On Track--we hope!

We are continuing on our American Barn Quilt Trail through the countryside via these quilt blocks thanks to Becky at Golden Thimble
These have some paper piecing and regular piecing involved which makes them a challenging block to work.
We are all caught up now with the completion of June barn.
Thank goodness, the jelly roll sampler is up to date and should soon be finished! My jelly roll is getting down to the bare minimum with dark strips.
This kit was purchased last summer and has definitely aged enough to be sewn up just in time for those sunflowers to raise their heads to the sun.
The machine quilting isn't the greatest, that's for sure. The sewing machine at the summer house didn't have a walking foot. So,on the next visit to Jo-Ann's store, a walking foot was bought--and that's a big chunk of change! But that little foot is worth it's weight in gold when doing any quilting.

Beads!!

We are gathering our supplies for some beadwork. Why, you ask? On a recent visit to LYS (local yarn shop), this little booklet was discovered. "Gee whiz, there is no way you could miss out on working with bright shiny beads", the mind voice said. So that is why we are gathering the necessary supplies for this project. The yarn is handspun (properly aged), one ply merino, one ply silk--all from the same colorway--thinking here.......oh, yes, these rovings were purchased in 2009 at Southeast Fiber Forum conference in Asheville, NC. Vendor bought from? we have to think on that one a little bit more. The beads are from Art Beads There was a wonderful little 'needle' with the booklet but somehow, that went missing after the first day of browsing through to figure out which pattern to knit. The patterns included seven scarves and one shawl--which one to knit? Okay, got to find more of those 'needles', order beads and of course, spin the yarn! and you thought this process was an overnight sensation?--Ha, fooled you! Never!!!!!
Finally, yarn is spun and we are adding beads to the yarn. Pour out the beads on a flat container lid and thread the long flexible needles with the yarn. Slip on the beads.
Pull them down over the yarn--thought that part was going to be hard, but the beads went on quickly and easily. But, it is the most time consuming part of the whole project--Sliding on those tiny 10 mm beads. A dear friend had given me one of those bead machines that is suppose to spin the beads onto the thread, but it didn't work with the handspun. Or maybe, we just didn't try hard enough.
Beads are strung and we are knitting! It is little awkward at first, knit a stitch, slide a bead, knit to lock in the bead. But, once you get the hang of it, the process becomes second nature to your fingers.
and oh, yes, love those interchangeable harmony needles from Knit Picks . We are still working on this scarf--ran out of beads!!

Goof-off Day!

Don't we all need a good goof-off day once in awhile? Saturday was our goof-off day. We hopped into the car and took off for who knows where, deciding as we drove along- but first, we stopped at our coffee shop for liquid refreshment and enough caffeine to keep us going for a short while. Onward, we travel! Let's have some breakfast to compliment the coffee. Next stop- Cherry Creek farmer's market, located in Cherry Creek shopping area. This 'market' is held every Saturday and Wednesday through summer months. As far as farmer's items go, this market is on the upper scale--organic produce, fresh made dog food, flower vendors, gluten free baked goods, grass fed beef, free range chickens & eggs and lots of food vendors!
We spy the Denver Biscuit company truck. Yes, a truck that serves biscuits loaded with all sorts of goodies. Before we reached the Biscuit truck we passed the pizza man, who had his own special clay oven on wheels. He was making wood fired pizzas right there. Certainly looked delicious--maybe, that will be another goof-off day! Let's order! How about scrambled eggs, smothered with sausage gravy, on that giant biscuit? The next tent over had breakfast tacos and down the lane we found Venezuelan arepas! Must have one of those--nice crusty on the top & bottom and creamy soft in the middle but alas, no queso de manana so had to settle for plain mozzarella! The sign said the owner/baker was born in Venezuela but in our conversation he said he hadn't been there for 20 years. Well, the dude didn't look but 27! Anyway, moving along with the stream, we purchased a variety of mushrooms from the 'fungi guy'. Onward we go! Look there are tamales--maybe, one of those just to taste--pork with corn and green chili poured over the top. And the last booth--the chef was preparing a seafood paella. This was certainly a trip around the world. Our journey continues as we turn onto Colorado Blvd and pull into a small shopping strip which has hidden amongst its storefronts, Great Harvest Bread Company. Ahhh, the perfect stop. We hadn't been here for years. Step through the screen door into the bakery where aroma of fresh baked breads greet you. The best part about this bakery is the sample. Ask and you should receive a huge slab of fresh baked bread of the day; slap on some fresh butter, pour on some local honey and enjoy!! We couldn't resist purchasing two loaves--the special of the day (apple, cherry, berry) and Dakota, loaded with whole grains and nuts. These are no ordinary loaves of bread or air bread as we call them. These are hearty heavy loaves!!
Onward we continue--we had heard that the local children bookstore was having a sidewalk sale--why not stop in to see? The Bookies Any book lover would truly LOVE this place! Shelves loaded with children's books; pull out drawers with any title you can think of; need teacher supply books--they have them. Enjoy reading bios, mysteries, adult fiction, non-fiction--you'll find them there as well. It was hard to leave this store without at least two books in hand (as if we didn't have plenty to read!)
Homeward bound now--our goof-off day is coming to a close as we circle the block and head to the interstate. There will be other days to explore, feast and enjoy!

