Knitted Fingerless gloves

I tried knitting some fingerless gloves in the round this fall.  It was slow work…all those double pointed needles were tricky.  I got the hang of it and managed to get one glove done.  But decided I didn’t like the pattern so took it all out    I was determined to have fingerless gloves this year, though!  So I dug out a pattern called “Waffle Stitch Fingerless Gloves” by Jill Toporkiewicz that I got on this site.   They are done flat and seamed up the side.  Wow!  So fast.   This is the way to get it done.  

Here they are:

And here is a close up:

Beach Projects

I just had 3 fabulous days of fun at the beach with my Yaya's.  This was our tenth time to go to the Washington coast for a girls get-away.   We spend our time creating, eating, laughing, walking on the beach (though, this year the weather didn't cooperate much), hot tubbing, dancing,  talking....and talking....and talking.  :)

I was more productive than usual.  Here are pictures of two of my favorite finishes.

LOVE this bag!  This is a pattern by Kathy Mack of Pink Chalk called "Mail Sack".  Isn't that fabric gorgeous?

We all made fabric wrapped clothesline bowls this year.  Mine is the bright long skinny one in the foreground.   I added a fun circular embellishment on the side....and may add some beads, not sure yet.  I made one of these bowls before....super easy.

Every time I finish projects I'm always motivated to finish more.   It's time to start digging in my unfinished project bins.   :)

Winslow Market Tote

I made this bag for my daughter-in-law for Christmas.  The pattern is called "Winslow Market Tote"...also by my boss, Kathy Mack.   :)     This bag went together so fast and is pretty big.   That black and white Paris fabric is a pocket and there is one on the other side too.   I used mostly fabrics from the "Matisse" line by Alexander Henry.....I wanted a french themed bag and those worked well.  

Fabric Wrapped Rope Basket

I made a fabric wrapped basket for the first time for a friend a while ago.  I wasn't able to blog about it until her birthday....which was this month.  :)   It turned out really cute.    These baskets are super easy....and easy is what I like!!!  

I didn't take pictures of the wrapping part but it wasn't complicated.  I bought 100% cotton clothesline cord that was 3/16 inch.   I cut my fabric strips one inch wide, no need to be exact.  Then I started wrapping at an angle....gluing at the start of a strip and every 5 inches or so.  I only wrapped a couple feet at a time.  Then sewed around and around and around and......!

I sewed with a wide zig-zag stitch. (4.5 width and 2.5 length on my machine)

To make the sides, I just tipped the piece up like this:

And there it is all finished and filled with pretty goodies for my friend.  Can you see guess the color theme of her gift?  Hee, hee.  

I have lots more cord so will definitely be making myself one.  

Fabric Fortune Cookies

 I just finished my first "batch" of fabric fortune cookies and they were so easy.  I saw it on a quilting show or magazine or something.....can't remember.   Aren't they cute?     :)

I didn't think to take pics of each step, sorry.   But I got some of it.   First you fuse two 4 inch squares of fabric together.  Then cut them into 3.5 inch circles (I traced around a glass).   

Next you fold them over and fuse the opening closed like this:

Then you put your fingers in each opening and push in the middle to look like this:

I used paper clips to hold the openings together.   Then you brush on a liberal coat of fabric stiffener.   I put a cookie cooling rack into a jelly roll pan and then set each fortune cookie upright (using the paper clip) to drain and dry overnight.  (pic below is before I painted them with the stiffener). 

Afterwards I stuffed them with the "fortunes" I found online.  Mine were quilt quotes --- of course!   :)

Fun project.  

Crafts I can now show you!

Now that Christmas is over I can show you a couple of crafts that were made for some readers of my blog.  :)

We had Liam over for a night alone before Christmas.  While he was over we made some gifts for his parents and relatives on his Dad's side of the family.  I came across a cute idea for preschoolers on the net that would be fast and easy and usable.  Perfect, in other words!

Here he is proudly showing off a few of the candles:

So easy folks.  Spread glue over the inside of a votive holder, pour in glitter and shake it all around (that was the really messy part), let dry, then add some decorative jewels (Liams idea) and a tea light.

I made a couple of little wallets for my daughter and daughter-in-law.  Another fast and easy project.  The pattern is from Lazy Girl Designs and called Wonder Wallet.

There are 4 pockets inside.  It's only slightly bigger than a credit card or your drivers license.  Nice gift to quick make and tuck a gift card in.

I'll have to show you some cool things that were made for me in a future blog post.  Such talented and creative people out there.

