random thoughts...do or "di"

Dye Lots Studio

2018-10-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

It's official, I am a business woman! I have opened my Etsy Store and have had my first few sales. I know it takes time to develop a following, but I am so excited about this new chapter in my life. I wake up every morning with a new idea in my head for a way to dye yarn or a new color combination. I have ideas for collections and color stories, too.

I love the label and logo that my sister helped me create.

Here are a few of my most recently dyed yarns. I really think they are lovely.

I've started knitting a pair of socks using this Pink Lemonade colrway.

I think it is really fun to find an inspiration photo and then try to re-create it in a yarn colorway. This one is a favorite. I am calling it Serenity.

I hope you will take a peek at my Etsy Store and let me know what you think about it. I'd love it even more if you would make a purchase! For you, my loyal blog followers, I am offering FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING until the end of the year. Just use the code RANDOMTHOUGHTSDOORDI when you place your order. International customers will receive 15% off if you buy 2 or more skeins of yarn using the coupon code INTERNATIONAL15.

Thanks for helping me get started in my new venture.
di xoxo

Falling Leaves

2018-10-17T06:45:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love Fall? And a fall quilt is even better; so for my friend, Monika's birthday, I made her a Falling Leaves quilt. The pattern is by Vanessa Christensen. It's actually a kit. Her ombre fabrics are yummy and make these leaves pop on the background of the Robert Kaufman yarn dyed charcoal fabric.

This was the first quilt that I used a stencil to mark some registration lines before I quilted it. Why have I never done this before? Although my quilting is far from perfect, the stencil did help me to quilt it more evenly.

I had the perfect flannel backing in my stash. This Anna Maria Horner cone flower print is a favorite so I am glad I got to use it on this quilt. Monika and her husband have just moved to Idaho, so it will help to make this quilt even cozier on those cold fall and winter nights.

I used the glue basting method to match that print when piecing the back together. I'm quite proud of the result.

When it came time to choose a thread color, I went with all the colors in the quilt, but wish I would have only used one. It was a pain to keep changing threads. My Juki QVP150 is not user friendly when it comes to threading it. I would rather thread a serger than this pain of a machine.

It is bound in the plum colored fabric that came in the kit. I really think it is the perfect color to frame the quilt.

We took the quilt to a few locations in town to photograph it.

I think the quilt looks best in Monika's craft/bonus room, where it is easily accessible to cozy up on the couch while watching a movie.

For the label I made an extra leaf and just wrote my sentiments on it for Monika to remember when and from whom she received this gift.

Quilt Stats:
Pattern: Fall Breeze by Vanessa Christensen
Fabric: Leaves and Binding: Ombre from Moda
Background: Essex Yarn Dyed Linen in Black
Backing: Anna Maria Horner Flannel Cone Flower print
Batting: Warm and White
Quilted with a variety of thread by me on My Juki 150QVP
Size: 60" x 72"

My Body Model... the Knitting Version

2018-10-12T11:23:00.003-07:00

I'm featured on the My Body Model Blog again. It's so fun to be featured as a knitter. Having only recently discovered my love for this fine handwork craft, I am honored that people find my makes interesting

And speaking of knitting...I have started a new online Etsy store. I have fallen hard for hand dyeing yarn and you can see and hopefully purchase some of my creations.

Take a look here and see what I have been up to.

Great Granny Squared

2018-10-11T14:52:00.003-07:00

I think this is my fifth Stitch Tease Bee finished quilt. Our bee has been together for over 5 years and although some of the members have changed, the talent and generosity in our bee remains constant. Last year I asked the girls to make Great Granny Squared blocks for me. My color scheme was influenced by a Fat Quarter bundle of Enchanted by Camelot Fabrics.

Here is the beautiful quilt , all finished and taken on a photo shoot when we spent a long weekend along the central coast of California last month. We were so lucky to have found this covered bridge in a winery of all places.

My buddy and fellow bee mate, Jennifer of the Knotted Thread, quilted it for me on her long arm machine with a beautiful all over feather motif.

For the binding and backing I used the yellow and plum floral print from the Enchanted line.

I set the blocks on point helping to increase the size of the quilt. It finishes at 85" square.

Thanks to my lovely bee mates I have another quilt to remind me of this beautiful quilting community and the friendships I have made. I am so glad I started this bee. These ladies have become like daughters and sisters to me and I can honestly say I love them all.

Jump, Ride, Spin...a new line of fabric

2018-09-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

I can finally share this blogpost.

Are you all familiar with Tracey Wirth Designs? She is a surface and textile designer and has her first fabric line coming out soon with Paint Brush Studios. Tracey is one of the nicest people I've ever known so when she asked if I'd like to play with her new fabrics, of course, I said yes.

The playful nature of these fabrics told me that they wanted to be made into a sweet little Geranium Dress for my granddaughter. This seemed a perfect little dress to show off this pink print. I used a coordinating print from the same fabric line to line the bodice. I chose to make a combination of View A and B, so it has the cute ruffled sleeve with the pockets and pleated skirt. I finished it on the back with plastic snaps, which are perfect for children's clothing. I made a size 6-12 months.

I also made a knitting project bag with my favorite print in this fabric lone. This bag is big; it's definitely a sweater project bag because it holds 4-6 skeins of yarn.

And just because I had the fabric and I needed a smaller knitting project bag, I made this one, too. This one is a one skein project bag, but I also made a needle minder case to keep the knitting needles safely inside the bag. It also helps to ensure that the knitting won't slip off the needles inside the bag. It snaps inside the bag but can be removed to use in other bags, too.

So here you see three fun projects. What will you make with these fabrics?

Jaycee Cardigan

2018-09-19T16:52:00.000-07:00

I finished this Jaycee Cardigan in July but I am just now getting around to writing a blog post about it. This last weekend we were away to our favorite Cayucos Beach rental cottage which allowed me to play fashion model on location.

This sweater, called Jaycee, is a pattern by Isabell Kraemer and can be found on Ravelry. I wanted a light weight summer cardigan for cool evenings and the early part of fall when the days are still hot but the nights can be cool.

I used Cotton Pure yarn from Purl Soho. The sweater is knit top down on US size 4 LYKKE interchangeable circular needles.

The pattern for the lace work on the yoke was easy to follow. Overall, the pattern was an easy one.

I finished the sweater with some square buttons and a leather tag on the sleeve. I am still trying to find some knitting labels that can also be decorative.

Wild Silk

2018-08-29T19:26:00.000-07:00

One night during an especially bad period of insomnia I was trolling on Etsy looking for things to help me relax and make me smile. I came across this "wild silk" piece sold by the Delhi Store. I immediately knew I had to have it and it had to become something fabulous. We had plans to attend our friend's daughter's wedding mid-August, and I thought it might make the perfect wedding guest dress. But she only had two yards available. I ordered the fabric and then went searching for the perfect pattern.

