4 Patch

New crafties

2011-11-07T12:56:00.004-05:00

I'm also playing with dividers. : )

I made this a while back, about the time mom was passing:

The spirals coincide with my whole life spinning out of control. As did the back:

Now, it's nearly all bound in bright red, and I'll post when it's finished!

I had this stored in a bag over most of the summer, and now there's a spot of what looks like mold (WTF!?!) on the blue part of the quilt. How can I get that off? Or should I just throw a patch over it? I just started working on this again. I don't have a functional frame right now, so I drape it over a chair and sew that way. I don't like to have it on my lap.

This is the new guy, all hand stitched, and it will be hand quilted for my BIL for Christmas. Like he deserves it. Hah. But I know he'll love it. I love working on this one and I can't wait to get to the quilting stage!
Also, I wish that bush would stay red all year.

I want my mom.

2011-10-21T23:28:00.005-04:00

The perfect mama, and mimi.

This pic below was taken about a month before she was diagnosed with stage IV renal cell cancer. She'd been sick for about six months, but she'd always had illnesses off and on. She was in and out of the ER trying to figure out just why she was sick this time around. So, a particular ER doc decided to do some scans of her tummy. They admitted her for fluids and probably the flu.
You have renal cell cancer, stage four. If you're lucky, you'll have 6 months to a year. You need to get your affairs in order. We can give you palliative treatment. We need to check the path to be sure it's RCC and not ovarian, then we'll start sutent and radiation.

So many tears were shed. We were scared- Mom, Jen, Mike, Jimmy (BIL), the kids, her best friend, G.
"You'll make it, mom. You've beaten some hard shit in your life. This is just one more thing."
She'd agree, and repeat it in her own words.
She said, let's treat this, I'm not giving up.
The radiation on her head and hip worked. The cancer shrunk.

.....

August, the end of the month, ma got more scans. She was about 4 weeks into sutent, and she was in the hospital due to weakness, illness, and a GI bleed. The oncologist came in and told mom (alone, and just before leaving for a 4 day weekend!) that the treatment now isn't working, and that the cancer grew 20% on the sutent.
"You now have 3 months, if you're lucky. My advice is to stop treatment and get the most you can out of these last weeks."

She called me while I was on my way to get Nicky from school, and she said, crying, "You need to come back right now, pick up your sister." Once we got there, she told us. I was a bitch to her doctor, I am told. We decided to get back to Augusta, where she'd had radiation, and get a second opinion. They agreed that the prognosis wasn't good, but they were willing to try. So she started torisel... it didn't work at all. She was only on it for two weeks.

During this treatment, in late September, early October, she started sleeping most of the time. It hurt to move, and she couldn't stand without help. She couldn't walk. She stopped eating, and she barely drank.

And then, a 2 a.m. call from my sister, who lived with her. Please come over asap and bring mom to the hospital, she's not very responsive, but she was okay a few hours ago. She keeps saying she has to pee but she isn't peeing. I think she's just weakened with the flu again. I got there, mom couldn't understand or get up. We called an ambulance- the first time in my mother's life, or ours, that we called an ambulance.

I met them at the hospital. I stayed till 5:30 or 6 am and then I had to sleep, and get Tony off to school while Mike drove Nicky an hour to his school. This was on October 12th, my nephew's 9th birthday and the 13th anniversary of my father's death.

For the next three days, I was visiting mom in the hospital for about five + hours a day, even though she slept most of the time. On the 13th, I had a five minute conversation with her... I broke down, and that caused her mama alarm to go off and take care of me. After five minutes, she got goofy from the meds and laughed herself to sleep.

On the 14th, I took my nephew up to see her. She had see-saw breathing, as she had the other day, but it was more pronounced and slightly rapid. She was moved from SCU to med surg earlier that evening. They said she was stable, but looking back, I think they sent her there to die. She wasn't responsive to verbal at all at this point, but she certainly was to the great pain she was in... in her back and in her hips. Oh, mom...

I spoke to her nurse that evening, who had been through this with her own mother a year and a half before, and I decided to tell mom it was okay to do what she wanted to do- it's her life, and it's her body. I'll take care of Jen, I'll take care of everything. Please, just always be with us. I love you. Then I reminisced with her about our traveling a few years back. We left. I found out later that she'd decided to let go a month ago. She told her best friend. She realized it was over then.

7:30 am the next day: Jen calls, mom has some respiratory difficulty. Be ready, I'm picking you up. Okay. We get there. She's basically in resp. arrest! Her see- saw breathing was unreal; very rapid and exaggerated. She had an O2 mask and she was still barely getting any sat. She was unresponsive. She was spraying fluid on her mask with each breath and her breathing sounded like someone blowing air into a milkshake. I will never drink one again. We decided to DNR. She was kept on O2 and we cranked up the morphine. Two of her brothers and some long lost (and gratefully found!) cousins got to say goodbye briefly. Jen and I put on NCIS (her favorite!) and we watched it with her while she passed. We saw her take her last breaths... the woman who had given us our own breaths.

I love you, mama.

Somewhat back!

2011-09-30T16:24:00.003-04:00

I've been camera- less and my blackberry phone camera sucks on toast!
This quilt below is one that I made entirely by hand, no machine. No plan. I had a lot of fun with it, and I have found a real love for half square triangles... is that what they're called? I am hand quilting this, too... almost like a comforter, similar to one of Tony's store- bought quilts, with the lines about 3" apart, and horizontal- ish. I don't have a functional quilting frame right now, although I do have a broken hoop- floor frame I drape it over sometimes, and the gals at the quilting shop gave me (yes, GAVE ME!!!) a frame that I can't figure out how to use. It may be missing a part, or I may be really damn dumb.

I also love pinwheels. :)

And I had to add Halloween to the quilt, since Tony loves all the holidays so much. The flying geese, I don't know what came over me. But I do love orange and blue together. The binding is way too narrow for my tastes, but that's how I pictured the quilt, so that's what I'm doing.

I do love this quilt, and I LOVE the postage stamp groups I have in the quilt... but I am so ready to move on. I am going to make my BIL a quilt for Christmas, my sister thinks I should involve lobster somehow. (He's a lobsterman.) He works on an island and he stays there about 50% of the time, so this would be his quilt for the island. It's going to be mostly batiks, and mostly dark colors. I'm not sure how to get started on it, whether I should do a Gee's Bend type or go free-hand with it, or set out with a theme.

Ma is still battling stage IV renal cancer... so many moments, I wonder if 'this is it,' and I think I'm prepared. But I don't think I ever can be. I think I can prepare for that moment, but I sure can't prepare for a lifetime of 'I wish I could call her and ask her something...' My father passed 13 years ago (Oct. 12th) and I still say that. Sutent nearly wiped her off the mat. Her oncologist gave up on her, gave her about 3 months if she's lucky... her new doctor doesn't look at a crystal ball, she just started her on a better chemo and lots of IV therapies.

Nicky is doing surprisingly well, after a really rough month. Tony, as always is great, well except for a broken nose two days ago at school!

The right way to quilt

2011-08-02T22:45:00.002-04:00

The right way to quilt is the way that gives you a blankie AND happiness. This quilt is a ... kind of a short and wide twin- sized quilt, I guess. I quilt on it a few hours a day, even if it's just 5-10 mins at a time. It helps that I stay up late. I'm hoping that I'll have this done soon, because I have a few other ideas I want to try with other quilts, but I don't want to start those till I'm on home stretch with this one. One of the kids broke our digital camera (so says their father, I think he did it!) so until I get one later this week, I have to rely on the blackberry. During the day, it takes 'ok' pictures.

Of course, I had to take a break for one of the sweetest treats of summer...

...and a sleepy look at the quilt. This is the difference between a camera and a blackberry, folks.

To give life...

2011-07-18T22:47:00.004-04:00

It's the first thing that was given to me. I was given life, by my mother.

She knows how to make the best of everything. She keeps the faith, and she's tough as nails.

Life, it begins and it ends. We all know that. We accept it and we fear it. We plant, we harvest. Things come to life, they grow, and they die.

Life begins, and it ends.

We don't always have a choice of what grows and what doesn't. Sometimes, we nurture something forever and ever, and still, a healthy plant won't make it to the time we set to harvest it.

Love has been planted, from a mother to her children... through every season, that love will live on, and it will be passed from hand to hand, generation to generation, neighbor to neighbor.

That's the way it's always been.

My mother is in the fight of her life. I hope and I pray and I cry and I try to reason and I bargain... please, don't let this be the time that God has set to harvest. God, please let us have more time. Quality time. I love you, God, and I always have. Please wrap your arms around us all right now, because we are scared, grieving, unsure, numb, terrified, and crying. We're grateful, too, for such a love that we can feel all of those things.

Oddly perhaps, that was one of your gifts.

I love you so much, ma. I would die for you right now if I could, and if you'd let me.
Mom has been diagnosed with stage IV renal cell cancer, metastasized to her hip (fractured, currently no pain, but she had what was dx'd as sciatica a few months ago), brain (no symptoms), spine (no symptoms), and possibly right leg (a little swelling, spasms). The doctors may have missed this a few months ago. The doctors are giving us mixed information, and she's seeing some of the best in the state (in Augusta) beginning Monday, for radiation and chemo, every day. The nurse told me tonight she believed it was palliative. I was told before that's not the case. Mom is not ready to give up. I've seen stories of people who have beat this for years.

Family and friends are pulling together, preparing to coach mom and walk with her hand in hand through this fight. I have faith. And I have the knowledge that God has his child in his arms for the whole journey.

LOVE AND FAITH.

Life- Spinning- The Dramas

2011-07-13T18:17:00.003-04:00

The spinning part: Below, 4 skeins of spindle spun coopworth fiber, 2- ply. I need to pick up more of this. I want to make myself a sweater out it. But unless I buy some more fiber, I will have to make Nicky another vest instead! This fiber is really inexpensive (just over $10 for the 6 oz. in the picture) and $27/ lb, and yet it's so soft, easy to spin, and I can handle having this next to my skin. Well, I wear tank tops under everything, year round... I spun this to a worsted, almost aran- weight yarn, and I think it's around 500 yards. I'll need another lb and a half of fiber to make myself a sweater, with some left over.

I was thrilled to dye up some merino again. I still have some white merino roving left over for even MORE playing! I don't know how much I've dyed so far- I didn't weigh anything, but I think each roving below is about 4 oz. One is vibrant, and one is mellow. I'm sure I'll have these spun soon (yeah I say that NOW...) into yarn for hats, mittens, and socks for winter.

Oh yes! And I'm turning this:

Into THIS! I love the bright yellow. Got this from Spunky Eclectic about 1.5 hrs down the coast.
It's been sitting in the closet for over a year, marinating. Now it's going to be sock yarn for Nicky, because he loves yellow. Or "yewwow," rather.

A shawl, out of my thicker handspun. Well, all except that yellow and blue bit, that was hand dyed for some wool pants by someone else during my cloth diapering days. I'm pretty sure Tony is going to steal this to use as a blankie. Each one of those yarns holds memories for me, and they all feel wonderful.

And there's this: some socks for Nicky out of this, which I spun up single ply. I wondered the whole time I was spinning this fiber... is it ever gonna soften up? Well, once it was washed and knitted, it bloomed.

Life and dramas: Mother is in the hospital, we took her up a few times in the past week for an illness that won't go away. Well, they decided to keep her, at least until Friday. They found a large dark mass near her kidney on an MRI. She's handling it well, for now. She had a biopsy today and we'll have the results by Friday. I'm scared. I lost my father nearly 13 years ago. We almost lost ma a few yrs ago, when she had a screwed up surgery and she was airlifted to another hospital. (She has the WORST luck with surgeries.) I actually thought last night, sitting next to her, that I'd go in her place, and she could live here a while longer. I guess I'm too chicken to face what might happen. When Mike's parents passed (f: leukemia, and m: cancer, a month after his father) it was like two sucker- punches in the stomach. I was there for his father's passing, we both held his hand.

Anyway! Please pray that she'll be alright, and that I'm just being the queen of over-reacting. We haven't been super close, but we have our own bond...

Another hand quilting adventure.

2011-05-23T01:01:00.000-04:00

Okay, the first thing you want to do is click right here for ::swoon:: Hal. :) This song is sure to brighten your day. And if you're past the point of rescue, click here. ::more swoon::

Ahh. I need a cup of tea. Or a cold shower. :x

And definitely bread.

I've been so busy, and at least a little time has been spent on sewing. Nicky's allowing me to get very little done on the weekends; but during the week, I can get some fun time. Although I have to admit... some of my 'away' time is spent with my sister, watching my nephew play baseball. I should probably shop, right? ;)

So, the 'door' quilt, or the 'house' quilt, or whatever anyone else calls it at any particular time when they walked through here and it was hanging up- it's done, and due to be bound.

Since the weather hasn't been photo- friendly in weeks, these are by lamp light:

The one thing I noticed about this batting (100% cotton) is that it shed like hell. I still like the weight of the batting, and how soft it is. 15 minutes of duct tape to pull all the fuzzies off is a small price to pay for the density and hand feel of this quilt- and the pleasure I had quilting it.

I realized that I just don't have it in me to make perfect quilts. I tried. I ironed, pressed, precisely cut with a rotary cutter, hand pieced, starched, prayed, felt the wrath of the invisible quilting police, and I'll be damned if I could get my points to line up.

Screw it, for now. Maybe I'll sit down (patiently and quietly, for once) and let my extremely talented friend teach me.

So I hit Flickr, where I go for community and inspiration. I found so much of both.
Then, I found Gee's Bend quilts again. I love everything about their quilts. Everything. I love how some of them are made with corduroy, knitted fabric, and the clothing of beloved family members. I love that the quilting is free hand, and not carefully measured- it is harmonious and loving and perfect. I love the colors and the layouts. I love the "free- ness" of it all.

I wanted orange and blue together in my bedroom, and this is what came together. It's simple, and very hasty... I was almost done with the quilt pictured above, and I needed something else to stitch on, asap. I didn't measure this one, but I'm thinking it's going to be close to a full sized quilt. I still ironed and pressed, and trimmed my seams.

And I will say this: my favorite basting technique is safety- pinning, then thread basting. If I exclusively safety pin baste, I always have to un-do and re- do the pins. When I thread baste, I baste sections about 3" apart and it works out beautifully.

I don't use a frame or a hoop, I just drape it over the corner of the table and another chair. I am looking for a large floor frame, but this method works just fine for me, too.

Jess

A bit of quilting...

2011-05-09T11:07:00.003-04:00

And a bit of gardening! I got the jungle underway, lots of tomato plants and seedlings going. Carrots, flowers, peas, cucumbers, and zucchini so far. And strawberries!

And these guys, left over from last year. What are they?!!

Mostly, in blog- land, I have read and commented on other blogs...
But I have done *some* quilting.

Jess runs on dunkin. But I tell a lie, because there is tea in that cup.
I started quilting a square in the middle and it grew from there. I thought that would be a great way to tie all the pieces together. It's almost done, and I think I can get the binding sewn on by tonight, and tacked down this week.

