a lotta bit fun

Modern Mini Challenge

2012-02-06T17:54:00.000-08:00

Jennifer at Ellison Lane Quilts is hosting a modern mini challenge starting...today. I am looking forward to all the samples and techniques shown during the blog hop. Though I admit, I already have some ideas. OK, one idea. One ~~big~~ small idea. Involving this:

But am not going to start until the bloghop is well underway, and I finish the made in Cherry quilt-a-long. I swear it.

Mini Cherry Top Is Done

2012-02-01T14:34:00.000-08:00

In spite of last night's panic attack regarding triangles, seam allowances, and matching points, today the top is done. Yay!

So, a roll call of the fabrics used, as best as I could figure out: Nicey Jane (3 prints), Timeless Treasures cupcake prints (2), Chez Moi Posh by Moda, Joel Dewberry Heirloom Rose Bouquet and Paisley, Larkspur Bright Multi by Alexander Henri, Mary Englebright (1), and several Cranston Print Works prints. There are also a few that might be Cranston, but there are no selvages. These were donated mill run ends that I used for a school fundraiser quilt years ago.

The solid is Kona Pomegranate—which you may recognize as my Emmeline apron scrap color.

I admit that I went and bought a backing piece today, I don't have any scraps large enough. It needs to be washed. My (on sale) choice to be revealed later.

When bound, this will be about 20" x 20". My first mini.

Linking to: Fresh Sewing Day, Small Blog Meet, Made in Cherry Quilt-a-Long

Made in Cherry Quilt-A-Long

2012-01-29T12:25:00.000-08:00

I told myself nooooooooo I have too many unfinished projects and unstarted projects and just plain ideas floating around my brain.

But I couldn't resist. I joined the quilt-a-long being hosted over at Pins and Bobbins. But I am starting with a scrappy mini version. All my squares have been cut to 1.5 inches, and my small half square triangles are also done. I won't be cutting the background pieces until I have my points and main block all done.

And now my iron has decided to stop working. It's warm, but not hot, and there's no steam. And, of course, it is Sunday. So my repair shop is closed. Wanna bet the iron decides to heat up tomorrow? Maybe it needs a day off.

I like butter

2012-01-27T15:42:00.000-08:00

Especially slathered on a toasted piece of homemade whole grain bread. With a bowl of from-scratch cream of celery soup. No picture can capture the deliciousness.

*(in the speedy-announcer-at-end-of-ad voice) Bread made with 10-grain cereal mix because that's what was in the pantry. The cornmeal is not noticeable. The soup was made without the celery root (I know it adds a depth of deliciousness, but there wasn't one in the CSA box with my fabulous bunch of leafy wonderfulness known as celery, and I didn't have time to traipse around town searching for an overpriced celery root). I also left out the potato because kid #2 is allergic. He refused to eat more than 2 bites, so next time it goes in. I also put in celery seed and plain kosher salt, because I don't own celery salt. In spite of all this, both were still wonderfully delicious.

Fixing a Sweater

2012-01-24T11:36:00.000-08:00

Don't you hate it when you buy a cotton sweater, and you like said sweater, but over time, you realize the sweater (being 100% cotton) is shrinking. Not enough to make it too small, but enough to cause a horrid zipper ripple because the zipper fabric is not 100% cotton? And trust me, it looks even worse when I am wearing it. Which basically means I don't ever wear it.

So, last week I ripped out the zipper. Note to self: ripping a zipper out of knit fabric is not easy, and takes awhile. Then I tossed it in the wash, and, yeah!, the placket area came out in a nice, normal, flat shape.

And then it sat on my ironing board. I was not going to attempt to add buttons (and holes). I thought a nice piece of ribbon would solve my problems just fine. This is a lightweight summer sweater, and only a tank top fits under it.

Enter my first whimseybox!

Which contained grosgrain ribbon! First I was leaning toward the mid-width orange. But...orange? I generally wear this sweater with white or pink. The wide pink ribbon would certainly lend it a look—but not really my look. So I settled on the narrow pink.

And there you have it. A drop of Fraycheck and I am good to go. Once summer is here and I can actually wear this, I may shorten the ties. And if the cats chew them, they will also be shortened.

Emmeline Apron completed—take 1

2012-01-22T11:08:00.000-08:00

I made my first Emmeline Apron this week—yes, I love aprons. I cook a lot, and tend to get covered in everything. Full aprons are best for dinner, half aprons work great for breadmaking. In any case, I know I will be making more versions of this. Probably as gifts, and for myself as well. This one is super cute, and I love love love the double thickness. Maybe I will even get brave enough to make taquitos from scratch, frying them up on the stove. Maybe. I would like to think two layers will protect me!

The fabric are Joel Dewberry prints, the solid is Kona (cerise? bright pink?). Please ignore the mess on the floor—it's laundry day.

I made one big change on this round--rather than make a tie at the neck, I made it closed, so it just drops over my head and hangs on my apron hook. I am not a fan of tie necks. But when I make this as a gift, I will make a tie neck so it will fit. I only needed 36" of binding, rather than two yards, though I had made the entire two yards.

