The Latest Quilts & Dog Photos

You are thinking to yourself "Wow! What inspired two posts in one day?" The answer. My main computer at work died, so I am sitting around waiting for it to be fixed and decided to update my blog a bit.


First off, a couple of comparison photos for your viewing pleasure.

Maggie on my shoulder in September:
Maggie sitting on my shoulder in April.


So, I have been busy with quilts this year. In the middle of last year, I decided that I would make a quilt for all the new babies in the ward. Mind you, I decided this when we averaged two births a year in the ward. All of the sudden, there has been a large baby boom and I have made 4 quilts for babies in the ward, with at least 2 more to do. Aaah. Here are pictures of the four I finished:

For Kelsey & Chad's new baby:

For Katie & Andrew's new baby:


This one is for Schmicki & Pason's new baby, but I did one almost like it for Amanda & Aaron's new baby. I've recently decided that I should make all baby blankets in twos, because it is easier. However, I will make them just a little different, so that they are unique.


For Aimee & Jordan's new baby.


Whew! That's 5 blankets this year (well, one was pieced last year and quilted this year). In the works, 2 baby boy quilts and very bright wedding quilt. I tend to be about 2 months late with these because I don't quite get them finished in time.

Be sure to read my post on the Squirrel diet below. I just posted it.

Hum Drum

So, I haven't posted in awhile because my life is just humdrum right now. Nothing too exciting--just the day-to-day fun of work. I'm getting lots of tax forms done and mailing lots of meeting notices. This will all be followed by lots and lots of meetings--10 to be exact. I haven't been doing much quilting, but hopefully will get a bit of time this weekend to work on it.

Next month--Dippyland with the Coo Family, Ma, Pa, & Roo. Pa has always called it Dippyland, so most of us do, too. I've been reading up on lots and lots and lots and lots of useless tips for the Magic Kingdom. Did you know that some people buy a computer program to plot out their course at Dippyland. They use a computer program! What happened to having a relaxing time on vacation. I'm sure that Coo will find a reason to create a spreadsheet for the occasion, as he and Loo are in love with spreadsheets.

Well, here is one thing tat I did recently finish--a rail fence quilt for Baby McBaby in the good old U.K. I don't think it is my favorite of my finished quilts--sorry MBC. I'm still working on boy and gender neutral quilts and getting them to be more attractive. I also made 4 pair of little, itty, bitty baby shoes that I did not take a picture of that I can remember. I will never be doing that again because it was a big, fat pain in the patoot.

Sorry that it is blurry, but I can't fix it.

In other news Maggie Mae is growing quickly. The family spent much time debating over her heritage, so I had a doggie DNA test done on her and gave my family the results for Christmas. Yes, I am well aware that I am a dork, but I was a curious dork.

For all of you that don't know what the results were, you have until January 27 to guess what her heritage is. I'd post newer pics of her but my camera is broken.

P.S. Roo posted some new blogs, even thought it doesn't look like it on my sidebar.

The Current Project

For my current project I cut 420 1 1/2" fabric squares. They looked much bigger in my head than they did when I cut them. I also cut out an additional 348 pieces. Why, because I am nuts. You'll have to wait until Christmas 2012 to see the project, as it is part of a present that I am working on for then. I had to start early, so that I would be sure and finish it in time. I also have a quilt top done for a friend that lives over the pond. I wonder who that could be. Hmmm.

Corn, a few quilts, and vacation

Corn Season has begun here on the farm!




And here are a few quilts Ma and I have finished:
Sewn & quilted by me and bound by Ma.

Sewn & Bound by Ma, quilted by me.
All by me!
This was supposed to be a baby quilt, but ended up a little big.

And some pics from my vacation to visit Da in Montana. We also went to North Dakota and Saskatchewan. Please read her blog for details on the trip.

Pitchfork Steak Fondue at Medora, ND.


Me and Da as Mounties at the RCMP Museum in Regina, SK, Canada

Traveling the gravel roads of Canada


One of the fabulous murals in Moosejaw, SK, Canada


Da in front of the Moose of Moosejaw

More of the Creating Streak.

Look! Two New Posts in One Day

Warning: This Blog Post contains photos of projects that have been made for nieces & nephews. All of these items are currently en route. If you want to be surprised by them, don't read any further until after you see them in person :)


So, with two new nieces, I had to get busy on my projects. Mom and I decided to split the work and each do one blanket. I don't think we would have worked together well. Both quilts turned out very cute, I think. I only have a pic of one of them. The other is still getting it's binding put on.
Fabulous Job, Mom!

I've recently been inspired to take a foray into the world of applique, so that meant I was going to make applique T-Shirts for the nephews. I started with balls, as seen below; however, I accidentally cut a little hole in one of them.





Loo, you'll need to put a sticker over that for L. They didn't turn out half-bad, so I decided to expand my repertoire into a train for J and a fire engine for L. What do you think?




I also decided to make ruffle-butt onesies, as demonstrated here. What, you ask, are ruffle-butt onesies? They are onesies with ruffles on the butt of course! At what other age can you wear ruffles on your butt and actually look cute. The left over ribbons from the onesies inspired me to make matching flower headbands.







