This past weekend, I flew Friday afternoon on Southwest airlines to Colorado to liberate my parents from Smallest. They all had a lovely visit, but Smallest wants to do everything there is to do, and she talks almost constantly. She is a good match for their cattle dog puppy, Lucy. Lucy is very sweet and the darling of the neighborhood and loved playing with Smallest.
The previous weekend, I flew on United airlines to Seattle to pick up The Boy.
I had a frustrating and disappointing experience with United and rather than go through the saga again, I will just say that I hope not to fly on United in the future.
When I went to Colorado last weekend, I decided not to take my book (Clash of Kings) because I knew I would read it the whole time and there was a project to work on. So I took the bag I'm making and that's all I did. I worked on it a couple of hours on the way there, and less on the way back as there were games to be played with Smallest. I'll give it 2 hours total as a safe guess.
Darling and The Boy returned on Sunday from their soccer tournament with our previous team. Not a lot of success on the field, but it was fun visiting with friends.
Good to have all the kids back in one place.
Oh, I also finished the quilt blocks. They only lacked one piece to complete the outer square, so I did that Saturday or Sunday night. That was about another 30 minutes. Now I need to assemble the blocks. They are not as square as I remember the previous blocks. Oh well. It will all work out.
2.5 hours, 13 hours total.
Margie
Tuesday, July 24
Friday, July 20
I am Bradley Wiggins
Today was the last day for the Tour de France to ride in the Alps. If you're trying to win the TdF, the best place to attack and gain time on your opponents is in the mountains because sometimes riders have bad days, or they don't have the legs, or something happens and so you finish before they do. This year, Bradley Wiggins has been telling everyone that he wants to win the TdF this year. While he didn't attack his opponents in the mountains, they've attacked him and he's responded every time and caught them. Now that only flat stages are left, it's looking about 99% sure that Wiggins is going to win.
So...I'm taking advantage of Catherine's inattention and travel to build up a lead so that when she gets around to checking, I'll be so far ahead, there will be no way for her to win.
I don't really want to be that far ahead, because then it's not as fun to play, but it's fun to build a lead, and I'm not sure that Catherine's really going to play this quarter.
Anyhow, I worked on the crochet bag for 30 minutes last night and I worked on Log Cabin #2 for an hour tonight. It was only going to be 30 minutes on the quilt, but I had blocks in different stages and I wanted them all to have three sides of the last round tonight, so that took a little longer than I anticipated.
Tomorrow I'm going back to CO to pick up Smallest. Originally, I was going to leave Middle here with friends, but no one has responded to my request for assistance, so I'm taking Middle with me. Smallest doesn't know it, so I think it will be a pretty great surprise! This time I'm not going to take a book on the plane with me. That way I'll be forced to work on the crochet bag the whole time. I'll have to remember to take the instructions as well...
I'm also starting to think about what to take with me when we go to Germany and Belgium in August. We'll be flying over, then riding around on buses with our soccer group and flying home, so that's lots of time I could spend doing something...but what? I will have to think and plan. Not sure how easy it will be to locate shops for supplies over there, although I'll definitely be on the lookout!
1.5 hours tonight, 10.5 hours total.
Margie
So...I'm taking advantage of Catherine's inattention and travel to build up a lead so that when she gets around to checking, I'll be so far ahead, there will be no way for her to win.
I don't really want to be that far ahead, because then it's not as fun to play, but it's fun to build a lead, and I'm not sure that Catherine's really going to play this quarter.
Anyhow, I worked on the crochet bag for 30 minutes last night and I worked on Log Cabin #2 for an hour tonight. It was only going to be 30 minutes on the quilt, but I had blocks in different stages and I wanted them all to have three sides of the last round tonight, so that took a little longer than I anticipated.
Tomorrow I'm going back to CO to pick up Smallest. Originally, I was going to leave Middle here with friends, but no one has responded to my request for assistance, so I'm taking Middle with me. Smallest doesn't know it, so I think it will be a pretty great surprise! This time I'm not going to take a book on the plane with me. That way I'll be forced to work on the crochet bag the whole time. I'll have to remember to take the instructions as well...
I'm also starting to think about what to take with me when we go to Germany and Belgium in August. We'll be flying over, then riding around on buses with our soccer group and flying home, so that's lots of time I could spend doing something...but what? I will have to think and plan. Not sure how easy it will be to locate shops for supplies over there, although I'll definitely be on the lookout!
1.5 hours tonight, 10.5 hours total.
Margie
Monday, July 16
Now With Pictures!
