Quilt Designer

This is Miss Taylor. She loves to help design quilts. These blocks were started at Royal Ridges Quilt Retreat last November and have been aging in the baggie every since. The other day it was time to get the top together.

With as bit of help from Miss Taylor and Mr Ian, we have the top assembled and is ready for borders. My original plan was to continue the red line into the border with the background fabric that is used throughout. But you know how plans go---mine usually go right out the window. I have enough fabric for a few more blocks but not enough for a border. So on to plan B. I will find another piece to make it out of.

We just finished Easter dinner and the infamous egg hunt. It's raining so eggs have been hid several times in the kitchen. With Jenny and Crystal's families away, it was almost quiet at our house. We all missed you guys!

The bellies are full and kids have almost settled down to watch a movie. Poppy is in his chair and probably snoring by now. Gramma will get things ready for work tomorrow. It's been a bit slow at work so I'm thinking of at least loading the sewing machine and string block project bag in the car--"just in case".

All the Snews That is Snews!

There has been a bit going on around here in the last couple of weeks.

Happy Birthday to oldest daughter Jenny and Happy Birthday to youngest daughter DeeDee. I've spent alot of time this week remembering when my babies were babies. And now they have babies...ohmygoodnessgracious!

I've finally updated to new blogger and I how have a gmail account. Just wish I could update my pokie ole dialup! Come on TDS Telecom, think about the people that live out in the sticks.....and we aren't in the sticks, we just happen to be a bit too far from their tower. Like 1 1/2 miles too far!

What else--sewing news--I cut up the pieces I need for my quilted jacket class and I have my bias binding ready. Now I just have to get the sweatshirt to create the jacket out of. The class is Thursday. 3 day weekend, rainy Saturday, no plans, think I'll sew.

Oh I am mom to a new dog. 2 year old Bingie is a Peek-a-poo. He was listed on Craig's list and when I went to meet him, I fell in love with him and he was adopted. Everyone in the family and at work has changed his name to Ug-moe--don't ask! He has quickly become Ug. But after a visit to the groomer, he is UgNoMore! I'll post a pic soon.

Now lets see if I am capable of labeling this post and publishing this post. I know, lets call this Snews!

Can You Believe It!

100 Days I am a non smoker!

Not Much Happening Around Here

Get up, go to work, come home, fix dinner, clean up, go to bed so you can get up and go to work. I love my dull, boring life.

Work has been a bit busy for winter time--don't these contractors know that this is my time of year to sew and now to knit. I've only taken my machine to work once this winter. It's been too busy so I have been knitting socks and hats. I'm not real fond of these bright green socks--really I love the color and they are quite toasty. I tried a new pattern, didn't make a swatch to check my gauge and the right sock is a bit big. I made the left sock to fit. I also am not real fond of this yarn, it split real bad and isn't really sock yarn but I got in some excellent practice.

I'm having a hard time adjusting to the fact that another of my children (ok adult children) are packing up and leaving. Jenny and her family are headed to Texas. I understand they have to do what is best for their family. I also understand that I am going to have to keep working so I can jump on an airplane and go visit. I don't have to like it! I just have to understand it. So here I am, trying my hardest to understand. I do, really I do.

What else is exciting-----I lifted up the laundry basket this morning and hurt my back. I knew I shouldn't do laundry. I fixed an awesome pot roast dinner today.

Ohhhhh, on Tuesday, I went to the doctor and she told me I need a test to confirm I have carpel tunnel so something can be done with it. And on Wednesday, I had a mammogram! I do lead an exciting life. On Thursday, I got a phone call to schedule my test and I get to do that next Friday. Look at this children of mine, I have to drive to Portland.

After my mammo, I went to Joann's--they were having a sale~like when aren't they~--and I bought 2 sets of circular needles and 2 skeins of Wool-Ease yarn to knit 2 socks at a time. I bought a book with awesome instructions and pictures. I'm too lazy right now to look it up. I had to finish the hat I was working on, the sock I was working on and the orange dish cloth before I could start with the cir needles. I got to start those last night.

I did sit down at my sewing machine a few days ago and made myself a cute red purse. I think the sewing machine is feeling a bit lonely again. I need to pay more attention to is this week. I'm going to try to sew for 30 minutes each evening. Wish me luck!

