Free Motion Quilt Along

Christina has a blog she calls, "A Few Scraps".  I just recently discovered it and it's a good read.  She likes to do free motion quilting and she is doing a free motion quilt along.  It just recently started and it looks like she is going to have a very detailed series of tutorials.  I love to FMQ and I'm looking forward to following along and hoping to learn something new.  I put her button over on my sidebar (scroll down a bit), so check it out if it interests you.

A project finished and another one starting

I finished another pair of socks.  This was a sock club project from For Yarn's Sake (my LYS).  The project is called Italian Summer- featuring a pattern and yarn exclusive to the club.  The yarn was hand dyed with Walla Walla onion skins and Calendula flower petals.  Cool!  They're short- so they're nice in this transitional season.  And very comfy.

This pattern is done with an "afterthought heel".  I never tried this before so it was a learning experience. You can knit it top down, or toe up- it doesn't make any difference.  You put the heel in AFTER the rest of the sock is done.

You work the sock like a tube.  Where the heel will go, you knit a row with waste yarn (white- right side of photo).  When you're ready to go back and work the heel, you VERY carefully, remove the waste yarn to expose live stitches, and insert the needles.  Then you work the heel (left side of photo).  It's pretty easy, as long as you don't mind picking up the stitches when you remove the waste yarn.  And you have to kitchner stitch the end of the heel.  I like doing the kitchner stitch, so that was fun for me.

I started a new knitting project, but I'll only work on it when I'm riding in the car.  My main project for the next few months is a wedding quilt for my son and his intended.

I'm (deep breath) making them a king size double wedding ring quilt.  The wedding is in December.  If I fall behind- cheer me on, please!

The wedding colors are white, black and red.  It should be a beautiful winter wedding!  Here's the beginning of my pile of fabrics.  I'm collecting everything black and white and red that I can get my hands on!

Here's the exciting part!!!!!!  Even as we speak.... the men in brown (UPS) are transporting my new Accuquilt GO! to me!  Along with the cutting machine, I will be receiving several die sets- one of which is a double wedding ring!  Yea!  No cutting all those little pieces with templates!  I'll be showing the GO! cutting system to you as I learn to use it..

And I have a little (make that a BIG) surprise for you.  The October giveaway will be...... shhhh.... it's a SURPRISE!

Speaking of giveaways- just a few more days to enter the giveaway for the magnets.  If you haven't entered already, go over to the sidebar and click on the photo of the magnets.

Facebook, Our Anniversary Trip, a Safety Tip, and an Owie

Ahhh.... where to start.....
I haven't blogged in a few weeks.  Well... I did have a few posts in there that I removed.  I've learned a LOT about Facebook lately!  It seems that FB absolutely, positively doesn't want you to register with more than one email address.  I had a personal FB account with my personal email address.  Then I created a FB account for my business with my business email and attached a fan page to it.  Not good.  What I SHOULD have done is to create a fan page that I log onto with my personal email address.  It's then ok to put my business email address and other stuff related to the business on the fan page.  People who "frined" my personal FB page aren't automatically "Fans" of the business and vise verse.  So.... since I messed this up... the logical thing is to delete the page I created for the business, and create another one the correct way- right?  Not so easy.  You can delete an account on FB, but when you log onto FB in any shape or form... even to "like" something.... your account reactivates.  If I even look at the Alderwood Quilts Fan Page, my AQ account that I'm trying to delete reactivates.  The only way to make a page go away for good is to delete it and then to TOTALLY stay away from FB for 2 weeks.  So.... I deleted the business page and fan page (basically, I deleted my identity with the business email address).  When 2 weeks pass, I'll get back on and try to create a business fan page with my personal email address.  Wish me luck!  To all of you who have become fans- hang in there- I'll be posting in a few weeks!

DH and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary last week.  We met in high school (awwww.....) and married 5 years later.  We always like to do something for our anniversary.... just take a little time to set aside the cares of our lives and focus on each other.  Usually it's just a day trip or a night or 2 away.  This year, we went to Washington- around the Seattle area.  That's about a 3-4 hr drive north from our home near Portland, Oregon.  We stayed in Everett, and did some touristy things.  We took one day to explore Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands.  There are a lot of islands just off Seattle and the surrounding areas.  Some belong to Washington and some are Canadian.  Most are easily accessible by ferry.  I'm just a little kid around water, boats and ferries.  I just love ferry rides!

