Still Lazing at the Lake

We are still at the lake. And then knitting is not going well. I tried the texture pattern from the first stage of Tour De Sock on a dishrag. It didn't work very well, the design is charted for knitting in the round and did not translate well to flat knitting. So after a few rows I ripped it out. Oh well. It was worth a try.

Folded Cuff

The second stage pattern was released on the 25th. I couldn't print it out until the next day, the small local library isn't opened on Tuesdays. And then we were trimming a tree on Wednesday so I didn't get to cast on until Thursday. I had trouble with the provisional cast on. It should not have been that hard. I think that the folded cuff would have worked just as well with a regular cast on edge. It took me way longer than it should have to get to this point.

First chart of colorwork

The next section is a Latvian Braid. I had never done that before and expected it to be difficult. I followed the directions and it knit up easily! Then on to the next 3 sections of colorwork. I was able to finish the first section. Love how it is turning out. My colors are a bit Circus-ish.

Apple Pie

On the 24th Utah celebrates Pioneer Day. About 10 years ago someone came up with the idea of "Pie and Beer" day for those who are not of the dominant religion. It has grown in popularity. I made an apple pie and my sorta new mom made a pineapple cake for a coffee and cake with our German friends that we consider family. Our own little Pie and Beer Day celebration! All of the older generation emigrated to the USA from Germany in the late 1950's and so are our Pioneers!

Bloomington Lake

Sweetie and I took the dogs for a drive up Bloominton Canyon. At the top is this lovely little lake! It is a lovely drive, although sections of the dirt road are a bit tricky.

Moose

On the way down we spotted this moose! I always feel lucky to see wildlife in the wild!

Wildflower

I love wildflowers! And this week we had access to quite a few in the upper elevations!

Wildflower

Sego Lily

Clouds

We have had off and on cloudy days. Which is ok. I love the puffy white clouds and this one was especially interesting to me!

I am linking to Nina-Marie, Amanda-Jean, Sarah, Myra Celtic Beth,
Emily, Beth, Judy Nicole Lorna

Lazy Summer Days

We are having a wonderful, relaxing time at the lake. We have a wonderful shade tree where we have set up some lounge chairs. We have spent quite a bit of time there while watching the clouds and the lake. Yeah, it doesn't suck.

My view from the lounge chair

The lake is Bear Lake on the border of Utah and Idaho. We are on the Utah side. My parents bought the lot over 50 years ago. I grew up here, spending most of the summer at the lake. I am lucky that the property is still in the family. I remember when my Dad and the neighbors constructed the flag pole and we have been flying the flag since. Love the view of the flag and the clouds.

Eddy

My boys love it at the lake. This is Eddy, our "little" guy. Loves to be right next to his dad.

Peaty

This is Peaty, our big boy. He loves to be next to his mama. Peaty is getting older and has some health issues. But still loves to come to the lake, just doesn't like the 8 hour drive to get there.

Lazy summer Dish Rag knitting

I failed on my socks for the Tour De Sock, stage one. So I picked up my dishrag knitting bag. Perfect, mindless summer knitting when enjoying the view is the most important thing to accomplish.

Failed sock

I did not take a photograph before ripping out the knitting on the sock. I had hoped to give the socks to my daughter. She said the pattern was ok, but she was not enthused about the design. And when she said that the yarn was too pretty to waste on that design, it sealed the fate of this project. I do like the texture design and hope to use it on a dish rag. It would be a wonderful scrubby texture. After I complete the green dish rag I will try it out.

Trouble maker shawl

Not quite a fail, but just giving me trouble. Since I am using a very fine yarn I am using small beads. And my normal crochet hook method of adding the beads isn't working, my smallest hook doesn't fit in the bead. So I was trying various dental floss methods, but had the wrong kind. I bought the floss of choice yesterday when I went to the big city to shop. So hope to get caught up on this guy.

Alternate project.

I did not have room to pack a sewing machine with a machine project, so I brought this ongoing hand sewing project. It has only come out of the bag for the photo op. I hope to finish the last light flower and get him sewn into the center so that I can start planning what comes next. This is a design and build as you go project. I have a lot of hexagons wrapped. But didn't have the right one to finish the center portion. I think I will do a dark round next. Who knows?

I am linking to Amanda Jean, Nina-Marie, Myra
Beth, Emily, Judy, Beth, Nicole, Lorna

A real Finish!

I wanted to get something finished to enter in the Springville Art Museum's annual quilt show. I had a friend visiting last week and I had pulled out this top to show her. She gave me some very good input, so I was able to finish this piece in time.

Making matchsticks

I decided to try matchstick quilting. My piece is curved, so the lines are slightly curved to match the piecing.

And more matchsticks

You start off with quilting lines that are spaced out and then quilt in between. And then again, in between. Helps keep everything smooth and secure, no shifting.

another view

The colors are more accurate in this photograph. Again, blogger rotated my photograph.

I think it is enough

I could have gone one more session of adding lines in between, but since I was already into the sixth bobbin on a 30"x 24" piece, I decided it was enough. I would like to try it another time, maybe on a smaller test piece.

close up

I used a dark charcoal colored thread. I am pleased with the effect! One of the things that Helen and I had done was audition thread colors.

Finished!

I have titled this piece "Embrace the Curve".  

Loved this!

