bekka

ladybugs & strawberries

You may recall that two posts ago--long, long ago--I mentioned pieces for a quilt top I was working on. Since then, things progressed and I managed to finish the quilt last night and then trimmed off  the excess strings this morning. Also ran a lint brush over it too, to remove the ubiquitous dog hair.

I fell in love with the fabric I used for the binding. It's Robert Kauffman. Of course. I love his fabric lines.

And, despite my normal dislike of pink, I have a grudging appreciation of it now, especially in the form of these ladybugs on a pink background. I recall from grade school, or maybe junior high--when they once were called such--someone telling me that red and pink don't go together and should never be worn together. Maybe it was my mom. But that was a hard and fast rule that I remembered, but never applied, as I owned no pink.

Besides the quilt--which I started a few days before Shelley's shower, but didn't finish--I made three burp cloths in matching fabrics. Well, almost. The yellow quasi-gingham wasn't used in the quilt at all.

In the meantime, since first starting this quilt, Shelley had her girl. The sex was known, but they kept her name secret. She was born about ten days ago and weighed over 9 lbs. We haven't met her but hope to do so when we deliver the quilt and burp cloths.

Elsa in June in Ohio

Babies are awesome. I never appreciated them until I had one of my own. Suppose it's just a personal failing of mine. But now? Oh, I love 'em. I'm interested in them, and will ask to hold them, sometimes. We met Ian's third or four cousin while we were in Ohio and he was teeny-tiny. Wow. He felt light as a feather compared to Elsa's 17-18 lbs.

oh spiderweb, my spiderweb

Pardon the brilliance of the white in this doll quilt. I couldn't get a good photo with all the rain we've had for months, it seems. This is the doll quilt I received from my partner. And the most terrible thing is that I've lost her name and address--but am waiting to hear back from my swap mama for those important details. The fabrics are fabulous and perfect for Elsa's room. Hope to find time to hang it on her wall soon.

From the first moment I saw the spiderweb block--and that was likely at crazy mom quilts--I fell in love. Even tried to make one of my own, but without the paper piecing bit, and that didn't work at all! It seems like in Febraruary I spotted them everywhere. oh fransson's! are fabulous. But they were Alissa's idea for BlockParty!

When I have more time, I'd love to explore this pattern; such possibilities!

just like candy

Last night I rifled through a bunch of available fabric--because the bulk of my fabric is unavailable after Elsa goes to sleep since it's tucked inside the closet in the nursery--pulled a few things together, but then couldn't decide on a pattern. Wracked my brain, even. Sheesh.

You see, I've got a good half dozen of baby quilts to make in the next few months. I've been lazy. Unmotivated. I'm attending a baby shower Sunday and want to take a bekka-made quilt to Shelley for her girl who is coming later this month.

Nothing spoke to me. What was quick and easy? Even paged through Quilts, Baby! to no avail. Then I spotted that Moda Sweet Roll I won from quilter's buzz long ago. Sweet Rolls are perfect for making log cabin squares because they're just pre-cut strips! Such a time-saver.

Log Cabin, Baby. It's sweet: pink, yellow, and orange featuring the traditional red center square. It's amazing how quickly I cranked these out. I'll likely use a lemon Kona fabric as the sashing and hope to get most everything done (selecting backing, buying batting, pinning & quilting, and then sewing the binding) by Sunday. I foresee late Friday and Saturday nights.

Not so sure how I'll arrange these pieces to look most pleasingly; those stripes are soooooo obnoxious. I'll also add another strip or two to each square. But sixteen seems like a good number for a baby quilt.

doll quilts, redwork pillows, & Elsa

I don't think I shared the Doll Quilt I made and sent to my partner some weeks ago. I've been consumed by the flying goose pattern of late. The fabrics belong to the same collection, artgallery fabrics. I especially love the piece I used for the borders. Its whimsical shapes and colors remind me of Dr. Seuss illustrations. 

And then there was the redwork pillow. I mentioned finishing it up in an earlier post. So here's a peek at that. It's a poppy, if you cannot tell. I loved making the center. My memory is horrible this morning and I simply cannot tell you what that stitch is called.  And I embroidered a portion of a John Keats poem in a rainbow shape along the top side. It reads: " The poppies hung Dew-dabbed on their stalks." I put a zipper in the side to make it easier to remove the pillow form.

