Sew Much Happy News

Oh my.... where to start. I've been away from the blogsphere for a few weeks now, and so much has happened. I've been working on a secret project, and now I can finally blog about it. I made a special quilt for my sister for her birthday. I have been working on it for about a month now. It is called Field of Flowers, and I made it from a Moda Jelly Roll from the Celebrate Spring line. It was so easy to put together, and fun. I just love the colors as they are so cherry and fun. I knew that she would love it! and I'm confident that she is pleased with it. The quilting was a challenge, as this is by far the biggest quilt that I've made. I stitched in the ditch on the diagonals , and then stippled all the setting triangles, and did some little doodles on the center strips.

Mom helped me finish the quilt, with all the hand stitching for the binding, and then I helped her finish her quilt. Hers is a Nautical theme made for my Dad, and their boat. We had a couple of great quilting sessions while working on these quilts. Next we will have to open a quilting shop!


After finishing my quilt, I was sad to have finished, and eager to start another project. I have a project in mind, but haven't been able to find the fabrics. Mom bought fabrics to make a quilt for a friends baby. It will be sweet, with blue dinosaur fabrics and lots of bright colors too. We had a quilting day on Friday, and we actually quilted and sewed all day long, we didn't even get dressed. It was a blast, and we got so much done. Mom worked on her Dinosaur quilt, and I had no project..... but I got my creativity going and decided to give myself a challenge. My Aunt had sent a bag of scraps to my mom, and I went through it, sorted it by colors, and picked out some that I liked. I made 12 nine patches out of 4.5 inch squares, and then cut the nine patches in half again twice. It is really cool. I don't have any pictures yet, but I am hoping to get some today, as I work on it some more.

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day and we (Mom, Dad, V and I) decided to go out for a boat ride. There were 2 huge icebergs out in the bay, and we wanted to get a better look. So we took a cruise out on the bay. Well, we were almost right up to the icebergs, and we were just chatting away, Mom and Dad were up at the front.... and we were sitting in the back. V told me how much he had missed me this past week, and I said me too, then he said "no, I've really, really missed you.... Will you marry me?" OMG...... I nearly fell out of the boat!!!! I AM TOTALLY SURPRISED, EXCITED, HAPPY!!!!! OF COURSE I SAID YES..... SO WE'RE ENGAGED!!!!!! The ring is beautiful, it's a three stone diamond, that matches my necklace. So pretty, and just perfect. We had a beautiful boat ride, and needless to say we spent the evening celebrating with my Mom and Dad.




Whew.... I think that's all for now! I'll have to post again later with more updates of the quilting and knitting. Happy Canada Day to all!!!!

More Monkey's Part 2

Finally, I've finished my Mini Monkey's. These took me longer than usual to knit. I'll blame it on not having much time to knit because of other things. I've been working on a secret project, which will be revealed soon, as well as the whole buying a house thing. So at long last here they are:

(yes, I know this picture is upside down!)

The yarn is Fleece Artist Merino in Seastorm, and of course the pattern is Monkey. Boy, there sure are a lot of Monkey's going around the blogosphere these days. Oh yeah, these babies are for me! (I've become a bit of a selfish knitter!).

So, Sockapalooza. No, I have not forgotten about it, and I know I was supposed to start my sock pal socks several weeks ago, and I actually did, the yarn just fell through. I just hated it, and it didn't work with the pattern.... basically I just wasn't feelin' the love, so I frogged. Now I have the yarn, the pattern decided for sure, and I'm not changing my mind. Really, I am not! I have chosen Sweetpea from the latest Knitty. I really want to make sure that I knit something my pal hasn't knit before, so I thought something hot off the presses was sure to win. These socks are kinda freaking me out a little, not for the difficulty of the pattern or anything, just the fact that my sock pal considers herself a sock pro, and she even designs her own patterns. Yikes. What if my knitting isn't up to her standards? What if I make a mistake that I don't pick up on? What if my socks just plain suck? Oh my.... out comes my paranoid imagination. Ok, the socks will be great, my pal will love them. (I'm trying to tell myself to relax!). I have started the Sweetpea's, and so far so good. I like the pattern, but it is one that I have to watch the chart, so it may be slow going. I found Monkey just so easy to memorize, I can now knit them with no pattern at all. I don't have a picture yet (it's dark, and I'm lazy), but there will be a progress shot coming soon. I promise!

Home Sweet New Home!

Well, this is my soon to be new home. We finally bought a house!!! We were planning to buy one for a long while now, but things just haven't been right. Last week we decided that this is it, we are going to go for it, so we had been watching this one for awhile, and liked it, so we made an appointment with the agent and went to look at it. We knew right away that it was the house for us. It's an older home, on a beautiful street, with lots of great homes, huge trees, nice gardens - all the things you want in a neighbourhood. So.... we bought it. I mean, we made our offer on Friday, and it was accepted, and Saturday(at the 9th hole) we signed the documents. Now, we just wait. Till August freakin' 31st! Not my choice of closing dates by the way, but that's all we could do, there was another couple that were bidding too and they would have gotten it if we didn't agree to that date. At least now we have lots of time to plan things, and buy things we want. We have plans to paint pretty much everything, and also change the kitchen counters and re-do the main floor powder room. Lots of work, and lots of money.... Oh well, something to keep us busy, and like my Aunt said "lots of space for all your socks and quilts, and your stash!".

