Its been a while...

And this is what I have been working on. I designed this quilt for my nephew Justin for a graduation gift. He is off to college in September to Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. Justin is a "Ralph Lauren" kind of guy, and does not like a lot of fussy patterns in fabric choices, so I decided to go with solids. His highschool colors are blue and white and blue just screamed out for some yellow. So I went to Keepsake Quilting in Center Harbor (how convenient is it that its just down the road from my summer place) and bought two packages of quarter yard blue solids. I think the name was "Blue Moon". And I designed the quilt using EQ5. Its a simple rail fence block that I manipulated to make the more graphic design. I am using "black" to separate the blocks, and will be adding borders. Check back and see where it goes.

What I did with my Saturday

Wayside Quilters Guild, Sudbury, Massachusetts "9-patch Outreach" Quilt. I put this quilt top together on Saturday at our quilt guild annual "Outreach Day". What we do is get together as a guild and sew, and sew and eat and sew. This quilt is a combination of hand-pieced 9-patch blocks that guild members made at the January meeting as the "activity" of the month. I took them home, pressed them and brought them to the outreach day, found the pretty rusty red print in a pile of fabrics to use for these quilts and pieced the quilt. Its a small lap size quilt, less than 40" by about 50" or so. What do you all think.

On the knitting front, I have continued working on the Peacock Rainbow Yoke Sweater - I have completed the ribbing at the bottom and have started the sockinette stitch. I am thinking of adding a few narrow stripes near the bottom, but I am not sure yet. It would make the plain knitting a bit more exciting...

Socks in California and Sweater stared in Massachusetts

The Monkeys arrived in California, and Pam promises a picture soon....the most important part is that they FIT...

On another front, I have started a new sweater - maybe this one will actually get finished someday. Its the Rainbow Yoke Sweater from the latest Knitscene Magazine. I have substituted Naturespun Worsted in "Ash" for the Ella Rae Classic that was called for, same gauge, better price/value yarn I think, and I like Brown Sheep Yarn, its Made in the USA and I got each 245 yard skein for $7.00. The Noro Kureyon was a bit pricier, at between 8.20 and 9.00 per 110 yard ball. But the Japanese Colorways are just wonderful, and the subs that I could have used just don't compare in my mind. I am going to keep track of the sweater on Ravelry, my username is "knittingauntie" if you want to see the progress.

Since I am back on a knitting kick, last weekend I was able to get a reservation for the Hampton Inn in Freeport Maine for the NETA SPA weekend. Thats the last weekend in February. Its turned into a tradition the last 5 years to go to Maine for SPA. It used to be held on the 3rd weekend in February (and a bit closer to my birthday) but the last weekend is easier for a lot of people.

Back to the Monkey Socks, Pam promises me a picture of the socks in California, and I am sure she will come through alot sooner than I did with the socks.

Monkey Socks are finally finished - - more than a year later....

Disney World Socks are Done....formerly Bermuda Socks...soon to go to Pam in California...

This is a monkey sock on its way to Magic Kingdom riding in the drivers cab of the monorail. Sock had lots of fun this week, it went to Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom. It saw all my favorite sites and rode all the rides with me, even Test Track and Mission Space today.

This picture was taken at EPCOT at England - the flowers were beautiful and the day wonderful.

I knit, and I counted and I kept track of the rows and then I finally finished the sock tonight at 8:00 pm right before LOST came on TV. So I am now posting a few pictures of the sock during its Disney World adventures.

My Favorite Place on Earth...

I took this picture last fall when I was at Disney World for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. I actually just found the pictures as I was getting ready for our return trip. We leave on Thursday morning for 9 days of fun in the sun. I can't wait to get there.

It was lots of fun in the fall, and should be great fun in January. The weather in Massachusetts has been pretty cold and snowy, so anything over 50 will be a very welcome change.

I know that I am crazy about Disney, but its part of who I am.

Forest Canopy Cowl

I started the Forest Canopy Cowl and am in love with the pattern and the yarn I am using to make it. The details are on my ravelry page. The red is exceptional, and the pattern is excellent. I am on the last repeat before the border section. Thank you Susan Lawrence for another great pattern. I am leaving on vacation in 2 days and I really can't wait to get to warmer weather (Orlando here I come...)

another noro hat...

don't mind the background, my messy livingroom.....but the hat is fun and i even lined it...hat times for me i guess.

Christmas Presents Finished

This matching scarf, hat and wristers are a Christmas present for Wayne's niece. I got them finished this am. I hope she likes them, her style is usually Tattoo's and black, but I really love the NORO yarns and this is not super bright... I found the patterns on Ravelry, it the place to be.

My new Dining Room

I have spent the last year looking at grubby green walls after an incident with our furnace left our house a disaster two weeks before Christmas. We had a great cleaning crew at the house, but the paint in the dining area did not stand up to washing and left ugly streaks when they cleaned. It took me almost a year to get the walls painted (took less than a day to paint) and my brother did the trim for me in two nights (1.5 hours each night). I got the drapes and valances at Walmart, and the table and chairs from Craigslist. It was a deal (60.00) and in pretty good shape too. The light fixture came from Loews and we used a can-converter to be able to hang a fixture where there was a can-light before. Overall I am very happy with the room. I also have been knitting - a scarf for a Christmas gift, and a couple of helmet style hats for my nephews. Christmas is a week from today, and I have lots to do still. Wish me luck.

I really wanna win this quilt....

I stumbled across this giveaway and I really want a chance to win this quilt. The colors sing and really speak to me...If you are interested in seeing more info on this, its Dana at http://oldredbarnco.blogspot.com/ who is running the contest, but don't anyone else sign up and maybe i will have a better shot at winning...

