cool pen and yarn dyeing

I am blaming this post on Walmart!!!  baha.  I am still feeling very puny and sick.  I went in for juice, soup and cold medication (and maybe a vacuum). I came out with a lot more than that!  Truthfully, it was my own fault for going in without a firm list.  

This first item, not on the list, is actually really, really cool.  It may be old news to other quilters out there but it was new to me.  A friend of mine had given me a sewing box that had been her grandmother's after she passed away.  Her grandma was a quilter and in the mixture there was a bright pink pen.  The ink disappears when you iron over it!  I used it completely up!  I have looked at Joann's, Michael's and a quilt store and did not find another like it.  So.  Today in Walmart I was walking by the office supplies and thought "I wonder?" Sure enough!

This second blank picture is after ironing over the spot I had written in the red ink. Love. It.  

Right. Here's where things get a little dicey.  Somehow I ended up in the yarn section.  I think I was walking by and a bright white skein caught my eye.  Like bare yarn.  I thought that was interesting, I entered the aisle....and that led to me deciding I should learn to dye my own yarn!!!!  You see how these things can just "happen", right?

There were only a few colors so I went a couple aisles over and found the tie dye colors.  Much better selection.  I don't know if it will actually work.  But thought I'd give it a go.  The yarn is a cotton lace weight 50g hank.  They also had a chunkier cotton.

I put the yarn in this plastic lid. 

The dye was already in these little bottles, just added water.  Easy peasy.

The yarn did not initially accept the dye.  Once it was wet though it did.  It may be a good idea to start with wet yarn next time.  The dye was super saturated.  I put on the light pink, then squished in the darker.  Then the purple which initially was like black.  Then, I took the black and spattered it over everything.  At that point the yarn was wet with the other colors so the spatter stuck well.  

I did not follow the instructions on the box.  After the dye was placed you were supposed to wrap it in plastic for 6-8 hours.  But, I decided to rinse it in cold water and woolite.  That lightened the color considerably to what you see above.  

I have it drying outside.  I can't wait to see what it will be!!!  50g could maybe be a short pair of socks???  For socks I usually start with 100g and I have a ton left over.  Anyway it was mostly just for fun, an experiment.

I did also come home with a hard floor vacuum.  I love it!  Even though Rocky is a short hair and doesn't shed horribly there still ends up being a ton of hair!  Sweeping was just getting old.  It's small, easy to put together and inexpensive.  So there's that.

Ok. For reals I am doing nothing for the rest of the day! I hope you all have a great week.

fat camp and wips

So there's a wellness incentive program from the hospital I work for that we've been calling "fat camp".  Fat camp started this week for me.  We did a series of screening labs and entered in body measurements and answered health and lifestyle questions.  Then were sorted into two groups, green (fatties) and blue.  The green group, if they choose to, can participate in the program.  It's funny because my labs are better than my super svelte friends!  But, alas, my girth has landed me in the green (fatty) group.

The first appointment was with the doctor, going over health history.  Very easy for me as I really am healthy.  Second appointment was yesterday with the therapist.  That one was also easy for me because I know a lot of the whys of my obesity.  I know when I started gaining and I know why.  I've gained 40 lbs since Scott died.  I was overweight before that and now it's just too much.  So, I feel like I'm a pretty straightforward person, right?  It's really about motivation for me - I know what to do, its just the actual doing of it.

I really liked this therapist.  I feel like she 'got' me.  So, the homework she gave me makes total sense and is also really hard for me.  She said she wants me to work on my negative self talk.  Start to be aware of it and why and reprogram.  Huh.  Yep.

It's one of those things that I've heard before but maybe it wasn't the right time for me to really hear it.  I have noticed that I am pretty hard on myself. And my first reaction to difficult things is 'nope I can't do that' or 'I can't afford that'.  And, then lo and behold, I do figure things out.  On some things I see other people do things and think I can do that and then become determined to do whatever it is.  Like quilting or knitting two socks on one needle.

So we'll see what happens.  I'm pretty excited, actually, to have the help.

In other news, I've finished the March frame for the year long stitch along from The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery .  It's Sherlock Holmes!  Which you know I love so I really took my time adding in extras that I felt reflected the stories, and the newer UK version of Sherlock.  There's an instagram community that has been super fun!  People have been adding their pictures to the pool with the hashtag #storytimesampler and I've gotten great ideas from there.  There are so many clever and talented stitchers out there!

