House (yard) project

For two years we have debated the gate of the porch. We never use it. When the boys are in the yard I can't see them from the porch and the exit is on the wrong side to be convenient. Oh, and one corner is rotting so we have to take that wall down and either rebuild it or leave it open. 

And it just ends up being a place to store our stroller and trash that needs to go to the dump. A friend gave us porch furniture this year and we still haven't used it. 

My vote is to tear the walls and low ceiling down, but leave the roof. Expose the rafters. Hang the lights back up and maybe a ceiling fan.  Another project this spring is to put planter boxes (raised beds) around the the ugly septic lids (next to James in the picture on the right). And if we tore down the walls of the porch we could spill out to pick tomatoes and peppers and herbs from the raised beds. The fire pit is in front on the septic lids and eventually we could tie it into the porch and raised beds and make the area all flow as one. 

So it was the first beautiful day of March and the boys got tools for christmas and I let them have at it.  We almost finished the first wall today (I know, it is the shortest one, but you have to start somewhere). Next up, to take my lights down and see what is in that ceiling. Please, don't have any squirrels or racoons living up there. 

There you have it. The fun projects for the spring. The other one is replace all the windows in the house, which isn't quite as exciting. 

Quilt - finished

How is it February?  I think I missed the entire month of January.  And I just realized that I never posted a picture of my finished quilt.  What a cliff-hanger. 

Here it is!  My brother and his wife were staying down the street at my parent's house the week of Christmas.  So we had to go hide in the back yard on Christmas eve to snap a few pictures of the quilt.  It was cold.  And I forgot to get a picture of the back. 

(and there is my foot and fingertips)

I've never done a sampler quilt before. It was a lot of fun mixing and matching.  And towards the end it was super mathematical/patterny.  I loved it.  I did a lot of figuring out how to use a bunch of scraps up and how to make sure all the blocks were balanced and had a bit of each color. It was a super fun experiment, but also exhausting.  I don't think I'll be making a quilt again in just a month for a while.   But it was fun to quilt again. I miss just sewing for fun.   

(oh look, there is my arm)

I ended up wrapping the seat covers in the old peach crate.  Did I tell you all about my cool peach crates? I bought a bunch from a farm that my siblings used to work for and I have all sorts of cool ideas for how to use them. They are really neat. 

And here is my little brother and his lovely wife opening their quilt. I'm kind of in love with this quilt.  Which is a good thing since I used up almost all of my favorite cream dot fabric on it.  The rest of the fabrics that I used are interesting, but I would have never picked any of them off the bolt.  Some of them are down-right ugly.  But that is the great thing about quilting - together they all look incredible.  

(my parents ordered the quilt on the wall off of eBay - I didn't make it)

Colds

No more Mitten, Morman, and Meems (Warbie's name for everyone).
Now they are Arnie and Ames.
Meem's is finally starting to talk and it is super entertaining.

A cold has hit our house. Everyone is pretty jolly, but we are all moving a bit slower than normal. I'm always thankful for health when we don't have it and I'm grateful we aren't more sick.

I'm also thankful for all these little boys. They are a joy to be around (most of the time).

Some projects

The past few weekends we've been prepping the boys' walls for painting. They should be finished Saturday!! Then on to paint. We've been staring at so many blues and greys. I circled our top choice currently. If it isn't right I'll paint over it. I wanted grey on the bottom, but this light blue has been my top choice the whole.time. I never found a grey I liked as much. 

That will be fun to finally finish. 

Our cushions were getting a bit dingy. So I sewed some new covers from some samples my mother-in-law gave me. Thanks, Cindy! Yes. They are all different sizes because I measured once and cut and messed up the size of two of them. Oh, well. 

At the store we found a music box cookie canister for $1. We ate the cookies. The metal canister is now Warbie's bank. And after doing all sorts of sound experiments on the music box part, the boys took out their tools and dissected it. There were gears and springs and wheels and all sorts of fun things. Unfortunately it was rivited in a few places and so it didn't go back together. 

And look at this cool rocking horse I won at a local charity auction. It snowed the night of the auction and we spent much of the next day outside and the next day. But the horse has had lots of love. We are currently rainy Prince Caspian and the boys are making swords and bow and arrows and riding the horse. 

