What's on my design wall: The first lemon quilt.

Which border should I use?

Scraps and strings: my first scrap exchange

Brenda from Scraps and Strings and I did a scrap exchange. I was a scrap exchange virgin but not anymore. Look at the beautiful fabric I got from Manitoba Canada. Thanks Brenda! Let me know when you want to do another!

This is the new addition to my stash!!!

{this moment} A Friday ritual, inspired by Soulemama: A single photo, no words. A moment I want to pause, treasure and remember

and a purple set

This set was made from some super soft wool I got at the store in West Jefferson a very long time ago and it was sitting in my stash pile- this picture doesn't do the color justice- it is a beautiful, rich purple...

Christmas 2011

Made out of that wonderfully beautifully dyed Noro-

I am not the sentimental kind yet this week has been interesting.

I would not classify myself as a sentimental person. This week might prove me wrong. I have saved a few things here and there from each of my children's childhood they was meaningful to me. I saved some of Eric's sewing projects when he was a 4 year old Montessori child. I save a few cards Melanie made also in Montessori. I saved yoyo's and recorders that annoyed the heck out of me when Eric was playing with them. I saved this one Brio bell that was originally Eric's but Melanie also played with it. I saved some undershirts when Eric was an infant and Melanie also wore them. I also found a few items that I am just not sure why I saved them. Each item has a story to tell. This is what I found today:

This vest has a story:
When Eric was younger and the first Olympics came on, was when Kristi Yamagushi was skating for the Gold. After watching the Olympics, he decided he wanted to take ice skating lessons. He took lessons for over 2 years and went from figure skating to ice dancing. He skated alone or with partners. I remember all the girls mom's trying to get me to let Eric skate with their daughter's because boys who figure skated were a hot commodity. Well, Eric skated and competed also. Each time he would have to pick a new song, and his teacher would choreograph a dance to his song. He also had costumes with each competition. This vest is from one of the competitions. The story doesn't end here!

When Melanie was 3 years old, she started to go to Montessori also. She was capable of dressing herself that I would just let her wear what she wanted. She wore this vest to school one day and found all of his other vests and wore them also. By the time she was 4, other girls wanted vests. Their mom's asked where I got them and I said they were hand me downs. Within a few weeks, all the girls were wearing vests like Melanie's. What a trend setter she was back then too!!!

I have great kids, while it wasnt always easy(being a single mom and such) They make me very proud!

I guess one reason is that this is a milestone year for both of them. Melanie graduates from Wake Forest in May, Eric got engage in January, he is in Grad School in Japan, and Melanie is still waiting to hear from a few more Grad Schools before she decides where she is going! Go KIDS! You make me proud!

Busy at work and my sewing room missed me

What a dilemma I am in. I have gotten so busy with my regular job and a side job that I took a few months back. I just want to post my blog because if I had gone into the sewing room the past week and a half, I wouldn't have gotten my work work done if I stepped into the room.

I have been seriously thinking about retirement the past few weeks. I am not quite old enough nor do I have enough money to retire, but I sure have been thinking about it. I have so much sewing to do, so much learning to sew to do and then there is the knitting I want to do. My time will come...

My son recently got engaged and I know when he gets out of Grad School, they will have babies. This may sound silly but I feel like I should hurry up and start sewing for the baby (and my real job is taking my time instead). He wont get out of Grad School for 2 or 3 years. That is why I know this sounds so silly.

I have been thinking of writing Monica a letter,telling her that the only kind of motherin law/daughter in law relationship that I know (and hope to have with her) is a very close one. My mother in law was the best, from day one we got along and I loved her as if she were my mother. The day we found out she was sick was the saddest day of my life and having to stay strong for her was hard but I knew I needed to be with her. I just know that Monica is family already and that our relationship will always be good. I thank Ruth for this! Ruth: where ever you are, you have made a difference in my life! You would be so proud of your grandchildren.

I have had a real sentimental week! Wow! I will leave with this: Family is so important to me and I am so proud of both of my children!

{this moment} A Friday ritual, inspired by Soulemama: A single photo, no words. A moment I want to pause, treasure and remember

A Friday ritual, inspired by Soulmama: A single photo, no words. A moment I want to pause, treasure and remember

Weekend knitting

Is anyone else feeling out of sorts this week? I think I enjoyed the lazyness of the snow days so much that I really am having a hard time getting my act together at work these past couple of days. I went to take a lady's blood pressure today, and stood there with the cuff pumped up knowing that I was forgetting to do something, and of course, yes, this process works so much better when one puts the stethoscope in one's ears!!

The good news is I have tomorrow off, which I had planned way before the storm. Morgan and Zach have short days because it is mid-terms. Morgan is swimming this weekend in Rock Hill. So, I will do the school thing in the morning, then am going to make sure I have enough knitting for a very long swim meet weekend- maybe some socks, Ellen!!

Did we decide on our next meeting? I miss you all and hope everyone has a great weekend!

Hats and snow/Ramblings from Suzanne

Ellen, this hat is calling you! Or is it too tacky? I made it with your wool and that fuzzy thing someone gave me. I have a bag full of it(fuzzy thing) different colors if anyone want some.

