Celtic Solstice – So my plan was to prep the batting on 4/1 and then schedule time at Baron’s.  As far as I know they still have the Bernina long arm I can rent time on.  I’m not sure when that will happen since the next two weeks I’m busy on Friday and Saturday.  I do not know if I can go in on a Sunday. I know they have classes on Sundays but I’m not sure if that means I can use the long arm on Sundays.  We’ll see.  But, I didn’t get to prep the batting on 4/1 because we went to a friends house Saturday night to help him celebrate his birthday.  Needless to say we got home late and I had to have an easy Sunday.  So at some point this month, I really need to get the batting on this.

Also, it feels like I’m not doing much quilting.  But I do spend a bit of time each week working on something and right now I’m working on this…

Rippidity Doo Dah
Amy Bradley Designs
4/1/2018

Everything is fused down and I’m working on blanket stitching everything. It takes a lot of concentration and I do not have a lot of it at one time. I generally can spend about 30 minutes on it and then I have to stop.  The problem is, if I switch my machine to do something else, I will not put it back to finish this project. So I’m leaving it set up with 40w black Aurifil thread.  I’m hoping this will be done soon so I can move on to the next step.  There is lettering that goes on the top that says Rippidity Doo Dah and I’ll have to blanket stitch that as well.  Then I’m done with the blanket stitch and I plan to make this into a tote.

For my mini-group, we’re planning on making a baby quilt.  We’ve taken one of the Amy Bradley Designs and I’m responsible for a pig.  So I need to rummage through my stash and pull fabric together so I can take it to my mini-group meeting.  We’ll be putting all the fabric side by side to make sure they go well together. I’m pretty sure once I’m done blanket stitching Rippidity Doo Dah, I will be ready to start blanket stitching this pig.

For knitting:

• Kayla’s Weasley Sweater – Finish the mattress stitching and the neck.
• Jacob’s Weasley Sweater – I’m working on the back and I plan to do 20 rows each week. Kayla’s needed about 160 rows but Jacob’s will be bigger so I’ll need to measure it and him when I’m at that point.  With those numbers, it will take about 2-3 months to finish the back.  I’m in no rush. I do want the sweater to be finished by Christmas and I hope it will be.  But if it isn’t it’s not a big deal. I’d rather not stress about these things.
• The April socks in Knitting Expat’s Sock Club.
• Land of Sweets Cowl – continue working on this project.

For cross stitching:

• Mama’s Bukid – Finish row 13 (which I’m very close to finishing) and row 14. Get started on the next page.

• Gamer Nouveau – Just keep stitching! and enjoy it.
• I keep watching flosstube and I may add a project here. I’m being called and as soon as I get a scroll frame to put Gamer on, I may just start something new.

~Happy crafting!

~Melanie

Celtic Solstice – I would relaly like to get this done this month. I mean, finish the backing, prep the batting, and get this quilted.

==> I’m still not done with this project.  Because this is so big I can only work on it during the weekend when I have the time to spread it out.  I have the back done but I still need to prep the batting and quilt it.  There was just too many things going on this month and didn’t have enough free weekends to finish this.  I hope hope hope that I’m able to find a weekend in April.  It might have to be a Sunday in April as the kids and I went through and planned a bunch of activities over the next few Saturdays.  

For knitting:

• Kayla’s Weasley Sweater – Finish the sleeves. I’m not sure how much more I need to do but I can smell the finish. I need to have Kayla try this on and see how much longer I need to go on the sleeves.  I hope that I can get this finished this month. Since I’m a newer sweater knitter I can’t tell whether that is doable or not.
  • I did finish the sleeves and I’m almost done mattress stitching the sides.  One that is done, the next step is to pick up and knit up the neck.  I think this can be finished in April.  On Thursday, I got the yarn for Jacob’s Weasley Sweater and I casted on for that.  

Kayla’s Weasley Sweater
3/31/18

• The March socks in Knitting Expat’s Sock Club.
  • DONE!!!!

