March Wrap-Up!

Rainbow Scrap Challenge was pretty much a bust this month. I'm sure Angela, our leader and role model, will understand. She always reminds us that this is our hobby and there is no pressure. She merely serves as our coordinator. I just didn't want any green pineapples, even though they are more realistic than my pink ones! Haha!

However, I did finish "Good Luck", a design by Kathy Schmitz. There's plenty of green there!

So what kind of progress was made this month? I actually do have a finish!! If you remember, I rescued a stamped cross-stitch baby quilt years ago. I think it was called Noah's Ark. The lion in the upper left corner had been about 90% finished and the rest was not. Whoever started it had bought all the DMC that was listed on the back -- tons of skeins!

I worked on this for about 18 months off and on. I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed working on it. With the top done, it was time to get it quilted & bound.

Noah's Ark
Stamped Cross-Stitch

A Peek at the Back

I love the blue gingham I used for the binding. I think it adds a sweet touch. Now for a look at some of the quilting which was done on my domestic sewing machine.

Zebra & Kitty
(I outlined all the animals
and added a few extra lines of detail)

Ark & Sun
(I love how the roof looks shingled
and I tried my hand at paisley for the cloud
below the sun)

Quilted Borders

All in all, I think it turned out pretty cute. It needs a washing and then will be donated probably to Linus Quilts through my guild.

So that was good. Anything else, Sue? Actually yes ...

Awesome Land is now a Top!

Completed a Pair of Socks

EPP Sampler has Progressed

Uptown March Block Completed

Not a bad month after all. There were a few start-ups that will need to be finished up in April -- a couple of Chubby Charmer Totes, Oh My Strippy Stars, and I'll continue working on Quadrille BOM as well. That's enough on my plate for April, especially considering I'll be doing quite a bit of traveling the 2nd half of the month.

Thanks goes to Carole @ From My Carolina Home for the Strippy Stars and Quadrille projects. Thanks also goes to Angela @ SoScappy for keeping us on track with Rainbow Scrap Challenge, and thanks goes to Gail @ Quilting Gail for helping us focus on our UFOs through the Projects Half Done (PHD). I'll be linking up and sharing at all three!

Don't be a fool -- it's April Fools Day! Have a great weekend!

I Like Thursday #111 - Recipes Galore!

 Oh boy! Did I have a good cooking week and everyone in this house liked that! Haha! No recipe for corned beef, cabbage, carrots, and red potatoes but sure enjoyed it. Just not on Friday since Mom is currently observing meatless Fridays. Believe me -- it was just as good on Saturday and she still wore her green beads!

As for the recipes I used this week, I made Irish Soda Bread for St. Paddy's Day. No meat there! Following a recipe from The Barefoot Contessa (aka Ina Garten) was easy although I used raisins instead of currants. Mom & I LOVED it! The orange zest adds just the right touch and made it so good with coffee each morning. Bet it would be good with tea as well!

My zested orange with the rustic Soda Bread.
It's supposed to look like this

Our breakfast plate

Since we weren't doing meat, I decided to try a recipe that was shared by Sherri on A Quilt Life blog. She shared Iowa Girl Eats's Easy Seafood Stew. Another easy one to make and you get to decide what you want in your soup. The recipe calls for 1-1/4# of mixed seafood: your choice. I used 1/2# shrimp, 1/2# scallops, and a little over 1/3# orange roughy. Whatever combo you use, I'm sure it'll be delicious. You can get the recipe HERE.

Last night I made Pumpkin Chili since I had half a can of pumpkin left. My BFF gave me nine LARGE cans of pumpkin. When I made pumpkin pie for Pi Day, I had half a can left so I decided to try something different. I've had this recipe from the Spend With Pennies blog for over a year and it was time to make it. I had to change it a bit for a certain palette in this house: I halved the amounts of chili powder and red bell pepper. It was still good but Mom & I would've preferred more spicy heat. Next time I'll throw a few chopped pickled jalapenos on ours! I forgot to take a picture but you can get the recipe HERE. It was really good!

As many of you know, I love knitting and then wearing my socks. They usually fit perfectly, look beautiful, and provide a different sort of handwork. Recently I finished my first attempt at mosaic knitting. This pattern is called Circuit Socks, written by Shuyi Wu. You can find the free pattern on Ravelry HERE. I'm showing them off below.

"Dream Town" by David Baldacci is really holding my interest as is "Survivor". I can't believe how again that Jaime girl got to sit out another challenge. She's so lame! Haha!