 This week I'm going to try and knit a little more than I have been.  I've been knitting on breaks at work but that's pretty much it!  Here's an update of where I am currently:

I really like the stripes!  

weekend do-over please

Geez.  Where did the weekend go?  I feel like I need a do-over.  Saturday was spent at a candle party.  Which was technically nice at a friend's house.  But I wasn't in the mood to do that.  But, I've been trying to be a little more social.  Sunday I tried to make up for Saturday and do some sewing.  But, then my project turned into crap.....so you know.  No pictures.  And then I was frustrated.

Another thing leftover from this weekend is my mustache.  Yikes!  I had a moment of total shock driving to the candle party.  It was nice and sunny and Charese drove so I flipped down the mirror in the passenger seat - and the sun shone just right on my stache.  Luckily, it's super light blond and tiny hairs but it is not attractive!!!!  Then we got busy with the party and I forgot.  Sunday saw it again and then promptly forgot again (blocked it out?).  So, I must, absolutely must wax that baddie away!

I also watched a super sad movie which I'm still mad I did.  I really should know better.  So, it simultaneously made me cry and shake my fist in anger at it.  Uggg.

And, I started my boys on a raw dog food.  It's has been very rough.  Sunday and Monday night was spent waking up every 1-1.5 hour to let one of them out.  I may be giving up on that depending on how tonight goes.  My goal is to help Joey's allergies not make them sick!

So I'm working this Saturday morning so it is going to be a bit shorter weekend.  But!  I'm not going to make any plans.  And I'm going to let myself just knit.  Oh, I almost forgot, I finally started the stitch along!  So, maybe I'll just stitch on that?

Sorry to just ramble on about not much, I just realized I didn't update this weekend.  Such is life, sometimes it's just boring or ho-hum.

p.s. I am now stache free :)

Mr. Fox and quilt top

I've got lots of pictures to share!  Yesterday I knitted and visited with a couple friends.  It was nice while I was still feeling under the weather to just take it easy.  I got a lot done on Mr. Fox.  This morning I was determined to finish him up.  George was determined to be right in the way!

 I had just finished sewing the tail on and about to start the face and she was right up in the middle of everything, as usual!

And there she goes, sticking her curious face into my notions bag!

 And so I finally got this guy finished.  I don't really think he looks like a fox, do you?  Not sure what he looks like really but very cute.  I am planning to make him a little sweater and possibly trousers.

Tail view: 

I tried to get him to stand on his own, so here he is in some "wildlife" by the plant.

To finish the face on Mr Fox I had to go out the craft house and root around for some black yarn.  Doing so I got distracted by my modern maples quilt top that I had about 1/2 sewn together!  So, I pressed play on the book on cd I'm currently listening to and pulled up my chair to the sewing machine.  I'm listening to Inheritance by Christopher Paolini, it's the 4th book of that series.   The top is now sewn together and measures about 72 x 72.  I'm considering adding a bit of a border but not sure.

So, this is my attempt at an artsy quilt photo!  LOL  I look at other blogs and they take their finished quilt tops to fun locations or pretty places and get pictures in interesting ways.  And so I was like, hmmmmm I'm still in pjs so not going anywhere anyone can see me - what can I do with what I have?  I also have not raked my fallen leaves, quilt is maple leaves, ding dong!  I'll take a picture of my leaf quilt amongst fall leaves!  bahahahhaahhahahaaaaa haha hah ha.  So, I'm not a fancy photographer!  And I'm just fine with that.

Here's an artsy fartsy fall leaf picture for you.  I think my grass thinks it's spring because it has started growing like crazy and super green.

Anyway.  I've mentioned that I've been watching knitting podcasts.  This weekend I have been enjoying newest episodes (releases?) from my favorites.  The Dancing Geek (James) who is just lovely.  The Bakery Bears which are Dan and Kay Jones, and they had some really great news to share! Dan has gotten the all clear from an illness.  Today I got caught up on the Brant and Sherry podcast which is on itunes.  I was about to move onto something else but noticed that my google alert bell was on and the newest Come Knit With Us was released!  So I'm listening/watching that as I type.  Those girls are a hoot!  So silly.  Love them all.  I thought since I've mentioned that I started watching I'd share links so you can join too if you'd like.  I looked a bit today to see if I could find any quilting podcasts but only found audio podcasts, not video.  And they didn't seem quite as silly as these so I didn't keep listening - but if you know of any I'd love to check them out!

finally weekend

I probably say this every week but this week was a doozy!  Yikes.  Drama at the office man.  I heard about it but I am just too busy to get involved, so I stay in my safety bubble.  But, you know how no matter how much you stay out of something the tension just permeates?  The chatter was still felt, I'll just put it that way.

