Looking Forward to...

the remainder of 2014.

We are well into summer now, back to school supply sales are already in full swing around here, and I feel that this is a perfect time to reflect on what I would like to accomplish during the latter half of this year.

Back in the beginning of the year, I signed up for a few monthly things such as ALYOF, and A Handmade Christmas Challenge. I haven't managed to keep up with them, some are just larger projects than I am ready for, such as the Delightful Stars Quilt Along. I've also been participating in blog hops with Mdm. Samm of Sew We Quilt. Totally loving those! These hops have been helping me to stretch creatively and as they are so much fun, I feel totally up to the challenge of making something new for each one. So much creative talent and lovely ladies cheering each other on. Love you all!

In addition to the blog hops, I've been considering some types of projects and goals I would like to work towards achieving for the end of 2014. I'm hoping to work more realistically both time and ability-wise, in order to better manage my creative time and energy.

I have been working on a re-org of my sewing, dare I call it a, studio. Really, that is a post in itself, as it is a major project, just don't expect any fancy gingham wall painting like Mdm Samm, my walls are chip board, but you'll have to wait and see LOL.

This year, I wanted to learn how to knit them and to actually complete a pair of hand knitted socks. Until now I had started two different pairs. The first pair is also in this post, and the second pair are here. I was almost finished sock 1 of the first pair when I discovered a big error. I put them aside and started the second pair. Ha, half way through sock 1 I discovered a dropped stitch, so, I frogged and began again. I have no idea how to find a dropped stitch let alone how to fix it...so, it was frogged, and I restarted the sock as it knits up pretty straightforwardly. Ha ha, I dropped a stitch again somewhere about the same place, put it aside and moved onto something else. My patience just wasn't there to deal with it, and this is supposed to be fun not frustrating, right?!

So, cleaning my studio the other day, I came across sock number 1, still on the needles, put my foot in and fell in love. Frog city, frogged yarn is not pretty, but...forging ahead! I decided to start two socks at one time and to do so many rounds on the first sock, and then to follow up with same on second sock. Now this is fun! They will both be finished around the same time, Oh, and I found a friend at my quilt guild who knits so next time I get into trouble, I have someone to ask for help. Yay! Fewer frogs here, I'm hoping. Sorry, no sneaky peakys today!

This post is getting long, but I've also always wanted to knit a sweater, a cardigan to be exact. With craftsy's flash sale, I joined the class called "My First Sweater" with Amy Ross. She has a lovely voice and such a pretty face. The laced with gray hair in a bun, glasses, and clothing, and she truly could be my sister LOL

Oh, I just love it! I've printed off the materials, and I know I've got enough yarn in my stash to do this. Yay!!

So these are my two main knitting projects that I want to work towards for the remainder of 2014. I'm gonna keep thinking about and working on the various things I'm involved in and will update my "Wanna Do" page as I figure things out. Well, lunch will be ready in a few minutes and mmmm I am hungry.

Breakfast Time

It is such a beautiful morning here that I just cannot help but sit outdoors and enjoy my breakfast. I also have a few knitted dishcloth patterns to catch up on so now is as good a time as any while the house is still quiet.

 

Coffee in my newest favourite mug, and spelt toast with sunflower seed butter. Someone I know and love will be receiving a similar mug very soon *wink*.

This is my catch-up knitting of the day. Pattern: Floral Eyelet Cloth in Bernat Handicrafter: Creamsicle (makes me think more of candy corn).

Have an awesome Monday morning!

FNWF - Feb 7

 

Note: If you are interested in Crafting It Forward with me, visit this post and follow the directions there...thank you! I still have 4 spots open.


Cheryll over at Gone Stitchin' hosted FNWF again this past Friday. Please check out the sign-ups post to see what everyone else got up to and here to see what Cheryll was busy with.

I worked this weekend, but took the time to cut out my 5" fabric squares to make some bunny treat bags for the Sewing Bee with SGOT (Sewing Gifts on Time yahoo group). Washed my 10 fat quarters and dried them with the iron (also busy cutting 2" squares for the upcoming PSQ swap).

Then I washed my fat quarters purchased during the Sew Sisters fat quarter frenzy in February - Riley Blake "Priscilla" fabrics to use in the Sew Kitschy BOM over at Quiet Play.

