Two Birds, One Stone

Thank you so much for the wonderful comments about State Fair. As you know if you have read my blog long is that I love, LOVE, secondary patterns.

I had meant to put a longer post when I showed off State Fair but I have had my inlaws visiting for the last week so have been a bit crunch for time. While I loved having them here, and was very sad to see them off it does mean I can go back to my more regular routine. So here is the post that was meant to be.

I promised my little sister I would make a baby quilt for a long time friend of hers who is expecting in late July/early August, but the shower is in June. I was getting really stuck on ideas because fabric suggestions were shot down left and right, and I was making a baby quilt, not a lap quilt called a baby quilt. I also had to do my June Schnibbles, State Fair.
Yes you can see where this is going.

I dug and dug into the stash and didn't have enough of any of the "boy" charm packs to make the quilt so I dove into the yardage and came up with a gorgeous blue and a very cheery yellow and decided to go with those.

**Hanging head** I did have to make it a bit bigger...I can't seem to help myself with these beauties.

So here is Two Projects, One Quilt.

Year of Schnibbles -State Fair

I finished the flimsy for this month's Schinibble, State Fair.

I really loved this one once I saw it in just three fabrics. The secondary pattern came out and really is lovely.

May Schnibbles

  This month was a free choice for Schnibbles and I chose Hot Cross, which I've loved in every colour scheme I've seen it in. I dallied around waiting to order my pattern, which still isn't here, luckily a friend gave me the cutting instructions and I was able to put the blocks together. My Schnibbles Times Two book came with Le Jardin's Block 6 so it all worked out since Hot Cross is in the book.

All I can saw is I LOVE this pattern, especially in this line, which is Aster Manor by 3 Sisters for Moda. I desperately wish I could have made it bigger, still using the smaller block size, but it was not in the cards this month so it's going on my watch list, hopefully when the line goes on sale I'll be able to find it cheap somewhere and can make a bigger version.
Mason really liked it too, you can see him in the picture trying to decide how long it will be before he can steal it.

I'm off to work on my Cha Cha Challenge pinwheel quilt, and the placemats.

You knew it was going to happen....

 Tagalong had a growth spurt...nothing too serious but she grew over night to about 42" square.

Which really makes this a good picnic size. I used more fabrics so I think this quilt now has 65 fabrics in it.

 I've been working on Little Bit's quilt and should the flimsy done before she get's home tonight. And will then have to explain why she can't sleep with it yet.

This will be your sneak peak lol. I love these fabrics. The colours are so cheerful and fun. I really love the bird prints. Very adorable.

Ok dinner will not make itself and Little Bit is always hungry when she gets home.

Year of Schnibbles April Tagalong

 I finished this month's Schnibble! YAY! I used 30's prints, which is another stretch for me.

  I hated it while I was putting it together, the fabrics not the pattern, but now I like the look. I used a black for the inner border which I think looks good. And it was another stash only top so that makes me extra happy! There are 42 fabrics in the quilt and it sure looks like it! I oopsied the inner border, cut it 1/2" too narrow and I didn't realize it until the outer border didn't fit! So three of the four outer borders are right, I just too out a few of the little pieces but one it a bit wonky.
It is pretty busy for me. I think I should have used white, or black, as the accent in the nine patches to give your eyes somewhere to rest but oh well it still looks good.
And you know I'm going to make this bigger later on. I think it would be the perfect picnic/beach quilt for Little Bit and me to take on our summer outings.

Have you seen the Flickr group for Schnibbles? 

 Which reminds me I'd better get cutting her quilt while she's away this weekend with bio dad.

And Roundabout is a flimsy (Year of Schnibbles March)

So note to self- Do not call yourself an idiot. Unless you want reassurances you are not :) Thank you all for your kindness about my brain lapse this weekend. I appreciate it so much. 

