It was an uneventful Friday the 13th. I'm usually so superstitious, but I just tried to not think about what day it was.

I talked to my son today who was born on the 13th -- how could such a superstitious person have a child on the 13th?

I actually cleaned up my sewing room tonight. I don't know what possessed me to do this -- maybe because dear son is coming over tomorrow night to take the A/C out of the window and I didn't want him to see how messy the room was. Maybe because it is so much more pleasant to work in said room when it is clean.

I have a few more stockings, linings and cuffs cut out for our guild stocking project -- so maybe I can get these sewn up before our meeting on Monday night. I also have room to spread out and get Kylie's Halloween costume cut out.

Gratitudes:

• A clean sewing room
• Leaves all swept up
• Cool crisp air to make me feel more creative
• Snuggling under a quilt
• Not having to turn on the A/C nor the Heater

Another Rainy Night

After those beautiful 70-degree days in October, I knew it couldn't last. Yes, it's raining yet again. The rain didn't start until later in the day, but just in time to snarl rush-hour traffic. It's one of those nights, that I'm glad I don't have to go back out.

So, will I take this opportunity to do some sewing? I hope so - the weather is perfect for it. But, what project will I pick to work on? Hmmm... the choices are endless.

It's Too Nice to be stuck inside

It's another gorgeous day. Blue sky, lots of sunshine and a promise of 70-degree temperatures. I have all of the windows opened and the breeze is just waifting through the house. Also, today is a vacation day. I was up early so I don't piss the day away.

After my morning ritual of coffee, the crossword puzzle and sudoku, I came up to my sewing room and got started on the Christmas stocking project that I keep putting off. I need to complete one to use as a prototype because I get confused on how to put on the cuff and then flip it. So if I have one done, I can keep referring back to it. So far, I have 11 linings, 2 stockings and hangers, and eight cuff ready for assembly. Since my sewing machine has some fancy stitches on it, I'll do something to jazz up the white muslin that I'm using for the cuffs.

Unfortunately, it's just too nice outside to be stuck in the house. I really need to clean my grill (it's kinda disgusting) before I cook dinner on it and I'm sick of looking at those tomato plants (they are ready for the trash).

I'll get back to sewing later this evening -- I just need to enjoy the sunny weather before it turns cold and rainy (predicted for later this week).

I'm so pleased with my knock-out rose bush -- it has been in bloom constantly since Mother's Day. My mother gave it to me last year for Mother's Day and it's a great rose bush, resistant to black spot and even the Japanese beetles weren't too bad with it like they were with my other roses.

A Beautiful Day for a Parade

Today is the Pulaski Day Parade. They blocked off our street about 12:45 p.m. so the bands could start setting up. Blue sky - 70-degrees -- you couldn't ask for a better day.


Bailey and I walked down about 1:30 p.m. to get a good spot at the beginning of the parade route. Bailey just loves a parade - I think he would have preferred marching than watching. But, then his friend Snowball showed up and he was more interested in playing than the parade at all.

Woodland String Band was setting up right in front of us and they were having a great time entertaining the crowd. Their music just makes you want to tap your feet and do a little "Mummering".


I was a little disappointed that the parade was so short. Not too many of the politicians showed up - guess they don't need our vote.

Just as we thought the parade was almost over -- Hegeman's String Band's bus showed up. Luckily they were already in costume as they grabbed their instruments and had to run to catch up to the parade.

I spent more time in the yard today sweeping up leaves. I don't know why the leaves bother me so much -- maybe because I don't own a tree!!! It does look so nice once it's swept up. Hmmmm.... Maybe I'll light the grill and barbecue some chicken for dinner.

It's Another Rainy Day....A Good Day to Sit and Sew

Yes, it's raining yet again. Has 2006 been the wettest year on record? I can't seem to remember a week that it didn't rain. At least it's not torrential rain -- more like a "good for the garden" kind of rain. And, yes, the garden is still looking pretty good.

I've just had one of those weeks - like trying to sweep leaves in a windstorm -- everything I did just seem fruitless. BUT, all of that is going to change. If my mojo isn't going to come back on it's own - I'm going to grab it and take it back. Yes, I am dedicating today to doing some sewing.

