Thursday - 05/03/2018

Treasures arrived!  My Amazon order arrived yesterday.  I was going to blog but Nitty and I  had both been ill during the night before....it wasn't something we ate because we don't eat the same things...lol!  But she got sick 3 times and it can be quite a mess to clean up when a Rottweiler gets sick!  It was pretty awful and I spent the day cleaning and scrubbing and deodorizing with baking soda and vinegar.  I then took a bath and washed my hair....I felt like I really needed to after all that.  We are both fine today and back to normal, thank goodness!  I'm beginning to feel like I am running an animal nursing facility.
So, I am now ready to share my treasures with you!
My new printer.........I have been without a printer for a l o n g time and I am so happy to have one again!  This is a printer that I researched for 'crafting' and it came highly recommended by The Graphics Fairy if any of you are familiar with her website.  I haven't unpacked or installed it yet but probably tomorrow.

 I also got a bag of lavender............I've been wanting to make sachets and stuff them with lavender so I'm on my way!

 This book was recommended by Simply Summer Street blogger and even though I know how to sew...pretty much self taught, I haven't sewn anything but quilts for years. I thought it would be great to take a 'refresher' course and I have not been disappointed so far.  I read all of the reading part (58 pages) and learned a lot I didn't know and some great tips plus it has a resource list in the back of the book for supplies and further study.    There are 12 projects that teach you and advance your knowledge as you do them.  I am ready to start on project #1!  I can't wait!  Friday is typically craft day and Saturday too in addition to regular chores.   I am hoping to gather the needed supplies and get sewing! 

 I ordered these neat kraft envelopes and look forward to utilizing them for small gifts and decorate the outside with my new stamps!  I love paper supplies and writing utensils and glitter gel pens and colored pens and pencils and stamps and stickers.....I could go on and on!  Some of you have 'enabled' me and you know who you are! LOL!

  That's all for today but just so you know....I have a Knit Picks order coming also!  Woo Hoo!
Happy Trails!!!

Tuesday - 05/01/2018

Happy month of May everyone!  I hope you enjoyed the first day of this delightful month.  I installed the screens I washed yesterday and had the windows open all day.  It was blue skies and a nice breeze and the birds were singing.  The cat girls spent much time at the open windows watching and listening to the birds.  

I finished baking off the cookies I started last night...........

.Pioneer Woman's recipe for Oatmeal Crispies that are Marlboro Man's favorite and one of mine too.
I washed a load of clothes worked on my cowl and took care of some financial matters in the morning and also canceled my Gastroenterologist appointment.  It took 3 months to get the appointment but I am fine now so no sense looking for trouble.   I do have to get the girls in for rabies shots and I have to see the eye doctor.
This afternoon while baking the cookies I did some sewing finally....it felt good and it is so much faster than handwork! LOL!
I love my new sewing machine.  I didn't want to sew because my old one would never work properly.  It's so wonderful to just turn the machine on and start sewing....no fuss, no muss!

Last night I watched the first half of a new podcast out by Yarn Hoarder.  I'll finish watching it tonight.  Enjoy the rest of your day!
Happy Trails!!!

Monday - 04/30/2018

I can't remember where I was with my book updates but I've finished a few.....namely these..........

They were all very good and I enjoyed them.  Little House on Rocky Ridge is the first in the series....

and Aunt Dimity Digs In is the 3rd in that series.......... 

I'm still reading these.........I love the Outlander series but after awhile it can be a bit sad and depressing and it is very violent.....not really my style but the story and writing are so good that I have to finish them but I take a rest every once in awhile and read something more upbeat........

 This is a slow boat to China for sure...it was touted as the best book on Irish History and easily readable............by whom?  It assumes a lot....like you are Irish and already know a lot of this.  It seems very disjointed and no rhyme or reason just a factual account and the terminology must be Irish as I have never heard of many of the terms.  So, we shall see....you know how I hate to give up on any book and I think I might be learning a little but I can't really tell.

I started reading this one and then it disappeared.....I had taken it with me to the doctor and it fell off the seat on the way home and I didn't see it until the other day.....I was just getting into it..........

This is a book from my personal library.  I am trying to read from there as much as possible as I have so many books!  This is a non-fiction..........love Alan Alda....I have a feeling I will be laughing  a lot reading this book!

On my Kindle I am reading these 2 books and they are getting most of my attention lately as they are both hard to put down!

This is the first book in this series and I am loving it!  Good story, funny and yet a very good plot too.

I am a closet history and political nerd.....I watch lots of different news programs to get at the meat of what is going on in our country and across the globe.   So,  I had to read this one for sure and next is the James Comey book.  

That's all for this week folks!  Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #44

I am slowing down with Spring in full bloom down here....double duty!  Also, my t.v. arrived this week and I installed it plus Friday was all day shopping and schlepping.  But I did make some inroads on projects.
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FO's - (Finished Objects) - none this week but getting close!
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 WIP's (Works in Progress) -
1)  I finished knitting the slippers and wove in the ends.  Today I will sew the tops to the front and tomorrow go 'felting'.  I'll have to take them to the laundromat as  I have a front loader and with no 'agitation' felting does not do well.  I am anxious to see if they work out and fit me so I can decide whether or not to make them for gifts.  If all is good I want to order from Knit Picks because their wool is 40% off right now!  I don't know how long the sale lasts but I hope I have some time as I want to make at least 3 more pair if I like them.  Yarn Hoarder loved them so I imagine they will be great for gifts.  I think she made like 12 pair of them!  You go girl!

2) I wove in the ends last night but haven't started square number 4.....probably tonight.

4) The Land of Sweets cowl is going well and I enjoy it.  I think I am doing my first 'lace work' in knitting....there are holes, yo's and some kind of design taking shape.  I am counting my stitches every round because if it is a design then one stitch off can really mess it up. But then I can't tell by looking at it if I have made any mistakes so I'm not sure if anyone else could either! LOL! 

 5)  Spring Cross Stitch -  didn't even get this out of the project bag this week or last!

6)   I Spy quilts - 1 of 3 is done and I did drag out the squares and pins hoping I would get a chance to work on it but I have a supper and dessert to make if I want to eat today so we shall see but it's not looking promising.  I did however mend a fitted mattress pad and a pair of pajama bottoms....does that count?

7)  Sewing tunic - I pressed the fabric finally and cut off all the little threads but did not pin the pattern.  I also found a place online that has darling tunics with all kinds of styles and necklines etc. reasonably priced.  The site is Banggood 
I know nothing about them and have not ordered or know anyone that has but they had the most tunic styles that I liked and they carry larger sizes too.  They must be from China or somewhere foreign.  I use Paypal for everything to stay safe and if they don't take Paypal I don't buy.  Anyway...just an FYI.  Not sure if I'll order anything or not.  BTW, they carry all sorts of other things too.  Have any of you ordered from them or heard of them?  They were on Pinterest.

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What's in the Queue -
#1 - Some Valentine's Day socks - I'll be dyeing my own for this!
 #2 - Something for St. Patrick's Day...socks or cowl...not sure.  I think I found a cowl pattern with a Celtic design but I would like socks too!
#3 - Still more washcloths as I have plenty of Dishie and Peaches and Creme worsted cotton
#4 - Some leaf book markers
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What I'm "wishing upon a star" for -
#1 - My Valentine and St. Patrick's Day yarns for socks or cowls and mini's for cowl and Granny Stripe Blanket.  I'm thinking I can dye my own now!  How exciting!!!!
 #2 - Susan B. Anderson has her 2 kits back in stock..........The Loopy Sheep
and her Spring Chicken kits  just in time for Spring but where do I get the dough for all these great items?
#3 - my new over the top obsession I discovered from Little Bobbin's mother who does the most beautiful stitchery from Jesse Chorley
I'd like to do her Friendship Quilt  if I live long enough! LOL!  I may try just a little sampler on my own but check out her website for lots of other wonderful and unique items and projects.
#4 - Knitting at the Library Cowl - a pay for pattern on Ravelry.  I'm thinking this may be the year of cowls or slippers....we'll see who wins out! The cowl looks like different shelves of books!  So cool!
#5 - A crochet square blocker either a DIY or to buy.......anyone have any experience with these or recommendations?  I saw this Crochet blocker with instructions to make and it looks pretty simple
You just need wooden shish-kabob skewers and a gardening knee pad.
*** #6 - Sewing book like Simply Summer Street has...I ordered this and it should be here this week!  So excited!!!
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YOP Goals from last week:  Really poor showing this week! 
*SOME* 1) pin I Spy quilt #2 - getting ready too!
2) cut binding for my sampler quilt
3) work on Spring cross stitch
*SOME* 4) iron fabric and cut out tunic pieces
5) order bias tape and Swedish Tracing Paper for patterns
*DONE* 6) finish 2nd slipper of my pair
*SOME*7) order supplies:  yarn , needles etc - I am waiting to see about slipper felting and fitting but I do have a shopping cart with some items in it already on Knit Picks
8) do block #4 of 5 on Frida basket
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 YOP Goals for this coming week:
1) pin I Spy quilt #2
2) cut binding for my sampler quilt
3) work on Spring cross stitch
4) Cut out tunic pieces
5) order bias tape and Swedish Tracing Paper for patterns
6) Sew tops on slippers and felt
7) order supplies:  yarn , needles etc
8) do block #4 of 5 on Frida basket
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  Podcasts:   I watched Stitching the High Notes Episode #21 so I'm slowly catching up.  Making up for lost time now that I have a t.v. again! LOL!  Also, did you know that Stitching the High Notes has a discount code thread in her Ravelry group that 'makers' add to.  Check it out!  I also watched the latest episode of Knitting Expat.
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To see other fabulous projects from YOP members click here
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 Happy Trails!!!