research on that letter L challenge

When in doubt, pull out the crayons?  That box of 96 is looking really pristine whereas, the tin of crayons are a little bit more beat up.   I had these on hand when my nieces and nephews and my husband's grandson were little.   I was trying to narrow down just what shades lavender and lime green were.  Periwinkle is also known as lavender blue, did you know that?  Actually, I learned a whole lot more about color this morning, thanks to a few links shared by fellow blogger and Facebook friends.

Yesterday after I posted here, I commented to the perennial Facebook question “what is on your mind?” with “quilt blocks and the letter L challenge” .  One of my friends from quilt guild said to let her know if I came up with anything for the letter K.  I found her note soon after I had read an email from my lefthanded quilter friend which included the following link

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_some_colors_that_begin_with_the_letter_L  (just sub out your own first letter of your name in place of the L)

That was a start for helping my friend get passed something besides Khaki. Then I got to thinking that perhaps some of the other guild members might be struggling with the same thing.  I am also 1/2 of the guild webmistresses and prepared a post.  The following is part of what I wrote.  

Reading the list was fine BUT just what are those colors??  I searched some more, LOL

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_green

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shades_of_purple

Scroll down for the "colors in nature" if you are having trouble visualizing a particular shade (OR use ctrl +F and type the name in the search box to zero in.)

OR you can search by wikipedia by color---here are two of the L examples

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavender_(color)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilac_(color)

OR you can pull out the crayon box, like I did, without getting into all that color theory and those hex decimal, RGB charts but I have a link for that too if you need a color reminder.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Crayola_crayon_colors

Susan from Patchwork Reflections suggested the color lemon yellow when she commented and sent on this link for an alphabetized list of some colors.

Another pal from bloggerland and Facebook just found me an even better link for an Alphabetical Color List though the entries are a little limited.

http://www.color-ize.com/color-list.php

I found this one later   http://xona.com/colorlist/ that has more color names

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That was half the question Kay had.  She needed quilt blocks too, or so I thought. 

http://www.quilterscache.com/AlphabetizedListPageA_F.html

http://www.quilterscache.com/AlphabetizedListPageG_L.html

http://www.quilterscache.com/AlphabetizedListPageM_R.html

Another source of free blocks online provided you have a block name is http://freequiltpatterns.blogspot.com/2009/03/free-quilt-patterns.html

OR Google for block images for some block names I listed above. (Kitty Corner quilt block, for example).  You may see several patterns with the same name just as I did in BlockBase but there might just be something that trips your trigger, LOL. 

My mom read my post, called me this morning with “lilac, lavender and lemon yellow” but she also has a pattern in her files to share with me.  Loop de Loop or something like that.  One of my local pals Gene who paints suggested using the colors in nature --think irises.  Keep them coming!

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I have done some preliminary work on my blog hop project for the door stop hop but had to make a Hobby Lobby run this morning for a few supplies needed to complete it.  Time to get busy on it!  Skyler got me up at 5 so you would think I would have more done, but I don't!

And sew it goes---------

goofing around?

Or am I planning my next quilt(s)?  I prefer the latter but it sure feels like I'm playing too.  This is supposed to be fun after all or why do it?

As this year's guild newsletter editor I was sent a copy of the meeting minutes for inclusion in the next issue.  Of course, I read it because I missed that last meeting and let me tell you, those girls were busy with it being the first official meeting for 2014.  Not only is the quilt show just month's away  (early March), but it is time to start new challenge quilts and the annual block of the month projects.  I'm not clear on what all the Block of the Month will entail but I should have signed up if I'm interested.  Irene said they were doing it like a mystery quilt. I don't know about that part! After all, I am all about the process from point A to point B and want to know what it might look like to pick fabrics.

The other thing that sounded interesting is a challenge quilt that one of the members had done with the now defunct quilt shop in Trussville.  It involves using the first letter of your first name and inserting 3 elements that use that letter.  For example, her name begins with J so she picked Jewel Box for the block, jet black fabric and hers had a bit of a jungle theme.  The resultant quilt is to be donated to Project Linus, at the May meeting, and will help meet the membership requirement for a minimum of 1 pro bono quilt for the program year.  Kill two birds with one stone, right?

