Big Busted is Busted!

I have been making the mystery quilt from the Stashbusters yahoo group and the top is now done! Bad time of day to take photo, but as you can see, the graphic (windmill blades) isn't very strong due to my choice of light fabric. Still, it's a nice lap quilt, totally made from stash and scraps. I love, love, love the border! My sister and BIL happened to request a lap quilt at the time this mystery started so when I have it quilted, they will likely get it. If I make this again, I will use a light fabric, maybe a marble, throughout. Behind the quilt is the new retaining wall that has been interfering with my crafting! Lots of skut work still to be done although all but the end cap of the wall is up now. A part of the patio is also being replaced. Everybody has taken a break however, so hopefully it will be done before July heat sets in.



It is no surprise that there are no photos of socks. I will be working on socks tonight and maybe, just maybe, might get one done before the end of the month.

Also, another photo op! I finished a top that was part of a Winter Fun swap at www.QuiltingAroundTheWorld.com. My blocks were the pinwheels and rail fences. I'll have to put this top up and gaze upon it during commercial breaks to figure out how I'm going to quilt it. It needs more than in-the-ditch quilting, but I haven't decided what. I'm hoping for inspiration.

Mystery is Nearly Done!

For those of you working on the Stashbuster Mystery, I am nearly finished with Steps 8 & 9. I have to go to the library today to print out the final pages. This is actually a very good mystery because I have absolutely NO IDEA what this thing is gonna look like and typically by now, you have a good vision.

I had a goal to get these very first toe up socks done before the end of May and I'm not doing so good. I'll post on June 1 exactly what has been accomplished as I plan to work madly over the weekend to try to finish at least one sock.

What has been getting in my way is the new retaining wall. It is now up, but not completed. Further work also has to be done to the patio. Work that needs to be done, but interferes with my crafting!

Citrus Stars Quilt DONE!

Finished the Citrus Stars quilt last night. The photo is a little dark, but I can't seem to get access to my photoeditor. It is a dark blue star background in the border, not black. Extra large twin sized quilt, it measures 72x90 inches and has a flannel backing which features a Debbi Mumm squirrel print (my bro is a fan of squirrels). I used Joann's Soft and Crafty Hi Loft and tied it using Cascade 220 wool yarn. It looks very Miami, but adding the green and dark blue gave it a more male look, which was needed since this is for my brother. The background is various white on white vine fabrics. The strip of green at the bottom was to give just a tad couple more inches. Probably should have put it at the top, but its done and looks great.


The 4 patch stars are a free pattern and I added 1 inch sashing between them. I used my Eleanor Burns Flying Geese templates to make the 6 inch flying geese in the border. While this quilt did use up 5 yards of stash, it really isn't a big stash user as you need a solid background for it and quite a bit (I think I used 6 yards).
http://www.scrapquilts.com/4star.html

What I'm Doing

Sorry, I've been a little light on the postings. First, TV watchings. I'm not a big TV watcher, but there are several things coming on that I do enjoy. The exciting news is that Primeval and Eureka are back!! Primeval, Season 3 (BBCA) starts tonight and Eureka is back to finish Season 3 (delayed due to writer's strike) in July. Since I don't have HBO, I'm also looking forward to getting my DVD of True Blood at the end of this month. I love the books, I hope the series is as good. I also get to work my way through Buffy and Angel series this summer. Picked these DVDs up for a good price, used, so that I could take my time. Finally, I'm getting all of the New Doctor Who and Torchwood series. Lots of stitching time here when it's too hot or mosquito ridden for me to go outside!

Quilting: The Citrus Stars quilt is nearly done. I just started hand sewing the binding to the back, but it will take a few days. I started cutting the fabric for Pirates/Parrots reversible quilt. All but the sashing has been cut for Pirates, so that I can make pillowcases with the remainder. Now, I have to figure out the plan for Parrots so I can start cutting that. This week, I will also start cutting out the trains for Dad's chair quilt. It will be a square in a square type quilt and will likely have train tracks for the border.

I just received my first installment of a BOM. This is called Snowman Collector and this quilt will be for me. I just love these snowmen. Yes, it ends up expensive over the long haul, but so darn cute.


Knitting: Working on 2 different pairs of socks. Had set these down to finish up Citrus Stars and will pick up again as soon as the binding is done. Both are 'basic socks', so nothing complicated about them. I need to get my toe up done very quickly as the monthly KAL starts in June.

Crocheting: the Crocheted Ladybug afghan is really reaching a great stage. I have 31 of the 35 background squares now done. I will be moving on to doing the ladybug parts and the flower parts, all of which get attached to the background squares.

Cross Stitching: Bought a whole bunch of DMC floss from Stashbuster's List Mom, Sandra. Ironically, she works only a mile from where I live, so I got to save on shipping and just pick it up at the front desk. I'll admit, for hand stitching, cross stitching has been taking a back seat for awhile. I will be bringing it back out to the forefront soon and have picked Sunday as my day of the week to just work on cross-stitching.

Ok.. that's about it. I need to go out and finish mowing the back before Primeval starts. I promise - photos - soon!! My Kodak program is back and I think I found my cable to connect the camera (thieved by interested kitties).

Garage Sale and Quilt-A-Long

First, the garage sale was a success. Most of my fabric went the first day and most of my yarn the second. Also sold most of the quilt and crochet books and booklets. What is left are smaller pieces: Millennium fabric, city fabric (looks like Chicago) and some fabric book panels (Beatrix Potter and Winnie the Pooh). There will be another garage sale in July, but all different stuff. If any of my followers are interested, let me know!

I am also joining an EASY quilt-a-long. I wanted to join the Stashbusters mystery quilt, but I have no printer, can't read the darn files (new drive, lots of stuff to put back on) and they are already on the 2nd week (I was NOT gone a week!). So, I'm bummed, but decided on this other quilt-a-long which also uses stash. It's a 9 patch set in white sashing. Really, a nice summer quilt that can be made any size. It's a do-a-block-a-day quilt-a-long. I think I can manage that. Here's the link:
One A Day Quilt A Long

I think I'll include some of that Chicago Skyline and Millennium fabrics in this project unless I can find someone who desperately has been looking for either of these to finish a project.