The Chick from Harry Potter will be Nude in her Next Movie.

I meant to post each week as I completed it but as usual what I mean to do gets lost in all the work and family stuff going on.  Our son Michael will be seventeen on Sunday.  I'm absolutely stunned that I have a son in high school.  Our daughter Amber is getting married May 2 this year and she is getting married here at our house.  So Scott, Michael and I have been working overtime on some home improvements we were going to do slowly over time.  Since November 2014 we have completely renovated our master bathroom.  It is gorgeous.  It looks like something out of a spa.  All new walk in shower with no doors or curtains.  It is that big that you just walk into this room and turn on whichever shower head you want or both of them at the same time.  Scott even built a stool in the shower so I have a place to shave my legs:  Quite thoughtful.  Because of the walls surrounding the shower he even installed a light in the shower.  Then we had the floor tiled to match and finally Michael and I painted the bathroom, Mushroom cap.  Fancy name for dark beige.  LOL  Then a few weeks later we took out our nasty 30 year old sinks and faucets in the lav and installed those lovely square, above counter, sinks and new Moen faucets.  I love Moen:  Lifetime warrantee.  Then a few weeks later we had the floor in Michael's bathroom tiled.  It looks so much better than that old linoleum.  Then in the backyard we tore up the gas firepit.  It hasn't worked since we bought the house five years ago and now we know why.  They used the wrong pipe and it was so corroded the gas was not getting through.  But since we haven't used it in five years and no one died we decided to cap the line and get rid of it.  We took out all the sand stone and had new concrete laid.  Finally, Michael and Scott build beautiful redwood benches this past weekend.  They look amazing.  This weekend the landscapers are coming to trim all the trees and plant some nice ground cover in the gardens so they should be full by the time the wedding comes around.  All of this on top or Scott owning his own plumbing company and my job and we are beyond busy.  But I have not fallen behind on my Project of Doom Quilt.  Below are all seven completed blocks.  Number eight's pattern was just released this morning and I should have no trouble completing it before next Wednesday when the next one is released.  Sorry for the rambling.....

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

Week Four

Week Five

Week Six

Week Seven

Well, I'm a Doofus!

Last month I finished my project and completely forgot to post it.  This month I finished my goal in the second week of the month.  I waited for the link to be posted so I could upload my information to the ALYOF site and I almost forgot again.  Getting old sucks!!  I wear glasses now, my boobs get caught in my shoe laces and I cannot remember anything.

So, this month's goal was to finish the first block of a project I started last year.  It is a wool applique project that was a monthly project through my local Quilt Shop, "The Christmas Goose."  There were a limited number of spots in the project because all the wool was hand dyed by Andrea, the owner of the shop.  Luckily for me someone backed out and I was able to step in.  I have never done wool applique before so this first block is quite crude.  I just saw another member's quilt blocks and she has all twelve finished and they are stunning.  I learned that I am doing it all wrong.  I was using floss the same color so you could not see my stitches.  TOTALLY NOT THE POINT HERE.  So, I will work harder on block number two and make sure to use contrasting floss to make everything pop.

You cannot really see in the picture but I even added some beads to the centers of the circles.  They really do make a difference in the, "Live" version.

Please do not think poorly of the quilt shop when you see my work.  If you saw a block from an experienced person you would be blown away.

Roses are red....

So, it is February in Las Vegas.  The temperature today was 78 degrees.  I miss winter.  Not the type of winter they are having in Boston but I would at least like to wear my beautiful winter coat once this year.

I guess since there will be no winter in Nevada this year I'll start working on my, "Summertime" wool applique again.  This was a BOM and I am a year behind. 

For my February goal I would like to complete the January block.  I have all the pieces cut and placed and I have a little bit of the hand applique finished so I need to complete the remainder of the hand stitching.

