Maple leaves

Maple leaves
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

I planned this quilt for my nephew when he was born. He's 14.

Leaf blocks with stems were done back then. I sewed up the other three on Sunday. Now I have to remember how I did those stems. Applique, yes, but they're little "tubes" of fabric. I'm pretty sure I know which book has the instructions.

I remember I drafted this pattern myself, and I was pretty proud of that.

I'm keeping this quilt for myself, since my nephew's tastes don't run to flowery calicos, and hey, let's face it. I'm greedy.

I have three of each color cut out for 12" blocks, so this quilt should be at least 36x48, not including any sashing, borders, or binding. However, it's not going to come together all that quickly, as I don't have all the muslin cut out yet.

Wedding shawl

The shawl of shame
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

It's rolling along. And yes, even I can screw up a simple garter-stitch shawl, by doing really dumb first-time knitter things like adding yarn in the middle of a row (it was late, and I was tired). I have artfully draped away the evidence (hole, and knot of yarn) in this photo. Oh, the shame.

I have put this on circular needles at last, and entered the Black Hole of Shawl Knitting, whereby you knit for hours and seemingly get nowhere.

The bridal shower is next weekend, and I have jury duty next week. Why is it that the federal government now allows us to take knitting needles on planes, yet the county courthouse still declares on its voice mail that "anything which can be used as a weapon will be confiscated"? And yes, they go on to list knitting and crochet needles as such future Instruments of Death.

Not that I would knit while in the jury box (oh, but if I could!!). That's a bit too Madame DeFarge, and I'm sure would be seen as a major distraction to the plantiff, defendant, et. al. If only they understood I actually listen better while knitting...until, of course, the OBVIOUSLY GUILTY, JUST LOOK AT HIM/HER defendant jumps into the jury box and stabs me in the head with one of my own needles.

Okay, okay. No knitting in the courthouse. I'll just have to rely on my outdated social attitudes to get me out of jury duty.

Star blocks

Star blocks
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

The book suggests these be even more "scrappy" than I have made them, but I chose one neutral/tan color for each, and stuck with it.

I don't have *that* many scraps yet.

Of course, you couldn't tell if I didn't spill it, but one side of that left-hand block made me lose my religion (again), as I had to rip it out 4 times. Not just twice, third time was not the charm, but FOUR TIMES.

My sewing machine and its (already evident) tension issues is also causing me to declare, once again, that God is dead.

It shouldn't take me three days to put these little (5" blocks) together once they're cut out.

Log cabins & Courthouse steps

Log cabins & Courthouse steps
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

Finished these up together. For my scrappy little quilt. 5" blocks.

Supposedly Log Cabin squares (top) are better/easier for beginning quilters, but I found both equally simple to put together. It was deciding on colors for the 1 1/4 strips that took all my time.

Felting fun

Felting fun
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

Somehow buying books about crafts never feels like it should be deducted from my monthly craft budget. Especially when it gives me very specific directions for oh, say, felting old wool clothes for my future crafts projects.

I meant to take before and after pictures of my ill-fated wool pants, but I was feeling lazy, "before." The un-shruken linings made for a much better picture, anyway. These are now destined for some wool quilting fun.

I also shrunk a hideous pair of orange-and-grey houndstooth-checked pants (buried deep in an old backpack, for hiking emergencies only) and a crummy beige argyle sweater with red and green diamonds. I'm hoping to make the sweater a purse, although there is one moth hole that even 3 hot water washing could not completely seal up.


The ill-fated fairisle
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

First of all, stop laughing. Yes, this is me, circa 1982. I post it because it was a valuable, early lesson in the pain of felting. My dad washed this sweater (my absolute favorite) in hot water, then threw it in the dryer. I think mom was out of town. I was heartbroken over the sweater, and dad was never let near the laundry again.

If Tess is ever cursed to wear glasses (I've had mine since 1st grade), she will not be allowed to wear them for school photos. I don't care if she squints, no one should be subjected to this kind of embarassment years down the road.

