Saturday, November 28, 2015

Buongiorno Amici!

Well, here are the details from yesterday...
First of all, I completed another 19 blocks for Baby Girl's quilt.
On to Allietare!

My constant fabric is an older piece that I absolutely love...it's "Barely There" by Jinny Byer (for RJR Fabrics). 
I cut 20 2.5" strips. Yes. Twenty. That's twice as many as I needed. 
I don't Math well. 

I sorted through my 2" box and pulled my neutrals. Then I cut a single strip from the fat quarters I had. (I purchased 5 neutral FQs specifically for this project.)

After cutting all of those squares, I cleaned my machine. I'm using my Bernina Artista 200,
#57 foot (1/4" piecing),
Schmetz 90/14 quilting needle,
Aurifil 50/2 #2610 (a light blue/grey).
I also wound three bobbins to get me started. 

Machine settings:
Stitch #1
Stitch length 2.5
Tension 4.0.

Whew! Glad to get those boring details out of the way!

Today is another family dinner. I'm taking the neutral squares with me so that I can get them marked. 

Here's my plan for the week:
Today: mark the diagonal
Sunday: stitch double lines
Monday: cut & press
Tuesday: trim
Wednesday & Thursday: catch up
Friday: CLUE 2!

Cuciture felice!

Friday, November 27, 2015

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We are celebrating with Mom & Dad today. Our contribution is turkey,
Isn't that purdy?!

green bean casserole, dinner rolls, pepperoni rolls, apple, cherry & pumpkin pies and peanut butter candy. 
Rule number 1: NEVER scrape the pan clean...this is my payment for slaving over a hot stove!

Now we wait for everyone to show up with the rest of the food!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Buongiorno, Allietare!

*Because I don't have internet at home and I blog from my phone (and because I probably just haven't learned how) I won't always have clickable links. My apologies to Bonnie Hunter.*

It's time!
The mystery starts today!
I cleaned up the kitchen just enough to make coffee and clear my cutting area. 
Who cares about a dirty kitchen when there's stitchin' (or in this case, cutting) to be done?!

Thing 1 and Thing 2 have been warned. 
"There will be NO EATING at the kitchen table until all of my strips are cut!"

But, that's okay, since they are "camping". 
(Sometimes I just don't know if I'm encouraging creativity or messiness.)

Oh, look!
Baby Girl & Princess are up and I just claimed the table...

Princess has given me her opinion on that...
Who's in charge around here?!

A few quick picks from yesterday:
My niece and her birthday cowl.

The two biggest blessings we have to be thankful for this year.

And a perfectly beautiful turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. (Thanks to my amazing husband & the firefighter's who cook amazing things!)

Cuciture felice!

Check out google translate! I'm learning Italian as we go through this mystery!


Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Just Another Tuesday...NOT

Mom is finally back home!
She spent the last two weeks recovering from hip surgery. 
Here's a word for you...
Osteo-necrosis. 

It hasn't been fun. 

It hasn't been easy. 

But, she is home & I can settle in at my house and take care of some holiday planning, knitting, quilting, decorating, etc. 

Tonight it's me & the boys watching Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving special. 

And working on my Mystery 220 November project. 

Dinner was easy...
...and delicious. 

Hope you have a good one!

Monday, November 9, 2015

Making a Plan

I've started my lists of kids, nieces & nephews, siblings & partners and moms & dads. 

It just kind of lets me know how far behind I am before I even get started!

Today the plan was to cut Baby Girl's quilt but she only has lab today and will be home early. 

So, new plan...
1. Start making kids socks
2. Finish strips for Jack-o-lantern's birthday quilt
3. Start another cowl/scarf

That should be enough for today. 

Time to get busy!

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Busy Birthday Weekend

Saturday was Darren's birthday. I had his socks all but bound off. I did manage to finish them before going out to dinner. 

I think he likes them. He told me as he was taking them off "They're comfy and feel springy on my feet."

After dinner, we went to see my beautiful niece at her acting debut as the Caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland. She was amazing and I am just so proud of her!

I cast on this November KAL from Ravelry yesterday. Thankfully, they were only to the second clue and I am caught up. I hope I get it finished and can possibly add it to the Christmas gift pile. 

Now, I'm going to try and find a quick bulky knit pattern for the next birthday. 
Look out Ravelry...here I come!

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Always a Day Late

Yesterday was WIP Wednesday. 

And I missed it. 

Again. 

Well, here I am. Late, but making progress on the Trail Ride socks for Darren's birthday. I have 24 hours to secretly work on them and get them finished. 

He will be home all day tomorrow and will probably see me scrambling to finish them for Saturday. 

So, I'm off to have my coffee & work some magic!




Tuesday, November 3, 2015

They are Heeled!

I am finally past the heels.

It should be easy sailing from here on out. 
Maybe I will get these finished for his birthday. 

Knit on!

Monday, November 2, 2015

Allietare Quilt 2015

I've always wanted to do one of Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilts!

This year it's called "Allietare".  The photos she posted from her trip are gorgeous and the colors she has chosen are right up my alley!

Darren picked up the paint chips at Lowe's today while he was there...
I'm sew excited!

I have plenty of the reds and neutrals.


I also have an excellent start on the golds, a decent start on the blacks, and a possibility for the constant grey. 

I won't need to buy much and might even get a local swap going!

You can visit #Bonnie's Quiltville Blog for all the details as we sew along. 
(I'll get that link going when I can get on the computer!)