Summertime BOM Wool Applique

Completed January 2015 ALYOF Goal

Well, I had the project completed on time but I screwed up and forgot to post the darn thing.  So, I still want to make myself keep the posts going so I can at least show my work at the end of the year.  I picked these colors so they would match the breakfast area.  This was the easiest pattern and I hope to go back to UT to pick up more of the stuff that was inside.

Block Three of the Project of Doom

Here's block three...

Block three

Block Two of the Project of Doom

I completely forgot that I was posting these here.  I'm already working on block four and block five will be released in the morning.  I better get my butt in gear.

Block Two

Block One of the Project of Doom

I love paper piecing.  I do not do it nearly enough to be really good at it but this project should absolutely resolve that issue.

I am not a Harry Potter fan but I am not opposed to little guy either.  I think it was a combination of things really.  My son was too old to just sit and let me read to him but he wasn't old enough to take the books and read them himself.  And then when the movies came out we were seriously watching every single penny and movies were never in our budget.  Now he is almost seventeen and Harry Potter is sooo not cool.  I may actually go online and see if there is a way to watch all the movies just so I can get a better feel for this project, we'll see.

Anyway, I have always had a love of books and libraries.  I spent many, many, many days as a kid at our local library.  I even picked the house we purchased a few years ago because of the built in bookcases in the formal living room.  So, this project is right up my alley in that vein.  I was not happy last night when I was finishing this block as I thought it was much too busy.  But a quick text to Shirley for some constructive criticism proved to be just the ticket.  She gave me some sound advice, which I followed, and now I am very happy with the finished product. 

So without further a due (Insert drum roll here) I present block number one in the 2015 Project of Doom.



Paper Pieced Block Number One
 

January 2015 Goal

Hellloooo 2015!!  I am so happy to see you.

I love how we all think that turning a page on a calendar gives us a fresh start.  Does it really?  I mean is there any difference in what you were doing a week ago compared to today?

Hell yes there is!  There is, for whatever reason, a brand new sense of newness or fresh hope or whatever you would like to call it.  It may all just be a mind game that we all play but if so, I'm ready to roll the dice and take my turn.

I went to UT recently with some friends to visit quilt shops and we had a wonderful time and got a lot of inspiration from everything we saw.

I purchased a package of interfacing that was cut into four pieces perfect for place settings and they even came with quilt as you go pattern.  So, I have cut all my fabrics and started my setting of four.

My goal for January 2015 is to complete the set of four placemats.

 

2015 Here I Come

I have so many projects planned for 2015 it isn't even funny.  I found some amazing train fabric and I am going to design a wall hanging for my Uncle Jim.  I found some beautiful Christmas fabric on sale Friday and I purchased a lot of it.  I plan on making a place setting of eight dinner napkins.  I'll make more if I have enough fabric.  I have at least fifteen paper embroidered patterns that I have picked out to create for friends this year.  I am part of a wool applique group at out The Christmas Goose Quilt Shoppe here in Las Vegas and I still have ten squares to finish from, "Summertime."

 

These are just the things I can come up with off the top of my head this afternoon.  I've been in my sewing room all morning and I'm finding more and more things I want to get started on.  Don't even get me started on all the things I have to finish....the pair of socks I'm making for Abby's father.  The Featherweight Top Down Cardigan I've been knitting for myself for months and months.

I also plan on completing these wonderful paper pieced squares.  If you do not already subscribe to Jennifer Ofenstein's blog I suggest you do so.  The purchase price for this monthly pattern was insanely affordable and beautiful.  Just go to www.sewhooked.com.

I have also joined Fandom in Stitches, The Project of Doom.   It is a Harry Potter Bookcase  Quilt Along.  I am not a Harry Potter fan but I'm not a hater, either:  I just never read the books for saw the movies.  I do, however, love the paper pieced bookcase quilt.

So, as you can see I have lots of plans for this year and I intend to try to keep current with all these projects through, "A Lovely Year of Finishes."