In case you are wondering what wild silk is, here is the description from the website:"Wild silk is harvested only after the cocoons are left by moths. so they are not killed in order to obtain the silk thread but the thread is cut in the process hence giving the fabric a charming unevenness in texture and color."

I knew I wanted a sleeveless dress because the wedding was in Boulder City, Nevada, where August temperatures can soar to well passed 100'F. I decided to make Vogue 9050. I never make a muslin, but in this case I did because there was no way I was going to ruin that fabric. I sketched the dress on My Body Model Croquis and liked the look of it on my body.

I am so glad I made a muslin. I cut a size 12 through the bust and graded to a 16 through the hips. The adjustments I made to the pattern were small but gave me the fit I was looking for. I cut the neckline 1.5" lower and opened the slit in the front to make more of a modified V-neck. I shortened the waist length because I am very short waisted and also did a slight sway back adjustment to take out some of the fullness in the back waist length. The hips were super curvy to I straightened the side seams a bit to take out some fullness.

I knew I wanted a wrap because even though it was going to be super hot, the air conditioning can be cold if it blows on you. I was so lucky to find this piece of silk Georgette at my local fabric store. They only had 1-1/4 yard and it had a tiny rip in it, but I was able to use a little creativity and seal up the rip and concealed it by wearing the shawl folded on the diagonal.I also found a perfect button to use as a centerpiece on the dress.

And, Voila! Here I am in the baking sun...it was 108" when the church service began at 2 pm. But, how perfect is this setting amongst the cacti, to take the final photo.

I lined the dress with a polyester/spandex blend that really was a dream to sew with and was very comfortable to wear. I had enough of the fabric to make my first Ogden Cami, which should appear in another blog post soon.

Meet Peggy

2018-08-24T15:10:00.003-07:00

My dear friend and neighbor of 32 years had a special birthday this month. We don't usually exchange gifts but since this is a milestone birthday for her I wanted to make her something special.

I started by creating a purse for her using cork and a print from my Outback Wife stash. I made The Hampton Handbag by UpStyle Designs. This is my third time making a version of this pattern. It's always a pleasure to create using a well drafted pattern with clear and correct instructions.

My only complaint of the bag is that it is really small, but it is a good bag to use for special occasion when you don't have to carry everything but the kitchen sink in it!

I tested the Hidden Aganda Quilt by Angela Pingel earlier this summer and decided to gift the finished quilt to Peggy, too. I combined two favorite fabric collections...my Outback Wife and a lot of my Anna Maria Horner collections; added in some solids and ended up with a very dramatic quilt.

I must admit, at first, that it just was not pleasing to my eye. But after working with it and quilting it I ended up loving the final outcome.

The drape is so nice on this quilt because the Outback Wife fabric is bark cloth. It is a heavier weight and gives a beautiful texture to the quilt.

Keeping it all in the family, I backed the quilt with another Anna Maria Horner print and quilted it with an easy meander stitch. I am still having issues with my new Juki machine. The thread must have broken 50 times when I was quilting this piece, causing the machine to need to be rethreaded EVERY. SINGLE. TIME! UGH, Can you hear my frustration? No one seems to know how to help me with this problem.

This asterick print by Lizzie House is the perfect shade of plum, which tied in all the pinks and blues in just the right way.

The finished quilt after laundering measures 53" x 67".

Peggy seems quite happy with her gifts and even wore her purse to church the next day.

Happy Birthday, Peggy!

We Love You!

Goldilocks and the Three Quilts

2018-07-13T21:28:00.000-07:00

You all know the story of Goldilocks and the three bears, but have you heard of Goldilocks and the three quilts?
I've been collecting Alison Glass fabrics and particularly saving the handcrafted line and the sun prints for a special day when inspiration might strike.
While deciding on what projects I wanted to work on at my retreat in May, I knew I wanted to finally work with my AG stash. I cut 9" squares of all the Alison Glass and planned to make a simple, sort of rainbow order quilt. I cut all the squares before I left for Wisconsin, so I was able to have a finished quilt top a few hours after arriving at Stitch Supply Retreat Center.

When it came time to quilt it I pulled out all the thread spools with colors of the quilt. I didn't use all of them but I did use a lot of the 20 colors that I had pulled out.

Straight, horizontal lines, about 1/2" apart, seemed like the right way to quilt it. I had a little problem with puckering while quilting this piece, but I blame that on my lack of experience with my new Juki machine and the fact that I used voile to back it. All the lovely crinkles of the quilting created after laundering pretty much made the puckers disappear.

I used this great print of Alison Glass voile/lawn for the backing. It makes the quilt so light and super comfy. I also made a few matching pillowcases. I've heard for years how soft and comfortable lawn pillowcases are to sleep with. I'd made them for gifts in the past but never for myself, until now.

AT 68" x 84", it's a perfect size for my side of the bed. I think I have slept with it every night since I finished it at the end of May. The binding is another Alison Glass fabric, a near solid in bright pink.

This quilt is the one Goldilocks tried out first. She really liked it, but I had my heart set on it so this one belongs to Mama Bear.

Whenever I pull out a big pile of fabric I really dislike folding it and putting it away after I cut a square or two here and there. I needed to make a quilt for a baby shower gift. It's my sweet friend's second baby, so I usually like to make a family picnic sized quilt instead of a baby quilt. Since I had these fabrics still out in my sewing room I decided to use them for Lindsay's quilt, too. Combined with a charcoal yarn dyed chambray and using a free pattern by Faith Jones, on the Bernina blog We All Sew, I cut all the components for the quilt one day and then took a few days to piece it.

I really didn't want to quilt this one myself, because it was quite large, so I called one of the long arm quilters I have used and asked if she could have it finished in a week. She started out by saying she was getting ready to go on vacation...so she'd hurry and get it done right away. By right away she meant she'd do it in one day! I just love the all over motif she used because it has so many different combinations of swirls, bubbles and squares. This gave the quilt great movement.

Because I was running out of time I was not able to order fabric for the backing or binding. I had to find something at our local quilt store and they really don't carry my style of fabrics. It was my lucky day when I found this traditional batik, which had a very modern look to it. I used it as the backing and the binding.

Since this is the biggest quilt in the trio it would definitely be Papa Bear's quilt. Goldilocks gave it a try but I told her not to get too comfortable; this one was going to someone very dear to me. At approximately 85" x 86", I'm hoping it will be the picnic/beach quilt for the growing family of my friend Lindsay and her husband, Scott and their growing family.

I grabbed the remaining fabrics and used the improv stripe method to piece a baby quilt. I spray basted this quilt, trying out a method my friend, Debbie, had suggested on her blog. I've never used the design wall to spray baste vertically instead of on the floor. It worked really well for this small sized quilt. I'll have to try it on a larger quilt sometime soon.