The islands all have their own flavor.  Some are mostly residential, some recreational, and some have a lot of shopping and art.  The US/ Canadian border weaves through the islands and there are 2 ferry lines- one Canadian and one Washington State Ferries.  All of the ferries we've been on over the years gave us great rides and got us to our destination. 

Whidbey Island has it all- residential, recreation, and shopping!  As luck would have it, there was an Art and Craft Fair in one of the little towns while we were there. AND... there was a very cute yarn shop in Langley where I got a beautiful skein of sock yarn (you'll see that when I start a pair of socks with it).  I tried to visit the quilt shop, but got there right after closing time.  Dang!

We drove all the way up Whidbey Island and over a bridge with AMAZING views to Fidalgo Island.  While on Fidalgo, we had lunch at the Rockfish Grill and Anacordes Brewing Company in Anacordes.  They had a great yarn shop, too!  (Like how I always manage to find the yarn and quilt shops?)

Above is a lighthouse park near the ferry at Mukilteo.  We also spent an evening walking the waterfront at Mukilteo (near Everett).  We had a fun dinner at Skuttelbut--- another brewery.  For those of you not familiar with the Pacific Northwest, we are famous for coffee shops, wineries and breweries.  We have beverages covered!

We spent our last day touring the Boeing Airplane Factory.  OHMYGOSH!  It was incredible.  It's the largest enclosed building in North America.  It has to be big to hold a bunch of airplanes!  No pictures.  We couldn't bring handbags, backpacks, fanny packs, cell phones, cameras, or ANYTHING electronic... nothing that could record anything.  All I can say is that, if you are ever in the area, set some time aside to tour Boeing.  There are 2 facilities- one in Everett and one in Seattle, and during most of the year you need to make reservations online in advance.

Now for the safety tip.  If you'll notice, I never tell you about major events or trips until we're home.  It seems to me that posting it on the internet that you are going away for 3 days is like putting a key under the mat and advertising for a burglar on Craig's List.  You always hear in the news about people being robbed while on their honeymoon or when they are at a family funeral.  It's just not safe to say some things on a blog until after they happen.  At the very least- if you are excited and want to post about a trip you are planning, just say it's coming up but don't post the dates.  One time, I read a post where a woman said her dog is good when they leave him alone every day, all day, while they are at work.  Please don't post things like that!  I don't want to read about bad things happening to you!

And last but not least- I have an owie.  That's why I haven't posted in a few days.  I had some minor surgery last week.  I'm fine.  Nothing bad.  I am tired and sore, but I'm feeling better every day.  DH is taking VERY good care of me.  I've been napping and knitting and enjoying visits from my sons and DIL.  Life is good. :-)

August Giveaway

Here's a fun little giveaway for August.  It's a set of 4 magnets in a little tin by That Patchwork Place.  The set retails for $12.95

The winner will be selected using a random number generator on September 1st.  Past winners and international readers are welcome to enter.

To enter- all you have to do is comment on THIS POST that you would like to be entered.  For a second entry, do a second reply, and let me know that you are a follower.  For a third entry, make a third comment letting me know that you have posted about the giveaway on your own blog.

Good luck!

It's all harvested- now to get it all dried!

We finished harvesting the lavender last weekend.  My goal was to get it all in before we turned the page on the calendar to August!  OK... so I turned the page on August 2nd.  It would have been better to get the last of it cut a week earlier but there are only so many hours in a day... and my days never seem to have enough hours.  Our little farm of 300 plants yielded us 1500 bundles this year.  It's the third harvest for most of these plants and we were VERY pleased! 

I wanted to show you how we cut the lavender.  We use sickles, which are half - moon shaped knives.  We grab a bunch with one hand and use a sweeping motion with the sickle to slice it.  Gotta love sickles!

