Grandma's House

Centerpoint Covered Bridge :: the creek :: a recipe from Myrna :: Buddy, the spoiled 

Ohio Star :: almost done :: pumpkin pie :: puzzling with Uncle Phil and Julian

We made a day trip to Grandma's house on Monday. It was nice. We were supposed to have bad weather overnight, but no snow came which made for much easier travel. The point of our trip was to follow up on a promise that I would help paint a barn quilt star for Grandma's barn. My aunt Coleen has always wanted one, and my uncle Phil painted Grandma's old barn (and repaired the door that his bulls tore off!) special for the occasion.

On the way across the state, we stopped and saw the Centerpoint covered bridge, one of only three remaining covered bridges in West Virginia that we have not seen. In other news, we came home with two hand-me-down cat puzzles (we are a puzzling' family, in case you can't tell), a box of Swiss Miss cocoa, a framed quilted star from my great grandmother's sewing basket, and a few yeast rolls. Not a bad haul for our labors.

About that recipe - this was a recipe Grandma and aunt Lois said was really great. It is a seven layer bar-type thing. As Grandma didn't feel the need to write down the instructions, I'll tell you it goes something like this:

Preheat your oven to 350F. In the bottom of a 9x13, melt the butter, press the graham crackers in the bottom, using the butter as glue (Lois says she has used GF rolled oats in place of the graham with good results). Dump all the other ingredients on top, presumably in five more layers. Bake for 25-28 minutes. Allow to cool completely (and/or chill) before cutting into 36 + pieces.

building houses

House #1

I learned a lot about this project in my first week. For starters, the scrappy look is all well and good but I am more pleased with the result if a wee bit of care is taken making the selections.  I liked how, on day one, everything fabric-wise went together so easily. On day two, I grabbed scraps at random and went at it again, with less pleasing results.

Lessons learned:

House #2

1. Bold prints are best kept for the walls of the house and the sky, or the roof OR the sky, but not both roof AND sky.
2. If you decide that the door and the window should be made of the same fabric to indicate that the door is open, you can't also make the roof and the window the same without thereby indicating that the roof is open. (I'm telling myself that day one's house has a cathedral ceiling with another big window.)
3. The chimneys are sweet and little and must have some distinction from the rest or they are just blah.

I have also, in the wake of my scrap-happy-ness, laid a few ground rules.

House #3

1. On Sundays, when I make my block, the door and the fabric will be the same, indicating that the door is open. We almost always have friends over (or go over to their house) and it is a sweet memento for me.

2. Roofs (did you know that "rooves" is proper but "outdated"?) will be brown or red, unless there is snow on the ground in which case they may be white.
3. Care must be taken with white and it should probably be used only for snowy roofs or lit windows.
4. Skies should be blue, gray, or black if indicating night.

House #4

House 1: I was thrilled with how this house came out. I woke up thinking about the project and made myself do a few house chores before starting - great motivation for work! It was a Saturday, we stayed in and watched football (bad football day) and Julian did work.

House 2: Woke up at 7am thinking about my little house. I struggled with this one because the block is so small that I am tempted to make tiny seams or else there is a tremendous amount of fabric on the back, but then my seams come undone - I had to redo the front by the door. Made up rules listed above. Julian went to coaching clinic and I prepared for company. First apple pie of fall made today.

House #5

House 3: I confess. Our friends didn't come over on Sunday so, after I baked the pie, I made another little house while I listened to my audio book. No friends = closed door. The roof is very challenging and even when I know what the mistake is, I still make it. Twice... thrice. For the second day in a row, sundown has come too early for me to manage dinner and have a bike ride, so this house has a dark sky.

House 4: Monday's house. A great many things had to be done before I could sit down and make my daily house. It was shopping day. Julian spent the afternoon "at the office". It is better for him to work in his own separate space in the house lest I bug him constantly.

House 5: I pulled out a different bin of scraps and got a very different house. I suppose it will go quite nicely when there are 300 houses that are all different. I am struggling with letting it be scrappy and spending too much time trying to pick out coordinating fabrics. As much as I try, I cannot keep myself from tidying it all up in my brain. I am looking at sashing options and maybe the sashing will help bring it all together. This was also the first day I used a solid (roof) - jury's still out on that one. Morning rain kept me from

House #6

doing some gardening with EM (and the sun came out as soon as we cancelled) so we have a rainy sky in this block.

