New Year New Stitches

It is now officially the end of Christmas in the church calendar, so I can now really think about the new year.  Stitches on my needles now for quilting just the Baltimore Album block that I just cannot get done. This block has been on my needles since July of last year when my Mom passed away.  I know I would have it done if I did not associate it with her so much.  The basket weave of the applique is from black and gold ribbon she had bought in the 50s.  I only have one more leaf to put on and it is almost done then tendrils to embroidery.  Pics to follow, as I will finish it this month.  Knitting needle stitches have a pair of socks to be finished, first one almost done in a nice soft blue/black variation thread also a hat from a camel color wool that i think is really too heavy for the hat, but we will see.

Stitches on my Needle is still nice for me as I do love to write or reflect on what fabrics of my life my needles are going through.  Till next post, keep your needles working your stitches and all will be sewn together well.

NEW YEAR'S EVE SET FOR CELEBRATION

 Adult table ready to party...Happy New Year

 Adult table center piece and chandelier...

Centerpiece with poppers and sparklers

Kid's table centerpiece with fun glasses and favors

The New Year's Eve event at our home each year is a dinner for family and friends.  The meal menu never changes....lobster for adults/chicken nuggets for kids, Dom P champagne for adults/non alcoholic sparkle for kids and any adult who prefers non alcoholic, baked potatoes for adults or kids that want that or tater tots, salad, garlic french bread and small Blue Bell ice cream sandwiches for dessert.  We also enjoy wonderful appetizers of queso, chips, Texas caviar, and shrimp cocktail w/ delightful wines.  We take our time and enjoy our company while the grandkids/cousins all play and enjoy being together, which they do a lot.  I love the decorating of the tables to make festive and fun.  Adults and children should feel they are special!  EVERYONE had a special night and the young adults were able to make their other parties with friends. 28 YEARS OF THIS TRADITION...... HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012 AND BLESSINGS TO ALL.

KATS IN THE GARDEN

Kats Kats Kats..love this cat pattern with the snail tails. (Kool Kats Kwilt) Who doen't like cats in the garden, hiding and playing?  This quilt was fun to make and I loved seeing the cats form and the tails attach.  The quilt was donated to a cat rescue group to use in a raffle.  It is nice to know something made will be going out into the world to find its place and new home.  I have  quilting friends that ask if I am worried someone will not take care of it....really?  I made it because I loved making it, it is not a prized possession, it is not an heirloom piece, it is not delicate, and it is no longer mine.  I freely put into the universe this work of quilting to bring joy in whatever manner it does.  I know it has already made many smile who have seen it, is that not enough for me...why yes it is.  Thank you very much, those smiles were enough.  Type in the site below for the pattern. 

www.stitch-n-frame.net/images/​koolkatskwilt_.pdf



A Giveaway Worth Looking Into

This is a really great case and would make any "girl" of any age happy to receive.  I'd love to have it and it would inpire me to redo a few I have in my closets.  Go to this blog to enter
http://rebecca-gatheryeroses.blogspot.com/2011/10/vintage-train-gathering-case-giveaway.html

A New Needle in the Sewing Studio

I have had my sewing machine a Viking D1 (Grace)  for 11 years and must say it has served me very well and actually still does.  It is not broke, it is not worn out, it is not unworking, it is in fact still a very good and wonderful machine and it will be the one I still put in may car for those quilting weekends and times when I sew away from the house.  BUT, it is "out of date" in the world of software and tech world.  It uses those wonderful square plastic disks we all thought were a wonderful step up in the computer world.  I do have an external drive that will still read them, but let's be truthful here and just say it is not really user friendly.  SO, a new sewing machine has come to to live with me a Viking Diamond deLuxe   www.husqvarnaviking.com with new software and a thumb drive and a cord to directly connect to the machine from the computer.  It is now set up and it sews like melted butter...we do get used to our machines and know them so well that we overlook small issues.  My Grace could float stitches - happens with age.  The DD is rock steady and so smooth it sings a new song.  I have not named the DD yet, that will take some time to get to know her.
I will use my new DD to quilt the "cat quilt" that I am doing for a cat rescue group to action in December.  Pics later.
My new DD will bring me hours/weeks/years of sewing time.  Thank you LORD for my blessings.

