Scrappy scarf and vintage flowers

I have been working on some knitting again and this scarf is the result. I think it is close to being done. So far I have about 20 different yarns in it, a couple rows of each. I think I will do a few more and call it good.

I stopped by our local thrift store yesterday and found three yards of this vintage flower fabric that I have not yet decided whether I like and what I will do with it. I also got the equivalent of about 3 yards of the black and white check fabric but it came about 12 separate pieces.

New fabric and some coffee sleeves

This lovely stack of fabric arrived on my porch today. They are Joel Dewberry prints in 54" decorator twill. I am not sure what I will do with it but it was on sale so... I am thinking maybe baby carriers, maybe a purse like this, unless I have some other idea before I get around to using it.

My brother and I drove over to the other side of the state last weekend to visit my parents. While I was there and not busy with the kids or helping out my mom who thought she had broke her foot (turns out it was just a sprain), I made this quilt block. I found the paper piecing pattern at forestquilting.com and it is called "Chasing Geese". I think I just might have to make a rainbow sampler quilt sometime because I have been having too much fun with rainbows lately. On the drive over and back, and for a little bit at my sister's knitting group I made five coffee sleeves, one of which I forgot at my parents' house so it isn't pictured. I basically just winged it, crocheting until it seemed long enough and then increasing when it seemed like a good idea. They are mostly made from the little balls left over from knitting Pink Lady Bags. I think eventually I will get around to posting them for sale in my Etsy store, which has been much neglected lately.

Sorting Scraps

The past couple days I have been working to get my sewing supplies somewhat under control. I cut a 5" square out each fabric for the charm quilt (170 squares so far) and put the fabric away neatly (you might remember I had the fabric put away neatly back in January also, hopefully this will last). Then I went through all my little scraps. I cut them into the closest size square down to about 2.5" with a few that are smaller. Long strips got sorted out to be used in log cabin blocks. I set aside the 5" wide scraps (varying widths, 150 total) left over from cutting out all those 5" squares and I think those will be some sort of coin quilt. I just have to decide how I want to put them together.

Cute baby pictures and some fabric

In honor of our upcoming visit to Oli's parents here are a couple of, better, photos I took of Clara's eggplant hat at their house. I think the scary orange carpet makes a very nice backdrop.

Also here are the meager results of my shopping trip today. I took advantage of a 50% off at Joann coupon to get 5 yards of nice quality white muslin for quilts. I also picked up some red tag tartan. I will be making Layden some kilts I think. He is curiously resistant to my potty training efforts thus far.

Lucky find, Polo dress

Today I had actually headed out to the fabric store specifically to buy this fabric. It had been on the $5/yard shelf and I decided I wanted to get enough to back a quilt. When I got to the $5 rack it was gone, very sad, until I turned around and saw it on the $2/yard table. So I now have 4.25 yards to someday back a quilt with when I have time to make a nice big quilt for myself. 

I have also been working on turning this mens' 6XL polo into a polo dress for myself. I got it trimmed down and the sleeves on only to discover I had sewn one sleeve inside out. I have that sleeve off but I still need to figure out what to do about the small hole near the collar. Any ideas? Applique? buttons? reshape the collar?

Chocolate brownie cookies

See these cookies, they are delicious and very easy to make. They are based on a recipe from my aunt for fake Oreo cookies. They should have a delicious cream cheese frosting filling but I did not have the appropriate cream cheese and that would have been work anyway. Depending on how long you bake these they are either chewy and brownie like or crunchy like an Oreo, I prefer the former. 

The recipe:

1. 2 boxes of cake mix, any kind, whatever strikes your fancy, these are german chocolate.
   
2. 4 eggs
3. 1 cup oil

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 min. That's it. These are the quickest cookies ever.

I picked these fabrics up at JoAnn yesterday, I shouldn't have, but I did. You can't see it very well in the photo but they have an interesting texture to them and are a bit shiny.

I have the last of the three baby quilts quilted and the binding on all three. Now I just need to get the hand sewing done and run them through the wash and they are ready for the show. I am also working on getting a wedding quilt top for friends together in the hopes that I might also get that quilted and done for the show, we shall see. In a recent swap I received a charm square pack that I have decided to make a quilt like so out of. However I have run into some difficulties. First the fabrics I will use for borders to make it a decent lap sized quilt are at my mom's house so I need to quilt the middle portion and later add the borders. Second I got the backing and front pieces all square and trimmed to the same size and discovered a few little holes in the backing fabric which I had just purchased last night. So that quilt is on that back burner until I can figure out what I will do. Maybe some applique on the back to patch the holes? Just buy new fabric?

Last two FQ's

The last two fat quarters have arrived. They came from Andrea and Carmell. I love the bright colors in the top one and while I usually am not a big fan of pink the bottom one has a nice creaminess to it that I like. I think the roses will go nicely with the other rose fabric I received and I have plans for a brights quilt the top one will fit into nicely. Today Oli is going to wrap me up on duct tape, I will post later and let you know how it goes.

Thrift store booty

 I had a good day at the thrift store yesterday. First I found this pretty table cloth, then I found this label maker, now all I need is some labeling tape and watch out! I also may have gone a little bit crazy buying zippers but now if I need one I should be able to find one that works. I also have been wanting to try out some zippered pouches. Historically zippers and I don't get along but I am willing to give it another try. I also picked up another sewing machine, a Singer 403 (I think). So far the motor runs well but it needs some cleaning and oiling before I make a judgement. Luckily it shares parts with the 503a mostly. The final pic is not a thrift store find but the quilt top I am working on for the Simply Charming mini quilt in a bag swap. I have finished the applique and now I need to piece the back together then decide how I am going to quilt it. Any thoughts?

  

 

Stash building

Today was a good mail day at our house. My new yarns finally arrived. Including the yarn and needles for my friends birthday present. A little late for her birthday but I don't think she will mind. The purple Moda Dea is for a hat for me, I am not sure what the green Moda Dea will be for (3 skeins), the black and grey are Oli's slippers to be, and the red is fuzzy alpaca and knitpicks options needles is for my friend. I am also giving her a set of patterns she can make using those two needle sizes.  I also got size 15 and 17 to flush out my needle set.

(click to get bigger pictures)

   

I also got some fabric in the mail today sale winter fabric (half yards) and some other fabric for a 5" square swap.