Quilts and Noses

I tackled the map panel quilt 45" x 48" first thing yesterday and

 finished the work on the frame and applied the binding!

The binding went right on the Christmas Hunter Star 45" x 52" 

and both went right into the washer and dryer. 

 I am so happy with these two quilts!

I couldn't wait to make the gnome noses and in no time, 

I had turned a 3/8" dowel into round tips with a shank 

so I could glue them in place.

I poked the spot on their beards and suddenly it turns into a face! 

 I still have to put the hanger in place

 but I think they turned out well--

thanks for the idea Valerie!

 

Jam Packed Day!

So I thought I could make a 'design element' out the the chip in the bowl but I ended up with this!  Note to self-when there is a crack that runs through the whole bowl, let it go straight to the firewood bin!  

Discouraged? No, I learned a good lesson

 and wasn't hit when the bowl half let loose!

The I made a large 8" snowman for my shelf .....but he, too, has a secret!

I learned about green wood...and drying wood, and how cracks grow a lot over a few days.  Discouraged? No, because it adds character to this guy and now I know that wood needs to dry out a month or so

 before turning it into a finished object!

I went into the sewing room 

and finished the border of holly leaves and berries! 

 It was finished in no time

 and now it is waiting for me to put the binding on.

Instead, I pieced the finished star blocks, added them to the top and bottom of the panel, added a very narrow strip to each side to even out the measurements and then loaded it onto the frame.....

only to find out that the backing was too narrow by several inches! 

 I had to pull the backing off the frame and add a strip to one side to make it wide enough and then loaded it on the frame again! 

 In no time, I had it loaded and quilted several rows of the Baptist Fan panto.  I hope to finish it today!

 On the needles is a pair of mittens...one done and the second is on the way!  

B-Day Party!

Will turned 8 today!  It was so nice to see the kids--they have so much fun together!  I have such great memories of time with my cousins, 

I love to see them do the same.

What great form!

On the way home, I finished one Tough & Toasty mitt....

...and knit the second once home. 

Being gone for two days, meant that I enjoyed some kitty love while knitting!

I DO...

I've been doing more of the little bells and stockings and even hand sewed a cone-shaped bit of fur to be the 'head' to go under the gnome hat! 

 I still have to add a wooden bead for a nose and a jingle bell and hanger...

all in good time.

Most of our day yesterday was joining with our church family 

to celebrate a marriage ceremony! 

 It was so good to share good food and share their joy!

This is what greeted me as we pulled up our driveway to the garage; 

 Home Sweet Home all lit up!

 

Cracked!

Someone spent the night in the garage! 

 See him up there on the door rail?

I opened the other door and he found his way out---but when  I was out to work at the lathe, I could hear birds squawking--he had to be young because he was hanging out in the flowers and two cats had heard him, too!  I chased away the cats until finally he took flight and parents went with him so peace reigned!

I took a piece of cedar from the stack, cut the log in half lengthwise, 

drew my circle, and cut it out on the bandsaw.

You can see how I used the middle of the cut section for the bowl blank.

and this is where I cut the circle! 

 Looks like a secret carved out book or rock to hide the key in! lol

Everything was going well 

until that bothersome crack I tried to glue together, let loose!

(the experts do it and it holds....!)

 I just cleaned up the area and walked away.....

Sometimes, bowl-blows happen!

Damage Control

I hung all of my Christmas cactuses in the hanging pots in my arches-

they are so pretty!

Bill has the garland up on our gates now, too. 

 It looks festive but even better at night!

See what the frost does-wipes out whole sections of our bushes--

this is the Turk's Cap.

And good thing the butterflies are all gone because the Knotweed bush is knocked back to nothing-I pruned it back to several feet is all and it will take a few years to get this large again!

Into the sewing room first thing today!  I want to finish up the map panel quilt so I can load it up on the frame-as soon as I finish my holly leaves on the one on there now! lol

BTW, the knitting with a friend was a wonderful time!

Distractions and Attractions!

Remember this?  

My favorite knitting machine? 

 I cast on some Christmas colors for a scarf-double sided, 

seamed down the long side! 

 I haven't had a good time on the last sweater months ago

 so it has been in time out .  I hope to declare success in a few days!

Mostly I did mundane jobs like pruning the dead plants and flowers in the yard but there was also moments like this--packing my old vintage knitting machine because it is sold and of course, I have to ship it.  

That's okay, I have sold 3 of the 4 items for sale 

and made enough to buy the bandsaw so it's all good,, right ?!

I made only one new block-the blue one for the top row-

the one I made reversing the colors!

After doing a bit of decorating the front porch, changing out the usual for the special, yesterday, 

 I was ready for some simple, quick projects for my knitting. 

 I made two of Valorie's gnome hats but am having trouble finding the small fur pom-poms on-line, so will get creative in the sewing room today.  

But not until after I teach a friend how to knit!  

She is coming for a visit to learn how-

last year I taught her how to crochet and she didn't enjoy it. 

 So now we are going to try knitting-beginning on the Christmas bells!

 

Wooed by the Wood Shop!

I worked on the quilting finally for the Christmas Hunter Stars....just swoops and loops but I still have to quilt the holly leaves in the rest of the border.  Sigh.

Bill was hard at work repairing the stove that dared to die the day before Thanksgiving when I had 4 pies inside!  

I t ended up being the heating element but at least that is an easier fix 

than the 'brains' which is cost prohibitive!

I was chomping at the bit to get to the new bandsaw;  first up was this kind of log segment.  It is going to reduce so much chipping away at the lathe to make a bowl.

See how I can now start out with a round shape instead of all of the irregularities of a hunk of wood!  I won't begin this bowl right away-

I wanted to make another snowman!  

No, this isn't a shadow but the cool way the grain of this wood grew!  

I've got some lacquer to apply, then to paint the face-all pleasurable steps!

Since I was on a roll, I pulled out the Sapalee wood I bought last month

 and cut a circle of this,

and immediately placed it on the lathe.

In no time, I had done this!  It is 4" x 2" deep.

 Wow to the wood-it is amazing!  

No wonder is is called the poor man's mahogany!

Pay the Man!

The bandsaw is complete and operating which is a sure sign of a successful 'put it together project' but I will tell you, if the store had offered a service to put it together for me, I would pay $100 for them to do it! lol  But Bill and I worked for 6 hours and were still able to smile after all of the struggles!  Let me tell you, the new instructions offered with most items do NOT tell you HOW to put it together but rather show you a picture then you can figure it out for yourself!  It was too late to really use it last night but I will be trying it out this morning!

Before we started the work on the bandsaw, I did a few other projects-the third mushroom is off the lathe and I will be applying shellac or lacquer on them today.  They make a cute little family!

I made a few more blocks for the map quilt--if you look closely on the blue block on the right, I put sewed it wrong-the blue and white pieces are not in the same layout as the others.  Instead of ripping it out, I will make the other blocks for the bottom row the same as this one and it will be a quirk that only I will really see!

 The latest painting is a festive gnome gathering!  

Fit A into B.....

I did a lot of resting yesterday but I did add some ribbons to theses guys.

And made another star!

But first thing on the schedule for today--putting together my newest woodshop tool-a very large bandsaw!