28 Feb - Wow, can't believe February is over already

Gosh another Sunday has arrived. I can't believe how quickly 2010 is flying by! So, of course today is grocery shopping and laundry day. We are going to sneak off to a movie today though. We will see the Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan cop movie, it looks pretty funny.

I worked on the Tunic Dress skirt for quite awhile yesterday and had to stop because I didn't want to join in another skein yet. I worked on my homework for a little bit but it was quite boring and was putting me to sleep so I went to bed. I am going to work on it some this morning and then later after the movie. I may not get any crafting in today but we will see.

No snow today so far but I am sure it is quite cold out. The weather says we will get up to 45 sometime this week. Hopefully, that means Spring is around the corner.

I am posting a picture of the monkey blanket material. It is really cute and seems fairly straight forward. I am definitely go to have to move my sewing machine out here though it is so cold in the craft room.

Okay off to work on homework until David gets up to take me shopping.

27 Feb - Saturday Morning!

Enjoying a fire with the puppies this morning. We have a new blanket of white outside. Looks like it is clear at the moment but not sure about the rest of the day.

I posted my progress on the Tunic Dress on the side bar. The band goes at the waist and the knitted piece below that is the skirt. It is hard to show the detail in a picture. I really love this color and it is knitting up very easy.

I am hoping to get the shadow box glued today so it will have plenty of time to dry and cure. I also have to find a gift from the Chief's group. I am not sure I will have it in time for the luncheon but I can give it to him at staff meeting on Friday.

I am posting a few pictures that I took this morning of the snow.

All right off to start knitting. I will also get the monkey quilt out today and take a picture of that.

26 Feb - TGIF Snowing Again!!

Yes, it is snowing yet again but at least it is Friday. A bit of a busy day at work. I set up some financial stuff for my LLC and I sent Rachel some stuff to read since she is going to be my financial person. I've got to get her business Quicken. Had our monthly Chief's conference call seemed like that lasted a long time. I left after that, we were going to go to Sam's Club to order the cake for the retirement but it is snowing and freezing rain so I just picked up the dogs at the vet and came home. Jack helped me pick them up so it was easier than when I dropped them off this morning.

Okay, so pretty much have the shadow box mock up done. Just got to nag David to cut the pins off for me. I would do it but I don't have enough strength in my hands to do it.

I worked on the Tunic Dress last night and got a little ways on the skirt. I will work on it some more tonight and post a picture tomorrow. I will open up that quilt kit for the monkey quilt and see what I need to do for that and get going on it too. I've got some homework to do this weekend too but I don't think it will be too hard so I'll wait until Sunday to do it.

All right, off to turn the heaters up and snuggle down for some knitting.

25 Feb - It is snowing again!

Came home early to work on the shadow box. Stopped by clothing sales to get the medal rack and then went by military toy store to get a large model B-2 because he worked in that SPO earlier in his career. I am still not totally happy with the placement but I will work it out before it gets glued down. I just need David to snip off all the pins so I can glue everything down. I think he will like it because he doesn't know he is getting it.

I am going to work on some knitting now. Going to pick up those stitches on the band and start knitting the skirt for the Tunic Dress.

Yes, it is snowing again today. Supposed to snow on and off through Saturday. I think February is the worst month to live in Dayton!

I will post some pictures later of the knitting and the final shadow box.

Feb 24 - Snowing Again

I went to work for about a half day. My sciatic nerve was making it hard to sit and do any work. Came home and took a flexeril and went to sleep for awhile. I am now going for a massage (which was planned already).

Tonight, I am going to work on the shadow box some and knit on the tunic dress a little. I will at least pick up and knit the stitches to start the back of the skirt. For the shadow box I am going to line it with uniform material. So, I am going to use blue material, green material, BDU material, DCU material, and ABU material. I will take a picture once I have it all laid out. I think he is going to like it a lot.

Okay, I will post later, got to run to the massage.

Feb 23 - Uneventful Tuesday

Okay it was quite a boring day! Work was boring. I had one meeting it was boring. I did some homework, it was really boring.

I went by Michael's and got the other shadow box and the flag fits good. I was going to work on it tonight but I've been having some sciatic nerve issues today so have been laying down for awhile. So, I guess no knitting tonight.

I gave Bunny with a Sweater to Clarissa's mom today and she loved it. She said she would put it on a shelf in her room so Clarissa doesn't tear it apart.

