31 January 2017

No! More! T-shirts!


Because my dear, sweet Lizard husband has been working weekends for about three months now, I have tons of Saturday time to work on quilts, work on snowflakes, work on the garden (weather accommodating, of course), or do that most beloved task of all... clean!

On this particular Saturday, I had decided it was time to clean up the snowflake work station, also known as The Office. It's where the computers are set up. Too small for a bedroom, too small for bookcases, and too small for bikes.

The Office was home to three stacks of pizza boxes converted into snowflake stiffening stations, plus eight stacking sealable plastic containers of snowflakes and probably enough for a whole bookshelf full of rust-proof pins, paintbrushes, beads, jewelry parts, googly eyes, glitter, fingernail polish and various stiffening agents. I started working on this project when one of the relocation trips took me to a stack of T-shirts in the main bedroom that had not been able to fit into the guest bathroom closet, which is where I've been keeping an unbelievably large stack of T-shirts, as well as towels, dish towels and hot pads.

Beneath the stack of T-shirts in the bedroom was the stack of joined but unfinished snowflake motif projects. I had found three in the snowflake work station that needed to join the stack. The stack bothered me, but so did the stack of T-shirts. This was going to be another of those days when I moved from cleaning project to cleaning project because so many cleaning projects lurk in every single space in the house.

I decided I should go ahead and find a real place for both the unfinished motif projects as well as the T-shirts. I went to the guest bathroom closet to begin sorting T-shirts. The Office wasn't done yet, and the bedroom stacks were not done yet, but the closet was more important, in my mind.

I've long had a collection of T-shirts and jerseys from bike rides I've wanted to one day convert into a quilt. Well, in reality, it's now going to be something like ten quilts, but you get the idea. It has been way too many years (at least five) since I weeded through the T-shirts in the closet, so it was time.

For the record, I'm keeping 16 T-shirts in the closet for wearing when T-shirt weather returns. I'm also keeping five long-sleeved T-shirts because you can almost always wear long-sleeved T-shirts in Colorado. Too bad more rides don't give long-sleeved T-shirts instead of short-sleeved T-shirts. I'm also keeping five tank tops for workouts and riding the trainer.

Before I get to the point of this entire blog post, I have to share a favorite of each, because, well, you know, memories. Some T-shirts never die, no matter what, because of the memories they hold.

First, the very best tank top in the whole world. It's from my very first Ride the Rockies. I guess you could say it's my first official purchased Ride the Rockies souvenir. I wore it to run when I could still run. I've worn it on my trainer more times than I can count. I don't wear tank tops too much anymore, except on the trainer. And it's likely this one won't be making an appearance there anymore because I want it to stay the crisp white it's managed to stay even though I sweat like crazy. This top is 14 years old this year. It's still one of my favorite shirts of all time because of the logo on the front. And because of the most memorable Ride the Rockies logo of the ride's 37-year history. I love this shirt.


My favorite long-sleeved T-shirt also is Ride the Rockies, same year, same emotions. I still proudly wear this to work on casual Fridays when the weather is cool. It's a great shirt to wear the day before the new year's route is announced, too. (Which means I'll be wearing it this Friday!)


Now come the T-shirts. Quite a bit more difficult to pick a favorite. Too many!!! (And that's pretty much why I'm writing this blog post anyway...)

You'll notice there is a bit of a theme. I probably don't have to explain three of these are Ride the Rockies T-shirts.

In addition to my Sleepless in Seattle T-shirt and my Eagles concert T-shirt are my first Ride the Rockies T-shirt with that incredible logo, my last Ride the Rockies T-shirt, which celebrated my fifth tour with my husband as well as the tour's 30th anniversary, and my favorite T-shirt of all time, the Ride the Rockies T-shirt I won on the top of Independence Pass (not for singing the national anthem as I'd hoped, but for having the right digit on the end of my credit card).


Good times! I can hardly wait for the next Ride the Rockies route announcement!

But this brings me back to the reason I'm writing this. I finally got done cleaning out that closet, and I couldn't believe the number of T-shirts from rides, donating blood, volunteering for charities, Race for the Cure, Snowshoe for the Cure, The Lion King, Super Bowls and Stanley Cups! My heavens, I could clothe a village.

Down in the basement lurks a big plastic bin of Race for the Cure T-shirts I've collected from friends and co-workers for the last decade. They will be made into quilts at some point.

This day of organizing and trying to make the house more presentable while my beloved is working away resulted in the donation of 58 more T-shirts to the pre-quilt collection!!! Along with six long-sleeved T-shirts and seven tank tops. Heavens to Betsy! I can't even get them all to fit!!!

We are signed up for one more ride this year, and we hope to be participants in Ride the Rockies, if the stars align. But I'm putting these rides on notice right here and right now.

