Finally some progress

I know I have not been the best blogger lately. Seems like life sometimes gets in the way. First a week with Lillie age 4 here and then last week I had Bandit the puppy. Lots of fun with him but he is sure full of energy. Then the sewing room clean out and organize. I am still not quite finished with that. All this going on and I get a call to help with some items to be used on Saturday for a local fund raiser. A "Kentucky Derby Gala". They needed saddle blankets for some of the models they are using as well as some embroidery on things. I took time out to help with this as the funds go to our local library. That taken care of I participated in the "Wee Tiny Sock Swap 2009". I have that mailed.

Then a great fabric hunt. I live in the middle of nowhere it seems and have little choice in purchasing fabrics. After a trip to our local JoAnn's and finding they did not have enough denim for my next big project of one color. I can't believe how many colors of denim there are. I need 16 yards to cover the cushions in my daughter's camper. Finally found a helpful clerk who offered to order it for me bless her big time. Then the second fabric hunt was for printed cotton knit. Not baby prints and so far that is all I have found. Louis #1 Grandson has a birthday coming and what he wants are PJ's from Nana. He loves the soft cotton t-shirts and elastic waist pants for summer. I was reduced to solid colors so will need to add some nifty ribbing and perhaps some embroidery.

With all of this I am working on a workshop booklets for a workshop in Buffalo, NY the first weekend in June. I will be teaching 3 days. I have the yarn ordered at this point and am busy working on the patterns. They are originals of mine but with a new computer I know they could look so much nicer so I am reprinting all of these. I have one I finished this morning. Really pleased with how it worked out. Called a "little soap sack" I will be teaching the basics of lace knitting. When I take a class I like to have something I knit to look back at and refresh my memory. You will see the picture at the top of the blog is this little project.

One more day and husband is off to hunting camp. Turkey season in Pennsylvania. I will be working on workshops the entire time he is away as well as trying to fit in some sewing. Never dull here!

NON KNITTING PROJECT

As I have no knitting to blog about I thought I would share this idea with you. Often you can find the old basket type purses at thrift sales. Here is a great use for one. I made Lillie an Easter Basket by changing ribbon and trim. Filled it with grass and her Easter items. Great for small little girls as there is a lid and during the egg hunt things stay inside. She really loved it. This week her favorite color is purple so I used purple flowers and a glue gun to trim the top and just ran some ribbon around the top. I did it too late to share for this Easter with all of you but thought you might want to be on the search for a basket and put it away until next year. With 3 dogs to keep up with life is pretty busy around here.

Yesterday was a sewing day. I hate to mention this one but shortly after Sammy the Cavalier came to visit, he chewed the bottom of the leather sofa, matching chair and ottoman. I have fussed over this for a long time. The furniture was in perfect condition until he arrived. The blue duct tape did little to add to the decor of the room. Yesterday I took some plaid fabric with the blue of the leather in it and made a skirt, flat not gathered or pleated, and used the staple gun to attach it. Looks great if I do say so and now our family room is not so shabby. Best part was the fabric came from the stash. Now I know why I save all this stuff.

Two great ideas for Earth day, save and reuse!

KNITTING NOT!

This sweater nearly did me in. Yes as dear husband says why do you wait until the last minute? I don't really know but I seem to always do this. I thought since I had the cute jacket for Lillie for Easter it would only be fair to knit Louis a sweater. Here is is and he does look handsome I think. However I found doing this in just a few days was not smart. I have been in knitting jail ever since. I apparently pulled my neck muscles and had such pain I was in the ER. Thanks to some great meds ,which make me so sleepy I can't stay awake. I am nearly back to normal but no knitting has taken place here in over a week and I am suffering from serious withdrawal. Now I can always blame it on the other things I was doing for the grandchildren like cut out cookies and a purse/basket for Lillie. I know inside was the knitting.

The yarn came from my stash, some wonderful stuff my friend Ann shared with me a long time ago. It is called "memory yarn" mostly cotton with an elastic fiber added in. Manufactured by Melrose. The directions call for you to make a size larger than normal as well as each section an inch longer. I did all of the above and it was a perfect fit. This stuff is wonderful no sag and ba and ribbing really ribs. Louis was so pleased he had it on all weekend. Now I am going to hunt the stash and see if I have some more of this great stuff. I did find while knitting that the regular metal needles were a bit sticky with this yarn and went back to the good old fashioned Balene that I hold so dear and have stashed away.

Now I am baby sitting with daughters dog while they vacation. The large dogs are at the kennel but the little fellow Bandit (he is in the center) is here with me along with his mom Vera and Sam the original Cavalier who lives here.

More later on what goes on here. I have another project to show you all later.

I LOVE SHEEP!!!

I think that all of us who love to knit have a real passion for sheep. I think they are a big part of our lives. So many kinds of wool and the like. The following link is one of the most amazing things you could ever imagine about sheep. I enjoyed it so much I need to share. Thanks to my knitting friend Sally for sending me this link. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FX9rviEhw