Well, I turned on the sewing machine, sewed three stitches and blew a fuse! Is that what kind of day it's going to be? Harumph.......I went down to the kitchen, found a fuse, and the basement light is out. Back to the kitchen for a flashlight. OK, I'm ready to do battle. Of course, the fuse box is at the far end of the basement, but I flipped on the switch, so I can tell when the lights come back on. Here I am, trying to balance the flashlight under my chin, hold the new fuse and take out the old fuse -- can you say multi-tasking??? Just as I touch the old fuse and get ready to take it out - the lights come back on. This is just too eerie....and it's full moon - The Harvest Moon! Do you think my mojo is trying to tell me something?

I still have my December snowman block to finish embroidering, which I want to finish during the daylight. I don't know if it's my old eyes or bad lighting in the living room, but I had a hard time trying to see the design last night. I do have the Shoo-Fly blocks made and they are waiting for the embroidered block to be finished on the December block. I also have the August/September/October row sewed to the quilt top.

I have a few errands to run, so I'm going to take advantage of the fact that the rain has stopped for a while. I'm not looking forward to going to Home Depot on a Saturday. I need some mums for the front porch, daffodil bulbs and a flapper for the toilet. I just love these big box stores for that reason - one-stop shopping.

A Little of This and a Little of That

My thoughts and prayers are with the Amish people after the tragedy they suffered earlier this week. I've been to Lancaster many, many times. It's just a hop-skip-and-a-jump up the road as the crow flies. I just can't believe that something so tragic could happen there. And, all of the media attention - I won't even go there. But, the final straw, for me, was tonight when they photographed the coffins.

I still haven't gotten my sewing mojo back, but I have been knitting. I have completed day four of the Monthly Dishcloth KAL and I think, after I took this picture, that I can tell what the design will be, but I'm not 100% sure yet. I did end up using the Size #6 needles like the pattern called for and, yes, it is really small, but it is working up quite well and I'm happy with it.




I also printed out a pattern for a soap sack, http://www.knittingknonsense.com/awarenessribbon_soapsack.html and it worked up very fast. I finished it, put some Yardley lavender soap inside of it, threaded a purple grossgrain ribbon thru the eyelets and tied a bow. It smells heavenly. Even if I don't use it in the bath, it will be a nice addition to a lingerie drawer. I like it so much that I've decided to make a few more as Christmas gifts. The lavender soap reminds me of my grandmother.

What's up with the weather? After the coolest September on record, October has shown us some 80-degree days. The only thing that makes it not feel like summer is that it gets dark at 7:00 p.m. After pulling out the rag quilt a few nights ago - I'm ready to put the A/C back on -- just kidding.


Well, my little buddy is just begging for some attention, so after a few tosses of the tennis ball, I'm going to start sewing. Our sewing guild is doing a Christmas stocking project in October, so my plan for tonight is to cut out some stockings and linings. As soon as I start cutting them, I'm hoping my sewing mojo comes back and I will feel like sewing them.

Show Me Your ... What?

Pincushions. I've always had an infatuation with pincushions. My mother had this tomato pincushion with a little strawberry emery attached to it when I was a kid. Why was a strawberry attached to a tomato? Who knows. I was a kid - it was cool!

I think that was what sparked my interest in sewing -- owning a pincushion -- and it didn't stop with just one. Believe it or not, I don't own a tomato pincushion.

I had one of those magnetic pin-grabbers, but I learned the hard way that you don't put a magnetic pincushion next to a computerized sewing machine - the sewing machine started sewing by itself and $300 later - it (the sewing machine) still never quite worked right.

My favorite pincushion is the one in front with the dog thread catcher. That sits by my sewing machine. The rest of them are usually in various rooms of the house. I also learned the hard way that you don't use the arm of the chair as a pincushion (enough said on that one.)

The weather has been just lovely today. It's a balmy 67 degrees. It's kind of funny that 67-degrees sounds balmy in October, but when I only turn the heat up to 67-degrees in January, I'd be freezing.

Bailey has taken up residence in his favorite chair in my sewing room. He just loves to lay on freshly pressed fabric and batting. Even though, I've spent a lot of time in my sewing room this weekend, I haven't even turned on the sewing machine. The sun is streaming in the room and a nice breeze is coming in the open window. I should feel creative, but instead I feel like I've hit a brick wall.

I want my mojo back - I need it, I crave it - so why is it just out of my reach? I have a deadline with Kylie's Halloween costume, but I just don't feel like working on it just yet. I've Blog-hopped to all of my favorite sites looking for inspiration, but that hasn't helped. I started on the October Dishcloth KAL to side-track myself, but when I got to row 6, I realized that I had only cast on 31 stitches, rather than 32 - so that had to be ripped out. E-wwww, it's starting to sound like my But-itis has come back - and I don't like it.