I had a small piece of wool batting and some IKEA Nummers print for the backing. I managed to make it work, despite the fact that I barely had enough of the batting or the backing.

Quilted with Wonderfil Invisible Thread on my Juki 150QVP. I'm still having thread breakage issues, but for the most part "Justine" liked this thread.

This small quilt measures 34" x 47" after laundering. Goldilocks tried it out but declared, "This quilt is too small".

Dear readers, just because I like you so much, here are some lovely photos of flowers growing in my garden this summer.

And, in case you were wondering, the part of Goldilocks was played by Martha Stewart Labradoodle!

The Gambier Jacket

2018-07-09T02:00:00.000-07:00

Since I first fell in love with knitting, about 6 years ago, I hoped I would gain the skills to make Mr. Romance a sweater. After finishing three sweaters for myself in the last year I knew I was ready to tackle something a little more complicated and worthy of making for Paul.

I first saw the Gambier Jacket on Instagram and knew this would fulfill my desire to knit for Paul. I love the color work, the bulky yarn and the fact that it reminds me of a sweater you might see Adam Levine wearing. It's very stylish and looks so warm and cozy, too.

When I began knitting this sweater, I never imagined it would only take me 10 days to complete it. From start to finish, it was a most satisfying project.

I liked the example on Ravelry so much, that I decided to use the very same yarn the designer used when I made Paul's jacket.

I found the most perfect buttons to finish this jacket. They are made of fallen antlers that have been recovered in the forest. They really are perfect and the fact that each one is a little bit different makes them even more special.

Paul was a very willing model and hammed it up pretty good in several photos.

I had enough of the yarn leftover to make him a matching hat. I'm pretty sure that men don't wear matchy-matchy knits, but he'll have the hat to keep him warm when we travel.

It wasn't until I was editing the photos and deciding which ones to use in this blog post that I discovered a big boo-boo on the left front piece. I used the wrong color yarn in the pattern. What should be the honey colored yarn is grey in one of the diamond motifs.

After knitting this sweater, blocking it, admiring it several times, it wasn't until I was photographing Paul wearing it that I noticed the error. There was no way I was going to unpick the entire sweater, so I fixed it (visually) by stitching over the errors with the right colored yarn...cross-stitch style. It's not a perfect fix but it sure won't draw my eye to the error each time Paul wears the sweater.

In this photo the honey and the white yarns sort of run together and look the same color

He's looking mighty handsome in his jacket AND he was a real good sport modeling this for me during our 90'F heatwave, last weekend. It's a good thing we did it then because it's 105'F this weekend.

I understand there is a Ladies version of the Gambier jacket . I think I need to make myself one now.

Sweater Stats

Pattern: Men's Gambier Jacket on Ravelry

Size 46

Yarn: Hinterland Watershed Bulky

50% Canadian Rambouillet 50% Alpaca

Colors: Ash, Snow and Honey

Needles: Lykke Interchangeable circular needles sizes 10 and 11

Buttons: Natural, fallen antler, Purchased at Alamitos Bay Yarn Co. in Long Beach, California

My Body Model

2018-07-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

If you follow me on Instagram you already know that I am completely obsessed with a new web app called My Body Model. What you might not know is that I wanted to be a fashion designer when I was growing up. If you've not heard about My Body Model app, it is a Beta app where you can put in all your body measurements and produce a croquis for designing clothing, trying out patterns and designing knitwear.
Here's what mine looks like.

Then I use an app on my iPad called SketchClub and my Apple Pen to draw and design, adding hair and coloring in the garment I have sketched. You can even audition fabrics. This is a drawing of my Easter Dress and me wearing it on Mother's Day. I like using the Sketch Club app on my iPad because it doesn't waste paper and I can easily add or subtract lines and colors I have used to design my garments and fabric combinations. My sketches have improved from when I first started drawing just 2 weeks ago.

Sometimes I just sketch to see what a style might look like on my pear shaped body.

With no plans to make a bathing suit this summer, I still had fun drawing a few popular patterns on My Body Model.

This is my first complete sketch to finished dress. I photographed the fabric then used it in the Sketch Club app to see how it might look made up in Simplicity Pattern 6467. I'm so pleased with this dress and the gorgeous Viscose Poplin I purchased from Blackbird Fabrics.

Knitters can also design using the app. I didn't design this Gambier Jacket, but I did make it for Paul. There's a woman's version that I just might make for myself after seeing this sketch.

Trying to decide if I should make the mid-length or the long length Winslow Culottes, I've scanned in the fabric I want to use and I was leaning toward the longer length.

I enjoy sketching so much, I'm even sketching clothes I see others wearing. Growing up, I remember my mother had a beautiful coat that I called "the oatmeal coat", because it looked like someone had spilled a box of uncooked oatmeal all over the wool fabric. My sister and I have been trying to find a photo of mom wearing the coat, but so far, no luck. I've always wanted to recreate that coat and after sketching it on my body croquis I think I need to make it a priority.

I've sketched in different arm positions on some of my drawings and even altered the croquis to simulate a back image, hopefully Erica will be incorporating these things into her app soon. I'd love to recreate the gown that Barbra Streisand wore in her 1967 concert in Central Park.

Erica has a design class of videos on her YouTube channel. So far we have learned how to draw necklines and sleeves. It's really fun to follow along. Who knows, I might become a fashion designer after all!

If you'd like to see more sketches and also know more of how sewing has given me more confidence, pop on over to the My Body Model website where I am a guest blogger.

Making a Handbag

2018-07-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

I am not a fan of a large purse and designer handbags don't impress me. For me, a handbag need only have two qualities, be lightweight and only be large enough to carry the few essentials I need with me; those essentials are my wallet, a lipstick, my cell phone and a small bag of "stuff" (Kleenex, gum, a pen and maybe medicine or vitamins). That's it!! Oh, and it must be attractive.

The Hampton Handbag fits all the criteria and it is easily made in an afternoon.

I first discovered Upstyle Designs when I saw Robin on the Martha Stewart Living TV show, a long time ago. Her patterns are really well written and turn out perfectly each time.

I made one adjustment to the pattern. I added two inches of height to the pattern, making the bag finish at 10" x 10" x 4" deep.

I made the Hampton Handbag using a cork fabric that I purchased from Sew Sweetness. The cork is easy to sew with and really does not require any special treatment. You just want to measure twice and pay attention to where your seam lines are supposed to be. You really don't want to unpick stitches when using cork fabric because the needle makes holes in the fabric. I sewed with regular Aurifil 50 wt. thread and a size 14 leather needle.

The inside of the bag has two pockets, one with a zipper, the other without a zipper, making a perfect place to put your cell phone for easy accessibility.

