Time to Catch Up...

It is March already!  I sound surprised.  Right?  Well, sometimes I have difficulty remembering which month it is.  Not because I'm having memory problems, but because the weather is so different (read great!) here as compared to the weather in Wisconsin.

I joined a gym!  Anytime Fitness!  So psyched to get this body into better shape.  I also belong to Weight Watchers.   It's been good and bad...mostly good.  Slowly, slowly.  But I am not giving up.

Mom is feeling better and better...in fact, she joined Anytime Fitness, too!  She rides on the recumbent bike to strengthen her leg muscles and she works on the hip abduction machine.  Her difficulties with walking - due to her Parkinson's - should improve as she continues to work at it.  

Those of you not on Facebook have missed seeing the photos I post of Mom, so here are a few of the most recent.

Walking to get my mail...

Out to lunch.

At my table eating a huge hot fudge sundae!  (Yes, she ate the entire thing!)

I have gotten the embroidery piece almost finished...should really take the time to do the rest.  Any ideas on how to finish it?  The pattern is printed relatively close to the edge of the fabric, so I added strips to help keep it in the hoop.  I may do more stitching.

I have been knitting, also!  Face cloths.  I love them made with Cotlin, a blend of linen and cotton. These two are knitted with the color Harbor...a deeper blue/green than it shows here.

No pattern...just garter stitch with a few rows of purling here and there.

And.  Yes.  Sewing.  Not as much as I would like, but quite a bit since I last posted. 

I made a quilt for Tony (nephew) and Sabrina's soon-to-be-born baby boy.  Just a simple patchwork. The red/white striped piece with the dotted binding in the lower right corner are a just a little bit of a nod to Baby Alexander's parents...Sabrina was in the service and Tony is currently in the Air Force.   I think this measures about 42 inches square.  

2 cat quilt pallets for donation to the Humane Society of Fremont County. 

A  baby quilt I made a few years ago with fabric from Cathy that I just finished.
Measures ~38" square.

A soft gray for the backing with a scrappy binding in Kona solids.
I quilted it with straight lines on each side of every seam
and diagonally down the center of each block...both ways.
   

I have more to show you, but I am running out of time.  Mom and sister Julie are coming for lunch and to play cards.    

Have a great weekend!


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

More Fun in the Mail...

I received another box in the mail.

That Cathy...

she must really be cleaning out!

And, wow...

she really knows how to fill a box!

what I would consider scraps...not large enough to do much with

each of these is at least a fat eighth

yardage

corduroys on the left, knits on the right

started project - or leftovers?

striped velour - how sweet is that

felt for doll shoes, crowns, etc.

 

all of it together

 Thank you, Cathy!!

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Also received a box of yarns from Knit Picks,

my favorite online yarn shop...

...for face cloths and doll sweaters

Never at a loss for things to do, for sure!

Have a great day!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

A Chilly Kind of Day...

I know.

I was going to show you

the finished doll outfit.

Sorry, I got distracted.

But, it was a fun distraction!

Wait til you see.

In the meantime...

chili is in the crockpot.

 A perfect day for it...

damp, dreary, and, well...

chilly.

Today is me Mum's birthday...

Happy 83rd birthday, Mum!

I sent her some much wanted

face cloths in a special (small) size.

Aunt Bev (l) and me Mum (r).

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More later.

I have lots to say...

At least 2 posts worth.

Plus, I will show you what

I have finished.

Promise.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Yarn...

I really enjoy making face cloths...washcloths just for the face...so smaller than a normal-sized washcloth.  They are so easy to work on while I watch tv.  My favorite yarn for the face cloths is the cotton/linen blend that I found over at Knit Picks.  This is my go-to online yarn shop.  They have a great selection of yarns and books, etc., their prices & shipping rates are reasonable, they have sales, and the orders come quickly.

