Earthtones Girl » Uncategorized

Let’s Celebrate!

earthtonesgirl — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:00:06 +0000

Yesterday, February 6th was my daughter’s 2 year and 9 month birthday. It was also our first outing without a diaper so far from home. I thought we should do something fun! About a block away from our old apartment is a riding stable and facility. We pass the stable whenever we visit my sister and the day before Kira saw the horses out and about and asked if we could go visit them. I promised her the next day and here we are…

I know some adults that would not get this close but my girl is fearless!!!

I swear the look on that horse’s face was “Shouldn’t you be crying little one?”, “Don’t you see how big I am?”

Kira’s response…”Mummy can I pet him?”

Oh and we made it through the day with total success. No accidents or close calls. She’s loves beening a “big girl” now!!

I won’t bore you with all the details but I will say that we started “hard core” training on Thursday (she had been using the potty every night before bed for months but was in a diaper all the time). The diaper came off in the morning and we went from there. By Monday we were 7 miles away from home and a clean bathroom and we made it…Thank God!

Any website that says parents look forward to this milestone in there child’s life is telling the truth but what it doesn’t say is how much it’s gonna “suck” (pardon my language) and how much patience it’s going to require to get through it. I was the one putting it off not Kira. She was awesome and ready. The only “problem” we have now is she wants to take care of the entire process by herself and actually asks to be left alone to take care of her “project” (her word). I’m sure you get what this means…a potentially messy/smelly tush. That’s what we are working on now. Getting her to let mummy help her. Did I mention how much fun this is?!?!

In the end, having a confident and happy child is truly worth it….

Tradition…

earthtonesgirl — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:41:14 +0000

As defined by Merriam Webster…1 a : an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom)…

An established or customary pattern…in this case a quilt pattern, a very traditional log cabin quilt. And there is definitely something to be said for tradition. Why can I hear Topol singing right now?

Here is my latest. I started this quilt back in October of 2010. The top was done by January or February of 2011 then is sat. I finally sent it out to be quilted around June-ish. I was not ready or experienced enough to handle something this big. It just seemed way to daunting. I got it back at the end of August (as promised). All the quilting was done and all that remained was squaring it up and binding it. So guess what? It sat some more. But in adherence to one of my new year goals to finish up WIP/UFOs it’s done. One big delay was trying to decide how to do the binding, cross-grain or bias. My trusty friend Teri said just do the old reliable, cross-grain and don’t worry about it. It set me free to hear that…and here’s the result.

It is the epitome of earth tones for me.

I would have gotten more outside shots but there were two problems. The cold and all the deer droppings in my back yard. I wanted to lay in out on the lawn for greater effect but that wasn’t happening.

No matter…the effect is just as good here.

Can I toot my own horn for just a sec? I freaking love it!!! Not bad ETG…

The brown border was not supposed to happen but after initially finishing the patchwork I realized it was not going to be wide or long enough for my queen size bed.

So in the instructions to the quilter I asked that the cream border be added on and the original plan to miter the corners kept in place. You can see above where the extra fabric was added. I was told that would not be possible. Ok, I”m flexible and new to the game…I trust you, surprise me! Boy did she!!!

It’s incredible looking and perfectly frames the top portion of the bed. That couldn’t have been planned. Alright maybe, but not by me with my limited experience.

So who is the genius behind the quilting and modifications? Eileen Keane of Designing Quilts. I love this woman! When we discussed the type of quilting I wanted done I said nothing to fancy or busy (meaning not to heavily quilted). I said just stipple it. She said that’s was boring. How about a leaf pattern since the colors are so “fallish”? I said leaves?????? I don’t know. She more or less said trust me and again I did.

All I could say when I opened the box was WOW!!!!!!!

I could never have done that on my little Brother (the machine I used at the time on the patchwork).

The other thing I’m very happy with is the binding. I tweeted the other day in response to a question that I had a queen size quilt to bind but dreaded (even though I enjoy it) the thought of hand binding something so large. Pat Sloan tweeted back a link to her machine binding tutorial…..AWESOME AND EASY AND FAST!!!! And perfect for this project. Thank you Pat!

I’m so happy right now and with two of the 3 unfinished projects I started the year with complete, I’d say its high time to start something new!!! (No I haven’t forgotten the other project….)

But first I’m going to crawl under this beauty with the entire family, roll around and enjoy it.