Whatever didn't sell as fresh bundles ended up being dried.  DH hung long chains from the ceiling of the old horse stall in the back of the barn.  We secure the bundles with rubber bands when we harvest.  Then we twist paper clips open (so they look like an "S") and hook one end of the paper clip into the rubber band and one end into a chain link.  They hang upside down and we hook them in a spiral fashion to give them maximum air flow.  Each chain can hold about 50 bundles.  We also have fans going in there.  It's very humid with all of that fresh cut lavender.  People often say how wonderful it must smell!  Honestly- I can hardly smell it any more.  My nose has been bombarded with lavender for so long that I can't smell the lavender.  I smell other things just fine.... just not lavender.

Even though I can't smell the lavender, when we take the buds off, there is quite a bit of "dust" kicked up.  I start sneezing and get a runny nose.  I'm not allergic to it... it's just a matter of all that particulate matter in the air.  So this part is best done outside.  We pull the dried lavender off the chains.  The trays they are in have screen bottoms for air flow, and to sift out the very fine particles.  This photo is showing about a  hundred bundles.

DH sets up the canopy and a few tables for me and I just enjoy being outside while I play with my purple bounty.

To claim just the buds, I rub the dried bundles between my hands.  They just fall off!  Then we sift them twice and bag em' up to sell on the website.  We use them for lavender dryer bags, sachets, sell to people for wedding toss and bulk for crafting.  There ARE commercial machines that shake the buds off and sift them, but our operation isn't large enough to justify that expense.  As long as we keep the farm to this size, the old fashioned hands- on method is just fine.  I do have some local friends who like to come play with me for a day here an there and it makes the work go faster.

I have the buds off of most of the dried bundles- about 300 bundles still hanging to dry.  It's been a very good harvest and very rewarding to see so many nice quality buds for our efforts.

Tips about Fusible Web

I was chatting online with a customer today about fusible web and it dawned on me that I have some of that same conversation with others.... so I thought I'd share some info with you.  Some of you most likely know more than I do about this, so if you're one of them- sorry this will be boring.  But many people are new to fusible applique and I want to cover a few basics.  (This is JUST the basics)

Fusible applique in a nutshell:  You take fusible web, which is paper on one side and some sort of sticky stuff on the other side.   There are a lot of different brands with a lot of different properties, but the idea is to trace or draw a design on the paper.... then fuse (iron) it onto the back of the fabric.  Then cut out the shape you drew on the paper... you'll be cutting paper and fabric together because they are stuck together now.  When you peel the paper off, your fabric is now an iron-on applique.

If you're doing a complicated design, you will do well to use an applique pressing sheet.  You can see through it, so you can put the large pattern "map" down under it, and place the pieces on top where they belong.  Press lightly, and they will stick to each other, but not to the pressing sheet because it's non-stick.

There are lots of great little irons and pressing tools, but you can use whatever you want.  If you're doing a lot of this stuff, invest in a little iron.  If you just want to try it- you can use your regular iron.

Here's my big tip.... fusible web has a lifetime.  It gets old.  DON'T buy a bunch of it!  It isn't fabric and you can't stash it.  Get what you need for your project and use it.  Don't get it yet if you aren't sure when you're going to get around to the project.  Share with friends.  Have you ever had old fusible web separate from the paper before you ever get the chance to get it near an iron?  That's what I'm talkin' about!  When it's older, the layers separate.  I am not going to endorse a brand of fusible web because it's a personal choice, AND it depends on the season and where you live.  Some work better in humid areas and some better in dry climates.  Some are better in cold and some in warm climates.  I'm not kidding.  And everybody swears by her own favorite.  What to do?  If possible, as a friend who has some for her scraps.  Or try to find it by the yard and just buy 1/8 yard of all of the brands and play.

And the best advice I can give you is to READ THE DIRECTIONS!  If they say 10 seconds... 30 seconds isn't better.  Heat n' bond, for instance, will stick very well after a certain amount of time (as per the directions), and then if you overheat it, it will let go and you can't get it to stick again.  Some are pressure sensitive, some heat activated, and I swear there is probably one that tells you to hop on one foot an rub your belly to make it stick!  Kidding aside- no matter how many times you've done this, and you think you know what you're doing.... still read and FOLLOW the manufacturer's directions.

Lessons here?  Read the directions and use fresh stuff.

Is anybody interested in a tutorial on fusible applique?  Are there any other quilting techniques you'd like to see here?  Tell me what you'd like to learn about.

