Cheater Cheater

I made this for a friend that had a baby on Monday. She is not a pastel kind of person. When I saw this panel, I knew I wanted to make it. Then I found out she was preggers, so I knew I had a match. I feel totally like a cheater cheater pumpkin eater because it's a panel. I still quilted it and everything. But still. She loves it and that's all that matters. I used Kona Honey Dew to bind it off. I didn't get a pick of the back, but it's a pink and burgandy print that matches the colors in the urchin.

Pictures!

This is one of the quilts I put together while my hubby was in San Diego. I had seen some on flickr like this, and decided to make up one of my own. I cut 2 1/2 inch strips and sewed them together. Then I cut those strips 7 1/2 inches. I slapped another strip on the top and bottom and done! I used some fat quarter I had laying around from a baby quilt I was going to make oh.. 5 years ago. :) The border is pieced from the leftovers. So much fun! I quilted it in white thread, just going about 1/4 an inch on either side of the seams. So it's a grid pattern. Simple, but striking I think.

What? You love it? You want it? Well, Lucky You! It's up in my etsy shop.

Also. I went and did something crazy. I started a bee. You know, a quilting bee? The theme is Solids. Just using solids. No prints. It can be a single color, or a rainbow of them. But only solids. Head on over to Solid Bee Block for more details and to join! Right now there are 2 peeps that have joined, so there is room for 10 more. Hurray! Act Today! No Delay!

Thoughts about Stash.

Since I don't have photo editing software on this thing yet, there are no pictures to share today. Sorry. Instead, I've cracked my skull a little, to let the crazy out and you guys (okay. You guy. My one faithful reader) in.

So I've been thinking about my stash, and stashing habits lately. Why I stash, what I stash. You know. Deep Thoughts. I have come to a realization that I am a collector. A hoarder if you will. My thoughts are along the lines of "I love it. I must own it all. If I use it up it will be gone forever." So, it sits. Lovely yarn or fabric just sits and waits. Which, after further thought, seems really dumb. Because if I USE it, I get to enjoy it while I'm knitting. Or put it into a quilt and then have a finished quilt that I or someone else will love and see all day. Instead of sitting in my craft room. Waiting for their full potential to be met.

While my hubby was away, I re-did my craft room and now I can see what I have. I pulled out 3 garbage bags of fabric that I no longer love, and won't use. People. That is just crazy. Now, granted I bought alot of this stuff years ago, before I had a husband, a kid and a house. But really. How long should I keep holding on to this stuff that I'm never going to use? So I was honest with myself, and got rid of a bunch. I also made it so I could see what I have, instead of hiding it away in rubbermaid tubs. If I can see it, I can use it. If I see it, I won't buy new stuff that I don't need. Well, that's the hope anyway.

A good example is fabric I'm cutting for a quilt. I bought a bunch of black and white fabric, wanting to "someday" make a black and white quilt. I bought that fabric before I starting dating my hubby. 7 years ago. I think 'someday' has come. I starting cutting into it last night. I didn't break out into a sweat. It didn't kill me. Hell, there is nothing special about that fabric. It's just fabric. I'm even throwing tiny pieces away, instead of saving them. Shocker!

When I was in college, I learned that once people went from a hunter gather society to a more settled lifestyle, they didn't need to hunt to live. But people still do. Those are the people that hunt for toys from their childhood. Baseball cards. Stripey Sock yarn. Whatever floats your boat. They hunt, they find, they collect. No reason really, except to fill some deep seated instinctual urge. Well, I'm breaking that habit. Mostly because I don't want to turn into my Grandmother, who couldn't throw anything out. She was a child of the depression, and saved everything. When she died and they cleaned out her house, she had 3 garbage bags of the waistband from men's' underwear. 3 bags. Of worn out elastic from Grandpa's skivies.