What else? I signed up for a primitive embroidery swap via swap-bot; am giving that site another chance. But haven't had time to scour my rss feeds to see what other swaps may be going on out there. I really must stop with the swaps. I have far too many baby quilts to complete for friends and family who will have new babes by the end of the year. 

And there's the ongoing nine-patch swap I'm doing, but my photos for that are horrible. The lighting is bad, so I won't share those.

I've picked up quite a few new sewing/quilting/knitting books. They are lovely to look at but rarely inspire me to actually DO anything, unfortunately. What are your new favorites?

Elsa, of course, fares well. This was taken last month at my sister's college graduation. At this point though, Elsa is seven months old. We continually delight in her. I never have enough time to spend with her. While she sleeps I'm wistfully wishing she was awake for me to play with. I casted on for a cabled cardigan for her a few weeks back, but I'll likely rip it soon, because I didn't increase on both sides of the stitch marker.

she sells seashells by the seashore

Last week Ian and I took a day off to travel to Gatlinburg. The Weeki Wachee mermaids were performing at Ripley's Aquarium. I've wanted to see them ever since we drove over to Weeki Wachee Springs and found the attraction closed--it was fall and they're not open everyday off-season; just weekends.

Before and after performances there were photo opportunities with the mermaids. Naturally I felt that Elsa needed a tail to fully take advantage of that oportunity. Yes, she's one of those babies lacking a biological tail. If you're a big fan of Geek Love like I, then you know what I mean.

We ran by the-store-who-shall-remain-nameless and Ian selected the shiny blue fabric. By the time we returned home Elsa was ready for bed, so I measured her waist and length from her waist to her tippy-toes. Then I got to work.

Mermaid tails are easy to make. Really. I would have finished hers in under an hour, but my machine SUCKS. I probably asked it to do more than it could. The body was simply a sleeve with a bit of elastic at the top. The tail I traced onto paper and cut out 2. Also cut out 2 bits of batting and quilted each bit of batting to each side of the tail. 

The trouble came with sewing those quilted pieces together. Even tried my walking foot to no avail. I was so pissed. Honestly. After several tries the bobbin got all flakey like it is wont to do. And when I turned the tail right side out there were gaps in the seam where it wasn't stiched tight enough.

When I make Elsa's next tail I'll probably use one piece of batting, or maybe something else, to stabilize the tail and make it more substantial.

Elsa enjoyed the trip. I've always questioned those parents who bring the babies out to theme parks, especially, at an age when they cannot possibly benefit from the trip. So here I go taking my 6 month old to an aquarium. I didn't expect her to get much out of it. Ian carried her and held her close to the tanks so she could see everything. 

She loved the jellyfish, the snow crabs, and some other fish whose identity I cannot remember. The mermiad show? Eh. Not so impressed. She enjoyed staring at the red LED screen on the wall that scrolled through show times and information. Nor did she like the steel drum music that the mermaids lip-synched in time with underwater. Ian and I were impressed when one mermaid drank a coca cola from a glass bottle whilst underwater.

And she was a hit at the Aquarium. Stacy, the mermaid with whom she posed, said, "How precious!" when Ian handed Elsa to her. Random people wanted to take our photo, even. When I took Elsa into the bathroom to change her into her street clothes, two girls pointed and said, "That's the baby with the tail, squee!"

seriously tired, some sewing tho

You parents knew, didn't you? That I'd reach that point. I reached it. It arrived quickly, as soon as I returned to work, about 7 or 8 weeks ago, now. That no energy at all point. The two or three hours I have between Elsa going to bed at 8, and my going to bed,  is about the only time I have to quilt, sew, craft, knit, or read. I'm usually so tired/lazy that all I do is read. 

I'm slowly finishing up the last of the swaps I signed up for naively believing I could finish them all well before time: purses, doll quilts, quilt squares, and a redwork pillow. Eventually, I hope to share photos of those projects. And I have one ongoing that I've dragged ass on for too long. Promise it's in the mail tomorrow, Sheridan! 

