I have a fiber addiction

Such a dreary gray rainy weekend. I just want to stay inside and sew. And I will. Later.

I got the St. Patty's Day totebag done for my Aunt. It's on the way to her in the mail. I hope she likes it.

It was hard to part with. I like how it turned out. Instead of using fabric for the handles I used grosgrain ribbon. And I added some lace trim to the pocket. It was fun to make as I love making bags. I'm addicting to making bags. I can't stop.

I've also been working on my Schnibbles quilt. The blockss are sewed together and done.

Next step is to sew the rows together. Then I can add the borders. That will keep me busy today.

I also started the house socks I'm making for my daughter. I'm using Plymouth Encore worsted weight yarn. These will knit up a lot quicker than socks using sock yarn.

I love the colors! I've dubbed them "watermelon socks".

Time to go do a few chores and errands then the rest of the day I'm hoping to sew. And sew and sew and sew. Have a great Sunday!

Old Man Winter Has Arrived

Wow, I haven't blogged in a while. I've had a nasty sinus infection that has just whipped my butt.

Still getting ready for Christmas here. I haven't sewed very much. I did get a set of pillowcases done for my mom.

Snowmen! I love that fabric.

And I did get a curtain done for my side door. This time in a wintery/Christmasy print.

And on the other side of the door is a pinecone door hanging I made.

It's made with those cinnamon pinecones that are in the stores at this time of year. It smells so nice when I come in and out of the house.

I did get a pair of socks done that I've working on for a while. Just a plain old pattern, mindless tv knitting. I love the yarn. It has sparkles!

We've been getting ready for Christmas. My grandson had Santa's Secret Shop at his school and brought his gifts to my house to wrap. He left them here under my tree until Christmas. I smile every time I look a them. He had a grand time wrapping them and putting the tags on. They are the ones in the blue snowflake paper. It was so fun to see him getting into the spirit of Christmas.

The one on the right is for me. Kids make Christmas such a joy!

Busy time of year

It's the busy time of year if you make Christmas gifts. Busy busy busy. But I love it! I love making gifts. I've been knitting and sewing, lots and lots of sewing. I can't show some of it yet.

My son is a big University of Michigan fan. I made him a set of pillowcases. I think he'll love them! Of course a kitty had to get in the picture.

I did make another curtain for the side door, it's not hanging up yet since it's a Christmas fabric. Pics of that will come later.

I also made some little fabric Christmas ornaments. OMG they just turned out so cute! Hard to sew a perfectly round circle, but I'm happy with them. They'll make cute little gift tags which can then be used on the recipient's Christmas tree.

The quilt is finished but I haven't had a chance to get a good picture of it yet. I'm almost done with a pair of socks I'm knitting for myself. After that, some gift knitting. Lots to do. The clock is ticking.

I wish I was still at the lake

If I close my eyes, I can still imagine I'm up north at the lake. I wish I could click my heels like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz and be there again. Next year I'll go back. I did get some fabulous fat quarters while there. I'm so addicted to them. Can't quit buying them.

There are still more out there that I don't have. I want them all!!!!!!

I did buy a pattern to make slippers. So I made a pair. This is my prototype. I screwed things up so now I know what to do next time. I have another pair cut out for my grandson. They will have Sponge Bob on them. I'll show you those when they are done. Here are mine.

I never thought I'd sew slippers, but I did it. Fun to make. And they don't take a lot of fabric. A good way to use fat quarters.

I finally finished the socks I was knitting in a Ravelry Knit-Along. Summer Lovin Socks.

They are not a bright pumpkin orange like that picture! I don't know why the color came out like that. The pattern was easy to follow. It took me 3 weeks to knit them, it felt like forever some days. Here's another picture which shows a more true color of them.

A burnt orange color. All in all I really like them. I should wear them today. It's been very fall-like around here the past couple of days. We went from extreme heat to cool temps. It's nice though not to be melting.

Humid, Hot & Lazy

Phew, it's been hot and humid lately. And when it gets real hot like this I get lazy. Too lazy to even write on this blog. I'll show you a few things today. More to come soon.

I finished the pink and black socks I was knitting. I love them! I absolutely love the colors. I didn't want to put them on for the photo but I toughed it out and did it in this heat. They'll go into the drawer until fall. It's just too hot to wear wool socks at the moment.

