A DAY IN DECEMBER

I sewed the last two flannel 'frames' of the NICU blankets

 and pinned the layers together before I had to quit for the day...

I blocked the latest 'snowflake' and this one is denser and larger.

  I think I like the more delicate ones better.

The reason for the partial day at home--a grandson's birthday!

 

FROM UFO TO FO--ALMOST!

 All of the pieces completed and organized; 

 now to sew them together and call it done!

READY TO WEAR!

The Farrago Crochet Shawl is off the hook and ready to comfort my shoulders!

I used up both cakes of Mandala yarn for a shawl that worked out to 80" wide and 40" long at the center back.  This yarn is a DK weight acrylic yarn which is very soft and a delight to work with! 

 

CONTENTED CROCHET

The shawl is growing beautifully; 

 I am going to keep going until both cakes

 of the Lion Brand Mandala DK has been used. 

 I will have a shawl to wrap up comfortably within 

when I am finished!

 

ONLY ONE MORE TO GO

 Yes, well sometimes done is just that-I pieced this one twice because I goofed on the placement of the middle pieces and didn't have a star when I was done the first time!  Did I mention that this has not been the most fun to work on these small blocks with so many pieces!  And the pattern makes it worse by having me piece too many extra small pieces! lol  Only one more to go and I can stitch them all in a wall hanging and savor the accomplishment!

STUDIO WORK

I made another NICU incubator quilt yesterday; 

 first I sew the flannel into a 'frame' for the top fabric.

Then I tuck the top piece of cotton into the 'frame'.

I use a ton of pins so that the fabric won't scoot--it's easier to handle a bit of gathering between two pins just 4" apart than trying to sew from corner to corner with all of the layers!  I used a decorative stitch to anchor the flannel in place.

The last step is to draw and stitch several seams

 to hold the layers together.

I finished the one-

but have these cut out and waiting for me!!!!

I also finished my daily 4 1/2" block!

 

A BIT OF YARN

I just began this pair of socks and they are zooming along--the gradation of the blues just lead me along!

I also had the urge to begin this shawl;  the pattern is easily memorized and it is so rhythmic--the twist of the hook 

and a soft yarn in the fingers is very calming. 

 In fact, it is a big part of how I define relaxation!

 

ADDING TO THE SNOW PILE!

I remembered I had this stiffener somewhere-with just a bit of digging I located it and it worked beautifully on the first flakes.

I have some more, this time in white, to stiffen

 and these I will be sharing!

I have been keeping up with making one a day--I only have two more to make and then I will be putting them together for a wall hanging!

 

FINISHING ANOTHER OLD PROJECT!

I began this banner several years ago and yesterday was the day to finish it!  As usual, there was very little to do and in a few hours,  it was up on the wall!

 

SNOWFLAKES!

 

I found these instructions in an old Magic Crochet magazine.

  I starched them but they need the old way-

using sugar water to make them stiff!  

MORE RED AND WHITE!

Blocks 18 and 19 are finished and I have the pieces cut out for today so I can sew them together later.

I have several large plants that are in bloom like this!  They are such a joyous riot of color!

 

SOCKS ON SUNDAY

We attended a funeral yesterday; since it was an hour away, I managed to get a lot of knitting done on the second sock! 

 I'm pretty sure I will be finishing it up this afternoon 

when we are home from church!

 

ADVENT PROJECTS!

I signed up with MarlyBird.com for her 24 days of Quickie projects.  I wouldn't call this pattern quickie

 but I did manage to get it done in one day!

I added his little blip of a tail just because. 

 I put a little rattle in his head--there are some young ones at church who would enjoy this guy!

 

DECEMBER DELIGHTS

The poinsettias are right on time!  These plants stand about 4' tall--we've had them for years!

The baby sweater crocheted in Granny Stitch is done and I even made a Granny Stitch beret to match!

I can't wait to gift it to the new baby.  This is the 3-6 month size so it will fit all winter here.

 

PULLING OUT A BURIED OBJECT!

So I pulled out this Christmas mini quilt that I started several years ago and figured out that I made the first 16 blocks (arranged like an advent calendar) and then quit.  The pattern and fabric were still there with the blocks  so I decided to give it a finish!

There are still as many pieces to cut as in a full sized quilt

 but they are just small and fiddly. 

 I got the pieces cut out and then stitched them together.  

 

Not so happy with the results.  I remember why I put it away.  That 1/4" seam allowance which looks so small on a 6" block is really big on a 1" square!  I might try it again today but no guarantees!

 

FINDING COLOR

A friend has just delivered a new baby girl and I wanted to gift her a sweater and hat.  I want a beret for the hat and I haven't found one yet, but I will!    (it's from MJ's off the hook blog)

Every morning there are new camillias on the bushes!

There is just one bush that is behind the others but it is always the last one!

This bush has several shades of red, red/white and red/pink.  This one is my favorite, though~

The robins are here!  We usually see them by Dec 1 so they are a few days early!  This cold snap has blown down the whole east coast so it convinced the birds to head south!  But even here we have a freeze warning!  So unwelcome around my yard! lol

 

JUST DO IT!

I was losing the race on floor space in our closet; 

 I needed a place for all of the projects in the works. 

I knew that I would have to haul a lot of stuff out of the closet

 to accomplish this!  

But look how much better this is! 

 Because I wanted the clothes basket under the shelf, I had to rearrange the unit a bit.  That meant that I had to make some more spacers to put the bottom shelf on top!

It's a good thing I know how to make them on the lathe!  I spray- painted them white and they look like the originals! 

 It's nice to have things organized after you get over dreading the job!

FRATERNAL TWINS

I managed to make two tops  40 x 48")

from the 3 yards of batiks I was gifted.

The one on the left has to be sewn together but it is mostly done!

It's been a long time since I've worked in the studio!

I've finally gotten some stamina back

 and with the right meds, I am able to think again!

You don't appreciate what you have until you lose it!

 

A SWEATER ON SUNDAY

The cropped cardigan is finished but not blocked yet!  

        When the last of the family left and we all took naps!  
 

SHARING CREATIVITY

                             We enjoyed some paint-pouring time together!

              I like this medium more every time I do it! 

               (Matthew's on the left, mine on the right)

We sure made a mess but it was worth it so see these results!

(the boys' work)