A try with "Paper-Piecing"...

I picked up these paper-piecing patterns when I was at my last Quilt Camp. I finally tackled three of the blocks. I'm thinking it is not my kind of quilting. Seemed to be extra steps I didn't feel I needed. Maybe it is more worth while when there is a lot of different pieces involved. This was just a log cabin pattern that was a bit fancier. Oh well, live and learn. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, eh?

It looks quite nice on this long skinny spot of wall and it will do til I find a design I like better.

This winter's "Obsession"...socks

Yup, I finally got brave enough after all these years, to try using four needles instead of two. I had visited other quilter's blogs, and found they had a thing for the crazy new yarns available to make 'designer' socks without all the yarns being changed for each color. Whooohoo, now we're talkin'!

Here's what I have made so far, minus one pair I gave to my daughter in Texas. She was visiting home and watched me making them, and couldn't resist asking if I would make some for her, especially in the cool green/beige colors I was using at that moment. Well, of course, I finished them in time to offer her that pair, instead of making her wait for the next ones. She was tickled pink to wear them right away. It was quite cold here compared to when she left home.



These blue ones were my first try, and they came out almost the same size!!! The toe on one got finished a bit sooner than the other, and slightly different in manner. But they both fit, and that is the important point. I love how warm they are and want to show them off more with some kind of winter sandle. A berkenstock???


This pair of soft browns and oranges were my first attempt on circular needles that were long enough to do both socks at the same time. This avoided my first problem in the blue socks. And I love this yarn, as it has some aloe and jojoba in it that make them sooooo soft. There was enough yarn left to make a pair of fingerless gloves, too. They are not quite finished.



These green ones came out real purty, but were of a thicker yarn that said wool/ machine washable, so I gave it a try. I may consider putting on those noslip soles and make them slipper socks. I like the look and the texture of this yarn, but they are a bit tight in my shoes. They sure did wash great, though.



Now that spring is just around the corner, and actually started as far as the calendar says, I will be out in the garden more and save the sock making for next winter.

My first keeper in twin size quilting

This was my first attempt on a larger than lap-size quilt to keep for my own use in our guest bedroom. I love putting the pieces together and seeing a design emerge. But I really dislike the trying to keep three layers together and long days of hand stitching.
In doing the hurricane relief quilts, I was shown the machine tacking idea for getting them made quickly. I love it. Now I can get those bigger ones put together fairly fast. And the batting has changed since I last tried a big one. So now I am being brave.

Purple is PERFECT

No wonder I love purple... this little test says I have a purple brain. And I think I can agree with the description. Fun!

Your Brain is Purple

Of all the brain types, yours is the most idealistic. You tend to think wild, amazing thoughts. Your dreams and fantasies are intense. Your thoughts are creative, inventive, and without boundaries. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking of fictional people and places - or a very different life for yourself.

What Color Is Your Brain?

New blogger, eh???

As you can guess, I've been busy otherwise and just noticed the change in Blogger. Hope the pic uploads are better, as that was my only beef with the old Blogger.
To test, here is a new pic of my cat, Chauncy, waiting patiently for us to let him in this morning.
I can't believe he is sitting in SNOW in the middle of March. I just ordered a birdfeeder, and a pretty new bird bath, and was considering a visit to the local garden center for perennials that could handle it a bit chilly. BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!! The mildest winter in Ct. history, and then we get dumped on in March. YUUUUUKKKKK.
So here goes with the pic, and I'll see if I can get some shots of my winter quilting work.