Derive Socks
Knitting Expat
Wanderlust Sock Club
March, 2018

• Land of Sweets Cowl – I need to take a picture of this for my next knitting update.  Now that the Martine Hat is finished I moved this project up to the third primary position.  The plan is to work a round every day.
  • I’m a little more than halfway done. I do not always get a round done every day but I am making progress.  

Land of Sweets Cowl
3/17/2018

For cross stitching:

• Mama’s Bukid – Finish row 10 (which I’m very close to finishing), row 11, and row 12.
  • DONE!  I’m actually working on row 13 so I’m progressing quickly on this project. 

Mama’s Bukid
3/31/2018

• Gamer Nouveau – Just keep doing what I’m doing. This is not a priority project so keep doing a bit every day as I feel like it and see where I am at the end of the month.  I do want to get a scroll frame for this project. I outgrew the small plastic hook I had and I’m currently using a small QSnap.   I have a larger QSnap that I will use but once this project outgrows the larger QSnap, I plan to get another scroll frame.  I do want to save some money for this though as I don’t need it right now.
  • At the beginning of March, I bought a scroll and table frame specifically for this project.  But it never came.  I bought it from ABCStitch.com and after 4 weeks of waiting to hear when it would be shipped (I communicated with them and they couldn’t tell me when they would get it and ship it out) I cancelled my order.  I do not have a local needle shop (LNS) but found one about 30 minutes away.  I guess to some that would be local but it’s pretty far from me distance wise and I would have to make sure I went when there was NO traffic because that 30 minutes in traffic would become an hour and a half.  Anyway, I called the shop and made my way there and they are ordering me one.  The ladies were really nice and they will call me next week to let me know the timeframe of when I can expect to have the items.  Because of the holiday (Passover/Easter), their normal distributors were closed.  

~Happy crafting!

~Melanie

I wanted to touch base a bit on my 2018 annual plans. You can find the original post here and if you recall, it was a series of 3-4 posts.  The overarching theme is

1. Use what I have
2. Get rid of the things that I don’t love anymore
3. Only buy things I will use now

I have to remind myself of this because it is often easier to go to my LQS and buy 2 yards that I “need” rather than go to the bottom of my fabric bins.  In fact, I really need to go through my stash for the last 2 yards for the back of Celtic Solstice.  Which leads me to my first quilty project: Celtic Solstice

• Celtic Solstice – I would relaly like to get this done this month. I mean, finish the backing, prep the batting, and get this quilted.

For knitting:

• Kayla’s Weasley Sweater – Finish the sleeves. I’m not sure how much more I need to do but I can smell the finish. I need to have Kayla try this on and see how much longer I need to go on the sleeves.  I hope that I can get this finished this month. Since I’m a newer sweater knitter I can’t tell whether that is doable or not.
• The March socks in Knitting Expat’s Sock Club.
• Land of Sweets Cowl – I need to take a picture of this for my next knitting update.  Now that the Martine Hat is finished I moved one of my projects up to the third primary position.  The plan is to work a round every day.

For cross stitching:

• Mama’s Bukid – Finish row 10 (which I’m very close to finishing), row 11, and row 12.

• Gamer Nouveau – Just keep doing what I’m doing. This is not a priority project so keep doing a bit every day as I feel like it and see where I am at the end of the month.  I do want to get a scroll frame for this project. I outgrew the small plastic hook I had and I’m currently using a small QSnap.   I have a larger QSnap that I will use but once this project outgrows the larger QSnap, I plan to get another scroll frame.  I do want to save some money for this though as I don’t need it right now.

~Happy crafting!

~Melanie

• Mama’s Bukid – Finish Row 8 and 9 of Page 5
  • UPDATE – I finished row 8, row 9 and I’m pretty darn close to row 10. I haven’t taken an updated picture since yesterday so we’ll have to make due with the most recent one I’ve got.

Mama’s Bukid
02/27/2018

and so you can see my progress from the beginning of the month, here’ s a pic of what it looked like then.

Mama’s Bukid
01/31/2018

It’s fun to see the progress on these long term projects.