I had a meltdown midweek.  I did write a post about it but then didn't end up posting it.  Widowhood is not easy, folks.  This week was physically hard for me, I've been sick.  So, trying to keep up with my normal work schedule plus some overtime and being sick have been taxing.  And the backround drama chatter, and not sleeping well.  And dang it, I miss my husband.  He would have brought me juice, jello and gummy worms and probably soup. And kleenex since my nose will not stop running. And comfort, hugs, love.  So yeah I had a poor me moment, played some sad music and let myself cry it out.  For some reason I tend to hold my emotion close, like save it for later.  So later came and I let it go.

And, then the next day felt slightly better.  And the sweetest thing happened, a coworker who is only in the office once a week brought me 2 homemade cinnamon rolls!  Just me.  I really thought that was the nicest, most thoughtful thing.  They were absolutely delicious and I had two sweet breakfasts.  And I had proof that it's not all bad.

In other news, you may have guessed that sewing did not happen last weekend!  I was too exhausted to even walk out to the craft house!  But!  I have been knitting because that takes minimal energy :)  I had started this knitted fox like forever ago and then got distracted by socks and other knitting - it happens!

The pattern is boy fox by Little Cotton Rabbits.  It's knit flat and then seamed.  Which, I have to be honest I'm not crazy about.  But, pretty much everything I've knit for the last year or so has been in the round.  I started the arms last night and modified the pattern to knit in the round and so far so good.  I think I wasn't thinking when I picked this yarn for a fox, it does have orange mixed in but it's very brown.  Are there brown foxes?  idk.  Google will know.

Once I finish this little knit I was thinking I'll finish my Dumbledore socks and then start Christmas knitting.  I don't think I have much in that department but we'll see what happens.  I should start thinking about gifts before it's like Christmas Eve, right?  

Okay I'm going to sew I think :)  Oh! before I forget though - holiday coffee creamers finally at the store!!!!!  Big news, big news.  Frosted sugar cookie is what came home with me and it is fab.  v.delish!

holiday dread

I'm dreading the holidays.  I wish I could hibernate for half of November until the middle of January.  And somehow still get paid and dogs taken care of.  It's not going to happen, I know that.  December is a bit of a bomb for me.  It starts with my birthday.  Then 5 days later it's his birthday.  Then Christmas. The month ends with what would have been our 17th anniversary.  Then there's New Year's.  ug. g.g.g.g.g.g.

I was trying to ignore it.  But a gal at work asked me what we should plan for Christmas at the office, gift exchange, ornament exchange, secret santa?  I brushed her off.  But it keeps popping up.  It used to be my favorite time of year.  I loved to decorate, put up a tree, lights, music, hot chocolate - everything.  Today at lunch I didn't mean to but I started thinking about whether I'd want to put up a tree this year.

My own tree.  By myself.

Scott was fundamentally against fake trees.  He loved a fresh tree that would scent the whole house.  We would put up special ornaments and lights and have Bing Crosby crooning in the backround.  The warmth was not just from our propane heater, it was the love of the season that we both had.  Together.

If I wanted an artificial tree I could do it.  If I want knitted ornaments, I could make them.  I've had a turkey in my freezer since last year - I could roast it.  I could try and make my own memories.  Nothing really feels special alone though.

I know I'll get pity invites that will be made to seem like it's not out of pity that I'm being invited to their personal family traditions.  It is nice to be thought of, that anyone would try to include me, it really is.  But it's not the same.  It's just that nothing feels right with him gone.

Today, all day, unbidden thoughts of him throughout the last year of his life keep haunting me.  I will just have a little snippet of him laughing, no inkling of what was coming.  His little quirks - like the way he would sometimes clear his throat or cough.  In the early days I worried about whether or not he knew in those last moments that he was dying.  I didn't want him to be scared.  I'm glad that he hadn't been sick and suffering, didn't have that fear of when is it going to happen.  But it's just so disconcerting.  One second here, the next not.  Saturday marked 18 months since he's been gone.  Some days I get caught in the "it's not fair" trap.  Because it's not.  And I don't have the strength to find the silver lining.  To only consider how lucky I was to have him for the time I did.  I do know that.  I do know that I was lucky to have him, blessed by him immeasurably.

