tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33706537711555729022024-03-05T23:34:47.016-06:00quirky granola girlquirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.comBlogger250125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-46166556210019444422016-05-15T23:14:00.000-05:002016-05-15T23:14:02.756-05:00Farmer's Wife 1930's QAL: Mrs. LloydKerry of <a href="http://verykerryberry.blogspot.co.uk/">verykerryberry</a> is smart and knows I have a little thing for samplers. My <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BBklGHIk6Kq/?taken-by=quirkygranolagirl">first Farmer's Wife quilt</a> (based on letters from the 1920's) is still in the hand quilting process. My <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/0TOk9oE6Im/?taken-by=quirkygranolagirl">Farmer's Wife Pony Club blocks</a> should make an appearance on my sewing table again soon, and just this last week I worked on my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BFUX7Hbk6MY/?taken-by=quirkygranolagirl">Gypsy Wife Sampler.</a> How could I ever resist the 1930's Farmer's Wife book? Obviously I could not.<br />
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<i>Jay McCarrol's Habitat City Planning in teal</i></div>
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<i>Michael Miller Cotton Couture in Jewel and Paprika.</i></div>
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Kerry asked me to post my version of a block last February. At that time, I decided to make this quilt with vivid color in a single value. After making that <a href="http://quirkygranolagirl.blogspot.com/2016/02/farmers-wife-1930s-qal-grandma.html">first block</a>, I pored over my stash to find <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BBSqGU4E6OR/?taken-by=quirkygranolagirl">prints from my stash that could work</a>. Then I dug through my solids color cards for Kona and Michael Miller Cotton Couture and ordered all of the vivid solids in that value. <br />
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At the <a href="http://dcmodernquiltguild.blogspot.com/">DCMQG</a> guild meeting this weekend I cut and pieced a few different sampler blocks. <br />
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<i> My first version of Mrs. Lloyd</i></div>
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<i> Jenny</i></div>
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<i> Aunt</i></div>
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<i>Caroline</i> </div>
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For the Mrs. Lloyd block, I didn't do anything fancy with the piecing. I
measured the templates to cut the squares and pieced them. For the
flying geese portions of the block I used the rectangle and two squares
method to make them. I did use a lot of starch because starch is my best
friend when it comes to precision piecing. As I mentioned in previous posts, Michael Miller Cotton Couture
and starch don't always get along. I used a liberal amount of liquid
starch on the fabrics before cutting. Then after piecing I only used a spray bottle with a
mix of vodka water to get crisp pressing of seams. <br />
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It turns out that I'm not loving the single value and vivid color look in fabric combinations <i>other</i> than my original three. I'm not sure why. <br />
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Some experiments are good to stick with and follow through to the end. And some are not. I remade the Mrs. Lloyd block with my original fabrics. Now I'm changing my sampler plan to using only three fabrics. (!!!) If you know me at all, limiting my palette to three is crazy hard. I think this could be a fun new experiment. Eventually I hope to share more about it here.<br />
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If you haven't started the Farmer's Wife 1930's Quilt Along, join in now! I only have two blocks done so it won't take long to catch up to me! Don't forget to tag
your Farmer's Wife blocks on Instagram with the hashtag #fw1930sqal,
and tell me about your sewing experiments in the comments. </div>
quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-79118614433707814042016-02-01T07:20:00.002-06:002016-02-01T07:20:50.440-06:00Farmer's Wife 1930's QAL: GrandmaKerry of <a href="http://verykerryberry.blogspot.co.uk/">verykerryberry</a> knows my weakness for samplers. My <a href="http://quirkygranolagirl.blogspot.com/2013/08/farmers-wife-quilt-top.html">first Farmer's Wife quilt</a> (based on letters from the 1920's) is still in the hand quilting process. My <a href="http://quirkygranolagirl.blogspot.com/2014/01/pony-club-update.html">Farmer's Wife Pony Club blocks</a> are packed for our move later this month, as is my in-process <a href="http://quirkygranolagirl.blogspot.com/2014/09/random.html">Gypsy Wife Sampler.</a> So, why not start a new sampler?<br />
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Last summer, Kerry was kind enough to invite me to blog for her quilt along. She started sewing and blogging her blocks in September. For five whole months, I've been meaning to join in, but I was stuck on a fabric theme. Soooooo stuck, epic, quicksand stuck. What would make this sampler new for me?<br />
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I finally figured it out four stinkin' days ago. Based on an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BBGT5lfSM3t/?taken-by=mountainofthedragon">inspiring instagram photo</a> from Monica of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/mountainofthedragon">mountainofthedragon</a>, I decided to use vivid colors with <b><i>very</i></b> little value difference.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Jay McCarrol's Habitat City Planning in teal</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Michael Miller Cotton Couture in Jewel and Paprika.</i></div>
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Value is determined by how light or dark a color is in grayscale--baby blue vs. navy, pink vs. burgundy, peach vs. dark orange. When there are many colors in a quilt, you can look at a black and white picture of the fabrics to help determine if you need more value changes in your fabric selection. In my sewing, I tend to choose a lot of medium value fabrics and need to push myself to add lights and darks. In sampler blocks, it is generally accepted that using a mix of light, medium and dark fabrics helps highlight the piecing and design of the blocks.<br />
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This time, I decided to ignore that advice and am using a single value. I'm really excited about this experiment. Check out this black and white picture of the three fabrics I chose for this block:<br />
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I have a thing for starch in my sampler blocks. Frequent starching allowed me to use templates to piece nearly all of my first Farmer's Wife quilt blocks. Some previous FW and Pony Club blocks were so stiff they could nearly stand on edge. However, I have found that the Michael Miller Cotton Couture does not play nicely with repeated starching when pressing. The fabric is fine and smooth, doesn't accept starch well and tends to bubble up along seam lines. I decided to starch my fabrics just once and then paper piece this block. That allowed the fabric to play nicely yet gave me a smooth finished block<br />
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I precut my fabrics for paper piecing by tracing the triangles a little bit bigger and then measuring the bigger size square to cut them from. I colored the paper piecing directions, too. It's a good thing I did because I still had to start over with section A once and B <i>twice</i>! I guess I'm out of practice with paper piecing. <br />
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So, this first 1930's Farmer's Wife block was a long time coming, but I think it was worth the wait.<br />
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Tag your Farmer's Wife blocks on Instagram with the hashtag #fw1930sqal, and tell me about your sewing adventures in value in the comments. </div>
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<br />quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-26834223312635243332015-10-03T21:17:00.000-05:002019-01-04T16:02:46.649-06:00100 Quilts for KidsHey there! Welcome to my first blog post (here) for 2015! I've been busy as the <a href="http://dcmodernquiltguild.blogspot.com/">DC Modern Quilt Guild </a>president this year and have been blogging over there. But now I'm back for a post about 100 Quilts for Kids.<br />
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I made four quilts for the quilt drive this year. My guild is donating all that we collect to kids at the DC General Homeless Shelter. That shelter has about 600 children on average. After reading that, I've had those kids and charity quilts on the brain for two months straight. <br />
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The first collaborative quilt has blocks made at the Denyse Schmidt workshop that the DCMQG hosted in June. Attendees gave me two blocks each, I added a few more from my stash and Cathy added a bunch more. My guild friend, Jamie, did the quilting and another friend, Anjeanette, stitched the binding down. I adore the colors and movement in this quilt and it will be missed the most.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/21732797679/in/datetaken/" title="Last one. #100quilts4kids #dcmqgcharity collaborative effort with blocks by @dcmqg members, especially @cbmauro, piecing by me, quilting by @beacraftygirl and binding by @anjeanetteklinder. Most blocks made at a workshop with @dsquilts. This toddler quilt"><img alt="Last one. #100quilts4kids #dcmqgcharity collaborative effort with blocks by @dcmqg members, especially @cbmauro, piecing by me, quilting by @beacraftygirl and binding by @anjeanetteklinder. Most blocks made at a workshop with @dsquilts. This toddler quilt" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5646/21732797679_0be9c4dd93.jpg" width="400" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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Next up is another quilt made from blocks from the DS workshop. Again, I added a few
more from my stash and Cathy's friend, Stella, added all of the blocks she made at a similar