Gratitudes:

• Lazy Sunday afternoons
• Left-overs - so I don't have to cook
• Sunshine and blue skies

A Needle in a Haystack

Whenever I misplace something in my sewing room, it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

I had decided that the easiest project to work on today would be my Snowman BOM. I only had three Shoo-Fly blocks to make -- what was I waiting for? Christmas?!?! I could sew the two Shoo-fly blocks to August, September and October to complete the row. But where are the Shoo-Fly blocks? Certainly not with the snowman blocks. ARGH!!!!!!!!!

My luck did change. I discovered the shoo-fly blocks hidden under a pile of fabric AND I only have two more to do - not the 3 I thought - Woo Hoo!


I used my 40% off coupon at Joann Fabrics and I now have a new toy - An Olfa 360-degree rotating mat with smooth rotating action which simplifies piecework when making multiple cuts. This eliminates the need to turn your body and makes cutting all those half-squares triangles so much easier. I had been wanting a Brooklyn Revolver, but didn't want to pay the hefty price for it and who can resist 40% off -- Not me!



The October Dishcloth KAL starts tomorrow. I need to finish something up before my Size #6 knitting needles are available, or I could run down to A.C.Moore and buy a new pair, or use Size #7's. Decisions, decisions! I finally blocked the mid-September KAL and I like it a lot better now that it is blocked.

The black background seems to show off the holes a little better than on the white background. I need to figure out a better way to photograph these.

It's Officially Autumn

I think it's official -- Autumn is really here - I've changed the wreath on the front door. I really hate to let go of summer - I usually wait until the last possible moment to transition into autumn. The air is crisp and cool - time to drag out the jeans, sweatshirts and quilts. This kind of weather also has me craving beef stew, macaroni & cheese and apple pie (comfort foods), hay rides and a trip to the orchard. Going to the orchard has been a family tradition since my son was a tot and now we still carry on the tradition with my granddaughter.

The mantle has been decorated. I still have some more terra cotta pumpkins that I could bring up from the basement but, do I really need them this year.

I've been obsessed with knitting and watching all of the new shows on television. This view of the mantle is what I see while sitting in my favorite chair.

I would like to spend some time in my sewing room this weekend. I have so many ideas in my head, that I've tried to capture them on paper so I don't forget and I've even made up a notebook of "Must-Do's" with pictures and notes. However, once I get into my sewing room, I get "But-itis". I could work on this, but I need to do that first. Hmm... I could sew this up, but, that needs to be trimmed first. And, the list goes on.... I just need to get off my butt and get some of these things done!

The iron is heating up, so I'm going to press some of my fabric and then just pick a project and get to work on it.

Bailey would like to take this opportunity (Bailey just loves to have his picture taken) to wish everyone a Happy Harvest.

Gratitudes:

• Turning off the A/C and opening the windows
• Sleeping under a warm quilt.
• The unconditional love of my dog.
• Post-it notes

Good-bye Summer, 2006 - Hello Autumn

The Autumnal Equinox arrived at 12:03 a.m. I always hate to see summer go, but I do look forward to the warm days and cool nights of autumn.

The Summer of 2006 was hot, humid and rainy. Although the last week of summer felt rather autumnal. Now, today, the first day of Autumn is reminiscent of summer - warm and humid -- with the threat of rain looming large.

"No spring nor summer beauty

hath such grace

as I have seen in

one autumnal face." ---John Donne

Mail Call!!

My Australian patterns from http://www.fionamarie.com/ arrived today. I'm so excited that I can't wait to start on them. I think the Sewing Bee Bag with thread caddy and needle case will be a perfect Christmas gift for some lucky someone on my list -- I can't say who, just in case she happens to read this Blog posting.

I really love the Australian patterns and it's great that they are only a few internet clicks away AND only took 10 days to arrive.

I'm still feeling knittery. Whenever I have a few spare moments, I sit and knit. I'm still in my dishcloth craze. What have I got going on the knitting needles right now? A flamingo in hot pink and a chicken in blue -- hey, I'm from Delaware - Home of the Blue Hen Chicken!

Do You Sudoku?

The Sudoku craze has really caught on and since no one loves a puzzle more than me, I was bitten by the bug last December 17, 2005.