Noah's Ark Quilt Started...

I found this wonderful pattern online, its "Noah's Ark Stitchery BOM by Lynette Anderson of www.lynetteandersondesigns.typepad.com The first 7 blocks have been posted and I have printed them out so that I can play catch-up. I went to Joann's last night and picked up a yard of a "dark tan" cotton for the background, and all the colors that are listed for the first 7 blocks. I pulled out my lightbox (that I had to have all those years ago and never used till today) and traced out the 1st block "The Rabbits", and have both rabbits mostly stitched. I love the quick-simple cuteness of the block designs, and I want to wait till I have a few done before I pick the fabrics to border them in (unless I get impatient and have to see them bordered). I have ton's of fat quarters that will work for the borders, but the question is what colors do I really want to use.

I think the Australian Stitchery that I have begun to find online really appeals to me, I like the simple designs. On a totally unlrelated note, I mentioned making a graduation quilt for my middle nephew, Justin will graduate in June, Devin his older brother graduated this past June and I have not made him a quilt, but maybe now is the time for starting quilts for both guys. Devin stated Mass Bay Community College yesterday, a great achievement for him. He wants to work with "special needs kids" and is interested in the "Human Services" associates degree. I have a couple of ideas for quilts for them, but need to work on designs before I think about getting any more supplies.

And on the knitting front, before you ask, no the socks are not finished. Boy they are well travelled though, they went to the carribean in the spring, bermuda in august and will go to disney world in 19 days when i go back....gotta get them finished, my poor pal has given up on them, but I do want to finish them.

It's official, I am addicted...

It's official, I am addicted to making these letters...I wanted to make a button as a short-cut to the Lazy Gal Summer Blog.

I also completed my first word a couple of days ago, and posted it to the Lazy Gal Summer Blog, and forgot to post it here....I envision images from "my favorite place on earth being added to this, but I am toying with the idea of adding pictures from disney to the piece. I but I have not made up my mind yet.

And on the knitting front, I am working on the "Monkey Socks" for Yarn Goddess Pam - Happy 4th Pam...

A Red Letter Day

Actually, its a "yellow-gold letter day". This is my first try at doing these wonderful letters that I found out about on Lazy Quilt Gal's site. Tonya does a great job of explaining how to make them. I started the first two letters in the car on the way home from New Hampshire, the "s" was done last night, and the "N" this morning. I had to stop so I could go to work. This might even help my health goal of losing "10%" . It's my first goal, and I am finding keeping my hands and mind busy helps alot.

On another note, I have a pair of socks to finish for my oh so patient sock pal from last year. They are oh so close. I have thursday off this week as well the long weekend - maybe I will get them done then.

It's been a while...

Watermelon something...

I have decided to do some quilting again. This quilt was started 3 years ago at "A Quilters Garden" in Marlborough Massachusetts. It was originally to be a hand applique quilt, and I had completed 2 1/4 blocks and it went on the shelf. Well, I have decided to dust off my sewing machine, my quilting talent and finish some of my quilts. This one is striking in person, not sure why I chose the colors I did, it goes with nothing in my house, but I do love the colors, and the design. I have already added little YoYo's between the leaves as I did not like the spaces between being different.

The second image shows the yoyo's. I took this picture inside and the colors are not as vibrant. I am now adding beads to the Watermelon Quilt top, will have to see how far I get with that. I also have a Bento Box Quilt that is purples and yellows. I will post a picture of that one soon.

More Monkey Business

I have been chugging along on the second sock for my monkey socks pal forever. She has been way too understanding about it. Here is a picture of sock1 complete and sock2 to the heel flap. I will start the flap tonight. I love knitting these socks but they have been slow going.

The Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway are one of my favorite places on earth - John Denver should have been singing about this place, its a real special part of the world, as good as West Virginia will ever be. This picture was taken 2 years ago on my last trip to Arkansas via Virginia and Tennessee...

no knitting pictures today, but i am knitting. clara parks posted a fingerless mitt's pattern that i have 2/3 of the first mitt completed and i have completed 3 Calorimetry's in NORO Kureon (2) and Plymouth Boku. They were fun to knit. My monkey Pal figured me out and we have been communicating...She goes on vacation later this week and I just wanted to shout out a "HI Pam" to her, she's had a bit of a week so far, with the BLOG police sending her messages, so I figure a kind and gentle message might be appreciated. - more later when I have time to take some pictures.

roll brim hat gold/noro

roll brim hat gold/noro
Originally uploaded by scm200

Here is the second hat out of Turnberry Tweed and Noro Kuereon...I love the colors, they say "fall to me"

beanie hat gold/noro

beanie hat gold/noro
Originally uploaded by scm200

Travelling to Vermont this weekend I had a lot of "car" time so I knit two hats - this is one of them - the yarn is Turnberry Tweed in an orange/gold and Noro Kureon 158. The resulting hat goes good with Animal if I do say so myself.

I knit this as a gauge swatch for a EZ sweater - this one on size 8 US needles, the next post is the size 6 US needles. I have not decided exactly which one I like better for a sweater. Both hats will be warm as the Turnberry Tweed and Kureon are both warm yarns. By the way it was in the mid 90's here in New England when I pulled this yarn out to knit with (am I crazy or what)

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Sockapalooza 4 Socks arrived from Across the Pond

My Sockapalooza Pal Mary did a great job knitting me these socks. They are knit from Koigu KPPM in a pretty lavender/grey mix. She also sent me some beautiful Collinette Jitterbug sock yarn in my favorite shades of turquoise and purple. Along with the fibery goodness is a box of Clotted Cream Fudge from Somerset UK, a postcard showing the beautiful countryside and a lovely note. Well worth the wait.