WIP Wednesday.......

I ordered this material and it is being washed and dried as I speak.  I don't wash fabrics I am going to quilt as I like the "puckery' look they get when they get washed and dried after being sewn but with clothing or anything else it always gets washed, dried and ironed first.  This material is going to be made into pillowcases with a contrasting cuff and will have crocheted edging.  I've never done either so we shall see how it all turns out....good I hope!

I'm almost done with Grandma's Favorite Knitted Dish Cloth, another first in knitting. I'm really enjoying this pattern and I can watch t.v. and knit it without messing up!  Hurray!  I'm also loving the Knitpicks Dishie yarn that I'm using.  I highly recommend it and I like it much better than Peaches and Creme.  I'll be making lots of these and may be selling them on my blog and at the Farmer's Market too.....we'll see.  But this one is for a very special cousin of mine.  She doesn't know it yet but she is my new "product tester"! LOL!

The I-cord for my chair pad just goes on and on and on......it looks like a pile of snakes.  But it's another great t.v. project or audio book project as I could do it blindfolded about now! LOL!  I need 27 feet and I now have 12 so almost halfway there!  Yippee!  Oh, and Ruth, yes, it will get wound up into a circle for my chair pad and sewn together by hand.  You could actually do any shape you wanted as it is so flexible....even a square or a rectangle if you wanted.  I'm thinking on mine that each one will be a different color.  I used a bulky washable wool.

I have many other projects in progress but these are the only ones I've made any progress on this week.  I can't wait to see all of yours as it is always inspiring!  Take care!

Finished a couple books...........

I almost forgot to blog as I have been "glued" to the weather channel watching the tornadoes coming this way!  Please say a prayer for the people in Oklahoma who have been devastated!
Here's what I finished this week.....

 

I was amazed how this book held my interest, maybe I really am reverting back to my childhood.  The story line was good and although the main characters are the 2 young twins there are also the older twins and the parents and plenty of other adult characters with a little mystery, adventure and comedy all rolled into one.  A nice sweet story to go off to dreamland with and a nice visit back to one of my childhood favorites.

 

A great theme and many women could benefit from reading this and treating themselves at least as good if not better than they treat others.  But for me.....been there, done that and I learned it awhile ago..... not nearly soon enough but at least I learned it and now I AM The Queen!  If you already know you're the queen than you need not read this but if you want a road map on how to become one, this is a good one! And fun!

I was going to start reading my "classics" and I had picked out Uncle Tom's Cabin to read but in prepping to move I decided to read other books that I think I might not take with me unless of course they turn out to be SO fantastic that I will never want to part with them.  This one has been on my shelves for quite awhile and it looks like a good "summer read" maybe?  I've never read Ms. Siddons but I've heard good things about her although I don't always appreciate what the majority likes.  (Oh, I'm such a rebel!)  But it is highly acclaimed by all the top book reviewers etc. so we'll see.  "12 year old Emily Parmenter survived her mother's abandonment and her beloved older brother's death and now finds purpose in training her father's magnificent spaniels...and refuge in the magic of Sweetwater Creek.

For non-fiction I'm reading a new book that I've had my eye on for awhile and it has to do with maybe selling some "wares" on my blog.....but I need to learn a few things first so I'm reading this book.  It was highly rated on Amazon.  I'm curious if anyone else has read either of these new books I've picked...if so let me know what you thought.

Have a safe week and once again, my prayers go out to all the people affected by the tornadoes.

YOP Update

Here we are again........and I have new stuff going on....I love starting projects.....finishing is the hard part! LOL!
Here is my chairpad #1 and it calls for 9 yards of I-cord so I broke it down to 27 feet so I could feel like I was getting somewhere and it helped....I now have 9 feet done and that is 1/3 of one chair pad!  Yippee!  Like I said before...it's a great project for doing while watching t.v. or otherwise what I call "distracted knitting".  I'm thinking since I didn't go with the "rainbow" chair pad that I might make each one a different color because I'm pretty sure I will get REAL tired of knitting red I-cord for 4-6 chair pads!

 Okay, this isn't on my YOP list for this year but I am knitting some wash clothes for a cousin of mine and I was planning on having them on the next YOP list so what the heck.......I love this variegated "dishie" cotton yarn from Knitpicks.....I'm using Grandmother's Favorite Dish Cloth pattern which is free on Ravelry and I'm loving it!  