I remember the date because it was my birthday. Bailey had a grooming appointment early that day and we were running late, so I grabbed the puzzle section of the newspaper to take with me as I treated myself to a $5.00 cup of Starbucks coffee and sat in Barnes and Nobel to do the puzzle. Below the crossword puzzle was this funny looking puzzle that used numbers. Sudoku was everywhere, so I bought different versions of the puzzle for Christmas gifts. Hey, if I was going to be bitten by the bug, I was taking everyone with me!

Fast forward about six months (July 1, 2006) and I just completed my first "HARD" sudoku puzzle. This was the first "Hard" puzzle that I did without so many erasures that the puzzle looked like swiss cheese - so I memorialized that puzzle with a quilt. Sudoku works great for a quilt top - 9 FQ's cut to size with no repeats in each block and framed with a black border.

Right now this quilt top is in my UFO pile, but it should be making its way to the top. I haven't completed a "Hard" sudoku since this one, although I still attempt to do it everyday.

So, do you Sudoku?

Talk Like A Pirate Day

Ahoy, mates, when this Jezebel ain't swabbin' the decks o' this Blog, her weapons o' choice be pointy sticks an' string. Yes, I've been knitting more dishcloths. Aye, Me added a little more yarn t' my Booty last eve - two shades o' pink and a cream SnC.

Arrr, me sat down t' do some knittin' and instead o' finishin' one o' the projects - Me started, yet, another. Am I as mad as a salted herring? Arrr, me just couldn't resist tryin' somethin' with Hot Pink. Savvy? Arrr, now Me have three dishcloths started at once -- good thin' Me have 3 sets o' size 7 needles. Gar, Where can I find a bottle o'rum?

Ahoy, we had a lot o' fun today at work today talkin' like Pirates. Arrr, I was surprised as t' how many people jumped on rapscallions this crazy phenomena, Aye. "Twenty paces past the Magic Fountain of Water... bear ye left past the Chamber of Meetings... and a minute's voyage down the Great Carpeted Hallway... the bathroom'll be on yer port side."

Arrr, have a good e'enin' Aye, even me little seadog concurs. Arrr, i hope I can stop talkin' like this by tomorrow, Savvy?.

Just Us Chickens

I'm teaching a class tonight at our ASG Meeting on how to make chicken pincushions. I have a few different free patterns that I obtained off the internet (what did we do before the internet?) and I combined 3 different patterns to get the design I wanted.

Yes, those squares and triangles are going to become chicken pincushions. Don't you just love the one with the flowerhead pin googley eyes? These are my samples and I have kits made up for the ladies to make-and-take. I'll be glad when this is just a memory!!


Here's Annie, the red-headed chicken. I always have to make at least one red-head in the bunch. Instead of a red comb, she has eyelash yarn for her hair. I just think she is so cute and I think she will be a hit with the class.

I'm also working on Day #3 of the Monthly Dishcloth KAL. I'm posting a picture through row #26 just to see how it looks. I think it looks good and I must admit, that I like working with the bamboo needles. I also love that soft teal color cotton yarn. This KAL is done on blind faith and I'm pretty proud of myself that I've been able to keep up.

What Color Am I?

You Are Teal Green

You are a one of a kind, original person. There's no one even close to being like you. Expressive and creative, you have a knack for making the impossible possible. While you are a bit offbeat, you don't scare people away with your quirks. Your warm personality nicely counteracts and strange habits you may have.

What Color Green Are You?

What Kind Of Knitting Needle Are You?

I took this Quiz to see what kind of knitting needle I was:

You are interchangeable.
Fun, free, and into everything, you've got every eventuality covered and every opportunity just has to be taken. Every fiber is wonderful, and every day is a new beginning. You are good at so many things, it's amazing, but you can easily lose your place and forget to show up. They have row counters for people like you!

Yep, this sounds like me, but am I really interchangeable??? I decided to do a mystery knit along (KAL) this month and needed a new pair of knitting needles to dedicate to that project. Hey, what's a girl to do when she is still itching to stitch at 2 a.m.?? So, I ran down to AC Moore and they were OUT of size 7 Susan Bates - so I bought a pair of Bamboo needles instead -- I'm interchangeable, right?

I love the clink, clink, clink sound that the aluminum needles make as the stitches just seem to fly off of them, which you don't hear with bamboo. I also feel like I knit a lot slower on bamboo, so no dropped stitches yet, hence no tinking (Good point). I do have to say that it's easier to SSK and PSSO on bamboo (another good point).

