Is there any knitting goin on?

It was my intention to make this a blog about knitting. I don't think I have posted once about knitting! While I do knit almost every single day, I seem to be engaged in a delightful obsession with fabric at the moment. I am very new to quilting. I have just started my very first on line quilt a long, over at Old Red Barn Co and I am having a great time. I am very far behind but will hopefully catch up this week. Dana is giving us very detailed, photo filled instructions, so I am learning tons. I never fully realized the importance of pinning-I used to always skip that part! Not anymore. Pins are my friends. They make a world of difference when trying to line up squares. I have found so much inspiration on line. There are so many wonderful blogs, and tutorials out there. My main problem now is to find time to make all of these wonderful quilts.

I am almost finished with the top of a quilt kit I purchased over at Bits and Bobs by Amy Smart's Etsy shop. The quilt has some fantastic fabrics, and Amy so nicely cut the squares, and numbered the rows, so it was a breeze to put together. My other project was taken from Film in the Fridge. I fell madly in love with her Wonderland baby quilt. I ordered the charm packs from Pink Chalk Fabric. As soon as they arrived I went right to work. I am so happy with how this turned out. I took particular care in matching up my squares.

Quilt Along

I can't believe that the last time I posted on this blog it was snowing outside. CRAZY! Well here it is June and I have joined the Old Red Barn Co. quilt along. It is a total of 6 weeks, and they are on week 3. Since I just joined today I am a bit behind. I purchased my fabric and cut it into 2.5 inch strips. I have also started sewing my strips together, 6 at a time. This is going to take a long time. I have chosen blues, greens, and yellows. I am very excited about this!

Snow Snow and more Snow

I could not pass these flowers by when I saw them in the store. Everything is so white here. We had about 10 inches of snow on Sun/Mon. I thought we were done, or I should say that I wished we were done. I have been perusing the seed catalogs, dreaming of the backyard being covered in pinks, reds, and purples and not white.

I am happy to report that my kitchen shelves have been installed. This entire project happened because I won a giveaway. I won a sweet little blue bird on Elizabeth's blog Creative Breathing. Once he arrived in my home I realized I had no place of honor for him. After a trip to Lowe's and several coats of paint I am happy to report my little blue bird is sitting pretty now. I was not sure about the paint color...but now I have to say that I love it. It feels very whimsical to me and being in the dead of winter that was just what I was going for...a little whimsy! Now...to find some more stuff to put on the shelves!

Craft Day

I love crafty Sunday's. I finally finished my felt hearts for Valentine's Day...only a day late, not too bad. I love the heart's that Elizabeth of Creative Breathing creates. I was inspired by her to create some little felt hearts for Valentine's Day. Mine are by no means anywhere as elaborate nor do they have those tiny little perfect stitches, but I love them just the same. I love the way it feels to stitch. It is much different than knitting. To hold the needle in your hand is a "little" or precise feeling. Once you get grooving-it sort of becomes rythmic and soothing.

Also, today I am making another project from Alicia Paulson's book. I love this book. I think I am going to set myself a goal to make each of one of these fantastic projects. Back to the blanket stitch. I couldn't resist taking a photo of the new embroidery floss I received from PURL. So springy!

Thrift Store Score!

On Thursday's I like to stop in at the local thrift store. This week I found the most amazing Easter figurines. They caught my eye and I had to have them. They do have some peeling paint, but the colors are just beautiful. I am amazed at the details on such small pieces. These are all stamped on the bottom stating they were made in East Germany-a major plus I told my husband. My favorite one is the angel pulling a sled with a bunny and an apple...her wings are beautiful.

Mushroom

I have always been terrified of inserting a zipper. I just could not understand how this was done!
Well, this weekend was monumental in overcoming the zipper fear. With the help of Cassie and her book, The New Handmade, I successfully inserted my first zipper. This is a wonderful book with simple, clear, instructions on many practical projects. I made the zipper pouch. I have made two already and can tell there will be many more to come! I purchased my fabric from Etsy at Above all Fabric. I love these little mushrooms, they are just plain old cute. Today while the world is watching the Steelers and the Cardinals battle it out on the gridiron, I will be zipping it up! Happy Superbowl Crafting!