I've been busy with the kids and their schools (not all good!) but it seems like everything is settling down. Nicky started in home services a few weeks ago: for 4 hrs (it was 5) on Saturdays, he has a 1:1 for behavior modification. I hope we'll see some improvements soon. His behaviors aren't as frequent, but they're far more intense. We've altered his meds, too, and he's sleeping better, so we've seen *some* improvements with how quickly he gets pissed off. Fortunately, he'll have programming all summer (school and in- home) so I'm hopeful we won't see much regression.

During all of this, I've been in a pretty nasty creative rut. I worked on a doll, but I cast it aside in frustration and I haven't gone back. I've been pouring over very old quilts, some trips to the antique shops locally, and some Gee's Bend inspiration, and I feel like I'm ready to quilt again.

- jess

Sewing and Quilting

2011-04-15T23:07:00.003-04:00

That quilt top that I had pinned up at the window forever, trying to figure out the next move...

Well, the next move is to quilt it. :)

So I pinned it out (which I need to re-do, because the back is bunched in the middle, dammit.) and it's folded and ready to go, after I finish the wall hanging.

THIS wall hanging. It's a quickie log cabin deal, navy blue and red. I couldn't, for the life of me, get the colors to show up in lamp light. Meh. But here it is. Man, am I out of practice with hand quilting. I forgot to iron the seams open so I wouldn't have to stab through them.
But it's still therapeutic as heck and I need that right now. (school dramas)

And I made some bags. This one is from a feedsack quilt top I got locally (for less than $10, if I remember right) that I couldn't salvage. It's a cute little thing.

More bags! The one on the left was a 'cloth' I put together a year ago. It had to marinate in the quilting cabinet until it, in part, became a bag. There is a bag of rice in it. :) On the left is from the same quilt top as above... and it's holding popcorn. I needed an excuse to display these, what can I say?

Numbah one son, lovin' the jammies his momma made him. :)

Both kids are doing pretty well in school, and Nicky finally has therapy in home on Saturdays, and after school during the week. I am SO hoping these therapies will help with his very difficult behaviors. I mean, the behaviors are diminishing somewhat (I don't have broken glass everywhere now) but they're still there (because now I have sugar and cereal everywhere). Also, the screaming. OMG. We're finding that he has issues with overstimulation (in some ways) and that he needs someone on his butt all the time keeping him busy, or he goes rogue on us. ;) But now that we're finding the problems, it's just a matter of finding the solutions.

So, life's pretty good. :D

Finished Fair Isle Hat.

2011-02-27T12:07:00.005-05:00

I boogied on this to get it done. I really wanted to move onto the socks that I'm making for my sister.

And I have to admit, I loved working on this hat. I may make another, soon.

^^^ I still have to re-block that part... after I switched to dpn's, I knit a bit too tightly.

I haven't made a pom pom for it, either... I probably will.

Male model! I love the hat.

I've got the socks cast on now; I had to play around with the colors, because I didn't have them all in my stash and this yarn isn't readily available in my neck of the woods anymore. I don't think J&S yarn is even sold in Maine anymore. I have a knitpicks order out, and I can't wait to get that. SERIOUSLY can't wait, which is why I cast these on.

I was so hooked on sewing and quilting just a month ago, as I had been for about a year... I remember telling people that I couldn't imagine knitting again. I'd knit a row and pull it all out because I couldn't stand to work on it. But now, I don't feel like sewing at all, unless it's mending- type stuff... I only want to knit, fair isle.

You gotta do what you WANT to do sometimes.

- jess

More Fair Isle and Let Them Eat Onions!

2011-02-20T12:19:00.004-05:00

Let them eat onions= as I was posting this, Nicholas peeled an onion and he's now eating it- raw.

Still working on the hat. I'm now in fair isle mode, and eventually I'll work my way back to quilting mode. Once you get that spark, you have to embrace it, and trust that you'll return to what you were doing before.

The orange- brown- red zone near the top is just killing me, I love it.

I do really love this hat. The colors are coming out differently than I thought they would. I didn't have all the colors here that the pattern called for, and I can't find this yarn anywhere locally, so I'm working with my stash.

This shot is an 'honesty shot,' which is of the join. This is the hardest part to keep jog- free.
I believe I can make this section indistinguishable once I'm done and I can cheat with some duplicate stitching. :)

And here's a flattering shot. ; ) When it's done, it's going to be wet blocked so there are no wrinkles or puckers anywhere. I got the needles yesterday to cast these on next!

Happy knitting/ quilting/ surviving the winter!

Fair isle.

2011-02-15T11:06:00.002-05:00

Meh. I like to be underfoot. Mike's trying to work on a radio, so I threw this on top and took a pic.

I really don't think he even noticed.

This is the beginnings of a Fair Isle Hat that I've wanted to make since I first saw her working on this in our local *now gone... sob. :/* yarn shop. It is so beautiful. I so hope this hat looks as good as the original when it's done. It's so fun to work on, except that I can't wait to get past the purling, because just knitting (even two color) has a more pleasing rhythm, in my opinion.
But the purling effect is worth the prettiness. :)

I also finished these for Tony. He was a trooper about trying these on- he even could tell they were mittens when all I had was a cuff. He loves his momma's mittens- and for that, he gets to stay in the will. :)

Quick post, off to figure out this blackberry/ pdf nonsense.

Knitting and Sewing and Autism.

2011-02-09T17:46:00.002-05:00

And Tony's tree.

We call it Tony's tree because he's the one who plugs it in every day. A friend gave this to us around Christmas.
It's still flourishing! I unplug it every night, and Tony plugs it in every morning. It's a wonderful ritual. I love his dedication to Christmas- he is unwilling to let it go this year.

It's been really, really cold here, and I found my way to the knitting basket, where I had stashed the most perfect, single ply, hand dyed + spun on a spindle yarn for little kids' mittens. So that's just what I'm doing. It's roughly a worsted, and I'm using size 4 dpn's and this pattern. You may have to scan down to see the pattern. I love this one, and not only because they support autism. I managed to copy + paste the file, along with the pic, to put on my BB so I can take the pattern everywhere without printing it. This is great, since I don't have a working printer, haven't for about a year, and I won't till this weekend. ;)

^^^The burgundy/ gray yarn on the left is for the tops of the mittens and the thumbs if I run out of the blue-green-yellow yarn.
I can't tell you how much I've missed knitting.

Part of the quilt that I can't wait to finish so I can move on already. This part is for Nicky's patch.

Part of Tony's patch for the quilt. I love the red fabric with the white circles. I really need to get more. I have some in baby blue.

*************

Nicky:
He's going to a special school now, and he's progressing. He'll be going till 4:30 pm soon for life skills therapies. He's talking more. EVERYONE says he's a very bright kid, and they see real promise in him.

The only problem is when he doesn't have school on a particular day- like today, because he had a dr's appt. OMG it's hell. He smashed my last ceramic mixing bowl. He screams and whines a lot. Right now, he's irritated with me because I won't let him take off my shirt to put on one he would prefer me to wear. haha. I am going to have to go out and buy tin baking pans and bread pans and mixing bowls till this phase passes. I keep feeling like it's just not fair- I shouldn't have to do that- I should have the beautiful cookware I want... but shit happens, that's life.

I just keep praying for the patience to get through it all. I wonder how other parents with a kid with this level of need function...

On a positive note: he IS talking more, and he's asking for quite a bit of what he wants. And Tony, omg that kid. He's talking so much now. As with his brother, everyone is thrilled with Tony's progress. I see a great future for him, as well.

Squares on the hopper.

2011-02-04T11:43:00.002-05:00

This is an antique, un-used (thank goodness) 'hopper.'
Great place to model the postage stamp quilt. There are more of these patches. The cut size is about 2". It's going to take a while. This should be a full- queen size when it's done.
But I do love working on it. I've been reading up on precision with those little corners lining up, so I hope I see even more progress in my work with that.

I've been calling this one my 'door quilt' lately, because that's where I have it pinned up most of the time. With the dump-em-out, drag-em-down, smash-em-up kid, it's kind of hard to have a design wall. Maybe when he starts going for longer days at school, I'll have a design wall I can roll up when he's home.

Tony! This is probably going on the left, once I get some more pieces on the bottom of the Tony piece.

Haha 'Nilky.' Supposed to be 'Nicky.' He recognized his name, so I might say screw it and leave it as is. He loves this block.
What is special about the houses and those blocks down bottom is that I hand sewed those when he was in the hospital... in fact, I think I sewed all of them when we were staying overnight in Portland.
Making the 'y's is a real pain in the ass. I need to find a better way.

I pillow I made, just because I needed something perky to look at with all the snowfall.

:D

Well, there's a lot of snow out there. (+ recipe)

2011-02-02T19:42:00.002-05:00

I live in Maine because I love the snow, I love the cold, I LOVE AND ADORE AND LOVE EVEN MORE life here in fall... I love the slow life.

I think I'm almost sick of snow, though. So many days off from school = two kids, who thrive on structure, to tear our place and our sanity apart. One doesn't like to go out in the snow. The other one does, but he's got a head cold. One goes to school 45 miles away, and I'm wondering (okay, I'm HOPING) about school tomorrow.

This picture came out amazing. Not sure why it has sort of a grainy look, but it works here.

So, not much crafting done- lots of deep cleaning upstairs. Maybe tonight I'll try to finish up a quilt I'm tired of working on. It will look so nice on the bed, but I'm so tired of working on it.

I did make this today, though.
And oh my gosh, is it all so good.

Do you want to make it, too? Sure you do.

I don't write things down as I go- it's more of a method of a little bit of this/ that. I don't know how to do anything right, I just know how to make things I like. It varies a bit each time, but it always (usually) comes out edible.

Oatmeal Bread (makes 1 loaf)

In a big bowl:

1 c warm water
2.5 tsps. yeast

Let the yeast soften, then stir it a bit with a wooden spoon.

3 good squeezes of honey, at room temperature. Probably about 2-3 tbsps.
2 c oatmeal

Combine.

Add 1 cup of flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 2-3 TB melted butter, combine. Then add enough flour to make it knead-able. Knead about 8 mins, or till smooth. It may be kind of hard to knead. Place it back in the clean, buttered bowl and let it rise till double, about 1 hr.

Punch down, let rise again 1 hr.

Knead, shape into a loaf, put it in a bread pan. I don't grease my glass pan and I never have sticking problems. Let rise -another- hour.

Heat oven to 400*. Spread a little room temp butter on top of that loaf and bake it about 25 mins or till it's hollow when it's tapped. Should be light brown by then.

Take it out, butter it again if you're so inclined. Slice into it right away, because you can't wait, and then put even MORE butter on THAT slice. :)

-----

Chicken Stew

What I do is boil a few big chicken breasts in a large pot filled 1/2 way with water. When I can stick the chicken with a fork and it starts coming away from the bone, it's done. I take the chicken out and cube it, discarding the bones and skin. In another bowl, I have already chopped a few carrots, some kale, and I throw in a can of peas. I dump out half the water, then I add a big can of chicken stock. (Or, I don't discard any water, but I add a few TB of powdered chicken stock.) I add all the ingredients back to the pot, add about a cup of rice, cover, turn the temp down to low, and let it simmer till the rice is done. Oh yes, and I add about 1/2 TB of salt, about 1 tsp of powdered sage, and about 1 TB dry Italian seasonings.

It's really good.

And if you have leftovers the next day, you can add some sauteed sweet (or Italian) sausage and some parm cheese, and even some sauteed zucchini if you have some and bake it about 1/2 hour to heat it all the way through.

- jess

Hexies and Kiddies.

2011-01-29T19:25:00.003-05:00

Busy times!

I haven't had the kind of time to devote to sewing that I'd like, but I did have one whole evening at the machine, and I should be able to tonight. My hexies, I've been drooling over, but I haven't worked on due to the damn tummy virus. I'm glad it was short lived in the youngest, and that the oldest didn't get it at all.

The 'poverty patch.' But I had to use that doggie and there wasn't enough of him to use elsewhere. I think I'm in love with this kind of thrift.

The bigs and the littles. The upside down row is coming off tonight. :x

I know damn well that's a lobster on the left there, but I can't help but think about Mr. Krabbs when I see him.

That butterfly... Or as the kids would say, babafly... I can't remember where he came from, maybe an old 'quilt' I tried to make for the kids when they were born.

Nicky: wild times, really glad we're driving him to school. I don't think a cab driver could put up with him in the car... he goes to school an hr away, and he kicks and screams frequently during the trip. But he loves school, and he loves coming home. It's a perfect fit for him, lots of ABA all day. He'll be starting extended school hours soon (special therapy for after school!!!) and I know he'll love it. He's starting to talk/ converse more now, too- and not just old-man style cursing! :D

I wish that I would have been given more patience when I was given this guy... I love him so much. He is big on property destruction and screaming (for sensory) and it's difficult to keep my cool all the time. I'm grateful that his auntie, my sis, asks frequently to take him. I usually say no but I may start saying yes. ;) They're very close.

.....but there is nothing, nothing he can do during the day that can't be melted from my memory and my nerves by curling up with him at 7:30 at night, and watching him smile while his eyes fight the losing battle to stay open... and his requests for the 'good night, Nicky' song, which must be sung off key and with his dada's lyrics.

(He's about to carefully pick a few plastic ornaments to bounce down the tiled hallway.)

I don't have a good recent (mostly clothed, even) picture of Tony, so here's an old- school one, from our old apartment, probably 4 years ago. (Absolutely No. Way.) Him was mad. :/ haha.

Tony is talking a ton now, too. Still addicted to Tak 2 on his gameboy, still likes to hijack our computer, loves Scaredy Squirrel. (although he calls him Scaredy Squirtle. :) He still has a lot of love and support and friendship at school, and he's moving forward academically in most ways. I think he's going to need a 1:1 for a few more years, at least, but his 'symptoms' of autism seem to be fading- great thanks to everyone who has helped him!

- Jess

Fingerless gloves and Hexies.

2011-01-16T13:52:00.005-05:00

Well, I guess I CAN still knit!!!

I'm making fingerless gloves, using some really nice, soft tweed yarn from the local shop (lost the wrapper in the last 1/2 hour while chasing Nicholas) and size 8 dpn's. I cast on 36 sts, and it's going to fit somewhat snugly, so it might just go over my sweater sleeves. I don't do coats unless I have to, I wear vests.
This will be fun to work on while I'm (*trying*) to get the kids to bed. If I don't stay upstairs, they come back down. I'm at the point where I can sit in the stairway and keep telling them to go back to their rooms... problem is, Nicky keeps stomping and hitting the walls, and we have neighbors. ::smh::

Little bitty hexies... on my favorite sweater. I've evened up the sides, and now I'm going to work in strips till it's the size I want. I really love working on this thing... great way to use up those super tiny scraps I can't use anywhere else.

I love the fwoggie. And the seahorses.

BIG hexies! My 1"- ers. (feels weird to say big 1"...) I've been adding more hexagons to the basket, but I haven't worked on this one much, not like the little one. I plan to rectify that at some point today.

...gonna try the bottom recipe tonight: sour apple cake. The recipe is easily older than my grandmother, and possibly older than my great grandmother, who was born around the 1880's. And it's a Maine recipe. For me, that makes it so much more special!

