Sniffling, stitching and knitting along!

It's allergy season in Indiana, and the gift that keeps on giving has my eyes and nose red and weepy.  When I was a kid, I tromped through farm fields, forests and glens with nary a sniffle.  Now, a few minutes outside turn me into a mess.

I have my knitting needles going at a moderate speed again, having put tendonitis in the rear-view mirror.  Also, working on a quilt in my lap frame.  It's a series of blocks designed by Brandywine Designs several years ago.  The background is multi-color dot on black.  The appliques are all bright colors.  The batting is Hobbs Tuscany, which is a silk blend.  It hand quilts like a dream, and I have already finished the center block.

Just about three rows of design before the toe on a pair of Athos socks . . . pattern by Caoua Coffee, which is free on the Ravelry, the knit/crochet website.  Also, just a few rows to go on a test knit of a hat pattern, using Lamb's Pride bulky yarn.  Will post a picture when it is done.

Have a quilt top ready to go to Viki for her magic touch.  It is Native Flair, blocks designed by SindyRodenmayr of Fatcatpatterns.com.  I set the blocks on point, in a triple rail sash with nine-patch cornerstone.  I'm hoping to take it to Tom and Liz when we go to see the kids in Virginia before they depart for Copenhagen.

Continuing to work on old UFO's of all types.  Pix to please soon . . . probably tomorrow.

Rumors of my demise . . .

Are greatly exaggerated, as the saying goes.  I have really adjusted to being retired.  If I had to go back to work now, it would kill me!  However, I do have a job of sorts.  DH works as a ring man for Fields Auctions.  When another member of the staff was injured, I got to step in and help.  Now, I'm the regular substitute, and it puts a little money in my pocket now and then.  That is, if I don't spend it all on something being sold like 83 pounds of yarn, and Sterling silver jewelry, with the once in a lifetime (so far) scoring of an 18 karat gold and diamond ring . . . for $20!  The markings inside the ring were obscured a bit, so it was sold as Sterling silver.  A gentleman seated next to me asked to look at it after I won the bid.  He had a jeweler's loupe in his pocket, and quickly offered me $50, which I declined.  Well, he said . . . it says 18K inside!
I am starting to get things ready for The Old Tippecanoe Quilt Guild's Annual Retreat.  Theme this year is "All Creatures Great and Small", so we will have lots of animal themed projects and blocks, such as Bear Paw, Fox and Geese, Wild Goose Chase in pieced blocks, and some foundation piecing, as well as embroidery and applique.

I've also kept my knitting needles very busy . . . that's a good portable project for the auction, when I am not standing up displaying and delivering items.  Have made several pairs of socks, such as:

Tentacula Leaves designed by Heidi Nick (available at Ravelry.com):

A pair of Monkeys designed by Cookie A for my DBIL's birthday.  This pattern has taken the sock-knitters by storm.  Ravelry notes its' listing in over 17,000 projects!  Every pair uses approximately 300 yards of sock yarn . . . that's three football fields . . . how many miles is that?

Timothy Green's designed by Patti-Joy White.  These were for my friend Viki over at www.fiberobsessive.blogspot.com.  She likes hand-knit socks, and I have an overstock of quilt tops requiring some quilting.  As you will note, she does beautiful work.  Each of us believes we have the better end of the bargain!

I also made Patti-Joy's Heart Socks for myself and mastered a new technique for me, Judy Becker's Magic Cast-on for toe up socks.  I had tried before, reading the instructions, but the written word did not convey what was happening on the back side of the cast on.  Once I watched a YouTube video, it was a cinch.  

Back in March, when I discovered the 13 in 2013 KAL at Ravelry, I dug into my knitting bag for a pair of socks that deserved to be finished, also for Viki.  This pattern was a Harry Potter themed design, called Patchwork Weasley, and I made them in  coral Louet Gems.  

Another pair languishing in a holding pattern was for my DSIL, Jan.  I started teaching her to knit socks, and she worked diligently until she reached the heel, when panic set in.  She returned the project, so I finished them.  The pattern was Cat Bordhi's classic from Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles.

I currently am working on a test knit for Heidi Nick . . . I've been sworn to secrecy, and would have to kill you, and myself,  if I violate my oath of allegiance to her.  Also have a pair started for one of our dear friends, Dwaine; design is Athos by Caoua Coffee, another Ravelry pattern.  A pair called, "Beaded Peacock Socks" with a scrumptious hand-paint, which will include beading on the leg, and also found on Ravelry.
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And finally, a pattern called, "Eleanor" by Gigi Siva a/k/a Monkey Toes.  I've made this pattern before and love the results, plus it is an easily remembered pattern repeat, so I don't have to watch a chart constantly as I knit.  

That just about covers my recent knitting endeavors, unless I confess to cleaning out my extra skeins to please DH, and then filling the recovered storage space with premium yarns at a going out of business sale and auction.  I shouldn't have to purchase yarn to make anything for quite some time!

Next posting, I will show my current quilting projects.  There are just as many of those as there are knitting projects.  Can you believe it?

                                                   

Been busy!

