Spring Scraps

Well, another gray, snowy day here. To brighten things up a bit (at least in my sewing area!) - Scrappy Bargello - all in spring-y colors. Pattern from Bonnie at http://www.quiltville.com/ -

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Here is a photo of how it looked once my strips were sewn together... DH thought it looked like a huge kitchen rag rug! I just smiled and didn't explain... but, now I am done with 3 stratas and he can see the design emerging! To me - that is always a fun part - seeing the design come together.

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I was surprised at how much sewing it took to get to this point! Sew, sew, sew, but I am making progress! I am not as fast as you Bargello Bowl sewers, but ah - yes, you do see that certain Little Boy on my top... with an assortment of toys on the floor! And don't you know - he just LOVES this particular top. Has decided that it is the perfect size for him in case he grows as big as a certain uncle - he will still fit under it. How can I argue with that logic? So - it will be his.

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I've had people ask me before how I pick my colors... for this one -I picked anything that looked bright and springy. I used lots of odd-ball fat quarters that I bought last year and alternated them with some older fabrics especially those medium values that are so hard for me to use when I am looking for contrast. For this one I didn't try to "match" or keep track of what I was using. But I know I do a little, subconciously. So, I sewed the strips together in segments of 10 and then once all those units were together - made the 6 stratas of 40 from there - just to be sure there was a good mix.

Other quilts - I will pick all fall colors. Or I will use just blues, or just greens, etc. For my log cabins I've used only lights & darks but in every color you can imagine and most of my lights were pastel calicos. By doing a little bit of color planning before cutting out a scrap quilt I am usually pretty happy with the end result... without having to go to the fabric store and buy a ton of fabric. Once I decide on a pattern/color scheme - if I am near a fabric store I like to pick up a few newer fabrics to add in to the mix to keep it interesting for me. And I almost always have to buy border, backing and background fabric. But the main part of my quilt - almost always comes from what I have on hand. At least until I use up my fabrics!!!

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Oh - and here is a photo of the pile of strips it took to make this top when I first started sewing them together - a tiny little bit really when you think about it - to make a good sized quilt. Actually I have plenty of strips left over in this color combination so I just might have to make another Bargello or spring-scrappy top with another pattern. I keep picking away at my stash, you know? I think I am down to about 2 biggish sized Rubbermaid totes of fabric now, plus several small containers of pre-cut strips and 1 bag of strings (at least on this continent). I have a couple of totes in Austria too, but not that much because everything over there - I had to mail! And I swear - the totes are smaller over there too so they should only count 1/2 as much! On the otherhand - as my stash slowly shrinks - my pile of finished quilts is getting very large!!!

Anyway - I have 3 stratas all done now so hopefully it won't be much longer before I have the main part of this top finished. My schedule is pretty busy right now so I am not sure when I will get it done. I am anxious to see it all come together though because I am liking it so far!

Easy fleece hat

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Fleece hat - McCall's 4234. I need to make a few modifications and will make another, but overall, I am pretty happy with it. And Little Boy likes wearing it - which is the important thing! His favorite winter hat got misplaced (now found, phew) so I quickly had to make him this one...
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In case you are wondering about my future list of changes... next time I will TRIM the inside seam of the band so it isn't so bulky and add a row of topstitching ... also - the band goes up in the back - leaving the neck exposed, so I will bring that down. And the front of the band is a bit low - so will make that go a tiny bit higher to keep it out of the eyes. The bottom could be snugger to go around the ears better (we have lots of wind on the shore) so I will just cut the bottom a bit smaller next time around but leave the top the same so the crown will still fit perfectly. AND - this is the big thing here - there are no tassles at the top - got to add those!!! See, just a few little changes and it will be perfect!
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He is catching snowflakes on his tongue in this photo!
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The beach looked like this yesterday... we actually like the beach in the winter - we never have trouble getting front row parking, LOL. And yes, I do keep beach toys in the back of my car... year round.
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I've got to say - I LOVE being able to sew my son clothing in BRIGHT colors - makes him easy to spot! He has matching orange/yellow pants... and now he wants a vest too. We had some people in this week from NY and they were oohing and ahhing over his orange/yellow pants with big square pockets - they swore up and down that I could sell them in Manhattan. Who knew my son was so stylish!!!

Grandmother's Choice - done!

