What a YEAR

A year has passed since my last blog. WOW!!!
And what have I been doing???? Everything possible!!!
When your family gets it NORMAL back, you're zest for life takes off!
It's wonderful having a healthy family. And for that I am so grateful.
So I want to give back a Lot! The quilt on the left is going to be auctioned off for "Relay for Life". Hoping to raise lots of money.

The quilt is my latest project... There have been many over the past year.

I will recap a little about the past year....

 In February, for my birthday, my Cancer Free husband brought home this beauty. It was born June 10th, 1955. I love it!!! I have wanted one for years!!! It helped make the above quilt, and will help with many, many more.

Also in February I put together a Flash mob with 100 of my middle schoolers. It was for Bully awareness month. You can watch it if you would like. It was pretty cool.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCvzuk4V048

SO February was a pretty full month!

These socks were made as the only, handmade Christmas gift this past year. A pair of pink, purple glitter socks, for the sons girlfriend. Super fast and super easy.
The cap was for a friend. No one super special in my life, but just something I wanted to do. Not for anything other than, he wears them and I like to make them and see people smile when I give them something handmade.

My goal is to give back as much as was given to me....
Life is good, not perfect, but very good.  You realize quickly, its not about the money, things or gifts. Its about Family.

My dear daughter, who has recently become a FULL TIME TEACHER, at a very good public school, I might add, got these for the ride in and back every morning.
She had picked them out a few years ago. And, well, a few years ago I was on auto pilot. The first pair were tooooo small, the gauge was all wrong. I switched the colors, which looked terrible. So off to zzzzzzzz land they went. Pulled them out the beginning of January, bought new yarn, changed the gauge and within a week she had her long wanted mittens! Very cute and very worn!!! And did I mention she is a Teacher!!!! Proud mom moment, thank you very much.
This pattern is in Ravelry.

 Do you love love love Pinterest as much as me????? These were the centerpieces I made for my son's high school graduation.. $1.00 store frames ripped apart and then, parchment paper with the photo printed on it. take the glass out and replace with the parchment photo. Glue 4 of the same frames together and stick a votive in the middle and and and and, its just perfect!!!! Be careful with the candles.

 This is my pride and Joy! I took a 30's Fabric class the summer of 2008. It was so much fun. I wanted to make a king sized quilt. Well I am not going to dwell on the past, so off to the closet they went and slept. Fast forward to November 2012 till January 2013, and the beautiful 30's quilt is sewn together, and quilted and already on our bed. And it has been washed once!!! IT is truly a beautiful piece that I hope will last for generations to come.

This was a weekend project for my dear nephew's sweetheart, that I am sure will be his wife one day soon. She is a huge Nancy Drew fan and the fabric came from the local quilt shop. I made this on the machine from start to quilting. It was a fun project and took no time at all to make and she loves it!!!


I have many more things to post, but I will wait and post more as the weeks come. I hope anyone who might read this is, Healthy, Happy and loves the arts and creating as much as I do. I hope I inspire you to pull out the UFO you have in your closet and finish it. It is such a good feeling !

Or maybe you don't craft at all. Take a minute and look for a class at a local fabric, craft or yarn shop, and take a beginner class. You will love it.
You may think you can't do this stuff, well, my cyber friend, you can, with baby steps, you can!!! And who knows, you may fall hopelessly in love with the craft like I have ! Just think of all the things you can make!!!!
Have a blessed day! I now am done typing, because.....I NEED TO KNIT!!!!

Sunday LOVE

 I love Sunday. A day to do whatever you want.  


Its been awhile since my last post. Christmas was wonderful. As was new years!


And now here it is Spring!
I finally learned how to use the huge quilting machine at my local quilt shop and finished my daughter's quilt!
I had made it for her for graduating high school....5 years ago!
It's a t-shirt quilt of all her favorite t's growing up. 
I could never get anyone to quilt it for me, due to the fact there were rhinestones on many of the shirts. 
Thank goodness for the quilt shop and a great owner, who allowed me to use their machine. She said, JUST don't hit the stones!" It was that easy. DAH!

