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Blog Transfer
I'm moving. I've decided to make the switch to WordPress because, well, it's just more awesome than Blogger. I'm working on transferring a select portion of my posts over there, too. So update your reader as I am hoping to get back into crafting here again!
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First Knitted Project
A moderate success. That knit hat is too small for anyone in our big headed family, but seems to be good for a baby! Luckily, I have one in mind. But, wow, that ended up being really difficult with all the dpns, and my stitching got tighter as I started decreasing. I eliminated a lot of rows by the time I realized it would be too small anyway. For a practice project I'm pleased with it though and now I know what to expect for hat making... Hmm, maybe I'll stick with scarves for now. I need to get over my hatred for gauging. Definitely learned a lot though and feel much more confident with pattern reading, even if I can't actually get my fingers and needles to cooperate.

Welcome Back
Long time without me updating my craftiness. Truth be told, not much has been made lately. I did make some 95 notepad holders for our Women's Retreat in March, but that was about all the action my sewing machine has seen since last fall!

Then quite randomly the other day a friend told me she wanted to learn to knit. I, of course, already know how to crochet, and had learned the very basics of knitting. But I happened upon knittinghelp.com and now I'm obsessed with becoming a proficient knitter. Bored already with the idea of a plain scarf, I've decided I need a cute hat, now that winter is almost over (we had snow last weekend...).

Yup, this was last Saturday:



So, I'm trying my hand at this cute hat. I've already tried cables and think I have it down. It's just a matter of figuring out the knitting in a round and decreasing and such. Tonight I went out and got my... um, whatever you call those needles with the cable in between... and some "dpn's." But then I realized the circular knitting needles (yeah, that's it!) were too long for the project, so I'm just making do with the double pointed needles. Nothing like taking the whole beginner thing to a whole 'nother level.

Here's what I got so far tonight.


I didn't worry about gauge because I'm impatient and just want to make something that looks good without caring about who it will fit! So it may end up being for my daughter.

No guarantees on upcoming craftiness, but hopefully I'll be able to show off the finished hat soon enough...

Doll Quilt Swap Happiness
Last week I received this lovely in the mail from Lisa, master and originator of this here swap. I pretty much knew as soon as I saw her name on the return address that I would be pleased with whatever I found inside. She does really beautiful work.



It took my breathe away, it's so pretty and beautifully crafted. She was so thoughtful in how she picked out the design and fabric just for me. I'm still trying to decide where to hang it because I won't be able to appreciate it enough if I hang it with all the others in Cosette's room.



All the fun stuff included - crochet thread for me, a pattern for me and one for Cosette, and stickers for Connor (who promptly stuck them all over his face). Thank you again, Lisa!


Then this weekend I managed to finish the doll quilt for my partner at the last possible second. Had to take advantage of the Labor Day holiday! This might make some people sad, but I have serious issues with surprises... so although I don't want to give hint as to who my partner is, I have no shame in revealing the final product!




This was pretty different from what I usually do, so it was fun to work outside my box. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. Very crazy and colorful, but I like how it all works together. I hope that my partner likes it.

Last, but not least (and not the greatest night time picture...), is the little mini quilt that I just sent off to my partner in the UK. It's 7" square. The theme for August was hand work. I've not done a whole lot in the world of yo-yos, so I gave that a go. I like the look of yo-yos on a traditional quilted background. This was my inspiration.


And with the conclusion of August, and our first MOPS meeting yesterday in which I was handling registration and finance... I take a big sigh of relief!

Craft Depressed
Well, I'm trying to get back into action, seeing as my sewing machine has seen no action in a good month now. I have deadlines for the end of the month to finish my doll quilt for the swap, and a hand-sewn mini-quilt for another swap. I felt really bad when I realized my mini-quilt swap partner was in the UK... I should not have waited till the last moment to make it. But I promise not to skimp - I'd rather she receive it late than I do something below par.

Here is a sneak at the doll quilt. I've got it sandwiched. I plan on doing simple machine stitching, something ala this quilt, with maybe some diagonal grid in the center and scallops around the border. Lucky for me, my swap partner is only a few states away for this one.


