Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Achoo!

I'm sick...so sick! I'm laying in bed now trying not to cough my lungs out.


Anyway, this has given me time to work on the Christmas projects I talked about in the previous post. The first one I've started is my mom's granny square blanket. I'm actually having a good time making it. It's fun to see people's faces as they pass while I'm doing my crocheting at the universtiy.


I'm almost done with the centers of the squares. I'm well on my way.


In the middle of the center of the square

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

I know, I know. We still have a lot of time before Christmas is even near. I one of those people who say, "They keep bringing Christmas stuff out so early that next year, Christmas will probably be showing up after Easter!"


Yeah, well I don't want to wait to start on Christmas gifts till later, because knowing me they will be getting finished 5 minutes before they have to be opened. I'm making myself do it earlier this year. Hopefully it works out!


Working on sketches
My Gift List (To Make)

Mom (and Dad) - Granny Square Blanket
Pretty much like the one I'm making for my aunt and uncle. I figured why not make another one.

Dad - Tractor Ornament
My Dad has some kind of old 1950s Ford Tractor (don't ask my what kind...I have no idea). This is the first idea that popped into my head. I don't know what else to make. I feel like it won't hold up to my mom's blanket. The problem is that I don't want to make him any clothing because he won't wear it. I've already tried.

My Little Sister - Wizard of Oz Pillows
My sister is in love with Wizard of Oz. It is her favorite movie and it contains her favorite actress, Judy Garland (or Frances Gumm). I figure I will keep it simple by doing mostly silohuettes. There will be 3 pillows. The first is bigger than the other to and it will have the four (Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin-man, and Cowardly Lion) in that one pose they do when walking down the yellow brick road. And one of the smaller ones will have Glinda and the other will have the Wicked Witch.

My Big Sister - Baby Blanket
My older sister is pregnant again! So, like I did for the first kid, I'm going to make a baby blanket. It's going to be OpArt from Knitty.com. It's super awesome and they say it's easy, but who knows. I'm sure sure what color to make it, because she doesn't want to know if it is a boy or a girl. I also will probably not finish this by Christmas, but I want it done before the kid is actually born.

Aunts and Uncle (on my mom's side) - Bird Ornaments
When someone dies in my family on my mom's side they get a bird. And from then on whenever we may see that bird we say it's...whoever. It may be their favorite bird or a bird the embodies them. So let me say who is what: My Grandma - Cardinal, My Grandpa - Gold Finch, My Great Grandma - Bluebird, My cousin (male) - Raven, and my other cousin who has passed is a rainbow (I know...not a bird). So I'm thinking about making a set of them for everyone.

I have some aunts and an uncle on my Dad's side, but I'm unsure what to make them.

I'll keep you updated and wish me luck!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Almost there...

Working on a granny square afghan again. I'm trying to get it done before the end of my life.


Finished block in this color pattern...
and the other color pattern.
I've started taking all the finished blocks and putting them together. I have 5 rows down so far. Only 3 more to go!


Some of the rows of finished blocks

Monday, September 6, 2010

V for Victory!

I was extremely bored on Saturday and I wasn't in the mood to work on the never ending granny squares, so I pulled out my in progress quilt. The quilt blocks are taken from a book called "Victory Quilts" By: Eleanor Burns (who is an awesome quilter!). I just have to say, I am in love with this book. It is sooooo me!


The quilt is called "Comfort Quilt", but I have yet to give it a name. The picture in the book and the overall layout reminds me of the terrible bombings in London (and many other cities) during World War 2, but mostly London. And (now that I think of it) it reminds me of the air raid drills and the blackouts that many cities did (even in the US), in case of a air raid. I can imagine a family huddled up in the blanket trying to keep warm and be safe, just waiting for an end. ...Sorry, that's my history major coming out of me...


Here are a few pictures from right before I started:


The amazing "Victory Quilts" book! With some fabric that is being used for the sides.
My overflowing sewing box with panels from the quilt
More panels from the quilt
I got really inspired when me aunt dropped off a graduation gift. I opened it up and there laid a set of books entitled "Pictorial History of the Second World War" that used to be owned by my grandpa. I burst out crying and ...yeah. That inspired even more to work on this beautiful quilt.




I'll try to take pictures as I finish up the top quilt.