Phew, I can tell you that just simply that took up pretty much all of the free time I had on Friday. My arm was tuckered out from all that ironing.

I hand washed all my fat quarters in Euculan (love the lavendar smell), which does not require rinsing. Wrung them out gently, then ironed them dry. That should take care of most shrinkage. According to Curious Quilter's guidelines, it is preferable to wash our fabrics prior to cutting for PSQ...so...that's what I did LOL.

I also started the sock KAL from another yahoo group Holiday Mystery Gifts. By this morning on my break I reached about 6" from cast on edge. I'm totally loving both this yarn (Knitpicks...something or other, yarn from my stash with no ball band) and this pattern "Plain Talk Socks" from sailingknitter on Ravelry.

And that about does it for me this FNWF. Looking forward to next month! Thanks Cheryll!

Oh, and one gratuitous nature photo:  presenting Squirrel...

Call me crazy, but I started feeding them this winter. Well, it seems I always feed them since they enjoy my bird feeders, but this year I stopped chasing them away. I have 3 or 4 black squirrels and 3 or 4 grey squirrels that come twice daily guaranteed. They love the sunflower seeds in my feeders, as well as the peanuts I throw out onto the snow for them. They don't like to get too close to each other so I scatter the peanuts along the top of the snow in two directions so everyone can eat at the same time. Periodically, blue jays join them by swooping down from a nearby tree and grabbing a peanut, then flying away to another tree to eat it. It is lots of fun watching them! My husband laughs and says they have all become as big as cats since I started feeding them this fall. LOL

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. With sun like this, the snow bothers me less. Beautiful weekend for skiing if you are a skier!

Initial Heart Swap 2014

Woo hoo, my swap partner received her valentine's giftie...and in advance of the actual date. Now that makes me happy!

Hosted by Cheryll at Gone Stitchin'

My swap partner was Evalina Z of Marsh Lake, YT.  And now that she has received it I can show you the fun things I sent for her...

These are the little packages she pulled from the mailing box. Wrapped in red tissue, they had various button decorations attached.

I love pretty, yet practical gifts. So, I knitted a double heart dishcloth.

I also learned a new technique called the duplicate stitch, where you stitch over top of an existing knit stitch. Thank you Craftsy. This was a new to me technique, but you can rest assured I will be using it again. To use this technique to add Evalina's initials, I needed a cloth with the heart done in knit and not purl like the first cloth...so I knitted up this second dishcloth.

 

And then of course, a dish towel is also required, so I used a towel I had purchased fabric for (with the red stripe down the sides) and hemmed it. Then I used a cookie cutter to trace out two hearts and embroidered them and added her initials.



And lastly, I added some treats...

 

Loose leaf tea from Le coin du The. (The corner tea). There are two types, one is roasted almond and the second a chocolate mint. They had cute little valentine packages complete with chocolate. I also added a mini tube of hand cream (wild rose)...and...the "fragile" package...

A little chocolate box from "The Chocolate Shoppe" (La maison du Chocolat). This darling little box opens up to contain mini heart chocolates and chocolate drops. It was so nicely wrapped that I didn't dare open it to take pictures. But it was tempting! Pat Lowe, the proprietor is a darling woman. Not only does she make awesome chocolate, but she also (annually) teaches a class at the local elementary school so the littles can make their own chocolate. My son loved it when he was there! She is a super sweet woman, and was very happy to learn that I would be sending off a piece of her work to the Yukon as part of my swap.



Finishing up now with just a group shot...

 

Best of all, I'm really glad to have pleased my swap partner with her little gifts! Happy Valentines Day Evalina! Oh, and I meant to mention in my (super quick, scribbled note so I wouldn't miss the post office deadline for mailing), it really is ironic, but my mom's maiden name is Marsh...it made me smile to see where you live.



xox

And thank you Cheryll. I truly enjoyed being part of your swap in 2014!

FNSI, Quilty Stitches, & On The Needles

Got busy yesterday at my quilting guild meeting, and having the cat shaved, and didn't get around to posting until now. Had a productive FNSI but as you will see in the photos, it really doesn't look like much. Forgot how slow going larger-sized projects can be. Plus it has been a long time since I worked on 14-count aida. So much smaller than the 11-count I've recently been working on for my smalls! Oh, my poor aging eyes!

