Day Three!

Good evening!
So happy to hear that Woolly Lamb is open tomorrow night for knit night! Thanks Brigitte! Nice way to end this short week!

I am thoroughly enjoying my book; The Perfume Collector. This will be a book I don't want to end. So looking forward to reading another one of her books.

OK, for those who may have thought I'm not scrapping anymore, today's craft is scrapping! I made a beautiful graduation card for my Godson, Steven Rodas. Don't tell him because I haven't sent it yet! (I have to go to the post office as it should be put in another envelope because it's a bit bulky!) I had a nice time making it as well as another one for Joanne's niece. Unfortunately I didn't take a pic of hers. Here is Steven's card.

 

 

I also had another idea recently to make some cards for my fellow knitters. We always buy yarn for a specific project. Then when you see that yarn a year or so later (yes, a year or so later!) you wonder what project you were going to make with said yarn. So, I made some cards for them to use for that purpose! They are very cute if I must say so myself. I didn't buy anything - just used what I had in my stash of scrapping stuff. They say, "Now what did I plan to make with this yarn....." You can put the yarn name, pattern name/number, needle size, and any notes you want. Then you keep this card with your yarn and when you pull it out, you know exactly what you had planned to make!  A brilliant idea and everyone loved them!

 

 



Well, that's it for tonight. I'll take a pic of our knit night and post it tomorrow.

Day Two - Twelve Days of Crafting

Hi All!


July 1, 2013

As promised, I am continuing with my Twelve Days of Crafting blog. I appreciate all the nice comments from my family and friends. Keep them coming! I'm having a ball!

First, I want to show the "Floral Arrangement of the Week." The firm I work for has a new arrangement delivered every Monday. Some are just so beautiful I have to memorialize them! The office management company has these delivered every Monday to help beautify the offices. It's so nice to come into the office each day and see these beautiful arrangements. Here is this weeks' offering.

What a beautiful evening this is! I took my precious little dog Sable for a walk and just enjoyed the night. She is VERY slow and can't see too well but loves her walks just the same. I love walking around the block and just stopping to "smell the roses!"


Now for the "Book of the Week." Brigitte Biver of Woolly Lamb Yarn Studio told me she started reading a book that she'd heard was great; The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro. I reserved it at my library and picked it up on Saturday. I can't believe how good this book is. It tells the story of a young married woman who receives an inheritance from someone she doesn't know. It starts in the early 1950's and then goes back and forth to the 1920's. Very interesting book and definitely a page turner. Brigitte never steers me wrong! I am really enjoying it and am halfway through already!


OK! Now for today's craft. I started this project last summer and finally decided to finish it over Memorial Day weekend. I really love this bag and am so proud of it. I got the pattern from one of the many quilting books I have. I just used 4 fat quarters and a yard of fabric for the lining. It's definitely large enough for many knitting projects and patterns. I love that I can combine two of my hobbies; quilting and knitting! The lining is the same pattern as the square on the front. I had to "fussy cut" that square to get the pattern I wanted to show. It does have handles, you just can't see them that well! I cut and sewed the pieces together and then quilted the piece. Then I sewed it together with "French" seams.

I'm looking forward to having a four day weekend coming up. I am lucky to have Thursday and Friday off for the holiday and am looking forward to sewing, knitting, and whatever this weekend.

Have a great day tomorrow and please be sure to check out my blog!

Is this really the last day of June?

Hi All!
I'm back by popular demand (from Mandy!) to write another post in my blog.

Can you believe those Chicago Blackhawks! I don't really follow sports that much except when they're in the "super bowl" (my name for all sports final games! - irritates the heck out of my boys!) So, of course, I saw the last 17 seconds of the last game and feel qualified to say I'm a fan! It was exciting and also exciting because I work downtown and witnessed all the hoopla! Very much a fun day! Just wish I hadn't missed the parade! Story of my life....

I can't believe the year is already half over! I guess time really does fly! It will already be the Fourth of July on Thursday! Before you know it, Mandy and Thomas will be visiting us in Chicago again!

June 24, 2013

I decided in order to encourage me to be more diligent about posting on my blog, I will be starting a new format. I am announcing the "12 Days of Crafting." Each day you will read about one craft project. Some will be mine in the works or completed and some will be done by other people. Every Monday I also plan to have a "firm floral arrangement of the week." This will be a beautiful floral arrangement the law firm I work at has on display for the week. Each one is more beautiful than the last one. For example, this was the arrangement from last week. Every time I looked at it I felt like I should see a bride around the corner. Last, but not least, each Monday I will write about a book I've read and loved or one I'm currently reading. Stay tuned.....







I had a wonderful weekend last week. (I know that was last week, but we had so much fun!) Let me tell you....on Friday Ro, Liz and I went to the International Quilt Show at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Before getting there, we stopped at McDonald's for a quick lunch and soon became trapped inside due to monsoon rains! Eventually it stopped raining and we were able to make a mad dash to the car and go to the show. We had such a wonderful time walking around looking at quilts, shopping, looking for things to buy, stopping for Starbucks, chatting and shopping! What a great time we had! I bought a cute kit to make a paper pieced bowl. It was so much fun to make as well as very easy. I hope to make many more. This is the Christmas design bowl I made. I photographed it with a Sharpie to you could see the size.

Then on Saturday, Ro, Sonia, Liz, Gladys, Sandy, the other Gladys and I went to Grayslake for the Fiber Fest. Ro was nice enough to drive us all there in her new car. We were laughing from start to finish! The Fiber Fest was fun but being together was the best part. Poor Ro had 6 back seat drivers telling her how to drive! She was patient with us but was very happy when we pulled into her driveway and left! She's such a sport! We all laughed like we were teenagers again!

This weekend (yesterday) we all got together at Sandy's house for a bar-b-q, eating, drinking and knitting fest. Such a great time with so many wonderful friends! Thanks Sandy and Jim for a wonderful day!

Well, goodnight for today and be sure to catch my post tomorrow!

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Hello all!
I had a big surprise when I walked out of the house this morning; part of our fence fell down into our neighbors yard! Yikes!!! What a shock! No one was hurt but now we need to have it fixed. Now, I'm also worried another section will fall! Is there no end to the worries I have?

Oh well, at least my food intake today was better than Friday and Saturday! I had Mexican food on Friday (just ate 1/2 of it - and some chips and salsa - oh well) and then on Saturday my cousin Janice and her husband Mike came over for dinner and the Blackhawks game. I had pizza, wine and a cupcake! That's in addition to some candy, etc. before dinner! Confession time.... I was a bad, bad girl but got right back on track today. I actually earned 8 points through activity yesterday so I didn't feel TOO bad! I just hope I stay the same weight and don't gain when I weigh in on Thursday!

Speaking of activity, after our breakfast out this morning, I walked home from the restaurant. It was about a 20 minute walk so I felt good about that. Then my DH and I walked to Dominick's and back which was another 1/2 hour or so! Can't wait to see my activity points for today!

I am happy to report that I've lost 45 pounds now through Weight Watchers. Only 5 more pounds to get to my mini goal of 50 pounds!!! I know I can do it even after falling off the wagon this weekend. After that, just another 15 pounds and I will reach my WW goal and become a lifetime member! Yeah for me!!! I actually feel so much better, sleep better, and look a whole lot better! Yeah, I said it - I look pretty darn good!

Now for craft time. (What would my life be without craft time!) I found some great YouTube videos by accident last week on making quilts sponsored by Riley Blake Designs. They have a great series of 9 episodes detailing how to quilt from start to finish. I already have several great ideas to make some very unique items. The first item I want to make is the Jack and Jill Travel Pillow Case. It's a free pattern from Riley Blake Designs. One of the items I did make was found in the how to quilt YouTube video 1. It's a cute little needle holder with a small little "hidden" pocket. I made three today and am pretty proud of them.

 

They are quilted using a nine-patch pattern and measure about 6 x 3. Very sweet little gifts and fun to make. They're great to use up scraps and all those fat quarters I've collected.

I've still been knitting so don't worry about that! I'm currently take a Bioche knitting class and will be taking the Cat Bordhi Sweet Tomato Heel Sock class taught by Brigitte Biver at Woolly Lamb Yarn Studio next month. The first Brioche class was pretty easy but I have a feeling the second one will be harder! Always great to learn new things!

Will close for now so I can get ready for work tomorrow!



















  

Happy Sunday!

Good morning and Happy Sunday!
I won't even make excuses for the lack of recent posts...suffice to say...a combination of laziness and nothing to talk about! Also, my computer has been a little wonky but now seems to be OK. (Fingers crossed.) Hopefully I'll do better but no promises!

I have been reading a lot! I'm currently reading A Perfect Proposal by Katie Fforde (yes, there are two F's in her name.) She has several other books that I can't wait to read. Katie is a British author and "speaks" British in the book - fun to read the different phrases! I recently finished Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts. Can't say enough good things about this one. Nora has not disappointed me with this book. I didn't want it to end. I liked it also because a man is the lead character. You don't find that in many romance books.

I have been busy, working, sewing, knitting and crafting in general. I've been working on one of my favorite new scarves; the Hitchhiker by Martina Behm. I made a beautiful blue shaded one for my "little" sister's 50th birthday. (Sorry Maria, it's just a number.) Her birthday isn't until September but I couldn't wait to give it to her! She looks beautiful in it! I'm also working on another one for myself (maybe, unless I decide to give it away to someone special!).

Maria with her Hitchhiker

 

My Hitchhiker Almost Done!

When I was at the Farm the last time, we went to a quilt show at Illinois Wesleyan University (where I wanted to go to college!) and Maria bought some fabric for a table runner. I finished it for her but still need to buy some buttons - maybe bread? I was able to make a long one and two smaller ones! Kathy also bought some but I'm waiting to get the material from her so I can make them too!

I had a nice day yesterday with 3 of my knitting friends. We had a delicious lunch (if I must say so myself) at my house. I prepared a simple Weight Watchers tuna salad served in a tomato with apples, carrots and a big bowl of fresh fruit. I used my good china, nice tablecloth and napkins, etc. It was an elegant "ladies" luncheon! 


Clockwise; me, Liz, Gladys and Ro

We then took a drive to one of my favorite suburbs, Downers Grove, for a bit of shopping. We stopped at one of my favorite quilt shops The Quilt Basket. We all got excited about sewing some pillow cases, table runners and possibly a quilt! There is so much inspiration at this shop.

We then stopped at a knit shop Knitche also in Downers Grove just around the corner! (One stop shopping!) I bought a yarn that I've been thinking about for a while. I finally bought a skein of Madeline Tosh yarn to make Stephen West's Pogona scarf. (Thanks for the idea Ro!) I really enjoy Stephen's patterns from his books.

`

Madeline Tosh for Stephen West's Pogona

 

Well, enough for now. Enjoy this beautiful day and until next time....

TGIF!!!

Fridays are so nice! Unfortunately once dinner is over you start thinking that you have to go back to work on Monday! Oh well, I'll just enjoy the days off I have!

I have my Saturday all planned. I'll start off by going to Starbucks for a White Chocolate Mocha Latte - Tall! (Maybe I'll go a little crazy and get a Grande!) Maybe I'll sit and read a little. Then I'll go to the library to drop off some books and pick up some new ones. I'm going to do a bit of grocery shopping because I plan to make a Weight Watchers dinner; Mexican Casserole and some Weight Watchers Cherry Cheesecake for dessert! I hope they turn out good! Then, I'll come home and start cleaning the basement! It's been a catch-all since Christmas so now I'm scheduling a clean-up - FINALLY! I hope to get rid of a lot of crap!

Then, of course, I'll go to Woolly Lamb on Sunday!

Speaking of Weight Watchers; I have lost a total of 23.6 pounds! Yeah!!! I am so happy! I went to my Gynecologist on Tuesday and he was so happy for me! He gave me a fist bump! I lost 26 pounds since my visit last year! I was rewarded with a 10%  key chain at my last WW session! I am very close to my "little goal!"

I've been busy knitting and have finished three projects so far. I made another 3 am hat - this time a real pretty grey color. (I think this one may have to go to someone with the initials KEW!) I also finished another set of boot toppers and a Stephen West Purl Ridge Cowl in a very pretty deep purple color. 

Grey 3 am Hat

Boot Toppers

Purl Ridge Cowl

My new project is a Stephen West scarf. Not much progress on it yet but will have some pictures next week. This will probably be for one of the boys. I would also like to make a matching hat. I'm also going to start another Stephen West project; a scarf/shawl for me. Yes, Stephen West is our designer dejour! Brigitte is now carrying his books at Woolly Lamb Yarn Studio. He is a great designer.

Well, off to knitting now. I hoped to get back to my blog more often this year but it hasn't worked out that way. I'll try to update more often now because I really enjoy reading so many of the blogs I follow The Yarn Harlot, Crazy Mom Quilts to name a few, and get mad when they don't update regularly!

Enjoy the weekend!

A Purple Hat?

A little birdie told me my sister Juanita wanted a hat. Your wish is my command! This beautiful purple hat will be winging its way to you this weekend! (I hope it doesn't take as long as Kathy's books took to get to her!) Hope it keeps you warm and you enjoy!

Not too much going on this week. Had a great time at Woolly Lamb on Sunday for our Super Bowl Party! We had a lot of healthy food and enjoyed the time together knitting, eating and chatting.

I made a delicious minestrone soup for dinner on Sunday using a weight watchers recipe. We all enjoyed it with some Tastefully Simple Beer Bread. We had another helping on Tuesday night. I also made some pumpkin cupcakes but they didn't turn out right. They never rose and were soft inside! I was really mad because I thought they would taste so good and were low calorie! Darn!

Off to watch Chicago Fire and then the news. We're supposed to get some rain/snow/ice tonight. That promises to make rush hour tomorrow morning very unpleasant!