More Monkey's

I love Monkey's. I loved my first pair so much that I had to have another pair. I decided this time to change them a little and I made them shorter and also with a picot edge instead of the standard ribbed cuff. So far I just have the first one done, but I am loving this one too! Cookie A. was right when she said that this pattern was addictive. The yarn is Fleece Artist Merino in the Sea Storm colorway. I just have to cast on the second right away, I can't wait to wear these babies. I really should be knitting my sock pal's socks, but I just can't seem to decide on a yarn or a pattern. I initially planned on using the bamboo yarn that I recently bought, but I really don't like it, and the way it knit up. It was very slippery and really splitty. I'm sure I'll find another project for it, but definitely not lace socks. I have a few ideas but nothing concrete yet. Lots of time yet, and being the procrastinator that I am I will put them off till the last minute! I seem to be going through a "I only want to knit for me" phase. I am also working on my second Ariann sweater - for me.

Yesterday we went for a drive to see the icebergs. There are so many! No wonder it's so cold around here!

Finally a Finished Project!

It seems that it's been a while since I've finished any knitting projects, but finally I do have something to show! My Monkey's are done. I love them. They are the best fitting socks that I have knit myself so far. The Sea Wool is so nice and soft, and really seems like it will wear well. The pattern goes well with the varigation in the yarn. I will definitely be buying more Sea Wool.


I had a very busy weekend. My mom and I went to a quilting technique class all day on Saturday. It was great. We didn't make anything pretty, but we did learn a lot, and also had fun too, so well worth the 3 hour drive to attend. On Sunday we both sandwiched quilts that we are working on. It's so much better to work together, and well, lets just say I never would have been able to get done what I did without Mom's help. Mom's are just the best! Picture are to come, when the quilts are completely done. I still have some more quilting to do on mine, and Mom has to quilt hers entirely.

Today, I am home from work as I am feeling very yucky. I know I am sick when I don't sew or knit or anything all day. I am up and about now, but can't really commit to any one project, so I'll leave it all until I feel better. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have my creative mojo back!

Life Happens....

Oh my, it's been 10 days since my last post. What happened? life. Anyways, I've been busy, busy. I have no pictures, as my camera battery is dead and I have no idea where I stashed the battery charger. I do that all the time, and I never learn. Hopefully I'll find it soon. I have been knitting away on my Monkey socks, in the Fleece Artist Sea Wool. Love it, so nice.... I've also made an entire quilt top last week. Can't talk about it, it's a gift. I'm going to finish up those monkeys tonight and then I'm hoping to cast on for my Sockapalooza socks. I've been reading the "pligg", and enjoying all the nice socks. I am going to use the pink bamboo yarn that I bought last week. The pattern has not been confirmed yet, but a decision will be made tonight. Stay tuned for that! Also, in stash enhancement news, I got a package today!!!! My order from The Sweet Sheep! First off let me say how very pleased I am with the service. Quick, and very nice packaging (pretty pink tissue wrapping, and a cute little button!, it's really the little things that count!). I also spoke with Michelle, the Sweet Sheep herself, and she was just such a doll. Very informative, and offered assistance with my new drop spindle. Yup, I got a drop spindle. I really want to try it out, and hope that I'll be able to get it right! In my package I also got a skein of Nova Socks from Fleece Artist, and a skein of Collinette Jitterbug, in the most beeeeautiful turquoisy, oceany yarny goodness. I promise to take pictures just as soon as my battery charger reappears! Well, that's it for now. More Sockapalooza updates soon!

I'm Back.....

OK, so I have been absent lately, but I have an excuse. I have been doing a lot of gift sewing, so I haven't been knitting much, and I've been doing lots of gift sewing for blog readers. So now you can see the reason for my lack of blogging. I have gifted all my projects so now I can post pictures and talk about them. My last post was the lap quilt that I made for V's mom. She has received it and it thrilled with it. Whew! I'm glad because I really didn't know what colors to choose. She's not a real girly girl, so light pinks and pastels really wouldn't cut it. So, I went with a darker palette, colors that I loved.

The project that I was working on for my Mom is this quilted wall hanging. I really loved making it. A friend of mine, had made one and showed me. As soon as I saw it I knew it would be perfect for my Mom. She loves lighthouses, and boats and stuff. It will be really nice at their summer house on the ocean.

Yesterday I had a fun day, shopping for scrapbooking stuff, and I also went to the LYS. Yay! I did well, and I didn't spend too much and I got lots. I didn't photograph my scrapbooking haul, but this is what I got at the LYS. A skein of Fleece Artist Sea Wool in burgundy, a new set of US1 bamboo DPN'S, and two balls of gorgeous Italian bamboo yarn. It's so soft! which I found hard to believe, as bamboo is so fibrous. It's so nice and cushy. I'm not really sure what I'm going to make, but I am thinking they will be for my Sock Pal, as she does live in a warm place, and like natural fibers. We'll see. Maybe I'll really spoil my pal and make two pairs. Who knows, there's so much knitting on my to do list, and I also have another quilt to make. Busy times.

In knitting news, not much happening. Roza's Sock #2 is progressing, but slowly. I had to frog once. Yesterday, after my trip to the yarn store I had almost 2 hours to kill and Roza's sock was with V in the car. So naturally, I had to knit, so I cast on for a pair of Monkey's with my new Sea Wool. I don't know if it's the yarn, or the new needles or a combination of both but OMG, I'm in love. The yarn is so soft and squishy, and the needles are nice. They are shorter than I usually use, but so much easier to knit with. They are nice and warm, and the yarn slips on and off them nicely. Good purchase. I am loving the Monkey pattern too. Fun, easy to remember, and pretty to look at. The pattern shows of the perfect dying as well. Look's like Roza's socks may be on the back burner, or at least the side burner.

Well, that's it for me, hopefully I will be a better blogger now. Happy Mother's day too!