Quilt Design - Cheerful Child

I spoke with my Mom about buying versus using my stash. I also spoke with my Hubby... who said to go ahead and purchase some of the pre-cut units. His quick support, in spite of our financial concerns, gave me the encouragement I needed to go up and poke around my Studio.

I discovered this little pile of fabric, which I've had set aside for OVER three years to "do something with".


Thing is there are only eight fabrics here and most collections have 30-42, so, I'd need to add to it. This isn't my "usual" color palette, but I think I've pulled together enough fabrics that can work...


I keep reminding myself that it doesn't have to be "perfect", just complete. I also remind myself that it "just has to look good on a small photo", not up close. I mean, who would put Stars with Bamboo with Mosaic Tiles? Me, that's who!

Now that I think about it, I may know of a place I've stashed some other muted fabrics in the process of "Suzy's Carrot Quilt Replica" project. I'll have to go peek and see if there are a few more rose, brown, or green pieces I can use.

I'm so grateful for Tom's support and I'm also grateful for my abundant stash (also compliments of Tom) that I can use for spontaneous projects! :D

Quilt Designing - Ideas, Names, and Such

Just about anyone who knows me knows I want to publish my quilt designs. I've REALLY been wanting to do this for over two years. I design them. I sew them. Sometimes I even put them to paper and start to format for publication. And that's as far as I've ever gotten. I stop just shy of ACTUALLY publishing the work.

In the past decade, the quilting world has seen a trend towards pre-cut sizes of fabrics. Often these are bundled together in coordinated groups. First there were Fat Quarters (18" x 22"), then there were Charm Packs (5" squares), and then Jelly Rolls (2 1/2" x WOF (45") strips) rolled up. Over the years I've been watching as people snatch these up, and then don't know what to do with them. Eventually, patterns and books were written using these sizes. I've often thought to myself "if only I'd thought of that". Recently a new size was added, Layer Cakes (10" squares). VERY recently (in the past few months) two brand new sizes were added, Honey Buns (1 1/2" x WOF (45") strips) rolled up and Turnovers (6" squares cut point to point to form a triangle). These two units are VERY new and so far, there are only a few patterns out (from the manufacturers) to go with these.

Here's my great idea... design patterns using the new sizes and GET THEM TO MARKET... FAST! I brainstormed and jotted down a "few" (over two dozen) quilt designs in the first day. Now, I want to write a pattern, make the sample, and have the product ready to go with me on my Arizona trip. Actually, I'd like to make three, but I'll settle for one. Oh. I'm leaving in 10 days.

I've been wanting to do publish my designs for so long, now I'm TOTALLY PSYCHED about this and maybe, just maybe a deadline is what I need.

In addition to the design, writing, publishing, sewing, quilting, photographing, and printing. I also need to finalize a Company Name and probably obtain a URL for future web-based sales. I'm not even THINKING about making a web page yet (gotta get some stuff together to sell first), but I do feel that I should make certain I can have a website to go with whatever company name I settle on.

In my preliminary work, I've always thought of myself as "Heaven Sent" or "Heaven Sent Designs", but both of those URLs are already taken. I've also thought of "Suzy Quilts" (with an Angel face drawn in the Q of the logo) or "Suzy Q-ute". I could also play off this blog name and go with a "Suzy Sparkles" or "Suzy Q Sparkles". I could also just use my first and middle names "Suzy Angel" (thus all the heavenly references). These things I have to think about...

• Suzy Quilts
• Suzy Q-ute
• Suzy Q Sparkles
• Suzy Sparkles
• Suzy Angel
  

Feedback on the names would be good!

Today. Right now, I'm debating using my stash for this first quilt, or purchasing some pre-cut units. If I call a shop today, they can send them to me today and I should have them on Tuesday. Money's an object right now, but then, so is time.

What would you do? Spend time cutting from the stash, or order the fabric and spend the time writing and publishing the pattern?

Kids Art Project - Pokémon Valentine

Frank and I came up with (what I think are) some pretty clever Valentine's for this year.

