming in the light no matter what I did)...
Here's a close up of the pattern...
Pattern is called "African Daisy". While not technically difficult, it took me a while to figure out how to get them all organized into an afghan. The finished product is very cozy, if I do say so myself. After all, I had to come up with something to use as Mike and the dogs had usurped the quilt that I made for that room's decor.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
Still Sew Happy
I guess I've really been bitten by the sewing bug. Each day, I'm torn between wanting to work outside now that the snow is gone and wanting to sew, sew, sew.
I finished another apron, this time, a tiny one for a certain pixie princess. This is a new pattern for me, so I was pretty surprised and happy to find out how well it went together. That ruffle on the bottom is pretty cool...it is cut with a curve so that I got the ruffly effect without having to gather it up. Nice!
Here is the progress on the 'mystery' so far...
The Flying Geese blocks that are used in the star blocks were constructed using a technique that I had never used before. There is no waste of fabric which is pretty unusual in the modern methods for FG blocks. I think that I'll be using it again!
I finished another apron, this time, a tiny one for a certain pixie princess. This is a new pattern for me, so I was pretty surprised and happy to find out how well it went together. That ruffle on the bottom is pretty cool...it is cut with a curve so that I got the ruffly effect without having to gather it up. Nice!
front view
back view
My other sewing obsession has been a mystery quilt sponsored by Connecting Threads. As it is National Quilting Month, they set up this project to celebrate! I've enjoyed the whole suspenseful aura about it and am really looking forward to next weeks glorious finish. Here are the fabrics that I picked for my version:
The Flying Geese blocks that are used in the star blocks were constructed using a technique that I had never used before. There is no waste of fabric which is pretty unusual in the modern methods for FG blocks. I think that I'll be using it again!
Saturday, March 9, 2013
I'm Sew Happy
Needed to make some new aprons for some of my little peeps.
I also finished a wall quilt that I bought the materials for last month after my quilt class. The center is a panel and the borders came from a pre-cut strip set. Love these colors! And I'm so glad to have a quilt for this spot over the stairs. I have some holiday quilts that I hang during the appropriate months, but I've never had a quilt that goes with the room's decor.
I also finished a wall quilt that I bought the materials for last month after my quilt class. The center is a panel and the borders came from a pre-cut strip set. Love these colors! And I'm so glad to have a quilt for this spot over the stairs. I have some holiday quilts that I hang during the appropriate months, but I've never had a quilt that goes with the room's decor.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
In The Garden - March 6
The snow is nearly gone from the outdoor garden, but it'll be a few weeks before it'll be dry enough to begin to plant out there. The indoor garden is thriving though!
Genovese basil with its seed leaves. Will be a couple of weeks before I can transplant to individual pots. Last year's basil was so delicious that I couldn't resist trying it again.
Our "main" crop...tomatoes. The big thuggish-looking plants are the heirloom variety "Pruden's Purple". Looking forward to some purple salsa. lol.
Pinetree Seeds lettuce mix, almost ready to be potted out into individual pots. Man, I love this stuff!
Mini-strawberries to go into the strawberry pot that I have yet to purchase. Those plants are tiny! Really tiny. Made me realize, though, that I've pulled tons of seedling strawberries out of the strawberry bed over the years. Thought that they were columbine. lol.
Biggest surprise of the gardening year so far...nicotiana. Last year, I purchased seed for Nicotiana sylvestris 'Only The Lonely' from Pinetree. They were huge plants by the end of the season, but they were really, really tiny seedlings. By the time I set them out into the flower beds in June, they were only an inch tall. I harvested seed from those plants, dried it and now have planted two pinches of seed into this pot. Not only did I appear to get 110% germination (totally not possible), the plants are much larger and more vigorous this year. As far as I know, this variety is not a hybrid, so theoretically at least, they should be exactly the same plant. I guess I could be in for a big surprise later in the year!
Genovese basil with its seed leaves. Will be a couple of weeks before I can transplant to individual pots. Last year's basil was so delicious that I couldn't resist trying it again.
Our "main" crop...tomatoes. The big thuggish-looking plants are the heirloom variety "Pruden's Purple". Looking forward to some purple salsa. lol.
Pinetree Seeds lettuce mix, almost ready to be potted out into individual pots. Man, I love this stuff!