Getting Things Done

I'm sure that every one of you has a list longer than the days of the year of things they want to complete.  I have sooooo many things I want to do!!!  I look at it this way.  I have many projects that I am "considering".  I select them one at a time--- from a long list of projects that look interesting to me.  It really is OK if I see something I like and I think I want to make it.... and then I never select it from among the many projects that have caught my eye.  Lately, I've donated a few of those to people who are making quilts and knitting blankets for others in need.

I am primarily a quilter, but lately I have been knitting a lot. That is due to available time.  I've been harvesting lavender and working on rearranging my quilt area during time I would generally use to quilt--- and using "found time" such as riding in the car, to knit.  That's OK for now, and soon you will see that I am doing more quilting than gardening and knitting.  It's all about what fits into my life that week.

The important thing is to do SOMETHING, and do be mostly productive most days.  I don't think there's anything wrong with having a few days where we don't feel productive, as long as we have fun or relax during those times.

A blog buddy of mine, Sue Abrey from the UK has a great idea on her blog.  She is suggesting that we take one day a month to work on Christmas projects.  I'm really not backed up on Christmas projects, but I AM backed up on some other things!  The concept is a good one.  I added her button to my sidebar.  If you'd like to join her and others in the fun making projects for Christmas- check out her blog.  She's a really nice lady.  :-)

As for me... I've stopped promising things on the blog because I feel terrible when I don't get them done in a timely manner.  I still haven't finished my "Dozen Bags" project (I will eventually) and I had hoped to put a BOM on here (still want to).  Right now- I am working on a wedding quilt for each of my daughters-in-law, and a few projects for people who have asked me to do things.  I know all too well that the way to get things done is to plan to do them- to make an appointment with yourself and keep the appointment!

So here's to getting things done.  My DH always says that the way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.  Elephant Stew... yum

Elephant Stew

1 Elephant (medium size)
2 rabbits (optional)
A lot of salt and pepper
A Lot of gravy

Cut the elephant into bite-sized pieces.  This should take about a week.  Add enough brown gravy to cover.  Cook over hot coals for about 4 weeks.  This will serve 3,800 people.  If more are expected, 2 rabbits may be added, but only do this if necessary because some people do not like to find a hare in their stew.

Fear of Socks

I've had so many comments and emails in the last few days about socks.  They really aren't all that scary.... REALLY!  Let's chat a little about it and see if we can give a few of you some courage.

I wouldn't suggest making socks your first knitting project.  Not that socks are basically harder than anything else- but they take a little more time and I think instant (or at least quick) gratification is in order for new knitter.  If you're just starting- make a scarf and go from there.

Assuming that you know the basics of knitting and your comfortable with needles and smaller yarn....

These days, there are basically 3 methods to knit socks.  You can use DPN's... double pointed needles... 5 short sticks with a point at each end.  You can use the magic loop method... one long (36 inch) circular needle which is a long cable with a knitting needle point at each end.  Or you can use 2 Circs (24 inch) which means you use 2 circular needles to make one sock.  You can watch people do all of these methods on You Tube.

Needles are plastic, metal, or wood.  Skip the plastic ones.  Metal are faster, but stitches can slip off.  Wood needles hold the work better and slow you down a bit.  Wood and metal are both good- depends on the project.  I like wood DPN's or metal circs.

All 3 methods are good and it's TOTALLY a personal choice- no matter what anyone says.  People like their own method but IMHO, people tend to say that the "best" method is the one they have the most experience with.

Some people make 2 socks at a time (2aat) but I suggest one at a time for your first pair.  It's the instant gratification thing again.

Any sock pattern can be converted to one of the other methods once you have made a few pairs of socks.  For your first sock, pick a plain sock with no fancy design.  Get the needles the pattern calls for (or if you have the needles, find a simple pattern written for that kind of needle).  Sock yarn is generally $10 - $30 per pair.  Your choice.  If you get the kind that is in a hank (not wound) ask the yarn shop to wind it for you.  Most sock patterns call for about 100 g for a pair.

Cat Bordhi is one of my favorite sock divas.  There are lots of other designers out there... she is just one of the greats.  I started with Cat's book, "Socks Soar on 2 Circular Needles".  I made the first pattern in the book--- Simple Sock.  The good thing about Cat is that she has lots of videos on You Tube.