workshop. Jamie did the quilting and Cassandra stitched the binding down. This quilt has a Cotton + Steel metallic Netorious print as binding and that extra bit of bling was a perfect addition.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/21889687076/in/datetaken/" title="#100quilts4kids #dcmqgcharity group effort quilt with blocks by @dcmqg members and @eustella, pieced by me, quilted by @beacraftygirl, and binding sewn by @pilarandolivia. Oh! And class for the quilt blocks taught by @dsquilts! This will be donated to the"><img alt="#100quilts4kids #dcmqgcharity group effort quilt with blocks by @dcmqg members and @eustella, pieced by me, quilted by @beacraftygirl, and binding sewn by @pilarandolivia. Oh! And class for the quilt blocks taught by @dsquilts! This will be donated to the" height="500" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/652/21889687076_5160afa063.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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When my friend, Alyson, was over for a sewing day in August she helped me arrange some guild orphan blocks into a quilt top. Three of these blocks were ones I received back in my days in the 3x6 Bee. The rest were blocks donated by other members. I love how they all fit perfectly with the other blocks in this quilt. Again, Jamie did the beautiful quilting and guild friend, Cindy, stitched the binding down.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/21865900276/in/datetaken/" title="It's been so dreary and rainy here for days and that weather will continue, so this semi blurry pic will have to do. Finished orphan block quilt for #dcmqgcharity #100quilts4kids. Quilting by the lovely @beacraftygirl, hand stitched binding by the equally"><img alt="It's been so dreary and rainy here for days and that weather will continue, so this semi blurry pic will have to do. Finished orphan block quilt for #dcmqgcharity #100quilts4kids. Quilting by the lovely @beacraftygirl, hand stitched binding by the equally" height="500" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/583/21865900276_51e87c667f.jpg" width="400" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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This last quilt was made entirely by me, but the quilting was made possible by Anjeanette. She has a midarm machine and she let me come over and play last month. The "back" of this quilt is a zoo print, so I quilted the "front" with names of zoo animals done in cursive across the quilt. I've always wanted to do word quilting, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to try it out. This quilt was SUPER hard to photograph so you'll have to trust me that the print and the yellow solid are much prettier in person. <br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/21922031461/in/datetaken/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="A better pic of the quilting."><img alt="A better pic of the quilting." height="500" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/673/21922031461_d63f291d22.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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So that's what is up with me lately. What is happening with you? Or what have you been up to in the past nine or ten months since I blogged? Do you belong to a guild? Do you make any charity quilts? I'd love to read about it.quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-2849382562562945042014-12-16T19:06:00.003-06:002014-12-16T19:11:35.288-06:00Hand Quilting VideoI took a series of short videos of my hand quilting last year and posted them on Instagram. Content on Instagram moves quickly, though, so I also took one longer video to post here on the blog. It only took me about a year upload it...<br />
<br />
In this video you can see how I start a line of quilting. I always quilt from right to left but I pop the knot and tail of my thread on the left and then my first few stitches stabilize that thread tail and knot from popping back out. I use both hands to produce the stitches. Even though I'm right handed, my left hand helps produce each stitch by moving the quilt up and down. <br />
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If you have any further questions, leave them in the comments. I will email you back. If you don't have an email address linked to your account, please leave the address in your comment.<br />
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I hope you are enjoying your December crafting time. I'll be machine quilting tonight on a project that I hope to show you early in January. quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-3766228399638902192014-09-23T12:39:00.000-05:002014-09-23T12:56:04.386-05:00My favorite poem<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pray for Peace </b></span><b> by Ellen Bass</b><br />
<br />
Pray to whomever you kneel down to:<br />
Jesus nailed to his wooden or marble or plastic cross,<br />
his suffering face bent to kiss you,<br />
Buddha still under the Bo tree in scorching heat,<br />
Adonai, Allah. Raise your arms to Mary<br />
that she may lay her palm on our brows,<br />
to Shekinah, Queen of Heaven and Earth,<br />
to Inanna in her stripped descent.<br />
<br />
Hawk or Wolf, or the Great Whale, Record Keeper<br />
of time before, time now, time ahead, pray. Bow down<br />
to terriers and shepherds and Siamese cats.<br />
Fields of artichokes and elegant strawberries.<br />
<br />
Pray to the bus driver who takes you to work,<br />
pray on the bus, pray for everyone riding that bus<br />
and for everyone riding buses all over the world.<br />
If you haven't been on a bus in a long time,<br />
climb the few steps, drop some silver and pray.<br />
<br />
Waiting in line for the movies, for the ATM,<br />
for your latte and croissant, offer your plea.<br />
Make your eating and drinking a supplication.<br />
Make your slicing of carrots a holy act,<br />
each translucent layer of the onion, a deeper prayer.<br />
<br />
Make the brushing of your hair<br />
a prayer, every strand its own voice,<br />
singing in the choir on your head.<br />
As you wash your face, the water slipping<br />
through your fingers, a prayer: water,<br />
softest thing on earth, gentleness<br />
that wears away rock.<br />
<br />
Making love, of course, is already a prayer.<br />
Skin and open mouths worshiping that skin,<br />
the fragile case we are poured into,<br />
each caress a season of peace.<br />
<br />
If you're hungry, pray. If your tired.<br />
<br />
Pray to Ghandi and Dorothy Day.<br />
Shakespeare. Sappho. Sojourner Truth.<br />
Pray to the angels and the ghost of your grandfather.<br />
<br />
When you walk to your car, to the mailbox,<br />
to the video store, let each step<br />
be a prayer that we all keep our legs,<br />
that we do not blow off anyone else's legs.<br />
Or crush their skulls.<br />
And if you are riding on a bicycle<br />
or a skateboard, in a wheelchair, each revolution<br />
of the wheels a prayer that as the earth revolves<br />
we will do less harm, less harm, less harm.<br />
<br />
And as you work, typing with a new manicure,<br />
a tiny palm tree painted on one pearlescent nail,<br />
or delivering soda, or drawing good blood<br />
into rubber-capped vials, writing on a blackboard<br />
with yellow chalk, twirling pizzas, pray for peace.<br />
<br />
With each breath in, take in the faith of those<br />
who have believed when belief seemed foolish,<br />
who persevered. With each breath out, cherish.<br />
<br />
Pull weeds for peace, turn over in your sleep for peace,<br />
feed the birds for peace, each shiny seed<br />
that spills onto the earth another second of peace.<br />
Wash your dishes, call your mother, drink wine.<br />
<br />
Shovel leaves or snow or trash from your sidewalk.<br />
Make a path. Fold a photo of a dead child<br />
around your Visa card. Gnaw your crust<br />
of prayer, scoop your prayer water from the gutter.<br />
Mumble along like a crazy person, stumbling<br />
your prayer through the streets. quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-90199446793564541002014-08-27T10:38:00.003-05:002014-08-27T10:38:28.461-05:00Hard to give awayHenry went off to his first day of school for this year, so I thought I'd try blogging again. I'm behind on everything around the house, but why not procrastinate a little bit longer?<br />
<br />
I have drastically cut back on my sewing bees and swaps--because I'm low on sewing time, my WIP's keep piling up, but mostly because it is stressful to sew for other people and equally stressful to send it away in the mail after working so hard on it. Recently I saw the ice cream swap on instagram and I thought I'd give swaps another try.<br />
<br />
The ice cream block comes from the <a href="http://www.pinkcastlefabrics.com/products/318-patchwork-patterns">318 Patchwork Patterns book</a> by Kumiko Fujita. This book was recently release again in English and is for sale at the link (and I have no ties with the vendor). I have loved that ice cream block since I first saw <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sewtakeahike/4653956258/in/set-72157620008999640">Penny's block</a> (back in 2010!) and now I've finally made one.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/15050794021" title="ice cream pencil case swap by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="ice cream pencil case swap" height="640" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3859/15050794021_a2cf47e849_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
I used a bag construction technique found in a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Patchwork-Style-Simple-Projects-Colorful/dp/159030649X/ref=la_B001JP45SS_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409153405&sr=1-1">Suzuko Koseki book</a> but then changed the dimensions to suit the pencil bag I wanted to make. You quilt the front and back panels but use a separate lining and then you quilt a zipper gusset with the lining fabric. Then when the gusset is sewn into the bag there are exposed seam allowances. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/14867243688" title="seam allowances unfinished by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="seam allowances unfinished" height="640" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3876/14867243688_7df8f5009b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Then you stitch binding tape above the seam allowance by hand and then stitch it by hand again below the seam allowance but <i>without wrapping the seam allowance</i>. This way the seam allowance is tucked down and that gives the bag more shape while making the inside cleaner. <br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/14867270117" title="seam allowances finished by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="seam allowances finished" height="640" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3836/14867270117_5fa0102171_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Here is a picture of the quilted gusset.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/15050768201" title="gusset by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="gusset" height="640" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3874/15050768201_4b1c571ae1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
