Swap

I participated in a dishcloth and soap swap on a Ravelry group. My goodies came today! I was so excited to get something fun in the mail!

My partner sent me a pretty pink striped dischloth, some hand gel, a pretty little Easter egg shaped soap, and some soap that smells wonderful, the flavor is Oats & Groats. AND a box of Andes Chocolates! Chocolate cherry. I've never seen these before. I love all my stuff! This was a fun little swap.

Thank you Reese!

Yarn, yarn, everywhere I look

It's a good thing I live alone, there's yarn all over the place here. It's out of control at the moment. I just can't stop buying it. I ordered some more today on line. I was not going to buy any yarn during Lent, that didn't last long. I bought this sock yarn the other day when I went knitting with friends.

Isn't it pretty! I love the colors. I can't wait until the weather gets nice again and I can take pictures outside.

I started another hat in a Ravelry Knit-Along. This one is the Dean Street Hat, made with Malabrigo. My first time using Malabrigo. Ohhhhhhhhh, this stuff is nice! The first hat I started got frogged, story of my life lately, it was just going to be too big. Started the smaller size last night and now I'm moving right along.

I also need to start on a dishcloth for an exchange. I ripped out the socks from the last post and started a new pair. I could not get a good picture of them so that will have to wait until another time.

Do you ever go to estate sales? They are lots of fun, you never know what you will find. Sometimes they are good, sometimes they are crappy. I went to one with my sister on Saturday and bought these items.

Like I need more stuff. But this stuff was calling my name so I bought it. I also got a nice big tote bag with a zipper. I'll keep a big knitting project in that thing. I did my part to keep the economy going.

Halloween Stuff

Two more days until Halloween! I think I'm ready. Do you like my costume?

There it is! I just couldn't resist. Five dollars at wallyworld. That will be fun to wear to pass out candy. Did I mention candy? I bought lots to give out. Every year I buy a lot and I run out. It can cost a small fortune. We get so many kids around here. So I didn't buy a lot of chocolate this year, instead I bought plenty of other stuff. I do want to try one of those marshmallow pumpkins, they are so cute!

I do enjoy seeing the kids come to the door in their costumes. Lots of fun!

I came across this dishcloth pattern and just HAD to make it, so cute, such a nice fall dishcloth. I got some new dish towels to go with it, I can never have enough of those.

I love my new towels and dishcloth!

Last night was the last night of the two-color knitting class. This is what I have so far:

Whatcha think? I won't show any more pictures of this tam until it's completely done. I loved that class. Lot of fun. Nice people all around, from the instructor to the other women taking the class. I'll miss it.

This and That

A wonderful lazy Sunday is here. I just want to stay inside today and knit. Don't know if that will happen. Remember all that sickness with my Mom last year? She had more surgery on Friday. This time for a hernia repair, and all went well this time. Hopefully there will be a smooth recovery and no months and months of hospitalization this time. She is doing well so far.

After the hospital visit yesterday I stopped in Joann's for some fabric! It seems like it's been ages since I was last in there. I bought some cute polar fleece fabric to make my grandson a "Pillow in a Blanket". It's going to be a Christmas present. Time to get started on making things if I'm going to get things done on time. I also found some cute cute cute cupcake fabric! I love it!

The blanket will be easy to whip up. The weather will be getting cooler this coming week so I'll be able to stand having this on my lap while I hem up the edges.

The job climate is bad here in Michigan. My son is in North Carolina this weekend for a job interview. He was offered the job but is not sure if he will take it. The pay is basically the same as he is making now and it's a big move for the same pay. So, he has a big decision to make. Of course I don't want him to go, but he's gotta do what he's gotta do to make a living. I will breathe easier once the plane has landed back here in Michigan.

I did get out to my knitting group the other night. Lots of fun! I took a plate of Rice Krispy Treats to share. I seem to make these a lot. So easy, and they always go over well.