I'd say that pretty much wraps up my week except for an all-day long-arm certification class I took on Monday at my LQS. I really enjoyed it but my head was spinning by the end. I'll share a bit more of this day in another post. I will say I'm looking forward to my next session to work on one of my own quilts. Sure hope I can remember even half of what I learned!

Have a great week!

FNSI and a Bit More

Friday Night Sew-In started a little early for me as I went downstairs to the sewing space early in the evening. I put in quite a bit of time quilting a baby quilt that will be soon be gifted. I need to stay on pace to have it done in time.

I don't know how dark a blue has to be to be considered Dark Blue for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge but I'll take it!

I'm thinking this sweet gingham will be perfect for the binding. It got starched before I came back upstairs.

My knitted socks are finished. The pattern was Kazak Socks by Hunter Hammersen. I used a beautiful denim blue sock yarn by Invictus. I think they qualify for Dark Blue! Seen here they're drying after blocking.

I'm also happy to report that my Rudolph pillow top is finished! I need to get a zipper for the back and get it finished off. I think it'll make a good Christmas 2023 present!

So that's what has been keeping me off the streets at night. Hope your weekend is going swell! Tomorrow is Chinese New Year. Will you make egg rolls? Eat fried rice?  I saw this Egg Roll Bowl recipe and will probably make it this week.

As we learned while stationed in Hawaii, "Kung Hee Fat Choy!" My spelling might be off but I'm wishing you a Happy New Year!

You can click on these links if you'd like to see what the other quilters did at FNSI and RSC.

RSC Dark Blue #2

After I shared this photo of my dark blue scraps and the Mod Pineapple pattern by Quick Curve Ruler...

I set to making a prototype block to see if I would like making a quilt of them. Depending how that goes may determine what size quilt I end up making.

That worked out OK so I made a pair. They are good sized, 14-1/2" x 9-1/2"!

My dark blue sock knitting is progressing as well. One sock done and I've rounded the heel of sock #2, moving towards the toe. The pattern is fairly simple although it looks complicated. Easy enough to watch TV with and not lose too much track. Ha!

I'm also working on a quilted gift and will show pictures of that when finished and given to the recipient so stay tuned!

It was 21 degrees on our walk this morning. I do believe January has made a comeback! UGH!

Have a great week!

Final RSC Post for 2022

In my usual fashion I've got nothing to show for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2022. I worked on projects though. For example, I started a new pair of socks. This pattern is called Kazak by Hunter Hammersen. I like her patterns because they are difficult enough to keep my interest yet easy enough to not give me troubles. The yarn I'm using is Invictus's Master of my Feet. Progress so far:

The Rudolph pillow is coming along. I did run into a problem which will be taken care of slowly. I couldn't get the wording traced onto the beautiful flannel background and really scratched my head trying to come up with a way to do it. Then I remembered a "trick" I used on the Reindeer Frolic wool mat using Press 'n' Seal. So that's how I set about to work on Rudolph.

The directions call for 2 rows of stem stitch for the embroidered words. I started with "nose", a short word to see if I was going to be successful. FAIL! The red Sharpie I used for the wording colored my floss pink! UGH!!! Only one row in, at least I learned something ... like there was a problem that needed to be dealt with!

So now I've decided to use a running stitch to outline the words, pick the Press 'n' Seal off, and then stem stitch the first row using the running stitches to guide me. I'll probably start on the word "the" to see how it works. If it's a go, I'll pick out the running stitches for "the" and add the 2nd row of stem stitch to the lettering. You can see in the first picture where I've got the top half of the words completed with the running stitch. Below you can see what it looks like with the running stitches on top of the Press 'n' Seal  prior to removing it. A bit of work and I sure do hope it works!

As for RSC 2023, I'm looking forward to starting a few new projects. Surprise, surprise, huh?!!? I bought the templates for Tennessee Hummingbird which I hope to hand-piece. I plan to also continue with the rainbow hexies that I started in 2022.

Then of course I need to consult my sewing machine periodically and I love making 4-at-a-time flying geese units. I'm considering the free pattern Anna by Andover Fabrics. Inspired by Bonnie Hunter's H blocks, I was thinking that would be fun for this Hoover girl also. The other project I'd like to start is a tumbler quilt. I think this will help familiarize me with the AccuQuilt Go! Cutter that I won earlier this year. Still working on a plan to incorporate the tumblers with Rainbow Scrap.

And there you have it! My final RSC2022 post! Thanks goes to Angela at SoScrappy for keeping all of us inspired to use up our scraps!