 So I kept at Roundabout because I knew if I stopped I wasn't going to finish this one. For some reason I just could not get going or enthused about it. The pattern was easy, the directions clear. But from choosing fabrics to actually doing it...well I just didn't love this one. Or maybe I'm just tired, though it may grow on me now that it's finished, well as finished as it's going to get for a little while. Anyway here it is.

  I amused myself when I was sewing the blocks together which DH watched March Madness and I thought about how I was having my own Madness. I went from 64 blocks to 32 to 16 etc. 

  Yes I am a geek lol.

   I don't like sewing long strips together if I can help it so I just kept turning my blocks into bigger blocks like you would a patch block.

 Including the light reds in the border I have around 30 fabrics in this quilt. I did not know I HAD 30 reds in my stash, and it's not all of them...well may be it is, the others had too much black or were more pink/orange then red to use. It's probably about 55" square as I widened both borders to balance the increased number of blocks.

 I think I like this better on point, which gives it a cobblestone look.

Or is that just me?

I also see more squares and diamonds then the "O" block, which makes me happy because I have to confess to not being a fan for some reason, which is odd because I like roundabouts. They are a great traffic thing. Really.

 DH though they were dumb until we went to Scotland and then he sent about an hour the first night we were there driving from one end of this little town to the other, turning around the roundabouts at each end. And once we were in the cities he really liked them, they make traffic so much more smooth, and once you know how to drive in one, safer.

 Anyways I have to get on with the job of being mom, chief washer, shopper, budget boss, cook, and gopher.

Year of Schnibbles February

I know I posted this earlier but I wanted Sinta or Sherri to be able to find my entry in the Parade of Schnibbles easily. Here is Blushing Sunday.

 My SIL finds out tomorrow, hopefully, if she is having a girl or boy so I'll know then if I have to make this bigger or if it'll stay this size.

This quilt went together so well I'm pretty sure I'll be making it again, and probably bigger too! Carrie added instructions for using a Layer Cake with it so I want to try that sometime too.

Friday Night Sew-In, Saturday Check In

YAY I got some things done!!

First off is Mini Verna. Remember her?
This is as far as I got last FNSI I got this far.

This time I got this far! All finished, and quilted up.

I just have to decide now whether to just bind it or use this to make a cutting mat cover/carrier. The quilt is 21x14.

I also got the borders made up and sewn onto Blushing Sunday.

I'll be making this bigger I think, not so sure how yet lol. How do you like my modification of the pattern?

 I used my new walking foot on Mini Verna. It made quilting it sooooo easy!

I can't wait until I have Tumbling Dino's basted up so I can quilt it with my new toy.

I'm off to the baby shower. It's about 4 hours away so I'm hoping to sleep some since I'm not going to be driving.

I am alive...and sewing!!

 I'm starting to feel better, or I was on Sunday. Monday hit and so did a repeat. Today I am feeling some better again so hopefully it holds. Especially since I go for another lidocaine infusion Thursday! Hopefully this one lasts more then the 4 days the last one did.
 I got tired of my old blog background so it was time to mix it up. What do you think?

The pattern for this month's Schnibble actually came today! And do you want to know why it came today and not a week from now?
Because one of the awesome ladies in blogland emailed me the cutting directions so I could get cutting while Little Bit was away.

I also managed to get the blocks sewn together, same with the rows! I have made a little design change. Here a sneak peak.

HA! Though I was actually going to show you? Not until it's done and I know if I like it or not.
 I used Blush and a white on white I had in my stash. I personally thinks it looks great. I was able to leave out all of the whites from the pack. But have no fear! I will use them...and probably in this quilt. I'm considering making it a bit bigger, though this one is a nicer size at 37 square. DH's other younger brother's wife is expecting, and they should find out March 1st if it's a girl or boy. If it's a girl this quilt will be finished up for her. If not then Blushing Sunday will be my Valentine's Day quilt. Yes I know love day is past but hey I'm not really a deadline type girl.