I chose different colours than Corey at Little Miss Shabby, mostly because I didn't want to wait until my order from Herrschners arrives. Love blues, greens, and purples so that is likely what I am going to continue to go with. The fabric is 14-count Aida in Antique White, so the white stitching doesn't show up very well. I figure it will show more once the other colours fill up the interior. And I'm likely to backstitch my project as well.

Also worked on some knitting and crochet projects...

This is the January mid-month cloth. When finished, photo will be added to my monthly dishcloth KAL page.

Always wanted to crochet in the round. So I've decided to make some round scrubbies. Once I work these out to my liking, I'm going to make some to add to my Christmas box with dishcloths and dishtowels.

Oh, and here is the progress on Sock 1 of my first pair of socks. Bit of a standstill cause I dropped a couple of stitches and picked them up but 1 or maybe two rows down. Guess I was too excited cause I was on my last round before starting work on the toe. Oh well, will pick it up again when I catch up on some upcoming deadlines LOL

Well, that was about it for FNSI and Friday on the Needles. Linking up with Wendy for FNSI and Judy for FOTN!

For your viewing pleasure...

Here is Harpo sleeping being disturbed while trying to sleep along the back of the couch. Yikes his ear is dirty; probably from hanging out in front of the woodstove.

And here he is again in all his furless glory...

I usually only shave him in the Spring, but this year he has begun shedding en masse already. Every time I pick him up, I get a nose full and shirt full of fur...so off with his fur! He doesn't go out so he is plenty safe snuggled up near the woodstove. I actually have to shove him out of the way in order to add wood LOL

Friday on the Needles ~ January 10

Still working on the first sock, but pleased with my progress...

I certainly feel as though I am achieving a better rhythm.

I have/had a couple of ladders near the beginning, but rather than frogging (as I normally would have rather than learn to repair) I pulled tighter and forged on. This time around, my goal is not to achieve perfection, but rather, just to complete a pair of socks!

I am also working on a new project by knitheartstrings.com   Jackie's patterns are amazing!
Love this beautiful yarn...merino and silk. Does not frog well though LOL

Does the fact that this has already been on and off the needles three times count?

My ort jar for TUSAL is also filling LOL

A late Friday on the Needles

We had someone here working on our electric baseboards yesterday so I had plenty of time to sit here knitting. With -30ish degree celsius weather over the last three days, the fact that we had no heat in the basement was really beginning to show. We had also unhooked the heater in the living room when we installed the wood stove, just until we could put in a shorter length heater. Suffice it to say that it was chilly, but more than bearable, we did not use the portable plug in heaters this year because of the wood stove I guess. All the same, it is nice not to have very cold floors. Oh and the basement wasn't as bad as all that, because my potatoes and things I store down there did not freeze LOL.

Now Friday's are my day when my dad goes out for a seniors socialization group, and then I pick him up afterwards and take him to visit my mom (who has Alzheimer's and lives in a nursing home). It's always a nice visit, and when we leave I swing by the grocery store to pick up something quick for supper and come home to cook. Now when I got home yesterday, I took photos of my lovely project on the needles...a (drum roll please) sock. Good, that done, I wanted to upload my photos and link up to Patchwork Times for Friday on the Needles. WELL! Enough battery juice to take photos, but not  enough to import them. Ugh! I think it is time to purchase new rechargeables cause these just ain't holding their charge long enough for me!

Ok, enough chitchat...bring on "The Sock"...

See Vickie M. even my couch has roosters in the print lol!

 I cast on Friday morning. Frogged at least five times just the cast on. I'm really not good at calculating for the "long tail cast on".

I've never knit a sweater either, but I assume this is how I would do lovely cuffs as well. Loving my yarn, nothing fancy...Patons Kroy Socks in muslin. I'm also using the free pattern: Patons Kroy Spiral socks (to knit).

Feeling a sense of accomplishment just here at this point. That may very well change to "oh, and now I still have the second one to knit" once I manage to complete the first one lol. At least that is how I am with slippers.

So for what it's worth, here is my Friday on the Needles, just on Saturday. Hope y'all have a great weekend!

Oh and 's first hop of 2014 starts Monday. Let the fun begin!

Wake up to Kona!

of Just Let Me Quilt has us all cheered up and ready to go!