I purchased the black finish hardware kit from Upstyle Designs which even included purse feet. If you're like me you dislike putting your handbag on the floor in a public place. I try to keep it close by and find a chair to put it on. If that is not available, then the purse feet help to keep the bottom of the bag off of the ground.

Most sewists have had a go at making a "bag style" purse, but making a framed handbag ups your game and gives the bag a real pro look. Give it a try.

Mandy Boatneck Tee

2018-06-29T11:18:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I ordered this yummy French Terry from the Imagine Gnat's website. I thought it would make the perfect summer tee shirt to wear for the July 4th holiday.

I used my iPad and My Body Model croquis to sketch three different tee shirts. I was leaning toward making the Mandy Boatneck tee but asked my Instagram friends for their opinions to help make my decision. My IG friends were split between the Mandy and the Mimosa and it was a resounding NO to the Tabor. It just does not go well with these stripes.

The Mandy Boatneck Tee is a free pattern on the Tessuti website. I first heard about it a long time ago but was dissuaded by the One Size category, knowing that I do not fit into a one size fits most pattern. Recently, while listening to the Love To Sew Podcast I heard Caroline mention that she loves this pattern, so I thought I would give it a go. I read a few blog posts about it and knew I would need to enlarge the sleeve, because it runs really small and also lower the front neckline a bit.

I've drawn out a little sketch of the changes I made to make the pattern fit my arms and to lower the front neckline 1/2". I spent an afternoon making this tee shirt. The instructions are clear and it was an easy sew using my serger and a twin needle on the Bernina. It would have gone even quicker, but I cut the sleeves with the stripes going the wrong way and had to re-cut them. It's a good thing I had enough fabric to do so.

The final garment turned out just as I had hoped. Our eldest son usually comes to California for the July 4th holiday (and his birthday) but this year they'll be staying in Arizona for his son's volleyball tournament. I'll miss our annual beach party but instead I'll be wearing my new Mandy Boatneck Tee to our community's boat parade.

I'll be making more Mandy's and I think I will elongate the back by 2-3 inches and do a split side seam.

Happy Father's Day 2018

2018-06-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

It's become a tradition that I share the post I first wrote 7 years ago about the fathers in my life. Here is that same post with a few updates.

This Father's Day I write this post not only to honor my father, but also the fathers I admire, who have touched my life. I am fortunate enough to know many men who are amazing fathers, the first of which was my own dad.

Carl

My dad was tough. He loved us and raised my brother, sister and I to be independent thinkers, as long as we thought his way! He loved and respected my mom and through him I learned how to choose a good man to be the father of my children. My dad died in December 2000 and I miss him more and more each year. I would love to have him see the intelligent, caring men our sons have become. I wish he could meet his great-grandchildren and see his grandsons in their role as parents and the successes they have had in their chosen careers. I wish I had more photos of he and I when I was an adult. But here are some from my childhood. Thanks to my sister, who is scanning all mom's old photos, I am able to feature a few here.

Dick

Dick was my husband's father. A man who looked nothing like the big teddy bear that he was. He was a rough/tough steel worker but yet he was the grandfather who got down on the floor to play with our boys. He was a man who outlived two wives, raised my husband to be my Mr. Romance, and loved my cooking. I miss him.

4 generations of first born sons

Father John

Father John was our parish priest who became a good family friend. He performed the marriage ceremony of Michael and Jenny, baptized three of their 4 children and was often a guest at our dinner table. We loved to hear his stories of travel before he became a priest and appreciated his wisdom and friendship. He died a few years ago and we still miss his wisdom and sense of humor.

Pat

Pat was also one of my dad's dearest friends. He and LaVonne have been my second parents. I love visiting them and even asked Pat to be "my dad" when so many of the dad's in my life had died. I try to visit him every year. He also lives a few hours drive from my home. This saying is so true, "old friends are the best friends". Can you believe these active seniors are in their 90's? I remember riding my bike to their house to visit them on hot summer nights when I was a young teenager. They thought I was visiting them but I was really trying to get one of their sons to notice me, Ha! Ha! I remember going camping with their family at a Boy Scout Camp (how's that for beating the odds when you are a teenaged girl?). I think since they only had boys I learned a lot from Pat and LaVonne about how to be a mom in an all-boy family. I treasure their love, wisdom and friendship. Sadly, Pat died last year, a week before Father's Day. I still miss him like crazy.

In 2014 it gave me great joy to present these influential friends each with a quilt of their own, made by me.

Frank

Frank is the last of the influential dads in my life. Frank was my dad's best friend and confidant. He "got" my dad. They had the same politics and outlook on life. Our family did everything with Frank and Dollie and their sons. I have so many fond memories of Sunday dinners at their home. I knew if I had a problem I could talk it through with Frank and he would explain my dad's point of view without the emotion I would get from my dad. I could complain to Frank and he understood my concerns because he understood my dad. I haven't seen Frank in a few years and need to make the effort to drive the 90 minutes it takes to go and see him. In recent years his health has declined to the point where he mostly sleeps. I still have not made the effort to go see him. It's selfish, but I want to remember him as the moody man of my youth. I saw Frank in September 2016, when he traveled to attend my mom's funeral. It was so great to see him and he was looking well and feeling pretty good.

Brent and Michael
Brent and Michael are our 2 oldest sons. They are such good dads. Michael was the first to give us a grandchild and Brent followed a few months later. They each have 4 children and are very involved dads. Their children love and respect them and I love seeing them as fathers. Usually we get them a sentimental card for Father's Day because we are in such awe of their parenting skills. But this year (2011) we got them a funny card. I'm sure most parents can relate when they think of their sons as little boys and then see them as fathers.

Michael, Jenny and family
photo by Diane Stanley

2018 Dad and donut day at school

Brent, Molly and family
photo by Libby Jones

Father's Day 2018

Kyle

This is Kyle's second Father's Day. He, too, is a very hands on dad, always taking Valko to the park, on his evening walks and helping in all aspects of parenting. Kyle travels a lot for work, lecturing and teaching all over the world about dental implants, but when he's home he and Valko are best buds. He's learned to wear his dad hat (literally, this kid always has a hat on) very well. It's so fun to see your baby with his own baby.

Evan

Evan is the last of our boys to join the daddy club. Ellison was born last October. Evan jumped in full force and he's completely smitten with his sweet baby girl, Ellison. There's something about a dad and daughter relationship that is just precious. Ellison is one blessed little girl to have such a loving dad. I pity the boys when they start coming around to date her!

and finally my Mr. Romance...
Paul
I hit the jackpot and so did our boys! I think one of the greatest compliments a person can receive is that they are a good parent. We recently had our friend remark that Paul is such an amazing father and wanted to know where he learned to be a good father. He had a good role model but I think it is more than that. He is such a kind and caring person who truly loves his boys and they love and respect him, too! I've always said the greatest gift a father can give his children is to love and respect their mother. So we all win. I have an amazing husband and our boys have a loving and caring father.