A GREAT way to start is to go into your local yarn shop (LYS) and ask when they have "sit and knit" times so you can work there and ask for help if you get stuck.  Most LYS have beginner sock classes, too.  If they aren't helpful- find another yarn shop.

OK.... here's the encouragement part.

This life sized motorcycle and rider are made of Lego's.  It's at the Mall of America in Minneapolis.  When my son was little, he LOVED Lego's.  In fact, he STILL loves Lego's.  He would ask for a big set-- like the space shuttle with a bazillion pieces and then when he got it, he said it was too hard.  I would sit with him and say... OK.... look at the first step.  Can you put the skinny white piece with 12 bumps on it on top of the fat red piece with 24 bumps on it?  Sure Mom.  Ok... then do it.  Now... can you do step 2?  Can you put another white piece on top of the red piece?  Sure Mom.  Ok... then do it.

You see where we're going with this.  You eat the elephant one bite at a time.  Socks are the same way.  They take longer than a scarf and there are more steps.  But none of the steps are too hard to handle.  And if something goes wrong-- you just rip it out!  It's just yarn!  And if you think you wasted time when you make a mistake-- it's called "learning".  Babies fall down when they're learning to walk but we don't think that's a waste of their time.  They're learning.  Sometimes ya' just gotta fall down to learn.  It's a hobby.  You don't have to be perfect.  Think of it as a game and you have to play around with it to get it right.  And when you DO get it right.... it feels SOOOOOOO good!

Whether you want to try socks, or make your first quilt, or learn to play the piano.  If you want to do it--- then give it a try!  Now here's the important thing to put in the back of your mind..... IT'S OK if you don't like it!  It's really ok to say, "I made one pair of socks and I'll never make another".  You had the experience and now you can try something else.  Or you might find that you're hooked and can't stop making socks.

So... that's my little pep talk.  Try something new in August!

More Socks

One thing I can always do- no matter how busy I am... is knit.  We live out in the country and just about everywhere we go is at least a 20 minute drive each way.  Most places are farther away.  DH likes to drive, so I knit.  It's amazing how much knitting you can do that way.  I ALWAYS have my knitting right by the door and I grab it when we head to the car.  Even if it's a short ride and I only do 2 or 3 rows, it all adds up.  We watch a movie 2 or 3 nights a week (gotta love NetFlix).  So-- between car rides and 2 movies a week, I end up with about a pair of socks a month.  I don't like needle and thread stuff in the car- so no quilting.... just knitting.

These 2 pairs of socks have been finished for a while.  My LYS  (local yarn shop) is called For Yarn's Sake.  LYS is a little misleading because it's 30 minutes from here... but that's how I get knitting done, isn't it?  They have a sock club and these are 2 of the club kits for 2010.  They are doing 4 kits per year.  I missed the first one, have 2 done, and I'm working on number 4 now.

This one is called Shells n' Waves.  It's a fun, quick knit and the yarn is nice and soft.  It's self striping yarn- the colors changed that way magically.

I never wear socks in warm weather.  I like sandals or bare feet.  But when the weather gets cooler, I'll sport these with jeans and a pink top.

These are called "Rings".  The cool thing about this pattern is that the back pattern goes all the way down the heel.......

... and the front of the foot carries the pattern all the way to the tootsies!

I've made 7 pairs of socks so far this year (one per month) and I think these are my favorites.  I like the way they look, but I mostly like the way they feel when I am wearing them. I love the  yarn.  All the the sock club kits consist of an exclusive (new) pattern and yarn that is hand dyed by a local artisan in a colorway exclusive to the club.  So far- the patterns AND the yarns are great- I can't wait to show you sock number 4.  I just cast on a few days ago.

No-Reply Bloggers

I just saw a link to this great tutorial (thanks, Robin) and wanted to share it with you.  It has nothing to do with lavender- I just wanted you to see what 20 bundles of lavender looks like.  :-)

I try (TRY) to reply to everyone who comments.  I've been bad this month, but I generally try.  I'm always so sad when I hit the reply button in my email and the address shows up as "noreply-blogger".  I've always thought that people wanted their privacy and I respected that and left it go.  But I've learned over time that many of the no-reply bloggers don't realize that they have their accounts set that way.

