Knitting Like Crazy

The chicks have flown the nest.  We delivered son #3 to college on Thursday and son #2 took himself to his college on Monday.  Boy is it quiet (and clean) here!  I think hubby is having a harder time with this than I am.  After all, isn't this what I have been preparing them for all these years?  To leave the nest and begin to live on their own?  Yes, it is! (Oh dear, there's a tear in my eye).

To keep myself busy I have been knitting up a storm.  The Sedona jacket is moving along.  It is worked on #9 needles so it's a quick one.  It's a boxy jacket so there's no shaping...just big knit rectangles.  I know the picture doesn't do it justice, you'll just have to trust me.

While I was taking the Sedona jacket class at a LYS.  I saw another project that I just couldn't live without, oh, and isn't it convenient that they were having a class on it!  The Puffy Swing Coat is made with Puffy yarn from Karabella.  This one is worked on #13 needles so it really moves along.  I have had to start it over twice and I still have this much done.  Again it doesn't look like much, but it's a beauty.

I also have some sewing projects calling to me...stay tuned...

Shop Hoppin' in Ohio

The Material Girls spent a few days last week shop hoppin' in Ohio.  We traveled to Amish country and boosted the economy of the area.  What fun!  I was choosing fabrics for a quilt for my son #2.  He wants a quilt that looks like the Scottish flag.  He's very particular about what he wants so I hope what I come up with will make him happy.  

I will begin that project when I get my boys off to college.  Right now I am making lists and checking them twice.  It's keeping me busy and my mind off of the fact that the house will be empty after the weekend.  I think that might be something I can get used to...I'll let you know...stay tuned...

A New Knitting Project (or two)

Yesterday I stopped at a yarn shop on the other side of town, just because I was out that way and wanted to see what was new. I ended up signing up for a jacket class!  Now, I have to explain that it must have been fate, because I saw the sample for this jacket well over a year ago in said shop and had missed the class.  I purchased the book at that time figuring I would do it on my own.  Then I got their newsletter and saw they were repeating the class, but it was on my birthday so I didn't sign up.  Well, here's the fate part, the class had to be postponed so it doesn't start until Tuesday.  Ta da...meant to be!  

It's the Sedona jacket (which looks terrible in the booklet photo and great in person), a short, boxy jacket with a little stand up collar. It uses three colors of Manos del Uruguay, two solid and one varigated.

I had some hot pink Manos and thought I could use that...nope...didn't like it...had to buy more.

I ended up with a more muted mauvey color and a dark purple.  Here's the swatch (which also looks better in person).

I got out my favorite knitting reference book to refresh my memory on a long-tail cast on (I usually do a knit cast on) and have to tell you that if you don't own this book you need to.  If you are a beginner it is great and if you are advanced you will love the easy projects and they are all done with the knit stitch (duh) no purling anywhere in sight. If you want purling you need to buy her next book The Purl Stitch. Oh, by the way, the author of these books is Sally Melville. Her last book so far is on color...I own that one too, but won't get it out right now because I don't need any other ideas for knitting projects! 

Like this one:

and this one:

and this one:

Yikes, I'd better get knitting, I have a lot to do...stay tuned...

More Vermont Quilts

Here are some more of my favorite quilts from the Vermont Quilt Festival.  Click on the photo to see a larger view.  Can you tell I love the scrappy quilts...probably because I have so many scraps!  Maybe I'll have some beautiful quilts someday too!

For Goodness Sake

Lots of goodness around here today...

mail goodness...Jalie patterns

Farmer's Market goodness...fruits and vegetables

.

and a $10.00 bouquet...lovely!

Thinking About Sewing

I may have never mentioned this before, but I am a great thinker.  I'm a better thinker that a doer (are those even real words?!).  And all I can think about right now is garment sewing.  The problem lies in finding good quality fabrics to make these garments that are swirling around in my head.  I have ordered some french terry from the fabric fairy.  Don't you just love that name!  Yesterday I went to a local fabric store that carries some garment fabrics and purchased an embroidered linen and a white worsted wool that were in the remnant bin.  I also got a 4-way stretch to try a new t-shirt pattern.   Now all I have to do is stop thinking and start sewing.   Stay tuned...

A Milestone

Yesterday I celebrated a big birthday.  I spent the day with one of my sisters at the spa.  I had a facial, a pedicure and, of course, lunch!  Wonderful gifts came my way and this video which came from my kids and will tell you how old I am and will make you laugh!  I'm still smiling!!

Ever since I created my entries into the ASG Creativity contest I have been thinking about sewing some more garments.  These came in the mail a few days ago...

I have been eyeing these patterns for a long time and finally decided to order them.  I also placed an order for Burda's World of Fashion magazine.  Anywhere I go to read about people sewing things BWOF is mentioned so I'm going to give it a try.   I'll let you know...stay tuned...

Quilting Closeups

I've added these photos again in hopes that you will be able to click on them to see a large view of the quilting.  I can't seem to figure out why I sometimes lose that ability in my posts.  Hopefully this works.

Quilting Goodness

I haven't been able to spend much time with my sewing machine lately, but that doesn't mean I haven't been thinking about sewing!  I attended a lecture by Marti Michell, but forgot to bring my camera so you'll just have to trust me that it was great.  I also went to a talk given by Jennifer Keltner, the editor of American Patchwork and Quilting magazine.  We saw the quilts from the current issue and some from upcoming issues.  It was very inspiring!  You know how much better quilts look in person than in a magazine.

My most recent quilting adventure was a trip to the Vermont Quilt Festival.  What fun my friends and I had!  The quilts were wonderful and the shopping even better.  I also attended an EQ6 class so I could learn more about my quilting software.  Here are some of my favorite quilts from the show:

This quilt is by Mary K. Ryan from Rutland, VT.  She was one of the teachers at the show.  It's called Stars of Vermont I.  She also was a vendor at the show and had some lovely things.

The next one was my vote for Viewer's Choice.  It is by Patricia Delaney and it's called Inspiration Draws from Nature's Art.  I have a close-up of the quilting, but I know it doesn't do it justice.  It won a prize for best machine quilting.  WOW!

I loved the graphic look of this black and white quilt by Suzie Elliot.  It's called April 1550 and it's based on blackwork embroidery (which I also love).  Beautiful!

That's all for now...there will be more...stay tuned...

A Wicked Weekend

Happy 4th of July.  It's a day for picnics, fun and family.  That's what I'm doing...how about you?My mother, two sisters, sister-in-law and all of our daughters are going to see Wicked tomorrow. My daughter and I have seen it twice, but none of the others have even heard the music.  It will be so much fun!  Here's hoping your weekend is wicked too!

Summertime and the livin is easy

I love Summer. No special routine...life is good. I just recovered my patio furniture. Unfortunately I didn't take a before photo. You'll just have to trust me when I say it was dirty, faded and only the black furniture had matching cushions. Now they all do!  We have two patio areas.  The white furniture is under an awning.  It's lovely in a summer rain storm to sit and listen to the rain on the awning.

I still have some accent pillows in a coordinating stripe to add to the loveseats. So, as much as I would like to sit in that overstuffed chair with the ottoman, with a glass of lemonade on the table next to me and a good book, it's off to the sewing machine I go.  (I also need to plant some flowers for the patio).  Stay tuned...

A Busy Week

What a fun and busy week I had.  I took two needlework classes...one from Ann Pettit and one from Merry Cox.  The French Bon-Bon Box by Merry is almost finished and the Good Fortune piece by Ann is only just begun.  Check out their websites for all of their designs...they are both very talented needlework designers.

My daughter was home for her youngest brother's high school graduation.  That's right, my baby has graduated from high school.  Another big change in my life and his too!






Aren't they a handsome bunch!!

Look Ma, I'm an Artist

I took a fabric painting class with Linda Visnaw last week.   We used Tsukineko inks to create these flowers on fabric.  We then did machine quilting to add thread details to the flowers.  I only finished one because I had to give my piece of batting to someone else in the class (I have lots of batting pieces here at home!). 