Still no Catherine... She did have to go to some conferences recently, so maybe she's been busy. Or maybe she's submitting to my awesomeness early.
Anyhow, I put in an hour of work on the log cabin quilt tonight. When I started, it looked like this:
I've been adding the next round of border on and there's one piece on each square, two on some and three on others. I don't have a picture of the current status, but perhaps with another hour or so all the blocks will be finished. Then it's piece the top and make the sandwich!
Middle is an only child this week. The Boy and Darling are in Minneapolis at a soccer tournament (the USA Cup) and Smallest is off with my parents for a week. I think they will have fun. It's a real treat for Middle to be the only child. We're working on making things for the Liv dolls. Last year it was clothes and this year it seems to be accessories. At any rate, it's fun and Middle is super creative. She's getting ideas from YouTube (not the crazy Pullip lady, but some Froggie craft lady instead) and is improving upon them as she goes. I think she will make some clothes as well, but it's not top of the list. We're going to make a tent for the dolls and some sleeping bags too. We are cool.
I spent a lot of time on airplanes this weekend. I took a book along, Game of Thrones (awesome!) and another project-in-waiting, a crocheted bag. I had made one for Middle earlier and had another pattern for some other yarn we got, but I didn't like the pattern so much anymore. Well, problem solved. When I was looking for a new pattern, I discovered Ravelry which is like Facebook for yarn freaks. You can list your projects, yarn in your stash, all sorts of things. They also have a HUGE listing of patterns. It's cool and highly addictive.
Anyhow, I only worked on the bag for about two hours on the plane (out of 13 hours of flying between Friday am and Sunday pm) because I liked my book so much, but here's what I've done so far:
It has a rectangular base, now I'm working up from the bottom. In about 17 rows, there are some decreases to make it less tubular and more shapely. There's a strap and if desired, a decorative flower. Something good to keep around for waiting rooms and such.
I think that's about it for now.
I forgot to list my hours last time. I worked on the blocks an hour on the Leetle Squares post without recording that, and I worked another hour tonight.
4 hours unreported, 9 hours total.
Margie
Anyhow, I put in an hour of work on the log cabin quilt tonight. When I started, it looked like this:
I've been adding the next round of border on and there's one piece on each square, two on some and three on others. I don't have a picture of the current status, but perhaps with another hour or so all the blocks will be finished. Then it's piece the top and make the sandwich!
Middle is an only child this week. The Boy and Darling are in Minneapolis at a soccer tournament (the USA Cup) and Smallest is off with my parents for a week. I think they will have fun. It's a real treat for Middle to be the only child. We're working on making things for the Liv dolls. Last year it was clothes and this year it seems to be accessories. At any rate, it's fun and Middle is super creative. She's getting ideas from YouTube (not the crazy Pullip lady, but some Froggie craft lady instead) and is improving upon them as she goes. I think she will make some clothes as well, but it's not top of the list. We're going to make a tent for the dolls and some sleeping bags too. We are cool.
I spent a lot of time on airplanes this weekend. I took a book along, Game of Thrones (awesome!) and another project-in-waiting, a crocheted bag. I had made one for Middle earlier and had another pattern for some other yarn we got, but I didn't like the pattern so much anymore. Well, problem solved. When I was looking for a new pattern, I discovered Ravelry which is like Facebook for yarn freaks. You can list your projects, yarn in your stash, all sorts of things. They also have a HUGE listing of patterns. It's cool and highly addictive.
Anyhow, I only worked on the bag for about two hours on the plane (out of 13 hours of flying between Friday am and Sunday pm) because I liked my book so much, but here's what I've done so far:
I think that's about it for now.
I forgot to list my hours last time. I worked on the blocks an hour on the Leetle Squares post without recording that, and I worked another hour tonight.
4 hours unreported, 9 hours total.
Margie
Thursday, July 12
Leetle Squares
I've decided to start with the log cabin quilt (the first one looked like this) as most of the fabric was already cut, and it's a pretty simple one to put together. I had big plans to take a picture of the current status and post those, but I haven't gotten around to that, but so as to prevent hoarding, I'm going ahead with the post.
I have three little sections of the blocks put together - the little colored center and then the small adjoining block and the block that covers the two of them. This time I've decided to make all the blocks at the same time, hoping that will seem faster and more satisfying, so they're all at the same stage. It took me an hour and a bit to go through two rounds of block-adding, and then ironing and trimming. I figure there are 6 more rounds to go, so that won't be so bad.
I've also decided that I really want a 1/4 inch foot for my sewing machine. It would help a great deal with my seam placement accuracy. Must be accurate with the log cabin.