But anyways.  I've been trying to think of somewhere to escape to.  Or do I just see if I can handle it this year?  I know my puppies and George would appreciate me being home, spending the days with them.  I don't know yet.

***Disclaimer: this is my grief journey.  There are no answers to it.  I know there is nothing anyone can say to make it better and that's okay.  This is my space to just get my feelings out.

chatting

I've been knitting, knitting, knitting!  Here is sock #1 of my plum medley socks.  Plum Medley is the actual colorway name.  I felt like it was very Fall and Halloween.  I started this sock on August 10th and finished today, the 22nd.  So, 12 days mostly knitting 1/2 hour a day and the last couple days my internal alarm has woken me up earlier than my alarm so have knit about an hour each day.

I went with the Fish Lips Kiss Heel (FLK) again and it went very smoothly.  I still have a teensy gap on one side so I will just add a couple stitches there but no gap on the other side.  I will have to pay more attention to try and figure out just why I'm coming up with a gap.

Today I had a half day of work since I'll be working Saturday morning.  Even though I know I'll be working tomorrow I still feel like I'm getting a vacation day somehow!  Isn't that funny?  The boys love it, I came home at regular lunch time and they haven't had to get back in their kennels.  Joey has a vet visit in a bit to get more sutures removed from his ear.  His ear is healing so well from his surgery, I'm really hoping there are no setbacks once all the sutures have been taken out.

Let's see, what else is new?  Honestly not much.  Temps are dipping back down into the 40's at night but still warm during the day.  I'm glad not to have to turn on the air conditioner, which I really just have for the boys to be comfortable during the day.  This is the sweet time during the year where my electric bill relaxes.  No air and no heat, it's pretty perfect!

I realized some time this week that I haven't done any canning.  Usually by this time I've made strawberry rhubarb jam and at least one batch of pickles.  The thing is last year I didn't eat all the pickles I made!  I still have 4 or 5 jars.  I made a triple batch last year because I had gone through them so quickly the year before.  So, I'm still deciding what I'll do.  If I decide to make some pickles I will only make one batch.  I think I want to make jam for sure but rhubarb isn't ready yet.

My Mom and I have a trip to the coast coming up!  I can't wait :)  I won't say when we're going in case any creepers read my blog. (I don't think so but must be careful) I'm really needing some beach time.  Some just sit and soak in the sound of the waves.  Some knitting in a chair in the sun or even overcast fogginess.  Just ocean time!  And, Mom time.  It's going to be good.

hermit crab

Like anyone grieving, I've gone through some phases.  Last summer I really didn't want to be home.  I wanted to be a beach bum as much as possible.  This year I could easily be a beach bum again but dang that gets expensive! Gas, hotel, dog kenneling.  This summer I am more of a hermit crab.  I am very much annoyed if I have too much to do during a week or on the weekend.  I'd rather just stay home with my pooches.  Preferably in pajamas :) grin.

This weekend has been pretty good.  I sewed, watched movies and chilled all day yesterday and then last night went to trivia night at a pizza parlor with friends.  Our team was losing until the last question when we made a wicked comeback listing 10 of the 16 legends in the song Vogue by Madonna!!!!!  Each correct answer was 10 points so we went from losing to 2nd place!  It was pretty funny.

Today I have done a little more sewing, knitting and watching podcasts.  Oh yeah and I just woke up from a 2 hour nap :)  I'm working on a new pair of socks - surprised? LOL not so much.  I started last Sunday and have been just trucking along and today I am right at adding the heel.  Isn't this yarn fun?  I bought it last year on one of my trips to the coast.  It reminded me of Halloween.

I edited this post to add pictures of a couple of the zipper bags I made this weekend.  I actually made 4 more but gave them away before getting pictures!  So, these two look the same but are a bit different.  I used iron on fleece for one and then regular stiff interfacing on the other.  So far I think the fleece is a bit easier to sew for me because it's like quilting but is squishier so not sure I like it for the bags.  Buuuuuut, I've seen other bloggers have used it so thought I'd give it a try.

 Okay, and here is where I run into most of my frustration with the bags.  Once you sew the sides along the zipper edges and then flip everything inside out to finish it's super puckery on the sides, like the green one.  Most instructions say to sew the zipper folded towards the outside and that happens every time.  By a happy accident I had folded the zipper towards the inside and I think it came out better, a little more flush.  It's easier to see in person of course.