FNSI and a Bit More

Last night was the third Friday of November, meaning Friday Night Sew-In with the virtual ladies. Unfortunately I was too tired to stitch since I'd been up since WAY before dawn. My hip (did I mention I think I have bursitis?) was really ailing me, enough that I couldn't lay still. So I got up. It may have been since I'd sat in the car all day Wednesday to go to A to Z Quilt Store to get my All-Illinois Shop Hop prize, the AccuQuilt Go! Baby cutter. Or it could've been that walking all over the Scott AFB BX and then the commissary the very next day was just too much hard-floor walking. Might also have been a combo, right?

So earlier in the day I finished the "innards" of the next Illusions Sampler BOM. This is October's block. Did I ever mention how much I dislike sewing square-in-a-square blocks? Haha!

Later that evening it was all I could do to knit a bit on a sock I'd started earlier in the week for FNSI. I'll look up the particulars of the pattern another time. Last night I started the gusset after turning the heel the night before. I'm using a pretty gray yarn that I got from Invictus Yarns. I'd won a $30 gift certificate through a Ravelry knit group called Verybusymonkey Knitters. I love Stephanie's patterns and she's behind Very Busy Monkey. Anyway, here's my progress.

Right now I'd also like to give a shout-out to Aaron for the fabulous job he did cleaning and tuning up both of my Berninas. He used to work out of Batiks Plus in St. Louis but the shop is closing or may already have closed. He's currently working on landing in another shop. In the meantime, he picked up my machines on Tuesday, cleaned and adjusted them, and then returned them to my door on Thursday! A 2-day turn around! Amazing!!! If you're in the area and need your Bernina to get a spa-treatment, contact him through his email, aaronsmachinerepail@gmail.com . Correction: aaronsmachinerepair@gmail.com .Your machine will thank you!

So that's my latest! Have a great weekend!

Linking up with Wendy @ Sugarlane Designs for Friday Night Sew-In and also with Angela @ So Scrappy for Rainbow Scrap Quilters.

Finishing Up May's Dark/Sage Greens

Recently I haven't focused on the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I've had so many other things to catch up on. Before I get to that, I'll show you what I did manage to accomplish for RSC this month.

Two Hexi Flowers in Dark/Sage Green

April's Pink String-X Zigzag Border

May's Green String-X Zigzag Border

In other fun news, I managed to finish both April's and May's blocks for Uptown, which is a quilt-a-long with Sentimental Stitches. Check out those dark green leaves!

April's Uptown block

May's Uptown block

I completed a pair of socks that I had started for our road trip earlier in the month. This pattern by Very Busy Monkey is called Phoenix Rising. You can find the pattern HERE on Ravelry.

I just picked up the kits for May's & June's Illusions Sampler. This is a block-of-the-month program run through my local quilt shop. I'll be working on the May block over the weekend. I've also been very busy quilting a quilt to be gifted. I hope to be able to show it to you REALLY SOON!

Believe it or not, I'm thinking about starting a couple of new QALs. The first one is called Remembering Betsy by Pam Buda. It should be a quick patriotic quilt and it just started. Here's the link for the introductory post and you should be able to proceed from there for Clue #1.

The other quilt-a-long I'm thinking about joining is called Oh Say Can You Sew with Primitive Gatherings. There have already been two clues. The first clue will cost you $5 now but clue #2 is still free until clue #3 is released at the beginning of the month. The details are available on Lisa's blog HERE.

Speaking of Primitive Gatherings, I joined the challenge of sending in a red & white quilt for her retreat center. She asked for her readers to send in a quilt to be received by November 1 so she could have quite the display of R&W quilts over the holidays. I was just about to start embroidering the 12 snowmen stitcheries that Melissa so generously drew up and shared with her blog readers at Pinker n Punkin Quilting and Stitching. Here's a picture of all 12 of my snowmen. I just have to come up with a plan to finish these. My brain has been spinning several designs lately. (Sorry about the crappy pictures but you get the idea, right?)

Of course there's one other QAL I'm very tempted to join in on. It's through Laundry Basket Quilt and my sister will more than likely be jumping on. It's always fun to sew along with a pal! However, sometimes you've just got to say no! Ha!

If you're still reading along here, I think that pretty much catches us up on the hobbies. I'll just add a quick note health-wise now.  On our trip back from NC & MD, Mom starteds feeling really tired & cold. She slept pretty much the whole time on our two-day trip home. Then I started feeling bad with chills, sore throat, an awful pain in the middle of my back, and a sore throat. The next day DH started coming down with the crud too including a bad headache. I'm happy to report, about two weeks later, we are finally coming back to ourselves. We all still have a cough and are not quite as spunky as usual but WAY BETTER. I have one plugged up ear and an awful metallic taste in my mouth. Red wine & coffee don't taste good right now. But I'm happy to report that it seems we have all three of us survived what I suspect was COVID. And that, my friends, makes me happy!