1991

2003

2010

missing our eldest son. 2018

One of Paul's most recent favorite photos of us from 2012

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there.

Sweet Nectar Mittens

2018-06-11T09:12:00.001-07:00

Everytime I finish a knitting project I get so anxious to start the next knitting project. There is something about the relaxation that comes over me when I am knitting that I really love. It's also quite lovely that you get a beautiful, finished garment or accessory out of this relaxing art.

I started these mittens after I finished my Paloma cardigan in April. The pair of mittens, including the lining, took me only about 3 weeks to make. I really should start keeping track of my knitting hours to better have an understanding of how long the project actually takes me to make. I usually knit in the evenings, while watching TV, but sometimes knit during the day, too.

I knew I wanted to make a gift for a friend to give later in the year and mittens seemed like the logical choice. When I saw these Sweet Nectar Mittens I knew that they were what I was meant to be knitting for her. Anxious to begin making them, I went to my local yarn shop and found the perfect yarn. I wish you could feel how soft these mittens are.

The palm side of the mittens is a repetitive motif with a fun detail on the thumb and a heart at the tip of the fingers. The fact that the self-striping yarn yields a lovely blended color pattern adds to the overall beauty of the mitts. I have to admit I followed the lead of the designer and chose a yarn similar to what she used. I loved the idea of one color fading into the next.

I also knew I wanted to line the mittens with the same Mohair yarn that I had used in my Fiddlehead Mittens. I was so happy when I saw that the Rowan Kidsilk Haze came in the perfect color to line these mittens.

The very fine yarn is held double when knitting the lining, which creates a soft layer of warmth and a surprising pop of color.

I started these mittens at home, worked on them in Wisconsin (at retreat) and Arizona, while visiting our son over Mother's Day weekend, and finished them in the car on the way home. I really love stranded knitting (colorwork). This pattern was well written and easy to follow. The mismatched, coordinating motifs on each mitten is fun and hopefully will brighten those long winter days for my friend. My daughter-in-law's table decor was the perfect setting to snap a progress photo.

Mitten Stats:
Pattern: Sweet Nectar Mittens by Tanis Lavallee

Yarn: *Noro Shiraito color 30

45% Cashmere/45% Angora/10%Wool

50 gr/180 meters

*Sublime color White

75% Merino/20% silk /5% Baby Cashmere

50 gr/127 yards

*Rowan Kidsilk Haze color Alhambra

70%Mohair/ 30% Silk

2x 25 gr/230 yards

Needles: Addi Turbo Sock Rockets size US 3 32" circular needles

Knit Picks 5" Caspian Wood DPN size US 3

Me Made May 2018...the final recap

2018-06-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

I accepted the challenge of Me Made May and decided to wear something each day in May that I had made. Wearing the clothes was not a difficult challenge, but photographing myself; mostly using a tripod but sometimes with the help of Mr. Romance; was not easy. I felt like I was over saturating my Instagram feed. In the end I'm glad I did it, because it made me do two things I have been putting off for a while.

The first thing Me Made May made me do was clean out my closet. I have been putting it off for a long time. I took 3 huge bags of clothes to the charity shop and I also changed all my hangers over to the non-slip kind, so the clothes are all hanging straight and can no longer fall off the hangers.

The other thing Me Made May helped me do was to pay more attention to fit and construction, when I am making a garment. I learned we all have body "flaws" and the pattern rarely fits anyone straight out of the envelope. Thanks to listening to the LOVE TO SEW PODCAST I have learned so much about pattern fitting and also being comfortable in your own body shape. My body is pear shaped and it has always been a thorn in my side.

So here goes...In chronological order of my Me Made May 2018.

May 1

The Blackwood Cardigan

Plantain Tee

Self Drafted Pull On Pants

My sister asked me if I used an app to make me look thinner. Ha! I wish

May 2
Hand Knit Paloma Cardigan
Elani Tunic

May 3
Linden Sweatshirt (with my own added ruffle sleeve detail)

May 4
Blackwood Cardigan
Avery Leggings

May 5
Hand Knit Socks

May 6
Hand Knit Paloma Cardigan
Plantain Tee
Self Drafted Pull On Pants

May 7
Avery Leggings
Hand-Knit Socks

May 8
Linden Sweatshirt (lengthened to make it a tunic)

May 9
Bettine Dress

May 10
Scout Tee

May 11
Blackwood Cardigan
Classic Frame Satchel

May 12
Linden Sweatshirt

May 13
New Look D0270 (with sleeve and neckline alterations)

May 14
This is the only day I did not wear anything handmade, but I did finish knitting these Sweet Nectar Mittens while we were driving home from Arizona.

Day 15
Lark Boatneck Tee
Self Drafted Pull On Pants

Day 16
Linden Sweatshirt

Day 17
Elani Tunic
Self-Drafted Pull On Pant

Day 18
Sharing what I thought was a sewing fail...the Charlie Caftan

Day 19
Blackwood Cardigan
Avery Leggings
Hand Knit Socks

Day 20
I redeemed myself and was able to fix the Charlie Caftan

Day 21
Hand Knit So Faded Pullover

Day 22
Hand Knit Socks

Day 23
Linden Sweatshirt

Day 24
Blackwood Cardigan
Plantain Tee
Self-Drafted Pull On Pants
Hand Knit Socks

Day 25
Blackwood Cardigan
Boden Tee Shirt Dress...upcylcled and made into a top

Boden contacted me and asked if they could repost this photo

Day 26
Lark Boatneck Tee
Paloma Knit Cardigan

Enjoying Redondo Beach with my High School bestie

Day 27
Hand Knit Socks

Day 28
Blackwood Cardigan
Upcycled dress from Anthropology made into a top
Avery Leggings

Day 29
Winslow Culottes

Day 30
Linden Sweatshirt

Day 31
Upcycled Top made from an old knit dress (for the body) and a Boden Tee Shirt (for the sleeves)

Patterns used in my Me Made May makes:

New Look D0270

Classic Frame Satchel

Sweet Nectar Mittens

Seawall Socks

Ten of these garments were made in May. That's a record for me. I have a few more that have to be finished and I can reveal them here on the blog, soon.
Thanks for staying so long and indulging me in this photo heavy post.

My Little Sweatshop...Me Made May

2018-05-23T09:12:00.000-07:00

In January I signed up for the Ready To Wear Fast. It's been really fun NOT buying any clothes and instead making new clothes. My style is very casual and I don't work outside the home so my makes have been mostly t-shirts, tops and a few cardigans.