These two bags are destined for a fairy princess named Charese!  She wanted them to put in her car to help keep her organized.  

sticky tags

I bought this jar today to make sun tea.  I had a bit of an inside joke with myself because as I was washing it before filling it with the water to make tea I wiped over the sticky tag at the bottom (the upc).  Why I was laughing at myself is because I have a tendency to leave tags on things after I buy them.  Obvious tags.  And it used to drive Scott crazy!  Like cuckoo crazy.  He'd come across something with the tag on it and he'd say "why don't you remove this?!"  and I'd shrug and move on, still not removing the tag.  And he didn't then either.  So, it became a thing.  He'd come across one and I'd hear "grrrrrr!".  And I'd just smile.  It was just one of those things.  I actually took the sticky tag off this jar.  Would it make him crazy to know that I waited until he was gone to start removing tags?  I don't know, maybe :)  And for some reason that made me smile today.  And feel a bit like a turkey bird.  Eh.

need advice.....and go!

Okay..........I need an opinion!  I bought a used armoire last night for my tv and dvds and stuff.  Initially I didn't love it, mostly because it had a weird metal thing in the half circle at the top.  But, I tried to look beyond that and it's growing on me.  Also, it's huge.  The doors and trim are oak, the back and sides are pressed wood.  But, I think I got a good deal - $75!  Anyways my question is, do I paint it white????  part of me wants to....the other part is a little scared to.  I am going to cover the weird metal thing with fabric to make it more me.  Or should I try and stain it dark?  Paint is brown?  black? nothing? leave it alone?

Gel mani at home - finally!

Well I took the "plunge" as it were and ordered something I've wanted for a loooooooong time!  Like, years. I bought a home gel manicure set! I did some research....but as I often do - couldn't justify the purchase. It's funny, I would rather spend a little here, a little there than one chunk of money all at once.  I didn't really get manicures that often because it's an expenditure that is not in my regular budget.  But for trips or special occasions I would and feel special and love my nails.

So anyhoo I kept looking at different brands.  I've gotten the CND (c&d?) shellac at a salon and thought that was the only way to go.  Then a gal at work started showing up with cute manis that she was doing at home and was using Gelish.  That appealed to me because we actually do have a Sally supply store here so I could buy local.  But THEN! I was reading blogs one morning and came across this post.  Here's a lady who had already been doing her nails for a couple/few years and had tried out this product, Couture gel nail polish.  I was curious so I clicked the link to the website.  Really, it was the variety of colors that got me.  And it comes with an LED light which I know the Gelish brand also uses so I can probably add those colors into the mix as well.  I was sold.

Yes, it's an investment.  But even going to Walmart to have my nails done I would pay $20 and usually tip $5.  I opted to buy the deluxe package that comes with 3 colors and then I also ordered one extra and Jan also ordered some colors too.  I found a coupon code on facebook for 15% off.  So for the price of roughly 5 manicures at Walmart I now can do my own at home.  In my pajamas.

It came in the mail yesterday so of course I had to try it out last night!!!!  Pictures are not the greatest, turns out it's hard to get a good picture of nails! And it was at night so lighting is a factor as well.  The first one is probably the truest to real.

 I couldn't decide which color I'd want and didn't know what the colors would look like on so I did 3 colors!  I love the pink which is actually called cranberry and the teal.  The grey is called London's fog and that was a tricky bugger!  It was weird, on my thumbs the color went on perfectly and dark.  The other 2 nails I did like 3 coats on my left hand and 4 on the right!!!!  The other 2 colors I did 2 coats each.

 And here's my right hand.  You know it's tricky painting with your left hand anyway and with the gel you don't want to get it on the cuticles or sides but it's hard to wipe off with the left hand!  I think I still did okay.  My middle fingernails on both hands are wonky shaped so in this picture looks a little ginormous.

  I'm glad I decided to finally buy the kit!  Now I'm looking for more colors!  Neon would be fun :) Tee hee

goals and stuff

This past week has been a bit of a crapshoot.  Like technically it was fine.  Emotionally not so much.  Sleep was not my friend this week so you know how emotions are like so much more out of control when you're tired.  But! I survived.

