Charming

Charm squares. My new addiction. I can't get enough of them. And I love bags. I love making bags. From start to finish. Here are some charm squares all sewed together ready to be quilted for a totebag.

Here they are now quilted. Nice and soft and with a little bit of body to them now. I love taking pictures in the morning light.

Once all the quilting was done, by machine of course, it was time to assemble the totebag. Everything went together so easily. A very well written pattern.

And nice colorful pockets on the inside! Of course, made with more charm squares.

Done! And now I have a new totebag.

Here is where it all happens. The sewing area. I had this all straightened up and organized the other day. That didn't last long.

I just can't say away from my sewing machine lately.

Next up, another apron. I love making those too. Love the fabric I'll be using for this. Retro looking fifties housewives! I'll be making the one on the top left of the pattern envelope.

I'll be back at the sewing machine today. Impatiently waiting for the mailman to bring me some goodies I ordered.

Watch out!

Here we go. The first tornado watch of the season. It's going to be a long night until this is over with. Hopefully nothing will happen, just a thunderstorm. A good excuse to sit on the couch and knit in front of the TV. Any excuse to knit! I've got my knitting mojo back, YAY!!!! I started another sock, Hedera by Cookie A, free pattern on Ravelry. Here's my progress.

This is slow going, but looking at it now, I do have a lot done. There are a few mistakes in there, but I just keep plugging along. It will be OK.

Before my daughter left we had one last craft night. Here is a picture of our stuff. It was so much fun! That picture makes me smile, it reminds me of that fun night.

I've also made some more little pouches. So cute! And so easy to make. I'll be gifting them and some of those mini birdhouses to my cousins this weekend when I help out at my cousin's garage sale. A mini family reunion! I'm looking forward to it.

I'm also working on an apron. I'm going for a vintage look. I actually did some embroidery work on it. Check it out:

That's the pocket. Now all I have to do is sew it together. Hopefully I will get that accomplished this week. But not until after I sit on the couch watching the weather watches and warnings. While knitting.

Three Day Weekends Rock!

I am loving taking Fridays off and having three day weekends all summer! The city I live in is having a big arts and crafts street fair this weekend. I just may have to walk up there later and see what's there. Get some inspiration! There are all kinds of food vendors too. Lots of fun.

I made another apron yesterday with my beloved Matroyshka fabric. So cute! It will hang in a place of honor in my kitchen. This fabric just makes me smile. I used a pattern in The Apron Book. Very easy to make.

I bought some more fabric from an Etsy seller. I can't stay away from Etsy. So much to buy and drool over. The next thing I want to buy is a knitting pattern for some little woodland animals. I don't know what I'll make with this fabric. I was thinking maybe a new sewing machine cover.

I haven't been knitting on the socks much. It's been really hot and even with the AC on sometimes I just can't stand to touch yarn. But my flowers have been blooming like crazy. Look at my pretty petunias:

I love when I'm sitting on the deck and I can see these. So bright and vibrant! Good yarn colors!

Yard work

Beautiful outside today! One of those days where you had to be outside. I got some work done in the yard. I refreshed all the mulch in the front, it's clean and tidy looking. Can't wait to get some more flowers out there and have lots of color. It felt good to be outside, but my muscles are crying, not loudly, but I know they are there.

That's my little house!

I finally got the apron done. This was a lot more work than I thought it would be. But I really like it!

And here's the back:

No knitting going on at the moment. I finished the dishcloth made of Cottontots. It's so soft. I'm deciding what to make next. I think I may be able to get back into the knitting groove, my hand has been OK.

I also made one more project bag:

And that's about it. My four day weekend is flying by. I wish the work week went this fast.

Stuff!

Look at this Stuff!

My Aunt Pat cleaned out her closet and sent me this Stuff! There are so many cute patterns in the bag, lots and lots. I definitely need more hours in the day. And all that yarn to make more Stuff!

Check this out:

Sock Monkeys! and clothes for Sock Monkeys! We have a strange fascination with sock monkeys in this family. Oh my gosh, this pattern is just so cute!

I went to dinner with my cousins the other night, Olive Garden. It was so yummy! So good to see them at an event that wasn't a funeral. We got to talking about shopping and they told me about these birdhouses they liked and some had bought from Kohl's, on sale, half price. What a deal! So being the typical relatives that we are one of my cousins was going to buy one on her way home and I went the next day and got one. We have always had to buy what each other has bought. We've had a lot of fun doing that. Our moms started that little tradition and we carry it on. I love this little birdhouse! Can't wait to hang it in my yard. And every time I look at it I will be reminded of my sweet cousins.

I haven't had much time to knit or sew the last few days. I got a little bit of sewing done on the apron, it's very slow going. Whoever would have thought an apron would be so detailed to sew? But it is. I like how it's turning out so far.

I haven't been knitting much and my hand is feeling a lot better! I've been working on a dishcloth. This cotton yarn is so soft, I'm loving it. I made one for my Aunt out of this yarn (Bernat Cottontots) and there's plenty left, so I'm making this one for my Mom. She saw the yarn and loved the color. They knit up pretty quickly, good TV knitting. They don't require a lot of concentration.

That's it for now. Tomorrow I'm going to go get my kid from college and bring her home for the summer. I can't wait to see her!

Oh what a beautiful morning!

It's so pretty and sunny out there this morning. I went outside to take a picture of the tree in my yard that is in bloom. It's gorgeous when it blooms, the picture doesn't do it justice. I love this little tree. There was a robin in it but when I got close it flew away. I love all the pretty colors of spring!

On the needles I have a dishcloth, Grandma's Favorite. I love making that pattern, so easy, good TV knitting. I got the apron cut out and hopefully will have time to work on it today. I think the colors look so retro.

Aprons are fun to make, you can get so creative with them. They're like little works of art. I'm making the apron in the center of that pattern envelope, the full sized one.

This is the yarn I used for the kitty I posted yesterday. So very soft. Patons Be Mine.

I've never used this yarn before. I saw it on clearance at Michaels and it was just of those things where "I had to have it"!

I Wish the Days Were Longer

I'm still going at it with the sewing machine. Not much knitting to report. I've been knitting a little on the fingerless mitts. I'm hoping to finish tonight. Here's a peek, but I do have a little bit more done since this picture was taken.

Here are some fabric and patterns I bought while at Joann's the other day when the stupid snowstorm started. A few patterns to just make "stuff", I don't really sew clothing any more.

I got a couple yards of fabric. I'm going to make one of those purses with this:

And then I was going through the remnant bin and found these cute flannel pieces:

I just HAD to buy those flannel pieces, just one of those things.

So I got busy and sewed an apron. Someone borrowed my other apron and I never got it back and I doubt I ever will. Here's the front:

I used a contrasting fabric for the inside, you can wear it either side showing. Here's what it looks like from the back:

Now won't I just look so snazzy wearing that apron to put frozen dinners into the oven?