Peasant Top

I finished McCalls 5050, view A, a few weeks ago couldn't decide on how to finish it off. I didn't want the bow at the neck as I thought it would make me look like a kindergartner. I decided to try a thin "belt" effect instead. I think I like it and although I wore it today as is, I will add mini belt loops to hold the corded belt up high.

The fabric is a raspberry cotton eyelet purchased on clearance at JoAnn's last year. I think it cost me $2, no lie! The elastic cost more than the fabric.

This was a very easy pattern to make with one exception. I HATE elastic in casings. It was really hard for me to massage the elastic around so it was uniformly distributed. Not sure what my problem is; others don't seem to have the same issue.

Forgive the photo - used my Treo camera in the ladies room at work. LOL!

Cropped Cardigan

I finished the Cropped Cardigan from Blue Sky Alpaca. I was able to use up some stash yarn - Knitpicks Merino Style in petal pink (doubled). This cardigan was super easy to make. I love that the edges are self finished in seed stitch - no need to pick up any stitches. I figured out how to knit on two circs with this project - easy peasy. I can't believe I never tried it sooner. I like it way better than DPNs - no ladders!

I will probably wear the sweater open but I closed it in the photo with one of the cool shawl pins made by Romi and purchased from Scout's Swag.

As much as I hate to repeat projects, I may make another of these.

Sewin' Sunday

I finished up two sewing projects today. Isn't Lola looking lovely in her new halter top?


McCalls M5048, View C
Fabric - woven cotton poly blend from JoAnn's

I just love this "party dress". Now I need an invitation....



McCalls 4826, View C (I omitted the bow. I didn't think the dress needed it.)
Fabric - Polka Dot is a pimatex cotton from Kaufman; pink is a poly/cotton blend (both purchased from fabric.com)

We have a winner!

LOLA

“Her name is LOLA.

She was a showgirl.”

Spanish meaning - Strong Woman

How can I go wrong with a strong woman who used to be a showgirl? Congratulations to Linda & Allison for suggesting the name! A prize will be headed your way soon!

Name That Dummy Contest

I have always wanted a dressform. I've seen the homemade duct tape versions (ick!), and the paper maché prototype (too much work) but I've always wanted one of the adjustable models. In the past, they have cost more than $200 and I couldn't justify diverting fabric / yarn funds on a dressform.

Over the weekend, I re-visited the idea and thought, "I'll have to remember this idea next time my family complains I’m so hard to buy for asks me for gift ideas." Hey.... wait a minute..... Didn't I just receive a JoAnn's gift card for my birthday? And doesn't JoAnn's online have them on sale right now? And don't I also have a free shipping coupon for JoAnn's? CHA CHING!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY, MY LITTLE DRESSFORM!! Isn't she lovely? I've only seen pictures but the stork should be delivering my new addition in a week or so.

Now, she needs a name. Debbie has given me some good suggestions but I'm not sure I've found exactly the right name yet. So I propose a contest. Suggest a name (leave a comment with your email address) for my new dressform and if I adopt the name you suggest, I'll send you a prize. The name should be a little spunky, maybe a little diva, have a little attitude. There is no set deadline. I'll end the contest when the perfect name presents itself (even if I think of it myself!)

Sewing Progress

After the Easter baskets were found and the cooking was just about finished, I was able to spend the afternoon sewing. I made some progress on my daughter's headboard and cut out the black / pink polka dot dress. I have the bodice just about put together but after checking the sizing, I realize it's too snug. I need to add about an inch if I hope to breath. Not quite sure how I'll expand it yet. I could take it all apart and let the side seams out but then I'll have to cut new contrast pieces. Not the end of the world but I'm going to ponder it to see if I can come up with a better (i.e. easier!) solution.

Happy Easter!

I found this adorable graphic at Mandy's blog. Too Cute!

The baskets have been found; much of the candy has been eaten; the food has been prepared; so it's time to relax.

HAPPY EASTER!!

Yarn & Fabric Puchases

Allison once again talked me into buying yarn. I purchased these little beauties from Little Knits, a company in Seattle, Washington that I highly recommend. Great communication - the shipper even sent a notification when the package was delivered to my front porch. The top yarn is a Lace Weight Misti Alpaca - purfect for a mini shawl / scarf. The four skeins on the bottom left are a yarn called Peru Luxury DK, a blend of merino, alpaca and silk. Mmm mmm. Great for hand warmers. And finally, the dark purple is the softest merino lace weight I've ever felt called Cashwool. Will make a beautiful lace shawl. Someday.



