1/24 project updates

Project updates...

Quilting... zip, zero, did nothing

Knitting
Finished a test knit..the Blackbridge shawlette

I cast on and done 1 repeat of pattern of block 1 of the Noroh's Vintage Afghan. 

I finished a pair of mittens. 

I wish I was......

Things I wish I was....

• ORGANIZED... I dream of being organized...having a place for everything and having everything in it's place.... I try....but I have yet to succeed. I have good intentions...I read blogs about it, watch YouTube videos about it, I've even gotten books to help me do it.... but I'm not organized....                                                               
• NOT A QUITTER...yep I admit it..I'm a quitter....I start things and never finish them...that's why I have so many WIPS (works in process) ..knitting, crochet, sewing, quilting, cross stitch...I've got tons of unfinished projects...I'm a quitter.      
• NOT A PROCRASTINATOR... I'm the procrastinating queen... I wait until the very last minute to do things...or I don't do them at all....I think about them... plan to do them in my head, but somewhere between my head and the actual act of doing things..there is a huge malfunction...                                                                      
• A BETTER BLOGGER to know why I'm not a better blogger, just read the top three bullet points of this post...it's all there. 

What to do

So someone told me something that I'm not supposed to know yet.... and it's heavy on my mind...but I can't talk to the person that this tid bit of information is about because I'm not actually supposed to know yet..... does that make sense????

Anyway ..... not a lot going on here.... I finally got to work for a bit today...... I could honestly do this job all the time if I could.... but that doesn't seem to be possible.

A lot of knitting going on. I started a test knit today....and well I'm almost done with it already..... plus I have another test knit to do also..plus a crochet scarf to do also....

But honestly I'm missing my sewing and quilting... I seriously need to get into my sewing room and get busy... every day I tell myself I'll sew today but haven't made it yet... I'm such a bum....

I did finish another great book today... FINDING PERFECT by Susan Mallory... it's the 3rd book in a series but of I didn't know it until after I finished reading it.... but I enjoyed it so no harm done...

Until next time...

2016 Reading Challenge

A friend and I have joined a reading challenge for 2016.

To day I completed one of my list items and can mark it off.... Several months ago at a yard sale I purchased THE RACKETEER by John Grisham. I pulled it out a couple days ago and started reading.... I finished it today.

I enjoyed the book very much. It has always been a pipe dream of mine to write a novel... but when I read one as brilliantly written as this book is, I'm just in total awe. I can't even imagine the research that was done to prepare for such a undertaking as writing this book. John Grisham has been one of my favorite authors for a long time.... he never lets me down... I've never read any of his books that I haven't enjoyed... I highly recommend this one. 

1/17 project list update

Here is a list of my WIPS... red means I have recently worked on the project, bold means it completed.

Quilting.
 1.  Joe's quilt.... ready for pin basting and quilting
  2.  Lisa's quilt...ready for pin basting and quilting.
  3. Ronitta's quilt...ready for pin basting and quilting
  4. Scrappy 9 patch....
   5.  Jelly row quilt

Knitting
  1. Noroh's Vintage Afghan
  2. Sheep yoke baby sweater
  3. Hodge podge socks
  4 maroon mittens

 These are the ones I can remember off the top of my head... I'm sure there are probably more tucked away in the corners of my house.

I will try .....no promises....to update the list each Sunday.

Furnace issues...and knitting..

Well when we got up this morning, the house was cool... what we didn't realize was that our furnace had went out... I had already made plans to go to a LYS for the day with a friend, so I just let hubby handle it... because let's face it,  I know nothing about the furnace anyway....

I leave on my merry little way..to spend the day with friends...knitting ...  oh of course I do call every couple hours to check on how things are going....

Well it's not good... the part that went bad.... the furnace man doesn't carry... oh and of course today is Saturday... and Monday is a holiday... Martin Luther King Jr day... so it will be Tuesday before Mr Furnace Repair Guy can get the new part.... just our luck....

Oh and to make things just a bit better.... NOT.... it's supposed to get down in the single digits tomorrow and Monday night.....

But we have a great group of friends... within an hour of putting the word out that we needed some electric heaters.... we had 3 delivered to our front door.... so now the house isn't what I'd call "warm" but it is tolerable. Just have to keep a blanket over my legs when I'm in my chair.

So.... on the bright side... I got to spend the day with a couple great ladies in a nice little yarn shop.... Yarn on the Square....in Shelbyville.. We started a new knit along... the  Norah Vintage Afghan... it's 20 different blocks, each made individually and sewn together to make an afghan... I am looking forward to do the blocks because I'm sure to learn a lot from the difference patterns. I'll do a post soon with more details and pictures of my yarn choices....

But in the meantime, please keep my household in your thoughts and prayers over the next few days as we try to stay warm and keep our water from freezing...

Until next time,

Four letter words...

SNOW...

Ya I know we only have 3 inches or less.... but it's still...YUCK.


WIND....

It's freaking COLD.

WORK.....

Which I don't mind going to except when it's COLD, with WIND and SNOW.

Home..

Now that's where I'd rather be... WARM.

Tractor quilt

My sweet grandson loves to go to my brothers farm and ride the tractors.

So I decided to make him a tractor quilt for Christmas. I embroidered the tractors...each a different color...  the quilt top is done...ready for quilting.

I started machine quilting it today. It is the first full size quilt I've tried to quilt on my home machine. And I must say, it's quite the challenge, but after some rolling I got several rows of stitching done. .

Christmas Stockings

I decided that this year I'm going to make Christmas stockings for my family... I hope to have all 8 done by Christmas. I'm currently working on #4. I'm using the Falling Snow Stocking by Jennifer Hoel. Here are the 3 I have done.

Nov. 3rd

 Day 3... I'm thankful for my crafting talents. Knitting, sewing, quilting, etc. has given me tons of hours of enjoyment and has opened many doors of friendships.

Blue Bear Baby Quilt

One of this weeks goals was to finished the blue bear baby quilt. It's not perfect by any means. I tried to free motion quilt it but kept breaking needles... so part of it is just quilted with my walking foot. 

Monday goals for this week

My goals for week...

1. Finish stocking #4
2. Cast on stocking #5
3. Finish bear baby quilt
4. Baste tractor quilt
5. Knit 2 inches on mitered square baby blanket
6. Get stuff ready for quilt retreat.

What are your goals for the upcoming week?

November 2nd

Day 2 of thankfulness... today I'm thankful for my precious grandbabies.  David and Isabelle.

Month of thankfulness

Day 1... today I'm thankful for new beginnings...moving forward...putting the past where it belongs... behind me.

Won't you join me ... comment below.

Moving Forward

So October is gone. It was a very emotional month for me. A wedding and two funerals...

BUT... as someone said recently,... all of that stuff is in the PAST ... and I'm not moving that way....I'm moving FORWARD..

 I have wonderful memories of the wedding and are looking forward to many years with my new daughter in law.

I have cherished memories of my two friends who are now resting in God's arms... but I know neither of them would want me to mourn them.. they would want me to smile, laugh, and move on enjoying life.

So that is my plans.   Starting with a new job.. Wednesday will be my first day of work at the local Carson's store. I will be working in the mens wear department. I'm excited but also a bit hesitant. I haven't worked out side of the home for a few years.. and honestly I've enjoyed being able to do things without worrying about keeping a schedule... kind of flying by the seat of my pants, so to speak.  But it will be nice to have my own money again !!!!!

So today, the first day of November 2015, I'm grateful for new beginnings... for moving forward...