I received a package from Knit Picks today!  I've been out of the cotton/linen blend yarn for a bit...finally ordered some.  And, I'm trying out a new (to me) yarn called dishie...a 100% yarn great for (you guessed it) dishcloths, etc.

Here are some of my fave colors...

clementine, linen, sprout, cashew.  up in the left corner is dishie in tranquil.

    

No package from my strawberry pincushion swap partner today.  More waiting...~sigh~

 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Coming and Going...

I sent out two packages last week.  They were delivered, so I get to show you what I sent.  ~grin~

I sent one package out to Jody, who lives in New Mexico.  She is my godchild and niece...her birthday was July 30.  I actually had these done the day before her birthday.  Why, then, weren't they mailed until August 29?  Oh, who knows...I'm just slow, I guess.  Two face cloths.  This is a new yarn I'm working with (I may have mentioned it before)...a blend of cotton and linen.  Perfect for face/wash cloths.  Color is Clementine.   

The other package went to Maine.  To Julie of Dog Trot Farm.  I adore her...and she adores her one year old grandson, Travis Lloyd.  He, in turn, adores tractors!  Whilst going through my fabric in this most recent destashing, I came across some tractor fabric.  Not sure what I had originally planned for it, but as soon as I saw it, I thought of Travis and knew what I wanted to do with it.

I made this bag for him to keep little stuff in.  Tractors, perhaps.

I love drawstring bags.  I made them for my sons when they were toddlers.  They carried toys to and from Gram and Grandpa's house in them.  Course, they weren't quite as fancy as this one (or the one I made Riley shown here), but they were completely wonderful and served their purpose(s) well. 

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I love sending surprise packages in the mail.  And, almost as much even more, I love receiving packages!  One came in the mail today...from Sharon, my 'snow days' compatriot.  Just look!!

Want a closer look?  Okie dokie.  First up...scarlet pumpkin hand soap.  ohmy...the smell is soooo yummy!!

 

And, this candle...I could eat it up, it smells so delish! 

Embroidery needles...one each of sizes 7 through 11.  

I am always misplacing my scissors...seem to never have them on my side table when I need them.   Now, I have a pair that I will keep right there!  And, look at how cute they are, too!

This.  I cannot believe this!  It's a divided container for small things.  Every time I have gone to the temecula quilt co website, I have almost ordered this.  Not kidding.  Since back when Kelley Girl first introduced me to this website, probably at least 4 years ago.  So.  Thank you, Sharon!!!

WOW!  What a fun package to open! 

Thank you, Sharon...everything is perfect!  And, thanks for making today a fun mail day!



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

The 4's Have It!

Been involved in more therapy.

Knitting therapy, that is.

Me Mum asked for small washcloths...

so I made these for her.

  4 colors.  

4 patterns.

4 inches.

  

Perhaps I will block them

 to make them all pretty and square.

 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Lotta Stuff...

I am very happy to have several different things to show you...works in progress and a few finishes.

I finished the curio quilt top...and the backing, too!  Here is the top...I love the secondary pattern the background fabric makes...

 

I made mitered corners for the very first time!  It was actually much easier than I thought it would be...and I am really liking the look!

The backing is pieced, of course, though not as much as many of my other quilts...

Now to get batting...meanwhile, I need to think of how I will quilt it.

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I received all the fabrics needed for the Lotta Jansdotter patchwork quilt I mentioned in the previous post.  And, I must say...Pink Chalk Fabrics absolutely rocks!  I wanted a solid to match the purplish/pinkish color in the Echo line and couldn't find what I wanted in the Kona colors.  So, I called the ladies at Pink Chalk and they found the perfect match in a Kaffe Fasset shot cotton...thank you, ladies!  I cut 5" squares - 182 of them...

 This one should be fast and easy!

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I also pulled out some blocks I've had for awhile...from my friend, Cathy, of Quilting On Turtle Hill and Pink Petunia Cottage Dolls.  I had made a quilt using these prints/blocks a few years ago...see it here.  I loved this quilt so much and will be making exactly the same quilt for an upcoming happy event. 

