Whimsicals Threads

:: silent no more ::

Hello?!

Is anyone there?!

I know, it's been a very long time since I've posted anything, but believe me, I've been really busy.  Wanna see what I've been up to?

The first week and a half of February, I was snowed in.  Well, ok, not really for a week and a half.  It was probably more like 3 days.  But it sure felt like a week and a half.  And it wasn't really snow, either.  It was ice, which would explain why I couldn't go anywhere, since my car doesn't do well on the ice.  Or snow for that matter.  But that's all beside the point.  This is what it looked like....

It looks a little bit mad, don't you think?  My feelings, exactly.... 

There was ice everywhere and I felt like I was never going to escape.  But I finally did.  And my car did too!  And there was much rejoicing!

We had a lot of snow this winter; more than we usually do, which usually puts me in a grumpy mood, because I don't like snow.  But one day as I was grumbling, pulling into the snowy driveway again, I saw something that made me smile.  

My son had been outside and randomly made this little snowman on the little patio table that sits in the front yard.  I don't know why, but I had to laugh.  And then I had to grab my camera to get a picture.  This was before the ice storm.  AFTER the ice storm, this same table made me laugh again.....

How funny is that?! 

I have no clue how this formed, but this sheet of ice hung on like this for several days.  It was the wierdest thing.  No one in our house could figure this one out.  Finally, it just melted away.

So, while everyone else was happliy stitching away when they were "iced" in (get it? Instead of snowed in, we were iced in?!  Ok, that was lame, I know.  I won't do that again...) I spent most of my time at my computer, trying to get patterns written, a book completed, and a new fabric line designed. 

And I have two out of the three done. 

Not bad, but I was hoping to have my book done by now.  Just a few more weeks, though.  I'm finishing the final projects this weekend, and then it's back to the computer for writing, layout, photo touch-ups, etc.

But, I did get the new patterns completed and printed.  I even got them up on my website this week.  And just in time too, becuase I've heard that the Winterberry Lane fabric is starting to show up in the shops already!  So, just in case you haven't seen them, here are the new patterns to go with the fabric....

I also have a new hat pattern and my very first apron pattern!! 

I have to say that this hat is by far my favorite one that I've made.  I take it just about everywhere I go, just in case I'm having a bad hair day, which is more often than I like.  And every time I wear it, I get compliments.

I can't say the same for the apron though, because I think it usually works best to wear an apron in the kitchen.  And since I spend very little time in the kitchen, well....  Let's just say that the apron has not seen a lot of use.  But, it is a fun one!  I made it so that it can be reversed, which also gives it a bit more thickness.

So now, all I have left to do is finish this book.  I'm working on it, believe me.  And I'm hoping that everyone finds that it was worth the wait.  It's been fun, making all these Christmas things, but I'm ready to move on now.  Ready for some spring, not only outside, but in my sewing room too.  Just a few more weeks, I know.  I can feel it....

:: off to market ::

 

This is just a quick note to say that we're on the road, headed to Houston, with a van full of, um.... stuff.

Yea.  That's what I would call it.  All the stuff to fill and decorate a 10 foot by 10 foot booth.  And what could all this stuff possibly be?

I've been hard at work the last several weeks.  Not that I'm ever NOT hard at work.  Just ask my family and they'll tell you.  But it's been non-stop. Trying to decide what to do, which projects to finish, which ones could wait.  And then deciding that the best thing to do would be to wait until spring to release my new book, Make It Merry.  And before you say anything, let me explain.....

The fabric line I did this time is called Winterberry Lane, and is really a winter/Christmas theme.  Do you want to see the swatches?!  Click the link below to see them.....

 Download WinterberryLaneSwatches_sm

Anyway, since the fabric will not start filtering into the shops until March, it didn't make sense to rush getting a book finished before then.  So, guess what I'm going to be doing when I return from Quilt Market?!  Yep.  Making Christmas quilts.  Which should be fun and easy since it will be the Christmas season anyway and my brain is already stuck in that mode.  

BUT, I did manage to get several things made before I left.  In addition to the book, I will have two separate patterns that make use of the panel print from Winterberry Lane.  One is a large quilt that uses all four parts of the panel and the other is four separate wall quilts, each using one part of the panel and a different border.  These will be available in February.

 But, I didn't stop there.  In the midst of all this, I was having a really bad hair day.  Seriously!  And when I have a bad hair day, what I really want to do is just cover my head.  So, what did I do.  Why, I made a new hat to cover up my hair, of course.....

 

This is kind of a blending of the hat from my Pumpkins and Spice book and the hat in Tangled Up in Thread, with a twist.  Well, really, it's a fold (on the brim), not a twist, but you get the idea. And it will be an individual pattern, which I plan on having ready sometime in November.  

Along with the pattern for this.....

Oh, and the book?  It will be called Make it Merry.  I've done a "mock up" of the cover in Photoshop.  I can't guarantee that this will be the final one, but look for something similar in February.  And check back in the next few days to see sneek peeks of different projects that I already have finished, along with pictures of the booth in Houston!

Now, I'm off to bed to rest up for Quilt Market!