Grandmother's Choice 78 1/2" X 84 1/2".
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You quilty readers might remember that w-a-y back in May - Judy L. (http://www.patchworktimes.com/) issued a challenge for us to use a piece from our stash to make something. I had a good sized piece of blue from eons ago in my stash - enough to sash these left-over Grandmother Choice blocks from a GM Choice I started in Austria - I think in 2006- these blocks were the "rejects" from that quilt! Nice rejects, huh?
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So along about OCTOBER I had the 16 blocks set together and then realized I didn't really want a square quilt, seeing that I have a queen sized bed and all and I like a good sized drop over the edges. I should note here that I usually put my quilts on my bed long-wise because I have beautiful curved headboard/footboards.. so just rotate the photo in your mind to get the correct positioning for my bed. Anyway - it had to "grow" some more, but not until I got myself to Marden's in November for maroon fabric.
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After adding 1 row of geese to the top and bottom and the maroon borders all around - I "thought" it was done. Except I wasn't exactly thrilled with the fit on the bed, so it had to "grow" some more. Why not, I mean - I already had so much work into this already - might as well make it a better size for my bed. Which meant, sigh, I wasn't done afterall.
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And then we were up to Christmas, then a few road trips, organizing my office, turning the heat o-f-f in my sewing area... but along about yesterday I couldn't take it anymore - I had to get back to my sewing machine, so the electric heat was turned on and I've been happily sewing away ever since. I made 2 more rows of flying geese and the 4 corner stone blocks.
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The geese were made using the no-waste flying geese method (just google it - you will find the directions). Soooo easy! I made them 3X6. The corner blocks are 6" shoe-fly blocks. Aren't they adorable? And they echo the design of the Grandmother's Choice blocks. Binding will be matching maroon all around.
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I'm happy I put the extra time and effort into making the borders and growing this little collection of blocks into a bed sized quilt!
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So - thank you JUDY for issuing the challenge way back in May. I'm probably a lot later than others who took up the challenge, but I am very happy to have a finished top which I would not have today if it weren't for your motivation.

Edited to add: I machine stitched a scant 1/4" along the outside edge of those flying geese so the stitches won't pop out when it is machine quilted. Anytime you have pieced outer borders, you should do this!

Yes, he is busy!

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Do you all know that I have a busy Little Boy? Busy. NOT hyper. NOT A.D.D., but BUSY. And I really don't think there is anything wrong with having a busy child. Most of the time anyway, but I will be the 1st to admit - I lost alot of quiet time the day when he stopped taking an afternoon nap! Children are supposed to be busy. Interestingly enough, it seems that many school systems think that kids need less recess/running around time and more teaching of the test time... then they wonder at the behavioral results. But anyway...

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We went to a restaurant on our trip and he was being his usual busy self- playing with some balloons that were in the waiting area and chatting away with other people waiting. Adults. Not the kids because all the kids were silently sitting next to their parents, video games in hand. Well, I guess that is one way to get your kids to sit still. And someone waiting for a table actually asked me if I had my son tested yet for A.D.D (or was it H.A.D.D?)... because did I know - there is medicine for that. EXCUSE ME??? You see, Little Boy doesn't usually sit still. Except he will spend hours doing craft projects or building legos. But in a restaurant waiting room - what is the harm when he is playing with balloons. It wasn't like he was bothering anyone or acting wild or anything like that. Has society forgotten what busy children are like? And busy children are not automatically hyper or A.D.D. either. It isn't like he is off the wall wild or anything like that, he is actually, for the most part, pretty well behaved... he just hops around alot is all.

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And because my son is usually pretty interactive with other people (yes, I really DO have to keep a constant eye on him!) he actually gets recognized by people as a real little person of his own self. I think that sometimes adults are amazed at his chatty little self! Here is an example: A man came out of the restaurant with a big bunch of balloons. Little Boy had LOTS to say about those balloons, let me tell you. Turns out that it was the man's 87th birthday (because LB had to know exactly how old he was!). Who knows - maybe LB will be a detective - he has an amazing ability to get ALL kinds of information out of people... In the end - the man gave all 5 balloons to my son... after some family photos first, of course. That family was absolutely tickled with Little Boys conversational skills - which at times can be never ending. So, now we have 5 balloons in hand when we get seated. To get to our table we had to pass a little girl who was about 1 year old - and LB decided that the little girl needed a balloon to play with. So, we untied one and he went over there to give it to her. Then, the staff sang the birthday song to someone else sitting next to us. Another balloon had to be untied and given to the birthday person near us. And then he proceeded to color in his placemat to make a birthday card. Kept him busy at least (and in pretty much 1 spot) while we waited for our food!

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Yes, he is busy. And aware of other people around him. No, I don't think it is a bad thing as long as I try to keep him somewhat anchored so he doesn't become a pest. Probably nothing worse than hiring a babysitter so you can go out to eat without kids and then having some little boy planting himself at your table. So, I make sure that doesn't happen. But - if he wants to share a balloon or make a card, I don't see a problem with that.

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Anyway, here are some more photos of his busy little self during our last trip! And, as you have probably figured out by now - he is happiest when BUSY!!!

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The top photo - the ferry coming in from either Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket (not sure which one). If you know the boating saying "Red Right Return" you will know that the red channel marker needs to be on the right hand side of the ferry coming into the harbor - impressive how such a big boat can fit through such a small channel! Little Boy had a great run down the beach trying to keep up with the ferry.

We were lucky enough to be at the beach instead of the garage waiting room because my sister picked us up from the garage for a bit... the engine light was on so my car wouldn't pass emmissions to get a new inspection sticker. All fixed now, thankfully with a realatively small repair bill - you never know about these things so I was relieved that it didn't cost a bizzillion dollars to fix!

