tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60604822008-12-01T08:01:00.430-06:00Stitching, Quilting, Crochet... my little hobby worldlissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.comBlogger822125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-52577351785806045242008-11-30T16:51:00.003-06:002008-11-30T17:02:32.269-06:00

Last week I decided to take a look at a couple of my cross stitch projects which I knew were closest to being finished. One of the barriers to finishing one of them, Unicorn Mystique, was the french knots in the sky. I just dreaded the idea of doing a white french knot here, dragging the white floss across the back, then doing another french knot over there, having to end the white floss, then

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-38209067553835425462008-11-23T18:56:00.003-06:002008-11-23T19:26:20.277-06:00

I finished up another preemie hat yesterday, they're just so cute and quick. Once I finished it up, I started working on the third set of wrist warmers that will be another Christmas gift. I wasn't paying attention, and so I ended up ripping it out and starting over. The first of the set is half-finished. Today I finally got back in the sewing room and finished up the blocks for Noel's Gone

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-58571995333550581612008-11-21T16:32:00.003-06:002008-11-21T16:43:35.900-06:00

Well, I haven't quite made it all the way to the edge of the upper right corner, but I thought I'd take a photo anyway and show you my progress. The tower of the castle is taking shape. I went to my quilt guild's monthly Sit n Stitch for the first time yesterday and had a great time. They planned several activities from which to choose (or you could do your own thing, as several did), and I

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-69057237338714447782008-11-16T19:34:00.002-06:002008-11-16T19:43:46.651-06:00

It has been a busy weekend here, though I haven't gone anywhere. I've been working on a project I started well over a year ago (one which, not surprisingly, just got shelved for a while), recording my music from cassette tapes and vinyl to electronic format so that I can listen on my iPod. I have actually only been working on the cassette tapes this weekend, but I've finally managed to whittle

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-34615314728778043352008-11-11T17:17:00.002-06:002008-11-11T17:23:36.249-06:00

I finished it up just yesterday, and I haven't yet decided which cross stitch project I want to work on next. So tonight I might knit or quilt.

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-55034573789716278332008-11-08T20:27:00.002-06:002008-11-08T20:42:39.979-06:00

There has been almost no quilting or other crafty-ness going on in my house this week. I have spent most of my time either installing programs and transferring files to my "new" computer (a used one, but newer and more powerful than my old one) or rearranging furniture or reading. But we did manage to go pick up my block of the month this morning, and I actually went into my craft room this

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-68626462317391573822008-11-03T20:21:00.001-06:002008-11-03T20:21:40.779-06:00

I went ahead, took the plunge and downloaded Dewey. Yes, I'll probably have moist eyes frequently while reading it, but that's okay. It was another gorgeous day here, and we'll probably have a few more before another cold front blows in. I haven't been stitching or quilting much (other than the Autumn Leaves, which I'll probably finish in another day or two while watching tv). But Quilt Guild

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-70689300264566202942008-11-02T08:19:00.001-06:002008-11-02T08:21:05.033-06:00

I've finished 3 of the 4 blocks now, just one left to go.

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-31534733921459326362008-11-01T15:27:00.002-05:002008-11-01T15:36:38.355-05:00

I had the experience today that I've read about when reading a Kindle book. I was getting to the bottom of the page, and I started to reach up to turn the page. It's official, I consider it no different than reading a paper book now. Last night it was so nice to be able to lie on the couch, Rudy Poo on my chest, and the Kindle in hand. It's so light that I have no trouble reading it anywhere.

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-49390891306319738512008-10-31T07:57:00.002-05:002008-10-31T07:58:58.665-05:00

So I've already mentioned that I ordered my Kindle Monday night. When I got my confirmation, it was estimated to ship on November 3. Already I was kicking myself for choosing that method because I'd have to wait so long for it. But Wednesday night I got a shipping notice. The tracking status was "billing info received" so I assumed that it would hopefully ship on Thursday and I might receive

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-42926237647722532772008-10-28T08:37:00.005-05:002008-10-28T16:21:05.115-05:00

I did it. I went ahead and ordered my Christmas present for this year. When it comes in I have to wrap it up so I can unwrap it Christmas Day. The wait will likely be excruciating, but it will be worth it. What is it? An Amazon Kindle! Ooh, I am SO looking forward to it! I've been getting closer and closer to the edge for a while, and with Annette's enthusiastic response to it plus the $50

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-9683500772044933152008-10-24T15:59:00.003-05:002008-10-24T16:18:13.745-05:00

Just in time for Halloween, Nora Corbett's Halloween Fairy (aka Trick or Treat Fairy, though she seems to have no wings) is finished! And after I finished her, I ran back to the craft room and picked up a chart I've been wanting to start ever since I bought it. It doesn't have many colors and is fairly small: Autumn Leaves by The Prairie Schooler (which is actually 2 charts). I'm stitching

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-75744015199649923932008-10-19T16:01:00.002-05:002008-10-19T16:32:59.026-05:00

