Goodbye August

Goodbye August

Rounding out the month of August with a bit of knitting.

Mitered Corner Knit Blanket

I'm using up all the little bits of sock yarn leftover after knitting a pair of socks.

A scrappy knit blanket ... I love it!

 

Mom Vibes

 Mom Vibes

My youngest came in for a visit over the weekend and I have had the best time.

We've had the best time just hanging out. We've gone recliner shopping, eaten out, watched Master's of the Air on Apple TV, gone bowling and talked and laughed and talked and laughed some more.

My mom heart if very happy and full.

Donated

 Donated

For the past 2 years I have donated a quilt to the Lodge for their silent auction during the annual Witches Ball.

This year's donated quilt is a quilt I made in 2022. The beautiful machine quilting was done by Sharon L. a wonderful and very talented local machine quilter.

Progress Report - Sock Knitting

Progress Report

Sock knitting, the last pair of socks needed to reach my 2024 BINGO Challenge.

My 2024 sock knitting goal for 2024 is knitting 5 pairs of socks. Earlier this year I got a head start. I completed several pairs of socks that I already had on my sticks, a couple of the pairs needed very little in order to complete them.

No matter how many pairs of socks that I make I'm always amazed. I still can't believe that I actually learned how to knit in general but specifically that I have learned how to knit socks. An article of clothing ... that fits on your foot. I know that sounds silly but every pair of socks that I complete is still so amazing to me.

Turning the heel ... it just never gets old!

I have two patterns, one a cuff down and one a toe up that I pretty much stick to but lately I have been looking at other patterns. There are various different cuffs, heels, and toe variations. I think I am going to try a new sock pattern the next time around.

 

Family - Cristen Marie

 Family

Cristen Marie, my niece 💗

Contributor: Cindy W., my sister and our family historian. Also, Cristen's mom.

Such a sweet baby!  Born on the morning her daddy was supposed to start a new job (they told him to just come in later that week).  39 years later, you are still our baby girl!  She and Brian always got along, except when they didn't.  We had some fun adventures when she was growing up.  Sports were always her thing.  She actually played the clarinet in band but could also play this trumpet and a little piano.  Her first car was a red sports car - what were we thinking?  She's a black belt, too.  And she and Grandma Jean are still a team.  And she's mom to 2 of my favorite teenagers!   

Yesterday was this sweet girl's birthday.

Where does the time go? From a sweet baby girl to a beautiful young woman.

#wearefamily

Quilting Progress Report - Limerick

 Quilting Progress Report

Limerick

Organizing fabrics, cutting the fabric, and we're off ...

Sets and sub-sets 

💖

I love getting organized and ready to begin a new quilt project. Each step makes me happy, relaxes my mind, and brings me joy.

Fall Is Coming

Fall is coming ...

Yesterday I was sharing about the seasons we enjoy where I live. I love experiencing all of the seasons and certain things about each season but Fall and Spring are my favorites. The weather isn't too extreme and for me just more enjoyable. I even love the Spring time thunderstorms that we experience. All of that being said, I enjoyed an Octoberfest, Samuel Adams beer, yesterday and it made me think of Fall and all of the gloriousness of the season.

What's your favorite season?

Probably entirely to much information about my weekend but there it is anyway.

I'm not much of a beer drinker but I would love to go to Germany and enjoy a REAL October Festival. One can dream. Cheers!

🍺🍻🍺

Summer Time

 Summer Time

Sweet sweet summer time.

I live in an area of the US where we experience all four seasons. We get it all here, really hot and humid too very cold and dry and I love every bit of it.

My sister lives further south and she loves every thing about her little hamlet. My sister has always reminded me to ... "Bloom where you are planted" ... I think she is on to something there. I hope that wherever you are that you are taking the time to look around and soak it all in.

In the spring I planted some sunflower seeds given to me by my sister. I've taken a few photos of those flowers in my backyard.

Enjoy

Paris Challenge

 Paris Challenge

YAY!!!

I completed the Paris Walking Challenge. In an effort to get moving more I signed up for the Paris Challenge with my daughter. This challenge and many others are on the app The Conqueror. This app connects with my Garmin so all of my activities are tracked and posted to the challenge I choose. 

The Paris Challenge was a 33 mile challenge.

You can find out more about The Conqueror Challenges 

HERE

**This is not a sponsored post**

Family My First Born

Family 

Happy Happy Birthday to my first born

He's 37 today, where has the time gone?

The birthday boy with his sister and brother.

Next Up

 Next Up

The Limerick in Coral

Is the color coral considered red?

The Limerick in Coral

Pattern and fabric kit are by Amanda of Westwood Acres Fabric

You can find her website HERE

While ironing the fat quarter bundles of fabric need for this project I have been pondering the question ...

Is the color coral considered a red tone? A pink tone? Or even an orange tone?

I can't decide ...

Playing in the Dirt

 Playing in the Dirt

After work yesterday I re-potted a few plants. As it happens I am taking care of some plants for a friend while she is out of town. All of them looked a bit puny and dehydrated.

Both of these pants are outdoor plants and the dry and hot weather we have had lately has really taken a toll on them.

Even though I have been watering them, they are still really puny.

So I decided to re-pot them. As you can see in the photo above the soil was porous and rock hard. The water just ran right through the pot.