I've had fun playing around with fat quarters and my sewing machine. I started this pincushion when I was out of town with my sister and daughter, which was a blast by the way! I finished it after I got back home. It's really big for a pincushion. My grandson calls it a needle pillow. I love words kids come up with!

I don't care how big it is, I really like it! I will always call it a needle pillow now.

Then I played around with a pattern I got at a quilt store and made this little bird.

He was fun to make and turned out oh so cute!

I'm still working on the Summer Lovin Socks I showed you in my last post, those will be done soon. I have lots of fabs I bought at the quilt shops out of town. Just gotta get some energy to take more pics.

Is it hot where you are? Hope you're keeping cool.

Summer has returned

Beautiful weather the past few days. Summer is really here now I think. It was a nice 4th of July weekend. I took a few days off and the time just flew. I did get a lot of knitting done. After the disaster of the light green socks, I made a pair that I just love! I present . . . the pink and black socks:

I'm totally in love with this yarn. I love how the socks turned out. Just plain socks. My favorite kind to make.

I will wear them with pride!

The growing season is underway. I have some little tomatoes on my plants! And some beautiful yarn. It sure would be nice if yarn grew in the back yard.

That yarn will be a future shawl. A small one. It's so pretty. And those tomatoes! I can't wait until they get bigger and turn red. I wait all year for them. So much better than the ones in the grocery store. They taste like summer. A few more weeks and I'll be able to pick them.

I also grew some flowers from seeds that I started indoors. And look . . . it bloomed!

Bachelor Buttons. I love the color! And yes, I did paint those little birdhouses to give to my parents. They'll look cute in their yard somewhere.

And lastly, I finally finished the apron I was sewing. First I embroidered the cherries on the pocket then I sewed the apron. I wanted it to look vintage-y, and I think it does. I love it! I need to put a hook on the wall in my kitchen so I can display it.

That's about it for now. Hope you had a nice 4th of July if you celebrate it!

Summer has departed

One minute it's summer, the next it's fall. Summer is vacationing somewhere else this year. Really strange weather. Chilly today. A good evening to stay inside and knit.

I finished the socks I was making with the green yarn. I just don't like them. So many mistakes, so much struggling with the pattern. I'm surprised I didn't rip them out. They have the longest darn heel flap I ever did.

See how long that heel flap is? Very strange looking. But they do stretch and fit my foot.

I don't think I'll be making these socks ever again. The yarn was doomed from the start. Long story there, I won't even get into it.

So what have you made that you don't like?

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.

Drained

What a crazy busy week it's been since I last posted. My daughter is renting an apartment in the town where her school is. She moved out this past weekend. Moving is always so crazy, busy busy busy. I was so tired from that, just drained. She loves her little place, and I'm adjusting again to the quiet.

I managed to get a few things done last week. I ironed some of my beloved little matroyshkas to a t-shirt with fusible web. So simple.

Very comfy. I love it!

I also sewed these little pouches. I found the pattern on line. Such a simple pattern and so cute!

They hardly take any time at all and use very little fabric. A good way to use up scraps and fat quarters! I know I'll be making more of these.

I finally gave up on the sock. I just didn't like it so it went into the frog pond.

I did start another sock with that yarn. I'm liking it much better. I'll show you next time.

Craft night

We had craft night at my house last weekend. What a fun time! Here is some of the stuff my daughter and I worked on:

My sisters were here too for the hilarity. So many laughs, so much fun!

I also painted this birdhouse:

I have it sitting on my front porch. I weighted it down with rocks on the inside so it doesn't blow away. It looks so cute and colorful out there!

I haven't been doing much knitting. I finished a preemie hat which is in that picture above, and I started a pair of socks. Bright green!

It's been slowing going on the sock, just too many distractions lately. Maybe today I'll get more done on it. It's so beautiful outside. I just may have to go sit outside and knit on the deck. It's very relaxing knitting out there.

Good things

It's done! The Clapotis is done! I can't tell you how happy I am to be done with it. But suddenly it got hot AND very humid the last few days. I won't be using it . . . yet.

That picture makes it look huge, like a blanket. I made the shawl size, not the scarf size. I am pleased with how it turned out.

I'm still working on the Traveling Socks. Almost done with this month's section then I can move on to a whole new project.

My daughter won a partial scholarship! I'm so proud of her. She got chosen! There was an awards' banquet at the college over the weekend and I was her guest. Yummy food! It was so nice to go see her and to attend the banquet. Such a proud moment for this mom.

