On the needles and off the needles

On the needles:

This is going to be a felted bag...it is from Interweave Knits magazine. It's called Wobbly Circles.
It looks pretty ghastly, but I know it will be great when felted. This is from a class at my LYS on intarsia. It's my first intarsia project. Now I have to knit the back...

Off the needles...

This is another cotton sweater knit with the Schaefer yarn that I love. This one hasn't been as much fun as the last because I picked one stitch at repeated it, but it's a beauty. Now I have to knit the front! I guess I'd better get going...

Ahhh...back to school

Today is the first day of school. I love summer vacation, when there is no routine to follow, but I always enjoy the beginning of school. Things just seem to settle down and I seem to get more accomplished. (Probably because I can't sleep in until 8:00 or 9:00!) This morning I was up at 6:30 and at my sewing machine by 7:15! It's been a productive day already. I am teaching as part of a software seminar using the Husqvarna Viking 3D Software. Here are my projects:

Papercrafts

My daughter came home from Boston for the long weekend. We had a lovely time...it was great to see her two weekends in a row! We spent Sunday evening doing some papercrafting. We each made a book and I covered a box.

A visit to Boston...

Last weekend we visited Boston. My son took some great photos at the Fenway Victory Gardens.

We also took a Duck Boat tour...quack, quack little quackers...and he got some great shots from the water.

Think he has some photographic potential!

Blue goodness

Mmmmm...look at all this blueberry goodness.

Knitting away...

I finished my cotton top...I loved this yarn so much that I went back to the store and bought more in my favorite colors and I came home and I cast on immediately! I am knitting the same top only without all of the patterns...I chose my favorite and am using that throughout. It's not as much fun to knit but at least it will look different. I am also toying with the idea of some beads...stay tuned...

Happy Birthday to Me

Forty eight years ago today, Mary Julia Danaher was born...FORTY EIGHT YEARS AGO...Yikes, that's old! I'm sure there must be some mistake because I sure don't feel that old! When I started blogging it was only to be a log of my crafting life, nothing too personal...until today. Here are some things you should know about me.
1. I have a brother and two sisters...I am the oldest.
2. I have been married to the same man for 25 years and have four children.
3. I love to sew (I learned when I was eight years old), knit, cross-stitch and bead...and I'm not opposed to learning something new.
4. I dislike housework and cooking...I love a clean house and a good meal on the table but it is not something I enjoy!
5. I am a terrible procrastinator...my theory: There's always tomorrow.
6. I have wonderful friends from many areas of my life.
7. I have had gray hair since I was about 13 and I'm too lazy to color it so I looked much older than I am.
8. I love to read.
9. I love to sleep.
10. I had trouble thinking of 10 things that anyone should know about me so I'll leave this one in case I come up with something later...stay tuned...

On the needles...

Here is my new knitting project. It is a sleeveless top that I am knitting with handpainted cotton yarn from Schaefer Yarn. This yarn is called Laurel and boy is it yummy to work with...it is flying off the needles. I might even have this done to wear this summer!
This yarn and pattern came from my favorite yarn shop which now has a brand new website. They are always inspiring me with their classes and yarns.

New Bag...

Here is a bag that I just finished...I love monograms... can you tell?

What next?

I have finished felting my second Entrelac Bag designed by Debbie Barisad. This is a gift for someone special. Now my problem is what next...I hate to begin a knitting project...all the prep work: gauge knitting...ugh! I know it's important so I do it but I don't have to enjoy it do I? I have cotton yarn for three sweaters. I don't have the right needles for the one I want to start so I have to wait until I can get to the store. I feel like I am wasting time if I'm not working on something so I started swatching another sweater and I can't get the gauge I want. So...I'm just wasting time!

Getting over my virus...

We have had a nasty virus on our computer for the last week or so...I think I have finally cured it...we'll see...I have been busy sewing and knitting and if the sun ever comes out I will take photos to show you. My entrelac bag is ready for felting...I am just finishing up the second strap...stay tuned!

Something new...

