Another New Year is Here!

Welcome 2015!  I started this entry on New Year's Eve and as with many other attempted entries, I did not follow through with posting it.  So here goes....

Here it is, the end of another year.   A lot has happened in my life since I last wrote a blog entry. I miss blogging if only because it's a nice way for me to keep up with my life.  
Summary of my past 23 months:

• Grand baby #5 was born in June 2013 and I was present. Another sweet grand daughter. 
• I lost my dad July 5, 2013 and had to move mom to a nursing home. 
• March 2014, I flew out to Seattle and drove back across country with middle DD and her family. They are stationed home in VA for a while. I saw Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and states I may never have the opportunity to visit again. 
• Baby DD graduated from high school in June and started college in August. Thankfully she is only an hour from home. 
• Hubby and I celebrated our 30th anniversary! We went to Vegas and had a fabulous time! 
• I have accomplished very little in the way of cross stitch.....I just can't see it anymore. 
• I've made great improvements in my knitting skills. 
• I've enjoyed making pillow cases and quilts for baby girl and the grands. 

There have been many other events and accomplishments in my life but those are a few of the highlights.  2014 was a year of crossing off several things on my bucket list!  Grand Canyon, Vegas (twice), and one that I am really proud of...knitted socks!!

They are incredibly flawed and a little loose but they are socks and I knitted them!  The yarn is Opal Smile.  The pattern is just a simple vanilla sock.

I wanted to knit a pair for each of my daughters for Christmas but that was biting off a bit much.  Instead they each received a single sock with an IOU for it's mate.  lol 

Sock one is for my middle daughter, sock two is for my oldest daughter, and sock three (which was officially finished in January) is for my youngest daughter.  Now to knit their mates!

That's all for this post.  Happy 2015 y'all!

2012 in Review

Happy New Year!  One thing I did not accomplish in 2012 is keeping this blog updated.  As a matter of fact, I started this post on New Year's eve and you see it's just now hitting blog land!  It's a good thing I don't have hundreds of followers anxiously awaiting my next post.  As modern technology improves, I sometimes start to feel left behind.  Like what the heck is a hashtag and why do you need it?  I try too keep up but I do not stay on the cutting edge.  I'm somewhere near the caboose.  I just got a smartphone for Christmas and the darn thing is too smart for me!  I think I have discovered a few cool new things that will help me with my blogging.  Hopefully I will do better this year!  On to my accomplishments, and not in order of completion.......... 

Pillowcases!  I love making these things.  They are instant sewing gratification!

Owls on the left for my youngest grandaughter, middle flowers for my niece to match her quilt, and Spiderman for my youngest daughter!  I make them using the "sausage" method.  An excellent YouTube tutorial can be found  here.

 

A bird themed quilt for my first great niece.

And scarves.....lots of scarves!!!!  I offered to make a couple of scarves for a lady at my church to use for an Alzheimer's fundraiser.  I said "a couple".  She heard "make scarves for a fundraiser".  I ended up making around 20 scarves!  I did have helpers who knitted 5 or 6 for me and it was for a good cause.  This is in addition to the scarves I made for family and friends. 

They are so easy to knit.  Honestly, you do not even need to know how to knit to make them!

I went a little hog wild and have tons of skeins of this stuff!

I don't know what possessed me to buy this yarn in every color available!

Sashay Mambo

Starbella NightClouds

My first attempt at knitting ripples.  The yarn is Acacia Yarns Sweet Dreams baby yarn, colorway 037.  I purchased it online from The Yarn and Fiber Company.  I fondled this yarn at the Mid-Atlantic quilt show in Feb. so I knew I would like it.  I need to finish it for grandbaby #5.  She is due in June!

Bolero sweater for youngest grandaughter who was not in the mood to model!

This was an easy knit for a beginner although I struggled a little because I am dysfunctional in the concentration dept.  The yarn I used is Filatura Di Crosa Zara. It's a merino, so soft and yummy! the pattern can be found in Spring 2012 Creative Knitting Make it this Weekend.





 

Ok, guess that's it.  The majority of it anyway! 

 



In 2012 I discovered the following things:
Guacamole
Toms
The Walking Dead
My Fitness Pal
Picasa

2012 went by and I did not complete a single cross stitch!!  In the first week of this month, I did put 10-20 stitches in Red House Sampler to test out my birthday gift to myself, an OTT Lite with the little magnifying glass attachment.  I like it and it helps a lot but I have trouble with it because my sofa has over sized arms.  No worries, I'm on the hunt for new living room furniture anyway!
No promises, goals, or resolutions!  I have lots of ideas for 2013 but since you never know what life is going to throw at you, I don't plan too far ahead!  That's all for now!  Thanks for visiting!

