Blogger's Quilt Festival Fall 2010

I have blogged about this quilt before, but because it is my most favorite quilt, I just had to enter it into the Bloggers's Quilt Festival Fall 2010. It is so big, that it graces our king sized bed. I get to look at it, and sleep under it, every day. I truly love this quilt, and the beautiful batik colors in it. It is a pattern called Picture This from the Happy Hour book by Terry Atkinson.

I decided to actually take a class in order to do this quilt. I'd done some quilts before, but I had never taken a class, and I liked the idea of being in a class setting, to serve as motivation to "get 'er done." It was definitely worth it; I finished the blocks in the class. It just took me awhile to actually assemble them, and get them bordered. :)

This quilt is incredibly hard to photograph, in order to showcase its real beauty. I can say that, because it is the fabrics, and not my extraordinary quilting skills, which make this so beautiful! :) I think that, had I gone with the smaller version of this block, it might have photographed better. But it is still lovely to view in person, regardless.

This was one of the quilts that I rented time on a long arm machine to quilt.

It is done in a meandering free motion design.

I entered my second most favorite quilt, which was new at the time, and an original pattern, into the Blogger's Quilt Festival Spring 2010. But this red and brown batik quilt, even at that time, was probably still my favorite. So, of course, I had to show it here!

Make sure you go and visit all of the other really beautiful quilts; click the button to be directed to them:

One last photo.

Sock progress: Heel

I finished the heel turn. Next, the gusset. I'd hoped to finish more this past weekend, but a painful wrist cut down on the time I was able to spend knitting. Ah, well; onward.

Socktoberfest 2010

I don't think I told you about this...

I decided to participate in Socktoberfest this year. The goal of this month-long activity is to knit socks, as the name implies. So, since I have been knitting the same pair of socks for longer than I care to mention, I have decided that this will be the month that I finish these socks. (I have SSS--Second Sock Syndrome; I finished the first sock eons ago.) I will use time that I am in the car, either as a passenger (we have a road trip this coming weekend), or while I am waiting for my children during their lessons.

I'd show you a picture of my progress, but someone in my house has taken the card out of my camera.

Please; don't ask.


Don't. Even. Go. There.


Update:

I was just handed a card (not mine) that fits my camera. Again, don't ask.

So, here are some pictures:

I started them so long ago, I have to find the yarn tag details. AH; here it is! This is Lornas Laces Shepherd Sock Print Sassy Stripe 502 Yarn. If you know anything about knitted sock construction, you can see that I am knitting these socks on two circular needles from the toe up.

I am using the book More Sensational Knitted Socks, which I absolutely love, because it has so many options--knitting top down or toe up, knitting on 3 double pointed needles (DPNs), 4 DPNs, or two circs. Your yarn and foot size determine the number of stitches--you do not have to try to figure out how to alter a pre-determined pattern to suit your personal needs. Trust me; if I can use this book successfully, anyone can.

Here's the first sock, above.

Here's the second sock in progress. I've done the toe, instep, sole, and heel flap. I just need to turn the heel, do the gusset, then the leg and the cuff, and I'm done. Not much more to go. I even bought clear jelly boots for the occasion a couple of years back, just to show these puppies off.

I WILL finish these this month.

Totin' in style!

Aren't these just the cutest little totes ever?!!

My bloggy friend sent us these two totes. She calls them sandwich bags, but they are the most creative, most roomy sandwich bags I've ever had! Look at the detailed heart stitching up there, on the handles!

And here's a shot of the inside. Donut fabric! {swoon} My girls immediately claimed them and quickly whisked them off to parts unknown. I had to gather them up again to take these photos.

Thanks SEW much, A.