Otherwise, I really miss knitting. There's a striped dress in the spring/summer 09 Debbie Bliss magazine I'm dying to knit for Elsa. I picked up a few test skeins of Ella Rae, not even the cashmerino the pattern calls for. But I'm just so exhausted all the time that I haven't the energy to hunt up the needles I need to try for gauge.

And Elsa's easy at this point. Well, in a manner of speaking. She's not mobile. So she's easy that way. But she... oh she's been drooling forever, since she was 3 months old. And now that she's 23 weeks or 5 3/4 months, finally a tooth erupted from her bottom gum! That happened Friday. She's been temperamental for ages. It's so funny: She rubs her mouth furiously against almost any soft surface, like us, as if she's eating an ear or corn, just to relieve some of the pain.

Apologies for not reading or commenting on your blogs. I have no time at home for any pleasure blog reading, or writing.  I regret it and sorely miss you and your projects and your little ones and animals and all. Hopefully this entry will spur others. Perhaps it's getting out of the habit of blogging that is the death knell of a blog?

P.S. This was my 666th post.  Creepy. Also wanted to let you know that I'm on facebook daily, so be sure to friend me and talk to me there, if you want to.

four months

Elsa was four months old yesterday. Where did the time go? I'm back to work. Very mixed feelings about that. Not really. I don't want to return to work. At all. My work stopped being fulfilling years ago. Staying at home and reveling in my daughter would bring me much greater joy than anything I might accomplish at my library.

But with this economy? I'm trying to be grateful to have a good job instead of resenting the time it takes away from showing Elsa the world. Staying on the sunny side, I imagine that spending time away from Elsa will make me appreciate her more, instead of possibly making me resenting her at some point because of spending all day, every day with her.

Plus, it will be good to expose her to others, namely my mother, who will watch her through the week, because Elsa's quite spoiled about only wanting me or Ian to hold her. Strangers beware, if you look too long at her, she'll begin crying!

Spending four months with her was a luxury. Again, I know that many mothers cannot spend more than a few weeks at home with their newborns, and I try to keep this in mind, to maintain perspective. And, I try, desperately not to envy those mothers who stay at home, and seemingly have it made. But I know that their lot is not idyllic, either. Always wishing for that which we cannot have.

owl along the watchtower

Surely I mentioned something about purse or bag I made for an owl swap some time ago but didn't show a photo because it had not arrived in The Netherlands, yet? The pattern is Amy Butler's  smaller Frenchy Bag. I decided to make that for my partner Helen aka Kitty because when I think of The Netherlands I think of economy: Small, smart purses and not big honking ones like we carry in the USA. I also imagined subdued, subtle colors, not like what I normally would pick or use for a project (the inside is more colorful). She liked green, too, so I made the base from dark green linen. I love that owl fabric, but really, how likely is THAT gonna stay unsoiled?

I fell in love with this owl fabric; it's Alexander Henry. Bought a few yards, and may return for more, if there's any left. I'm not the only one, I've seen it on other blogs. But I saw it at my quilt shop before ever glimpsing it online. Also bought two "companion" prints. One is a kitty, which I don't like, but I bought with a project for my sister in mind; she's a cat lover. And the other is a floral print, which I used to line the bag.

What else... Oh, those owls again. They are owlways on my mind. I used the fabric a second time for the mobile swap. Had a difficult time finding a base from which to hang my owls. I bought dowels and dowels and dowels from every store I visited over several weeks' time, trying to visualize how to hang these owls. But then, it came to me. Sort of. I didn't find the embroidery hoop or quilting hoop I wanted, but I thought this purse handle hoop might do.

The most wretched thing about making this mobile was that I broke three needle eyes in a row. How, you ask? I used waxed linen thread, which I normally used to make beaded jewelry, probably of the more earthy-hippy type that appeal to youngsters and the young at heart. It was thick. And waxy. And I suppose that pulling it through the fabric was a bit too much for the needles. Since I stuffed each bird with fabric, rather than "poly stuffing," perhaps that made it tough to go through, as well, though I tried bypassing most of the fabric with my needle. The problem, of course, was that I used cheaply made and bought needles. When I found a better quality needle to use--finally--I was successful. No more cheap needles for me.