So what begins with L???  All I could come up with for blocks off the top of my head was Log Cabin and Lemoyne Star.  I don't really want to do an 8 pointed star and surely someone else with the L name will do a log cabin.  HMMMM   I went through BlockBase search box to look.  I love BlockBase for the historical applications but they have this cool quick quilt button where you see a 4 x 4 block set of what it would look like block to block, unsashed etc.  Sometimes it looks pretty cool and other times you can see that on point, alternating blocks or sashing would be the way to go.

Here's what I came up with today while playing---some I kind of like and could see doing.

L Stripe #Y011---not so much

Now this one I do like and I have made a Strip Twist shown in that post on the bed this fall----all that is different is maybe the center is smaller and they add a pieced bi-rangle type piece where the Strip Twist is a plain square.  Heck, I even have a bi-rangle ruler so I am guessing you can strip piece the two colors together and then cut the units with the ruler.   Oh the block name is Lacy Lattice Work #2583

This one is called Ladies' Aid Album #1719.  I do like it but if I were to actually make it I would not piece these like actual blocks but rather than components to eliminate a bunch of lines were the blocks would join.

Now this one is Ladies' Aid Block #1221.  It is kind of cool but I cannot help tilting my head to the left and seeing this as blocks on point with some pieced filler for the setting triangles and corner triangles.  All I see is big 4 X blocks and another block that is quite similar to a block called "Practical Orchard"  I have one to do in my Farmer's Wife Sampler so that is why it sprang to mind.  (That and one I have sewn already called Storm Signal.)  See what you think below--change the colors a bit and I think it is the same block!

This one is called Lattice #1181.  I like this coloration but the one I had initially looked at had the diagonal piece done in all the same color in which case it COULD be done on point, with sashing, not those pointy things to match up.  and make more 4 X blocks for the centers.  You would again, have to make pieced setting triangles to complete the look.

I know this next one as Double Attic Windows and have actually made a few in my time as pro bono quilts but I sure didn't miter the corners,  not when you can do flippy cornered triangles and get the same look in the end, LOL.  Technically it is called Lattice Square #1407b

Letter L quilt for this one #2409.  Yep, you got it---I see it on point, LOL.  4 patches on point and eliminate the extra pieced line in the triangles around it.  Not crazy about it though.

This one is sort of a version of Thousand Pyramids but actually it is called Lace Edge Quilt or Lightning Strips #112b.  A bit too fussy on something I would be giving away but you never know.

Then how easy would this one be?  Often called "Endless Stair(s)" it is also called London Stairs #1110

Then you have all the ones like what is normally called Churn Dash but it has 3 L names---Lincoln's Platform, Love Knot and Ludlow's Favorite #1646a

But guess what this one that I know as Dutch Windmill or Hearts and Gizzards is called??  You got it, Lover's Knot #1500.  I have some foundation stuff to do this one on hand, should I want to.  Eleanor Burns had a book from 1995 that I got with some bday money when the quilt shop in in Pell City was still open, years ago still waiting.  Maybe??

I am still thinking that the Lacy Lattice Work might be my favorite but only if I can come up with the color of fabric that starts with L----so any ideas there???  Lavender, lilac, lime green, what else?.  LOL.  How does lavender even look with lime green.  Do I even have any lime green?  Will they not take the quilt if I can only come up with 2 elements?  I think not.

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The other thing that had my attention this morning was shopping online at Connecting Threads.  My lefthanded quilter friend and I had worked out a swap for the contents of my scrap basket and whatever else I wanted to put in there.  Like the contents of two of those little bins on my shelving units for example.   She asks what I may want in return and I say in effect "what do you have to offer?"  This time she made it easy and got me a gift card at CT.  I used it to get some of that yummy rhapsody in blue fabric that I hope will work for the great niece or nephew that will be arriving in July sometime.  I have heard the nursery is a NE nautical theme and I already told my mom that I want to make a Storm at Seas for them.

I made a version of Storm at Seas some time back as a Noah's ark fabric challenge between my mom, Joy and I.  Then I later took the leftover ark fabric that the three of us had not used and made another nine patch and snowball.  It is in the same post from July 20, 2006.    Should be fun----and thanks again, my friend!

But just today as the emails were flying back and forth, she said she had some fpp sailboat blocks that I might want.  I said yes and in exchange she is getting some of the stuff from my plaid/homespun stash.  I dug around in the box in the closet and came up with a small pile fairly easily, LOL. . I think we are even now, or soon will be!