The car club in town hosted a little park and show your stuff downtown this week. We went down to look. Fun! Only about a dozen or so cars.  But fun anyway.  I loved this sign on a mini cooper.

I am linking to Nina-Marie, Myra, Amanda Jean, April, Tweety, Beth
Emily Beth, Judy Nicole, Lorna

Making a tiny bit of progress, better than none at all.

This time of year the 3 quilts on our bed has dwindled to just one. I still like this quilt, I made it over 15 years ago. I date things by where we were living and we were still in Salt Lake when it was made. I use it quite a bit. I do rotate what quilts are on the bed and this one is there frequently.

My Bed

It is starting to show some wear. I made this using my Dice N' Splice technique.

Repair needed

There are several sections that look like the photograph above. Nice thing is that it is an easy repair. Stupid thing is I don't think about it except when I am under the quilt and this is in my face.

Binding issue

There is one small section of the binding coming loose. Again, a very simple repair.  Just need to think of it during the day and not after I get into bed.

Bunny by Grandma

In the late 80's and early 90's my parents were living in Friday Harbor, Washington. A friend of hers had a pattern for the bunny and my mother made one for each of the grandchildren. I believe this is the only one left. It was made for my son who just turned 35!

Charlotte

Why does blogger rotate my photographs? UGH! Anyway this is Charlotte. When we were getting our house in Salt Lake ready to put on the market, I found an old doll crib that my dad had made for me when I was very young. My daughters were then young adults and it had been stashed away to store. I had told my walking buddy, Sandy, about the crib and how I was disappointed that I did not have a single doll from my child hood. So a few weeks later she shows up to my door to go walking and from behind her back she pulls out Charlotte! She made me a doll for my crib!  The doll crib has been passed on to my granddaughter.

Sheep

A good friend was teaching a class on this sheep doll. I thought it was fun! The "sheepskin" is batting.

July

August

October

Still working on my block of the month samples. I did skip September because the floral I had out worked better for the October block. Just trying to get ahead of the game. There is no guild meeting in July, conflicts with the 4th of July, so I am caught up for the August meeting.

I am linking to Amanda Jean, Nina-Marie, Myra, Abigail, Sarah, Tweety, Emily, Beth, Small Quilts
Lorna

Getting Caught Up

Yesterday I drove up to Panguitch, Utah with a friend to see the Quilt Walk festival. I am not teaching at this event this year, but it was fun to just go for the day and see the show, shop at the vendors and take in the noon time trunk show by Christa Watson. I ran into quite a few friends. It is a small town show in conjunction with the town's festival. I only took a few photographs.

Plaid raw edge applique

I love homespun plaids! I like quilts that look like they belong in a log cabin.

Bright Chevron

I am not usually a pink person, but for some reason this Chevron made me smile.

Daddy's shirts

This piece was made using cut up plaid shirts. I love log cabin blocks and like this variation.

Family reunion

I love quilts made to celebrate family! This was a family reunion quilt. And it features one of my favorite blocks, the Nine-patch.

Memory quilt

Another family quilt! The description did not really tell the story of this family, but I loved the collection of photographs.

My Star Block of the Month

I am in charge of the Block of the Month for one of the local guilds. I am reusing my star block of the month patterns that I made for another group a couple of years ago. I decided to make another set of the blocks in a different theme. Since I missed the last 2 meetings I was behind on my blocks. So this week I was able to get caught up. I am hoping to spend some time this weekend and try to get the rest of the sampler blocks sewn and be ahead of the game.

I am linking to Nina-Marie, Myra, Amanda Jean, Sarah, Anja, Tweety Beth
Emily  Design Wall Monday Beth Nicole Lorna

At least one thing is done!

Fern

I finished my Sweet Sixteen for March, Fern. I now have 4 of 12 completed. What a stupid idea to start a year long, monthly challenge to myself while in the midst of the longest move ever! I had March started in March. I finished April a while ago, Fern was stewing for a bit.

Fern close-up

The background color is correct in the first photograph. I did a bit of free motion quilting to make the little leaves that unfurl. The rest is quilting with my trusty walking foot.

Fern back

Since this was for March, and it was green, I used some shamrock fabric for the back.

Never ending Grandmother's Flower Garden

I pulled out my hexagon quilt to work on at the local guild's weekly sew day. I prefer not to drag a machine along and since I am trying to meet people it is a good take along project. I have no idea when I started this, but I am pretty sure it has been at least ten years ago. I started off wrapping and basting to papers. I didn't count, just started cutting squares and wrapping. Then I started to put some of the hexagons together into flowers. I am using repro 1800's fabrics and a red print for the centers.

Starting from the center

Once I had a dozen or so flowers together I decided I should figure out a layout.  This is the center of the quilt. I haven't figured out what is next. I am setting these flowers together with black prints in between. It is a slow process and I might never finish it, but it is fun to work on.  Every once in a while.

I am linking to Nina-Marie, Amanda Jean,  Myra, Sarah, Emily, Judy, Beth and Beth

Blogger's Quilt Festival

Maple Leaves

Close up

Back

I am entering my Maple Leaves in the Art Quilt Category at Amy's.  It is a little over 20" and made freeform pieced. The maple leaves were cut by a Silhouette machine and fused on. Walking foot and free motion quilting were used.


I am also linking to Beth, Emily, Judy, Beth, Nina-Marie, Amanda Jean