Monday, February 22, 2016

I'M FEELING A BIT ZEN-FUL!


Well FEBRUARY is moving along!
I was on vacation but now back in my sewing room
and playing with my stash!

This Zen Chic collection of Sphere
will be one of several Zen Chick kwilts
I hope to get done in 2016...

I also love her PLUS pattern...
All I need is to select a background!



I have lots on my 2016 list...and am happy to...



Have you finished anything yet  in 2016?


Monday, February 15, 2016

A LOTTA PAVING GOIN ON!

LOTTA JANSDOTTER has paved her way 
and her fabric into my heart!
She is a wonderful, amazing designer!

This year...I am bustin my stash that contains 
her earlier lines like ECHO and GLIMMA

I never buy a pattern first...
Fabric finds its way into my stash then
I search for the perfect pattern
Like this one in a magazine
 "Pave the Way" by Karen L Gray


The chain piecing began...
using the1/4" dual feed foot and long fabric guide
on my Bernina 740 - Ms. Nina 


Threw some rows together


Added solid white shashing and small borders
and voila....top is done!
This pattern really showcases the prints!


I didn't want to buy any fabrics for the backing
as my stash is HUGE!
I hung the Lotta top on the design wall
Found a yard of Lotta and cut it down the fold
hung it in the center of the backing


Kept pulling fabric in building the back like a puzzle.


Til the entire top was covered with some room to spare for kwilting. Just mixed it the placements til I liked it!


And I "paved" right over two of the challenges
I am participating in!



Who is one of your favorite designers!
I know you have more than one!




Monday, February 8, 2016

HERDING SHEEP...

Well sorta...I have been a knitting fool this last year!
and oh yeah...hoarding yarn!
I have to shout out to Kathy Guenther
my good friend and  knitting idol..
She knits all things amazing,gets me
out of my knitting messes, encourages me....
and is a great yarn hoarding enabler!


First up...these will be for a triangle lace shawl!
Its a very light fingering weight in lovely variegated colors.


I found a free pattern on Ravelry
"Pretty Basic" by Janina Kaillo
 Click here for the pattern

I luv this!!!!!!!!!!!

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I never have anything green for St Patty's Day.
This yarn will be a great Irish looking scarf..
BTW...I used to be a Murphy!


Kathy sent  me a free pattern (on Ravelry)
"Be Simple Variation" by Carolyn Glauz-Todrank
Click here for the pattern


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This pattern is on my needles now with a beautiful
 Madaline Tosh fingerling weight that I received as a gift!
My little bunny thinks spring is on the way....
as does this project!


Kismet yarns are soft and yummy 
and when on sale...how can I resist?


I may tackle another "Brickless" lace shawl by Martina Behm
Pattern is on Ravelry for a small cost


Here is the first "Brickless" I made....
I had some challenges but finally got it done.
It's not perfect...but perfect enuf for me!



A fun cowl pattern from my friend Kathy.
I used stash yarn- double strand "DUNE"
Each strand looks like fingering weight - different textures.
US 9 circulars, cast on 90 stitches and stitch in the round!
Coming along nicely!


  I just finished a "Farrow Ribbed Scarf" 
Lots of free patterns over on Ravelry for this scarf.
Lauren, IG friend @lolodidit gave me a hat pattern
Proud to say this was my FIRST HAT and 
FIRST knitting in the round.
Step-Daughter birthday gift!


I finished my second Hitchhiker shawl by Martina Behm.
Beautiful fall colors that will be great with denim!
Find the pattern here for a small cost.



It took a lotta sheep to help me build my knitting skills...
I may have been a shepherd in a previous life!  





Monday, February 1, 2016

PAYING IT FORWARD...

One Stitch at a time...
Paying it forward can come in many shapes and sizes.
Over the holidays paying it forward ran rampant!


First...I made this "churn dash" block for a dear friend, 
Dee Cunningham, for her retirement quilt.
She retired from Nationwide (my former company)
and is now basking in the splendor of retirement!




During the holidays there was a fire in Hamilton, OH 
and with that...a fallen firefighter.  
A call went out on Instagram for "raspberry kiss" blocks 
to make a quilt for the firefighters wife.
I jumped at the chance to make a this block



I have a LOT of baby quilts in my Etsy shop...
I decided to pull some and give them to 4 children on my street.
On Christmas Eve I left them on the doorsteps, 
rang the doorbell and ran...
with a note from Mrs. Claus...


I belong to a FB group to destash fabric.  
A call went out to ask for gifts for folks who were in need
Someone, had issues with their hands 
and needed a purse with easy access so I sent this one!


 ...what goes around...does come around...

On Instagram there was a great sharing and caring event
 with two "grant your wishes" opportunities.

You could list a wish and someone would grant it for you.
I granted many wishes and sent lots of goodies for the 
#getyourquiltywishesgranted
#getyouryarnwishesgranted

This photo shows items from 3 different IG peeps
who granted my wish for Flea Market Fancy fabric,
Madeline Tosh Yarn
and someone posted the unicorn fabric and I got it!


someone else granted my wish for Flea Market Fancy fabric


two peeps granted  yarn wishes granted
Flea Market Fancy was a swap that came from across the pond
  She received some of my Ghastlies fabric...yes I did!


more yarn showed up at my door


I received a knitting needle holder was a swap...
and sent some yarn... 



my BIG wish to be granted was someone to make me a  "Ghastlies" Sew Together Bag.

My friend, Joanna, who lives local,
she said she'd make it...but didn't have any Ghastlies
  I remedied that real quick and stitched up the pieces
according to the pattern...gave them to her.




and this was the GHASTLIE result...squeeeeeeeeeeeee




I am lucky that I can "pay it forward" even if is in stitches 
or something from my own stash.  
I feel truly blessed that someone cares enough 
to send a little happy my way!

I highly recommend that if you are not on Instagram...
get on it.  There are sew many fun opportunities to join in.
Swaps, wishes granted, fabric and yarn for sale...
and many, many new friends!
It's more fun that it is a hassle!  trust me!

Go ahead...pay it forward !