The finished zipper gusset, <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/14867250269" title="gusset zipper by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="gusset zipper" height="640" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3906/14867250269_8418a2b32a_z.jpg" width="478" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
and the finished bag. Yet again, I love the finished product so much that I really didn't want to send it off in the mail. I'll probably be taking another break from swaps. Call me selfish, but I don't seem to find time to make cute ice cream bags to stay here at home and I'll never <i>will</i> if I keep signing up for more swaps.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/14867250749" title="finished pencil case by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="finished pencil case" height="478" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5558/14867250749_009fe5751b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-77317648429336738562014-05-24T14:09:00.001-05:002014-05-24T14:09:09.364-05:00For Pink Sakes I am participating in the <a href="http://lifesewcrafty.blogspot.com/2014/05/for-pinks-sakes-blog-hop.html">For Pink Sakes Blog Hop</a> hosted by Anna of <a href="http://lifesewcrafty.blogspot.com/">Life Sew Crafty</a>. Anna is collecting pink blocks to make a breast cancer quilt. Her mother-in-law has been fighting breast cancer and she has more information about that <a href="http://lifesewcrafty.blogspot.com/2014/05/for-pinks-sakes-blog-hop-may-24.html">here</a>. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/14073374087" title="For Pink Sakes by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="For Pink Sakes" height="478" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3721/14073374087_bb7f2652a1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
<br />
For my block, I used the <a href="http://www.paperpanache.com/free/freebiepatternsearch.php?linklokauth=ZnJlZS9wcGZyZWVicy9icmEucGhwLDEzOTc0NTg3NDAsNjguNDEuMTgzLjM1LDAsMSxMTF8wLHBwMSwwMTYzMTljMDIzMTQyZjUzMjNiN2U0Yzg4YzVhNWRkYw%3D%3D/bra.php">bra block pattern at Paper Panache</a>. I just fell in love with the duck and duckling fabric and now I wish that I had a bra like this. Unfortunately, a bra made out of quilting cotton would probably be uncomfortable...<br />
<br />
If <i>YOU</i> would like to contribute a pink block to Anna's quilt, please find more information on her blog. Anna will also be hosting a giveaway on August
2 for anyone who has participated by reposting, sending a pink block, contributions, etc. The giveaway items are pretty cool, so click through on <a href="http://lifesewcrafty.blogspot.com/2014/05/for-pinks-sakes-august-2-give-away.html">this link</a> and consider pitching in.<br />
<br />
Now go check out the other bloggers on the blog hop!<br />
<br />
<u><b>May 10</b></u><br />
Anna of <a href="http://lifesewcrafty.blogspot.com/2014/05/for-pinks-sakes-blog-hop.html" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" yui_3_16_0_1_1400937476249_10070="">Life Sew Crafty</a><br />
Sarah of <a href="http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2014/05/for-pinks-sakes-blog-hop.html" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" yui_3_16_0_1_1400937476249_10071="">Confessions of a Fabric Addict</a> <br />
Robin <a href="http://weareflyingnow.blogspot.com/2014/05/pink-flowers-and-for-pinks-sakes.html" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" yui_3_16_0_1_1400937476249_10072="">Miscellaneous Thoughts</a><br />
Kathy of <a href="http://kwiltypleasures.blogspot.com/2014/05/for-pinks-sake-blog-hop.html" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" yui_3_16_0_1_1400937476249_10073="">Kwilty Pleasures</a><br />
<br clear="none" />
<u><b>May 24 </b></u><br />
Jess of <a href="http://quiltyhabit.blogspot.com/" nofollow="" shape="rect" target="_blank">Quilty Habit</a><br />
Melinda of <a href="http://quirkygranolagirl.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" yui_3_16_0_1_1400937476249_10074="">quirky granola girl</a><br />
Kristyn of <a href="http://melonpatchquilts.com/" nofollow="" shape="rect" target="_blank">Melon Patch Quilts</a><br />
<br />
<u><b>June 7</b></u><br />
Amy of <a href="http://thecalicocat.blogspot.com/" nofollow="" shape="rect" target="_blank">The Calico Cat</a><br />
Leanne of <a href="http://devotedquilter.blogspot.com/" nofollow="" shape="rect" target="_blank">Devoted Quilter</a> <br />
Terrie of <a href="http://q-nonnie.blogspot.com/" nofollow="" shape="rect" target="_blank">Quilting Nonnie</a><br />
<br />
<u><b>June 21</b></u><br />
Carla of <a href="http://modernbiasblog.com/" nofollow="" shape="rect" target="_blank">modern bias</a><br />
Meli of <a href="http://munchkinquilts.blogspot.com/" nofollow="" shape="rect" target="_blank">Munchkin Quilts</a><br />
Stacey of <a href="http://thetiltedquilt.blogspot.com/" nofollow="" shape="rect" target="_blank">The Tilted Quilt</a><br />
Julie of <a href="http://thecraftyquilter.com/" nofollow="" shape="rect" target="_blank">The Crafty Quilter</a><u><b> </b></u><br />
<br />
<u><b>July 5</b></u><br />
Erin of <a href="http://www.sewathomemummy.com/" nofollow="" shape="rect" target="_blank">Sew at Home Mummy</a><br />
Lyanna of <a href="http://bluestripedroom.wordpress.com/" nofollow="" shape="rect" target="_blank">Blue Striped Room</a><br />
Heather of <a href="http://www.quiltsinthequeue.com/" nofollow="" shape="rect" target="_blank">Quilts in the Queue</a><u><b> </b></u><br />
<br />
<u><b>July 19</b></u><br />
Katie of <a href="http://swimbikequilt.com/" nofollow="" shape="rect" target="_blank">Swim Bike Quilt</a><br />
Sarah of <a href="http://www.nohatsinthehouse.com/" nofollow="" shape="rect" target="_blank">{no} hats in the house</a><br />
Katie of <a href="http://karmawillowdesigns.blogspot.com/" nofollow="" shape="rect" target="_blank">Snuggle Up with a Dish from Karma</a> quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-59162745000543684022014-04-11T10:52:00.001-05:002014-04-12T21:26:31.079-05:00Baby quilt for a new little MQG memberJessie, the president of the DC Modern Quilt Guild, just had a baby. I was lucky enough to get to put together the blocks from the MQG members to make the quilt for the new little bundle.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/farawayroad/13787252463" title="Vivian and her quilt by Jessie Aller, on Flickr"><img alt="Vivian and her quilt" height="509" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7030/13787252463_49905808f2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
<br />
I was inspired by <a href="http://teaginnydesigns.blogspot.com/2013/10/tiny-log-cabin-quilt.html">Teaginny's Tiny Log Cabin Quilt</a>. So I asked for monochromatic log cabin blocks in each member's favorite color, out of their favorite fabrics and measuring only four to five inches. I also asked each person to send some pale neutral scrap for the sashing.<br />
<br />
Once I received quite a few blocks in the mail, I arranged them on my design floor. I like to use the back of a picnic tablecloth. The flannel side is very sticky and the other side is slippery so it is easy to roll up or fold and then flatten it back out without my blocks getting rearranged.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13780118265" title="starting layout by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="starting layout" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7149/13780118265_2bac9abc0f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Then I started improv piecing around each colorful block with whatever low volume bits I could find that worked. Here is the first quarter,<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13780469854" title="1st quarter by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="1st quarter" height="500" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2843/13780469854_44bff706fe.jpg" width="449" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
the second quarter (after Henry trampled on it),<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13780126555" title="2nd quarter by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="2nd quarter" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3675/13780126555_f90683b40e.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
the third quarter,<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13780469434" title="3rd quarter by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="3rd quarter" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7441/13780469434_ee1a2dedbd.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
and the fourth.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13780127383" title="4th quarter by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="4th quarter" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7452/13780127383_10990bbb7f.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
Once the top was all assembled I basted it,<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13780127143" title="needs hand quilting by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="needs hand quilting" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7313/13780127143_0157dcee86.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
and then did some quilting with white 20wt thread.<br />
<br />
<br />
Then I added some black hand quilting around each block...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13780122445" title="quilting by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="quilting" height="374" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2807/13780122445_6e4c44606d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13780122025" title="quilting by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="quilting" height="374" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5586/13780122025_11debcff6a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13780462234" title="quilting by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="quilting" height="374" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/13780462234_6af39c8e43.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13780117015" title="quilting by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="quilting" height="374" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2925/13780117015_955288a261.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13780120745" title="quilting by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="quilting" height="374" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3812/13780120745_8fe8fb6d75.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