I found the Debbie Bliss forum on Ravelry tonight! I had to pull myself away to come post here. I really love her patterns.

Well, since there isn't much to tell for today. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a little more exciting.

Feb 22 - Tunic Dress Progress

Well, made it through another Monday. Was busy working on retirement plans most of the morning and had lunch with the 4 star General and all the other Chief's. Didn't do much in the afternoon and left at 4 to pick up a shadow box. I've been trying to fold the flag to fit the box but it just isn't going to happen so I will have to go get a deeper box. I will get it tomorrow at Michael's because they have 40% off right now.

Last night I began knitting on the Tunic Dress. The first thing knitted is the band at the back which you work the skirt and back of the top off of. I finished it tonight and will start working the skirt portion tomorrow night.

I also need to open up the quilt kit and see what I have to do to make that up. I'll have to bring my sewing machine into the family room because it is too cold in my crafting room. LOL

All right, time to get ready for Tuesday. We had some rain today so the snow is melting a little but I think David said we were getting some snow Wednesday. At least we finally got the propane guy out to get new tanks so I can have a fire again.

I'll catch up tomorrow night.

Feb 21 - Another Sunday Already!

Gosh, these weekends sure fly by quickly! Today is grocery and chore day as usual. I am not planning any crafts today but I may go to Jo-Ann's and pick out my material for my tote and of course I will do my weekly Sunday Target run. I also have to work on the script for Col Hobson's retirement. I need to get it back to the front office for another round of comments.

I looked at the Debbie Bliss baby blanket pattern that I mentioned yesterday for Beth but I think it is beyond my skill level. I will look through my collection of patterns, I am sure I can find something else to do. I just know it is going to be blue, a dark turquoise blue.

I am going to take the pattern of Sunshine Baby Blanket to the lady who is going to teach me how to do it. She will be in her shop after 2 today.

All right, I am off to get ready for the commissary run, more importantly the Sunday tradition of having McDonald's for breakfast...I am really hungry!

A little while later...I went to Jo-Ann's and got the material for the tote bag. It turned out to be a really spring-y type material day. I also found a cute baby quilt to make for Beth instead of knitting her a blanket. It is really cute with monkey's on it, I figured it would go better with her jungle theme than anything I can knit. I've also decided to start knitting a Tunic Dress for myself that I found in the Debbie Bliss Catalog yesterday. I bought a really pretty dark turquoise color for it. It is called Peacock. I will start taking pictures as I work on these projects. Hope everyone has had a great day! Did I mention that I hate doing laundry??

20 Feb - Bunny is done!

Well, Bunny with Sweater is done. He turned out pretty good. I think next time I will use thicker yarn. I have decided that I am not going to fringe Lemon Lace. I did not make it as long as the pattern called for and it would not look right to fringe the side edges instead of the cast on/off edges. It is being blocked at the moment to keep it the cast on/off edges from rolling. What I really need to buy is a proper blocking board.

Well, it was a productive day. Bunny done, Lemon Lace pretty much done, went to quilt shop (Mason Jar) and signed up for a class to make a tote, it is called On the Go Tote. I know have to go pick out material which I will need a half a day to do. Jo-Anne's here I come! I went by Fiberworks to ask about crochet classes and the owner is going to give me one-on-one lessons to help me through the Sunshine Baby Blanket! I am so happy! It will be in a couple weeks, on Saturdays in the afternoon. I can't wait! Oh, I also did my homework which only took a few minutes. I put the picture and frame together for Colonel Hobson's retirement and ordered the flowers for his ceremony. A very productive Saturday.

I bought the new Debbie Bliss magazine for Spring/Summer 2010 and I liked a baby blanket in there for the next project for Beth's baby. It is an unusual pattern so it may take me some time to get it done. I will post some pictures when I get going on it.

I am posting some pictures of our fun Dayton Winter. My Winter garden and the icicles that have been growing off our gutters. I caught one yesterday morning as the sun was coming up out the kitchen window. I also caught Puppy and Marley watching me wondering what I was doing taking pictures so early in the morning!

19 Feb - TGIF!!

Well, it is another Friday. I am so tired and I didn't even work all week! LOL.

All right, I am getting ready to finish up Bunny with a sweater. I am putting a picture here of him before he gets sewn and stuffed. I have to redo one ear because I messed it up when I was trying to get read of the excess threads. I will post the finished pictures when I am done.

I will cut the fringe for Lemon Lace and finish that up this weekend and post a picture of that too.

