Pass quilt and just go straight to crazy!!!

My most unfavorite part of CQ is making the quilt block and I am always threatening to give up CQ altogether every time I have to make blocks... At the very least least I may pass quilt and go straight to crazy!!! But here I am again making blocks for the encrusted DYOB RR that will begin in January.. I use a pattern when I make blocks...the same patterns over and over... Once I finish embellishing who can tell????

I made many more queens of hearts than I could use in the hearts RR so I plan on putting one on each one of these blocks.. Hmm pastel pinks.....definite comfort zone. I love encrusting so I'm really looking forward to this RR.. I plan to make at least of a couple of the blocks into small beaded bags for charity auctions in the fall. Next on my list is making the block for the 2010 challenge. Nicki sent me some very bright aqua blues..way out of my comfort range but here goes.......................

Bead Journal Project

Now I'm looking for two things.... UFO blues. I still haven't found the painted buttons to finish my challenge block and now I can't find the bag of black 11s to finish the BJP magpie wings... When this happens the only thing to do is start cleaning up my work areas. It's amazing what turns up.

I'm more conservative with the beading than I'd like and my goal is to loosen up over the year... I know I will be be doing much more beading and in many more ways on my CQI projects.

I love the size 15s but having a terrible time finding them even on line...anyone want to share a source??

I'm still finalizing my list of birds for this project.. So far I have magpie, quail , house finch, chickadee, grosbeak, downy, song sparrow, nut hatch, flicker, song sparrow, gold finch, and red-winged blackbird... the last two are only here year round in mild winters. It is hard to choose because we have so many because I have so much food and shelter for them....

Hardware added to garage techno!

I found a "ding and dent" rolling tool chest cheap and am moving in. I got it cheap because the door on the bottom bin is broken but I can fix it..Not a printers cabinet but is great...

I got some mismatched vintage hardware from the barn on it now.I did find some neat stencils at the craft store which will be the next step along with some gold detailing.

While searching for storage units I found this one on steroids at "garage toys for boys" It would take the most dedicated CQers to fill it..... The guy that would buy this must have one of those "monster" pickups!!!LOL

Two doors close and one opens

My DIL needed some #1 knitting needles and I needed #15 beads. I had remembered a knitting shop in a tiny retail area in an old neighborhood on the northside of Spokane and there was a bead shop nearby.... but when we got there the bead shop had closed and the yarn shop had moved. But a block away in an old grocery store was a fabric shop called Sew EZ Too which we hoped might have knitting needles. From the outside it looked rather dubious.

To my total amazement they had a large area of wonderful knitting supplies and smaller areas of Edmar threads and beads and buttons and trims...and even a few FYI silk ribbons... It was an old building with lots nooks and crannies filled with surprises. They also had a large classroom and after the holidays I am going to approach them about CQ classes... Vivian found her needles and yarn and I found my #15 beads... It was nothing compared to the places in Colorado but for Spokane it is a treasure...

Taking a deep breath!!!

Thanksgiving is over, company is gone, I've finished my 2009 challenge block and my RRs are all caught up... I can think of starting some things new... First on the list is preparing a face for Rose Anne's face block...the ones in her packet did not fit what I wanted to do. Then I will make my DYOB blocks for the encrusted RR and also my block for 2010 challenge. They will be queen of hearts. By the end of the week I should have my first beaded embroidery finished early for the BJP... It's as close to being caught up as I've been for several months and it feels good.

But I'm starting on my winter list....

1. We have to reevaluate our spending and streamline our budget.. I found a free site, budgetsimple.com, which is supposed to be great so I will give it a try. I HATE budgeting and bookkeeping...

2. I have a couple dear friends that I used to see often and for different reasons we have drifted apart so I want to make an effort to get us back on track...

3. I have a disc of hundreds of photos to edit for my son.

4. I need to begin with at least one morning a week in the old tea room in the barn and get it sorted with stuff either donated, sold, or to the dump. If I can just discipline myself to a few hours a week...

5. I'm determined to make headway on numerous jewelry UFOs that have been around for years.

6. My packet for FeederWatch came and I want to get the tally sheets copied and start this week.

7. I want to do CQ projects for my granddaughters who will be graduating from college in 2010.

8. I need to find a spot to get a CQ group going even if I have to do the teaching and I think I may have found the spot but need to investigate it further.

I'm thinking, as I look at my list, I had better set my alarm for early tomorrow and get started...