Completing UFOs

At the beginning of the year I taught a crazy quilt class and had this block as a result. I've dded the b&w border and then the leafy border, added the gold bullion [is this a play on words? I did pay dearly {dearly in that is is just a just for fun project} for the bullion]

I used the companion leafy fabric on the reverse side.Dosen't take much to entertain me.

Eight Sox, Four Pair

These are my current knitting projects

This luscious Dream in Color Smooshy yarn in shades of pinks is looking great so far as I've gotten with Cat Bordhi's design "Spring Thaw" . . . . .

Ron's sox knit from the cuff down is done in Online yarn and is just a basic ribbed pattern that works up fast and is a good everyday sock.

This is yet another cuff down ribbed pattern - ahah! - something different with this pair. I'm working the Eye of Partridge heel and am now working it on the sole, also.

Not certain whether this will help the sox wear longer or just make ya taller. Hope there enough of this Paton's Sock yarn to make it to the Kitchener stitching.

And, last in this line up is Regia Design Line Kaffe Fassett yarn. This just might be too wild even for me to wear!

And before you ask, it is knit in the ribbed fashion that I found I like for this self-striping yarn.

Daughters-In-Law

We are so fortunate –
we have wonderful daughters-in-law.
Every once in a while we try to let them know how much we think of them.
I used a design from a quilt book d-i-l Lynn gave me for Christmas last year in this Hawaiian Motif Wallhanging.

While going through my stash of blue fabric our d-i-l Deb came to mind as she loves to collect things ‘Cobalt Blue’.

Early Crop Tomatoes

Just off the vine ! ! !

My thanks goes to Kaaron for her inspiration. Her tutorial for these wonderful pincushions is posted to her blog

http://thepaintedquilt.blogspot.com

Signs that Spring is coming to Jeff City

Forsythia is blooming . . . . .

Daffodils and Tulips are showing their faces . . . . .

Some trees are blooming . . . . .

Some are not, they're still bare like this Maple . . . .We dodged the snow this weekend.

Sunday morning dawned dry and the sky was bright as can be.

Today's temp is in the high 60s.

With a few more days like yesterday and today things will really green up.

Made a couple of Ohio Star Variation blocks - the center blocks are fussy-cut.

I've spent so much time trying to post this using WindowsLive - - - - have decided that WindowsLive and I are not compatible.

Windows Live Writer

This is the second attempt at blogging with Windows Live Writer.

Just finished this wallhanging and it’ll go in the mail just as soon as I label it.

The design is taken from “Poakalani Hawaiian Quilt Cushion Patterns & Design”. It’s machine appliquéd onto a free-motion machine-stitched quilt.

The reverse side has a hand-finished ‘binding’ and a sleeve for hanging. It’s 18” x 22”.

Daffodils, Forsythia and Verbena

It’s beginning to look like Spring! Even the grass is taking on a greener tinge.

I’m trying out a new method of blogging using Windows Live Writer.

Try this hyperlink

to my Genealogy Blog.

Last Snow ?

Well, we hope so

but in mid-MO you can never tell. This is what it looked like yesterday afternoon. One day it looks like this and the next day is bright and sunny just like today. However, that sun won't be melting much snow, don't think it'll make it above the freezing mark.

But - - - we know the official first day of Spring is less than three weeks away. And then any time after that we can count of warmer weather. [We hope.]

Newest Knitting Book

This is a great book ! ! !

Thanks to my friend Anna Marie who lent me her copy for the last three weeks.

I found that I couldn't live without it being added to my library of knitting books. Just as soon as I finish the pair on my circular, I'll have to decide which pair from this book to knit first.

X-Block Strip Exchange

Our Quiltin' Chicks Social has been invloved in a fabric strip exchange. Part of us have been exchanging green strips the others are exchanging brown strips.

This is the center portion of my quilt.

At least it was until I began to play.

Then it looked like this.

What will it look like at the finish? Don't know . . . .

This version could do nicely as a throw for the sofa. Or a pillow cover for the bed.
We'll see.

Kaffe Fassett

Here are four of the blocks ready to be set together.

Thought I had taken pics of the finished border blocks, but I guess not. I'll do that later this afternoon

I am going to love this quilt !

Keeping Busy

Cut of the pieces for my Kaffe Fassett quilt, Pastel Star Bouquet. And have begun sewing some blocks.
Also have free-motion quilted the background for the Hawiaan motif taken from one of the quilt books my d-i-l gave me from Christmas last year.
The last pic is of the back of the free-motion quilting.

In the Twenties and

the daffodils are up . . . probably three inches tall.
I'll take the camera out once the temps are a little warmer so you can see their progress.
Guess Spring is on it's way.
While we were at Barnes & Noble yesterday we had a Starbucks before we browsed the shelves.
Starbucks has this on their 'goodies' bag:
flavors my senses . . . . . .
sweetens my disposition . . . . .
stirs my imagination . . . . .
nourishes my dreams . . . . .
Isn't this the way we react to our creativity?

Hey,

. . . one foot on, one foot off . . . ? ? ? ?

Am I missing something???

Companion

Keeping a look out for typos.

Regia Stretch Yarn

Love the blues in this yarn. This is the fifth pair since Christmas - the first four finished and delivered. This is the first time I've knit with stretch yarn, it seems to knit up like any of the other wool/nylon blend yarns. Though I think these'll hug your leg and foot a little closer.
Had .88" of rain yesterday and overnight and it's been raining on and off all day today. However, it's a nice rain 'cause the temp is up and not too windy. It's rinsing all the salt and salt solutions off the streets and washing the underneath of my car also.

Finished ! ! !

Finished these pretty Bronzed Berry Stripes Friday evening. Aren't they cool looking?

Yesterday morning a new pair were on the needle. I've completed cuff and am working the leg. Photos will be posted tomorrow evening after I recoop from teaching a paper piecing class at the lqs.

Been knitting . . . .
I'm four-and-a-half inches into the foot portion
considering that the toe decrease takes a little less than two inches
I'm well on my way ! !

Spent some time cutting strips for KF's Star Bouquet.
I've marked them for which template to use for each strip.

Genealogy has taken a number of hours these past two days. Cousin Kevin's comment has spurred me into posting some info regarding our common grandparents. Hope to inspire more cousins into delving into their family lore and maybe discover some new leads. Fingers crossed.

Current Status

Here's KF's fabric laid out so we can enjoy every piece.

And these bronzed beauties are beyond the heel, beyond the arch expansion [in reverse] and to the point of just straight k1p1 on the instep half and knit on the sole half until it's time to decrease for the toes.

KarRumba

I forgot to blog this finished pair of sox.
By Monday afternoon they'll be on their way to California's Central Coast.

These look big enough to be excellent Christmas Stockings ! ! !