Thinking Ahead

 Christmas was so nice this year.  All the gifts were finished, wrapped and   given in time.  Everyone  truly loved and appreciated every handmade treasure.  The hats, the socks, the mitts, the dishcloths, etc. not to mention the quilted goodies, all made with love and no stress.  The key to no stress was to start early.  So, this week I will be organizing my thoughts and planning what to get started for next year.  My inventory of completed projects is depleted expect for one pair of socks, which is already spoken for….a special gift for a wonderful surgeon who reconstructed my ankle.  They’ll be delivered next week when my cast is removed.  Can’t wait!!!

There's a difference between real time and knitting time

Over the weekend I decided I would try a new pattern I found on the internet. There are actually several variations of this baby sweater, but they are all called the 5 hour sweater. ( If you google this you'll see what I mean.) Well, I am now about 7 hours into this thing and only half way done. I did find a few errors in the pattern I'm using, and it is toddler size as opposed to infant size, but still.....

I do like how it will looks. It has a very interesting yoke pattern.

And it's as easy as pie!

Maybe I shouldn't be knitting while I'm watching football...especially when my beloved Patriots are having a bad day!

Just time

I can't believe how beautiful it is out today. Wish it was like this all year round. And to sweeten the pot, I've got the day off. No school....primary election day. What a country!! Think I'll just sew and knit the day away. My creative juices are running and I need to let them lead me where they want to go. Love it when there are no obligations, no chores, no errands....just time!!!

School's in Session

Back to school yesterday, and today we're hearing talk of Hurricane Earl causing a bit of a hiccup for the start of the school year. Although the full force of the storm dosen't look as though it will impact us, the "chatter" is very lively. Never mind that we're in the middle of a 4 day heatwave. Brutal when the school isn't air conditioned. We're managing with a couple of fans, but barely. With the approach and departure of the hurricane our local weather people are promising much cooler, more seasonable weather. Can't wait. Autumn is my preferred time of year. The colors are spectacular and the air is refreshing. I always take inspiration from the turning of the leaves, in both quilting and knitting. There something special about the earthiness of the sight and smells of fall.

Although I didn't blog all summer, it dosen't mean I wasn't busy. I did finish two promise quilts, (the names are "A Beary Nice Day in The Park" and "Which way To The Zoo"), as well as several pairs of socks, a various knitted accessories ear marked as Christmas gifts. Thank God for air conditioning, as we had one of the hottest summers on record. Also, one of the driest.....therefore the gourd experiment was a bust. Will try to buy some from local farms for crafting in the next month or so.

No Time Like The Present

Went to local discount store this afternoon and found seeds for the exact gourd I was looking for, and they were marked down to half price. I guess planting season really is getting short. But like I said before, nothing ventured, nothing gain. Seeds only cost $1.00. Planted then as per instructions. Below is one of the “hills”. Now I guess I just sit and wait, and take photos! The directions say they should germinate in 7 to 10 days.

If I get lucky, I should have some gourds sometime in mid October, if my calculations are correct (packet says they will be ready for harvest in 110 days).
I almost forgot to mention that while I was playing the farmer’s wife in the back field, I was paid a surprise visit by a local resident. She didn’t seem to mind I was digging up her “yard”.

Research and Development

Am thinking of starting something new, not related to knitting or quilting. I’m thinking of making birdhouses…quirky ones. Just some ideas starting to percolate. Not sure if I’ll actually do it, but the creative process is interesting anyway. Might be fun to try something different.

Did a little research these past two days and have found an interesting bird house craft.

I remember thinking about these 2 or 3 years ago and wanting to attempt to make some then. I like that they are easily renewable, economical, and natural. If you want to make them “unnatural”, they afford a large degree of creativity. Painting, carving, and woodburning are a very popular way of embellishing . Also they can be turned into several other objects d’art other than birdhouses. You are only limited by your imagination as to what they can be used for; bowls and vessels, jewelry, etc. Yes, I think this deserves a little bit more research. I’ve determined a good place on our property to try growing some of my own. Will try to locate some seeds today for planting, although it is getting late in the season. I’ll give it a go however, since I only have the price of seeds to lose. They do take some time to cure, about a year. I’ve heard of a local farm that sells gourds in season and plan on visiting then in the next week or so to see what they have to offer for this season, since I’m itching to get something going as soon as possible.

A Promise to Noah

For several years now, I’ve been making quilts for children in crisis, be it medical, emotional, social, or otherwise. My foundation is called “A Promise to Noah” in honor of my grandson. Each quilt carries with it a promise of hope. They are stitched with love and prayers so each child can find the necessary strength to face their specific challenge. Each quilt is unique and has been named. The recipient receives with the quilt, a card with a message of encouragement and the name of their personal one-of-a-kind quilt. They each have a secret pocket which carries their card. Once the card has been removed, this secret pocket becomes a special place to keep “little treasures”.

Here's a sample of one of my "Promise Quilts".

Starting over

I initially began a blog under a different blog provider but found it too complicated to do what I had in mind. From what I've seen on this provider, it seems to have a simpler approach to adding different elements. So I'll give it a go. Will try to re-post a couple of things from the old blog. Wish me luck.