Friday "On The Needles"

link up with Judy Laquidara at Patchwork Times

graphic courtesy of: http://static.aanbodpagina.nl/img/473/cursus-breien-voor-beginners-gem-emmen.jpg

I'm wanting to do some charity sewing and knitting this year. I'm starting out without a concrete plan, but plenty of ideas. Will fill you in as things evolve. For the time being, here is my progress of knitting preemie hat and bootie sets from my yarn stash...

This is actually the 3rd size hat on the needles, with booties for the second size don't but not pictured here. The little "pile" is the smallest size hat and booties. I'm not really keen on sewing them up so I'm not sure when they will actually be complete. lol

Charity

I've been looking for an outlet for my creativity. I enjoy knitting, sewing, and now I'm developing a love for quilting. And while gift giving is fun...I'm looking for yet another direction. I feel called to help, but up until now, I was not sure in just what direction.

I think I may have found my outlet...

..."Teeny Tears is a service organization that provides tiny flannel diapers at no charge to hospitals and bereavement support organizations for families that have suffered the loss of a preemie or micropreemie child through stillbirth or NICU loss. ..."

Here's why...several years ago I met some new ladies through the pastor's wife. I was a cub scout leader, and I had him come to speak to our pack so that they could earn their world religion badges. This meeting completely changed the direction of my own life, but that is another story, and from this meeting, I met with his wife...just because she seemed nice. As a mom of three children, she and some other ladies got together weekly to walk and to enjoy each other's company while their children played together. At one of these get togethers (I only went to one), I met another lady there who was early on in her first pregnancy.

A few months later, I learned that this lady lost her baby. Having met this woman only once...I felt strangely compelled to knit and mail her a prayer cloth. Nothing much, but a little hug. My name meant nothing to her and the church ladies told her where she had met me...and through them I learned that this little cloth was the only thing she had to remember her child; and that she was very grateful for it. I've never seen nor heard from this lady again...but I remember feeling very blessed that I had given her some kind of comfort in her hour of need.

I've never done anything else since then...except the quilt for my sister-in-law; but I love this new-to-me organization. I found them online one night last week when I couldn't sleep. If you are interested in knowing more about them, I will encourage you to visit their site...but be prepared if you begin to look at the photos and read their stories. I could not stop reading, and I spent a good four hours tearing and at times sobbing for their losses.

I'm sure you will see more stories here about Teeny Tears...I'm hoping to find a local hospital where I can make my own donations. I'm sure it will not be difficult to turn some of my learn as I go quilt blocks into mini quilts for donation.

Welcome to Quebec . . . Canadian Quilters Blogathon

If you are here via the blog party, or just because you may have taken a wrong turn....

Welcome!  

I live here with my husband, 16 year old son, and 70 year old father in a quickly growing village, about an hour's drive outside of Montreal. We used to be more rural, but that is quickly changing...progress eh? I guess I'll become "okay with change" if and when we get ourselves a serious fabric store!!

I love to dabble in many things, and am seriously proficient in none. I like knitting, mainly dishcloths and other small projects, a tidbit of crochet, cross-stitch, sewing---skirts for myself mainly, and of course curtains and such. I am sew hoping to finally teach myself to knit socks sometime this winter...seems I knit them inside out and can't for the life of me straighten them out LOL

I also love to garden---perennial flowers, vegetables, small fruit trees. My favourite time of year is Spring. I find it amazing to watch the world come back to life after such a long deep freeze...and of course I get to play in the dirt again...the joy of any gardener.

 Marigold started from seed

 I just love the variety of colour of lilies...

 

and of irises.

 Last January we had such a deep freeze...everything was coated in ice!

I am a newbie to the quilting world. I have one quilt completed...a gift for my sister-in-law.

I am seriously not a photographer but the love that went into creating this quilt was beyond enormous; and so many prayers for health.

The second quilt in my 2 quilt arsenal is not yet completed...but somehow will be for my son for tomorrow...

He just loves Dr. Who and the 50 year anniversary special is tomorrow.

Thank you sew for stopping by. I have really enjoyed this Blogathon...there are so many creative sewers, crafters, and quilters out there. Thank you for your inspiration!

Thank you to 

for hosting this blog hop...and for supplying so many wonderful prizes!