So. In my rambling way, I guess I'm saying this. I am going to start USING what I have. Knitting up that pretty sock yarn, instead of petting it and dreaming about the socks it will make. I will make those socks. I will cut that fabric. I will make a quilt. I will keep it and love it, or give it away and be happy it's making someone else happy. There will always be new yarn to love and pet. New fabric that is just the right shade of pink. Why am I saving all of the goodies? Wouldn't it suck if I died tomorrow, and my husband just sent it off to the salvation army? (Don't worry. My BFF Rose has strict instructions as to what her job is when I kick)

Use it or Get rid of it. Then get new stuff. That's my new motto. :)

Thoughts? Comments? Hints and tips?

Hello Blog World!

Okay. Let me whine a moment. I cut the heck out of the tip of my index finger yesterday fixing the ac and it hurts! A band aid doesn't want to stick and of course, it's right were I type. argh! But the ac is not leaking water any more, so that's a plus. *end whine*

While Michael was in San Diego, I finished 2 baby sized quilt tops. Of course, I left them at work when I showed them off to the girls, so I haven't gotten pictures yet. I work tonight, so I hope I'll remember them this time.

I cut out a wonky block quilt top and sewed it up yesterday. I just need sashing and it's finished.

Now. here's the funny part of the whole being productive thing. I cleaned out my craft room and it's lovely in there. But I've found if I haul my cutting mat or sewing machine upstairs and work in the kitchen during nap time, I get a ton done. I think it's because I can hear the kid when he wake ups, or I can sneak away while he's playing trains and cut a bit. So. Lovely craft room= no work. Working on the kitchen island = work done.

I think if I ever get these tops quilted, I'm going to toss them up on etsy. Maybe they'll sell. If not, I've got a stack of baby quilts ready for when all those people I know pop. Seriously. I think I know about 15 people birthing babies this year. Anyone else out there overwhelmed with babies? Not everyone I know is getting a quilt. Some are getting knit hats or flannel receiving blankets. I have a system. Blood relatives get a quilt. Good friends get a blanket and friends/coworkers get a knit hat. I have a bunch of hats to make, but they're super cute, made out of sock yarn. Hooray for using up leftovers.

ha!

I got me a laptop! It's a tiny little dell and I got it from my brother. Well, it;s sorta on loan until I pay him, or decide I want a ipad. :)

Which means, while I'm in bed with J watching toy story, I can surf the net. woo!

Another Baby Quilt!

This one is for a friends baby girl that was born last Sept. *oops* I made it before her first birthday! That should count. Right? It's my go to baby quilt pattern, Yellow Brick Road. Which I think I've made 6 like this, and am now over that pattern. It's all different shades of pink, with some Zebra print thrown in for fun. Because the Mom said "not too pink" Ha! Anyway. The light is crap as it was evening, and I just wanted to get this taken so I could mail it away.

Done!

It's finished! The quilt for my soon to be here niece or nephew

My SIL asked for green. So that's what she got. :)

The Quilt is from the Denyse Schmidt Quilts book. Flock of Triangles is the name. I used Kona Cotton White for the solid and lots of green. Some I had in stash, some I bought just for this project. I either got 1/4 yard cuts or fat quarters. I think there are about 8 different prints in there. I used the same green on the backing as I used for binding. I just quilted straight lines down the center of each triangle. Simple, yet beautiful. I hope the little one enjoys it!

We are not gonna die. You know why? Because we are so... very... pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die.

Watching Firefly while the boy naps. Bliss! :)

I joined the World Cup Hexagon Month over on Flickr. Because I am crazy. And I had this purple hexagon quilt laying around untouched for like.. 7 years. So I've been working on it again. Which is nice to do while sitting around while Johnathan plays trains. I sew a little, fix the track that baby Godzilla trashed, and repeat.

I finished the quilt for my up and coming niece or nephew. It's all done, ready to go to it's new home. I snapped some pictures of it, and we'll see how they turn out, as soon as the battery recharges. It's raining here, so I may need some new ones when it's sunny out.

Other than that, nothing new here. Johnathan fell down on Sunday and whacked his head and bled. I think I handled it pretty well. No tears from me. I just kept repeating.. heads wound bleed a lot...head wounds bleed a lot. He's fine. No stitches needed and no permanent damage. But still. Scary.

Seriously?

You know. I hope and wish and pray for a time when my life slows down a little. Gets more towards 'normal'. Whatever that is.

