Happy New Year

Another year over and another just begun...a fresh start...my first New Year's resolution is the same as always...I will not begin a new project until I finish an old one! I have four unfinished knitting projects, I have too numerous to count unfinished needlework and sewing projects. I promise I am not going to cheat this year...I'm serious.

My next resolution is to finish cleaning my basement (where the above unfinished projects live). Some of those UFO's are going to be donated or sold or gifted to others!

Now on to the New Year...

A Day of Magic...

Ahhh, another Christmas Day is over. My middle son proclaimed it the best Christmas ever! (He does that every year and I will be very disappointed when it stops!) We had dinner with my hubby's family at his brother's house. Lots of laughs...great food and a little ping-pong thrown in for good measure. It is so much fun now that the children are grown up...they are almost all adults and so entertaining. We don't get to see all of them very often since they are out-of-towners now.

I received some very special gifts, but my favorite was the having all of my children home. In spite of being raised by me, they are lovely people! It was fun to sit back and watch as they gave each other gifts...not necessarily expensive...but purchased with love. My youngest son gave his oldest brother a poster right off his bedroom wall because he knew his brother wanted it! I was touched by that.

I hope everyone out there in cyberland had a joyous Christmas...I sure did.
Now on to my New Year's resolutions...

All is Calm...

I just got home from picking my daughter up at the airport. Now all of the chicks are back in the nest. (The college boys arrived on Friday night). I should be able to sleep soundly tonight...if it weren't for the chicks coming and going all night...and every light left on in the house, but I won't complain because all is calm...

One Major Gift Gifted...

Today was my stitching group's annual Christmas luncheon. We meet at someone's house and each person brings one part of the meal. My contribution was Lemon Meringue Pie...yummy! We also choose one person's name (the year before) and make something special for them. My gift was a snowman quilt. Here it is: The snowmen are machine embroidered and are a collection from
Embroidery Library. I designed the quilt squares using EQ5. I am going to be writing up the instructions for the quilt after Christmas to use as a class. It works up very quickly because each square is 15 inches. I feel like I had been working on this project forever! One gift down...how many more to go? I have officially begun my Christmas shopping today. I know, I can hear all of the gasps...don't worry I'll get it done...I work best under pressure! I must say I can't wait to get back to my knitting...

Christmas is in the air...

It's beginning to feel like Christmas here at the homestead. I have been a very busy elf...sewing like crazy for other people! I have finished a pillow for a friend and have a stocking waiting next to the sewing machine. I am also whipping up a quilt for a gift. It's very cute...with embroidered (by machine) snowmen...I will have photos as soon as it's complete. I have had two sewing machines working...one for embroidering and one for sewing...my hubby refers to it as "the sweat shop"! He's not too far off! Stay tuned...

Giving Thanks...

I have so much to be thankful for...my husband and children, my parents and sisters and brother, my friends...I could go on all day! Here is my side of the family on Turkey Day. We had twenty at the dinner table! My youngest sister and her gang didn't come because of the weather...we were supposed to get up to two feet of lake effect snow. Of course, it didn't materialize and we were sad that they weren't with us. It was a lot of work, but worth every minute.
As you can imagine, there has been no knitting going on here! I have been plugging away at the cross-stitch piece from Brightneedle, but I don't think I can show you because it hasn't been published yet. Now it is on to Christmas. My Christmas elf did quite a bit of decorating before he headed back to college(#2 son). He has always been the mover and shaker in the decorating department. All I have to do is shop...which I love to do if I know what to buy! I am collecting wish lists from all of the kids and off I go...

Quilting weekend

My friends and I had a wonderful, restful weekend. Here is a photo of us with our mystery projects almost finished. We went to a lovely bed and breakfast in Port Byron, NY called the Lavender Patch. We sewed all day Saturday and then went out to dinner in Skaneateles, NY. Of course, we stopped at the local yarn and quilt shops on the way! Now it's on to Thanksgiving preparations. My children will be arriving beginning tonight. I am so looking forward to their visits. My parents and brother and sisters and their families are supposed to be arriving on Thursday, but the weather looks terrible. We'll have to see how it goes.