Future changes (for me):

Make bodice 1" deeper, and make the top 1.5" narrower to eliminate the gape. (I am 5'8", and more coverage is good.)
Not face the top band—or maybe face just one side? The facing makes this unnecessarily bulky, even with the seams trimmed. And I am not convinced it is needed at all.
Measure and cut the rectangles quilting-style, rather than using the pattern pieces. That way they will be actual rectangles LOL.
Buy only 1 1/4 yards of the contrast fabric, rather than 1 3/4 as listed on the pattern. Yes, I have 20" untouched full-width inches of bright pink Kona left over (and yes, I made the whole 2 yards of binding). Look!

Now I am feeling motivated to cook!

Resolved to Sew 2012

2012-01-21T17:52:00.000-08:00

Over at Very Berry Handmade, there is a new giveaway! Resolved to Sew 2012. It's funny, because I have been thinking about this myself. I put aside some other things (and haven't started a few things!) to get that baby quilt done.

As of right now, I know of no cousins due in 2012, so I should get some other sewing done.

Finish the space quilt. I finished the top right before starting that baby quilt, and I have the backing fabric. I need to get a batt and get quilting. And make plans for the quilting. I purchased this fabric about 10 years ago, before I knew thing 1 would be a fan of garbage and other trucks, not space. And thing 2 is not a space kid either. But they both love wrapping themselves up in something cozy.
Finish the house wallhanging. It's pieced, it's embroidered, it might even be partly quilted. Find it, finish it.
Make the simple minky-backed quilt kit I bought at the Long Beach quilt show. Before the next LBQS.
Sew an article of clothing for me. And I don't mean another apron, though I'll do some of those too. I love aprons. What can you expect from a slob who loves to cook?
Do something with those scraps! Maybe a mini quilt for the school silent auction? Can I do that quickly?
Make a duvet cover from bright busy prints, if I can find them on sale--or win them in a giveaway, wink wink.
Just sew. Mend. Turn boys' pants with ripped knees into shorts. Repurpose things as they come up.
Get my poor machine serviced, before it starts doing funny things.

The Amy Butler collection in this giveaway is calling to me! Fingers crossed

yup, i went shopping

2012-01-20T16:37:00.000-08:00

Since I was only 2 blocks from my new favorite fabric store (Sew Modern), I obviously had to stop in.

I haven't finished the apron that I bought supplies for last week. But it is in progress. Sooooo that counts, right?

Set 1: from Riley Blake's Christmas Candy. I love these--and they were 40% off. Which meant I was forced (forced, I tell you!) to get a yard of each. There were a couple other prints that were too ~~cutesy~~ creepy for me, due to the presence of gingerbread men. But I just love the way there is pink in this line. Pink makes me happy.

Set 2: The 4 right fabrics are from Outfoxed! by Lizzie House. I hadn't seen them before, but I love them. The lavender on the left is from another Lizzie House line. I got a half yard of each.

What am I going to do with these? They asked me at the store too. I have no idea. I want to say quilts, but maybe I should branch out a bit?

Finished!

2012-01-17T22:00:00.000-08:00

It's really truly finished. Finally. And will make it to the recipient before she is one (ahem...).

At the end of May I had this:

And now, finally, I have this:

And with the backing:

Yes, I work slowly. I will spare you all the list of other stuff I did during that time period ;)

The pattern is Shake Rattle and Roll designed by Jacquie Gering, from the Spring 2011 issue of Stitch magazine.

The block directions were great, but I am still shocked at the amount of waste this pattern created. So much sewing only to cut off fabric. I've never done any kind of wonky block before, so maybe that's normal? I found it frustrating. It took forever to make any progress!

The supply list calls for "1/4 yard each of 6 to 8 [fabrics]." I had 6--and ran out of fabric for all of the small blocks on the side. I had originally bought binding to match the light solid (and I usually wait until the quilt is done to chose binding), so made rectangles with that to use in place of the small blocks I couldn't make.

And then I got new binding fabric! It all worked out in the end, as I like the dark brown a lot. It frames it up quite nicely, especially given the excess of pale green!

Now I get to wrap it up and mail it away! That is the best part.

Seeing Progress

2012-01-13T14:20:00.000-08:00

I am getting excited. The end of the baby quilt is in sight.

This elation will, inevitably, be followed by the realization that this is slowpoke me, and it will be awhile just yet. Hopefully I will get a bunch more done before that hits. I have a few things I can't wait to start!

errr...it's January?!

2012-01-06T22:41:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's been months. Where does the time go?

I have been crafting--a baby quilt is in progress. Some Star Wars snowflakes were made. An R2D2 beanie was crocheted. One Angry Bird ornament was completed, another is in progress. And some clay ornaments for gifting were done. Kids seem to figure into every one of these items, lol.

But for me--I signed up for Whimseybox! Check it out. I am just. so. excited.

It's November!?

2010-11-14T17:07:00.000-08:00

How did this happen?

The adults around here were down for 10 days with a bad and somewhat strange two-wave cold. One of us had a man cold. Which, of course, meant I had more to do and couldn't rest at all.

I did a little bit of quilting on the never-ending Halloween quilt (not finished, again). This week, though I made this for my older son's class Winter Market. They (er...we) are raising money for Science Camp in March.

It's just a small baby blanket made from 2 chunky mystery yarns that I got last summer when Stitches was having their closing sale. I used a simple granny until I ran out of yarn, basically.

Next up? Ten small handmade items for younger son's Winter Faire kids' market. And more for older son's Winter Market. And for younger son's Winter Faire Crafter's Booth. And I must finish my nephew's baby afghan before Christmas, when we will be seeing him.

I have been itchy to get at the sewing machine, but not sure that will be happening soon!

