Birthday Presents

February is a busy month, not only is there Valentine's Day but there are FOUR birthdays that fall with in days of each other.  This year I started early! HA!  I was knitting up until the day it HAD to be mailed so it wasn't going to be late.

My sister has a loving relationship with antique pillowcases.  This year I thought that I would try my hand at making her some. I picked out the material at a fabric store and then followed a pillowcase tutorial on line.  The piece of resistance was the crocheted edging that I did!! WHOOT!  I watched several on line videos and read blogs and then changed things to my preference.  She LOVED them! WHEW!  I wasn't too sure but am so relieved.

For my MIL, I made a simple lace cowl for Wendy Knit's Lace book.  I loved the way it turned out. I went to a class on how to add beads to lace work. I was all gung ho to start adding beads but my picky self didn't like ANY that the store had.  So perhaps in the future?  

The other two birthdays consisted of socks. I forgot to take pictures of those! OPPS!

SIGH!  ALL birthdays are done for this month!  Now to decide on my next knitting project(s)! Socks of course!  I have come to the conclusion that it will be a sweater!  Oh the COMMITMENT!!!  

Gearing up for a cold blast heading through the South this weekend!?  Stay warm!

Something Bright and Oh So Cheery~

With Valentine's Day fast approaching I whipped up this bright and cheery wall hanging. It is so brown this time of year here in the South that I needed something bright!  I made up the pattern myself.  As far as quilting it, I attempted 'stitch in the ditch' for the first time.  I must say it was easier and had great results then I first thought.

On the knitting front. I finished my 'vanilla socks'.  They were knitted on the wrong size needles so will be gifted to someone :).  All was not lost there~

I also am ALMOST done with the first glove in the Downton Abbey KAL.  I had to put this project aside to make a couple of birthday gifts.  The birthday gifts are completed but I can't post them quite yet.  But here is what the glove looks like~

I am in the midst of planning the next house project!  WOWZA~  I will have to totally 'butter' the husband up for this one!

Have a great week!

Who Loves You?

We had another storm roll through NC this week.  Ice and cold temps meant no school on Friday which turned into a good thing.  My daughter woke up with a fever and cold. AHHHH.  I just want to scream all the time.  Every Monday a healthy kid and by the end of the week down for the count.  Though, this time she has a cough so a doctor appointment might be in our future.  With S being sick, I wasn't able to make my knit class.  Big Bummer!  However, I was able to kick out sometime on socks and a KAL with my sister.  So not all was lost!

Our first granddaughter is turning one at the end of this month.  The only request from mom was something with stars in it.  I came across this owl fabric and I fell in love with it.  It makes me so
H-A-P-P-Y!  Along with the quilt I made a sprocket pillow.  They are fun and fast projects.  My daughter has hinted at wanting one.

What a crazy weather week ahead and behind. Have a great week!

It's been too long....

Whew!  It HAS been a while since I wrote.  I have a cold that will not leave me.  It is frustrating beyond words.  Today I am going to see if I can get a different OTC medicine that will knock this out.

It was a busy Christmas holiday and I almost feel back to normal?  If that is possible.  My parents made a safe arrival to NC!  YAY!  However, mom was down with the flu upon arrival, she got it on the road and was sick the last leg of the drive.  Ugh!  So sorry Mom!  You are a trooper!  Upon arrival, S gave her a hug and was crying 'happy tears Grandma'.  Mom headed for their room only to venture out when needed.  We were all bummed.  I got out the Lysol and Bleach Wipes certain that my efforts would stop the next from falling.....nope.  I was down for the count three days later...  Bleaching and Lysol were our friends.  Luckily it ended with me.

Christmas and New Years went by in a blur.  We totally enjoyed each other's company, played board games, Mexican Train and just visited.  It was great.

We made time for our carriage ride downtown and the Christmas lights:

Time for baking:

Dad giving the Cookie Press a whirl

I LOVE this picture of Mom!  We try to figure out this cookie press EVERY year!

Time for walking:

IL dogs meet NC weather

Time for partying!

It was a fantastic visit.  I still working on talking them into a whole winter visit.  The weather here is NOTHING like a Midwest Winter!

I've started a pair of 'vanilla' socks.  I needed something that wouldn't take a whole lot of thinking with football on TV.  I did sign up for a KAL with my sister.  We are doing the Downton Abby KAL.  Then there are other things that I have to do.  Our first grand-daughter is turning one this month.  I have something in the works for her, a cousin's first baby, Valentine's Day, Birthday's.....there IS always something to knit for!

Now that I have learned how to do socks two at a time...there IS no other way!  I still would like to try to figure out how to gloves that way!

Hoping that you had a happy AND healthy Christmas!

B U S Y

Just like everyone else the Christmas season happened quickly.  My parents are coming to visit so I busy completing tasks that have been on my list for over a year.

The guest bedroom is ready for them!

My daughter picked out the blue paint color.  She did a great job.  It's a calming color.  It looks so much better then black brown molding and closet doors!  With the drapes closed it looks more pale then above.  Either way ~ we are ready for guests!













I have completed several knitting projects for Christmas too.  I made a scarves too, which I forgot to take a picture of before sending them off?!

                                             Cowl- can't wait to see her face!

                                               Headbands/Earmuffs

                                                  Dinosaur hat

                                                    fingerless gloves for me!
On the sewing front:

                                                   Christmas Santa wall hanging.  I LOVE the reds!
Take a breathe now!  I also completed painting the hallway from Ecru to a crisp white.  Ahhh, me and my bright colors! LOVE!  I have yet to tackle Christmas baking....teachers gifts....wrapping....etc.

Take care and may you have a wonderful crisp day!

                                               

Things That Make Me Go...Hmmmmm

I've been busy working on a pair of fingerless gloves.  I made them out of extra sock yarn that I had laying around from when I first started knitting.  I've come a long way on my yarn buying skills.  Though I still make mistakes and tend to over think the buying process.  I also challenged myself with the picot edging.  Thank goodness for Youtube!  I am SUCH a visual gal I couldn't make any sense out of the written directions!  YEA for videos!  I like how they turned out, even worn them a couple of times!  That's saying a lot for me.  My sister, says that she is a process knitter, one who knits and then gives away..... I wonder if I am the same way?  I have very few items that I have knitted, two pair of socks...maybe.  The rest were given away for gifts.  Hmmmmmm, apple..tree... ring a ding ding.

The pattern is: Lace Gloves , (ref=sib_dp_pt ) One Sock Wonders

One thing that I have learned is that there is a HUGE difference in sock yarn. Texture, nylon, fiber!  Live and Learn!  I'm still learning, I don't think that EVER ends, nor do I want it to!

I didn't get too much done this week around the house.  I was at my daughter's school everyday.  WOW!  Then on Friday my little one was down with the flu.  Between taking care of her and other household duties I did manage to go through my stash of yarn and widdle down the 'extras' but still find it hard to take it to Goodwill!?  I keep thinking... I should hold onto that...... hmmmm

I did manage to start and ALMOST finish a Christmas gift.  I can't put it up yet.  I feel proud of myself because I DID use yarn from my 'stash'.  I still have more things to make!!

Finished hats for husband!

Happy Day to you and yours!

Fiber Fair Fun

The Saff Fair was in town. (SaffSite — Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair )  What fun it was to see and TOUCH everything my little heart desired!  I'm a knitter and am always looking for the next project.  It appears that spinning is the current trend.  I don't see myself going that way in the future but let me tell you, I was on sensory overload!  Talk about soft and luxurious! OH ME OH MY!  I can totally see why people love to spin when they get their hands on such wonderful fiber!

 I oogled all the felting project that artists really put their own spin on.  They were fabulous too!  I bought a felting kit of a fairy.  I'm not sure that I have the patience for it.  It seems slow going, but I am a newbie and I'm sure that I am missing the tricks.  I have to see if there is a class somewhere?

BEAUTIFUL!

I spied this beautiful shawl kit. It was such a popular item that I was placed on a list.  Sigh, have to wait 3 weeks, bummer.  I forgot who it was by but I will tell you all about it when I receive it!

All in all I had a fantastic time, stayed on budget, and had a great day out with my family.  Yes, my husband and daughter came along for the ride and the bunnies!

I hope you had a glorious week.  Oh, I finished painting the spare room too!  My daughter picked out the color!  She did a great job.  I will post pics soon as the sun is up and shining!

The start of something new.....