My Colors?

Your rainbow is intensely shaded violet, red, and pink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is says about you: You are a passionate person. You appreciate beauty and craftsmanship. You are patient and will keep trying to understand something until you've mastered it. You are a good listener and your friends are glad to have you around in difficult times.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

Mid-Week Musings

I've been finishing up a batch of pins to send to Kedar Quilts in Maine. If you find yourself in western Maine this summer, stop in and see Margaret. I love the pile of bits and pieces that accumulates next to my machine when I paper-piece.

We've been to a few ball games already this week. On Monday night, Julia and Pete played at the same time, at the same park, on adjacent fields. Sitting on the bleachers at the baseball field, all I needed to do was spin around to see the softball field.

Josh was sweet to keep me company at the games. We had a nice conversation about baseball, my Girl Scouts, school and summer. He went over to the other field to take a few pictures for me. He told Julia she was "lighting fast" running to 1st base. See the maroon blur?
There has been an osprey nest on the light pole at this field for several years. We'll try to get some shots of the birds as the season progresses. They are really fun to watch after the chicks hatch and the parents start bringing fish to the nest.


In other birding news, the Orioles have come home for the summer. I saw a catbird in the yard last week, so I knew the Orioles would soon follow. We saw the male fly by on Mother's Day, so we put out the orange and were soon rewarded with this beautiful site.


So, I found out that Josh reads my blog in computer class with Julia's friend from the swim team. Hi, Josh & Emiko! They find it amusing that I call Josh "the boyfriend." I won't do that anymore. He's a really good kid and we enjoy having him around. I love this picture of Julia & Josh that was taken in Hershey before the music festival. It's the closest they'll get to a prom picture for a couple of years.


I'm off to finish the pins for Margaret and get them in the mail today. Have a great day!
Tina

Weekend Update

I hope you all had a lovely Mother's Day. We had a sunny, relaxing day.

My Girl Scouts did a little camping this weekend. It was more laid back than usual and we really enjoyed each other's company. Here are some highlights:

Full Moon over the pond

Tall trees and platform tents

Raindrops on White Pine

Wildflowers

Scary Spider!

We're getting betting at folding the flag, but we haven't achieved military precision just yet.

I'm always inspired to recycle more and waste less after a trip to camp. Remember: It's easy being green!
Tina

T-Tote

I finished the t-shirt tote after Pete's game last night. As much as my thumb hurts from wrangling the stretchy yarn, I couldn't put it down until it was done! The thick yarn works up really quickly with a big crochet hook (I used size K/10.5). The other baseball moms thought it was fun. Well, most of them, anyway. The froo froo moms didn't get it.


Pete was happy for the opportunity to pitch an inning after catching for 3 whole games. It was fun to watch the fog roll in across the field, but the outfielders were losing the ball against the white sky.


Julia bought this great insulated bag at Hershey Park. I can't wait to pack it with snacks to take to the beach this summer!

All the low hanging fruit has been picked. Time to get to the high stuff.
Tina

T-shirt Yarn

What fun! In the process of cleaning the "studio" I found several bags and a big bin of old t-shirts being saved for t-shirt quilts. I remembered seeing Arlette's tutorial for how to make yarn out of t-shirts. So I started cutting.


Since all of the t-shirts had printed images we wanted to save, I only cut the bottom portion of the shirts into yarn. I used an old June Tailor Short Cut ruler to quickly cut 1" strips. Use Arlette's instructions to make a continuous strip. I've used this technique before to make yarn out of plastic grocery bags.


When you stretch the strip, it rolls onto itself. Julia took a break from homework to pull some yarn for me. She said she could do that all day! Roll into balls and start knitting or crocheting.


I decided a tote bag would be useful, since one can never have too many tote bags! The yarn is not easy to work with, and a blister is forming on my thumb. But it's worth it. I have this great new stash of yarn from something I would have thrown away. Now what to do with the sleeves?


Have a crafty day!
Tina

P.S. Don't you love my grandmother's enamel table I unearthed in the studio?

Post 66

66 is a cool number and the year I was born. I feel like I should be doing something fun for this post, but I got nothin'. A tutorial? A giveaway? Maybe the rain will inspire me. Ha!


In anticipation of Mother's Day, Salary.com did their annual calculation of what a mother's work is worth. The median average is $122, 611! Go here to calculate your own salary. I adjusted the hours I spend on various tasks (more time as chauffer and psychologist, less time cooking and cleaning) and my family owes me $146, 879! That camera is looking like a pretty good deal now, isn't it?

Isn't my mother the cutest thing?

Yesterday was busy and kind of fun. I edited the guild newsletter, but it still needs to be folded and mailed. Janet came over to use the die cut machine and learn how to make a boxed corner. It made her so happy to see those neat corners on her sample.


I started to get stressed out, so I made the 9-patches for the three by three swap. They are not due until May 31, but they were a no-brainer. Bill called it "low hanging fruit." I've never heard that expression before. The dark squares look better in person, but I'm not sure I'll send them.


It will be difficult to stay focused on such a gloomy day, so I'm off to make a list.
Ciao,
Tina

UFO's & 9-patches

I did some straightening and cleaning in my sewing room this weekend. Can I even call it that anymore? I never sew down there. It has really become a storage area. Anyway... I found no fewer than 27 (TWENTY-SEVEN!) unfinished projects! I'm a little overwhelmed.

This cleaning all started because my niece is looking to unload my mother's sewing machine cabinet. With a new baby, a toddler, and new dining room furniture, she doesn't have the space for something she doesn't use. So where will I put it? I can't let it go home with a stranger from a consignment shop.


I tidied up the fabric shelves first. (Yes, I know they should be painted. That might be a summer project for a kid who needs cash.) I restacked, removed old fabrics I'll never use, and moved fat quarters and smaller pieces. Next I'll need to figure out how to store them. I'll read through Bonnie's scrap system again and start cutting. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

I'm so happy that I signed up soon enough to be part of the twiddletails three by three swap. I might have been one of the last ones to get in. There is so much 9-patchy goodness going on! Have you see this tutorial? It's brilliant!! I made these 2 in about 5 minutes. I think when I start chopping up scraps, I'll make a pile of 4.5" squares.


Pete at bat. His team is not off to a good start, but it's early. He's not thrilled with me crocheting during sporting events. He'll get over it.


Julia went to Hershey, PA with the high school band for a music festival on Friday night. They spent Saturday at Hershey Park and on the way home today, they stopped in NYC to see a show. She sent a couple of texts, so I know she's safe and having fun. I can't wait to have her back home, especially because she's bringing chocolate!

Pete's band is done rehearsing, so it's safe for me to return to the basement. Have a great week!
Tina