Off to keep up on Nicky!

- jess

Wake up and smell the hexies!

2011-01-10T09:57:00.003-05:00

I missed my Hexies. :D

Also, I keep calling them hexagrams instead of hexagons. I'd call that a Tony-ism. He gets it from his grandmother. Haha.

^^^ Don't you just love that owl at the bottom? He's a crabby pants, just like me. I love the VW van, too. I was at my friend's house and she just had that in her pile... I gasped, she gave it to me, I kept telling her how rare they are, she didn't care. I love that woman, and for more reasons than just that. ;)

Below: Hexagons from this year on the left, from last year on the right. SO glad I found those the other day. Never, ever put something someplace 'safe.' Safe= you'll only find it by Murphy's Law. Like when you start a new project. The big ones are 1", so I think the little ones are 3/4-1/2." I think the little hexies will be a lap-quilt sized blankie, and the big one will *hard swallow* be a twin sized quilt. M and I sleep with our own twin sized quilts, because he's a blanket hog and I like tucking the blanket under me on one side. (I also like rolling a blanket up between us in the middle of night, but there is a very valid reason for that, lol.)

A close-up, where you can see my stitches. I know I have some work to do on consistency with those whip stitches, but I still love them. And I love that black and white print next to the light blue there.

Random shot: my 'design window' when I had no other place to hang this up. The wall? Sure, if Nicky didn't tear it down. This is held up with safety pins when it's up, and Nicky leaves it alone.

He's a heck of an artist... sometimes I'll sit at the machine, and he'll hand me a piece of fabric to sew (immediately!) and tell me, "blan-tee, sew." We've come up with interesting combos. He loves to watch me sew, and I love including him. He also likes to watch me do my hair, and he screams if I don't blow- dry his already dry hair. He wants me to straighten his hair, too, but his hair isn't long enough. haha.

He just started his first day of school today at the new school in Bath. What a nice wake-up call that was. WTF. I get up at 6:15 and both boys were still asleep. Not freaking fair. His transition into the school was AWESOME... I have a great deal of faith in his 1:1 tech today, just based on the 4 minutes I was talking to her. Nicky started up the stairs on his own and she stopped mid-sentence to tell him to wait, and carried on. It's hard to explain, but I like the way she handles him. I can't wait to hear about how his day went! It's an hour away, and we JUST got back at 9:15, took T to school, came home... I have to leave at 12:45-ish to get him so I can get T in time. I can't wait till the transportation dept for our district gets his drive down organized. His principal locally, bless him, and the special ed director for the district are on it. They have been phenomenal throughout it all... seriously. I hear about other peoples' struggles with autism and the schools, and these guys have helped above and beyond. They ask about him at the local school every day. :)

coffee time,

- jess

Hey, whatcha got in the basket?

2011-01-07T09:31:00.004-05:00

Hexies. 1." ::love:: WHY didn't I think about this a few months ago? All those trips to southern Maine, I could have been working on these in the car. I ordered some fabric from Kerri and I'm going to make another one very soon. I've been digging through my stash for little favorites that won't fit anywhere else. I love, love, love hexies. Although I am kind of irritated that I can't find the hexies I was working on over the summer... I'd put them aside to wash the container they were in, and now I'm afraid they got tossed or something. NOOO!

Well anyway, dig these hexies.

I love each and every one of them. I want to throw in some white to "clean" up the look a bit- and to separate some of the prints so I can appreciate each of them more.

I love the fishies. I love the yogas- especially because they're on purple... although if they were on red, I'd melt. The winter scenes remind me of my favorite Wysocki puzzle... that doggie reminds me of a quilt I made for Tony... the green one with the trees makes me think of the Maine woods and lumberjacks... OWLS! I just love them all.

- jess

'Receipts'

2011-01-03T21:15:00.001-05:00

cookbook 012
Originally uploaded by quiltskeet

Very old, turn of the century Maine recipes. That is, LAST century. :D

Thrifty Blues...

2011-01-02T12:57:00.003-05:00

Two pairs of very worn out shorts that even the swap shop would probably throw out + how much I love Boro = this!

Taken late at night, the only time I can get any pictures taken around here during vacation!

A bag I made quickly one night out of a linen calendar from the '70's and what I could salvage off a quilt made in the 60's. That quilt, I love... so many little feedsack prints in there.

And, I'm trying my hand at these again. My favorite is the top right block. Nicky keeps handing me pieces and saying, 'BLAN-tee...'

Well, off to make play dough with the boys.

The next part isn't me bitching, as much as it is journaling- I want to be able to look back and see our progress/ what works/ what hasn't.

We're really struggling with Nicky since he came home, but I'm trying to focus on the good moments. He's really impulsive. I took him to the grocery store yesterday, and I was holding his hand the whole time, and he nearly knocked over a bottle of wine... tried to knock over everything, wanted to watch the doors open and shut. LOTS of screaming. He hits, but mostly he's destructive. He's broken at least three glass items a day since he came home- anything from mason jars to candles. I absolutely don't know what to do- even if I forced him to engage with me every moment, he'd attack me. If I give him freedom, he's destructive. (although, he does break things to get our attention/ try to get his own way. Doesn't work.) Can't take him out, can't keep him in.

We're going tomorrow morning to check out his (hopefully) new school that is one hour away. My concern is how he'll be in the car- he will clearly need a 5 pt harness AND an ed tech (along with the driver) for the ride down. We have to pull over 3 or so times on a 1 hr trip to get him buckled back in. He screams, hits, throws things... if you give him a drink, he'll dump it out.

On the positive, he's sarcastic as hell and I have to watch what I say. He doesn't often talk spontaneously- but when he does, it's quite funny. He'll say, 'OH Gawd' if we get stuck at a red light. If he does something naughty, like dumping out the last of my Dunkin coffee (he's out of the will for that), he'll get my attention to his mis-deed by saying, 'Oh no, NITTY.... OH no....'
But he does help cleaning and cooking. :) And he loves quiet time before bedtime. AND his toileting is improving.

Throughout all of this, Tony has been pretty good. He thoroughly drank in the holidays and he's a Christmas lover. He knows about (but probably doesn't understand) Jesus, and Santa.

What is up next?

2010-12-25T21:19:00.002-05:00

"Hello? Yeah, I'm home. I can smell you, but I can't hear you. Ok, well come on over at 10 and we'll trash the place."

Nicky is HOME! He came home on Monday, and his staff were visibly sad to see him go. We'll miss them, because they've become a part of our family over the past few months.

His anxiety is almost gone (his med adjustments will be ongoing) and his behaviors are exactly as they were before. At the hospital, they couldn't do time outs, but I sure as hell can, and they're working for the 'property destruction.' Also, it took him knocking over the tree and smashing the bulbs in the hallway about 7-10 times before I figured that he needed to get his fix somehow, so I took most of the remaining (and unbreakable!) bulbs off the tree, placed them in an old wooden cheese box, and he can throw those down the hall all he wants, but he has to clean them up. It's working out well.

We're still 'in the works' on this, but it looks like he's going to a super special school for autism next month. The upside is that it's specialized, the schoool district pays for transportation (or provides it), and there is an after school 'section 28' program that we can't get where we live due to staffing. The downside is that it's an hour away, and he won't be him etill about 5:30 each afternoon if we go with that extra program. If we don't, the district has to come up with two rides, since there is another kid who he'll be riding with. Also, they'll need a 1:1 to travel with him because he acts up in the car.

Anything to help my baby love... we're blessed that our special ed director is doing so much to help him right now. It's a love/ hate relationship with the school; but in the end, they do try so hard to help. When I hear the horror stories of other schools out of state, I am soooo grateful.

I've had this sitting around since I finished it- or, rather, ran out of that batik. It could be a stroller or carseat blankie or a doll quilt for a wee one, or a wall hanging. I don't want to do conventional quilting with this, I already know that.

Well, that's pretty much it. Gonna start plugging away again on the postage stamp quilt, and I want to work on a 'liberated quilting' type twin sized quilt with large trees and a cabin. That's been floating around my head for a bit and I want to try it.

I did finish the denim quilt, risking life, limb, and sanity (and blood!) to get it done in time for Jen's Christmas present. I know she'll love it. I also finished the penny rug for ma. No pics, I finished at 2 am and I was too tired/ didn't give a shit. You know how it is. :D

- jess

Black and blues...

2010-12-15T18:27:00.013-05:00

Hey, it's a Jess- funny!
I looked at the oven clock yesterday afternoon, Mike was out shopping with my mother, and I panicked. "OH MY GOSH, It's 4 pm! He hasn't gotten Tony yet!" Yes. 400*. ::bashful::

Still working on that denim/ black quilt! The quilting is by hand, and it's taking a long time. But I LOVE getting lost in these stitches. With everything going on right now, mainly with Nicky and his school and care, weaving that needle in and out has become a mantra. Well, that and yoga. ;)
This is somewhere between a couch quilt and a twin sized quilt. I didn't measure it, I just made sure the corners lined up. Haha. I'm making it for Jen (sister) for Christmas. I'm using blue on the blue, and black on the black... their paths may cross here and there. Ahh, no pattern, no problems. :D

You know what gets the fuzzies offa black? Duct tape.

The resulting fabric has a great feel to it... it's soft, but it's sturdy, and it has a nice sensory component on the fintertips.

I caught this in the mirror earlier... overcast day, with very light snow earlier. Hi, tree!

Another little passion: postage stamps. Before sewing, the squares were 1.5." I am very much hoping my patience holds out for this to be a twin sized quilt. I've been very careful with the seams and, for the most part, my pointies line up!

Nicky:

We thought he was coming home Friday. Well, today they decided that it would be best to keep him for another week- so he'll get out Wednesday of next week. I told them that's the limit- he's out for Christmas. They agreed. His aggressions and emotional dysregulation fired back up this week. It just about killed me to leave him earlier. When he comes home, he's going to go to school, very likely, at a place called Merry Meeting, which is a private school for kids with autism. Even the local private autism school isn't hardcore enough for him. :/ MM is an hour away. Gaaaah.

- jess

Penny Rugs

2010-12-03T10:32:00.002-05:00

Right! What's all this, then?

Black is impossible to keep fuzzy- free. Take this from someone who lives in black. I'm making this mini penny rug for my coffee table. What a fun, simple project! I found that I can't sew in the car without getting sick, but it's nice mindless sewing when I'm at home. Over the past week, I haven't been able to get my sewing jive- appointments, kids, school, school meetings, (cleaning?) and driving.

I swear, they almost look like ALIENS.

Can't remember if I posted this, and until I get that cup of coffee in me, I'm far too lazy even to click the mouse a few times to find out.

---

9-patch, Nicky, and a Naughty Guy from Venice.

2010-12-01T19:41:00.004-05:00

EEK! Just lost this trying to edit the text. Trying again!

9 patches!

I still love this. I haven't had the chance to work on it this week but I'm hoping I have a few mins to work on it this weekend. (doubt it)

The tree:

This little guy will probably be home by next week!

- jess

Oh yes, the naughty guy from Venice. (I think we got him in Venice...)

(I have actually hung my keys there. : )

Aww screw it.

2010-11-20T23:59:00.002-05:00

I didn't use the 'f' word but I was thinking it.
I got SO ticked that I couldn't make anything work. I love checkers/ squares... 9 patches... contrast. But it wasn't working.
After bitching and moaning to Silent Mike on the drive to see Nicky about it, I shut up. (should I bring out the smelling salts?) I kept thinking... what do I love... screw what I think I SHOULD do... what would I like to see on a bed?
(heh heh. Yep, that too...)
BLACK. Denim. Dark... but with a few highlights. Oh yeah, and I wanted that turquoise piece.

At midnight, the colors weren't quite right. ;)
Left: spring green. Right: black, and two denims.

This is the whole piece as of this moment. I doubt I'll do any more sewing tonight... I HAVE to stay up because I'm mental and I started making bread too late. I'm only making one loaf since I'm down to one pan. It would seem one of the children planted something outside in my other pan. ^5 Nicky, way to go. The other dough bundle will go in the fridge tonight and I'll bake it tomorrow morning.

I know this picture below makes the quilt all early '90's but that'st he same green, black and denim as above. And the greenish piece, that's my favorite turquoise piece. I need to get more of that stuff!!!

Nicky update:
Had a meeting yesterday at the hospital. It has not ceased to touch my heart how attached they are to him. That isn't supposed to happen, and they admit it, but they can't resist him. They are so caring with him... all of them are nurturing to him. I couldn't be more blessed, considering. Anyway, he's going to stay there for a while longer. :/ They're adjusting meds and plans... he's using a super talker, which is a voice output device. We took him for a really long ride today and he didn't have any behaviors, but he was a crabby pants... turns out, he woke up at 4 am and he was rather tired.

Tony has done so much talking lately, he has amazed me. He now asks for things he doesn't see frequently, and asks for people or to do things with people he hasn't seen in a few days. We took him to Jo Ann Fabrics earlier, and he loves the holiday stuff. He grabbed a Santa hat and said, 'I want Santa Claus, please.' EVERYONE in that aisle got soft on him. :o)

Salvage!

2010-11-19T00:31:00.008-05:00

First, fix this. (abandoned, even though it just needs a few repairs... all hand stitched and tied)

Then, eat this. Dear God, YES. For thousands of years, this simple act, and this simple food, has rewarded our senses and our bodies.

is playing

2010-11-16T17:31:00.004-05:00

Heh.
"Design Wall" = duct taping nice soft cotton batting to the closet door and the inside of the closet, then using a few pins to keep the batting attached to the duct tape.
Hey, when I close the door, I can keep it up, I just have to stick a pin in the blocks. It's cool, it's cool.

Anyway, I've developed a fondness for stahs. I get it from Nicholas. I also have a REAL love for liberated quilting... grab some tea and hit that term in google, then in yahoo images. :D I quit at page 15!

More of the same. I love nine patches, too; always have. That tree up there, I couldn't get a decent shot of the colors... it's pretty close to the color in this picture below, though. I like how 'sticky' the batting is with the fabric, because it gives you the chance to move things where you want them.

The color is way off- cloudy day here- but that's the form.

Also hit the antique store with Mike to wander around... found that mirror and this little round box for next to nothing. I didn't go in there with the intention to buy anything, but these go for a lot more than the $9-$10 I paid. I also got a decent sized 'dime bag' of fabric squares (less than 5" each, easily) for less than $2 and a good sized feed sack bag for a couple of dollars.

A stash quilt. Well, from my stash and one of my buddy's stashes. This is maybe 30"x 30" and it's going to be a quilt in the car project. All these trips south, I need something to do. And, the kids are always grabbing a blankie this size for the car.