In addition, I'd decided to make NooCoo a dress, but then I messed it up, I unpicked the mess up and then I lost it--It was not very big, o.k. I'm sure I'll find it someday. Thus, I had to make her a new dress, which also featured organza ribbon flowers. I was quite proud of it in the end. I'm afraid it will drown NooCoo because even though the T-Shirt top is her size, it seems to be quite wide. Also, the skirt may be a bit short, but I put a big hem in it and Gran can let that down if she needs to when she visits :)


So, now you know all of the many sewing projects that I've been working on. I've also made another baby quilt, as has Mom.

I'm headed off to the great state of Montana to visit sister Da. We will also be visiting other places that are yet to be determined. If you are lucky, someday I'll blog about the trip, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

What have all of you been up to for the summer?

Rain & Craftiness.

Well, I've decided to post once again. I like to wait long enough that you're not expecting me to ever post again! Life has continued on at the same humdrum pace as always. I get up, go to work, come home, go to bed, and repeat. We've had some very nice storms here this week, which created the Greathouse Lakes in our driveway, though they've disappeared now. I'll post a picture, anyway.


Hey, I live in a desert. That's as close to a lake as we get. We also moved cattle yesterday. Things went pretty smoothly. Only one cow and her calf didn't know where to go. I've been continuing on with my crafty streak, as has Roo. Mine is mostly quilts, though I did learn how to sew receiving blankets this last week and I have a special project for S.Q. planned. Yes, you should be worried. On the boring side, below are pics of my latest quilt blocks for sewing buddy, Lauren to see. I also found pictures of a quilt I finished last year. I'm including it as well, since this is as close to a journal as I get. One of these years I'll have to print out all of my posts and put them in a safe place never to be found again. Here comes on the quilting stuff. Please don't look too closely. Perfectionism is not a trait that I suffer from.

In other excitement, we had a ward activity on Wednesday on Emergency Preparedness. I was in charge of the kids activities. First, the firemen taught them about fire safety, showed them the truck and gave them hats. Then, with Roo's forced help, we talked about games you can play in an emergency and learned how to rip snowflakes out of paper. (One of FarmerBoy's church activities). (Roo pointed out that anything you can play in church, you can play in an emergency). Then we put together 72-minute kits. (Roo pointed out 72-minutes is about the length of Sacrament meeting). Either she thinks sacrament meeting is an emergency, or she likes to corrupt kids or both. We then played "Statue" in the dark with the glow bracelets. I was pretty pleased with the activity. No one seemed too bored and were excited for their "Free" stuff!

BTW, here is the quilt I finished last year:


Not the best photo, but you get the idea.

Ma is back in NC helping with the Velociraptor, since Loo had a bit of surgery and wasn't supposed to hold him. Not that she ever updates her blog or even puts up pictures. I would think having a baby would warrant a new blog post, hint, hint. Not that he's "new" anymore. Roo leaves for Portland tomorrow, where she picks up Coo's car and drives to Idaho. Ma gets back late Tuesday night. a drives out with Eliza B., leaving this Friday, stopping at Loo's on the way and getting in a whole bunch of states I don't have. Rude! Then S.Q. leaves before Memorial Day for his internship with the Evil Empire in Seattle. Everyone is on the move. O.k. not me, but much of the rest of the family.

Well, there's what's happening back at the ranch. Hope everything is going well for all of you. Sionara!

This weekend

So, here is my project for this weekend. It is a skirt made out of jelly roll strips. I think I'll make a quilt with the other strips. I wonder who it could be for??? :) I need the waist size for a certain little NooCoo, so that I can finish the skirt up and get it in the mail. I'll just have to wait until her family gets back home from vacation.

You'll notice the NCAA brackets in the background. I think Pa won, o.k. S.Q. won, but he's at college and won his ward's, so he doesn't count. My bracket pretty much tanked. Yes, I took the picture with the webcam because I was too lazy to find a camera.

I went to the grocery store for 10 cent hotdogs at about 4:15, but they'd already shut down the line because it was so long. I just bought hot dogs in the store and burned them for supper last night.

Quilting

So, for the past couple of years, I've taken up quilting. It is my Saturday activity, so I thought I'd share some of what I've accomplished. I have recently become long-distance sewing buddies with lissieloo, my sister Da's college roommate. We are doing a jelly roll sampler together found here at Moose on the Porch quilts. I was a little slow getting started, but I've finished the first two blocks. They are below.


Block #1

Block #2

I'm also doing a block of the month with our local quilt store, and am forcing Roo to do it along with me, using fabric at home. The first block below is mine, and the second is hers.


Mine

Roo's

I've also made four quilts (completed 3 7/8). I only have pictures of two. I have also made two baby quilts. The one for baby WooWoo was made from scraps of the farm quilt below. Oddly enough, the farm quilt is the first one started, and it is the one that still isn't finished. I still have to bind the quilt.

For NooCoo

The farm quilt

An up close of the farm quilt. I actually machine quilted this one. It was a pain, but I survived.