Alive and Well in Hot & Humid Virginia

Knitting News:
I have been attempting to knitting for 17 months now.  All I can say about that is.....time and patience!!  Both of which I lack, however, I have to admit that a lot is learned from screwing up!  It's easy stuff, I just do not pay proper attention to what I am doing. period.  That said, here is what I have accomplished:

This is Kiley's sweater.   It's called Bolero and the pattern can be found in Creative Knitting Make it this Weekend. 
 

 Although Kiley appears to be unhappy with her new sweater, she was just sleepy and not thrilled that MeMe was trying to take her picture.  Not to mention it doesn't match her outfit.  The yarn I used is Filatura Di Crosa Zara. It's a merino, so soft and yummy! This was my first project that required blocking.

I'm addicted to making these scarves with Starbella yarn (Nightclouds above) and Sashay yarn (Mambo below),   I have at least 10 skeins of this stuff in my yarn stash and I keep buying more!

Quilting News in next post.  I hope you are having a wonderful summer and somehow staying cool!



A Round TUIT

I always struggle with how to begin a new post after not posting for an extended period of time. Should I just dive back in as if my last post was yesterday? Should I try to explain “where I’ve been”? Apologize for being a “bad blogger”? Merely say “I’m back!” I’ve even used the famous “Wow! I can’t believe it’s been two months since I last posted!” I know I’m not alone in “neglecting my blog”. Even when I’m not posting, I’m keeping up with the blogs I follow. I see many types of bloggers. There are those who post daily, those who post weekly, and those who post a few times per month. They are Bloggers. They post with some kind of regularity. Then there are those who post randomly. Like me. I am a random blogger. It's simple...when I get a round to it, I post.

Yarn News – This month marks one year since I started to knit. My progress has been fair. I have made two baby afghans, two baby hats, and several dishcloths. I’ve attempted socks and after a month of not being able to “turn the heel”, I put sock knitting on the back burner. I will revisit sock knitting in the future. I haven’t crocheted anything since I picked up knitting. The Prayer Shawl group I started at my church is still going strong. We have given around 15 knit and crocheted shawls or lapghans to parishioners and friends.

Fabric News – I finished the quilt for my niece and gave it to her on Thanksgiving day. This was the first quilt I completely finished with machine quilting and hand sewn binding. The last quilt I finished was for my granddaughter. It was envelope style (no binding) and quilted with ties. My first two pieced quilts (pictured on my blog header) are still waiting for binding. Sometimes I just have to ask myself… “Woman! What are you waiting for??”

In some things, I am lazy. In others, I am damn lazy! LOL It’s the truth!

I made an Autumn candle mat and Christmas table runner for my daughter. I also began making seasonal candle mats for my oldest two daughters. They were going to be Christmas gifts but now they will just be random gifts. I’ve also made several crochet hook keepers. I love to make these. They are so fun and easy!

Thread News – Not much stitching going on here. I’d lost my stitching mojo. I blame this partly on knitting and sewing, but mostly blame it on my eyes! I am in mourning over the loss of my wonderful, perfect eyesight. I find it deeply depressing that I can no longer see my needle work without the aid of glasses! However, I sat down Sunday evening to watch the Super Bowl and I pulled out my stitching. DH said Wow, you haven’t done that in a while!  After only 30 minutes of stitching, I realized how much I LOVE to stitch and how much I have missed it! I do not love knitting this much! I think I have my mojo back!! Albeit I have to use the dang readers, but the desire is back. Knitting is something I can do on my lunch break at work. Hello stitching, I’m back!

To beat the proverbial dead horse I must say……. too many hobbies, not enough time!!

I planned to have more photos in this post, but my camera battery is dead.  It figures!  If I wait to post until I charge the battery, well you know......this post won't get posted and two more months will go by.
Thanks for visiting!  I hope you will leave a comment to let me know you were here.
'Til next time..................

Happy Fall Y'all!

I can't believe it's already the last week of October!  I have not even bought a pumpkin yet!  Now it's time to start thinking about Christmas shopping!!  Only two months until the big day!
I have been working on my Red House Sampler.  I really must finish it this year.  I want to start something new!

Red House Sampler started Dec. 30, 2009

I managed to get a little sewing accomplished this weekend.  I worked on a quilt for my niece which is long overdue to her. I've had the fabric since February.  Tonight I finished the quilt top.  I hope to complete it this weekend.  I have enough fabric leftover to make a matching quilt for her Bitty Baby.  I sure wish I would have made this sooner so her Mom could have seen it.  I'm such a procrastinator!!