While I was in the Adirondacks my quilting friend, Rachelle, introduced me to Geocaching. Geocaching is like a treasure hunt...you need a GPS device (which I bought as soon as I came home), choose a cache on the website that you would like to find, put in the longitude and latitude coordinates and begin your journey. I have been on two geocaching adventures! Two of my sons have come with me and thank goodness because they are the ones who find the caches...I need lots more practice. There are caches all over the world so you can go on a "treasure hunt" wherever you want. It's fun, sometimes frustrating, and a great way to spend some time in the great outdoors.

One year later...

I just realized that I have been blogging for over one year...what fun it has been meeting new people who love the same things that I do. I have been very inspired by many bloggers and I look forward to many more years of inspiration! Happy one year anniversary to me!

Lines and squiggles and machine quilting...

Here are a few photos of my machine quilting from Quilt Camp.

They're very wrinkled because I had them rolled up in my bag.

I still need lots of practice, but everyone has to start somewhere...right?!

Quilt Camp

I am sitting in the library at Paul Smith's College while on lunch break from quilting class. What a beautiful view I have of the lower St. Regis Lake. I am having a wonderful time learning all kinds of things. I forgot to bring my camera so I won't be able to share the fantastic scenery with you. There is inspiration everywhere...water, trees, nature and especially quilts! I have had trouble sleeping at night because of all the ideas that are running around in my brain...oh no...I sense some new projects being started...stay tuned.

Photos on Fabric

Tonight I am teaching a class in transferring images to fabric. Here is one of my examples...I made 11 of these as gifts for my son's friends for graduation. They were a hit.

I am getting ready to go to "quilt camp". I will be taking a class on machine quilting and a class using EQ5 (the quilt designing software). I'll be back on Saturday with lots of new knowledge...stay tuned.

I really am crazy...

This past week our "region" had a quilt shop hop. For those of you who might not know what this is...there were 10 shops to visit. You received a "passport" at the first shop you visited and had the passport stamped at each shop. If you visited all 10 your passport went into a drawing for prizes. A few of my friends and I visited all 10 shops plus one extra that we knew was a good one. We did it in two days and it was lots of fun. Here's the crazy part...I bought something at almost all of the stops! I couldn't resist all of that beautiful fabric...here is my new philosophy paraphrased from a sign that I saw at one of the shops:

Would a stamp collector use one of his stamps to mail a letter? Would a coin collector use one of his coins to buy a can of soda? Then why do I have to use all of the fabric that I buy? I am not a fabricholic...I am a fabric collector!

Ain't that the truth...

Pink and Green Goodness...

My sweet daughter sent me this on Saturday...

I love the limes in the vase and the flowers are just beautiful.
I had to rip out a row and a half on my entrelac bag last night because I made a major mistake. Oh well, I am almost back to that point so I can start making progress again.

On the needles...

Here are my current knitting projects:

socks based on the six sox knitalong from last month

and another felted entrelac bag

Using What I Have...

I have joined the sew i knit sewalong and I have promised myself that I will only choose a pattern and fabric from what I already have in my stash. I know I have lots of choices, now I just have to decide what top I'm going to make.

I started knitting a new pair of socks last night...I had to keep my hands busy during the Sabres hockey game. We were all disappointed with the Sabres loss, but it sure was exciting!

I made a trip to my LYS on Wednesday and picked up some yarn for another entrelac bag, but now I can't locate my instructions. They have to be here somewhere...

New Socks

I have completed the socks for the Six Sox Knitalong at yahoo.com by the deadline. Phew! They are not blocked, but here they are...

They fit perfectly...I love the short row heel so much better than the heel flap that I have always done in the past. It's great to learn something new!

A Mother's Day Gift...

My Mother's Day gift from my daughter was a visit home to help me clean out the basement. She arrived late last night and this morning she gave me the details of her organizing plan. We went down to the basement and within an hour or so she was referring to "Phase Two" of the project! She even suggested that she was going to write to one of those organizing TV shows about me! It is a bit overwhelming, but I am determined to keep going. We did empty out alot and filled two large garbage bags with things to go to the thrift shop. It was a good beginning and it is great to have her home for the long weekend.