You know those lovely bags from my last post... Lost in the mail. Yup. Pretty sad and depressing.

I'm also trying (or at least starting to think about!) to get back into Dear Jane. I'm 12 blocks behind the Dear Baby Jane group. But two of those are ones I did make, but want to redo because I made them in the wrong color. Two more I have in the works. So it's not too bad. Today's block is easy, so maybe that's a good place for me to start.

Time Off
I'm afraid I've gotten to that time of the year when my sewing machine gets abandoned for a bit. So I might be taking a little time off from crafty blogging for a couple weeks. I am still in the doll quilt swap, and a mini quilt swap for August, but for the most part I'm not going to push myself to do much for a while. My Dear Jane supplies will stay out, but I'm lagging a little there still. I'm now the point leader for the QOV portion of the new military ministry at our church. So those things alone will keep my plenty busy. This weekend I finished a couple of mini Pleated Beauty Handbags ala Bend the Rules Sewing for a custom order.




And here's the lovely little mini quilt that I received Robyn. Love the colors, and the triangles and the itty bitty hand quilting. It's about 8" square.


And these are the two that I sent out. The first is a take on the Birds of the Air block. It's machine pieced, but hand appliqued and quilted. The second is a flower basket, all done by machine. The scallops were a little extra work, so I gave myself a break from the hand quilting on that one. I think it turned out being pretty cute for a last minute idea on the border.

Festival, Fabric, and Aunt Exie
This evening I went to the Denver Quilt Craft Sew Festival. I went because it was only an hour way (assuming no traffic!), and I've never been to any type of quilting show/festival. I was a little disappointed because it was smaller than I expected, and only about a quarter of it was quilting stuff that I was really interested in. Sorry. But it was only $4 with the coupon they mailed me, so I'm not complaining. It was nice to get away from the kids by myself.

I was tempted to by a whole quilt kit or two, but I resisted. Instead I got home with a simple baby quilt pattern by Deborah's Designs, and a scallop edge ruler. Funny, her booth was the first one I stopped by, and it was the one I returned to to purchase from after seeing all the rest. Deborah had this baby quilt on display, as well as another with different fabrics - both were just adorable.


It took me 1 1/2 hours to get there, but the drive home was just one hour. Here's a little Denver sky, and then the sunset in Colorado Springs. I just love it when you can see the rays shooting from behind clouds.


I've been commissioned to make a couple handbags. Both will be black. One with a black and white modern floral, and another just blue/green. Here's what I picked out today.


Oh, I got those from Ruth's Stitchery, a new-to-me quilt shop all of a few miles from home. I thought from the name, when I first heard of it, that it was a cross-stitchy/needlepoint/embroidery sort of a place. Try that, plus a huge selection of quilting cottons and patterns. It's great! And when there, I picked up the latest copy of Quilt Sampler Magazine (Fall/Winter 2008). What do you know but Ruth's Stitchery is featured in there! So check it out... that's where I'll be. Also of note if you are ever in Colorado Springs is High Country Quilts. They have a good (but smaller) selection and it's where I'm in a block of the month club. While on the subject, Ladybug Hill Quilts is a really cute shop, but it's pretty tiny.

Anyway, then I stopped by JoAnn's to pick up some basics. Crazy me, walked by the corduroys and found this super cute print. I think I'll make another pair of pants for Cosette, like these which she's sadly grown out of.


Alrighty... I think I'm getting back to Jane now. I'm 2 weeks behind. I should be 3 weeks behind except that 2 of the blocks randomly picked are ones that I've done, and another I already had in the works! I'm really wanting a break from the paper piecing. I'm dreading everyone of those just because of the time it takes. I've actually been enjoying my hand sewing for the last few days, including this E1 Aunt Exie's Phlox block. I've started a study of Psalm 119, so you might start seeing a lot of verses from that. I'm studying it one 8-verse section at a time, so don't be surprised if you see 22 verses from it! So to start it off with this one I'm going with Psalm 119:18 "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." I actually remember the pastor who married us once said that he prays this verse every time he opens his Bible.