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Speaking of Cathy...when I first mentioned that 'knitting is my therapy', Cathy asked if I wanted some yarn that she no longer had a use for.  I thought she might be sending a skein or two...should have known better ~grin~.  Here is what I received - 11 skeins!

WOW!  What a generous soul!  I already knit two doll sweaters with yarn from her.  This one is a bit small for Aubrey...would fit a 12" doll nicely...

I made this one to send to me Mum...she has a little bear that she dresses up to fit the occasion...

It takes me about 3 hours to knit one of these doll sweaters...they are so easy and fun to make!  Thank you, Cathy!  You're the best!

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And, last but not least...I continue to make the soft cotton face cloths. I love the pattern on this one...simple knit2, purl2...stitch count can be whatever you want...multiples of 4 plus 2 so that you begin and end each row with knit 2.  I use 34 stitches to knit the face cloths, making them to be about 7" square using Peaches and Creme yarn with size 5 needles. 

So.  That's what I have been up to.  How about you?

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A special note...in six more days, Tag E. Butt will be 11 years old.  And, a week after that is my birthday.  I am thinking a giveaway is on the horizon...stay tuned for more information on that.

In the meantime, have fun doing what you love.


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Sewing vs Quilting...and Knitting.

I used to love sewing...any kind of sewing...just sitting down at my sewing machine and spending time creating.  I used to sew anything for anyone.  Now, not so much into anything.  Or, for anyone, for that matter.  I do enjoy - to a limited extent - sewing pillows, curtains, aprons, , kleenex cozies, totes and zippered pouches.  I guess the best way to say it is this...if it's my idea to sew something for someone...or something that I want for myself, then I am happy to sew it.  ~grin~

And, might I add...I always had a decent sewing machine, but not anything as wonderful as my Naomi Janome.  She makes anything I do that much more pleasurable.

Okay...on with the discussion.  Quilting.  That's an entirely different thing.  To me, taking pieces of fabric and putting them together to make a quilt is pure joy.  Though I have been a sewist all of my life, I've been quilting for just 4 years.  Seems strange that I was never attracted to quilting before...who knows how things affect someone, hey?  But, you know what?  I think I will never tire of it.  Perhaps it is my passion.  It's good to be passionate about something like that.  

Right?   
            

In the above photo...I have all of my Curio blocks pieced and sort of laid out the way I want them.  I need a bigger surface to lay them all out on to get a better look.  36 blocks...I am loving these colors!  (Good pick, Lindy!)  Before I go to bed tonight, the top will be finished.  I'll be doing the happy dance, for sure!

So.  Knitting.  As I mentioned before, I learned to knit when very young and have knit a few things in my life...but hadn't knitted for many years.  I started again last year because I wanted to knit socks.  But, never one to overvalue my skills, I quickly realized that knitting socks was not for me...it seems that I have a mental block where 'turning the heel' and 'gusset' are concerned.  I know if someone showed me I would get it, but in the meantime, I moved on.  ~sigh~  Last spring, I started knitting what I call face cloths.  Or, call them wash cloths.  But, never dish cloths. ~grin~

Cotton.  Soft.  Fun and easy.  Since I started, I think I have probably knitted 3 dozen.  I use a few basic patterns, and some have had designs that I found here...football, birthday cake, Christmas tree ornament, and sun...just to name a few.  I love having them as an extra gift...and gave all the women in my family at least one for Christmas.  I have found that knitting is very relaxing for me (as long as it is not a sock I'm working on).  I knit every morning for at least 20 minutes before I leave for work.  I sometimes knit in the evening or on the weekends...but really...mostly in the mornings before work.  I may expand my horizons and start knitting other things.  Ya never know!   

All of that leads to this...I have come to the conclusion that Quilting is my Passion...but Knitting is my Therapy.

How about you...what do you feel passionate about?  What do you consider your therapy?




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11