The weather has been so nice these past few days. Temps in the high 70's to low 80's have made the flowers bloom and the grass green. We planted a few things in the garden and now patiently wait for the first of the fresh veggies.

In the Socktopia group, we were given a sock pattern to make to inspire us to "Get off our Fannies". The are an athletic type sock with an arch support. The assignment was to knit them and then go out and do something - taking photos of them being worn during your chosen activity. So for your viewing pleasure....

Here's Fanny!!!!

First thing in the morning - a picture in the rising sun light....



Here's a better picture of the more true colors of Fanny. They were knitted in Knit Pick's Dancing (now discontinued). Posing with the sock is our dog - enjoying the foot rub he was receiving...



Here we go - off for a lovely hike. The weather was perfect!!





Now on the needles are a pair of socks for my DS. He wants 7 pairs of "cool" socks for camp. These will make pair number 5. Pics to come shortly.

On Friday, we went to JoAnn's Fabric. What I assumed would be a 1 hour trip at the most, ended up being more than double. We went in with lists, knowing exactly what we would be buying. Ummmmm - until we tried matching up colors for DD's placemats and napkin set that she needs to do for home ec. What fun trying to pick 6 coordinating fabrics. I didn't realize quilting could be so exhausting!

After coming home more than $125 poorer, we had all the materials we needed to do her placemat/napkin set, her oven mitt, her dress for the summer camp party, 29 patterns, my Sunbonnet Girl potholder, muslin for redwork, gingham for the kitchen curtains, large check/gingham for a new tablecloth, and some miscellaneous items. Everything was at least 30% off. Most were 50% off except for patterns. They were 99 cents each.

I found a lovely McCall's pattern for a vintage embroidery set. It contains directions for a dresser scarf, two sizes of keepsake pouches, and two sizes of pillows with scarfs. I was a little disappointed as the embroidery didn't come as a transfer - but one that you need to transfer yourself. Maybe there will be less room for mistake this way, as I won't get the pattern crooked :)

I finally bought my Clover thread cutter. I wanted it to use for a closure for my felted bag, but it's just so pretty... I am now debating if I want to use it for that, or make it into a necklace that is actually useful. :) I found it in the quilting notions at JoAnn's at 50% off. Q-Snaps were there as well, and it was difficult to pass them up, but I need another set like I need a hole in the head.

New To Me Company & Review

A trip to the mailbox rewarded me with a envelope from


Inside the envelope was a nice letter, free pattern, and an envelope containing a pattern of a potholder I remember as a child.

The envelope had the picture of the pattern printed on it.



And last but not least the contents of everything. I have never done business with Pattern Bee before, and I am very pleased with both the quality of the product I received as well as the customer service I had before making my purchase.

I have always been hesitant with purchasing copies of vintage patterns. After being "taken" on buying vintage copies before, I hesitantly decided to try vintage again. I've been reading Vicki's blog, and have drooled over admired all the items she creates. She does gorgeous work on her handmade lovelies. With looking at the quality, love and care she puts into her hand made items, I decided to take a chance on her patterns. I am more than pleased with what I received.

These patterns weren't copies, but real transfers - as good or even better than the originals. They are packaged nicely in their own envelope with a picture on the outside, and have quality workmanship. It is obvious that time and effort went into making these usable and readable. These are not just anyone's scan of an image, but are truly reprints. Yes, I will be buying from Pattern Bee again!!

It's Picture Time!!

I haven't had much time to blog, so I'm going to condense what I did during the past week with lots of pictures today.

Cross Stitch

I finally started to do a little cross stitching again. I love Little House Needleworks patterns, and just had to order this to celebrate the season. Spring is my time to look forward to gardening, fresh veggies and beautiful flowers. It's a time when all the animals give birth and everything is new. So when I saw the "Season of Hope" it just HAD to be done and stitched right away. The needle hit the fabric as soon as it arrived. :) I'm stitching this on 28 ct. cream Pastel Linen using the recommended DMC floss.


Socks

I finished my daughter's fair isle socks on the 10th. She was so pleased with them that she's begging for more. Although they came out nicely, I found them to be a slow knit for me.



I've started a pair of sports socks that are for a contest for the Socktopia KAL. They are called Fanny and are being knit from a pattern written by the group "momma". I'm knitting it in Knit Picks Dancing and am just ready to start the toe. I know they look strange, but the gathering in the "middle" of the sock is a type of arch support.



Quilting Attempts

I had posted a bit ago that I was going to try to make some yo-yos for a coverlet. I have finished 24 and need to cut out more. They are a nice take-along project as they don't take up much room and they can be done while talking or riding in a car.



My other attempt is a simple quilt from 5" squares (becoming 4" squares after allowing for seam allowance). Now realize, this is my first quilt - so go easy on me.



Let's Talk Vintage Crafting

As you know, I love older needlework items. There's just something comforting about things made from them. Maybe it's bringing back those memories of things I loved as I child... my grandmother's home, her aprons and how I was allowed to wear them when I was cooking, her potholders, our spending time together and laughing. I remember watching her make things and staring in wonder as she'd make beautiful things from thread and needles.
So when I can, I try to find things that give me that comfortable feeling. I'm slowly finding what those things are. I hope to someday give my home that same good feeling to my children (and possible grandchildren).

I finished another embroidered towel. This is a Day of the Week transfer pattern from Aunt Martha's.



I was lucky enough to be the recipient of a large tin of old perle and rayon embroidery floss. To my surprise and delight it had some stamped pillow tubing at the bottom of the tin along with a few embroidery patterns and needles. The tubing had been started in the rayon thread, and I have been slowly working on it ever since. The thread is not kind to work with, but the finished sheen is well worth the effort. I wish the photo would show it, but the sheen is lost no matter how hard I tried to get it. After the embroidery is done, I will have to sew the cases, and then crochet an edging on them. I have been searching for the "right" edging, and am torn between a filet butterfly border and a small lacy one. Then there's color. Since these are older, the tubing has yellowed a bit with age, so I want to keep away from white. I thought of a variegated color, but I know that won't look good with filet.



Old Transfers

Here's my meager Vogart collection. I'm hoping to add to it with yard sale and estate sale finds.

HAPPY Mail Day!!!!

I walked out to the mailbox to find this waiting for me:



YIPEE!! It was my package from Carolina Homespun. After an afternoon of playing, then plying using the Andean Plying method described on FiberJoy's Blog, I ended up with 23 yards of 2-ply that looked like this:



I'm thrilled that the thing even resembles yarn, let alone having it plied and possibly being able to use it!! Ah yes, I'm one happy camper!!!!

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

You appear to be a Knitting Purist. You are an accomplished knitter producing beautiful pieces with a classic feel. You sometimes lament losing half of your local yarn shop to garish novelty yarns. Perhaps you consider fun fur scarves the bane of knitting society and prefer to steer new knitters towards the wool and cotton blends. Some might call you a bit of an elitist but you know that you've been doing this craft long enough to respect the history behind it and honor it with beautiful piece that can last a lifetime. http://marniemaclean.com
Take this quiz!








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