Blogger's Quilt Festival

2010-10-31T16:23:00.000-07:00

My entry for the Blogger's Quilt Festival Fall 2010 is actually the first quilt I ever finished. Not the first one I started, not the first one I cut and pieced, not the first one I started quilting. But the first one I actually finished. (OK—I had made a quilted pillow before. Does that count? It was about a 12" block, with no binding. So I say no, it doesn't count.)

Finished in August 2006, this is Zachary's quilt.

Yes, I look at it now and cringe. There are so many things I would do differently. But Zachary loved it, as did his mom, who has a tendency to buy pieced blocks at thrift stores and frame them.

So, the story behind this. I wanted to make a quilt for the baby because his mom loves quilts. Choosing the fabric was another story. It had to be OK for a boy or girl. And I really wanted to find some animal prints. Zachary has an older brother and sister. His brother is autistic—but quite high-functioning. But there was a lot of stress about how big brother (who was about 7 at the time) would accept the new baby, as change is very hard for him.

Big brother loves animals. Loves them. And can tell you all about them. Everything I know about bullfrogs I learned from this boy. So I thought maybe an animal quilt would give the new baby something that big brother could discuss. But a babyish print would be good, so that it clearly belonged to the baby.

Like a true beginner, I chose my pattern before I chose the fabric. Which was not a great idea. But it had lots of squares. Big squares! I did a simple diagonal quilting pattern, as well as some square outlines and straight lines.

All in all it worked well. I finished it, after all. In a timely fashion! The whole family loved it. And I realized that making a baby quilt is much much faster than crocheting a baby afghan.

Crazy Busy!

2010-10-29T11:51:00.000-07:00

The last 2 weeks of October are pure insanity. Every year. But this year...

• My parents came to visit for 5 days. They do not like to (or want to) do anything other than tell me I am too busy. My dad did help me vacuum, moving things out of the way! Unfortunately, he could not get my mom to move her feet. Lots of extra cleaning and cooking for me--and my mom hates it when I am the computer. Even when I am looking up info for her. Really!
• Field trips for both boys. Different days. Requiring prepping of different lunches, docent "donation", etc etc.
• The putting together of costumes!
• Helping a class of 2nd graders carve pumpkins!
• Ticket selling (and organizational meetings) for 5th grader's school pumpkin patch/fall festival.
• Pack full moon hike.
• Pack Halloween party.
• Both boys' school picture days. Different days, of course.
• Galaxy game with little guy's soccer team! They got to march around the field too.
• Friend's Halloween party.

Are we done yet? I haven't touched my sewing machine in two weeks!

a simple pillow

2010-10-19T16:08:00.000-07:00

So T-Bone (11) has long loved having two pillows--since he had a horrible cold at age, I don't know, three?

He had "borrowed" a couch pillow for his second pillow. An old, feather-filled, somewhat pokey, not-machine-washable couch pillow.

I decided to get rid of all those pillows when we got rid of the couches they matched. Freecycle girl took some, the rest went on top of the trash can and someone took them.

I finally made a cover for the new borrowed couch pillow last weekend.

See that fabric? Yeah, he likes it. Even if he won't show his face ;)

radishes

2010-10-17T22:31:00.000-07:00

I have never liked radishes. Too spicy in a way completely different from chiles. Too...dirt-tasting. Too..crunchy in a way that isn't entirely crunchy, if you know what I mean. Yet so easy to grow!


Today's harvest--(not so) Petit Dejeuner from Renee's Garden

Last winter our CSA boxes came with plenty of radishes. I needed to do something!

So I took a little tour through The Joy of Cooking. If you read about radishes, it tells you they can be used in turnip recipes. If you read about turnips, it tells you they can be used in potato recipes.

Scalloped radishes?

Oh. My. Goodness. The spiciness is toned down to a magnificent onioniness--without onion. The dirt taste is gone, the not-quite-crunchy enough texture fully softened by parboiling and baking.

And there are four different types of dairy product! What's not to love? (Unless you are a boy, I guess, since they won't even try it.)

For tonight's potluck.

Perfect for a potluck, since two of us can finish off an entire 8" pan. And with all that dairy goodness, that isn't really necessary.

this moment

2010-10-15T21:48:00.000-07:00

Extraordinary? Definitely memorable.

This moment, as inspired by SouleMama. A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Noooooooo!!!!!!!!!

2010-10-12T22:06:00.000-07:00

After my monthly trip down to the San Pedro scout shop I decided to reward myself with a trip to my favorite fabric store. It was on the way home. Really. Kind of.

I was greeted with this:

In spite of having exactly 2 hours to shop, wait in line, get home to get organized, and get the boys, I managed to buy this:

A lot of brown and orange. Two colors I rarely use. I love love love that bird fabric! I see a bag of some sort. The pink/red/black is intended for the outside of the Everything Bag from Weekend Sewing. I want to do some sort of wonky block with the orange/brown on the upper right. (I love those fruit trees! Love them.) The bottom selection--I'm not sure yet.

Now I need to get back there. I need to go with a plan. And to think I really just wanted to see Innocent Crush to wrap my brain around it before buying any. Needless to say, they don't have it.

pineapple guava jam

2010-10-11T22:34:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
4.5 pounds peeled and sliced pineapple guavas
7 cups sugar
2 slices of beet (for color)

Yield: 7 8-oz jars, 1 12-oz jar, 1 half jar

I friend's tree has been super productive this year, so she gave me a bag. I don't really think the color of plain pineapple guava would make a very appealing jam, so I added 2 slices of beet, hoping to make it pinker. Perhaps a half slice would have been a better idea.

