Variations on a half-square triangle quilt layout

I've been piecing up a big pile of half-square triangles (or HSTs) for the last few days so I thought I would play around with some layout options just for fun. 

 

(Same camera, each photo just minutes apart, same time of day, and look at the color variations)

I pulled teals/aquas and added a pop of rust red/ brick orange later.

I like this one....

let's add the accent colors...

Yup, that's nice.    A little small though, let's add a row at the side and bottom....

 Nope, now the center square is too far up.

And maybe a little play on the design just a little....

That's better! 

Now, off to stitching the rows together!

Fleurette and teal & red

 The Fleurette jacket has a finished bodice.  Next up are the sleeves and the directions looked a little daunting, meaning I'll really have to concentrate. count, and read carefully, not an easy task at times.   I'm putting it aside just til I get an hour or two of quiet in the mornings before the monkeys wake up.

 It's a lovely olive green DK yarn (Queensland Rustic DK) but not responding to the morning light here so well.   These photos make it look drab and army-like.


In the meantime, I've been inspired by the teal/aqua/red colors I've spotted on Pinterest lately so I've been pulling together some fabrics to make some HSTs.

Hopefully I'll have some time to work on this on my long weekend.

Armstrong Valley Winery craft fair

I didn't get to post about this ahead of time because I, for lack of a better term, stumbled onto this myself.

I went over to the craft show at the very end of the day on Saturday to pick up some peach wine (a favorite) and ask around about being a vendor at the next show.   As fate would have it, I talk to the organizer and her mother, they had an empty booth area on Sunday and Poof!  I'm in a craft fair the very next day.   Did I mention this was about 7:00pm or so?

I pulled some things out of circulation from the Etsy shop, boxed 'em up, picked up a big pot of mums and off I go!

Things to do next time.

- I need a canopy.   It was a combination of cool, hot, windy, and a little drizzly at times. 
-A chair better than a stool.
-A display to either stand some bottles up so the light shines through them, or to hang them somehow.
-A shop sign.
-And bring a sidekick do you can take a short break if you need to.

First craft fair set up and ready to go!

some oldies

As I was trying to speed up my computer, I stumbled on some painting photos I wanted to share just for fun.   Here's a few more things I've worked on....

 A bench for the Millersburg Class of 1954

assorted end of the year awards for the sports teams

some cakes 

(I worked in a deli/bakery for 14 years out of high school as a side job)

I even scrapped a little

 (although I can't remember when I found the time!)

Finally, here's some tooth fairy boxes made from Altoid containers.

CREATE sign in my artroom

 Letters are MDF from Michaels craft store.   Black matboard background


 materials from left to right -
C = colored paper
R = spray paint layered over water
E = fabric scraps, ribbon, buttons, and glitter glue
A = sharpie marker circles
T = acrylic paint
E = colored paper and mosaic squares

Next up - fleurette jacket

It's a dreary, rainy Tuesday.  Hot tea in my mug, a pot of spaghetti sauce is simmering on the stove.  My little Olive is playing with a few stuffed animals.   

 I've started the bodice part of this Fleurette Jacket. (Ravelry - Fleurette Jacket ) Hoping I have a finished sweater before the end of the year.  (I'm not a fast knitter and my time span spent working on it ranges from 15 minutes to 45 minutes before someone wakes in the morning)

Queensland Collection Rustic Wool DK in olive from Webs.

A cross-post from my school blog

I have my classroom on another page on blogger and I know this craft is a good post for both spots.

In a few weeks it will be coat weather and due to schedule changes, my younger classes will be coming right to ART after recess.  To keep coats and scarves from becoming a jumbled pile, I thought up a coat rack to hang outside my classroom.

Using the big box of spare spools, some yarn leftovers, and 2 previously painted and distressed-naturally 2x4s from my wood pile at home,  I made this quick coat rack.

Paint is Glidden Olive Oil (thank you free quart giveaway.  I knew free paint would always come in handy for an artist!) 

3" drywall screws held the spools in place and a few more secured it to the wall.   Hot glue attached the yarn to each spool.

I think I'll go down the row with the hot glue gun and my button box to cap the screws in the center too.

A few more baby quilt details

School has begun both for teaching and for learning, my grad class is in full swing now too.  Getting some home projects completed, working on my classroom blog, and keeping up with life takes a bit of time as you can imagine and understand I'm sure.

 I just passed on this gift so I'll post some more detailed photos of this cute little crib quilt. 

I quilted in various width straight lines down the length of the quilt this time.  I really like the effect.

The recipients loved it and here's to a happy, healthy delivery for them all!

Drops design cardigan

This is really a lovely sweater.  There is just enough decorative detail at the waistline to make it interesting but not difficult.

Drops Design 119-34

I'm not sure how well my 3 year old would do as photographer so I'll have to post photos of the sweater actually on my person later.  :)

feelin' like fall

 toasting piggie toes in the evenings

 a chill in the morning air

 time to finish up some knitting.   Maybe I'll wear this before spring this year?