Why I Haven’t Been Quilting Lately (and a Sneek Peak at the Grab Bag Quilt I Received)

Well the reason I haven’t posted any of my quilting lately, is because I haven’t done much quilting lately. The day after I finished my Grab Bag quilt, I came down with the flu. There was a week when I had just enough energy to take my daughter to and from school. Then a week trying to catch up on the things I had been neglecting. Another 5 days on a Southern California & Disneyland vacation.

This week has been devoted to talking about what to do with this monstrosity.It had two working burners when we bought it with our current home a few years ago. We tried to get the two non-working burners fixed, but apparently they don’t make them that size anymore. One of the remaining burners decided a couple of weeks ago to only heat halfway, which leaves one useful burner, so we decided it is finally time to do something about it. We don’t want another free-standing range, because we want a place next to the stove to set things. Getting two people with differing ideas about the situation has been a trick. Combined with a data analyst husband who wants me to help him analyze every possible option we have for stoves, cabinets, counters, and possibly redoing the rest of the kitchen counters is making my mind completely frazzled.

To make this post quilting related, I will show a sneak peek at the Grab Bag Quilt I received from Janice Simpson.

We have been asked not to post full photos yet. There will be a CD made available with all of the quilts. I will post more information when it becomes available.

Quiltart Grab Bag Challenge

I just returned from several days vacationing in Southern California and a couple days in Disneyland. When I picked up my mail at the post office, I was excited to receive my Grab Bag Quilt also. This is what was in the Grab Bag that I sent.

Janice Simpson from Marquette, MI made me a lovely Japanese lady in a silk kimono who is now hanging up and brightening my hallway. Thank you Janice for a great quilt.

There will be a CD created with photos of all of the quilts made for this challenge with artist statements. It will be available through Fiber Art for a Cause, to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Details to come as soon as the CDs are ready.

Knitting Socks

I taught myself how to knit socks a couple of years ago. The pastel colored pair is my first attempt at socks. I did a sample to check my gauge, and thought I was altering the pattern to the correct size, but the socks ended up way to big around.

The red striped pair is my second pair of socks, which I just finished today (I think I started them last summer. They fit great. I used less stitches per round, and added ribbing to the top of the foot. I will have to wait for cooler weather before I wear them.

My third attempt at socks will be to re-knit the yarn that just reclaimed from the first pair. It is now in skeins waiting to be washed and wound into balls. I love the colors in this yarn, and am looking forward to having a pair of socks that actually fits from it.

Sock knitting is the perfect take-along project for waiting at swimming lessons or long car trips. A pair of socks takes me months, because I only knit at odd moments. If I work fast, perhaps I will have them completed by fall or winter.

Grab Bag Quilt Teaser

I'm done! Well almost. I just have to add a sleeve and a label, which will get done this afternoon. It will go in the mail first thing Wednesday morning, so I can show it at my guild meeting on Tuesday.

I’m not allowed to show the quilt until the bags have been exchanged, but I thought I might show the tiniest little slice. The quilts are due to be sent to the original owners in about three weeks, and then I will show both quilts.