While I was without internet, but with electricity, I tackled some bigger sewing projects.  By big, I mean size-wise, not necessarily level of difficulty.  Both were made out of squares and rectangles - really simple once I got the measurements right.

We have lived in our house for a little over two and a half years.  When we moved in, Fatty and I upgraded to a king size bed from a queen.  Making that jump required all new linens.  Sheets were an obvious necessity that I took care of right away.  And we were lucky enough to have a wonderful king size down comforter that my parents gave us when we got engaged.  At the time I really didn't understand why they got us a king when we had a queen, but now I understand my mother's good reasoning.  It just took us longer to get that king than she thought it would.  Anyhow, I am happy to say the comforter now has its very own duvet cover and the bed finally has a skirt.

Can I just say bed skirts are hard to photograph?  They are.  I made this skirt in five pieces:  one for each of the three sides of the bed and two for the corners.  I did this just in case the math didn't work out - I figured that it would be easier to fix my mistake(s).  Thankfully, though, my math was good and it all lines up well.  There is a box pleat in the middle of each side to hide the seam where I sewed two widths of fabric together.  I also sewed each piece to a four inch band that I attached to the box spring with twist pins.  I have done it both ways and I find this much, much easier than making a big sheet to cover the box spring.  I used the blind hem on my machine for the bottoms and sides of each piece and serged the raw edges to cut down on the bulk.  Make sense?

The duvet was easy, peasy.  My mother-in-law helped me cut it out backin August so I really just needed to sew it up.  It closes withbuttons, but you can't see them.  Along with their corresponding buttonholes, they are sewn on a flap of fabric that folds to the inside ofthe opening.  I know this might not make sense.  But trust me, it'scool.

I know someone is going to ask me where I got the fabric.  The chocolate brown solid came from Calico Corners, I think.  The floral for the duvet is from Les Tissus Colbert, which is outside of Chicago.  I bought it over two years ago and it's 110" wide.  It is perfect for a king sized bed - there were no patterns to match - just one cut for the top and one for the bottom.

I promise a full shot of the bed once the pillow shams are finished.  Right now, though, I am just happy that my list is getting shorter.

We have phone.  And internet.  Phew.  That was no fun.

No internet = a LOT of sewing.  Let's start with my apron for Tie One On.

The theme was polka dots and although you can't see it well in this photo, they are there.  Teeny tiny chartreuse polka dots trimmed with tennis ball yellow pom poms.  I love this fabric.  When I was finished cutting this out, I threw the scraps in to the x string quilt pile.  They look happy there.

See the dots now?  Cute, aren't they?  I am not sure where I got the idea, but I HAD to add pin tucks to this apron.  And you know what?  I love them.  So so much.  I can just see them on a summer skirt for the girls - well, Kate, I guess.  She's the one who would wear it.  OK, I can see them on a skirt for me, too, but that is an entirely different post.  Back to the kids - Jane does like this fabric - she made mention of that.  When I asked if she would like a dress or a skirt out of it, she shrugged her shoulders and said, "Maybe an apron?"  With the pom poms, of course.

I used chartreuse colored thread for contrast on the entire apron.  I love the way it picks up the color in the dots, but is still subtle.  I think I should do that more often.

Back to regular posting starting now.  Thanks for hanging in there with me.

AT&T says it'll be back by tomorrow.  Fingers crossed.  Having no internet is driving me crazy.  I used my cell phone to call a friend so she could google king mattress dimensions for me.  How is that for desperate?  Sad, too, I know.  Oh well, my bedskirt is almost finished.

I hope to be back soon.

This week just didn't go as I had planned.

We had huge wind storms (and maybe some tornadoes) on Tuesday night.  A huge tree fell down in our neighbors' back yard and our power went out at about 8:00 p.m.  We spent Wednesday night in a hotel.  The electricity finally came back on Thursday afternoon around 4:30.  We still don't have phone service.  I am blogging from the coffee shop with free wi fi.

As soon as I have my dsl back up and running, I'll be back blogging and flickr-ing.

Until then, enjoy these daffodils.  I bought them on Monday and amazingly, they still look great.  The 45 degree temperature in the house did not bother them one bit.  Looking on the bright side, I just get to enjoy them that much longer.

Stay well friends.

I have quilts on the brain.

I don't doubt that it has something to do with The Virtual Quilting Bee.  I am excited to be working with these talented ladies.  Excited, but so nervous.  Really nervous.  Just so you know.

And Daria's pillows have added fuel to the fire.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.

Then there is this beauty that Stefani owns.  I've had dreams about it.  Multiple dreams.

But then I stumbled across this one.  After I saw these squares.  Oh me, oh my!

I started a pile.  My X string quilt pile.  In colors that go in my guest room.  You can't see all the fabrics here - the pile is too big.  Maybe I should edit it.  Maybe not.  I think it needs some darker greens.  And maybe some mustard-y yellows.  I'm wrapping my brain around it all, figuring how I can make it so it will look like a stash quilt (which it is, by the way) without being too entirely random.  Does that make sense?  Random looking, but actually very well thought out is the goal.  I wonder how I can do that without it taking entirely too much time.

There are practical issues, too.  Like geometry and math.  You know - calculating exactly how many x's I will need to make the right size quilt.

Pass the calculator, please.

I'm home again.  And I can't get that nursery rhyme out of my head.

As fun as it is to get away, it is always good to come home.  I am refreshed, but tired - if that makes any sense.  I have a huge list of things I want to do, but some things, like groceries, need to happen first.  Work and then play, I guess.  I'm going to get busy.  I really want to sew.

I keep forgetting to share this hat that I knit for my cousin Michael.  It is just like Fatty's hat, but the fair isle pattern is a bit different.  Tonya test knit the pattern for me - hopefully I will have it ready to share next week.

Ok, that's it.  Later gators.

Here I am - blogging in the afternoon again.  It's been a wonderfully long weekend.  The girls were out of school at noon on Thursday and they go back tomorrow morning.  Fatty and I took them on an overnight getaway Friday.  We went here.  It was incredibly fun and 24 hours away was just the right length of time.  We had friends for dinner last night and today the girls and I stayed in our p.j.'s until noon.

Jane put together a Playmobil set - all by herself.  Kate made lunch for the two of them (rice cakes with peanut butter, anyone?).  They cleaned the playroom and put their clothes away.  It was a nice change of pace.  They had no school and I pretty much had the day off.  That was a nice treat.

I am headed back to Telluride on Wednesday with some girlfriends for a long weekend.  I'm not sure if I will be around the blog or not.  Stay well friends.