A Fair Start

Basketweave Dress, side 2

I went to the San Diego County Fair yesterday with DD, who was dancing. She wanted to spend time on the midway with friends, so I just found places to hang out and knit. I watched Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees and a hypnotist (okay, I didn't knit there--I napped) and spent time in the garden area. I got about 20 rows done!

Oh, and DD was terrific! She kept a big smile going and shared the fun with the audience.

Knitter's Paradise

So I've been knitting a lot lately. I finished the back of the basketweave dress for DD and began the front. Of course, it's exactly the same pattern, so maybe I finished the front. Hmm...
Also, I finally cast on the second sock in my Multicolored Sock project. See it there on the right? When I was working on it, another knitter--Gillian--was surprised by the tiny size 0 needles I'm using. They're just a little bigger than wooden toothpicks. She asked, "Do they actually sell those?"

I replied, "Oh, they give them away in restaurants after every meal!"

My new plaything: Ravelry. It's an online site that connects knitters and crocheters, patterns, and their "stashes." I went through most of my yarn, photographed it, and catalogued it. Also, I have a listing of my books and magazines. From this site, I can click any pattern I own or want to own and see how other knitters did with it. Very cool.

My Quilt Story

For eight years, I was on the bead scene. I made and sold extravagant beaded jewelry, taught classes, and went to bead stores all over the country; happily assembling artwork out of color and light. It was fun. It was invigorating. I even took a year-long class that moved me into the artistic world. But something was missing: I didn't feel like I was really serving God; really making the world any better. Sure, I was making it prettier and I was earning money that I could give to good causes, but it just didn't seem like enough.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm sure people can do beadwork to improve the world; it just wasn't right for me."Lucky Kid" lotto quilt

Then, five years ago, I took a little workshop at a Girl Scout Leader Day. They brought sewing machines, cutting mats and rotary cutters, and piles of fabric. There we learned to cut, piece, assemble, and tie a mini-quilt. I loved it! I went right out and purchased a cutter (I already had a mat and a ruler from another artistic endeavor: making miniature books!), some fabric, and a few hooks to hang my supplies on.

I started taking classes at local quilt shops. I was an absolute madwoman! I wanted to know what thread to use, which way to press my seams, if I should put water in the iron, what foot to use... I probably required more attention than I deserved, but my teachers were patient and knowledgeable. Eventually, my seams straightened and I learned how to follow a pattern.

"Flashbulb" Disappearing Nine-Patch

Nine months in, there was a notice in the church bulletin. "QUILTERS WANTED." Hey, that was me! Someone was starting a prayer quilt ministry. I might have been a baby quilter, but I was quilting. So I called immediately and was invited to the very first meeting. Five years later, I'm still going strong. I'm sure I've made at least a hundred tops! And they're going to comfort people who are suffering. I'm doing good. Yay.

"Miss Mousie" prayer quilt

"Miss Mousie" back

Now Friday has become Prayer Quilt Ministry Day. It's wonderful to be able to go to the church and sew with anywhere between 5 and 15 other quilters! Today I showed up with two quilts that needed borders... and I finished both tops!

The Naming of Quilts is a Serious Thing...

So I've been binding this quilt today. I put it on my schedule and I'm making good progress: I've done 2 corners already! That means I'm halfway done. Hoop-de-doo! As I work, I'm trying to come up with a title. The words that come to mind are

• Oriental
• Eastern
• Asian
• Hong Kong (but probably not because many of the prints are Japanese)
• Garden Party
• Lanterns
• Happiness
• Scraps

I don't know. Something will pop out of that stew.

The Middle is Always the Biggest Part!

The I-Spy blocks were made by entrants in a block lotto. I now present a list of the participants:

• Julie, NE
• Nell, VA
• Sue, AZ
• Sandy G.
• Silvia, LA
• Pat, CA
• Myna B.
• Bonnie, IN
• Lee Ann, UT
• Judy S.
• Amy B.
• Laura, GA
• Michelle, OK
• Kristi, MS
• Stacey S.
  
• me

Thanks, girls! It still has a ways to go, but it's looking good.

Speaking of which, take a look at the knitted dress! If you look real close, you can see that I just started shaping the armholes. I haven't that much more before I can, uh, start all over and do the whole thing again for the front. (sigh)The red thread continues to progress. You'll have to take my word that I finished May's block in May. A maypole--gotta love it! Here's what the whole piece looks like now:

I-spy blocks!

This is a prayer quilt. It's not designated, but God knows who's gonna get it. I won the blocks in a quilt block lotto. The pattern is Snowball and each of the fabrics is kid-friendly. I like 'em all, but I decided to feature a couple below.

Here's one that I made: Here's one that someone else made:

I still have to put on borders and sort out the back, but I really like it so far!

June, eyuh...

Is anyone out there like me? I get the June blahs. I used to call it Spring Fever. Every year, about this time, I get a giant case of what the French call ennui. I don't want to do anything, go anywhere, talk to anyone. It took me two hours to pull three fabrics together from my stash when I expected three minutes! (But I do like 'em.)
So that's my excuse for not blogging much. I'll see what I can do. The good news is that I know this will end. I'll perk up and get back to routine. And three posts a week!

Guess What I Did on Memorial Day

That's right. I quilted. More specifically, I attached the binding on the two quilts I got back from Yuki, the Super-Quilter! This one is called "Living Color, " I think. Of course, I always hand-finish my bindings and hand-sew my humble little homemade labels. Yes, I'm still working on it. Got one side and two corners done. The quilt block is a Jacob's Ladder from a block swap. I really like it. I'm planning to put it on the bed in my studio so I'll get to enjoy it. Below is a detail of Yuki's faboo pattern!

My Latest Creative Endeavors

Miss Mousie is done! Well, the top is anyway. Jan is making the back, Therese will put it together, and soon the quilt will be done completely. It's so nice being part of a team!I've been making Mile-a-Minute blocks like crazy. I can't seem to stop! I set up an ironing station in the bathroom because of the heat. I'm using my Little Darlin' in its special table. It's quieter and I've been sewing when everyone's asleep.Also, it was Crazy Hair Day at my DD's school. Last year I turned her into a peacock and this year, well, she was delicious! The hardest part was turning her hair into noodles!Also, I've been writing a part in the Treks in Sci-Fi RPG. It's so much fun! I came up with a character that's a scientist on a Starship. I finally get to write fiction again. And I'm not half bad, if I do say so myself!

Stash Busted!

So I had jury duty this week and last. It kind of ate into my creative time, if you know what I mean. It's not like they encourage knitting in the jury box. Our bailiff made sure we understood that right off the bat. It was a civil case, threatening to last six weeks. Yes, I said six weeks! Ai! Happily, they settled, freeing seventeen civilians back to their various pursuits.

Me, I got into my fabric stash and sorted it out. Things had gotten a bit out of hand, fabric falling on me when I went to get something out of a box, loose quilt blocks flapping around... not a pretty sight. There are still a few fat quarter bundles that need a new box, but I'm working on it. But this is how things look now:

Flannel

I decided that I don't really like working on flannel, so I emptied my flannel box (incidentally making room for another multicolor box) and made kits: two Stitched Scraps, one bright, one muted; and four Disappearing Nine-Patch--and these even have the backs ready to go! And all that's left is shreds and... a few scraps which I'll put up on Freecycle later! Yay!