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We also went to a 2nd grade basketball game (a cousin's team!). This was LB's 1st basketball game and he was all eyes! But his favorite part was after the game - they kept the gym open for another 45 minutes so all the kids could just play. And LB had a great time dribbling that basketball - he does a great job at it too with an interesting technique... he starts with the ball really high and then it gets a bit lower and lower with each dribble until the entire process has to be started over again. He is pretty good at walking while dribbling. Oh my, he did really have fun.



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And what Little Boy doesn't love a merry-go-round ride? The smile alone is worth the $2 ticket - he won't be little forever!


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We had lots of fun goings on with the cousins too including egg dying and a birthday party!
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So, since I've been back - well, I arrived with a terrible cold and really felt under the weather, plus tired from all that driving. Sunday I did pretty much... nothing! Took a shower, took a nap, took a bath, watched some TV, went to bed early. I really needed a down day. By yesterday I was feeling semi-normal again and started my paperwork routines, some housework and a short shift in the restaurant. Plus, LB and I rubber stamped 24 paper bags for his Easter party - which I very cleverly decided to put together and have at school! And today - well... more laundry and paperwork, plus LB and I have to stuff all the plastic eggs with candies for his party. Might even get around to making the cookies today too, but if not - tomorrow will be fine. Fingers crossed that I get caught up with paperwork by tomorrow so I can squeeze some sewing time in... you all don't think I drove right on past Marden's without stopping in for a bit of fabrics, do you? LOL!

P.S. edited to add - not to offend anyone who does truly have a hyper or A.D.D. child - it is just that I was a bit taken aback that a stranger at the restaurant would tell me that there is medicine for normal "busy" behaviour. Oh - and those handheld video games - I don't mind them to an extent (Little Boy really enjoys his portable DVD player, but never in a restaurant), it just seems like I see them around and about an awful lot and the kids who are playing with them appear to have no idea where they even are!

Road Tripping - LLBean

Believe it or not, I thought I would be gone just for a short trip, but it was one of those things that just kept getting extended for reasons beyond my control! I am OK!!! Many of you wrote to ask me if everything was OK, and yes indeed-y it is! Your concern is so sweet, thank-you. I was just out of touch for awhile there because - hard as it is to believe - I had NO internet access. Ouch. Let me tell you, I missed it! I had 1 and only 1 chance to check e-mail and that was at the library - where the libriarian lent me her very own personal computer just so I could do a quick check of e-mails, while simultaneously entertaining Little Boy in the children's section. Quick. Yup, very quick check.


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But, I am happy to report, that I am now safely home, laptop in hand, oohing and ahhing over my trip photos - up to the point where the camera battery went dead. Lesson learned - even if you think you are just going to be gone for a FEW days, pack the charger anyway.


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Anyway - a bit about LL Bean's Mother store in Freeport... this is a wonderful place just to visit!!! There are several buildings and they all have wonderful displays. Great, great place for little legs to stretch and fun things to see - it is almost like going to a mini natural history museum. It is along the way and just where we really could use a break.


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So - we stopped and here are some photos! First off - the Boot outside, of course. Little Boy was very impressed by it and wondered where the giant's other boot was! Too funny!!! Inside the main store there is a great big fish tank with all kinds of trout and fresh water salmon. The viewing bubble really gives the kids a different view! I think we spent about 45 minutes at the fish tank. I thought it was interesting that the fish like to "stack" themselves up on top of each other. The tank is very long - extending far beyond the photo frame.
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Here is Little Boy at a small tank where there are more fish. He is saying... "quick Momma, I need your camera! Actually, he takes very good photos and I always like to see his perspective on things... he took the following 2 photos from the big fish tank - pretty impressive that he was able to follow that big fish and get 2 shots - remembering that the little camera I let him use has about a 4 second delay - I printed them out and you can tape the 2 together to get a pretty good photo.
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There are quite a few displays of stuffed animals... and here he is admiring a moose, porcupine, skunk... there might be a beaver, bears, fox, otter or some other animals in this display too, but I can't remember exactly what animal was where as there was more than 1 display.
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The TENT room is always lots of fun - many of the tents are set up and going in and out of all of them is grand fun- he is inside the bottom right tent.
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Here is a light fixture that I thought was fun.

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There were lots of great bargains too - lots of the winter coats are about 75% off, but guess what? I am still wearing my LL Bean coats that are years and years upon years old, so I didn't even look at them. We ended up getting groovy purple sunglasses for Little Boy and then had a $3 croissant at the little restaurant. He was so excited to sit in the restaurant area and eat his snack. Not a bad fare for so much entertainment!

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So, I'm back on-line, phew! I have more photos/tales to share and will add more as I have time! And I am really, really hoping that I won't have to drive in any more winter storms for a very LONG time!!! I think it is a toss up over which is worse - heavy summer traffic or snowy winter road conditions? Ice is the worst though.

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My happy Road-Tripper... always up to a 14 hour trip as long as he has plenty of food and exercise along the way. Oh - and here you can see him sitting in that new, pretty (pink and flowery) booster seat. He thinks he is the luckiest boy because it was the ONLY one like it at the store and the LAST one left - oh lucky day! "Because you know Momma, I really like to garden so I should have the seat with flowers on it". Yeah, ok. And it is super comfy and supports his head when he sleeps, infrequently as that is.