Cold!

It is cold outside! And has been for several days.  I have been very content to stay inside and knit and sew.

Mary is running a Fair Isle class at the shop and we are making these fingerless mitts.  This is my first one; I am doing the ribbing on the second one.  That white line that looks like a mistake will be cut open (steeked-eek!) for my thumb.

Last year I started crocheting a large granny square to make a knitting bag. I lost the directions so I fudged a lining for it.

I have to tack a couple more spots but I am pleased with it. I used a dark batik so I would not have to line it.  I added snaps and pockets on the inside.

One more set of Civil War blocks almost done! 4 are completely sewn; 4 need to be completed.  Can you see how they are different?

I thought some of you “older” sewers would appreciate this. I still have several of my mother-in-law’s sewing supplies.  While I never recommend using old thread, I used this carpet thread to attach the ling to my knitting bag.  Check out the price:

Do you remember when?

Diane

Happy Birthday Paula!

This is a very personal post. My oldest and dearest friend Paula turns 60 years old today. Happy Birthday!

 We have known each other 44 years (come on, are we really that old??).  My family moved to Oneida, NY in November of my junior year in high school. Trust me-that is not a great time to change schools. When it got to lunch time I had to walk into the cafeteria all by myself. I decided to sit at the table where the people were laughing the loudest. Sandy, Bob, Tracee and Paula were sitting at that table.  We have been friends ever since.

I was pretty naïve at the time and they taught me things I had never imagined before-some good, some not so good. But Paula and I  always had fun.  We went to dances at the VFW, skipped out of lunch and drove to VVS, and we even dated brothers from Sherrill  I even took my 1st driving test on her car. She was sick as a dog and the guy made her stand outside in a snowstorm while I took –and failed- that test.
Paula ate dinner at my house and slept over all the time.  Her house was my second home ( Do you remember how your mom always laid out our vitamins every morning?)
I was very jealous when they all turned 18 before I did but she helped make my 18th-and 21st birthdays very memorable. On my 18th birthday, we went to a bar in Herkimer and I bought my first legal drink.  On my 21st birthday, we were arrested for walking in the road in Potsdam (Shocked? Luckily it was considered a traffic infraction. We paid a $5 fine).

In Herkimer we had a two bedroom apt. That was it, two bedrooms and a bathroom.  We had to stay friends-I had the hot plate in my room and she had the little refrigerator. Paula, remember when JJ would come over and do card tricks? We would laugh so hard!
After college we still lived near each other.  One time we drove to CT. because she had a job interview. Paula do you remember singing “One Less Bell to Answer” by the 5th Dimension in the car on the way home? God, we thought we were so clever!
Paula introduced me to my husband-we met on a blind date.  I can never thank her enough for that.

After I got married, Paula moved away, became a nurse, and got married.  We don’t see each other often but when we do we slip back into our friendship.  We talk, we laugh, we cry and we remember. We always go to our HS reunions together (Lord knows I could not walk in there alone!) She remembers everyone and is constantly reminding me of this or that.
Paula always sends me jokes and other information via e-mail. We are friends on Facebook. She was at my house this summer; I hoped she would accept a job nearby but things did not work out as I had hoped. But she knows-or I hope that she knows- that I am always there for her. Happy Birthday Paula! And by the way, I am SO glad that you turn 60 before I did!

 

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January Finishes…So Far

I have actually been very busy this month.  I have been working, knitting and sewing. The only thing I have not done a lot of is cleaning and laundry!

This quilt has a completed binding and is on display at the shop for my binding class:

I made a few travel sewing caddies:

I increased the size of one to make a carry case for my IPad.

I completed 1 more block for my Civil War Quilt and started the next set:

96 half square triangles.  96.  I will start them this afternoon.

I started and completed this fingerless mitt:

It was fun to do. Lots of techniques I had never done before.

My mind is just racing. I have about 10 things I want to have finished now! I have them out and ready to go. I am thinking I will spend this month and next working on these WIPs and then in March I will devote to machine quilting.

How are your projects coming along?

Diane

Civil War Melodies

I realized that I have not updated my Civil War Melodies quilt in a while.

It is a funny quilt. I look at the fabrics for the quilt and think that I really don’t like them and then I piece the blocks and the fabrics look nice together. I have to learn to have faith.

This was a BOM for 2013. I am now officially halfway done. Yay!

Last July when I was only a couple of months behind I started Block 5:

For some reason it really slowed me down. It was one of those fussy kind of blocks-no easy way to attack it. That stripe also made me a little crazy.  But now it is done. I completed Block 6 in an afternoon and am now on to block 7:

I would have finished today but I didn’t like the way I had originally fussy cut the blue stripey material (OK- I cut it wrong…) so I need to get more.  I work tomorrow so I can grab it then and finish up on Wednesday. I peeked at Block 8-lots of half-square triangles…

I am starting the new Civil War BOM for 2014 this month so I had best keep going!

Diane

A Lovely Year of Finishes

So I was wandering through some blogs the other day when I found this.  Shanna at Fiber of All Sorts is co-hosting a year long event to help us all finish some projects.  I have grabbed her button and I am hoping to participate each month.  Maybe I will even win a prize!  Ok…the real goal is to get some projects in the “done” pile.

I am starting off the year with an easy project.  I am trying to get projects done for teaching and my sewing room looks like a bomb struck so my goal is to just finish binding this quilt:

The binding is already on the front. I just need to sew it on the back. I can do this!

Diane

Kimberly’s Garden

I loved this fabric when it came into the shop so I made this quilt from the free pattern that was on line:

It was not difficult but diagonal settings seem to take much longer to do! Now to get it quilted…

Lauren got us a puzzle for Christmas.  No family dinners for a few days.

I am also working on a present for my friend Mimi whose birthday was New Year’s Day. No pictures yet but I will post pictures after I get it sent out. She is in Florida right now. Obviously, I am not.

All in all a productive day!

Diane

New Year, New Purse!

First, to all my friends and family, I hope you all had a blessed Christmas and a happy and safe New Year. I know that I enjoyed the family parties and time spent with my husband, children and grandchildren.

Contrary to popular belief, my blog and I have not fallen off the face of the earth. I have been busy sewing, knitting, and working, both at the quilt shop and at the Y. I made several gifts for my family this Christmas. You will have to believe me, I did not take pictures.

But I do have a picture of my new purse and wallet! The purse is the Mini Professional Tote. I took a class in November and just found the time to finish it.  It is a great pattern; lots of pockets and it even has a padded pouch for a tablet (Did I mention that I got an IPad Air for Christmas? Thank you Michael!).

The wallet was straight forward once I got past folding the pockets for the credit cards! The pictures made no sense-the wallet took less time that that one step.

I plan to be a better blogger this year. I have been busy making-and learning new things that I hope to share with you. My resolution? To enjoy and be thankful for every day!

Diane