So maybe I am interchangeable afterall.

Froggy Has No Eyes

This is Bailey's second "Froggie". He literally loves this toy to pieces. He received the first one for Christmas and it is pathetic - no eyes or legs -- but the squeaker just will not die.

Last week, his MomMom gave him a new froggie and he used his teeth to pick out the stitches to remove the eyeballs. I guess he thinks his teeth are a seam ripper. That is just too funny, since I always refer to using the seam ripper and frog stitching -- rip it, rip it!

In The Land of Blogger

In the land of Blogger -- this section of my sewing room is what keeps me from getting more done! I just love Blogger - I have met so many great people that give me so much inspiration, but how do they visit other's blogs, comment on said Blogs, and still accomplish so much? That is the mystery that I want to unravel.

The Ides of September Are Upon Us

Can it really be the middle of September already? A little over three months until Christmas?? I even bought my first Christmas gift this week. I have a tight-knit group of co-workers that I get together with at least once a month and we either celebrate birthdays, holidays, or just life, in general. We just like to use any excuse to get together and we always have so much fun. So, we picked out Pollyanna names for our annual Christmas party and the gift that I ordered arrived on Friday and it is just perfect - I liked it so much, that I'm glad I ordered one for me too. Here is a picture of it, The Country Stitcher lamp that I ordered from Collections, Etc. and I just know that Susan will love it too. I only hope that she doesn't read my Blog.



We have had another rainy week. Whenever we get rain, the dreaded "stalled front" just seems to sit over top of us for days on end. AND, we've had a lot of rain this summer. However, now that the roof is fixed, no more Drip-Drip-Drip - I Love it! It seems funny to say summer since we have had much cooler temperatures this week (jeans weather), so it feels more like autumn. I'm grateful for being able to turn off the A/C and open the windows (even if I have to run around and shut them again when the rain starts back up).

Progress report on Snow Shoos -- I have finished embroidering the August, September, and October blocks and they are pressed and anxiously awaiting being sewn into another row to add to the quilt top.

WooHoo -- Only November and December left to do and the three shoo-fly blocks that will complete that row. Yes, it has taken me longer than the 12 days I figured on, but at least the top is being put together as I work on it -- which is something I didn't figure on.....

The sun is peeking out and I'm going to meet up with Kylie and go shopping for the fabric for her Halloween costume. This day just keeps getting better.

It's Wednesday Already

I've been back to work for three days now and yes, I've lost that vacation feeling. The roofers came today!!! They have about half of the roof done and it's supposed to rain tonight.

I must admit that I think I accomplish more when I get home from work, than when I had all day to do whatever. I have Scarlett O'Hara syndrome "I'll Think About It Tomorrow"!

I've made a little more progress on Snow Shoos. It's hard to work on the blocks when they are sewn together in rows -- so much for my bright idea!! But once I finish the May and April blocks, August, November and December are still individual blocks.

And, I've been knitting dishcloths -- I have about 12 done, so far - and I keep starting more. They knit up so fast that I think sparks are going to be flying off of the needles. I'm going to post a photo, but the yarn hasn't been cut off yet and the stringies haven't been woven in. I also need new batteries for my camera and a better way to photograph them so the design shows up.

Here's yet another project where I like making the stuff, but not finishing it. I love the watering can design (White) and the sailboat (Blue), even . The orange one is a pumpkin - and it's just ho-hum.

Well, Bailey is patiently waiting on the steps to go out for a walk. I think he's been sleeping all day while I'm at work, so he's well rested to go for a walk and play when I get home. How can I say no to that sweet face?

Yikes, I haven't turned on my sewing machine in over a week........

Remembering September 11th.

September 11th is a day we will never forget. I think we will always remember exactly where we were when this happened to US.

Where was I went it happened? Sitting at my desk at work. I had just returned from vacation following my the funeral of my father, who died on September 1, 2001 -- also, 9-1-01. Debbie's mother (who just passed away in July) had called in to tell us the news. I had Yahoo set as my homepage, so I was able to pull up the news. I remember Sam (now retired) telling me not to lose the connection as we watched in horror - one of the "Twin Towers" burning, then the other tower, the Pentagon and another plane went down in Pennsylvania. All of these things were happening around us - we should be scared, but instead we were numb - like watching a bad movie.

