Thanks girls, that was fun!

Here's a tribute to you, my lovely blog friends...

(straight from my Costco trip: Cuties & little Hotties - all of you!)
Thanks for all the wreath suggestions! I now have a multitude of ideas to take over the to craft store.
After the NaBloPoMo overkill, I'm taking the weekend off (I think). Enjoy!

Phew, that was close!

I'm clearly NaBloPoMo'd out.

Any suggestions on how to prettify these wreaths without going overboard?

WIP Wednesday

At the beginning of October a bunch of us went on the Fall Stash Dash. This was a great little shop hop, since they handed out a fat quarter of fabric at every shop, along with one step of instructions for the "Stash Dash Quilt". The quilt is officially called "What's Black & White & Red All Over?", but since I'm in an orange phase...

In the Spirit of Quilt-a-long

Since we all seem to be fully in the Christmas Spirit at the moment, I was inspired to pick an almost Christmas-sy fabric for this week's block.

Check out blocks made by fellow quilt-a-long'ers here.

I realized this morning that, after doing absolutely no quilting for months, I am now working on three quilts. Strange how that happens, especially when I should really be getting ready for Christmas...

Spice Market

The quilt top is finally done! Woohoo!

Only the oldest readers of this blog will remember this, so I will share with you some photos depicting the history of this project. If you'd like to read the whole saga (longer than a Harry Potter book), just click on the dates.
March 11, 2007

April 9, 2007

April 16, 2007

April 24, 2007

April 30, 2007

May 9, 2007

June 12, 2007

July - November 2007
Nothing whatsoever!

Loveliness

Who can even think about leaving the blogging world when you have wonderful friends like Nicolette? Dutch fabric (in the colors of the Dutch(and American) flag), a lovely pincushion for my collection, candy, and chocolate!!! I'll eat the candy and chocolate, and use the pincushion, but I don't know if I can bring myself to cut into those cute little hens.
Thank you Nicolette! You made my day.

Thanks to everyone who left concerned comments on yesterday's post. I'm truly not thinking of completely quitting blogging, just cutting back a little. I'd be lonely without all the kindred souls out there.

Quilt-a-long and Contemplation

My second block for the quilt-a-long.
You can see other beautiful blocks made by "quilt-a-long-ers" over here.

Now for the contemplation...
Ever since I started this blog I've posted just about every day. That's why I thought that posting EVERY everyday during the month of November would be a breeze. All it has lead to, however, was a feeling that I was being forced to do something, which lead to me not wanting to do it at all. Kind of like a teenager (or a man). I'm now questioning whether I blog because I create things or whether I am at the point where I'm making things because I blog. Hmmmm...

Socksgiving - step 3

It's been a while since I've posted an update on "Socksgiving".

If you look closely, you'll see that there's a teeny little heel down there. Woohoo! I turned the heel! I'm getting ready to continue to step 4, which could be another challenge.
If you're wondering about step 1 and step 2, you can find details here and here.
(Did you notice that I'm still managing to keep up this NaBloPoMo thing?)

Happy Turkey (and pie) Day!

My contribution to Thanksgiving dinner. Pies, pies, pies.
From top to bottom: pumpkin, cherry-blueberry, and apple

I definitely have a leaf thing going...

Of course, when I agreed to make the dessert, I kind of forgot that I am not the world's best pie baker. I'm just hoping for the best.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I've gone and done it!

I like to make things.
I like to try out new ideas.
I have way too many things, so...
...I've decided to open a little Etsy Shop. I'm quite excited to be joining the Etsy world!
Right now I have some of these...

...and some of these over there.

I will stock things in the store when I can part with them (or go into a making frenzy and whip up 20 of the same thing before I can stop myself).

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

A real post

NaBloPoMo has been kind of hard, but today I have "real" stuff to post about. Yay!!!

I made my first block for the quilt-along over at Crazy Mom Quilts. It took all of 30 minutes and I'm going to do some serious stash-busting in the process.
I do have a question for all the experienced quilters out there though. How on earth do you get all your seams to be exactly 1/4"? I have a 1/4" foot and try really hard, but somehow, by the time I get to the outside of the block, the seams don't line up because all the small inaccuracies add up to a big one at the end.

Christine over at Sew Christine is having a lovely giveaway. Go check it out.

Oh, and Josh's soccer team won their division of the President's Cup, which is the big Cup for rec soccer in Washington State, last night in a shoot-out. It was nail-biting. They are now going on to the State semi-finals. Fingers crossed...

Rubblework

Remember the Rubblework Scarf?
Well, guess who's now the proud owner of a Pink Chalk Studio Original...

Wow, thank you Kathy!!!

If you'd like to make your own, you can find the pattern here.

(Please excuse the lovely laundry room background in the photo. It is pouring in my outdoor studio.)

And to all the people waiting patiently (I hope) for things from me: I haven't forgotten you. Next week, I promise!

Thread

I finally got one of these not too long ago. Now I just have to go on a thread shopping spree.

