First Streetdance of the Summer

After Tim’s softball game, I headed downtown for the First Streetdance of the Summer and caught the Pirate Flags and part of Zion Crossroads.  The location seems odd (on 7th inbetween Walnut and College…yeah, by the Taco Bell), but it was fun.

Tim is working on fixing some steps on the side of the house, and I am putting off preparing for a book discussion that I am leading tomorrow.  Maybe I’ll go and cut some more fabric.  I am close to having all 2,160 pieces cut for my next donation quilt.

Summertime

Lest you think it is all crafts and gardens, gardens and crafts around here, I did go and watch Tim’s softball team tonight.  It was a lovely night to be out though they did lose.  And lest you think I would waste an opportunity to work on some handcrafts, I brought some knitting.

I also love the Big Picture section from boston.com (you can subscribe to their rss), but I ESPECIALLY love this set from the Cheese Rolling Tournament.

Year of Making Stuff: Week 18

I was probably 10 when I read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes and wanted to make my own origami paper cranes.  I never learned.  Fast forward 20+ years, I finally founds some instructions that made sense in a book (go figure!) and now I am a wicked paper crane maker.  These doorways lead to my sewing room and Tim’s office and until earlier today still had a snowflake garland hanging up.  Spring is here, and it was time for new decor.  It took a few tries to figure out best how to hang these suckers (fishing line, finally), but they look colorful and well, spring like.  Week 18: Paper Crane garland.

Also, for week 16:  A bookmark for Regina, complete with her favorite Simpson’s quote.

Tim and I also got to visit Ashley and  her sister in Louisville on Saturday which was a great little road trip after Tim finished his finals on Friday.  The students have (mostly) left and I am in love with Bloomington all over again.  I think it was that first summer I lived here that I truly loved this town.  And tonight a meeting about a new craft group…details to come, but I am really excited!

Also?  My sewing machine cozy ended up on the Sublime Stitching blog…check me out!

Happy Mother’s Day too!

Community Kids Quilts

Wow.  Last night over 30 quilts were donated to the Bloomington Quilters’ Guild for organizations throughout the community.  This is in addition to larger quilts for Jill’s House (for cancer treatment recovery patients and their families) and the dozen or so hats donated for the Olcott Cancer Center.  What a generous bunch.

I have an idea in my head of what to make this week, but not sure of how exactly it will work out in the end.  Off to experiment!

Year of Making Stuff: Week 14

What with all the gardening around here and at the library, this week’s YoMS is sort of lame.  I was really curious about The Big Ass Book of Crafts, so finally it came in at the library and was less than inspired.  Many of the projects are creative, but the main ingredients seems to be popscicle sticks (yep) and rope.  Neither of which I am interested in using.  But he has some cool Day of the Dead light switchplate covers, so I thought I would give it a shot.  I don’t know if it is the images I chose (I was trying to just use what I had on hand), or what, but I am feeling fairly meh about them.  I probably didn’t have the right glue either, but now buying the right supplies may be moot unless I fall in love with another image.

I also spent time this weekend in the Library’s community organic veggie garden, lovingly called Monroe County BookWorm Farms.  So far we have planted peas, arugula, spinach, kale, swiss chard, thyme, lemon balm, walking onions, chives, broccoli and some bok choy like veggie I can’t remember the name.

Sunny Spring = Outdoors

This spring has seemed a little damp, though maybe I am still getting used to midwestern weather patterns.  Today was cool, but SUNNY so it was spent outside.  A hike in Brown County State Park with Jenn and Cean, clothes on a new laundry line outside, work in the library gardens and even digging dandelions all seems so sweet when done in the spring sunlight.  Lest I complain too much about the rain, it does make everything GREEN.

Tomorrow, three types of lettuce and arugula will go in my garden and photos of my sort of lame weekly YoMS project.

Year of Making Stuff: Week 13

Just in under the wire on this one, I finished the binding tonight after work.  It is in the wash right now and will be taken to be donated at the Tuesday meeting for the Bloomington Quilters’ Guild Community Quilts.  Other than the batting ($5 with my 40% off coupon), everything is made from what I had on hand.  I think I bought the fish fabric several years ago for Gina’s second boy.

I am not going to complain about the possibility of snow coming up next week.  I had a great weekend and the weather was perfect on Friday and Saturday.  I got to hang out at Jenn’s (doing mad libs…who knew so much fun as adult?), go to the first outdoor Farmer’s Market of the season with Tim, worked in my garden, and planted early crops at the library community garden.  After shopping at the Farmer’s Market and seeing all the cool names the farms have that sell there, I was thinking our little garden needs a name.  What do you think of Monroe County BookWorm Farms?

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 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.

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.