(that cerise block is mine!)<br />
<br />
<br />
...and I hand stamped the back of the quilt with the first name of the person that made that block.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13780125813" title="names by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="names" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7125/13780125813_a60910d332.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
Linda attached the binding and hand stitched most of it and Anne finished the rest. I'm so grateful that some people like to add binding because it is my least favorite step of the process.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13780460384" title="Linda and Anne are awesome by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="Linda and Anne are awesome" height="320" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7238/13780460384_d6614de985_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
I stamped DCMQG and wrote the year on it.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13780125453" title="label by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="label" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7190/13780125453_454d09836a.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
These are 11 of the 24(!) people that submitted blocks for this quilt.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13780467954" title="some contributors on retreat by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="some contributors on retreat" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5154/13780467954_dcc8ded9f4.jpg" width="500" /></a>quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-79335496170668020412014-04-03T22:03:00.004-05:002023-10-10T14:05:18.186-05:00Patchwork Death Star Pattern<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13615015763" title="The pattern is posted to my blog. Link in my profile. Please please tag it #patchworkdeathstar. I'd love to see it. by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="The pattern is posted to my blog. Link in my profile. Please please tag it #patchworkdeathstar. I'd love to see it." height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7270/13615015763_443827e89b.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
<br />
I was hoping to post this a couple of days ago, but it turns out that I'm not very tech savvy. Thank goodness I finally pulled it together. Here is the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KB3a6hh_-UcddQXVpnGQzrJK1j4Ju1cy/view?usp=sharing">link</a> for the pdf file for the free pattern and some instructions.<br />
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I have a couple of pictures that I took along the way that I'll post here. If you do make a patchwork Death Star please please please post a link for me to see. If you are on IG, please tag it #patchworkdeathstar. Thanks! I can't wait to see different versions. I originally dreamed of this all in tiny Libery florals. Wouldn't that be cool?<br />
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Well anyway, here is a shot of a few of my pieces after glue basting.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13614403243" title="basted by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="basted" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7383/13614403243_ccd69ef003.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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And here is a picture of the top half pieced and sitting on top of my first drawing of it. <br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13614402963" title="In process by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="In process" height="374" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3755/13614402963_bed38f3688.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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The final pattern will make an 11x12" block. The perimeter fabric can easily be made larger by extending the paper pattern. The Death Star itself could be made bigger by bringing the pdf printouts to a copy store and enlarging them.<br />
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May the force be with you. quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-51399894642482998552014-03-31T21:00:00.000-05:002014-03-31T21:00:47.540-05:00Confirmation that I'm a geek(As if you needed it.)<br />
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I sent this mini quilt off to a friend last week. It is a Patchwork Death Star.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13474470284" title="Patchwork Death Star by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="Patchwork Death Star" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3781/13474470284_7c42ca2a8f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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The inspiration for it started when my friend, <a href="http://mcmavenhaven.blogspot.com/">Blair</a>, sent me this most fabulous embroidery hoop.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/10697687336" title="I got a super sweet gift from the uber talented @silentblair. by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="I got a super sweet gift from the uber talented @silentblair." height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5494/10697687336_902dbf5dbd.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Perhaps, more accurately, it started much earlier when we started talking about how smooth Lando Calrissian is. Once it was determined that we were both Star Wars fans, the pins and tags just kept flying. She is super sweet and talented so she made me that hoop of awesomeness up above.<br />
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It is really, really hard to craft for awesome crafters. It took me a l-o-n-g time to decide what my theme would be. And then I was stuck on making the Death Star all in florals. It turns out that I didn't have enough small scale florals for my idea and getting the right value changes was going to be impossible. But I have gray fabric up the wazoo. Once I decided to do the pattern with English paper piecing things went pretty smoothly. Some advice from <a href="http://knittingsandwich.typepad.com/">Melissa</a> and <a href="http://jessiealler.com/">Jessie</a> helped, too.<br />
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I really didn't think that there would be many people who would want to make a Patchwork Death Star of their very own. But the requests for a pattern have been pretty insistent. I still need to finalize how to print the pattern out, but I hope to have it up tomorrow. <br />
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Have you ever shown your geeky side in your quilting?quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-34280174317456273912014-03-30T11:32:00.000-05:002019-01-04T16:05:09.007-06:00March RecapTwo posts in two days may sound a little too crazy, but here goes nothin'...<br />
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In March:<br />
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I KNIT A SWEATER! I don't mean to holler but I LOVE it. I really really really do. It isn't finished in this picture but you have to believe me that it is done, ends weaved in, blocked, and I wear it in all of its squishy, yummy, colorful glory. I have a big crush...on my own sweater. (Now I just need to gather the courage to take a picture of me wearing it.) The pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/practically">Practically</a> and is available on ravelry. <br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13385079834" title="I have about four rows left!! by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="I have about four rows left!!" height="500" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2806/13385079834_6b84b207e6.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I finished my last bee block for the <a href="https://www.flickr.com/groups/ringopie/">Ringo Pie Bee</a> and this one was for Penny (<a href="http://sewtakeahike.typepad.com/sewtakeahike/">sewtakeahike</a>) who was the one that <a href="http://quirkygranolagirl.blogspot.com/2011/04/workshop-weekend.html">taught me how to design my own bee blocks</a> in the first place. <i>No pressure or anything.</i> I am very happy with how this one turned out. I used a crapton of different techniques on it. That seems to be my thing. My little odd person niche in the world is to use a crazy number of techniques in order to realize the vision of the block in my head. And that works for me.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/12908717485" title="My last #ringopiebee block for Penny at sewtakeahike. by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="My last #ringopiebee block for Penny at sewtakeahike." height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3716/12908717485_466797ed2f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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We've been working a lot in our new community garden plot on warm days<br />
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and then we get a few more snow days.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13228447735" title="I'm generally sick of snow days, but Henry has been beside himself with joy all day. by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="I'm generally sick of snow days, but Henry has been beside himself with joy all day." height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7311/13228447735_be6d643516.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I'm trying out sewing hexies by machine. There is a big plan in the works for this piece!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/13489693114" title="Just the start of something good... #hexies by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="Just the start of something good... #hexies" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7330/13489693114_474f6eb2b4.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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And I've had a few secret gift projects up my sleeve this month. My first gift reveal gets it own post...very, very soon. quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-49322159213953531202014-03-29T11:12:00.000-05:002019-01-04T16:05:59.671-06:00Number 5Yup. This is blog post number five for 2014. (Henry likes counting in Spanish so he would say, cinco).<br />