I also remember that it was a crystal clear blue-sky day. In the days following it was early quiet - no planes were allowed to fly, except for military planes - and if you heard a plan, your eyes were riveted to the sky.

They let us go home early that day and I was glued to the TV watching the towers collapse over and over again - just to make sure it was real. But, there was a feeling of unity in the aftermath and everyone proudly flew the America flag.

Five years later - area we in a better place? Maybe. But, where is that feeling of unity? Where are all of the American flags? Five years is a long time to live on the edge. We, afterall, tend to be a land of forgetfulness and complacency. There are those who really were changed on September 11, 2001 and those that were troubled for a few days and then went back to shopping and whining. There are those that criticize the President and second guess his every decision and whine about the price of gas. They complain about our men getting killed in Iraq - dying to protect us - but what about the drug related shootings in the city? That's American killing American.

But, people can still go to work everyday, wearing their security badges that prove that they belong in the building - a trend created from 9/11/01.

Yes, we remember, because we can never forget.

I Love Sunday's

Sunday is my favorite day of the week. Monday thru Friday are "work days", Saturday is usually a "play day" and Sunday is a "Me day". Sunday starts off with sleeping in, letting Bailey out, grabbing the newspaper and a cup of coffee, doing the TV crossword puzzle and biding my time until it's time for Mass. I try not to make any plans -- just doing whatever comes naturally. You could find me knitting, sewing, gardening, reading a book in a chair in the yard while soaking up the sunshine or all of the above.

My only chore on Sunday is doing laundry, but this gives me the opportunity to delve into any of those other things, while waiting for the washer or dryer to end its cycle. I'm always amazed at how much I can get done, while waiting.



Bailey always thinks that stripping the bed is play time, he likes to hide in the pillows before he knocks them off of the bed for me. He also like to hop around and chase whichever corner of the sheet I'm trying to pull off. Then he becomes the "supervisor" while I'm trying to put the bed linens back on. Ah yes, he certainly make doing the laundry a piece of cake!!!


This next picture give a whole new meaning to the phrase "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie"... and don't try to take his quilt....He certainly is the "pampered pooch".



I never turn on the TV on Sunday (not a fan of TV sports), except at 10 p.m. to watch "Grey's Anatomy". Yes, I'm a big fan of that show (what eye candy, but I digress) -- and now that it's moving to Thursday night, I may not watch any TV on Sunday -- which means I will probably get more done - do ya think???

Knit One, Tink Two

Didja ever just have one of those days? Everything I did was wrong or ended up wrong. For every stitch I knitted, I had to Tink two (knit backwards). I'm on this dishcloth kick right now, trying to learn to read knitting patterns and with something so small (9" squares) you would think it would be a snap---WRONG!. This is a whole new language!!

On Thursday night, I was feeling pretty good (kinda smug actually) about learning how to SSK and PSSO the previous night. So, I decided to try something to challenge myself. I cast on, knitted a few rows, then jumped into the pattern. After about 15 rows, something was wrong. Oh well, it's only 15 rows, so I ripped it out. Start over again -- work about 10 rows -- I don't have the same amount of stitches that I started with and I can't see where I dropped one -- I must have missed a YO -- ripped it out again. Maybe it wasn't in the cards for me to use this pretty turquoise yarn -- so I picked up a pink ombre and a different pattern. The YO's weren't working right. Maybe, I should try another pattern -- I have lots to choose from. Nope, This is where I learned to TINK - knit backwards. I also learned that when you TINK, you need to remember if it was a knit or purl because that affects the way the stitch will look. Here goes another rip-it-out.

I finanlly gave up and went to bed.

Friday morning, I decided to make a fresh start. I picked up the pretty turquoise yarn again, and started knitting - casted on, knitted a few rows, started working the pattern and everything was going exactly as it should. After about 15 rows, I could actually see the pattern emerging -- pretty little "hole-y" flowers all around the border - YES! It's supposed to look like that.

After I finished that one, I decided to try another design without any PSSO or SSK's - just knit and purl. Ho-hum - kinda boring, but it did make a neat flower design once it was done.

I'm happy to report that I now have 8 dishcloths completed - and something else started on both my #7 and #8 needles. No pictures yet because I still need to weave in the stringy ends and block them. These are going to make great Christmas gifts.

I even joined a Monthly Dishcloths group on Yahoo.

Happy Knitting.