Quilt Coverings

The brown headed daughter requested a purple/green quilt to cover her bed. Do you know how much purple is NOT my favorite color?? Is it possible to bite the bullet and work with purple? Going to the quilt shop and asking for P fabric was out of the question--so, shopping online was the right solution. At least that way, saying the word "purple" didn't come out of my mouth! Browsing through several catalogs, this pattern from Keepsake Quilting appeared--magic! This was perfect! Green and p........ An order was placed for two kits with the thinking that two could be combined to make a nice queen size top. Kits arrived and sat and sat and sat. Okay, it was necessary to pull out that P fabric and actually touch and feel it. Time was running out to make the top and get it to the quilter. We would be leaving for summer home within three months and since this was to be a birthday gift for BH daughter the challenge was to finish on time.
The top was completed but didn't measure up to queen size with some drop down. Now, what to do? Oh for Pete's sake--must order more P fabric to make an extra border!! Darn it! Solutions on where to place the extra border went out to the expat quilter friends. And so, the quilt top sat around for another few days, waiting for the P fabric to arrive and when the P fabric did appear in the mailbox, it sat again in the sewing studio!! A decision was made on where to add the extra border and work began again. Oh, joy! It was necessary to work exclusively in P fabric!!
The bottom line--the top was finished and rushed from my hands into the capable hands of Sandy, the long arm quilter! Out of sight for now!! But, Sandy was quick with the quilting and it was back in my hands within two weeks. Now, to add that P binding and off we go to summer home with quilt placed in white plastic bag--out of sight again!

Now, that quilt is covering BH daughter's bed and she is quite happy to have an early birthday gift--just what she wanted--a P/green quilt!

Cupcakes or Muffins??

The question has been posed--what is the difference between cupcakes and muffins? The reason for the question? There are cupcake bakeries popping up everywhere. There are even cupcake trucks that roam the streets to vend their delicious oven treats to the masses that are willing to shell over $3-$3.50 a cupcake. This soul has been among those masses who have forked over big bucks for one small cake. So, the inquiring mind wants to know--what is the difference between cupcake and muffin? The best way to define that question is google it! Good ole Google. The world at our fingertips! The answer comes straight from one of the many cupcake blogs Cupcakes Take The Cake
"The quick-and-dirty answer on this is that cupcakes have frosting, whereas muffins do not. However, in researching, I found an excellent formulaic definition of the difference courtesy of Diana's Desserts: "A basic formula for muffins is 2 cups flour, 2-4 tablespoons sugar, 2½ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 egg, ¼ cup oil, shortening or butter and 1 cup milk. When the fat, sugar and egg ratio in a recipe reaches double or more than this, you have reached the cake level." So, there lies your answer.
Let's make some cupcakes. Recently, there was a sale on the Bing cherries of the season--small and not dark in color but tasty anyway and since the price is right, why not buy a pound? You might ask--how can you tell if cherries are tasty before purchasing? Why you ask someone who works there or someone who is willing to give them a little taste on the sly.
Find a recipe--this one from Good Housekeeping and this is definitely a cupcake--look at the amount of butter and sugar. Pit the cherries and begin gathering ingredients. Mix according to directions. Fill cupcake liners. Bake and smell the aroma. Slap on some frosting when cooled and enjoy! For the small price of one dollar 18 cupcakes were made. Wow! There is a profit in selling cupcakes!