My niece loves ladybugs and flowers

Last but far from least........the picture you are really here to see!  :)  

Baby Matthew - Oct. 19, 2011 -  9 lb. 10.5 oz.  22.5 in.

We are so happy to welcome baby Matthew in our family.  He is such a sweet baby.  I now have two grandsons and two granddaughters!  I thank God for these wonderful blessings!  I am truly amazed at how quickly time is flying by!  Two of my three daughters are grown, married, and each have two children of their own.  Wow!
Thanks so much for your comments and emails regarding my SIL.  She was truly an amazing person!
Thanks for visiting!  Have a great week!

Autumn

Greetings!  I am so happy to welcome the arrival of fall!  It is my favorite time of the year.  This has been a year filled with joy and sorrow.  In March I was able to go to Olympia, WA for the birth of my granddaughter, my 3rd grandchild.  Also in March, I was informed by my oldest DD that my 4th grand child will be arriving in October.  It's October now, come on baby!  We had a fun summer filled with a lot of family time.  My mother, while no better, is also no worse.  Joy!  The sorrow arrived on Labor Day.  My brother's wife was killed in a car accident.  My 4 yo niece miraculously survived with no major injuries.  She and her two brothers must now grow up in a world without their beautiful, wonderful, extraordinary mother.  A tribute to Elizabeth was written in our local paper Virginian Pilot.  She was more than a sister in law to me, she was my dear friend.  We met in high school and she and my brother have been together since 1987.  I've mentioned her before on this blog two years ago (here) and when she brought me stitchy gifts from Paris. 


I have not touched my stitching in many, many months.  I'm sad to say that I am falling victim to old age loss of eyesight.  I have bought readers.    I am close to the end of Red House Sampler, on the border now.  It will be dedicated to my sister in law.


Some sewing has been accomplished:

Candle Mats

Tiny Treat Bag

My adventure in knitting has had highs and lows. 

Hat for baby Matthew - knitted in the round using the Magic Loop method.  Yarn is Merino 5 from Crystal Palace Yarns. Colorway is 2302.  Pattern was free with yarn purchase.

Magic Loop Baby Socks - Pattern purchased on Ravelry. Yarn is Bernat Baby.  I tried these in the Merino 5 but I kept ripping and restarting so I thought I should practice before trying again with the good stuff.

I also knitted another baby afghan which I gave to my cousin in law as a shower gift (forgot to snap a pic).  I have been struggling with this knitting thing!  Seems I lack concentration skills, must be the ADD.  My husband says I have too many things going on and it's true....I do love to multi-task!


In August, my laptop suddenly would not turn on.  This was devastating because I am totally addicted to blogs, Facebook, Ravelry, etc.   had not backed up my photos in a long time.  I had lost all of 2011 and most of 2010.  Even if I were able to run out and replace the thing, I could not replace all of my lost photos.  A tech guy at work told me to bring him the hard drive and he would try to get the pictures for me.  My DD told me to take out the hard drive and put it back in.  I took out the hard drive and that was all that had been done for almost 8 weeks.  I put it back together Monday to take it to the "big box electronic store" to see if they could salvage my photos.  For the heck of it, I decided to try to turn it on and guess what?  "Shut Up!" you say?  I'm not kidding, it came on and has worked fine since.  I'm told maybe it overheated when I was using it under a blanket so I wouldn't disturb my sleeping hubby?  Who knows, but it works and Yes, I have backed up the photos!
August also brought us a visit from "Irene".

We lost one tree, tons of limbs, and power for 3 days!  It could have been much worse!

Oh and another joy I almost forgot to mention.....I have a new job!!  I left the Dept. of Corrections to ride down the road of the Dept. of Transportation. I am so happy at my new job! Less gas, less stress, less work, less drama, and more money!!  Does it get any better than that?
I will leave you with this family photo taken in July while my DD and her children were here for the entire month!  After all, family is the most important part of our lives.  Cherish them!

I love my family!!

Hello from the West Coast!

I am currently in the state of Washington.  A LONG way from Virginia and I have not posted in forever!!!  What have I been up to??  Besides the usual "this time of year" paperwork, I have been readying my life for a two week trip to visit my daughter, K, in Olympia, WA.  Her second child, my third grandbaby, was due on March 26 and my plan was to arrive here on the 23rd.  While working, planning, and waiting, I have been sewing and stitching fervently for my new granddaughter.  Since my last post, I have learned to knit!  The last thing I need in my life is another hobby, but since it's yarn related I'd say it doesn't really count as a new hobby.  K is a crochet queen so I had to make something for the new baby that was different than what she could make herself.  I still need a lot of practice, but here is the finished blanket:

I can't wait to make another one.  I have several opportunities this year including another grandbaby.  My daughter, H, is expecting her second child in October.
K is not very fond of traditional quilts.  She does not find them warm and snuggly.  Last month, I attended the Mid-Atlantic quilt show in Hampton, Va and I found an idea for the perfect quilt for her:

I used flannel for the quilt top and did a tossed up nine patch.  It was fairly easy.  I used a minkee like fabric for the back, no batting, and I tied the top to the bottom.  K loved it!!  I knew she would! 