NaBloPoMo is a pain

I've been busy, busy, busy and have nothing of any interest to say today. I therefore invite your to feast your eyes on one of my favorite places.

Gratitude Friday

Today I'm grateful for our wonderful little family. When you have people who love you, you don't need much more.

Thursday

Not knitting

It's f-f-f-f-reezing out here. 34 degrees when I went to drop Josh off at the bus this morning. Taking photos in my "studio" (outside) wearing only socks (and clothes, of course) had to be speedy if I didn't want to turn into an icicle. This makes me wonder how I'm going to do this when it's really winter...

Any-hoo, here's a glimpse of what I've been slaving over the last couple of days. Lots of thrifted wool...

Socksgiving - step 2

"What's with all the knitting?", you ask.

I'm preparing for a small craft show and running way behind schedule, as usual. Something other than yarn will appear hear soon, I promise.

In the mean time, I'm LOVING the progress I'm making on my first sock.

Ho, ho, ho

What does Santa Claus say to Mrs. Claus when he looks out the window? Looks like "rain deer".

That's true around here this morning and all the premature Christmas jolliness in the stores may be getting to me...

Christmas project no.1:

Laundry anyone?

Well, at least it's clean...

Saturday

You know he's growing up when you have to rent that first tux, give him a pile of money, buy a big bunch of roses, swing by to pick up a pretty girl in an evening gown, and then leave them to their own devices (well, there were chaperones) for 4 hours.

Sniff, sniff..

Lime, prizes...and chaos

The follow up to "Orange"...


And the winners of the pincushion drawing are...
Pat from Bits and Pieces who gets the flower pincushion
and
Penny who wrote "Congrats on your 201st! I love looking at the things you have created!" for whom a little strawberry is waiting. Please contact me Penny. I have no contact info for you.

It's hectic around here.
My mom went home yesterday,
the house is a mess, I haven't cleaned or organized anything in 6 weeks,
the laundry is piled to the ceiling (well, not quite),
the bathrooms have to be cleaned,
Josh is coughing himself half to death and his first school formal is tonight, which really sucks,
I have to go get flowers for the "date", since "Mr. Barky von Schnauzer" (have you seen that ad on TV?) has been too sick to do it himself,
and I have things to return to the store before it's too late.

Don't worry, I'll survive. Just send some organizational thoughts this way please...

Knitting, knitting...

I'm clearly in knitting mode right now. I think it's the invitation from Ravelry that did it. I can spend hours finding inspiration over there.

This scarf is called Palindrome. It's reversible. Very cool.

(I will do the drawing for the giveaway tomorrow morning at 7am PST so if you haven't commented and you like my little pincushions, hop to it!)

201

Since I forgot about my 200th post yesterday, we'll celebrate today.

When I posted my first tentative contribution I had no idea how many wonderful friends I would make over here in blogland. I love having people to share my creations with who actually understand and appreciate the love and care that goes into what we do. My family oohs and aahs, and I totally love them for it, but only those who actually craft really "get" it.

My life is fuller because of you, and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading this little blog and leaving lovely comments which inspire me to greater heights.

OK, enough soppy-ness already. To celebrate this occasion I will be doing a little giveaway (or two).

To the "crazy mom" who left the very first (and second and third) comment on my fledgling blog I will send a special something.

Two other blogfriends who leave comments on this post will receive either...
a little flower pincushion...

...or a very tiny strawberry...

Thank you again for being here.

Socksgiving - step 1

If you haven't heard about my birthday present from Jennifer, click here. I think she got tired of my woefulness (is that a word?) every time she posts about knitting socks...

Over the weekend I received my "sock kit", with the first 5 rounds already knit. Lovely Manos del Uruguay yarn. And it's pink! I love pink! Thanks again Jennifer. What a wonderful friend you are!

Step 1 - finish the rib

(I just noticed that in my sock excitement I forgot that this is my 200th post. Do come back tomorrow for a little giveaway.)

Anna Banana

Here she is! Remember the pattern I was testing for Kathy? It's in her store now, so I can finally reveal my version.
The runner...

...and matching placemats.

The pattern also includes instructions for place cards.
I'm thinking this would be very cute in Christmas fabrics...

Did you remember...

...to "Fall behind"?

naboplomo

Huh? Look over here. I've decided to join in, since I have about 25 posts a month on average anyway. I don't have any fun projects to share right now though. Happy day everyone!

Orange

Remember my orange obsession, obsession, and obsession? Well, I think it's b-a-a-a-c-k...

It's early and dark. Photo's are nearly impossible to take, but this is my plan for this:

The Birthday Goodies

Wow! What cool stuff I got!

You may not hear from me for a l-o-o-o-o-n-g time while I'm buried in wonderful projects.
I also received Brain Age 2 for the Nintendo DS from Josh to help my brain stay young. I started at a brain age of 80 and am now down to 58. Woohoo?
Ooh! And this. No more Google Maps for me.