Help For Some Friends

earthtonesgirl — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:57:09 +0000

Some dear firefighter friends of mine are in need of remodeling in their firehouse. One of them entered the house in a contest and they are now one of several finalists.

Here’s their story. How about a vote and some much needed help.

Good luck guys…

Great Weekend

earthtonesgirl — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:18:41 +0000

So this weekend I did everything I could not to make those Orange Creamsicle Cookies. And while I succeeded that means I did the next best thing, went shopping. It was not R&R (Reckless and Random) shopping, it was shopping with a purpose. Supplies to make that Lattice Quilt. I know, did I really have to buy more fabric? No. Isn’t there more than enough in my stash? Yes. Was it fun and exciting? Hell yeah!!

As usual this picture does not do these gorgeous bundles justice. On the left, Hot Spice, the other Pretty in Pink. These would be so darling in that Lattice pattern.

Simple Modern Sewing…this book just jumped out at me and I fell in love with almost every garment in it. Next phase…garment sewing.

Some rulers, fabric, thread and other notions also for the Lattice quilt and to finish up another one.

I can’t wait to see what how that variegated thread looks…

Nothing much but I’m happy and ready for my next quilt.

BLT #2

earthtonesgirl — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:41:33 +0000

Not a lot of chat this week, I’ll just get right to the good stuff.

BLOG

Here’s a good one for you. There is some fun stuff going on over there.

A Quilting Life

LOVE IT

My friend May found this one on Pinterest and I swear my heart skipped a beat when I saw it. All this says to me childhood, hot summers and sticky fingers. Sweetness. We are both going to try to hold out and make this one next time we’re together. Good luck to both of us on that one.

Orange Creamsicle Cookies

TUTORIAL

I saw this yesterday and had that old, familiar feeling of I have to start this RIGHT NOW. But of course I”m still a prisoner of my own rules. Must complete before I can start…SUCKS!! But I’m holding to it…at least until I can get to the quilt shop to buy a 6.5″ square ruler. Isn’t it gorgeous? And the instructions look so invitingly simple.

Lattice Quilt Block

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

What Color is Motivation?

earthtonesgirl — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:42:38 +0000

There is a fire under my “seat” and it’s raging. Is there anything more “driving” for a knitter, sewer/ist (still can’t decide which term I like better… opinions welcome on that one) than completed projects?

First completed knit for the year and it’s butter…better than butter and it’s PINK!! I’m so happy right now.

That is my girlfriend Ann modeling so graciously. As she was putting it on she said to me. “Is this wool? You know I’m allergic to wool right?” I said it is wool and cashmere. As you can see after a few moments…allergy? What allergy?

And just in time, the weather report for the east coast this coming weekend isn’t promising. Winter will finally be arriving…in force.

Ready!!!!!

Pattern: Windschief by Stephen West

I opted to knit the cowl instead of the hat (instructions for both included in the pattern)

Yarn: Squishy by Anzula Luxury Fiber, colorway Wine. 1 skein. (purchased at Katonah Yarn Company)

Needles: #6 & 7

Mods/Notes: I held two strands together. Worked the ribbing on the bottom on a #6 but then top ribbing on a #7. Why? I forgot to change needles…(true hurts) but the knitting goddess was watching over me. I decided to test my “skills” and see it I remembered how to do a tubular bind off (without looking it up). Success! I’ve still got it!!

This makes me happy on so many levels. I can still knit…well. I can still recall not-to-easy- techniques and I finished another project.

And did I mention…it’s PINK!!!

Just look at that? Wow…I’ve really missed knitting. More than I realized. Onto the next project.

Operation Organiztion Phase 2

earthtonesgirl — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:48:15 +0000

Clear away all the clutter from my sewing table and make room for more sewing. But I needed a place to put some things.

Now I know that I just talked about spending too much time on the internet, wasting time but of course there I was AGAIN on Pinterest when I found a great tutorial for Fabric Boxes. I got to work immediately. See here and here too.

Followed the directions exactly…

Nested my seams…I love nesting.

And after reading some of the reader comments found a simple solution for the “rounded square box” problem.

IRON…ALOT!!!

Viola!!! Simple, eye-catching, super cute fabric boxes.

Happiness is!

They are the perfect size for charm packs and fat quarters (which I love to look at) and those annoying scraps you need to toss somewhere as you’re sewing so the floor is no longer employed for that purpose.