Nicky update:
Seriously, one day we think he's all better and then the next, it's rough. We talked to them on Sunday and he was having a rough day, so I got in the car myself and made the 2 hr drive (in an hour in half...) to spend time with him. He had over 200 behaviors before I got there, and one behavior for the 2 hrs I was with him.
I'm taking today off, and I did yesterday, from driving down. I need the physical and mental break... and, it's rough on Tony. We are heading down tomorrow when Tony gets out of school.
It's looking like he won't actually be home for Thanksgiving, but who knows. I will take him out by Christmas; I don't know how much longer I can be without him. I love that little melon head with the huge eyes. I crave snuggling him in my arms and watching him fall asleep. I miss his shenanigans, even having acrylic paint on the floors and the spice cabinet dumped in Tony's room, and the pantry emptied in HIS room... the floods... lol.
When I walk in, he doesn't even acknowledge me... but if I'm not there, or I leave, he is pissed. It was interesting to learn that about him... he does feel, and he does understand, but he doesn't show...

xxx

Leftovers

2010-11-12T11:27:00.002-05:00

Tony, get off the computer. It's mama's turn!!!
(He's on Nick.com...)

I keep ending up with bits and pieces, which I love. I layed them out, played around with how I wanted the middle strip to lay, and here it is. On my design wall, even. ::haha:: My 'design wall' is some batting duct taped to a big closet door. It worked well. : D Some of these came from a swap, some from quilt shops, some as a gift, some from Jo Ann's. It's a really small quilt- probably too big for a wall quilt, but too small for a lap quilt- but it's fun and it's a jumping point. The next one will have a color theme.

This feels more natural to me... I don't follow rules well, and I don't care if things line up. That's not to say that I don't take pride in the work- I don't want to do things traditionally, is all.

I can't look at the print on the left and NOT think of the Monty Python intro...

Lots of piecing, lots of color.

2010-11-07T13:21:00.003-05:00

I keep picturing this little village in the middle of the woods... so I'm going to try to make it. The houses are going around the brown square... then woods behind that, then some sky with stars... not totally sure what's going on the brown. Maybe gardens, that they all share.

These random (I detest the word wonky. I also detest the word mucus.) log cabin type squares are putting a big smile on my face. It's so much fun! And as long as you square-up before and after the last borders, everything is going to fit! This is going to be a lap quilt for the couch. The fabrics came from everywhere.

**I did not make this.** But I am going to make some similar dealies like this- like a moon and stars for Nicky's room, and an American Flag for Tony's room... I saw this heart at TJ Maxx and I had to have it. :D

This one has been sitting around for ...about a year, I guess. I add to it when I feel like it. I love having things like this I can add to over time; it is building such a history.

Nicky and hope

2010-11-07T13:06:00.003-05:00

Dear God,
We need to talk.
- Jess

Nicky update:
He's about to start his 4th week at the hospital, 2 hrs away. Lots of driving, and a few overnights. His behaviors went from over 650 to under 10- one day he had only 4. His sarcasm is back, which the staff loves. He's not too verbal, but occasionally he'll say, 'Oh God,' 'Come ON...,' etc. (he doesn't get the religious cursing from me; I can only claim the 'f' word and all its deriviatives.)
However, when we took him out yesterday, his behaviors were up around 25 or so and he hit, kicked, and attacked me. He knocked things over and I couldn't make him stand up. The hospital maintains that they can help him further. He seems happy most of the time- or, at least mellow, and not so anxious. He generally has severe autism and severe anxiety, but if we can get the anxiety under control, you'd see this brilliant, happy child, who skips and sings songs he makes up.

Sometimes I'm okay, happy, perky, and doing the usual. Other times, I'm hysterical, and I honestly don't feel like I can make it anymore. Fortunately, I have lots of support, and I continue with my mantra: this too shall pass. It hurts, and it sucks. I've long since let my dreams go of a 'typical life;' and, in fact, I embrace sort of an alternative, yet amazing life. But this is my 6 year old kid- my kids are glued to me, and I've had a hard time letting even our closets friends to take him. The possibility of him being there for Turkey Day is ...well, we'll make it our day, no matter where we are.

Mama's 'Nitty,' as he calls himself.

...but we did manage to get the kids to the lighthouse in Portland... what a day. WAY too cold, but they wanted to go, and they didn't want to leave.
THIS moment refilled my hope tank, and diminished all the stress...

"I love you, brother... mama doesn't know it yet, but in 5 minutes, you and I are going to slap the shit out of each other in the car... heh."

- Jess

Little stitches should fix it.

2010-10-25T12:39:00.003-04:00

Momma's heart, I mean.

Nicky, my 6 1/2 year old, is in a special hospital, because the doctors put him on antipsychotics and he had one hell of a bumpy ride with side effects. It's looking like he went through tardive dyskinesia and akathisia. That sucks. No little kid (or adult!) should have to go through that. He's been in the hospital for the past week and he should be there another few weeks. It's 2 hrs away. We have been there almost every day, but we have to take a day off here and there because Tony is acting out a bit, not having his brother here and for the lack of structure to his routine. Now that the med is almost out of his system, he's showing more of his typical behaviors, so they can help him (and us! and the school) with long term behavioral tactics to keep the little guy in line. ;)
We stayed at the RMD house in Portland over the weekend, and we will, ideally, be there this coming weekend, as well, to be near Nicholas. Tony went with us, and he'll go with us again. Nicky doesn't care if I'm there to visit him- well, he hands me books to read repeatedly and he rips them back when I get to the last page- but when I go to leave, he's hysterical.

We will have a happy ending; there is no doubt about that.

Sewing: I have tried a few new-to-me piecing techniques... by hand.

(It's under the wicked cute cup, guy.)

I bought the quilt below, pre-kids, when I was in Hawaii. I did NOT make it. I got this in Kauai. Found it in mother's basement a few weeks ago, washed it, and Tony stole it. So after 7 years, Tony finally has a blankie!

More playing, shamelessly hijacked from Wendy!

It's getting a lot colder here, and I can't have a woodstove in my apartment; so if I'm not visiting my mother or sister, I can light a candle.

xoxo

Back to hand quilting

2010-10-17T16:44:00.002-04:00

This is hand applique'd and machine pieced and hand quilted. Yep I didn't line up the squares, really don't care. And I sort of didn't even think about it till it was assembled. :x
This blankie is for Nicky, he's got a rough road ahead of him right now. Things with him have deteriorated, but I have every confidence that we can 'recover' him. He loves stars, so the theme of this quilt is perfect for him. Also, I am hooked on crazy stars. :D

(another also: I didn't buy any fabric specifically for this quilt- all the fabric was already here. I don't care what you think- by MY logic, that makes it free. :)

2010-09-24T23:04:00.002-04:00

We went to the fahm, bub.
"Get the biggest pumpkin you can carry!"
Tony sure tried. (Nicky sure did not!) Then we walked by the sugar pumpkins and both boys grabbed one. Works for me, it's cheaper. Hah.

I'm really into dolls right now. Like, really obsessed. I love sculpting the features. This dude is still in progress... his head is actually oval and it's quite long in back of those eyes... he's going to have a face on each side, for starters.
I can't get over the lips. And a bad joke about the nose. Heh heh.

More of the same, taken at night, so sorry about the lighting. So sowwie.

What else is there to say? Another rough start to the school year for #2 son, but the school is doing what they can. It's the damn administrators... gaaaah. We have 2 new ed techs for N- one in the morning and the other in the afternoon, and they are angels. They have the confidence to deal with his behaviors and the love to nurture him to success.
We're working on it.
T is doing very well, and he's in the same class with many of his classmates from last year. :)

I'm ready for my close-up, well almost.

2010-09-08T23:21:00.002-04:00

It has been WAYYY too long since Mike and I have seen that movie. What a classic!
So here's my gal. She's had a few makeovers. Despite being primitive, she's egotistic as hell. Get the red, leathery shirt. See, she's no better than she ought to be, but she can't seem to hear that.
(alright I'll come clean: I didn't even think about what kind of paint the red was...)
A few more touch-ups and a ...glossy, I think, finish, and she's done.
And some clothes.

Also, I am madly in love with this: Izannah Walker. As soon as I have the cash to burn, I'm taking this class!

- jess

It don't matter if you're black or white...

2010-09-05T17:36:00.002-04:00

Heh. :)

Next: paint. But I have to get more, because Dump 'em out Nicky already used the paints on the carpet. Honestly, I've seen him do far better painting then the carpet incident. ;) (you should see his wall!)

I love dis girl. ^^

- jess

Dolls. : )

2010-09-04T20:22:00.002-04:00

This is a rough start! I am airing this out a bit, and I'm going to keep going on the shaping and smoothing. Gotta add a little more hair, too. I'm using the techniques at grittyjane's site.

I think dolls are my favorite new love.
This one I can't wait to try, but since I just spent mucho $$ on supplies for art dolls this week, I am going to have to wait a little bit.

Je t'aime. :)

- jess

Back to knitting

2010-08-07T14:50:00.002-04:00

Just in time for fall... this has been the steamiest, nastiest summer I can remember. I can't stop thinking about the Gulf, and the abortion of justice surrounding that... the media blackout, what will happen as a result of the spill and the cleanup... sadness in the neighborhood... but also camraderie, which makes it all so bearable.

The kids are fine, Nicky finally has in-home behavioral support, although it was not at all what I was thinking it would be. This seems like a super low level Big Brother/ sister kind of thing. But we're also just starting, I'll give her a chance. She's a really nice, interesting lady.

I haven't been willing to quilt. I wanted to spin. It's a phase, and when I'm in a particular phase, it's hard to believe it'll ever pass.

I've spun yarn for kids mittens. See?

And I've spun yarn for a shawl. This is organic merino (ok there's a few yards of targhee/ merino in there because I was playing...) 2-ply, laceweight. Almost cobweb, but not quite. I spun it on a lightweight spindle, because I feel like I have a lot more control with a spindle. I'm primitive like that. My friend has my wheel, I just can't bond with it.

My cherished yarn, on my favorite table:

It's difficult to take a good picture of lace while it's being knitted, especially if it's being knit into a circle. When lace is finished being knit, it is wet blocked- washed, then stretched a little and pinned. So this is just a taste of what it's going to look like.

Trying to s-t-r-e-t-c-h it out a bit.

Now that the weather has cooled off for a few days, I can cook again. I am wearing a sweater right now. It feels fantastic. I baked a 'quick' white bread last night and it's almost gone already... also made chicken with goat cheese and peaches, very very good stuff.

This isn't fancy at all, but I take a skinless/ boneless breast, put plastic wrap (or a baggie because I don't always forget when I run out of plastic wrap) over the chicken, and pound the hell out of it. Then I remove the plastic (as it doesn't bake well) and I spread herbed goat cheese on it. Want to stretch the cheese out a bit? Add a little olive oil (like a teaspoon) and your own herbs if it's plain. You just need a thin layer, but more is great. Roll it up like a cinnamon roll, place it in a pyrex dish that has a little water on the bottom. Like not even enough to cover the bottom.

Now, you can either spread peach/ apricot jam on the top, or pour sliced peaches over the top.

REALLY good served with spinach (barely wilted), white rice (plain!!!) and homemade bread.

My new favorite quickie type thing is similar to jambalaya but without the seafood. I take leftover white rice, and leftover meats- chicken, kielbasa, whatever... I usually toss the chicken in lemon or lime juice. I put all this in a big skillet. I add a 16 oz can (or two) of diced tomatoes with chiles and about a cup or so of corn and/ or peas. Real versatile. Once everything has jived, I shred some cheese over the top and I stir it in. Even better as leftovers!

- jess

Brotherly Love

2010-07-24T14:42:00.002-04:00

Sometimes Tony loves Nicky a lot. Of course, this kiss came after he was choking Nicky with both hands. (What, don't your kids play rough, too?) They have both enjoyed one another's company more lately... early on with these guys, they wouldn't acknowledge one another's existence. One doesn't seem to care when the other has gone on a store run with dada but they can be sweet. Sometimes, Tony will hit Nicky in the back and say, 'I'm sorry...' but you can tell Tony plotted it all out ahead of time. Nicky doesn't usually care. You could shoot a cannon over that kid's head and he wouldn't flinch.

Lovies. :)

I can't seem to get motivated lately. I spend WAY W-A-Y too much time cleaning. Running the vac, the wet vac, washing dishes, the bathrooms, occasionally the bedrooms... Nicky's in-home worker is here 11 hrs a week so I feel like I'm entertaining... Not a lot of solid sit-down time for creativity. I get a few minutes here and there between crashes and whines but not as mucha s I'd like. And we had 2 weeks of summer school- 2 hrs a day for 10 days. ::shakes head:: It's a good thing we do academics at home.

Back to what I was saying about motivation: some of what I'm feeling is... what should I do? What feels good? Why the hell should I do *anything* because, really, what does it matter- either now, or in the future? If I make a quilt now, sure it may be worth something both now and in the future, but does it really matter?

Then I got back to thinking... what makes life worth living? Sometimes life seems boring and really not worth being here... not that I'm depressed, but that I'm practical. Life isn't about packing our time with big, exciting events... but a full life is more about an almost infinite supply of sweet moments... like the memory of a day between November and December when dad was watching some game (Patriots...@@) while mom's yakking her head off to one of her friends, and my sister and I were making cookies... or a cool, quiet evening when both boys passed out on the couch, sweet as can be, and Mike and I were watching the Jack Benny show with some popcorn and drinks. Life IS those moments.

...and photoshop boo-boo's of my favorite flannel...

THIS yarn that I *believe* I spindle-spun a while back is going to be worked up into a kid's hat very soon.

- jess.

WTF Wednesday.

2010-07-21T19:34:00.003-04:00

(marinara.)

Too hot

2010-07-21T19:11:00.002-04:00

It's too hot to knit. Too hot to quilt and to run the iron. We have been at the beach as many days as possible. Even right now, we've finally got a decent thunderstorm going. It's about time!
Summer is for cross stitching. :D

...and sometimes for spinning. This is hand dyed, etsy cashmere-merino. I can't tell you how much I love this stuff. I'm going to 2- ply it and, ideally, make myself a shawl out of it. I think this stuff 2- plied at this weight would be about fingering/ sport weight, and I have 4 oz, I think I can make a go of it.

The doll is bald, just like Mike. Going to order some hair, I think, because I can't find doll parts around here. I made a wire armature for the inside of the body, and I love being able to position this doll. I can't wait to get this tut, either this week or next. Making doll clothing is fun, but it takes a lot of re-doi'ing to make it just right. I am going to probably re-do the skirt, because I want 2 layers and becasue it's falling off her. She needs to binge on polyfil and beef up.

Okay, so I did *some* quilting. On the machine, even. I got this super soft batting at a not so local quilt shop... It is so cuddly soft and I will have a hard time letting this quilt go. Maybe I won't. Heh. I don't have that plate that I need for the machine to do curved quilting, but I'm not a huge fan of stippling anyway. I tried it once and it came out terrible, and I didn't have fun doing it. I'm sure I'll try again sometime.

- jess

Wool pants and handspun.

2010-06-22T11:17:00.003-04:00

I've still been sewing, but who wants to suffer (SUFFER!!!) with a hot iron right next to them?! At night, I've been able to get some hand quilting done on that big brown quilt.

And you know what else? The next quilt I make, I am going to use starch. I really want to keep getting better at quilting. I want accuracy! But my question: since I hand quilt, should I wash the top and iron it out before I hand quilt it? I don't think I could handle the feel of starched fabric in my hands. I could make a naughty comparison, but basically, I think starched fabric would take the fun out of quilting it.