And just like that, it is time to think about fixing supper.  I fixed tuna melts for lunch but dang it, another meal as rolled around.  Best get out to the kitchen!  Tomorrow, I'm cutting and sewing!  Didn't happen today but tomorrow is another day to get back into it.

That's done!

Upon arising yesterday, I knew that I would stay home from Bama Belles and try to get this room reno and rearranging done.  Bev and I had talked earlier in the week to be sure she could be the doorkeeper should I not make it.  I have missed very few meetings in the last 14 years and appreciate her standing in for me.

I had all the components moved in and put away late Monday but I knew that the sewing room closet needed some attention as did the peg board above the pressing/cutting area.   I officially declared myself "done" sometime after supper last night.   I can't say that I have ever vacuumed and swept floors more in such a short time frame as I have from the 5th through the 14th either, LOL.

One of the Belles had asked if I had a Kaleidoscope ruler she could borrow and I was on a treasure hunt for a Quilt in a Day one I thought I had.  Nope, not on the peg board as I had hoped nor was it in that long ago project box either.  Naturally the project box that it was in was clear down on the bottom of the pile and you had to move a bunch of stuff to get at it.  Well, you would still have to move a few things to get at it even once I cleaned things up!  Small closet and I have to share it with the heat exchange thing.  We do what we must!

I did locate a combo ruler that has what she needs though.  I've got about 3 ways to do a 60 degree triangle but a Kaleidoscope is 67.5 degrees.  The one I own is made by Mary Sue Suit.   Her version allows you to cut the "wing" pieces in addition to the triangle with sizes up to 8 inches in height.   I borrowed the graphic from her website.  At one time I think I also had the book she refers to on her website A New Twist on Triangles but I may have sold it on amazon because I cannot find it.






So how are things looking around here?  All moved in and believe it or not, that IS straightened up on the peg board.  It was worse.

Long shot of it for Bev who suggested I consider peg board, LOL.  Her husband has put some up in her newly redone area of her sewing suite.  I say "suite" as they had to expand her existing sewing room to accommodate a long arm set up.   That thing has been up on the wall since we moved here in 1997 but with more things added over the  years. In our old house in the bottom of a split level home,  I had three panels and it sat on the floor serving as a divider between my bed area and the sewing area.  Purses, belts and jewelry were hung on one side and quilt paraphernalia on the other side.   As long as I can find things, I'm fine with it looking a bit cluttered.  Very little of this could go anywhere else, to be honest.

Oh, I had a brainstorm yesterday too.  Well, one of those "why didn't I think of this earlier" deals anyway.  You know those rulers that they did not see fit to put a hanging hole in the acrylic, plexi-glass (whatever they are made of)?  I attached a small binder clip to the edge where it MIGHT have been hung.   It hangs perfectly! Take that, Wonder-cut ruler that I got at the guild garage sale.  Take that too, Attic Window Ruler.  Where there is a will, there is a way, LOL.

Other than some minor paperwork things to do,  I can think of no impediment to working on my door stop blog hop item(s).  Or I might just take a nap.  I'm worn out!  Nothing wrong with waiting one more day and enjoying a clean house for whatever fleeting time that might be.   I don't even have to cook tonight unless I want to.............and I really don't. LOL if I have lunch covered for tomorrow, why would I?

DJ and I have known for some time that our washing machine was probably on its last legs and not worth the expense of repairing it.   The clutch mechanism, we think, was going bad  and you had to put the clothes through a 2nd or 3rd spin for the past few months.  Earlier this week we went to look at the discount appliance place we have used for the stove and refrigerator in the past.  DJ spotted a Whirlpool Cabrio and fell in love.  It was a brand new machine that they had picked up in Atlanta and were selling for $229.  They delivered it yesterday afternoon.  Poor DJ had the honor of painting a good bit of the laundry room while we waited since the laundry rack was out.   It went on its maiden voyage soon after and again this morning.