IF you AREN'T trying to fly under the radar and want to be sure you can receive replies (or if you're wondering why nobody every sends you replies)..... check out this tutorial on how to get your account set so that others can communicate with you.

Privacy is good, and I'm really glad we all have options to set our accounts the way we choose.

Just FYI--- if you haven't gotten replies from me lately, it's probably because I'm lavender-logged.  Want to test if you can get replies?  Comment on THIS post and I PROMISE to reply within 24 hrs.  No reply from me?  Check your settings.

Tutorial.... thanks to Sweet Simplicity

Shrimp Cocktail Sauce

Does everybody know this tip?  Mix a little horseradish with ketchup or tomato sauce to make shrimp cocktail sauce.  My DH can't tell the difference between this and a purchased jar of shrimp cocktail sauce.

Start with ketchup and add the horseradish just a little bit at a time until it tastes the way you like it.

Ramen Cabbage Salad

This is one of our family favorites.  It's a slaw made with cabbage and uncooked Ramen noodles.

The recipe is made up of 3 parts.... the veggies, the crunchy stuff, and the dressing.  You keep the 3 parts separate until it's time to serve.  The proportions are very forgiving.  You can adjust them to taste.  For that reason, I list a "range" of quantities for a lot of the ingredients.

Veggies:
1/2 medium head cabbage, shredded.... or a 10 oz bag of slaw mix (not the kind with the red cabbage in it).  If you have a small head of cabbage- just shred the whole thing.

2-3 chopped green onions (scallions).  Use the whole thing- white and green part

1- 1 1/2 cups frozen peas.  Use 2 cup if you like peas a lot.  Just run some water over them to thaw them- don't cook them.  Make sure they're drained.  When I had fresh peas from the garden, I used them raw.  Not everyone would enjoy this, but I love raw peas.

Crunchy Stuff
1/8 - 1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 - 1/3 cup slivered almonds
1/4 - 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1 pkg Top Ramen, chicken flavor.   Crunch up the noodles with your hands BEFORE you open the package.  When you open it, set aside the chicken flavoring.

Melt about 2 tbsp butter (or part butter and part olive oil) in a pan.  Saute the 4 crunchy ingredients until lightly toasted.  Be careful- they can burn quickly.  Set aside to cool.

Dressing:
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon pepper
chicken seasoning packet from Top Ramen
scant 1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup vinegar

Mix together and chill until ready to assemble

Cabbage, peas and scallions.  Quantities of each don't really matter- just have about 1/2 -1 head cabbage plus some peas and scallions.

Crunchy stuff... saute until browned but be careful not to burn it.

Dressing.  One of my favorite things in the kitchen is this old Tupperware shaker container.  I use it for everything from shaking drinks to making gravy and dressings.

Right before serving, toss the cabbage mixture and the crunchy mixture.  Add about 3/4 of the dressing, toss, and you decide if you want to add the rest.  Depending on how much cabbage and other stuff you put in, the whole amount of dressing may be too much.  Better to start with less and add if you want.

Also- if you're cutting back on salt, you could cut back a bit in the dressing.  There's salt in the Ramen chicken seasoning packet.

Leftovers are GREAT, but taste a little different.  The Ramen noodles absorb the dressing and get soft.  It really does taste good the next day, but there's no crunch.  It's just different.

Every time I make this, I'm asked for the recipe.  Give it a try!

Leaf Garden Socks

No- I didn't just make these.  I've been much too busy harvesting lavender and shipping fabric and lavender.  I just thought I'd throw in a little something other than lavender for a change.  I finished these socks last month. 

The pattern is called Leaf Garden Socks.  The designer is Wendy Gaal of Knitters Brewing Company.  Wendy dyes all the yarn she sells on her website and it's really a treat to knit with.  The yarn color is "dirty martini".  A lady in my LYS said they looked like cute little turtles.  :-)

The pattern was free with the yarn purchase. 

This was the first time I did a lace sock.  The first sock was a bit challenging, but when I got the hang of it and a good system for keeping track of what row I was on, I zipped along.  I should mention that I ripped out a bunch before I got to the zipping along part.  I might make this pattern again sometime with a solid color yarn to show the pattern a little better.

I'm not wishing the summer away, but it will be fun to wear these when the weather starts to cool off. 

By the way- if you're on Ravelry, my name is suehauser on there.