Do you all plan the finished size of your quilt, exactly to the inch, or do you say, well I'll make it approximately this size... ?

Knitting: I can't tell you how much I love every inch of these yarns. I LOVE handspun yarns, especially when I come across one I dyed a few years ago, and the memories come back about what was going on at the time. I have one skein I dyed before a trip to Bodega Bay (before kids, we actually had a little travel time/ money) and I spun it at a spa we went to, on a spindle. We took my mother on that trip, so she could go to the building where The Birds was filmed.

SHE was EVIL!!! (heh... )

Okay, so the pants: size small (not sure why I put medium before, oops) I'm on the final leg of these. hehe.

The yarn is ever slightly thick/ thin.

I'm spinning up a ton of this color below. :)

quilt and sew...

2010-06-16T17:23:00.005-04:00

I really meant for this to be a pinwheel. I guess, in a way, it still is. I see hourglasses and diamonds, too. I didn't look up a pattern, I just did this from looking at quilts. Eek.

It may be time for me to start using patterns. :) I do hope this baby quilt comes out awesome, though.

I just spray basted (I love spray basting!) a quilt that isn't quite a twin sized quilt... there was no plan with that one (apparently most people have a plan... ?) but it's going to make a pretty comfy quilt. Of course, I'm hand quilting it. I don't know how you guys machine quilt, I can't do it. I always get the damn thing bunched up in the machine. And I get in 'the zone' when I hand quilt.

(this didn't post yesterday!)

Inside the drawer to one of my favorite little tables is ...something that makes me smile. :)

(No, not the kids. THEY make me smile the most, but they won't fit in the drawer.)

Fibah, bub. I dyed this BFL and I'm 3-plying it into an aran/ bulky weight yarn for woolie pants, mainly used for cloth diapering but also for the most comfy little jammie pants... I miss seeing my boys little piggies sticking out from the bottoms of these! I need to get some merino for Nicky's, he'd always wear the merino ones. Little punk wouldn't wear the fall colored ones I just made for him last winter. Love that kid, he's already super picky about fibers.

These are the little pants... I love the stitch definition. I'm using Heather's Freckle Bottoms pattern. I adore her patterns and she herself is a compassionate, helpful lady. I've tried almost all of the patterns out there over the past 5-6 years and her pants (longies) pattern is my favorite!

Soon to hit the spindles is below... I am thinking about plying the BFL on the right with a black/blue merino... and the one on the left, I'll 3-ply and possibly list on etsy.com.

ok more quilting stuff:

I am SO glad it's summer vacation. :)

- jess

Wooly addiction.

2010-06-12T17:03:00.002-04:00

Eek! Monday is a half day, and that's it for school till summer school.

I was fondling (yes, FONDLING!) my handspun yarn a few days ago and I felt that I *had* to do something with it. I kept saving those skeins in case I found the perfect project. The dark blue variegated yarn is hand dyed and spun by me, WAY before I had kids. It's corriedale, my all time favorite. The turquoise and yellow is from dyed roving I bought online, all alpaca.
Picture four of those squares, with the dark colors meeting in the middle, making sort of a diamond. THAT is what it's going to be, a small lap blankie for the couch or the car. I am so glad I have something to do with my beloved handspun.
Nothing should be in your life unless you LOVE it!
SEE? <-- that is captivating me right now... it's a more mature description of how I am beginning to feel about the things I have.

So yeah, I got a little sidetracked. Sowwie.

And THIS yarn, below, is Navajo 3- plied, hand dyed by me, BFL... I am going to make some wool shorts or pants out of the yarn. My kids are out of the cloth diapers now pretty much so I'm going to sell these when they're done.

xoxoxo

-jess

Field trip and trying to craft.

2010-06-10T08:45:00.003-04:00

Mac Dougal's last field trip, ever, because our ...I don't like the superintendent. Anyway, it was a GREAT field trip!!! The whole school of over 100 kids went, along with a few siblings, and parents, and teachers. Totally happy event! This is at Lucia Beach in Owl's Head.

My littel guys up front! Tony clung tightly in our arms and the teachers' arms at first, and then we couldn't get him out.

Doggies!!!

Pinkies!

Spinning! This is perfect to have on the patio in the evenings when Nicky wants to be outside, but I can't be far from the kitchen because dinner is cooking. (sorry, SUPPAH.) I'm 2-plying this as soon as that spindle is full. I can't believe I haven't spun much lately... it is a convenient, satisfying way to play with color and to get that sensory satisfaction- the textures, colors; and, with the raw fleece, the smell. Sheep smell good.

- jess

Victory Patio Garden?!!

2010-06-06T14:50:00.003-04:00

Absolutely! This is my 3rd (I believe) year of having a patio garden. I still have the big garden at my mother's house, along with my fruit trees, but this one is right outside my door.

A nice surprise recently was discovered from keeping my eyes open. I found some plants near where my weed bucket was (sadly, not THAT kind of weed...) and on the other side of my patio. Near the weed bucket, I found dill and carrots, already growing!

See?!!

Because I'm a NERD, this has had me way too excited. :D :D :D

The early stages of the 'jungle,' with Nicky's efforts (squash/ zucchini) on the second shelf next to the oregano, which was fou nd on the other side of that stand! I'll tell ya, oregano takes off. It will take OVER. My big garden at mom's house is almost exclusively oregano and it's got to be tilled. However, I've never found an insect bite in my oregano so maybe it's a great thing to have in large quantities.

DILL!

I'm still quilting pretty much every day, but fiber keeps calling me back... this is some yarn I spun up a few years ago on a spindle. I may make it into socks.

Future socks, future *something,* anyway. I'm teaching an extremely sweet friend, D, to spin, and first I'll try her on the wheel. She's helping me fine tune my sewing so it looks amazing and not like shit. ; )

I am SO glad that summer is here. I am SO glad that we have everything we need and a lot of what we want. I'm really quite happy that it has rained almost all weekend, despite not being able to let the kids run much.

I kinda wish Tony came with a volume knob though.

- jess
xoxo

A quilt and a burfday

2010-06-03T11:40:00.002-04:00

This is a quilt, well nearly. Assume the position, M.

My little Tony is 7 now. Hard to believe he was ever a 1 lb kid. He got two cakes- one for school, and one for home. We'll have an actual party sometime this month, a combined one for both boys, since they have a lot of the same friends. (N's birfday is on the 28th) The kids at school sang to him TWICE! I learned a lot about kids and sugar. I'm sure their parents are cursing my name.
At home, we had a Spongebob cake... Of the presents we got him, the toy he played with most was the yellow Spongebob plastic toy on his cake. He played with his little bro and his cousin, Bradley. Nicky really doesn't handle parties well. (This could play out well for Miserly Mike here, haha.)
Also, he took his 'happy burfday cake' out of the fridge and ravaged it this morning before I got downstairs. Hehe. Have fun, teachers. ;)

I love you, mama's sweet baby boy. :)

- jess

Spinning cotton, hand quilting

2010-05-30T18:43:00.002-04:00

I am starting to love spinning cotton. It isn't difficult to do; but for me, it's much easier to spin on a spindle.

The Irish Chain Quilt, with random quilting lines. To the right there, that's the center "block" of blocks, and I may take otu the stitching to m- screw it, I am not taking out the stitching.

The batting is actually a layer of fabric.

I love the different shades of white. I don't love the puckering. And this top was completed before my love of the iron. ;) I have found a few patch up jobs to do, but that doesn't surprise me, because the kids have already used the basted, uquilted quilt. I had it rolled up and sitting on top of the couch and they grabbed it as the mood hit.

Inspired by Wendy, I started a quilt of blocks that highlight prints that I love. Go check out her work, she's amazing and she does EVERYTHING by hand. This could be a whole new way of life.

MANY more pics if you click on the picture above. ^^ ^^

(and if that doesn't work, click here.)

Beep beep...

2010-05-25T14:41:00.001-04:00

053
Originally uploaded by quiltskeet

I'm a very good girl and I iron religiously now. Obsessively, even. The finished squares are measuring 8" and the plan is to put some sashing in between those. Because I don't want to screw it up, I'm going to have my sweet friend Deb help me with that. (she's the one who gave me the pink print there, I love her!!!)

Well, my sewing machine STB so I'm getting the heck out of here for the day. It's hot, gotta get #1 son from school and we're going for a ride.

xoxo
- jess

Hoo!

2010-05-23T09:52:00.002-04:00

Anyone recognize that owl? :) I got this print in a swap and it's a print I'd ogled in the past.

I have a few more done now. Yeah, that right side is like a turd in the punchbowl and I've got to do something about that. I'll probably take it down later and fix that.

So far, it's hard to chose a favorite.

I'm pretty much in love with those owls, and the flowers.

Kittehs!

Still plugging away on the hexies.

Not a lot to say... we've been getting out and about all we can lately, and I'm hoping to stay put as much as I can today to sew, even though it's beautiful out there.

Hoo!
Originally uploaded by quiltskeet

Hexie honeycomb

2010-05-18T12:23:00.001-04:00

Hexie honeycomb
Originally uploaded by quiltskeet

This is a test!
Although I'm not the bandwagon type... here it is. :D I work on these as much as I can, an they go quickly.

Re-vamping

2010-04-20T15:15:00.002-04:00

Sort of. Close friends are moving out and far friends are moving in, both physically and metaphorically. Life with the kids, keeping up with this place (home), blogging. Everything is changing!!! I think we all spend a lot of time wondering if we're really going to realize our dreams, and we always want more. That isn't exclusive to our generation; I daresay the desire to have more (or, even, the most) has been around since primitive times. I'll poke at my anthro man and ask him. He's a wealth of knowledge and I wish he'd share it more.

Because life has been so wild lately, I've been hitting take-out wayyy more than any person should. (in my opinion) Nothing makes me feel so completely unconnected from myself than NOT taking care of us, in my way. I need to bake more. It's about quality, and not about quantity. I lost 40 lbs a few years ago by eating the richest, least diet friendly food, and walking more. That was my mantra: eat less in quantity; eat more variety; eat REAL FOOD... it worked, and I never felt so spoiled.

Also, it's hard to keep up with this place with the boys trashing it all the time. And yet, I know I'll look back someday and cherish those times.

This is a sweetie I started a few months ago by hand, but I want to finish up the piecing on the machine. I'm pretty sure I'm going to hand quilt it, because I love hand quilting and I think machine quilting is a major pain in the ass.

Irish Chain Quilt with a pattern mostly followed from Moda Bake Shop, using HR's FFA prints, and some scraps I had laying around.

I love Moda. I'd like to make EVERYTHING on that site at some point in my life.

I'm clearing out my stash- if I know I'll never use it, and I know I don't LOVE it, then it's gone. If I DO love it, I'm putting it to use. Obviously, some fabrics need to marinate in the closet, but there are some that really need to be used. Mike's old Levi's needed to be used. He couldn't use them anymore in public without being fined thanks to some very naughty rips, so now they're becoming a throw for the couch or the car, or the porch. Tony (#1 son) is patriotic so the stars are for him.

I am still plugging away on the 'log cabin' type quilt. I still think I'm going to machine quilt this, but in strips, and assemble the strips carefully. Like I said, I detest machine quilting. I always get bunches and it really isn't a fun thing for me to do. Of course, I'd probably enjoy it if I took the time to get it right.

Enjoy today, it's beautiful here.

Blue!

2010-04-13T14:00:00.002-04:00

Didja ever meet this guy? My first time playing with paperclay, right here.

I ...I was drawn to blue and white yesterday. I opened up my fabric closet and it's a wreck. I need a better solution. Maybe those plastic bins at WM. I don't like plastic stuff so it's going on the coat closet.
But yeah, blue. I found Mike's old jeans, and I carefully pulled the seams apart where they were already falling apart. There is nothing amazing here- just color, placed somewhat spontaneously in a way that feels good. It's still branching out, and I think this is going to be a lap quilt for the couch, something I can pull out to the patio for the cold nights that I want to be outside, but it's still too damn cold.

Aww. Thweet.

Holes! Mike had some good times in those jeans. I'm not going to tell you about them, though. haha.

It's a gorgeous day, despite a very crazy start to it. Maybe I'll get Tony out on his bike...

One Uninspired Chick...

2010-04-12T12:24:00.001-04:00

I hate this feeling. HATE it. Yes, hate is a strong word, but I'm a strong gal. I'm in that phase that I'm sure everyone gets... I have tons of great things I can make but I cannot get started. Startitis. So I've started a few things here and there, and mournfully (and shamefully?) buried them in a basket or a closet. I will dig them out and finish them within 6 months or they're out of here, well except for the artsy stuff. That can stay, because it needs to marinate.

I've played with paperclay, and it's fun. I am a perfectionist with things like that, so if it doesn't come out perfect, I walk away. Obviously, I need to mature with that a bit. ; ) But it's a new outlet that I absolutely love- it's a way to physically manifest that which 'occupies mental space without permission.' (ideas and obsessions!)

IEP's, fighting like a lady (but with a callous, crude bitch scratching to get out- you know, the REAL me) for a simple PECS program for Nicky that should have been in place 6 months ago, since he's nonverbal and all... now we're working on a laptop for Tony, who IS verbal but barely communicative... trying to get the in-home behavioral therapy at least for N, then for T... It's a fun challenge when it's for someone else and I don't have to live with the consequences of these things not being put into action.

I've discovered that I love the kids' artwork on the wall. A sweet friend of mine gave me an idea: to put up a wall-to- wall studio for them in one of their rooms. I think I may do that.

A blast from the past: This is pinned to an antique apron hanging on my pantry door, so I can look at it and add to it when the mood strikes:

This one reminds me of an aerial view of a city, looking at the rooftops. It's a weak fabric that I hand dyed months ago.

I played with this when I was fiddly and I didn't know what I wanted to work on. (this morning, actually.) Right after I took the picture, it blew away. It will be interesting if I find this again, to see its condition. Today was a farce- it was sooo warm when we put the kids on the bus, and now it's very windy and chilly.

My new love, a log cabin- type quilt that I'm making on the machine. It's going pretty quickly. This one is on its way to being a twin-sized blankie for the boys. I'm not being too fussy about the squares lining up just right, because I want it to look patchy. If one side doesn't equal the other, I grab a scrap to sew alongside so it evens out. I crave formality and perfection, but this feels right. I initially gave myself 2 weeks to finish the top but I don't think that's going to happen, because I'm unmotivated to do that. But it should be within a month. I'm thinking about quilting it in sections, so it will go easier through the machine. The back is going to be done in strips, anyway...

- jess

Hand Quilting on this thing...

2010-03-17T08:58:00.002-04:00

I already know how I'm going to quilt it... I just need to get to that stage.
I don't have the first panel completely done yet, but I couldn't resist seeing how it would look with the border I'd planned. This is a coin quilt in the making, my third. The rectangles are 3x6" and the panel (brown and black), those are 3" wide and random lengths. It's growing on me. Initially, I wanted to use a darker brown, but I love how this shade of brown works with the purple and the turquoise.