Memorial Day

We fly our flag proudly in honor of those who serve and have served our nation.

Blue Angels

Lace Sampler Continues

We are trying to keep up with the mystery lace sampler from Ravelry group . Each month, around the 15th, a different theme lace pattern is revealed. Of course, there are some faster knitters who want the pattern sooner. At times, the reveal has been as much as a week early! So now, we are working on May patterns--just one small problem occurred--a mistake in counting--isn't that the pits!! There is talk about placing a 'life line' in case you need to rip back. That would be a good thought and should be followed, especially while knitting these lace patterns. Do you think that this knitter placed a 'life line'? Of course not! Anyway, the knitting is back on track and into the second repeat of the pattern for May.
There are some challenges along the way which lead to learning new techniques and stitches. March pattern included adding beads and making nupps. April was just straight forward with yarn overs. Now, May's pattern includes decreasing 3 stitches while increasing 7 stitches! It's very interesting!!
There is another mystery lace KAL (knit along) on Ravelry beginning in June. This one is the fourth of such mystery challenges through She-Knits and there is still time to join in on the fun. Pattern is sold on her website for all the past mystery knits but now you can actually see the finished product.

We're on a Wool Roll!

Let's continue on the wool theme today. Finally, a handspun wool scarf has been finished! Hurrah!! It seemed that this was one of those never ending projects! First, you spin the yarn; then you knit. Then you run out of yarn and go back to the spinning wheel. Why this method? The yarn will run out with the completion of the scarf! No yarn leftovers to worry over and wonder what to do with them. But, there is leftover unspun yarn to contemplate over. We can tackle that with another adventure.
This was the pattern: Of course, why follow the pattern? Why not add more stitches than mentioned in the pattern? Hence, the reason for the never ending scarf--didn't count the stitches, but well over 300 and this was knit in the round. For someone who does not like to purl this was a challenge. Since you are knitting in the round, you must purl to get the garter look. So, periodically, why not turn back on the other side and continue to knit? Yes, there will be a small hole in that spot. But who is going to notice that in the scheme of the whole? Besides, you can always stitch that small opening closed. Can you see the hole? Up close and personal! and the finished wool scarf.

Long enough to loop around the neck three times--over three yards in length. All pure softness. There could be other ways to wear this creation--we are still experimenting. This was great traveling knitting--no reason to worry over a pattern, just knit like the wind!

Wool Musings

While we are on the subject of wool look what was discovered upon return to the summer home--more wool! Not wool fabric though but wool rovings which have been out of sight and mind. So can we say it has been properly aged? Why not? When we leave the summer home in the fall, every fiber related item is packed away in nice plastic bins and upon returning in the spring, it's a wild adventure to open the bins and enjoy these new found things! The first bin contained this lovely roving purchased from South Dakota friend, Marilyn. A former book wholesaler, Marilyn operates a farm called Black Hills Woolies (no website available). She markets the fiber of her own sheep, llamas and alpacas, selling yarns and roving (carded fiber) to spinners at various shows and other outlets, along with other fiber art products. We usually meet up each year in Estes Park and sometimes in Taos for wool markets.
That bin also included this wonderful black mohair roving as well as the next roving
red, white and black wool/mohair blend. This roving was bought on a field trip visit at Brown Sheep in Mitchell, Nebraska. Boy, was that fun--they let us 'dumpster dive' in the leftover yarns! The fiber retrieved from the bin was weighted and priced accordingly.
In another bin this white roving was rediscovered. This fleece was purchased two years ago at Maryland Sheep Wool festival--a springy corriedale breed. The fleece was sent to Ozark Carding Mill to be processed. It came back in this nice compact package.
And then in the last bin, this small bag of fiber was found. It's interesting that these fibers always write on my memory where they were purchased but never can remember that they need to be spun! This fiber was bought at Estes Park Wool Market The local guild hosts a vendor booth at the front of the vendor barn. And it's always a definite place to stop for shopping.
And in the midst of all those prepared fibers, look what was discovered!! a nice dirty fleece--this was one of those prize winning fleeces bought at wool market during the judging session. Another fleece to dye the one pot method!