 The lovely reliable Quilt Taffy girls also sent me a little yardage for Mother Goose and a green from Authentic I plan to use with Make Life... Now I just have to figure out patterns lol. Yes, most likely they will be Schnibbles!

Oops

So I was thinking that Madeline needed some more black. A girl can never have too much black. Unless I'm the one applying it apparently. Exhibit A:

I somehow managed to both stretch and shrink my flimsy.

But in the interest of experiments what do you think of the second line of trim?

Looks good, minus the issues. Don't you think? Honest answers please.

A close-up.

I'm going to have to pull off the trim and try to re-apply.  : (
Which means I'm going to have to try and actually find my nice Clover seam ripper which seems to have run away. I think it decided it was overworked.

Year of Schnibbles January

 I have my flimsy finished for January's Schnibble, Madeline. In Rouenneries, of course. LOL.

  I have to confess that this one gave me problems. Trimming down the blocks after adding the "setting triangles" to each block just didn't work well for me. To get the right size I had to go very close to the points, which meant I lost some when they were sewn into rows. As I trimmed and measure each center star, and checked my seam allowance, I'm not quite sure how I ended up a bit off but I guess in the end it doesn't matter. Especially when you look at it from this angle.

 I'm thinking of trying to find some sort of black trim to sew between the blocks and the inner border. I'm now wishing I'd thought of it before borders were put onbut I think I may be able to find something. Since I had extra light/medium non reds I did a scrappy inner border instead of a solid.
Hmmm what about adding big setting triangles and making this a medallion quilt? I will ponder on it.

 I also got these in the mail!

The gorgeous Blush! Most likely I will use these for next month's Schnibble, though it does depend on the pattern that is chosen.

And an even more, or at least equally, gorgeous pattern from Cath's Pennies Designs!

Heheheh sheep...
I can't wait to get this together...maybe for this Valentine's Day? Probably not, but goals are good and all that. You have to go check out her blog. Cath does amazing things with wool. And she has several patterns for sale, and occasionally a completed wool mat. Pretty, pretty.
Hehehe sheep...I have a funny story about sheep, DH, and Scotland. Tell me if you're interested. 

 While I was sewing down the Fleur-de-Lis on Chateaux Duma, on Saturday morning

I watched this.

 I've seen it before, but oh so pretty. The costumes are great, and it's an interesting look at a brief period of Catherine the Great's reign. This was one amazing woman, ruthless and brutal, but amazing. If you enjoy reading etc about Elizabeth I, you will probably be fascinated by Catherine. A German noblewoman who became Czarina of All the Russias, ruling in her own right.

 I have another infusion tomorrow/today (Wednesday) so I'm hoping to be pain free for a day or two (longer would be good :) ), and getting some good sleep!

A better day

   Thank you to all you made kind comments yesterday. I am feeling better. Occasionally I get a bit out of sorts, and the filter on the honesty gets out of place but all is better today. I did manage to slice my thumb cutting a tomato but other then that it has generally been a better day.

  I finished the binding on Picnic yesterday and it is finally finished!

The prairie points decided to go the wrong way after going through the dryer...

But a good ironing and everything is fine again.

If it wasn't going to a baby I'd put buttons on the points to keep them down but that is not safe so should I just leave them? Or sew a tack stitch to keep them down?
 Doesn't the backing look so cuddly? It was a b**** to quilt and bind because of it but it is so worth it, or it will be when I see the baby wrapped up in it.

Oh and I forgot the label. That will have to go on too. But all the hard parts (the quilting, and binding) that terrify me are done. The binding even had mostly square corners! And the miters worked. So YAY for progress.

  I ordered 2 yards of the red dinosaur and a yard of the blue "dinosaur skin" for the borders of Tumbling Dinos. I'm going with a narrow blue containment border, which will have the ric rac sewn between it and the tumblers, and a wide red border. I'm hoping to use the blue as binding as well. Or maybe it will be red because I may not have enough blue, all depends on if my math worked or not

 

Funny how they look so different depending on the angle. I can't believe how many fabrics/colours ended up touching, but it doesn't look bad I think. Besides a kid won't notice, and hopefully by the time Landon is old enough to notice he'll love it too much to notice.