Today I am sharing photos of my most recent finished garments.

First up is my Easter dress. This is a pattern (New Look D0270) I have made a few times. This time I changed the neckline by adding a 4" slit. I also added back darts to correct the fit for my small torso and large hips. The sleeve was a happy mistake. I wanted to make a split sleeve, all the way from the shoulder to the cuff, but the fabric (a rayon and linen blend) was too heavy to drape nicely. Instead, I sewed the seam up the middle of the sleeve and left a slit in the bottom of the hemmed edge of the sleeve. See the close up photos for a better look.

I wear t-shirts and jeans almost every day, so getting creative and changing the style or cut of the shirt has been a challenge. I love a good boat neck tee. When I was at Stitch Supply Retreat earlier this month I bought lots of garment fabric. This striped knit (Art Gallery Fabric) is one of my favorites. I also bought the Lark Tee Shirt pattern which has 4 necklines and 4 sleeve options, including a boat neck. Win! Win!

One of my favorite boat neck tees from Boden catalog has a contrasting twill tape to finish the neckline, so I tried to do that on this shirt. FAILURE! It didn't lay flat so I cut it off, which made the neckline too big. UGH! I added the binding to help keep this on my shoulders, but it's still a little too big. Wearable, but disappointing.

I also made a self-drafted pair of knit pants. My favorite RTW knit pants were getting a little ragged looking, so I cut them apart and made a pattern from them. I found this scuba knit at Joann's and made the pants, which fit perfectly and are so comfortable. They have a fun faux pocket detailing on the hip but it just would not photograph properly.

Another Linden Sweatshirt pattern made with Art Gallery Knit fabric. This one is a beautiful pink that will get a lot of wear this summer.

My most recent finish is the Charlie Caftan. Made from a rayon chambray by Robert Kaufman fabrics and purchased from Imagine Gnats online shop. This dress is my new favorite. The pattern is by Closet Case Patterns and it was not without its problems. No fault of the pattern designers but more my skills and body shape, made this a difficult make for me. When I first constructed the dress it sat too low through the bodice and making the "waistline" way too low for my short waisted body. I am not considered short at 5"5" but I'm all legs and no body so I always have to make a short waist adjustment. Some Indie pattern designer do not give you a natural waist mark, and because this dress is not a fitted style, I thought I was safe.

I will most definitely be making more of these dresses but next time not only will I made the adjustment in the shoulder seams to raise the waistline but I will also raise the V-neckline a bit. It's a little too revealing for me.

If you're looking for a comfortable and stylish dress to make, this one's for you...and it has POCKETS!

Also made this month at retreat was this cork and waxed canvas purse. I've always wanted to turn my clutch framed pattern into a handbag but found this pattern at Upstyle Designs on Etsy. It was super easy to follow and to make. The most difficult part was turning the very stiff and thick bag once it was all sewn together.

When I was finished with the bag I was so disappointed because I did not realize how small it finished. No worries, because it made the perfect birthday gift for my 10 year old granddaughter.

The inside is finished with a fun and playful Cotton and Steel print, with a zip pocket and an open pocket.

Because I really wanted to make a purse for myself, I made this one using the instruction from the pattern above, resizing it to fit a 12" frame instead of the 8" as used above. This one is a better size, but if I made another I'd make it 2" taller. I don't like big bags but feel I need a little more room than I got in this bag.

I used the same waxed canvas for the bottom of the bag and a canvas print for the focal fabric.

I had purchased these bag handles a few years ago and finally used them in this project. I nearly bruised my thumb sewing them on; trying to match up the holes inside and out was not easy. I used upholstery thread to sew them on, so I think I got a really good attachment. I also used glue to hold them in place while sewing them on to the bag.

The inside also has a zipper pocket and a fun print for the lining.

I have a stack of garment fabric and new patterns lined up to sew for the summer. But I need to finish a few quilts first.

Thanks for reading and thanks for your comments on my new blog header.

A Mini Makeover

2018-05-21T19:33:00.003-07:00

I gave my blog a mini makeover. I realized that my header and the photos in it are all at least 4 years old. So, I updated the header with more current photos.

What do you think about it?

I don't get many comments but I am getting about 10,000 views a month. That is encouragement enough to keep blogging. I do like that it is a great way for me to keep track of my creative life.

And since no blog post should be without a photo, here's one of a few clutch bags that I made to gift to friends at retreat last month.

Paloma Cardigan

2018-05-18T16:30:00.002-07:00

I finished knitting the Paloma Cardigan a few weeks ago and was able to wear it a few times before the weather gets too warm. This cardigan knit with bulky weight yarn was very easy to knit. The pattern was well written and easy to follow. My only problem came when I had to pick up stitches along the front band and knit it without it being too lose or too tight. It took me three tries but I finally got it right.

I thought the knit one, purl one pattern would drive me crazy but in reality, once I got a rhythm going, it went smoothly and fast. It took me about one month to knit the sweater. One of my favorite features of this pattern is the pockets.

This sweater is knit from the bottom up in individual pieces and then sewn together like a garment. The pattern says to block the pieces before using a mattress stitch to sew them together. I don't have blocking mats so I got creative and used my design wall to block them after using my steamer to dampen them and ease them into shape.

When the sweater was finally sewn together and I tried it on it was a little too big and sloppy looking, so I took a chance and threw it in the washing machine and washed it on the gentle cycle. It got just a little "felted" but I actually like it and the fit is now perfect!

I found the perfect buttons at a local fabric store and they were just what I think makes the sweater a beautifully finished garment. I am just so pleased with the way it turned out.

Given the opportunity of cold weather I can assure you I will be wearing this sweater a lot.

I took the cardigan to Wisconsin with me a few weeks ago when I went to the Stitch Supply Company/Stash Sewciety retreat. It was a cozy and comfy piece on the plane and in the cool of the mornings while I was there. It is now packed away in a moth proof bag to protect it until the weather turns cool again.

I always say I learned how to knit by watching YouTube videos. That is not 100% true, because my mom's friend taught me to knit and purl when I was a child. All the extra techniques that I needed to learn for this cardigan, I learned on YouTube.

New techniques I used to complete this sweater:

*Cable Cast-On

*Pockets

*One Row Buttonholes with 2-Stitch Holes

*Three Needle Bind-Off

*Mattress Stitch

Sweater Stats:

Pattern: Paloma Cardigan by Paloma Cardigan by Thea Colman on Ravelry

Yarn: O-Wool Legacy Bulky in Mustard Seed

Needles:Addi Natura Bamboo 16" circular size US 10

Addi Natura Bamboo 32" circular size US 10

Addi Turbo 60" circular size US 10

Buttons: JHB 1-1/8" Wooden Button

Picnic in July...a Stash Sewciety Bee Quilt

2018-04-30T11:54:00.000-07:00

Last Summer, when it was my turn to be queen in the Stash Sewciety Bee, I chose a random theme of stars and asked my bee mates to make one 12 inch star block and then four of any other block they wanted to make; it didn't have to be a star. My color palette was made from this photo I saw on Design Seeds.