  

I also have also joined a block of the month. I love it. Its a new site I recently came upon. http://www.craftsy.com/  They offered this class FREE, and each month we make 2 blocks. I love it. Taking a class in my own sewing room is so much fun! Who knew! The teacher is great and repeats the same thing as many times as you need it!!! Just hit the back button and she will show you again and again and again AND never gets mad AND shows it the exact same way!!! LOL 







And Finally. I went to the cupboard to get some pillow cases, and could not find 2  for our bed. SO off to JoAnn fabrics and about 3 hours (travel time, lunch and whatever else) later, I had 4 new sets for my bed, 3 for my son, 3 for my daughter and even got one in for my son's girlfriend! I love making pillow cases. SO fast and easy.

As far as my knitting.....Working on a KAL. Caramel is really cute, but really boring.  Should have the body done today. Hope to start the sleeves this evening. I want to start something new! 
I did make several scarves, and a few hats in between. Need to take pictures.
Its April fools, so watch out. 

Blessing abound!

This little ornament is from our first Christmas together. 1986. 
WOW. When i was younger and heard people say they were married 20 plus years, I thought, That's a really long time!
It seems  like a blink of the eye, now. I have hard time wrapping my brain around it.  
 This holiday season is full of blessings. The hubby is Clean of cancer!!!!!! 
Thanksgiving was so much better!!!
We have spent the weekend putting up our tree and decorating together. It has been so nice. 


I am not planning on making any special Christmas gifts. I am working on hats and scarves for all the special people in my life. I gave my sister in law her hat and scarf set on Thanksgiving. She loved it! I also gave my dad his Beer Socks. Another hit. 

This hat will find its owner I'm sure.

I liked making it. Not so sure I like the colors. It was one of those balls of yarn,that looks better before you knit.

The yarn is called "Mushushi" from Plymouth. Very soft.

So I am off to finish another hat. Its the One day Beret. I'm half way through it. I acquired the yarn from a dear friend who can no longer knit. This beret will be for someone special.

Welcome Fall

Wow Its been a while. Looking back at my last post, I realize I have finished all the projects on the coffee table! Thats a great feeling. 
This cute little sweater caught my eye as I sat at the yarn shop with my good friend knitting a saturday afternoon away. It took all of 3 hours maybe.
Gilbert loves his sporty bright sweater.
I went to put him out last night and he wouldn't go till the sweater was on! Cute little guy!

My husband I celebrated 25 years together last month. Wow, I don't feel that old.  Anyway. We took a day trip to a very small town called Smicksburgh! They had a YARN SHOP!!!! And it was the cutest little shop, tucked away on the side of a mountain on a side street in a tiny little town. Very cute and very charming. SuzyB's had hand dyed and several kits. This one, was one I could not pass up! The scarf necklace, takes less than an hour and the compliments I have received, made it worth the little too high of a price I paid.  I have made four more in various other colors to match several sweaters I have. My 22 year old also had me make one to match her school she were she is currently student teaching.


The hubby went for his 6month check up and scan. I feel very strongly that all is good. He is back to his old weight plus! And his color has not looked this good in over 4 years. I feel blessed we have come through all this and everything is good. Praise GOD! 


Its back to knitting I go. Lots to knit. Christmas is coming.  We had a touch of snow today, just to remind me, I think. 
 I need to complete several scarves and hats and mittens for several people who where there through all the bad last year. 

Getting ready

Road trip yarn

In 2 weeks from today, I will be on the road. Headed for sunnier skies.  I have decided on some yarn.  They are for the most part  scarves for friends.  Gotta spend some time looking on Ravelry for just the right pattern to make for each yarn.  

The socks totally rock!!! Fell in love love love with them. Went straight to my LYS to buy the yarn. The pattern came from Knitty. And I love them!!! The yarn I chose is in the picture above. It has a shimmer yarn running through it. Can't wait to wear them.








Another finished UFO. The vest was a KAL from 2009.  It was right at the time my husband was diagnosed with his cancer.  As an experienced knitter, I found the pattern confusing and put it away. I found it last week, and sat down to read the pattern again. I thought I would be totally unable to do it with out help from my LYS.  Well, as soon as I started, it seemed like I was halfway through it and then ready to bind off!!! What a difference a year and a healthy husband make!!! I enjoyed the yarn and the pattern is a quick knit. A few of the things the designer does, seems, not necessary. I feel she made it harder than it needed to be, for such a simple pattern. The good thing, One more UFO off the list! 