I am pretty sure I need a new candy thermometer. I think that trip mine took through the dishwasher has rendered it about 5° low. Between the fig jam and this... yeah. On the upside, I think I may not even need the thermometer any more, I think I can tell when the texture changes. But I don't think I trust myself!

yup, it's fall

2010-10-10T22:10:00.000-07:00

It might have been 80 degrees today, but it's definitely fall.

The white-crowned sparrows are back!

Tonight after dinner the boys were riding bikes out front, and I got to listen to the white-crowned sparrow chorus from the back. I just love their song.

I guess it's time to start listening for the Yellow-Rumped Warblers.

the Strapping Bag is done

2010-10-09T17:11:00.000-07:00

And oh was it frustrating. But it is cute. (Please ignore the ugly backyard. )

This pattern is from Small Stash Sewing. I used Nicey Jane scraps I had left over from an apron I made last summer, and corduroy left over from the pencil holder I made last month. The button came from my late grandmother's stash. Even the interfacing I already had--WOO-HOO!

So, the frustrations...different illustrations show the corduroy nap going in different directions. The 3.25 x 18" pieces for the lining gusset leave you with about 3" on each side to cut off. The lining gusset is larger than the outer gusset. But the best is the cutting for the handle: first you cut 6 18" strips (that's 108 inches). These are cut apart into 3 to 6" segments and sewn together--and then you cut a 56" length for the actual strap.


Giant leftover piece.

Yes, I had over 30" left over! I cut apart all my Nicey Jane for this?!?

I added the closure and button. Since I had that big old leftover piece, I took some of it back apart (hellooooo seam ripper). One piece was buttonhole practice, the other was the real thing. It came out quite nicely (Nicey?).

So, my strap/purse body intersection is nothing like the picture in the book, but it does match the written directions. Whatever.

This was my favorite pattern in the book, which will be going back to the library next week.

I need to make another bag or two, and then I need to work on my own dream bag pattern. The ideas are almost overwhelming.

Trying to get a good picture....

Think anyone will notice when I wear it out tonight?

this moment

2010-10-08T21:04:00.000-07:00

Argghhhh the purse

2010-10-06T22:03:00.000-07:00

There it is! Lining on the left, outside/strap on the right.

The lining is larger than the outside. Nice. I am also wondering what happens to the 2-3 feet of strap that I put together and then cut off?

Yet I keep plodding along. It will be really cute if it comes together!

And yes...5 days into blogtoberfest and I missed a day! I realized this morning I was so busy yesterday I didn't even open google reader!

frustration

2010-10-04T23:12:00.000-07:00

The feeling you get when you find, amongst your stash, the exact number of fabrics a pattern calls for--even the iron-on craft-weight interfacing. And then as you begin sewing, you find that 1) you actually need more fabric and 2) the writing is not intuitive (aka just plain wrong) and 3) the drawings change the nap direction in each picture.

So, my awesome new purse is not done.

farm CSA day

2010-10-03T22:01:00.000-07:00

Another day with no crafting--but it was CSA day at our farm!

Added bonus: our CSA is a school fundraiser, and the farm has regular tours (strawberry, watermelon, pumpkin patch, depending on the season).

Rather than get any crafting in, we ate farm-grown organic produce. This is just a sampling, but boy those squash were yum-my.

The boys rode kid atvs, and these awesome pedal cars. T-bone was the first kid of the season (which started...yesterday) who didn't need a single push on the course. He was pleased.

We took the tractor ride to the pumpkin canyon, fed the boys giant shaved ices, and--of course--picked pumpkins! E-man picked his own outfit. He almost disappeared among the pumpkins.

A fun day. We love Tanaka Farms. And then for dinner I made cilantro pesto from this week's box.

Fingers crossed that crafting occurs mañana!

8:15 am

2010-10-02T22:14:00.000-07:00

First ones here!

I am a morning person. I love to be up at the crack of dawn. This doesn't often happen--as evidenced by the fact I am writing this at 10:10pm. I'd rather be in bed, but after the boys are in bed, I am usually cleaning up.

Most people can't stand having the first soccer game of the day. Up early, breakfasts to be had, uniform and shin guards and cleats to find and put on. Drive to make. Dew. Putting goals together.

I love it. Dew. Fresh(er) air, all morning-y, if you know what I mean. Empty parking lots. And an empty Marine Park! By 9:30 the place was packed, with 3 games going on, staggered times so lots of comings and goings, lots of tennis being played, siblings riding bikes and kicking balls, joggers and dog walkers, and a hellish parking lot.

I like it early.

And, we had thunder and big raindrops! So much for afternoon plans to go to Santa Ynez canyon for a fall hike. We scouted the ESPN Zone at LA Live for a certain 5th grader's birthday party instead.

this moment

2010-10-01T16:42:00.000-07:00

Blogtoberfest

2010-10-01T16:39:00.000-07:00

Can I do it? Blog every single day of October?

I guess even I will figure out just how boring I may be!

at 11:45pm last night...

2010-09-29T21:44:00.000-07:00

These came out of the oven:

OK, not on one sheet like that.