There's a lesson to learn in every project. Another I learned in this one is this: Should I ever make another mobile, I'll likely not permanently attach the hanging objects to the hoop. I'll make a--oh, what's it called?--nevermind. I'll attach it some other way that allows the pieces to be moved and adjusted. I didn't tie the owls' tethers too tightly so that they could be adjusted, but finding balance with your mobile is so very tricky!

sew a button on it

Last year sometime on one of my antique store forays I found a plastic baggy filled with "ancient" spools of thread and bought them. Could not resist. It was like six bucks or something and my purchase probably kept some old coot from eating a can of cat food for the week, or so I imagined. I bought the thread for those fabulous wooden spools that Coats & Clark can't spare for the likes of  thread anymore. I wanted those dear wooden spools. I had no real plan for them. No real use for them. Just decided I needed them in my life and liked the Idea of their existence. The mere Nostalgic value they held. I wanted to run my fingers over the soft, warm burnished grain of the wood and I wanted to rescue them from a potential rubbish bin, fire pit, or some other dubious re-purposing they might see if they lingered long enough in that booth unsold.

In the meantime, those spools have not lain fallow in my home: I've used the thread! Imagine that! Using. The. Thread! Really! The colors are quite lovely and au courant, believe it or not. The quality is wonderful. Really wonderful. Who would have thought? After years of being exposed, actually, what is the word I'm thinking of here... stunted or blunted or inured, which means habituated, hardened, accustomed--had to whip over into word and use my handy F7 feature because I'm so reliant on that thesaurus feature. Whew! Where was I going? After years of being exposed to that awful polyester thread...

Anyway, you get the picture. That polyester thread is so sucky. And those old spools of thread have mercerized cotton, or just lovely cotton. It almost feels silky, I swear, by the hair on my chinny chin chin.

Those mechanized button sewing on machines don't do a good job of securing buttons to clothing, and so I'm always popping them off. And I have, what you might call, a Robust figure, anyway, and so my clothing strains at its closures quite a great deal of the time, so I'm usually sitting around sewing buttons back on my clothes. Here a skirt button, there a blouse button, you get the picture,  yes?

All of this to say, to share, that if you can, do,  scour the antique stores for spools of thread so that you, too, can experience this heavenly feeling of hand sewing, and hand repairing of your clothes with something other than those dreadful polyester threads you buy at big box stores. The irony is that the thread manufacturers are the same: Coats & Clark, etc. etc. The name remains the same, but the thread has changed. The quality and quantity. Curiously enough, they give you much much more of a far inferior, to my thinking and my sense, product now, than they did, then.

dangerously big purse

Alice made this gorgeous purse for me. It is dangerously big. I've had my eye on the pattern for ages. It's an Amy Butler pattern. The Frenchy bag, I believe. I didn't buy it. I stayed away from it. Seriously, because carrying around a bag this big can get me into so much trouble. I'll want to carry around everything. Simply everything will go inside this bag.  It's got these fabulous pockets inside, too, to catch all those itty bitty things that want to hang around in the very bottom where I don't want them to stay.

I am tickled to death with it though. Thank so you much Alice! It's delicious inside and out. And the aroma coming from the box when I opened it... it was simply fruity. Alice tucked lotion, lip balm, and chewing gum inside and the combination of all three together created this heady scent that no doubt threw all the bees from Utah to Tennessee into a tizzy that caused some serious pollination problems across  southernmost parts of our nation, for sure. Nonetheless, all that is over, now, and those bees can return to their hives and resume serving their queen.

Then there was this delicious matching change purse. Alice used one of her Berninas to do the machine embroidery on the outside. How I wish I had a Bernina. Sigh. Maybe someday. That Bernina I got to play with the other day at the store? It retails for about $5K. It's simply shocking how much those machines cost.

It's time for spring, for sure. I am so ready. And this purse, with it's sherbety colors makes me even more ready for spring and summer and for flinging off my sweaters and letting my limbs feel the sun beam down upon them.

Speaking of swaps,  sign ups for Doll Quilt Swap 6 opened today and spots are limited to 175 participants, so run over to chickenfoot and read more about the specifics if you're interested in playing this round.