Top This!

 I quilted this for my neighbor-her first attempt at set in blocks.

 This is hers, too, a table runner with scraps. 

 Mom helped me load my quilt top on the frame. 

 I picked a paisley pantograph for both of our quilts. 

 We moved on to piecing some quilt tops for the QuiltsforKids charity.  I had cut out these pieces from my stash; it is nice to have fabric in a quilt instead of in a pile in the closet!

 I made this one and then had time to piece one more,

... another pink one!  We cut out the backings to match and have them all piled and waiting for this quilter to get going!

On my needles, the Shetlander pattern for fingerless gloves.  It is not a fast knit but it is turning out pretty so it's an okay knit for a change!  (I am on clue three for the mystery shawl-it is slowing down as the shawl grows but it is a good knit!)

Ocean Shore

 We took our Daytona trip today!  It was sunny and warm and just right for a walk on the beach until we got there and the clouds rolled in and the rain fell!  We did take a long drive and enjoyed seeing the waves!

 The birds were very busy but not too many people ventured out!  We filled out list at JoAnns, had a wonderful lunch at IHOP and as always had a perfect time together!

 I wore the new pair of socks to the ocean today!  KnitPicks stroll knits up beautifully!

 I put a new project on the needles today........this will be Shetlander fingerless mitts from the latest issue of Knitty.com . It was supposed to be my knitting project for the car ride today but I didin't realize I needed to print off the chart which wasn't included in the main instructions so I didin't get very far with the knitting on our trip!  I am using some fingering weight yarn from KnitPicks palette collection on #5 needles..

The second clue is done for the the mystery shawl-it is still on a short cable, which I will keep as long as I can so I don't have to pull stitches around a long one!  It measures about 24" across now without stretching.

Bill placed some cedar branches in the pool area for the cats!  They run every time I try to get a pic of them-they think they will get yelled at for climbing it! 

Highlights of the Week

 One sock done, moving right along on the second one.  This is a pattern by Wendy Johnson in her book, Socks from the Toe Up.

 The experiment quilt is off the frame, now I need to find some fabric for binding.  I used no batting for this, just the fleece for the backing.  It is a tactile delight.  I might use some satin for binding to keep with the theme.

 It took no time at all to quilt the little mystery quilt, Diminutive Vessels , that Marsel and I did on New Year's day.   

 I used a variegated thread by YLI and a meander pattern for the quilting.  The binding is finished and I even sewed the label on the back with the pertinent info!

 Mom and I got to thinking that the quilt tops we made on Monday needed a boost.  We added some narrow binding from my stash and used the fabric in the kit for the backing as wide borders instead.  Now it looks like a finished top.  That list for JoAnns just keeps on growing............!

 The cardinals sit in the little palm tree and look like camelia blooms.........we so enjoy the birds!

This shawl has gone from the naughty bucket to the frog pond.  I now have two nice balls of yarn for another shawl.  The count just couldn't line up, match up OR behave so I will use the yarn for a different project!

Let the Games Begin.......

 The guys went right outside to work on yard clean up.  There were several downed branches and some dead trees that needed removing.  Just their kind of work.

 Mom and I set up for a sewing day!  We had a couple of quilt kits that needed conquering.

 This top is mine. (64" x 48")

This one is Mom's.  I will be quilting these as soon as we go to JoAnns and get some batting!  (And as soon as I get going on the one on the frame now and the quilt Marsel and I made on NewYear's....!)

 I dyed this bit of roving from KnitPicks, superwash wool, so I can ply it with the Distaff Day spinnning.

 This is all spun and I am going to try the new roving done in subtle pink tones to ply it with this.  A little different than I usually do which is always ply the same colorway with itself so I am looking forward to how this works together.  I am anticipating the longer color repeats working up nicely for a pair of socks.

A new knitting project is on the needles; this is a mystery pi shawl, clue one completed for the week!

Fiber Club

I have enrolled in a new adventure for this year, TheFiberBinderClub.  Each month I receive a fact sheet for a particular breed of sheep or  fiber which includes the fiber raw, washed and an ounce to spin for sampling.  There are also links for buying additional fiber, if I so desire. 

This is going to be a great way to record info on sheep and learn about the different breeds!  I will look forward to sharing this each month!
(For info or questions, dyedinthewoolbiz@yahoo.com)

Distaff Day

Today is Distaff Day, celebrated as the first day of so I invited two spinning/knitting friends over for fiber company!  We worked on thrummed wrist warmers, socks and spinning, of course!

Here is the superwash roving from yesterday on the bobbin.  Great way to spend a day!

Dad and Mom arrived late this afternoon, they escaped the latest snowstorm of the northeast and enjoyed the mild 60's as they unpacked the van here!  Looking forward to a great winter visit!

Preparation Day

 Bill picked up our equipment for the fireplace! 

 I got to peek in at the firebox........

 .....but the rest looks like this!  Kind of hard to see what's what but it's here!

 I got some superwash roving dyed.

 And dried and ready for some spinning tomorrow when some friends come over.

 A new pair of socks are on the needles.

 Another garterlac dishcloth is off the needles and ready to go to Mom and Dad's-here in Florida as they arrive tomorrow!  Their phone is on, the windows and doors unboarded and the  heat is on-come on, Mom and Dad!

Bling, who is usually camera shy, has helped me post this.......what a teddy bear!

Trip to Georgia in Review!

First, I finished the socks for Marsel; against all odds.........here you can see that I had to rip out some from the first finished sock to be able to knit the second.  I did perservere and she got to wear them!

Abigail loved her flannel nightie and the one for her new doll, Samantha, too.  She was so snuggly in her nightie-Abigail, I mean!

David put on his new Gator fan socks.........I love to make things for the kids!

Their cat, Mindy, kept us entertained and on our toes........she was determined to steal my knitting at every opportunity!

Marsel and I worked on a New Year's Day mystery quilt.........getting a different clue every hour throughout the day was a ton of fun.  The guys were playing Caleb's Kinect and watching football and did want to eat occasionally but we had a wonderful time together sewing this-a new tradition is born!  (I have brought the quilt to my house to put it on the quilting frame-you will see it again soon!)

Sunday was a bit chaotic in the morning, Matthew needed to get his stitches removed-big sister to the rescue!

We did manage to get a quick shot of all of us.........since Bill and I arrived sick , then Matthew and Caleb came and got sick, too-we mostly stayed in the pj mode of dress so no one wanted to be in any photos, but just before Bruce, Marsel, David and Bill left for church and Matthew and Caleb left to go home ....we tried to capture the moment.

This is where Abigail spent most of the day.........and I with her, books and snuggles.

Monday, Bill worked on and fixed Marsel's washing machine.  He has learned a LOT about the innards of a washer!  (He was thrilled to pose for this pic-the things you have to do because your wife blogs....!)

Marsel and I did get to sew together and make her a new pair of pajamas......using a pattern that I have used to make pjs for her for years!

I cast on a pair of socks for me as I was gifted two new skeins that were just eager to hit the needles..........

And finished them on the trip home........Nyki had to rub them and get the Mindy smell off of them!

 It is good to be home because the visit was such a full and wonderful one!
Welcome to 2011; My love to you , family!