What are those? This would be 14 dragon breads for my second grader's class. Another family baked some too. Whereas mine look more like mice with an allergy problem, theirs looked like awesome dragons. But my second grader didn't eat his, because it was crunchy when he nibbled its snout. So guess what I am doing tomorrow?! Making more Michaelmas dragon breads!

The good news? It has cooled off a bit. Leave it to me to volunteer to bake the one week of the whole year it is over 90°--only 85° in my kitchen. When the oven is off...

a productive week!

2010-09-25T13:30:00.000-07:00

Not only did I survive both my first pack meeting as advancement coordinator and my first week as fill-in bookkeeper for the school fundraiser CSA—I also started and finished two (count 'em, two) projects.

Without further ado, first we have the Autumn Crocheted Capelet from the Autumn 2010 issue of Rhythm of the Home. This is for my niece Emily's first birthday, and I must get it in the mail this week. Started it Wednesday, finished it Friday—and believe me, no marathon crochet sessions. The yarn? Stash Lion Brand Suede (1 skein) and Bouclé (1.25 skeins) that I had gotten at the 99 Cent Store some time ago. Let me tell you, when I saw that the pattern was in bulky yarn, I got kind of excited.

Next up—can you guess?

That's a roll for Everett's Ferby pencils. He has been requesting one for months. Finding corduroy in a color he liked was the hard part. The flap is to keep them from falling out. There is one extra pocket—there were three, but then I found two pencils under his desk. The best laid plans...!

So...now I could get back to the peach/blue quilt top. Or maybe the Halloween quilt top that has been partly quilted for three years. Or maybe I will go shopping to make the ripstop-backed picnic/soccer-watching quilt I want to make. Or a skirt for me? Or a purse? Or...?

this moment

2010-09-24T15:54:00.000-07:00

This moment. A Friday ritual. A single photo—no words—capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

I won!

2010-09-23T19:04:00.000-07:00

Really. I won a $60 credit to csn stores over on the Backyard Farming blog. Thank you thank you! Goody! I am the kind of person who can't win Yahtzee, so I am excited. And--kitchen stuff!

So. What to get.

I am leaning toward the Kitchen Aid mixer attachment set. Which is out of stock. It has the food mill (which I want!), and the sausage attachment (which Pete wants!). It has graters--which I have no idea if I would ever use.

There is an interesting rabbit run--though I am really interested in that hutch. I wonder how much it is? And how easy it would be to convert it into a chicken coop? I think they don't carry the hutch. Bummer! Though probably very pricey. We just need to find something to start building with.

A yoga balance half-ball?

A Kitchen Aid ice cream attachment?

A new camp stove?

A Wii game for the kids? (NO!)

I am a little overwhelmed by the choices.

Or should I just watch awhile and see if they get that attachment set it? I am set to receive an email when they do. I have a couple of months before it expires.

Finished!

2010-09-21T13:48:00.000-07:00

I guess it says something about me that such a small quilt still takes me weeks. But it's done, and didn't get shoved into a WIP pile at any point. This may be a record for me! And--if you can believe it--it is hanging right in the spot (get it?) I designed it for.

This is the end of my pantry cabinet. For years it has had some construction paper stars hanging on it. Everett made them in preschool. He is in second grade now. The stars were faded, curling, and had dropped most of their glitter. Yet they left tape residue on the cabinet.

To hang this quilt, I hand-sewed two small 5/8" plastic rings onto the quilt back. I placed two small 3M decorating clips on the cabinet. And voila--removable quilt hangers!

The back I am not in love with--though I am pretty pleased with my label. I matched its placement to the right hand dot on the front. So the quilting outlines the label as well. Caveat: they didn't perfectly line up!

I am overall pretty pleased with this little quilt. But I am frustrated with one of the fabrics.

The honeycomb print. Look at the right edge--pretty good! Now look at the top and bottom. Looking at this fabric on the bolt and on the ironing board, it looked perfectly straight. It's definitely a little off-grain. But I wonder if it's supposed to have this step-down? It bugs me. And it kind of gives me a headache. But talk about headaches--that dot on the back! Just the picture makes me dizzy.

this moment

2010-09-17T21:41:00.000-07:00

this moment, as inspired by SouleMama:

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

What was I thinking?!

2010-09-16T19:39:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am the new cub scout advancement coordinator. There has not been much crafting happening around here. (And we are out of pears! The horror!)

September is baptism by fire. Year-round pack + resident camp + district day camp + another day camp = gadzillions of belt loops, patches, and pins. And me pulling my hair out. I have spent nearly 15 hours on this this week--most in the last 2 days--not counting the driving involved in going to the San Pedro scout store twice.

One shipment in the mail, one last distribution into proper baggies and bags--and one giant list of special awards for the agenda, and I am done!

mmmmm pie

2010-09-14T13:54:00.000-07:00

So Mr 2nd grade came home from school yesterday with:
• a letter from his teacher about all the apple-related activities going on in the classroom
• a recipe for apple pie.

Needless to say, he wanted to make the pie. ASAP. So (as you likely predicted) I made crust, peeled and sliced our selection of overripe apples--and then he came just in time to add the brown sugar and spices.

No, it's not pretty. But it sure is tasty! Surprisingly so, since I managed to use up nearly all of the apples I was planning to make apple butter with.

around and around

2010-09-12T21:51:00.000-07:00

All of the circular quilting today almost had me dizzy. And I'm not done yet.