Another Graduate

We have another college graduate in the family!
#1 son graduated last week from St. Michael's College. Yesterday he was offered a job!!!! Yippee...another one out of our pockets. He will be joining his older sister in the great city of Boston. Right now he is enjoying his last days of freedom from the "real" world...sleeping late, staying up late and no responsibilities. It's only a matter of time now...

On The Needles...

I joined the Six Sox Knitalong on yahoo.com. Here is my progress.
I love this pattern...it was created by Susan Pierce Lawrence. I read her blog regularly...this is one very talented lady. She also has designs on knitty. Right now she has a baby hat that she designed on her blog...check it out.

More Goodies

Another of my favorite places in the northeast is the Wright's outlet in Sturbridge, MA. It is a very nice retail store with fabric, yarn, and florals, but my favorite part is the bargain basement. They have trims and laces by the yard or by the bolt. The price on the end of the bolt goes down each month until it gets to the lowest price (which is usually .15/yd.). Here are some of the bargain basement goodies I brought home.

As you can see I was drawn to the eyelet lace trims this time.
I bought this book and this pattern in the retail store.

I was very tempted by some of the Michael Miller fabrics, and some of the yarns, but I resisted!

More Of My "Stuff"

On my way home from Boston I stopped in Sturbridge and visited a new shop called Lake View Primitives. It is a lovely shop with lots of wool, some quilting and did I say lots of wool? They dye there own wool and everything is already felted and ready to use. I came home with these pieces. I just love this reversible one.


I don't have any definite plans for them yet, but I'm sure I will. I also stopped at the Wrights outlet. I will share my goodies from there tomorrow...stay tuned...

My Favorite Store

One of my all time favorite stores is the Paper Source. I have to visit everytime I'm in Boston. Here are a few of my purchases...some beautiful papers, notecards and a kit to make a journal. I am going to try my hand at covering the journal with some of the paper. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Tomorrow...more of the goodies I acquired on my journey...stay tuned.

A new beginning...

Spring has finally sprung here in Western NY. It is time for a new beginning...some spring cleaning, organizing and new projects...stay tuned.

I just spent the weekend in Boston with my daughter. For Christmas she bought me tickets to see Wicked. It was wonderful! Don't miss it if you get the chance to see it. We had a great time...we shopped and ate out and did a lot of walking. Tomorrow I will show you some of the things that I bought.

Ahhh...vacation

I love Easter vacation...tomorrow I leave for a week of sunshine (I hope) and sand. I promised myself many years ago that I would not stay at home during Easter vacation. The weather here is usually very dreary at this time of year. I am going to visit my parents in Florida and three of my four children will be able to join me. My senior in college has to stay behind to finish his Senior Thesis...don't feel too sorry for him, he spent his spring break in the Dominican Republic! He is graduating in May and is looking for a job...he already has at least one interview so mom and dad are very hopeful that we will have two children out of our pockets!
I have to go pack my clothes (my knitting is already packed!)...I may have to go shopping because I haven't tried on any of my shorts...yikes.
Happy Easter!

Life is too crazy

I can't believe it has been a month since I last posted. I have just been lazy. That's all there is to it! I have been working on the mystery sampler by Amy Mitten and it is slow going. I have also been doing a lot of thinking about sewing and knitting, but that sure doesn't accomplish much. I am going to Florida next week for a little vacation so I will be getting a couple of knitting projects together to take with me.

I started stripping the wallpaper in my bedroom. Ugh...what a terrible job...but I am going to stick with it until it's done. I have been picking out fabric to redecorate and now I just have to make my final decisions...stay tuned.

Talented friends

I have such talented friends! Check out my friend Laurie's new website. She now selling her creations on the web. Congrats Laurie!

