Reason 9,999,999 why I love my husband..

Because the St. Louis Blues just scored and he reached over and kissed the cat. :-)

How many projects?

How many projects do you have the yarn for? I was cleaning out my knitting basket last night in anticipation of starting a new sweater for me this weekend. The Central Park Hoodie was to be on my needles this weekend. Until I cleaned out my knitting basket. And there where UFO's. A prayer shawl. One sock of a pair. Another sock of a pair. And a partial first sock of another pair. So this weekend will be devoted to finishing projects already underway. Because that knitting basket is not the only place I stash partially completed projects.
Then I started to think about all the yarn I have stashed for other projects. And how it makes me feel guilty when I buy new yarn because I already have all that yarn. So now I am debating challenging myself to not buy new yarn. For a year. Yes, a whole year without new yarn. I have plenty, enough yarn for probably 100 new pair of socks, several sweaters, baby yarn in case of a needed baby shower gift.
So I shall take the plunge. No new yarn for a year. I can put it on my wish list for birthday and Christmas. But no new yarn for a year. As of today. And as I type this, I'm feeling a bit whoozy.
Wish me luck! Anyone else want to join me?

Ian's quilt

I have finished a quilt for Ian, who is going through chemotherapy at the present time. I hope that it keeps him warm when he is not feeling well, and that it brings a sense of comfort. I have never met Ian, but I have met the people who love him dearly. Every stitch is a prayer for a quick recovery and a long life full of laughter.

Dental Work

I had dental work yesterday and then came home. Hard to talk with both sides of my mouth numb, and answering the phone at work would have been impossible. Went to bed for 2 hours, woke up at 3 and the tingling was still there but barely. Sore today, but that will pass. Just glad it is over. And today is Wednesday, we're on the downhill slide to the weekend as of noon today. Heather is in a skating show this weekend and I am going to be doing hair and makeup for her, say a prayer please. Heather is a girly girl and I am not, and this should be interesting.

Socks on the feet

I snapped a pic of Cindy wearing her socks,

And I also snapped a pic of Phoebe, one of her dogs.

Phoebe didn't like me much. But she's adorable. And she loves her mommy.

Thankfully Monday is over and it's on to Tuesday. Which means work for a few hours and then go to the dentist for dental work. Then it's on to the rest of the week. :-)

I am a stacker

I admit it. I am a stacker. I can't help it. I just pile things on top of each other till I don't remember what all is in the stack at the bottom. This weekend I am going to clean the stack off the chair in the dining room. I sew in there, and I stack patterns and fabric and I have no idea what else is in there. But this weekend I am cleaning up that stack. And I am going to finish the quilt I am making for the neighbors' nephew. And I am going to knit on my shawl I started last night. My yarn came for the Fountain Pen Shawl, and I actually cast on last night. Couldn't wait. So that is what I did. Tonight on the way home from work I shall swing by and get a pizza, we can eat and then I can clean up that stack and start sewing and knitting. Tomorrow is quilting at the Quilted Moose, we're making bags. I have no idea what the bag looks like, but I will get my fabric together tonight for that. Not sure what else I will work on, but I have plenty of projects, that's for sure.
Here's to Friday! (Even if it is Friday the 13th! :-)

Next project

So this morning I ordered this:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18343878

Isn't that the best blue? It's a cashmere/wool/synthetic blend to knit this:

The Fountain Pen Shawl from the Spring Interweave Knits. http://www.interweaveknits.com/preview/2009_spring.asp You can see bonus photos there and also some other great designs in the current issue. I love the shawl though, and once my yarn gets here I can get started. Which should be in about a week, since it's coming from New York.
The weather here is stunning, so bright out. And we'll have to wait and see if we get more snow, we have lost quite a few feet it seems out of the backyard. I would love to be able to get to the clothesline so I can hang out the curtains! They need a washing terribly.

TGIF!

I am glad it's Friday, it's been a very busy week at work. But a good one. I get to work and before I know it it's time to leave, and I really like that. I don't like to just sit, and I certainly don't do that! :-)
I am working on a top secret project, and I am taking my time about it. I will say that there are 3 steps, and I am on step 1, about 1/4 of the way done with that step. Stay tuned for updates on this!
It snowed last night, about 5" maybe. The fresh snow is like a blanket, so pretty.

Baby quilt in a day

So this morning I woke up, realizing that my cousin's baby shower is just a week away. Which means I had to get the quilt done today so I could ship it. I had the fabric washed already, so I was off and running.

First I went through my book of block patterns, and I picked a simple block. I decided to make 12 1/2" blocks, which would finish to 12", 3 across and 3 down would give me a 36" by 36" quilt, a nice size. So then I cut the pieces.

Then I started piecing, make 5 blocks with the blue fabric and 4 with the white.

Then I put them in rows,

And sewed the rows together. Then I pressed the backing, which is the same fabric as the center of the squares. (Also, by keeping the quilt 36" by 36", it fit on to a piece of backing fabric without having to piece it). I pinned,

And started quilting on my machine. I have a Brother, and I love it. Today there were some tension issues, but it looks good. I am starting to look for a machine with a larger throat area so I can quilt larger quilts, I am finding I really enjoy doing all the work on my quilts, including the quilting. I was able to do the whole quilt in one day, including the binding. Not bad!

Socks for Cindy O and the mystery quilt

I finished knitting socks for a co-worker, she certainly has earned them with all the hard work she has been doing! I set them on her desk this morning.

By the way, I have given up knitting matching socks. It's boring. :-)
I do have the mystery quilt quilted and the binding machine sewn on, just have to handsew the back. I very much enjoy using my sewing machine to quilt, it's like painting with the thread to me.

And here it is, all rolled up and ready to start quilting:

Tomorrow I will try and get pics of the quilting.