But I did get in an entire hour today. Some of which was spent contemplating. Contemplating what looks to be a poor choice of backing fabrics (but this will hang on a wall!), and the fact that this very print you are looking at is printed off-grain. And, of course, I didn't figure it out til the entire top was together.

I reserve the right to wait until it is bound to decide what I really think.

Interruptions....

2010-09-10T22:49:00.000-07:00

Have been aplenty. Or rather, just one. To celebrate big guy's first day at a new school, I came down with the worst cold I have had in years--can we say stress? Two nights with virtually no sleep, confusion, horrific sore throat, sneezing, drippy nose, a sinus headache--the whole nine yards. Three really bad days, 1 bad day.

I have managed to keep the family in clean clothes, packed lunches, and dinner (thanks, honey, for picking up the pizzas last night). The cats are fed, box clean, floors vacuumed, clothes clean.

School meeting attended, pack planning meeting attended, boys to tae kwon do, den meeting, sanitation dept presentation.

That's all she wrote--because that's all she's done!

Fabric Tuesday #3

2010-09-07T14:07:00.000-07:00

Am I really going to number every Fabric Tuesday title? Because I am fresh out of ideas. Already.

The top is done, and now the back is done! I just need to cut some batting and get quilting. I plan to echo the circles.

It looks like I haven't done much, but there are several new things here for me. I went and got Pigma markers to write on my fabric. I wrote on said fabric. I pieced the back (and I'm not entirely pleased, but it will hang, and it's the back...). I named a quilt! (Get it? Is it obvious I have kids?) I also stacked 2 layers of white for the label, to better block the pattern behind. I should have done this on the front.

Live and learn!

Also, I have done my best to line up the label with the red-print circle on the front. So, when I echo quilt the circles, the label should be echoed as well. Should be :)

the year without a summer

2010-09-05T17:01:00.000-07:00

As fall is approaches, I am still waiting for summer. The garden was a near total bust. The green beans died from lack of sun and powdery mildew, after making a few pods and never getting more than 3 inches tall. We got 2 zucchini. The chard plants went to seed after feeding us well for a couple of years (though that was bound to happen).

We decided to put in raised beds this year--right smack in the middle of the yard, to maximize sunlight. What with May gray turning to June gloom and continuing, with few breaks, right through August and into September, the poor plants need access to as much sun as they can get. Even if it is 15 minutes at dinnertime.

Our poor back garden has been abandoned. Why? This is why:

The left tree is a loquat. I love loquats. I don't love the squirrels that sit up top, eat loquats, and throw seeds into my garden. The absentee owners just had it trimmed--in late August. It is due south of the garden, 2 feet from the property line. *sigh*. The monstrosity on the right is another neighbor's coral tree. It is about 3 years overdue for a serious trimming--it also overhangs the fence, which may not be obvious. It blocks all late afternoon/evening sun. Which is about all we've been getting. And if you're not familiar with coral trees, they reseed prolifically. And the seedlings have thorns. It's fabulous! (Note the gloomy sky in the picture :( ).

So, back to the middle of the yard. One bed down:

One tomato, one anaheim, and planted today: lettuce, radicchio, leeks, scallions, carrots, broccoli, chard, radishes. If October turns out to be our hottest month, we'll get tomatoes. Otherwise, radishes. Kudos to my friends Bill and Venus, who blogs about their fabulous Sacramento garden here. That box design came from that blog. Now we need to do 2 more. Making the box is the easy part. Breaking up the clay soil and digging out the Bermuda grass/weeds--hard, hard work.

Our front yard tomato has now ripened two. (Shhh! I have eaten them right off the plant.) I am hopeful for these guys:

this moment

2010-09-03T22:02:00.000-07:00

inspired by soulemama...“{this moment}: A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.”

Yay! A real use for my scraps!

2010-09-02T12:35:00.000-07:00

Yes, I save all my scraps. Big and small.

Somehow I found this tutorial this morning, for fabric sandwich bags. I have seen a few other mentions, but most use velcro. I'm afraid of the "oilcloth" sold at fabric stores--it feels like plastic, not oilcloth. I think it is plastic. Probably the worst kind (me? cynical?). And really, I want machine washable, not wipe cleanable. (Are my kids really bigger slobs than other peoples?)

I don't have a serger, but I love the bags in the tutorial. I'd also like something sturdier--as in, lined.

Voila.

Opening:

Open:

Yes, those are French seams. I love French seams. I even French-seamed the ends. Because that's how I roll.

I have more fabric in the dryer now. Those cottons I got to make my kids pillowcases with 2 years ago? Now I see sandwich and snack bags.

In other news:

Two down, 18 to go.

Fabric Tuesday part deux

2010-08-31T11:00:00.000-07:00

Oh these Tuesdays are going to sneak up on me, I can tell.

I did make my husband a pair of jammie shorts with some flannel (featuring maple leaves) I got in Victoria on our road trip. Not too exciting--though I did almost cut them out upside down!

Mostly I have been working on my wall quilt for the end of my kitchen cabinet. It's not done--the front is sewn, the appliques cut out. The arrangement undecided.

Maybe this?

Or this?

I think I am leaning toward the upper placement--but with the red on the bottom as in the second photo. It pops more down there. The fabrics on the right are my main backing, the red stripe will be a band on the back, and the darkest is my binding. I am also thinking of making a circular label for the back, and trying to align it with one of the front circles.

