I don’t know about you – but this just looks like trouble brewing to me…

While November seemed to be a month of stress and chaos, December seems to be the month for losing/misplacing things.

It feels like every time I turn around, I’m looking for something, even though I was sure I knew where I put it.

Case in point…

As you know, with all the December Birthdays on top of Christmas presents, I start gathering things throughout the year to keep the cost and stress down. To keep things organized, all collected/finished presents go in one spot in my studio (top of the bookshelves), and get entered into a spreadsheet (the spread sheet is so I don’t forget that I already have a gift for someone, and go out and get/make something new).

It’s a good process, and it works… most of the time.  Over the last week, I’ve been slowly wrapping things. I did all the stuff for my side of the family first, and took it all up to Mom’s to get it out of the way (she has more storage space than I do). Then a day later, I did all the stuff for friends, and set it in piles, so when we are ready to see them, it’s easy to grab and go.

Monday, all I had left were the things for Dave and his family. His family stuff was easy enough, and even the presents for him weren’t bad – his quilt, a pair of pajama pants… and something else I couldn’t remember…. so I consulted the spreadsheet.

Of course…. our matching skull socks… how could I forget. I climbed back up to the top of the shelf to get them…. but they weren’t there.  How were they not there???? I double checked the shelf, but there wasn’t a present left up there.

I then checked my sock drawer, thinking since I made a pair for myself, maybe I’d tucked both pairs in there. Nope… not a skull in sight!

I then literally spent the next two hours ripping apart every shelf in the studio. Still no skulls (but hey – I got a head start on the cleaning I’d planned to do over the Christmas holidays…)

Defeated, I slumped down at my computer, and was complaining to Mom over messenger, that I couldn’t find the socks anywhere… and all of a sudden it came to me! The last time I remembered seeing them was on their blockers when I took pictures for the pattern! And I don’t think I ever took them off those blockers!!!

Sure enough, both pairs were hanging on their blockers in the coat closet downstairs! Phew! They are now safely wrapped up for Christmas day.

The same can not be said for our next lost item. After finishing the first Knotty glove last week, I set the leftover ball of yarn aside and did some work on the poncho. I’m sure I set the ball in my crafting corner by my couch.

But when I went to cast on the next day, it wasn’t there.

Now, I have searched high and low for it. Like the shelves, my crafting corner got a complete makeover. Not there. Not under the couch or the futon, not under the computer, the fish tank, or the dining room table.

I have a very clear suspect with means, motive and opportunity…

…but so far, he’s not talking.

I was hoping he’d do the right thing, and bring it out of wherever he’s hidden it… or at least I’d stumble across it… but no such luck.

As you may recall, I do at least, have another skein of the same yarn, but I didn’t really want to crack into it yet (saving it for a matching cowl).

But damn…. it’s cold outside and having just one glove isn’t doing me any good.  Last night I cracked and wound up up the new skein…

This was all I could get done before bedtime (at which time, this ball was safely tucked away from fluffy paws). As long as I don’t lose it, I should be able to get the set done in time for Christmas Eve travels.

 

 

 

I know winter has barely started yet (in fact, we haven’t even hit the first official day), but I’m already missing my gardens. My indoor plants do help, but I don’t have much that flowers – and that which does, has stopped already.

But if I can’t grow flowers…. I can sew them! Remember I told you had some fabric picked out for my next project, but wasn’t set on a pattern…? Well I finally found it!

That fabric was these two pieces.

I bought a yard of each of them a couple years ago (when I first started making quilts). There was just something about them – I had no plans, but I just had to have them. I even paid full price!

They’ve been languishing in the stash ever since, and it was past time to do something with them.

And then I came across this block on Pinterest…

It didn’t take long for me to figure out how it all went together. And that centre was the perfect use for the birds (if fussy cut), and pussywillow branches. It would also give me a chance to test out using geese for the star points instead of two HSTs.

Another dive into the stash came up with so many beautiful batiks to use for the flower fabrics – all in shades of early spring.

Soon I was cutting, and not long after, sewing. I’m happy to report that the geese worked great for the star points, and saved me some dreaded trimming down of the HSTs. (I still had eight to do on the petals, but it wasn’t bad.) In fact, it all went off without a hitch…

Isn’t that a beautiful block – nice and big too at about 16″ (just the way I like them.) This one is going to be so much fun!

 

I did it! No… it’s not done… but it is half done, which to me, is huge!!!!

See that tiny turquoise line at the top of the knitting?

That’s my halfway line. It’s also my neckline, or will be when the poncho knitting is complete. The pattern knits the poncho in two pieces (one of with is just ridge knitting, no lace – it’s the back). Those two pieces are then seamed, and stitches are picked up and knit for the neckline. But I’m doing it a little different. Instead, I’m just going to keep knitting. When I’m done, that turquoise yarn will come out and I’ll pick up the stitches for the neck from there. Easy peasy and no seaming!

