An Obsession With Patchwork

Yesterday I had a fabric shopping spree for quilting fabrics. I fell back into the quilting bucket and I can't get out. I'm working out 4 different projects: the chicken bumble, the paper pieced animals, a quilt based on a purple palette sample, and a quilt  based on blocks affiliated with the state of CA.

Up till now I've been making do with some scrap fabric bits I got at a thrift store in Atascadero. There is a great selection there, but when I was making the elephant block, I realized I have very little green or grey. The dolphins also require grey. So I stocked up on grey, purple and green fabric.

Then I found a bolt of orange with a shine to it for $1.50 a yard. There were almost 11 yards on the bolt so I got that. Somewhere I have more orange set aside for a belly dancing costume, so I need to get those into the same  pile. I remember years ago I wanted to make an orange and aquamarine colored belly dance costume. I am not a huge fan of orange so I don't want to dress head to toe in orange. With my body shape, I'd look like a giant orange!

Yesterday at the library I got a book written by a quilt historian listing a bunch of squares associated with each state. So since I've lived in OK, NM, NV, CA I thought I'd represent each in a quilt. I might add NY as well since that is where my father's side of the family is from. The book is full of facts about each state. For example New Mexico was once claimed by Texas, Mexico, and the U.S. There is also a page for Wanderers and Canada is included as well. It's called Create Your Family Quilt by Barbara Brackman and comes with a CD to help you design it. 
(ISBN 1-893824-1001)

Time to get back to sewing. You guys take care.

Elephant?

Listening to son-in-law reading Cat in the Hat to my grandson. #priceless
Today I worked on beading overlooking the lovely Los Osos bay in the misty morning. I finished a pair of right angle earrings, but I need better directions for the beaded daisy chain and I've already forgotten how to make the beaded Cheyenne earrings. Or my beads were too irregular. So I need to look up some references. I'm always amazed that I can make dozens of something and then forget just how to do it a few months later.

Hopefully after the grandkids are in bed I can work on the pink knitted hat I started on the train. The days are so full; I haven't gotten as many crafts done. I did paint on Monday and Tuesday. I decided not to paint today and do beading instead.

I was so tired of triple digits so I enjoyed my morning in the fog and my daughter's home with air conditioning. It makes life much more pleasant when you are not fighting the elements.

Speaking of which, today 'dad' made an odd noise from the kitchen and I told my grandson 'that sounds just like an elephant'.  The next thing I know he's trying to open the blinds and look in the driveway.  "What are you doing," I asked? "I want to see the elephant," he said.

I have been thinking of crocheting some more plushy elephants though.

A New Oddity

Yesterday I found 2 old frames and a kewpie doll. I never knew what to do with the frames so I decided to use them for my assemblage as per the Altered Oddities book I mentioned in a previous post. Then I found a gourd on my piano knick-knack shelf that I’d been saving for an elephant. So I combined them all and I’m making a Ganesh shrine with the doll body and the elephant head. I painted the frames black and I wanted to do a crackle finish on them today but when I got up this morning it was snowing. It’s going to be freezing in my work container and too cold and windy to work outside on the work table. I just hope my paints don’t freeze.

Since I’m stuck indoors I guess I’ll work on my knitting and crocheting projects instead. Or maybe some beading. And I want to spend at least an hour drawing today.

Sewing an Elephant

Yay I got the elephant cut out and I started sewing it. The fabric is a purple print. I forgot to take a photo so you could see the fabric. About all you can see is the pattern. But when I finish it I'm sure I'll post more photos. I set aside one hour for sewing, and at least half of that was spent moving stuff so I could reach the sewing machine. I always have more stuff than space. I'm just a nester I guess.

I'm supposed to crochet for 30 minutes today and I can't find a crochet hook to save my life. I'm sure there are 20 or 30 in this apt. Where have they all gotten off to?

Achoo to You Too

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I'm fighting off a miserable head cold. Right before it got the better of me I did manage to cut out a new purse and a stuffed elephant out of some cool prints I got at M & L Fabrics near my house. And I already have an idea for another patchwork purse in red with Asian prints. So many projects, so little time. Right now all I feel well enough to do is type on the computer and read novels.

I'm behind on Nanowrimo now and haven't written a thing in two days. It's one thing to write a blog post. No pressure there. It's trickier to figure out what the characters in my novel are supposed to be doing next. One is having a baby, one is being held by kidnappers, one is learning to play violin, and they just got 5 new cats for their house. Things are getting more complicated by the minute. I'm not even to the halfway point of 25,000 words and the thing ends Nov. 30. Sigh. The photo is of me last Sunday at the archery gathering writing my novel long hand in my journal. Sometimes I feel bad I can't afford a laptop, but then I remind myself that Shakespeare didn't have a laptop and he did okay for himself.