Stuck on Stripes

Here is the status of my sweater. This is a self-striping yarn. Look at the difference between the front and the back. I know you won't see them at the same time and the seam will be under my arm, but I'm not happy with it. I've decided my options are:

1. Leave it as is.

2. Put the project away and never look at it again

or

3. Keep working on the fronts and redo the back to match the fronts by using two balls at the same time.

Can you guess which one I am going to do?

In the meantime I have knit a Noni bag. It is the Night Garden Felted Evening Bag. I have it almost done. I will have photos tomorrow, stay tuned...

Happy Valentine's Day

It is another winter day here...cold and snowy outside...warm and toasty inside. My son has a snow day and we are going to bake some cookies...heart shaped of course!

Last weekend I went away with my quilting friends to Turtle Rock Retreat. It's a little house just off the shore of Lake Erie set up perfectly for quilters. We had a wonderful time...lots of laughing, stories, girl talk and a few glasses of wine. Look at what we accomplished...

I'm Learning

I continue to learn about HTML...today I was able to put a link to my etsy shop in the sidebar. There's not much in the shop...yet...I'm snowed in here so there will be more added today. I just spoke to my sister-in-law. She's bored and going stir crazy...I love being stuck at home with nowhere to go and I'm never bored...just crazy!

Winter Wonderland

We are in the middle of a classic lake effect snow storm. It has been snowing here since yesterday. I haven't been outside yet (I'm not that crazy!) but there has to be almost 3 feet of snow out there. I took some photos from the house...I'm not sure they will give you the enormity of it all...

A good day to sit by the fire and knit!

I Did It...

I did it...I opened an Etsy shop here. I have two things in there...this pillow

and this bracelet

I have lots more in mind...stay tuned

There's been a whole lot of sewin' goin' on...

I've been busy sewing up a storm. Here are some of my quilting efforts. (You can click on the photo for a larger view).
Half of the blocks that I need for my quilt guild's block of the month quilt...and...

My Sophistikitties quilt that just needs binding. Here are closeups of some of my favorite kitties on the quilt...

Back to the sewing machine...

Views

Here are some views from outside...










And a view from inside...




Beautiful!

Begin again...

I bought this print a couple of weeks ago from Simplesparrow. I am going to have it framed and hang it in my bedroom where I can see it first thing in the morning. It's reminds me that each day is a fresh start, a new beginning, a chance to try again. I love that sentiment. Now I am on my way to the gym...to begin again!

It's National Delurking Week...

I just read on Toni's blog that it's National Delurking Week in blogland. Isn't that a funny one? I read lots of blogs and hardly ever comment on them. I know there are people reading my blog and I would love to know who you are. If you want to introduce yourselves, please join in National Delurking Week and say hello!
I have decided that I am going to begin selling some of my "stuff". I'm not sure where or how, but I will keep you posted. Stay tuned...

One finished, one started

I finished the black tank top
so now I can start something new. Right? Right! Here it is...
It's a sweater from the newest Knitters magazine made from self striping mohair. I was able to find the actual yarn that was used in the magazine and I could hardly wait to cast on. I'll be taking my time on this one because I know I will love knitting this sweater.
I am working on some old needlework pieces that I really would like to finish. I am also in charge of the block of the month for my quilt guild again this year. Time to get busy...

New Year, New Beginning...

I love when the new year arrives...it is so...well...new! A clean slate with no mistakes. A fresh start, a new beginning. My resolutions always revolve around getting organized and finishing some UFO's. Here is my first finished object: It's a little tank top that is knit on large needles using two strands of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece yarn. It is 80% cotton and 20% wool, really nice to work with. I am halfway through a black one! That will probably my second finished object of the new year! Stay tuned...

A Christmas Elf...

Yesterday I finished the sewing I had to do for other people. I finished Christmas stockings, key tags, a small needlecase and a purse. It's always a relief to get those things done. I didn't take the time to take any photos so you can't even see what I have accomplished! Now I can relax and do some sewing for myself for Christmas gifts. First is a plaid flannel robe for my daughter. I bought some fabric and have decided that it's to flimsy so back to the fabric store I go to find something better...I know I saw some quilter's flannel that had more body to it...hopefully it's still there! Stay tuned...