I was inspired by this dress and will make something similar using these red and red/white print silky fabrics and Vogue 8182, view A.


This picture doesn't do much for the fabric but it's a lovely sheer cream color with brown and tan flowers. I hope to make S3956 with it.



Finally, this brown fabric will make a nice top using New Look 6655 or maybe New Look 6669.


And I leave you with the latest Devil Dogs' escapade. For those of you who have read Marley & Me by John Grogan (LOVED this book), Marley was NOT the World's Worst Dog!

GO BUCKS!

National Champtionship Tonight!

Is it Spring Yet?

I finished up this halter top this afternoon. It's a beautiful spring day here but alas, it is turning cold later in the week so I won't get to wear it any time soon!

Breakfast Goodies

My family loves the carbs for breakfast. Yesterday I made waffles and today I made sticky buns - a quick and easy recipe that turns out sooooo yummy! Your family will applaud you for making it (or they might complain that you put nuts on it, like mine did.)

More Birthday Surprises

This was definitely the birthday that won't end!! I went out to dinner with my family the night of my birthday. We ate at Bravo (love that place!) and I received some very nice presents. My oldest daughter is the most considerate person when it comes to gifts. She puts a lot of thought into picking presents that the recipient will love and this year was no exception. She found some adorable martini-themed goodies (shirt and purse pictured here) along with a beautiful skirt and lots of other fun things. I also received some books and a JoAnne's gift card.




In more martini news... My friend Ann gave me the most adorable martini glasses and purse. I wish I had thought to take a picture before I opened the package because it was beautiful! It had loads of hot pink and lime green ribbons and tissue - she is very creative when it comes to wrapping (unlike me who slaps a gift in a gift bag minutes before giving it to someone!) The picture of the glasses is lousy but one has shoes (another favorite of mine!) on it and the other has flirty eyes painted on it. Very adorable!


In the pile of mail I faced last night when I arrived home was a tan pick-up slip from the post office. I rushed over this morning and lo and behold it was a birthday package from Melissa! It was filled with all kinds of fun surprises - yarn and a pattern book for dishclothes, some bamboo yarn that I've been wanting to try and the Mini-Clapotis pattern, a sheep tape measure and lots of other fun goodies. Thank you so much, Melissa for the fabulous package AND more importantly, for thinking of me on my birthday!

Before:After:

Bad Dog!!!

One of our dogs, Herschel, apparently loves knitting. Actually, he loves destroying knitting - anything related to it. He has chewed up an entire package of bamboo 10.5 DPNs, chewed through TWO circular cables and take a look at what he did while I was relaxing on the beach hard at work last week:


Does he look guilty? Or sad? Or is that a smirk I see on his pointy little face? He is surrounded by THREE skeins of wool. I had already taken the Kureyon skein down and re-wound it. I think it took me close to 3 hours to untangle the yarn mess.

Yes, I know what you're thinking... "Why don't you put your knitting away, Bonnie?" Well, he managed to get this yarn out of a zipped tote bag!

Bad dog.....

Busy busy

I've had a rather busy travel schedule for work lately and have been to El Paso, Dallas, Detroit, Little Rock and the panhandle of Florida in the last three weeks; Chicago and Dallas next week. Here is a shot from my hotel after a hard day's work.

No really, it was an exhausting trip.... I swear! I have no idea how that beer got in the picture. Somebody must have planted it.

And it was nice to come home to this (my favorite color rose):


One good thing about travel is that I get more time to read and knit (on planes and in airports & hotels). I finished a couple books - Midwives by Chris Bohjalian and The Bright Forever by Lee Martin. I'd recommend both. I also started Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian. It's a real page turner!

BirthWEEKs are WAY better than BirthDAYS!!

I mention to Melissa that I am feeling so very fortunate to be celebrating my birthday all week this year! I haven't even hit my actual day yet - it's tomorrow, the first day of Spring; Woo Hoo! - and have received several wonderful surprises. I mentioned the special treats Debbie sent me late last week (Debbie, I am using the stitch markers on my shorty cardigan; hopefully, I'll get it finished in time for Orlando!)

My co-workers gave me a very cute little notepad and pen set today AND a to-die-for chocolate mini cake (oops, ate it before I could take a photo! It was chocolate, after all!) It looks blue and green but it's really purple and green - one of my favorite color combos. We don't really recognize birthdays in our office (small office comprised of mostly (dull) men) so this was a very sweet surprise for me.



