Kryptonite and Fooseball

Pop got the new fooseball table put together in time to surprise Donovan today.

It took D a few minutes to figure out how the sticks worked… and then he whooped Pop’s b*tt (repeatedly!) Looks like this is going to be a big hit. 

 3 and 4 yard pieces for backings

I love fabric that’s on sale, it’s always the first thing I look for in a store or online shop. But sale fabric at Roxanne’s in Carpinteria is my kryptonite. There’s no point in even trying to resist.

Already cut into 3 of these tonight 

All I needed was a fat quarter of something deep violet… In my defense, the two daisy fabrics, along with the pale green and the lavender, were 50% - which means I have at least 2 quilt backs for $7 /yard. When you need 3 or 4 yards (or more!) per quilt, it really adds up! 

Placemats

Decided to try my hand at quilted placemats, based on this photo…

Pulled a bunch of orange fabric (and added more half way through)

to make the FPP flying geese, 

then based the size/dimensions of the mats off that. 

They look nothing like the inspiration but I’m pleased with them.

This one’s my fav

I also found some half-finished/leftover bits from past projects and they’re becoming placemats too.

Going to see how many I can make in the next couple of days, then spray baste and start quilting them on Sunday. All will go to the quilting guild for donation to Meals on Wheels and other groups.

Also, Tangled 1 and 2 are enjoying their visit to the quilting spa. Hope to have them back late next week. 

Work In Progress

The scariest words around here are when hubby says, “Honey, I had an idea” and “I have a plan!”

Once the pool table was relocated to Gary’s house (here), he told me the rest of the story - move everything out of the fiber/fabric/suitcase storage room upstairs, 

turn that back into a bedroom for when the kids (ok, and their parents…) visit, and turn the downstairs room into a playroom for Donovan 

Foosball table is in the works

and storage for me (along with the earthquake supplies.)

Since it’s visible from the front door, I asked for it to be not ugly “pretty”, 

so he built walls around the storage racks and suggested hanging quilts on them. Smart man!

Which is a long way of saying I haven’t gotten much quilting done recently. 

 Folded tonight

I’ve been folding and sorting and being thankful I gave away sooooooo much stuff to the guild’s spring fabric sale (here) and don’t have to move that downstairs too. 

 3rd row is 2 bins of fat quarter (sorted into cool/warm colors), 1/2 yds cuts and 1-3 yard cuts

Most of the fabric is sorted and put away, either in bins or on the shelves in my sewing room. 

 My little rainbow

Which leaves the weaving/spinning/other craft stuff that needs a home or to be given away. 

 To be sorted…

I really thought it was time for the weaving yarns to go… but I’m not ready, so they’re staying. 

 Earthquake food on the left, weaving on the right

With Cyrus (Addy) possibly moving in next fall, I’ll have a crafting buddy in the house and she’s interested in learning to weave... That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

Tangled 2

Done!

Ok, done-ish. Hoping to do backings for both Tangled quilts this weekend and take them for quilting next week. I love patterns that look complicated but are actually simple to do and this one definitely fits the bill. 

Ghosting Again

 I might have made two more ghosts…

and mailed them to Colorado for Rachel and her BFF. 

Tanya is a big Disney fan so she needs a Mickey ghost, right?

And Rachel’s has a little mustache - It’s a Pop Ghost!

Ok, now I’m really done with Ghost Party… for this year anyway. 

Progress!

 Decided to split Tangled into two smaller quilts…

40 x 50”

Tangled #1 is sewn together 

ant Tangled 2 is on the wall, ready to be sewn tomorrow-ish.

18.5 x 39.5”

I also finished the top of this table runner for my PA sister (still needs quilting). Her apartment flooded earlier this year and she recently bought a new dining/kitchen table to replace some of what she lost. Her fav color is maroon, so hope she likes this. 

Pattern is Modern Runner by Crista Quilts. I love that it looks curved but is all easy straight line sewing. 

Carved, Descanso Gardens

Leia is home from college for the weekend 

so it seemed the perfect time for a road trip 

to see Carved at Descanso Gardens.

It was our first time visiting 

and well worth the hour drive each way. 

 Spooky woods!

Pro tip: go during the week, it’s significantly cheaper than weekends.

Mary found a great place for dinner - The Black Cow Cafe in Monrovia (it was excellent!), less than a mile from the gardens - while we waited for it to get dark. 

The approaching storm clouds helped with that too. 

So glad the rain (and tornado threat!!) held off until we were done. 

I was concerned Donovan might get bored 

but once he had his light saber 

he was good to go all night.

 Setting up his shot of mom and sissy

 Good thinking, Pop!

 Does this hat make me look witchy?