I am going to go to the quilt shop and fiber shop tomorrow and see what they have to offer for classes.

I am going to look through my Debbie Bliss Magazines and see if I can find a new pattern to make for the next blanket. I need to see if she has a new magazine out. I really like everything she does.

Okay off to finish Bunny!

Feb 17 - Back to work

Well, no snow day or delay today. I spent most of the day grading award packages because I procrastinated and I thought they were do tomorrow. Oh well, gave me something to do today.

I've got 1 and 1/2 ear and the sweater to knit for Bunny and then he will get stuffed and put together. I will do the fringe on Lemon Lace this weekend. When I finish Bunny I am going to let my hand rest and do some sewing, I will work on the tie projects. I may think about a stained glass project too.

There are a couple stores around one has quilting classes and the other is a fiber shop but I don't know if it has any lessons. I have quilted in the past but it might be fun to take another class. I am thinking it might be cool to learn how to frame pictures too. They have a class at the hobby shop for that. David's mom frames all her needlework and Doris' too. It would be nice to learn the mat cutting to make the special frames for going away parties.

We have piles and piles of snow here. I don't think I have seen so much snow in Dayton before. We usually get snow and then it melts away before we get more. It is packed in pretty good. We may break a record for snow in February if we get much more this month.

Okay, off to eat and work on Bunny.

Feb 16 - Snow Day!

This morning was supposed to be a snow delay until 10:00 but then they just decided to close the base! I got an extra day to knit. I finished the knitting on Lemon Lace and I just need to cut and do the fringe now. I stopped knitting to finish our taxes and we will be getting back some dough but I think David has it spent already! LOL

I am going to work on my Bunny with a Sweater now and also figure out the next blanket to knit. I'll be glad when these ladies quit having babies! I've got to work on the tie project too. Busy, busy.

Well, time to get moving around, I have been sitting all day.

Feb 15 - Happy President's Day!

Another snowy day, seems to be coming down fairly good right now. A good day to stay in doors and do my homework and laundry that I didn't get done yesterday because I was too busy knitting.

I started knitting the small bunny with a sweater from the Debbie Bliss magazine. I thought it was so cute I had to do it. Lemon Lace has about 22 rows to go and then I have to fringe it. I've got to think about the blanket to make for Beth. She is having a boy. I was going to work on the sunshine quilt next but I don't think that is a good blanket for a boy. She says she has a jungle theme in the nursery so I will have to see what pattern would be good, I think I have a nice green I can use. I'll probably make up a few more bunnies to give out at Easter. They are very quick to knit up and you can make a different sweater to change them up.

I am also putting together some frames and a shadow box for my boss' retirement. I am still waiting for the shadow box to come which is making me nervous. His retirement is 5 March. I am sure it will get here on time, but I have to have time to put all the stuff in the box. I have to go downtown to pick up the flag from the congressman's office. If it isn't snowing tomorrow I will do it then.

All right, off to do my homework so I can do some knitting. Jack want's me to take him out for lunch today but we will see how the roads look once he gets up and around.

I'll post some pictures later.

Feb 14 Valentine's Day Sunshine Sunday

I am up early again on the weekend but I am sitting in my chair with the sun streaming in so it is not all that bad. I am sure it is only 13 degrees outside but having the sun out is wonderful.

Not much planned today, just the usual chores and I have to get some homework done. I will work on Lemon Lace a little and I want to go to Michaels to get some brownish yarn to make the cute little bunny in the Debbie Bliss magazine. I also worked a little on the tie project last night but I am not sure I am liking how it is turning out. I will think about it a little longer.

David and I are going out to lunch for Valentines day. We usually don't do dinners on major holidays because it is just too hard to get into restaurant's around here after 3 pm.

I am happy to have one more day off and will mostly work on Lemon Lace to get it finished up. I am ready to move on to another project.

I'll post some more pictures later.

Feb 13 - Saturday Afternoon Knitting Club

I had a great time at the knitting club. There were about 18 ladies there all varying ages and skill level. A lot of the ladies were working on circular needles which I have never liked but I can see why they use them. The lady next to me was new to knitting and had 3 projects going at once! One young girl was learning from her grandmother and I am not sure if she got past two rows the whole time we were there. It was all quite fun and I had a chai tea latte and someone brought homemade cookies.