I am not a knitter

Nope...I wouldn't consider myself a knitter. I dabble in knitting but I am not a hard core knitter. I don't dream about yarns or projects to make like I do with quilting! But there is something about this time of year. The color and textures of fibers.....lovely. I'm safe if I stay out of yarn stores. Kinda like staying out of the bakery department when you're trying to lay off doughnuts! :)

Anyhoo. Last week I went with my daughter-in-law, Faith, on a fabric shopping expedition. She wants to learn to quilt and asked me to come along to help. Any good quiltaholic worth her salt would jump at the chance....so I jumped......and danced....and clapped! As it turned out my daughter, Jennifer, was also able to go with us. Extra fun. We went to the Kingston shop but nothing caught her eye there so we headed to Bainbridge.

First we had to fuel up at the Blackbird Bakery....home made soup and bread....so nummy.

Here is Faith with her new lovelies. Gonna be a beautiful quilt.

What does this have to do with knitting, you ask? Well......just across the street from where the fabric lives is a very scrumptious yarn store. Bad move. See some of the lovelies that live here?

My eye caught a pattern for a cowl made with silk yarn blends....oh man, its so soft. And this non-knitter could actually do it cuz it was a super easy pattern. So I bought the stuff. Not too bad. But then I went back. And I saw a pattern for the cutest ruffly scarf....so feminine.....easy enough pattern. So I bought the stuff. And then I eyed come cute variegated yarn for a child's hat....a pattern I already conquered. So I bought the stuff. Whatever! I really need to stay away....I have ZERO self control.

And just cuz.....here are some pics of a few other things I love excessively!

We bought swords for the grandsons and Liam insisted he needed a helmet. Hubby made a couple of paper hats to be helmets.

The wild grandson, who as you can see, gets into everything! Literally! :)

Life is full.

A New Passion

~ Passion requires focused direction, and that direction must come from three other areas: your purpose, your talents, and your needs. ~

Our son has a new passion.....it's Mixed martial arts fighting. Ya know, that fighting where pretty much everything goes? The fighting that makes a Moms heart skip a beat! He loves to tell us all about his training.....how he passed out cuz he didn't tap out in time.....oy vey! I do have to say that while it's a bit hard to hear stories and see bruises, I do *love* seeing him excited!

He hasn't had a fight yet but he did have a submission wrestling match. I couldn't bring myself to go watch (not ready yet....but some day) so I grabbed some photo's from the match he won to show ya.

That's what I get for putting him in Tae Kwondo! LOL! You go, Dan! I love ya.

Bloggers Fall Quilt Festival

Amy at Park City Girl is hosting another online Quilt Festival. I always seem to stumble upon these things after the fact but this time I am in time to participate! Barely....today is the deadline. :)

We are suppose to blog about a quilt we've made. I decided to show a quilt from this year but they are all still just tops. Oh well....tops are all I've got.

This is the "Cowboy" quilt I made for Liam, our oldest grandson. We gave him all cowboy themed gifts last Christmas and I wanted to follow up with a cowboy quilt for his birthday.

This pattern is called Fresh Linens and is from the book, "Let the Good Times Roll". Fast and easy.

This is a close-up of the block:

I even found some dancing fabric!

There are over 600 entries in this online quilt festival. Lots of beautiful quilts to see and fun stories to read about. Go read a few.

My First Hat

I knitted my first hat! It's a child's hat that I made for my grandson. I figured I'd start small, in case it was too hard for me. :) The beginning part was easy peasy.....just knitting in the round.....no pattern, no thinking. But then it was decreasing and double pointed needles and things got smaller and smaller. I felt like my fingers were sausages! I used a chenille yarn so its super soft. Cute, huh?

The only "model" I could find around here with a small head. LOL!

ABC Wednesday

Z is for Zumba

Tink and I took a Zumba class last year at a Red Hat convention....which means it was beginner....and geared towards those over 50.....which we are not....over 50 I mean. Zumba is an aerobic exercise that uses Latin dance moves to keep it fun and energetic. And energetic is an understatement. I was sweating and tired by the end.....of the beginner class for over 50's! LOL! But it was a blast and I loved it. They do offer some Zumba classes in my area but it cost more than I wanted to pay to exercise. Another one of those "some day" things in my brain.

Round 4 of ABC Wednesday is over. I won't be doing another round but if you want to keep up with others who are or join yourself, keep a watch at the ABC Wednesday site.

ABC Wednesday

Y is for Yoga


A couple years ago when Tink and I were working out at a local gym we decided to try the yoga class they offered. Figured it would be good to get some flexibility in this aging body. Man oh man was it hard! The first class totally kicked my a**! We were brave and kept going back, determined to get better. I bought a book to practice at home. Bought a couple of DVD’s for the same purpose. The gym ended up changing the time of the class to evenings and I hate going out at night……..and don’t need much of an excuse to not exercise…….so that was the end of yoga classes for me.