Vera from The Threaded Lane!

Congratulation Vera – I’ll email you later today so we can get this beautiful quilt on its way to you.

Thank you to everyone who entered and sent birthday wishes!

My cake was fantastic, and I’m actually still enjoying it! (‘I’ve been very good about not eating more than one piece each day, so I’ve been able to make it last.)

With Night Sky done and dusted, I had an empty project box. I could have started something new, but I’m not quite sure what I want to start yet.

Well…. I have the fabric picked out, but I’m still deciding on a pattern. So until that decision is made, I turned my attention to Royal Stars. It’s been pretty neglected, because the other projects (Meow-lky Way, and Pin and Paws) were just more fun to work on.

I only did two (I make them two at a time because the centre four patch is the same). And despite how easy they are to put together, the actually take a fair bit of time. (About an hour and a half for the pair). I think that’s mostly the trimming of the HSTs for the star points

In retrospect, I probably should have done them with geese. But geese are still a new thing for me and honestly, I didn’t even think about it. It would probably mean a little more prepping up front, but putting the actual block together would probably go quicker.

Something to try next time. (Because we both know I’ll be making more star blocks!)

 

Well the first glove is done.

It took far longer than it should, because I just really hate knitting those individual fingers. I don’t know why. They aren’t very big. Each one is only 17 stitches around. They shouldn’t take long, but they always seem to take waaaaaay longer than I expect. I tried to complete one every night, but more often than not, I allowed myself to get distracted, and they took about twice that many nights.

That said, they are worth the effort. If you love wearing handknit mitts…. well gloves are just that much better. And can we take a look at that cable for a second…

It’s not just decorative (pretty as it is), it’s functional too. It pulls the glove in a bit and provides a really nice fit around the base of the palm.

I have another skein of this yarn, so I’m thinking I’m going to have to look around for a scarf or cowl with a similar pattern. After I finish the second glove of course….

 

(Don’t forget, there’s still time to enter the contest to win the quilt! You have until Midnight.)

“Your birthday was exhausting…
let just hang on the couch today and sleep off all that cake”

Good plan, Burton, good plan!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes yesterday! Happy Friday!

I’m not quite sure how we got here… but as of this afternoon, I will have completed 40 (Yes.. four-zero) full trips around the sun.

I certainly don’t feel 40… though I’m not entirely sure what 40 is suppose to feel like, exactly.

Anyway, I’ve been properly spoiled. Mom gave me a layer cake of this cute French kitten fabric

And Dave spoiled me with more of my favourite candles, which contained this gorgeous birthstone set.

And even though I didn’t need any more of either of these…

I bought myself a birthday dress and some boots!

I’m now looking forward to my most favourite part of Birthdays – BIRTHDAY CAKE!!!!

And I’ve been  wracking my brain about what to do to celebrate with all of you.  In the past, I’ve given big yarn discounts – but we’re no longer selling yarn. I considered offering up free knitting patterns, but I did that last year.

And this year I turn 40 – which is pretty big. So I think it deserves a big give away!

So I’m going to give away one of my quilts… yep – you read that right. I’m almost drowning in them here, and it’s not like I’m about to stop making more any time soon…

So….

I’m offering up the scraptastic Rainbow Block Party. It’s about 68″ wide x 76″ long – it’s not huge, but it will cover the top of a double bed, work well on a twin, or make a extra snuggly couch quilt.

If you’d like a chance to win this – simply leave a comment by midnight EST Saturday, December 14th. I’ll do a draw on Sunday, and announce the winner on Monday. It doesn’t matter where in the world you are – if you win, I’ll ship it to you!

Good luck! And enjoy something sweet to celebrate my 40 years.

 

I did it! With the a little help from our favourite ginger snooperviser…

I had the Night Sky quilt done and dusted by the end of the weekend.

Phew! When we were putting together fabrics, I didn’t realized how wintery this one would end up looking.

It’s a nice size – about 75 inches square. And the block was super easy – made from two 10 inch squares, it’s easy to whip them out when you get into a rhythm. The pattern is Big Sky, if anyone else out there wants to make one.

The clearance section was a little lean when I went looking for a backing for this one, but I managed to find this pretty black floral that worked well enough.

And can we talk about that binding for a minute? I’ll let you in on a little secret – I love striped fabrics for binding. I don’t know why – I just do. This one came from the stash, and I just love how it echoed the subtle green and aqua elements of the lighter fabrics in the centre of the quilt.

And this should be the last quilt I complete this year. Nothing else in my project list is even close to being a top. And work has gotten crazy (companies trying to get things wrapped up before the end of the year/holidays). I’ll do a retrospect of all my completed quilts closer to the end of the month.