Last Night

Last night we went and watched the kids' race for the I500. It was great. Daniel raced,

He did well and it looked like he had fun. And it was relatively warm, 20 degrees about, instead of below zero.
Heather was playing in the snow, but she paused long enough for a picture.


Michael was off and about somewhere. It was a good time.
Today I got to sleep in. I'm missing Diva club. But Jim is sick and I didn't feel well, so I figured rest was the way to go today.

Air Mask Covers

Today I made air mask covers. Jim needed them for training the students to do search and rescue. They cover the air mask so they can't see, to simulate doing search and rescue in a fire situation where the visibility will be nill. You can buy the covers, but they are expensive. So I made 9 of them, in 3 different styles. For less than $15. They aren't pertty, but they will work. Here are pics of 2 of the styles.

Like I said, not pretty, but they will work. Now I am going to knit and watch the super bowl. Not rooting for a particular team, but waiting anxiously for the good commercials.

A few odds and ends

First of all, Jim finished his painting and I have been neglecting to post pics of it!

It turned out wonderful and it's hanging in Jim's office. It's sharp. :-)

And at the quilt shop this past weekend we did another mystery quilt. It was alot of fun and they came out great. I will post pics of that in a later post, but a woman did bring her quilt in for Chris to quilt on her long arm machine. It was stunning.

This picture does not do it justice, the fabrics were wonderful and the workmanship was excellent!

What I want to accomplish this weekend

Yes, it's finally Friday. And we have a three day weekend. I have some goals for this weekend. Just things I want to get caught up on. Like get all the junk mail shredded that I have been putting on top of the shredder, and I want to shred some of the old bills. Time to clear out for the new year! I want to sew 10 more blocks for my Peace Quilt. I want to finish reading A Spoonful of Poison. I want to work on a prayer shawl. I want to work on the entrelac socks. We will also be going to 4 hockey games. I think I can work on the prayer shawl at the games, it's just K3P3. Oh, and I want to get ready for the mystery quilt class next weekend. There is some homework. Boy this list is getting long! We'll see what I accomplish by the time I go back to work on Tuesday. Stay tuned for pics!!!!

Entrelac knitting

I picked up the Winter issue of Knitter's, and the entrelac sock pattern just looked like a fun thing to try. The pattern is by Sandi Rosner, and it's good. I have never tried this technique before, and it's coming out very well. I wish I had used a different yarn, and I think I will try a handpaint next.

Up here in the north it is cold. And getting colder. Our new washer was delivered today, the old one died on Friday night. I have to let the new one sit over night to warm up before I use it. I have pulled all the curtains shut to keep the heat in the house. I'm bundled up with a quilt, sipping coffee and waiting for NCIS to come on. Shadow has discovered one of our Christmas gifts, a sherpa pillow. I had leaned it against the dresser and it slid down. Didn't take her long to figure out that was a good comfy spot.

Funny, when it's on the bed she doesn't pay any attention to it. Silly cat.

Finished up some projects today!

I finished up some projects today and it felt really good! I made new pillowcases for the boys, fish for Zac and hot wheels for Brad.

I made a purse,

And here is how far Jim got on his painting today,

I mended a sweater for Cheryl, 2 pair of pants and a t-shirt for Jim. I have no idea what got in to me today!

And then there were 8

I worked all day on blocks for my Peace Quilt yesterday, and I finished 8 total. 90 to go. And I am loving every minute of it, I don't know why, but I think part of it is that I have to slow down and think while I am sewing them. Who knew I had such patience!

Paige finished the quilt for Michael, talking about patience. It's very cool,

And then to finish out the day after I got to sew all day at The Quilted Moose (which now has a website, http://quiltedmooseshop.com/) I got to meet Bella.

She is the neighbor's new grand puppy, and she is just too cute. Golden Retriever, about 7 weeks old. And she's a cuddler. :-)

Happy New Year!

Well, it's 2009. I started off the morning with a new quilt. The Peace Quilt. I am using batiks for it, and a cream colored background. I have finished one block. It should go much quicker the more blocks I do, the first one was the hardest, figuring out how it all goes together.

Jim's painting is coming along very nicely. He might work on it today, we aren't planning on going anywhere.

The next picture shows the fog that we drove through to get home the Saturday after Christmas. I have never seen fog that thick. This was the view as we came off the Mackinac Bridge into St. Ignace.

And finally, the last of the Christmas quilts. This one was for my brother. He likes Peanuts, so I collected all the holiday fabrics for a year and made him a quilt with matching pillowcases.

I am hoping for peace in the new year, and also hoping that the economy picks up so that people in need of a job can get a good one, with benefits, a job that will enable them to take care of their families and have a good life.

Christmas Eve

All is quiet here, we've gotten plenty of snow and we are about to go pull the roof for the 2nd time this year. Jim has started a new painting and it's coming along nicely.

We had a nice Christmas Eve dinner, ham and Jim had mac & cheese with his. Kraft only of course. A nice surprise arrived in the mail today, I had ordered Jim a new coat, the one we had bought over Thanksgiving was defective, the zipper was coming out already. So I sent it back and once the credit hit I ordered the new one. It wasn't supposed to be here until next week so it was nice to get it early.

Almost done for Christmas

I am almost done making Christmas presents. And I want to get my knitting basket cleaned out so that I am ready for the new year. I want to get things off the needles, a fresh start in 2009. I doubt it will happen, but I can try. Only 2 more days of work before Christmas and I am very excited about that. It will be a busy 2 days, but it will be worth it. I haven't had 5 days off in a row since before I started working at the health dept. I just hope the weather straightens out so that the family planning clinic for tomorrow goes well. We are fully booked, that's for sure!