I tried to continue working out at home with my favorite yoga DVD called “Yoga Prayer” but I’m just not disciplined enough. I’d put the tape in and end up just listening to the pretty background music! Tried again when my doctor told me to take up yoga or Pilates for my back (I have scoliosis)…..but problem was I am still me…no discipline. So maybe one day I’ll find the perfect class, at the perfect time, for the perfect cost and be able to take up yoga once again.

Round 4 of ABC Wednesday is just about over, be sure to check out more Y entries.

ABC Wednesday

X is for Xylophone

I think this is one of only two "x" words I could think of.....x-ray being the other.....and this one actually is a hobby for some! While we all played with a xylophone as a toy as a toddler no one in our family continued or even dabbled with this instrument as a hobby....thus I really don't have much to say about it. Hee, hee.

Check other blogs to see what folks came up with for X.

ABC Wednesday

W is for Wood Carving

Years ago we had one of the cedar trees taken down (too close to the house). I was leading a 4H group at the time and one little girl's parents were both principals at local schools. Her Dad asked us if we'd donate the tree to his school and we said yes. I don't remember now if it was for a class project or a school-wide project....I think it was school-wide. Anyhoo!

A woodcarver changed our tree into a Native American looking whale. It's really neat!

We are nearly done with the alphabet. Be sure to check out more blogs.

ABC Wednesday

V is for Vampires

Yes, Vampires are a hobby for many. If you don't believe it, just google something like "vampire blogs" and see what you find. And it's not just young girls in love with Edward! :)

I remember being fascinated with vampires when I was young....but I don't remember why or what sparked the interest. I tend to watch vampire movies even if I have to turn them off halfway cuz their too gory. My favorite is actually a miniseries that the BBC showed called "Ultraviolet"....loved that one. Twilight (yes, I saw it!) wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. I still don't get the hype...and yes, I've read all the books.

When searching for a vampire image I found this one from Underworld (another vampire movie I liked):

It's not a classic vampire picture.....but doesn't she look great? I want an outfit like that! And she looks tough....an "I can kick your ass" kind of look! This image got me thinking about another female actress from another movie I loved. Trinity from The Matrix:

And one of my all time favorites.....Sarah from Terminator 2:

Hummmm.....I see a trend! It's my fantasy self showing. Shhhh....don't tell. :)

Check out other ABC Wednesday blogs here.

ABC Wednesday

U is for uh......?

I've been dreading the end of the alphabet. So far, I've been able to highlight hobbies that we do or dabble in or at the very least have a friend who does. But I've pretty much run out of ideas. ;)

I had to ask around to even come up with some possibilities for "U".

UFO's?

Unicycles?

Underwater caving?

How 'bout you? Any "U" hobbies you come up with?

For more ABC Wednesday posts, go here.

ABC Wednesday

T is for Theatre

Hubby and I met in high school via the speech team. I followed him around like a love sick puppy! And since he was in the drama club I had to join that too! My only drama background...if you can even call it that....was playing Lucy in "A Charlie Brown Christmas" in the third grade. Nonetheless, love is fearless, so I followed him into drama. Our first play together was called "The Imaginary Invalid"...in which I just played a servant girl who had to walk on stage carrying a tray of drinks and stand there...absolutely NO lines....but I was terrified anyway. Hubby is the exact opposite. He loved acting and did it till we had kids. Drama club did mean one other fun thing --- a senior trip to New York City where my love of musicals was born. My favorite one we saw? A Chorus Line!

I actually got to see it again a few years ago and it was interesting how differently I saw the show as a woman in her 40's than I did at 17.

We have maintained our love of theatre and once our kids were grown we got season tickets to Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre. The last show we saw was Grease. Now we wait for a new season to open in the fall.

This is another hobby I expect we'll keep doing for quite a while.

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ABC Wednesday

S is for Stamp Collecting

Years ago hubby's grandma gave us all her stamp collecting stuff. It consisted of several old albums and a box of loose stamps that she hadn't done anything with yet. She actually had some fun old stamps...like these from 1940.

As much as thought it was cool and loved looking at them, we also never did anything with them. We collected our own from letters and even bought some commemorative sets. One year our son took a bunch of the Christmas stamps and made a wall hanging for the holidays. We still hang it up each Christmas....makes us smile.
Maybe the next person to inherit the collection will actually do something with it! :)

Find other ABC blogs to read here.