 

:: quilts :: fall-o-ween blog hop final day

OK, this is it.  I hope you all had fun and get all 10 projects made.  Remember, if you want to share something that you made from these patterns, you can post it here.....

Flickr group

And you won't want to miss the free project today from Pat Sloan.  Personally, I don't know how this woman gets all these things done, but she does.  I'm amazed.  And just a tad bit jealous that I'm not nearly as productive as she is!

Ah well.  We can't all be great. 

So, on to today's topic, QUILTS.  Now here's something that I could spend a lot of time talking about.  But, I'm thinking that maybe it's time I let the quilts do a little of the talking, although I need to share a little bit of information about each one.

This is Fall Frolic, one of my very early patterns.  Although it has been out of print for a while, I still get requests for it.  And actually, after looking at it again today, I'm thinking it would be a good candidate for a makeover (that would be a makeover as in make-it-over again using new fabrics).  Hmmm... something to think about.

This next one is still one of my very favorite quilts.  Probably because I love the simple lines of the courthouse steps block.  But I don't think I'll be making this one over again.  I don't think I've ever been so happy to be finished with a quilt as I was when I finally got this one all together.  It is called October Sky and is in my book Full Circle.

And then there is Rusted Moons, which is somewhat of a fall quilt.  It has the fall colors and I had fall in mind when I made it, at least.

Ok, now brace yourself, because here goes my shameless plug...

A few years ago I did a fabric line and a book, both called Pumpkins and Spice, that is full of fall projects.  I'll show you a few projects that are in it.

 

And if you are a fan of panels, these came from a panel I did for the Pumpkins and Spice fabric line.  This was the first fabric line that I did a panel for, and although I love all the projects, the panel is getting harder to come by.  However, as it is with any quilts done with a panel print, you could always substitute something else in the center of them.  Or, you could just purchase a panel from me, since I bought a few bolts of it. 

I have a limited quantity, just sitting in my dining room.  I'm just sayin'......

And something besides a quilt that you might need for a windy fall day...

Notice that the top one here is made out of felted wool.  This hat is in my Tangled Up in Thread book and the next one is in Pumpkins and Spice.  Both an be done in either wool or cotton and I can't tell you how many times I've had people want to take the hat right off of my head.  Literally!

Ok, so that's enough about me and my quilts.  I hope you enjoyed yourself and keep checking back, even after the blog hop is over.  Just so you know, though, I do plan on going into hibernation for a few weeks to recoup and to try to get something ready for Quilt Market, so don't be surprised if you come back to visit and I haven't shared anything new!  It doesn't mean that I've forgotten.  It just means that I'm busy sewing, and writing, and everything else that needs to get done!

Although, I will share the news of the lucky Grand Prize winner on Monday.   That means that you have until Friday to get your comments on each one of our blogs.  Good luck to everyone, and thanks for hopping along with us!!!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Gudren of G.E. Designs  (gudrun.typepad.com)

Sandy Gervais of Pieces From My Heart  (piecesfrommyheart-sgervais.blogspot.com)

Roseann of Rosebud's Cottage  (rosebudscottage.typepad.com)

 Kari Carr of New Leaf Stitches (newleafstitches.com)

Terry Atkinson Designs  (terryatkinson.typepad.com)

Heather Mulder Peterson of Anka's Treasures (ankastreasures.wordpress.com)

Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. (lavieenrosie.typepad.com)

Linda Lum DeBono Designs (lindalumdebono.blogspot.com)

Pat Sloan's Designs (patsloan.typepad.com)

The Week in Pictures

Sometimes, pictures are just better than words.  This past week was just a whirlwind.  

So, I thought, instead of agonizing over what to write, I would try showing it to you in pictures....

MONDAY & TUESDAY

Got word that my new fabric was on its' way.  Spent some more time sorting, rearranging, cleaning, trying to make some room. 

A few piles of quilts I'm trying to decide what to do with.  There they sit, in my dining room, on the floor.  Guess I need to find somewhere to put them.  But, for now they're just going to be put in another pile until I get back to them.

WEDNESDAY

Still no fabric shipment.  So, I took the chance to make the hat from my previous post out of cotton.  Batik, to be exact.  I love it and have several more cut out and ready to sew together.

THURSDAY

My in-laws arrived, with my brother-in-law and his family expected in town later.  Hence, all the frantic cleaning of the house.  And why were all these people coming to Indiana?  What was the occasion?  It definitely was not to celebrate the arrival of my new fabric, that's for sure.  Nope, they were all here to celebrate the marriage of our niece on Saturday.  Can you believe  they came to see a wedding, not my fabric?! (just kidding!)

BUT..... guess what else arrived on Thursday?!  You guessed it.  My fabric.  And wouldn't you know it would be right before all the hub-bub of the wedding weekend started and all I had time to do was cut 1 yard pieces of each one, throw them on my table, and look at them longingly each time I walked by my room.

FRIDAY

Rehearsal dinner, shopping for new shoes (what?!  you don't really think that I would plan ahead do you?), visiting with family.  Oh, and our oldest son, Scott, came home from college for his spring break.  And look at how dressed up he got for us....