Give Thanks...

Happy Thanksgiving!
Things are beginning to buzz here. One child has arrived to make two children at home. The other two arrive tonight and we will be a complete family again. Tomorrow I am hosting dinner for 24. Yikes...I have work to do. I don't have time to list all of the things that I am thankful for, there are just too many things! Let me just say that I am blessed and I am very thankful.

A lesson learned...

My computer had to be taken back to the factory settings. I lost photos that I had put on the computer and had not taken the time to burn to a cd. My son lost his Itunes playlist that took him weeks to load. There is a lesson to be learned here: back up your computer. Do it now. Don't wait. Learn from a great mistake-maker!

Quilt Squares

Here is the beginning of my crazy cat quilt... I am using black and white fabric from my stash...hopefully I'll have enough because I have no idea where and when I got it!

The center kitties are machine embroidered using a design disk from Loralie called Sophistikitties. They just make me laugh! I'm not particularly a "Cat" person although I do have a love/hate relationship with Miss Tigerlily...I love her until she claws at my furniture!!!

An Update...

As I glanced at my blog page today, I realized that I haven't been accomplishing much lately. I offer these photos of placemats and monogrammed napkins that I finished up for a customer.
I am in a constant struggle to gain a balance in my life...and it all stems from my creative disorganization. I am being swallowed up by laundry, housework, unfinished projects and the ideas that are always running through my head! I have recently addressed the household chaos by joining up with Flylady again. Babysteps, she says and I am trying. I also subscribed to a Mega Menu Mailer at savingdinner.com. Yesterday I did a mega grocery shopping trip and fixed about 10 meals. Today I am finishing up with 10 more and then I am going to treat myself to a trip to my favorite yarn shop! I'm hoping now that I have 20 meals ready I will have more time for creativity. I'll let you know how it goes...stay tuned.

More Catching Up...

Okay, I think this is the last item I missed telling about. I know I mentioned in an earlier post that my parents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Well, they had a big party where friends and family joined in the celebrating. What fun we had...I saw cousins that I haven't seen in years and parent's of some of my high school friends. I'm still recovering! Here are some photos...

Enough with the traveling and parties...it's time to get back to some sewing, crafting and knitting...stay tuned!

Still Catching Up...

The weekend after my trip to NYC I went away with the Material Girls (my quilt group) for our annual quilting weekend. Unfortunately my photos from the weekend are being held hostage in my desktop. Last weekend we had the storm of the century here in Western NY state. Lots of wet, heavy snow that took down trees and power lines. We had no power for four days. Something happened to our computer...I am taking it in to see if any of the files can be saved. Another lesson learned...back up your computer files...I hate learning lessons!
My son was out of school for over a week because of the storm. Here are some photos he took during and after the storm:

Where does the time go...

Let's get caught up...
I went to NYC with my college roommates for a girl's getaway weekend. What fun we had. We saw a show, did lots of shopping and walking and laughing. I'm hoping we'll be able to arrange our schedules to do it again soon! Here are some of the street scene photos:

I love New York!!

On the road again...

I have been out of town for the last two weekends and this one coming up is no exception...today is my parent's 50th wedding anniversary and we are heading to my hometown for a weekend of partying. My kiddies are arriving from Boston tonight. It will be great to have them all home again. It's going to be a celebration all around! I will be back next week with lots of photos of my travels...stay tuned...

Too Busy..

I have just been too busy to post...I am finishing up the Thimbleberries quilt. Putting on the borders of a quilt is not too exciting, but I am getting there.
I am almost finished with my intarsia bag...photos soon.
I am going to NYC for the weekend with my college roommates. I can't wait for a fun - girls only weekend. We are shopping and seeing a show and who knows what else! I have laundry and packing to do so I'll post again when I get back. Have a great weekend.

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!