I passed along the Dishcloth Tag Bag. The recipient loved the contents! Here is the dishcloth I made to put in it:

I made it with Sugar & Cream Twist. Now the game goes on to the next person.

I'm still plugging away on the Confetti Yarn socks. Slow progress as I've been distracted with other projects lately. But now I'm back to the sock. About half an inch more to go and I can turn the heel.

I think I'll just have a lazy day of knitting around here. That is, after I go buy some groceries. My daughter is coming home for a visit next weekend, gotta stock up on food!

Fabric and Yarn

It was such a rainy and humid weekend around here, just miserable. Good weather for staying in and doing crafty stuff. I fooled around with this collection of stuff:

What is it you ask? It's going to be a doll. See, I got her cut out. She will be very pink. The pattern is from Bowls & Annies.

I haven't started sewing her yet. Maybe tonight I'll get a burst of energy and feel like sewing.

I bought some snowman fabric that I just fell in love with at Walmart. It was just so cute I had to have it and I made some pillowcases for it for the extra pillows on my bed. They make me smile.

I love snowmen. I collect them and have lots. Have to rotate the collection at times.

Last night was knit night with friends. We have a thing going on called Dishcloth Tag. It was my turn to be tagged and I got all this!

Lots of fun! Now I have to knit a dishcloth for the next person on the list and replace the two balls of yarn with yarn of my choosing, throw in any little goodies that I want and pass it on. We've had a lot of fun with this. And I love all the stuff I got in my bag! Didn't the person who knit that round dishcloth do a beautiful job!

On a side note, I still haven't heard from my friend in Houston. I'm hoping he's OK and it's just a matter of the power being out.

Halloween is Coming

It's hard to believe next month is Halloween. Time just flies by. School started this week. My daughter is in her sophomore year of college and my grandson started kindergarten. Where does the time go?

I started a witch to hang on my door at Halloween. I had a lot of fun working on it last night. Lots of details in this thing. It will be so awesome when it is done. Here's what I have so far:

A head. It took me a couple of hours just to get that much done. I still have to work on her face and some little details then I will move on to her body. I haven't made anything like this in ages and it was a lot of fun to work on her!

I really haven't been knitting much lately. I've had a nasty cold and just have had no oomph to do much more than sit on the couch and read. I've been reading the Twilight series of books by Stephanie Meyer. Have you read them? Good reading! Hard to put down.

When I was up north I did finish a dishcloth, the pink one. It has a cupcake on it, made with CottonTots yarn. And I finally got the striped one finished that I started up there, good old reliable Grandma's Favorite, made with Sugar & Cream Stripes. I just can't make enough dishcloths. They're my favorite things to make.

I want to make some more dotee dolls too, so hopefully I'll get back to making some of them soon. This cold is almost gone and I have a little more energy. I'm so glad it's the weekend, more time to play with all my stuff!

Monkey Jammies

Not much going on here. I did a little bit of sewing and made another pair of jammie pants. Silly little monkeys! They make me smile. They are cotton flannel. I made them in the shorter length and didn't put in the drawstring. I was lazy. I added the elastic though.

And no, I didn't forget how to knit. Just haven't been in the knitting frame of mind lately. I did make another dishcloth. A log cabin! It makes me want to go on vacation.

Fabric Buying Frenzy

The sewing bug bit me again, so I'm back in the sewing mood. I bought some new fabrics:

Bathtub duckies, monkeys, and popcorn boxes. Those are all cotton flannels. The Easter bunnies are a cotton. I'm going to make a project bag with that one, it would make a cute container for Easter goodies when that time rolls around again. With the popcorn boxes flannel I made jammie pants! I altered the pattern and made it shorter, into a capri/pedal pusher length. Very comfy!

I think they're perfect to wear while watching a movie!

I also made a project bag out of a cotton flannel with purses on it. So cute! I just love this fabric.

I think I'll keep this one for me!