But best of all was a Birthday Blowout Box from Allison! She pampered me with all kinds of awesome goodies including two skeins of THE softest alpaca yarn. She and I share a love of purple and the yarn is exactly the perfect shade. It might be hard to see but there is the cutest little spreader, perfect for dips and spreads! Can't wait for the next book club to try it out. The other goodies (not all are pictured) all reflect things that she thought would be perfect for me - and she was SOOOO right. Even the card is perfect!


But check out the following.... Aren't these a hoot??!!! Not sure if you can tell but the gloves are hot pink and have a very cute gingham ruffle at the top. I've never been too fond of cleaning but how can you not want to put these bad boys on and clean the toilet or something??!!! I am going to HAVE to put on an "I Love Lucy" style frilly apron first to complete the picture.

Friends are awesome. Love you guys!

Have you hugged your loved ones today?

A few months ago, someone posted a comment or sent me an email and recommended the book Wild Swans. (I forget who it was and I'm too lazy to go back and see!) I got the book from the library and it has taken me two months to read it. It's a biggie - 500+ pages and not all that easy to read - textbookish at times - but DANG! What a moving book.

I knew next to nothing (ok, NOTHING) about Chinese history and this book covers three generations of women in a family from the turn of the 20th century until the 1970's. I am shocked and amazed after reading this book. I am terrible at describing books so here is a synopsis from the publisher:

A riveting tale of three generations spanning the end of Old China, Mao's regime and the Japanese occupation. Chang chronicles the enormous changes in China since 1929 through her family's story, one that includes arrest during the Cultural Revolution, exile to the Sichuan wilderness and the bewildering state of China today. It's quite a tale, wonderfully told without a trace of rancor or bitterness.

I urge you to hug your family and friends a little harder and more freqently this week. Give thanks when you open your refrigerator and see the food in it. And remember how very lucky we are that we are ALLOWED to complain about our bosses / community leaders / politicians without the fear of being tortured or executed. That Mao fella was one nasty dude.

So to the person who recommended this book to me... Thanks! It was an eye-opener and a book that will stay with me for a long, long time.

I finished the bag for ITEIII

The details:

Pattern: Nicki Epstein Felted Trellis Bag; Vogue Knitting,Winter 2004/05 (Also found in her felted flowers book)

Yarn: Patons Merino - 2 Skeins each - Black, Olive, Hot Pink

Other: wooden handles purchased from JoAnns

More pictures here.

Friends

My good friend was the chair person of her school's annual fundraiser (an auction and dinner). This is a HUGE event and I can't even count how many hours she put into this effort over the last year. She is the kind of person you want on a volunteer assignment because not only does she give 150% all the time, she is a lot of fun to be around. She received some very fun items to be auctioned off including this blanket on which a photo of the varsity cheerleading squad for this year (which just happens to include both of our daughters) is woven! I bid on it but was outbid by this same friend!! So today, she arrived at my house and GAVE me the blanket. Arguing ensued over who should get the blanket until I finally gave in, thanked her profusely and accepted the incredible gift. My son (who just had his hair buzzed today!) agreed to "model" it for me. (My daughter is pictured in the first row, sitting in the middle):



I also won a very fun football purse. Isn't this a hoot?!


In other friend news, I got home late last night from a business trip. It was a long day... 6 hour flight which was delayed, ran out of yarn to finish a project while on the plane, lost luggage, arrived home at 11:30 or so last night. So I tiredly looked through my mail pile and there was a package from Scout's Swag but I couldn't remember ordering anything recently. Well, it was an early birthday present from Debbie! Look at these adorable stitch markers with the martini glasses and knitting needles/yarn. And the tape measure has a little cell phone on it. Fortunately or unfortunately, Debbie has me pegged to a T!!!! Thank you , Debbie.



THEN, today the mailman brought another package addressed to me but the evil sender, Allison, wrote that I can't open it until my birthday. She knows I have no patience and I think it's a test. Which I am destined to fail. Happy Birthday to me, hee hee.

Pottery Painting

Last Saturday, my friend and I went to paint pottery.

I selected two doggie bowls and a crock in which I can throw my loose change.
Getting started:

My money crock painted but not fired:

Bowls for Martini and Herschel:


The finished results:

The money crock in its place of honor on a shelf in my sewing / craft room:

Blanket in a Bag

JoAnn's had all their fleece half price this past week and saw this adorable pink fabric so I grabbed it and some hot pink flannel to make a blanket in a bag for my niece who is expected to arive in May. I made the same type of blanket for my son when he was a baby and it was very handy to keep in the car so I always had a blanket for him to sit / lay on when I made unexpected stops.

The polar fleece side:

Close up of the polar fleece:

The flannel side of the blanket which shows the "bag" and the strap:

And here is the blanket folded up into the bag: