It's Been A Long Time!!!

Can't explain why I haven't posted. Suffice it to say I really had nothing to say!

I've been reading up a storm lately and really enjoying all the books I've read. I just finished a great book by Jude Devereaux; Lavender Morning. I really enjoyed it and got the second book of the series; Days of Gold. It's so wonderful going to the library and getting as many books as I want. I'm like a kid in the candy story. I think I've read 1 1/2 books every week for the last two months. I do miss reading on my Kindle but the library books are free! I've also been getting movies from the library. The last one I got was 21 Jump Street. I laughed and really enjoyed it.

I haven't been watching too much of the Olympics. Mostly just the gymnastics. I really enjoy seeing the ladies do their routines. I actually prefer the winter Olympics with the ice skating, ice dancing, etc. As I said, I have been reading a lot and doing some knitting. We knitters at Woolly Lamb are doing a charity knitting project. It's a scarf and a hat for a Debbie Macomber charity. We'll knit them and Brigitte will mail them off. I'm 2/3 done with the scarf and plan to finish it this week and work on the hat over the weekend.

Yesterday, I went to a quilting class at Quilter's Destination in Arlington Heights. We made the top of a Halloween table runner (right.) It was a very intense class but I got the whole thing done and it looks great! Gregory is holding it for me. It's hard to see it but I was too lazy to clean off the dining room table and lay it out.


You get the idea. I am so in love with quilting. I should say I'm in love with making quilt tops; quilting them once they're complete, not so much. It's not that I don't like doing it, it's just that I don't have the artistic talent to do a fun pattern. I think I need a new sewing machine with different stitches....sorry Tom! : )  I hope to get this one and the other top I finished (left) before Halloween.

Looking very forward to the upcoming visit of my dear friends from Germany; Mandy and Thomas. We have never met but are the best of friends! I can't wait to see them and give them both a big hug! I think they will have so much fun in Chicago!
Well, I guess that's it for now. I need to get to knitting on the scarf for a bit. It's already 8:00 now - can't believe how fast the time goes when you're at home!

Has It Really Been 11 Days?

Hello all,
I can't believe I haven't posted on this blog in 11 days. Either I'm very busy or very lazy...you can judge!

I have been busy knitting, ready, and sewing lately. I finally finished the last panel for the kitchen windows. I must say they are lovely and make me smile every time I see them! Here is the last panel in the chicken/rooster pattern to complement to other window panel:

This is the newest panel over the sink.

This is a close-up of the pattern.

This is a reminder of the first panel.
 The other one complements the inserts - clever, aren't I!




This is the turquoise Maggie Shawl I'm working on now. I counted up all the projects I have to complete and it totalled 20! I couldn't believe I have 20 WIPs (works in progress) including the above mentioned shawl. Maybe I should complete some? I guess it's just a case of start-i-tis as The Yarn Harlot says.

I just finished a great but sad book by Danielle Steel. It's His Bright Light and is about her second child, Nick. He is a very troubled child and the story tells about his tragic life and how much she tried to help him. He does commit suicide and it's very sad but worth a read.

Well, it's off to work I go once again. I'm glad I had a moment to blog a bit. 







The Heat Wave is Almost Over!

Today is another hot, hot day but there's hope; we may have a "cool" day tomorrow with 85 degrees! Yeah, we'll be able to breath again outside! Let's hope this is the end of the hot weather.


Outside of apron.

We had a great Fourth of July! I worked on my apron and have it almost all finished. I have a bit of hand sewing and then I just need to top stitch it. I have to check with my quilting friend Eunice for the best way to do that. It's a reversible apron with, of course, chickens and roosters! I have to match my curtains don't I? I actually still need to do another panel for the window over the sink. Maybe I'll get that done tomorrow. Here is the apron, outside and inside.



Reverse side of apron.

Now all I need to do is cook! These may make nice Christmas gifts! : ) They aren't too difficult to make.

Ro's American Flag Sheet Cookie.



Here are some pictures from our Fourth of July cookout at Ro's house. Luckily we were able to stay in the house and stay cool and well fed! There was so much good food we couldn't eat it all! Ro made a delicious American Flag cookie sheet and it tasted as good as it looks! Here is a picture of her proudly holding it up for the camera. It was so nice to be with our knitting friends, their spouses, and Ro's family. We watched fireworks and laughed and had a great time.






Little Bianca.

We even had our Knit Shop Doggie, Bianca with us. She loves to lay on Daddy's legs and cool her belly. She is Daddy's girl for sure and very much loved. She is a wonderful little girl. We heard Daddy bought her a little doggie stroller so they can take walks. She also loves to play at the doggie park. Could she be any cuter?  She is a very lucky dog because Mommy and Daddy rescued her from a very tough life. I think she may feel like she died and went to heaven living with Liz and Tony!

Don't you love her posing for the camera?

Unfortunately with the good times, come the bad times. One of our dear knitting friends just lost her sister unexpectedly. It was a shock to her and is very difficult to understand why something like this can happen. We are all there for her and pray for her and her family.

We are also praying for another knitting friend's husband. He is in the hospital but not sure what's wrong. When it rains, it pours.

Let's hope tomorrow is a better day for everyone.

Happy Fourth of July!

It's a real hot one today! I can't believe how hot it's been these past few weeks. Today it's supposed to be 99 degrees! We're going to Ro's house for a bar b que and luckily it's later in the evening. It will be fun anyway as we always have fun when the group gets together. My DH and DS (Gregory) went to Lucky Grill this morning for breakfast. Nice time and good eats. I'm going to sew my apron today and will post a pic when I finish it. Have a great Holiday and stay safe!