I had a few friends IRL ask me how I got it done so fast. (did I get it done fast?!!) Attaching one rectangle to another takes maybe 4 minutes. If the kids are home, I'm lucky to get across one whole rectangle before I have to stop one from piddling down the stairs (seriously.) and the other from dumping out anything he can, or covering the bathroom in shaving cream. (seriously!!!) During the day, I clean, sew, clean, computer, clean, etc. And I'm obsessive and fidgety.

That's about it... the weather is so nice that we're trying to get the heck out of here all we can. :)

- jess

For the baby quilt lady :)

2010-03-15T17:03:00.004-04:00

Descriptions below...

Purple sun... 21x8"
blue unicorns: 20x9.5"
Orange unicorns: 20.5x12"
The other three are fq's... one has damage, check out the pics. Youngest son got my scissors and he wanted to help. ;)

Autism, and a little color...

2010-03-15T13:22:00.003-04:00

I guess it's not just a craft blog!
...where to start. There is a service up here in Maine called section 24, or actually I think they just changed the name to section 29 (?) and it's a behavioral intervention service for kids with behavioral issues, to help them live more safely. We were approved for it a year ago. After this problem and THAT problem and getting lost in this system and that (really, no one ever goes through this, we just had bad luck!) we got hooked up with a great group of people, whose company name I will leave off here so I don't feel bad later. ;) That was in November that they accepted Nicky as a client. They had to hire someone, and they needed more time. We got an extension.

They took too long and we were moved back to the 'pool' to be picked up by another company.

Two months later, we nag nag nag (we= Mike, myself, and our wonderful case management) and we get another meeting set up. They called us the day before: we can't make it. Ok... we nag nag nag again over the course of a few weeks and we get *another* appt set up. A few hrs before we were supposed to meet, they canceled. Again. WTF? They didn't get some info with their other clients in order so they couldn't accept Nicholas. They knew the day before but they didn't call.

Dude, I spent ALL FLIPPIN' DAY making this place perfect. Went out and bought some really good bakery cookies and coffee... which our cm (case management) and we all enjoyed anyway. ;)
Oh, and they were notified by the state office (who runs section 24) TWO MONTHS AGO that Nicky was released back to the pool... and they didn't know until the day before our meeting last week. They're unreliable and I'm done. It's really a pity, because I'd heard so much good about them before and I personally liked them.

So. We're back in the 'pool' again, waiting to get picked up by someone else.

Yes. Well. Sewing: March Madness!!!

I had been unable to shake the grumpies all last week (and especially this weekend, oi vey...) until I went to Alewives Fabrics in Newcastle and I found some bright colors. If the sun comes out from behind the clouds later, I'll get some brighter shots. These are red, turquoise, and key lime with purple stripes. I'm making a twin sized quilt by hand using 3x6" 'charms,' I'd guess you'd call them. (don't blocks have to be square?) This is already a lot of fun. :D :D :D

- jess

When you spin, things come full circle

2010-03-13T16:51:00.004-05:00

GET THIS BOOK!

My arm and my hands have decided, again, that I can't knit right now. I am going to keep trying, but in smaller amounts of time. See, I'm obsessive... I start a sweater, I've got to finish it NOW. I always need to be doing something, I can't sit still.

I did do this though:

I finished Nicky's vest. I won't use this pattern again, because the sizing was way off. But we'll get some use out of it.

Well, maybe not right NOW... he laughed hysterically as he tore off the vest and ran like hell on little tubby legs for the back door. (the bus was on the way anyway)

Ugh. Mike's a closet blonde. That's not what your friends meant by surrounding yourself with... oh nevermind.

March Madness:

The back. Really, there's no plan till I get stitching. I get thinking about the history of quilting, and the people who quilted... I think about randomness, and comfort, and fun, and ducking out of the status quo. And I love red.

The long threads are holding the layers together.

xoxo- Jess

Vest Progress and dyeing.

2010-03-10T15:47:00.002-05:00

Almost done. :D I hope the armholes will be large enough; I am blindly trusting the pattern for now, since fixing it won't be too difficult.

Dyed some roving last week:

^^^ The lighter colored roving is the same color as the darker one... here's what I did. The lighter one, I let the colors just barely grab on, removed it from the dyebath, and I washed and rinsed the colors quite a bit. The darker one, I let the colors exhaust overnight. I painted the lighter colors on, let them 'take,' then I added the darker ones, let THEM get settled in a bit, turned it off, went to bed. Both are corriedale, by the way. I am pretty sure I'll be making socks with those.

Below: Handspun that hasn't quite set yet. On the left is corriedale, and on the right is angora/ merino. The darker angora/ merino was purchased, and the rest of the yarns were dyed by me.

Below: A sweater I made Tony a few years ago from an Alice Starmore book, using O-Wool, which is organic and very, very soft. It has the same hand-feel as Bainin, for those of you who remember that fantastic yarn that I love and miss!!! I took this apart, thinking I would buy another skein or two and make a longer version. The yarn shop doesn't have it anymore. (No, really?!! I am so braindead.) So instead, I bought several skeins of this in light blue and I'm going to make this sweater bigger. The yellow wool here will probably be another cute little vest.

- jess

"She's Faking it."

2010-03-07T11:44:00.002-05:00

I think Mother Nature might be faking it. But today feels like the 50's or so and that feels fantastic. We went up Beech Hill this morning. Tony ran most of the way up and down (about 3/4 a mile each way) and his shoe fell off twice in the mud. Nicky tried to flee the scene and he was kind of a pita about it. The boy is short but he'd make a heck of a point guard. He can turn and run FAST.

"Tony, you need to stretch!" Nicky says.
Tony wonders why he let Nicky take his shoes this morning.

Ahhh. The hilllls are aliiiiiiiiiiiive, with the sound of Hallaaaaaaaaaacks...

What the quilt must look like to the cat.

A sock I'm making for Mike, and you can barely see the stripe join, isn't it- wait, that camera. YES! I found it on the fridge last night. Why did I not look there? Because I wouldn't have put it there. Mike did. Dickweed. So we have 2 cameras now.

I finished the soaker. This one, I'm keeping for Nicholas to use at night. He's pretty well potty trained now, but we still have some issues at night.

I've got tons of handspun yarn now I've got to upload later.

Hand dyed, handspun

2010-03-04T12:09:00.003-05:00

(

Hand dyed corriedale. Sorry the pic is so dark, the weather is crazy here.

Left and right yarns: from the above roving, single ply. Middle, merino/ angora, also single ply.
I split the roving up just a little so I could get the darker colors in one skein and the lighter colors in the other.

Angora and merino. ::drools:: I think this is going for the cuff of some wool pants. It's also pictured above.

Corriedale wool, unprocessed except for being washed and dyed. (not roving) Green, turquoise, and yellow/ orange. Again, the weather is wacky here so the pictures are dark. I believe this will be a 2-ply worsted yarn!

(another) MST3K quote of the day: She DID know where the horses were...

Handspun color and the way to the soul...

2010-03-04T11:49:00.003-05:00

Sorry for mother's absence; she's been playing horsies with me and fenagling our IEP's and case management and battling the winter blah's. --Tony

(and shopping... )

But I've been knitting, too! This is some yarn I got in a shop in Brunswick, Maine... a tweedy vest for Nicky.

Marriner's Revenge:

...now becoming a small/ medium soaker!

Socks for me, all handspun. The heels are Navajo plied (three ply) and hand dyed by me over the summer. The fibers are all blue faced leicester. (BFL)

I can't get enough of spinning and knitting lately. Especially baby knitting, because it goes more quickly. I'm making up some soakers/ pants (handspun!) that I will put up for sale at some point on etsy. I love combining colors with handspun and I love how one roving can become so many different yarns. It's nice to know that everything can be made beautiful. If you're not involved in fiber arts, I am begging you to get involved right now. The tactile, almost full sensory pleasure is a therapy; the expression of color is a third eye to the soul.

MST3K quote of the day: What would Mitchell do?

-- jess

Spinning change

2010-02-22T17:24:00.003-05:00

I got a wheel. Louet S-17 kit, and it has made spinning go a wee bit faster than a spindle. I didn't realize until I sat down to spin last night how much I missed the quiet conversation that goes on between my mind and the spinning fiber, and the wheel. I'm so glad to have that comfort back.
Psst- that's my favorite chair and I used to keep it in Nicky's room, to sit with him as he fell asleep.

Below: My handspun 2-ply (on a spindle) alpaca/ silk, knit up into the beginnings of an EZ Pi Shawl. This shawl is ...like memory knitting, in a way. As you knit on this shawl, it picks up the events in your life. I've made this one before, and I can remember being at *this* point when *this* happened.

I spindle spun and 2-plied this hand dyed BFL over the summer/ fall, and now the yarn is becoming a pair of just-above-the-ankle socks for me. The blue half-row knitted there is a placeholder for a heel.

Awww dat Nicky. He stayed home with us today, sick as heck. Puked on my twice. If it happens a third time, ...aww I can't even joke about leaving him outside... I'm a sucker for a sick kiddo.

On the wheel now: Mariner's Revenge, bought on Etsy. It's corriedale, my favorite wool, and I can't wait to make this up into more socks for me! I've knit a few pairs for DH and the kids but only one pair for me.

Brains... yummy.

2010-01-22T17:17:00.002-05:00

I'm trying different techniques to make this dude more creepy. Still not sure of his gender, but DH believes he needs buttcheeks, so he'll have buttcheeks. And hair. Oh yes, and he'll wear flannel.

His mouth looks too friendly. I can only hope the red part is from eating the brains of his peers.

- jess

Moving the needle

2010-01-21T22:12:00.002-05:00

It started as a log cabin obsession. Then I decided I didn't like my quilting on the log cabins. THEN I saw hearts everywhere, and vines... my heart is in a log cabin.
I love gardening. I wish I could do it year round, like DH used to do growing up in CA. But we're in Maine and there is a lot of snow outside. We have a pumpkin left over from fall that needs to be planted in ma's garden. (It's my garden but it's in HER yard, haha :)

Spring is so hard to see, but those vines will be everywhere and I can't wait!

That little heart inside the heart is from an old, old Christmas stocking that had fallen apart, and it had been either drapes or upholstery before that, I'm sure. Now, it's very delicate.

Dude, hide your shame!

Those are sweet little hands. More to come!

Who the heck AM I?

2010-01-01T19:08:00.002-05:00

The more I read peoples' blogs, the more I get lost in what they want me to see about who they are... most people will obviously omit the parts of themselves they'd rather we didn't know about them. Of course, most people want us to see primarily their strengths and their creativity and their worth. You may think I'm being critical about that, but I'm really not. I can't imagine watching some tender soul stick out their neck to tell me who they are (or who they'd like me to think they are) and striking them down with humiliation and rejection. Gosh, there is far too much of that in our lives, isn't there?

My best friend says I'm too nice... but I'm not. I'm a bitch when I need to be- especially when it concerns the kids, and as a last resort. But the core of who I am is nurturing.

I don't judge art at all, or at least harshly. Who the heck am I to judge? I know what I like. That's all I know. I think people pretend to know more, for possibly pompous and self- indulgent reasons. I look for intent; why the person made what they did, how they did it... but really, WHY they did it. I hate pretentiousness, with wine and with art. I love the quality of both, and if I don't like a particular wine, I assume it's my tastes, unless something has gone horribly wrong. But that, in my opinion, is more often the fault of the ingredients, and not of the creator. Sometimes it IS the fault of the creator. But the sun can't shine on the same dog's ass everyday, yanno.

I love sensory stimulation. I love sincerity. I think we all need to have more fun. I think we need to take out crayons and paints and whatever paper or surface we can find and make it our own. Carlin said it best: Make your own path today, even if it doesn't go anywhere. People need to play more. Depression, recession, regression, suppression. Naughty, naughty, naughty.

I'm 32 and I am still finding myself. That is a book that started shortly before birth, and I am quite sure it'll never be finished. That's a very good thing!

Again, with the cell phone. I have always loved log cabin quilts. This time, I want to play with color. Playing with color is so fun. And it makes warm blankies!

This will definitely be crib-sized... I may give it to my 7 year old nephew for a cuddle blanket.

I have tried NOT hiding from the kids lately; instead, I am taking several times per day to play with some form of art. Tony (#1 son) has been asking for watercolor painting quite a bit. Nicky (#2 son) and I haven't quite figured out his medium yet, but he does love crayons and beans, and anything with movement. Our local art studio mentioned something about marble painting and I can't wait to try that with Nicky next time we are there.

This is Nicky's work tonight. It was interesting to watch him paint- to try to figure out why he made this the way he did, or if he didn't really HAVE any intentions, except to make some pretty colors in a way pleasing to him on paper.

Numbah 1 son made this. I asked him what it was several times. (some background: he's 6 and although he's mostly verbal, he doesn't answer questions too often) He told me it was a hand, a flower, an orange... and then an orange painting.

I really love what they do. : )

No camera... grr.

2009-12-28T12:52:00.002-05:00

#2 son took off with my camera. I don't know where it is! So these are taken from my phone.

I decided to try watercolors. I have no idea what the heck I'm doing but it is really relaxing.

Tony has, too! I like how he wrote his name... that's 'NY' up top, he makes sideways 'y's. He is so proud of this!

He also made this, which I love, in school.

I'm hand stitching some Civil War repro fabrics into a lap quilt for the couch/ car, since we never have enough. I can't bring myself to use the machine anymore. I need something to do that doesn't require instant gratification...

I will post more later. I'm about 3/4 of the way done with an Irish Chain Quilt from Moda, using Heather Ross Far Far Away prints. I'm not a 'trendy' fabric kinda gal but her prints are so nostalgic for me.

We had a GREAT Christmas! I don't do resolutions, but this year will be filled with even more 'finding ourselves.' I'm going to plot out even more amazing, delicious ways to eat healthy, steer clear of the processed stuff (and drive thru's, may the various Gods help me with that) and cook, cook, cook- which I love to do, anyway. I'm going to try out a recipe for oatmeal bread later, and profiteroles.

Nicky is the original dump 'em out, s&m kid. Don't take that the wrong way. He dumps everything out, slams doors (like for hours if we'd let him) and he loves to be corrected. We don't hit him, mostly because he'd like it too much. Tony wrestles hard with him and he literally begs for more, lol. Even now, he's throwing a toy down the stairs and saying, 'Nitty, NO!' hoping I'll go stop him. He has a hard time pronouncing 'k' so he pluggs in 't'. We've got an eval in a few weeks to determine meds for him. I keep putting it off, hoping behavioral therapy alone will help, but it really isn't and things are getting worse. We have in- home behavioral help coming within a few weeks, so he'll have help @ school and here, as well. He is a really bright kid, but his behaviors are at an impulsive 18 month level. His teachers are all inspired by his progress, and they're helping him and challenging him- thank heavens, no one has given up on him. I'm about ready to run away most nights though... But then I look at him snuggled up sleeping and I realize how much I love him and how much he needs me... Oh yes and I taught him to sew. :)

Tony is progress, progress, progress. He has incredible selective hearing. Phonics and art are his strong points, and imitation- he can imitate inflections to near perfection. I can see him acting. Both boys have lots of little friends in and out of school, but the girls fight over him (literally) and he is so clueless to it sometimes. Socially, he has a way to go to catch up, but my little 1 lb preemie is a major inspiration for me. He doesn't know the word 'victim' or the phrase 'self pity.' I have a lot to learn from him.