The End of 2014

 

I have been very busy over the past few months.  I made a Valor quilt for my brother who is a USMC veteran who served in the Gulf War in 1991.  I finished a pair of socks for my sister-in-law that were started by her mother before she passed away in July 2013.  I also had some of the sweaters her mother was working on completed by a local finisher.  They came out beautiful and all were given to Abby for Christmas this year.

Front of Sean Michael's Valor Quilt

 

Back of Valor Quilt

Laurel's Socks




 The bear below is wearing one of the sweaters Laurel started and I had finished for her by a wonderful finisher here in Las Vegas.



Laurel's Bear Cub

 I also designed and made the quilt below for my boss.  Her father was a minister and she is a very active member of her church and sings in the choir.


Denise's Christmas 2014 Quilt



 

Holy Purse Strings Batman!!

I have been working on this purse for so long now I honestly don't know for sure when I even started it.  The purse is finished now and it turned out lovely.

The Hitchhiker: Finally Finished

Well, it only took me all summer to complete a scarf that truly could have been finished over a long weekend.  But it is finished and it is lovely.  This is going to be a Christmas gift so I cannot give too many details but I hope she loves it as much as I do.  Aside from the shape, which is very different, I love the colors in this piece.  I wish I could find another Uberball in this color as I would make one for myself.

Sorry, nothing funny to report today.  We are renovating our master bath, ourselves, and my little Vanessa is quite ill.  So, there is a vet visit in our immediate future.

Completed October Goal - The Hitchhiker

Third Time is a Charm (if your glass if half full)

Well, I have entered this scarf twice now as something I will complete and each time, obviously, I have not.  So this time I mean it!!  I am going to complete this scarf before the end of October: No ifs ands or buts!

This is not a hard pattern.  It is an extremely easy pattern and I have knitted it before.  The designer, you can find her on Ralvelry, is fantastic.  I don't want anyone to think it has anything to do with the designer, it is all me.  And I have no idea why, I love the yarn I chose so it isn't that.  I'm at a loss.

Having said that, I WILL FINISH THIS SCARF BY OCTOBER 31, 2014!!

The picture to the right was the first time
I had this as my goal.

The picture above was the second time I had
this as my goal.

The next time you see this scarf it will be
completed!

Ta Da!!!!!!

I finished Mr. Chillingsworth!!  I mean completely finished.  It is quilted, thank you Jacque.  The binding is completed.  I have even wrapped the gift as it is a Christmas gift for my son.  Not that anyone will believe this but I actually finished it almost two weeks ago but I just kept forgetting to update my post.

I love the spider web quilting done by Jacque (you can see it in the second photo).  She does a fantastic job on all my quilts.

Excuses, excuses, excuses...

It seems I've always got an excuse as to why I haven't completed a quilt or a knitting project.  I NEVER miss cleaning something or putting something away.   I have friends who tease me and say my house is like the house of the guy from, "Sleeping with the Enemy."  I need to try to make myself stop with the compulsive cleaning and put some of that energy toward the fun things that I love to do.

Having said that I am going to make my goal for September a small one.  My goal for September is to finish the binding on this wall hanging for my son, Michael.

 

I was having problems with my flying geese so I only put them on one side of the panel.  I have already completed that part and I have already had the piece quilted.  Miss Jacque quilted spider webs into the piece and they look fantastic.  I will be doing the binding in a plain, solid black.








I did start another item while I was in Idaho visiting my brother and his wife, Abby.  I made a project bag which only needs to be bound and it too will be completed.  And then when I got back I attended a, "Sew-in" with friends and I completed an apron made out of old blue jeans.  The apron is actually complete if you can believe it.



Project Bag

Blue Jean Apron

 

If things only went as planned....