Are any of you sock knitters?

Taylor's Outback is the WINNER!

The winner of the fresh bundle of lavender (drawn at random) is the author of a wonderful blog called the Journal of Taylor's Outback.  I don't have an email for you...I hope you read this and can respond soon so I can get a fresh bundle on it's way early in the week. Send me an email with your name and mailing address.  CONGRATS!

I'll have a new giveaway posted in August.  This one had to end quickly because the harvest is coming to an end.

July Giveaway

What a busy month!  I keep cutting and cutting but the lavender field still looks full!  We've been vending at some local farmers markets and having lots of fun.  The shoppers walk buy and you can see their faces when they first get a whiff of our stall!  They look around to see where the scent is coming from, and you can see their faces brighten when they say, "Lavender".

We'll be shipping fresh bundles for about 2 more weeks.  When the bundles are past their prime for shipping fresh, they will all go into the drying room in the barn.  When they're dry, we'll strip the buds and have plenty of bulk dried buds for the coming year.  If you'd like a fresh bundle, don't delay!  Click here to see our lavender products.

One lucky reader won't have to order a bundle--- they'll win one!  This will be a short giveaway- just about a week to enter.  I'll draw the winner on Friday, July 23rd.  The winner, chosen at random, will receive a fresh bundle of lavender (as shown above) via priority mail.  I generally open my giveaways to international readers, but the lavender can only be shipped domestically.  So... for this giveaway.... entrants have to have a U.S. mailing address.  If you don't live in the U.S. but have a friend in the U.S. you would like to give it to if you win, then feel free to enter.

For one entry, reply to THIS post and just let me know you want a chance to win.
For a second entry, be a follower of my blog (already a follower or sign up as a new follower).
For a third entry, of you have your own blog, let your readers know about my giveaway.

It's that easy!  Good luck!

Scarves

I've been super busy lately, but I always get in some knitting time in the car.  When my DH had his table saw accident, there were a few months that he couldn't drive.  I was happy to do the driving, but I must admit that I missed my knitting time.  He's driving again, and I'm knitting again!

I made 2 drop stitch scarves.  This is a really easy stitch that is simple to memorize and great for knitting in the car.  To do a drop stitch, you wrap the yarn around the needle between knit stitches.  On the next row, you drop the wraps.  For this pattern, the wraps range from one wrap, to two wraps, then 3 wraps, then back to 2 wraps and then one wrap.  In between the wrap and drop rows, you do a few knit rows and it creates the wavy pattern.

I LOVE this yarn!  It's Merisoft Hand Painted merino by Punta Yarns color HP71.  The picture doesn't do it justice.

Same pattern in Glenisla Print.  I misplaced the wrapper with the color.

The pattern is a free download on Ravelry.  It's called Drop Stitch Scarf by Christine Vogel.  I've talked about Ravelry a lot.  If you knit or crochet, you HAVE to check out Ravelry!!!

We're harvesting the lavender!

FINALLY!  We started harvesting over the weekend.  We cut about 75 bundles yesterday.  I did my first farmers market of the year last night and I have a few each week now for the remainder of the month. 

We ship fresh bundles.... on their way to you within hours of harvesting.  You get a generous bundle of fragrant long stemmed Grosso lavender wrapped in pretty paper with a ribbon.   I can put two bundles in a mailing tube, so there is a discount for buying 2 bundles.   Click here to be directed to my website to view the lavender products.  We can only ship the fresh lavender to US customers.  I'll have a separate lavender website eventually, for for now, I sell the lavender through Alderwood Quilts.

That's all for now.... it's back out to the field with me!

The winner is....... drumroll please........

The winner of the autographed copy of The Quilt Life magazine is Gale, Ky Quilter.  Gale is a fan of Alex and Ricky and I'm sure she will give the magazine a good home.

This was a REALLY popular giveaway!  Lots of people entered.  I WISH, I WISH, I WISH I had a hundred copies to give you all!  When I first started doing monthly giveaways, I had only a handfull of entries and I wrote the names on pieces of paper and picked them out of a bowl.  I now have to use a random number generator because there are so many.

I'm also having trouble getting to sending you all a reply.  I honestly try to send everyone a personal reply to comments but I have gotten so terribly far behind, I'm going to just start from current time and try to do better this month.  If you commented on a post in June and I didn't reply- I DID read it and I thank you very much for taking the time to comment.