I am planning to machine-applique these, but am stuck on a color! Red will pop, maybe too much? Black will be a bulls-eye. Which leaves white. Zig zag or buttonhole? Maybe hand buttonhole would be easier (for me)? Maybe red hand buttonhole? Maybe I should do a doodle cloth to help me decide.

Peach and...navy?

2010-08-30T21:50:00.000-07:00

That's the color peach, not peaches the fruit. *sigh*. I decided get one of these since they were on sale. I admit it--I really like the sample they show on the right. Needless to say, I didn't get that. My "coordinating pack" goes from off-white peach through medium blue to navy and black. With many many girly florals. And some anchors.

The lighter/brighter colors

The darker colors

I thought this was a total bust til I separated the colors as in the pics above. I realized I have some leftovers from a baby quilt. And maybe some blues from oh-so-long-ago when I worked at New York Fabrics. In high school. I am pretty sure New York Fabrics no longer exists. (My location has been a Joann's for eons.) So, leaving the new strips laid out, I stuck some of my stash down on the sides just to see.

Stash coral to red

Stash off white to coral

Stash navys (navies?)

Stash light to medium blues

This looks like I can do something here! A bento box? A simple vertical strip quilt to take advantage of my pre-cut strips (I will be saving those many many selvages too).

Sketches. Yes, I cut some out to twist around.

I don't actually like anything I've thought of yet. Well, the bento box quilt idea I do like. But we'll see. I think this will need to sit in my brain for awhile. Thoughts?

I am leaning toward the off-whites, coral, and red florals, with some (err...all) of the blue/coral florals. Thoughts appreciated!

The best split pea soup ever

2010-08-29T21:09:00.000-07:00

Can I say that? At 4pm I realized I had no dinner plan, so grabbed the bag of split peas I got a couple of weeks ago for just such an occasion. I wanted to clear out some veggies in preparation for tomorrow's CSA box. This is what I did:

Surprising Split Pea Soup

1 pack chopped pancetta (from Trader Joe's)
1 large chopped sweet onion (about 2 cups)
5 ribs celery, chopped
2 shallots, chopped
--Cook these ingredients in a soup pot til softened

Then add:
1.5 cups split peas, rinsed and drained
6 cups water
fresh ground pepper to taste
kosher salt to taste

--Bring to a boil, mixing well. Turn down to a heavy simmer.

Add:
1 broiled, peeled, cored, seeded, chopped green bell pepper (I was broiling while the rest of the veggies were softening)

Stir often, keeping an eye on the peas. Once the peas were in, I cooked for about an hour. Add more water if needed (I added 2 more cups).

Add (or not!) additional salt and pepper to your taste.

Don't mention the pepper to your kids, and then watch them gobble.

This makes about 4 main course servings.

Sorry for the lack of picture--I had no idea it would be so yummy. And, really, split pea soup is not that great to look at, now is it?

reds and whites and black

2010-08-28T15:12:00.000-07:00

I got Pretty Little Mini Quilts from the library a couple of weeks ago, and have been stuck on the "Spinning in Orbit" pattern. I love the appliqued circles on the straight seams. The circles echoing those in a print. The use of color, with it not being too matchy matchy (my problem, in colors and shapes and themes). Yet it all matches.

At The Cotton Shop last weekend, I found some red and black and white, and red and white prints. They kind of remind me of the Timeless Treasures Taxi and Kiwi lines, which I love, but can't quite wrap my brain around, with all that yellow and lime. But red and black. That I can do. Anyway, this is what I left with:

And in trying to figure out the name of the Kiwi line was, I found this Timeless Treasures pattern for Taxi. Which, OOH!, reminds me of Spinning in Orbit. I like it--though it's too something for me. Busy, maybe. Or, maybe, just plain old too yellow.

And! While exploring the various blogs linked on the Los Angeles Modern Quilt Guild site, I found this. Very cool. I wonder if I could do it in red and black and white. Or MORE colors??? Hehe.

So I started drawing. And shortly thereafter came to the brilliant conclusion that doing a many colored plaid will involve years of shopping for the perfect lime/yellow, red/lime, etc etc prints. Not for me.

So, I went back to my reds and blacks.

The left is like Spinning in Orbit. I don't like it--I have the wrong fabrics to get a nice balance of light/dark, red/black/white, and shapes. The right is more like the Taxi pattern. I like that more, but I am planning to hang this on a cabinet end in my kitchen. I like the long narrow, but have too many prints and not enough cabinet width.

So:

There it is. The Plan. Darkest at the bottom in the widest strip, getting narrower and lighter/less dense to the top. Appliqued circles--maybe a hexagon or 2--to echo the prints, but the largest applique will be near the top, the smallest near the bottom. Darkest at top, lightest at bottom. I think. I also went and got a black/white print (which is in the dryer now, so I can't share), as I had 2 red/whites and no black/white. I may lose one of the red/whites. Have to see as we go along. I am hoping to start today, but with 1 napping boy, 1 on an errand with dad, and a dinner to cook, we'll see.

this moment

2010-08-27T15:12:00.000-07:00

Evading fig beetles, or fun with jars

2010-08-26T21:44:00.000-07:00

I decided to try this recipe for fig preserves today. Our poor neglected fig tree is covered with fruit in various stages of decomposition, some ripe figs, and many many baby figs. These figs do not taste anything like the fresh figs I remember from a childhood neighbor's tree--but those were dark figs, these are white figs. What kind? No idea--the tree came from a neighbor several years ago, and he didn't know what it was.