Lately I feel as if I've been flying 9 million miles an hour. I'm tired and I feel like I don't get anything done. Just go go go. It's weird really.

Last week was especially bad. Lots of bumps along the way. Some bad news, and more bad news, and then my Mom's retina detached and it was down to the cities for emergency eye surgery. Thankfully she's fine, and it seems to be healing well, and Johnathan was a little angel in the waiting room. But still. Last week kicked my ass.

Thankfully I've had Tuesday and Wednesday off, and I'm feeling a little better. I also have this weekend off. And if I bust my butt and get the housework caught up, I'm doing only fun creative things this weekend. Sewing. Knitting. Whatever my heart desires. Well, that and running after the worlds busiest 2 year old. Who, by the way is off the charts at 38 1/4 inches tall. 100th percentile. Damn. He's going to be taller then me by Christmas. :)

Anyway. He's napping and I should go do more laundry. Or something.

Pictures. As Promised.

First up, because I love it so much. Is the yarn I got at Craftstravaganza. Or, Craftapoloza. As I like to call it. :)

Dudes. Is that not the prettiest yarn you've seen in a long time? It's from the very sweet and very talented Aisha Celia Designs. She had some really great handspun and variegated ones. But this was the one for me. Well, I would have bought many many more had I had more money. :)

Next up is the little sweater I'm making for J.

It's the Wonder Years pattern that you can find online or over at Ravelry. Loving it so far. Making a size 3T.

And finally, a little sewing. A quilt that I finished sewing the top while I was pregnant with J.

I was hoping to get it done before his bday, but that's not happening.

The pattern is Yellow Brick Road by Atkinson Designs. I used a bunch of fat quarters I collected while pregnant and shopping. :) Not sure yet what I"m going to bind it with. The backing is just a solid green kona.

Dude.

It's been so long since I've blogged that I forgot my password. Nice. :)

So. Let's see. What is exciting as of late?

Hrm...

Couple weeks back Hubby, J and I went to the cities to hit the annual Craftstravaganzia at the state fair grounds. I bought a lovely skein of yarn from a local dyer, and as soon as I can find the camera, I'll post a link and a pic. I could have seriously spent a ton of money at her booth. But I was good. I only bought 1 skein of sock yarn.

I've been working on some kai-mei socks, out of Yarntini cabana boy. They're lovely. I'm on the second sock, and the ribbing part is nice to knit while watching tv.

We did a little yard landscaping last weekend. Again, as with everything, pics someday.

Cast on a shallowtail shawl last night. Yarntini Concord. Lovely dark purple color.

My baby turns TWO on thursday. I'm not sure where the time has gone. To celebrate we're having a little gathering on saturday. And Hubby and I are going to try to make him a sandbox. Being as neither one of us is really handy with a saw, we'll see how it goes.

Working on a little button front cardigan for J. It's dark grey with light grey stripes. I think it will be super cute. I'm knitting a 3T in hopes it will fit him next winter.

I work at noon today, so I'm just puttering around this morning. Still in my jammies. I think I'll go toss some laundry in and maybe do the dishes. Super exciting, I know. But first, I think I'll dig out some fabric. I designed a quilt in my head last night at work. I cut out some paper this morning, and I think it'll work out nicely. So now on to find fabric. :)

But really... I should go finish polishing my toenail. Priorities!

Knitting Olympics. Pt 2.

Is anyone laughing out there? Because I sure am.

Did I think that time would change and that I could knit faster then light?

I've made it up to the elbow on my brothers sweater. I picked out yarn for ester. I knit a baby hat.

Hm... how may days do I have to go?

Kitting. Olympics.

So. I've been thinking and pondering about my knitting a lot. I want to join in the knitting Olympics again this year. I've done it the past two times, and it's always been fun to see what I can do when I focus on something.

So, I've been hemming and hawing about what I'm going to do. And I have giving myself a good challenge. At least I think I have.

First up, I'm going to finish my brother's cobblestone. I've got one sleeve and the yoke to go. Simple. Easy. Almost done. I will finish it.

Second, I'm going to frog a sweater that I started for Johnathan. It's 6-9 month size. He's 20 months size.

Third. (Can I make 3?) I'm going to knit something for myself. Either Ester or Citron. Ester would be made out of some grey Paton's wool I have in stash. Citron would be made out of semi-solid sock yarn (yarntini club! yea!) color to be decided. Both are printed up and ready to go. I just have to dig out the yarn. I think I'm going to work on my brother's sweater first, I just have to pin down one of the other things to work on.

Hello 2010.

I'm glad to be done with 2009. 2010 is going to be better. It has to be.

It's been super crazy busy around here. The holidays, working, sick babies, cleaning house. On and on it goes.

Knitting has been slow and in spurts, I've been focusing on finishing up Xmas gifts that I sewed. Those mostly got done in time thankfully, and now I've just got a few small projects to finish up for my friends.

I lost our new camera. I'm not doing so good with cameras as of late. I broke our old one, and now I can't find the new one. I know we had it at my parents at Christmas, but I can't seem to find it since then.

So. Really. Nothing new here. I've got the day off and I'm going to try to finish laundry. And keep my baby from covering me with snot.

Hello again!

So I took some time off from blogging, because it's been needed.

So. I think I'm back now. At least until life gets crazy again. :)

I got a GC from B&N for my birthday and can you believe I"m having a hard time spending it? I can't find a quilt or knitting book that I want. WTF? Now, there are some knit books I want, but carry at work, so I get a discount and can't see spending my $$ on books I can get for cheaper. But seriously. I've been looking on line for an hour and am stuck.

Any suggestions? I like modern/contemporary quilts. (like Quilt Baby! which I have) and All kinds of sock books. But I really think I own every sock book out there.

Anything out of my box that you can suggest? Otherwise I'm just going to have to spend it on Godiva Chocolate.

Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts. We really do appericate it.

It's been a week, and every day gets a little better. There are still times when I pat a blanket that's on the couch to make sure he's not under it before I sit down. Night time is the worst, when we'd all be in bed snuggling and watching tv. I still can't sleep with my legs straight in bed. I still keep them and wonky angles as if he's still curled behind me knees.

Godspeed little dude.

We lost Siris today. He got hit by a car and now he's gone and I am a mess.

Sick sick sick. We're sick with ick.

So the whole family has caught some sort of icky cold. Between the three of us, I think we got about 3 hours of sleep on saturday night due to Johnathan coughing and just being miserable.

Today I stayed home from work, and sent the baby to grandmas for a few hours so I could sleep. It was awesome.

He's now home pulling kleenexes out of the box one buy one. Oh well. He's not screaming and we'll use the kleenex, so whatever. :)

Oh, he just held one up to his nose and made 'blowing' sounds. Copying me. So cute!

Anyway. I think the rest of the day is going to be about house cleaning, and maybe I'll quick whip up some supper. I have a work meeting tonight, and they'll feed me, and I'm taking J. So that leaves my hubby to fend for himself. Which he totally can do, but I just found this awesome recipe for a white bean and avacado wrap, which I totally want to try.

And now it's snack time, so I better go. He's no longer interested in the kleenex.

dude.

I'm not dead yet. Really. I just work 87 hours a day and still haven't fixed the lap top. I think we shoud do this soon. Like, maybe next week? I don't know. I'm sad that I don't get online as much as I'd like to. I feel like I"m missing out. :)

Speaking of missing out, I'm missing sock summit. Boo.

On a happy note, my little dude is 14 months. He running and climbing and just acting full of energy. ALL. THE. TIME. he gives hugs and cries for Mommy! when he needs something. It's super cute. But, he gives me at least 1 heart attack a day, by climbing on top of the couch, or climbing on top of the dog, on top of the chair. It's nuts.

Well hello!

Happy July! Where did June go?

I've been super busy, working 3 job plus tending the baby. I hardly sleep and I knit even less. :) So. Really, there has been nothing really interesting going on. Plus it's really hard to use the computer when the baby keeps stealing the mouse ball. The laptop cord is gone, so I borrow time on my hubby's computer when he's not working, so that gives me about 27 minutes a day between all that stuff plus sleep.

So. Onward and upward. :)

How have YOU all been?