Frank likes Pokémon. Frank likes Pokémon A LOT. In order to keep Frank from starting to purchase and collect cards, I spent several months last year diverting his attention by having him MAKE his own cards.

This year, while designing other Pokémons, we thought it would be fun to make a Valentine Pokémon... there are plenty of ideas here:

• Heart Attack
• Cardiac Arrest
• Love Bug
• Straight to the Heart
• Luv Needle (Frank's Creation)
  

Frank designed the card. I designed the envelope. Jack assembled the envelopes. Here's the finished product:




I realize it's a little late to make these for a class party, but there's still time to make a few for friends / family ON Valentine's Day...

If you'd like to do this, here's what you need:

• two sheets plain printer paper
• one sheet card stock
• 1/2 sheet white construction paper
• 3" x 5" scrap red construction paper
• drawing supplies
  
• black marker
• glue
  
• scanner
• printer (if you don't have color, draw in black and white, then color after printing)
  

Here are the templates I've made, please feel free to use them to make your own cards.
Here's how we make the cards and envelopes:

1. Print out the lined page, as well as several "blank" pages. Then, stack them together with the lined page underneath a blank page.
2. Draw picture of imagined Pokémon.
3. Fill in the name, "hit points" and other information.
   
4. Scan into the computer.
5. Pull it into Adobe Photoshop, where you can clean up any stray eraser marks or "mistakes". You can also intensify / adjust the colors.
6. Reduce the cards to proper size (2 1/2" wide x 3 1/4" tall).
   
7. Print nine per page on cardstock.
8. You may either design a card back, or find an image online to use, then print the second side before cutting.

Envelope:

1. Fold a sheet of white construciton paper so the edges meet in the middle. The finished size should be about 5" from fold to fold. Trim almost a 5" circle, being sure to leave about 1.5" of the folds intact. (If this step sounds confusing, take a look at the second photograph, with the open envelope and the card tucked inside.)
   
2. Set the white circle over the red paper, lining up the edge of the red with the center of the circle. Trim the red to match the circle shape.
3. Cut about a 1" circle out of a white scrap.
4. Draw a black line around the small circle.
5. Glue the side edges on the bottom half of the circle together. This makes the inside pocket. I only glued the top of the sides (not the bottom of the curve); just incase my card was a little big for the envelope.
6. Glue the red flap to the outside front.
7. Glue the white dot with the black outline to the center front (only glue the half that touches the red).
8. Let the glue dry, the put the card in the envelope.
9. If desired, write a name on the back of the envelope.
10. Deliver. :D

This would also work well to make invitations to a Pokémon Party.

I'd love to see your efforts if you make use of this fun little project.

The Home Depot Kids Club Workshops

Yesterday someone was telling me how much her son enjoys going to the Kids Club each month at the Home Depot. I remember seeing these long-ago, but not thinking about them for a while. Now though, my boys are the right age to enjoy them, maybe you have kids you know who would like them too.

Here's the blurb from The Home Depot on the Kids Workshops:

Designed for kids 5-12, these free workshops teach do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while instilling a sense of accomplishment. Offered on the first Saturday of each month between 9 a.m. and noon all Home Depot^® stores.

I guess the kids get their own orange Home Depot Work Apron then each month they get a pin/button/patch to attach for the project they've done. Best of all, the whole thing is free! :D

If you peek at the website you'll even see what projects are being done.

Today is the day for this month's workshop. I'm going to start taking my boys, maybe I'll see you there!

Infections and Super-Antibiotics

Original Post Name: Ototoxicity and Mycin Drugs
Changed on 23 Nov 2010 due to daily Spam.

Since leaving the hospital, Frank has been complaining that he "feels like (he's) going to fall down" and that he needs to sit or lie down.

It went on five weeks. Then, the doctor's heard me and suggested he have a hearing test. I made the appointment, and the dizzy spells disappeared. To quote the doctor "just like taking a car to the mechanic." Wednesday, I took Frank to an PhD Otologist.