 I just realized....I'm really "ramping up" for YOP 2014 simply because my remaining YOP 2013 projects are all HUGE.....I've been doing some ordering and setting in supplies......lots of wash cloth yarn and a blanket kit...WHAT??????  Am I nuts?  Another blanket?  What is wrong with me? LOL!  It's a small one though and I've had my eye on it for a long time but I will need to practice some skills before I tackle it.  What is this about "there are only 2 stitches in knitting"?   Crazy talk.....what the heck is a cf4?  I had no idea what I was getting into!  There's a "chart" involved which I have never done and "cable" stitches... and lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

 Then there was that other project in the Nicki Trench book....another blanket....I think I need therapy, I have a "blankie" problem...I'm sure it stems from my Mother wanting to wash mine all the time when I was little.  The funny thing is I don't realize it until I've already started "another blanket"!
Anyway, I had to just try out this pattern....again, just "prepping"  for YOP 2014 mind you.  I discovered these are really tiny and you need 432 of them or some ungodly number.  I think I'm going to need a lot of hand-holding this next year! LOL!

I'm also making a quilt for my grandson, Uriah, who's birthday is in July...........

and I decided (quite late in the year mind you) that I want to do an ornament a month so I started my first cross stitch Christmas ornament.  I'd like to join a group for this but not sure they'll take me this late in the year.  I'm going to make all kinds of ornaments for all kinds of holidays.  I used to cross stitch a lot and I still have all the materials and supplies and books so this is a very economical hobby for me.  I am constantly inspired by Ruth of My Spare Moments who has 8 children and manages to get so much accomplished!  You go Ruth!

Oh boy, I'm tired just reading my own post!  I better go get some of that stuff worked on!  Have a great week!

WIP Wednesday

 Still working on the Blackberry Salad blanket but I'm frustrated with it as the "bobbles" aren't lining up like they're supposed to.  I don't know if it's just a mistake I made in one row or if it's how I started it out.  Some rainy day when I have the time and the patience I'll sit down with it......meanwhile I just look at it and walk on by! LOL!

On a  good note I have made 7 of the 27 feet of the I-cord for my seat cushion.  I highly recommend this for watching t.v.! Ha! Ha!

I saw a group that cross stitches an ornament a month and was inspired to try it.  I'm too late to join this year I think but I'm doing it anyway.  I was going to order some kits and then I remembered I had pattern books so lo and behold I have my favorite Mary Engelbreit patterns for Christmas ornaments and all types of holidays.  I even found some Aida cloth 14 count that was required so maybe next week I'll have another WIP to show you!  Just what I need...another WIP! LOL!  Hopefully, the WIP's will someday lead to FO's.

Poor bunny baby  has been languishing in a bowl while I landscaped and gardened but hopefully I will be attending to her again very soon!

I'm not sure if I told you but I have one more block left to do on my applique folk art quilt and would you believe I couldn't find the pattern for the last block!  Finally, I unearthed it one day while looking for something else and I'm ready to get started on it.  I will still have the borders to do but it's getting there!  This has been the biggest, longest project I've ever worked on!

and last but not least my socks....3rd pair but this pair is the first pair using DPN's as opposed to Magic Loop and I love DPN's!  What was I so scared of?  For socks I love them better than Magic Loop for sure.  I'm almost to the toe but I keep trying them on as the last pair didn't fit.  I have really big feet! LOL!

I have more yarn coming in and last night I was shopping for material for sewing my pillowcases with the crocheted edging.  Now, if I could just get someone to do the yard work and the housework and cooking and laundry, I'd be set! LOL!

I'm a shameless immitator...........

I'm trying to organize my blog and postings and projects and LIFE! LOL!  So, I've picked up some great ideas from other bloggers and blogs I admire.....thanks to them I might be getting somewhere finally! Ha! Ha!
#1 - Since I blog mostly at the end of the day there will be a list of accomplishments which will hopefully keep me on task and accountable for my many projects.
#2 - Each day, and thus posting,  will be devoted to some specific area that I am working on therefore if you know that every Tuesday I will blog about recipes and you're not interested then you can just check in on the days where we share an interest.
#3 - I will also be joining groups that reflect my interests and my goals.

Sundays will continue to be my posting for A Year of Projects on Ravelry
Mondays will be..........(Ruth from In My Spare Moments participates in this group and I thank you, Ruth!)