I brought so many things here for her, for my grandson, and for the baby.  Some from me, some from her sister, some things she had left at my house.  I have plenty of room in my baggage for the trip home.  We're going to find a quilt shop or two, cross stitch store, yarn store...for me to check out while I am here.  If you know of any I should check out in the Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle area, please comment!!  I'll be here until April 4.  I arrived late on the 23rd.  On the 24th after my K's doctor appointment, we ventured to downtown Seattle so I could see the Space Needle and we could try to walk K into labor. 

We walked.......

and walked......................

and walked.......

and the very next day at 2:45 pm..........

Kiley Olivia arrived!!!  Thanks for visiting!!!!

TUSAL #1

Hi Everyone~
Today is the first new moon of 2011 which means it's time for my first Totally Useless Stitch A Long post.  The TUSAL is hosted by Daffycat.  I'm so glad I discovered Daffycat and this stitch a long.  This is a stitch a long that I can actually keep up with!

It's not too late to join in the fun.  Just visit Daffycat's blog to sign up...but don't wait too long, sign ups will end soon.  All you have to do is fill your ort jar and post a pic of it on your blog on new moon dates.  I have the dates posted on the sidebar of this blog.  I have not found the perfect ort jar yet but in the spirit of creativity, I photographed my ort jar with my skiing penguin to represent January.  So, I 'm not super creative but sometimes I try, lol!
In an effort to "meet" more people and find new blogs to follow, I plan to visit all the bloggers who leave a comment on Daffycat's new moon posts AND leave a comment!  Now that is going to be a challenge!  So if you are here because of that, thanks for stopping by!  Please leave a comment and let me know you were here! Happy Stitching!

Year End Summary

One year ago I posted my goals for 2010 on the sidebar of this blog.  How did I do?
1)My Cross Stitch goals were: Red House Sampler and Christmas ornaments.  I did not finish RHS but here is a pic of where I am on it.  Sorry for the poor quality of the photo!

I had hoped to finish this in 2010 but other projects distracted me.  I at least wanted to finish everything but the border before I go back to work on Monday but that's not going to happen.  I did not stitch any Christmas ornaments but I did stitch one Blackbird Designs Halloween stocking.

Unfortunately the haunted house bit the dust. It was accidentally knocked off the mantle.

2)My Quilting goals were:  Finish Washtub Scrappy....This project was my very first attempt at a quilt.  It has been quilted but needs to be binded.  I am waiting for a binding lesson from my daughter, Heather.

Denim Quilt for grandson.....easy and finished the same day it was started.

Quilts for Hubby or youngest daughter.....not accomplished.  DD says she doesn't want one but she'll get one eventually despite herself! lol  I made another quilt top.  It too has been quilted but needs binding.

I made a Christmas table runner top.  I'll have to plan to quilt and bind it in the coming year.

I

 I also made several tote bags, treat bags, pillowcases, and 12 quilt squares for my Underground Railroad Sampler quilt.

3)My Crochet goals were:  Black and gray scarf for youngest daughter...done!

 Baby afghan for a coworker.....done!

I wanted to make baby doll afghans for my granddaughter and my niece but I didn't.
I did finish this afghan which was started in 2009 as a "take-a-long" project.  I worked on it this summer while driving to, from, and around PA.  It was so close to being finished that I continued with it until it was done.  I love this stitch pattern.  This fall I found some green yarn on clearance and bought it to make another.  It will become my 2011 "take-a-long" project.

4)My Scrapbooking goals were:  Finish 2009 family album, finish family Christmas album, finish grandson's first year album, and finish granddaughter's first year album.  Despite a day crop and two weekend crops, I did not meet any of these goals.  The only time I really devoted to scrapbooking this year was at the crops I attended.
I guess I got a lot accomplished this year.  I'm working on posting my 2011 goals to my sidebar. Like I always say.....so many hobbies, so little time! I am ringing in the new year as I always do....watching the Twilight Zone marathon on the SyFy channel, with one exception this year.  We are going down the road to Heather's house to ring in the new year. The last time I left home on NYE was to ring in 2000!  Not as much stitching going on this year end but something better!  I am so thankful to bring in the new year with all of my family together.  Happy New Year!  I wish you health and happiness, and lots of time for your hobbies!
Ciao!