I was going through my stash and found some Christmas cottons I had. They would make great little gift bags. I don't have a lot of yardage on those to make much else. They were leftover from something else. And my cat is still sick. I'm supposed to be making her food now, she's on a bland diet. So I pulled out my cat food cookbook. Haven't made anything yet, I'm still following the recipes the vet gave me. She won't eat the stuff I'm making, she's used to cat food, not people food. I made chicken and rice. I feel like I'm feeding her Chinese food.

There is a small amount of knitting going on. A kitty cat dishcloth, pretty in pink!

It's so muggy today, can't stand it, don't feel like doing much. I think I'll turn on the AC and cut out another pair of short jammie pants. They sew up very quickly.

I have a new cat

I've been wanting this cat pattern for a long time. Finally had my chance to get it. McCalls patterns were $1.99 over the weekend at Joann and I picked it up along with some fabric to make this cat. It was a lot of fun to make. I haven't made a stuffed animal in a long time.

That kept me busy over the weekend. Now you know what that mystery thing was on a previous post: The body.

I really haven't been in a knitting mood. It's been so hot I can't stand to touch wool. So I've been working on dishcloths. I can handle touching the cotton. This one is from the Monthly Knit-Along group on Yahoo. Love to Knit.

I'll get my knitting mojo back soon. I just don't know what to make yet, nothing is screaming at me to be knit. In the meantime, I'm very content making dishcloths. And sewing.

Little Things

The tomato plants are still alive, but not doing too well. I do have some tiny tomatoes on them. I planted them in pots this year because I kept getting animals gnawing away on my plants. I'm just going to be patient and wait and hopefully they will grow more. With all the rain we've had, I'm surprised they haven't drowned.

I did get another ornie done! A little angel. She's at the top of the plant.

I won a book on ebay. All kinds of patterns in it for sewing little things, really cute stuff!

I'm in love with this pattern from the book, little zebras! I need to keep an eye out for black and white striped fabric.

Don't ask me why I want to make the zebras, I just do. Got lots of things I want to sew. I still need to start buying fabric for my rag quilt. Might have to go calico shopping over the weekend. The nice 3 day weekend!

Still not much knitting going on. I just haven't been inspired to knit lately. I did start a dishcloth from the Monthly Dishcloth Knit-Along, I'm behind on it, but that's OK, it will get done. I have no idea what it will be.

Organized!

I had a busy day off yesterday. My crafting/sewing area was just out of control. It needed help. I went to a couple of estate sales in search of some kind of storage. I found a very tall narrow shelving unit for $3!! What a steal. Lugged that heavy thing home and into the house. That got me started. Before the calm, there was the storm.

Aaaaaak!!! Where do I put everything! You don't realize how much you have until you go to organize it and clean it up. But then again, this is years and years of buying stuff, it didn't just appear over night. Finally, I was done. All neat and tidy.

I did reward myself for a job well done with more calico and a little piece of homespun. Just little pieces. I can't stop buying calico. It's an addiction, but a good one.

That will be used for future ornies. I'm hoping to get started on them today.

Since my sewing area was so nice and neat I decided to try it out and see what it was like. I loved it! I made this little bunny out of patriotic calico. So cute! Not sure if I like the eyes. They are French knots. I may have to switch them out for little buttons.

I also knit up a red, white and blue cupcake. I love making these little cupcakes. Pretty soon I'll have a whole plate full of them.

I've also been working on a dishcloth for my nephew. He loved "scary guys" when he was a little boy. My sister forwarded me this pattern and I just HAD to knit it up for him. He's all grown up now and away at college. He should get a kick out of it.

And that's how I spent my day off. It's going to be another humid day in the neighborhood today. I think I will make the best of it and just stay indoors and work on my crafts. Sounds like a plan to me!

What are your plans for the weekend?

Estate Sailing

I went to a couple of estate sales with my sister yesterday. What a fun time! I love going to those. There was some nice stuff and some junk. I ended up buying this old sewing basket. It's very unique. I have no idea how old it is or who made it, there are no markings on it at all. I am so in love with it.

