I'm So Very Behind

I really don't know where the time goes, but it does. I've done lots. Really. 

I've also received lovely gifts. These gifts came last week and I have yet to say thank you to the givers. 

So to these two wonderful women I hope the adage better late than never stands.....

Dee made this mini as a part of pay it forward. I. Love. It! Thanks Dee, it brightened my day!

My Sister sent these slippers. She knitted and felted them. I cannot express how comfy they are.

I've hardly taken them off since they got here.

THANKS SO VERY MUCH!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you are all having a wonderful day! Just wanted to show you the one fun decoration I was able to finish in time to use this fall....

 Please excuse the two holes in my wall. This is the part about my house being a work in progress and me going ahead and showing you. There was an intercom. There was a ventilation hood. They were beyond non functional and U.G.L.Y. The electrical thingys need help so until we get to that point in our reno, they remain open. 

 Back to my pretty garland. This is from a tutorial over at ParrishPlatz. I've wanted to make one for awhile and decided now was the time. Thanks for the idea and doing the cool leaf templates Jennifer! These were made with some wonderful 100% wool felt I bought when I was in Germany. I machine sewed my layers together.

 I think this one is my favorite.

Yes, it's still warm enough for the beach.

I Knitted My Bit

Knitting has always intrigued and yet eluded me. I've tried hard to understand it but until my sister came and showed me I just wasn't getting it. Poor Sherie, I don't know how many times she asked if I was really sure I wanted to knit. I got to between round 9 - 13 six times and tore it out. I know I will never be a knitter but at least I know can say I have knitted. 

This yarn is gorgeous. Thank you Mary for giving me such loveliness. I've been saving it for something special. The pattern is called Candle Flame Cowl from here. 

 My real goal is to be able to make wash cloths. This pattern is from Purl Bee . Sherie has made a couple of these for me and I want more. I keep thinking I should be able to make them myself instead of bugging her. The knitting needles below were made by a friend. Yes Joan, I still love purple! 

Gratuitous grandchild shot. I love this boy.

I Actually Sewed Something

 My sister asked for this bag back when I was at the shop and made it for display. She decided it was the perfect knitting bag. I decided that she also needed a pattern holder and made one the night before she left. It's not great but I think it will do until she is tired of it. 

Jessica wanted more shopping bags. She uses one that I sent her for a beach bag. We collect shells and other beach treasures in it. These will be for shopping. Or beach treasures or whatever she wants.

Who says you can't have fall color in FL? I have two beautiful trees in my front yard that are trying their hardest.  I looked up and saw this while I was painting my front door. My blue front door. My indigo blue front door.  Oh yeah, I'll post that over here when it is dry......

My Little Cardinal

If you want to see something cute.... go see my grandson in his Halloween costume here.

My Sister, My Friend

It's been over two years since I've seen my sister. It's so good to know that time and distance are not relevant in our relationship. 

 She's gorgeous and kind.

 She makes me laugh like no one else. 

 We can be all kinds of special and we don't care.

 We are so much alike and so much different.

We have fun hanging out and doing nothing.

 She taught us to knit.

She can hold a baby and knit.

 She loves her Great Nephew very much.

And I think he feels the same.

Sorry For My Absence......

I've been a little bit preoccupied.

Jessica + Voile + Summertime Top = Cute

It’s been fun getting back into the groove of sewing. There were a few things I brought with me when we moved so I could have projects to do while waiting for my household stuff. One of the items was the Summer Time top pattern from Favorite Things. Another was AMH voile diamond mine in ink. I was hoping Jessica would like the combination and she did.

Of course, we had to put our own twist on things. She’s not a big fan of ties. I knew this, so I wasn’t surprised. We decided on buttons. I added a placket down the front on both sides because it was too small across the front. This is not her fault. The girl is tiny. I should have checked to make sure the pattern fit. I just started cutting to her normal size without compensating for some new attributes that she has acquired. I made the cap sleeves a bit shorter too.

I love the way it turned out. Voile is the perfect fabric for a top like this. 

A Day in My New Life

Today I went on my first adventure by myself since coming to my new city. I was called up for jury duty. Crazy right? I mean I am almost 50 and this is the first time ever that I've been selected and I'm brand spanking new to the city. I know how it happened. I got my driver’s license here two years ago so as far as they know this is where I've been living.

I was seriously dreading this, for no other reason than I was going to have to be a big girl and drive myself someplace new. But it wasn’t bad. If you have nothing important to do, and don’t mind sitting around waiting it would be interesting to be called every now and then. I was fully prepared with entertainment (love my e reader and iphone!) so did not have the impatience for the situation that some people did.

When the day ended without me getting the chance to be chosen I was kind of relieved and kind of disappointed. I found it interesting that everyone in the court building treated the 500 or so of us there kindly, humorously and respectfully. We were told multiple times how much our time and cooperation was valued. Though I am sure they say that all the time, I really felt it was meant. My first encounter with the judicial system up close and personal was fairly positive.

After being dismissed I took the opportunity to walk along the river for a bit. I love looking at the bridges crossing the river between the downtown areas. I am not as keen about driving over them but this view is lovely to me. My new city has some very pretty areas that I can’t wait to explore.

Lovely Pillowcases

Another step in getting Jess ready for the hospital was to make her pillowcases. She was told to bring a couple of her own comfy pillows, but to be sure that the cases were distinctly hers.  Do you think these will work??

She had just a yard of her most favorite Mendocino fabric and a white cotton pillowcase. It was destiny.  It was magic. It was fun.  I did the planning and cutting, she did the sewing.