Another Walnut Harvest

Hubby and I went for a walk this morning and found 8 nuts on the ground. Fortunately he loaned me his hat as a bag. Such an enabler!!

After cracking and shelling I added these to the residual solution. It was getting a little slimey but I hadn't read anywhere that said it rendered it useless. No smell, no mold means good to go for me!

I had considered for a few days re-dying the wool but decided enough was enough. (Besides, I had already begun rewinding the skeins into balls.)
So I chose new cloth.
I transferred all the shell pieces to a garment bag, hoping this might facilitate easier handling ( and less particulate matter on the cloth or in the wool. )

One unwashed metre of pima cotton I twisted tight, and soaked in water. The other metre I left loose and wet. Both were placed in the pot of walnut water after it had been reboiled for an hour. Now its sitting on the back porch where I'll leave it over night.

Stepping Stones Flimsy

Now this is done, I need to go back to "my" fabric store and get backing. I have a month before this needs to be finished so I'm in good shape.
This was such an efficient pattern. With the enlargements and border changes it still only took roughly 5yds, most of which was FQ. I LOVE quilts where the materials cost is well under $100.

Stepping Stone Quilt - Centre

This went together very easily. I added a few more FQ to take the pattern from 30 to 49 blocks. This makes it square. This type of quilt has no top or bottom or side, so it can be freely rotated for a different view.

The border needs a little math to enlarge it but it shouldn't be a big issue. Right now the measurement is roughly 63inches Sq.

Has it Been a Week?

It's been a busy one.

I finished the quilt I had started from my IPM winnings. The extra blocks went into the backing. The quilting took me a while as I got a little diddly with the squares but it's now finished and bound.

A few hours another day finished this donation quilt for the guild. 

What else was I doing to take up all my time?

It's canning time and I discovered, once more, my role of "gofer". Though I have left the urge behind, to can and make jams and preserve all kinds of things, hubby has embraced it fully. And as the internet is his world authority guide, I just nod my head and fetch! I did persuade him to move the process to the garage. There isn't any less mess, of course but I can close the door a little more easily.

And.....between fetching and carrying.......I started another quilt.
I had escorted some friends to this "new for us" fabric outlet on Thursday and I had the prefect excuse to BUY.
I had convinced my niece to host a small reunion of her "aunties" next month. My younger sister is flying in from BC, my niece's mother will drive in from Ottawa and the three of us will spend some time in Perth, On.
So this was the perfect excuse to MAKE A QUILT. A hostess gift, no less.
Yes I do need a reason. ..........Most of the time.
So I resurrected a pattern entitled Stepping Stones. It was a kit, done originally in a batiks.

But this one I decided to go for earth tones. It's a quick pattern. A FQ makes 3 blocks. I LOVE efficient patterns like this. 14 x 3 makes 42

I've enlarged it too. Originally 30 blocks I upped it, adding another 10 inches to its size.
I've put everything on my wall now.
I may still make it bigger.
I'd like this one to be a queen upon completion.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm ..... If I square it, I only need to find 2+ FQ

Out of the Blue

We were finishing supper last night when an excited flock of sparrows "went to ground" in our yard. They were immediately followed by this guy who sat on our railing for a good 15 minutes. The picture is a bit grainy as I took it through the screen door. We figure he/she is a juvenile Cooper's hawk or a Goshawk.