Who am I ???

These were/are growing in what might loosely be termed "the front lawn". I mowed around them, thinking they were really pretty. I have no idea what they are, though - so I decided to ask my "Quilty-Blogfriends". So many of you seem to know so much about flowers! There is a longish crocus-like leaf, then a bouquet of five-petaled white flowers on a stem... very short (maybe stunted? lack of care???) about 4-5" tall overall. Are they a wildflower, or just feral? They are not growing in any of the semi-cultivated flowerbeds, just in the lawn.

Ideas, anyone? (probably a really common weed, and I'll be really red-faced for asking you all! tee hee)

Baby Steps...

It seems like everybody but me knits! I have knitted, I've made scarves for my tribe, and I made a cozy sweater to wear in my office (loosely termed 'the Refrigerator') at school. However, I was always told that I was "doing it wrong"... obviously by people who didn't know any better - and whose shops I didn't end up patronizing, because I DID knit! I had the sweater to prove it, complete with an interesting twist in the knitting.

I joined a group of women who meet at a church in Roseburg to learn to "knit RIGHT" (sorry, using a book only works if you already know how, or are far more focused than I am) and actually learn to follow a pattern in a book like everybody else can do. I always wanted to make a sweater with a pattern in it, and I love cables... so after I did a sampler and felt comfortable with the basic knit and purl stitches, Lorna suggested I try a simple cable pullover.

Hah! Easy for her to say, she's a knitter! I got started, though, and I'm coming along fine... the cable is starting to turn, and it actually does look sort of like a sweater.

MIA ? Not Exactly...

I just haven't been blogging, but I have been quilting. I did these two blocks for the Friday Block Party group... Sorry ladies, I'm not caught up again (story of my life - a friend used to say I'd be late to my own funeral... I told him I sincerely hoped so!).

Anyway, I did a variation of "Cross and Crown" for week 16, and my own very flowery version of "FlyFoot" for week 17 - at least I think those are the proper weeks.

I really like this Victorian flower print, and the plain boring beige works quite nicely with it, I think. Is it my imagination, or does this one sort of look like a Chinese Fortune Cookie? I added a 2" strip to all the sides, so it could go in the 12" block pile.

This one looks like a Stone Henge, or a quasi-Japanese Temple.That's probably because I switched the placement of the long side strips (I didn't like the more choppy look of the goldy squares and then the blue stripes and THEN the goldy stripes). My ironing job made the block a bit wonky, but I straightened it out after I took the picture. I added 2" strips to the outside so it would finish at 12" (not sure why, now that I think of it... the blue is overpowering).

I'm making two "Quick Nine-Patches" as presents for friends (one moved, and the other is getting married); I'm involved in two "Swaps"- I've been assigned really nice ladies for both swaps; making Pillows for the kids from Spud's Hawaiian shirts; and working on Marjory's quilt. I'll try to be a bit more consistent with Blogging - I love to read everyone else's posts, and it seems like I should be sharing what I'm doing as well.

Queen's X, Not It !!

This is a small block for Friday Block Party: "Queen's X". Since it is a small one, I decided to go with the fabrics I used in "Leap Frog" (even though the orange is reading as pink here - wazzup with that?) and maybe have enough small blocks for a charity quilt later. I forgot to turn two of the striped fabric blocks in the HSTs 90 degrees to make all the stripes go the same way (slow learner sometimes... oops). I "fixed" that by keeping the stripes in each diagonal the same - at least that's my story... and I'm sticking to it!
I realy do like the "bubbles" fabric. Wish I could remember where I got it - NO I don't, 'cause then I'd want to go get more of it, and I don't have a specific project that needs to be completed using just that fabric... I can substitute if I need that blue!

First Finish for 09! No Kiddin'!

There is a front moving in, and it was pretty windy... but I got a shot of my "Bears in the Farmhouse" quilt before the rain.

I did the Quilt Along with Judy Laquidaria and friends... and all I have to do is piece the backing and off this puppy goes to Louisa for its turn on the longarm!

Thanks to Judy and her deadlines, I actually finished a quilt... not only that, but it was done in one day under a month! (well, I'M impressed anyway) I like the way it came out, too. I waffled on the fabric selection; resolving to use only my stash. I wasn't happy with the stripes I chose... they were too 'regular'. Then I found that wavery sort of stripey fabric that I couldn't live without... but all the rest is "pre-purchased".

You can't even see a dent in the boxes, Kerstin! There are still SIX! I guess I'll sign on for the next one of Judy's QAs, it is fun to do quilts with other people... lots of encouragement from new friends as well.

Cheers, all. I'm off to find backing for this quilt, then maybe to the Post Office with the box for Louisa!

YYAAAY! I'm done!

Random Seven

My friend Marlene, over at Country Girl on the Chesapeake Bay had a post about a "Giveaway Meme" that she was/is doing. I told her I'd like to do that, too... but I didn't know what a "Meme" was (still don't... but I'm going to look it up just as soon as I post this). I did look it up! It means to use something from somebody else's mind to spark the creative impulse in your own mind... so that's what I'm doing: using Marlene's idea and carrying it forward.


Anyway, the deal is that I'm going to give away seven "things" to the first seven readers who respond to my post (assuming I have seven readers)... one to each person, not seven to one person! And one for Marlene P. as well - so you don't have to be the first seven, M... that makes eight - but Marlene wasn't expecting that part.

All that YOU, fearless reader, have to do is comment on this post saying that you'd like to be on the receiving end of what I decide to make for you. Oh, yeah, and then respond off-blog (email, please) to me letting me know where to send your gift.
And another caveat: you have to pass on the goodness by posting that you'll give away seven things to seven people who read your blog... sometime within the coming year (by Dec. 31st of 2009).

What can these "things" be? Well, anything that I choose to make for you... it will be something you'll like, because I don't do shoddy work. And it won't be something I bought - because that isn't the point of a gift - it has to be from the heart... which is why I've got a year to figure out what to make for you - just for you.

But if it really isn't your style... it is OK to re-gift the gift - but you can't sell it! Ever. No matter how rich and famous I become (like that's going to happen!), and the $$$ you'd make from selling the gift could keep you in fine style at a Bermudan Resort for quilte a while, the "thing" I make for you must never be sold... it can only be passed along, OK? That last part is my caveat, not Marlene's. But I like it. This is in the spirit of giving and renewal. No selling.

OK, That's it, I think.
I'm going upstairs to finish the borders on my Bears quilt now.

Frogs on Surfboards!

"Leap Frog" was the name of the block Donna picked for this week's Friday Block Party... and what could I do but look around for some froggie fabric! I thought I had another one, but this one worked just fine. Not my usual colors, or print! But I like the way the bubbles work with the waves, even though the colors are way too close to the same. The very bright orange "X" pulls the surfing frog print to the fore, I think. I didn't like the block at first, but it kind of grew on me. Now I think it is pretty cool.

Must have been in a blue funk today; I thought our Block of the Month for March was too similar to the February block. Given that I'm doing a Christmas quilt and I don't have a LOT of Christmas fabric in my stash - yeah, I know hard to believe... but true! With six boxes of fabric, I actually have very little Christmas-y stuff. I didn't want to do two blocks that were very similar stars and had almost the same fabrics as well. Anyway, I was looking for a good block to use for Marjory's quilt and thought I'd try this one, "Love in a Mist" from Quilter's Cache to see if it was suitable instead of doing the actual March block. I may do the March Block anyway later... when the season rolls around and I can get some diferent Christmas fabrics. This block might work for Marjory's quilt, though... still not sure. I'll audition some more blocks before I decide.