Teddy Bear block

I just finished the teddy bear block and the companion star block and had to add them to the box with my calendar quilt blocks. Now I only have three more blocks to complete. After that I have to cut out over five hundred squares that join the blocks together to make the quilt top. My goal for finishing the top is the end of January and I really think that I'll make it. Here's hoping!

Lace Knitting

In March while I was at the Paula Nadelstern workshop in the Hudson River Valley, I met a woman wearing a beautiful shawlette. After talking to her, I learned the name of the pattern and where to find it. When I finished the cable sweater, I was determined to make this shawlette, and last week, I finished it except for blocking it. The name of the shawlette is "The Holden Shawlette" and it is a free pattern on Ravelry. The author of the pattern is Mindy Wilkes. If you want to make this shawlette, my advice would be to follow the chart as it is easier to follow than the written directions. The colors in this photo are off as the rug it's sitting on is a light orange color. After I block it, I'll take another picture and post it, maybe then, I'll get a better color photo.

A Summer Assignment

Ben, our eight year old grandson, had a choice after reading the book, A Keeping Quilt. He could keep a journal, make a quilt with at least nine blocks from fabric or paper, or make a scrapbook. His choice with his mother's help was to make a quilt from fabric. That's where I entered the picture. Ben read the book, we discussed it, and then he wrote about the book and drew some pictures on each of the nine blocks,white cotton eight inch squares. When he visited, he chose sixteen pieces of fabric from my stash that he liked to be used as sashing. Last Wednesday, I started the process of assembling the quilt, quilting it,

making the label and adding a patch on the back with Ben's family tree. To get all of the above finished, I worked at least fourteen hours. When I showed the finished quilt to Ben, he was thrilled and wanted to wrap himself up in it which really made my day. What more could a grandmother ask for?

Beaded Purse Necklace

After I finished my hooded sweater, I needed another project until I could get to the yarn store to buy yarn for the shawlette project. Several years ago, I bought a kit to make this purse and it became my new project. Until then, I'd never knitted with beads or knitted with such small neeedles, thinner than tooth picks. It was lots of fun to do this quick project. The most difficult part was stringing the beads on the pearl cotton from the nylon thread hanks. Tonight I'm going to knit a swatch to check the gauge for my shawlette. I'm really excited about this project.

Stumpwork Beetle

This is my first attempt with stumpwork. I just completed an on-line class with Arlene White through Joggles.com. I enjoyed the class and am pleased

with the results. This beetle is going to be part of a pin cushion. My quilting group is going to put pin cushions in our library's showcase this January and I think that this would make an interesting addition to what others in the group will create.

One Step Closer to Completion

With the completion of this geometric block, the calendar quilt is one step closer to completion. My goal is to have it totally finished and ready to go to the machine quilter by the end of January. I have five more applique blocks to do and then I have to concentrate on the sashing. The quilt blocks are put together using over five hundred two and a half inch squares. This project has been challenging to say the least, but enjoyable. I hope that I can say that at the end of the project. The pictures are of the block that I just finished and those that I've done so far.

Presents for Adina

The last time that I visited with my children, Erlisa, my daughter-inlaw took me and the three children to JoAnn's so that Adina, the then three year old could pick out fabric so that I could make her a pair of pajamas. I loved the fabric she picked out. What could be better than ice-cream cones, cupcakes and hearts? At another time, I purchased the t-shirt to complete the outfit. A few weeks later, I decided to make Adina's Bitty Baby doll a matching outfit so off to JoAnn's for some pink knit fabric. During the week, I made the pj's and machine appliqued the shirt and today I finished the doll outfit.