I've been on a quiltmaking frenzy, and it's time to start posting to my blog again.  Pulled out some vintage projects and got them completed.  One old favorite was my Perfume bottle blocks.  I made a quilt for my cousin, and still had more than enough blocks to make my own quilt . . . and then some.  The little bottles were so addictive that every time I saw a fabric with gold, silver or copper on it, my first thought was to make a perfume bottle with it.  Realizing I would soon have enough blocks to make a slipcover for my garage . . . two-car . . . I decided to get with it, and get the top complete.  One will also note that I added some lettering.  It's Edwardian script, and it says, "Eau de Parfum".  I had so much fun with the lettering, that now I want to put letters on EVERYTHING!

When my good friend, Lois, saw the completed perfume bottle quilt, I thought she was going to cry.  So, I took 31 of my remaining 32 blocks, set them with pale pink/hot pink Fairy Frost hourglass blocks, and added the same lettering across the top.  Of course, I couldn't stand the tension, so I showed it to her . . . well, I did manage to hold out for two whole weeks after the last stitch was put in the appliqued border.  That time, she did get teary-eyed.

Also, had a quilt top called "Fireflies", a Lisa Bongean design, that I had been working on with scraps.  Sat down to make yet another giant quilt top, but stopped myself.  Rationalizing that I have several queen-sized or larger quilt tops in my "inventory", I decided I should convert those blocks into quilts for two of my grandsons.  So, I added nice borders, and mostly finished those tops.  (See note above about lettering . . . thinking of putting the boys' names on the borders!)

Then, I pulled out a set of blocks started for my granddaughter.  They are for a pinwheel sampler and I had been hunting an additional fabric to finish it.  I found one, but also another that I liked better than what I used in the blocks.  Little did I know that I was working on two quilt tops at once.  (That seems to be a theme with me, too!)  So, I made the two remaining blocks, and started planning the setting.  This first effort will be going to the Americus Quilting Club for their designated use, either quilting for a future raffle, or selling the top to another member.

Currently at work on another applique lettered border for a gift quilt.  And, dug out some hand-piecing for hand-work while watching the Olympics.  Will also get out the camera for photographic evidence of all those completions noted above!

P.S.  Finally finished the Four-patch Revisited quilt that I had in the frame for far too long.  It was done in time for the Old Tippecanoe Quilt Guild Show in March, along with a French Basket from a class by Anita Shackelford from years ago at Quilt America.  

If me dear friend, Esther, had not already won the title, you could call me "Hot Needles"!  

Pardon the rude interruption!

Think I have stewed long enough over the job loss . . . it still grates to have put in 27 years, and be treated as I was.  But, I digress . . .  I'm rejoining the "blog-o-sphere"!

But, the good part is, I love not going to work in an office, but directing my energies to my home and projects.  When I recently hosted my card club, I really enjoyed getting the food ready without rushing around after work.  I was so much more relaxed . . . not that my friends distress me, but I always seemed to be still assembling some food when they arrived.  This time, everything was ready, and I was sitting and stitching when they arrived! 

Stitching . . . well . . . where to begin!  Maybe a list of projects in progress! 

1)  On our recent trip to visit the grand-kids in Virginia (son and daughter-in-law, too), we stayed at home of daughter-in-law's sister . . . and took care of the kitties while they visited their son out west.  They have a charming comfortable home in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  They are fond of Indian art.  I thought about making a Kokopelli pillow, but then I came upon Sindy Rodenmayer's fabulous Native Flair block patterns.  Found a great background that sort of reminds me of sandstone.  Then, I went through my batiks to create the "critters".  Here are the first two blocks.  Wolf is the next one under construction. 

Have been collecting Anne Sutton's darling "Henrietta Whiskers" patterns.  Finally couldn't stand the pressure, and I had to start them.  These are the first three completed blocks, and nearly completion of the fourth.  I have kits made to construct the next three blocks, and will be up to date.  Love 'em!

Started thinking about projects that are close to completion, and how a few totes could be emptied to contain new projects.  At the machine, the pink and white nine-patches necessary to complete my Bonnie Hunter Double Delight.  Going to Rossville Quilts today with two friends, and hope to locate a suitable border fabric to really push this top toward the finish. 

And, my long neglected quilt in the frame is now getting the attention it deserves.  Just have two half blocks, two half-medallions, and one-quarter corner medallion to stitch . . . well, plus the border, for which I couldn't settle on a design when placing this one in the frame.   The inspiration to get back to this came from working with the Americus Quilt Club on their projects in the frame.  Have to keep my stitch practice in, and this one benefits from the attention to the others at their meetings!  Now, of course, I'm worrying about which one of my many carefully aged tops should be next up! 

Purchases in Paducah this year were batiks for the a currently popular applique pattern called, "Sweet Sixteen".  Then, the June trip to the NQA show in Columbus, was the resource for selecting fabrics for Beth Ferrier's "Christmas Yet to Come".  I chose a deep purple from the Focus line by Moda for the background, and lots of batiks for the applique, with a few fairy frosts for accent.  Guess I'm going into my serious batik period right now! 

Knitting is being neglected at the moment, but next post, I'll show a successful project for my grandson from Christmas! 

Well, everyone knows I love it all!