 I actually think that the machine is smarter that we are!  We had no owner's manual so I went on a hunt for one this morning printing off the salient points for us.  It senses how much water is needed and is touted as needing less water to operate.  There is no old styled big agitator thing either but you are supposed to leave the center plate uncovered.  HUH???  Obviously I did something wrong as my jeans and tshirts spun out really wet.  I was them again as I did not realize that there was a separate dial setting for rinse and spin dry which I COULD have used.   I am not entirely sure that I have the right High Efficiency detergent on hand either but will follow up on that.  We need to find some affresh cleaning tablets for it too since it needs a monthly maintenance-like cleaning as I have heard the LG ones do.

And there you have it-------thx for stopping by.

wanna see some pictures?

I have another day to go but I am starting to see enough progress in here that I can share some pictures.  Wanna see?  LOL, of course you do!

I've done some shifting around of containers and decided to leave the pizza box kits atop the entertainment center in my bedroom, all 10 of them.   Try to sew those things up this year if possible. The sewing machines not in use stack along side the file cabinet in that little slot.  Old quilt tops in the white basket instead of in two different places.  I even hauled in the three small stackable containers that normally ride around in my car, LOL.  Got room now!

I think you can see the flooring better in this picture.  The stack of see through shelving goes next to Skyler's water bowl but there are still where they were placed in THIS POST----till tomorrow, LOL.

Half of this shelving unit was today's task.  I ran out for three more 35 qt containers and shifted some things around utilizing my space the best I can.

DJ helped haul in the TV stand today.  I got smart and as I emptied the temporary shoe box storage of the stuff for my desk drawer, I placed them in the drawer to keep this stuff better organized.    I think there are few things missing but I don't remember where they are at the moment!

This still needs loading, a tomorrow job.

Long range shot, before I bring in the sewing table tomorrow.

Obviously not done here!  All the stuff that I hauled into the corner a week ago is basically still there though it had gotten piled up to the height of the closet door.  (See that post I linked to if you want to see what I am talking about).  This is the last suitcase to unpack though.  I need to press the skirting too.  I DO remember where I put the iron!

There are a few other minor things to deal with.  DJ painted the door so I had to take down the command strips that hold a monthly themed wall hanging.  I've got one more machine out in the car yet and a few things to put away in the bedroom.  Set up the machine and sewing table to sew this week.   Sweep and vacuum all the mess in the hallway but I am pleased with what I managed to get done.

Guess I go better scare up something for our supper.  This day has totally whizzed by!

moving back in

About 8:30 on Friday, Robert came over to start the flooring project.  Meanwhile DJ and I were unhooking the computer but trying to leave as many cords in place as possible.  I had started unhooking the peripheral pieces before that.  Since we have internet phone service,  I was trying to keep the Vonage box, modem and  the phone in place till the last possible minute.  DJ grabbed the processor and I grabbed all those and the strip plug and just dumped it on his desk like a huge rat's nest.

It took about 30 minutes to get the rug and most of the under-layment up.  DJ and Robert teamed up to get the tack strips up.  Meanwhile to keep out of the way, I went off to the kitchen and baked some Oatmeal Scotchies and did a lunch run for sandwiches when it was time for a break.

I am not sure what time the bulk of the work was done.   The doors were re-hung and the door thresh hold stuff was down before everyone called it a day.  I was able to put the stuff that hangs on both doors last night.  Re-hung the drapes that I had laundered.  DJ finished off the evening by painting the base boards all around the periphery of the room.  (He had done all the touch up painting on Thursday as I had hoped he would).   Earlier Robert had taken the paint across the lane to paint the quarter round trim board stuff so it would be ready to be put down today.

So essentially all the work was done by lunch time today when Robert said "okay, Linda, you can move back in".  LOL.  I got the bookshelves re-assembled---two of them were just missing the top shelf while one I had completely taken apart.  I got smart on the others plus one was holding all those notebooks!!  The notebooks are out of the living room and mostly back on the shelves.  DJ helped me untangle the nest of wires, move the desk into position and carry the file cabinet back in.  Later I asked him to help with the pressing/cutting table that we had  hauled out to the shed.

To my amazement I didn't have to jump through a lot of hoops to get Vonage up.  Initially, my phone was the only phone in the house that would not work but I've got it straightened out now.   Apparently I have also plugged my speakers into the wrong spot as I have no sound.  There are 6 holes in the back where it might fit and I didn't think it wanted to insert into the digital holes.  I'll crawl down under the desk in a bit to try another slot---as soon as I work up some energy to get down on my belly with the flashlight.

