Get It Done Again

Boy is this year flying by!! I haven't posted for July or August but then I haven't accomplished a lot to my mind.  The last time I posted about my project was in May.  I can't remember what I did or did not finish so I am starting anew this month.

One excuse for not getting much done in August is that I went to a friend's house in Massachusetts with three other friends and we shop hopped around Massachusetts and Rhode Island.  It was great fun and we visited five shops that we had never been to before.  I showed great restraint in my purchases - mainly because I was flying and there is a limit to how much I could stuff in my bag (along with my new sweater and jacket purchased at the LL Bean outlet).

My goals for September:

1.  Make a pillowcase for a sweet little girl (not my granddaughter)

2.  Finish Jenna's sweater - I have one sleeve and a couple of inches on the other one so I might actually get this one done.

3.  Finish quilt top from blocks that my bee made for me many moons ago.

4.  Finish baby quilt that I started from a kit I bought when I was in Houston - at least 15 years ago.  No babies on the way but I played around with my embroidery.  

Go over to Judy's blog to see how others have done this month.

Check back next month to see if I actually get something done.

Where are the stripes?!?!?!?!

I went to Massachusetts to spend some quality time with four friends.  I took along two knitting projects so that I could work on the plane and in the car.

Here is the sweater that I am making for my granddaughter:

It is knitted from the top down and was very quick since it is all garter stitch.  In my haste to gather things, I didn't read the pattern carefully and, thus, didn't bring the double pointed needles necessary to finish the sleeves.  I'm working on them now and should have it done in the next week or so.

Since I couldn't work on the sweater I started the socks that I brought.  I bought some really neat looking self-striping yarn a while back because I thought it would look really good.  Well, here is how my first sock is turning out:

I am pretty disappointed!  I guess I should have signed up for Judy Laquidara's pooling challenge a couple of months back.  I think I might have had the winning pair.

Hop  on over to Judy's blog to see what progress others on making on their knitted projects.

Carol

Look What Arrived Today

I usually don't enter blog giveaways because I figure my chances of winning are zip to none.  Jen has had a lot of luck but I don't.  I can count on one hand the times I have won something from a drawing or giveaway.

A couple of weeks ago Mickey Depre posted about a neat book she had taken out of the library about swimming dogs.  She asked people to leave comments for a chance to win some neat fabric and a pattern.

I decided to enter mainly because I thought the book was neat and, lo and behold, I won!  It was a great way to start off the day on Sunday.  My "loot" arrived today and here it is:

Thanks to Mickey!  I look forward to make the pincushion and I think Jen wants to make one too.

Have a great evening!!

The end of the day on Monday

I am pleased to report that the leak has been fixed.  The repair crew worked quickly and efficiently and were done by noon.  They did a good job on cleanup too.  The sidewalk and grass will be replace in ~two weeks. Here is a picture after they left:

We were very fortunate that the leak was not on our side of the meter but one of our pine trees certainly was well watered for a few weeks.

Happy Monday!!

We found a water leak last week and called the utility company.  Here is a picture of what precipitated the call:

A very nice man came out and agreed that we had a leak.  No digging could commence until the company came out and marked all the utility lines.  They came and we thought they were good to go.

The crew arrived on Friday morning and realized that the most important line of all had not been marked - the gas line.  They packed up their toys and said they would be back.  

The line was marked on Saturday morning and they are hard at work today.

The water is off for at least two hours since they still had trouble finding the cable line.  I think all is okay now and everyone is getting pretty muddy.

Have a good day!

Getting It Done

Another month has flown by!  I did pretty well with my goals this month.  Here is a summary:

1.  I finished all 16 of the blocks for the Block of the Month program for our day guild.  I did them all in batiks and "only" had to buy a few okay more than a few pieces so that I could finish them.  I love batiks so they are more than welcome to live in my stash.

2.  The birthday presents are just about finished.  The small ones are here:

I actually made two of the firecrackers. The quilt is next in line after Jen finishes a donation quilt she is making for the ALS society.  I hope to have it finished by the middle to end of June.

3.  I made the back for the graduation quilt and it is hanging by the front door waiting for Jen to quilt it.  She has been pretty busy at work and with the kids and, for some reasons, wants to work on her projects too so I don't mind waiting.

4.  I started a new project that will be ongoing for a while. Three of my bee mates and I have EQ and don't really know how to use it.  We decided to get together and work through it.  We have all made the centers of our quilts and are now working on the borders.  It is fun to work in a group as one of us can usually figure out the answer to a question.

I also stitched and knitted this month.  I am working on a pair of socks that I probably won't wear until the fall.  I am also beading my Christmas sampler - it is slow going but will definitely be stunning when it is finished.

I have completed all of my Pay It Forward projects and will get them in the mail in the next week or so and will post pictures then.  

Here is my premie quilt for May (made out of scraps):

I also finished the quilt I made for my great-nephew and he seems to like it:

My goals for June are:

1.  Finish Christmas quilt.

2.  Make a premie quilt (I am planning to do one a month this year).

3.  Work on another Christmas quilt that I started.

4.  Finish the socks.

Hope you have had a productive month too.  Go on over to Judy's blog to see how others have done this month.

Carol

Getting It Done - April

I'm a few days late posting my April accomplishments.  I got a good bit accomplished this month but not much was on my list of goals.

My April goals:
1.  Complete remaining Blocks of the Month - I did a couple but still have some to do.  I did find some great light batiks when I was in Maryland at Capital Quilts and I will be able to incorporate them in the blocks.
2.  Have baby quilt quilted and complete binding - Jen has it to quilt so I'm just waiting to finish it
3.  Finish March birthday presents - I completed one of two
4.  Make back, quilt and bind spring table runner - I actually completed this one!!

Here is the table runner and a closeup of the quilting (not a great picture) that Jen did for me:

Here is the birthday present that I finished:

Here are the "non-goal" projects that I finished:

I have had these banners on my design wall forever and when I finally got back upstairs I decided to get them done.  I have a weakness for seasonal projects whether it be quilting or cross stitch.  I have to keep reminding myself not to buy any more.

I made this Girl Scout doll quilt for my granddaughter.  I had already made her a large one but she loves her American Girl doll so this is perfect.  I still have enough fabric left over to try to make a doll Girl Scout uniform too. 

This is a premie quilt that I made with leftover blocks from the baby quilt that was on my list.  We have a neat young lady in our guild who is collecting premie quilts so I will be making more - maybe one a month.

My goals for May are:

1.  Finish blocks for Block of the Month (sound familiar?)
2.  Finish birthday presents (sound familiar again?)
3.  Prepare back for quilting for graduation present and have it quilted (I'm trying to help Jen reach her goal of quilting 20 items this year - I'm such a helpful mom aren't I?)
4.  Start a new project since I have nothing else to work on (I haven't had anything stronger than Diet Coke tonight!!)

Hope you had a good month too.  Go on over to Judy's blog to see how others did this month.

Carol