That Quilt...

I got down to business last night and got 4 Dear Jane blocks done.  My DJ is pink and grey CW repros.  I've got all of the pink blocks done (pretty near), but still quite a few greys.  Unfortunately, I have a very limited choice of grey prints.  I'll have to keep my eyes open to increase the variety in my stash.

Mending???

Itty Bitty has been home for the weekend, so I haven't done any quilting.

I've...gulp...been MENDING!!!

Yes....it's true.  On Thursday he forced me to sew the waist band back on to a favourite pair of jeans.  He showed me the jeans, and I handed him my Visa card.  "Please!  Don't make me fix these!  Go buy new jeans!"  The little jerk refused.

Today, it was a pocket in his coat.  I pulled another coat that belongs to Hubby out of the closet and made him try it on.  NOPE!  Apparently he has a problem with beige.

While I had black thread in my machine, I went ahead and hemmed three pairs of pants for Hubby.  

On purpose.

What I've been working on...

 I finished piecing the front and back of Shirt Stripe Boxes on the weekend, and nearly all of the crumb blocks are finished.  So, I took a little break to make something little and fun.

I made this journal cover using those "Type" fabrics that I got for my birthday in January.  I even covered a button with the letter "N" to loop the elastic around to hold the journal closed.  (Aaaaaand...here comes Gibby)

I put a little pocket in the inside cover to tuck a business card in, or a little mad money perhaps.  The journal is 5x7.  It was a fun change of pace, and a quick project.

I Cheated

This week's Grandmother's Choice BOW was just a little too much work for me: Seven Pointed Star.  So I considered skipping this week altogether, because I am one block ahead...

But, instead I went back to the Civil War Quilts blog and picked out North Star as a substitute.  There is nothing I don't like about this block.  The sharp contrast between the fabrics is perfect, and I'm pleased that I took the time to get the red pattern all going in the right direction.

And besides...it kinda looks like THIS:

I hope you are celebrating today!

I finished piecing Shirt Stripes Boxes together last night!  I've been working away at the backing all week, along with the crumb blocks.  I have a sneaking suspicion I don't have enough fabric for the back.  

This is really annoying because I had enough shirt backs from all the shirts I used in the top to make the first quilt.  This is going to take some math to figure out.  I'm going to be really quite annoyed if I have to go and buy more blue and white striped shirts!

I'm having a really good day...The Ides of March...pffffffft

My contract at work is ending in August, but this morning we got word that I've got funding for another year, with a significant increase in pay AND benefits.  Yep, it's a pretty good day.

Our executive director sent out the good news to staff and the board of directors. One of our board members, who happens to do front line work in the community, and pretty closely with me on some cases, brought in a congratulatory flowering plant for me this afternoon:

It will be a pretty quiet weekend here.  Hubby has been brought down with a belly bug - - he's in a Gravol & Immodium induced coma right now.  He's better today than yesterday, but has slept most of the day, only getting up for about 30 minutes when I came home at lunch and made him a cup of tea.  

Thrifty find!

Look what I got at the Sally Ann tonight!  It was originally a cook book stand that had a plexiglass front, so the cook book would be held open, and the plexiglass would keep the book clean from cooking splatters.

I unscrewed the hinge that held the cover, and tossed the piece that supported the book, and have a new ruler corral for $3.99.  It's pretty solid, and has non-slip feet on the base.  I even tested my 15" Square ruler, and it is supported just fine.  I love a good thrifty find, that solves an organization problem.  Keep your eyes peeled for something like this in the thrift shops!

Ocean Waves

This week's Grandmother's Choice BOW is Ocean Waves.

A Blue (& White!) Week

One of my goals for March is to finish assembling the top of my second Shirt-Stripe Boxes quilt top, piece the back - - - and lo and behold!  Didn't I forget I was making crumb blocks as I went along? Yikes!  another UFO!

The top was coming along quite nicely, until I realized I was short 4 9" blocks, and was all out of blue and white striped shirts.  How could that be?  I counted!  and counted!  I picked up an extra shirt on Monday, and not the 6 large rows are put together, and ready for vertical seams.

The back is just about pieced together too - - just need to check my math again before putting in the last seams.  AND I have about 18 or so crumb blocks done.

Grandmother's Dream

This week's Grandmother's Choice BOW is Grandmother's Dream.  This took most of my morning to piece.  All those "Y" seams!  It actually came out the right size, which is amazing to me, so I'm not going to moan about how unhappy I am with my fabric choices.

I also finished the centre of Aunt Lizzie's Scrap Basket.  In the original pattern, there is a wide border with appliquéd flowers and leaves.  I'm not interested in doing that kind of work for this project.  I'm tempted to create some sort of pieced border and call it done.  I don't have any more of the light fabric (it has a tiny blue polka dot) but I think that's okay.  I have lots of scraps still! 

February Goals in Review

I wasn't able to accomplish all of my goals for February due to my thumb injury - which is healing nicely, but still lacks some feeling, and dexterity.  It's hard to match raw edges with a raw thumb!

But I did finish the borders on Black & White.  It needs to go to the quilter.

I got the borders on this Log Cabin.  My goal was to finish this bad boy, but alas...

And I did finish my four Grandmother's Choice blocks!

I haven't gotten any solid plans for March yet.  I'll consider this today, and post tonight.