House 6: Today is a beautiful day. We've had a cool front these past few days - or maybe it's just fall coming on strong  - I don't quite trust that it is here to stay. Can you tell how much I love this little yellow floral print? I bought it recently, paired with completely different fabrics, but it is at home here with the oldies.  I have learned that if I don't try to short cut things, the roof minds its manners. Perfection still evades me but I have to keep telling myself the whole is more than the sum of its parts.

Rejoice!

I am not really a cross stitch person. I prefer needlepoint, mainly because the image is printed on the fabric and I like that the whole background is filled in. My mom got me one of those tiny 3x3 in. cross stitch ornament kits to teach me when I was about ten. She taught me all I needed to know in about nine stitches and I never finished it.

All this aside, I saw a few pictures on Pinterest and followed the bunny trail to Plum Street Samplers. I just fell in love with the antique reproduction cross stitch I found there. I generally steer clear of "primitives" but some of these are very nice.

When I saw this freebie chart she offered, I knew I wanted to make one to match the quilt I've been piecing in 1800's reproduction fabrics. This makes a perfect project for me on the plane this Friday when Julian and I go cross country to a CS conference. Since I am a rather obsessive packer, this little lovely is assembled and packed already, just waiting for the fasten seat belt sign.

P.S. I also found this pattern for a Valentine's stocking. Is that not the cutest idea ever? I think I'm going to make one for every wedding I'm ever invited to, from here on out. The recipients can fill it with sweet nothings on Valentine's Day and their anniversary!

Keep calm and craft on with Frontier Dreams!

Wedding ring ... thing

It seems the quilting women of my family all have a niche, a kind of quilt that is "their thing." My grandmother loves a simple nine patch, my great aunt Mildred did hexie flower gardens and my great grandmother was known for her double wedding rings. I grew up playing I Spy on the one she made for my parents as a wedding gift.

This past spring, my grandmother showed up with her most notorious kind of gift - the you-can-have-this-if-you-promise-to-finish-it kind! So here I am. On a rainy Tuesday, I'm still in my pajamas and preparing the binding for what I've decided will be a wall hanging.

Three parts of it were pieced by my great grandmother and one piece added to complete the motif by my grandmother. The fabrics range from original feedsacks to 1980's chintzy prints. This has presented a challenge for picking binding fabric, so I did the only logical thing and put it to a vote on Facebook. So here we go with a scrap from none other than Julian's grandmother.

A three grandmother wall hanging wedding ring quilt thingy - how special!

{Yarn Along} Same shawl, New book

The knitting was on hold for two weeks: one for finishing up these two projects and one for the holiday. Both this pillow and needlepoint were gifts for my sister-in-law, overdue but with timely sentiments. The pillow marks her 14th anniversary, for which the traditional gift is ivory. The needlepoint was done for her birthday a year ago but the frame only recently got finished by Julian. I think both turned out so nicely.

I'm back to the Redwoods shawl with fervor. I don't know why but it is like a book I can't put down. I am just finishing the first skien of yarn (229 yds.) and I have finished the first set of eyelet rows. I'm very happy with it so far and so delighted that I've managed to knit while watching hours and hours of soccer and not mess anything up!

As for the reading, I had to punt on Maeve Binchy. I just wasn't into it on audio, not because I didn't try to be, but too much time went by between chapters and I was having a hard time wrapping my mind around the characters and plot. Instead, and thanks to the recommendation of my friend (take a minute to click that link for more book reviews), I am now listening to James Herriot's All Things Wise and Wonderful.  In addition to his country veterinary tales, Herriot tells a bit about his time in the RAF. Since I finished the potato peel pie book and have binge watched the first six seasons of Foyle's War in the past two months, it seemed fitting to stick with the WWII in Britain theme. I just love the book.  I love his candor, his recollection of a different time, both more simple and more complicated. 

What are you crafting and/or reading?

Joining Frontier Dreams and Ginny...

Yarn Along - a big adventure

My new kitting project hit the road with us this week as we headed camping to Holly River State Park. I only had a little bit of time to work on it in the truck before the roads became too swirly for me to be able to keep it together.