I had planned to complete my Hitchhiker scarf for my June 2014 ALYOF...planned.  What happened was I missed it by that much.  There are 41 rounds with eight rows to each round.  I figured, "I've got this.  I'll do one round per day at the minimum and there's no way I won't have this done in time.  Yes, I'm laughing so hard now I'm peeing my pants.  As you can see from the photos below, I am a little less than half finished.  I just completed round 18.  So, I am going to attempt to be a Miss Smarty Pants and see if I can get my act together to finish this beautiful scarf for my July 2014 ALYOF project. 

 

Now don't think I've been idle, au contraire mon frere.  I was at my quilting sew-in a few weekends ago and was so inspired by a contest entry to a, "Build a Snowman" quilt contest.  It was just the kick in the pants I needed.  Lately I feel like Dr. Evil stole my Mojo and I just have not been inspired to do anything creative. 

Hula Snowgirl

Biker Snowman

Let Me In Snowman
 

But this lovely little Hula Snow Girl was entered while I was at the shop.  I just could not stop looking at her.  And then I thought she needs a MAN.  Then this guy shows up at the window begging to be let in.  Oh no, she needs a tough guy.  So I created a biker for her.  





 

Here are a few close ups of the details on this mini quilt.  Now, I would love to say this was all me but it was not.  Carolyn crafted the Do Rag for me and it was her idea to add the tiny motorcycle charm I had as a necklace.  Scott's idea was to add the cigarettes.  You can see the tiny beginning of his tattoo, over his heart:  It says, "Mom."  I had such a good time that I plan on getting back into the sewing room today after I finish this post. 

 

I just love how this turned out.

I am so proud of the creativity and the group

ideas.  It was a lot of fun.

                              

Did You Miss Me?

I knew things hadn't been right lately.  I knew I had been neglecting certain things.  I had no idea I hadn't posted since April:  Man, where does the time go.

I could make all sorts of excuses but that's all they would be.  If I had really wanted to be here, I would have been here.

Remember the picture of my son a few months ago?  Well, sixteen has NOT been very kind.  My son has been replaced by a monster I do not recognize.  The last day of school was Wednesday and I think I am even more happy about it than he is. 

What was I saying.....Oh yes, "I'm back."  I may not have been here but that does not mean I have not been thinking about all the wonderful things I want to do.  I did make a lovely wreath for our dear friend, Ronnie aka Ronzo for Memorial Day.  He is a Vietnam Veteran and I just wanted to let him know he was remembered.  I want to make another one for our front door before July 4 gets here. 

For the month of June 2014 ALYOF I am going to try to complete, "The Hitchhiker."  It is a lovely scarf/shawl that I have made before and I found this amazing yarn for this time around.  The author of this pattern can be found on Ravelry.  I have knit a number of her patterns and they are not only easy to read but easy to work and they turn out beautiful.

I know you cannot really see this very well and I'm having issues
with the camera on my phone but I promise I'll take some really
great pictures when I finish the scarf.  Here is the yarn I will be using
and I have already started. 

Martina Behm is the author/creator.  Check her out on www.ravelry.com I promise you'll love her patterns.

Hitchhiker Scarf

 

April ALYOF Goal

Yeee Hawwww!!  I made it!

I woke up this morning and realized I had not entered my April goal for ALYOF and believe it or not, I was upset.  I have enjoyed these past few months and the challenges I have set for myself.  And of course, the lovely things I have finished.

So, when I was finally able to sit down for a moment without hearing, "Mom, mom, mom, mom or Hey babe, I need........" and discovered I still have two hours to submit my April goal well let's just say I was giddy.

I took a class two years ago but never did anything with the project after the class.  I pulled out the bag and the fabric was all still there, the pieces I had previously cut were still there as well.  Oh, I did make a small knitting bag out of a couple of the squares I had actually completed in the class. 

Tiny Dresden Plate

 

This class was offered again this weekend so I attended and now I have all sorts of ideas on how to move forward.  So, after two years of being idle with this project I plan to design and finish a wall hanging of Tiny Dresden Plates.