Strawberry

My mother had a signature garment. Her Lanz de Salzburg nightgown. She wore them all year round. When she would mop the floor she would hike up the nightgown and tuck it into her underwear to keep from getting wet. What a sight to see! If you ever needed a safety pin, all you had to do was go to the nightgown-she always had several pinned to the top of the nightgown. One never knew when one would need a safety pin while sleeping. When my mom passed away, I took her nightgowns. I am not able to wear them. They are hers. They have a hint of her smell on them. Some are worn and faded. The newer ones are crisp and bright. This year for Christmas I took one of the nightgowns and made little strawberry ornaments for my sisters and I. I used the pattern from Heather Bailey. I wondered if my sisters would recognize the fabric. Christmas Eve arrived. I handed out my gifts. My sisters opened them- and the tears in their eyes said it all..."this is Mom's nightgown". I did not pack my strawberry away with the Christmas ornaments. I have it hanging in my kitchen. My mother was a colorful, vibrant, beautiful woman. I miss her.

It's the little things

I found this old antique printing tray at a flea market. I knew that I would use it as a shadow box. I have been collecting little bits of this and that for as long as I can remember. When I was 15 I had the opportunity to travel and spend the summer in Holland. It was one of the best summers of my life. The food, the sights, the shopping! Whenever I would visit a new place I would search out the most perfect mini something...to remind me of where I had been. This tray hangs in my kitchen and I stop and look at it everday. It has become a must see at our home and it brings back sweet memories to not only me, but my husband, children, siblings, nieces and nephews. Some of these miniature delights include: the tiny football player that sat upon my son Ryan's 4th birthday cake, my son Evan's "little cup" that has his name on it, my great grandmother's collection of miniatures that came in the Red Rose tea bag boxes, the wooden shoes my mom purchased for me on her visit to Ellis Island because "they reminded me of you", the tiny clay pot I brought back for my grandmother on my field trip to Sturbridge Village when I was 7. On days like today with the wind whipping, and the snow flakes flying-being contained in the house because of this winter weather, I love to stop by my shadow box and recall those visits to lands far away, and all those that I hold dear to my heart.

Snow Day

Today was a good old fashioned snow day, without the snow. My boys are 23 and 19 and there are times when I miss those chubby cheeks, rambunctious, full of energy little boys. Today they came for a visit. We woke up, made a pancake breakfast. They got all dressed up in their winter gear and headed out to the pond to clear off the snow to make a skating rink. After a bit, they came inside and all three of us played video games. Well, they played and I tried to make head or tails of what I was doing. There were lots of laughs. After lunch they headed back out to finish the rink, #1 son's girlfriend came over and helped. There were more laughs, and to finish a most wonderful day-hot cocoa. I am truly blessed.

What a wonderful day.

I could not help but get caught up in the Inaugural festivities today. What an awe inspiring moment for our country and the world. I could not pull myself away from the television for fear of missing a "moment". I am so very proud to be an American today. God Bless our new President Obama and his family.

I Won!

I won a give away!


My mother would always tease me about my luck. She would say, "Lee, if you didn't have bad luck you would have no luck at all".
Well all of that changed today. I won Elizabeth's give away. On her blog, Creative Breathing, Elizabeth was having a give away. All one needed to do was solve the puzzle. Anyone familiar with Elizabeth's puzzles knows that this task falls somewhere in between taking the SAT's and bonking your head against a wall. Well, I bonked my head and the answer came to me! Elizabeth asked us to figure out what state she was born in. Easy you say? Take a look at her blog. Hidden deep withing those posts are clues to the puzzle. Elizabeth is truly a modern day Nancy Drew! I am overwhelmed that I have won this give away. I knew 2009 was going to be a good year. My luck has indeed changed! This little blue bird of cupcake happiness, made by Elizabeth herself will soon be flying to my home. I cannot wait! Thank you Elizabeth for sharing your time and talent with all of us. You have touched my life.
Photo Originally uploaded by creative breathing

Wonderful Winter

Today while I was walking my dog, Murphy I decided to take along my camera. Winter is in full swing here in New England and the scenery is beautiful. The contrast of the red berries and the white snow is just wonderful. Happy Winter all.