Mini-strawberries to go into the strawberry pot that I have yet to purchase. Those plants are tiny! Really tiny. Made me realize, though, that I've pulled tons of seedling strawberries out of the strawberry bed over the years. Thought that they were columbine. lol.
Biggest surprise of the gardening year so far...nicotiana. Last year, I purchased seed for Nicotiana sylvestris 'Only The Lonely' from Pinetree. They were huge plants by the end of the season, but they were really, really tiny seedlings. By the time I set them out into the flower beds in June, they were only an inch tall. I harvested seed from those plants, dried it and now have planted two pinches of seed into this pot. Not only did I appear to get 110% germination (totally not possible), the plants are much larger and more vigorous this year. As far as I know, this variety is not a hybrid, so theoretically at least, they should be exactly the same plant. I guess I could be in for a big surprise later in the year!
Friday, January 25, 2013
Cheery Cherry
Just finished a new apron. Makes me smile. And makes me want to cook!
(Please excuse the photo-bombing Shih Tzu. I tried several times to get a pic without her in it, but she wasn't having any of that!)
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Here We Grow Again
Time to start gardening again...even though it looks like this in the garden right now.
To get tomatoes ready to set out around April 1, it's time to start working inside where it's warm. I've started three varieties of tomatoes this year:
I know, it's a little difficult to read my crappy writing under the potting soil. lol. I've planted 'Pruden's Purple', 'Heinz Classic Processor' and 'Black Cherry' for the barrel on the patio. I also plan to purchase at least one 'Early Girl' so that I can be eating tomatoes soon(er).
To get tomatoes ready to set out around April 1, it's time to start working inside where it's warm. I've started three varieties of tomatoes this year:
I know, it's a little difficult to read my crappy writing under the potting soil. lol. I've planted 'Pruden's Purple', 'Heinz Classic Processor' and 'Black Cherry' for the barrel on the patio. I also plan to purchase at least one 'Early Girl' so that I can be eating tomatoes soon(er).
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Farewell to Superman
Over seven years ago, while Ben was gone to the National Boy Scout Jamboree, I painted his room. After tons of research which included the purchase of several official Superman comic books, I picked the perfect Superman blue and painted the walls.
Along with some awesome posters sent by Grandma Brooks, I found a great deal on a show stopping Alex Ross super hero montage. In short, it was a really great room for a teenage boy. However, seven years later, it's showing its age. The paint makes the room seem darker and smaller. In short, time for a change!
I was totally willing to paint the whole shebang while Ben was enjoying the South Pacific on his mission, but I was advised by a wise previously returned-missionary son that most missionaries like to return to at least something familiar. Since I'd already repainted (and carpeted) much of the house, I waited for Ben's return.
We had a few discussions about color and quickly realized that Ben is ready to be gone. His recent move to Provo for school and work is not a temporary thing. It's the first step to being on his own. So, I picked a paint that will work for a soon-to-be guest room, too.
So, here's the process...
So, now the painting is all done, but I'm far from finished. I 'have' to make a new quilt for the bed! The trusty red and blue pineapple quilt that Ben loves so much is just not going to cut it any more. I'm thinking some tropical Bali batiks would be nice.
And, so far, Ben hasn't seen the change. Hee hee! The men in this family are going to learn eventually that it is always risky to go off and leave me to entertain myself!
Along with some awesome posters sent by Grandma Brooks, I found a great deal on a show stopping Alex Ross super hero montage. In short, it was a really great room for a teenage boy. However, seven years later, it's showing its age. The paint makes the room seem darker and smaller. In short, time for a change!
I was totally willing to paint the whole shebang while Ben was enjoying the South Pacific on his mission, but I was advised by a wise previously returned-missionary son that most missionaries like to return to at least something familiar. Since I'd already repainted (and carpeted) much of the house, I waited for Ben's return.
We had a few discussions about color and quickly realized that Ben is ready to be gone. His recent move to Provo for school and work is not a temporary thing. It's the first step to being on his own. So, I picked a paint that will work for a soon-to-be guest room, too.
So, here's the process...
Going...
...going...
...gone!
I'm afraid the picture doesn't really capture the color truly. It's, yep, another shade from the Lifou lagoon palette. This one is greener than the one I used in the family room. And it has that reflective quality that I love. The walls seem to glow from within. Another view...
And, so far, Ben hasn't seen the change. Hee hee! The men in this family are going to learn eventually that it is always risky to go off and leave me to entertain myself!
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