Mike is still doing really great. Still bald. Still does laundry, still doesn't listen unless I put suggestive words in front of what I want him to do. You want a guy to listen, mention T&A someplace in the request. They WILL hear it.

There ain't no easy way out

2009-11-23T20:38:00.003-05:00

::fanning self:: Tom Petty. Ooooh yeah. :-D

Mike said it looks like it says Manos. I told Mike he looked like my a... anyway, this is on my blankie. :-D MAMA'S Loves.

Mama vs. Nicky. Nicholas picked this fabric out a few years back and I made him a blankie. Really simple- front and back is this green print, and the middle was batting. It has been dragged for miles down the street on long walks, and it's been to both of his schools. Already he has the deep love of textiles.

You be- illin.' I started this blankie after Tony had croup. He was premature, and any sort of lung illness seems to whoop his butt. Nicky had a fever this weekend. Today, I picked up Nicky at noon, and six kids were waiting for their moms because they had a fever. Then, N's teacher asked me to check out T because HE felt warm. So I took him home. He's fine. It must have been boogie fever. Heh. Yes, I'm an idiot like this IRL, too. :)

I'm only just learning how to use colors, textures, and patterns to reflect how I feel, and who I am. I hope I'm always 'just learning.' Mastery is no fun, because mastery means you're at the end- there is nothing else to learn. Christmas, denim, old traditional patterns; old, worn, but very soft shirts... this is what I feel, and it's what I love. Familiarity, color, structure.

The background is a remnant from an old, very very worn quilt. The left heart is the back of another worn quilt. The right heart is new fabric.

...

2009-11-16T13:54:00.003-05:00

I'll get you a Satanic Mechanic...

2009-11-16T11:12:00.001-05:00

Color and comfort-

2009-11-15T20:09:00.003-05:00

Not much to say. Ok that's a load of BS. Nothing much INTERESTING to say. Well, except that I ordered some fabric here and there off etsy.com. Oh how I love thee. Silk kimono clippings... hand dyed silk, shibori...

Hobo quilt! I cannot tell you how much I love making this one. I haven't taken my sewing machine out of the closet in months. I want to make another one of these, but in black, gray, and white. Maybe a dash of salmon pink.

Croup, the one I started when Tony was sick. Grey cat wants to steal the limelight, of course. We have two kitties now- White Cat, who has been with the family for ...8 years, I think. And this little dude, Grey Cat, who came from a neighbor who loved him, but whose 2 year old munchkin didn't do so well with him.

Edging! I blew the ass out of my favorite jeans, so now they're being used to *hug* my Croup. Plaid fabric: LL Bean from the SS. The long strings that came off the pants when I tore them into strips were used as some of the stitches in the Hobo blankie... what a neat way to recycle.

Nicky wouldn't let me take a decent picture. He used the toilet every time we reminded him to do so today. He also did something vile to the carpet. But as long as he was reminded, he did so well!!!

Mama loves her bebes. :o)

Old and New.

2009-11-05T20:49:00.002-05:00

I picked up a quilt top a while back, courthouse steps, at a local antique place for $16... I believe I blogged about it. Every single piece of that quilt top is amazing... although it isn't backed, it is two layers of fabric. It's sitting on the couch right now. I cherish this piece of history that was lovingly sewn together with needle and thread by a skilled woman, long before I was born.

Enter: Frankly, I don't know.

I sent the kids on the bus this morning, and M was upstairs, recovering from a night of ...fun. Ok technically he was working, but it's more of a hobby, I swear. For almost an hour, I was cutting slowly, positioning pieces, re-positioning pieces... and I caught a glimpse of that quilt. The patterned fabric is vegetable dyed, and the white is from curtains that were in a pile to be thrown out at the swap shop. The hand feel is wonderful. I don't freakin' think so, bub. This fabric... shall LIVE!

Basted, waiting to be stitched. Approx. the size of a FQ. It will, likely, either be added to my big blanket or it will go on the wall.

This little gem! This here was a tiny piece among many that was left over from a small quilt I made months ago... from fabric adopted from the swap shop. I found it in the bathroom... Nicky (the 5 year old eloping madman) stashes some of his treasures under the sink, and apparently, this was one that he'd left behind. I love that kid. ::) The lady in blue, she's some sweet...

I think I'm going to hide the apple cider... it is amazing, though.

Same Shit, Different Day.

2009-11-04T20:44:00.003-05:00

Sort of, anyway. Nicky's behavior is getting a wee bit more dangerous. He's always had an elopement issue (running off) but we've kept him safe. We bolted the doors and we both check them before bedtime, along with bunjee'ing the fridge and the pantry. We lock the downstairs bathroom, because he'll flood it. We shut off the water to the upstairs bathroom. Our windows are all set up so he cannot open them past 3", except for our bedroom, which is locked, unless we're up there with them.

He always wakes us up when he gets up.

Well, at 5:30 am today, he sure did not.

He busted out. He grabbed a stool (I didn't even know he could pick it up!) and he moved it to the door and he un-bolted it. Got outside. Opened our two neighbors' vans. (**an aside: I live in an apt complex, fortunately (?) and these people are friends!**) One of the neighbors wasn't asleep yet- he's a night owl- and he grabbed N and brought him in, called up to us. He's a close family friend who has BTDT with his own.

We got alarms for the doors this morning once the kids were at school. We'll hear the alarm in our bedroom, but he won't hear it at the front door. We tested it and it works great.

Despite him being a major pain in the ass, I love him so much... in fact, I love him FOR being a pita. He's mama's baby and dada's boy... (Tony is mama's big boy and dada's burrito boy.) As time goes on, I occasionally become more afraid that I'll lose him... however, we'll persevere and we'll keep him safe. We're a happy, loving, close, completely whacked-out-of-our-mind family and we're going to stay that way. haha. :)

Sewing: I get some time to do that, but not much. I expect that to improve tomorrow!

See? I've been doing some strange things. The denim is from a favorite pair of jeans that blew out someplace you don't want to see. The puffiness between the stitches is a sensory joy. The lavender, I dyed that a while back. I don't want to dye fabric again. My hat goes off (and my money flies out) to those with the courage and the desire to dye fabric!

Something old, something new... something ...hmm, something from the back of a quilt and from the swap shop, and something blue? Not in that order, though.

Playing around with saturation, I was able to show off the wrinkly puffiness I love so much!

I tried. I honestly tried. I am not very good at all at taking pictures. OBVIOUSLY. This below is insanity. I felt lost, sitting at the table... which is where I sew. I had no pull to work on my basket blankies (my ongoing projects) so I had to do something! I grabbed three baskets of scraps and some bigger pieces and I let my fingers do the rest. I didn't care about color or shape. I LOVE this thing... it reminds me of one I did a while back.

I cannot get this whole blanket in one shot. Things are changing... I have removed some things here, and I've added some things there. My favorite author, I paraphrase, said this: 'A man can't step into the same river twice. The man changes, and the river changes.' I don't know what I'm doing- I can't possibly. There is a perverse- and thrilling- comfort in knowing that.

Peace, love, hugs, black coffee, and piece of mind to everyone.

Silence

2009-10-29T13:21:00.001-04:00

Holy Frozen Milkshakes, Batman!

2009-10-15T14:18:00.004-04:00

It got cold really fast. But this keeps me warm!!!

These are some $1.99 batik dyed remnants from the quilt shop... I think they're rayon but they feel like the softest cotton. I generally cannot stand the feel of fabric that isn't cotton- except the occasional wool and *maybe* silk. But this fabric is fabulous.
Croup:

Just before Midnight- Darkness falls across the land... the midnight hour is close at hand... not sure if that's exact but it's how I remember that great song from my childhood:

A picture of Mike took of the hahbuh, bub. Right wicked, guy.

loves ya,
- jess

Continued Usefulness

2009-10-10T14:22:00.005-04:00

I'm getting slightly better at manipulating the camera. Sandra, over at My Inspired Heart- check my faves- she is my hero.

So, most of the fabrics I got turned out to be rather delicate. I loved them for what they once were, and I love them for what the are.

This one is a critter. : )

EYE will be watching you. Heh. This thing is so thick in places that it's an absolute pleasure to touch and to cuddle. Via advice from Jude (go there now!) I am not using batting- just layers of fabric. The feel is wonderful.

Then, I found a stack of cloth diaper inserts that were falling apart. Wanting to keep them a part of the family still, they are here and there and everywhere in this blankie. I got nostalgic. I found the mattress- like print that my grandmother (Grammy) had stashed in a box of treasures. This I found to be odd, since she didn't sew, and this was the only piece. I still have some left over; it was only a 5x5" square, roughly. Then, the stockings I got at the antique place... an older than me, unused, dishtowel, some flannel. The blue and the white down there is so soft!

So soft!

Two of hearts, who remembers that song? haha.

Off to play. Have a great day. :o)

Swag Time!

2009-10-07T14:40:00.003-04:00

I was waiting to get my hair and eyebrows done this morning. I get my hair done a few times a year, and I hadn't done my eyebrows since July/ Aug. It perks me up a bit when I get a little treat like that. I would rather put the money elsewhere usually!
Yes. Well, back to the story. Killing time... kid free, M says, 'What should we do?' Silence. "We could go to the antique place on Rankin Street." he says. Begrudgingly, but wanting to make him happy and make HIM feel spoiled, I went. They have a great staff and a cute, gigantic dog.

I found *so* many fabrics, cloths, quilts... I picked up a few and I love them more than any quilt shop find I've bought, ever. So many deals!

Handwoven:

(the fabric to the right, those are jammie pants I found at the swap shop a few yrs ago, and they marinated in the closet till I found a place for them... I think I have one now!)

Only a little bit of the swag I snagged. That fabric at the bottom left, I adore. I've had a few prints similar over the years... I think they're 50's prints, kind of a home on the range feel.

Ooooh. Almost twin sized quilt top, all hand stitched. ::whispers:: $18!

MORE swag. Oh how I love these prints.

I am still trying to get the hang of this new camera. It's a Sanyo 12 S1275. Wish me luck.

I wanna go back...

2009-10-06T16:50:00.003-04:00

GOSH I love me some Eddie Money.

We finally got a new camera. I'll be damned ("Most Likely..." <-- Satan's Cheerleaders) if I can get it just right. But below is some fun. I'd been stitching here and there, on lots of things that I really don't know if you want to see, frankly. Then Saturday- nothing, I couldn't *do* anything, despite desperately wanting to do something.

Then Tony woke up at 10 pm and he couldn't breathe. This is my 1 lb preemie guy, now a 40 lb 6 year old. He has always been very healthy. He was coughing, had a fever, etc. Well I know that everyone says that when a kid has those symptoms, it's croup, take 'em outside in the fresh air. My emt basic class kicked in instead... stridor, blocked airway, go to ER. And I am not an ER fan. (the people there are awesome, but the germs sure aren't)

After a night spent there, I couldn't sleep, because M had to work about 1.5 hrs after we got back, and I know that Nicky would have turned the place upside down.

Lack of sleep. Completely whacked out of his head #2 son. Sick but getting better #1 son. Croup. That's it! This is croup.

More pics to come, I just need to figure out how to get fabulous pics with this camera.

Mama's boy with a late birthday present, since all hell broke loose this summer and he couldn't get what I wanted to give him then. Note that all the crayon is off the wall, courtesy of mama spending an hour with Mr. Clean eraser.

Mama's baby, my new pillow, and this is pre-stealing Tony' game. (he got a different toy, but he wanted this and the box... @@)

A post without pictures!

2009-09-29T18:59:00.003-04:00

Finally got my computer back after being away from it for ages... well, a few weeks. I have been doing a ton of sewing. Inspiration comes and goes...

Kids are fine, although Nick went through some hell with the school... he's got autism (pretty severe symptoms, despite him being a gorgeous cuddly charmer!) and they didn't structure his day, just kept him in a room and took him for walks and to play, and tons of love from the staff, parents, and kids... but he needed structure and boundaries... and I cut him back, getting him out at 12:30'ish every day. Now he's better than ever! He's back to being my Nicky pants. My eating-the-cat food, dragging his forehead across the window, oven door slamming, flooding, PITA perfectly lovable Nicky love. And yes, he does lick the windows. ; ) hehe.

I'm trying to find myself with sewing... I love spontaneously grabbing bits of fabric and stitching them, and I love trying to sew my dreams (pics to come), and I love making traditional quilts. I haven't used my sewing machine in ages, except for a quickie pillow dealy.

- jess

green

2009-09-15T13:46:00.002-04:00

Green is a brilliant color that I take for granted far too often.

Last night, I dove into some FQ's. I'm going to alternate these two blocks, in different prints, for the quilt. It's all hand sewn! I love knowing I can make a quilt up really quick, but this process really doesn't take that long. Probably because I'm too fidgety.

Nice wall, eh? You should see Tony's .

Nicky got up at 2 am. We have to get up with him. We took turns. Then we both fell asleep out of sheer exhaustion. N broke a lampshade, un-bungee'd the fridge and broke some eggs, broke that green jug in the entry below... and much more, in just a 20 min timeframe. We also have a second window broken, but not shattered. We're finally getting some decent case management now so we're going to have help. Also, we're having another big eval done for him.

He's a difficult kid.. He's generally worth it.

Busy Beaver...

2009-09-14T13:28:00.002-04:00

I have been sewing quite a bit lately, but I've also been dealing with the kids and the back to school transition stuffs, so I haven't blogged.

70's placemat:

A really neat, almost creepy looking spot!

My place to doodle.
Mostly vintage stuff.

White Cat. That's her name!

Big quilt: found sitting in the closet with some screwed up machine quilting all puckered up and abandoned a few years ago. I pulled the stitching out and now I'm hand quilting it. Might be a donation to the food pantry. Yes, I know they can't actually eat it but I bet they'd like some cuddly quilts. Small quilt: Flying Geese for Paityn, my BF's bebe girl.

And now for something completely different...

Flying Geese

2009-09-03T15:46:00.004-04:00

But first: an old curtain. I love it. It is now in my vintage pile- which is old, used, and beautiful. Curtains, pants, shirts, jackets- almost always cotton, but if I love it, I grab it. All free, too!!!

Flying Geese! This is Paityn's little blankie, and the quilting is about halfway done.

Oooooh I can't wait to give this to Jamie! (P's mama)

I got a wild hair you know where and I grabbed some big needles and some handspun yarn... It's a quickie shawl that I can knit while I'm waiting a few mins here and there, and especially at bedtimes, while I'm standing guard upstairs so the kids can't sneak down.

Purchasing a fat quarter or two when I can, I'm building up a really sweet little FQ stash. I love FQ's. I saw an old quilt in an antique/ 'junk' type shop, and when I get some $$, I'm going to buy it. No batting in that quilt but it still feels like it would be warm. It's a square in a square... kind of.