The semester is almost over. She'll be home in a week. I need to dust off the stove and practice cooking again.

It's over with

Hello, hello, hello! How was your Christmas? It was good here. Lots of fun, and then there's always that downer. That part was really ugly. I won't even go into details here except to say one of my relatives will not be invited back. Otherwise, everything else was fun! I enjoyed my children, my grandchildren. We had good food, laughs, fun gifts, and a great big mess in my living room!

I can show you some things now that I couldn't before Christmas. I made my daughter some new jammies, she wanted a "northerny" theme. This is what I made her. Moose jammies! And I ironed a couple cutouts onto the t-shirt sleeves.

And to keep her head nice and warm, I did some stranded knitting and made her an ear flap hat! I really like it and so does she.

And just for fun, I made her one of those funny little hedgehogs . . . in pink! It's so cute and squishy.

She loves all of her stuff. The hedgie will go on a shelf in her dorm room. It will remind her of mom and home and all things good.

I'm really enjoying this time off work. I saved my vacation days and I'm off until January 5. Yay me! I finally got the Spring Forward socks done. Finally.

Now I can move on to a whole new project. Exciting! Not sure what I'll make next. I have that lace weight I bought, but I probably won't start any lace until I have the house to myself again. It needs my full concentration.

So that's about it for now. How was your Christmas? Hope you had a good one!

I have new socks!

Finally! I finished the socks. I just love them! The yarn is so soft and colorful. And the socks are so comfy! And look at my kitty getting in the picture in the background, silly girl!

These took me quite a while to make as I would start, stop, do another little project, come back to them. Finally, I got on a real roll with the knitting and got them done. Yay me!

I can now move on to something else for a while besides. But I have more sock yarn. It's so addicting to buy sock yarn. I don't know why. I do need to knit from my stash for a while. I'll try. Maybe.

I'm still taking the knitting class for two color yarn, stranded, fair isle, whatever you want to call it. Lots of fun! We made a little progress on our tams at class last night.

I have to get 22 more rows knitted before class next week. I can do this! It is quite enjoyable, and when you get on a roll and see those colors turning into something . . . fun! I'm so glad I finally learned this technique.

So I'm glad I finally have some knitting to show you.

I went to a craft fair over the weekend and bought a few things. I love the little angel, so cute! That glass jar is filled with a scented gel, it's a room freshener. And that little toothpick holder is hand painted. Just perfect for fall.

That's it for this time. I think I'll go get cracking on my homework, lol!

Lazy Sunday Morning

It's a lazy, rainy, quiet Sunday morning. A good day to stay inside and work on crafts. I made some progress with the witch yesterday. I'm loving her so far!

She's going to have pumpkins hanging from her at the bottom. That's what I'll work on today.

I did start another sock. Just a plain, simple, easy sock. The pattern is from the Yarn Harlot's "Recipe". I got the yarn from an etsy shop not too long ago, the color is called "Confetti".

My Mom went to a garage sale the other day and bought this box of yarn for my sister and I to share. I love getting goodies! Not sure what I'll make with any of it. I'm thinking of making a shawl with that light blue on the bottom, which is a nylon/acrylic/mohair blend. Really soft!

When I went to pick up the yarn, my Dad gave me a bag of homegrown tomatoes. Aren't they beautiful! Can't wait to eat one. I see BLT's, and grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches, and a pasta recipe I want to try, and maybe even stewed tomatoes in my future.

My tomatoes did not do well this summer, so getting these is a real treat!

I like the color, not crazy about the socks

Finally. I finished the socks. I just love the color of this yarn, the sock part and the heel part, love them together. But for some reason I just don't like the socks all that much. There are a few mistakes, but not real noticeable. Maybe they'll grow on me once I wear them.

And I have no idea why it's so hard to take a picture of socks on feet. But it is.

I don't know what my next knitting project will be. Nothing is calling to me at the moment. Maybe it's time for another knitting break and to dig into the sewing stash again. I'm going on vacation in a couple of weeks, hopefully I'll decide by then what I want to work on so I can take it with me. I'm sure looking foward to that!

My daughter had made me an ankle bracelet for my birthday but sadly it broke and I lost it. So, she made me another one today. It's so colorful and I love it! Another treasure.