So last weekend at the coast I journalled a ton, it felt really good.  I hadn't been writing for awhile because I was starting to feel like a broken record.  I miss him so much, why is he gone, blah blah blah.  *grin* so I hadn't been writing, then last weekend I took the opportunity to make a bunch of goals.  All good stuff.   Today I made a little frame goal board for my table, which is where my computer is until I get a desk and organize the spare room.  It works for now.  So, I wrote down some easy to manage, short term goals.  I have to tell you that the pencil holder is so old!  I made it in ceramics class in college (perspective 18 years ago!)  As you can see, I'm not great at ceramics.  LOL I found it in Scott's stuff when we were going through the man cave.  He had also held onto a little bowl and it had coins and little like pocket items in it.

 And, dun dun dun!  I put books in my bookcase.  These books were all in two different book shelves in the spare room.  So, now I have two partly empty shelves in there that I need to reorganize.  The only thing is that to me now the room feels cluttered with the added visual noise in the room.  I'm sure I'll get used to it though.

In other news I'm not great at fair isle knitting!  Remember last week I showed you the picture of the yarn I had gotten to make a little fox?  Well, I finished the head this week - was so excited!  But, I also don't know how to carry two colors of yarn while knitting and I had pulled the yarn strands too tight so the nose wouldn't open.  Bah!  So I ripped it back to the beginning of the new color addition, and I'll give it another go!  I've watched a youtube tute so I think I'm set.  One of my short term goals is to knit every day so I'll just keep trying till I get it.

Oh!  Spring has (hopefully) sprung!  It's been warm and sunny all week.  Not even frost on my windshield!  I think it's supposed to be possible rain this week.  So today I mowed the front and back yards.  You know what's the best?  Shellac.  I got my nails done yesterday and today I was pretty hard on them, with regular polish I would already have chipped them all up.  But the shellac looks exactly the same. Love.it.

fun packages

This was my week for packages!!!!  Fun packages :)  Tuesday night I came home to a box from my Mom FULL of fabric!  I didn't get any pictures because it was too dark and I put the fabric directly in the washer for pre-wash.  It was a nice surprise.  There were two really big pieces that she got a good bargain on.  One is a cream back round with roses that is flannel.  I'm not sure yet but probably a good quilt back.

Saturday morning I worked at the office and when I came home there was a big box on my porch taped shut.  No labeling on it so I knew it wasn't from the mailman.  My first thought was I hope it's not a bomb!  Silly. Then I remembered my friend Savannah had said she had sewing stuff from her Grandma (I think) that she was going to send down with her sister in law for me.  This box was chock full!  All kinds of stuff!  Fabric, buttons, tons of little hand sewing needles, bobbins, thread, you name it.

There are two sewing baskets.  I really like this bigger one that opens like a picnic basket.

Here is the smaller basket.  I asked Savannah today what kind of sewing she did because there are so many little hand sewing needles.  She said quilting and applique.  I can't imagine!  Such patience and work.

Here's a picture of these two little pin cushions that are so cute!  I don't know if I'll use them or not but they are so cute!

 If you could use any little hand sewing needles or those little threads let me know and I could pass them on.  

bounty

Holy smokes!  The air is so smoky up here!  Yikes!  Looking out my window this morning it was so thick it looked almost like fog.  My allergies are letting me know they no likey.  In spite of the yuck I have gotten a lot done this weekend with plenty of nothin' in between!  One of the ladies at work brought in bags of fresh basil from her garden on Friday and I was lucky to snag a bag!  I made fresh pesto last night using this recipe.  I did add another couple of sprigs of basil in addition to the 2 cups the recipe called for.  I had never made this before and it was really easy with my food processor.  I also baked up a couple loaves of yellow squash bread subbing crushed pineapple for oil and adding some shredded coconut.  It turned out really yummy.  For dinner I had put a veggie lasagna in the oven before making the pesto - multitasking :) 

Today I have chicken enchiladas cooking up in the crock pot to take to a family who just had a baby who has breathing issues.  And I made two loaves of zucchini bread subbing applesauce for the oil and I added carob chips.  I was a little heavier handed with those than I had intended.  The first couple handfuls just sunk into the batter and looked like there were hardly any, soooo naturally I added another couple handfuls.  I'm thinking those will last a bit longer since they will be so sweet.