Phase 3…Finish up all those unfinished projects from last year. Very few of you will get this but I refuse to start anything new until my UFO are out-of-the-way. Motivation, yep!! My list of new projects is getting long…fast.

PS. This is my first finished project of 2012…

Resolutions or Goals?

earthtonesgirl — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:22:21 +0000

Every year starts the same. We all watch the ball drop, drink a bit too, sleep in the next morning then wake up, rush to find pen and paper and write down a bunch of “new year resolutions” that we will probably only keep for about 3 weeks.

So no, I’m not making any new year resolutions this year but I am setting some simple goals for myself. On the personal level, there are many and I”m sure very similar to a few some of you have made, relating to husband, children, family, friends, self. On the creative level, I’ve got just a few…

1. Get my sewing room organized. Every year as the holiday season winds down, I get a certain look in eye that my husband recognizes as “I’m so over Christmas”. By January 1st I’m all but ripping down decorations and getting my house back to its origional state. And I can’t seem to do anything else until that task is complete. The same applies here. I want to sew like crazy but can’t even decide what to do first because my stash is a mess.

2. Work on no more than 2 projects at a time. That was always my knitting rule and I stuck with it for years (to some degree). I can feel over whelmed very easily or rather I can feel like I”m not getting anything finished. But when I have just one or two things going I tend to finish so I can start something else. Have one portable and one stay home project.

3. Set up a sewing space that I don’t have to get up from to reach anything. I want to be able to cut fabric, sew at the machine and iron all without needing to get up. ( I realize there are exceptions to this.)

4. Sort out my stash. I saw these on Pinterest a while ago and debated and debated ordering them. I measured my space and the realized that the original sizes would not work for me. But a few days before the new year I took another “stroll” by the site and there was a new size now available. I measured, ordered a few to test them out and BINGO!!! Mini bolts of fabric. Who can’t appreciate the beauty? You have no idea how happy it makes me to just look at these.

5. Try to blog more frequently and don’t worry if I don’t. I’m always so torn between doing and talking about what I’m doing. Goal…find a middle ground. I wonder how some bloggers out there do it? I read profiles all the time about moms with multiple kids, jobs and what sounds like full lives who have these beautiful blogs FULL to the rafters with completed project after completed project and I turn greeen..How the heck do they do it?

5a. Cut back on the things (Pinterest & Twitter) in my life that eat away my time and so I can use that time to create…

Here’s a bit more on the organizing front…Made by my loving hubby (have I showed you this already? Forgive me if I have but I love it so much I have to talk about it)

6. KNIT MORE. I miss it!

7. This one is the most important…

I saw this on Pinterest (see what I mean. I should have been sewing or knitting) this morning and thought…PERFECT!!! There is my new mantra! Which I will try to apply to ALL areas of my life.

After reading that I swear, I felt set free, because I had just been looking at a bunch of blogs, wishing mine humble little “place in cyberspace” could be so pretty, so well laid out, so fancy. You know what? It’s just fine…

So all that said…It’s time for me to sew and knit and create….

Happy New Year!

earthtonesgirl — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 01:33:34 +0000

Change and resolutions

Cleansing, new constitutions.

What does a new year represent?

What will it bring?

How many changes will I make within?

What will happen in the world far and wide?

We don’t know now do we…

We just know we can’t hide.

Past: You are beautiful, painful, yet no longer near.

Present: I’ll pay more attention, embrace you, you’re here.

Future: I’m not afraid of you, I cannot fear.

by Julie Leonard (my amazing sister, written 12/31/11)

As I’m sitting in my sewing room, with a warm bowl of soup, thinking about my sister’s very wise words, I’m so filled with the possibilities in all the areas of my life….and I’m excited!

Love the coasters May, May….

Happy To Help

earthtonesgirl — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:42:59 +0000

A former knitting student of mine called me the other day and asked if I would help her with something. She’d knitted 6, with one more to go, Christmas stockings and wanted help lining them. She said they were all stranded and thought a fabric lining would ensure longevity since she intended these to be family heirlooms. Before I could think about the amount on my plate I said yes, of course. Then the next day flipped out at how much I have to do. But then I saw them…WOW!

Look at all the work she put in! I was so impressed and honored in a way that I had been a somewhat efficient enough teacher to inspire someone to reach these heights.

So here’s the prototype….it fits perfectly!!

Six more sewed, ribbons all attached and she picked them up on Saturday.

I’m sure they are hanging perfectly by her fireplace. It’s good to stop and step away from yourself for a little while.