While my brownies bake . . .

I have a severe chocolate craving going on here. So, I put a pan of brownies in the oven. Yummy! While they bake I'll put up a little post here.

I took a lace class a week ago at a nearby LYS called Artisan. Such beautiful yarns there. Absolutely scrumptious! Here's a little sample of what I made.

I didn't use a lace weight yarn for the class, that's a DK weight. One of these days I'll make a beautiful shawl. In lace weight. But not at this time. I'll just admire them for now.

I did buy some more yarn from the destashing group on Ravelry. I just can't stay away. Beautiful pink Malabrigo!

I wish I could just grow it with my plants like in that picture! I love love love Malabrigo!

I also bought some Japanese fabs from an etsy seller. I swear this internet shopping is going to be my downfall. I just can't help myself some days.

Precious little Matroyshkas, or Russian Dolls as they are also called. So absolutely cute!

That's it for this time. I need to go check my brownies.

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.

The winter that just won't quit

Snow, snow and more snow. It just won't stop this winter. It's snowing now, possibly 6 to 10 inches will hit the ground before it's done. Ughhhhhhhhhhh. But, the good thing about being inside when it snows is I can knit all I want. Just sit and blissfully knit while glancing occasionally out the window and watching it from the inside. Very peaceful.

I have been working on the little preemie hats. I have three done so far.

So tiny and precious! I love each one. I'll drop them off at the LYS in the near future, might even get some more done before I do that. I have plenty of yarn to make more. I've been on a yarn buying spree lately. Can't stop. Don't want to. It's been fun!

I've also been working on a hat from a Ravelry knit-along. The Who Hat. Little owls all around it. I've got the owls done, pretty soon I'll start the decreasing.

I'm making the child size, but I really think it will fit an adult. Not sure now if I'll give it to my grandson, it might be too big. I'll wait and see how big the finished product is.

I went shopping at Joann's with my sister yesterday. A grand time was had! I'll show you more yarn next post. We exchanged Christmas goodies with each other. Look what I got!

More yarn! And an absolutely wonderful beautiful Matroyshka doll! I just love her! She's staying out year round, too cute to put away. I need to find a place of honor for her. And she burned me a CD of Christmas music which I just love! I listened to it this morning, why not, it feels Christmasy with the snow falling.

That's about it for today. I'm going to go straighten up the house a little. My daughter has left and is safely back at school. After my chores, I will hit the couch with my yarn and needles and watch the snow fall from the inside . . . and pray a nice neighbor will snowblow it for me.

Have a great weekend!

Just give me a straw

Lots going on lately. My stress level is through the roof. So just give me a straw and pass the bottle.

Want some? If I drank that, even a shot glass full, it would burn and make me choke. But at the moment, I don't care. I need it. But, that's not for me. I got that for my boss for Christmas. Maybe he'll share.

I'm still busy making Christmas gifts. I'm almost done. I bought this yarn the other day.

I'm making some fingerless mittens with it. It's really really splitty. But when knitted, OMG, it's so soft. So I guess I can put up with it for fingerless mittens.

I got a pair of jammie pants sewed for my son. It's OK, he doesn't read this, I can show you.

I love that fabric! Hope he likes them.

Remember my fascination with matroyshka fabric? I still love it. My mom loved the apron I made with that fabric, so I made her one for Christmas.

So I'm just moving right along here. Almost done with the homemade gifts.

We've got a snowstorm moving in, 3 to 5 inches predicted. A good night to stay in and knit. And that's exactly what I'll do. While eyeing that bottle of booze.

Treasures

My cousin has been cleaning out my Aunt's house after her death in April. She gave me these boxes of fabrics and yarns that she came across. So precious to me. I keep wondering, "what was she going to make with this stuff?" All kinds of fabs, some old, some newer, the yarns are more of the crafty type yarns. Good for making oddments and things. Even some knitting needles and a couple of crocheted projects that were started. All of these are very precious treasures to me.

I went to a garage sale yesterday and found these little snowmen plates. So cute! I just had to have them since I collect snowmen. More little treasures.

I did fix that little matroyshka doll ornament. I took the white beads off from the bottom portion and re-sewed them on with clear thread. It looks much better.

I went to an estate sale a few weeks ago and picked up this shelf unit. $5! Just had to have it. I'm keeping some of my little treasures on it at the moment. I'd like to repaint it but haven't decided on a color yet.

Are you watching the Olympics? I wasn't home for the opening ceremonies, but saw some on the news. Very spectacular! I do enjoy watching some of the games, such as gymnastics, swimming, diving. I have been keeping the Olympics coverage on the TV even if it's not an event I particularly enjoy as I like hearing about the background of the various athletes, and learning their history. Fascinating to me. I do hope the USA does well and brings home a lot of medals.

And lastly, my most precious treasure, my daughter, will be leaving to go back to college in two and a half weeks. So we've been busy getting some shopping done to get her ready again. The summer has flown by.

Just fooling around

I was fooling around with my beloved Matroyshka fabric and beads and sequins and made a little ornament. I had so much fun making her!

She's my little prototype. I need to get some clear thread, I thought I had some but could not find it. I'll get some before I make another one. It was fun to sit down and play with pretty shiny items. I will make some more before Christmas, they will look so cute on the tree. So colorful!

Fabulous Fabrics!

Thank you for the birthday wishes! I bought myself some goodies in celebration. Lately I have been totally in love with Matroyshka dolls, or Russian dolls or some call them Nesting dolls. I found this fabric and just HAD to have it. I'm going to make an apron from a pattern in this wonderful little book I got from the library, The Apron Book. A lot of interesting and wonderful information about aprons in the book. I may have to buy it someday.

I also bought some cotton calico and a new jammie pattern to make more jammie pants. I just can't stop making them. They are so incredibly comfy.

Then, I also got some fabric to make the witch for my door for Halloween time, and some bits and pieces of pretty fabrics to make little dolls called Dotee. My sister and I are in love with them and are going to have a craft night and make some. Stay tuned for that. I also found sequins and jewels and glitter and tulle and paint to decorate them with. I need to get some beads also. Can't wait! It will be a fun evening.

I have been working on my socks. I love to sit out on the deck in the evening and knit. I'm almost up to the heel on the second sock. The first one is waiting on old needles that I don't like. I'm hoping to do the heels one after the other that way I can see how much of the contrast yarn I'll be using before I get to the toes. So I'm just moving along on them. My daughter got me those two balls of Sugar & Cream for my birthday. I love that yarn!

And last, but not least, my daughter has been making beaded necklaces and I just had to show one off. I just love this one!

She's been getting very creative and enjoying her crafting time too. She won't have time for it once she goes back to school.

That's it for now. It started pouring down rain a few minutes ago, just pouring. A good time to stay inside and sew or knit or craft. Have a great weekend!