Why am I so busy?  Lavender, of course!  I'll be posting about it and I'll give you information on purchasing a bundle if you're interested.  And..... gee..... I think we should do a lavender giveaway in July.... don't you?  No, no.... don't reply to this post to enter.  Wait for the next post about the lavender.

Congrats, Gale!  I'll send you an email.  You lucky, lucky, lucky girl!!!!!

New Look!

You're not in the wrong place!  I'm playing with the blog a bit... just messing with background and colors.  What do you think?  I want a little more color--- I'll keep playing.

Busy in the field!

My goodness!  What a slacker I've been about blogging!  I have a good excuse though.  Have you ever weeded around 300 lavender plants?  Yes... I have weed cloth out there.  But the little buggers still grow right at the base of the plants.  I don't know how I could keep up with it without the landscape fabric (weed cloth).  It's important that there are no weeds in the bundles when I harvest so I'm going through and cleaning things up one last time before they show their little purple faces.  :-)

Here's how the field looked yesterday.  I have 2 main varieties- half Grosso and half Gros Bleu.  The Grosso is a little earlier than the Gros Blue and it's looking a little bigger right now.  These photos are of the Grosso.
 

Compare this to the field a month ago!  (below)

Here are a few more from this weekend:

The spikes are shooting up and the buds are setting- but nothing is open yet. This is the first time the plants have actually touched. 

I asked DH to stand in back so you could get a perspective on the size.  That's his muddy knee in the back to the left.

The field is almost 3 years old.  This is our third harvest.  We planted 300 little 4-inch plants in the fall of 2007.  I expect to harvest somewhere in the neighborhood of 1200 bundles next month.  I now know the meaning of the phrase, "Be careful what you ask for.... you might get it!"

If you're interested in reading more lavender posts, look over to the right for the list of labels (topics) and click on Lavender.  That will take you to the posts I wrote about lavender last July.

Keep watching- I'll be posting updated photos.

Carrie Nelson's Schnibbles

 

 Carrie Nelson is another great designer I met at Quilt Market. She is the creative woman behind the very popular Schnibbles patterns.  Above is a photo of Carrie autographing a copy of her new book to me.  She's a delightful lady and it was a pleasure to chat with her later in her booth.

 

Let's see how well I can do at describing what "Schnibbles" are.

"Schnibbles" are "little bits".  Carrie explained to me that they are little pieces.... little leftovers or little samplings.  Her Schnibbles patters are to make little quilts.  Most of these gems measure about 30 inches square.  They are not to be confused with miniature quilts.  They aren't miniatures with the teensie weensie seams and tiny blocks.  The blocks aren't big, but they're "normal" small blocks.  There's just aren't very many of them.  

Her new book, "Schnibbles Times Two", features a small Schnibbles and a little bit "less small" quilt.  She gives instructions for quilts that are about 30 inches square and then the same quilt measuring about 70 inches square (give or take).

I've had requests from several friends and customers to carry Schnibbles patterns and kits, and even a few requests for a "Schnibbles of the month" kit.  Waddaya think?  Carrie says you can make a 30 inch top in about a day.  There's a pretty darned good chance that you're going to see them on my website soon.  I'm trying to decide if I should just carry the book and patterns or if you would like kits.  I'd love to hear your feedback.

I'm thinking that a new little quilt would look great on my dining room table- instead of the traditional table runner- a new one each month.  I don't know where I would hang all these little quilts, but I could have one dedicated spot for them and rotate them- hanging different ones when the mood strikes.  Have any of you made any Schnibbles, and how do you display them?

As if I needed another reason to like Carrie, her helper is a Golden Retriever named, Rosie.  (see below).  This old girl has seen a lot of quilts in her day!  What a lucky furry friend to have Carrie for a mom.  We're a family of pet-lovers.  If you'd like to see a picture of my Golden or of all my grandpuppies and grandkitties, I have them all in my gallery. Speaking of the gallery- I'm pathetically behind on adding photos to it.  So many thoughtful customers have sent me photos of their quilts and I have been delinquent in getting them loaded onto the gallery.  That's on my short list of things to do.... I'll let you know when I get it updated.