Snow, snow, snow

Winter has arrived in a small area of Western NY. We live near Lake Erie and this morning we awoke to a foot of snow! It's beautiful...if you don't have to drive in it! I had to be at work at 8:00 a.m...it was awful. There was a huge plow off the road. I've never seen that before! Yesterday the temperature was in the 60's so we have really had a big change. I am going away for the weekend with my quilt group. Hopefully we will not run into more snow! I am planning a mystery quilt for them. I'll post photos next week. Have a great weekend.

New Sweater

Here is my most recent knitting project. I am using the Ann Budd book that I talked about in a previous post. I LOVE the yarn. It is Manos del Uruguay and it is yummy! I just love the subtle color variations. I am having a little trouble getting the look that I want. I wanted to have a horizontal line where the garter stitch is that looks like the vertical purl rows and I can't seem to make it happen so I'm stalled right now. I haven't had time to go to the yarn shop for help. I'm trying to imitate a sweater I saw in an upscale boutique when I was out of town. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

The Champions

Here they are...the Varsity Cross Country Champs from the WNY Msgr Martin league. They had a perfect season! They are all bundled up because it was a very cold day...at least it didn't rain. Now on to the state meet.

There is not much knitting, sewing or crafting of any type going on here. I have been working too many hours and I just don't have the energy. I did stitch about 50 cross stitches in a new piece that is going to be an online class from Brightneedle. It is very sweet but all stitched over one thread. Ugh! The needlework guild that I am in is their test group. We are stitching it before it goes out to the public to make sure there is enough thread and the instructions are good.

My friends from long ago...

Last month I went to my college reunion. My 25th college reunion. 25 years...how could it possibly be that long ago? Here are some of my close friends who made it back for the reunion. I haven't seen or spoken to them for over 5 years and it was just like we had seen each other yesterday. Sharing each other's dreams, plans, tears and fears for 4 years probably has something to do with it! We have vowed to get together at least once a year now and already have tentative plans for a trip to NYC.

More rain...

I don't think the weather here could get any worse. It has been raining for days with no end in sight. There is a winter storm warning for the higher elevations. There could be 3-5 inches of snow accumulation. Ugh! I find this time of year to be a downer. I have always told my husband I should have been a bear...hibernating until spring sounds like a good idea to me. I just seem to slow way down, I need more sleep than usual and I start eating all of the wrong foods (which is probably why I slow down!)

I haven't completely finished the entrelac bag...I wasn't happy with the way my handles turned out so I am going to do some fiddling. Here is a photo...I'm sure you can see how great it will be when it's all together.
Carrying this bag will really cheer me up!
I am also knitting a new sweater using the prettiest bright pink yarn...it had subtle color changes and it is yummy. I am kind of designing my own thing using The Knitters Handy Book of Sweater Designs by Ann Budd. Of course, I am getting help from my favorite teachers at my favorite LYS! I will photograph my progress when I have some natural light...and the rain stops!

October already?

How did this happen? Where has September gone? The weather still says "summer" here in Western NY, but the trees are beginning to turn color and the days are getting shorter so I know "sweater weather" is just around the corner! My turtlenecks and wool sweaters are all ready to go.
Not much is happening on the knitting front. I am working on the "Lots of Choices" top from The Knit Stitch book. It's fun to knit, but I just don't seem to have much time or energy to work on it. I have begun the felting process for the entrelac bag...oh I'm so nervous on how it will turn out. Stay tuned...

Entrelac progress...

I just thought I would update my progress on the Felted Entrelac Bag. I expect I will have some quality knitting time tomorrow watching the Buffalo Bills in their season opener. Hopefully I will be doing some felting next week!

A Finished Project...

I have finished the Wallaby Sweater (except for blocking).
It was a fun one to do, but I will never do striped sleeves again! The way this is done is...you knit in the round until you get to the placket then you go back and forth. Consequently I couldn't carry the light blue yarn, I had to start a new piece for each row. I used a cotton blend yarn that I had in my stash. I want to make this again soon in a nice wool in one color!

I am furiously knitting the entrelac bag. My family thinks it is very ugly...I keep telling them that it will look completely different when it is felted. Stay tuned!