It's funny because unless I'm sewing something I usually feel like I haven't gotten much done.  But, I did get the house clean yesterday and all that baking.  Today I did sew some hexagons while watching a movie so I guess I have accomplished something by my own standards!  I am making a table topper, like a circular-ish one with fall fabrics for the hexagons.  I embroidered a few of them for the very center, I think it will turn out cute.

fall inspiration

I haven't done any swaps for quite awhile and thought I'd get back into it and signed up for a fat quarter swap. I'm glad I did because one of my partners sent me a whole half yard of a fun fall print! Lucky me :) This week I also rec'd the fall issue of my quilting magazine that 3 squares I wanted to try: Peace and plenty, windblown and big dipper.  I felt like I had no other choice than to make the squares and then once I had they looked like they needed to be a table runner!  Perfect because then it gave me the chance to use my new darning foot for my old machine and free motion quilt!  I like the way it turned out and it was nice to finish a project pretty quickly. I know I've said it before but those little blocks, each one was 6" finished, are such a pain! Too fussy.  But, I like the way it turned out, the tree triangles are from the fabric that was sent in the swap.
Yesterday I went to the book sale that the library has on the weekends and scored some books on CD.  Hubs likes to listen to them so I try and pick them up when I can.  I had not ever gotten anything for myself because I usually prefer music while I'm sewing.  But, I picked up a book by Lauren Weisberger called Chasing Harry Winston and put that on while I was sewing.  I liked it!  I found myself pausing every so often just to listen which is funny because I usually only pause when I'm stuck for inspiration!  I'm about halfway through, and I'd say it's a good read (listen).  She is the same author that wrote The Devil Wears Prada, which I also liked.
Okay, lets talk about something random.  Have you ever found yourself dreaming, daydreaming, fantasizing about doing something and picturing yourself doing something but then never actually doing it?  I would say that I'm a big dreamer.  There are lots of things that I conjure up in my imagination. One is that I dream of being a runner.  But, even though I've had vivid dreams of my feet pounding the pavement I don't ever actually do it.  There are lots of reasons I don't, the biggest reason being that I'm embarassed.  I know I am my own worst enemy.  So, I'm going to try and break out of this, I'm going to start super small and see what happens.  Is there anything you dream of doing - even something mundane - but hold yourself back from doing?  I say, do it!  Start small so you don't get overwhelmed and then just see what happens.  Nothing illegal though, because frankly I don't want to be anyone's inspiration for that - lol :)

for when the zombies come

I'm just wondering what in the whooville is going on?  Yesterday I was trolling around walmart and walked past a display of boxes of "emergency food supply"!  Um. Huh?  What did I miss?  The only thing I can think of is that people must be stocking up emergency food supplies for when the zombie hordes take over.  Or the end of the world in December?  But really, if it's the end of the world then you don't need an emgency food supply, am I right?  Just another marketing ploy and some dummies are buying it up!  Now that I say that I'll probably be one of those dummies once I find out what the rush is to get emergency food supplies.  But, I'd rather just can up some super yummy stuff and not some leftover astronaut food.  Just sayin.

puttery

So, again with a post sans pictures.  Sorry.  I don't have any finishes to show!  I am kind of chilling out right now :)  and what that means is that I made a dress this morning and have been knitting otherwise.  And reading.  I bought a couple of adirondack chairs last summer and I put one on the deck which is in the sun and the other in the grass under one of the trees in the back yard and I've been rotating which one I sit in and I'm either knitting or reading. 
I'm reading Jane Eyre right now and it's perfect.  Since I've seen so many versions of the movie I can really savor the book because I already know what's going to happen.  And, I just love the pace of the book.  I think since it was written so long ago, and the language is a little archaic at times, the pace is different.  And Jane.  Jane obsesses over things, or at least just really thinks about things so much.  I can so relate to that.
Oh, I almost forgot!  I bought some squash plants last weekend!  They have been living in the kitchen because our weather is frigid!  We had frost warnings at least 2-3 times this week.  So, today was overcast but a little warmish so I put them in bigger pots and put them out in the sun.  My Mom gave me an heirloom tomato plant when I went to visit last and I had such high hopes for that little plant.  Um.  but we almost had snow the week before last (or last week?) and it succumbed to the chill because someone isn't good at remembering to cover plants when it's cold.  I'm blaming Joey.  That dog has such a terrible memory!