Socks Off The Needles

The joy of knitting socks is to finish them and wear them.  These meet all the usual great things about hand knit socks -- They fit perfect.  The whole reason I decided  to even to learn to knit was to make socks.  I have small feet and bought socks just do not fit well.  The toes are too long or the heel does not hit the heel and creeps up the leg.  One day I called a local knit shop and asked for sock lessons.  I had learned to knit off he internet, so I could knit and purl and understood tension issues and had a good hand at knit and purl.  The woman indicated it would take several lessons and over 6 weeks to complete the next class sessions.  I thought not and said I wanted private lessons and hour a day for the next 5 days to learn to knit socks. She was not open at first, but I prevailed with my promise to not hold her accountable if I failed at learning to knit socks that quickly.  She reminded me I would have to knit a lot at home each evening to complete the sections.  I was so excited and showed up the next day.  I purchased, double pointed needles, sock yarn and paid for the class and got my pattern.  We were off and running.  I took to the double points like a duck to water and it loved it.  Got the ribbing done and returned the next day.  Got the leg done (oh my I knitted all night!) and returned the next day.  Got the heel turned and started the gusset and returned the next day (oh my I knitted all night!) and returned the next day.  Got the foot started/decreased for the toes (oh my I knitted all night!) and returned the next day.  Got the kitchner stitches done...5 days and one sock done!  I left with confidence and a new passion for knitting socks.  Those first pair are still in service and many pairs later I am happy to report I still love the pleasure of sock knitting.   Thus the latest pair shown here.  I highly recommend knitting overall and sock knitting for sure.

Animals in the Nursery

This fun quilt was the fast and easy way to make a happy nursery addition.  This panel I cut off the border it had and added borders that were more to the nursery colors.  To add interest I put chenille on many of the animals so baby can feel them with fingers.  The quilting was stars done by the product that is designed for borders.  Paper printed design with sticky to keep from moving.  It really made getting the quilt done in a couple of evenings work perfect for that quick project.  The parents were thrilled and in awe it was made for them.  I am always surprised how something so simple for me to complete is so appreciated.  Quilting brings me great joy and it's great to see others receiving joy too.  Babies are certainly a blessing.

Sailing into Slumber the Baby Way

Baby boy quilt for a coworker led me into uncharted waters.  The mother told me it was a nautical theme baby suite.  I begin to stash dive and found in the treasure trove of material a fun light houses and sail boat material in blue with border of boats at the bottom.  I knew it was the beginning of the journey across waters unknown.  I then dived into my pattern trove and lo and behold there was a sailboat paper piece pattern from who knows when-- let alone for what.  It was perfect.  I wanted a dream like state of the boat as if when falling into slumber one could imagine great adventures into the world.  The cloud like background I chose let the boat "float" as if ready to sail away in ones imagination.  It all seemed to work and the baby room was also going to be blue and brown, so the border was a no brainer with brown tying in the colors.  This quilt turned out so much better than I had even imagined and it was exactly a little boys entry into dreams of the high seas.  The mother and dad loved it and those at the baby shower were excited about seeing another of my quilts.  I love the freedom quilting gives in creating something unique and useful.  I can only hope this quilt will be loved to shreds.

DIY WITH BEST FRIEND GETS TABLE REFURBISHED

My best friend and her  doxies came to spend the week.  It is always the best when we are together and the laughter, food, wine, beer, playing angry birds, playing Words w/Friends, shopping oh yes the shopping then the ultimate is our DIY projects.  We have torn out, redone, painted, tiled, sewed, put in lights, ripped out and put in counter tops, a bit of plumbing and well, if it was a project, we went for it.  This was the situation of my breakfast table.  A purchase of the 80s it had tile top that was so needing to be retiled; thus our project was born.  One week and a plan was in the works.  Now I did have to work so she and my dear husband started to put my project into action.  First day I return from work to see destruction of the tiles well under way and I dived in with my whole heart.  It was do much fun to smash and destroy.  A couple of trips later to Lowe's and Home Depot we got a putty knife that got us to the finish line of getting all the tile out of there!! It was ready.  We had no idea how hard the project to find tile would be, need I say we drove most of half a day only to learn anything we liked would have to be ordered, or the places we went did not sell except to the "trade".....So we finally ended up again at Lowe's to buy tile.  We found that the mesh glass for back splash worked so cutting tile would not be an issue, who knew they did not make 8" tiles anymore?  Live and learn.  Not a problem, the mesh backed small glass tiles worked great.  To refinish the table she and I have been intrigued by the Rustoleum product to refinish cabinets that takes no stripping.  WE LOVED the product and must say it did everything it was designed to do and more.  If you want to refinish cabinets I would most certainly say buy it and you will not be disappointed.  I have plenty left and plan to use it on my cabinets in the laundry room.  More about the shopping for decor later....we had so much fun shopping.

Baby Shapes to Sleep On

I loved doing this free style baby quilt.  The color for the nursery was gray and yellow with no theme.  I had no idea where I was going to start, but figured no one can go wrong with starting with heart, thus the heart shape.  Then I just went with shapes.  The final quilt was really fun as I added the chenille for texture to run little fingers in.  Squares to count, triangles to point and circles to flow...it was just a one day, get it done, don't think too much and go for it project.  Mom and shower guests loved it!