Feeling AMAZING-

2009-08-31T17:16:00.002-04:00

Tony started the first grade today, and Nicky started kindergarten. It went well. Tony is in the same class as a few of his classmates from last year. He really did well! Nicky dumped his lunch on the floor, twice. He threw things. He acted up. He got freaked out at all the people (it's an overstimulating environment even for adults!) and... he has great teachers, including a 1:1 and a day program manager that is FABULOUS. She understands him. I love her already, so much. So, it was a rough start, but I'm sure they'll get in a good rhythm for him within the week. (his dumping and throwing and attacking me is an issue) Mike and I had a grrrrrrrreat day together, too. I'm hoping we'll have more like that. :-)

It feels like fall out there. My feet are freezing! I love it. I'm a homemaker at heart, so 'nesting' and canning and freezing and making blankets for the winter feels like pure bliss. I am in my element, after feeling really fucked up this summer. Yes, I used a naughty word. Spank me, I am a baaaad girl. :o)

This is what I'm working on right now.

A star quilt! This one is machine pieced, and I bet it will be machine quilted. These go rather quickly, as I can get one star done within 25 mins, well just the sewing time. I'm going to border the orange with brown, I think... then a border of scraps, then another brown border (that's the plan, anyway) and binding. It's going to be twin sized, since the kids are desperately in need of more quilts. I think I only have two for each...

...some of the best things in life are fresh, and frozen, and local... raspberries, blueberries, honey, and milk, all local. Does a soul good.

Ahh. Dis be a flying geese quilt for my best friend's baby... she's a year old and I haven't made her a quilt yet. Shame on me. It's hand pieced, and it will be hand quilted. This thing is going fast! I just started it yesterday. It's going to be *maybe* 30" square. I'm using some Moda squares I got on sale, it reminds me of a picnic and I think the name has something to do with that.

I leave you with a shot of homemade chocolate syrup, recipe courtesy of this amazing photographer!!!

I am seriously trying not to eat this by the spoonful, as I'm trying to lose enough weight to be able to wear my favorite jeans and breathe in them simultaneously.

Fibah!

2009-08-29T09:52:00.003-04:00

I HAVE done a little sewing- no, a lot. I am working on diamonds, on a Lone Star kind of quilt. But it's in the closet and I feel a-w-f-u-l so I won't get into sewing till later. I have the flu from head to toe, courtesy of #2 son.

Thanks to the cold weather that has finally returned, I feel like I am in my element again. Finally, I can make strawberry jam that sets. And I can stand being in the kitchen long enough to make bread, pickles (2 batches already!) and cookies for the kids.

This is three ply (Navajo) Blue Faced Leicester I spun up around the beginning of the summer... I am not feeling a whole lot of love for these socks I am making for Mike. I am taking them out, I think. Not sure of what I'm doing with the yarn yet.

Same dyes, different dye job. I thick-and-thin spun this beauty, I think, in the spring. Maybe last fall? I was reading my EZ Almanac book, and I thought I'd make one square for every handspun that I can... since I usually spin sport weight, and thick and thin, I'd have two blankets- one for each weight of yarn. A fiber memory blankie.

Ooooh those colors. I think I'm going to get some merino, and corriedale, and dye 'em up. I'll do one that reminds me of November, in yellow and brown only. And another that reminds me of early fall; in red, brown, orange, plum... do you ever feel overwhelmed by all the things you want to do? I do, and I don't like having a lot of half finished projects laying around. It's rather a dilemma.

Spun up 2 months (?) ago, plied the other night. She wore a raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaspberry beret...

C'est froid...

2009-08-26T22:24:00.004-04:00

Finally cooled off so much tonight that I AM COLD. Fabulous, bout time.
Today has been a rather insane day. But I think it's the last of the really crazy days for a little while. Big stuff, little stuff. However, I end the night knowing I'm blessed; I am grateful, and I have love, and food, and life, and God.

And sewing!
I don't know what I want anymore. I know I love to dabble... I love crazily piecing things together, to amuse myself, and to comfort myself. But I keep looking at these templates I have with imaginary googly eyes, begging me to use them...

I had to do this. As I said, I had a rough day. Mike and I got talking about comfort, and I thought about my softest fabrics. (Minus the HR, we don't toy with that shit. That's being saved for something else.)

So I did this. I kept getting frustrated, and angry, and upset (rough day, I even got zapped by the lamp so bad it melted the metal!) and then, I got excited. Red and blue! Soft and soft and soft. Colors! It looks good to me and it feels so wonderful. I don't even know what to DO with it but I'll do something- save it as a patch for a future quilt, or hang it up somehow, or make it into a pillow... (no, not a pillow...)

This works for me right now. It was one of those blunt, 'YEAH. That's it.' moments. I'm going to use up all the scraps I can. I am planning on doing this one by hand. The grandmother's flower garden dealy I have sitting in the closet... I am going to do two or three flowers per month, and I should have enough for a twin sized blankie by the end of the year.

I can't handle unfinished work, because I always feel too guilty. :-)

The green prints are from Crafty Beana, and the bottom left and right are from a Moda pack I got on sale, and the top two are from that 50's print a few entries down the page. Finished size will be 2" wide for each piece.

That is all. :o) Hope everyone is having a great summer!

Slow your roll, Beavis.

2009-08-24T11:33:00.002-04:00

The little pieces, I give all my attention... just like we do with our kids... and as they get bigger, we trust that they can do some things on their own, so we back off a bit... we give it space.

I caught myself doing that with the quilt.

I am not going to un-do it, but I AM going to give more detail again... I'm giddy with excitement to see the finished item, and I need to slow down and focus. I love having these little bits of detail here and there; sometimes it's so miniscule that only I would notice it and that's a secret between the quilt and myself.

I think the binding looks neat with these prints. It's a Batik that Nicky picked out at Jo Ann's.

The back. Those colors are fabulous together. I need to do one quilt that is only black, white, and red.

Hopefully more later!

chinese prints

2009-08-21T18:03:00.003-04:00

Nicky graduated from preschool today, and here he is, with his beloved teacher. I love this pic.

Lovin' these prints... and the way they're coming together. All the colors have a special feel about them. And I love looking at those little human made stitches... definitely not consistent, but cute.

Needle and thread, my bread and water.

Hearts, and patches.

And I felt like messing around. I'm sure you've all played with these pot holder looms at some point in time. This one was $3.00 at Reny's. That's my handspun yarn there. I just zigzagged the yarn across and then I used a crochet hook to weave. Lots of fun. This could be the start of a beautiful relationship.

It's like night and day.

2009-08-18T13:55:00.002-04:00

Finished this last night instead of joining Mike and some friends for a beer. Hah. Sorry the shot is blurry, I can't seem to get a decent pic of ANYTHING with this camera.
In the end, I love this thing. It's on the big chair in our living room right now. Final measurements are about the size of a really big receiving blanket, or maybe two small ones.

So what's next? Chinese/ Japanese prints, from my local quilt shop. To touch this fabric is divine. Such a soft, fabulous drape.
Sometimes, like writing a story, it's hard to start sewing... you just have to jump in, and fill the beginning parts in later.

The Chinese kids prints are so sweet... I look at them and I smile!

This part here, I think I will repeat throughout the quilt- which, by the way, will ideally be for our bed. And it's seamless!!! And it will stay that way. My method is to take an old white square of fabric, and stitch all this on top of it (and to the adjoining pieces, if that makes sense).

Off to the beach to scare the natives with my bathing suit. I'm just crazy enough to do it!
--- jess

Home stretch; what's next?

2009-08-17T22:50:00.002-04:00

What's next? A few squares to put aside for a quilt someday- patches I can't get out of my head... then, this thing. I can't explain it, I just have to DO it. And it will most certainly involve my new HR prints. :-D

I am almost done with this insane quilt I am doing. It isn't square or rectangular. ::squeals because I'm a freak:: Damn the quilting status quo. This thing has four sides; and on two of those sides, I didn't feel like trimming the blocks back, so there is this piece sticking out and this curve... But I am binding it now and it looks so neat. Primitive, definitely. And WILD. I love it. THIS is the thing that makes me want to dance--- not the quilt itself, but the making of the new path for myself... taking matters into my own hands... not giving a shit, about ANYTHING. Just having fun. Life is short; but it's long, too. It's full of pleasure, if we're willing to feel it.

Waves.

Totally primitive corner. Mermaid print on one side, and 50's print on the other.

More in progress. This print evokes a time in my grandmother's apartment, and all the old, but fabulous decor she had. Such a comfort to be there... the old-school white plastic mug in which I always had my ginger ale, the owl mug in which I always had my tea with a ton of sugar, dash of milk, and toast for dunking... the pillow with the design that looked like it said 'HE' all over it if you looked at it diagnoally... and that godforsaken Elvis poster she had. I think it was velvet.

This will be a great new cuddle blanket for the couch (for me!!!) or the car (for the kids. grr. I will share if I must. :-)

looking through the heat...

2009-08-16T17:05:00.003-04:00

Toosies...

New things... lots of Heather Ross... and I FINALLY found out the story today behind her drama. I will be blowing $100 (if possible, and more!!!) on this new line before it's extinct, hopefully next week. Right now I am on the prowl for organic fabrics, and loosely woven fabrics. And scraps. Let me know if you want to get rid of some.

CHAOS! The neat freak in me, the person who needs geometry in a quilt, is bound and gagged, and I'm not sure where she is. This is soooo fun. And soft. And a tactile dream. My youngest son, Nicky, he craves stimulation. He will often take materials and rub them up against his face and lips... breathing it in. I think he gets that from me.

Angora meets flannel. :-D

What I believe to be a '50's print, and I have some more... I got it at the swap shop over a year ago.

To the heart, tick tock you don't stop...

2009-08-14T10:52:00.004-04:00

Slightly unrelated: Tahitian Hip-Hop will help you discover muscles you didn't even know you had.

My experiment: Step outside of my comfort zone. My comfort zone is everything lining up JUST SO, and geometrically sensible.

WELL then.

I have some new, some old fabrics... embroidery, lace, different textures; some seams are on the back, and some pieces are sewn overlapping other fabrics. I'm doing this because it's what my hands want to do... not because it makes sense, or because someone might love it. *I* love it. Every piece was placed where it was, because at the moment it was placed, it felt good to see those pieces together.

You know when you were a kid- or, even now, as an adult, if you are lucky--- when you put together those journals for school (or home) and you took the stamps to them, stickers, different colored pens, markers, crayons- anything goes, right? Whatever feels good. That's what this is for me. And it feels fantastic and liberating. And exciting. And I am well aware that it's just fabric.

I feel about this project the way I used to feel about music as a kid: I would practice my flute for HOURS every single day, for years. I was first chair. I loved it. I would play random notes and make up songs, many that I didn't even write down, because at that moment, it was important for my insides to come out- to clear my head and make room for psychological and spiritual growth. So every spare moment, I am working on this quilt, this fabric.

FAITH. A big part of who I am. Through all the hell on earth, faith (in anything) will carry you through.

A face. The lips, I love.

Critters... with TEETH!

New adventures through the needle...

2009-08-10T11:04:00.002-04:00

I have been doing -a great deal- of hand sewing lately. It's self regulating, and using up my scraps has made me feel like I'm doing the right thing, that I'm being thrifty. And, of course, that justifies more stashing, right? You're damn right it does.

I'm not entirely feeling the love with these anymore... but I think I'll finish it into a lap-sized quilt for the couch or the car. I believe the hex's finish into about 2" or a little smaller. I'm not using papers, and the seams are scant. I'm pressing them to the side, which is off for me- I usually press them open. But I'm hand stitching throughout, and the seams are so tiny, that this is the only sensible thing to do. (for me, anyway... don't get offended, y'awl.)

Each patch has it's own attitude... The pink one is all diva, and the brown one evokes fall, and the white, gosh, white? With all boys? Time to reload the crack pipe.

Random. This just sort of hit me last night, perusing the hand quilting pictures on the net. It got me thinking, and it got me excited: Don't be afraid, try something new... a Carlin quote piped in, 'make your own path, even if it doesn't go anywhere.'

So. Homey. Not like Homey-G (screw it, that works, too) but home on the range 'homey.' I got out my favorite flannel prints, and an old LL Bean chamoix that I found at the swap shop that had holes in it, some beads, buttons, and fabrics that looked and felt *fabulous.* I put them in an arrangement that looked pleasing at the time... I'm trying to branch out, and plug in something besides square. See that striped flannel up there that feels so soft you can't resist touching it? I need to try circles... applique... embroidery. I don't know why this piece is happening; it's like a new beginning, new energy, NO FEAR. Who cares if it looks like a dump when it's done. It's going to be a soft, snuggly, homey looking dump and it'll be a dump you'll want to snuggle.

On the red: I attached the plaid to the blue flowers with the plaid overlapping, and I used little stitches, two rows, to look cute. Then I threw in one line in the middle for decoration. It feels good to do it and it feels good to look at it. Hard to see on the bottom right, but that's some beading I threw in. I have had these in the closet for years. I made one stitch in the fabric, then I threaded on a bead, and I made another stitch right next to where the bead sits, and that secures the bead. Then I repeat. It's tedious, but ...cathardic? I don't know.

It's fun, anyway. :-D And 'mind palate cleansing.'

--- jess

Get Inspired- Hand Piecing?!!

2009-08-04T12:19:00.003-04:00

Yep.
I got thinking, gosh, I detest piecing. Well, not always, but I certainly don't look forward to it as much as I love hand quilting. But I couldn't imagine piecing an entire quilt by hand, unless it was big pieces, and that didn't appeal to me too much. Then, my neighbor, who doesn't have a machine showed me a fabulous quilt she made recently, all hand done.

That certainly whet my appetite, but it didn't send me over the edge, yet. But eventually, I *did* go over the edge.

THIS right here is why!

So whilst the shit hit the fan yesterday, I started this little devil. (I'm telling you, this summer has been unreal... ) Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt. I'm going to surround each flower, very likely, with black fabric... because I'm all closet Goth like that. The pieces are about 1.5" once they're sewn. It's so fun, though. I didn't think I'd like it but I'm addicted. I'm still hand quilting the Amish quilt, but this quilt is my focus right now.

I can't wait to iron it! I'm sure I'm doing it 'wrong,' because I'm not using papers and folding them and all of that... but as long as I get the results I want, it's right. The brown fabric is flannel and it's lovely. The rest is from the scrap piles. And I decided to save all my un-sewable scraps to stuff into a pillow I'm going to make someday. Hey, waste not, want not. I'm all crunchy and frugal like that. Still can't wait to get more fabric, though. ; )

Polypay, laceweight, possibly cobweb, 2- ply. I plied this up before I'd planned to, because I didn't want it to lose twist sitting on the spindles. I love intricate work. Once I get all this stuff spun up (if I live to be that old!) I am going to make myself a shawl with it.

Aww dat Sicky Nickles. My little guy has had a heck of a fever since last night. I was up with him last night, and I've babied him like crazy today. Poor kid. He's got a well visit this week, too. Our neighbors have been sick, and he's been around them... I hope #1 son doesn't get it, too. I feel like I have it, a bit lower. :-x TMI!!!

I got a stack of books, free, SS, of course. I collect the oldies.