I have worked on the tie project weaving two blocks to make into a purse. I am going to iron stabilizer on the back before I sew. I think this will help hold all the silky type fabric together while it is being sewn. I will do the stabilizer tonight. I need to take some pictures as I go along so I can write a pattern later.

Have a great evening everyone!

Roses

12 Feb - TGIF

I am so happy it is Friday. I came home early from work because my back was hurting so I came home and laid down most of the day.

I bought a dozen pink roses from the Chief's fundraiser sale. They are very pretty and smell really great.

I made some changes to the blog today, I hope you like them. I had the Crafty Pigeon emblem made up for awhile so I figured I may as well use it. I would like to have something different on the sides but the editing page doesn't have that option. I'll keep working on it.

Tonight I am going to start working on a tie project. I would really like to make a purse but I need to start matching up materials and seeing how they fit together. I am going to the knitting club tomorrow so I am going to rest my hand one more night. I've got about 20 pattern rows to go which is 80 rows, hopefully they will work up quickly.

I will post the tie project later if I get anything going.

Thanks to my sister for sending me a lovely Valentines box of goodies, they are all gone already, mmmmmmmm. Also, thank you for being my only follower. LOL

Happy 3 day weekend!!!

11 Feb - Thought it was Friday all day

I hate those days when you keep thinking it is Friday but it is only Thursday! It was quite a long day but at least the weather is a lot nicer.

I worked on Lemon Lace a little last night. My wrist is getting sore so I am going to rest for a few days. I am going to a knitting club meeting Saturday for the first time and I want to be able to knit. I guess I should say that I have had two surgeries on my right wrist and repetitive motion makes it very sore. Sometimes I overdo my knitting and I have to stop for a bit.

I tried again to make the center flower for the Sunshine Afghan but still no luck. I believe I will work on making a purse from the ties I have purchased from the thrift stores. I have a few ideas of how I want to do it so I just need to get to it. I will post pictures once I get going on it.

I had a wonderful massage tonight and I am now ready to have a snack and go to bed. I have to get up early for an awards breakfast tomorrow but I should be off early to start the wonderful 3 day weekend!

9 Feb - Snow Day

Woke up to more white stuff coming down this morning. Watched the news and saw that my son's school was closed and thought my work would be too but no it wasn't. Got to work driving 20 MPH all the way and found out once I got there that we would be going home at 11:30. Now, really was this worth risking everyone's life to drive in through a snow storm so we could be released? It is a crazy world!

Well, Lemon Lace is coming along nicely. I have 22 more pattern rows to go so hopefully I will be finished by this weekend. I am also trying to do some crochet whenever I set the needles down for a rest. I am trying to make the flower for the middle of the Sunshine Baby quilt but it has just been a disaster, although last time was a bit better. I will get there eventually. I am going to a club meeting Saturday, it will be my first one and I am hoping to get some tips from the folks that attend.

I've got to sign up for my pasta making class before it fills up. There is a wonderful store here called Dorothy Lane Market and they have a cooking school too. In April, they have a class on how to make your own pasta. It always looks so good on television.

That is all for snow day. The snow continues to come down. I ran out of propane for the fireplace so I can't even enjoy the fire now. Such is life.

7 Feb - Super Bowl Sunday

I spent yesterday indoors working on the Lemon Lace blanket and trying to learn some crochet. I think I have the stitches down to do the flower part so I will give it a try today with some heavier yarn.

Today is the typical grocery shopping, laundry, house cleaning. I'll be done in time for the Super Bowl. I am hoping the Colts will win but the Saints look pretty good. I hope they don't hurt Peyton.

I am still thinking about how to work the flower pattern into a knit pattern. I have some ideas but I will have to wait until I have some time to figure it out.

Well, sounds the like the husband is up so it is time to get around and get ready for the grocery store. It is never crowded this early in the morning.

I hope everyone has a great Super Bowl Sunday!!

6 Feb 10 - Snowy Ice covered trees

it is a snowy cold day here in Dayton. It is a good day to stay inside and knit. I am enjoying the piece and quiet with my dogs before my husband gets up and blares the TV. I swear there isn't a time when he can't stand to have peace and quiet. So, I am going to work on Lemon Lace blanket for awhile and then dig out my learning to crochet book to learn the basics so I can start the Alicia Paulson Sunshine Baby Blanket. I'll post more on that later. Well, I hope the weather is great wherever you are I am dreaming of Spring.

5 February 2010

Hello,
I am starting this blog to show some of my crafts. Share some thoughts and just have some fun!