turtle quilt progress

These fabrics are for the turtle quilt. I picked fabrics for this quilt from my green scrap bin. The pattern was wonderfully written. I had it cut in a short afternoon at my Friday group ( including much talking and listening)  and everything was labeled and ready to go. I was impressed with the cutting directions. Little things matter - everything for each block to be cut was on one page. I didn't have to flip back and forth.

The quilt pattern is one I won from Susan at Quilt fabrication for a blog anniversary. I am planning on it being a quilt gift for a Grandson. Here is where I blogged about it. It's also part of my one monthly goal at Elm street quilts and 6 and 6 at pomegranate and chintz.

I made a batch of soap this weekend. Our downsizing goal for the month is to make up all my soap supplies and get rid of what I don't use. I want to have quite a few on hand for our use and to give as gifts. I am nearly out of shampoo soap, so that was the first I have made. It has been a couple of years since I have made shampoo soap. I love how well it lathers and doesn't make my head itch.

I also made a mill soap which is a fancy way of saying taking odd pieces of soap and remelting it.

I was afraid that would be last of soap making as I couldn't find my trusty notebook with all my "secret" recipes LOL.  Losing things has become a way of life lately. We found it today, and I am anxious to stoke the soap making fires. And, yes, there is a happy face carved from my silly husband.

I am linking to:

Fiber Tuesday - 

Free Motion by the River

to do tuesday

too cute tuesday

Garden and strings

We felt that we needed to move our strawberries before frost. We had them in a tier that had finally broken down. The strawberries were not happy there anyway. I built the boxes earlier this year. Jeff had read about filling in the space of the box with limbs and sticks before adding the soil. That way the box needs less soil and the tree composts itself and the soil is richer. It sounds reasonable.

While we were working, we heard something in the tree nearby. It looks like a downy woodpecker is making a nest. That will be a fun adventure to watch.

I've made some string blocks on my treadle. I will be throwing a few strings outside for our new bird family.

I'm linking to Fabric Tuesday
and
sew cute Tuesday
and
Fiber Tuesday

Shampoo Bar a big success

These are the finished shampoo bars. I used one on my hair and loved, loved it. The suds and lather were better than my expensive shampoo. I had scented it lightly with Berries and cream, and that was refreshing. My hair looked great, and my perm didn't frizz as much as it dried. We sold several at the winter woolen this weekend. One customer was excited to carry it in her luggage for vacation. It would work better in an airport as well. I added silk to the bar during the water, lye reaction.

This soap is available at my Etsy store.