We don't need any more T-shirts!!!

Please, do not give us any more T-shirts!

And now, I can get back to organizing The Office, which was the original day's goal...

30 January 2017

Snowflake Monday


One more week until Snowflake Day! Are you planning anything special?

I'm working on this year's pdf Snowflake Booklet to benefit the Colorado/Wyoming Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I hope to release it next week... if I can get it finished in time.

I also hope to share another pretty cool snowflake project, again, if I can finish it on time.

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!


Finished Size: 7.5 to 8 inches from point to point, depending upon button size
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook, 1- to 1.25-inch button (yes, it should work with other sizes with minimal adjustments, but do make sure the buttonholes are big enough for the crochet hook to fit through multiple times), empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Special Stitches
dc cluster picot: [yo, draw up loop through 3rd ch from hook, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook

February's Coming Snowflake Instructions

Round 1: 1 dc in button hole, ch 7,[1 dc in same buttonhole, ch 7] 2 times, 1 dc in next buttonhole, [ch 7, 1 dc in same buttonhole] 2 times; ch 3, 1 tr in starting sc to form 6th ch 7 space of Round.

Round 2: 1 sc over post of tr directly below, ch 7, * 1 sc in next ch 7 sp, ch 7, 1 sc in same sp, ch 7; repeat from * around 4 times; 1 sc in next ch 7 sp, ch 3, 1 tr in starting sc to form 6th ch 7 tip of Round.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of tr directly below, * ch 9, sk next ch 7 sp, 3 dc in next ch 7 tip, ch 3, 3 dc in same tip; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last ch 3 and last 3 dc of final repeat; ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of tr directly below, * ch 6, 1 sc over ch 7 and ch 9 of Rounds 2 and 3, ch 6, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 4, dc cluster picot in 3rd ch from hook, ch 4, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (sc picot made), ch 4, dc cluster picot in 3rd ch from hook, ch 6, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch (long picot point made), working back down spoke ch 3, dc cluster picot in 3rd ch from hook, 1 dc in ch between dc cluster picot and sc picot, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (sc picot made), 1 dc in ch between sc picot and dc cluster picot, ch 3, dc cluster picot in 3rd ch from hook, 1 dc in ch between dc cluster picot and dc shell in tip of snowflake, 3 dc in same ch 3 tip; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.

If using glue, mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

27 January 2017

Friday Funny


I love cats. These adorable creatures make me wish my kitties from years ago were still with me... Fabric-loving kitteens.

26 January 2017

A Quilt for Remington


The first WIP quilt of 2017 isn't just done, it's in Alabama, wrapped around a brand new little boy!

My newest grand nephew, Remington Jasper LeBeaux, was born Friday the 13th, just like me. A sweet connection!

Mama Lindsay was born in England and raised in Alaska and Alabama. I first met her when she was about four or five years old when I took my kids to visit my brother's family while he was stationed at Elmendorf. I enjoyed taking pictures of all four of my nieces and nephew and teaching the girls how to bead their T-shirts and crochet.


My brother and sister-in-law told me Lindsay was the spitting image of me back then.


She's probably very lucky and thankful she doesn't look like me anymore, but we still have much in common. She is an artist, and she loves wildlife just like me.

Last year, when I learned Remi would be coming, I started trying to pay attention to what Lindsay likes. Turns out she's a Pokemon fan. I was trying to build my little boy stash so I would have appropriate fabrics next time a little boy came to our extended family, and Lindsay is specifically the reason I added Pokemon fabric.

Remi's quilt also includes some wildlife... how could I not? My favorites are the bears and the moose. Lindsay's dad had quite the experience with a moose one winter in Alaska. He'd been winter fishing and was returning to his truck when a moose charged him! He managed to jump in the truck before Mr. Moose made contact, but the moose made sure my brother had a lasting memento of their crash meeting. My brother broke his arm!

Most of the block border fabric is leftovers from other projects. I am not much of a television fan at all, but when I was Lindsay's age, I enjoyed Remington Steele. So of course, I had to use some Kona steel to border the moose fabric in Remington's quilt.


I had to include some artsy fabric to honor Remington's mom.


The backing is Colorworks Concepts. I'd bought it as a backing for the Colorworks Concepts quilt I finished last year, but when I finished the top, I didn't think the stripes went well with the theme. So I've been hanging onto it, hoping to find a project I could incorporate it into. Lindsay likes Harley Quinn, and I thought the diamond quilting across the stripes creates a rather harlequin mood.


Pins and needles occupied the comfort of my sitting position after I mailed the quilt, waiting to find out if Lindsay likes it. Four days later (yes, priority mail from Colorado to Alabama apparently takes that long), Lindsay posted pictures of her new quilt on Facebook and announced to the world that she loves it, especially the Pokemon!