Tomorrow I begin another knitting class. It is the Lots-of-Choices Top from The Knit Stitch book by Sally Melville. This is a great book with lots of nice projects in it.

Son #3 goes back to school tomorrow. A new school year always makes me a little sad, but I guess we are both ready to get into a routine again. I have some major housecleaning to do and lots of projects to keep me busy.

Phew...

We delivered son #2 to college on Saturday. It was a whirlwind trip...very emotional for me. This proves I am aging! Now I only have one child at home. Lucky him, he gets my undivided attention!! He starts school on Sept. 7th so he is trying to get his summer reading done (a procrastinator like his mother!).

We visited our daughter in Boston after the college drop. She is very busy getting ready to move to a new apartment and she just got a great promotion at work that is keeping her hopping. The visit was too short, but I got a chance to go to Paper Source and Beadworks!

I was able to get some quality knitting done on the Wallaby Sweater while I was in the car. Unfortunately I had to rip out large portions...twice. I will post photos soon because I plan on finishing it this week.

Never a dull moment...

Things are so hectic around here. Son #1 is back at college in Burlington, VT. Right now I am getting son #2 ready to go this weekend with a small change in plans...he is now going to Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. It was his first choice and he was wait listed there. They called last week to let him know he was in if he still wanted to go there. Yikes, all of our plans have changed. He is very happy, but his older brother was disappointed that they wouldn't be at the same school!

There's not much time for sewing or knitting. I did sneak a few minutes yesterday to make myself some earrings and finish a bracelet that I had in process. I need to do something creative every once in a while or I really go crazy! The Baby Surprise Sweater is off the needles and just needs to be sewn...I will do that in the car this weekend. I should be able to get some quality knitting done while we are driving to New England.

You can tell that summer is coming to an end...

You can tell that Summer is coming to an end when:
1. The days get shorter.
2. The weather gets cooler.
3. The checkbook is empty after back-to-school shopping.
4. My kids start to drive me crazy!!!
My oldest son, aged 21 (some might call him an adult even), cannot put a roll of toilet paper on the holder. Now, you think he might know how because he first went into another bathroom (passing by the cupboard where we keep the extra rolls) and took the toilet paper off that holder, but no...the roll is sitting on the counter! Augghhhhh!!!

I feel much better now...in another week I will be so lonely.

Birthday Banter

I had a birthday last week and I just wanted to share one of the gifts my husband bought for me. He went to one of the LYS and they helped him pick out a pattern and yarn. I was floored! My darling hubby has NEVER set foot in a yarn shop before.




I think the yarn might have a bit too much orange in it for my taste, but I am going to use it anyway!

The other gift I got from him was a bracelet with a turquoise stone in it. He bought me a turquoise bracelet for my birthday last year! That gift is going to be exchanged!

Finally Back

I can't believe how the time has flown since my last post. I have been very busy. I took a trip to Vermont with son #2 for his college academic orientation. Of course, when he was busy picking his classes I was visiting the local yarn shop and the local quilt shop and another great fabric store.
I have been knitting like crazy. Project #1 is the
Wonderful Wallaby. Next class we will connect the sleeves and body and begin knitting in the round to finish the body. I am making the smallest size so I can learn how to do it and then maybe I will make it for one of my kids. So far, I have only done knitting for myself, but I'm thinking of branching out and knitting for gifts.

Project #2 is Entrelac Bag. I'm not sure I like the color combination, but I think I'll keep going because the felting will make it look completely different. I'm supposed to have this ready for felting in class on Thursday...that's not going to happen!

Project #3 is the Baby Surprise Sweater. It's amazing that this blob of knitting will turn into the cutest baby sweater. I don't have anyone to give this to...yet. I just needed to learn how.

I also took a quick trip to visit my mom and dad. It's only a 2 1/2 hour drive which isn't bad when I am used to 7 1/2 hours to either VT or Boston. My mom took me to her favorite quilting stores. We had lots of fun.

The summer is really flying by now. I am working many hours next week and the week after I will be getting the boys ready to go back to college. Then we make that trip to VT again! I know it will be bittersweet to have them go back, but I need to get my house back. It will be so nice to have clean bedrooms and bathrooms again! Only having one child home will be a big change.

