Sock from a my Blank

                            

I finished the sock blank yarn I dyed last month!

It was so interesting to be surprised to see what the colors did;  this could get very addictive! 

 Who would guess that this sock blank would give you the above sock! 

The legs varied a bit from one sock to the other;  they sort of spiralled which was a surprise but I just went with it to see what would happen.  Nice to be an adventurer with yarn! 

AND I have entered the sock yarn blanket craze.  The idea is to use all the leftover yarn to make these squares attaching one to the next until you have a blanket size!

(Thanks  to Dee for finally pushing me over the edge!)

I have enough partial balls that are too pretty to toss (though I did do that with a ton last year!)

which I could use for this blanket!

Thought to Product

I have seen these cross shoulder 'pockets' for your cell phone and minimum wallet essentials for shopping, etc.  I just can't bear to carry a purse any more so this is one of my ideas that I took off the drawing board and gave it a try.

It has the taller pocket for my wallet, a pocket without a zipper between the zippered ones.

The cell phone goes in the bottom pocket.  It is comfortable and convenient. 

The fabrics are from fat quarters I collected on the Shop Hop Millie and I went to a few weeks ago.

I can't wait to make another because I now have another idea to make this much easier and sleeker! 

When I have ten minutes, I whip off a pair of these blocks.

It is a great quick way to have almost instant gratification when  I put in a load of laundry, then another when I move it to the dryer and another when it's time to pull it out for folding!

This is one of the perks of having the washer/dryer in my Studio! 

Bill spotted this guy in my Porterweed Bush (Knotweed Bush is another common name).

He called me to come on out and see something and it would be worth the effort to get up to see it! 

I had to admit;  it was an unusual sight!

An indigo snake hanging out waiting to catch a lizard for lunch.

If you approach on when on the ground, they take off very quickly.

This guy just gave me the glare but didn't move so I was able to take a picture of him!

Yes, it was worth getting up to see this!

Mostly Down

I got knocked down by another UTI and so have been functioning from my bed!

I am most days used to the MS and balance my activities and limitations so that I do pretty well.

One more plate to balance just tips the whole show right over.

As if that wasn't enough, I woke up with conjunctivitis in both eyes so that did a number on my already blurry vision! 

I have a regular parade of visitors and I love it!

If someone is already on the bed, others wait their turn on the dresser, on the rug by my bed or on the floor by the sliding glass door. 

I have wanted to learn how to do the linen stitch since it resembles weaving.

I had a learning curve-see the bottom?  Yeah, not so good.

I found the rhythm on the upper portion but I found that a dishcloth would still require garter rows on the sides so that it wouldn't curl on the edges.

I ripped it out and made it right-it's nice when and idea is realized.

(While in bed, I 'think' a whole project done-I plan, execute, trouble-shoot and complete it.

Then tweak it.  It helps pass the time and gives me ideas to carry out in the future. 

I have had fun making a pile of dishcloths!

A group of us that read each other's blogs are taking part in a dishcloth swap.

It's been a good incentive to try new patterns. 

I received my dishcloth package of goodies ...it's so nice to get a package in the mail!

Thank you Kathy B!

In Time This Year!

While in the throes of August heat, we know Fall is right around the corner!

Millie, my neighbor, brought me this wall hanging she started last year which got sidetracked for some reason.

I will quilt it for her so she is hanging it up on her wall in time for this Autumn!

Saturday Sewing

Oh, it is good to be home and settle in for some sewing. 

These strips were from 'used' jelly rolls I bought at the bargain table at a quilt show I went to a few months ago.  I didn't have a clear plan for using them until today!

I saw this quilt as a free download from APQS called Square Peg in a Round Hole.

I reduced the size of the squares to 61/2" so I could use my Accuquilt to cut out the squares. 

You use the cut out circle to applique on the accent color solid square- 

Then you applique the background square to the second background solid color so the whole block is used.  *I did back each of the pieced blocks with fusible before they went through the Accuquilt. 

I think when I get a bunch more done, it will be fun to organize the blocks!

I like it when an idea works out the first time!

Oh ,yeah, I am going to have fun using up these bargain jelly roll strips I bought!