I <i>could</i> apologize for my absence, but I won't. This is a place I come to with things that have inspired me and stories that I want to share. And I have no regrets for how I've spent my time so far this year.<br />
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But how do I catch up to the current inspiration? Thankfully flickr and IG remind me.<br />
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I wove a scarf on my loom. I'm delighted that I found a good place for two of my favorite stash yarns and super duper glad that a good friend was willing to give this scarf a home.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/11937490476" title="I forgot to post the finished scarf that I wove on the loom. I'm really happy with it. I want to weave another scarf next but I can't decide on the yarn. #loomweaving by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="I forgot to post the finished scarf that I wove on the loom. I'm really happy with it. I want to weave another scarf next but I can't decide on the yarn. #loomweaving" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3825/11937490476_621c937df6.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I gave up knitting one sweater. But selling the yarn and some hoarded fabric allowed me to buy...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/12060531243" title="I ripped this whole vest out today... This is the second time that this yarn does not want to be made into a sweater by me. So I'm selling it to someone on ravelry. And I feel much freer ✨ by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="I ripped this whole vest out today... This is the second time that this yarn does not want to be made into a sweater by me. So I'm selling it to someone on ravelry. And I feel much freer ✨" height="500" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2857/12060531243_337b67852a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<br />
...some Madelinetosh yarn to knit another sweater.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/12415159795" title="I love that my knitting matches the quilt in my lap. #ravellenicgames2014 by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="I love that my knitting matches the quilt in my lap. #ravellenicgames2014" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3752/12415159795_5106dcf10d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I had to rip that sweater, too. But when I love a yarn that much, I don't mind knitting it all over again.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/12770267245" title="Maybe I should have tried it on WAY before I got to the fourth ball of yarn. #ribbit by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="Maybe I should have tried it on WAY before I got to the fourth ball of yarn. #ribbit" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7374/12770267245_1f6ee7c350.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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We took a road trip with the boy...to <i>Wisconsin</i>...in <i>February</i>...with the added fun of a <i>polar vortex</i>. We had a great time on our trip, but I swear that we should meet up with my family in a warmer locale next time.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/12401341224" title="#latergram of Henry trying to shove all of "Woody's guys" under his armpit for safekeeping during the car trip. My little hoarder has to touch all of his favorite toys at once. At least he is excited to be in the car and headed to Wisconsin 6 more hour by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="#latergram of Henry trying to shove all of "Woody's guys" under his armpit for safekeeping during the car trip. My little hoarder has to touch all of his favorite toys at once. At least he is excited to be in the car and headed to Wisconsin 6 more hour" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3830/12401341224_5b91555413.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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While in Green Bay, I helped my mom quilt her Farmer's Wife quilt. It was a <b>huge</b> job but definitely satisfying.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/12512354244" title="My mom, @bakerlady16, and I on her #farmerswifequilt by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="My mom, @bakerlady16, and I on her #farmerswifequilt" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3722/12512354244_d860d6ea81.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Lastly, I finished some ancient bee blocks. I feel like ancient is the primary adjective I use when describing bee blocks here. I think I need to keep up on my bee block calendar a wee bit more for the rest of 2014. Do you agree?<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/12642550465" title="Farmer's Wife block 30, End of Day. Ancient replacement bee block for @wheretheorchidsgrow. by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="Farmer's Wife block 30, End of Day. Ancient replacement bee block for @wheretheorchidsgrow." height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5483/12642550465_28f41e76e6.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/12699834045" title="Replacement bee block for @wheretheorchidsgrow. Her theme was 50's housewife. #cocoricobee by Melinda, on Flickr"><img alt="Replacement bee block for @wheretheorchidsgrow. Her theme was 50's housewife. #cocoricobee" height="500" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2835/12699834045_51939f2cbd.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
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Whew! That was all January and February.<br />
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Stay tuned for my next update.<br />
I'm totally serious. I will be back very soon. <br />
<br />quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-66193841246687541172014-02-01T13:19:00.000-06:002014-02-01T13:19:48.295-06:00Dear Sweet BoyThis morning you woke up and said, "Trains! Play trains." You are nearly four and half and this is the first time in two years that you wanted to play with trains without tantrums and without me plying you with treats. You watched a video of a classmate playing with them and you decided that you could do it, to. You never have liked wheeled vehicles before, and today you still weren't interested in setting up the track or in moving the train on the track.<br />
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Instead you played with them in your own unique way. You nested.<br />
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Your daddy and I made you a train table when you were one and half. And today you piled the tracks and trains on it, added a layer of Toy Story figures (paying the trains your highest compliment), you added some bubble wrap for good measure and then added the doggies, soft blankie and the quilt from your bed (your own version of whipped cream and a cherry on top).<br />
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I didn't get a picture of the next part because I was too busy giggling. You laid on top of your treasures with the quilt covering you and your toys. Your head was under the quilt and everything else was in a pile under you and you kept saying, "Sleep." Then you poked your head out from under the quilt, grinned at me and said, "I'm exhausted." <br />
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You, my son, are a hoarder of great treasures, you are a nester (often singing, "lay down in your nest, let me take a rest") and a cuddler. And you accepted trains and train tracks into your nest to cuddle today, right on top of your train table. And it made me cry--the happy kind. My joyful boy learned how to play with trains in his own way. You watched a peer at school, saw how happy trains made him and you decided to show me how happy trains make you.<br />
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I love you more than words can express. So I think you and I will make a nest later today.quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-28893161952338348922014-02-01T13:18:00.000-06:002014-02-01T13:18:04.337-06:00Speaking of SamplersI've been hand quilting my Farmer's Wife blocks this month. <br />
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I'm varying the color of the perle cotton (size 8) and varying the width of the seam allowance to match the fabric patterns and block design. It is s-l-o-w going, but it is so beautiful, and cozy, that I think I may work on it for a few more weeks before I need a break from it.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/12243997075/" title="I spent a lot of time working on my #farmerswifequilt today. I'm a happy girl. by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="I spent a lot of time working on my #farmerswifequilt today. I'm a happy girl. " src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2808/12243997075_db6f07b360.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/12163964994/" title="All of this quilting can get a little boring. Thank you to everyone out there that comments and "likes" my posts. You guys are keeping me motivated. #farmerswifequilt by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="All of this quilting can get a little boring. Thank you to everyone out there that comments and "likes" my posts. You guys are keeping me motivated. #farmerswifequilt" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5486/12163964994_e65795d907.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/12118706613/" title="The green quilting us subtle, but this may be my favorite block yet. #farmerswifequilt by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="The green quilting us subtle, but this may be my favorite block yet. #farmerswifequilt" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3730/12118706613_42bcd45ee2.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/12072136493/" title="My guys are outside playing in the snow and I'm cozy in here. Happy happy quilter... #farmerswifequilt by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="My guys are outside playing in the snow and I'm cozy in here. Happy happy quilter... #farmerswifequilt" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3831/12072136493_c8984b87a5.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/12070728196/" title="Red quilting as the snowflakes fall outside. #farmerswifequilt by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="Red quilting as the snowflakes fall outside. #farmerswifequilt" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7304/12070728196_1d06968cf9.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/12064327094/" title="Some orange quilting #farmerswifequilt by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="Some orange quilting #farmerswifequilt" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3755/12064327094_2e35512424.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/12064221933/" title="I'm adding some colored quilting to my #farmerswifequilt by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="I'm adding some colored quilting to my #farmerswifequilt" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7329/12064221933_8d70dae102.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></div>