Books finished: 8 so far

2018 - book 60

Pages: 167

One of our friends lent this to us and we really enjoyed reading this each day during December. It is a fun little story about a boy trying to find his family and in his quest finding the savior born in Bethlehem. Some of his adventures are a little unbelievable... but it is a fun story and they had to keep you interested for all 25 days. The boys loved it. We look forward to reading the other three in the series and adding in a bit more study of history and traditions of the times. The boys asked why they weren’t driving a car... :)

2018 - book 59

Still loving this series. 

Did anyone else realize that Moses went up on the mountain three times and came down each time and shared a message to the Israelites and THEN went back up to get the ten commandments? Somehow I missed those first three trips. 

I also appreciated the reminder to keep the ten commandments in the context of everything else that God says around them in the chapters before and after. And I appreciated that they were given to people that were already redeemed and delivered. They aren't rules to earn our deliverance. God had already done that and he has already done that in our lives. That section was especially.good. 

2018 - book 52

Listened to the Jesus Storybook Bible twice through.
7 hours

I cried a few times. David Suchet does an incredible job of reading the stories.  I really appreciated the overarching message when I listened to the thing straight through (kind of like when I read larger chunks of the Bible and whole books of the Bible in one sitting).

Originally I borrowed it from Hoopla through the library, but we liked it so much that I bought it. So expect to see this show up a few times each year.

Quilt - 26 & 27

Quilt update
Step 1:
Blocks - FINISHED!!

Step 2:
Borders - FINISHED!!

Step 2.5:
Backing - FINISHED and sandwiched! 

Step 3:
Quilt: FINISHED!!!


Step 4:
Binding and signing. - FINISHED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I spent about two hours yesterday and one and a half hours today finishing the binding. I like to take my time and enjoy putting the binding on. It is very relaxing. Though, I think subconsciously I realize I have to give it away soon and so I savor the last few moments with the quilt. Every part of it has become familiar to you by this point - I know where I spent extra time figuring out a block or seam ripping stitches or picking out fabrics. It is kind of like that feeling when you are holding a sleeping baby (or two year old) and you know you have to put them down because another child needs you, but you don't want that moment to end... That's how I feel when I finish a quilt. Part of me never wants to finish it and hold on to it forever. 

Now to wash it... Please don't bleed!!! 

Total hours: 54 hours 
(Plus Jared has put in about 5)

Pictures coming soon. 
Jared and I were talking about how none of the fabrics are our favorites (except the cream dots - I love the cream dots) and some of them are borderline ugly, but somehow it all comes together to be so pretty. 

Quilt - day 25

Look how close I made my stitches when I quilted. Great job me!
Not so great when you want to pick them out.
I found one more section that I missed. I ran into it while I was quilting and had to stop and pick it out. It took 45 minutes. Ugh. I don't know how I missed it.

But now that I have requilted it I can say it was worth it. It looks so.much better. 

So tired. As soon as it was finished I felt this wave of exhaustion hit me and for the boys' quiet time I passed out on the couch (that never happens). It felt so good to have nothing to do. Afterwards we did some schoolwork and read a bunch of books and made pizza. Then Jared watched the boys while I machine sewed the binding on (just the first side). And I had to see what it was going to look like finished so I hand sewed a bit of the binding on. But since I have four days left I'll take it slowly and enjoy it. It is my favorite part of quilting and can be very relaxing. 

Time totals for today (thanks to my parents for watching the boys for a few hours this morning so I could finish):
45 minutes of picking out more stitches that I somehow missed. That was so depressing. 
1 hour and 15 minutes of quilting.  
30 minutes of machine sewing the binding on one side. 
30 minutes of hand sewing the binding. 

Only 3-4 more hours of hand sewing the binding and signing it with embroidery thread.

Quilt update
Step 1:
Blocks - FINISHED!!

Step 2:Borders - FINISHED!!

Step 2.5:Backing - FINISHED and sandwiched! 

Step 3:Quilt: FINISHED!!!


Step 4:Binding and signing. 
About 1/6th finished. 

Goal: 2 days or 6 hours hand sewing


Total hours: 50.5 hours 
(Plus Jared has put in about 5)
That is a crazy number. 
I've never added it up before. I knew it was work, but wow. I'm glad I'm on this end of all those hours. 