No, really. Stop laughing. And remember, scotch tape is not a wise choice for putting photos into an album. Acid-free adhesives are a good thing.

Twin hats

Twin hats
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

Yesterday was productive for getting out baby hats; I mailed two packages. These two went together, as a Russian couple in Connecticut E knows recently had twins. There is a strange Russian superstition that kept them from telling us she was pregnant until the twins were born. Actually, the superstition is to wait until you're at least 7 months along; they erred on the extra-safe side.

The other package was for a friend's daughter, born back in September. The hat (and at least one sock, haha) turned out a bit large, so I didn't mind waiting to send it. We kept talking about getting together, too, but that never happened. May as well get the packages off before the postage goes up on Monday.

Speaking of postage, remember the extra skein of Summer Tweed I needed just two days ago? Guess what arrived YESTERDAY. And guess who didn't gouge me on shipping? "Just what it costs us to mail it," the woman who answered the phone said. Just 85 cents. AND it was wrapped lovingly in pink tissue paper.

Love. True fiber love.

Twin hat tags

Twin hat tags
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

Both say "handknit~handwash" and "44% wool," just for their info. The back has a fancy "D" as my signature. I used a Coluzzle Tiny Tag template to cut out the tags.

Baby testimonial

Baby testimonial
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

"Gee I love my warm hat! 'Cos it sure is cold here in Finland."

--Baby Paulina, my friend Pirjo's little one.

Russian alphabet practice sheet

Russian alphabet practice sheet
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

Joyce at Scottish Borders Stamping (where I ordered a gorgeous plate of Celtic knotwork images in November) recently added Russian stamps in honor of her two adopted children.

I wrote her right away, and said, "If you add Cyrillic alphabet stamps I will love you forever." One of my projects this year is to make a mini-album of E's school photos. I was going to carve my own Russian alphabet stamps (still might, just for the experience; perhaps words instead of individual letters) until Joyce sent her email about her Russian stamps.

She wrote right back and said, "Please send me whatever images and information you have, I'd be happy to learn and create a Cyrillic alphabet set." Yay!

The best images I have are from a 1959 children's book we found at the Chelsea Antique Fair a couple of years ago. It also has some great vintage images I'm planning on scanning in to use in E's album.

Only thing is, as a practice sheet, there are many extra small letters, and that's confusing. So, I consulted the in-house Russian...

Russian alphabet, after the Russian corrects it.

Russian alphabet, after the Russian corrects it.
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

No wonder I haven't learned Russian yet. I also can't believe he had to tell me how to spell "consonant." It still doesn't look right.

Bear's Claw 7" square

Bear's Claw 7" square
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

Yesterday's project. I'm taking a break from piecing today. Bear's Claw is fussy, lots of pieces. I went for the scrappy look with this; not 100% happy with it but it's DONE. That's why it's called a sampler. Not bad for a new quilter, I'd say.

I need to sandwich my moon quilt today. That should be a good break from all those triangles.

Got the invite for Tracey's shower yesterday. The 29th, yikes! Better get knitting on her shawl.

I need to call Threadbear. Seems I need TWO skeins of "Torrid" Summer Tweed (#536); I only bought one. Oops. They had plenty, but I want to make sure I get the same dyelot. Summer Tweed, in stock, in the middle of winter! Sigh. I'm in love.

little quilt squares

little quilt squares
Originally uploaded by CreativeExile.

I've had this book, Little Quilts Throughout The House, almost as long as I've had my moon quilt cut out. From the variety (28 various cuts, from fat eighths to half-yards) of small prints I picked up at Country Stitches last week, plus my own fabric stash (some rescued from my mother's house over Thanksgiving), I've been able to strip piece these two 5" blocks so far. I love doing the little houses!

Today I'm going to work on the central 7" Bear's Paw block, in tans, browns, and blacks. After that (if I survive all those triangles), something with COLOR.