I haven't had time to do anymore painting, but I've got lots of ideas.  Stay tuned...

Another finished project

The last few days have been spent finishing this quilt.  The embroidery designs are originals that my friend and I created using our embroidery software.  We then taught classes on how to create each block.  This represents a whole year of teaching!  Today the quilt is going to competition for the Husqvarna Viking convention.

A Life Changing Experience

Last year Alex Andersen told my friend that she needed to attend the Ricky Tim's Super Seminar. She said it would change her life. How can you resist something that will change your life? We joked about it and signed up. Four of us traveled to Glens Falls, NY and all I can say is "wow". We received a spiral bound book with all of the instructions for every technique that was demonstrated. There were three days of instruction and so much shared that our heads were spinning. We didn't know what we wanted to try first when we got home! Check out Ricky Tim's website and get to a Super Seminar if you can. He does four of them a year in different parts of the country.

Ricky Tims

Libby Lehman

Alex Andersen

What a talented group of quilters...and now my life is changed!

Look what I've been doing...

I entered the American Sewing Guild's 2008 Creativity Contest.  I chose to enter the 5 piece wardrobe category. (yes I'm crazy).  What fun I had!  This contest is sponsored by the Simplicity pattern company.  I could choose from one of the selected patterns and adapt, adjust and modify to my heart's content.  I chose Simplicity pattern 3634 and off I went to my stash.  I was originally a garment sewer, but I have been primarily quilting for the last 15 years or so.  That didn't stop me from still buying garment fabric and my stash is quite a large one.  The only fabric I purchased for the challenge was the skirt fabrics.  Everything else was already in my possession.  I guess you would call it a "stash busting".   Here are my 5 pieces:  a reversible skirt, sleeveless top, long sleeved top, sweater knit jacket and capri pants (with embroidered trim).  

I had to send a folder with photos and fabric swatches. If my entry is chosen as a finalist I will have to send the actual garments for judging. Stay tuned...

One month later

I have been a lazy little blogger. I've been very busy...I just haven't been blogging!
I picked up my framing. These are both pieces by Merry Cox. If you are a needleworker and you've never taken a class from Merry you are missing out. She has a very limited teaching schedule so check it out and get to one of her workshops! I am very lucky because she comes to our sampler guild every spring to teach her latest pieces. We know it's spring in Western NY when Merry Cox comes to town.

Ahh Vacation

I spent the last week in the warm sunshine of Florida...ahhhh...just what I needed. First on the west coast watching my youngest on the baseball fields.
Then a few days on the east coast visiting my parents.

It was so relaxing. I read two books and did some knitting on the wallaby sweater for my no. 2 son. Now it's back to the real world with a new vitality!

Snow can be good...

We got a foot of snow here over the weekend. I was happy to be stuck at home. I started to clean up and organize my sewing space. The operative word here is "started"...I have a long way to go, but I'm feeling much better about myself. All of my stuff was beginning to creep toward me and rise up around me. So far I have two large garbage bags to go out in the trash this week with more to follow. There will also be some donations to charity and maybe even some things showing up at etsy. Stay tuned...

Working away...

There's been a lot of finishing going on here. I took two needlework samplers to the frame shop on Saturday, and a quilt just came back from the quilter. The battery on my camera is dead so the quilt photo will have to wait. I have another needlework piece that I am focusing on right now. The knitting has taken a back burner (sorry Dan, your sweater is moving very slowly), but I am going away for a week and it will be in my suitcase! I have also been working on a silk top that just needs buttons and a hem in the sleeves. I have been very good about not buying or starting anything new...we'll see how long that lasts...stay tuned!

More of Beautiful Vienna

Here are some more of the beautiful sights in Vienna.

Christmas in Vienna

On Christmas Day we went to mass and heard the Vienna Boys Choir. When the mass began the priests and this choir entered the church. When these men started to sing I was sure we had been had!

Then a few minutes later the boys choir started singing from the upper balcony. It was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard!