Spring Fever

Getting into to the groove of things after vacation is sometimes harder then it should be.  S is back at school and doing well.  She has a list of sight words that she is required to learn.  My child does not like flash cards so I made up a princess game for us to play.  She loves princesses so I am hoping that this game will be used everyday?!

Easter is on the way.  Every year I make S a knitted toy.  Last year it was a sheep.  I LOVE how each one has their own personality.  The sheep is on the picture of the headline.  This year I am attempting a bunny.  So far, I have knitted all the body parts and hopefully will stitch this bunny together soon.  The pattern is from raverly,  bunny.

This weekend in the South it WAS AMAZING!  In the 70's!  I have Spring Fever, I'm itching to plant things outside.  I researched raised garden beds.  I made two!!!  WAHOO!  I have to flip and put in front of the shed where they will add a source of much needed color.  S and I can't wait to plant!!!  I am going to add a watering system of some sort too because it is so H-O-T here!

Have a great week!!

A Vacation Break

We are just back from Disney World!  WOW!  It was Aaaaaamazing!  It was S and my first time there. What an adventure!  I want to go back some day!

Before the trip I sewed a bag. It was my first one I ever made,  I cursed a lot. I'm not sure that I will ever make another one but this was did serve it's purpose and it was an awesome bag nonetheless.  It is an Amy Butler pattern that my sister shared with me.  The only adjustment that I made was making the straps longer so it was more like a messenger style.  I put in FOUR zippers a snap, and a liner in this sucker!  WOW!  I was ready to be done with the project about half way through.  I found the directions challenging at times.  I read ahead, pinned and then reread before I sewed.  There are some mistakes, but I can live with those!

 Of course I had to have a knit project in the car.  I started striped pair of socks!  Two at a time, two different colors~ YES~ I have a web of yarn at times.  But now that I can knit two socks at a time, I have a REALLY hard time just knitting ONE!

 The socks are a lot farther now, I must take a picture!
I also swatched for my first (drum roll please) SWEATER!  WOWZA!  Yes, that is sock yarn you see, crazy I am for not using worsted weight for my first sweater......

The yarn is Madelintosh...love it. It is darker then I originally anticipated but the colors are what drew me to the yarn.  I am making "Ink" on raverly.

I must go...my daughter has come up with the idea of an Easter Egg Hunt at our house!  JOY!  I can't wait to start planning!  Ha!

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!