Lindsay's mom, my sister-in-law, saves my blog posts about her grandsons' quilts so one day she can tell them the stories behind their quilts. I didn't know that the first three times, but I know now, and that makes this blog post even more special.






Linking up with Busy Hands Quilts, Crazy Mom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

24 January 2017

Recharged


Sunday morning I had to drive The Lizard to work because the forecast (erroneously) called for three to nine inches, and I'd need the four-wheel drive to get to church later in the day. The Lizard realized he'd forgotten to charge his phone overnight, so I wouldn't be able to call him to hand off the keys when I parked the car a few hours later.

Lucky for me, I had my newest little gadget in my purse, and I was able to charge his phone to 65% during the drive to his work!

This awesome little charger was my gift from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for the amount of money I raised in 2016. Typically, I donate my prizes back, except for free parking because that doesn't cost the charity anything, and it's SO nice to have a parking space on the day of the event!

In 2016, I was thumbing through the gift list when I discovered the charger. I'd had a tube charger for about three years, and it pulled me out of one or two binds but generally wasn't worth the $5 it cost me because it couldn't hold a charge more than two days, and it would charge my phone only 45% to 55%. Oh, and it is lightweight - easy to carry in my backpack while participating in a bike tour such as the MS-150 or Ride the Rockies.


The new charger was on the bottom tier of NMSS gifts. I was two levels higher with my fundraising. I decided this little blue charger would be a treat on bike rides if it worked better than the old charger, plus, every time I use it, people who see it will know I am activity fighting for the eradication of multiple sclerosis.

The new charger arrived in December. I quickly plugged it in to test it out. It was fully charged in about half an hour, and I discovered it has a built-in LED flashlight to boot. Super cool!

I used it a couple of days later to charge my phone, shocked to see it held the charge the full two days. Even more shocked to see it could fully charge my phone and still have some juice left. It's a little heavier than the old charger, but given the performance I was seeing, it seemed like this new charger would be more than worth its weight on a mountain pass!

I used the new charger to juice my phone again a couple of weeks ago, still off that initial charge in December, and once again, it fully charged my phone. Holy moly!

After charging The Lizard's phone on Sunday, STILL after that initial charge back in December and after fully charging my phone with it twice, this little miracle still has some juice left in it!

Astounding! It's cute, it works, and it does its job without complaint for more than a month with power to spare. Not bad for a freebie. Sometimes, technology simply amazes me!

23 January 2017

Snowflake Monday


While looking for a word for three-month-old snow, I found a list of 100 Inuit words for snow, which is where I came up with the name for today's snowflake.

I am really cracking up at some of the word descriptions!!! Now, a shrinking group of naysayers claim the snow vocabulary is a hoax, but more recent studies conclude the concept is difficult for warm-weather linguists to comprehend because they don't live in 26 different kinds of snow at least 10 months of the year. I, for one, acknowledge the reality of vastly different types of snow, and I'm not even a downhill skier.

Depptla likely is not a genuine Inuit word, and huantla probably originated in Colorado (although it's legal up north now, too...), but the rest of the list is pretty darned creative. And besides, it's now been discovered the Scots have 421 words for snow. So who's to say the Inuits can't have as many words as they'd like for snow?

I don't expect I'll be running out of good snowflake names anytime soon.

I began the prototype for today's pattern aboard the train, of course, and ran out of my hand-dyed hollyhock thread for the last few stitches. This poor little snowflake sat in my crochet bag for well over three months before I decided to finish it off with the closest matching thread I could find.

As you can see, it's not a true match, but better a two-tone snowflake than languish endlessly in a dark bag all winter long, don't you think?

Now I just need the return of summer so I can dye some more hollyhock thread!

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!


Finished Size: 6 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Tlacringit Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc in ring, take loop off hook, insert hook through 2nd ch of starting ch 2 and replace loop on hook, pull loop through ch (beginning popcorn stitch made), ch 3, * 5 dc in ring, take loop off hook, insert hook through top loop of 1st dc and replace loop on hook, pull loop through top of 1st dc (popcorn stitch made), ch 3; repeat from * 4 times; sl st in top of starting popcorn st. Pull magic ring tight.

Round 2: Sl st into next ch 3 sp, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in same sp, * ch 7, 3 dc in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 7, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as 1 tr), * in next ch 7 sp work [2 tr, 2 dc, 2 hdc, 1 sc, ch 3, 1 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc, 2 tr]; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last tr of final repeat; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 3.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.


Round 4: 1 sc in gap between 2/tr groups, * ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), 1 tr in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 tr in same sp, ch 5, 1 tr in same sp, ch 3, 1 tr in same sp, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), 1 sc in gap between next 2/tr groups; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat, sl st in starting sc.