Last weekend I hosted Amy Mitten, a needlework designer and teacher from Calgary. She was a delight! We had a wonderful time in her class...speaking of talented...this girl does it all. I am stitching away on the sampler that she taught...it is called Not For Us Alone and it is a beauty. It looks like my knitting is being put aside again for needlework! She teaches it as a mystery so I won't be putting any photos up in case someone else is going to be stitching it. I didn't know what it looked like when I started the class and I certainly wasn't disappointed when I saw the finished sample!

I am also working on a Lone Star Quilt using the Quiltsmart interfacing. I am almost done with the piecing of the points. I will post a photo when I am done...stay tuned.

Another Box of Goodies

One of my college roommates is an artist. I had seen her work in the Yield House catalog and in a store in our town, but I didn't realize much she was working and how much "stuff" she was producing. She has an agent... and she designs notecards and pads and recipe cards and hanging pictures and now she is doing some linens...I think she said they were for Target. Her name is Karen Cruden and she does what I would call folk art. Here is what she sent:
I just love those "Peace, Hope and Love" angels!

A Fast, Fun Week

What a fun week I had! On Wednesday I went to a needle felting class with a friend. I bought a starter kit that has everything I need to start a new project!!! On the way home from the class we stopped at the thrift store to buy some wool sweaters to felt and embellish. I already had a few sweaters at home so I went for the wool clothing that I can felt. I purchased 3 wool blazers and a winter white wool suit at bargain prices. I haven't touched them since I got home but they are calling to me! When I arrived home that day there was a package waiting from Jenn. Jenn is making a double wedding ring quilt out of Halloween fabrics because she was married on Halloween. Doesn't that sound great? I sent her some of my "spooky" fabric stash and she sent me some buttons and old laces in return. Thanks Jenn! I love them.
I also received another special package this week...I'll tell you about that next time!

Another Finished Project

It was a very productive weekend here at the homestead...I finished my cable sweater. The color in the photo is very washed out...it is really a deep turquoise color. Beautiful. It is probably the best fitting sweater I have ever made...I think I finally understand that gauge thing! This is knit with Cascade 220 and the pattern is from Ann Budd's: The Knitters Handy Book of Sweater Designs.

Check out the cabled ribbing:
Isn't it sweet? I am now going to put some binding on a quilt that has been sitting around forever...I love this finishing stuff...I may never start another new project again! (Yeah...right!)

A Finished Project

I have finished something! It's the Incredible Baby Sweater...no babies here so it will go in my "to be gifted" stash. This was a very fun sweater to knit because it is knit in one piece and the only finishing is to sew the shoulder seams together.
I am very close to finishing a few more projects...I blocked a sweater yesterday and sewed it up and now I have to redo the shoulders because the neck is HUGE. Oh well, it won't be finished as quickly as I thought.

I am also very busy getting ready for a houseguest. I am taking a needlework class from Amy Mitten-Stevens. She designs mystery samplers. Amy is coming to our sampler guild to teach us one of the mysteries...she is also staying at my house. Yikes! I never noticed that the wallpaper in the upstairs bathroom is coming apart at the seams...and...the carpet on the stairs has a stain on it where the dog likes to lay (do you think the dog would just stay on that spot while Amy is here?)...and...I could go on and on. I guess if you look at something long enough you don't notice it anymore...so I am very busy!

Strike one...

I have finally broken my first resolution...but for a very good reason. I am teaching a Block of the Month quilt at work so I had to begin a new project. I love making quilts and this one is no exception. It is a Thimbleberries quilt.
It will be my 4th Thimbleberries quilt...and probably should be my last since the colors are all very similiar! I need to break out of my color box and use something different. I have finished two blocks and am eager to keep going. I am also stitching away on the needlework piece I mentioned in a previous post. I am not going to do anything else until it is done.
I am going to "Help" night at my LYS this week so I can get some assistance on finishing more of my knitting projects. Stay tuned...

Keeping resolutions...

I have been very good at keeping my resolutions. I have not started a new project...yet. I am finishing some old things, but most of my time has been spent cleaning! I have sorted and organized until I can't stand it anymore, but I have to keep going. I need to simplify my life...all of my "stuff" is beginning to suffocate me! I will post photos of my finishing soon. Now it's off to more cleaning...

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.