I pulled a great selection of fabrics from my stash.

Here are some of the blocks I made as starters so my bee mates would know what I was after.

The women of my bee made so many beautiful blocks. I had fun arranging all of them.

Here's the finished quilt. I'm excited to be taking it with me to Wisconsin this week. I'll be with a lot of the women who contributed to making this quilt as we retreat at our annual Stitch Supply Retreat. I can't wait.

I sent the quilt top to Crinklelove so she could work her magic on the quilt. I chose Summer Buzz for an all over motif and it's so cute. It has flowers, leaves and bees buzzing all over the quilt.

My friend, Melissa, sent me a fat quarter of the most perfect fabric. It has all the right colors that I had asked for so I ordered it for the backing for the quilt. A mini stripe by Riley Blake makes the perfect binding to bring the whole quilt together.

Quilt Stats:

Quilt Name: Picnic in July

Quilt Pattern: A variety and beautiful assortment of stars and random blocks

Fabric: from stash and bee mates

Backing: Sevenberry print

Batting: Warm and White

Binding: Riley Blake Stripes in Navy

Size: after laundering 56" x 78"

Let's Sew...a Blackwood Cardigan and the Elani Tunic

2018-04-26T19:04:00.000-07:00

I have rediscovered my love for garment sewing. Over the last few years I have made a few garments after discovering some Indie pattern designers. This year, I pledged to the Ready to Wear Fast on Instagram. I admit to giving in to buying a few logo t-shirts but other than that and some shoes I’ve been really good at sticking to the fast.

I upped my sewing game after I started listening to a new to me podcast called Love to Sew. I just love listening to Helen and Caroline. Their easy, relaxed style of interviewing and their lighthearted attitude keep me entertained. I’m all caught up with the available episodes and anxiously await the new episodes each week. They have inspired me to learn all I can to regain the skills I so carelessly tossed aside years ago. I have been discovering new pattern designers and online fabric shops. I'm not putting quilting aside, but I do love this new turn in my creative journey.

I really like Stylarc patterns. They are an Australian pattern designer with a lot of patterns to choose from. I have made several of their tops and a dress. Their patterns fit my body quite well, with only some minor adjustments.

This is the Elani Tunic. I cut a size 10 through the bust and shoulders and then graded it out through the hips to accommodate my short waist and fuller hips.

The fabric is a gorgeous Watercolor viscose print that I purchased from La Mercerie. It was my trickiest fabric to work with in a very long time but it came together beautifully and is very comfortable to wear. The soft, flowy drape of the fabric and the length of the tunic will mean I can wear this top with jeans or leggings.

Remember the Podcast I mentioned above? Well, Helen is one of the hosts and she has a few patterns that she has designed. This Blackwood Cardigan is one of them. I love it so much! This is the second one I have made and I have a third one cut and ready to sew.

I purchased the charcoal tweed ponte fabric at Joann's Fabrics. It has a beautiful weight to it and looks dressy.

This was such a quick sew. Except for the top stitching, I used the overlocker machine to sew it together. My high school Home Ec teacher would be so happy because the inside looks just as good as the outside.

For this pattern I cut a size large through the shoulders, bust and sleeves (I shortened by one inch) and graded to an extra large through the hips. The fit is so perfect!

I really like the length of this cardigan. The pattern also has a shorter, cropped version available.

The first Blackwood I made I omitted the pockets because the knit had a cable that I thought would be too hard to get perfect. For this one the knit fabric was a perfect weight to make the pockets and they I'm pleased with they way they finished. I'm glad I added them this time.

This is the first Blackwood cardigan that I made. The fabric is a cable knit from Joann's. I love the navy color and I also bought it in cream to make another one. This one I cut a size medium through the bust and shoulders and graded to an extra large through the hips. This one was also completely sewn on the overlocker except the top stitching.

Now I have three very wearable pieces of clothing .

I have a few other pieces of clothing to share. I'll be doing that soon because Me Made May is about to begin next week.

Jack is a Star

2018-04-21T14:22:00.002-07:00

This quilt was so much fun to make in spite of the fact that mine did not turn out square. I let that error go because the fact that it's not perfectly square gives it a little more character...just like my grandson, for whom I made this quilt.

As Jack's 15th birthday was approaching I knew I wanted to make him a quilt. I had already made each of my grandchildren a quilt for their second birthday but monsters and puppy dogs have long been outgrown, so now it was time for a manly sized quilt for our six foot tall grandson.

March 2005

When I asked Jack what his favorite color was he said, "blue". But when I asked him what colors made him happy, he said "pink and yellow". Now that I had the color palette in mind I had to choose what fabrics to use.

I knew I wanted to make Victoria Findley Wolfe's Star Storm quilt for him and I also wanted to use fabric from my stash. Some pieces used in the quilt call for 1-1/2 yard pieces. Pulling fabric from my stash proved to be a challenge because I usually don't buy more than 1/2 yard pieces so I had to get creative and luckily I managed to pull it off.

We found the perfect yellow wall to use as a backdrop for this quilt, while we were on a photo shoot a few weeks back.

I started out quilting a different motif in each section of the star, then added a label with words quilted right into the star. No chance of this quilt losing it's label, that's for sure! I said a few nice things about Jack and then also quilted in the date," Happy Birthday", and the year it was made and by whom.

I finished quilting it with a wavy meander because I was getting bored and ran out of ideas. I was practicing my free motion quilting using prompts from Angela Walters while quilting this piece.

The backing is my favorite newsprint from Carrie Bloomston and the binding is a deep fuchsia from Cotton and Steel.

All the fabrics came together and the color palette is one that works well for this quilt. We'll be visiting our son and his family in a few weeks, so we can deliver the quilt in person. Although Jack's birthday was in March, he knows something is coming soon. I sure hope he likes his new quilt.

Quilt Stats:

Pattern: Star Storm by Victoria Findley Wolfe

Fabrics: all from Stash

Backing: Carrie Bloomston Story extra wide

Binding: Cotton and Steel

Batting: Warm and White
Thread: Pieced and quilted with Aurifil 50 wt.
Size: After laundering approximately 76" x 76"

Improv Stripes Quilt

2018-04-16T14:57:00.000-07:00

I started this quilt after Annabella, my friend and fellow Stitch Tease Bee member, asked for improv stripe strips when it was her month to be queen in our bee. I had just finished making the Brick House Quilt and I didn't feel like folding all the fabrics and putting them away so I decided to make another quilt from the same fabric bundles. Talk about "killing two birds with one stone"...I was able to make two quilts from two fat quarter bundles AND I didn't have to fold fabric and reshelve it. Here's a look at the Brick House quilt that I gifted to my friend, Greg, who lost his home in the Ventura Fires of November 2017.