Pick Up The Pieces

During my blog-hopping yesterday I enviously looked at all of those gorgeous, spacious sewing rooms and it's no wonder those people are "sew " creative. Me, not so much. Maybe if the computer didn't share the space with my sewing room, I would get more done -- maybe not. So, I decided to take a few shots of my sewing room -- thankfully, my Mother doesn't read my Blog - she would be horrified. I didn't seem to inherit the "clean gene ", you know.

Here is my cutting table area - just, look at that mess!!! Step Number 1 is to Clean It Off. How could I possibly work on it when it is such a mess - just keep saying "Clutter is the Devil's Workshop". OK, that shamed me into clearing it off, wiping it down - whew, much better. However, underneath the table is going to take some work - it's really organized clutter -- all projects are sorted in different boxes and bins. I also found one of the rulers that I was looking for.

This next shot is a view of the room as you walk in -- it doesn't seem so bad. Lots of light this time of the morning - and this is when I am most creative. It's just a shame that I'm usually at work to support my crafting habit - this time of day. The light is not as good in the evening, even with the white walls.

This isn't one of those spacious rooms, but everything is rather convenient. I can usually find what I'm looking for - so that's not so bad. I tried lowering the ironing board, so I would just have to swivel to press seams, but I kind of like the aerobic exercise of jumping up to press, sitting back down, jumping up, etc.

This next shot is of the serger area and catch-all center. I don't know why I call it the serger area, there isn't even a plug to use it over there - it's more of a storage area and my UFO's are stacked up (literally) on top of one another on a drying rack. I thought if I could constantly see them, it would inspire me to work on them. Hence, finishing things is not my "strong suit" unless I have a deadline. Reminder: Christmas is only 3.5 months away. See that chair on the right, I've never sat in that chair, but I can usually find Bailey sleeping in it while I'm trying to work - so it stays.

Hopefully, these pictures will shame me into cleaning up this room, it's a nice bright room, just small. Or, maybe I should show them to my Mother and let her scold me, but then she won't get a quilty-item for Christmas (he-he)!

Ooops, I Did It Again

Yesterday, I was very unproductive. I spent way too much time blog-hopping and just generally doing nothing. But, hey, this is vacation, right?

This is the time of year that I get exceptionally crafty - I guess it comes from years of doing craft shows in September - old habits die hard. I ran down to AC Moore to use my 50% off coupon and bought more yarn for knitted dishcloths -- thankfully, they don't sell fabric - I was in that kind of a mood!

Then, I had to stop at Wal-Mart, armed with my list, but I was weak. I had been eyeing up some of the fall homespun's for over a month and I finally caved. Who could pass up $2/yard for homespun?? Not me!

The good part is that I only bought a yard of each and I have a specific purpose in mind for them and the acorn print in the rear will make a perfect backing for the quilt in my mind. I couldn't resist putting my teddy with the fabric, he has a little sign that says "Behind Every Sewer is a Huge Pile of Fabric" - So true!

I hadn't bought any fabric since July 3rd, when I was last up in Lancaster, except a backing for my Sudoku quilt UFO that is sitting in one of my many piles, so I'm rather proud of myself.

Well, the fabric isn't going to launder itself - so, I'd better take care of that. Fabric doesn't usually make it into my sewing room until it has been washed and dried.

What A Difference A Day Makes

At least it is NOT raining this morning. By 10:00 a.m. the sun made a welcome appearance.
The weather report said that we received 1.74" of rain yesterday (personally, I think we received more than that) on top of what Ernesto dumped on us over the weekend -- can you say W-E-T? At least I can throw open the windows today and hope that things will dry out.

At least the garden looks much perkier today.

Last night I decided to try one of the new dishcloth patterns. Yes, the pattern in the book was much easier to read than the free pattern that I printed off the internet, guess you get what you pay for. Then I got stuck on SSK and PSSO...Of course, I jumped right in on doing the pattern before reading the directions. When I got to SSK, I tried to follow the picture in the book and it just wasn't making any sense. Hmmm...maybe there is something on the internet. Viola, when I typed in SSK, I got a Google video that showed exactly how to do it. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8913692202753051212 It was like having an instructor show you exactly what to do. So there I sat, knitting in hand, and worked the stitches right along with the video -- Now I know how to do it. AND, I finished the dishcloth that I started all in one evening. I guess that I will be making up some of these for Christmas gifts. I also think I need to run out to ACMoore to pick up some luscious colors to work these in -- ecru gets kinda boring.