I finished reading the following books:

I bought Solitude many years ago as I was curious about my role as an only child and also that I  had received unfavorable comments about me "wanting my space" and the comments made me feel like there was something wrong with me.  Of course, now I know it is healthy for everyone to have time to themselves but at the time I was worn down and tired and made to feel that EVERYTHING was my fault! LOL! 
I learned some things from the book but it was pretty dry and I have a feeling it was a thesis paper that the author wrote for his PhD in psychology or psychiatry.  There were extreme examples of depression in famous artists, authors and creative people and I notice that there is still the opinion that if you enjoy your own company more than you do others there is something wrong with you.  Oh well! LOL!  I would not recommend this book unless you're a student of psychology.    
Fleece Navidad was so enjoyable although out of season.  I love Maggie Sefton and I am slowly reading the whole series.  It is based on a real yarn shop in Colorado and a wonderful group of gals and guys that are all connected to it in one way or another.  There is always a crime and a mystery to be solved by one of the shops frequent visitor and novice knitter.  There are recipes and yarn patterns in the back of each book and I plan on challenging myself to make them all....someday! LOL!  These are great books and give you a warm and cozy feeling!
My non-fiction read right now is this.....it's written by 2 best friends who hit mid-life and decided to celebrate it!  I'm a bit past mid-life but the witty and practical advice they give would be great regardless of what stage of life you are at.  Kathy Kinney was the actress that played "Mimi" on the Drew Carey Show if you ever watched that show on t.v.  I got the book after "liking" them on Facebook and getting their daily "photos" and "witticisms"....love them!

 

 My fiction read is..........

I picked this book up at a library book sale because I read The Bobbsey Twin series as a child.  I guess I'm at a age where I am revisiting my childhood! LOL!  This particular book was published in 1918 and someone wrote inside "Bud Cone 3906 2nd Ave So. Minn" .  No, I'm not that old but my Mother would have been about 3 years old at the time.

I also started reading another fiction book as I wasn't sure The Bobbsey Twins would keep my interest for very long at a time plus I've had a set of "classics" I've drug around with me for years that are on my "bucket list for books"...........

This is one of them, Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. 
Another challenge to myself is to read through my magazine collection.  I've stopped subscribing except for a couple but I have plenty to go through!  So now I read a magazine (part of it at least) every evening when I read my books.   I just started this one that came in the mail.

 

So, if you like books join us and Sheila over at Book Journey

Today's accomplishments were stifled by a 5 hour power outage but I did manage to:
clean up the house
load and unload the dishwasher
take my Enbrel injection
give the dogs their Frontline Plus and Heart Worm medicine
Clean Nitty's ears with the ear wash the vet gave me
watered plants outside
did a load of laundry
emptied all the garbages as tomorrow is Garbage Day
knitted 10 more rows on my I-cord for the chair pads
started a new Granny Square blanket and did 2 squares to test out the pattern (this is really scheduled for my YOP list starting in July but I couldn't wait to try the new yarn and pattern! LOL!)
Blogged and read a few
and the evening is still young!  But of course, Dancing With The Stars is on tonight and Castle!  Toodles!

YOP Update

My yarn came in, more on the way and I am onto a new project and yes it is on my YOP list for this year!  Amazing huh?  I've started the "situpons" which are really just chair pads and for now just one chair pad.

 I decided to go with just one color as opposed to a "rainbow" effect as  my kitchen is already pretty colorful and busy.  I've never done an I-cord before but it's easy except the first stitch you have to do really tight or you end up with a loop instead of a stitch.  I did a good job but like the Double Down potholders it is a bit hard on my hands.  Great for watching t.v. though as it is pretty mindless after a bit.  I need 9 yards of it before I can wind it into a circle and stitch together for a chair pad and with the needles and yarn it cost about $30.00!  I could have bought one for less but then that's not why we do this.  At least I can order the yarn one chair pad at a time.
Here's the I-cord......this is the same thing I made as a child with one of those spools with the nails...remember those?  I'm wondering if the spool would be easier on my hands? LOL!

I also finished my chicken...one of them anyway and no, it wasn't on my original list (I'm SO bad) but it was FUN!

See the tail in the back?

I also got some other yarn when I ordered the chair pad supplies.  More yarn you say?  Yes, I had to order enough to get free shipping! LOL!  This will be featured in my next YOP list.......I call them "Coming Attractions"......and yes, of course it's for a project, you don't think I just order yarn for no reason do you?  LOL!  I ordered from Deramores as I love getting Royal Mail!  Happy Mother's Day to all and I hope all your fiber dreams came true!  If not, the internet is open 24/7!  You go girls!

Writing some letters tonight............

 I worked outside all day. I've had supper and taken a nice bath and I am going to retire early and write some letters on some pretty stationary.  Do any of you write letters? 

I have always loved beautiful stationary.....

This is the back side but the other side is "writable"............

Beauty is inspiring and maybe it will help me to write beautifully too..........

Some things are just worth spoiling yourself for........

Good night, sleep tight!