Playtime

This is what I've been playing with

while I should have been doing

???????????

hey, what's more important than enjoying time at the sewing machine ! ! !

This datebook cover used two of those home dec samples from one of our quilt guild members

This smaller datebook used only one sample

I added some pinkish fabric to this sample to make up the size I wanted for this Journal cover

Here's the whole pic of this journal in progress

not much left before it's complete


Hugs

Friday 'round here

Today's temp was at least 62 degrees with sunshine.

By sometime tomorrow those weather forecasters are predicting snow for our area.

So Hubby and I set about getting a few chores completed while we had decent weather

and before any snowy weather takes over.

Our garage really needed picking up.

Several months ago when we had our new windows installed

I had emptied out my ex-darkroom so the workers would be able to get to the window to re-place it.

Yep, all my 'stuff' has been cluttering the floor of the garage all this time, yuk!

It took a couple of hours

 but I have everything picked up.

Since I have plans to paint the room 

and the rest of the garage this coming Spring 

I didn't organize anything

just put it in there up off the floor.

Then we used the blower to clean out the garage

getting rid of the leaves that have been tracked in and collecting.

Then blew off the driveway and the patio.

Things are looking good.

I was pooped.

<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>

It's been a while since I've shown my sox that have been knit in the car and at the eye clinic.

I really like the color.

They're going to be for wearing in the house this winter, I think.

All Fired Up

& 

Plum Seduction

are in my growing nail polish collection.

Here's a group shot of Matilda and her gal pals.

Still not finished with 'em 

but they are 

lookin' good !

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Hubby's day-after check up went well.

And has an appt at the end of next week for an eye chart exam.

He is lovin' his new view and is glad to have had this procedure.

Happy Holiday Hugs Gals 

A Yarn Tale

I'm preparing for January's start of Ravelry's Cookie A. Knit-A-Long.

We're knitting from her second sock book

Knit-Sock-Love

I'm hoping that the wonderful patterns from Cookie will show their glory with these lighter colors.

The Minty Green is Heritage by Cascade Yarns

Sock yarn 75% Merino Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon

The Yummy Pink right below the Minty is the very same yarn content and weight.

The Peachy Apricot

is Jojoland

Melody

100% wool Superwash

That'll be enough yarn to keep me happy for three pair of sox

[well, maybe]

This Luscious Lavenders is by

malabrigo

It's kettle dyed

sock weight

Merino Wool

Superwash which means, of course all four of these yarns can be machine washed.  Yipee ! ! ! !

I don't want to use any yarn this dark for my KAL sox but it is soooo soft against skin

that I decided as soon as I spied it that I'd work this into another scarf.

Come on Winter show us what you got!

I've got my malabrigo to keep me warm.

Haven't pick a scarf pattern yet.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hubby's day-after check-up was this morning and everything is going very well.

I think he's happy with the results.

Happy Holiday Hugs

Matilda and her sister . . .

 

.  .  .  .  and her sister

Oh, My ! ! ! !

I don't know her name -  -  -

I worked on her last night.

I just had to have a gal in pink

this is as pink as I could go last night.

Do I need an infusion of new fabric ? ? ? ?

Now before you go all soft on her not having a name yet

let me tell you a little something about this gal.

I was doing my part,

I gathered fabric, color pencils, wire, straws, dowels,

I mean I gathered everything I needed.

Proceeded to stitch and cut

color and turn

stuff and stitch some more.

Wound her wire legs.

Yes, I got out my 'doll hair stash'.

Now this is where things go wacky. 

Or should I say this gal went all postal on me.

Here I was going with the blonde hair -

well, you know it's common knowledge that they do have more fun.

Got it all in place and attached

AND WHADDA YA KNOW

I took one look at her puss and hair

and she there all looking like she's a

GRANDMA ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Not a grandma my age,

she's lookin' like she could be like MY Grandma.

You know, all old-fashioned [spell that D-O-W-D-Y]

She was showing her true personality and she was steamin' with her eyes all x'd

there, Take a Close Look At Her Eyes.

Postal ! ! !

This is NOT what I envisioned earlier in the evening.

Well, took a time-out had a baklava dessert

and a cuppa Earl Grey.

A time-out to cool off.

Perhaps I wasn't exactly cooled

because I ripped off all those blonde curls.

There she sat bald as a cue ball

-  -  -  there you little tart ! ! !

I'll show ya whose boss 'round here.

No not to be bested by a stuffed postal tart

I chose a little less blonde but none the less blonde

and went about calmly attaching her new hair.

Well, take a look ! ! ! ! !

 

Isn't she lookin' sweet.
[though her eyes are still x'd - what? she's showin' attitude??????


It remains to be seen what she'll be holding in her hands
perhaps this'll tone her down a might.
whatdda ya think?

Right now she's a no-name a-little-less-blonde tart  ?angel?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hubby's cataract procedure went pretty darn good today.
Tomorrow will be a check up and then he's good to go.

Holiday Hugs All

Minutiae

Needlework coasters from my Mother.

Peaks and Valleys from Twisted Knitter

 This scarf is on my needles right now.

 

Perle Cotton

 

Spools

 

Wool Roving

This is some of the small, trival details from here.

 
 
One that's not so trival:

Left Eye                                                                                                    Right Eye

This is how Hubby sees the mini quilt.

Last week's removal of cataract from left eye allows him to see more color

while with his right eye he sees less color

It's been like this for a week now

and after this week's procedure we expect his vision will be bright and colorful.

Hugs

It's been a really long time

I mean a really long time since I've done any dollmaking.
I love dolls.
I know you do too, don't cha?

A few days ago I got the motivation I needed
when
Dutch Sisters shared Corry's Angel Tutorial

This afternoon was just the time to get going.
Got some of my Thimbleberries fabric out,
dug out doll hair,
wire for legs
and I was set to GO!.

Matilda is no angel
but is as sweet as can be.
She must be sweet, looks like she's holding a gum drop for ya.






Whoopee ! ! ! !
I love my time with her this afternoon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the time I would like to acknowledge all my Followers
and welcome those gals who are new to my blog.
I may not blog regularly but I do
enjoy reading your comments
and try to return the favor.
Thanks for visiting.

BTW, Tam you are a
"Tam noreply-comment@blogger.com"
no way to respond to your comment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So many of you are having winter weather and if you are like me
you're wondering when spring and summer will arrive.
Luckily we have been free of rain, sleet, ice and snow.
Just that cold wind from the northwest, brrrrrrrrrrr
I've four or five knit scarves that I just know will get a workout in the months to come.
Have a new scarf Peaks and Valleys from Twisted Knitter  on the needles now
and
will have a photo of it next time.

Bundle Up Gals !
Hugs

SimplyChic Carryall for Crochet

A friend in the U.K. sent me some lovely fabric a while ago.
It took me some time to decide how I could show off the fab fabric to it's best.
I think it's Liberty Fabric ???????

Since I already have a carryall to carry to sewing classes
and one to tote my netbook
naturally I want one for my crochet stuff.

I wanted to preserve the fabric's great print,
Well, duh, what better way than to leave it to speak for itself.
Oh, yes, I did add a bit of bling 
didn't it turn out great ! ! ! 

The purple handles are drapery tie-backs that were a buck a piece at Hobby Lobby/

I used vinyl and fabric for the first pocket that will hold my current fave crochet pattern book
the next 'page' is a couple of fabric pockets to hold my current project
with instruction in the larger pocket.

There are pockets with zippers and more with out.

Pockets for my cotton crochet yarn on one page and two zipper pockets on the other page

that holds aluminum hooks in one and my steel hooks in the other.

Here are some of the details on the front of my newest carryall.

Back to organizing my sewing area.

AGAIN

Hugs 

What's Doing

Yes, I've been organizing my sewing area.

Again ! ! ! ! !

Lowes had some shelves

that I thought would help give more storage space

 out where I can see it

and get at it.

A person couldn't tell it by looking at my area lately,

but I work best when things are organized and not chaotic.

It's a work in progress.

as usual

This afternoon I was able to catch my Oldest Brother [boy, is he oldest] on Google Video Chat.

Had a nice visit and was able to see what he's been up to. 

He says he does not like to video chat

but he does stay online with us for quite a while once he gets on.

Nice way to spend part of the day.

As soon as DD#2 arrived for our SewDay we got out our newest GO! Fabric Cutting Die.
This is our Drunkard's Path cut from two FQs.
Only big enough for a quick table runner.
My first attempt on sewing those drat curves.
Really went quite fast.
The die cut a notch at the center of the curves so that alignment is easy peasy.

A week or so ago a knitting pal and I met up and knit for a couple of hours.
This is her little knitting bag - only about six inches from top of handle to bottom of bag -
includes a couple of ball of yarn and needles.
It's so cute and best of all
she gifted it to ME ! ! !
Thank you Paula.

Hugs

It's A Brand New Bag

Remember my Carolina CarryAll made with this

cool Batik fabrics?

I've been carrying since the day I finished it.

You probably know I don't carry bags for very long at any one time.

I change daily, weekly - so to carry one this long is unusual. 

I really like the shape and style and find it convenient to carry all my stuff.

Boy, am I amassing stuff to carry.

BUT,

now I am tired

of carrying the same old bag.

So, Now I Have A Brand New Bag ! ! !

Okay, I know, it the same ol' bag
INSIDE OUT ! ! ! ! !
Yea, another month of my Carolina CarryAll ! ! ! ! !
Hugs

Yummy, yummy, yummy,

so good for your tummy.
Guess what I baked.



Pumpkin Bread,
Corn Muffins
and Pumpkin Corn Muffins.

I bake just like I knit
- - - - I just add the left over [yarn/batter]
to the new [yarn/batter].

Don't think about it, just eat 'em while they're hot.

Daughter is coming over tomorrow for our annual
Turkey Soup Dinner.

This year was my turn to
cook-that-carcass.

I did just that with the addition of carrots, celery, potatoes, onions and noodles.
We'll be ready to fill our bowls.

Pass the muffins, please.

Hugs

FO KAL

It's a Finished Object
for the Knit A Long
Knit.Sock.Love

Cookie A. named her pattern Cauchy
and is the math inequality sign
you know <>

I began the KAL on November first
only to find my first yarn choice stank
as far as being able to decern a pattern in the self-stripping yarn.

So I went to the Stash and found this Icy Blue and Serendipity Turquioise combo
to begin again.
They made with the same yarn as Hubby's Turf Green Sox.
Bown Sheep Co
Lambs Pride SuperWash
Sport weight.
Just finished them this week - I do love 'em.

Hugs

Another Finished Pair

Plain Vanilla Sox
Perhaps you remember this yarn?
Picked these up during this past month and
decided to use
Melissa Morgan-Oakes pattern Raindrops for the leg pattern.
I love this Austermann yarn and
Oh, The Colors ! ! ! ! !

They're a slouchy sock.  Not to be worn with the leg stretched.
Just A  Nice Comfortable Day Sock.

Hugs

A Finish ! ! ! Finally ! ! !

With a couple more to come.
This pair is for Hubby
They're knit toe up -magic loop method -
with re-inforcing yarn in toe area.
It's a k2p2 ribbing
Brown Sheep Co. Lambs Pride SuperWash
Sport weight
it's called Turf Green.

I've completed a couple more pair
as I am participating in
Ravelry's KAL Group
for Cookie As new book
Knit.Sock.Love

Hope I'll be able to post many pair from Cookie's newest book.
I love all her designs.

Keep warm.
Hugs

KAL Cauchy

Since I have changed yarn for this KAL
[Knit A  Long]
the pattern has emerged.
Unlike the previous yarn choice
this lighter, solid shade
certain does Cookie A's pattern right.

The cuff and heel which is knit in a green yarn
in an attempt to use up stashed yarn.

The Raverly Cookie A
Knit.Sock.Love KAL
officially begins in January
so this means poor little ol' me will have to
do a little yarn shopping for
some solid yarn
so that the intricate stitches are shown to their best.
Poor me .  .  .  .

Have also been sewing and
gee, guess what,
ORGANIZING ! ! !

Haven't made much headway on any of these fronts.

Hugs

I knew this wasn't the best choice . . .

You know I joined Rav's Cookie A Designed Socks KAL.

And, you know I chose to use this self-striping yarn

which I knew wasn't a good yarn to knit any kind of a pattern and expect it to show up.

Can you see any pattern besides the ribbed cuff?

These sox are destined to be frogged [rip-it, rip-it, rip-it out]

back to the ribbed cuff.