Rainy Days and Monday's Always Get Me Down

OK, so it's not really Monday, but being that this is a Holiday week and Monday was the Holiday, it feels like Monday and it's raining AGAIN! What a way to start my vacation.

I did go to Joann's Labor Day Sale yesterday and I Didn't BUY Any Fabric, heck, I didn't even look at fabric (W-H-A-T!) I ended up taking my Mom with me and we had such a good time looking at Halloween decorations, that I didn't even think about fabric. Of course, when I made this comment about fabric to my Mom, she reminded me that I didn't need any fabric.

OK, so I bought some really cute Halloween decorations,




colored thread (who can pass up 50% off)??? Thread is like my 64-box of Crayola crayons.






More yarn (I'm addicted to this cotton yarn) and two pattern books for dishcloths. I plan to knit dish cloths as Christmas gifts, however, one of the books is all crochet designs, which may work up faster.....









And the accessories for Kylie's Halloween costume. She will make a beautiful fairy. Now, I wish I had bought the fabric - I'm anxious to get started. I sure hope that she likes what I picked out - but as far as Kylie is concerned, how can you go wrong with Pink?



Well, the rain continues and instead of focusing on the fact that it's a crappy day - I'm going to accentuate the positive and make it a "Scrappy" day by playing with my scraps of fabric. I have a few ideas in my head, the sewing machine is on, the iron is heated up, so I'm going to get to work.

Happy Labor Day

Good bye Ernesto and hello sunshine. After Ernesto departed, leaving a mess to clean up, the sun came out and the weather has been beautiful September-like weather for the remainder of the Holiday weekend.

Progress report: I now have the September and October snowmen blocks completed for a total of seven finished (January, February, March, June, July, September and October). The June/July row has been sewn to the previous two. So, I only have three more Shoo-Fly blocks left to make.

My knitting project has been working on knitted dish cloths with a free pattern that I got off of the internet. I can see why this pattern was free - it was the hardest pattern to try to read for a novice knitter. I now have a whole new respect for knitters that can follow a pattern. However, I did learn to increase stitches and make eyelets.

I'm still working on baby hats, too. I'm currently working on making Santa hats, which involves a color change - another learning opportunity for me!

I've spent entirely too much time over the weekend Blog-hopping, but the creativity was just too inspirational to stop.

Well, today is the last day of Joann Fabrics 3-day sale, so I'm thinking I may just pop on down. If I could just put on blinders as I pass the fabric aisles and FQ's, I may be OK. However, 50% off on thread is too much to pass up.

Wish me luck!

Weathering the Storm

We are feeling the effects of Tropical Depression Ernesto -- talk about a depression - this weather has me feeling really depressed.

I'm trying to put a positive spin on things and I am thinking about all of the sewing that I could possibly be doing, since I'm forced to stay inside. BUT, and you knew that was coming -- since they never fixed my roof as promised, I've been busy running around trying to listen for drip-drip-drip -- a four letter word that raises the hair on my neck and makes me sick to my stomach.

It's been a wild weather week here in Delaware. We started with a tornado warning on Tuesday and rain, crappy weather the rest of the week waiting for Ernesto to make his appearance and when he finally did on Friday, we were treated to 40-50 mph wind gusts and torrential rain. Quite frankly, Ernesto is an unwelcome holiday house guest -- Go Away!!!!!!!!

Progress report: I now have 5 snowmen blocks done - January, February, March, June and July. What happened to April and May, you ask. Well, they are in the rows sewn together and even though, in my head, it sounded like a good idea to sew the rows together before embroidering them -- NOT! So I have June and July done and as soon as they are sewn into a row and attached to the bottom of April and May, I'll move back to them. It is easier to just work on the individual blocks rather than trying to maneuver entire rows sewn together.

I'm also happy to report that I made it through the month of August without buying any fabric. I didn't go to Lancaster on Tuesday, which saved me. I was supposed to be on vacation last week, but I had to go into work on Monday. Tuesday was the day we had the tornado warning and I would have been coming through the area that got hit on my way home, about the time it was hit. Thankfully, I changed my plans.

Well, I've whined enough about the foul weather and I'm going to take this opportunity to work on my Shoo-Fly and Snowball blocks for "Snow Shoos".

Go away, Ernesto -- I'm tired of you ~~~~~~~~~ shoo-fly, don't bother me!