Quilty Pleasures

I recently took over leadership of the local American Sewing Guild neighborhood group that concentrates on quilting.  We had a meeting today and worked on the Lucky Charms table runner from the book, Fast and Furious, Quilting As You Go.  We had all of the pieces cut before we started and many of us finished before we left.  I decided mine needed some buttons and I found the perfect ones in my button box when I got home...imagine that!

Here it is on the kitchen table.  It's so great to have a new finished project!

I know, I know

Yes, the summer has come and gone and it looks like the fall has come and almost gone too...and I haven't done any blogging. Work has over taken my life this year. I am so exhausted by the time I get home that I can barely think. I'm finally beginning to think again, maybe blogging won't be far behind. (This post is a good start, don't you think?)

I do have some things to show and as soon as I take some photos I will share them here. Until then here a few of the happy things I experienced in the last few months...

Our niece's new baby girl...isn't she a beauty?

One of my favorite summer flowers...it had at least two blossoms all summer!

My baby sister and her sons after she finished running 26.2 miles...26.2 miles? How does anyone do that?

My quilting buddies on our mystery getaway...I'm taking the photo so I'm not in it. There's nothing better than good friends!

My Next Knitting Project

While my last knitting project seemed to take forever, this one is going so quickly I can't believe it! It probably has something to do with size 5 needles vs. size 10 1/2 needles. This is the Tuck Stitch Tank by Classic Elite Yarns from their book Picnic. The yarn is Katydid, which is a cotton tape/ribbon type yarn that is a dream to work with. On the 10 1/2 needles it makes a soft, drapey, stretchy fabric. I chose an apple green color which is not my normal color, but I think I was ready for something a little different.

The back is done to the underarms and the front is almost that far. The next class is a week away and I'm going to have to hold myself back from finishing it before then! I guess it's a good thing that I signed up for two more knitting classes and just ordered some yarn for another sweater! I might never get back into my sewing room!!!

Green Gable

A finished project! And just in time because tonight I am beginning a new knitting class at my LYS. This is Green Gable. It was easy to knit, but it seemed to take me a long time to get it done. I used Lion Brand Cotton Ease that was in my stash for a loooong time.

I added some extra waist shaping and length to the body and the sleeves. I also did a single crochet edging around the neck to stop the back neck from rolling. It still wants to roll but it's not as bad as before the crochet.

And here is my Superhero pose...I like the way the sweater looks like this. If you see me walking around with my hands on my hips it's only because the sweater looks better this way!!

An Update

When my kids were young I always found the month of June to be the most hectic time of the year. It was always such a relief to get to July and our summer vacation. No routines, no set activities, just fun at the pool and a little tennis thrown in. Now that I am working at a school I'm feeling the same way! Throw in a wedding and suddenly I don't know which end is up!! Hence, my blogging vacation.

My son got married last weekend and it was a perfect day in every way.

We traveled to Burlington, VT. The wedding was at St. Michael's College chapel and the reception at the Essex Inn. It was lovely.

Since then I have been lazing around enjoying my summer vacation. I've done a little knitting and some reading. I planned on spending some time every day in my sewing room. I think that begins today! Woohoo! I love summer vacation...

Easter Trip #2

Our first full day in Holland was spent at the Keukenhof. Seven million bulbs = tulip goodness. It was beautiful. Fortunately we didn't miss any of our tulips and daffodils in bloom. They have just started blooming this week.

Beautiful color combinations.

Beyond the gardens were the tulip growing fields. Rows and rows of color.

Next up: Normandy.

Easter Trip #1

We went to visit our son in Europe the week before Easter. It was a fantastic trip. First up...Amsterdam. We loved it there. The weather was perfect, sunny and warm, but not too warm. Everyone there rides bikes, they even have a bike parking garage that holds 2500 bikes...and it's not big enough! There are bikes parked everywhere.

My husband and son.

Beautiful canals.

Our hotel, a former shipping warehouse turned into a beautiful hotel.

The view from our hotel room.

The street outside our hotel. Next up, Keukenhof.