My felted wool order arrived in the mail last Tuesday, and I immediately got to work making my pattern pieces (I had to go get some freezer paper). Then I got started ironing and cutting. The Dream a Little Dream project does have a little bit of piecing, so I had already gotten that part ready to cut into the pattern shapes. Since then I've worked a little on it, cutting all of the wool felt

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-2055796359154757372008-10-10T17:01:00.003-05:002008-10-10T17:10:15.483-05:00

... but I've finished the backsack! I would have finished it a little earlier today, but I had problems interpreting the instructions, which could either be the instructions or me. I had to read them over several times at each step, and a couple of different times, I ended up ripping out stitches (quite a few, and quite irritating). Anyhoo, I like how it turned out. I LOVE the fabrics. I'll

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-26005463091647555662008-10-09T12:30:00.003-05:002008-10-10T10:33:56.313-05:00

Yesterday I attended an all day workshop with Paula Reid. She was fabulous, and I learned a technique to do trapunto without all the cutting, stuffing, and re-stitching that you have to do in the original method. I've got my piece half-finished, and it really pops out when you do all the tiny stippling around it. I got to practice a lot of free motion machine quilting on a Bernina with the

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-21375238576349966532008-10-03T16:22:00.003-05:002008-10-03T16:38:27.866-05:00

The new flannels I ordered for Noel's Gone Fishing came in and are definitely different shades, especially the charcoal. But I think this will work just fine, and I've already finished sewing the charcoal strips to the blocks. I'm cutting out the light khaki now. Once I finish those I'll begin piecing the blocks for the reverse side. My order from Superior Threads came in (one spool of King

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-91232289624889788402008-09-28T17:35:00.002-05:002008-09-28T17:49:17.784-05:00

In particular, podcasts about quilting. And that can be dangerous, because I find out about designers or techniques or products of which I was previously unaware and, of course, have to try! :) I've recently subscribed to Alex Anderson's podcast, and have been listening to them in order, so it will take me a while to catch up to her latest one. In the one I just listened to, Alex interviewed

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-33601638057813327612008-09-20T21:20:00.003-05:002008-09-20T21:42:35.182-05:00

Just a couple of quick updates - I've been working on Noel's blue fish blocks, and here is my progress so far These are some of the fabrics I've cut out for Tori's Hexagon Beads - all of the hexagons are cut out, and one set of diamonds so far And here is my latest progress on the Halloween Fairy (Trick or Treat) I just finished up a new book (juvenile, science fiction / mystery) that I

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-72882245310171542962008-09-13T21:08:00.002-05:002008-09-13T21:46:35.982-05:00

This was indeed a Super Second Saturday of September. We started out the morning by doing some planned shopping at Joann's. I had pretty much decided the quilt I'm going to make for our friend Noel. Most people know that he, like me, is a huge Steeler fan. That would have been the obvious choice, and I don't always go for the obvious. I also know that in his free time he loves to fish. So

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-81411746121989172402008-09-07T15:59:00.002-05:002008-09-07T16:08:43.114-05:00

And so, instead of machine quilting the t-shirt quilt, I am hand quilting it. I did just fine on my practice piece of machine quilting with the threads and pattern I had chosen for the sashing (which I am quilting first to stabilize it). However, I didn't take into account that this quilt is bigger than Delaney's Snow Puzzle, and actually heavier because of all the t-shirts backed with

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-87840190694671865382008-09-03T18:46:00.005-05:002008-09-04T17:31:45.181-05:00

Stilts just about refused to let me take a picture of the finished quilt without her, so here they are together. And the second picture is a closeup of the grid quilting. One Christmas present down... :)

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-82726363324310147442008-09-01T17:11:00.002-05:002008-09-01T17:20:45.591-05:00

Yes, indeed, that means what you think it means! I am happy dancing this weekend, with not just one quilt finish, but TWO! I don't have a picture yet of Delaney's Snow Puzzle, but I just finished putting the binding on it and it's in the wash right now. I DO have a couple of pictures of my most complicated quilt to date, the Double Wedding Ring quilt for my mom & dad. The first photo shows

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-21042530802665334342008-08-28T05:48:00.001-05:002008-08-28T05:50:22.664-05:00

Three sides of binding on the Double Wedding Ring are now complete. If I can keep up the pace, I might just be able to get it finished this weekend!

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-89034033837592364492008-08-25T11:41:00.004-05:002008-08-25T12:46:13.329-05:00

Last week was the last time the AQS Quilt Expo will be held here in Nashville (for at least the next three years because they are moving it to Knoxville), so I definitely wanted to attend it at least a day or two. I also volunteered through my quilt guild to work on Thursday afternoon, and my "payment" was that day's entrance into the show for free. Thursday morning when the show opened, I

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060482.post-87774023332936761192008-08-16T18:48:00.003-05:002008-08-16T19:19:35.351-05:00

Over the last few days I've been in the sewing room working away on Delaney's Snow Puzzle quilt. I figure, especially since I am going to quilt it myself, and since Christmas is getting closer and closer (it feels like it's barreling towards me), I should really get moving on it. So today I finally finished piecing the quilt top. Now I just need to find a nice backing fabric and get to

lissylainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11898346649374980299noreply@blogger.com3