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Have you ever done hand quilting before? What is the biggest quilt you've ever hand quilted? Do you feel comfortable with your technique?
quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-86668091762145167812014-01-28T07:50:00.002-06:002014-01-28T07:50:14.506-06:00Pony Club UpdateI apologize for the grainy quality of the Instagram photos, but I thought that I should update my progress here. I am having a blast with these blocks and each one feels like its own success. That is what I love best about samplers. Each block feels like an accomplishment. A quilt made of a bunch of the same blocks just doesn't hold a similar satisfaction for me.<br />
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A Dandy<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/11755562094/" title="I am not a competitive sport person, but the feeling I get from this block is what I imagine a touchdown would feel like. I have a fluttering joy in my chest and an urge to jump up and pump my fist. A Dandy block, #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="I am not a competitive sport person, but the feeling I get from this block is what I imagine a touchdown would feel like. I have a fluttering joy in my chest and an urge to jump up and pump my fist. A Dandy block, #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3831/11755562094_314616f564.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></div>
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New Jersey<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/11817916355/" title="New Jersey block #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="New Jersey block #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3775/11817916355_c57be171b4.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></div>
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Colt's Corral<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/11818705666/" title="I adore using the Dowry fabric in these blocks. Colt's Corral block #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="I adore using the Dowry fabric in these blocks. Colt's Corral block #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7343/11818705666_b88a64d25c.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></div>
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Hen and Her Chicks<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/11818241233/" title="Looking at these blocks makes me feel a little warmer. Hen and Her Chicks block #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="Looking at these blocks makes me feel a little warmer. Hen and Her Chicks block #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5528/11818241233_8949efa48e.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></div>
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Children's Delight<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/11864007526/" title="Children's Delight block #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="Children's Delight block #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7443/11864007526_46ab14a218.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></div>
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July Fourth<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/11863177295/" title="July Fourth block #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="July Fourth block #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7384/11863177295_45670abd0f.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></div>
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Maud's Album<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/11863195615/" title="Showing three if the easier blocks from the book tonight. Maud's Album Quilt block #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="Showing three if the easier blocks from the book tonight. Maud's Album Quilt block #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5485/11863195615_becda2572a.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></div>
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Sheep Fold<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/11929267484/" title="Sheep Fold block #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="Sheep Fold block #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3779/11929267484_33aa1ee24e.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></div>
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Ribbons<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/11928848825/" title="The first four y-seams were fine and then the last two had to be rescued with some hand stitching. Ribbons block #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="The first four y-seams were fine and then the last two had to be rescued with some hand stitching. Ribbons block #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5508/11928848825_2651799f71.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></div>
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Like I mentioned in my last post, if you are tempted by these blocks, please get the book and join in. I'd love to see more versions of these blocks and of this sampler quilt.<br />
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In the meantime, I've been getting tempted by a few other samplers out there. Do you have a favorite sampler that you think I should know about? quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-4074986510936534972014-01-03T11:30:00.003-06:002014-01-03T11:30:53.497-06:00Pony Club SamplerMy Farmer's Wife quilt isn't done yet. That hand quilting only happens when I'm in the mood. And right now I'm in the mood for another sampler quilt.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/11604337923/" title="I am SO excited to start this quilt. by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="I am SO excited to start this quilt." height="500" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2891/11604337923_0d68d443ac_z.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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The Pony Club Sampler has 8" finished blocks and much of the piecing is more complex. I don't think I'll get away with only paper piecing three of these blocks.<br />
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I'm doing the whole quilt in Anna Maria Horner fabrics. I love her vibrant color schemes and wild patterns. I usually choose things that are more tame, so this will be a challenge for me. The first block here is Mayflower and has four y-seams. I was pleased with how much easier they were compared to my first attempt at y-seams on the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/7157174737/in/set-72157627244872729">Homemaker</a> block (first 3 attempts not photographed because it looked awful!).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/11668052866/" title="I couldn't wait until January 1st. Only 12 pieces seemed like an easy return to sampler blocks. How did I not notice 4 y-seams? But I did rock them if I do say so myself. Mayflower block #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="I couldn't wait until January 1st. Only 12 pieces seemed like an easy return to sampler blocks. How did I not notice 4 y-seams? But I did rock them if I do say so myself. Mayflower block #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner" height="500" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5516/11668052866_8a6b378a74_z.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Here is the Boy's Playmate block. I am adding some vivid solids in with the AMH fabrics.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/11732969133/" title="Boy's Playmate #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="Boy's Playmate #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner" height="500" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2870/11732969133_727cd2098e_z.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Here is the At the Depot block</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/11733008203/" title="At the Depot #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="At the Depot #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7382/11733008203_66e3bd7889_z.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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and Old Indian Trail block. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/11733184394/" title="Catching up on pictures before I start making some more blocks today. Old Indian Trail #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="Catching up on pictures before I start making some more blocks today. Old Indian Trail #ponyclubquilt #annamariahorner" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7424/11733184394_0b013a13a8_z.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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I'd love to have anyone else join in on sewing this sampler in 2014. I'm trying to recruit people to join on Instagram or on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/2120190@N20">Flickr</a>.<br />
Are you working on a sampler of any kind? I'd love to hear about it.quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-72349114506459539242013-12-30T13:49:00.000-06:002013-12-30T13:49:41.522-06:002013 Roud upEver since I joined Instagram, I've noticed that I prefer to post the messy in-progress photos there and then post the finishes and the stories over here. Unfortunately, I haven't really had much for finishes lately, so this spot has been very quiet. The good news is that I just recently got my sewing mojo back, so here's hoping that I have more to post here soon.<br />
