Sunday, September 18, 2011

Go Ahead….Make My Day!

When I went to visit my Mum today, her nurse asked me if I was her younger sister!!!!!  My Mum wasn’t even in the room, so it wasn’t said for her benefit.  There are days when I feel 89, but that comment bothered me more than I’d like to admit!  I’m going in tomorrow to ask for her resignation :-)

I forgot to show you a knitted beaded necklace I made.  I saw the pattern on Ravelry and thought I’d give it a go.  I’d never knit with beads before, so it was a learning experience.  It takes very little yarn and I thought it would be great for using up all the little bits of fingering weight sock yarn I always have left over.

Knitted Beaded Necklace 003

There are two sizes of beads in this one, but when I make another, I’ll just use one size (the bigger ones) to give it a bit more weight.

Every year I attend the Quilt Seminar at the Amherst Quilt Guild in Amherst, NY.  This year Sharon Schamber and Karla Alexander were the national teachers.  I took two of Sharon’s classes and I am happy to say I can now draw feathers!!!!!  I think I have bought every book on the market on feathers and I’ve taken more than a few classes.  We spent all day drawing on freezer paper and I now have the confidence to try them on Tillie.

Sharon Schamber's Class 003

Sharon Schamber's Class 005

Of course, drawing them on paper and stitching them out are two different things, so stay tuned!

As some of you may know, Sharon sees auras.  She read my aura and was right on the money.  I never really believed much in that stuff even though Leo is somewhat psychic – or is that pshycho – but I can’t deny everything she told me is true.

We also had the opportunity to see two of her Best of Show Quilts from Houston – Mystique and Spirit of Mother Earth.  She also shared with us that she just got a call on Tuesday night telling her that she has won another major award at Houston this year, but she won’t find out which one until the Show.

Karla gave a lecture and trunk show on Wednesday night and she was highly entertaining.  She told the story of her friend who had been burglarized.  When she came home from a night out with Karla, the police were going through her house with her husband listing all the damage but wouldn’t let her in.  All she could think of was her expensive sewing machine she had recently purchased and hoped it hadn’t been stolen.  When the police finally let her in, they told her everything that was missing but said, ‘wait until you see the mess they left in your sewing room’.  When she walked into her studio, she exclaimed with relief ‘oh, it’s exactly how I left it!!!!’. 

Finally, these pictures are for Rian, because she loves to see pictures of my baby, and I’m only too happy to oblige.

Scrap Quilt 004

Ben in Action

Here he is getting all ready for Halloween.

Mickey Ben

Sunday, September 11, 2011

It’s September Already?

I remember being told the older you get, the quicker time flies by and I must be ancient as I just don’t know where the time has gone.

I’ve been really busy, but I’m not sure what I’ve been busy doing.  I do have some things to show (finally).  I’ve been working on these socks all summer, and now that summer is almost over, they are finally finished.

Summer Socks 002

They have a bit of stretch to them – the yarn is called Lanna Grossa and it’s a cotton/wool/polyamide/elite blend.  I’m not sure if the stretch comes from the polyamide or the elite as I don’t have a clue what either one are.

After I finished these, I cast on this baby blanket.  I’m not sure who this is going to yet, but it’s nice to have a knitted blanket on hand for a gift or for donation.

Knitted Blanket 002

There is really only one row to the pattern but if you drop a stitch, it’s impossible to pick up and I wouldn’t like to admit to how many times I’ve had to take it back a couple of rows – all 208 stitches!!!

I got my Jelly Braid quilted and used my favourite stand-by, my Circle Lord Swirls.  If you click on the picture you might be able to see the quilting better.

Jelly Braid 001

I love the backing on this quilt.

Jelly Braid 003

I bought a bolt of this fabric ages ago and it’s almost all gone :-(

Finally, I made this little table runner and table topper.  I bought this fabric in Paducah and you get both out of one yard of fabric.

Tablerunner

It’s just stuck on my design wall as it still needs to be backed and quilted.

Next on the agenda is quilting my Mystery Quilt.  There is a reveal party in October and the way the last few weeks have flown by, October will be here before I know it.

I can’t believe I’m doing this, but a couple of friends and I are going to Lancaster at the end of the month.  I don’t need any more fabric, but I love the area and I’m mainly going for the fun of it, not to buy tons and tons of fabric.  (Remind me I said that when I come back.)

I’ve already been in touch with Suzan, The Reluctant Quilter who is lucky enough to live in the area and she has given me a list of not to be missed stores.  We’re hoping to meet up at one of these stores too.  I also found out there is a shop hop going on the weekend we’re there, so that should be fun.

I will not buy more fabric, I will not buy more fabric, I will not buy more fabric…………….