Snow in NC

Our snow in Charlotte. Still no school/work today. Some of you have been very busy on the blog and at home! Great work, great pictures.
What's left of the pond. I hope we still have 3 fishes

January Monochromatic Challenge/Ta Daaaa

I finished the top of the monochromatic quilt challenge. At first, when I heard it was yellow, I thought I didnt have much yellow. So I made the other BABES bread cloths with the yellow. Then I realized I have much more yellow fabric and decided I would try something and see if I had enough. Apparently, I did. Since I am one of those who has another person machine quilt my quilts, I consider myself done except for binding. I know it feels like I cheat by sending it out, but I decided I really like the pattern possibilities for the quilting. With that said, here is journey of the Yellow Quilt.

The final product:

This is what I am thinking of for the back. I know its not yellow but the orange softens the front and it also has yellow and red on it, so which is on the front of the quilt.

The reason I finished so quickly is because I was on Winter Break, then went back to school for two days and have been off with two snow days. While it's been fun staying home, I haven't cleaned much, or even worked on my classes. My students are going to wonder what happened to me!

I have been thinking in fabric! My sewing skills are mediocre but I am still thinking in fabric for the past month.

UFO Challenge update and changes

I realized a few weeks back that I should have only posted 12 items on my UFO list. (Dont laugh!) So I decided it is tim to revise my list.


Here is my list in random order:
1. Friendship Quilt (only cut)
2. Mel's graduation quilt (15 more squares to go)
3. Applique quilt (half done, need help with it)
4. #1 antique quilt top (needs fixing and backing)
5. Pink rag quilt (needs sewing)
6. Brown fleece quilt (almost done, hand stitching) completed 1/9/11)
7. 4" square quilt (cut only, needs lots of sewing, back)
8. Knit yoga bag (almost done)
9. Japanese fabric quilt (only partly cut)
10. Reversible quilt ( 10 more squares needed, I think)
11. #2 Antique Quilt top (needs mending and backing)
12. Brown/Purple Quilt (cut needs sewing)

One down! Even though it was one of the easy ones to complete, it still feels really good to have it finished. Chuck likes it.

Screwed Up Socks

I will say these socks are warm. Also, I think it took me half the time to make this pair as it took for my first pair. I totally screwed up this pair by reversing the direction I was knitting- done while trying to watch "Inception." Not a good combination- knitting socks and Inception.

SNOW DAY!!

I love the contrast in colors in this shot!

Once Upon a Snowy Morning

Today, we do not have classes because of yet another snow. I must say, being from New York and living in North Carolina (now the foothills), I don't really mind the snow. I don't drive in it much in the South because there just isn't as much emphasis placed on clearing the roads and I have slowed down some in my lifestyle that I don't necessarily need to be on the roads.

I take each and every snow day as a bonus day home. Time to relax, enjoy and be thankful. I find snow days home alone very peaceful. I am not sure why I don't feel this way for every Saturday or Sunday that I stay home. I do a good amount of running around, for work and pleasure but I relish snow days even more.

This morning, I took the opportunity to make a Baked Apple in a pottery dish that someone gave me a few years back. I never used it but I do like baked apples.

It was just an ok apple. I am not sure if it was because it was a Delicious apple and not some sort of baking apple. Or maybe I don't know how to cook a Baked Apple.

It is snowing and school/classes are canceled, yet it isn't snowing a lot at my house. I know other parts of the county get more snow then I do but I am still disappointed in the snowfall amount. My philosophy: if it's gonna snow, make it significant.

Wait for it, wait for it......

Did you see it?

The rest of my Baked Apple got thrown to the squirrels. Enjoy!

UFO #1 complete

I am part of the UFO challenge from Patchwork Times and #6 was picked from my list which was the brown fleece blanket where I needed to finish the stitching. I was hand stitching and never sat down to finish it. I think it was from at least 5 or 6 years ago. It took me about two hours to complete. Boy, did I feel silly that it sat around for that long.

I didn't know what I was going to do with it because I am out of my fleece blanket making phase so I decide to put it in the back seat of the car so that Chuck doesn't mess up my car.

Merry Christmas Melanie

Today Melanie and I brunched at Brueggers Bagels. I brought her the gift from Eric and Monica. She, too loved everything. She got socks and markers also. Yeah for us!!!

A Friday ritual inspired by Soulmama A single photo, no words A moment I want to pause, treasure and remember

Reversible Fabric: only from Japan

Today I was looking at my new fabric from Japan (my Christmas present) trying to decide what to make from it when I discovered that both pieces are reversible. I was examining them and trying to figure out how the heck they do that. I ended up giving up and decided it was worth posting a picture of. I was thinking of making drawstring bags but I didn't want to use the new cord from Japan also. I am so possessive about that cord since it's my favorite of all cords.

How to wash your socks

This is the tag on my new socks. Now I know how to wash them.

Thanks again, Japan family.

Gifts from Japan

I always love getting gifts from Japan. There are always surprises in the package and everything is always welcomed. There was fabric, drawstring bag cord, pens, markers,and socks galore. I love the fabric, ran out of drawstring bag cord, and am in desperate need of new socks. Inside the package was also a package for Melanie. I called her to tell her about it and had to leave a message. Since I haven't heard back from her, I am DYING to open it. I won't but I will post my pictures and hope she sees the post and let's me open hers. Thank you Monica and Eric! I love you guys! Can't wait for your visit.