Alright. I have more to share, but it's really really late and this post is quite long enough for today! Goodnight all.

Countdown from 25
Well, gee... everyone keeps mentioning their magical posting numbers and doing giveaways. I have a giveaway in mind... and this here is post number 175. And I need to finish my giveaway item anyway. So with that said, here's to my 200th post giveaway. That should give me about a month or so to finish. There. I said it. Done.

Because Food Posts Are Better With Pictures
It's midnight and I'm finishing off this bowl of black bean and corn salad on chips. (Beans are indeed the magical fruit, but it's worth it!)


That's right. I made it at lunch time, and the bowl is gone. This is a quarter batch (1/2 can of beans), so that I can make a fresh batch tomorrow if I feel like it. Because this is not pretty on the second day! But it is so good.

This was how I ate it at lunch. That's about half the bowl on a bed of lettuce tossed in that homemade ranch dressing.


I'm a snacker, so anything that can be served on chips is tops with me.

And here's just a cute picture of my son being sweet and cooperative at nap time. Notice the little stuffed animals tucked in next to him - thought that was cute!

July 2 and 4
Well, this last week was just a blur. Especially the part where I had a migraine for 3 days spanning Cosette's birthday and July 4th when we had family visiting.

Sadly, we didn't do anything in terms of a party for Cosette; for lots of reasons, one being she's two and won't remember! But the fairy costume and dress up shoes were a big hit just the same. She's been wearing them pretty much every day since receiving them.




On July 4, we went to my brother-in-law's for BBQ. Their cousin came down from Denver, and my father-in-law was also in town from CA.
Cosette received another ballerina dress from her aunt and uncle, and was all too happy to try it out.




I wish I had pictures of the food because it was good! Steve bbq-ed cilantro lime chicken. I brought black bean and corn salad, salad greens, and "Artisan" bread, plus we had chips and dips and pasta salad. The black bean and corn salad was a hit, and will be going down in my "keeps" recipe folder. The only changes I made were adding an extra avocado, and a whole 16oz bag of corn. I cut up my chicken and just made a huge salad out of it all. Yum! Also on a food note, I ran out of ranch dressing, and made this in a pinch (even using fresh green onion instead of dried chives). It is also a keeper. Finally, last night I made "passion bars." These are like oatmeal, chocolate chip, peanut butter fudge bar things. They are ok to me, but the kids love them. I'm now eating them because I don't really pass up cookies if they are in the house! Up this week, I'd still like to make cupcakes (ala Calamity Kim's sugar daisy cupcakes) for Cosette's birthday... month.

Our place is situated just behind a school, which is on a hill, that overlooks a stadium where there was a baseball game and fireworks. Around 7pm we sat ourselves down to some Taco Bell... and waited... and waited... We didn't realize that the game started at 7pm, and the fireworks would be at close to 11pm! But we had fun just hanging out. Josh actually took the kids in about 30 minutes before the fireworks, so it was king of a bust in that respect!


Quilty update up next...

Today Cosette is Two Years Old!


In two years she has...
been a "firecracker"
gotten all of her teeth, including her "two year" molars
grown lots of hair
talked up a storm
spoken into a microphone in front of a group
made a noise on a trumpet
been dedicated to the Lord
had an addiction (pacifier aka "pacisisa")
shared a room, and had her own
been covered in fabric strips
worn undies on her head
worn a purse on her head
counted to 12 (give or take a number)
been bitten by a human
broken her arm (20 months)
worn homemade clothes
fed a giraffe
been covered in Vaseline
been offered a beer (Uncle Steve's tradition)
lived in 3 different homes
lived in two different states
been on a plane
been on a train (cog rail to be exact)
been on a boat (Big Bear Lake)
been to the top of a mountain (Pike's Peak - 14,110 ft)
been in snow up to her knees
been Little Red Riding Hood
been to a pumpkin patch
pulled decorations off the Christmas tree
...just to name a few...
Photo highlights here.