  

Well, he really didn't dress like this for us.  This was actually right before the wedding on Saturday, which also happened to be his 20th birthday. 

He was so happy to spend his birthday all gussied up in a suit at a cousins' wedding and reception.......

Well, maybe it wasn't his first choice of how he wanted to spend the day, but it gave us a chance to get some pictures of both kids all dressed up!

And to take the token family photo.   Look at these handsome men that I am so blessed with!

And just because I want to share, here is a picture of the entire Degenkolb clan taken at the wedding on Saturday (we're way in the back, in case you were wondering).  It was a beautiful wedding, and so much fun to have everyone together!

Well, so much for not having a lot to say!  

And it's probably pretty obvious that I'm running behind because it's taken me 4 days to get this written, even with trying to keep the words to a minimum! 

But, now that things are getting back to normal (or as normal as it gets), I've finally had a chance to cut into my fabric and start on a few projects.  Can't show you anything yet, but I'll be sure to tempt you with a few sneak peeks in the days to come......

The Evolution of a Hat

 
It's been a cold blustery winter in Indiana this year.... hmmmm..... that reminds me of Pooh bear and the Blustery Day.  And can I just say again that I LOVE Pooh bear!? 

(Believe it or not, I scanned this from a book I have had since my childhood!)

But I wasn't going to talk about Pooh bear today.  I brought up the cold blustery winter because it is again, one of those days here.  The wind is blowing the dusting of snow around, whipping down the chimney of the fireplace causing the doors to open and close, and bringing our friend "Wendy the Cow" for a visit. 

Hmm... I think that may need a little explanation, so allow me to go off on a little side road for a minute.

You see, in the 14 years that we've lived in this house, every time the wind really blows, the seal around one of the doors makes this funny noise that almost sounds like a cow mooing.  When it first happened, the kids (who were very young at that time) came running up to me, all scared, because they thought some monster was in the house.  I appeased them by telling them that it was just Wendy the Cow that was coming for a visit. 

And she continues to come every time we have a blustery day.

So, as I sit here, listening for Wendy, with the "chicken dog" curled at my feet (yes, our dog Yukon is afraid of Wendy too), and Otis holding the fireplace doors closed (now there's another story I need to share), I want to tell you about my latest obsession with hats.

I think this started when I was searching for a hat to wear for the drama I was in this December.  Or maybe it really started with the hat I made for the Pumpkins and Spice book.  No matter when it began, I have been trying to find a hat for myself this winter.  One that looks okay on me with my small head and short hair, without making me look like a little boy.

So, I started messing around with some felted wool, using a picture of a hat I found online as a guide.  And what follows is a recounting of my trials (and errors) in finally coming up with a hat (or two) that I like.  I do have to tell you that I had to dig two of these out of the trash to take the pictures..... and understand that I usually don't use my favorite fabrics when trying to design something like this, so they may not be the best looking!

The first thing was trying to get the top shaped right.  My first attempt ended up being wrong and a bit "bulbous".

It didn't look too bad just sitting on the table, but when I put it on my head, the center collapsed down and the sides bulged and poofed out way too much.  So, threw that one in the corner, and moved on to attempt number 2.

This one I actually completed.  And it's okay.  But it is more "manly" than I wanted.  Could be because of the color (what?! I wasn't going to use my hand-dyed wools, so I just used one that I bought off the bolt!), but the more I looked at it, I decided that it needed a band going around it so that it didn't look so much like a baseball cap.  So, on to attempt number 3.

I was back to the mis-shaped top, which was also too short, and the band was too small, making the whole hat look more like a beret before putting it on my head.  AFTER putting it on my head, though, it looked more like a puffy pill-box sort of thing, and quite hilarious!  This one ended up in the trash! 

Hmmm.... maybe this just wasn't meant to be. 

But, I don't give up THAT easily.  So I tried another.

Now, this one I liked!  Kind of fun (see, I even finished it off with a wool flower!?) yet there was still something about it that bothered me.  It fits very close to my head, more like a baseball cap, so I wanted to try making it with a softer, more feminine feel on the top.  This is where I found it simply amazing that just by changing the angle or curve of the top pieces a tiny bit caused such a dramatic difference....

See how it has a different feel to the top portion?  I thought that this one looked better on me, but both my husband and son still liked the gray one better.  So, off I went again, for another try....

I changed the angle a bit more on the top, shortened the brim, and I think I almost got it!  So far, this was my favorite, but of course, I had to try just one more a few days later, because you know I can't just leave things well enough alone.  Didn't you read my last post?! 

There were a few things I still didn't like about this hat, and I'm not telling you what they are in case I decide later that I like it better than this latest one...... 

But, I'd love to hear what you think! 

Which is your favorite?  And why?

You may not ever think about it, there are so many things to consider with hats..... Is it too stiff?  Or should it be soft and floppy?  Does it come down far enough so that my ears don't stick out?  Or do I want it to perch on the top of my head?  And how tight should it be?  Tight enough so that it stays on for a blustery day?! 

And I think the biggest question for me is....

What do I do with all these hats now?!?!