Blooms Galore!

Roses are very much in bloom at my Dad's.  He has a green thumb extraordinaire! 

Lots of them! 

And even though it is drought conditions here, my Dad carries his water out to them every day.

We have always enjoyed the gladiolas in his vegetable garden! 

The two little rains they have had while I've been here sure rescued several plants. 

Isn't this a great inspiration for some yarn!? 

He still grows his huge Dahlias, too.  I managed to catch a visitor on this one!

But see how the drought has drooped the petals? 

The Heliopsis is looking pretty good!  Dad says no matter how many times he separates and reduces or pulls up an area-they come back strong the next year!

Yes, he has green thumbs! 

Just beautiful! 

The drumsticks and the mums keep each other company! 

Isn't this just amazing?  What a beautiful way to be greeted coming and going!

A little bit of knitting is going on between things....I tried to teach this one to my Mom.

She didn't enjoy it one bit and decided that at her age, she doesn't have to waste time on new if she doesn't want to!  lol  I always offer new things and sometimes I hit a homerun and sometimes, like this one, it's a strike out!

Essence of Family

I am enjoying the leisure of this visit;  sitting and talking, telling stories, having my nieces pop in between their comings and goings, my sister and husband coming for card games and laughing together.   Lots of laughing and just being in the same space with gladness.

 This is Layla;  another kind of family member!  She backs up to the couch and then sits down like anyone else!  It is too funny.  Watch out for her tail-it is like a whip;  ask me how I know! 

We shared a big family meal with lots of fresh produce;  salt potatoes, corn on the cob and green beans....it was a feast! 

I have been busy knitting;  it is just an under the radar project for a designer.

I completed the pair and have just these few threads to tame to call them done! 

There are enough ends to stuff a little pin cushion! 

Nice to have these completed and off the needles.

I have the yarn all ready to start the next pair!

There's nothing like sock knitting, is there?!

Lake Ontario Visit!

We left my parents to go to visit my cousins north of here in Oswego. 

We were like siblings growing up and so it is nice to connect and catch up each year.

(that's my dad in the middle, I said I would get a pic of him eventually!) 

The water was so pretty and varied.  A good wind kept us cooled off from this heat wave. 

And prevented us from skipping rocks! 

After our visit at the fish fry place, we went a bit down the shoreline to a place where I used to take the kids but especially my youngest when he was the only one home.  The waves were rolling right over the flat rocks when on a calm day, you can sun bathe and picnic there! 

To the right of the flat rocks is this path we would take to go behind the power plant to the pier made of slabs of stone and it is jumbled in places so you had to channel your inner mountain goat to navigate some places!  I would carry my knitting and a lawn chair and Caleb his fishing gear and we would while away the hours in companionable bliss. 

It made a good back drop for pictures today!

My parents. 

Way in the background is the Oswego Port lighthouse.

It is off limits technically....but a good hike out there is sometimes too great to resist!

Today, we resisted! 

Me and my baby sis! 

My special choice rocks to bring home-there just aren't rocks like this in Florida!

Plans

Mom had bought a kit to make these plastic canvas card holders and saved them to work on while I am here.  We managed to finish both our halves and stitch them together and they work!

(I won't mention that I got mine done before her!)

We have several more to make but this was all we could get done before we had to start this other project!

We cut out enough squares for the front and back of a lap sized rag quilt.

We are doing the back squares all in the dark green and all the lighter colored ones for the front where all the ragged edges will fringe.

We sewed two blocks together and left notes on the pile of squares so Mom can work on it after I go-she likes projects to do but gets bogged down on the 'where do I begin' steps!

I am a great enabler!

We managed to collect all the goods for this from her stash!

Just a Change of Scenery...

Bill drove me to the airport in Daytona Beach very early this morning so I could fly up for a week with my parents in Ny!

The bonus was I arrived in time for a birthday party for my baby sister! 

I was able to get hugs from my nieces, too!

We can behave but mostly it rolls like this...... 

I am the oldest so they have to mind.  Really.

My brother and sister in law ride in style!

(Dad was hiding but I will get him before I leave!)