Quiet Book: Page Six?

My grandparents were visiting for the weekend, and it was really nice to see them, except I got in trouble from my gramma for not posting enough on my blog. I have a project I am working on right now, but I haven't photographed it, so I thought I'd go back to finish posting about my quiet book. It's been so long since I made it, or posted about it, that I have forgotten the order of the pages, so let's just pretend that this was the next page in the book.

The focus of this page was colours. The balloons attach by velcro. I again had to think through what needed to be attached when. For each colour, I cut out three identical balloons. To one, I attached the loop (or soft) side of the velcro, and then zig-zagged it to the page. This was so that if it did not have the other part of the balloon attached to it, it wouldn't be rough, or stick to the other page. With the other two balloons, I attached the hook (or scratchy) side of the velcro to one (with interfacing on the underside), and then straight stitched the so-far untouched balloon to the other side, in order to cover up the stitching from attaching the velcro.

After that, all I had to do was to make the strings. I hand-embroidered them with black thread. I think that is really all there is to say about them.

So, there you go gramma. It's not a new project, but it's a new post. I think I still have four more pages to post about. Hopefully it won't take so long for me to post next time.

Ready for Winter

I finally finished the hat and mitts I decided to make myself in November.

I got the pattern free from Redheart.com. It is called Lacy Leaf. They have the pattern listed twice. It is labelled as an easy pattern and calls for 1 ball of Redheart Super Soft. It is also labelled as an intermediate pattern and calls for 2 balls of Redheart Super Soft. Since it only took me one ball, and not too much assistance I would go with the first option (although the pattern information is exactly the same on both so it really doesn't matter). The pattern description calls it "Super Soft", but it's really just called "Soft". I used the seafoam colour.

The mitts have a cuff that matches the pattern in the hat. It called for 3 rounds of the pattern, but I don't like huge cuffs, so I only did 2. It also called for the mitt to be 7 inches before making the slit for the thumb. Because I shortened the cuff, I just held it up to my hand to decide when to make the thumb (I think it was about 4.5 inches).

The hat also tells you to start on a circular needle and then switch to double pointed needles. I tried that, but I don't think my circular needle was the right size (circumference wise) and I had some trouble, so I just used the double pointed needles the whole time, which worked out fine.

This was only my second non-flat knitting project, and overall I am very pleased with it. I have an extra skein of the yarn (I bought 2 just in case...since the patterns didn't agree) that I need to find a new project for. Oh yeah, and I'm all ready for winter now.

I'm a Seamstress!

Well, it's official. I've made my first piece of clothing. Well real clothing. I previously made my husband some pajama pants, but since they involved about 3 straight seams and nothing else, I don't think they count.

I followed this tutorial from Sew Dang Cute. It was super easy (minus the fight I had with the zipper...and the iron...and running out of thread). The only part I did differently was to skip the tulle at the bottom (I'm really not a tulle person).

I bought the fabric at Jo-Anns. My mom made me do the wrinkle test before I bought it (which involves squeezing the fabric in your hand and letting go and seeing how wrinkly it is). There was a cute grey fabric I liked but it didn't pass the wrinkle test. I figured tan is a good choice...goes with a lot. It cost me less than $20. Wardrobe win!

I wouldn't say it fits like a glove (the waistband could use some help...and definitely needs a hook and eye), but for my first piece of clothing I am very happy with it. I wore it to church this morning (although bare legs and -11 are not a good combination), and plan to wear it on Wednesday when I am back in my office next.

That makes two projects I finished this weekend...I'm on a roll. I might even get back into this blogging thing.

The Christmas Fruitcake

We have a Christmas tradition in my mom's extended family that I bet many of you don't have. We have a fruitcake that gets passed around from year to year (yes the same fruitcake). It started 11 years ago and has continued strong.

Each year it is given to someone in recognition of an accomplishment over the past year. It stays with them over the next year (sometimes in the freezer...sometimes under a bed...I would not suggest eating fruitcake offered to you by anyone in my family). It comes out again the next Christmas to continue on the tradition. Nobody knows they are receiving the fruitcake until they pick up one of their presents and it weighs significantly more than any of the rest of them. We also always include a note to the recipient of the fruitcake acknowledging their achievements.

Unfortunately we have not been able to get together as a complete family for the last few years. So I write this from over 600 kilometers away, knowing that with the magic of the internet we can connect with our family and continue with tradition.