Yet ANOTHER picture that has NOTHING to do with the topic of the post.
Just a picture of Frank's interesting way of eating his Biscuit. :D

His hearing is perfectly fine. His balance seems to be too.

The Otologist was actually surprised that we didn't have a hearing test done before starting the Vancomycin. The Mycin family of drugs is WELL known for causing ear problems. Apparently Ototoxicity (hearing and balance issues) is a very rare side-effect of Vancomycin... it's one of the Mycin drugs that is less-likely to cause the ear troubles. Still, the side-effecs are known to present themselves a full six to eight months after completing the drug therapy.

Since Frank was only on the Vancomycin 2 1/2 weeks, his chances are low, but still, he won't be "clear" until his birthday next October. In the meantime, I have to watch for obvious things (complaining of being dizzy, walking into things, and falling over) as well as more subtle things (swaying or loss of fine motor control).

I thought you'd like to know about the link between Mycin drugs and your ears... in case you should ever need or know of anyone who might need them.

Quilt - Ice, Pucks, & Blood

I made and donated a quilt for charity... in one day! Granted, it was only about 24" square, but I DID IT! Yeah me!


Here's how much time I spent on it:

30 min - Design pattern and choose fabrics.
2 hr 15 min - Cut and Piece the Top
15 min - Clean & prep Sewing Machine, pin layers for quilting
25 min - Quilt
30 min - Make and attach Binding
5 min - Label (I cheated and wrote on the quilt top with a permanent marker).

4 hr - Total Time, Start to finish

This quilt was made for a raffle at Frank's Hockey Tournament January 10th. The day before the tournament, I remembered that I'd said I would make a quilt for the Raffle, so, I went home and did it! I felt good starting and finishing something AND keeping my word, even in the middle of all the Medical Hub-A-Loo! :D

Knitting Links

Here are some Knitting Links and other pointers I've found to be invaluable:

KnittingHelp.com - My friends tried to teach me to hold the yarn with my right hand and I do better with the left... I figured that out with videos on this site.

Ravelry.com - You need to request membership. It's a WAY cool way to organize your supplies, ideas, and projects and also a great place to surf for ideas. I really like how you can see one project made by so many other people, along with their comments. Anyway, check it out. When you can look, I'm at SiouxzQzz.

Start with a natural fiber (cotton or wool) yarn and bamboo needles. Also, light or medium colored yarns will be easier to see your stitches on than dark colors. Seeing your stitches is helpful when you're learning what to do.

Lovely sets of bamboo needles can be acquired from SusanCraft6798 of SusanCraftDesign on ebay.

Lion Brand Yarn - Nice selection of free patterns, plus e-newsletters, and supplies.

Mary Maxim - good prices on yarn and supplies for all sorts of hand crafts (knitting, crochet, embroidery, etc.)

Manly Scarf Pattern - Free Online - GREAT for beginners, just uses three stitches (slip, knit, and purl). Just using this "basket-weave" idea, you can make each section as wide and tall as you like. Mine are all three stitches wide, but each section is a random number of rows.

Multidirectional Scarf Pattern - Another good beginner project, it had three stitches (increase, knit, and decrease) plus casting on. I think this looks better in a variegated / striped yarn than a solid.

Silver's Sock Class to help "see" how to make socks. This isn't a pattern, so much as detailed instructions for each step of making a pair of socks.

A good beinner sock yarn and pattern are Moda Dea Sassy Stripes Yarn, and the Knitted Socks pattern LM0131 by Grace Alexander.

I'm told that learning to crochet first is easier for most people; knitting first and then crocheting tends to be more difficult. So, if you already can crochet, you're half-way there! If you're new to yarn crafts, try picking up a crochet hook first, and then moving up to knitting.

I've found that being able to click or look at video or pictures over and over is really helping me along with knitting. I've also discovered that the natural fibers (wool/cotton) and needles (bamboo) are really big helps for beginning knitters! I hope these links help you as much as they've helped me!