Quilt - days 23 & 24

Yesterday I spent an hour and a half picking out most of the border that I didn't like.  And about an hour quilting.  I knew it would take longer than an hour to pick that border out, but I told myself an hour to just get myself started. Once an hour passed I was almost half finished and I figured I better just finish.

Today I spent another two hours picking out the rest of that troublesome border and two blocks that I didn't like either (I used too dark of a thread on them). I quilted for an hour too. I finished all the blocks and the middle section I have two borders left to quilt and then it is on to the binding. I hope to finish tomorrow. That will leave me just enough time for the binding and washing it (all these blues next to creams are starting to worry me - please don't bleed. Please don't bleed. I'm using ten color catchers when I wash it. Please don't bleed).

Total time: 47.5

2018 - book 58

Pages: 196

I’m still loving this series.  I really appreciated the sections on forgiveness vs. reconciliation. What does it look like to forgive people that don’t ever acknowledge they have hurt you? Lots to think about and apply.

Quilt -day 22

I quilted for almost four hours last night and went to bed SO sore. I'm not sure I like some of the quilting on one of the borders, so I might be picking some of that out today... It is going to take forever. So I have to figure out if I hate it or if I just don't like it and can live with it. I'm leaning towards the hating it side. It is at least an hour of seam ripping carefully at tiny little stitches. Sigh. 

Yesterday I bought a couple of these old peach crates to use around the house to store things. Also, I've been wanting to replace the old shelves in the kitchen. The bottom holds books that the boys and I read at meals and the top is my only alive plant in the kitchen right now. The kitchen doesn't get enough sun! The goal is to add a window when we redo the kitchen.

Total time: 42 hours

Quilt - day 21

Quilting often looks like this. It is the boating of the craft world.

It is surprising that this is the first time a problem with the machine came up. It has been a smooth project so far. Other than the hobby lobby fabric problem, everything else has been smooth sailing.

This is the machine I use for quilting only. I piece on my newer (computerized, few quirks, easier to thread) machine. But when it comes to quilting, a heavy machine does a better job. The poor machine hasn't been used in over a year. And when it was started up...it didn't start up. I plugged it in. The motor spun. But the handwheel wouldn't move more then a few centimeters in either direction (meaning the needle only moved up and down a little bit). Thankfully the machine is all mechanical and I speak mechanical. I took the whole thing apart and oiled everything (new machines don't need oil) and put it back together and then realized that bobbin casing wasn't it properly. That was it. I snapped it back together. Problem solved. And my machine was all nicely oiled and dusted out. There is so much lint that builds up inside the machine from hours of use.

By the time that was all finished I called it a night on Saturday night. Sunday was a rest day. I hope to quilt tonight.

Total hours:
38.5 (1.5 quilting straight lines with the new machine and 1 hour fixing my old machine so I can start quilting the curved stuff)

None Like Him

One of the top ten books I’ve read this year. 

I’m not sure I’ll finish it by the end of December because I’m doing a few pages at a time. But it will show up either this year or next year of my book list. :) 

Quilt- day 20

Not a quilt picture. Testing out a Jeep seat cover in my car. They aren’t the same size...

My brother sent me a picture of a Mexican blanket and a website that explained how to make seat covers and asked if I would make him seat covers for his Jeep for Christmas. He traces all the seams and sides of the seats on plastic bags and mailed them to me. It took about two hours to do this first one. Working with Mexican blankets is a challenge. They unravel so quickly if they are moved around too much. So it took some planning ahead and lots of slow and gentle movements when sewing (instead of just jamming everything through the machine). 

Quilt update
Step 1:
Blocks - FINISHED!!


Step 2:Borders - FINISHED!!


Step 2.5:Backing - FINISHED and sandwiched! 
The lady at Hobby Lobby cut me only 3.5 yards. Grrrr. I really don’t like buying fabric there. I’ve had several problems. Plus the fabric just isn’t as quality.  It is stiffer and bleeds more when washed.  I would much rather pay more for nicer fabric at a quilt store. But we don’t have any more left in my town. :(  I was spoiled when we had three to choose from. It was so close to not being enough. I had a scrap that was 2” x 8” left over. I wish I had a picture of it so show you how crazy and nerve wracking it was. It was really really close to not being enough. I had to do a bunch of extra cutting and sewing to make it work. Which is why I logged so many hours yesterday working on it. And in the end I wish I had just picked one fabric, I decided to mix two together and I like them both, but the blue one is definitely my favorite (which is funny because the green fabric is dots). 