Going Crazy...

I have just spent the whole day trying to organize my knitting, sewing, crafting "stuff". Oh, my, gosh, I can't believe what a mess it is...and how much "stuff" I have. I think it's a sickness! Do you think there's a 12-step program for people addicted to fabric and yarn? I have hauled 4 garbage bags of trash out of the basement (that's where I sew and craft) and there's more to go. I can't believe some of the scraps of fabric I was saving! I still consider myself a beginning knitter so I only have one large storage container of yarn, but I had some that I had forgotten about...yikes!
I almost have all of my "homework" done on the Entralac Bag. I have the base triangles and one handle done and the second handle is half-done. All I have to do now is decide where the other colors should go and I'll be ready for class on Thursday. This is the first time I have made I-cord. I loved it!

I'm learning...

Thanks to Isabelle I now know how to add links to the blogs that I read in my sidebar. Many thanks Isabelle! There are more changes that I would like to make...and I have no idea how to do them...so I guess I'll keep on trying!

Thank God it's Friday...

I haven't been this tired in a really long time. Too much working I think. Friday is usually a going out night, but I am not going to be able to make it tonight. I'm looking forward to getting into my "jammies" and doing some knitting. Today at work I made this needle case on one of our fabulous embroidery machines. It's very delicate and not very big (as you can see from the photo with the penny in it). It's from a design disk called Andrea from Marcia Pollard. I still have to fashion some type of closure...a small pearl button or ribbon. There is also a scissor case that goes with it that I'm going to do too...someday...soon!

Reading, reading, reading...

I am having so much fun reading so many blogs...it's seriously cutting into my knitting time! You people are so entertaining. Here are the blogs I check on regularly: I'm Knitting As Fast As I Can, Green-Eyed Grrl, KnitterPatter, Nutmeg Knitter, Crazy Aunt Purl, Knot Without My Knitting...with more on the way everyday!
Now if I could just learn how to add these to my sidebar I'd be all set. I am such a newbie to this webposting stuff.

Still Knitting...

I'm still working on my sock, but it's getting close to the toe! I have put off the finishing of my cable sweater, but I am inspired to get it done by Thursday because I am taking a class at my LYS and I want to show it off! The class I am taking is a Felted Entrelac Bag. Entrelac has always fascinated me so I am going to give it a try. I am using jewel-tone colors...very pretty. The yarn is Cascade 220 which I hear felts beautifully.

My cable sweater is almost done!! I am blocking the last sleeve today. I just have to sew it together and finish knitting the neck. I can't wait until it's done. While I am waiting for the blocking to dry I have pulled out an old sock project...I had one done so all I have to do is the other!
 

Last post I mentioned my 4 "young adults" (I use that term loosely!). My daughter is the oldest, she is 23 and lives in Boston, MA. I love to visit her because I can go to the Paper Source and Beadworks . Then I have 3 boys: 21, 18 and 15. The oldest will be a senior at St. Michael's College in VT. His younger brother is joining him there this fall--this photo was taken at his high school graduation. The youngest is going to be a sophomore in high school. They are great kids and they keep me hopping!

Just to introduce myself... I am a crafting queen. I love to sew, including quilting, garment sewing and machine embroidery. I also love to do cross stitch and needlepoint. My new handwork favorites are knitting and beadwork. I am a wife and mother of 4 children who really aren't children anymore...they are getting very grown up and moving out of the house quickly. My youngest just finished his first year of high school so I know my husband and I will be alone again before we know it! I decided to write this blog to help me complete some projects...I figured if someone was paying attention to what I was doing I might be more apt to finish something! My current project is a cable sweater. I took a class at my favorite yarn shop to learn how to cable and here it is so far:
I've really been plugging along, I have the front, back, one sleeve and half of the other sleeve done. I'm ready to move on to a new project so I've got to get this done! I also signed up for three more knitting classes this summer so I really have to finish this.

Sunday Afternoon

A quiet Sunday afternoon...I should be sewing or knitting or cleaning...or maybe I should just take a nap! I was spending time reading other peoples blogs and decided it was time for me to try this for myself...so here goes.