We planned to tent camp but hunkered down in a cabin for the first night as the rain poured all through the evening and into the night. The cabin boasted a bent twig rocker that I swear was made to fit my aching back. Julian read and I knitted by the light of our fire. It was a lovely getaway.

I have decided that, for my next project, I'm going to do the Light and Up pattern but finish it with a picot edging like the Eiku (both found on Ravelry). I wasn't really sold on this yarn, but I added it to my stash when it was on clearance about a year ago. I must say that the longer I look at it and the more sunshine it gets, the more I fall in love with it.

The pattern uses sock weight yarn on a #8 needle, so I am struggling a bit with feeling like it is coming apart in my hands, since I am usually a tight knitter. It is so soft and smooth in my hand though, even just the little bit I've got going, and it is working up very quickly.

This week's outing has inspired me to check out A Walk in the Woods. We are in need of a new bedtime reading book and we've gotten into quite the habit of reading about food and thinking of how woefully hungry we are! So, perhaps we can change that this week.

Linking up with Ginny.

{Yarn Along} Finished Hitchhiker!

The Hitchhiker is complete! It is very lovely, indeed!

Now, on to the next thing. I have a handful of projects to finish up but already I am searching for the next new knitting project. I've been bitten by the shawl bug, it seems. I was able to do an advanced search on Raverly to get some great pattern suggestions :: free, stockinette, size 3 needles, shawl, #2-3 difficulty rating, fingering weight yarn. I was a little bit surprised to discover that the first two recommendations were already in my ideas list and the two top consenters are: Light & Up (though I'm not wild about the tassels) and Eiku. I have some yarn in my stash from the clearance rack at Michael's - Loops and Thread Luxury Sock in Redwoods that I think is my next choice. Thoughts?

I've found myself with a little more time than usual, so my reading is coming along nicely, too. I just LOVE when a good book inspires reading more good books, and that is what Guernsey is doing. It is written in correspondence format, which I love, and all the characters are so genuine and witty! I keep thinking I need to make notes of the funny expressions they use! Also, the book references Charles Lamb and I happen to have a copy of his Dissertation Upon Roast Pig in my to-read stack as well.
My sister was an avid reader when we were growing up. I was a good reader but found no pleasure in it. Partly to be different from her, I refused to enjoy books. This book has, however, reminded me of many classic books that I haven't read and should - most notably Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. 

Joining Ginny & Frontier Dreams. 

Vexing Hexies

First things first, let's clear up any confusion. I did NOT start a new project before the others were finished. I made a kit. A lacrosse-season-is-starting-Monday-and-I-will-have-a-lot-of-time-on-my-hands kit. And anyway, Posie made me do it.

I've always felt too intimidated for hexagons. There is something about them that feels pretentious to me, like you're trying too hard. Julian is fascinated by them and gravitates to a Flower Garden quilt whenever we see one at shows.

So yeah. I'm a hexie maker now. It is tedious. It is time consuming. It is not pretentious. They are so lovely! The only thing that vexes me now is that I really, really want a snow day to work on them - but a snow day would make lacrosse practice very difficult. But if somehow I could get a snow day but Julian could still pull off a lacrosse practice, I could work on my lacrosse-waiting-only handwork. Yes, that would be nice.

{Yarn Along} Progress Stalled

So yesterday I waxed poetic about the spotted fawns. Today it seems they've gotten the best of me - and my bean patch. Julian specifically asked if he should run them off, I said NO! So the burden is entirely mine today.

I could see that a few things around the yard had been munched, edges of the sweet peas, a few hosta blooms, but this year has been so much better than last because of my magic potion. This stuff actually works! Throughout the spring, I applied it every Saturday and had not a nibble. I knew I needed to reapply last night but we had torrential downpours, "I'll get it in the morning, I told myself."

Anyhow, as far as my Yarn Along update is concerned, I've been listening to a Recorded Books of The Union Quilters, by Jennifer Chiaverini. I am having a hard time with it and I am really only pressing on because I don't want to quit and I like Civil War history. The narrators voice is grating on my nerves and the author uses very 1990's-movie-lines dialogue. Its not very believable to me. And I know it was a different time but you better believe I wouldn't be sending Julian off to war with a precious heirloom quilt in his rucksack. "It will be right here when you return, thankyouverymuch," I'd say.