Year of Schnibbles December

 So this month's Schnibble was Tuffets! I already had made up a few so just made one more today. I'm going to order the new set of patterns but it wasn't out in time to get here before the end of the month so I'll order it with next month's Schnibble and save the shipping. See? I can be economical lol.

 This is the new one. I even did a bit of quilting on the top before I filled it up.

Looking at these I'm wondering if my winners have received their pin toppers. I know the grandprize winner did, so let me know. If not I'll send them out again. There has been "issues" with one of the post offices here.

 I'm working on getting the binding on the baby quilt. It is sewed on the front and I've got about 1/4 hand sewn down on the back.  The snuggly back is making this hard too. Good thing there are LOTS of Bowl games this week.

Quilting it was a b****. But it's snuggly, and done, so I guess that is all that matters.

  I have absolutely no plans for tomorrow, New Years Eve. I've never really gotten into the whole thing. What are you up to?

This is actually my 100th post!

The Giveaway can be found here Make sure you get your name in!

So I was asked what exactly is a Schnibble? Well my dearies to describe I am shamelessly stealing a definition from the wonderful Carrie at Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.

Schnibble: noun A scrap of fabric; a leftover bit of cloth; a small piece. The word has a German origin and is found primarily in German settlements in the Midwest.

From the Dictionary of American Regional English published by the Harvard University Press.

In the case of these Schnibbles they are small patterns, less then 35", though they can be made bigger.
So what now what is a Year of Schnibbles? Well that is a wonderful thing put on by Sherri and Sinta. They are revealing a Miss Rosie Schnibbble pattern at the beginning of each month and doing a "parade" of completed Schnibbles from the last month's pattern. I'm sure you can still join in.

December's pattern is ironically enough.....TUFFETS! YAY I'm done lol. I will be making more, and if I can find the new pattern making LOTS more.

On another front I have made up a few more of the patterns from the Cross Country Christmas Designer Blog Hop, check the link on the side bar to check it out.
It was a blast, and I have enjoyed the stories and the patterns.

I only did one candy cane on this one, and made it big, because I couldn't find more striped fabric and for some reason was being stupid about it HAVING to be striped...oh well. And I added Jingle Bells to the toes, which I'm pretty sure after a few days I will regret.

I really liked this pattern, I just wish my one fabric contrasted more with the background. I wasn't on the ball about this one. The outer star blends in so much its hard to see, even though it's the same fabric as the outer border. DH decided to notice AFTER it was done.

This is one of a set of place mats. The pattern awesome, but I was tired of hand work (I'm working on a tea towel for my mom) and wanted to finish so I decided to machine add the swirls....hmm...may need more practice on that one.
I finished a stuffed candy cane as well but don't have a good picture yet.

At some point I will be updating my sidebar, adding a TON of blogs that I follow regularly, but well....I'm kinda lazy sometimes....especially when I don't actually click off the sidebar....so it's been awhile...which means there are A LOT of blogs to add....yeah soon I promise. But for now I'm off to bed. I have too much to do tomorrow to be dragging my butt around because I was on the computer past bed time. Sigh.

November Schnibbles

If you're looking for the giveaway, check it out here.

I finished my Schnibble on Saturday. I really liked this pattern. While all the trimming was tedious, it made for very accurate HST and my baskets turned out well. And it didn't waste very much fabric, which made me happy.