It took 4 days to get the room emptied out.  I've made good strides this afternoon already but there is no need to work till I drop or almost every muscle or joint is screaming. I'm shooting for Monday completion. Because I knew we be done sometime today,  I did not go to Friendship Quilters today but I still have hopes to make my Bama Belles meeting.

I'll get pictures later but I think you will understand that I'm a bit busy, LOL.  I did not get my blog hop items even cut out so must get cracking since my feature day is coming up on the 28th and around Feb. 12th or so for the other item.

And sew it goes-----

Day 4 of the move out

The sewing table is still up but not for long!  The room is essentially emptied out except for the wall mounted items, the desk which is all emptied and the computer.  I hesitate to do anything more with the computer as we use an internet phone---last minute, it is.   I still need to vacuum as I moved out the last book shelf.  He helped me with the TV stand and the file cabinet once I emptied them out.  Hooray for empty luggage there!

DJ and I went to look at flooring and I found what I wanted.  A russet oak laminate that is similar to the kitchen, a bit of a redder cast to it though.  5 boxes later, it is parked on the floor near the foot of his bed.  48 hours worth of acclimating to the house temperature is what is recommended.  Robert knowing about DJ's surgery carried it in.   It looks like we/he can plan on getting started on taking up the carpet on either Friday or Saturday.  I told DJ that one of us needs to do the touch up painting first.   I think if I bake him those muffins or make that potato soup he mentioned he will do it.

The only other thing we need to purchase is that strip you put on the floor between the carpet and the flooring and the trim boards.  Not sure what linear footage was needed and we had not measured the door openings either.

SO........  Looks like it is all a go! It is possible that I will miss guild and my own quilt group meeting trying to get things back to normal around here.  I should have plenty of time to do the blog hop entry immediately after I can get a few things back in here but knowing me, the whole room will be set to rights first, LOL.

progress

Another shelving unit has been dealt with today along with part of another, leaving just the third one that has some odds and ends on it that I will still need in order to work on my blog hop items.  DJ was kind enough to help me unload and load all the pattern notebooks and magazines, etc that fill a total of 3 shelves.  THX, Honey!  Oh, this one is "decapitated by one shelf at this point too, LOL.  I would have taken off another but saw no point in moving all the stuff already on it.  (Do it later.)

 I reached the saturation point in my bed room storage.  Thankfully, DJ offered a few spots where I could tuck a few things without totally inconveniencing him.  I have another little spot scoped out from my thread containers too.  SO I have not had to use my bathtub or my car trunk other than temporarily, LOL.  Basically, it is just down to the files in my desk and file cabinet and emptying out the bottom of the TV stand. My cutting/pressing table will be needed for a bit longer and that surface can be cleared quickly.

 DJ and I also had a discussion about where the TV stand and file cabinet could be held while the work is being done.  BUT that is absolutely last minute moving there.  One holds the printer which I may need.  The TV, I could live without as I often don't even turn it on till the evening hours.  Robert thought he could work around the large office desk but I need it to be lighter to move!  I don't even know how we managed to get that thing in here in the first place!

 I am going to sew today though--I promised myself that.  How odd that I am facing right up to the wall instead of the book shelf.  So what is on tap?  One block that I will foundation piece--modified Puss in the Corner.  It is a re-do for some less than stellar piecing on my first attempt.  I forget what I had done before to modify it but probably eliminated some extra lines and such.  This is also not original to the quilt either but that is why I term it "inspired by".  Not making an exact duplicate of the cover quilt.  This should not take all that long and I need to start working on the hop item (s).

It is supposed to be warmer tomorrow so I am hopeful that DJ and I can get out to look at flooring.  We were down to 7 this morning by our thermometer and I think it is 20 now, mid afternoon with the sun shining.  Others in the country have had it far worse with blizzard like conditions.  Isn't that how you define a blizzard--below freezing temps, winds of probably a certain mph and snow?  We had some flurries yesterday but nothing that stuck.  The grass is all crunchy though.  They say we have not had this arctic cold down here, with one digit lows since 1996, before we moved down here.  Record rains in 2013 and record cold this year?  I have not resorted to baking yet to warm the house but I did promise him I would make pizza tonight as I have some Italian sausage links thawed.  Poor DJ is still waiting for breakfast muffins or quick bread.

And sew it goes--------