Tuesday, December 22, 2009

ALOHA!!!!!




Ever since I went to Hawaii about ten years ago, I've wanted to make a Hawaiian Quilt. Well, I still feel my applique skills are not up to par for that but maybe in the next year or so. I spotted this quilt class at Pieces Quilt shop taught by an excellent instructor Sheri Thomas. It is one big 42" block made in the traditional Hawaiian style. The pattern comes from the Pacific Rim Quilt Company located in Washington State.


I started this quilt back in May when we drove down to our daughters wedding in Las Vegas. I stitched on it on the way down and the way back, then about another week at home. It has been sitting just waiting to go to my quilter Krista Withers. I finally got it quilted and I just love it! It is my lap quilt and it is VERY bright. The purple background with the lime green design, just screams "hello, wake up!" Hence the name "ALOHA!!"


Monday, November 30, 2009

It Must Be Christmas !!!!!!!














It's that time of year when I'm hearing the old familiar tunes and smelling the Peppermint Mochas at Starbucks! It must be Christmas! I just finished my Christmas Quilt for this year. It's hard to show the detail involved because it's such a large quilt, but I sure enjoyed making it. It is a Crabapple Hill pattern by Meg Hawkey. She was in the Seattle area two years ago and I was fortunate enough to take a class from her. I have gotten hooked on Redwork and am now working on another one of her designs. All the blocks are stitched in Red DMC floss and I used a variety of reds, whites and beige fabrics. I had it quilted by Krista Withers and she is an absolute genius. I wish you could see the beautiful detail of her work! If you click on the picture of the full quilt you can see a closer look at all the blocks.
Hanging this quilt was like putting up a Christmas tree for me! I can now sit in my chair and enjoy the snow people having a good time!






Saturday, November 14, 2009

Meeting Jared

It was SO nice to meet Jared Flood and be able to show him my Girasole and Hemlock Ring! He did a book signing at Churchmouse Yarn and Teas and was so personable and wonderful. I was surprised he was so accomplished at such a young age! The evening was very nice with many of his pieces on display as well as champagne and chocolates! Yum! I hope all of you will have an opportunity to meet Jared at some point, as well as knit one of his designs!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

I'm still here and still creating!




It's been ages and I have been working on projects, just not writing on this blog. I love the project I'm posting today. It's called Girasole by Jared Flood. It is a fun project but when you work up to 640 stitches on the needle it takes great determinations to keep foraging ahead to finish it. BUT it IS finished and I'm glad I hung in there. Jared Flood is the designer and he will be appearing in the Seattle area, so I intend to take it to show him. I also have another one in red started!


Monday, July 20, 2009

Glinda!




This is the Glinda sock offered by the Woolgirl Oz Sock Club. I loved the yarn (Madelinetosh Sock)and I loved the pattern! This will be a pattern that I definitely will make again. It is designed by Bethany Whitney for the sock club and you make cables without a cable needle. It's a technique that I hadn't done before and I struggled a little at first, but once I got it, I loved the technique. A must pattern for a sock knitter.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

I Can't Believe it's July!


Where is time going? It seems it just flies by and seasons change faster than I can enjoy them. How come work days don't fly by that fast? lol Here is my latest candle mat. These are fun little projects and usually only take a day or two to make. Have a Happy 4th of July!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Refocus and Get Knitting!




Well after a year of planning, anticipating and fretting, it's a memory now. But a beautiful memory indeed! The Wynn in Las Vegas did a fabulous job, as well as Maggianos for the reception. I wouldn't have changed a thing! I guess it's back to normal life now and time to concentrate on my knitting and quilting projects.

The past couple of days has been the LYS Tour in the Puget Sound area. In years past, I have gone to several of the shops but this year I was just plain out of energy. I went to the two closest shops to my house and picked up their free patterns. Oh yeah, I also bought the yarn that went with them!! Renaissance Yarns had a lovely pair of fingerless gloves as their free pattern and they had a new yarn to celebrate the occaison called Merisoft, from Punta yarns. It is Merino wool and feels really nice. I chose a varigated turquoise. The Knittery had two patterns. One was a lacy pair of anklet socks made with Trekking Pro Natura. I chose to do these in white. Maybe because of the wedding? lol They also had a scarf that is really lacy and beautiful made out of Silky Alpaca Lace Yarn . I chose the cream color. Hopefully I will be showing some progress on these over the next few months! I know for sure as I knit along I will be reliving a wonderful memory of my daughter's marriage to a wonderful man.





Sunday, April 26, 2009

Life is Swirling Around Me






After a year of planning the big wedding day is almost here! I can't believe that in two weeks it will just be wonderful memories. We are driving "the dress" down to make sure it gets there, so there will be lots of knitting time in the car. I thought it was only fitting that I start knitting "The Swirl Shawl" to mimic my life right now. I bought some Pagewood Farms hand dyed sock yarn and some beautiful new doublepointed needles with the greatest points on them. There are several times you have to knit three together, and I go crazy if I don't have a good point. I love these needles by Darn Pretty Needles even though they were a bit expensive ($30),they sure have made me a happy camper. My other toy for this project was a Fibersphere. So far I am loving this gadget too and it will be great for keeping my yarn clean in the car. So, the dress is ready, all plans are in order and I have my knitting and quilting projects ready for the car. Swirl on! Life is good.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Candle Mats and Glassybabys



I have always been a fan of Glassybabys! These beautiful little handblown candle holders became famous after Martha Stewart touted their beauty several years back. Seattle is fortunate to be the home of Glassybabys. Well, between my love of quilting and my love of blown glass, I've found a marriage made in heaven! Wool mats and Glassybabys. There are many candle mat patterns available, but I am drawn to "Annelles Originals" She has a candle mat pattern for every holiday and she also offers the wool to make them. So naturally, I'm going to make several this year and the Shamrock St Patricks Day is the first one! I really enjoyed this project and it was a nice sit in my chair and stitch pattern. Next up....Bunnies!