The Color Blue...

Years and years ago,

me Mum was giving me something...

what was it?

Don't remember...

just remember that I kept saying,

"But, I don't like ba-loo!!"

Don't get me wrong.

I don't hate it.

It can be lovely.

I just don't rate it my favorite color.

However.

My Aunt Bev loves blue and so...

remember the blue floss and

the ivory linen I showed on Friday?

Here's what is going on with that...

I am almost done with the running stitch,

then I need to hand-stitch the hem on all 4 sides...

about 15 feet worth of stitching.

When finished, it will be a scarf...

pattern from The Purl Bee.

I've had a fairly lazy weekend...

mostly watched episodes of 

"Burn Notice" on streaming Netflix

and worked on the scarf.

Talked on the phone.

Went grocery shopping.

Nothing exciting, but then...

when is it ever exciting here?

~grin~

The snow is almost all melted and gone.

Today, the sun is shining brightly.  

Perhaps Spring will come, after all.

Have a great work week!  

"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 Break from Sewing...

I haven't been doing much sewing this week.   I finished my little churn dash quilt last Sunday...and I don't like it.  Not.  At.  All.  I am so disappointed in myself.  I made two choices that were not (read NOT) the right ones for this quilt...the binding and the quilting.  It bothers me that I dislike it.  It bothers me that I made those choices.  So.  I have mostly stayed out of my sewing room.  And, that's that.  Better luck next time, I guess.  {sigh}

So, to take a break from sewing, I've been knitting.  I can easily do that while watching tv in the evening.  Did I tell you?  My LYS (local yarn shop) has a discounted area...one is able to bring in new & in original packaging skeins of yarn and receive either store credit or cash...and those skeins of yarn are available to customers for a discounted price!  This week, I bought 4 skeins of yarn for $10.00, saving just over $15.00!! 

I was inspired by these at Purl Bee.  I made mine to measure about 7"...I think they are just so fun!  The perfect size for washing one's face!  The cotton I used is thicker than what they are on Purl Bee...I wanted them to be a tightly-knit cloth.  I will definitely be doing more of these...with different colors and different cotton yarns!  

It's a rainy dreary day.  I think I'll make lunch and read.  Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.  

Oh, and just so you don't worry...my week long break from sewing is over...cannot keep me from it for long.  I will be starting a new quilt project - a big one! - this weekend.  Stay tuned!

"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

What Inspires Me...

I see a lot of things I like...and that I would like to make, but not all of them truly inspire me.  This, on the other hand...definitely does.  This quilt is made up of churn dash and monkey wrench blocks...

as well as plenty of half-square triangles.  Isn't it fabulous?  (I apologize...I never noted where I saw the photo so am unable to give credit to the person who made it.)  What I love about this quilt is that there is a method to its madness, yet it looks so random.  It so inspired me that when I belonged to the Bee Addicted 3 block swap two years ago, churn dash and monkey wrench blocks were what I asked for.  Alas, those blocks are still waiting to be worked with.  I think at the time it seemed like such a huge project.  Perhaps I'll get to it this year.

Take a look at these churn dash quilts made by Erin of Why Not Sew?.  She stitched one by hand and one by machine...

Be sure to click on the photo to enlarge it.  I love her use of fabrics...these small quilts look so old and soft and already loved.  Don't you think?

You may remember that our first block in the hand-pieced quiltalong, with Erin of Why Not Sew?  was the churn dash block.  Here's mine...

Last but not least, my latest inspiration...this small quilt I saw at Purl Bee.

They call it Masking Tape Quilt...because of the way the little square blocks of fabric look.  I think it is dang cute.

Wondering where all of this is leading?  Why, to this little churn dash quilt I am working on.  All the blocks are pieced...and this is about as random as I get.  And, yet, there is some kind of order to it.  The top is finished...I would love to have it completely done before Sunday night comes.

What inspires you?

"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

Knitting...Revisited.

A while back, I talked about knitting...socks in particular.  To have something besides hand sewing or embroidery to keep my hands busy with while watching tv in the evenings.  So.  I set about knitting a pair of socks. 

I got a bit more done than this...

(This is gorgeous yarn...thanks, Sharon!) and got stuck on the heel and gusset part.  I have no doubt that had someone been here talking me through it...or showing me...I would have mastered it.  Or, even had I put more effort into it.  But, I didn't.  Because it wasn't something that I needed to do.  It's not that I needed to learn how to knit...I would consider myself a medium-skilled beginner...I have some good foundation skills.  So.  I have decided that I will leave the knitting of socks with heels to someone else.  I feel okay about that.  If I feel the desire to knit, I will knit something like this....

Rick Rack Scarf 

or these...

Ribbed Hand Warmers

or these....

Tube Sock Leg Warmers

or any one of a myriad of projects listed on the Purl bee's blog.

Funny thing...after I typed this blog post but before I posted it, I talked on the phone with me Mum.  She told me that I am soon to receive a box in the mail containing...knitting needles!  (So, I guess it is in my destiny to be knitting, hey?  {grin})  Seems my Aunt/Godmother and me Mum had decided that they should buy knitting needles for me...gotta love that kind of support!  Cracks me up.  And, fills me with love and appreciation for those 2 women.  I will let you know when they arrive (probably won't be for a bit, so don't be holding your breath waiting!)


Thank you for your knitting encouragement.  Stay tuned...



"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

Early Morning...

It's early Saturday morning.

I've been up for a long time already.

Why?

Why Not.

Lots to do.

Besides, I never sleep much.

It's raining.

I have a load of wash in.

Time to fix breakfast.

I rarely eat breakfast during the week.

I usually eat breakfast on the weekend.
Same with you?

I've been sitting here quietly.

Thinking of all I'd like to do today.

Browsing through the Purl bee blog.

OH.  MY.  GOSH.

Have you been there?

Purl Soho is a store in NYC.
 the Purl bee is their blog.

A craft blog.

Something for everyone.

Seriously!

Once you visit, you will wonder

how you could have missed this.

And, you will be stuck there!

Project after project...

Knitters, crocheters, quilters, sewists...

wool, cotton, exotic yarns...

ohmy.

Rita from Red Pepper Quilts

mentions the Purl bee often.

In addition to being a prolific

and awesome! quilter,

Rita knits.

Be sure to spend some time with her, too.

Guaranteed that you will love her!

I read her every post...

have for a very long time.

It's always a joy to see her finishes.

Tag is hungry now.

(Truth be told, he is always up for eating.)

I need to feed him

and make my breakfast.

I need to fortify myself for the day ahead.

Tackling the sewing room is on my list.

It is the only thing on my list.

Need to organize before
I move on to other things.

Need to know what I have

waiting to be finished.

Works in progress.

Probably more than I realize.

So, on that note.

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