Round 5: Ch 4 (counts as 1 sc and ch 3), 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), * 3 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (sc picot made), in next ch 5 sp work [1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 tr, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 12, sl st in sc, ch 3, sl st in sc (long tri-picot made), 1 tr, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc], ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (sc picot made), 3 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made), 1 sc in next sc, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook (dc picot made); repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dc picot and last sc picot of final repeat; sl st in 1st ch of starting ch 4; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.

If using glue, mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch the snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

20 January 2017

Friday Funny

Something I learned while volunteering for Evan McMullin last fall... :)

19 January 2017

Done and Undone


I pulled out my Cranston snowflake tree skirt panel in November, fully intending to finish and use it in December. After finally cutting the panels (I can't remember how long I've had these), I realized for the first time I would have to cut out the center of the snowflake to make a tree skirt.

So it didn't get done. I'm still trying to decide if I should make it into a tablecloth instead because it physically hurts to consider cutting out the center of this gorgeous snowflake.

I even cut out all the little ornament snowflakes! They are ready for next Christmas, or for whenever I decide what to do with them.


Have you seen what these snowflake panels are going for on eBay these days???


I thought I could do a little research and find out how long ago this snowflake panel was originally printed, but all I could find is that Cranston Print Works closed shop in the US in 2009. This (old) news made me so sad. Fascinating history, though, very much worth the read.


Another of the projects I wanted to finish for Christmas but didn't make time for was a Cranston cheater quilt panel for my mom, who loves carousel horses. I bought this panel so long ago I can't remember how long it's been, but I bought it specifically to make a quilt for my mom because I knew she would treasure it.


I've already sold off three huge batches of selvedges, and I've wanted to organize the mountain of strips remaining so I can get rid of them, too, but learning Cranston is no longer printing in America makes me want to go through the stash to find out how many more Cranston prints are lurking. I'll bet many if not all of the quillows I've made in the last 20 years were Cranston.


Not all of my panels are Cranston, however. I can't make a quilt for my mom unless I make one for my train-loving dad, too. This Elizabeth Studios panel is a more recent purchase, and it was on the to-do list in December but did not get done. Maybe next Christmas...


Buried beneath these undones are a couple of big finishes. Two years ago, I made something like 230 snowflakes for my Snowbike quilt and used only 110 of them in the actual quilt. All this time, I've had a mountain of snowflakes that needed to be stiffened. I've been doing about three old flakes at a time each time I stiffen new flakes, and right about New Year's Day, I finally got to the final three!!!


I am oh, so happy to report they're all done now! I can't even begin to explain how good this finish feels!!!


Last Year


The Final Three

Most of my snowflake stash went to Children's Hospital for the second consecutive year. The first time I donated flakes, I mailed them. This time, I walked them over on my way to the park and ride. I did not get to see the children receiving their flakes, but I got to see the staff's reaction to my gift, and I will never mail snowflakes to Children's Hospital again. I will always hand-deliver from now on! What a warm fuzzy on a cold day! I will never forget the joy these snowflakes created!


Stiffened Snowflakes in the Snow

Time for Me to Fly, a finished flimsy featuring one of my Spoonflower designs, is ready to quilt!


My final Tuesday night teaching the girls (and a few little brothers who decided to join us because of the awesome treats) was spent tying nearly 100 blankets for Children's Hospital. This has become an annual tradition here, and I expect I'll be invited back again next January to do it again, even though I'm not teaching anymore.

I used up the leftovers from last year's event to make two scrappy fleece blankets for this year's project.






My final quillow is done, although I didn't attach the quillow pocket to the back yet. I'm trying to decide if I want to...

This fabric, purchased some time back in the '90s, didn't include enough of the panels to make a pocket, but there was enough of what I apparently intended to use as backing to make a very plain pocket. The photo doesn't show it, but the pocket is quilted. I suppose I should go ahead and stick it on the back of the quilt because what else will I do with an 18-inch quilted block?




Last but definitely not least, I have finished the first quarter of my first paper-pieced block ever. I have paper-pieced hexies by hand, but I have never done this my machine. I watched four videos before working up the courage to give it a go. I had to rip out the third piece so many times, the fabric finally wasn't strong enough anymore, and I had to cut a new piece. This left a pretty sour taste in my mouth and made it difficult for me to WANT to finish the rest of the quarter, much less the entire block.

I think I'm finally beginning to grasp the concept, however, and I'm going to try to at least finish this block, even if I don't like it anymore and even if I swear off paper-piecing forever. The points do match up nicely. If I can improve my skill (and patience), perhaps it won't seem like such drudgery.




Linking up with Busy Hands Quilts, Crazy Mom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.
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