I hope you have a great week! I'm linking up with Angela at SoScrappy and all the other Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilters.

I Like Thurs #73

It's time for another Thursday of sharing our likes with LeeAnna @ Not Afraid of Color. Go ahead and pop on over to her site to see other happy thoughts & useful ideas.

On a book note, I finished Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney. Whew! What a fun, quick book! If you like old-timey mysteries with a lot of twists and OMGs, you should check this one out. I hope they make a movie of this one because it would be good!

So in the meantime I started Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Koryta. It was on my reading list, I like the author, and I thought Mom had already read it & liked it. Turns out she hasn't read it but I told her it should be next on her list.  Oh boy! Is this a scary, shake-in-your-boots book. It's an older novel (2014, I think) so I picked it before the library took it away. Wowser! If you don't feel like sleeping at night because you're scared, the bad boys in this book will absolutely keep you awake! Read about it HERE.

A neighbor has planted pretty plants on the hill behind him. The hill faces the walking trail and it's always nice to see what is blooming during different times of the year. I've never heard of a yellow peony but there was one blooming the other day on his hill.

We've been enjoying play-off hockey lately. We will really enjoy it if the St. Louis Blues continue to win. It's a rough road for them as they are playing one of the top-notch teams, the Colorado Avalanche.

We're also enjoying the tennis. Roland Garros started this week so we're pretty sports heavy lately. Between the hockey, tennis, and of course the St. Louis Cardinals baseball, our TV doesn't get much rest! ha!

This week I made Sour Cream Lemon Cake. It was super simple and delicious. Unfortunately I don't know where I got the recipe so I can't share it with you. I'm thinking maybe from Carole @ From My Carolina Home but I'm really not sure. I just can't believe that I didn't document where I got it!

This past week I finished the socks I started on vacation. They were designed by Very Busy Monkey and they are called Phoenix Rising. They are soft & squishy and they're beautiful!

Of course I must include a couple pictures of my grandsons.

Jacob after his bath. Look at that hair!! Haha!

Big brother Brody holding his little brother Jacob

Brody discovering what a playground is all about

And that concludes my past week. We are finally seeing the light at the end of the COVID tunnel. It's been pretty dark but we've almost made it out. I hope you are having a good week and I hope to catch you right here next week!

I Like Thursday #71

LeeAnna has once again gathered us up on her blog Not Afraid of Color to talk about things that we've liked this week. You know, things that make us happy and smile. For a bright spot in your day, you should visit her site and see all the fun posts.

Let's start with my happy plants. First off, my lettuce has started to sprout in the garden. No pictures yet but I'll share soon. The picture I did take was of my orchid. It has bloomed non-stop with anywhere between 1 and 5 blooms since OCTOBER! Every time we leave on a trip, it slows down and gets down to one bloom but after I'm home again, watering it consistently, ta da! Flowers! I really like this plant. (I hope I didn't just jinx it!)

This picture is a spiderwort plant. My daughter gave me a sprout off her own plant and repotted it for me. It must be happy -- it is blooming! Such a delicate purple flower!

Speaking of purple, I finished knitting a pair of purple mittens for me. They were a fun knit from one of my favorite designers, Very Busy Monkey. This pattern is called Woodland Sage Mittens. You can find it here on Ravelry.

Look how perfectly they fit! I'm almost looking forward to winter again! I said ALMOST! Ha!

Check out these two. My brother has twin daughters. The one graduated from college last year and the other graduates next month. The May graduate recently acquired a dog. His name is Mac and he is a sweetie. I understand that he had several young owners that quickly became disillusioned with the responsibility that he brought. He is now a house-broken good boy who even goes to work with his mama. The kitty belongs to the already-graduated twin. This kitty came from a friend of hers that could no longer keep the cat. His name is Waldo and he is deaf! He's wonderful company for Mac when he visits. Aren't they adorable!!??!!

Another "critter" like for Thursday is this nest. I climbed up on a ladder under our deck to see that the robins have certainly been busy. I spied the nest not too long ago but now we have four blue eggs! Something to watch while I quilt down in the basement.

My last "like" would be my Thursday this week. I'm writing this up early because I will be on a bus Thursday morning heading to Paducah, KY, for the annual American Quilters Society Quilt Show! I will for sure have plenty of pictures for next week. I'm very excited to go. There will be beautiful quilts and loads of vendors. The Boy Scouts always have a strawberry shortcake stand for their fund raiser and I plan on helping them out!

Next week I'll talk about the book I'm reading. Bet I'll be finished with it by then. Until next time, don't forget to take some time to appreciate the little things in life. Have a great week!