Anyway, I went out to pick, and proceeded to spend the next 15 minutes evading some angry (if harmless, unless you're a fig) fig beetles. These guys are big, and loud. And we have many because we don't spray, and I am not brave enough to squash them. And they are really really pretty metallic green, which makes me not want to squash them anyway.

The enemy--enjoying a very overripe fig.

I came up with 2.3 pounds, and this recipe is incredibly easy to adjust, since it uses a 1:1 fig:sugar ratio.

So, we'll see. I got two pints and a bit left over--the leftover bit is so sugary it has solidified, I am hoping that's because I scraped the pot. I followed the recipe exactly, but think maybe should have cooked for less time with the lesser amount of fruit. I will have another 2+ pounds in a week or so, I think. Unless the mockingbirds, beetles, starlings, and wasps get them all. I should say, the cats greatly enjoy this show, they have a fabulous view from the back window.

From this...

...to this.

Next!

2010-08-25T20:32:00.000-07:00

I had a plan for this yarn when I bought it. I don't remember the plan. I have a new plan. Because the plan is half the fun, right?

Fabric Tuesday!

2010-08-24T22:41:00.000-07:00

So, over on Quiltstory they have started "Fabric Tuesday." Which gives me a goal, being so type-A and all.

Not that I have much to show, fabric-wise. I should have had another something, but the significant other came home early, so I had to hide it. Next week, right?

What I did finish is a muslin I made to check the fitting on the Cute Skirts pattern by Favorite Things--which I bought on our recent road trip. Where? I can't remember. Anyway. Ever made a muslin, and then wished you had used the real fabric because it actually fits? Yeah. So, I think my muslin will become a house skirt (is this like a housedress?). The fabric has no drape, because it's quilting cotton was meant to be the backing for the first quilt I ever started...13 years ago? It took about two blocks to realize I was in over my head, and I have been dragging this stuff around ever since. And still have yards of it! And I don't like it any more. So, I have some nice lighter cotton I got on sale last weekend, and another sale fabric coming from Hancock's of Paducah. Sorry about the ugly artificial lighting picture.

In addition to the skirt, taking the boys swimming at the Y, baking bread, filling our new raised bed, laundry, going to the library, and making many sandwiches, I also managed to finish up a baby ripple ghan made from my late grandmother's stash of vintage acrylics (OK--they are 20-30 years old, but vintage sounds better).

This will be going up in the shop--once it's running--unless I manage to sell it first.

A good busy day, with a beach day tomorrow!

First CSA box of the summer

2010-08-23T21:45:00.000-07:00

Yup, the first one. What with us going camping and taking a road trip--and managing to schedule those to leave and arrive halfway through delivery weeks, as well as my general ineptitude in meeting order dates--this is the first one!

Yum. So, to report. 10 hours after pickup: cantaloupe gone, green beans nearly gone, lettuce half gone, tomatoes half gone, 1 carrot gone. Watermelon guarded from marauding boys, who must wait for tomorrow.

When dad takes the boys swimming...

2010-08-22T20:06:00.000-07:00

...mom gets stuff done! And after they go to bed, of course.

Today I finally finished my niece's baby afghan. So she will get it before her first birthday (gulp!). There is no reason why it took so long. Well, life. But it is done now. WOOT!

These blocks are from Jan Eaton's 200 Crochet Blocks, and you can read all about it on my ravelry project page.

It is now washed, and this week I need to pack it up and mail it. Next up is a nephew's afghan, which is waaaaay behind.


Tying and gluing the cut strings.

The day's big project? The swimming-at-the-Y-project? Shortening, lining, and rehanging my 10-year-old's bamboo blinds. The boys got their own rooms a week ago--much furniture moving, toy sorting, book purging, donating, painting. So yesterday I finally made it to The Cotton Shop and got some lightweight muslin for a bamboo blind liner. (And also got some skirt fabric, and some fabric for a quilt idea, and...)

Lining up the lining.

This went surprisingly well. I simply measured (about 20 times, just to be sure), marked, and then glued the strings below my folding point and right at the bottom piece I was leaving in. I then cut about 3 inches below my folding point, removed the bottom (which may be turning into placemats), then pulled out 2" of slats. Then nervously tied the sets of 3 strings, and glued, while my "helpers" tromped around, chewed bamboo pieces, and generally got into trouble.

Rehung--a whole foot shorter!

Then I practice folding, and moved that glue gun as fast as possible to get the strings glued down and the bottom folded up about 1". Then sized up the lining--and YAY!--was able to use the selvages as the sides. Hemmed top and bottom on the machine, hand sewed it to the blind, and voila lined blinds. Yes, the boys were home by the time I finished, but the stressful cutting and gluing were done.

How does the boy like them? Unknown as yet. It's still light out. But I am sure if he's not satisfied I will hear all about it in the morning :)

The helpers.

And, of course, as soon as this project was done? My help sacked out on the couch. Nice.

What is A Lotta Bit Fun?

2010-08-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

More than just blogging again!

Cooking crafting gardening. Thinking planning creating. Quilting crocheting sewing baking harvesting.

Making your son the jammies he asked for. Making soup with veggies from the yard. Making your other son's favorite--cinnamon rolls, from scratch. Shopping for quilt fabrics.

The joy of making something for someone who will appreciate it.

And soon, A Lotta Bit Fun will also be an etsy shop!