I have no idea what happened to my sashing, apparently it was supposed to line up somehow. But I like my off kilter sashing. It seems appropriate, both for the fabrics, which are American Jane's, and the Picnic theme of the pattern. I feel that I haven't been very creative just copying the patterns, and the fabrics or very similar used, for 2 of the 3 patterns so far, but I think Carrie has done a great job designing the patterns around fabric lines. I'm think I will make this one again in 30's prints, and probably make it bigger. I do like it, and depending on how you make the baskets, which way the HSTs are turned, can give you some very nice secondary designs.
This quilt may become bigger.I'm thinking of adding another solid white border and some prairie points. I think I want to give it to my cousin who is due at the end of December, and I like quilts that can be big enough to be use at least through toddlerhood. I'll pick up another American Jane charm pack, hopefully an older line without the pinks, when I order my pattern for next month's as yet to be revealed Schnibble. If my math is right, which is in no way a given, it will end up being 40" square. I think.

I made a pin cushion from the left overs and it is part of my giveaway


I love these tuffets. I get to use up my scraps, even when I don't have enough to make much of a mini. Though all of this one is going to live elsewhere, the quilt and the tuffet!

Hmmm I've used my store of update titles....

So I found my scraps from Winter White Schnibbles back in September. My good intentioned tidying ended rather abruptly when I realized I could make another of Miss Rosie's Tuffets...so I did.



Isn't the snowman cute? I really liked him. I actually forgot to add the carrot nose, I'd had it made but forgot to put it on before I baked him off. Ooops.
I actually read all the directions this time so it turned out bigger then the last courthouse steps one I made. I also picked up a little set of 3 funnels at the dollar store. They really helped get all the walnut shells in there. This one is quite firm, not rock hard, but definitely sturdy. The first one really is kinda wimpy, especially now that it has settled.

Here is the first block in Picnic, the November Schnibble pattern. This one goes together nicely, and the trick Carrie came up with to make the HST using charms squares, without wasting but still able to trim down, is GENIUS. Check it out.

Little Bit wrote her letter to Santa with Daddy's help. This is her first time writing to Santa, who will write back with the help of Canada Post. Santa's address you ask? North Pole, HOH OHO Canada. Seriously that is the address, which is very cute if you ask me.
Little Bit drew pictures for the jolly man too. So we added it to the envelope.
I'll get a stamp and she can mail it after school tomorrow.


So I'm getting close to my 100th post,and following blog tradition have decided to have a giveaway. I haven't decided all yet what but it will involve some fabric and most likely a couple of pin toppers. I will post more about it next time. But one thing I decided is there will be more then one winner. Just saying.

Another Update

So the laptop is still dead. We are debating fixing it or getting a desktop for Little Bit and I to share, since she will need to start using a computer for school in the next few years,and my next computer had better frickin' last that long this time.
I do apologize for the pictureless posts, I don't like not having any but of well.

I've been working on the Year of Schnibbles pattern, which this month is Picnic. I've got all the half square triangles sewn, and they are all matched up. So I need to do some more ironing and sewing and I should be able to get them done this week, and the sashing is not complicated so it won't take long.
I've been working on embroidering a tea towel for my mom with nesting dolls and will add wheat sheaves to the edges. As soon as DH gets the pics of my camera and puts them on a thumb drive for me I'll show you. I got the pattern free from the Hand Embroidery Network or HEN.

I've been noticing more that I'm having more trouble with the dyslexia when I'm at the computer. I don't know if it is because I'm in the middle of a pain flare or what but excuse the typos, and general none nonsensicalness of me. Using Mozilla Firefox helps because it underlines misspellings, or non US spellings, of most words so I've been able to catch most of the mistakes. It is getting annoying because so many of the errors are ones I have managed to not make in years. I'm hoping it is my fingers are going slower instead of my brain not being able to compensate like it is trained to.

If you are a love of Fat Quarter Shop, as I am, head over to the Jolly Jabber to get a code for 20% off until November 24th.