Wool Works

A First--working with wool fabric to create small wall hangings. Two kits had been well aged (meaning they have been in the closet and out of mind for quite some time)and finally, it was time to complete these small kits. This original pattern was purchased last summer at the very interesting The Little Wool Shoppe in Windsor, Colorado. This shop has everything but mostly deal with wool. This pattern was called "Celebrate the Seasons".
Complete except for some handwork detail, eg. eyes for the snowman, detailing the season banners, outline work around the bee flight pattern.
And this pattern was purchased who knows how many years ago at International Quilt Festival, held annually in Houston.
Close-up. These sheep definitely need eyes!!
All the blanket stitch was done by machine, which made the project move along.
Out of the closet and into the world!! Maybe more wool work will be forthcoming. Probably, after sufficient aging.

Loose Ends

Before heading out for the summer home, there were a few loose ends that needed to be tied up; mainly, because when we return in the fall, who can remember what was what and where it was put! Guess notes should be written--but, it is exciting in one way--it is new when you return to the old! And sometimes, a game to figure out where my thought was in the first place.
Okay, here is the first thing to be pulled together. The pinwheel block group has finished with all the blocks--all 12 of those blocks were stacked neatly (well, almost neatly) on the desk. This was going to be a charity quilt so tying all the blocks together with sashing worked just fine. And not adding much of an outside border worked okay as well. It is probably over the 'limit' of fabric width for the quilter (she requests charity or Binky quilts be around 40" wide). And this one is way over that number!!! The floor is the canvas for placement. Someday, maybe we'll make a flannel board for the wall.
Using black printed sashing with accent connector blocks tied them all together.

We are working on the Jelly Roll blocks (behind one at this point). Each of these block challenges have been interesting and great way to go stash diving. This is the last block that was constructed. Here are the previous four blocks from the Jelly Roll Sampler.
Also, finished May block of the row from Fat Cat patterns. This is a great idea--all attached and finished when that last row is added on.
Okay, now we'll take time to do some handwork and continue on the journey to make more loose ends that will need to be tied up.

Foolish Goose Tracks

What a great name for a quilt! This BOM (block of the month) quilt was produced in 2008 and the design came from the talented hands and mind of Heather Finnell of Burning the Midnight Oil . The term burning the midnight oil means to work late into the night. Originally this was by the light of an oil lamp or candle. More recently, the phrase is used figuratively, alluding back to its use before electric lighting. Well, the quilt top wasn't completed in 2008 so guess you could say there was some 'midnight oil' being burned to finish this quilt top. Just recently the quilt was returned from Sandy, creative long arm quilter. She chose Clematis pattern with variegated thread to use for an overall effect. It's smashing! Here is the center section. There was some concern that all the reds were not of the same value, hue or tone, but doesn't really matter in the scheme of the whole. Besides, who buys all the fabric that is needed for a quilt right off the bat? Or, if you do buy all the fabric required, don't you forget what the fabric was for and somehow, gets cut and sewn into another project? There is no way, these hands can be the only ones that do that--nah.
The 2010 BOM is named "Fall Fancy". So, if you are interested, join in the fun. Sign up for the yahoo group (on Heather's website there is link) and receive a block each month, which will be available till the next month when a new block is revealed. You can always purchase those blocks that you have forgotten to download.
A word here about backing fabric: previously, several widths of fabric were sewn together to achieve the necessary amount needed for backing. Lately, 108" wide muslin has been used. The muslin doesn't come in colors so union dyes are used to create the color combination needed. To me, this is a more desirable look--no seams.