Step 3:QuiltGoal: 3 days or 9 hours


Step 4:Binding.
Goal: 2 days or 6 hours hand sewing


Total hours: 36
(Plus Jared has put in about 5)

Quilt -day 19

We have a finished quilt top!!!

I had a minor meltdown, freeze-up on this last part. See, the cream colored dots are one of my favorite fabrics (ever - they are one of the best background fabrics ever and they are dots - but not annoying polka dots, the best cream colored, blending dots) and I have been hoarding this big piece for a while. I didn’t quite realize how much of it I would have to use for the background... until last night and almost all of it had to be cut up. Ahhhh. I had to get Jared to cut the last 7 strips of fabric for me. Once they were cut I had to use them, but I just couldn’t bring myself to cut them off. In the end I am glad that they are used up on a project for someone I love. They probably would have sat on my shelf for 50 years and wasted away.

Anyhow, I have fabric hoarding problems. Which probably makes me a real quilter because that is what I hear from most quilters. Books and fabrics are my downfall. :) And a good dark chocolate (speaking of dark chocolate - the orange and the mint dark chocolate bars at Aldis are my favorites).

And look at that scrap pile. Now that I have wood floors in my sewing room, I just throw everything off the side of my desk while I am cutting. In the end I’ll gather it all up and use it for stuffing for something.

Quilt updateStep 1:
Blocks - FINISHED!!

Step 2:
Borders - FINISHED!!

Step 2.5:
Backing
Going to buy 4 yards tonight.

Step 3:
Quilt
Goal: 3 days or 9 hours
Maybe I’ll start tomorrow! Jared had Christmas cantata practice all morning (boo). It is one of those practices that doesn’t have an end time. (Reminder to myself: set meetings with start and end times and stick to them.) Maybe after quiet time tomorrow.

Step 4:
Binding.
The binding is made. Jared cut it and sewed it for me the other night. It is all curled up and waiting to be attached to finished quilt.
Goal: 2 days or 6 hours hand sewing

Total hours: 32
I’ve never tracked my time before on a quilt. This is very interesting.  I can see why people charge thousands of dollars for handmade quilts. The fabric, batting, and thread for this quilt would have cost about $150-$200.

Quilt - day 17&18

I spent three hours last night sewing all the blocks together and the last three middle borders. 

Today I finished putting the top together all but the last outside border. And I cut out two of the outside borders because it makes the quilt too big. They might have made it look better, but I have to be able to quilt this thing. 

Quilt update
Step 1:
Blocks - FINISHED!!

Step 2:

Borders

Goal: 7

Finished: 6

I have the last one cut and ready to sew tomorrow. 

Step 2.5:

Backing

I am going to have to go buy something for the back. I don’t have 4 yards of anything that matches just sitting around my quilt room. 

Step 3:

Quilt

Goal: 3 days or 9 hours

Step 4: 

Binding. 

Goal: 2 days or 6 hours hand sewing

Total hours: 31

2018 - book 57

I read Closer Than a Sister by Christina Fox again for my Sunday school class. 

Same opinions as last time. 

Quilt - day 16

Earlier I quickly finished the fourth inside border. It looks amazing. 

I spent 2 hours tonight squaring up my 18 outer blocks. Wow. That took forever. But now it is ready to sew tomorrow! 

Total time: 27 hours

Quilt - day 15 and Memes

No pictures today of the quilt. It was a snow day. We played outside all morning until quiet time.
Memes is a Daredevil.

I'm so thankful for our little hill. When they said we'd have to have a mound system as a septic field Jared wasn't so sure about it, the first thing I thought was, "that will be amazing for sledding and bike riding!"

Quilt update
Step 1:
Blocks - FINISHED!!

Step 2:

Borders

Goal: 9

Finished: 3

Step 2.5:

Backing

Step 3:

Quilt

Goal: 3 days or 12 hours

Step 4: 

Binding. 

Goal: 2 days or 6 hours hand sewing