Wild Olive

Wool Block #1 Originally uploaded by theercs OK, so it's been forever since I've posted. Life just gets in the way sometimes. And sometimes I don't feel that I have anything profound to say. I thought I'd show you one of the things I've been working on. This is a wool block made from some of the wool I dyed earlier. It's all handwork, and kind of fun and fast to do! Hopefully I'll have more to show soon - there are 16 in this quilt, plus a fancy border! Hope you are having a wonderful Christmas season! Enjoy your family! Betsy

What I did today... Originally uploaded by theercs I made tomato sauce! It took longer than I thought to cook down, but turned out well. I'd never peeled tomatoes, so was kind of nervous about that, but it was cinchy! Now... what shall I use it for...

Betsy's Buggy Originally uploaded by CBCCQ I had so much fun making this quilt top. The Buggy Barn stack & whack method is so liberating! Not sure if the top is done yet. If you wanted nap under it, it's a little skinny, so I may add borders. We'll see. Anyway, I'd definitely make one of their patterns again!

The previous 33 Originally uploaded by theercs I've been working on making a nine-patch a day. OK... there's often quite a few days in between, and then I make a few... but I've decided there aren't any rules. I've got almost enough to make a good size quilt! My plan is to put white sashing between them all - I got some cute white-on-white fabric for it on Shop Hop! My quilt group has be farming me lots of yummy scraps, and many of them are in here too! Anyway... it'll be interesting when done. I've got lots of brights, but definitely not all... kind of eclectic mix! It's been easy to do, bit by bit!

Agates? Originally uploaded by theercs There could be agates that I've missed... must keep looking!

Orange dyed wool Originally uploaded by theercs I can hardly believe how long it's been since I've posted. Molly and Micha, this one's for you! I think since the UFO challenge got completed, everything seems a little ho-hum. However I did get to take a wool dyeing class last weekend! It was really interesting. I don't know if it's something I can do myself later (lots of supplies and tools I don't have), but it was fun! Now, the instructor took the wool home to steam set it (one of those tools). So I'm just waiting to get it back - I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Last weekend, we went to the Goodwill. We don't usually frequent it, but for some reason Steve was actually agreeable, so off we went. Here's what I found, and check out that price! $3.99! Oh my! I thought it would be just a case, or just a case full of other junk, but look what I found inside! Can you believe it! I'm never that lucky! And, I don't know who you are Tommy, but I'm glad you grew up, and passed your Legos on to me! And to top it all off, my co-workers gave me flowers for Admin Day, and what a wonderful vase! It just makes me smile looking at it! What a happy week! Betsy

Don't you just love my new... guess what it is!? It's a small ironing board that Steve helped me make. (Actually I just directed, he did all the manual labor.) It's just a thin layer of batting and 2 layers of muslin over a piece of wood we had in the garage. I wanted something small and hard, and didn't want to care if it got dirty (which this is already!) - trying some fusible applique. It works great! I watched The Quilt Show show with Sue Nickels, and got so inspired to try her applique method. I'm giving it a try on a quilt I'm making, with totally annoying applique - I've tried 2 other methods unsuccessfully so far. Hers looked fun and limitless! I'm excited and will show you when I have something accomplished. This is my final entry into the Companionship Quilters 2008/2009 UFO Challenge. It's called Donna's Scraps Dots - made totally from a friend's quilt scraps that she no longer wanted. It turned out OK! And one more thing off my ...

The cat at Lazy Gal Quilting's blog cracks me up!

OK, so it wasn't quilting, but yesterday, on National Quilting Day, I took a Locker Hooking class at a quilt store. Close enough, right?! Considering that we were out of town, and I didn't have ANY supplies, it went pretty well. The quilt store ( Greenbaum's Quilted Forest ) did an amazing job of pulling things together for me at the last minute (literally). The instructor, Lorraine, and my classmates, Brenda, Fran and Debbie, were way nice. I worked during class, got home and hooked like a madwoman, and created this rug! OK, it's only about 6"x9", but pretty good for learning, and only one day! Our class was called the Happy Hookers, and next door was the Strippers class! Risque place, that quilt store! ;-) It's a great type of project - easy to do, and uses up all those scraps! Couldn't ask for more! Betsy

I wasn't even sure I was going to Sew Expo this year. I always say that I don't need to, but when it gets here, I always feel compelled to go! I didn't buy too much this time. Some thread (Superior Threads, of course), and this kit. It's a Hip to Be Square kit from The Pine Needle (of Lake Oswego, OR). I can hardly walk by their booth without being sucked in... happens every time. Anyway, I now have one more UFO, but I'm so excited to start! I hop I like that pattern, because I now have 3 of them to do! My favorite quote today: "JoAnn's is the Voldemort of quilting - the store that shall not be named." - Debbie @ quilt class Betsy

OK, this quilt doesn't really look like the 70's that much - it's just what it got named in the process. When I think of the 70's, I just picture lots of different patterns/colors that don't necessarily go together so much. It's definitely the busiest quilt I've ever made! The pattern is super simple - kind of a "stack & slash" style pattern. I started this at a retreat... a really long time ago... years maybe. And even the back is a huge mish-mash of fabric. I hoped to get a little cohesiveness out of the green strips... It's still really busy! Anyway, it's done, big, and my new "retreat quilt." I like it because it covers my toes when I nap (don't you hate it when the covers are too short?). Betsy

Don't you just love quilt retreats?! Our quilt group had a retreat recently, and I got a bee in my bonnet (as my dad used to say) to make fabric baskets for the ladies. I saw this tutorial by Pink Penguin , and thought it sounded so cool. I'd also seen several others that people had made, and just had to try it! I made one for my mom too! I did some with the patchwork style, and some with a "panel" instead (not quite as cute, but faster)! Carmel Corn definitely makes the whole thing better! They each got a bag of their own! betsy

We did survive the holidays... whew! So much snow and flexing schedules - going back to work sadly brought some "normality" back to life. I did finish a couple of quilts over the holidays. Most importantly, Julie's One Block Wonder. I had so much fun working on this quilt... it was really a challenge to lay it out, and fun to quilt! Here's the label: and the back: As soon as I got done with Julie's, I decided to make one for my niece Annie. It's cold in NY, and she's far away from family, and needs a cozy quilt to cuddle with. In all the hubbub of Christmas, this is currently the only picture I have of it completed (that's Annie underneath it). and a small one of it in progress... Hope to have that remedied soon! Neither were UFO's, but I had fun anyway!