I leave early, early tomorrow to pick up The Boy from Seattle. I think he's had a great time, and I also suspect that he is VERY tired. All that fun comes at a price, you know. From the Great Sorting of projects, I have two little things I can take on the plane, and I'm also thinking about taking stuff to make another crochet bag. Perhaps take the small projects, and the first book of Game of Thrones, which I've also started reading.
Random fun information: Middle started guitar lessons in January and really enjoys playing. At her last lesson, her teacher decided it was time for her to learn to finger pick and assigned her The Boxer (a classic Simon and Garfunkel song). The teacher, Linda Lowe, told her it will take her a year to be proficient at the song, which I think was a good way to let Middle know not to give up if she can't get it the first time. I like her teacher.
Looking at the picture of the first quilt, I may have to go back and look at my colors, because something will be different between the two here...
I have three little sections of the blocks put together - the little colored center and then the small adjoining block and the block that covers the two of them. This time I've decided to make all the blocks at the same time, hoping that will seem faster and more satisfying, so they're all at the same stage. It took me an hour and a bit to go through two rounds of block-adding, and then ironing and trimming. I figure there are 6 more rounds to go, so that won't be so bad.
I've also decided that I really want a 1/4 inch foot for my sewing machine. It would help a great deal with my seam placement accuracy. Must be accurate with the log cabin.
I leave early, early tomorrow to pick up The Boy from Seattle. I think he's had a great time, and I also suspect that he is VERY tired. All that fun comes at a price, you know. From the Great Sorting of projects, I have two little things I can take on the plane, and I'm also thinking about taking stuff to make another crochet bag. Perhaps take the small projects, and the first book of Game of Thrones, which I've also started reading.
Random fun information: Middle started guitar lessons in January and really enjoys playing. At her last lesson, her teacher decided it was time for her to learn to finger pick and assigned her The Boxer (a classic Simon and Garfunkel song). The teacher, Linda Lowe, told her it will take her a year to be proficient at the song, which I think was a good way to let Middle know not to give up if she can't get it the first time. I like her teacher.
Looking at the picture of the first quilt, I may have to go back and look at my colors, because something will be different between the two here...
Monday, July 9
Home Alone
Well...
Not sure why, but I pulled out the sewing machine last week and assembled the girls' summer dresses for last summer that I had cut and never finished. They came out beautifully (I will take a picture of my lovely girls soon) and much to my amusement, they fit almost perfectly. If I had made them last summer, the dresses would have been too big. I'm so smart.
At any rate, now I've got the sewing machine out and all of my family is gone for the week. The girls are at Choir Camp, The Boy is at summer school in Seattle, and Darling is travelling and riding a bike in Calgary to prepare for his crazy mountain bike race in a couple of weeks.
So last night I took an inventory of my projects, just because my closet has been bugging me and that meant I could take everything out and put things away in a better spot. If I don't count all the cross stitch things, then it seems relatively manageable, so I decided to start with sewing projects. I have fabric for three baby quilts (one of which is the duplicate of the one I made about two years ago, the log cabin one) so perhaps I can get crackin' and make them while everyone is gone this week and no one cares how messy the dining room table is. I don't think it's entirely realistic, because I leave early Friday morning to pick up The Boy, but it will be fun to try.
Since we're starting another quarter, I will log my dress-making hours and claim the lead.
5 hours so far (I think that's about right).
Margie
Not sure why, but I pulled out the sewing machine last week and assembled the girls' summer dresses for last summer that I had cut and never finished. They came out beautifully (I will take a picture of my lovely girls soon) and much to my amusement, they fit almost perfectly. If I had made them last summer, the dresses would have been too big. I'm so smart.
At any rate, now I've got the sewing machine out and all of my family is gone for the week. The girls are at Choir Camp, The Boy is at summer school in Seattle, and Darling is travelling and riding a bike in Calgary to prepare for his crazy mountain bike race in a couple of weeks.
So last night I took an inventory of my projects, just because my closet has been bugging me and that meant I could take everything out and put things away in a better spot. If I don't count all the cross stitch things, then it seems relatively manageable, so I decided to start with sewing projects. I have fabric for three baby quilts (one of which is the duplicate of the one I made about two years ago, the log cabin one) so perhaps I can get crackin' and make them while everyone is gone this week and no one cares how messy the dining room table is. I don't think it's entirely realistic, because I leave early Friday morning to pick up The Boy, but it will be fun to try.
Since we're starting another quarter, I will log my dress-making hours and claim the lead.
5 hours so far (I think that's about right).
Margie
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