I debated sharing my "excitement" from yesterday. I got a call from Little Bit's school. An AMBULANCE had been called for her. AN AMBULANCE. Apparently she is ok, but all you hear is AMBULANCE. Could I come to the school? I'm half way out the door already. When I arrived there was a police car and the AMBULANCE, light on, in the parking lot. The EMTs were smart enough to let me see her before they started talking.
Little Bit had appeared to fall asleep at her desk, when the teacher tried to wake her, she was unresponsive, the EA told me later she appeared to be in a seizure at first, when she finally started responding, when the EMTs were there, she was disoriented, complained of a headache, and was pale with red angry looking welts on her jawline and back. The ones on her back had faded by the time I got there, the ones on her jawline while I was waiting at the doctors office.
After discussing things with the police, who are called whenever an ambulance is called to a school, and the EMTs we decided I'd take her to her pediatrician as she seemed to be alert and generally ok by the time I got there.
The pediatrician couldn't figure out anything, her blood sugars were normal (although it was about 2hours later when they were tested) so we are going to be referred to a neurologist, and we are under orders to take her straight to Children's ER if it happens again, probably by ambulance.
She seems completely normal now. No residuals at all. She was pale for a few hours, and not jumping off the walls but generally normal. And now she's still her normal cheery self.
So I have no idea what happened yesterday other then I got scared to all get out, and that both the EMTs and the policewoman did an amazing job, checking out Little Bit, keeping her calm and not scared, and of dealing with me, who was flashing back to my son's death until I saw her sitting there clutching Sparky, a stuffed dog the policewoman gave her.
So thank you to you, even though in all the rush I forgot to get your names. Thank you for taking care of my baby girl.

Mail Delivery

So my package finally arrived from Craft Town. The one I ordered October 6th? For my October Schnibble? Yeah that one. To be fair they had called and said the Rouenneries yardage would be in "soon", like next week? oh yes. Ok, just ship it all when it's ready, but if it's late just send the rest and the yardage separately. The whole order was supposed to be put aside. Well it finally shipped last week, with yardage but without one of the charm packs, which apparently had sold out, AFTER it was supposed to have been put in my order and set aside. Hmmm...ok, at least it was refunded. Oh well. I'll just think before ordering next time anything that isn't in store right then. The price was good too, so no more complaining.
It's here now and that is all that matters. It's not like anything hinged on me having this fabric, I managed to figure out the Cindy Lou Who pattern without the pattern for the Schnibbles parade, and even if I hadn't it is not the end of the world. Life.


I can't wait to make the Tuffets, hopefully will get better pics of the pin toppers and maybe actually get everything set up nicely. DH made fun of me for buying my crushed walnut shells online instead of going to either the pet store or big box hardware store. Apparently you can get big bags of it cheap.
Who knew? Obviously not me lol.
Not that the shells cost much, 1.50 for a lbs. And in reading the pattern Carrie mentions you can get them cheap in a big bag at the pet store. Now I know.

I have no idea what to do with my Rouenneries charm packs now, and since I only got about 1/2 yard of the two fabrics, I don't know what I'll do with them. I saw a Cindy Lou Who in Rouenneries and didn't love it as much as I thought I would, it's lovely but not the wow I was thinking. So I think I'll put them away and maybe another of the Schnibbles patterns will fit.
Ok maybe not put away, you can't pet things when they're actually put away.
So FYI, there are 24 'darks' and 18 'lights' in one of the charm packs, counting the oyster as dark.

I ordered the fabrics and pattern for November's Schnibble, Picnic, from Quilt Taffy. I didn't get the kit because it was several dollars more then putting it together for myself, which irritates me but that is a different rant. I got a 60 pack of American Jane fabrics, not the Moda charm packs, so it won't be as scrappy but I think I'll like it better for this pattern. There are 4 of each of the prints. I also got some cream/white material for the background.


I don't know why, but I've been feeling inclined to try different online stores lately. No reason, just trying new things, looking for better prices, seeing if I can get things faster. Must be part of my general boredom lol. I can't wait to be able to go grocery shopping etc with out worrying about being able to get things up to the apartment. I've been feeling coped up, even though I go out with DH to all of Little Bit's things in the evenings.

Quick question to my crafty friends, anyone know how to transfer a pattern ontop a dish towel for stitching/embroidery? Transfer paper?