And here's a look at the Improv Stripes quilt. They are very different but so similar because they are made of the same fabrics.

I cut random strips of a print and a solid and pieced them together and then cut apart and sewed the strips back together to create the improv blocks. Trimming and piecing them together was a fun project, trying to get a cohesive design was a little more challenging.

This was my first project to quilt on my new Juki QVP150 sewing machine. I'm still getting used to it's speed and what she likes. I did come up with a name for her. I am calling her Justine, after my godmother, who taught me so much about love and patience. I ran into a bit of a problem when I quilted several tucks into the quilt and had to rip out a lot of the stitches. That was not fun and I still ended up with a little bit of wonkiness in the finished quilt. But, after laundering it, it is hard to notice.

For the backing I used this vintage postage stamp print from Clothworks. The colors seemed right and I have had it in my stash for several years waiting for the right quilt to use it on. For the binding I used a binding I had pre-made from my stash.

We took the quilt to the City of Orange on a photo shoot. It was fun to hear the comments of the bike tourists as they drove by us. Some people gave nice comments and someone even asked how much I would sell it for!

Quilt Stats:
Pattern:Improv Stripes
Fabric: Karen Lewis' Blueberry Park and Carolyn Friedlander solids for Robert Kaufman
Batting: Warm and White
Thread: Pieced with Aurifil 50 wt. and quilted with Perma Core Cotton in 40 wt. color Sheer Yellow
Backing:1930"s Airmail by Clothworks
Binding:Carolyn Friedlander Widescreen in Black

Quilted by me on my Juki QVP150

Finished SIze: 60" x 72"

Fiddlehead Mittens

2018-04-11T08:58:00.000-07:00

The temperature is expected to be in the 90"s here today in Yorba Linda. This is way to hot for April, even for Southern California standards. When Mr. Romance and I went on our photo shoot the other day I said I needed to go somewhere cold to take the photos of the mittens I just finished knitting. Where can you always find it cold? Well in an ice rink, ofcourse. So we headed to Glacial Gardens, where we spent many hours freezing our butts off (literally) while watching our two youngest boys play hockey. Evan still plays on a men's league, when time permits, but Kyle gave up his goalie stick for a water polo ball his last year in high school.

I think these mittens are my very most favorite knitting finish of all time. The pattern for Fiddlehead Mittens caught my eye while I was searching on Ravelry. It is so well written and easy to follow. The pattern has lots of photos on Ravelry to get ideas for color combinations. I loved the fact that they also had a knitted lining. This will make them extra warm and I know I will appreciate that warmth next winter when we have a European river boat cruise planned to visit the Christmas markets in Germany, Austria and Hungary.

I purchased the wool from Jimmy Beans Wool online shop. I couldn't decide if I liked knitting them on DPN's or a circular needle. Both options had their advantages but in the end knitting with a circular needle is almost always easier for me.

It was open skating time while we were at the rink. There were not many people on the ice so Paul was able to capture some fun photos while I was playing the role of the model.

All the yarn used was Alpaca, which makes the mittens super soft and squishy. The lining was made using a double strand of Rowan Kidsilk Haze.

This last photo was taken outside the rink with an advertisment used as the backdrop. I couldn't resist editing the photo and making it an advertisement for Fiddlehead Mittens. You should try making them. They are super fun and oh so pretty.

And for my boys (Evan and Kyle)...you might have thrown your hockey gloves on the ice a few times...here's my ode to you using my Fiddlehead Mittens.

Mitten Stats:

Pattern: Fiddlehead Mittens by Adrian Bizilia

Yarns used: Outer Mittens:

Berroco-Ultra Alpaca Light 4289 Charcoal Mix

4294 Turquoise Mix

42105 Eggplant

4275 Pea Soup Mix

4268 Candied Yam Mix

4234 Cardinal

Lining:Rowan-Kidsilk Haze-597-Jelly

Needles:Knit Picks DPN's 5" Caspian Wood Double Point Needle Set size 3

Addi Turbo Clicks Size US 3-32" circular

The Orange Quilt in Orange

2018-04-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have had several quilts finished, some for many months, just needing to be photographed so that I could document them here on my blog. This is my way to keep track of my production. I can't tell you how many times I refer back to my blog to know when something was made or to look for a recipe or a certain photo of a family event. Writing about my life on the blog has helped me to remember things and I think it will be a great tool for future generations. Blogging has already been such a positive tool for me and that is why I continue to blog, even though the posts are fewer and farther between these days.

This past weekend Mr. Romance and I went out for a photo shoot. I have four quilts and a pair of mittens to share with you. I will be sharing each in a separate blog post over the next several weeks. The first is a quilt I am calling The Orange Quilt. What is more appropriate for a photo shoot of an Orange quilt than in the city of Orange?

One of the stops we thought we would find a good photo op was the train station. Just as the Angel's baseball car was approaching, Paul said we should hurry and try to get the train in the background. So he grabbed one of the quilts, barely threw the car into park, as he held up the quilt...only to hold up the backside of the quilt to the camera! Gotta love my helpful husband. Ha! Ha!

We did take this photo with the big Welcome to Orange sign in the background. The city of Orange is well known for it's historical involvement as a packing house for oranges. Back in the first half of the twentieth century all of Orange County was covered in orange groves. As more and more people flocked to the sunshine and beaches the orange groves were replaced by homes, businesses and freeways. Now we are one big traffic jam with way too many people.

I made this quilt top at the Stitch Supply Retreat, in Wisconsin, last May and then promptly folded it up when I got home and put it in the closet on the "to be quilted" pile.The pattern is an easy one by Suzy Quilts, called Hexie Stripe. All you need is to sew your fabric strips together and then have an equilateral triangle ruler. There is a lot of repetitive, busy work in making the quilt, but the result is a fun hexagon pattern.

I sent the quilt to Crinklelove for some long arm quilting.

The quilt top is made with all Carolyn Friedlander fabrics, so in keeping with that same theme I used one of her fabrics for the backing and the binding.

While squaring up the quilt and getting it ready to send off to be quilted I discovered I really liked the little off cuts so I made them into a pillow.

Quilt Stats:

Quilt Name: An Orange Quilt in Orange

Pattern: Hexie Stripe by Suzy Quilts

Fabric: All Carolyn Friedlander fabrics from my stash

Backing: Doe Wide by Carolyn Friedlander

Binding: Friedlander alphabet print in orange Cotton Lawn

Batting: Warm and White

Quilted by Crinklelove

Size: 64" wide x 74" long