I've found some solid color yarn that I'll begin 

once more making Cauchy.

I'll post photos of the new sox/yarn as soon as 

I do more than Cast On.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michele of     michele made me   tells us all about 

her newest Brain Wave.

This gal really comes up with some creative ideas and this one is right at the top of the list.

Make a Fabric Turner

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daughter Deb and I spent this afternoon sewing.

Cut 400+ inches of 2.5" binding strips.

GO! figure ! ! ! !   We used the GO! ! ! 

Once she squared up her Patriotic Stars quilt

she was able to get the binding sewn on to the back of the quilt.

We attempted to use Pat Sloan's machine method of finishing the binding but we were not successful.

We have not given up on Pat's way and we will

give it a try again down the line.

Hugs & ♥♥♥s

Here it is mid-week already

Cookie A's new sock book is just about to come out.

Shipping date November 20th 

I've pre-ordered my copy. 

YeeHaw

You may remember I joined the Rav group for Cookie A's book

Sock Innovation last year

and committed to the KAL.

Sad to say my intentions were disrupted in September 

when hubby encountered a  couple of medical problems.

Well, those problems have sorted themselves out so that we are back to our usual routine more or less.

So when I was invited to join a new Cookie A RAV Group: 

Knit. Sock. Love.

I jumped right in

[wearing hand knit sox no less]

You still have time to join in the fun

RAV Knit.Sock.Love Group  

There are already 181 of us.

There's to be the beloved KAL 

which/that won't begin until after the holidays.

In the meantime, we are doing a 

Free For All KAL

Any Cookie A pattern.

So I decided to knit a pattern from Sock Innovation.

Cauchy is a simple knit-purl combo that 

forms lines that resemble inequality signs.

You know I favor Toe-Up Magic Loop Method of knitting sox, 

but this time it'll be Cuff Down still on Magic Loop Method ending with the Kirtchner Stitch.  Oh, happy day ! ! ! .

While I ordered my copy of SKL I also purchased a 

pdf downloadable copy.

I want to have a jump on picking my faves so I'll be ready when voting time to chose a pattern for January comes 'round...

Here a pic of Cauchy just past the cuff section

I'm having lots of fun getting back into knitting

Cookie A designs.

I've been following a really good blog titled  Blog Buddy  

If you haven't found this blog and have had issues with Google Blogger, well  -  -  -  -

The Blog Boddy is the brain child of

Karen of Sew Many Ways

What she sez about her Blog Buddy idea:

"What is a blog buddy you ask. Well, I have had so many emails asking me different questions about blogging, pictures, emails, blog buttons, how to follow a blog, etc...I thought I would start a feature on my blog called Blog Buddy. This ongoing section of my blog will give tips and helpful hints for you, your computer, your blog and blogging in general. I blog through Blogger, so most of the info will be about Blogger. This will be a "go to" feature for blogging help."

IF you've ever had questions about or problems with Google Blogger you just may be able to get a resolution by visiting Karen's blog.

Hugs & ♥♥♥s

Pimpelliese Scarf

No freezing wind down the back of my neck come mid-winter.

I found the pattern for this wind stopping kerchief

on Ravelry.

Pimpelliese

It's a

Christine Ebers design

I absolutely love the color

Icy Blue

Brown Sheep Co

Lambs Pride

Sport Weight

100% Superwash Wool

The lace edge is knit as you go and is an easy twelve row repeat.

It's one of those purse-sized projects that you can whip out anytime you have a couple of minutes wait time.

I carried it for months but finally finished it last week just in time for
our monthly Knit Nite.  Had to show it off, don't ya know.

With the Autumn weather turnng in
some cooling weather here in mid-MO
my newest addition to My Neckwarmer Collection my get used before our truly icy weather after the first of the year.

Please don't ask the definition of Pimpelliese
I tried to google it but came up empty.

Hugs & ♥♥♥s

Haven't Decided Yet

what will be stored in 

my Denim Case giveaway prize

   from michele  made me.

I just love this denim creation and want to use it

not just put it in a drawer to keep nice.

So, whadda think?

Markers

Water color pencils

Time to rummage through Halloween candy leftovers

'cause not enough goblins came by . . . . .

Hugs & ♥♥♥s