My knitting has stalled. I knit up several of the "teeth" but I'm having a very hard time with my tension and the slippery needles and tiny yarn of the Hitchiker/Ella Rae Lace Merino. I ripped it all out in the name of "practice" and started again. It was nice to have confirmation from my mother in law that it really WAS slippery and I'm not just inept, and she came up with some different #3 needles which are easier to use. I'm seriously considering that this may not be the season in my life for crafty progress.

I'll finish the post with some pictures of the lovely things those fawns haven't munched, yet.

{Yarn Along} California Style

I decided to try the Hitchhiker and pair it with my Ella Rae Lace Merino. I had lunch in DC this morning and then hopped a plane to the west coast. I'm just now casting on because I was nervous they would take my knitting needles in security but they didn't bat an eyelash. So, even though I should be SLEEPING like all my normal east coast counterparts, I'm knitting and watching The American Baking Challenge and wondering if I could win it. Yeah and we're ignoring the fact that I've started another project without finishing any of them!

Listening to The Union Quilters on audio, and I'm kind of indifferent to it at the moment. The author uses comments that real people wouldn't say. I'll reserve judgment for a bit.

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UPDATE - I'm a silly, silly girl. I've stayed up until 1:49am my-time just to get my first "tooth" done on the shawl. Its a good thing this pattern is easy-peasy because this is the slippy-est, tiny-est yarn on the slippy-est, tiny-est needles. Ooomph. I'm waiting for the rhythm to kick in. At least the first tooth looks toothy. Not a good picture but this is MUCH closer to the true color of the yarn than the top picture.

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Linking up with Ginny.

{Yarn Along} Taking suggestions

I'm still reading The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey and liking it but I was sad to read a spoiler on another blog! It's due back at the library tomorrow so I need to wrap it up. I leave for Philadelphia on the 18th, then head to Houston on the 21st, so I'll have plenty of time on a plane for a new book - so I'm taking suggestions.

I have two skeins of discontinued Araucana Nature Wool in this amazing duck-egg colorway. It's 220 meters per skein, bringing me to a total of about 440 meters, 4 ply, medium weight. I love it so much I've been saving it for something special, now I'm having trouble choosing a project since I have a limited amount. I am considering the Casu but I am hesitant to  have the wool right up on my neck. Again, I'm taking suggestions...

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UPDATE -  I have finished reading the book. The author had wonderful descriptive language which I enjoyed and kept my interest up throughout. I loved all the characters. It made me reflect on marriage, the secrets that are kept, communication, shared dreams, love, loss. It was very impactful in that way and the loves of each of the marriages portrayed in the book are very special.

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Linking up with GSheller and Keep Calm and Craft On.

Quilt Quest 2013

Today was a great day. I had to work for about two hours this morning and I planned to leave the office, drive to Clarksburg and meet my Grandmother and two aunts to visit one of the shops on the Mountain State Quilt Quest Shop Hop. When I stopped by the house before hitting the road, Julian suggested he go too and we'd make a day of it.

We met my family about 35 minutes south of here and had lunch at the Bob Evans. They had been shop hopping two days prior and had been to all but three of the 11 shops leaving my hometown shop, the one we planned to visit, and the one in Elkins which was too far out of the way to make it to. Each shop had its own version of a quilt made with 24 blocks and had two block patterns for sale. With each pattern, you got two fat quarters. Each block showcased a part of West Virginia Heritage.

Julian loves covered bridges and I love honeybees. Our state has many covered bridges and the state insect is the honey bee, and both were included in the quilt. BUT - the covered bridge and honeybee blocks we bonus blocks available to those who visited all the shops. I had stopped by my local shop to grab the patterns for the two blocks there, and the Aunts and Grandma had been to every other shop. Just the Elkins shop remained and the bonus blocks - an hour farther away from home.

But, because Julian had come along for the ride, he agreed that the two of us should go ahead and go. We had nothing else to do and we were together, so why not! And we did. I'm happy to report that we had a lovely time AND snagged the much coveted blocks.