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In the meantime, I do like my year end mosaics. 2013 was declared <a href="http://quirkygranolagirl.blogspot.com/2013/01/2013-declared-year-of-completion.html">the year of completion</a>. And I did complete 18 quilts!!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="640" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/11651596335/player/76a53207cb" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br /></div>
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The picture above shows 16 and I also finished two other baby quilts for charity. </div>
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In addition to the quilts, I made some more complicated containers, zipper bags, ornaments, a purse and some apparel! This has been a big year for trying new techniques. I still have a lot to learn, but this has been fun.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="481" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/11652225533/player/bfcd511a7b" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br /></div>
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And, lastly, I had some bee blocks to make. Only 9 bee blocks made this year feel <b>much</b> easier than others. But, can you believe that I still have one bee block to do...from April? That should be first on my sewing list for 2014. It definitely has to get done in January. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="640" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/11652192295/player/d8065cd942" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br /></div>
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So out of the 19 projects that I wanted to finish in 2013, I did finish ten and I made good progress on another four. But 2014 is NOT going to be another year of completing projects. I need some inspiration! I have a lot of new ideas that I didn't allow myself to start in 2013 and I'm not waiting any longer. I hope you find your inspiration to sew in the new year, too!quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-79939543561382634162013-10-31T17:24:00.001-05:002013-10-31T17:24:13.891-05:00Happy Halloween!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/10238672324/" title="Skelly doll done ✔. It only took 2 years to attach the arms and
legs. by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="Skelly doll done ✔. It only took 2 years
to attach the arms and legs." height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3766/10238672324_c71dabd133_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/10595382853/" title="I finished sewing his treat sack last night and today I watched him do the costume parade at school with his favorite classmate, Niki. I can't wait for tonight. I really think that we may make it to two or three houses successfully. If we can do all 5 hou by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="I finished sewing his treat sack last night and today I watched him do the costume parade at school with his favorite classmate, Niki. I can't wait for tonight. I really think that we may make it to two or three houses successfully. If we can do all 5 hou" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7440/10595382853_460b917308_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I hope you are all having a fun time trick or treating!quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-82694637399018525882013-10-26T11:49:00.002-05:002013-10-26T11:49:53.543-05:00Good SportsI asked Ben if he wanted a new winter hat or scarf or mittens this year as I was perusing pretty patterns on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a>. He said he wanted an ear warmer and a neck warmer for when he rides his bike in the winter. I thought I'd get a chance to pick a cool pattern or try some two color knitting, but no, he just wanted plain and 2x2 rib. He dug through my stash and picked some Cascade 220 for the headband and then he wanted the Noro Cash Iroha for the neckband.<br />
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So, I took a break in knitting some fun stuff for me in order to keep him cozy.<br />
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But he is an excellent sport when modeling new handknits. Here is his rock n' roll look,<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/10495687925/" title="the rock 'n roll by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="the rock 'n roll" height="374" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2846/10495687925_f682009e20.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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happy jogging man,<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/10495687725/" title="the happy jogger by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="the happy jogger" height="374" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3685/10495687725_e19dec8f40.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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and the Ron Swanson.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/10495686505/" title="the Ron Swanson (minus mustache) by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="the Ron Swanson (minus mustache)" height="374" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7433/10495686505_021d3246a4.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div>
quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-91786987514573307072013-10-23T15:37:00.001-05:002019-01-04T16:12:42.772-06:00Still finishing thingsBack in January, I declared 2013 as the <a href="http://quirkygranolagirl.blogspot.com/2013/01/2013-declared-year-of-completion.html">Year of Completion</a>. Well, I've been chugging along on my quilting UFO's (unfinished objects) and have made great progress. I've been pretty good about not starting new quilt projects, too. There have been a few garments and a couple of baby quilts for gifts, but I have really held back in starting new epic projects. (Beware, I have two big ones in mind that I will probably start in January 2014--maybe even when the clock strikes 12:01am....)<br />
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So, all of this is to say that I've been a very good girl. And, earlier this month, when I was so sick of staring at the same sewing projects that I had to wander off, I picked up some old knitting WIP's (works in progress).<br />
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I finished mittens that I started 21 months ago.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/10298943606/" title="Nearly done with mittens that I started 21 months ago. #handknits by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="Nearly done with mittens that I started 21 months ago. #handknits" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3668/10298943606_355aeba438.jpg" height="500" width="500"></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/10445983384/" title="mittens by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="mittens" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7367/10445983384_703098afa3_z.jpg" height="478" width="640"></a></div>
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I finished a charity baby knit that I started 11 months ago.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/9883559445/" title="Tiny sweater. #babyknits #finallyfinishing by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="Tiny sweater. #babyknits #finallyfinishing" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2858/9883559445_ab41516fe8_z.jpg" height="612" width="612"></a></div>
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And then I tried to finish a sweater that I started <b><i>over five years ago</i></b>.<br />
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Well, my knitting gauge is much smaller than it was five years ago, and I'm (ahem) not smaller than I was five years ago. So, the size I had cast on for was incorrect at this time and then I knit one front of a cardigan that was 2 inches narrower than the other side.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/10331501466/" title="My last old knitting WIP. I started this in 2008!! It is a Hey, Teach! cardigan in Berroco Inca Gold. by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="My last old knitting WIP. I started this in 2008!! It is a Hey, Teach! cardigan in Berroco Inca Gold." src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3773/10331501466_c32e4d951f.jpg" height="500" width="500"></a></div>
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So, I had to rip out all of this delicious texture. (sad face)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/10446168433/" title="unraveling by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="unraveling" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5488/10446168433_aabbbb511e.jpg" height="374" width="500"></a></div>
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I have another plan for the yarn and I'm already 11 rows into it. I'm cheating on my old quilting projects, but the fall winds demand that I knit, so I'm listening. quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-23608034102972023432013-10-22T13:07:00.000-05:002019-01-04T16:14:39.089-06:00Another installment of Barbie knitsThis space has been quiet lately and I think it's because my knitting mojo is back in full swing. You've gotta love fall as a knitter. I've been churning projects off of the needles, taking some (occasionally lousy) pictures and then knitting something else. Sometimes I even spend a full day or two agonizing about what I will knit next. But today I'm taking a break in the agonizing to post some pictures of recent Barbie knits. I think this may be my last Barbie knit post for some time...I think.<br />
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First up is a collared shirt. Pattern #0133 on <a href="http://stickatillbarbie.se/">stickatillbarbie.se</a><br />
I stitched the collar down with a little thread because it really wanted to roll back up. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/10425419156/" title="more Barbie knits by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="more Barbie knits" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3712/10425419156_4a39671ebc.jpg" height="500" width="374"></a></div>
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These pictures are pretty grainy since it was such a dreary day. I
managed to comb out the knots in (Hispanic Presidential Candidate)
Barbie's hair the day before this photo session. Then Henry promptly
used her to drum on the walls so she is a disaster again. I'm not
redoing that hair until I absolutely have to.<br />