This scarf, is for my favorite oncology nurse. He wanted something " Loud and Proud". He's getting it. And it has love knitted in every stitch. The pattern is an "Ann Norling" pattern. Super fast and fun.  I may use it for another scarf. The noro yarn offered great colors and is very bright. The softness makes it a perfect scarf.




 Finally, what beach vacation does not include books!!! Both books are great reads!! I have started both at various times, during hospital times. But they were put down. Also my comprehension of either at that time is slim to none. So, I look forward to finishing them. 
So, its time now to go and purchase shoes worthy of Disney. I mean, that won't make my feet hurt!  
Enjoy your lazy Saturday afternoon. Knit a little, read a little, but most of all smile a little!!! Peace out my knittin peeps!

I'm Hooked

As summer sneaks in, I find all I am thinking about is lace. I love it...
I finished my Ishbel in just a few days. Well, there was a break in between, due to a mistake, But amount of actual knitting time was quick.
The yarn is Bonnie's Bamboo. Wonderful drape.  I love it! Oh, sorry I said that already.


This summer, unlike last is full of hope and healing. My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer a few weeks ago. God is good, Stage 0 and only and lumpectomy and radiation will be needed. Amen. The genetic test also proved that it is NOT genetic. 

 

Summer Flies,  Is a free pattern. Really quick, no chart. I had this beautiful yarn I purchased, probably 3 years ago. It was for a class. The yarn was and still is, outrageously  expensive. Art Yarn's Beaded silk. Those of you with champagne taste and beer money know of this yarn. I didnt have the cash flow, to purchase the amount needed to make the wrap that was to be taught in class. SO I bought enough to make the cheesey small wrap, that I WOULD NEVER WEAR. Thus the yarn slept for three years.  
I think this shawl wrap will be beautiful this winter with a plain black sweater. It will show off the beautiful over priced yarn.


       We head to Florida in a few weeks, its our "Celebration Vacation". I am going to try to make all the people who gave their time to cook, call, spend time with us during our darkest hours, a scarf. I am hoping to get at least 8 done. I will keep a journal and post as we go. We are driving, so lots of knitting time!!!  
I am off to find scarf patterns. Don't want to bore myself with the same pattern. Have a wonderful day! Happy knitting!!!

Finished! And more to come!!!

Gilbert with springtime bandit
Yes!  My,finished shawl!  It  came out so pretty! I love it! And I have conquered my fears about reading lace charts! I love this and cant wait, well I can wait, (it needs to be cold again) to wear it.   

  
  Yet another UFO, FINISHED!!! 
I got this pattern, at least, 10 maybe 15 years ago. Fell in love with the vintage pattern and thought, socks for my DAD. The socks went to sleep and resurfaced a month ago. I had 1 sock completed and the ribbing and  green line on the mug on my needles. WHAT! Really, you couldn't just finish them! I know, right. But they are now done and hopefully my Dad will like,love them.

My KAL. It's the Day Break shawl, by Stephen West.  My daughter saw the pattern and fell in love with it. I guess making mine will have to wait. This is hers. Its so easy. Except for the increases. My numbers don't add up when he tells you to increase. I had to add stitches to make it work in some parts, and so did my friend. 




Finally, my FYS, had a huge sale. And did I take advantage of the sale??? Does a drunk stop drinking? A drug addict pass up a free fix? NOOOOOOO, nor did this YARNAHOLIC pass up a huge sale!!!! I love, love,love, did I say, Love my yarn purchases..... To the left are few of my purchases. My dealer, makes sure I can't stop by running the sale for a WHOLE week!!! SO, I came in Monday only to get a quick fix and think about all that was there, waiting for me. I bought my CANCER FREE husband pure 100% cashmere yarn for socks. And I got that yarn for 40 % off. I love it. Never felt something so yummy soft. He deserves it. 
So, while the dog is snoozing next to me and the hubby, who is CANCER FREE watches the Pens win the playoff, I am going to KNIT!!!! Happy Knitting