Christmas in June

I know, it's too early to be thinking of Christmas!  But, I needed a change of pace and something fairly quick to work on.  I am thinking I will add more white and then quilt it for a nice wallhanging.  I really like this block, it's just really not that quick of a block so I can't imagine doing a whole quilt with like 9-12 of them!  Yikes. 
So, what else is new?  Not much really.  I started going to zumba and water aerobics at the Y.  I was scared to death to be seen in public in a swimsuit but I found some shorts that sorta hide my butt and it's not so bad.  Not cute, mind you!  But not so bad.  The class is actually really easy, I don't know what I was expecting?  I love being in the water so it's fun.  Zumba is fun, too.
I started reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte yesterday because I figured since I've seen practically every version of it on film I should probably just go ahead and read the book.  My favorite version so far is a BBC version, natch.  I am also going to try and start going to book club again for Summer since I think we are moving bible study back to Mondays.  So, I'll keep you updated there.
Today is 81 degrees which is practically like a heat wave since we've been lucky to hit 60!  I'm loving it :)  So are the boys because when it's nice and warm I like to sit out back and read and they get to run amok.  Yesterday I got Rocky a new squeak toy and it was hilarious to watch him grab it, run to the couch and squeek it practically to death and then when I went outside he packed it with him and ran up and down the yard with it.  Love.

gadgets and tea

Okay, so I'm taking a break from quilting because I ran out of thread!  LOL.  I thought I had 3 spools of the variegated jewel thread but apparently not.  I think I'll be done with the quilt later today or tomorrow if I poop out :)  So, I got the chance to try out a new gadget this morning.  I had seen it on one of my favorite  quilting bloggers posts and had to try it out.  I saved the torn into package in case you'd like to track one down also.  It's called Kwik Klip and it's for when you are basting with safety pins.  The wooden thing with the metal at the top is the gadget.  So, you know how when you are pulling the safety pin together and have to get the pointy end caught in the little top part (geez I'm so technical!) and your fingers can start to get sore after a gazillion pins?  Well with this thing you get the pin through the layers and then just use the metal part of the gadget to slip the pin closed.  There are little grooves on the end that hold the pin while closing, it's super easy!  Really glad I tracked this down.  Also another little help has been keeping my pins in a little jar.  I just mod podged on some of my favorite fabric to disquise the branding on the lid.  Good stuff.

Last Sunday a few ladies and I got together for high tea in honor of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  It was wonderful!  We all wore hats and dresses up, Charese and I even had our white gloves on!  This is funny, Jennifer if you read this post - I wore the gloves from when I was a bridesmaid in your wedding!  I've held onto them all this time just in case and they were perfect!  Here's a shot of the table, it was beautiful, and we noshed on finger sandwiches, english muffins with jam, olives, cheese stuffed dates, and individual trifles for dessert!  And, of course, there was no shortage of tea which was lovely.  Funny thing, it started getting overcast and rainy as soon as our tea party started so we really felt that we were in England!  Course the rain and cold have stuck around all week!  Today is a high of 51.
And, off to Joann's for thread!  Hope you all have a fantastic weekend.

blah blah

Just checking in to let you know I'm still around.  I've had a very annoying cold that has just wiped me out!  I have just been soooo exhausted.  Rest assured that I have still been sewing in small increments of time....I just don't have anything exciting to show yet.  Yesterday I drove over to Medford and spent the day shopping, something I don't normally do.  But, the weather was nice and a road trip beckoned.  There's a store over there that I could definitely spend waayyy too much money in, Craft Warehouse.  It's got fabric, moda quilting cotton variety, it's got scrapbooking, beads, yummy candles, and TONS of ideas, there was even the mesh I wanted to try for wreaths.  I was very restrained because I didn't have a focus of project, or color so I did pretty good.  I did get some nice fabric though.  The Joann's over there had some great fabric and I also bought a book, Quilting from little things by Sarah Fielke.  She's one of the authors from Material Obsession but this one was on her own. 
Oh, yah, I signed up for an embroidery swap at Wild Olive.  Um, I'm sort of feeling like what was I thinking?  I have no good ideas and I'm not even that great at embroidery....I'm sure it will work out fine but I don't want to disappoint my partner.  Like, I kind of want to do something with a gnome and toadstool, natch.  But then I keep thinking a bunny would be cute.  I don't even know.
Today I'm just chillin.  Went over to Jan's to let her dogs out while she's at a volleyball tourney.  It's kind of weird to be at your friends house when they aren't there.  It's been snowing off and on, not the kind that is sticking yet, but it might.  Oh, did I mention I was reading the Hunger Games series?  I'm on the waiting list at the library for the last book so yesterday while I was at Barnes and Noble I read the ending.  It ends pretty close to how I wanted it to :) and yes, I will still read the book and enjoy it.