Year of Making Stuff: Week 12

I ran across scherenschnitte on Angry Chicken’s blog (you can see some in her banner) and thought to give it a try, especially since I love cutting paper snowflakes.  Scherenschnitte isn’t only fun to say, but it is also the art of paper cutting, and there are both Northern/Eastern European traditions and also some from the Chinese.  I have been trying a few different methods, including some folded designs (shamrocks and pineapples) and flat paper cutting, like the carp above, using both scissors and a craft knife.  I think with practice, I could get better and there  are some more designs in the library books I checked out I’d like to try.   The library book says that the Chinese carp is a symbol for good luck and determination, so this little fish has found a home in Tim’s office as he gets through the rest of the semester.

I had a lovely weekend, with getting to briefly hang out with Stephanie, seeing Meagan’s art show and then visiting with Suzy, Donal and Lily all weekend.  Mark, Emily and Marinn also drove down for a quick trip.  We had a grand time, despite the crappy weather.  Maybe Lily remembers the Chinese word for red?

Year of Making Stuff: Week 11

I found this fabric in a big panel at Goodwill and decided to make pjs.  I love a good pair of pj pants, but often can’t find any cute ones that are long enough.  The solution?  Make them!  The pattern I used was fairly easy, but I think I will have to fix the waist band in the future.  Making clothes just isn’t my calling, but these are comfy, if a little funky.  Tim is already calling them curtain pants.

Maybe if he is lucky, I will make him a pair of Cubs pjs.

Spring Break 09

Living in the Midwest means raking even in the spring, there are just that many leaves.  Our work has been rewarded, however, by these guys blooming on the side of the yard.  COLOR!  YELLOW!  Bright green!  Winters here are pretty drab, but the payoff is worth it.  Time to prep the veggie beds, both here AND at the library.

Also?  Its Spring BrEaK!!  I love an empty town.

Year of Making Stuff: Week 10

Back in November, I started drafting this quilt and shopped for just the right purple fabrics through December.  Sewing took place through January, and I had it professionally quilted in February.  Today I finished by adding a little more than 400 inches of  binding.

This quilt is a generous queen sized, and made from a heavily adapted Julie Popa pattern in the March/April 2008 Fons and Porter magazine.  The wide borders are a really smooth cotton sateen fabric that is a beautiful rich purple color which was sort of hard to photograph.  I am really happy with how it came out and after a quick wash it will go in our bedroom.  This is the fourth quilt I’ve made for us, and I might just like this one best!

YoMS: Week 9 Update

When the Oscar bet came up, I knew I would make a sock monkey.  I’ve never made one before, and Ashley is a big fan.  She is also fancy.  So it seemed logical to make a fancy sock monkey.  Pretty easy, but the only thing I would do differently is figure out a way to mask the light stuffing inside the dark sock which shows through.  I hope she’s arrived safely.

Year of Making Stuff: Week 9

Ashley and I tied this year for our Oscar picks.  So each person has to make a handmade item as a surprise prize and I finished this today.  I will mail sometime this week and reveal the full photo.  I won’t say too much, but it was my first so I guess wonkiness is expected.

I also went to the Indiana Heritage Quilt Show this weekend here in Bloomington and was slightly disappointed.  Or maybe it just didn’t appeal to me directly.  I only bought two fat quarters and one 1/2 yard of fabric.  I must look somewhere else for inspiration.

Speaking of inspiring, tiny purple crocuses are finally up and blooming!  That little  bit of color is really needed after a brown and grey winter.

Bushfire Quilt Project

I’m sure everyone read that this summer (our winter) Australia was plagued with some of the countries worst bush fires ever.  Many areas hit were residential and with shifting winds and little warning, many people lost everything.  I can’t imagine.  I ran across a flickr group, Bushfire Quilt Project, where someone in Australia was asking for blocks.  Or really, just A block.  Sent to her APO address, and she and friends were willing to put together quilts for these families, no small task.  But making a few blocks?  Relatively easy.  I sent a quick email out to my coworker quilters (thanks Nola and Shawn!) and made a few myself (in addition to a binding strip) and tomorrow I will be sending almost enough for one quilt to be made.

Year of Making Stuff: Week 8

Thanks to the Oscars, I was able to start and finish a knitted hat in a week.  That is pretty good for me, as I am not a great knitter and hadn’t even picked up the needles in about a year.  But this hat will join three others to be donated on Tuesday to a member of our quilt guild who collects knitted, crocheted and sewn hats for several local groups in our community, including local schools and The Olcott Cancer center.  I have casted on another one, but who knows when that will be finished.