So here it goes:

Pat,

You are the newest owner of the coveted Fruitcake. Congrats on finishing school. We hear you're moving so you'll have plenty of space to store it over the next 365 days. Hope you're having a wonderful Christmas. All the best in the upcoming new year.

From,
Jeff

So, Merry Christmas everyone (especially my family), enjoy your day, and watch out for 11 year old fruitcake.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Last week my mother, my gramma, and I went to Grand Rapids, Michigan for the AQS Quilt Show. 

We went in celebration of my gramma's 70th birthday. As I've mentioned before, my gramma, my mom and I are all quilters. It was a whirlwind trip. We left for Michigan Thursday morning and headed back on Saturday morning. We spent most of our time at the quilt show, which was lovely, but we didn't get a chance to explore Grand Rapids (which seemed like a lovely city).

Thursday we spent time browsing the merchant mall, and then saw a lecture by Caryl Bryer Fallert. She is an amazing artist, and it was quite incredible to see her process. I definitely don't have that kind of artistic talent, or vision.

Friday was our day to explore the show. We got up bright and early (surprise, surprise), and hit the ground running. We began with the competition quilts (there were a number of other exhibits to look at as well). We walked up and down the aisle looking at the quilts. I took the role of taking pictures, mom informed us of any important information about the quilt found in the booklet, and gramma informed us based on experience. Unfortunately, I do not have permission to post any of the pictures from the show, so I will just have to encourage you to go to your own AQS show (or any other quilt show).

We had been picking out quilts that used two slightly different coloured background such as white and off white, because that was what gramma did on the quilt she made for me and my husband. At one point we came around the corner, and a quilt came into my view. I took in part of the quilt and noticed it had the same two-background style. I started to say to myself "That looks like my quilt", when I was able to take in the whole quilt and noticed that it was my quilt. Unbeknownst to me, my gramma had entered it in the quilt show and it was accepted. I stood there and said "That's my quilt, that's my quilt" while crying (my gramma managed to get a picture of that...I'm sure it's attractive). I was so shocked and so excited. For those that don't know, our quilt was made 2 years ago when we got married. It was hanging at our wedding, but since then has been in competition and we have not had it in our possession. I just wanted to stand there all day and point it out to everyone. I was given permission to post picture (since it is my (my husband would want me to say our) quilt). So here you go.

Yes. We did cross the barrier to get our picture taken.
Again, MY quilt.

Here's a detailed shot of the stipple quilting
and the trapunto.

It was also fun to point out to people that all of the quilting was done by hand. They were amazed (as they should be). I managed to drag myself away from it to look at everything else. But I did have to go back and see it before we left.

Friday night we went to a lecture by Alex Anderson. She was very entertaining and had lots of good stories.

It was a long day. Lots of walking. But also lots of extraordinary quilts. We were so busy we didn't even have a chance to look through everything. Overall, it was a great experience and I'm so glad we got to go. Next time we definitely need more time.

Thanks gramma, it was really special!

Losing My Mind

It has been a busy last few weeks. I've barely spent any time at home, and haven't been to my home congregation in a while, but yesterday I was home and able to go to church. Important to this story is the fact that I live on the other side of the church parking lot and walk to church.

When I arrived at church my mother asked me if I was going to be going swimming. I looked down, saw I was wearing a dress and a cardigan, and wondered why she was asking me this question. So I asked.

"You have a towel," she said.

"No I don't," I replied.

"Yes you do."

Sure enough I looked down and draped over my arm underneath the other things I had carried to church (my computer, my purse, etc.) was my still wet bath towel from that morning.

Later on, I heard her telling other people the story and she said I was going to hang it on the line on my way to church but I forgot. That would make me feel so much better, but the fact of the matter is, I don't have a line to hang it on. I just forgot to stop at the bathroom and hang it up on my way out the door.

It's going to be a long week at work.

I'm Back

So, you might have noticed that I haven't posted in a while.

A couple weeks ago I was up at my gramma and grampa's house and my gramma got me in trouble for not posting on my blog. She said she checks it every day and there is never anything there. So I'm going to get back into the swing of things.

I have much to write about, but have not been doing a good job of taking pictures of my projects. First I need to get caught up on my photography before I can add posts to my blog.

Just want to let anyone who still checks my blog (which at this point is probably only my gramma) that there is more to come.