After work I stopped by the local home improvement store and purchased a few flower pots and some potting soil. I purchased enough of both to re-pot a few of my house plants that needed some attention and new soil, as well.

Pictured above are the outdoor plants I am caring for, for my friend while she is out of town.

In the background you can see the small pots that the plants were in when they arrived at my home. I'm hopeful that the new soil and larger pots will perk them up.

Pictured above are my indoor plants that needed some TLC.

The plant in the forefront has been in my kitchen window for years. The leaves were beginning to yellow and it just looked a bit sickly. The plant in the back is from a cutting of a plant where I work. I have my fingers crossed that it will root, survive and flourish.

These are the new hosta plants that my sister brought back from my aunt's garden in Ohio.

Even with the dry weather and heat they seem to be doing well. 

One of the plants has even bloomed.

I enjoyed the evening barefooted and playing in the dirt.

What a great way to enjoy the cicadas song and brighten my spirits. 

Red/White Jacob's Ladder

 Red/White Jacob's Ladder

This is a quilt pattern I have wanted to make for more than a few years. A red/white Jacob's Ladder has been on my list for awhile and finally made it to the top.

I'm working through my stash of red fabrics and this quilt project has made a small dent.

Yesterday, I spent the day in my sewing room finishing this quilt top.

7 rows of 7 blocks

84 x 84 inches

These Jacob's Ladder blocks make a beautiful pattern. I am so happy with how this quilt project turned out. It is even more stunning than I imagined that it would be.

Red/White Jacob's Ladder

84 x 84 inches

#quiltsinthewild #gibbygirl63 #gibbygirldesign

Orphan Blocks from the Red/White Box of Curiosities

 Orphan Blocks

... from the Red/White Box of Curiosities 

I just can't get enough of red/white quilts. Presently I'm on a very traditional quilt patterns path and enjoying it very much. You know I love modern quilt patterns as well but for the moment, traditional quilt patterns draw my attention. Presently I am piecing a Jacob's Ladder pattern red and white quilt. 💖

All of the blocks in the photo above are orphan blocks from various other red/white quilt projects. Flying Geese, Bear Paw, 4 Patch blocks, and half square triangles. Even a couple of the pink typewriter prints from the Bubblegum Pink quilt I made recently. This orphan block quilt top is going to take a lot of quilt math ...

The red/white 9 Patch blocks in the photo above are Leader and Ender blocks made while constructing the Jacob's Ladder quilt I am working on presently.

Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville.com is where I learned about Leader and Ender block construction.

Red/White Jacob's Ladder blocks organized and ready for piecing

49 of these 12.5 inch blocks are required to make the 84 x 84 inch Jacob's Ladder quilt top.

There will be 7 rows of 7 blocks each to construct the quilt top.

Projects and Project Containers

 Projects and Project Containers

I suppose I am like most who make things, you always have more than one project going at any given time.

The question is, how to contain those projects in between flourishes of productivity.

When you purchase fabrics and notions from Amy at Stitch Supply Co she sends such things to you in these wonderful project bags. There is a small size and a larger size. I love the clear vinyl zippered pouches for storing projects that I am working on.

Another favorite way of storing projects is the disposable aluminum cake pans with the clear plastic lids. They are spacious and due to the clear lid you can not only contain the project but also clearly see which project is in the pan. It is lightweight and reuseable.

Although you might think this is a project bag it's original purpose is as a clear purse for use at concerts and/or sporting events where your bag is checked. Luckily it also works as a great project bag. It holds everything you might need for a small project, it has a zipper closure, and it is made of clear vinyl. So it is easy to spot which project you want to grab and work on.

Then of course there is the pretty cardboard box.

My sister has inspired me to be more organized ... you should see her closet ... it is a clutter free organized beautiful dream. 💖

Family - Giles Coffey

 Family

Giles Coffey and others in our family who work with their hands with wood and metals. I dare say a very creative and talented bunch.

Contributor: Cindy W., my sister and our family historian.

Alex and Pat and Brian are pretty crafty fellows so they might be interested to know it is a talent shared by a relative, Giles Coffey.  Giles and his wife, Hannah, were Grandma Dorothy's grandparents on her mother's side.  They took Grandma Dorothy in after her dad died. 

When I was in Ohio recently, Aunt Joyce told us this table was made by Giles Coffey!   I remember it being in Grandma Dorothy's house but I had no idea it was such an heirloom. 

That's Giles and Hannah holding a grandchild and Giles is top left in the group photo below.  Enjoy!

Giles and Hannah Coffey with friends

Giles and Hannah Coffey

Hannah holding one of their grandchildren

Side table hand crafted by Giles Coffey

Table riser hand crafted by our brother, Pat.

Pat's son, Alex also works with wood. He has a YouTube channel where he makes a gorgeous coffee table for his home. He has also made decorative and useful cutting blocks. At one time he grew hops and crafted beer, as House Mountain Hops.

Cindy, our family historian's son Brian works with metals, among other things. Brian also has a YouTube channel and a website.

https://walkercustommetal.com/

And, you can find his Facebook page HERE

#wearefamily

***Note - I will try to update this post with information on both Alex and Brian's YouTube channels should you wish to visit them on that platform.***