Monday, Monday

I had a great weekend but wasn't as productive as I was last weekend. I really pushed myself last week and got a lot done. This weekend we went to bring Gregory back home on Saturday so that took up most of the day but I was happy to do it. I was proud of him because he's taken such good care of the apartment. It was very clean and neat! He even ate almost all his food so there's nothing sitting around for the next month.

Today I had a goal to finish the baby hat I have been working on. For such a tiny hat, it was a monster to do! It's done...

Baby hat all done!

Now I'm working on the socks. I can't wait to get one completed and post the picture. Now I just need a sweet baby girl to give this to! I also want to start another one but in a blue/brown color.

I was able to at least cut out the pattern for my apron today. I quickly realized how much I forgot about cutting patterns out when I started. Everything did come back to me gradually and I remembered that I didn't really like sewing! I do like quilting because it's much different from cutting out patterns, etc. Not sure why I feel that way?  Oh well. Good thing it's just a small apron. I still need to make the other curtains for my kitchen but just didn't have time today.

Of course, I did a lot of laundry and ironing today. I found several nice cool outfits hanging on my "extra closet" in the basement. I totally forgot about them and it was like I went shopping and found some nice summer clothes. It's going to be a very hot week so I'm glad I found some new clothes.

Well, back to work tomorrow! It's hard to believe that the dreaded monthly report has once again reared it's ugly head! Oh well, I own it now and have great help. At least we have a day off this week.

I'm also looking forward to going to see Magic Mike with the knitting ladies this week. It seems like a great chick flick! Gregory refused to go to see it with me! (Wonder why?) Then we're having a bar-b-que on Wednesday!

Have a great week!



Weekend, Sweet Weekend!

Hello all!
It's been a very hot and long week and I'm ready for it to STOP!! At least today it didn't reach 100 degrees! It was only 90 degrees! I sure won't be complaining about the snow when we get it this winter. (Maybe just a little complaining....)

We went up to Milwaukee to bring Gregory home for the rest of the summer. He took two classes and really enjoyed both of them. He's ready for a break from studying and reading.

Well, I haven't had a chance or the ambition to do anything this week. After my spurt of energy on Saturday and Sunday last week, it's been just a come home from work and veg week. I guess I blew my wad last weekend. Speaking of last weekend, I took pictures of the table runners I sewed up for you to see. I can't tell you how much I love making these table runners. They're so simple yet so beautiful if I say so myself. I can't wait to buy more fabric and make up some more.

Black and White Model

Christmas Model

Thanksgiving/Fall Model



Halloween One Model

Halloween Two Model

Delicate Flower Model

 

Chicken & Rooster Model (MINE!)



I have some beautiful fabric that I bought last weekend but didn't buy the inside fabric. I must have gotten so excited I forgot to buy it! I did manage to finish the 3 inches I needed for the knitting baby hat today but still need to do the top. Maybe I can get that done tomorrow. I can't wait to start on the little socks! My goal tomorrow is to cut out the pattern for my apron and possibly some of my new Halloween quilt. This one will probably take me until next Halloween to complete because I'll probably get tired of it and/or switch to knitting or scrapbooking! So many projects and so little time....

My DH and I are going to Dairy Queen tonight for a little ice cream treat. The boys are both out so we're going to do something decadent....get ice cream! Ha-ha!!!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend and let me know which table runner is your favorite!

Monday.....

Hello!
This weekend was great for me! I went to my new favorite quilt shop, Quilter's Destination, in Arlington Heights on Saturday morning. I intended to go to Joanne's Fabric but decided to go there instead! They had a 15% off sale that started on Friday. I figured I would get a better selection of fabric at the quilt store and I did! I also made a stop at the Joanne's Superstore close to the quilt shop.. Boy was that place great! I could really imagine myself working there!

But I digress...I managed to find several Halloween fabrics and a lot of fabric that was 40% off! I bought enough to make seven 10 minute table runners! I cut everything out on Saturday after I came home and then sewed them all day on Sunday! It was great! I'll post some pictures of these table runners soon. I am so in love with these table runners!



Close up of the design.

The chicken and rooster design - my favorite!

I also decided to make some curtains for my kitchen with fabric I've had for over 10 years! I had to do some cutting and a lot of sewing but I think they came out really nice! Unfortunately I only had enough to cover one window. I have coordinating fabric that I will use to make a panel for the other window. Here are some pictures.

Sunday was a great day for sewing! I sewed and watched 4 episodes of Doc Martin and did 4 loads of laundry. I wanted to cut out a pattern for an apron I would like to make - chicken and rooster pattern of course! This will be for all the times I cook! Don't laugh! Unfortunately I ran out of time to cut it and then my back started to hurt! Oh well, a lot of pleasure and a bit of pain. I just popped one of my pain killers from the tooth extraction and I woke up fine!

I also had a nice dinner on Saturday night with my brother Michael. We went to Noodles and then had ice cream later on. A great night with my dear brother! His apartment is being fixed up and I saw the beautiful new floor they put in and the new kitchen cabinets and counter tops. All they need to do now is wash the walls and paint! He stopped smoking so now the apartment will be perfect! Let's hope he keeps up the good work and doesn't start smoking again. He's given up all his bad habits!!!!

I'm close to finishing up the 3 inches I need to knit for the baby hat. It's going very slowly because it's on size 2 needles! I hope to have the 3 inches done tonight and start the top tomorrow! It's just a baby hat but it's taking me so long....maybe because I'm sewing so much! : )

That's it for now. Back to work today wasn't too bad. The weather is wonderful and the day went by fast! Now we just have to get through the week with the 100 degrees they're predicting for Thursday! Think cool thoughts!