November NewFO Challenge

It's been a while since I've posted anything for the NewFO Challenge, but I have something this time. I've been working on some gifts this month and actually remembered to take some photos before they were wrapped up for a change!

I've posted similar ones before, but these are new colors and sizes.

First are some crocheted coasters.

 Once again, I used Mary Ylisela's pattern as my starting point, but I do the very centers a bit differently.  This is the first time I've used more than one color & I like them, but burying all the extra ends was a pain!

Next are a few new Happy Bowls.  I really do like to make these!  This one is the largest I've done - I think it's big enough for bread or tortillas.

I had a little bit of the multi-colored, homespun type yarn & decided to add that in & I really like the way it looks.

The bottom stripe is actually crocheted in, but the top one is stitched on because there wasn't enough left to use in crocheting.

 These two are sold and will soon be on their way to Idaho!  Taking the pictures at night, the colors are off - the one on the right actually has a white stripe, not yellow.

 This last one I wanted to use up a couple scraps of the red yarn.

 And, as far as making stuff, that's it for me for now.

But I do have one more picture for you - this is Otis, my friend Brittany's puppy.  He is the sweetest fella!  Sometimes he comes to work with her on the weekend, and since I was working the shift right before hers, I stayed & played with Otis!

 Those feet are about as big as my fists, and you can't tell from this angle, but he's long & low.

I believe he's a Basset Hound mix and he is a very good boy.

I'll be linking up to the 2014 NewFO Challenge at

Cat Patches - check it out for more great things!

sue

July 2014 NewFO goings on

What do you know?  I actually did some things this month - AND remembered to take some pictures too!  Yay me!!

I didn't do any sewing to speak of. 

Maybe a little on my ongoing project for my sister.

But, really, it's been too stinkin' hot in my house for me to sew.  I can't afford to turn on the a/c, and I can't seem to figure out a way to situate a fan to blow on me, but not blow on what I'm sewing on. 

One night it was still over 90F in the house after dark!

I know it was that hot, because when it gets to 90F, the fan on the HVAC automatically comes on.

It was still running after 9pm.

Blech.

That aside, my guild meeting this month was fantastic!

The amazing Katsy Chappell, "Quilting Qomic",

actress, comedienne, "green" crafter, masseuse, Lyft driver and midnight soaper came to speak to us.  She is hilarious!  I would highly recommend her to speak to any group of quilters or crafters (or anyone else for that matter!)

Katsy is just plain FUNNY.

Okay, okay, I am a little bit prejudiced, because I've known Katsy for quite a while.  But she makes me laugh!

(And she works clean too, no worries.)

We also had her do a workshop for us - soap making.

We did cold process soap, using lye, water and 3 different oils - soybean, coconut and olive. 

I used bright orange & red coloring in mine, along with orange scent.  What do you think?

 Here it is, still in the mold

After a saponi-nap in the freezer, out of the mold!

All sliced up

Looks a bit like a dreamcicle, doesn't it?

Still needs to cure for another week before using

I can hardly wait to try it out!!

My other project is a wedding gift.
My good friends, Corbin & Phyllis DeLapp's son Devin
just married his sweetheart Nicole on July 26th.
I know they are both Disney fans...I think the fact that Devin proposed to Nikki at Disney World was a big tell on that!  So I wanted to come up with something Mouse-ish for them.  I decided to paint some coaster & crochet a bowl for the coasters to live in:
The front

I apologize that the first 2 are slightly out of focus.  Night time is not my camera's favorite time.

The back

the bowl

The happy family

In their home

 You may have noticed, there's only 3 coasters & thought that was an odd number to give.
Well, you're right.
There was a tragic wrapping accident the morning of the wedding.  Two of the coaster slipped out of my hands as I was attempting to securely cushion/wrap them for transport.  Unfortunately, one of them hit either the edge of my laptop or the foot of my Dave table, and a big chunk came off.
I did put a note in with them explaining this, and the last one is painted and currently awaiting firing.  Then I will mail it off to them as soon as I can.

Aren't they adorable?

I did start one more new thing this month,
I'm teaching a beginning quilt making class at Auntie's Ceramics in Covina, CA.
I don't have any pictures yet though.
My camera has decided it doesn't like the <cough> inexpensive <cough>  batteries I bought at Big Lots.  They last only 2 or 3 days (ONE day if I use the flash) before they go dead.  I have some new rechargeable ones on the way, so maybe in August.... 


I'm linking up with the 2014 NewFO Challenge at
Cat Patches!


That's it for me!

sue

A Little Quilt plus some Dribs & Drabs

A week or so ago my friend Ashley MacQuarrie posted this picture of her pet hedgehog, Rilo:

with the caption:

Rilo the blanket hog.

My first thought was that Rilo needed a quilt.

So I sat down at my machine & reached into the scrap bag and started sewing.

A little sewing, cutting, pressing & sewing later:

Just need to put some binding on it

and away to Oregon it goes!

Since I seem to be in a bit of a scrap-using mood this month, I did the same with some yarn and made this 'dribs & drabs' happy bowl.  Since I wasn't sure what yarn I would be using, I decided to add some cotton string into this one.  It ended up being very sturdy!

Hmm, maybe Rilo needs a happy bowl too.

What do you think?

I'm linking up with

the 2014 NewFO Challenge at Cat Patches.

Check out what everyone else has been up to this month!

sue

April's Craftiness

 

Yay!  I'm linking up to the Linky Party for the

2013 NewFO Challenge!

 

 

I was just in the mood for some wild Flamingos:

 

 

And I've made some more

Happy Bowls!

 

 

My whole house is going to be filled with these if I don't watch out.

 

In May, I'm hoping to get myself back to work on a quilt for myself.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!

 

You can see lots more NewFOs -

just click on over to Cat Patches.

 

 

 

sue