I've Got Socks

I am quite impressed with myself! My arm hurts from back patting! I cannot believe I can knit a pair of socks. I can read a pattern and figure out the simple things, know who to call or where to look (Socks 101) for the things I can't figure out. I can drop stitches and pick them up. I can find all the mistakes I made, sometimes I backtrack to fix them. Other times I say it's a lesson. When doing the next pair, I will count my rows on sock one twice or three times before going on with the next step on sock two. Maybe they will turn out the same length and not 2 rows short!!!

But I don't care, I have a pair of socks.

My next pair will be a on the needles this week. I am going to use the same pattern but only rib the cuff. Now I need to find the yarn. The TLC yarn I bought is a little hard to work with because it has bumps of color in it. I think I'll save that for something esle. But in the mean time I have alot of dishclothes to work on.

We will be leaving in a few days to spend some time with Crystal, Mike and Elliot in Arizona. I will take my knitting with me to work on if I have time. I'm going to be pretty busy smooching all over Elliot. I have to do it now because in no time, he won't let Gramma kiss him at all! Boys are like that!!!

Now, I have to do the weekend stuff--you know the stuff you have to do to survie until next weekend. And I have to start packing and getting the house ready for the house sitter. I don't see much knitting in my future for today. But I am still training a new person at work so I get to knit there!!! Some days I love my job.

TaTa For Now. 

Socks, I'm Knitting Socks...

...or I've Started A Sock! Whichever!!!

Socks 101 has the most awesome sock demo. I have been searching online for a basic teach me to knit socks site and this is what I found. So on my day off today, I made a mad dash in to town to get some more printer ink (I need this to be portable), double pointed needles (couldn't remember what size so I bought 4 sets--just in case!) and some Lion Wool Prints yarn and some TLC Wiggles sport weight. The wool color is Autumn Sunset and the TLC is called Cherry.

I start to wonder what I am thinking at times but this has become an obsession. I have dishclothes #9 and #10 started. #9 is on the couch for TV time and #10 is at the computer for pokie ole dial up load time. Mind you, I'm not getting bored with the dishclothes. Just yesterday, I bought a book and 6 more balls of cotton yarn. I love using them and want to share with my friends and family. It's just this stupid sock thing I have going on in my brain. I even dreamt about socks last night.

So I've jumped in with both boring white sock covered feet and I'm determined to knit some cool socks. I've never used double pointed needles and that was a challenge. After some serious lip biting, I think I have the hang of it. I just kept refering back to my Socks 101 photos on how she hold the needles. I guess what I'm really saying is I am not afraid of the boogie man. The worst that can happen is I'll have to rip them out and start over. Would that be worse that just giving up?? I'm not going to do that, I've seen too many photos of cool sox. Check out these photos from the Socks 1o1 Lady. I want to be just like her when I grow up! Like that's gonna happen anytime soon.

I was just so excited about my bit of progress that I had to share. With any luck at all, my next post will have a photo of my foot/feet decked out in an Autumn Sunset Wool sock/socks. Hopefully one of those feet won't be in my mouth.

TTFN, gotta knit before I start dinner.

PS Happy Birthday Mom 

My Latest Obsession

I want to knit socks! Everyone else is knitting socks. I want to knit socks.

Fun, funky, bright, warm, useful socks. I am going to make socks. Only problem--I don't know how to knit. I don't have time right now to take a class so I am teaching myself to knit.

I am making dishclothes. Do you know that there are a gazillion free dishcloth designs on the web. I Googled free dishcloth designs and opened a few pages where I found Knitting Pattern Central whick led me to the Dishcloth page. So on my next trip to town (so I made a special trip--I have a new obsession!), I bought some cotton yarn, some knitting needles and a teach me to knit book. I'm doing pretty good. I am on dishcloth #5 now. I gave one away and am using one. I also picked up a few more balls of cotton yarn.

I'm getting braver. I am actually following a pattern now and I'm doing a pretty darn good job. Only problem is my arm. There seems to be muscles in there that haven't been awake for a while and constant knitting is playing havic with them. Today I will try to rest my arm a bit but tomorrow they will work! I need to knit. I want to knit socks!

Have a great day.