• Gamer Nouveau – Finish prepping the fabric and start Page 1
  • UPDATE – I’m about halfway through Page 1.  As I’ve said, this is not my primary project. Mama’s Bukid is my primary project but I do try to get one thread stitched on each night. And while I’m not able to do it every night, I’m able to do it most nights.

Gamer Nouveau
2/27/2018

Gamer Nouveau
Prepping the fabric
1/31/2018

• Kayla’s Weasley Sweater – Finish the sleeves. I am planning on doing a RS (right side) and WS (wrong side) on each sleeve a day and spend Thursday night Knit Nights working on it.  I hope that’s enough time to finish up the sleeves in February.
  • UPDATE – I’ve been working on this project but I’m not sure how much longer I need to knit the sleeves. I’m pretty sure I’m not finished yet but I need to have Kayla try it on to see how we are.
• The February socks in Knitting Expat’s Sock Club.
  • UPDATE – I am working on the leg.  My plan is to have the heels done this weekend and that should put me in line with getting these done this month.
  • Update – These were finished in the nick of time on 2/28/18!
• Martine Hat – Finish the hat. I’m currently working on the hat part but I’m almost to the point where I can start the decrease.
  • UPDATE – This is finished!

Martine Hat
2/14/2018

• Celtic Solstice – Finish the back together and quilt this
  • UPDATE – I maybe wanted to do too much for this task.  I was able to get the back almost done at 100″x120″.  I need it to be 120″x120″ so I’m a little short.  But since we’re out of town this weekend and next weekend is QuiltCon I will not be able to work on this again until March 3rd!  So, this is on hold until then.

Celtic Solstice
2/6/2017

Celtic Solstice
The back, not yet finished
Daaaang, that’s big!
2/15/2018

• So I pulled out fabric and tried to get the last 20″ done and I just couldn’t do it.  I didn’t have enough scraps left over and the easiest way to do it would be to get 2 yards, cut it and piece it together.  The problem is that my 1-2 yard stash is at the bottom of my bins and I am in no mood to pull them out and go through them.

• Enjoy QuiltCon!
  • UPDATE! I didn’t buy anything except the QuiltCon bag and a MQG project bag.  I thought I would get some of the accuquilt square dies but they do not have much in terms of specials so I can always get those another time.  I haven’t used the dies I currently have enough to warrant buying more. So no fabric, no purchases other than the bags mentioned previously.  I did look for shirts and things but didn’t really see anything I liked.  I think I really want to use the stuff I have and I’ve bought a lot these first couple months of the year that I’m feeling drained.

~Happy crafting!

~Melanie

Happy Birthday to the hubby!  Yes, his birthday is the day after Love day.

• Mama’s Bukid – Finish Row 8 and 9 of Page 5
  • UPDATE – I finished row 8 and I’m halfway through row 9.

Mama’s Bukid
02/13/2018

• Gamer Nouveau – Finish prepping the fabric and start Page 1
  • UPDATE – I got the part I needed prepped and I started on Page 1.  Since my primary focus is Mama’s Bukid I don’t have any really goals for this project other than to work on it at least weekly.  Because I really want to work on this all the time, I’m not having any problems working on this project.

Gamer Nouveau
2/13/2018

• Kayla’s Weasley Sweater – Finish the sleeves. I am planning on doing a RS (right side) and WS (wrong side) on each sleeve a day and spend Thursday night Knit Nights working on it.  I hope that’s enough time to finish up the sleeves in February.
  • UPDATE – I’m about 1/3rd to half way through both sleeves.  I’m working them both at the same time.  I’m not sure I will be able to get the sleeves done this month because it’s a bit tedious but I’m working a bit every day and as long as I continue to do that, I’m happy for whatever progress I make this month.
• The February socks in Knitting Expat’s Sock Club.
  • UPDATE – I am working on the leg.  My plan is to have the heels done this weekend and that should put me in line with getting these done this month.
• Martine Hat – Finish the hat. I’m currently working on the hat part but I’m almost to the point where I can start the decrease.
  • UPDATE – This is finished!

