WIP Wednesday

This weather has been good for me....forcing me to stay inside and face my WIPs! LOL!  and here they are.........it was actually snowing when I got up this morning

Last night I washed and blocked the scarf for my daughter.  I had 2 towels underneath it and laid it out on a blanket chest and I still had to double it over on itself.  See where the white pins are in the middle.....I didn't realize how long it was.

The snow stopped and the sun broke through but it never got out of the 20's today.  It was really pretty with the ice coating everything.  I don't think there's been mail delivery or school or anything.  I didn't see a car go by all day. 

So, back to my list of WIP's and the FIFO method (first in first out) as opposed to LIFO (last in first out)...those were terms used in queue theory back when I was a computer person before I retired but I digress.  This wall hanging/grow chart quilt has been crying to be finished before the grandchild is too tall to use it!  I've forgotten many of the techniques so I had to refresh my skills before going back at it.  I am making the backing by piecing the material together that matches the front.  If it wasn't for the darn salvages I would have had enough to just have 1 seam down the middle but alas I ended up doing quite a bit of "fiddling" and I haven't even sat down to sew yet.  I did get a new blade a few weeks ago so that's making things much easier.

Here's the right side of the fabric

I also found a REALLY long tape measure that is coming in very handy.  This is the back of the quilt front.

Here's the picture from the McCall's magazine where the pattern came from. I have no idea what happened to the top of that picture?

I'm making steady progress On my giraffe too...heading towards the neck!

I have many more WIPs to go though.....the bottom green dotted material is a big bag that I am quilting the material myself before sewing it into a bag.  The pattern called for quilted material but I couldn't find any I liked at the time so I decided to pre-quilt the material and then sew the bag together.  It needs to be sturdy as it will be big enough to hold my cutting mat and quilting rulers.

The leaf material is the back of my first quilt that I made in my beginning quilting class.  It's been machine quilted and just needs to be bound. The blue material is all washed and ready to be made into pajamas for MOI. There are many more projects in containers and behind closed doors so I won't be running out of things to post on Wednesdays for sure!

I feel good though that I have at least begun to make some progress.  And to all my WIP's I have this to say to you.......... 

Happy Trails!

Snow, sleet, freezing rain but I still have power!

There are thousands, here in Arkansas without power tonight and it is below freezing here.  It is not as bad or as widespread as 2009 so hopefully they will have power back fairly soon...not the weeks that it took in 2009.  Meanwhile, I got some ironing done.  I have some old aprons I've picked up at sales over the years.  I wash and iron them about twice a year.  Don't ask me why as I don't wear aprons but it reminds me of a simpler time.  A time that I could go back to in a heartbeat except for women's rights. LOL!
This apron was entirely hand stitched even the trim.  She must have run out of gingham because the ties and waistband are pieced with other material.

This apron seems to have been a printed panel that you cut out and sewed up

Binding the raw edges seemed to be a popular way of finishing.....

This is a "petal" apron..........
at least that's what it looks like to me.......

Sorry for the blurry picture but this is the back of the next apron where someone mended a tear.  Back then nothing was "disposable" and they took great pains to maintain what they had....

This is the mended apron..........

I saved the best for last...or at least my favorite.........

All hand embroidered...........

 isn't it gorgeous?

Well, that's the extent of my apron collection.  I hope you had a good day and are safe and warm tonight wherever you are.  Happy Trails!

Snow!!!! My favorite precipitation!

 I was in my element yesterday.  It was a "perfect" storm for me  but I didn't have to go out in it either.

 A perfect day for tea and a good book..........

 candles and hot dips............

 some handwork............

 and FOOTBALL!  Although it was not an exciting game to watch at least I didn't feel bad when I flipped the channel to watch Doc Martin and Downton Abbey. LOL!

 Today the sun came out and my Nitty girl was in her glory......she loves the snow!

 As you can see it was pretty deep out there.....

I hope everyone is safe and warm and happy wherever you are......Happy Trails!

YOP Sunday

 I've been knitting quite a bit (for me) this week.  I have other work and projects going but when I take a "break" I pick up my knitting.  I'm on Lesson 3 in my "giraffe class" on Craftsy by Susan B. Anderson.  I  have about 1 more inch to knit before going back to the lessons.  This is the bottom of the giraffe...very similar to knitting a hat from the top down, I imagine, although I have never done it.

 I have no idea why the colors are so different in these 2 pictures taken minutes apart?  The top picture is more accurate although I really like the color of the one below...lol!  I think I'll look for that color next.

  Hopefully this is what it will look like when I get it done.  I have a navy blue yarn for the the dark areas.

I finally bound off this scarf I've had sitting in a bag for way too long!  I need to wash it and block it.  I have some Eucalan Woolwash that I bought years ago when I stopped at a Canadian Sheep farm on my way back from a fishing trip.  I think someone has been guiding me to fibers and wool (and maybe even sheep) for a long time now!  I don't have blocking boards and can't afford them right now but I have a guest bed that I will try and use.  After all, I used to hand wash and block all my wool sweaters when I was in high school....how hard can it be?  And what did people use before "blocking boards"?  Yes, I am "The Frugal Knitter".  Any tried and true advice is appreciated though.
This is going to my daughter who is an art teacher and will love all the colors and so will her students.  Plus, she needs it more than I do....she lives in Iowa....brrrrr!   I made it with Noro Kureyon if I remember correctly.

 Still working on my son, Ben's hat but I only have an inch to go before starting the decreases.  These hats are great to pick up in the evening while watching some television and when I'm too tired to concentrate on anything remotely challenging.  

 Also, I picked my charity to start knitting, crocheting, and/or sewing for.   I was searching through the Ravelry "charity" groups and came upon this one.  It just so happens that my namesake grandson, Sam was a beneficiary of the NICU in Iowa when he was born so choosing this charity was really a "no-brainer".  Even though I no longer live in Iowa, my children and grandchildren do.  Iowa has a great healthcare system and top notch medical personnel.  I am excited and honored to help out in any way I can.  I plan on making crib sheets too as they have a need for those.  I don't have the material right now though so I will have to order some "supplies".  Anything knit or crocheted requires really soft yarn as you can imagine so I will need to order some of that too.  I can't wait to begin and thank you once again to Melody for the inspiration.
The other reason I love this particular charity is that they have everything laid out for you; patterns, items needed, requirements.....ie; they make it very easy to join in and get giving.

Hats, booties, and blankets for premature and critically ill babies

group details

The Preemie Project seeks to provide comfort and support to critically ill infants and their families in Newborn Intensive Care Units in Iowa. We achieve our mission through the support of a devoted group of local and national volunteers.

  So.....that's all for this week folks!  I'm off to enjoy this beautiful day and the gorgeous snow that is falling here!!!!  Snow and Superbowl on the same day?  How lucky can a gal get? Yippee!  Yahoo!
Happy Trails....until we meet again.