It's even portable! I can carry it around the house by its handle, or take it out on the patio with me. It was only $5, well worth the investment. Here is how it looks on the inside.

I ordered a snowman ornie pattern yesterday on line. I think this basket may be used exclusively for orpies. The stuff will all be in one spot. Then I can close it up and put it away neatly at the end of the crafting session.

I've been wanting to make a rag quilt but haven't gotten around to buying a pattern yet. For some reason I looked through all those patterns that my Aunt gave me recently and lo and behold there was a rag quilt pattern in there! So exciting! My sister and I are each going to make one in the fall, that gives us all summer to buy fabrics and supplies. It would be quite expensive to buy the calico or fabric all at once.

I finished the monthly knit-along dishcloth and the red white and blue stripes dishcloth I was making. So pretty and colorful. I just love these dishcloths. Today I'm hoping to start on the one with the skull on it for my nephew.

I also finished the square I was knitting for the Boy Scout blanket. When it's sewed into a blanket, I hope it gives comfort to a family member.

That's about it for now. I have so much to keep me busy and entertained for hours. Very relaxing stuff.

ornie

Lots to keep me busy!

Now that the sock is done, I've been having a ball working on all kinds of stuff! I'm in a Yahoo group that does two monthly dishcloth knit-alongs. I haven't done one in a long time, so I decided to do the mid month knit-along. Here it is so far:

Just moving right along. I haven't finished my rows for today yet. So once I get the rows done for the day, I've been working on a Sugar & Cream Red, White and Blue Stripes dishcloth. Real easy knitting. I love making these!

I did start sewing my daughter's purse, but just haven't had time to get back to it. That's on tap for tomorrow. I'll have the house to myself after work and I can sew to my heart's content with no interruptions. This is the mess so far:

I need to sew the lining then attach it and it will be done. It went pretty quick and she loves it so far.

In the meantime some sock yarn I bought from an etsy shop came in the mail. I LOVE ETSY! So many things that I want to buy there.

The color is called "Confetti". Isn't it pretty? I just love it!

Then, in addition to all this madness I went and bought more yarn last night. I couldn't help it. Sugar & Cream is on sale at Joann for $2, they have a real good sized ball of the Sugar & Cream. My knitting group is making squares for a blanket for one of the Boy Scout family members who lost a loved one in that tornado last week. So, I needed to get the yarn for that. The Vanna's Choice will be used for my square. If I have time, I'll make two squares. The bright green is going to be a dishcloth for a very special nephew. A bright green dishcloth with a skull on it!

My daughter has been bitten by the crafting bug lately too! Yay! She is enjoying working with beads. She's made some necklaces and an ankle bracelet and is working on some other projects. Here is a necklace she made with a moose button I bought for her. I love it! She's very proud of it and well she should be.

So tell me, what are you working on?

Coupon Savings

I love those Joann and Michaels coupons! I bought more Cottontots from Michaels with a 50% off coupon. Then I dragged my daughter (by the way I'm loving having her home for the summer!) to Joann as I needed to buy some size US 5 DPNs. I had two 40% coupons for Joann. I gave her a coupon and one package and I took the other coupon and we paid separately. I wish the Susan Bates needles came in sets of 5. But they don't. They come in sets of four and I needed five. So this was a good way to do it without having to make two trips.

I used some of the Cottontots yarn I bought the other day and made up two Grandma's Favorite dishcloths. I love making them. Very good mindless knitting for watching TV. Look how they came out almost identical.

I got all my flowers planted this weekend. My yard is going to look so pretty once they start growing and blooming. So then I decided to do a little home improvement project while I was outside. I painted my gate. Here's the before:

And here's the after:

It's amazing how a little coat of paint can really brighten things up! I had to replace the latch on the gate as it was broken and that's what led to this painting project. Sometime in the near future I need to refinish and restain the deck. Not looking forward to that.