Martine Hat
2/14/2018

• Celtic Solstice – Finish the back together and quilt this
  • UPDATE – I maybe wanted to do too much for this task.  I was able to get the back almost done at 100″x120″.  I need it to be 120″x120″ so I’m a little short.  But since we’re out of town this weekend and next weekend is QuiltCon I will not be able to work on this again until March 3rd!  So, this is on hold until then.

Celtic Solstice
2/6/2017

Celtic Solstice
The back, not yet finished
Daaaang, that’s big!
2/15/2018

• Enjoy QuiltCon!
  • UPDATE! Of course, my plan is to enjoy QuiltCon! Unfortunately, my Road2CA galpal will be up in Santa Clara enjoying Stitches West. I’m not sure why these two were planned for the same weekend but someone will need to get their act together. Okay, maybe not. Thankfully, QuiltCon is only on this coast every other year so my plan is to attend Stitches West next year when QuiltCon is on the East Coast. I am not planning on buying anything but have got my eye on a few things. Quilter’s paraphernalia (t-shirts, bags, etc) is at the top of the list.  But my budget for QuiltCon is MUCH lower than my budget for Road was.

~Happy crafting!

~Melanie

February is another busy month but I have high hopes:

• Mama’s Bukid – Finish Row 8 and 9 of Page 5

Mama’s Bukid
01/31/2018

• Gamer Nouveau – Finish prepping the fabric and start Page 1

• Kayla’s Weasley Sweater – Finish the sleeves. I am planning on doing a RS and WS on each sleeve a day and spend Thursday night Knit Nights working on it.  I hope that’s enough time to finish up the sleeves in February.

• The February socks in Knitting Expat’s Sock Club.
• Martine Hat – Finish the hat. I’m currently working on the hat part but I’m almost to the point where I can start the decrease.

Martine Hat
1/30/2018

• Celtic Solstice – Finish the back together and quilt this

Celtic Solstice
2/6/2017

• Enjoy QuiltCon!

~Happy crafting!

~Melanie

Here’s an update on where I am on my January goals.  I know I just posted my goals not to long ago but I’m trying to get back into the swing of things so here you go:

• Mama’s Bukid – Finish Row 5 and 6 of Page 5
  • I’m finishing up row 7!
  • I finished the month in the middle of row 8.
• Kayla’s Weasley Sweater – attach the front and back and work on the sleeves
  • done, I’m working on the sleeves.
  • Yes!… I finished the month on the third set of the decreases on the sleeves
• do Resfeder socks
  • I’m working on the foot
  • Finished this pair in January!
• finish Christmas socks
  • done
• Celtic Solstice – put the back together
  • working on this.
  • Finished the month with the back mostly finished!  One more weekend and it should be done!
• Enjoy Road to California
  • yay, this is coming up this weekend!
  • Another great trip to Road.

~Happy crafting!

~Melanie

Here’s an update on where I am on my January goals.  I know I just posted my goals not to long ago but I’m trying to get back into the swing of things so here you go:

• Mama’s Bukid – Finish Row 5 and 6 of Page 5
  • I’m finishing up row 7!
• Kayla’s Weasley Sweater – attach the front and back and work on the sleeves
  • done, I’m working on the sleeves.
• do Resfeder socks
  • I’m working on the foot
• finish Christmas socks
  • done
• Celtic Solstice – put the back together
  • working on this.
• Enjoy Road to California
  • yay, this is coming up this weekend!

~Happy crafting!

~Melanie

We’re almost halfway through January but I wanted to my January goals posted.  I always have these in the back of my mind but it’s always helpful for me to post them so I have a concrete place to look for my monthly goals.

1. Mama’s Bukid – Finish Row 5 and 6 of Page 5
2. Kayla’s Weasley Sweater – attach the front and back and work on the sleeves
3. do Resfeder socks
4. finish Christmas socks
5. Celtic Solstice – put the back together
6. Enjoy Road to California

~Happy crafting!

~Melanie