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For the ruffle skirt I used pattern #1005 pink dress (on <a href="http://stickatillbarbie.se/">stickatillbarbie.se</a>) to learn how to do the ruffle and then made it into a skirt when I got to the waistband. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/10425551093/" title="more Barbie knits by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="more Barbie knits" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5474/10425551093_526a54e4c7.jpg" height="500" width="374"></a></div>
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I'm particularly proud of this jumpsuit knit. I made up the pattern for this myself. I knit it in the round from the bottom up and had up to seven needles going at once to join the two legs together, but the pattern is completely seamless! (I get excited about the small things.)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/10425552183/" title="more Barbie knits by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="more Barbie knits" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3687/10425552183_2935cb61c0.jpg" height="500" width="374"></a></div>
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This cape may be the most and least necessary accessory at the same time. Does Barbie really need a cape knit in Madelintosh yarn leftovers? No. But, will my creative Barbie-playing friend be able to do some cool pretend play with a hooded cape on her Barbie? Yes. Decidedly yes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/10425419376/" title="more Barbie knits by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="more Barbie knits" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5548/10425419376_11eaeaf3e8.jpg" height="500" width="374"></a></div>
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Cape is pattern #1022 on <a href="http://stickatillbarbie.se/">stickatillbarbie.se</a><br />
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Now I have to sort through the rest of my knitting photos to decide what I should share here next...<br />
And then I have to finish the cutest little Halloween treat bag in the universe! Stay tuned.quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-63419354113346031552013-10-14T17:35:00.001-05:002019-08-16T20:12:06.081-05:00Quilting progressI basted my Farmer's Wife quilt a month ago. A friend let me borrow her quilting frame to thread baste it on. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/9828567873/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="My Farmer's Wife quilt is all stretched out and ready for thread basting! by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="My Farmer's Wife quilt is all stretched out and ready for thread basting!" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2808/9828567873_834206ba5f.jpg" height="500" width="500"></a></div>
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Since then, I've been slowly chipping away at the hand quilting on the sashing. I'm using a single strand of Presencia thread and a size 9 straw needle. I'm pleased with how the tiny stitches are working out. </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/10085065473/" title="Hours and hours of teeny gray stitches on gray fabric.... My #farmerswifequilt posts probably look pretty boring, but I love how it is turning out. by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="Hours and hours of teeny gray stitches on gray fabric.... My #farmerswifequilt posts probably look pretty boring, but I love how it is turning out." src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2853/10085065473_34b89186e8.jpg" height="500" width="500"></a></div>
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I've been counting the blocks as I go to keep myself motivated. So far I'm at the sashing of block 34 out of 121. The tiny stitches of gray on gray gets a little boring, but I love how it is turning out. <br />
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Once the sashing is all quilted, I'll move on to the colored size 8 perle cotton big stitch quilting. I think that part will move pretty quickly and it will be a lot of fun to add a little more color to these blocks.
quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-38641328646098390122013-09-18T22:59:00.000-05:002013-09-18T22:59:03.698-05:00Baby Quilt 4Well, I planned on posting this on Saturday or Sunday, but I got sucked into a good book and was too lazy to blog. Does that ever happen to anyone else?<br />
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Anyway, this is the last baby quilt I have to show and it was the only one I worked on in the last week. I don't try to save up quilts to show here, but I seem to go through spurts of quilting and binding as well as reading :)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/9812086773/" title="Baby Pushrock Quilt by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="Baby Pushrock Quilt" height="478" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2891/9812086773_6d7de335a0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Every once in awhile (when I have a cutting spurt) I put a sharp new blade in my rotary cutter and I tackle a huge pile of scraps until they fit nicely in this bin. I have 2.5", 3" and 4" squares, 1.5", 2" and 2.5" strips in here.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/9806928523/" title="My bin of precut scraps makes me happy! by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="My bin of precut scraps makes me happy!" height="500" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2862/9806928523_813d34003e.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div>
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One day I was cutting scraps while my husband just sat at the table watching me. So, I gave him a stack of squares and asked him to pick through them and choose some for a baby quilt. Then I took his choices and the remaining pile and sorted a little bit more, added some white squares and this is the quilt that came out of it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/9812037926/" title="Baby Pushrock Quilt by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="Baby Pushrock Quilt" height="478" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3689/9812037926_d515d199f5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'll be sending it to a dear friend of mine who is pregnant with her
first. They don't know the sex of the baby yet, but blue is my
second favorite color next to green, so I think this will work for a boy
or a girl.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/9812036926/" title="Baby Pushrock Quilt by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="Baby Pushrock Quilt" height="478" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7303/9812036926_c89303a650_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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On Thursday I'll be thread basting my Farmer's Wife quilt. I am so excited! My friend, Jessie, is letting me use her quilting frame. So if you follow me on <a href="http://instagram.com/quirkygranolagirl?ref=badge#">instagram</a> or <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/">flickr</a>, you'll see some basting pictures pop up! quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-8374857326036530672013-09-13T14:35:00.003-05:002013-09-13T14:46:12.460-05:00Baby Quilt 3As I mentioned yesterday, I have another strip quilt to show today. I've heard that charities get lots and lots of girl-themed baby quilts and not many boy-themed ones. I have a TON of blue and green and gray fabric, but many of them are still floral or cutesy in a way that doesn't work. <br />
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But I had this Tula Pink fabric that was just itching to be made into a quiet boy quilt.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/9734775175/" title="Baby Quilt 3 by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="Baby Quilt 3" height="478" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7341/9734775175_44dc2e9655_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Both today's quilt and yesterday's will be sent to <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/bundles-of-joy">Bundles of Joy</a>. BOJ is a group of knitters and crocheters on ravelry that send out new baby items to the <a href="http://www.friendsofpineridgereservation.org/">Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota</a>. Pine Ridge spans the two poorest counties in the United States. The blankets and quilts sent by Bundles of Joy are first used by the babies born on the OB ward, then they are used by the elders as lap blankets or wherever they are needed to provide a little extra warmth and brightness. I know that these quilts will be used and reused and that makes me very happy. <br />
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I have one last baby quilt to show in this series of potst but I have to finish up the binding. So maybe I'll post tomorrow, or maybe the next day. After that, I think there will be a long baby quilt lull over here. quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3370653771155572902.post-76901237743348263742013-09-12T18:58:00.000-05:002013-09-13T14:45:37.319-05:00Baby Quilt 2Two months ago I had a day when I just wanted to whip out a quilt top all at once. The very easiest way to do that is to make a strip quilt in baby size. I grabbed some fabric that I needed to use up and then grabbed a few more wacky options from my stash and this came together in no time. The straightline quilting was quick and easy and I've been working on my machine binding, too.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkygranolagirl/9732155437/" title="Baby Quilt 2 by quirky granola girl, on Flickr"><img alt="Baby Quilt 2" height="478" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7317/9732155437_55b8b5ef81_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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This quilt is for <a href="http://swimbikequilt.com/2013/07/100-quilts-for-kids-charity-quilt-drive-starts-today.html">100 Quilts for Kids</a>. Katie of <a href="http://swimbikequilt.com/">SwimBikeQuilt</a> is a friend and member of the <a href="http://dcmodernquiltguild.blogspot.com/">DC Modern Quilt Guild</a> and she started the 100 Quilts for Kids drive. Katie is hosting a local charity sewing day on September 28th (details on her blog) to sew quilts and the DC MQG will be there stitching away. <br />
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I have another strip quilt to show tomorrow and I'll tell you then about the charity that I'll send both of them to. quirky granola girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14073631481423912400noreply@blogger.com2